The US Justice Department says it has asked prosecutors to examine alleged misconduct at the Clinton Foundation and the controversial Obama-era sale of a uranium firm to Russia, and whether a special counsel might be needed to investigate.

The move, disclosed in a letter to lawmakers, came as Attorney General Jeff Sessions was poised to testify today about election year contacts between members of the Trump campaign and Russia.

As the former head of the Trump campaign&#39;s foreign policy advisory team, sessions can expect a tough grilling from Democrats about what he knew about the contacts.

Sessions have previously testified under oath that he had no knowledge of any collusion with the Russians, but a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller has uncovered contacts by lower level campaign advisers.

As the Russia election meddling probe has heated up, US President Donald Trump, as well as Republican lawmakers, have called for a probe into Hillary Clinton and the sale of a uranium company to Russia under former president Barack Obama.

Yesterday, the Justice Department responded to the Republican demands in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, who also will preside over Tuesday&#39;s hearing with sessions.

Sessions, it said, has directed senior federal prosecutors to evaluate Goodlatte&#39;s request for a special counsel to investigate the uranium sale and &quot;alleged unlawful dealings related to the Clinton Foundation and other matters.&quot;

The prosecutors &quot;will make recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, and whether any matters merit the appointment of a Special Counsel,&quot; it said.

The letter, first obtained by broadcaster NBC News, was signed by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd.

Republican lawmakers in late October announced they were investigating the 2013 sale of Canadian mining company Uranium One to Russian state-owned company Rosatom, which was approved by former president Barack Obama.

The move gave Rosatom control of 20 percent of US uranium stockpiles and was decided after Uranium One made several donations to the Clinton Foundation of former president Bill Clinton.

They are also demanding more clarity on how the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice decided during the height of last year&#39;s White House race to not pursue charges against Clinton over her misuse of a personal email server.

The Justice Department letter said the handling of the Clinton email case was under review by the department&#39;s inspector general, and an assessment would be made of what steps should be taken, if any, once it is completed.

The move was disclosed in a letter to lawmakers

The US Justice Department says it has asked prosecutors to examine alleged misconduct at the Clinton Foundation and the controversial Obama-era sale of a uranium firm to Russia, and whether a special counsel might be needed to investigate. The move, disclosed in a letter to lawmakers, came as Attorney General Jeff Sessions was poised to testify today about election year contacts between members of the Trump campaign and Russia. As the former head of the Trump campaign's foreign policy advisory team, sessions can expect a tough grilling from Democrats about what he knew about the contacts. Sessions have previously testified under oath that he had no knowledge of any collusion with the Russians, but a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller has uncovered contacts by lower level campaign advisers. As the Russia election meddling probe has heated up, US President Donald Trump, as well as Republican lawmakers, have called for a probe into Hillary Clinton and the sale of a uranium company to Russia under former president Barack Obama. Yesterday, the Justice Department responded to the Republican demands in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, who also will preside over Tuesday's hearing with sessions. Sessions, it said, has directed senior federal prosecutors to evaluate Goodlatte's request for a special counsel to investigate the uranium sale and "alleged unlawful dealings related to the Clinton Foundation and other matters." The prosecutors "will make recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, and whether any matters merit the appointment of a Special Counsel," it said. The letter, first obtained by broadcaster NBC News, was signed by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd. Republican lawmakers in late October announced they were investigating the 2013 sale of Canadian mining company Uranium One to Russian state-owned company Rosatom, which was approved by former president Barack Obama. The move gave Rosatom control of 20 percent of US uranium stockpiles and was decided after Uranium One made several donations to the Clinton Foundation of former president Bill Clinton. They are also demanding more clarity on how the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice decided during the height of last year's White House race to not pursue charges against Clinton over her misuse of a personal email server. The Justice Department letter said the handling of the Clinton email case was under review by the department's inspector general, and an assessment would be made of what steps should be taken, if any, once it is completed.

US Justice Department mulls special prosecutor to probe Clinton Foundation

Vietnam and China agreed on Monday to avoid conflicts in the hotly contested South China Sea, as a new pathway to dialogue on easing tensions was opened with other Southeast Asian nations.

The communist neighbours have long sparred over the sea, through which $5 trillion in shipping trade passes annually and which is believed to sit atop vast gas reserves.

Hanoi and Beijing agreed Monday to keep the peace in the sea, the countries said in a joint statement during a state visit to Hanoi by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

They agreed to &quot;well manage disputes at sea, make no moves that may complicate or expand disputes, (and) maintain peace and stability on the East Sea,&quot; the Vietnamese version of the statement said, using Hanoi&#39;s term for the waters.&nbsp;

China claims nearly all of the sea, even approaching the coasts of its neighbours. It is also partly claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan in addition to Vietnam.

China has in recent years built artificial islands and airstrips capable of hosting military installations in contested areas to cement its claims, inflaming tensions with its neighbours.

Relations between China and Vietnam hit a low in 2014 when Beijing moved an oil rig into waters claimed by Vietnam, sparking weeks of protests.&nbsp;

There have been two armed conflicts between China and Vietnam in the sea -- brief clashes in 1974 and 1988 that claimed the lives of dozens of Vietnamese troops.&nbsp;

On Sunday US President Donald Trump offered to help Vietnam resolve the long-simmering tensions.&nbsp;

&quot;If I can help mediate or arbitrate, please let me know... I am a very good mediator,&quot; Trump said on his own state visit to Hanoi at the tail end of his marathon tour of Asia.&nbsp;

Vietnam offered no response.

And China, which has long insisted the United States has no role to play in the dispute, spoke out against what it deemed foreign interference.

&quot;We hope non-regional countries can respect the regional countries&#39; efforts in maintaining the regional stability of the South China Sea and play a constructive role in this aspect,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

More talks agreed&nbsp;

Trump was in Manila on Monday for meetings with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and several other countries.

At that meeting, China and ASEAN, which includes Vietnam, announced on Monday night they had agreed to begin talks on a much-delayed code of conduct for the sea.&nbsp;

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sealed the accord with the ASEAN leaders in Manila, according to China&#39;s state-run Xinhua news agency.

However, no timeframe was announced for an actual code.

China initially agreed in 2002 to begin talks on a code but delayed doing so while carrying out its expansionist strategy. And at China&#39;s insistence, ASEAN also agreed in August that any future code would not be legally binding, despite a strong push from Vietnam.

After the Philippines backed China&#39;s position, ASEAN agreed it would not have legal force.

The Philippines had for many years stood alongside Vietnam as one of the region&#39;s strongest opponents to Chinese expansionism.

Following Manila&#39;s complaint to a United Nations-backed tribunal, the panel ruled last year that China&#39;s territorial claims in the sea were without legal basis.

But the Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte took office last year, decided not to use the ruling to pressure China.

He instead chose to build closer ties in return for billions of dollars in investments and aid.

Critics accused Duterte of giving in to Beijing. But he said his tactics had eased tensions and opened the door to dialogue.

China and ASEAN, which includes Vietnam, announced on Monday night they had agreed to begin talks on a much-delayed code of conduct for the sea

Vietnam and China agreed on Monday to avoid conflicts in the hotly contested South China Sea, as a new pathway to dialogue on easing tensions was opened with other Southeast Asian nations. The communist neighbours have long sparred over the sea, through which $5 trillion in shipping trade passes annually and which is believed to sit atop vast gas reserves. Hanoi and Beijing agreed Monday to keep the peace in the sea, the countries said in a joint statement during a state visit to Hanoi by Chinese President Xi Jinping. They agreed to "well manage disputes at sea, make no moves that may complicate or expand disputes, (and) maintain peace and stability on the East Sea," the Vietnamese version of the statement said, using Hanoi's term for the waters. China claims nearly all of the sea, even approaching the coasts of its neighbours. It is also partly claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan in addition to Vietnam. China has in recent years built artificial islands and airstrips capable of hosting military installations in contested areas to cement its claims, inflaming tensions with its neighbours. Relations between China and Vietnam hit a low in 2014 when Beijing moved an oil rig into waters claimed by Vietnam, sparking weeks of protests. There have been two armed conflicts between China and Vietnam in the sea -- brief clashes in 1974 and 1988 that claimed the lives of dozens of Vietnamese troops. On Sunday US President Donald Trump offered to help Vietnam resolve the long-simmering tensions. "If I can help mediate or arbitrate, please let me know... I am a very good mediator," Trump said on his own state visit to Hanoi at the tail end of his marathon tour of Asia. Vietnam offered no response. And China, which has long insisted the United States has no role to play in the dispute, spoke out against what it deemed foreign interference. "We hope non-regional countries can respect the regional countries' efforts in maintaining the regional stability of the South China Sea and play a constructive role in this aspect," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. More talks agreed Trump was in Manila on Monday for meetings with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and several other countries. At that meeting, China and ASEAN, which includes Vietnam, announced on Monday night they had agreed to begin talks on a much-delayed code of conduct for the sea. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sealed the accord with the ASEAN leaders in Manila, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. However, no timeframe was announced for an actual code. China initially agreed in 2002 to begin talks on a code but delayed doing so while carrying out its expansionist strategy. And at China's insistence, ASEAN also agreed in August that any future code would not be legally binding, despite a strong push from Vietnam. After the Philippines backed China's position, ASEAN agreed it would not have legal force. The Philippines had for many years stood alongside Vietnam as one of the region's strongest opponents to Chinese expansionism. Following Manila's complaint to a United Nations-backed tribunal, the panel ruled last year that China's territorial claims in the sea were without legal basis. But the Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte took office last year, decided not to use the ruling to pressure China. He instead chose to build closer ties in return for billions of dollars in investments and aid. Critics accused Duterte of giving in to Beijing. But he said his tactics had eased tensions and opened the door to dialogue.

Vietnam, China agree to avoid conflicts in South China Sea

China today said that regional cooperation should neither be politicised nor exclusionary, responding to US President Donald Trump&#39;s use of the term &quot;Indo-Pacific&quot; during his trip to Asia.

&quot;Indo-Pacific&quot; has grown in usage across diplomatic and security circles in Australia, India and Japan in recent years, shorthand for a broader and democratic-led region in place of the &quot;Asia-Pacific&quot;, which to some places an authoritarian China too firmly at the centre.

Trump and his team have given it fresh currency in recent days, starting during stops in Tokyo and Seoul, building on the rhetoric of his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who last month talked of the need to support a &quot;free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific&quot;.

Although Trump was addressing a meeting alongside the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in the Vietnamese city of Danang on Friday, he repeatedly referred to the Indo-Pacific region and mentioned the importance of India in his speech.

Asked about China&#39;s view of the Indo-Pacific concept, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that peaceful development and win-win cooperation were the trends of the times.

&quot;All sides can come up with their own plans and positions on how to promote regional cooperation,&quot; Geng told a daily news briefing in Beijing.

&quot;But we hope that plans and positions can accord with and conform to this trend, can suit the general trend of events in the world, and that the relevant plans and positions are open and inclusive, benefiting the promotion of win-win cooperation by all sides, and avoid politicised or exclusionary arrangements.&quot;

China has been busy promoting President Xi Jinping&#39;s Belt and Road initiative, an extensive infrastructure plan to recreate the ancient Silk Road, linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe, which critics say is more about spreading Chinese influence.

China says it is simply a development project for common prosperity that any country is welcome to join.

'Indo-Pacific' has grown in usage across diplomatic and security circles in Australia, India and Japan in recent years

China today said that regional cooperation should neither be politicised nor exclusionary, responding to US President Donald Trump's use of the term "Indo-Pacific" during his trip to Asia. "Indo-Pacific" has grown in usage across diplomatic and security circles in Australia, India and Japan in recent years, shorthand for a broader and democratic-led region in place of the "Asia-Pacific", which to some places an authoritarian China too firmly at the centre. Trump and his team have given it fresh currency in recent days, starting during stops in Tokyo and Seoul, building on the rhetoric of his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who last month talked of the need to support a "free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific". Although Trump was addressing a meeting alongside the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in the Vietnamese city of Danang on Friday, he repeatedly referred to the Indo-Pacific region and mentioned the importance of India in his speech. Asked about China's view of the Indo-Pacific concept, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that peaceful development and win-win cooperation were the trends of the times. "All sides can come up with their own plans and positions on how to promote regional cooperation," Geng told a daily news briefing in Beijing. "But we hope that plans and positions can accord with and conform to this trend, can suit the general trend of events in the world, and that the relevant plans and positions are open and inclusive, benefiting the promotion of win-win cooperation by all sides, and avoid politicised or exclusionary arrangements." China has been busy promoting President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative, an extensive infrastructure plan to recreate the ancient Silk Road, linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe, which critics say is more about spreading Chinese influence. China says it is simply a development project for common prosperity that any country is welcome to join.

Trump says 'Indo Pacific' & not 'Asia Pacific', China reacts

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015">PM Modi in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015">Philippines</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015">today for</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015"> ASEAN Summit</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his three-day visit to the Philippines today, key features of which will be his participation in the ASEAN Summit on November 13 and the the 12th East Asia summit and ASEAN business and investment summit on Tuesday. &nbsp;

The Prime Minister will also meet some of the other world leaders, who are participating in both summits including US President Donald Trump, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Brunei&#39;s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. 
 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lebanon-asks-saudi-arabia-for-explanation-on-pms-absence-24014">Lebanon asks Saudi Arabia for explanation on PM&#39;s absence</a>

Lebanon&#39;s president urged Saudi Arabia on Saturday to explain why Saad Hariri had not returned to Beirut since his surprise resignation as prime minister a week ago.

Hariri announced on November 4 in a televised statement from Riyadh that he would be stepping down from the post, sending shock waves through Lebanese politics.&nbsp;

The premier has yet to return to Lebanon and rumours have swirled that he is being held in Saudi Arabia against his will.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-doctors-strike-14-arrested-100-others-agree-to-resume-work-24016">Rajasthan doctors&#39; strike: 14 arrested, 100 others agree to resume work</a>

Fourteen doctors have been detained under the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenace Act (RESMA) for refusing to call off their strike.

The state police launched a search operation on Thursday evening for the rest while 100 other agitating doctors agreed to resume their work. 
 
The health services in four districts of Rajasthan have taken a plunge after over 8,000 government doctors in Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar districts went on strike on Monday over various demands that include the formation of a separate cadre of in-service doctors, Rs 10,000 grade pay benefit, and running government health centers in a single shift.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-putin-agree-no-military-solution-in-syria-24012">Trump, Putin agree &#39;no military solution&#39; in Syria</a>

The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was &quot;no military solution&quot; to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/woman-and-child-towed-away-in-car-by-police-24001">Mumbai cop tow car with sick woman breastfeeding baby</a> 
 
In a ghastly incident, a Mumbai Police constable towed away a car with a sick&nbsp;woman seated in the&nbsp;rear seat breastfeeding her&nbsp;seven-month-old child.

Reports say&nbsp;the policeman decided to tow away the car&nbsp;due to illegal parking. 
&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mXoU-pOCfqU" width="770"></iframe>

PM Modi in Philippines today for ASEAN Summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his three-day visit to the Philippines today, key features of which will be his participation in the ASEAN Summit on November 13 and the the 12th East Asia summit and ASEAN business and investment summit on Tuesday. The Prime Minister will also meet some of the other world leaders, who are participating in both summits including US President Donald Trump, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. Lebanon asks Saudi Arabia for explanation on PM's absence Lebanon's president urged Saudi Arabia on Saturday to explain why Saad Hariri had not returned to Beirut since his surprise resignation as prime minister a week ago. Hariri announced on November 4 in a televised statement from Riyadh that he would be stepping down from the post, sending shock waves through Lebanese politics. The premier has yet to return to Lebanon and rumours have swirled that he is being held in Saudi Arabia against his will. Rajasthan doctors' strike: 14 arrested, 100 others agree to resume work Fourteen doctors have been detained under the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenace Act (RESMA) for refusing to call off their strike. The state police launched a search operation on Thursday evening for the rest while 100 other agitating doctors agreed to resume their work. The health services in four districts of Rajasthan have taken a plunge after over 8,000 government doctors in Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar districts went on strike on Monday over various demands that include the formation of a separate cadre of in-service doctors, Rs 10,000 grade pay benefit, and running government health centers in a single shift. Trump, Putin agree 'no military solution' in Syria The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was "no military solution" to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam. The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war. Mumbai cop tow car with sick woman breastfeeding baby In a ghastly incident, a Mumbai Police constable towed away a car with a sick woman seated in the rear seat breastfeeding her seven-month-old child. Reports say the policeman decided to tow away the car due to illegal parking.

Morning news brief, November 12, 2017: Top 5 stories

The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was &quot;no military solution&quot; to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

There had been mixed messages for days from both Moscow and the White House on whether President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would hold face-to-face discussions during the APEC summit in Danang.

The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war.

The US and Russia have backed competing factions in the bloody conflict, and agreement on the next steps towards peace is rare.

&quot;The presidents agreed that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria,&quot; the statement said, adding that the two sides &quot;confirmed their determination to defeat ISIS&quot; -- an alternative name for the Islamic State jihadist group.

The statement added that the two sides had agreed to keep military channels open to avoid potential clashes over Syria and urged the warring sides to participate in UN-led peace talks in Geneva.

Russia has run a major bombing campaign in Syria since 2015, when it stepped in to support President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s fight against rebels -- some of them US-backed -- tipping the conflict in his favour.

The Russian military has recently accused the United States of merely &quot;pretending&quot; to fight IS in Iraq and of hindering the Russian-backed offensive in eastern Syria.

But Saturday&#39;s joint statement expressed satisfaction with efforts to prevent incidents between their respective forces in Syria.

&quot;The Presidents affirmed their commitment to Syria&#39;s sovereignty, unity, independence, territorial integrity, and non-sectarian character,&quot; it said.

According to senior State Department officials, the statement was the result of &quot;months of fairly intense discussions&quot; and was finalised on the margins of the APEC summit between diplomats.

It represents Russia&#39;s firm committment to the UN-backed peace process, one of the officials said.

&quot;We made very clear that there will not be any reconstruction aid in Syria until there is a meaningful political process moving along the timeline,&quot; he said.

&quot;I cannot speak to the Russians, but I think it might be one of the reasons why they clearly committed to the fact that the ultimate resolution to the civil war will be under the Geneva process,&quot; he added.

A new round of talks is scheduled to be held in Geneva from November 28, the UN special envoy for Syria announced Thursday.

There have been seven previous sessions between the Syrian regime and the opposition, which failed to overcome the main obstacle -- the fate of President Assad.

Haunted relationship 
 
Trump&#39;s relationship with Moscow has haunted the first year of his presidency, with key former aides under a US investigation for alleged collaboration with the Kremlin.

Putin and Trump last held face-to-face talks at a G20 summit earlier in the year, and there was intense speculation over whether they would so do again in Danang.&nbsp;

After the pair met on the sidelines of the APEC summit, Trump said he believes Putin was sincere when he denied meddling in the US election that propelled Trump to power, adding that the Russian leader felt &quot;very insulted&quot; by the allegations.

Overly amicable talks between Trump and Putin in Vietnam risked being an awkward sell for the White House, as it vigorously denies any undue links with the Kremlin. 
&nbsp;

The US and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was 'no military solution' to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam

The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was "no military solution" to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam. There had been mixed messages for days from both Moscow and the White House on whether President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would hold face-to-face discussions during the APEC summit in Danang. The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war. The US and Russia have backed competing factions in the bloody conflict, and agreement on the next steps towards peace is rare. "The presidents agreed that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria," the statement said, adding that the two sides "confirmed their determination to defeat ISIS" -- an alternative name for the Islamic State jihadist group. The statement added that the two sides had agreed to keep military channels open to avoid potential clashes over Syria and urged the warring sides to participate in UN-led peace talks in Geneva. Russia has run a major bombing campaign in Syria since 2015, when it stepped in to support President Bashar al-Assad's fight against rebels -- some of them US-backed -- tipping the conflict in his favour. The Russian military has recently accused the United States of merely "pretending" to fight IS in Iraq and of hindering the Russian-backed offensive in eastern Syria. But Saturday's joint statement expressed satisfaction with efforts to prevent incidents between their respective forces in Syria. "The Presidents affirmed their commitment to Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence, territorial integrity, and non-sectarian character," it said. According to senior State Department officials, the statement was the result of "months of fairly intense discussions" and was finalised on the margins of the APEC summit between diplomats. It represents Russia's firm committment to the UN-backed peace process, one of the officials said. "We made very clear that there will not be any reconstruction aid in Syria until there is a meaningful political process moving along the timeline," he said. "I cannot speak to the Russians, but I think it might be one of the reasons why they clearly committed to the fact that the ultimate resolution to the civil war will be under the Geneva process," he added. A new round of talks is scheduled to be held in Geneva from November 28, the UN special envoy for Syria announced Thursday. There have been seven previous sessions between the Syrian regime and the opposition, which failed to overcome the main obstacle -- the fate of President Assad. Haunted relationship Trump's relationship with Moscow has haunted the first year of his presidency, with key former aides under a US investigation for alleged collaboration with the Kremlin. Putin and Trump last held face-to-face talks at a G20 summit earlier in the year, and there was intense speculation over whether they would so do again in Danang. After the pair met on the sidelines of the APEC summit, Trump said he believes Putin was sincere when he denied meddling in the US election that propelled Trump to power, adding that the Russian leader felt "very insulted" by the allegations. Overly amicable talks between Trump and Putin in Vietnam risked being an awkward sell for the White House, as it vigorously denies any undue links with the Kremlin.

Trump, Putin agree 'no military solution' in Syria

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump will hold bilateral talks here on Monday.

The two will hold the meeting on the sidelines of the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) India summit and the 12th East Asia Summit in the Philippine capital.

The two leaders also met briefly on Sunday as they arrived for the event.

Later, PM Modi and Trump also posed for a family photograph with others leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, participating in the event.

Prime Minister Modi is on a three-day visit to Manila to attend the ASEAN India summit and East Asia Summit on November 14. Terror and Trade related issues will be on top of Modi&#39;s agenda during his visit.

Meanwhile, Philippines is the last leg of Trump&#39;s five-nation tour of Asia that also took him to Japan, China and South Korea.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will participate in special celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN.

The Prime Minister will also attend the ASEAN business and investment summit on November 13 and regional comprehensive economic partnership meeting on November 14 in Manila.

Prime Minister Modi will also meet the members of the Indian community at a reception to be hosted by the Indian envoy in Philippines.

He will also visit the international rice research institute and the Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

&nbsp;

The two will hold the meeting on the sidelines of the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) India summit and the 12th East Asia Summit in the Philippine capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump will hold bilateral talks here on Monday. The two will hold the meeting on the sidelines of the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) India summit and the 12th East Asia Summit in the Philippine capital. The two leaders also met briefly on Sunday as they arrived for the event. Later, PM Modi and Trump also posed for a family photograph with others leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, participating in the event. Prime Minister Modi is on a three-day visit to Manila to attend the ASEAN India summit and East Asia Summit on November 14. Terror and Trade related issues will be on top of Modi's agenda during his visit. Meanwhile, Philippines is the last leg of Trump's five-nation tour of Asia that also took him to Japan, China and South Korea. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will participate in special celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. The Prime Minister will also attend the ASEAN business and investment summit on November 13 and regional comprehensive economic partnership meeting on November 14 in Manila. Prime Minister Modi will also meet the members of the Indian community at a reception to be hosted by the Indian envoy in Philippines. He will also visit the international rice research institute and the Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

PM Modi, Trump to hold bilateral talks in Manila

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump landed in the Philippines on Sunday for a summit of Southeast and East Asian nations, hours after offering to mediate on competing claims to the South China Sea that have long stoked tensions in the region.

It will be the last leg of a marathon Asia tour that, despite Trump&#39;s &quot;America First&quot; policy, may reassure some that his administration remains committed to a region that Beijing sees as its strategic domain.

In Vietnam earlier on Sunday, Trump said he was prepared to mediate in the dispute over the South China Sea, where four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan contest China&#39;s sweeping claims to the busy waterway.

But Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, host of two days of summit meetings that will bring together Southeast Asian and East Asian nations, said the thorny issue was better left untouched. All the claimants will be at the summit, except for Taiwan.

&quot;We have to be friends, the other hotheads would like us to confront China and the rest of the world on so many issues,&quot; Duterte said at a pre-summit business conference in Manila.

&quot;The South China Sea is better left untouched, nobody can afford to go to war. It can ill-afford a violent confrontation.&quot;

The United States and its former colony, the Philippines, have been strategic allies since World War Two.

Trump is expected to try during the summit to shore up relations, which have been strained by the mercurial Duterte&#39;s notorious anti-US&nbsp;sentiment and his enthusiasm for better ties with Russia and China.

Police used water canon to prevent hundreds of protesters reaching the US&nbsp;embassy in Manila ahead of Trump&#39;s arrival.

Carrying placards declaring &quot;Dump Trump&quot; and &quot;Down with US&nbsp;Imperialism&quot;, the left-wing protesters were blocked by police in riot gear with shields and batons, and then showered with jets of water from a fire engine.

&quot;Trump is the CEO of the imperialist government of the US, said 18-year-old student Alexis Danday after the protesters were scattered. &quot;We know he is here to push for unfair treaties between the Philippines and the US&quot;

On a tour that has taken him to Japan, South Korea, China and Vietnam, Trump and his team have repeatedly used the term &quot;Indo-Pacific&quot; instead of &quot;Asia-Pacific&quot; for the region, which some see as an effort to depict it as more than China-dominated.

Pacific Rim nation leaders agreed in Vietnam on Saturday to address &quot;unfair trade practices&quot; and &quot;market distorting subsidies&quot;, a statement that bore the imprint of Trump&#39;s efforts to reshape the global trade landscape.

The summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Vietnam put on show the contrasting vision of the &quot;America First&quot; policy with the traditional consensus favouring multinational deals that China now seeks to champion.

Leaders at the Philippines summit will discuss the South China Sea, but mainly to agree on a procedural step to cool tensions.

In August, foreign ministers of Southeast Asia and China adopted a negotiating framework for a code of conduct in the resource-rich waterway, a move they hailed as progress but one seen by critics as a tactic to buy China time to consolidate its power.

The framework seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea. The DOC has mostly been ignored by claimant states, particularly China, which has built seven man-made islands in disputed waters, three of them equipped with runways, surface-to-air missiles and radars.

The framework will be endorsed by China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday, a diplomat from one of the regional bloc&#39;s countries said.

Others who will be in Manila for the summit meetings include Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and leaders from Japan, Canada, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

It will be the last leg of a marathon Asia tour that, despite Trump's "America First" policy, may reassure some that his administration remains committed to a region that Beijing sees as its strategic domain.

US President Donald Trump landed in the Philippines on Sunday for a summit of Southeast and East Asian nations, hours after offering to mediate on competing claims to the South China Sea that have long stoked tensions in the region. It will be the last leg of a marathon Asia tour that, despite Trump's "America First" policy, may reassure some that his administration remains committed to a region that Beijing sees as its strategic domain. In Vietnam earlier on Sunday, Trump said he was prepared to mediate in the dispute over the South China Sea, where four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan contest China's sweeping claims to the busy waterway. But Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, host of two days of summit meetings that will bring together Southeast Asian and East Asian nations, said the thorny issue was better left untouched. All the claimants will be at the summit, except for Taiwan. "We have to be friends, the other hotheads would like us to confront China and the rest of the world on so many issues," Duterte said at a pre-summit business conference in Manila. "The South China Sea is better left untouched, nobody can afford to go to war. It can ill-afford a violent confrontation." The United States and its former colony, the Philippines, have been strategic allies since World War Two. Trump is expected to try during the summit to shore up relations, which have been strained by the mercurial Duterte's notorious anti-US sentiment and his enthusiasm for better ties with Russia and China. Police used water canon to prevent hundreds of protesters reaching the US embassy in Manila ahead of Trump's arrival. Carrying placards declaring "Dump Trump" and "Down with US Imperialism", the left-wing protesters were blocked by police in riot gear with shields and batons, and then showered with jets of water from a fire engine. "Trump is the CEO of the imperialist government of the US, said 18-year-old student Alexis Danday after the protesters were scattered. "We know he is here to push for unfair treaties between the Philippines and the US" On a tour that has taken him to Japan, South Korea, China and Vietnam, Trump and his team have repeatedly used the term "Indo-Pacific" instead of "Asia-Pacific" for the region, which some see as an effort to depict it as more than China-dominated. Pacific Rim nation leaders agreed in Vietnam on Saturday to address "unfair trade practices" and "market distorting subsidies", a statement that bore the imprint of Trump's efforts to reshape the global trade landscape. The summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Vietnam put on show the contrasting vision of the "America First" policy with the traditional consensus favouring multinational deals that China now seeks to champion. Leaders at the Philippines summit will discuss the South China Sea, but mainly to agree on a procedural step to cool tensions. In August, foreign ministers of Southeast Asia and China adopted a negotiating framework for a code of conduct in the resource-rich waterway, a move they hailed as progress but one seen by critics as a tactic to buy China time to consolidate its power. The framework seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea. The DOC has mostly been ignored by claimant states, particularly China, which has built seven man-made islands in disputed waters, three of them equipped with runways, surface-to-air missiles and radars. The framework will be endorsed by China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday, a diplomat from one of the regional bloc's countries said. Others who will be in Manila for the summit meetings include Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and leaders from Japan, Canada, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Trump lands in Philippines, offers to mediate on South China Sea

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and several other world leaders will descend in Manila on Sunday for the ASEAN summit which is set to extensively deliberate on evolving security challenges facing South East Asia.

The annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), a grouping of 10 influential countries, is taking place amid China&#39;s aggressive behaviour in the disputed the South China Sea and North Korea&#39;s nuclear missile tests and both these issues are likely to figure prominently during discussions among the leaders, a senior diplomat said here.

Prime Minister Modi will attend the 15th ASEAN-India summit and 12th East Asia summit on November 14 during which he is likely to reassert India&#39;s call for crafting a coordinated global initiative in dealing with traditional and non-traditional threats facing the region.

The ties between India and ASEAN have been on an upswing in the last few years with the focus being on ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence.

&quot;Every single country in the ASEAN region wants India to be more engaged in the region in every possible way. That is the real synergy we have with ASEAN,&quot; Indian Ambassador to Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar told Press Trust of India.

The US, France and Japan have been pitching for a larger role by India in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region where China has been trying to increase its military presence.

Majumdar said terrorism is going to be one of the issues that will be discussed not only during the ASEAN summit but also at the East Asia summit.

He said several documents are going to be adopted with an aim to contain terrorism, including one on stopping money laundering for the purpose of terrorism.

Besides holding bilateral talks with Philippines&#39; President Rodrigo Duterte, Modi is expected to meet many leaders attending the two summits, including President Trump.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev are among other prominent leaders who are scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit.

While ASEAN summit is likely to focus more on trade and investment-related issues, leaders at the East Asia Summit are expected to delve deep into issues relating to maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation and migration.

Apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US.

In the ASEAN-India summit, both sides are expected to explore ways to further enhance trade and investment ties.

The ASEAN region along with India together comprises the combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one-fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated to be over $3.8 trillion.

Investment from ASEAN to India has been over $70 billion in the last 17 years, accounting for more than 17 per cent of India&#39;s total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

India&#39;s investment in ASEAN during the same period has been more than $40 billion.

India&#39;s proposal to host an international conference on countering radicalisation may also be discussed during the deliberations at Manila as New Delhi is now looking at finalising the dates for the conclave.

Prime minister Modi will also participate in the ASEAN business and investment summit as well as a meeting of leaders of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The RCEP, comprising 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries &mdash; India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand &mdash; is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact.

In his maiden visit to the Philippines as the prime minister, Modi will also attend a reception by the Indian community and visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Donald Trump and ther leaders to arrive in Manila tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and several other world leaders will descend in Manila on Sunday for the ASEAN summit which is set to extensively deliberate on evolving security challenges facing South East Asia. The annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), a grouping of 10 influential countries, is taking place amid China's aggressive behaviour in the disputed the South China Sea and North Korea's nuclear missile tests and both these issues are likely to figure prominently during discussions among the leaders, a senior diplomat said here. Prime Minister Modi will attend the 15th ASEAN-India summit and 12th East Asia summit on November 14 during which he is likely to reassert India's call for crafting a coordinated global initiative in dealing with traditional and non-traditional threats facing the region. The ties between India and ASEAN have been on an upswing in the last few years with the focus being on ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence. "Every single country in the ASEAN region wants India to be more engaged in the region in every possible way. That is the real synergy we have with ASEAN," Indian Ambassador to Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar told Press Trust of India. The US, France and Japan have been pitching for a larger role by India in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region where China has been trying to increase its military presence. Majumdar said terrorism is going to be one of the issues that will be discussed not only during the ASEAN summit but also at the East Asia summit. He said several documents are going to be adopted with an aim to contain terrorism, including one on stopping money laundering for the purpose of terrorism. Besides holding bilateral talks with Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte, Modi is expected to meet many leaders attending the two summits, including President Trump. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev are among other prominent leaders who are scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit. While ASEAN summit is likely to focus more on trade and investment-related issues, leaders at the East Asia Summit are expected to delve deep into issues relating to maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation and migration. Apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US. In the ASEAN-India summit, both sides are expected to explore ways to further enhance trade and investment ties. The ASEAN region along with India together comprises the combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one-fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated to be over $3.8 trillion. Investment from ASEAN to India has been over $70 billion in the last 17 years, accounting for more than 17 per cent of India's total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). India's investment in ASEAN during the same period has been more than $40 billion. India's proposal to host an international conference on countering radicalisation may also be discussed during the deliberations at Manila as New Delhi is now looking at finalising the dates for the conclave. Prime minister Modi will also participate in the ASEAN business and investment summit as well as a meeting of leaders of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP, comprising 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries — India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand — is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact. In his maiden visit to the Philippines as the prime minister, Modi will also attend a reception by the Indian community and visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

Modi likely to reassert call for crafting global initiative to deal with threats at ASEAN summit

&nbsp;Former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has accused the United States of colluding with ISIS&nbsp;in his country.

&quot;In my view under the full presence, surveillance, military, political, intelligence, Daesh&nbsp;(Arabic name of the IS)&nbsp;has emerged,&quot; Karzai said in an interview to Al Jazeera.

Karzai said that the US allowed Daeshto flourish inside Afghanistan.

&quot;The Trump administration made IS as an excuse to drop a massive bomb in Afghanistan on April 2017&quot;, he said.

&quot;And the next day, Daesh takes the next district in Afghanistan. That proves to us that there is a hand in it and that hand can be no one else but them in Afghanistan,&quot; the former Afghan leader added.

The US military had dropped a GBU-43, most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the Achin district of Afghanistan&#39;s Nangarhar province in April.

The explosive, also known as the &#39;mother of all bombs&#39;m(MOAB), was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area, the report said.

Meanwhile, in the interview, Karzai also said that he welcomed a recent call by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan, including those committed during his tenure in office.

The Trump administration made IS as an excuse to drop a massive bomb in Afghanistan on April 2017

Former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has accused the United States of colluding with ISIS in his country. "In my view under the full presence, surveillance, military, political, intelligence, Daesh (Arabic name of the IS) has emerged," Karzai said in an interview to Al Jazeera. Karzai said that the US allowed Daeshto flourish inside Afghanistan. "The Trump administration made IS as an excuse to drop a massive bomb in Afghanistan on April 2017", he said. "And the next day, Daesh takes the next district in Afghanistan. That proves to us that there is a hand in it and that hand can be no one else but them in Afghanistan," the former Afghan leader added. The US military had dropped a GBU-43, most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province in April. The explosive, also known as the 'mother of all bombs'm(MOAB), was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area, the report said. Meanwhile, in the interview, Karzai also said that he welcomed a recent call by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan, including those committed during his tenure in office.

US colluded with IS in Afghanistan: Karzai

US President Donald Trump praised PM Modi on India achieving &#39;astounding growth&#39; at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam&nbsp;today.

&quot;Since India opened its economy, it has achieved astounding growth and a new world of opportunities for its expanding middle class,&quot; Trump said.

Speaking at the gathering of CEOs, the US President said: &quot;Prime Minister Modi has been working to bring that vast country and all of its people as one. And he has been working at it very successfully indeed.&quot;

Prime Minister Modi will be leaving for the Philippines on Sunday to attend the India-ASEAN and East Asia summits.

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Modi will be leaving for the Philippines on Sunday to attend the India-ASEAN and East Asia summits.

US President Donald Trump praised PM Modi on India achieving 'astounding growth' at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam today. "Since India opened its economy, it has achieved astounding growth and a new world of opportunities for its expanding middle class," Trump said. Speaking at the gathering of CEOs, the US President said: "Prime Minister Modi has been working to bring that vast country and all of its people as one. And he has been working at it very successfully indeed." Prime Minister Modi will be leaving for the Philippines on Sunday to attend the India-ASEAN and East Asia summits.

India has?achieved astounding growth, says Trump at APEC

U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Vietnam on Friday for a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations, the fourth leg of his 12-day Asia trip.

The White House has said Trump will set out a US vision for a &ldquo;free and open Indo-Pacific region&rdquo; in a speech in the beach resort of Danang.

Trump arrived from China, where he praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping as &ldquo;highly respected&rdquo; and Chinese media had declared the visit had set a &ldquo;new blueprint&rdquo; for handling US-China relations and differences.

The White House has said Trump will set out a US vision for a 'free and open Indo-Pacific region' in a speech in the beach resort of Danang

U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Vietnam on Friday for a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations, the fourth leg of his 12-day Asia trip. The White House has said Trump will set out a US vision for a “free and open Indo-Pacific region” in a speech in the beach resort of Danang. Trump arrived from China, where he praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping as “highly respected” and Chinese media had declared the visit had set a “new blueprint” for handling US-China relations and differences.

Trump arrives in Vietnam for summit of Asia-Pacific leaders

China will raise foreign ownership limits in financial firms in a step granting access to a tantalizing multi-trillion dollar financial services market, as the world&#39;s second-biggest economy seeks to position itself as a major global finance hub.

The move, announced on Friday by vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao, comes a day after US&nbsp;President Donald Trump reiterated calls for better access to Chinese markets in meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi is driving broad economic reforms by opening up China&rsquo;s capital markets, internationalising the yuan currency, and seeking technical know-how through the pursuit of massive inbound and outbound investments.

The latest changes include raising the limit on foreign ownership in joint-venture firms involved in the futures, securities and funds markets to 51 per cent from the current 49 per cent.

They will take effect immediately following the drafting of specific related rules, Zhu told a news conference, adding China is &quot;formulating a timetable and roadmap for financial sector reform and opening up&quot;.

The foreign business community gave a cautious welcome to the news.

&quot;Financial services further opening definitely has been high on our list,&quot; said Ken Jarrett, President of American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

&quot;It&#39;s a step in the right direction. We&#39;ll have to see the detailed rules. In China you always have to pay attention to the fine print to see how quickly it moves, but to finally ease up on the cap is something that is welcome.&quot;

The plan to ease ownership restrictions comes as Beijing faces mounting pressure from Western governments and business lobbies to remove investment barriers and onerous regulations that restrict overseas companies&#39; operations in its markets.

During his trip to Beijing this week, Trump said that trade between the two nations was unfair, and called for greater market access for US&nbsp;companies.

&quot;We really have to look at access, forced technology transfer, and the theft of intellectual property, which just, by and of itself, is costing the United States and its companies at least $300 billion a year,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;Both the United States and China will have a more prosperous future if we can achieve a level economic playing field. Right now, unfortunately, it is a very one-sided and unfair one.&quot;

Reuters reported on Tuesday that China planned to allow global banks to take a stake of up to 51 per cent in their onshore securities ventures for the first time and tie up with local non-financial firms.

China has been sluggish to give foreign players more access to its financial sector, but has promised to quicken the pace as foreign investment into Asia&#39;s economic powerhouse slows.

It has implemented strict capital controls to contain capital outflows, while opening up new channels for foreign money to come into the domestic markets.

Foreign financial firms are still small players in the financial sector, and the sheer size of the market is a big lure for overseas players.

Western investment banks operating through joint ventures with local partners in China have struggled to make much headway in the last decade, with many of them loss-making as they struggle to win business against much larger local rivals.

A Reuters survey of data from China&rsquo;s Securities Association in 2014 found that the average sino-foreign JV lost 21 million yuan a year over the prior 10 years.

However, several have said they would be keen to invest more in China and do more broking and investment banking if they had full control over their joint ventures.

UBS, which holds a 25 per cent interest in domestic firm UBS Securities Co Ltd, said the changes on Friday were an important step in further opening up China&#39;s financial sector.

&quot;China is a key market for UBS and, as indicated previously, we continue to work towards increasing our stake in UBS Securities Co Ltd&quot;, said Eugene Qian, Chairman of UBS China Strategy Board and a member of the Asia Pacific Executive Committee.

Morgan Stanley, which earlier this year increased its stake in joint venture Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities from 33 per cent to the then upper limit of 49 per cent, said the reforms would create new momentum for the finance industry in China.

&quot;Morgan Stanley is committed to growing our businesses in China,&quot; said a spokesman for the firm.

Some industry watchers said the changes are too little too late.

&quot;This looks good, but in reality it is pretty small and it is too late,&quot; said Keith Pogson, head of the Asia financial services team at EY.

&quot;If you are an international investment bank, you will be there for the sake of your global franchise and having it as part of your network, not because you think you will make much money in China.&quot;

All the same, markets reacted positively to the news, with insurers and futures-related firms rallying strongly.

New China Life Insurance jumped nearly 6 per cent after the announcement, while Ping An Insurance advanced more than 4 per cent and China Pacific Insurance Group rose over 3 per cent.

China will drop foreign ownership restrictions on local banks and asset management companies, Zhu said.

Full foreign ownership of local firms involved in the futures, securities and funds markets will not be permitted until after three years, while full overseas ownership of insurance firms will be allowed only after five years.

($1 = 6.6388 Chinese yuan renminbi)

The move, announced on Friday by vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao, comes a day after US President Donald Trump reiterated calls for better access to Chinese markets in meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China will raise foreign ownership limits in financial firms in a step granting access to a tantalizing multi-trillion dollar financial services market, as the world's second-biggest economy seeks to position itself as a major global finance hub. The move, announced on Friday by vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao, comes a day after US President Donald Trump reiterated calls for better access to Chinese markets in meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi is driving broad economic reforms by opening up China’s capital markets, internationalising the yuan currency, and seeking technical know-how through the pursuit of massive inbound and outbound investments. The latest changes include raising the limit on foreign ownership in joint-venture firms involved in the futures, securities and funds markets to 51 per cent from the current 49 per cent. They will take effect immediately following the drafting of specific related rules, Zhu told a news conference, adding China is "formulating a timetable and roadmap for financial sector reform and opening up". The foreign business community gave a cautious welcome to the news. "Financial services further opening definitely has been high on our list," said Ken Jarrett, President of American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. "It's a step in the right direction. We'll have to see the detailed rules. In China you always have to pay attention to the fine print to see how quickly it moves, but to finally ease up on the cap is something that is welcome." The plan to ease ownership restrictions comes as Beijing faces mounting pressure from Western governments and business lobbies to remove investment barriers and onerous regulations that restrict overseas companies' operations in its markets. During his trip to Beijing this week, Trump said that trade between the two nations was unfair, and called for greater market access for US companies. "We really have to look at access, forced technology transfer, and the theft of intellectual property, which just, by and of itself, is costing the United States and its companies at least $300 billion a year," Trump said. "Both the United States and China will have a more prosperous future if we can achieve a level economic playing field. Right now, unfortunately, it is a very one-sided and unfair one." Reuters reported on Tuesday that China planned to allow global banks to take a stake of up to 51 per cent in their onshore securities ventures for the first time and tie up with local non-financial firms. China has been sluggish to give foreign players more access to its financial sector, but has promised to quicken the pace as foreign investment into Asia's economic powerhouse slows. It has implemented strict capital controls to contain capital outflows, while opening up new channels for foreign money to come into the domestic markets. Foreign financial firms are still small players in the financial sector, and the sheer size of the market is a big lure for overseas players. Western investment banks operating through joint ventures with local partners in China have struggled to make much headway in the last decade, with many of them loss-making as they struggle to win business against much larger local rivals. A Reuters survey of data from China’s Securities Association in 2014 found that the average sino-foreign JV lost 21 million yuan a year over the prior 10 years. However, several have said they would be keen to invest more in China and do more broking and investment banking if they had full control over their joint ventures. UBS, which holds a 25 per cent interest in domestic firm UBS Securities Co Ltd, said the changes on Friday were an important step in further opening up China's financial sector. "China is a key market for UBS and, as indicated previously, we continue to work towards increasing our stake in UBS Securities Co Ltd", said Eugene Qian, Chairman of UBS China Strategy Board and a member of the Asia Pacific Executive Committee. Morgan Stanley, which earlier this year increased its stake in joint venture Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities from 33 per cent to the then upper limit of 49 per cent, said the reforms would create new momentum for the finance industry in China. "Morgan Stanley is committed to growing our businesses in China," said a spokesman for the firm. Some industry watchers said the changes are too little too late. "This looks good, but in reality it is pretty small and it is too late," said Keith Pogson, head of the Asia financial services team at EY. "If you are an international investment bank, you will be there for the sake of your global franchise and having it as part of your network, not because you think you will make much money in China." All the same, markets reacted positively to the news, with insurers and futures-related firms rallying strongly. New China Life Insurance jumped nearly 6 per cent after the announcement, while Ping An Insurance advanced more than 4 per cent and China Pacific Insurance Group rose over 3 per cent. China will drop foreign ownership restrictions on local banks and asset management companies, Zhu said. Full foreign ownership of local firms involved in the futures, securities and funds markets will not be permitted until after three years, while full overseas ownership of insurance firms will be allowed only after five years. ($1 = 6.6388 Chinese yuan renminbi)

China widens foreign access to its giant financial sector

US President Donald Trump praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a &quot;highly respected and powerful representative of his people&quot; on Friday as he wrapped up his first state visit to Beijing.

Trump showered his host with accolades during two days of meetings during which the US leader sought to convince Xi to do more to reduce a trade deficit with China and rein in nuclear-armed North Korea.

&quot;My meetings with President Xi Jinping were very productive on both trade and the subject of North Korea,&quot; the US leader wrote on Twitter before flying to Vietnam for an Asia-Pacific summit.

&quot;He is a highly respected and powerful representative of his people. It was great being with him and Madame Peng Liyuan!&quot; he said, referring to Xi&#39;s wife.

Trump has repeatedly congratulated Xi for his reappointment as head of the Communist Party at a congress last month where he consolidated power -- raising eyebrows over the admiration of a non-democratic process.

US and Chinese firms signed more than $250 billion in business deals during Trump&#39;s visit, though analysts say many were nonbinding agreements that could take years to show any results and would do little to reduce the US-China trade imbalance.

Trump, who has softened his past criticism of China, again lambasted past US administrations for allowing the $350 billion trade deficit to balloon over the years.

&quot;I don&#39;t blame China, I blame the incompetence of past Admins for allowing China to take advantage of the US on trade leading up to a point where the US is losing $100&#39;s of billions,&quot; he wrote as he again circumvented China&#39;s Twitter ban.

&quot;How can you blame China for taking advantage of people that had no clue? I would&#39;ve done same!&quot;

China was the showpiece of Trump&#39;s five-nation tour of Asia, which ends on Monday.

During their talks on Thursday, Trump thanked Xi for his backing of United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang and China&#39;s own restrictions on banking for North Koreans.

While Xi said China was committed to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, he did not announce any new steps to squeeze the reclusive regime.

&#39;Very special man&#39;

Xi and Trump have struck up a friendship since their first meeting at the former real estate tycoon&#39;s Mar-a-Lago resort in April.

Xi treated Trump to a lavish &quot;state visit-plus&quot; that included a private tour of the Forbidden City, a military honour guard and a banquet.

The US leader called his host a &quot;very special man&quot; and showed him a video of his granddaughter singing ballads in Mandarin. The two men will be in the same room again at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Vietnamese resort of Danang.

First Lady Melania Trump did not join the president for the rest of his Asian tour, staying in Beijing on Friday to continue the US charm offensive. She will see pandas and visit the Great Wall.

&quot;Melania is staying behind to see the zoo, and of course, the Great WALL of China before going to Alaska to greet our AMAZING troops,&quot; Trump tweeted.

Trump, who wants to build his own massive wall along the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration, did not visit the Great Wall -- a usual stop for US presidents.

Chinese state-run media hailed the positive tone of the state visit, though the China Daily said in an editorial that &quot;the differences that had been pestering bilateral ties have not instantly disappeared&quot;.

Trump praised the Chinese president as a 'highly respected and powerful representative of his people'

US President Donald Trump praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a "highly respected and powerful representative of his people" on Friday as he wrapped up his first state visit to Beijing. Trump showered his host with accolades during two days of meetings during which the US leader sought to convince Xi to do more to reduce a trade deficit with China and rein in nuclear-armed North Korea. "My meetings with President Xi Jinping were very productive on both trade and the subject of North Korea," the US leader wrote on Twitter before flying to Vietnam for an Asia-Pacific summit. "He is a highly respected and powerful representative of his people. It was great being with him and Madame Peng Liyuan!" he said, referring to Xi's wife. Trump has repeatedly congratulated Xi for his reappointment as head of the Communist Party at a congress last month where he consolidated power -- raising eyebrows over the admiration of a non-democratic process. US and Chinese firms signed more than $250 billion in business deals during Trump's visit, though analysts say many were nonbinding agreements that could take years to show any results and would do little to reduce the US-China trade imbalance. Trump, who has softened his past criticism of China, again lambasted past US administrations for allowing the $350 billion trade deficit to balloon over the years. "I don't blame China, I blame the incompetence of past Admins for allowing China to take advantage of the US on trade leading up to a point where the US is losing $100's of billions," he wrote as he again circumvented China's Twitter ban. "How can you blame China for taking advantage of people that had no clue? I would've done same!" China was the showpiece of Trump's five-nation tour of Asia, which ends on Monday. During their talks on Thursday, Trump thanked Xi for his backing of United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang and China's own restrictions on banking for North Koreans. While Xi said China was committed to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, he did not announce any new steps to squeeze the reclusive regime. 'Very special man' Xi and Trump have struck up a friendship since their first meeting at the former real estate tycoon's Mar-a-Lago resort in April. Xi treated Trump to a lavish "state visit-plus" that included a private tour of the Forbidden City, a military honour guard and a banquet. The US leader called his host a "very special man" and showed him a video of his granddaughter singing ballads in Mandarin. The two men will be in the same room again at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Vietnamese resort of Danang. First Lady Melania Trump did not join the president for the rest of his Asian tour, staying in Beijing on Friday to continue the US charm offensive. She will see pandas and visit the Great Wall. "Melania is staying behind to see the zoo, and of course, the Great WALL of China before going to Alaska to greet our AMAZING troops," Trump tweeted. Trump, who wants to build his own massive wall along the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration, did not visit the Great Wall -- a usual stop for US presidents. Chinese state-run media hailed the positive tone of the state visit, though the China Daily said in an editorial that "the differences that had been pestering bilateral ties have not instantly disappeared".

Trump praises China's 'highly respected' Xi, wraps up visit

China today signed a deal to buy 300 Boeing airplanes even as President Trump pointed at &quot;one-sided and unfair&quot; US trade deficit with Beijing.

During the&nbsp;signing of the multi-billion dollar US-China Boeing deal, Trump said: After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?&quot; adding, &quot;this out-of-control trade deficit to take place and to grow&quot;.

&quot;I don&#39;t blame China,&quot; Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping.

&quot;We have to fix this because it just doesn&#39;t work, for our great American companies, and it doesn&rsquo;t work for our great American workers,&quot; Trump added.

America&#39;s Boing and European company Airbus have been competing hard for several years to corner the Chinese market which has grown exponentially.

According to the data by Civil Aviation Administration of China, 487 million the number of domestic and international journeys made last year in China.

The surge in air traffic has been fueled by a growing middle class in China with analysts predicting China will surpass the US &nbsp;as the world&#39;s largest commercial aviation market by 2030.&nbsp;

During the meeting with Trump, Xi said: &quot;I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road.&quot;

&quot;To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider,&quot; the Chinese president added.

America's Boing and European company Airbus have been competing hard for several years to corner the Chinese market

China today signed a deal to buy 300 Boeing airplanes even as President Trump pointed at "one-sided and unfair" US trade deficit with Beijing. During the signing of the multi-billion dollar US-China Boeing deal, Trump said: After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?" adding, "this out-of-control trade deficit to take place and to grow". "I don't blame China," Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping. "We have to fix this because it just doesn't work, for our great American companies, and it doesn’t work for our great American workers," Trump added. America's Boing and European company Airbus have been competing hard for several years to corner the Chinese market which has grown exponentially. According to the data by Civil Aviation Administration of China, 487 million the number of domestic and international journeys made last year in China. The surge in air traffic has been fueled by a growing middle class in China with analysts predicting China will surpass the US as the world's largest commercial aviation market by 2030. During the meeting with Trump, Xi said: "I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road." "To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider," the Chinese president added.

As US trade deficit grows, Trump says 'I don't blame China'

US President Donald Trump decried his country&#39;s &quot;one-sided and unfair&quot; trade deficit with Beijing on Thursday Thursday, but he told President Xi Jinping: &quot;I don&#39;t blame China.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?&quot; he said during a signing ceremony for over $250 billion in US-Chinese business deals.&nbsp;

The deals range from billions in Chinese soybean imports to major projects like the development and export of liquified natural gas from Alaska.&nbsp;

Speaking after talks with his Chinese counterpart, Trump said that China has to take greater action on market access, forced technology transfers and theft of intellectual property.&nbsp;

&quot;We have to fix this because it just doesn&#39;t work, for our great American companies, and it doesn&rsquo;t work for our great American workers,&quot; he said. 
 
Xi delivered a brief speech following Trump&#39;s remarks, where he said China welcomed the international business community.&nbsp;

&quot;To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider,&quot; Xi said.

&quot;I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road,&quot; Xi added.&nbsp;

He was referring to China&#39;s Silk Road project to revive ancient trade routes with a massive network of rail and maritime links.&nbsp;

Annually, the US runs a steep trade deficit in goods with China of about $350 billion. 
 
After the signing ceremony, China&#39;s commerce minister Zhong Shan praised the deals as &quot;truly a miracle, not just in the history of US-China relations, but in the history of the whole world&quot;.

But some analysts say any large deals will do little to shift the overall balance of trade unless the structural barriers preventing US businesses from competing fairly in China are changed.

The gas deal between the state of Alaska, Alaska Gasline Development Corp, China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec), China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the Bank of China involves a total investment of up to $43 billion.

Official said the joint development agreement will create up to 12,000 American jobs and reduce the trade deficit between the United States and Asia by $10 billion annually.

In turn, it will provide China with clean and affordable energy.

US, China announced over $250 bn in business deals during Trump's visit

US President Donald Trump decried his country's "one-sided and unfair" trade deficit with Beijing on Thursday Thursday, but he told President Xi Jinping: "I don't blame China." "After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?" he said during a signing ceremony for over $250 billion in US-Chinese business deals. The deals range from billions in Chinese soybean imports to major projects like the development and export of liquified natural gas from Alaska. Speaking after talks with his Chinese counterpart, Trump said that China has to take greater action on market access, forced technology transfers and theft of intellectual property. "We have to fix this because it just doesn't work, for our great American companies, and it doesn’t work for our great American workers," he said. Xi delivered a brief speech following Trump's remarks, where he said China welcomed the international business community. "To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider," Xi said. "I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road," Xi added. He was referring to China's Silk Road project to revive ancient trade routes with a massive network of rail and maritime links. Annually, the US runs a steep trade deficit in goods with China of about $350 billion. After the signing ceremony, China's commerce minister Zhong Shan praised the deals as "truly a miracle, not just in the history of US-China relations, but in the history of the whole world". But some analysts say any large deals will do little to shift the overall balance of trade unless the structural barriers preventing US businesses from competing fairly in China are changed. The gas deal between the state of Alaska, Alaska Gasline Development Corp, China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec), China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the Bank of China involves a total investment of up to $43 billion. Official said the joint development agreement will create up to 12,000 American jobs and reduce the trade deficit between the United States and Asia by $10 billion annually. In turn, it will provide China with clean and affordable energy.

Trump says trade surplus unfair, but 'I don't blame China'

US President Donald Trump urged China and Russia on Thursday to act fast to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, warning that &quot;time is quickly running out&quot;.

&quot;We must act fast. And hopefully China will act faster and more effectively on this problem than anyone,&quot; Trump said as he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Trump thanked Xi for his efforts to restrict trade with North Korea and cut off all banking ties with China&#39;s ally, but he urged him to do more.

&quot;China can fix this problem easily and quickly, and I am calling on China and your great president to hopefully work on it very hard,&quot; the US leader said.

&quot;I know one thing about your president: If he works on it hard, it will happen. There&#39;s no doubt about it.&quot;

Trump, who is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at an APEC summit in Vietnam this weekend, appealed for help from Moscow, which also has economic ties with North Korea.

&quot;I&#39;m also calling on Russia to help rein in this potentially very tragic situation,&quot; he said.

Trump earlier said he and Xi believe there is a solution to the nuclear standoff.

He did not elaborate on what the solution might be but his administration believes that China&#39;s economic leverage over North Korea is the key to strong-arming Pyongyang into halting its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.

China has called for negotiations to resolve the matter peacefully.

'We must act fast. And hopefully China will act faster and more effectively on this problem than anyone,' Trump said as he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing

US President Donald Trump urged China and Russia on Thursday to act fast to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, warning that "time is quickly running out". "We must act fast. And hopefully China will act faster and more effectively on this problem than anyone," Trump said as he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump thanked Xi for his efforts to restrict trade with North Korea and cut off all banking ties with China's ally, but he urged him to do more. "China can fix this problem easily and quickly, and I am calling on China and your great president to hopefully work on it very hard," the US leader said. "I know one thing about your president: If he works on it hard, it will happen. There's no doubt about it." Trump, who is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at an APEC summit in Vietnam this weekend, appealed for help from Moscow, which also has economic ties with North Korea. "I'm also calling on Russia to help rein in this potentially very tragic situation," he said. Trump earlier said he and Xi believe there is a solution to the nuclear standoff. He did not elaborate on what the solution might be but his administration believes that China's economic leverage over North Korea is the key to strong-arming Pyongyang into halting its nuclear weapons and missile programmes. China has called for negotiations to resolve the matter peacefully.

Trump urges China & Russia to act fast on North Korea, warns 'time is quickly running out'

Just a few hours after Trumps arrival in China, both countries have successfully signed deals worth 9 billion USD on Wednesday.&nbsp;

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang held a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People but no information was given about these 19 deals. &nbsp;

According to the South China Morning Post, China and the US. have sealed a total of 19 deals covering bioscience, aviation and smart manufacturing.

Wang said the agreements were merely a &ldquo;warmup&rdquo; before Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold their own ceremony on Thursday which would contain larger deals, including in exports of natural gas and soybeans.

&ldquo;Addressing the imbalance in China trade has been the central focus of collaborative discussions between President Trump and President Xi,&rdquo; Ross said.

&ldquo;Achieving fair and reciprocal treatment for the companies is a shared objective,&rdquo; he said.

Wang further said: Economic deals are &ldquo;an important ballast for the overall bilateral relationship&rdquo;, adding he believed they would contribute to its &ldquo;stabilisation&rdquo;.

The deal was signed along with 30 different representatives from the respective companies.&nbsp;

President Trump&#39;s Asia trip began on November 3. From China, he will leave for Vietnam and the Philippines.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(with input from agencies)

Wang said the agreements were merely a ?warmup? before Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold their own ceremony on Thursday which would contain larger deals, including in exports of natural gas and soybeans.

Just a few hours after Trumps arrival in China, both countries have successfully signed deals worth 9 billion USD on Wednesday. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang held a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People but no information was given about these 19 deals. According to the South China Morning Post, China and the US. have sealed a total of 19 deals covering bioscience, aviation and smart manufacturing. Wang said the agreements were merely a “warmup” before Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold their own ceremony on Thursday which would contain larger deals, including in exports of natural gas and soybeans. “Addressing the imbalance in China trade has been the central focus of collaborative discussions between President Trump and President Xi,” Ross said. “Achieving fair and reciprocal treatment for the companies is a shared objective,” he said. Wang further said: Economic deals are “an important ballast for the overall bilateral relationship”, adding he believed they would contribute to its “stabilisation”. The deal was signed along with 30 different representatives from the respective companies. President Trump's Asia trip began on November 3. From China, he will leave for Vietnam and the Philippines. (with input from agencies)

China and US sign deals worth 9 billion USD

The United States was in mourning Monday after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/texas-shooting-leaves-at-least-26-dead-officials-23554" target="_blank">gunman wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire with an assault rifle on the congregation of a small-town Texas church</a>, killing 26 people and wounding 20 more in the nation&#39;s latest shooting massacre.

President Donald Trump said the nation was living through &quot;dark times&quot; but guns were not to blame for Sunday&#39;s carnage, which came just five weeks after the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

&quot;I think that mental health is your problem here,&quot; said the US president, speaking in Tokyo as part of his&nbsp;Asia tour. &quot;This was a very, based on preliminary reports,a very deranged individual.&quot;

&quot;This isn&#39;t a guns situation,&quot; Trump insisted, calling it &quot;a mental health problem at the highest level.&quot;

The victims, who ranged in age from five to 72, were gunned down at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a rural community of some 400 people 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio.

The gunman, widely identified as Devin Kelley, 26, was described by authorities as a young white male who was found dead in his vehicle after being confronted by a local resident.

The Air Force said Kelley served at a base in New Mexico starting in 2010 before being court-martialed in 2012 for allegedly assaulting his wife and child.

He was sentenced to 12 months in confinement and received a &quot;bad conduct&quot; discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told AFP. He was discharged in 2014

Dressed all in black, Kelley fired outside the church before entering the building and continuing to spray bullets, said Freeman Martin, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

&quot;As he exited the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect. The suspect dropped his rifle, which was a Ruger AR assault-type rifle, and fled from the church. Our local citizen pursued the suspect at that time,&quot; Martin said.

Law enforcement later found Kelley dead in his car, which had crashed on the Wilson-Guadalupe county line. It was not clear if he had killed himself or was shot by the resident who had confronted him.

Multiple weapons

Multiple weapons were found in the car, which was processed by bomb technicians.

&quot;We have multiple, multiple crime scenes. We have the church, outside the church. We have where the suspect&#39;s vehicle was located,&quot; said Martin.

&quot;We have been following up on the suspect and where he&#39;s from. We have Texas Rangers at all the hospitals locating those and interviewing those who were injured.&quot;

&quot;There&#39;s so many families who have lost family members. Fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters,&quot; Governor Greg Abbott said, warning the toll could rise.

&quot;The tragedy, of course, is worsened by the fact that it occurred in a church, a place of worship, where these people were innocently gunned down. We mourn their loss, but we support their family members.&quot;

The wounded had been transported to various hospitals with &quot;injuries that vary from minor to very severe,&quot; Martin said.&nbsp; 
The dead included the 14-year-old daughter of pastor Frank Pomeroy, the church leader told ABC News.

Annabelle Renee Pomeroy &quot;was one very beautiful, special child,&quot; her father said.

Frank Pomeroy had been in the neighboring state of Oklahoma at the time of the shooting, and was driving back to Texas after the tragedy.

Other victims, some of whom were evacuated by helicopter, included a six-year-old boy named Rylan who was in surgery after being shot four times, his uncle told CBS News. A two-year-old was also shot and wounded, The Dallas Morning News reported.

A spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center in nearby Floresville said the hospital received eight patients with gunshot wounds. Four were transferred to San Antonio.

Trump vows &#39;full support&#39;

Police formed a perimeter around the area while tearful relatives and neighbors stood outside, nervously awaiting news from inside the traditional white-frame church.

Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were headed to Sutherland Springs, the agencies said.

Trump called the &quot;horrific shooting&quot; an &quot;act of evil,&quot; ordering flags be flown half-staff at the White House and federal buildings.

&quot;Our hearts are broken but in dark times -- and these are dark times -- such as these, Americans do what they do best: we pull together,&quot; he said.

Though he said &quot;it&#39;s a little bit soon to go into it&quot; regarding renewed calls for gun control, the president promised his administration&#39;s &quot;full support&quot; for the investigation. 
As with many other previous shootings, Democrats pointed to the latest tragedy to highlight the need for gun control, a hot-button issue in a country that holds the right to bear arms as almost sacred.

In denouncing the &quot;act of hatred,&quot; Trump&#39;s predecessor Barack Obama said: &quot;May God also grant all of us the wisdom to ask what concrete steps we can take to reduce the violence and weaponry in our midst.&quot;

The shooting comes just over a month after a gunman in Las Vegas fired down from a hotel room on to an outdoor concert, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

A little more than two years ago, white supremacist Dylann Roof entered a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and shot nine people to death.

President Donald Trump said the nation was living through 'dark times' but guns were not to blame for Sunday's carnage, which came just five weeks after the worst mass shooting in modern US history

The United States was in mourning Monday after a gunman wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire with an assault rifle on the congregation of a small-town Texas church, killing 26 people and wounding 20 more in the nation's latest shooting massacre. President Donald Trump said the nation was living through "dark times" but guns were not to blame for Sunday's carnage, which came just five weeks after the worst mass shooting in modern US history. "I think that mental health is your problem here," said the US president, speaking in Tokyo as part of his Asia tour. "This was a very, based on preliminary reports,a very deranged individual." "This isn't a guns situation," Trump insisted, calling it "a mental health problem at the highest level." The victims, who ranged in age from five to 72, were gunned down at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a rural community of some 400 people 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio. The gunman, widely identified as Devin Kelley, 26, was described by authorities as a young white male who was found dead in his vehicle after being confronted by a local resident. The Air Force said Kelley served at a base in New Mexico starting in 2010 before being court-martialed in 2012 for allegedly assaulting his wife and child. He was sentenced to 12 months in confinement and received a "bad conduct" discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told AFP. He was discharged in 2014 Dressed all in black, Kelley fired outside the church before entering the building and continuing to spray bullets, said Freeman Martin, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. "As he exited the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect. The suspect dropped his rifle, which was a Ruger AR assault-type rifle, and fled from the church. Our local citizen pursued the suspect at that time," Martin said. Law enforcement later found Kelley dead in his car, which had crashed on the Wilson-Guadalupe county line. It was not clear if he had killed himself or was shot by the resident who had confronted him. Multiple weapons Multiple weapons were found in the car, which was processed by bomb technicians. "We have multiple, multiple crime scenes. We have the church, outside the church. We have where the suspect's vehicle was located," said Martin. "We have been following up on the suspect and where he's from. We have Texas Rangers at all the hospitals locating those and interviewing those who were injured." "There's so many families who have lost family members. Fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters," Governor Greg Abbott said, warning the toll could rise. "The tragedy, of course, is worsened by the fact that it occurred in a church, a place of worship, where these people were innocently gunned down. We mourn their loss, but we support their family members." The wounded had been transported to various hospitals with "injuries that vary from minor to very severe," Martin said. The dead included the 14-year-old daughter of pastor Frank Pomeroy, the church leader told ABC News. Annabelle Renee Pomeroy "was one very beautiful, special child," her father said. Frank Pomeroy had been in the neighboring state of Oklahoma at the time of the shooting, and was driving back to Texas after the tragedy. Other victims, some of whom were evacuated by helicopter, included a six-year-old boy named Rylan who was in surgery after being shot four times, his uncle told CBS News. A two-year-old was also shot and wounded, The Dallas Morning News reported. A spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center in nearby Floresville said the hospital received eight patients with gunshot wounds. Four were transferred to San Antonio. Trump vows 'full support' Police formed a perimeter around the area while tearful relatives and neighbors stood outside, nervously awaiting news from inside the traditional white-frame church. Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were headed to Sutherland Springs, the agencies said. Trump called the "horrific shooting" an "act of evil," ordering flags be flown half-staff at the White House and federal buildings. "Our hearts are broken but in dark times -- and these are dark times -- such as these, Americans do what they do best: we pull together," he said. Though he said "it's a little bit soon to go into it" regarding renewed calls for gun control, the president promised his administration's "full support" for the investigation. As with many other previous shootings, Democrats pointed to the latest tragedy to highlight the need for gun control, a hot-button issue in a country that holds the right to bear arms as almost sacred. In denouncing the "act of hatred," Trump's predecessor Barack Obama said: "May God also grant all of us the wisdom to ask what concrete steps we can take to reduce the violence and weaponry in our midst." The shooting comes just over a month after a gunman in Las Vegas fired down from a hotel room on to an outdoor concert, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. A little more than two years ago, white supremacist Dylann Roof entered a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and shot nine people to death.

Texas mass shooting leaves US mourning, Trump says guns not to blame

Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad on Thursday morning, ahead of a crucial hearing in a graft case.

Sharif will appear before an accountability court on November 3 in connection with the corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The NAB had earlier&nbsp;approached the Airport Security Force (ASF) seeking access to former premier&#39;s flight to execute his bailable arrest warrants.

The accountability court had recently started the trial of Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in corruption references filed by NAB.

On Tuesday, the&nbsp;court ordered Pakistan&#39;s financial regulatory agency to freeze the company shares of Sharif and his two sons in the Panama Papers case.

Sharif, who was charge-sheeted by the court last week in all three NAB references, did not turn up at the court since he is in Saudi Arabia; however, his lawyer Khawaja Haris attended the hearing.

The North's nuclear programme is 'a threat to the civilised world and international peace and stability,' Trump said

Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad on Thursday morning, ahead of a crucial hearing in a graft case. Sharif will appear before an accountability court on November 3 in connection with the corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The NAB had earlier approached the Airport Security Force (ASF) seeking access to former premier's flight to execute his bailable arrest warrants. The accountability court had recently started the trial of Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in corruption references filed by NAB. On Tuesday, the court ordered Pakistan's financial regulatory agency to freeze the company shares of Sharif and his two sons in the Panama Papers case. Sharif, who was charge-sheeted by the court last week in all three NAB references, did not turn up at the court since he is in Saudi Arabia; however, his lawyer Khawaja Haris attended the hearing.

Time for 'patience' on North Korea is over, says Trump

President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that &#39;no dictator&#39;&nbsp;should underestimate the United States, as he launched an Asia tour that will be dominated by the North Korea nuclear crisis.&nbsp;

Speaking to cheering military personnel at Yokota Air Base just west of Tokyo, Trump donned a bomber jacket and issued a threat that &#39;no one, no dictator, no regime and no nation should underestimate american resolve.&#39;

&quot;Every once in a while in the past, they underestimated us. It was not pleasant for them, was it?&quot; roared Trump.

&quot;We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defence of our people, our freedom and our great American flag.&quot;

Trump&#39;s marathon trip comes with the North Korea crisis at fever pitch, as US bombers fly sorties over the Korean peninsula and fears mount of another Pyongyang missile test.

According to the Washington Post, Pentagon officials have warned that the only way to locate and secure North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons sites would be via a ground invasion.

The president&#39;s first stops are Japan and South Korea - frontline US allies in the effort to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, and the two countries with most to fear should a full-scale conflict break out.

Trump touched down under clear blue Tokyo skies and stepped out with his wife Melania in bright sunshine to greet the crowds.

Speaking to reporters on the plane, he announced he would likely be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during the tour, as the international community scrambles for a solution to the North Korean crisis.

&quot;I think it&#39;s expected we&#39;ll meet with Putin, yeah. We want Putin&#39;s help on North Korea, and we&#39;ll be meeting with a lot of different leaders,&quot; said Trump.

He added that North Korea was a &#39;big problem for our country and for the world, and we want to get it solved&#39;&nbsp;but had kind words for the people in the hermit state.

&quot;I think they&#39;re great people. They&#39;re industrious. They&#39;re warm, much warmer than the world really knows or understands. They&#39;re great people. And I hope it all works out for everybody,&quot; he said.

The next stop was a golfing date with his &#39;friend&#39;&nbsp;Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan, with whom he enjoys a close personal relationship.&nbsp;

Trump joked with reporters on Air Force One that they should not believe him if he claims to outhit Hedeki Matsuyama, one of the world&#39;s best players who joined the leaders on the course.

Abe has emerged strengthened from a crushing victory in a snap election and has firmly supported Trump in his policy of exerting maximum pressure on Kim, backed up with the threat of military force.

&quot;I want to further cement the bond of the Japan-US alliance, based on our relations of trust and friendship with President Trump,&quot; Abe said as Trump arrived.

Trump for his part described Japan as a &#39;treasured partner and crucial ally of the US.&#39;

&quot;Trump only has to play golf in Japan, as he knows Japan will follow (the US) whatever happens. Everything has been sorted out beforehand,&quot; Tetsuro Kato, political scientist at Tokyo&#39;s Hitotsubashi University, told AFP.

After Japan, Trump travels to Seoul, where his relationship with President Moon Jae-in is noticeably cooler.

While Trump has been in regular contact with the hawkish Abe during the North Korean crisis, he pointedly failed to speak to Moon for several days after Pyongyang&#39;s second intercontinental ballistic missile test in July.

Trump labelled Moon&#39;s dovish approach to North Korea as &#39;appeasement&#39;&nbsp;on Twitter, a comment that did not go down well in the Blue House.

Trump will speak to Korean MPs but not follow the well-trodden path to the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean peninsula - a visit derided in Washington as a bit of a &#39;cliche.&#39;

From Seoul, Trump travels to China to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping who, like Abe, has solidified his grip on power after being handed a second term.

Trump said before his trip that China could have a &#39;big problem&#39;&nbsp;with &#39;warrior nation&#39;&nbsp;Japan if the North Korea issue is not solved.

He then travels to an Pacific Rim summit in Vietnam before heading to a gathering of Southeast Asian leaders.

Some observers have fretted that a gaffe by the famously ad-lib president could send tensions rising on the peninsula.

&quot;It will be a disaster if he speaks off the cuff and without thinking,&quot; said professor Koo Kab-Woo from the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

&quot;If Trump says anything that can provoke North Korea, it could send military tensions soaring again.&quot; 
&nbsp;

According to the Washington Post, Pentagon officials have warned that the only way to locate and secure North Korea's nuclear weapons sites would be via a ground invasion.

President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that 'no dictator' should underestimate the United States, as he launched an Asia tour that will be dominated by the North Korea nuclear crisis. Speaking to cheering military personnel at Yokota Air Base just west of Tokyo, Trump donned a bomber jacket and issued a threat that 'no one, no dictator, no regime and no nation should underestimate american resolve.' "Every once in a while in the past, they underestimated us. It was not pleasant for them, was it?" roared Trump. "We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defence of our people, our freedom and our great American flag." Trump's marathon trip comes with the North Korea crisis at fever pitch, as US bombers fly sorties over the Korean peninsula and fears mount of another Pyongyang missile test. According to the Washington Post, Pentagon officials have warned that the only way to locate and secure North Korea's nuclear weapons sites would be via a ground invasion. The president's first stops are Japan and South Korea - frontline US allies in the effort to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, and the two countries with most to fear should a full-scale conflict break out. Trump touched down under clear blue Tokyo skies and stepped out with his wife Melania in bright sunshine to greet the crowds. Speaking to reporters on the plane, he announced he would likely be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during the tour, as the international community scrambles for a solution to the North Korean crisis. "I think it's expected we'll meet with Putin, yeah. We want Putin's help on North Korea, and we'll be meeting with a lot of different leaders," said Trump. He added that North Korea was a 'big problem for our country and for the world, and we want to get it solved' but had kind words for the people in the hermit state. "I think they're great people. They're industrious. They're warm, much warmer than the world really knows or understands. They're great people. And I hope it all works out for everybody," he said. The next stop was a golfing date with his 'friend' Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan, with whom he enjoys a close personal relationship. Trump joked with reporters on Air Force One that they should not believe him if he claims to outhit Hedeki Matsuyama, one of the world's best players who joined the leaders on the course. Abe has emerged strengthened from a crushing victory in a snap election and has firmly supported Trump in his policy of exerting maximum pressure on Kim, backed up with the threat of military force. "I want to further cement the bond of the Japan-US alliance, based on our relations of trust and friendship with President Trump," Abe said as Trump arrived. Trump for his part described Japan as a 'treasured partner and crucial ally of the US.' "Trump only has to play golf in Japan, as he knows Japan will follow (the US) whatever happens. Everything has been sorted out beforehand," Tetsuro Kato, political scientist at Tokyo's Hitotsubashi University, told AFP. After Japan, Trump travels to Seoul, where his relationship with President Moon Jae-in is noticeably cooler. While Trump has been in regular contact with the hawkish Abe during the North Korean crisis, he pointedly failed to speak to Moon for several days after Pyongyang's second intercontinental ballistic missile test in July. Trump labelled Moon's dovish approach to North Korea as 'appeasement' on Twitter, a comment that did not go down well in the Blue House. Trump will speak to Korean MPs but not follow the well-trodden path to the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean peninsula - a visit derided in Washington as a bit of a 'cliche.' From Seoul, Trump travels to China to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping who, like Abe, has solidified his grip on power after being handed a second term. Trump said before his trip that China could have a 'big problem' with 'warrior nation' Japan if the North Korea issue is not solved. He then travels to an Pacific Rim summit in Vietnam before heading to a gathering of Southeast Asian leaders. Some observers have fretted that a gaffe by the famously ad-lib president could send tensions rising on the peninsula. "It will be a disaster if he speaks off the cuff and without thinking," said professor Koo Kab-Woo from the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. "If Trump says anything that can provoke North Korea, it could send military tensions soaring again."

Trump: 'No dictator' should underestimate US resolve

The only certain way to locate and secure all North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons sites would be via a US ground invasion, the Washington Post reported Saturday, citing a letter from Pentagon officials sent to US lawmakers.

It said the letter, reportedly written by the vice director of the Pentagon&#39;s Joint Staff, noted that such a conflict could prompt Pyongyang to deploy biological and chemical weapons.

The report detailing the prospect of war on the Korean peninsula comes as President Donald Trump embarks on a nearly two-week Asia tour, with the North&#39;s nuclear and missile program expected to top the agenda.

The US Defense Department sent the letter in response to a request from two members of Congress for details regarding &#39;expected casualty assessments in a conflict with North Korea&#39;&nbsp;for US and allied forces in Japan, South Korea and Guam as well as civilians, the Post said.

Tensions have soared over North Korea&#39;s nuclear and missile programs in recent months, goaded by Trump and Pyongyang leader Kim Jong-Un&#39;s fiery exchanges of insults and warnings of conflict.

On Saturday, North Korea welcomed Trump to the region by threatening to increase its nuclear arsenal and saying the idea of talks was &quot;daydreaming,&quot; according to the state-run KCNA news agency.

Neither the US president nor his fierce rhetoric were mentioned in the letter, the Post said.

It did however say the military backs the current US approach -&nbsp;led by state department chief Rex Tillerson -&nbsp;to wield economic sanctions and apply diplomatic pressure on the North as a means of discouraging its nuclear ambitions.

The Post reported that a statement from 16 lawmakers - all but one of them Democrats - obtained along with the Pentagon letter said the &#39;assessment underscores what we&#39;ve known all along: There are no good military options for North Korea.&#39;

The report detailing the prospect of war on the Korean peninsula comes as President Donald Trump embarks on a nearly two-week Asia tour, with the North's nuclear and missile program expected to top the agenda.

The only certain way to locate and secure all North Korea's nuclear weapons sites would be via a US ground invasion, the Washington Post reported Saturday, citing a letter from Pentagon officials sent to US lawmakers. It said the letter, reportedly written by the vice director of the Pentagon's Joint Staff, noted that such a conflict could prompt Pyongyang to deploy biological and chemical weapons. The report detailing the prospect of war on the Korean peninsula comes as President Donald Trump embarks on a nearly two-week Asia tour, with the North's nuclear and missile program expected to top the agenda. The US Defense Department sent the letter in response to a request from two members of Congress for details regarding 'expected casualty assessments in a conflict with North Korea' for US and allied forces in Japan, South Korea and Guam as well as civilians, the Post said. Tensions have soared over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in recent months, goaded by Trump and Pyongyang leader Kim Jong-Un's fiery exchanges of insults and warnings of conflict. On Saturday, North Korea welcomed Trump to the region by threatening to increase its nuclear arsenal and saying the idea of talks was "daydreaming," according to the state-run KCNA news agency. Neither the US president nor his fierce rhetoric were mentioned in the letter, the Post said. It did however say the military backs the current US approach - led by state department chief Rex Tillerson - to wield economic sanctions and apply diplomatic pressure on the North as a means of discouraging its nuclear ambitions. The Post reported that a statement from 16 lawmakers - all but one of them Democrats - obtained along with the Pentagon letter said the 'assessment underscores what we've known all along: There are no good military options for North Korea.'

Securing N. Korea nukes would require US ground invasion: Reports

U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his tough rhetoric against North Korea when he arrived in Japan on Sunday, saying that the United States and its allies are prepared to defend freedom and that &#39;no dictator&#39;&nbsp;should underestimate US&nbsp;resolve.

Trump kicked off a 12-day Asian trip and is looking to present a united front with Japan against North Korea through meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang&rsquo;s nuclear and missile tests.

He told reporters on Air Force One en route to Asia that North Korea would figure prominently in discussions during the trip. He also singled out trade, which he said had been &#39;badly handled&#39;&nbsp;in the region for years.

Trump has rattled some allies with his vow to &#39;totally destroy&#39;&nbsp;North Korea if it threatens the United States and his dismissal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a &#39;rocket man&#39;&nbsp;on a suicide mission.

&ldquo;No dictator, no regime, no nation should ever underestimate American resolve,&rdquo; Trump told hundreds of cheering US&nbsp;and Japanese troops in camouflage uniforms gathered at Yokota Air Base, just west of Tokyo, soon after he arrived.

&ldquo;Every once in a while, in the past, they underestimated us. It was not pleasant for them, was it?&rdquo; said Trump, who wore a leather bomber jacket as he addressed the troops.

North Korea&rsquo;s recent actions, including several missiles that overflew Japan and Pyongyang&rsquo;s sixth and largest nuclear test, have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trump&rsquo;s presidency.

<iframe data-integralas-id-9156c4a1-f918-a000-8681-5266851aa6d7="" frameborder="0" height="2" id="google_ads_iframe_/4735792/us.reuters/world/article_2" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/4735792/us.reuters/world/article_2" scrolling="no" srcdoc="" title="3rd party ad content" width="2"></iframe>Recent drills over South Korea by two US&nbsp;strategic bombers have further raised tensions.

&ldquo;We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defense of our freedom,&rdquo; Trump said.

He told reporters earlier on Air Force One that a decision would be made soon on whether to add reclusive North Korea to a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

His administration also planned to take a different approach to dealing with the issue after years of what he termed &#39;total weakness&#39;, although he did not give any details.

&ldquo;We want to get it solved. It&rsquo;s a big problem for our country and the world, and we want to get it solved,&rdquo; he said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters before Trump&rsquo;s arrival that he welcomed the visit as a chance to deepen bilateral ties by building upon the &ldquo;friendship and trust&rdquo; between the two leaders, fostered by several meetings that included a round of golf in Florida earlier this year.

&ldquo;I hope we will be able to have thorough discussions about international issues, including North Korea,&rdquo; he said.

Trump and Abe were to play golf on Sunday afternoon at a course to be used during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, followed by dinner. More discussions were set for Monday.

Trump also said he planned to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip, the longest Asian tour by any US&nbsp;leader since George H.W. Bush in 1992.

&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s expected that we will meet,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We want Putin&rsquo;s help on North Korea.&rdquo;

Trump wants a united front with the leaders of Japan and South Korea against North Korea before he visits Beijing to make the case to Chinese President Xi Jinping that he should do more to rein in Pyongyang.

Trade will factor heavily during Trump&rsquo;s trip as he tries to persuade Asian allies to agree to policies more favorable to the United States, a point Trump emphasized.

A centerpiece of the trip will be a visit to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Danang, Vietnam, where he will deliver a speech in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is seen as offering a bulwark in response to expansionist Chinese policies.

&ldquo;One of the things we&rsquo;re going to be very focused on is trade because trade has not been done well for 25 years by the United States with this part of the world, with any part of the world,&rdquo; he said on Air Force One.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to be discussing reciprocal trade. Fair, free but reciprocal,&rdquo; he said.

Trump kicked off a 12-day Asian trip and is looking to present a united front with Japan against North Korea through meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang?s nuclear and missile tests.

U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his tough rhetoric against North Korea when he arrived in Japan on Sunday, saying that the United States and its allies are prepared to defend freedom and that 'no dictator' should underestimate US resolve. Trump kicked off a 12-day Asian trip and is looking to present a united front with Japan against North Korea through meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests. He told reporters on Air Force One en route to Asia that North Korea would figure prominently in discussions during the trip. He also singled out trade, which he said had been 'badly handled' in the region for years. Trump has rattled some allies with his vow to 'totally destroy' North Korea if it threatens the United States and his dismissal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a 'rocket man' on a suicide mission. “No dictator, no regime, no nation should ever underestimate American resolve,” Trump told hundreds of cheering US and Japanese troops in camouflage uniforms gathered at Yokota Air Base, just west of Tokyo, soon after he arrived. “Every once in a while, in the past, they underestimated us. It was not pleasant for them, was it?” said Trump, who wore a leather bomber jacket as he addressed the troops. North Korea’s recent actions, including several missiles that overflew Japan and Pyongyang’s sixth and largest nuclear test, have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trump’s presidency. Recent drills over South Korea by two US strategic bombers have further raised tensions. “We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defense of our freedom,” Trump said. He told reporters earlier on Air Force One that a decision would be made soon on whether to add reclusive North Korea to a list of state sponsors of terrorism. His administration also planned to take a different approach to dealing with the issue after years of what he termed 'total weakness', although he did not give any details. “We want to get it solved. It’s a big problem for our country and the world, and we want to get it solved,” he said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters before Trump’s arrival that he welcomed the visit as a chance to deepen bilateral ties by building upon the “friendship and trust” between the two leaders, fostered by several meetings that included a round of golf in Florida earlier this year. “I hope we will be able to have thorough discussions about international issues, including North Korea,” he said. Trump and Abe were to play golf on Sunday afternoon at a course to be used during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, followed by dinner. More discussions were set for Monday. Trump also said he planned to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip, the longest Asian tour by any US leader since George H.W. Bush in 1992. “I think it’s expected that we will meet,” he said. “We want Putin’s help on North Korea.” Trump wants a united front with the leaders of Japan and South Korea against North Korea before he visits Beijing to make the case to Chinese President Xi Jinping that he should do more to rein in Pyongyang. Trade will factor heavily during Trump’s trip as he tries to persuade Asian allies to agree to policies more favorable to the United States, a point Trump emphasized. A centerpiece of the trip will be a visit to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Danang, Vietnam, where he will deliver a speech in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is seen as offering a bulwark in response to expansionist Chinese policies. “One of the things we’re going to be very focused on is trade because trade has not been done well for 25 years by the United States with this part of the world, with any part of the world,” he said on Air Force One. “We’re going to be discussing reciprocal trade. Fair, free but reciprocal,” he said.

Trump lands in Japan, says US and allies are prepared to defend freedom

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-extend-asia-trip-attend-east-asia-summit-white-house-23477" target="_blank">US President Donald Trump</a> paid a somber visit to Pearl Harbor ahead of his first official trip to Asia, also meeting with military officials overseeing US operations in the Pacific region.

Trump and his wife Melania tossed white pikake flower petals into the waters at the USS Arizona Memorial, where hundreds of US service members died when Japan launched a surprise attack in 1941, triggering the US entry into World War II.

The Trumps also took part in a wreath-laying ceremony during the stopover on Friday, watching as two sailors placed the flower arrangement before a white marble wall bearing the names of the fallen.

Before his some 20-minute visit to the shrine, Trump met with leaders of the US Pacific Command, amid growing concerns over security in the region.&nbsp;

In brief comments to reporters, Trump said it was &quot;very special being in Hawaii.&quot;

He voiced enthusiasm over his trip to Pearl Harbor, &quot;which I&#39;ve read about, spoken about, heard about, studied, but I haven&#39;t seen.

&quot;And that is going to be very exciting for me.&quot;

Trump stopped in Hawaii ahead of a tour of Asia lasting nearly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-heads-to-japan-with-north-korea-on-his-mind-23489" target="_blank">two weeks which will include visits to Japan</a>, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-leaves-for-asia-with-heavy-domestic-baggage-23482" target="_blank">He left Washington with heavy domestic baggage</a>, including new developments in the high-stakes <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/two-former-trump-aides-charged-in-russia-probe-third-pleads-guilty-23166" target="_blank">probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election</a>, that risks dogging efforts at top-level diplomacy.

The trip itself poses its own set of challenges, with efforts to contain or roll back North Korea&#39;s ballistic and nuclear missile programs topping the diplomatic agenda.

Trump stopped in Hawaii ahead of a tour of Asia lasting nearly two weeks which will include visits to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines

US President Donald Trump paid a somber visit to Pearl Harbor ahead of his first official trip to Asia, also meeting with military officials overseeing US operations in the Pacific region. Trump and his wife Melania tossed white pikake flower petals into the waters at the USS Arizona Memorial, where hundreds of US service members died when Japan launched a surprise attack in 1941, triggering the US entry into World War II. The Trumps also took part in a wreath-laying ceremony during the stopover on Friday, watching as two sailors placed the flower arrangement before a white marble wall bearing the names of the fallen. Before his some 20-minute visit to the shrine, Trump met with leaders of the US Pacific Command, amid growing concerns over security in the region. In brief comments to reporters, Trump said it was "very special being in Hawaii." He voiced enthusiasm over his trip to Pearl Harbor, "which I've read about, spoken about, heard about, studied, but I haven't seen. "And that is going to be very exciting for me." Trump stopped in Hawaii ahead of a tour of Asia lasting nearly two weeks which will include visits to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. He left Washington with heavy domestic baggage, including new developments in the high-stakes probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, that risks dogging efforts at top-level diplomacy. The trip itself poses its own set of challenges, with efforts to contain or roll back North Korea's ballistic and nuclear missile programs topping the diplomatic agenda.

Trump makes Pearl Harbour stop en route to Asia

US President Donald Trump has decided at the last minute to extend a marathon trip to Asia, after criticism that he was expected to miss an East Asia regional summit.

&quot;We&#39;re actually staying an extra day in the Philippines,&quot; Trump said on departure Friday, a decision that was confirmed by senior White House officials.

US President Donald Trump has decided at the last minute to extend a marathon trip to Asia, after criticism that he was expected to miss an East Asia regional summit

US President Donald Trump has decided at the last minute to extend a marathon trip to Asia, after criticism that he was expected to miss an East Asia regional summit. "We're actually staying an extra day in the Philippines," Trump said on departure Friday, a decision that was confirmed by senior White House officials.

Trump to extend Asia trip, attend East Asia Summit: White House

The United States is Iran&#39;s &#39;number one enemy&#39;&nbsp;and Tehran will never succumb to Washington&#39;s pressure over a multinational nuclear deal, Iran&#39;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech on Thursday.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump broke ranks with other major powers last month by refusing to formally certify Iran&#39;s compliance with the nuclear deal.

Under that deal, most sanctions on Iran were lifted in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear work.

&quot;The American president&#39;s foolish remarks against our people show the depth of America&#39;s hostility towards the entire Iranian nation,&quot; Iran&#39;s top authority Khamenei told a group of students.&nbsp;

&quot;America is the number one enemy of our nation.&quot;&nbsp;

Since the deal was reached in 2015, Khamenei has continued to denounce the United States publicly, suggesting that antagonism between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Tehran would not abate because of the accord.&nbsp;

Iran and the United States severed diplomatic ties shortly after the revolution, when hardline students took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. Iran will mark the anniversary of the American embassy seizure on Saturday.&nbsp;

Trump has called the nuclear agreement, which was reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, &#39;the worst deal ever negotiated&#39;&nbsp;and has adopted a harsh approach to Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.&nbsp;

Washington has imposed new sanctions on Iran over its missile activity, calling on Tehran not to develop missiles capable of delivering nuclear bombs. Iran says it has no such plans and its missile programme is solely for defence purposes.

The deal`s other signatories, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, and the European Union say Washington cannot unilaterally cancel an international accord enshrined by a UN&nbsp;resolution.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said that Tehran would stick to the nuclear accord as long as the other signatories respected it. But it has warned about the consequences if the deal falls apart.&nbsp;

&quot;We will never accept their bullying over the nuclear deal. Americans are using all the wickedness to damage the result of the nuclear talks,&quot; Khamenei said to chants of &#39;Death to America&#39;&nbsp;by students.&nbsp;

&quot;Any retreat by Iran will make America more blatant and impudent. Resistance is the only option.&quot;

Trump also accuses Iran of supporting terrorism in the Middle East. Iran rejects that and in turn blames the growth of militant groups such as Islamic State on the policies of the United States and its regional allies.&nbsp;

Shi&#39;ite-dominated Iran and its regional arch-rival, US backed Sunni Saudi Arabia, are involved in proxy wars across the region, backing opposite sides in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

U.S. President Donald Trump broke ranks with other major powers last month by refusing to formally certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal.

The United States is Iran's 'number one enemy' and Tehran will never succumb to Washington's pressure over a multinational nuclear deal, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech on Thursday. US President Donald Trump broke ranks with other major powers last month by refusing to formally certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal. Under that deal, most sanctions on Iran were lifted in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear work. "The American president's foolish remarks against our people show the depth of America's hostility towards the entire Iranian nation," Iran's top authority Khamenei told a group of students. "America is the number one enemy of our nation." Since the deal was reached in 2015, Khamenei has continued to denounce the United States publicly, suggesting that antagonism between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Tehran would not abate because of the accord. Iran and the United States severed diplomatic ties shortly after the revolution, when hardline students took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. Iran will mark the anniversary of the American embassy seizure on Saturday. Trump has called the nuclear agreement, which was reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, 'the worst deal ever negotiated' and has adopted a harsh approach to Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Washington has imposed new sanctions on Iran over its missile activity, calling on Tehran not to develop missiles capable of delivering nuclear bombs. Iran says it has no such plans and its missile programme is solely for defence purposes. The deal`s other signatories, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, and the European Union say Washington cannot unilaterally cancel an international accord enshrined by a UN resolution. Iranian officials have repeatedly said that Tehran would stick to the nuclear accord as long as the other signatories respected it. But it has warned about the consequences if the deal falls apart. "We will never accept their bullying over the nuclear deal. Americans are using all the wickedness to damage the result of the nuclear talks," Khamenei said to chants of 'Death to America' by students. "Any retreat by Iran will make America more blatant and impudent. Resistance is the only option." Trump also accuses Iran of supporting terrorism in the Middle East. Iran rejects that and in turn blames the growth of militant groups such as Islamic State on the policies of the United States and its regional allies. Shi'ite-dominated Iran and its regional arch-rival, US backed Sunni Saudi Arabia, are involved in proxy wars across the region, backing opposite sides in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

Supreme Leader Khamenei says US is Iran's 'number one enemy'

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized the nation&#39;s visa system in the wake of Tuesday`s truck attack in New York City that left eight dead, blaming&nbsp;Democrats and pressing a `merit-based` program for immigrants to the United States.

&quot;The terrorist came into our country through what is called the &#39;Diversity Visa Lottery Program&#39;,&nbsp;a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit-based,&quot; Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, referring to the Senate Democratic leader.

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The terrorist came into our country through what is called the &quot;Diversity Visa Lottery Program,&quot; a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/925684982307348480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). <a href="https://twitter.com/foxandfriends?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@foxandfriends</a>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/925686558304464897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

New York terror attack happened on Tuesday morning near One World Trade Center

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized the nation's visa system in the wake of Tuesday`s truck attack in New York City that left eight dead, blaming Democrats and pressing a `merit-based` program for immigrants to the United States. "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program', a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit-based," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, referring to the Senate Democratic leader. The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017 × We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017 ×

After New York attack, Trump pushes for 'merit-based' US visa system

Japan is going all out to welcome US president&nbsp;Donald Trump during his visit to the country next week with top golfer&nbsp;Hideki&nbsp;Matsuyama&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pikotaro, singer behind the 2016 online pop hit,&nbsp;set to&nbsp;entertain the president during his high-profile Asia tour.&nbsp;

Matsuyama, a five-time&nbsp;PGA tour champion, will accompany Trump and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with a few games of golf in Tokyo.&nbsp;

Trump, Abe and Matsuyama are scheduled to tee off on November&nbsp;5 at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe.&nbsp;

Reports said PM&nbsp;Abe had told Trump that he adored the video of Arabella singing the PPAP&nbsp;song during a meeting&nbsp;after Trump won the US presidency.

A video displaying&nbsp;Ivanka Trump&rsquo;s daughter Arabella, singing along to &ldquo;Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen&rdquo; had gone&nbsp;viral in November last year.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BM1SSaygBUb/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Apologies in advance&mdash;this may be stuck in your head all day. #PineapplePen ??????</a>

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Trump will visit Japan between November 5 to 7 as part of the first leg of a five-nation Asia tour, his first official trip to the region.

The 12-day trip will also cover&nbsp;South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Trump will visit Japan between Nov 5 to 7 in the first leg of a five-nation Asia tour, his first official trip to the region.

Japan is going all out to welcome US president Donald Trump during his visit to the country next week with top golfer Hideki Matsuyama and Pikotaro, singer behind the 2016 online pop hit, set to entertain the president during his high-profile Asia tour. Matsuyama, a five-time PGA tour champion, will accompany Trump and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with a few games of golf in Tokyo. Trump, Abe and Matsuyama are scheduled to tee off on November 5 at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe. Reports said PM Abe had told Trump that he adored the video of Arabella singing the PPAP song during a meeting after Trump won the US presidency. A video displaying Ivanka Trump’s daughter Arabella, singing along to “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” had gone viral in November last year. Apologies in advance—this may be stuck in your head all day. #PineapplePen ?????? A post shared by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Nov 15, 2016 at 5:32am PST × Trump will visit Japan between November 5 to 7 as part of the first leg of a five-nation Asia tour, his first official trip to the region. The 12-day trip will also cover South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Singer Pikotaro and Golfer Matsuyama to entertain Trump during Japan visit

In a new directive, the Trump administration has made it more difficult for the renewal of non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L1, popular among Indian IT professionals, saying that the burden of proof lies on the applicant even when an extension is sought.

Rescinding its more than 13-year-old policy, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that the burden of proof in establishing eligibility is, at all times, on the petitioner. USCIS also said the previous memorandum of April 23, 2004 appeared to place this burden on this federal agency.

&quot;This memorandum makes it clear that the burden of proof remains on the petitioner, even where an extension of non- immigrant status is sought,&quot; USCIS said in its latest memorandum issued on October 23.

Under the previous policy, if a person was once found to be eligible for a work visa initially, they would usually be considered for extension of their visa.

Now during every extension, they need to prove to the federal authorities that they are still eligible for the visa they apply for.

&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said that the change is being made retroactively to people already living in the country and not just to new visa applicants.

&quot;In adjudicating petitions for immigration benefits, including non-immigrant petition extensions, adjudicators must, in all cases, thoroughly review the petition and supporting evidence to determine eligibility for the benefit sought.

The new policy is in line with the Trump administration&#39;s goal to protect American workers from discrimination and replacement by foreign labour, NumberUSA website said.

This new policy will make sure that only qualified H-1B workers will be allowed to stay in the US and will help crackdown on visa fraud and abuse, it added.&nbsp;

The new policy is in line with the Trump administration's goal to protect American workers from discrimination and replacement by foreign labour, NumberUSA website said.

In a new directive, the Trump administration has made it more difficult for the renewal of non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L1, popular among Indian IT professionals, saying that the burden of proof lies on the applicant even when an extension is sought. Rescinding its more than 13-year-old policy, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that the burden of proof in establishing eligibility is, at all times, on the petitioner. USCIS also said the previous memorandum of April 23, 2004 appeared to place this burden on this federal agency. "This memorandum makes it clear that the burden of proof remains on the petitioner, even where an extension of non- immigrant status is sought," USCIS said in its latest memorandum issued on October 23. Under the previous policy, if a person was once found to be eligible for a work visa initially, they would usually be considered for extension of their visa. Now during every extension, they need to prove to the federal authorities that they are still eligible for the visa they apply for. Representative Photo (Reuters) × William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said that the change is being made retroactively to people already living in the country and not just to new visa applicants. "In adjudicating petitions for immigration benefits, including non-immigrant petition extensions, adjudicators must, in all cases, thoroughly review the petition and supporting evidence to determine eligibility for the benefit sought. The new policy is in line with the Trump administration's goal to protect American workers from discrimination and replacement by foreign labour, NumberUSA website said. This new policy will make sure that only qualified H-1B workers will be allowed to stay in the US and will help crackdown on visa fraud and abuse, it added.

Trump administration makes it more difficult to extend H-1B visas

The widow of a US&nbsp;Army sergeant killed in Niger this month said on Monday that President Donald Trump &quot;made me cry even worse&quot; in a condolence telephone call when he said that her husband &quot;knew what he signed up for.&quot;

In an interview with ABC&#39;s &quot;Good Morning America,&quot; Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sergeant La David T&nbsp;Johnson, also said she has been told little about how her husband was killed and has not been allowed to see his body.

Johnson&#39;s comments, her first to the media about the condolence call from Trump, were likely to fuel a controversy that has swirled for days around the president&#39;s handling of the call to the widow.

La David Johnson was one of four US&nbsp;Army soldiers killed on October 4 in an attack in the West African nation. Last week, a member of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives, Frederica Wilson, said she had listened to the call from Trump and that he had upset the family by saying Johnson &quot;knew what he signed up for.&quot;

That drew a&nbsp;sharp rebuke from the president, who dubbed Wilson &quot;whacky&quot; and denied her account of the call. &quot;I didn&#39;t say what that congresswoman said,&quot; Trump told reporters last week. &quot;I had a very nice conversation with the woman, with the wife who ... sounded like a lovely woman.&quot;

In Monday&#39;s interview, Myeshia Johnson said, &quot;The president said that he (her husband) knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyway ...And it made me cry because I was very angry at the tone of his voice and how he couldn&rsquo;t remember my husband&rsquo;s name.&quot;

In a Twitter post on Monday soon after the interview aired, Trump said, &quot;I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!&quot;

Johnson said that when Trump called, she and other family members were in a limousine riding to an airport where her husband&#39;s body was shipped. Wilson was also in the car.

Johnson said she did not say anything during the call, adding that afterward, she was &quot;very upset and hurt. It made me cry even worse.&quot;

Asked what she might now say to Trump, Johnson said she had &quot;nothing to say to him.&quot;

The widow also said that the military has told her little about what happened in Niger, and that she is upset that she has not been allowed to see her husband&#39;s body.

&quot;I don&#39;t know what&#39;s in that box,&quot; said of her husband&#39;s coffin. &quot;It could be empty for all I know.&quot;

The attack earlier this month, which U.S. officials suspect was carried out by a local affiliate of Islamic State, has thrown a spotlight on the U.S. counter-terrorism mission in Niger, which has about 800 U.S. troops.

Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sergeant La David T?Johnson, also said she has been told little about how her husband was killed and has not been allowed to see his body.

The widow of a US Army sergeant killed in Niger this month said on Monday that President Donald Trump "made me cry even worse" in a condolence telephone call when he said that her husband "knew what he signed up for." In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sergeant La David T Johnson, also said she has been told little about how her husband was killed and has not been allowed to see his body. Johnson's comments, her first to the media about the condolence call from Trump, were likely to fuel a controversy that has swirled for days around the president's handling of the call to the widow. La David Johnson was one of four US Army soldiers killed on October 4 in an attack in the West African nation. Last week, a member of the US House of Representatives, Frederica Wilson, said she had listened to the call from Trump and that he had upset the family by saying Johnson "knew what he signed up for." That drew a sharp rebuke from the president, who dubbed Wilson "whacky" and denied her account of the call. "I didn't say what that congresswoman said," Trump told reporters last week. "I had a very nice conversation with the woman, with the wife who ... sounded like a lovely woman." In Monday's interview, Myeshia Johnson said, "The president said that he (her husband) knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyway ...And it made me cry because I was very angry at the tone of his voice and how he couldn’t remember my husband’s name." In a Twitter post on Monday soon after the interview aired, Trump said, "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!" Johnson said that when Trump called, she and other family members were in a limousine riding to an airport where her husband's body was shipped. Wilson was also in the car. Johnson said she did not say anything during the call, adding that afterward, she was "very upset and hurt. It made me cry even worse." Asked what she might now say to Trump, Johnson said she had "nothing to say to him." The widow also said that the military has told her little about what happened in Niger, and that she is upset that she has not been allowed to see her husband's body. "I don't know what's in that box," said of her husband's coffin. "It could be empty for all I know." The attack earlier this month, which U.S. officials suspect was carried out by a local affiliate of Islamic State, has thrown a spotlight on the U.S. counter-terrorism mission in Niger, which has about 800 U.S. troops.

Widow of slain US soldier says Trump call 'made me cry even worse'

US President Donald Trump reignited a long-standing feud with John McCain Tuesday, warning &quot;I fight back, and it won&#39;t be pretty&quot; after the respected senator appeared to take aim at him in a speech.

The relationship between the pair -- one a veteran lawmaker and war hero, the other a real estate tycoon and political neophyte before he assumed the presidency -- has long been testy.

But the acrimony has risen to a new level with Trump&#39;s latest threats, which come just over a week after a war-of-words with another senior legislator from his own party, Bob Corker.

Speaking on Monday night at an event in Philadelphia to honor his life&#39;s achievements, McCain had railed against the &quot;America First&quot; approach espoused by the Trump administration.

&quot;To refuse the obligations of international leadership...for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past,&quot; said the 81-year-old, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in July.

Trump lashed out Tuesday, telling conservative radio host Chris Plante: &quot;People have to be careful because at some point I fight back.

&quot;I&#39;m being very nice. I&#39;m being very, very nice. But at some point I fight back, and it won&#39;t be pretty.&quot;

McCain has proved a thorn in Trump&#39;s side in recent months, twice helping to scupper Republican attempts to repeal a healthcare law that was a signature accomplishment of former president Barack Obama.

Asked by AFP what he made of the president&#39;s latest missive, McCain shrugged the matter off. &quot;I do what I have to do and I work with him as much as I can, and I do what I need to do for the people of Arizona,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Regarding the president&#39;s suggestion he would fight back, he responded simply: &quot;I have faced some pretty tough adversaries in my life.&quot;

&#39;Lincolnesque&#39;

The Trump-McCain feud has a long history.&nbsp;

Trump -- who in addition to being a businessman was also a reality TV star winning the White House -- questioned McCain&#39;s military record in July 2015, earning widespread rebuke for saying &quot;I like people who weren&#39;t captured&quot; in comments that threatened to derail his presidential ambitions just a month after announcing his bid.

Former Navy pilot McCain spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam where he was tortured, while Trump received student and medical deferments that prevented him from being enlisted in the conflict.

In August, McCain broke party ranks to call Trump &quot;often poorly informed,&quot; adding he &quot;can be impulsive in his speech and conduct.&quot;

Some political observers wondered whether his votes against Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare -- one of Trump&#39;s main campaign promises -- were influenced by the desire for revenge.

McCain on Monday received the backing of another long-time Trump critic Mitt Romney, who was also the Republican candidate for president in 2012.

&quot;Ran against him, sometimes disagree, but proud to be a friend of @SenJohnMcCain: hero, champion of character and last night, Lincolnesque,&quot; said Romney.

The latest battle with a senior member of the Republican party comes after Trump engaged in a heated exchange with senior Senator Bob Corker, who accused the president of pushing the country to the brink of World War III.

Trump&#39;s frequent sparring with congressional leaders is seen as perhaps damaging to his legislative agenda, with a potentially bruising fight for tax-reforms that could divide his party on the horizon.&nbsp;

Republicans currently hold only a slim majority in the Senate, with 52 of the chamber&#39;s 100 seats.

 
&nbsp;

McCain had said unflattering things about Trump's 'America First ' policy

US President Donald Trump reignited a long-standing feud with John McCain Tuesday, warning "I fight back, and it won't be pretty" after the respected senator appeared to take aim at him in a speech. The relationship between the pair -- one a veteran lawmaker and war hero, the other a real estate tycoon and political neophyte before he assumed the presidency -- has long been testy. But the acrimony has risen to a new level with Trump's latest threats, which come just over a week after a war-of-words with another senior legislator from his own party, Bob Corker. Speaking on Monday night at an event in Philadelphia to honor his life's achievements, McCain had railed against the "America First" approach espoused by the Trump administration. "To refuse the obligations of international leadership...for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past," said the 81-year-old, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in July. Trump lashed out Tuesday, telling conservative radio host Chris Plante: "People have to be careful because at some point I fight back. "I'm being very nice. I'm being very, very nice. But at some point I fight back, and it won't be pretty." McCain has proved a thorn in Trump's side in recent months, twice helping to scupper Republican attempts to repeal a healthcare law that was a signature accomplishment of former president Barack Obama. Asked by AFP what he made of the president's latest missive, McCain shrugged the matter off. "I do what I have to do and I work with him as much as I can, and I do what I need to do for the people of Arizona," he said. Regarding the president's suggestion he would fight back, he responded simply: "I have faced some pretty tough adversaries in my life." 'Lincolnesque' The Trump-McCain feud has a long history. Trump -- who in addition to being a businessman was also a reality TV star winning the White House -- questioned McCain's military record in July 2015, earning widespread rebuke for saying "I like people who weren't captured" in comments that threatened to derail his presidential ambitions just a month after announcing his bid. Former Navy pilot McCain spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam where he was tortured, while Trump received student and medical deferments that prevented him from being enlisted in the conflict. In August, McCain broke party ranks to call Trump "often poorly informed," adding he "can be impulsive in his speech and conduct." Some political observers wondered whether his votes against Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare -- one of Trump's main campaign promises -- were influenced by the desire for revenge. McCain on Monday received the backing of another long-time Trump critic Mitt Romney, who was also the Republican candidate for president in 2012. "Ran against him, sometimes disagree, but proud to be a friend of @SenJohnMcCain: hero, champion of character and last night, Lincolnesque," said Romney. The latest battle with a senior member of the Republican party comes after Trump engaged in a heated exchange with senior Senator Bob Corker, who accused the president of pushing the country to the brink of World War III. Trump's frequent sparring with congressional leaders is seen as perhaps damaging to his legislative agenda, with a potentially bruising fight for tax-reforms that could divide his party on the horizon. Republicans currently hold only a slim majority in the Senate, with 52 of the chamber's 100 seats.

Trump to McCain: I fight back, and it won't be pretty

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are working very closely on a number of Republican initiatives, including tax reform, and described their relationship as closer than ever, despite his own public barbs after the Senate failed to move on healthcare reform.

&quot;We have we have been working together long and hard. We think we&#39;re in good shape for the budget, we hope,&quot; Trump said in a White House appearance with McConnell on Monday (October 16).

Trump also said that he believes Havana is responsible for a series of incidents that Washington thinks hurt at least 22 U.S. diplomats over a period of months in Cuba, prompting Washington to scale back its presence there.

He said he would write and call the families of American soldiers killed in Niger and said he was told former President Barack Obama &quot;sometimes didn&#39;t.&quot;

Asked whether Obama called families of fallen soldiers, Trump said,&quot;I don&#39;t know if he did. No, no, no. I was, I was told that he didn&#39;t often. And a lot of presidents don&#39;t they write letters. I do. Excuse me, Peter. I do a combination of both. Sometimes it&#39;s a very difficult thing to do. But I do a combination of both.

President Obama, I think, probably did sometimes and maybe sometimes he didn&#39;t, I don&#39;t know, that&#39;s what I was told. All I can do, all I can do is ask my generals.

Other&nbsp;presidents did not call. They&#39;d write letters and some presidents didn&#39;t do anything. But I like I like the combination of I like, when I can, the combination of a call and also a letter.&quot; 
 
Trump also bashed his former Democratic campaign rival Hillary Clinton&#39;s recent statement that players kneeling during the National Anthem were &quot;not against our anthem or flag.&quot; Trump said it was that sort of &quot;thinking&quot; that lost her the presidential race.

 
&nbsp;

Trump also bashed his former Democratic campaign rival Hillary Clinton's recent statement that players kneeling during the National Anthem were 'not against our anthem or flag'

US President Donald Trump said he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are working very closely on a number of Republican initiatives, including tax reform, and described their relationship as closer than ever, despite his own public barbs after the Senate failed to move on healthcare reform. "We have we have been working together long and hard. We think we're in good shape for the budget, we hope," Trump said in a White House appearance with McConnell on Monday (October 16). Trump also said that he believes Havana is responsible for a series of incidents that Washington thinks hurt at least 22 U.S. diplomats over a period of months in Cuba, prompting Washington to scale back its presence there. He said he would write and call the families of American soldiers killed in Niger and said he was told former President Barack Obama "sometimes didn't." Asked whether Obama called families of fallen soldiers, Trump said,"I don't know if he did. No, no, no. I was, I was told that he didn't often. And a lot of presidents don't they write letters. I do. Excuse me, Peter. I do a combination of both. Sometimes it's a very difficult thing to do. But I do a combination of both. President Obama, I think, probably did sometimes and maybe sometimes he didn't, I don't know, that's what I was told. All I can do, all I can do is ask my generals. Other presidents did not call. They'd write letters and some presidents didn't do anything. But I like I like the combination of I like, when I can, the combination of a call and also a letter." Trump also bashed his former Democratic campaign rival Hillary Clinton's recent statement that players kneeling during the National Anthem were "not against our anthem or flag." Trump said it was that sort of "thinking" that lost her the presidential race.

Obama often did not call families of fallen soldiers: Trump

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