Britain on Monday said it was planning a European-led protection force for shipping in the Gulf after Iranian authorities seized a British-flagged tanker in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemned Iran's actions as "state piracy" while at the same time emphasising that Britain did not want confrontation.

"We will seek to establish this mission as quickly as possible," Hunt said, adding that a second warship that Britain has sent to the region would arrive by July 29.

In a ramping up of tensions, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Stena Impero on Friday in the Gulf's strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The move came two weeks after British authorities seized an Iranian tanker off its overseas territory of Gibraltar on suspicion of breaching EU sanctions against Syria against a backdrop of brinkmanship between Washington and Tehran.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country is not seeking confrontation with Britain in a message directed at its likely incoming leader Boris Johnson.&nbsp;

"It is very important for Boris Johnson as he enters 10 Downing Street to understand that Iran does not seek confrontation, that Iran wants normal relations based on mutual respect," Zarif told reporters during a visit to Nicaragua.

He also accused Britain "of doing the bidding for the Trump administration".

Hunt told Parliament that the protection force "will not be part of the US maximum pressure policy on Iran because we remain committed to preserving the Iran nuclear agreement".

The United States pulled out of the nuclear deal last year.

Iran impounded the tanker after claiming it failed to respond to distress calls and turned off its transponder after hitting a fishing boat.

However, Britain has said there was no evidence of a collision and said the vessel was in Omani waters, with its transponder switched on.

The EU has already expressed its "deep concern" at the move and on Monday German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: "We don't want any further escalation."

There have been a number of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz since May when the United States boosted its military presence in response to what it called indications of a "credible threat" from Iran.

The British government had warned its ships to avoid the shipping channel, a chokepoint for about a third of the world's sea-borne oil.

Hunt said the volume of shipping made it impossible to protect every vessel individually.

Questions are being asked in London about why the government was not more proactive in protecting ships after the Gibraltar incident, which provoked fury and a threat of retaliation in Tehran.

The stand-off comes at a sensitive time for Britain, with Prime Minister Theresa May stepping down on Wednesday over her failure to deliver Brexit.

Former foreign minister Johnson is the overwhelming favourite to replace her and there have been calls for stronger action against Iran, such as financial sanctions.

Oil prices jumped Monday on fresh concerns about supplies and possible conflict in the crude-rich Middle East.

ran impounded the tanker after claiming it failed to respond to distress calls and turned off its transponder after hitting a fishing boat.

However, Britain has said there was no evidence of a collision and said the vessel was in Omani waters, with its transponder switched on.

The EU has already expressed its "deep concern" at the move and on Monday German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: "We don't want any further escalation."

There have been a number of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz since May when the United States boosted its military presence in response to what it called indications of a "credible threat" from Iran.

The British government had warned its ships to avoid the shipping channel, a chokepoint for about a third of the world's sea-borne oil.

Hunt said the volume of shipping made it impossible to protect every vessel individually.

Questions are being asked in London about why the government was not more proactive in protecting ships after the Gibraltar incident, which provoked fury and a threat of retaliation in Tehran.

The stand-off comes at a sensitive time for Britain, with Prime Minister Theresa May stepping down on Wednesday over her failure to deliver Brexit.

Iranian authorities have said the crew of the British-flagged tanker -- 18 Indians, including the captain, three Russians, a Latvian and a Filipino -- are all in good health.

The fate of the Stena Impero depends on an investigation into its alleged breach of international maritime rules, they added.

The incident on Friday began hours after a court in the tiny British territory of Gibraltar extended by 30 days the detention of the Iranian-chartered tanker, Grace 1, which was seized on July 4.

"To all the countries that are calling on Iran to release the tanker, we ask them to tell Britain the same thing," the Iranian spokesman said on Monday.

Hunt has said Britain wants sufficient guarantees that the oil was not bound for Syria.

The incidents come amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, which have left European nations caught in the middle.

In May 2018, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the landmark 2015 deal that put curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Britain, France and Germany were also signatories and have been trying to keep the deal alive.

The US administration reimposed tough sanctions on Iran, which has retaliated by increasing its enrichment of uranium beyond limits set in the nuclear accord.

Last month, Trump called off airstrikes against Iran at the last minute after Tehran downed a US drone.

Britain on Monday said it was planning a European-led protection force for shipping in the Gulf after Iranian authorities seized a British-flagged tanker in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region.

Britain on Monday said it was planning a European-led protection force for shipping in the Gulf after Iranian authorities seized a British-flagged tanker in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemned Iran's actions as "state piracy" while at the same time emphasising that Britain did not want confrontation. "We will seek to establish this mission as quickly as possible," Hunt said, adding that a second warship that Britain has sent to the region would arrive by July 29. In a ramping up of tensions, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Stena Impero on Friday in the Gulf's strategic Strait of Hormuz. The move came two weeks after British authorities seized an Iranian tanker off its overseas territory of Gibraltar on suspicion of breaching EU sanctions against Syria against a backdrop of brinkmanship between Washington and Tehran. On Monday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country is not seeking confrontation with Britain in a message directed at its likely incoming leader Boris Johnson. "It is very important for Boris Johnson as he enters 10 Downing Street to understand that Iran does not seek confrontation, that Iran wants normal relations based on mutual respect," Zarif told reporters during a visit to Nicaragua. He also accused Britain "of doing the bidding for the Trump administration". Hunt told Parliament that the protection force "will not be part of the US maximum pressure policy on Iran because we remain committed to preserving the Iran nuclear agreement". The United States pulled out of the nuclear deal last year. Iran impounded the tanker after claiming it failed to respond to distress calls and turned off its transponder after hitting a fishing boat. However, Britain has said there was no evidence of a collision and said the vessel was in Omani waters, with its transponder switched on. The EU has already expressed its "deep concern" at the move and on Monday German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: "We don't want any further escalation." There have been a number of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz since May when the United States boosted its military presence in response to what it called indications of a "credible threat" from Iran. The British government had warned its ships to avoid the shipping channel, a chokepoint for about a third of the world's sea-borne oil. Hunt said the volume of shipping made it impossible to protect every vessel individually. Questions are being asked in London about why the government was not more proactive in protecting ships after the Gibraltar incident, which provoked fury and a threat of retaliation in Tehran. The stand-off comes at a sensitive time for Britain, with Prime Minister Theresa May stepping down on Wednesday over her failure to deliver Brexit. Former foreign minister Johnson is the overwhelming favourite to replace her and there have been calls for stronger action against Iran, such as financial sanctions. Oil prices jumped Monday on fresh concerns about supplies and possible conflict in the crude-rich Middle East. ran impounded the tanker after claiming it failed to respond to distress calls and turned off its transponder after hitting a fishing boat. However, Britain has said there was no evidence of a collision and said the vessel was in Omani waters, with its transponder switched on. The EU has already expressed its "deep concern" at the move and on Monday German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: "We don't want any further escalation." There have been a number of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz since May when the United States boosted its military presence in response to what it called indications of a "credible threat" from Iran. The British government had warned its ships to avoid the shipping channel, a chokepoint for about a third of the world's sea-borne oil. Hunt said the volume of shipping made it impossible to protect every vessel individually. Questions are being asked in London about why the government was not more proactive in protecting ships after the Gibraltar incident, which provoked fury and a threat of retaliation in Tehran. The stand-off comes at a sensitive time for Britain, with Prime Minister Theresa May stepping down on Wednesday over her failure to deliver Brexit. Iranian authorities have said the crew of the British-flagged tanker -- 18 Indians, including the captain, three Russians, a Latvian and a Filipino -- are all in good health. The fate of the Stena Impero depends on an investigation into its alleged breach of international maritime rules, they added. The incident on Friday began hours after a court in the tiny British territory of Gibraltar extended by 30 days the detention of the Iranian-chartered tanker, Grace 1, which was seized on July 4. "To all the countries that are calling on Iran to release the tanker, we ask them to tell Britain the same thing," the Iranian spokesman said on Monday. Hunt has said Britain wants sufficient guarantees that the oil was not bound for Syria. The incidents come amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, which have left European nations caught in the middle. In May 2018, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the landmark 2015 deal that put curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Britain, France and Germany were also signatories and have been trying to keep the deal alive. The US administration reimposed tough sanctions on Iran, which has retaliated by increasing its enrichment of uranium beyond limits set in the nuclear accord. Last month, Trump called off airstrikes against Iran at the last minute after Tehran downed a US drone.

Britain plans European-led Gulf force after tanker seizure

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev has died from injuries sustained in a fight in Maryland, the Russian boxing federation announced on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"Maxim Dadashev has died in the United States following injuries sustained during his fight with Subriel Matias," the federation said in a statement.

The 28-year-old underwent emergency brain surgery in Washington after his super-lightweight bout with Puerto Rican Matias on Friday was stopped in the 11th round by his cornerman James "Buddy" McGirt.

Dadashev, known as "Mad Max", was unable to walk to the dressing room and was immediately hospitalised.

Doctors operated to relieve pressure from swelling on his brain.

"Right now, he's in critical condition, but the doctor told me that he's stable," Dadashev's strength and conditioning coach, Donatas Janusevicius, had told ESPN after the operation.

McGirt said after the fight he "couldn't convince" his fighter to stop, but opted to throw in the towel when he saw him "getting hit with more and more clean shots as the fight went on".

"One punch can change a whole guy's life," McGirt said.

Russian boxing chief Umar Kremlev told Russian media that Dadashev's body would be repatriated home and that his family would receive financial aid.

Dadashev took an unbeaten 13-0 record into the 140-pound non-title fight.

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev has died from injuries sustained in a fight in Maryland, the Russian boxing federation announced on Tuesday. "Maxim Dadashev has died in the United States following injuries sustained during his fight with Subriel Matias," the federation said in a statement.

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev has died from injuries sustained in a fight in Maryland, the Russian boxing federation announced on Tuesday. "Maxim Dadashev has died in the United States following injuries sustained during his fight with Subriel Matias," the federation said in a statement. The 28-year-old underwent emergency brain surgery in Washington after his super-lightweight bout with Puerto Rican Matias on Friday was stopped in the 11th round by his cornerman James "Buddy" McGirt. Dadashev, known as "Mad Max", was unable to walk to the dressing room and was immediately hospitalised. Doctors operated to relieve pressure from swelling on his brain. "Right now, he's in critical condition, but the doctor told me that he's stable," Dadashev's strength and conditioning coach, Donatas Janusevicius, had told ESPN after the operation. McGirt said after the fight he "couldn't convince" his fighter to stop, but opted to throw in the towel when he saw him "getting hit with more and more clean shots as the fight went on". "One punch can change a whole guy's life," McGirt said. Russian boxing chief Umar Kremlev told Russian media that Dadashev's body would be repatriated home and that his family would receive financial aid. Dadashev took an unbeaten 13-0 record into the 140-pound non-title fight.

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev dies after sustaining injuries in US bout

The European Union (EU) is ready to hit the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/huawei-first-half-revenue-up-about-30-despite-us-ban-237956">United States with extra tariffs</a> on goods worth 35 billion euros if Washington slaps duties on its cars, its trade chief said Tuesday.

The warning by EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom came as she said a plan by Europe and the United States to reach a limited trade deal was at a standstill.

Malmstrom's stark statement to newly elected MEPs in Brussels was a reminder that transatlantic tensions remained high despite Washington's trade war with China dominating attention.&nbsp;

"We will not accept any managed trade, quotas or voluntary export restraints and, if there were to be tariffs, we would have a rebalancing list," Malmstrom told a committee meeting in European Parliament.

"It is already basically prepared worth 35 billion euros. I hope we don't have to use that one," she said.

US President Donald Trump is still considering imposing punishing duties on automobile imports on national security grounds -- a justification that Malmstrom said was wildly unfounded.

"We welcome the decision by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-against-oil-companies-illegal-china-237917">US not to impose yet duties</a> on cars and car parts," she said.&nbsp;

"But of course the very notion that European cars can be a national security threat to the US is, of course, absurd," she added.

The comments were made almost a year to the day after European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and Trump thrashed out a trade truce in the White House.

This followed a bitter round of tit-for-tat tariffs, that remain in place, after the US sparked the row by imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium from Europe.

Negotiating a limited trade deal was the heart of the truce, but Malmstrom said the US was unwilling to move forward with talks.

"The United States are not ready to start them if agriculture is not included which is a red line for us," she said.

"So for the moment nothing happens here," she said.

The European Union (EU) is ready to hit the United States with extra tariffs on goods worth 35 billion euros if Washington slaps duties on its cars, its trade chief said Tuesday.

The European Union (EU) is ready to hit the United States with extra tariffs on goods worth 35 billion euros if Washington slaps duties on its cars, its trade chief said Tuesday. The warning by EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom came as she said a plan by Europe and the United States to reach a limited trade deal was at a standstill. Malmstrom's stark statement to newly elected MEPs in Brussels was a reminder that transatlantic tensions remained high despite Washington's trade war with China dominating attention. "We will not accept any managed trade, quotas or voluntary export restraints and, if there were to be tariffs, we would have a rebalancing list," Malmstrom told a committee meeting in European Parliament. "It is already basically prepared worth 35 billion euros. I hope we don't have to use that one," she said. US President Donald Trump is still considering imposing punishing duties on automobile imports on national security grounds -- a justification that Malmstrom said was wildly unfounded. "We welcome the decision by the US not to impose yet duties on cars and car parts," she said. "But of course the very notion that European cars can be a national security threat to the US is, of course, absurd," she added. The comments were made almost a year to the day after European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and Trump thrashed out a trade truce in the White House. This followed a bitter round of tit-for-tat tariffs, that remain in place, after the US sparked the row by imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium from Europe. Negotiating a limited trade deal was the heart of the truce, but Malmstrom said the US was unwilling to move forward with talks. "The United States are not ready to start them if agriculture is not included which is a red line for us," she said. "So for the moment nothing happens here," she said.

European Union threatens duties on 35 billion euros in US goods

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnsons-stance-on-iran-trump-huawei-and-the-economy-237951">Boris Johnson</a>, the Brexiteer who has promised to lead Britain out of the European Union with or without a deal by the end of October, will replace Theresa May as prime minister after winning the leadership of the Conservative Party on Tuesday.

His convincing victory catapults the United Kingdom towards a showdown with the EU and towards a constitutional crisis at home, as British lawmakers have vowed to bring down any government that tries to leave the bloc without a divorce deal.

Johnson, the face of the 2016 Brexit referendum, won the votes of 92,153 members of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-wins-conservative-party-leadership-race-set-to-become-uk-pm-237941">Conservative party</a>, almost twice the 46,656 won by his rival, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

May will leave office on Wednesday after going to Buckingham Palace to see Queen Elizabeth, who will formally appoint Johnson before he enters Downing Street.

"We are going to get Brexit done on Oct. 31, and we are going to take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring in a new spirit of 'can do'," Johnson, 55, said after the result was announced.

"Like some slumbering giant, we are going to rise and ping off the guy-ropes of self-doubt and negativity."

Johnson said the mantra of his leadership campaign had been to "deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat (opposition Labour leader) Jeremy Corbyn and that is what we are going to do".

Within half an hour of his victory, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/congratulations-to-boris-johnson-on-becoming-the-new-pm-of-uk-he-will-be-great-donald-trump-237983">US President Donald Trum</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-a-divisive-politician-with-do-or-die-pledge-over-brexit-237944">p</a> had tweeted his congratulations, adding: "He will be great!".

The men have recently been complimentary about each other yet Trump is one of the many world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, about whom Johnson has previously made derogatory remarks. In 2015, he accused Trump, then a candidate for office, of "stupefying ignorance" that made him unfit to be president.

The victory for one of Britain's most flamboyant politicians places an avowed Brexit supporter in charge of the government for the first time since the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU in the shock 2016 referendum.

But Johnson is known for his ambition, untidy blond hair, flowery oratory and cursory command of policy detail takes office at one of the most tumultuous junctures in post-World War Two British history.

The pound has fallen sharply in recent weeks on fears of a no-deal Brexit, and stands near $1.24, around its lowest level for two years. With Johnson's win already priced in, it was little changed on Tuesday.

Divided Kingdom

The 2016 Brexit referendum showed the United Kingdom divided about much more than the European Union, and has fuelled soul-searching about everything from regional secession and immigration to capitalism, the legacy of empire, and modern Britishness.

Brexit, which has already toppled two Conservative prime ministers, will dominate.

Johnson has pledged to negotiate a new Brexit divorce deal with the EU to secure a smooth transition out of the EU before Oct. 31. But if the bloc refuses, as it insists it will, he has promised to leave anyway, "do or die", on the current agreed date of Oct. 31, Halloween.

It is a step that many investors and economists say would send shock waves through world markets and tip the world's fifth-largest economy into recession or even chaos.

The EU said a no-deal Brexit would be a tragedy for both parties but again said the withdrawal deal was not up for negotiation.

"We look forward to working constructively with PM Johnson when he takes office, to facilitate the ratification of the withdrawal agreement and achieve an orderly Brexit," tweeted the bloc's negotiator, Michel Barnier.

A Brexit without a divorce deal would also weaken London’s position as the pre-eminent international financial centre while jolting the northern European economy.

Johnson's Conservatives have no majority in parliament and need the support of 10 lawmakers from Northern Ireland's Brexit-backing Democratic Unionist Party to govern.

Even then, the majority is wafer-thin - and some lawmakers have threatened to bring down the government, a step that would probably deepen Britain's political crisis and lead to an election.

'PM Boris'

The rise of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, often referred to as simply "Boris", to the top of British politics is the grandest twist so far in a career that has taken him from journalism via TV-show fame, comedy and scandal into the political brinkmanship of Britain’s Brexit crisis.

Born in New York, Johnson was educated at Eton, Britain’s most exclusive school, and at Balliol College, Oxford. He began his career at a management consultancy in the City of London but dropped out after a week.

He then turned to journalism but was sacked from the Times newspaper for making up quotes.

Hired by the Daily Telegraph, Johnson infuriated European officials and delighted then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher by lampooning the European Economic Community with a host of sometimes misleading reports from Brussels.

After entering politics, he was sacked from the Conservative Party’s policy team while in opposition for lying about an extramarital affair. He and his wife announced last year they were to divorce and he is currently in a relationship with the party's former communications chief, Carrie Symonds.

But his sometimes shambolic personal appearance and disarmingly self-deprecating persona have allowed him to survive both gaffes and scandal. He served two terms as London mayor, from 2008 to 2016.

His embrace of a court jester role has won over many Britons, fed up of what many see as an out-of-touch political establishment too centred on a London elite. But critics say he lacks the gravitas the job requires.

"He has shown time and time again that he isn’t fit to be the prime minister of our country," Jo Swinson, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrat party.

In 2016, Johnson became one of the most recognisable faces of the Brexit campaign, which won the referendum by 52 per cent to 48 per cent, but faced accusations of making misleading claims to win support, most notably by stating that Britain would be 350 million pounds ($440 million) a week better off outside the EU.

"I know that there will be people around the place who will question the wisdom of your decision, and there may be some people here who still wonder what they have done," Johnson told party members after his victory was announced.

"I will just point out to you that no one party, no party has a monopoly of wisdom."

Boris Johnson, the Brexiteer who has promised to lead Britain out of the European Union with or without a deal by the end of October, will replace Theresa May as prime minister after winning the leadership of the Conservative Party on Tuesday.

Boris Johnson, the Brexiteer who has promised to lead Britain out of the European Union with or without a deal by the end of October, will replace Theresa May as prime minister after winning the leadership of the Conservative Party on Tuesday. His convincing victory catapults the United Kingdom towards a showdown with the EU and towards a constitutional crisis at home, as British lawmakers have vowed to bring down any government that tries to leave the bloc without a divorce deal. Johnson, the face of the 2016 Brexit referendum, won the votes of 92,153 members of the Conservative party, almost twice the 46,656 won by his rival, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. May will leave office on Wednesday after going to Buckingham Palace to see Queen Elizabeth, who will formally appoint Johnson before he enters Downing Street. "We are going to get Brexit done on Oct. 31, and we are going to take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring in a new spirit of 'can do'," Johnson, 55, said after the result was announced. "Like some slumbering giant, we are going to rise and ping off the guy-ropes of self-doubt and negativity." Johnson said the mantra of his leadership campaign had been to "deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat (opposition Labour leader) Jeremy Corbyn and that is what we are going to do". Within half an hour of his victory, US President Donald Trump had tweeted his congratulations, adding: "He will be great!". The men have recently been complimentary about each other yet Trump is one of the many world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, about whom Johnson has previously made derogatory remarks. In 2015, he accused Trump, then a candidate for office, of "stupefying ignorance" that made him unfit to be president. The victory for one of Britain's most flamboyant politicians places an avowed Brexit supporter in charge of the government for the first time since the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU in the shock 2016 referendum. But Johnson is known for his ambition, untidy blond hair, flowery oratory and cursory command of policy detail takes office at one of the most tumultuous junctures in post-World War Two British history. The pound has fallen sharply in recent weeks on fears of a no-deal Brexit, and stands near $1.24, around its lowest level for two years. With Johnson's win already priced in, it was little changed on Tuesday. Divided Kingdom The 2016 Brexit referendum showed the United Kingdom divided about much more than the European Union, and has fuelled soul-searching about everything from regional secession and immigration to capitalism, the legacy of empire, and modern Britishness. Brexit, which has already toppled two Conservative prime ministers, will dominate. Johnson has pledged to negotiate a new Brexit divorce deal with the EU to secure a smooth transition out of the EU before Oct. 31. But if the bloc refuses, as it insists it will, he has promised to leave anyway, "do or die", on the current agreed date of Oct. 31, Halloween. It is a step that many investors and economists say would send shock waves through world markets and tip the world's fifth-largest economy into recession or even chaos. The EU said a no-deal Brexit would be a tragedy for both parties but again said the withdrawal deal was not up for negotiation. "We look forward to working constructively with PM Johnson when he takes office, to facilitate the ratification of the withdrawal agreement and achieve an orderly Brexit," tweeted the bloc's negotiator, Michel Barnier. A Brexit without a divorce deal would also weaken London’s position as the pre-eminent international financial centre while jolting the northern European economy. Johnson's Conservatives have no majority in parliament and need the support of 10 lawmakers from Northern Ireland's Brexit-backing Democratic Unionist Party to govern. Even then, the majority is wafer-thin - and some lawmakers have threatened to bring down the government, a step that would probably deepen Britain's political crisis and lead to an election. 'PM Boris' The rise of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, often referred to as simply "Boris", to the top of British politics is the grandest twist so far in a career that has taken him from journalism via TV-show fame, comedy and scandal into the political brinkmanship of Britain’s Brexit crisis. Born in New York, Johnson was educated at Eton, Britain’s most exclusive school, and at Balliol College, Oxford. He began his career at a management consultancy in the City of London but dropped out after a week. He then turned to journalism but was sacked from the Times newspaper for making up quotes. Hired by the Daily Telegraph, Johnson infuriated European officials and delighted then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher by lampooning the European Economic Community with a host of sometimes misleading reports from Brussels. After entering politics, he was sacked from the Conservative Party’s policy team while in opposition for lying about an extramarital affair. He and his wife announced last year they were to divorce and he is currently in a relationship with the party's former communications chief, Carrie Symonds. But his sometimes shambolic personal appearance and disarmingly self-deprecating persona have allowed him to survive both gaffes and scandal. He served two terms as London mayor, from 2008 to 2016. His embrace of a court jester role has won over many Britons, fed up of what many see as an out-of-touch political establishment too centred on a London elite. But critics say he lacks the gravitas the job requires. "He has shown time and time again that he isn’t fit to be the prime minister of our country," Jo Swinson, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrat party. In 2016, Johnson became one of the most recognisable faces of the Brexit campaign, which won the referendum by 52 per cent to 48 per cent, but faced accusations of making misleading claims to win support, most notably by stating that Britain would be 350 million pounds ($440 million) a week better off outside the EU. "I know that there will be people around the place who will question the wisdom of your decision, and there may be some people here who still wonder what they have done," Johnson told party members after his victory was announced. "I will just point out to you that no one party, no party has a monopoly of wisdom."

'I say all the doubters, we are going to energize the country and get the Brexit done': Boris Johnson

Severe wind and rain in the northeastern United States left thousands without power on Monday and into early Tuesday, even as a record-breaking heatwave ebbed.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/end-in-sight-for-us-heat-wave-that-set-temperature-records-237573">heatwave blanketing about a third of the US population</a> brought thunderstorms along with cooling rain when it burst on Monday, the National Weather Service said.

The hardest-hit area was New Jersey, with about 300,000 customers still without power early on Tuesday, tracking site PowerOutage.us showed.

"There are numerous reports of wind damage from downed trees hitting powerlines and transformers, through New Jersey and southern New York," said Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in Maryland.

Some winds gusted as high as 80 mph (129 kph), he added.

"The good news is that the heatwave is over," Oravec said. "It's cooled down. Today it'll be about 76 degrees Fahrenheit (24.4°C) in New York City and roughly in the high 70s to low 80s through New Jersey and the northeast."

Many New Yorkers experienced their second successive weekend of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-150-million-people-sweltering-through-deadly-us-heatwave-237355">blackouts</a> after a July 13 outage left more than 73,000 homes and businesses without power for about three hours.

About 18,000 customers were without power in New York City, media said, for a total of 22,000 in the metro area by early Tuesday.

Some residents have been without power since Sunday night when Con Edison shut off the supply to about 50,000 customers in New York City and Westchester to avert strain on the system, even as temperatures soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8°C).&nbsp;

The shutdown was necessary for repairs by Con Edison to prevent a bigger outage, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter at the time, tasking city personnel to take generators to nursing homes and open cooling centres for residents.

On Monday, he criticized Con Edison for not taking preventive measures before the latest outrage, telling a news conference the forecast of a heatwave meant the situation had been predictable, and therefore preventable.

In Michigan, about 150,000 homes and businesses were still without power early on Tuesday after weekend thunderstorms knocked out power in much of the metro Detroit area.

Temperatures in the Detroit area are forecast at about 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6°C).

On Saturday, at least half-a-dozen locations saw one-day temperature records, including a high of 99 F (37.2°C) at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and a high of 97 F (36.1°C) at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Severe wind and rain in the northeastern United States left thousands without power on Monday and into early Tuesday, even as a record-breaking heatwave ebbed. The heatwave blanketing about a third of the US population brought thunderstorms along with cooling rain when it burst on Monday, the National Weather Service said.

Severe wind and rain in the northeastern United States left thousands without power on Monday and into early Tuesday, even as a record-breaking heatwave ebbed. The heatwave blanketing about a third of the US population brought thunderstorms along with cooling rain when it burst on Monday, the National Weather Service said. The hardest-hit area was New Jersey, with about 300,000 customers still without power early on Tuesday, tracking site PowerOutage.us showed. "There are numerous reports of wind damage from downed trees hitting powerlines and transformers, through New Jersey and southern New York," said Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in Maryland. Some winds gusted as high as 80 mph (129 kph), he added. "The good news is that the heatwave is over," Oravec said. "It's cooled down. Today it'll be about 76 degrees Fahrenheit (24.4°C) in New York City and roughly in the high 70s to low 80s through New Jersey and the northeast." Many New Yorkers experienced their second successive weekend of blackouts after a July 13 outage left more than 73,000 homes and businesses without power for about three hours. About 18,000 customers were without power in New York City, media said, for a total of 22,000 in the metro area by early Tuesday. Some residents have been without power since Sunday night when Con Edison shut off the supply to about 50,000 customers in New York City and Westchester to avert strain on the system, even as temperatures soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8°C). The shutdown was necessary for repairs by Con Edison to prevent a bigger outage, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter at the time, tasking city personnel to take generators to nursing homes and open cooling centres for residents. On Monday, he criticized Con Edison for not taking preventive measures before the latest outrage, telling a news conference the forecast of a heatwave meant the situation had been predictable, and therefore preventable. In Michigan, about 150,000 homes and businesses were still without power early on Tuesday after weekend thunderstorms knocked out power in much of the metro Detroit area. Temperatures in the Detroit area are forecast at about 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6°C). On Saturday, at least half-a-dozen locations saw one-day temperature records, including a high of 99 F (37.2°C) at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and a high of 97 F (36.1°C) at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

As heat wave breaks across US northeast, thousands left without power

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-turning-blind-eye-to-human-rights-abuses-in-xinjiang-237376">far northwestern region of Xinjiang</a> is an "inseparable" part of China despite efforts by extremists to distort history and facts in a bid to split the country, the Chinese government said in a document published late on Sunday.

The government said in a white paper published by the State Council Information Office it was wrong to suggest members of Xinjiang's minority Uighur Muslim community were descended from Turks, noting they had become the political tool of pan-Turkic and pan-Islamic groups.

The paper said, "hostile forces in and outside China, especially separatists, religious extremists and terrorists, have tried to split China and break it apart by distorting history and facts".

Beijing has been accused of persecuting Uighurs, with at least a million believed to be detained in what China insists are vocational centres aimed at reducing the spread of Islamist extremism.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-pompeo-expresses-disappointment-over-turkeys-acquisition-of-russian-s-400-missiles-237351">US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo</a> branded China's treatment of its Uighur minority as the "stain of the century" on Thursday.

The government white paper said Xinjiang has been a part of China since the Han dynasty in the third century and its people and ethnic cultures were formed by a long process of migration and integration.

It also said Islam was not the indigenous or sole belief system of the Uighurs but was imposed by the expansion of the Arab Empire, and that "theocracy" and "religious supremacism" were a betrayal that needed to be opposed.

"Hostile foreign forces and separatist, religious extremist and terrorist forces that have colluded to distort history ... will be cast aside by history and the people," it said.

The far northwestern region of Xinjiang is an "inseparable" part of China despite efforts by extremists to distort history and facts in a bid to split the country, the Chinese government said in a document published late on Sunday.

The far northwestern region of Xinjiang is an "inseparable" part of China despite efforts by extremists to distort history and facts in a bid to split the country, the Chinese government said in a document published late on Sunday. The government said in a white paper published by the State Council Information Office it was wrong to suggest members of Xinjiang's minority Uighur Muslim community were descended from Turks, noting they had become the political tool of pan-Turkic and pan-Islamic groups. The paper said, "hostile forces in and outside China, especially separatists, religious extremists and terrorists, have tried to split China and break it apart by distorting history and facts". Beijing has been accused of persecuting Uighurs, with at least a million believed to be detained in what China insists are vocational centres aimed at reducing the spread of Islamist extremism. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo branded China's treatment of its Uighur minority as the "stain of the century" on Thursday. The government white paper said Xinjiang has been a part of China since the Han dynasty in the third century and its people and ethnic cultures were formed by a long process of migration and integration. It also said Islam was not the indigenous or sole belief system of the Uighurs but was imposed by the expansion of the Arab Empire, and that "theocracy" and "religious supremacism" were a betrayal that needed to be opposed. "Hostile foreign forces and separatist, religious extremist and terrorist forces that have colluded to distort history ... will be cast aside by history and the people," it said.

China says Xinjiang 'inseparable' despite attempts to distort history

Shares on Shanghai's new Nasdaq-style technology board soared Monday, with one firm rocketing more than 500 per cent, as investors rushed to grab a piece of China's latest market liberalisation in a frenzied debut.

All 25 components on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Sci-Tech Innovation Board, or STAR Market, were driven sharply higher in a hearty initial endorsement of China's plan to use the board to help fund fast-growing tech firms and discourage them listing abroad.

Anji Technology, a solar energy battery manufacturer, closed morning trade up 415.44 per cent at 202 yuan after earlier soaring as high as 520 per cent.

The board's biggest component, China Railway Signal &amp; Communication, rose 125.64 per cent to 13.20 yuan on market-leading turnover of 7.6 billion yuan ($1.1 billion).

The introduction of the board, for which listing and trading rules have been dramatically eased, represents one of China's most significant financial market reforms yet and a potential weapon in its growing tech rivalry with the United States.

The tech board is yet to draw any household names.

But China hopes it will eventually include listings from among the country's rich stable of tech "unicorns" start-ups valued at a minimum $1 billion which include Alibaba-linked mobile-payments pioneer Ant Financial, ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing, and online-services platform Meituan-Dianping.

China's government envisions the board being mentioned in the same breath someday as the tech-heavy Nasdaq, encouraging firms to list at home after the likes of Alibaba and Baidu chose Wall Street.

That will take time the Nasdaq has more than 3,000 companies listed and is one of the world's biggest exchanges.

"I think the science and technology board will develop into a major and important sector in China's capital markets, but it will take a long time, maybe 10 years, 20 years, or even longer," said Jiang Liangqing, a fund manager at Ruisen Capital Management.

Leap of faith

It is a leap of faith for China's volatility-averse authorities, as its stocks have been given relatively free rein.

For the first time, Chinese companies can list without a track record of past profits or restrictions on IPO pricing.

There will be no limits on price movements for the first five days of trading, after which a daily 20 per cent band is imposed.

China's two main exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen are subject to a 10 per cent band to contain volatility.

With attention on the new exchange, those markets languished Monday. Shanghai's main index was 0.57 per cent lower at midday while Shenzhen's was down 0.87 per cent.&nbsp;

The tech board was announced in November by President Xi Jinping as a battle with the United States for technological supremacy heated up.

Xi has called on China's tech leaders to become global champions, while the US has fought back in part by taking steps to clip the wings of Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

When big tech companies list overseas, the government in Beijing loses influence over their fundraising and Chinese investors cannot share in those companies' success due to restrictions on purchasing overseas-listed shares.

China realised it needed to loosen up.

"If China didn’t launch this new tech board now, it would miss the chance to transform its economic development into this 'new economy' mode," said Yang Delong, chief economist at First Seafront Fund.

But there are concerns that the new board could siphon liquidity from China's main markets, already pressured by slowing economic growth and the US trade war.

As a result, analysts believe regulators will take a measured pace in growing the tech board.

"The (main) markets are in a downturn now and if giant companies list on the tech board initially, market capital will be diverted. The market cannot bear that," said Yang.

"The new board won't drain too much from the main boards."

Shares on Shanghai's new Nasdaq-style technology board soared Monday, with one firm rocketing more than 500 per cent, as investors rushed to grab a piece of China's latest market liberalisation in a frenzied debut.

Shares on Shanghai's new Nasdaq-style technology board soared Monday, with one firm rocketing more than 500 per cent, as investors rushed to grab a piece of China's latest market liberalisation in a frenzied debut. All 25 components on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Sci-Tech Innovation Board, or STAR Market, were driven sharply higher in a hearty initial endorsement of China's plan to use the board to help fund fast-growing tech firms and discourage them listing abroad. Anji Technology, a solar energy battery manufacturer, closed morning trade up 415.44 per cent at 202 yuan after earlier soaring as high as 520 per cent. The board's biggest component, China Railway Signal & Communication, rose 125.64 per cent to 13.20 yuan on market-leading turnover of 7.6 billion yuan ($1.1 billion). The introduction of the board, for which listing and trading rules have been dramatically eased, represents one of China's most significant financial market reforms yet and a potential weapon in its growing tech rivalry with the United States. The tech board is yet to draw any household names. But China hopes it will eventually include listings from among the country's rich stable of tech "unicorns" start-ups valued at a minimum $1 billion which include Alibaba-linked mobile-payments pioneer Ant Financial, ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing, and online-services platform Meituan-Dianping. China's government envisions the board being mentioned in the same breath someday as the tech-heavy Nasdaq, encouraging firms to list at home after the likes of Alibaba and Baidu chose Wall Street. That will take time the Nasdaq has more than 3,000 companies listed and is one of the world's biggest exchanges. "I think the science and technology board will develop into a major and important sector in China's capital markets, but it will take a long time, maybe 10 years, 20 years, or even longer," said Jiang Liangqing, a fund manager at Ruisen Capital Management. Leap of faith It is a leap of faith for China's volatility-averse authorities, as its stocks have been given relatively free rein. For the first time, Chinese companies can list without a track record of past profits or restrictions on IPO pricing. There will be no limits on price movements for the first five days of trading, after which a daily 20 per cent band is imposed. China's two main exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen are subject to a 10 per cent band to contain volatility. With attention on the new exchange, those markets languished Monday. Shanghai's main index was 0.57 per cent lower at midday while Shenzhen's was down 0.87 per cent. The tech board was announced in November by President Xi Jinping as a battle with the United States for technological supremacy heated up. Xi has called on China's tech leaders to become global champions, while the US has fought back in part by taking steps to clip the wings of Chinese telecom giant Huawei. When big tech companies list overseas, the government in Beijing loses influence over their fundraising and Chinese investors cannot share in those companies' success due to restrictions on purchasing overseas-listed shares. China realised it needed to loosen up. "If China didn’t launch this new tech board now, it would miss the chance to transform its economic development into this 'new economy' mode," said Yang Delong, chief economist at First Seafront Fund. But there are concerns that the new board could siphon liquidity from China's main markets, already pressured by slowing economic growth and the US trade war. As a result, analysts believe regulators will take a measured pace in growing the tech board. "The (main) markets are in a downturn now and if giant companies list on the tech board initially, market capital will be diverted. The market cannot bear that," said Yang. "The new board won't drain too much from the main boards."

Shares blast off as 'China's Nasdaq' debuts

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-after-three-days-says-fire-hit-russian-submarine-was-nuclear-powered-233047">President Vladimir Putin</a> handed Russian citizenship to gas producer Novatek's veteran finance chief Mark Gyetvay on Monday, a move that could potentially help the US national bypass some sanctions restrictions.

US sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014 ban US nationals and companies from helping organise long-term funding for some major Russian firms, including Novatek.

The sanctions were imposed following Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

When the US and the EU imposed sanctions on Russia, executives with foreign passports at companies affected including Novatek - the country's largest non-state natural gas producer - and state bank VTB handed over responsibility for organising new debt or equity issuance to colleagues without EU or US passports.

Gyetvay, who has been Novatek's chief finance officer since 2003, acknowledged back in 2014 that he could no longer help his company raise new long-term financing.

US-born Gyetvay was awarded Russian citizenship in a presidential decree published on the Kremlin's website on Monday. Putin has previously granted citizenship to some other Western nationals working in top positions at Russian companies.

Gyetvay declined to comment on the decree.

President Vladimir Putin handed Russian citizenship to gas producer Novatek's veteran finance chief Mark Gyetvay on Monday, a move that could potentially help the US national bypass some sanctions restrictions.

President Vladimir Putin handed Russian citizenship to gas producer Novatek's veteran finance chief Mark Gyetvay on Monday, a move that could potentially help the US national bypass some sanctions restrictions. US sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014 ban US nationals and companies from helping organise long-term funding for some major Russian firms, including Novatek. The sanctions were imposed following Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. When the US and the EU imposed sanctions on Russia, executives with foreign passports at companies affected including Novatek - the country's largest non-state natural gas producer - and state bank VTB handed over responsibility for organising new debt or equity issuance to colleagues without EU or US passports. Gyetvay, who has been Novatek's chief finance officer since 2003, acknowledged back in 2014 that he could no longer help his company raise new long-term financing. US-born Gyetvay was awarded Russian citizenship in a presidential decree published on the Kremlin's website on Monday. Putin has previously granted citizenship to some other Western nationals working in top positions at Russian companies. Gyetvay declined to comment on the decree.

Putin gives Russian citizenship to Novatek's finance chief, a US national

The United States <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-150-million-people-sweltering-through-deadly-us-heatwave-237355">sweltered in dangerously hot weather</a> on Sunday, with major cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington broiling in temperatures that rose into triple digits.

An oppressive heatwave stretching from the Midwestern plains to the Atlantic coast had nearly 150 million people struggling to stay cool in stifling heat that set records in a handful of states.

By Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said the high temperatures would soon be over, but the severe weather would continue.

"The dangerous heat wave which enveloped much of the Midwest to the East Coast this weekend should finally break by Monday as a cold front drops southward," the agency said.

However, it warned that "showers and thunderstorms... with heavy to excessive rainfall and severe weather possible" were expected across a swath of the east coast, and flash floods were a risk.&nbsp;

Around 95 million people were under a heat warning or advisory for Sunday, down from Saturday's 157 million.

Earlier in the day, the NWS said "numerous stations" stretching from Massachusetts in the north to North Carolina in the south "were reporting heat index values between 100-110" degrees, with the highest values found in the southeast of the state of Virginia.

Authorities urged people on Sunday to stay hydrated, watch out for the sick and elderly, stay inside as much as possible and not leave children or animals in cars.

"We're almost near the end of the heat emergency. Temperatures will start to go back down tonight," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted, asking the city's residents to "keep hydrated and keep cool."

The NWS said it had recorded all-time high temperatures on Saturday in seven places in the US including Manchester, New Hampshire, Atlantic City, New Jersey and New York's JFK airport.

US media has blamed the heatwave for at least six deaths, including a hiker who had been found unconscious on a trail outside Washington on Saturday and two people who died earlier in the week in the eastern state of Maryland.&nbsp;

In Arkansas, 32-year-old former NFL player Mitch Petrus died of heatstroke Thursday after working outside his family's shop.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-welcomes-construction-of-kartarpur-corridor-236559">New York City</a> Triathlon, which had been scheduled for Sunday, was cancelled for the first time since its founding in 2001.

Life Time, which produces the race, donated more than 12 tons of water and Gatorade Endurance drink meant for competitors to be distributed to New Yorkers in need, CBS reported.

Meanwhile, the two-day OZY Fest a food, comedy and music festival set for Central Park was also called off.&nbsp;

In Washington, a popular weekly outdoor summer jazz concert at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden was cancelled.

'Deadly conditions'&nbsp;

"Sunday has been cancelled. Stay indoors, nothing to see here. We got this," The New York City Police Department wrote on Twitter.

The city had opened 500 cooling centres for residents.

At least three public defenders said on Twitter that inmates in New York's notorious Rikers Island jail complex were suffering from no air conditioning and that some guards had turned off fans as punishment, resulting in "deadly conditions."&nbsp;

The Brooklyn Defender Services legal aid group said some inmates didn't have summer clothing, only long underwear provided by the group last winter.

Top officials from the city's Department of Corrections were at the facility monitoring the response to the heatwave to "protect health and safety of everyone in the facility," de Blasio wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

The department said in a statement to AFP that extra staff were on hand to distribute summer clothing, and clinics were open around the clock to treat heat-related symptoms.&nbsp;

Those in units without air conditioning were given access to fans, ice, water and "multiple cool showers."

Earlier in the week, the National Weather Service office in the Midwestern city of Omaha baked a tray of biscuits savoury breakfast bread similar to scones on the dashboard of a parked car.&nbsp;

After nearly eight hours and with temperatures in the pan reaching 185 degrees, the pastries were almost fully cooked.

Climate data showed June was the hottest month on record worldwide, with a heatwave across Europe smashing national records.

The United States sweltered in dangerously hot weather on Sunday, with major cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington broiling in temperatures that rose into triple digits.

The United States sweltered in dangerously hot weather on Sunday, with major cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington broiling in temperatures that rose into triple digits. An oppressive heatwave stretching from the Midwestern plains to the Atlantic coast had nearly 150 million people struggling to stay cool in stifling heat that set records in a handful of states. By Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said the high temperatures would soon be over, but the severe weather would continue. "The dangerous heat wave which enveloped much of the Midwest to the East Coast this weekend should finally break by Monday as a cold front drops southward," the agency said. However, it warned that "showers and thunderstorms... with heavy to excessive rainfall and severe weather possible" were expected across a swath of the east coast, and flash floods were a risk. Around 95 million people were under a heat warning or advisory for Sunday, down from Saturday's 157 million. Earlier in the day, the NWS said "numerous stations" stretching from Massachusetts in the north to North Carolina in the south "were reporting heat index values between 100-110" degrees, with the highest values found in the southeast of the state of Virginia. Authorities urged people on Sunday to stay hydrated, watch out for the sick and elderly, stay inside as much as possible and not leave children or animals in cars. "We're almost near the end of the heat emergency. Temperatures will start to go back down tonight," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted, asking the city's residents to "keep hydrated and keep cool." The NWS said it had recorded all-time high temperatures on Saturday in seven places in the US including Manchester, New Hampshire, Atlantic City, New Jersey and New York's JFK airport. US media has blamed the heatwave for at least six deaths, including a hiker who had been found unconscious on a trail outside Washington on Saturday and two people who died earlier in the week in the eastern state of Maryland. In Arkansas, 32-year-old former NFL player Mitch Petrus died of heatstroke Thursday after working outside his family's shop. The New York City Triathlon, which had been scheduled for Sunday, was cancelled for the first time since its founding in 2001. Life Time, which produces the race, donated more than 12 tons of water and Gatorade Endurance drink meant for competitors to be distributed to New Yorkers in need, CBS reported. Meanwhile, the two-day OZY Fest a food, comedy and music festival set for Central Park was also called off. In Washington, a popular weekly outdoor summer jazz concert at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden was cancelled. 'Deadly conditions' "Sunday has been cancelled. Stay indoors, nothing to see here. We got this," The New York City Police Department wrote on Twitter. The city had opened 500 cooling centres for residents. At least three public defenders said on Twitter that inmates in New York's notorious Rikers Island jail complex were suffering from no air conditioning and that some guards had turned off fans as punishment, resulting in "deadly conditions." The Brooklyn Defender Services legal aid group said some inmates didn't have summer clothing, only long underwear provided by the group last winter. Top officials from the city's Department of Corrections were at the facility monitoring the response to the heatwave to "protect health and safety of everyone in the facility," de Blasio wrote on Twitter. The department said in a statement to AFP that extra staff were on hand to distribute summer clothing, and clinics were open around the clock to treat heat-related symptoms. Those in units without air conditioning were given access to fans, ice, water and "multiple cool showers." Earlier in the week, the National Weather Service office in the Midwestern city of Omaha baked a tray of biscuits savoury breakfast bread similar to scones on the dashboard of a parked car. After nearly eight hours and with temperatures in the pan reaching 185 degrees, the pastries were almost fully cooked. Climate data showed June was the hottest month on record worldwide, with a heatwave across Europe smashing national records.

US heatwave: High temperatures soon be over, severe weather would continue, says National Weather Service

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday criticised Imran Khan's maiden trip to the United States, saying that the Prime Minister is an embarrassment to the nation even when he is representing his nation abroad.

Dubbing Khan as "Selected Prime Minister", Bilawal tweeted: "Pitty even when representing our country abroad Selected PM can't get of his container."

"Imran is a ruler, not a leader. Pakistan needs a leader who speaks for all Pakistanis, not just himself. If the government does opposition &amp; opposition does opposition then who's left to run the country?" he added.

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Pitty even when representing our country abroad Selected PM can’t get of his container. Imran is a ruler not a leader. 🇵🇰 needs a leader who speaks for all Pakistanis not just himself. If government does opposition &amp; opposition does opposition then who’s left to run the country?
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Bhutto's remarks came after Khan while addressing a big gathering of the overseas Pakistanis in Washington on Sunday said that opposition leaders facing corruption cases in his country wanted an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance). However, the Prime Minister further stressed that he would not rest until his government recovered the looted national wealth.

Khan in his speech apparently referred to jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari and said they had a way out, which was simply to return the looted public money, Geo News reported.

The 69-year-old former prime minister was convicted in the Al Azizia Steel Mills case and sentenced to seven years in jail. He is currently serving the sentence in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail.

Zardari was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on July 2 after the Islamabad High Court terminated his pre-arrest bail and that of his sister Faryal Talpur in the fake account case.

In his speech, Khan further announced to withdraw the A-class prison facilities from Sharif and Zardari and treat the former leaders just like any other ordinary prisoners.

Khan is on a three-day visit to the United States.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, according to military spokesperson Asif Ghafoor.

&nbsp;

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday criticised Imran Khan's maiden trip to the United States, saying that the Prime Minister is an embarrassment to the nation even when he is representing his nation abroad.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday criticised Imran Khan's maiden trip to the United States, saying that the Prime Minister is an embarrassment to the nation even when he is representing his nation abroad. Dubbing Khan as "Selected Prime Minister", Bilawal tweeted: "Pitty even when representing our country abroad Selected PM can't get of his container." "Imran is a ruler, not a leader. Pakistan needs a leader who speaks for all Pakistanis, not just himself. If the government does opposition & opposition does opposition then who's left to run the country?" he added. Pitty even when representing our country abroad Selected PM can’t get of his container. Imran is a ruler not a leader. 🇵🇰 needs a leader who speaks for all Pakistanis not just himself. If government does opposition & opposition does opposition then who’s left to run the country? — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 21, 2019 × Bhutto's remarks came after Khan while addressing a big gathering of the overseas Pakistanis in Washington on Sunday said that opposition leaders facing corruption cases in his country wanted an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance). However, the Prime Minister further stressed that he would not rest until his government recovered the looted national wealth. Khan in his speech apparently referred to jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari and said they had a way out, which was simply to return the looted public money, Geo News reported. The 69-year-old former prime minister was convicted in the Al Azizia Steel Mills case and sentenced to seven years in jail. He is currently serving the sentence in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail. Zardari was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on July 2 after the Islamabad High Court terminated his pre-arrest bail and that of his sister Faryal Talpur in the fake account case. In his speech, Khan further announced to withdraw the A-class prison facilities from Sharif and Zardari and treat the former leaders just like any other ordinary prisoners. Khan is on a three-day visit to the United States. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, according to military spokesperson Asif Ghafoor.

Bilawal Bhutto criticises Pakistan PM Imran Khan's trip to US

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-shinzo-abe-calls-for-strengthing-ties-with-india-221913">Japan</a> stands ready to take all possible steps flexibly and without hesitation when downside risks to the economy emerge, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, as simmering Sino-US trade war clouds the outlook for the export-reliant economy.

Speaking on Monday after his ruling coalition kept a solid majority in upper house elections, Abe pledged to continue to make the economy his top priority, to put a decisive end to roughly two decades of deflation.

China's slowing economy, its trade war with the United States and spreading protectionism have led to a seventh straight monthly fall in Japan's exports and weakened factory output, threatening to derail the world's third-largest economy.

"Uncertainty remains over the global economic outlook such as trade frictions and Britain's exit from the European Union," Abe told a news conference. "We'll respond to downside risks without hesitation and take flexible and all possible steps.

"Based on a stable political basis, the Abe cabinet will take more aggressive and bold economic measures than ever."

Japanese policymakers are counting on solid domestic demand to offset the external headwinds, but a scheduled hike in sales tax, to 10 per cent from 8 per cent now, threatens that scenario, analysts say.

Abe has twice delayed the planned hike since the previous tax increase to 8 per cent, from 5 per cent, dealt a severe blow to private consumption, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the economy, and triggered a deep economic downturn.

To prevent a repeat of the tax hike pain, Abe's government has earmarked 2 trillion yen ($18.53 billion) in stimulus measures in this fiscal year's budget including free education, shopping vouchers, tax breaks on car and housing purchases.

"We will underpin domestic consumption which accounts for the bulk of the economy by taking sufficient measures," Abe said.

Late on Sunday, Abe said he would take economic stimulus steps if there was a risk of the economy faltering.

With monetary policy stretched, after more than six years of easy money has dried up the bond market and squeezed banks' profit margins, analysts say Japan must fight the next recession with fiscal stimulus through a combination of monetary easing.

"If the economy falls into a recession, Japan would resort to a large-scale fiscal stimulus with the Bank of Japan effectively financing debt through its yield curve control," said Ryutaro Kono, chief economist at BNP Paribas Securities.

($1=107.9300 yen)

Japan stands ready to take all possible steps flexibly and without hesitation when downside risks to the economy emerge, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, as simmering Sino-US trade war clouds the outlook for the export-reliant economy.

Japan stands ready to take all possible steps flexibly and without hesitation when downside risks to the economy emerge, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, as simmering Sino-US trade war clouds the outlook for the export-reliant economy. Speaking on Monday after his ruling coalition kept a solid majority in upper house elections, Abe pledged to continue to make the economy his top priority, to put a decisive end to roughly two decades of deflation. China's slowing economy, its trade war with the United States and spreading protectionism have led to a seventh straight monthly fall in Japan's exports and weakened factory output, threatening to derail the world's third-largest economy. "Uncertainty remains over the global economic outlook such as trade frictions and Britain's exit from the European Union," Abe told a news conference. "We'll respond to downside risks without hesitation and take flexible and all possible steps. "Based on a stable political basis, the Abe cabinet will take more aggressive and bold economic measures than ever." Japanese policymakers are counting on solid domestic demand to offset the external headwinds, but a scheduled hike in sales tax, to 10 per cent from 8 per cent now, threatens that scenario, analysts say. Abe has twice delayed the planned hike since the previous tax increase to 8 per cent, from 5 per cent, dealt a severe blow to private consumption, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the economy, and triggered a deep economic downturn. To prevent a repeat of the tax hike pain, Abe's government has earmarked 2 trillion yen ($18.53 billion) in stimulus measures in this fiscal year's budget including free education, shopping vouchers, tax breaks on car and housing purchases. "We will underpin domestic consumption which accounts for the bulk of the economy by taking sufficient measures," Abe said. Late on Sunday, Abe said he would take economic stimulus steps if there was a risk of the economy faltering. With monetary policy stretched, after more than six years of easy money has dried up the bond market and squeezed banks' profit margins, analysts say Japan must fight the next recession with fiscal stimulus through a combination of monetary easing. "If the economy falls into a recession, Japan would resort to a large-scale fiscal stimulus with the Bank of Japan effectively financing debt through its yield curve control," said Ryutaro Kono, chief economist at BNP Paribas Securities. ($1=107.9300 yen)

Japan's Shinzo Abe vows flexible steps in case of downside economic risks

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

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - July 21th, 2019

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attended a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Caracas on Saturday (July 20) where he told gathered media that "the government of the United States is isolated." Tensions between Iran and the West ratcheted up on Saturday as Britain denounced the Iranian seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker, rejecting Tehran's explanation that it had seized the vessel on Friday (July 19) because it had been involved in an accident. The event in the global oil trade's most important waterway has been viewed in the West as a major escalation after three months of confrontation that has already taken Iran and the United States to the brink of war. Prior to his travel to Venezuela, Zarif attended a meeting of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York. After Venezuela, he will also travel to Bolivia and Nicaragua. The Non-Aligned Movement is a Cold War-era bloc of some 120 nations that was formed a half-century ago by nations wanting to avoid aligning with the United States or the Soviet Union and which has dwindled in relevance over the years.

"The United States is isolated" - Iran's Zarif at Non-Aligned Movement meeting

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-meets-pakistan-businessmen-during-us-visit-237467">Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan</a>'s visit to the United States lands in a major controversy after netizens question the welcome accorded to him during his maiden visit.&nbsp;

A row has erupted over Khan's US visit, netizens question that Khan was not given a due welcome upon his arrival in Washington. Khan was welcomed by his Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi,&nbsp;Pakistan's envoy to the US and senior state department officials.&nbsp;

The US State Department maintains that Khan was received by Acting Chief of Protocol Mary-Kate Fisher as he is on a working visit and not a state visit.

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Prime Minister Khan was received at the airport by Acting Chief of Protocol Mary-Kate Fisher, as is standard for an Official Working Visit to the White House: <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateDept</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WIONews</a> <a href="https://t.co/bNmGnDx5uT">https://t.co/bNmGnDx5uT</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1152976715204792321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Khan also boarded a commercial flight instead of a private jet - a move that is telling of Pakistan's current economic conditions.

Netizens were quick to comment on the welcome that was given to the Pak PM.

Watch: Will Afghanistan's allegation affect Imran Khan's US visit?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghans-allegation-will-affect-imran-khans-us-visit-237511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Khan's three-day visit has already been marred by controversies. Ten members of the US Congress have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-apprised-of-persecution-of-mohajirs-in-pakistan-ahead-of-meeting-with-imran-khan-237508">written to President Donald Trump</a> raising serious concerns over the conversion of religious minorities in the South Asian nation.

Meanwhile, right ahead of Khan's meeting with the US President, the Afghan government accused Pakistan of being <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-blames-pakistan-for-kandahar-attack-ahead-of-imran-trump-meet-237084">responsible for the recent Kandahar attack</a>.&nbsp;

The Kandahar terror attack, alleges Afghanistan, was planned in Chaman in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Twelve people were killed in the attack which was claimed by the Taliban.

India has long accused Pakistan of using terror as a state policy to foment trouble - a&nbsp;sentiment which has been echoed by Kabul in recent years.

Khan is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. He will be accompanied by General Bajwa and lieutenant General Hameed.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to the United States lands in a major controversy after netizens question the welcome accorded to him during his maiden visit.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to the United States lands in a major controversy after netizens question the welcome accorded to him during his maiden visit. A row has erupted over Khan's US visit, netizens question that Khan was not given a due welcome upon his arrival in Washington. Khan was welcomed by his Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan's envoy to the US and senior state department officials. The US State Department maintains that Khan was received by Acting Chief of Protocol Mary-Kate Fisher as he is on a working visit and not a state visit. Prime Minister Khan was received at the airport by Acting Chief of Protocol Mary-Kate Fisher, as is standard for an Official Working Visit to the White House: @StateDept to @WIONews https://t.co/bNmGnDx5uT — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 21, 2019 × Khan also boarded a commercial flight instead of a private jet - a move that is telling of Pakistan's current economic conditions. Netizens were quick to comment on the welcome that was given to the Pak PM. Watch: Will Afghanistan's allegation affect Imran Khan's US visit? Khan's three-day visit has already been marred by controversies. Ten members of the US Congress have written to President Donald Trump raising serious concerns over the conversion of religious minorities in the South Asian nation. Meanwhile, right ahead of Khan's meeting with the US President, the Afghan government accused Pakistan of being responsible for the recent Kandahar attack. The Kandahar terror attack, alleges Afghanistan, was planned in Chaman in Pakistan. Twelve people were killed in the attack which was claimed by the Taliban. India has long accused Pakistan of using terror as a state policy to foment trouble - a sentiment which has been echoed by Kabul in recent years. Khan is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. He will be accompanied by General Bajwa and lieutenant General Hameed.

Ahead of much-awaited Trump-Khan meeting, row erupts on Washington's welcome accorded to Pakistan PM 

Chandrayaan-2: Everything you need to know about India's lunar mission

Big US companies are accelerating efforts to move more of their supply chains from China to neighbouring countries in light of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-plans-to-divert-40-million-in-aid-to-venezuelas-opposition-236654">Trump administration</a> tariffs.

Companies in sectors such as technology, clothing and footwear are exporting more goods from emerging giants including Vietnam and Malaysia, data show.

At the same time, the shift has exposed the murkiness of trade export rules, putting a premium on lawyers expert in the minutiae of US customs rules.

"We have a lot of questions from our members," said Sage Chandler, vice president of international trade at the Consumer Technology Association. "Companies are trying to find ways to avoid having to pay 25 per cent."&nbsp;

Some companies may be pushing the envelope a little too much, violating US rules against "transhipments," the routing of China-made goods through other countries to evade tariffs, legal experts say.

The speeding shift from China&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-seeks-to-override-supreme-court-ruling-on-census-233448">President Donald Trump</a> since last year has slapped 25 per cent duties on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports and threatened additional levies on all other Chinese items coming to the United States though the two sides agreed last month to hold their fire for now.

Trump's trade measures have led some multinationals to fortify their North American operations and others to transfer some manufacturing capacity from China to any number of countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philipines, Bangladesh, India and Ethiopia.

Exports of computers and electronics from Vietnam to the United States have risen 71.6 per cent in the first five months of 2019 compared with the year-ago period, according to government data.&nbsp;

The pattern has also held for other machines and equipment, with exports from Vietnam rising 54.4 per cent over that period.

Even before Trump targeted China on trade, US companies had been reducing their dependence on China because of increasing production costs and elevated transport expenses compared with other Asian countries.

But the trade war has sped up those moves.

Ralph Lauren has "accelerated the diversification of our supply chain to mitigate the long-term impact of any potential tariff outcomes," said a spokesperson for the clothing company, adding that tariffs have so far not hit the company's goods.

Xcel Brands, which owns Isaac Mizrahi, Judith Ripka and other fashion houses, will cease manufacturing in China in 2020, a big shift from two years ago when the country was the source of 100 per cent of its merchandise.&nbsp;

The company has moved clothes-making operations to Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh, and is exploring adding capacity in Central America, Mexico and Canada.

This retooling, which was in the works before the tariffs, could boost profit margins, said Xcel chief executive Robert D'Loren. The trade war with China "accelerated our sourcing diversification efforts," he said.&nbsp;

A decade ago, more than 90 per cent of US footwear was made in China. But today, the figure is 69 per cent, said Matt Priest, president of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America.

Problem solved

Yet shifting production outside of China to other Asian centres is not necessarily a panacea.&nbsp;

Many of these countries lack the roads, airports and other vital infrastructure of the world's second-biggest economy. And there is no guarantee that the emerging manufacturing venues will be safe from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-us-tariffs-must-be-lifted-to-reach-a-deal-to-end-trade-war-232996">US tariffs</a> down the road.

Companies can also run afoul of US law if goods are made in China and then sent to an intermediate destination to dodge US tariffs.

"I have noticed an upswing in the number of tariff evasion cases that have been made public and also in the number of inquiries my firm has received," said Jeff Newman, a Boston attorney.

A June Wall Street Journal report showed that billions of dollars of Chinese-made goods were being rerouted in this manner through Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.

US customers officials did not respond to request for comment.

Retail giants such as Walmart and Target say significantly reducing their reliance on Chinese-made goods is unrealistic because of the demand for low prices.

That means retailers are more likely to stop producing goods with very low-profit margins than to incur additional costs by moving production out of China, according to Priest of the footwear distributors association.&nbsp;

He points to flip flops, which earn returns of only around six or seven per cent.

"It won't be worth moving to Vietnam for six or seven per cent-margin shoes," Priest said.&nbsp;

"That shoe is not worth it."

Big US companies are accelerating efforts to move more of their supply chains from China to neighbouring countries in light of Trump administration tariffs. Companies in sectors such as technology, clothing and footwear are exporting more goods from emerging giants including Vietnam and Malaysia, data show.

Big US companies are accelerating efforts to move more of their supply chains from China to neighbouring countries in light of Trump administration tariffs. Companies in sectors such as technology, clothing and footwear are exporting more goods from emerging giants including Vietnam and Malaysia, data show. At the same time, the shift has exposed the murkiness of trade export rules, putting a premium on lawyers expert in the minutiae of US customs rules. "We have a lot of questions from our members," said Sage Chandler, vice president of international trade at the Consumer Technology Association. "Companies are trying to find ways to avoid having to pay 25 per cent." Some companies may be pushing the envelope a little too much, violating US rules against "transhipments," the routing of China-made goods through other countries to evade tariffs, legal experts say. The speeding shift from China President Donald Trump since last year has slapped 25 per cent duties on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports and threatened additional levies on all other Chinese items coming to the United States though the two sides agreed last month to hold their fire for now. Trump's trade measures have led some multinationals to fortify their North American operations and others to transfer some manufacturing capacity from China to any number of countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philipines, Bangladesh, India and Ethiopia. Exports of computers and electronics from Vietnam to the United States have risen 71.6 per cent in the first five months of 2019 compared with the year-ago period, according to government data. The pattern has also held for other machines and equipment, with exports from Vietnam rising 54.4 per cent over that period. Even before Trump targeted China on trade, US companies had been reducing their dependence on China because of increasing production costs and elevated transport expenses compared with other Asian countries. But the trade war has sped up those moves. Ralph Lauren has "accelerated the diversification of our supply chain to mitigate the long-term impact of any potential tariff outcomes," said a spokesperson for the clothing company, adding that tariffs have so far not hit the company's goods. Xcel Brands, which owns Isaac Mizrahi, Judith Ripka and other fashion houses, will cease manufacturing in China in 2020, a big shift from two years ago when the country was the source of 100 per cent of its merchandise. The company has moved clothes-making operations to Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh, and is exploring adding capacity in Central America, Mexico and Canada. This retooling, which was in the works before the tariffs, could boost profit margins, said Xcel chief executive Robert D'Loren. The trade war with China "accelerated our sourcing diversification efforts," he said. A decade ago, more than 90 per cent of US footwear was made in China. But today, the figure is 69 per cent, said Matt Priest, president of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. Problem solved Yet shifting production outside of China to other Asian centres is not necessarily a panacea. Many of these countries lack the roads, airports and other vital infrastructure of the world's second-biggest economy. And there is no guarantee that the emerging manufacturing venues will be safe from US tariffs down the road. Companies can also run afoul of US law if goods are made in China and then sent to an intermediate destination to dodge US tariffs. "I have noticed an upswing in the number of tariff evasion cases that have been made public and also in the number of inquiries my firm has received," said Jeff Newman, a Boston attorney. A June Wall Street Journal report showed that billions of dollars of Chinese-made goods were being rerouted in this manner through Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. US customers officials did not respond to request for comment. Retail giants such as Walmart and Target say significantly reducing their reliance on Chinese-made goods is unrealistic because of the demand for low prices. That means retailers are more likely to stop producing goods with very low-profit margins than to incur additional costs by moving production out of China, according to Priest of the footwear distributors association. He points to flip flops, which earn returns of only around six or seven per cent. "It won't be worth moving to Vietnam for six or seven per cent-margin shoes," Priest said. "That shoe is not worth it."

US importers find ways to adapt to, skirt Donald Trump's tariffs

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-defiant-as-lawmakers-blast-his-racist-attacks-on-four-congresswomen-236257">US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a> said on Saturday that President Donald Trump relished a chant by the crowd at a campaign rally this week that called for a Democratic congresswoman to be sent back where she came from.

Trump renewed his criticism of four minority women lawmakers on Friday, saying that they had said horrible things about the United States, and defended himself from criticism over his comment that they should leave the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-weekly-jobless-claims-fall-to-three-month-low-235066">United States</a> if unhappy.

A day after saying his audience in North Carolina went too far when they chanted "Send her back!" about Somalia-born Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, on Friday he defended the crowd members as "incredible patriots."

Appearing before her constituents in New York City for the first time since the latest flare-up between Trump and the four Democratic congresswomen, Ocasio-Cortez rejected the president's statement that he had tried to quiet the crowd, saying he had egged them on instead.

"Rollback the tape ... He relished it. He took it in and he's doing this intentionally," the freshman US lawmaker told about 200 constituents gathered for a town hall meeting on immigration at a school in the Corona section of Queens.

Video of the crowd in North Carolina shouting "Send her back!" shows Trump pausing his speech and looking around the arena for about ten seconds.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The president's attacks on the four <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-democratic-congresswomen-to-go-back-to-fix-countries-they-came-from-235979">congresswomen</a> - known on Capitol Hill as "the squad" - have been condemned by Democrats as racist, while many Republicans have shrugged them off.

Last weekend Trump ignited a firestorm by tweeting the four should "go back" to where they came from if they do not like the United States.

All four are American citizens. Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan were born in the United States while Omar came as a refugee from Somalia and is a naturalized citizen.

All four are known as sharp critics of Trump's policies as well as the Democratic leadership in the US House of Representatives.

Ocasio-Cortez said the president's comments had been hurtful, but "men like him" have been telling women like her to go back to their own country for a long time.

"We're gonna stay right here," she said to applause "That's where we're gonna go," she said. "We're not going anywhere."

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Saturday that President Donald Trump relished a chant by the crowd at a campaign rally this week that called for a Democratic congresswoman to be sent back where she came from.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Saturday that President Donald Trump relished a chant by the crowd at a campaign rally this week that called for a Democratic congresswoman to be sent back where she came from. Trump renewed his criticism of four minority women lawmakers on Friday, saying that they had said horrible things about the United States, and defended himself from criticism over his comment that they should leave the United States if unhappy. A day after saying his audience in North Carolina went too far when they chanted "Send her back!" about Somalia-born Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, on Friday he defended the crowd members as "incredible patriots." Appearing before her constituents in New York City for the first time since the latest flare-up between Trump and the four Democratic congresswomen, Ocasio-Cortez rejected the president's statement that he had tried to quiet the crowd, saying he had egged them on instead. "Rollback the tape ... He relished it. He took it in and he's doing this intentionally," the freshman US lawmaker told about 200 constituents gathered for a town hall meeting on immigration at a school in the Corona section of Queens. Video of the crowd in North Carolina shouting "Send her back!" shows Trump pausing his speech and looking around the arena for about ten seconds. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The president's attacks on the four congresswomen - known on Capitol Hill as "the squad" - have been condemned by Democrats as racist, while many Republicans have shrugged them off. Last weekend Trump ignited a firestorm by tweeting the four should "go back" to where they came from if they do not like the United States. All four are American citizens. Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan were born in the United States while Omar came as a refugee from Somalia and is a naturalized citizen. All four are known as sharp critics of Trump's policies as well as the Democratic leadership in the US House of Representatives. Ocasio-Cortez said the president's comments had been hurtful, but "men like him" have been telling women like her to go back to their own country for a long time. "We're gonna stay right here," she said to applause "That's where we're gonna go," she said. "We're not going anywhere."

Donald Trump relished rally chant, Ocasio-Cortez tells constituents in Queens

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - July 20th, 2019

Ten US lawmakers have written to US President Donald Trump, urging him to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Pakistan's Sindh -&nbsp;including enforced disappearances -&nbsp;during his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-embarks-on-3-day-visit-to-us-will-hold-talks-with-donald-trump-237208">upcoming meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan</a>.

In a letter addressed to Trump on July 19, the lawmakers highlight that human rights abuses, at the hands of the authorities, continue to prevail in the Pakistani province, despite Washington having provided more than $30 billion in aid to the South Asian country.

The aid, according to them, was supposed to improve social and economic conditions in Pakistan, as well as promote good governance -&nbsp;improvements that have not occurred.

"Nowhere is that failure more evident than in Sindh Province, which has continued to suffer from numerous economic and social injustices, often at the hands of the Pakistani government," the lawmakers state.

They go on to highlight the failures and "injustices" in Sindh, including the recent outbreak of HIV in the province, enforced disappearances and the forced conversions of young girls to Islam.

Highlighting the widespread issue of enforced disappearances at the hands of the Pakistani government, the ten leaders said, "Hundreds of people in Sindh have disappeared this way, including writers, students, activists, and politicians who campaign for human rights. Some of these individuals have ended up dead, and their families have never received the justice they deserve."

They also shed light on the human rights abuse of minorities, with young Hindu and Christian girls being kidnapped and forcefully converted to Islam. They are often married off to men decades older to them, the lawmakers said."

Other injustices in Sindh Province are deliberately carried out by the Pakistani state and its supporters," they stated.

"According to an independent Pakistani watchdog group, there were around one-thousand cases of forced conversions in Sindh Province in 2018 alone. The actual number is certainly higher. Shockingly, there are no laws in Sindh banning forced conversions," they added.

Other social injustices the Pakistani province faces is widespread medical negligence, with the recent outbreak of HIV serving as the prime example.

The reason behind the outbreak is being pegged on syringes and needles being reused, as well as unsafe blood transfusions by the lawmakers.

"In one town, at least 681 people tested positive for HIV in one month earlier this year.

Of these, 537 were children, including a tragic case of a 16-month-old little girl," the lawmakers claimed.

"This isn't the first time that reckless negligence has caused HIV outbreaks in Sindh Province -&nbsp;in one outbreak in 2016, 1,521 people were found to be HIV positive in another part of Sindh," they added.

The lawmakers slam Pakistan, stating that the outbreak is "simply unacceptable," especially when the United States has given Pakistan $283 million in health assistance since 2001."As you seek to change Pakistani behaviour on issues like terrorism, it is essential that you also push the Pakistani government to improve the lives of its citizens," the lawmakers lastly told Trump in the letter.

The 10 lawmakers include Brad Sherman, Adam B. Schiff, Eleanor H Norton, David E Price, David Schweikert, Dan Crenshaw, Juan Vargas, Carolyn B Maloney, Jan Schakosky and Ann Wagner. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Ten US lawmakers have written to US President Donald Trump, urging him to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Pakistan's Sindh - including enforced disappearances - during his upcoming meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Ten US lawmakers have written to US President Donald Trump, urging him to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Pakistan's Sindh - including enforced disappearances - during his upcoming meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. In a letter addressed to Trump on July 19, the lawmakers highlight that human rights abuses, at the hands of the authorities, continue to prevail in the Pakistani province, despite Washington having provided more than $30 billion in aid to the South Asian country. The aid, according to them, was supposed to improve social and economic conditions in Pakistan, as well as promote good governance - improvements that have not occurred. "Nowhere is that failure more evident than in Sindh Province, which has continued to suffer from numerous economic and social injustices, often at the hands of the Pakistani government," the lawmakers state. They go on to highlight the failures and "injustices" in Sindh, including the recent outbreak of HIV in the province, enforced disappearances and the forced conversions of young girls to Islam. Highlighting the widespread issue of enforced disappearances at the hands of the Pakistani government, the ten leaders said, "Hundreds of people in Sindh have disappeared this way, including writers, students, activists, and politicians who campaign for human rights. Some of these individuals have ended up dead, and their families have never received the justice they deserve." They also shed light on the human rights abuse of minorities, with young Hindu and Christian girls being kidnapped and forcefully converted to Islam. They are often married off to men decades older to them, the lawmakers said." Other injustices in Sindh Province are deliberately carried out by the Pakistani state and its supporters," they stated. "According to an independent Pakistani watchdog group, there were around one-thousand cases of forced conversions in Sindh Province in 2018 alone. The actual number is certainly higher. Shockingly, there are no laws in Sindh banning forced conversions," they added. Other social injustices the Pakistani province faces is widespread medical negligence, with the recent outbreak of HIV serving as the prime example. The reason behind the outbreak is being pegged on syringes and needles being reused, as well as unsafe blood transfusions by the lawmakers. "In one town, at least 681 people tested positive for HIV in one month earlier this year. Of these, 537 were children, including a tragic case of a 16-month-old little girl," the lawmakers claimed. "This isn't the first time that reckless negligence has caused HIV outbreaks in Sindh Province - in one outbreak in 2016, 1,521 people were found to be HIV positive in another part of Sindh," they added. The lawmakers slam Pakistan, stating that the outbreak is "simply unacceptable," especially when the United States has given Pakistan $283 million in health assistance since 2001."As you seek to change Pakistani behaviour on issues like terrorism, it is essential that you also push the Pakistani government to improve the lives of its citizens," the lawmakers lastly told Trump in the letter. The 10 lawmakers include Brad Sherman, Adam B. Schiff, Eleanor H Norton, David E Price, David Schweikert, Dan Crenshaw, Juan Vargas, Carolyn B Maloney, Jan Schakosky and Ann Wagner.

US lawmakers urge Trump to raise Pak's human rights abuse issue during meeting with Imran Khan

The Brazilian government has been alerting local companies about the extent of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran and the possible consequences in case of noncompliance, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday.

Brazil alerted companies about U.S. embargo on Iran - Bolsonaro

A naturalized American who was a sniper for the Islamic State group has been charged in New York with material support for a terror group after being captured in Syria and repatriated to the United States, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Kazakhstan-born Ruslan Maratovich Asainov fought for the Islamic State in Syria for five years before he was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces and handed over to US custody, the department said.

Asainov, 43, was brought back to the United States on Thursday and was to be arraigned Friday afternoon in federal court in Brooklyn.

He fought for IS in Syria from 2013 to 2018 as a sniper and a weapons trainer for other combatants.

Over time, he rose up through the ranks of the organization, and was named an "emir," or chief, in charge of weapons training.

He stayed in contact with some people in the United States, sending messages and photographs of himself from the battlefield.

"We are the worst terrorist organization in the world that has ever existed," one of his messages from 2015 said, according to court documents.

Asainov also tried to recruit another individual in the United States to join the group, who, he did not know, was an informant for the New York Police Department.

"The United States is committed to holding accountable those who have left this country in order to fight for ISIS," Assistant Attorney General John Demers said in a statement.

"We hope countries around the world, including our European allies and partners, will likewise repatriate and prosecute their own citizens for traveling to support ISIS," he said.

A naturalized American who was a sniper for the Islamic State group has been charged in New York with material support for a terror group after being captured in Syria and repatriated to the United States, the Justice Department announced Friday.

A naturalized American who was a sniper for the Islamic State group has been charged in New York with material support for a terror group after being captured in Syria and repatriated to the United States, the Justice Department announced Friday. Kazakhstan-born Ruslan Maratovich Asainov fought for the Islamic State in Syria for five years before he was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces and handed over to US custody, the department said. Asainov, 43, was brought back to the United States on Thursday and was to be arraigned Friday afternoon in federal court in Brooklyn. He fought for IS in Syria from 2013 to 2018 as a sniper and a weapons trainer for other combatants. Over time, he rose up through the ranks of the organization, and was named an "emir," or chief, in charge of weapons training. He stayed in contact with some people in the United States, sending messages and photographs of himself from the battlefield. "We are the worst terrorist organization in the world that has ever existed," one of his messages from 2015 said, according to court documents. Asainov also tried to recruit another individual in the United States to join the group, who, he did not know, was an informant for the New York Police Department. "The United States is committed to holding accountable those who have left this country in order to fight for ISIS," Assistant Attorney General John Demers said in a statement. "We hope countries around the world, including our European allies and partners, will likewise repatriate and prosecute their own citizens for traveling to support ISIS," he said.

American Islamic State 'sniper' charged in New York: Justice Department

The current spiral of violence in Afghanistan unleashed by the Taliban and the United States is, by all accounts, for gaining the upper hand when a peace deal is concluded.&nbsp;Therefore, the killings may be taken to hint at the US and Taliban being close to a peace agreement - enforcing a ceasefire, US troop withdrawal and a new (Taliban) government - before the national election scheduled to be held in September. Such a view is reinforced by recent developments including the two-day meeting in Doha on July 7-8 followed by the four-country conference in China. The four countries that constitute the core group to drive forward the Afghan peace process are the US, Russia, China and Pakistan.

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad followed up the proposals discussed in Doha with the core group at its meeting in China. The seventh round of talks led by Khalilzad in Doha is the first where the representatives of the Taliban, as well as official Afghanistan - 60 of them -, met for the first time across a conference table. Hitherto, the Afghan government had shunned the violent Taliban; and, the latter, for its part, scorned the government as a puppet regime of the Americans. The hostile line dividing the two was overcome by all representatives attending the Doha talks in their individual capacity.

This helped Khalilzad take forward decisively his four-point agenda of a ceasefire, intra-Afghan dialogue, procedure for withdrawal and democracy and respect for human rights from Doha to Beijing. The result, endorsed by the four-country core group, is a basic roadmap for Afghanistan’s future based on democracy and human rights (with emphasis on women’s rights). This indicates a softening of the Taliban’s hitherto tough line.

The outcome of the Doha and China meetings show that India, which has been kept out of the core group, would be relegated to a lesser role despite the $3 billion it has invested in Afghanistan for development purposes.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

The current spiral of violence in Afghanistan unleashed by the Taliban and the United States is, by all accounts, for gaining the upper hand when a peace deal is concluded.

The current spiral of violence in Afghanistan unleashed by the Taliban and the United States is, by all accounts, for gaining the upper hand when a peace deal is concluded. Therefore, the killings may be taken to hint at the US and Taliban being close to a peace agreement - enforcing a ceasefire, US troop withdrawal and a new (Taliban) government - before the national election scheduled to be held in September. Such a view is reinforced by recent developments including the two-day meeting in Doha on July 7-8 followed by the four-country conference in China. The four countries that constitute the core group to drive forward the Afghan peace process are the US, Russia, China and Pakistan. The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad followed up the proposals discussed in Doha with the core group at its meeting in China. The seventh round of talks led by Khalilzad in Doha is the first where the representatives of the Taliban, as well as official Afghanistan - 60 of them -, met for the first time across a conference table. Hitherto, the Afghan government had shunned the violent Taliban; and, the latter, for its part, scorned the government as a puppet regime of the Americans. The hostile line dividing the two was overcome by all representatives attending the Doha talks in their individual capacity. This helped Khalilzad take forward decisively his four-point agenda of a ceasefire, intra-Afghan dialogue, procedure for withdrawal and democracy and respect for human rights from Doha to Beijing. The result, endorsed by the four-country core group, is a basic roadmap for Afghanistan’s future based on democracy and human rights (with emphasis on women’s rights). This indicates a softening of the Taliban’s hitherto tough line. The outcome of the Doha and China meetings show that India, which has been kept out of the core group, would be relegated to a lesser role despite the $3 billion it has invested in Afghanistan for development purposes. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Taliban, US violence for upper hand in Afghan deal

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-they-fly-too-close-to-our-ships-theyll-continue-to-be-shot-down-us-on-shooting-down-iranian-drone-237183">President Donald Trump</a> on Friday insisted the US had taken down an Iranian drone that was threatening a US naval vessel in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, despite denials from Tehran.

"No doubt about it, no - we shot it down," Trump said in the Oval Office.

His National Security Advisor John Bolton added: "There is no question that this was an Iranian drone."

Iran on Friday categorically denied US President Donald Trump's claims that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-release-images-to-disprove-us-claim-that-drone-shot-down-irans-revolutionary-guards-237108">Washington brought down an Iranian drone</a>, saying all its craft are accounted for and jesting that American forces may have destroyed their own machine by mistake.

The latest incident in the strategic Strait of Hormuz comes amid soaring tensions between the two foes, with Washington already reeling from Iran shooting down one of its drones last month.

Trump said a US naval vessel downed an Iranian drone Thursday that threatened the ship as it was entering the Strait - a claim vehemently denied by Tehran.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-us-tension-rises-us-downs-iranian-drone-while-iran-denies-claim-237186/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Iran's armed forces dismissed Trump's assertion as "baseless and delusional" but admitted one of their drones was flying near the US ship.

"All of (Iran's) drones... have safely returned to their bases," said armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi.

"There have been no reports of a confrontation with the American USS Boxer" naval vessel, he said, quoted by Tasnim news agency.

On Friday a US official said Washington has "very clear evidence" that it downed the drone but gave no further details.

"It was their drone that came too close to our ship. If you fly too close to our ships, you're going to get shot down," the official said.

The Revolutionary Guards said they would publish photos taken by one of their drones of the USS Boxer.

Images were transmitted to base "before and even after the time Americans claim" the drone was destroyed, they said in a statement on their Sepahnews website.

The Pentagon said the ship "was in international waters" when a drone approached at around 10:00 am (0530 GMT).

Trump said the USS Boxer "took defensive action" against an Iranian aircraft as it was "threatening the safety" of the vessel and its crew.

But Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi quipped that the United States may have actually downed one of its own aircraft.

"I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own (drones) by mistake!" Araghchi tweeted.

Iran detains tanker

In June, Iran shot down an American surveillance drone it said was flying in its airspace, a claim denied by Washington.

Trump called off retaliatory strikes at the last minute following the incident.

Iran has refuted US accusations that it was behind a series of recent tanker attacks off the United Arab Emirates coast and the Gulf of Oman.

The tanker troubles further intensified on July 4, when Gibraltar detained an Iranian vessel with the help of British Royal Marines.

Gibraltar's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Grace 1 supertanker can be detained for 30 more days.

US officials believed the vessel was destined for Syria to deliver oil, in violation of separate sets of European Union and US sanctions.

Iran branded the seizure "piracy", and a week later London said Iranian boats menaced a British tanker in the Gulf before they were driven off by a Royal Navy frigate.

The incidents have raised fears of a regional conflict involving the US and its allies in the Gulf region, through which nearly a third of the world's oil is transported.

The top commander of Iran's Guards said they were not seeking to "initiate a war" but would respond to hostilities.

"If enemies make a mistake in calculation, our defensive strategy and all our capacities will change to offensive," said General Hossein Salami, quoted by Sepahnews.

His comments came after the Guards said Thursday they had seized a "foreign tanker" believed to be the Panamanian-flagged vessel Riah and its crew.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards accuse the ship of smuggling Iranian fuel.

'Psychological pressure'

US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie pledged Thursday to work "aggressively" with partners to ensure freedom of navigation in Gulf waters.

But the Guards' deputy chief said the United States will soon realise "it is not in its interest at all to stay in the region".

US forces are under mounting "psychological pressure" in the Gulf, Brigadier-General Ali Fadavi was quoted by Tasnim as saying.

The drone incident comes amid a threatened breakdown of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, with Washington steadily ratcheting up economically debilitating sanctions on Tehran a year after unilaterally quitting the deal.

Earlier this month, Tehran purposely surpassed the deal's caps on uranium enrichment, aiming to pressure the remaining parties to make good on their promises to support Iran economically.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if Tehran's oil exports are blocked through sanctions.

President Donald Trump on Friday insisted the US had taken down an Iranian drone that was threatening a US naval vessel in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, despite denials from Tehran.

President Donald Trump on Friday insisted the US had taken down an Iranian drone that was threatening a US naval vessel in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, despite denials from Tehran. "No doubt about it, no - we shot it down," Trump said in the Oval Office. His National Security Advisor John Bolton added: "There is no question that this was an Iranian drone." Iran on Friday categorically denied US President Donald Trump's claims that Washington brought down an Iranian drone, saying all its craft are accounted for and jesting that American forces may have destroyed their own machine by mistake. The latest incident in the strategic Strait of Hormuz comes amid soaring tensions between the two foes, with Washington already reeling from Iran shooting down one of its drones last month. Trump said a US naval vessel downed an Iranian drone Thursday that threatened the ship as it was entering the Strait - a claim vehemently denied by Tehran. Iran's armed forces dismissed Trump's assertion as "baseless and delusional" but admitted one of their drones was flying near the US ship. "All of (Iran's) drones... have safely returned to their bases," said armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi. "There have been no reports of a confrontation with the American USS Boxer" naval vessel, he said, quoted by Tasnim news agency. On Friday a US official said Washington has "very clear evidence" that it downed the drone but gave no further details. "It was their drone that came too close to our ship. If you fly too close to our ships, you're going to get shot down," the official said. The Revolutionary Guards said they would publish photos taken by one of their drones of the USS Boxer. Images were transmitted to base "before and even after the time Americans claim" the drone was destroyed, they said in a statement on their Sepahnews website. The Pentagon said the ship "was in international waters" when a drone approached at around 10:00 am (0530 GMT). Trump said the USS Boxer "took defensive action" against an Iranian aircraft as it was "threatening the safety" of the vessel and its crew. But Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi quipped that the United States may have actually downed one of its own aircraft. "I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own (drones) by mistake!" Araghchi tweeted. Iran detains tanker In June, Iran shot down an American surveillance drone it said was flying in its airspace, a claim denied by Washington. Trump called off retaliatory strikes at the last minute following the incident. Iran has refuted US accusations that it was behind a series of recent tanker attacks off the United Arab Emirates coast and the Gulf of Oman. The tanker troubles further intensified on July 4, when Gibraltar detained an Iranian vessel with the help of British Royal Marines. Gibraltar's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Grace 1 supertanker can be detained for 30 more days. US officials believed the vessel was destined for Syria to deliver oil, in violation of separate sets of European Union and US sanctions. Iran branded the seizure "piracy", and a week later London said Iranian boats menaced a British tanker in the Gulf before they were driven off by a Royal Navy frigate. The incidents have raised fears of a regional conflict involving the US and its allies in the Gulf region, through which nearly a third of the world's oil is transported. The top commander of Iran's Guards said they were not seeking to "initiate a war" but would respond to hostilities. "If enemies make a mistake in calculation, our defensive strategy and all our capacities will change to offensive," said General Hossein Salami, quoted by Sepahnews. His comments came after the Guards said Thursday they had seized a "foreign tanker" believed to be the Panamanian-flagged vessel Riah and its crew. Iran's Revolutionary Guards accuse the ship of smuggling Iranian fuel. 'Psychological pressure' US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie pledged Thursday to work "aggressively" with partners to ensure freedom of navigation in Gulf waters. But the Guards' deputy chief said the United States will soon realise "it is not in its interest at all to stay in the region". US forces are under mounting "psychological pressure" in the Gulf, Brigadier-General Ali Fadavi was quoted by Tasnim as saying. The drone incident comes amid a threatened breakdown of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, with Washington steadily ratcheting up economically debilitating sanctions on Tehran a year after unilaterally quitting the deal. Earlier this month, Tehran purposely surpassed the deal's caps on uranium enrichment, aiming to pressure the remaining parties to make good on their promises to support Iran economically. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if Tehran's oil exports are blocked through sanctions.

'No doubt about it, we shot it down,' says Trump on Iranian drone

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Explains The Country's Plans In Sri Lanka The military pact between the U.S. & Sri Lanka has created a squabble in domestic politics in Sri Lanka. Now the U.S. says that it has no plans to set up a military base in Sri Lanka. This is likely to have huge ramifications in Sri Lankan politics. Palki explains the implications.

Gravitas: US: No plans to set up a military base in Sri Lanka

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

The United States will destroy any&nbsp;Iranian drones that fly too closely to its ships and has "clear evidence" that it shot down such a drone on Thursday, a senior Trump administration official said on Friday.

"If they fly too close to our ships, they’ll continue to be shot down," the official told reporters at a briefing.

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they would release images to disprove <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-navy-destroyed-iranian-drone-in-strait-of-hormuz-says-donald-trump-236999">US President Donald Trump</a>'s assertion that the US Navy has destroyed an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-deputy-foreign-minister-says-tehran-has-not-lost-any-drones-237039">Iranian drone in the Gulf</a>,&nbsp;Iranian news agencies reported.

"Soon, images captured by the Guards drones from the US warship Boxer will be published to expose to world public opinion as lies and groundless the claim ... of shooting down an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz," the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by news agencies.

Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Thursday after Trump announced that the USS Boxer, an&nbsp;amphibious assault ship, "took defensive action" against the Iranian drone as it was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew."

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Friday that Iran had lost a drone in the&nbsp;Strait of Hormuz&nbsp;after US President Donald Trump said that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone, reported news agency Reuters.

"We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] by mistake!," Araqchi said on Twitter, referring to a US warship in the strategic waterway.

First US military action

The drone shootdown comes after a series of low-level attacks in the region blamed on Tehran's forces, including placing limpet mines on several tankers and actions by what Washington calls Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen.

Watch:&nbsp;US ship destroyed Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-ship-destroyed-iranian-drone-in-strait-of-hormuz-president-donald-trump-237013/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In May the Pentagon announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to waters near Iran in response to "indications of a credible threat by Iranian regime forces."

Tehran downed an American surveillance drone in June, prompting Trump to order airstrikes against Iran. But he called them off at the last minute, saying the plan was not "proportionate" and casualties would have been too high.

On July 4 Britain seized a fully loaded Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar, allegedly headed for Syria in violation of sanctions.

Iran furiously branded the seizure "piracy, and one week later armed Iranian boats menaced a British tanker in the Gulf before they were driven off by a Royal Navy frigate.

That led to US calls for an international flotilla to escort hydrocarbon-laden vessels from Gulf oil fields through the Hormuz Strait.

US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie pledged Thursday to work "aggressively" with partners to ensure freedom of navigation in Gulf waters.

Broader conflict feared

The incidents have raised fears of a regional conflict involving the US and&nbsp; 
its allies in the Gulf region, through which nearly a third of the world's oil is transported.

It comes amid a threatened breakdown of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, with Washington steadily ratcheting up economically debilitating sanctions on Tehran a year after unilaterally quitting the deal.

Earlier this month Tehran purposely surpassed the deal's caps on uranium enrichment, aiming to pressure the other parties -- France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia -- to break with the US sanctions escalation and defend the economic benefits Iran was promised for agreeing to drastic limitations on its nuclear program.

On Wednesday at the United Nations in New York, Zarif accused Washington of waging "economic terrorism."&nbsp;

The "unlawful, extraterritorial" sanctions "represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbours," he said.

Washington nevertheless announced fresh sanctions Thursday on what it called a "network" of companies in Iran, Belgium and China supplying crucial materials to Tehran's enrichment program.&nbsp;

Door open for negotiations?

Yet both sides kept open the possibility of talks. The Guardian reported Thursday that Zarif said he had offered a new deal for enhanced inspections of Iran's nuclear program if Washington agrees to remove sanctions.&nbsp;

Trump appeared to be receptive as well to negotiations.

He told reporters that the pressure on Iran had forced the country to reduce regional activities and suggested that could lead to negotiations.

"You look at them pulling back, and they're not pulling back because they love us. They're pulling back because they don't have money," Trump said.

"All we want to do is have a fair deal. The deal that was made was a bad deal... We can do something quickly or we can take our time. I'm in no rush."

The United States will destroy any Iranian drones that fly too closely to its ships and has "clear evidence" that it shot down such a drone on Thursday, a senior Trump administration official said on Friday.

The United States will destroy any Iranian drones that fly too closely to its ships and has "clear evidence" that it shot down such a drone on Thursday, a senior Trump administration official said on Friday. "If they fly too close to our ships, they’ll continue to be shot down," the official told reporters at a briefing. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they would release images to disprove US President Donald Trump's assertion that the US Navy has destroyed an Iranian drone in the Gulf, Iranian news agencies reported. "Soon, images captured by the Guards drones from the US warship Boxer will be published to expose to world public opinion as lies and groundless the claim ... of shooting down an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz," the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by news agencies. Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Thursday after Trump announced that the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, "took defensive action" against the Iranian drone as it was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Friday that Iran had lost a drone in the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone, reported news agency Reuters. "We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] by mistake!," Araqchi said on Twitter, referring to a US warship in the strategic waterway. First US military action The drone shootdown comes after a series of low-level attacks in the region blamed on Tehran's forces, including placing limpet mines on several tankers and actions by what Washington calls Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. Watch: US ship destroyed Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump In May the Pentagon announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to waters near Iran in response to "indications of a credible threat by Iranian regime forces." Tehran downed an American surveillance drone in June, prompting Trump to order airstrikes against Iran. But he called them off at the last minute, saying the plan was not "proportionate" and casualties would have been too high. On July 4 Britain seized a fully loaded Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar, allegedly headed for Syria in violation of sanctions. Iran furiously branded the seizure "piracy, and one week later armed Iranian boats menaced a British tanker in the Gulf before they were driven off by a Royal Navy frigate. That led to US calls for an international flotilla to escort hydrocarbon-laden vessels from Gulf oil fields through the Hormuz Strait. US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie pledged Thursday to work "aggressively" with partners to ensure freedom of navigation in Gulf waters. Broader conflict feared The incidents have raised fears of a regional conflict involving the US and its allies in the Gulf region, through which nearly a third of the world's oil is transported. It comes amid a threatened breakdown of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, with Washington steadily ratcheting up economically debilitating sanctions on Tehran a year after unilaterally quitting the deal. Earlier this month Tehran purposely surpassed the deal's caps on uranium enrichment, aiming to pressure the other parties -- France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia -- to break with the US sanctions escalation and defend the economic benefits Iran was promised for agreeing to drastic limitations on its nuclear program. On Wednesday at the United Nations in New York, Zarif accused Washington of waging "economic terrorism." The "unlawful, extraterritorial" sanctions "represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbours," he said. Washington nevertheless announced fresh sanctions Thursday on what it called a "network" of companies in Iran, Belgium and China supplying crucial materials to Tehran's enrichment program. Door open for negotiations? Yet both sides kept open the possibility of talks. The Guardian reported Thursday that Zarif said he had offered a new deal for enhanced inspections of Iran's nuclear program if Washington agrees to remove sanctions. Trump appeared to be receptive as well to negotiations. He told reporters that the pressure on Iran had forced the country to reduce regional activities and suggested that could lead to negotiations. "You look at them pulling back, and they're not pulling back because they love us. They're pulling back because they don't have money," Trump said. "All we want to do is have a fair deal. The deal that was made was a bad deal... We can do something quickly or we can take our time. I'm in no rush."

If they fly too close to our ships, they’ll continue to be shot down: US on shooting down Iranian drone

Global&nbsp;stocks&nbsp;rose on Friday as investors firmed up&nbsp;bets&nbsp;on a US interest&nbsp;rate&nbsp;cut&nbsp;at the end of July after a speech by a top&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lamakers-propose-barring-big-tech-companies-from-offering-financial-services-digital-currencies-236125&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwivgZmF9MDjAhUD73MBHf2NCOoQFjAGegQIBBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Czkc6147wnx7-a0sTCHUs">Federal Reserve</a> official further cemented expectations for one, fuelling appetite for risky assets and capping the&nbsp;dollar.

European shares opened higher across the board, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index gaining 0.7% in early trade. Britain's FTSE 100 index gained 0.6% and Germany's DAX rose 0.75%.

In oil&nbsp;markets, crude surged after the United States said its navy had destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for&nbsp;global&nbsp;crude flows, raising concerns about supply disruptions out of the region.

Iran said all its drones had returned safely to base, and there was no sign of a major escalation in the Gulf.

Comments by New York&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;President John Williams on Thursday made it virtually certain, in the&nbsp;markets' view, that the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;would&nbsp;cut&nbsp;interest&nbsp;rates by at least 25 basis points at its July 30-31 policy meeting and also revived expectations of an even deeper 50 bps reduction.

Financial&nbsp;markets&nbsp;reacted quickly, with&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;fund&nbsp;rate&nbsp;futures at one point pricing in an almost 70% chance of a 50 basis point&nbsp;cut. The odds eased to around 40% after the New YorkFed&nbsp;said William's speech had not been about immediate policy direction.

MSCI's All-Country World Index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was having its best day in over two weeks, up nearly half a percent on the day. It was, however, still on track to break a six-week streak of weekly gains.

E-mini futures for the S&amp;P 500 index were 0.3% higher, indicating a higher opening on Wall Street later in the day.

"Despite a rather lackluster earnings season so far, investors are focusing on the prospect of a considerably easier monetary policy, which is why we see&nbsp;stocks&nbsp;ready to open higher this morning," said Konstantinos Anthis, head of research at ADSS.

Will the rate cut Suffice?

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 1%, bouncing back from the previous day's losses, while Japan's Nikkei advanced 2%.

Elsewhere in Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.8%, Australian&nbsp;stocks&nbsp;added 0.75% and South Korea's KOSPI gained 1.4%.

For the week, the MSCI ex-Japan index climbed a modest 1%, as riskier assets were partly capped by US President Donald Trump's reiteration of his threat to impose further duties on Chinese imports.

The two sides resumed talks recently to seek an end to a year-long trade war that has rattled financial&nbsp;markets&nbsp;and slowed&nbsp;global&nbsp;growth. But most analysts do not expect an agreement any time soon, with some predicting a strong risk of further tariff escalation.

"Although central banks around the world have embarked on policy-easing in a bid to support their respective economies, investors are left to ponder whether the stimulus will be enough to offset the effects from heightened US-China trade tensions," said Han Tan, market analyst at FXTM.

The&nbsp;dollar&nbsp;index against a basket of six major currencies&nbsp;stood about 0.1% higher at 96.875 after losing roughly 0.5% overnight to a two-week low of 96.671 in the wake of the comments from the&nbsp;Fed's Williams.

The euro was 0.15% lower at $1.1259 after climbing 0.45% the previous day.

US Treasury yields were lower across the board. The 2-year yield was at 1.7894% after touching a two-week low of 1.7520%. The 10-year yield declined to a 10-day low of 2.023% and was last at 2.0465%.

In commodities, US crude oil futures reversed a large part of the previous day's deep losses, briefly rising 1.45% to $56.10 per barrel before easing back to $55.81, up 0.9%.

Crude rallied after the reports on the Iranian drone. Oil prices had fallen on Thursday amid expectations that output would rise in the Gulf of Mexico as operations resumed following last week's hurricane.

Spot gold eased 0.5% as investors locked in profits after bullion surpassed $1,450 an ounce for the first time in more than six years on dovish&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;signals and Middle East tension.

Global stocks rose on Friday as investors firmed up bets on a US interest rate cut at the end of July after a speech by a top Federal Reserve official further cemented expectations for one, fuelling appetite for risky assets and capping the dollar.

Global stocks rose on Friday as investors firmed up bets on a US interest rate cut at the end of July after a speech by a top Federal Reserve official further cemented expectations for one, fuelling appetite for risky assets and capping the dollar. European shares opened higher across the board, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index gaining 0.7% in early trade. Britain's FTSE 100 index gained 0.6% and Germany's DAX rose 0.75%. In oil markets, crude surged after the United States said its navy had destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for global crude flows, raising concerns about supply disruptions out of the region. Iran said all its drones had returned safely to base, and there was no sign of a major escalation in the Gulf. Comments by New York Fed President John Williams on Thursday made it virtually certain, in the markets' view, that the Fed would cut interest rates by at least 25 basis points at its July 30-31 policy meeting and also revived expectations of an even deeper 50 bps reduction. Financial markets reacted quickly, with Fed fund rate futures at one point pricing in an almost 70% chance of a 50 basis point cut. The odds eased to around 40% after the New YorkFed said William's speech had not been about immediate policy direction. MSCI's All-Country World Index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was having its best day in over two weeks, up nearly half a percent on the day. It was, however, still on track to break a six-week streak of weekly gains. E-mini futures for the S&P 500 index were 0.3% higher, indicating a higher opening on Wall Street later in the day. "Despite a rather lackluster earnings season so far, investors are focusing on the prospect of a considerably easier monetary policy, which is why we see stocks ready to open higher this morning," said Konstantinos Anthis, head of research at ADSS. Will the rate cut Suffice? MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 1%, bouncing back from the previous day's losses, while Japan's Nikkei advanced 2%. Elsewhere in Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.8%, Australian stocks added 0.75% and South Korea's KOSPI gained 1.4%. For the week, the MSCI ex-Japan index climbed a modest 1%, as riskier assets were partly capped by US President Donald Trump's reiteration of his threat to impose further duties on Chinese imports. The two sides resumed talks recently to seek an end to a year-long trade war that has rattled financial markets and slowed global growth. But most analysts do not expect an agreement any time soon, with some predicting a strong risk of further tariff escalation. "Although central banks around the world have embarked on policy-easing in a bid to support their respective economies, investors are left to ponder whether the stimulus will be enough to offset the effects from heightened US-China trade tensions," said Han Tan, market analyst at FXTM. The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies stood about 0.1% higher at 96.875 after losing roughly 0.5% overnight to a two-week low of 96.671 in the wake of the comments from the Fed's Williams. The euro was 0.15% lower at $1.1259 after climbing 0.45% the previous day. US Treasury yields were lower across the board. The 2-year yield was at 1.7894% after touching a two-week low of 1.7520%. The 10-year yield declined to a 10-day low of 2.023% and was last at 2.0465%. In commodities, US crude oil futures reversed a large part of the previous day's deep losses, briefly rising 1.45% to $56.10 per barrel before easing back to $55.81, up 0.9%. Crude rallied after the reports on the Iranian drone. Oil prices had fallen on Thursday amid expectations that output would rise in the Gulf of Mexico as operations resumed following last week's hurricane. Spot gold eased 0.5% as investors locked in profits after bullion surpassed $1,450 an ounce for the first time in more than six years on dovish Fed signals and Middle East tension.

Fed rate cut bets lift stocks, dollar steadies

Oil&nbsp;prices rose on Friday as tensions spiked again in the Middle East&nbsp;after&nbsp;the United States said it had destroyed an&nbsp;Iranian&nbsp;drone&nbsp;in the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for global crude flows.

Benchmark crude prices were still on track for their biggest&nbsp;weekly&nbsp;decline in seven weeks, however, having&nbsp;fallen sharply earlier in the week on concerns over global&nbsp;oil&nbsp;demand amid slowing economic growth.

Brent crude futures were up 1.11 cents, or 1.78%, at $63.04 a barrel by 1037 GMT, having risen as high as $63.32. Brent fell 2.7% on Thursday, its fourth straight session of losses, and was&nbsp;set&nbsp;for a&nbsp;weekly&nbsp;drop of around 5%.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures were 81 cents, or 1.44%, higher at $56.11 per barrel&nbsp;after&nbsp;touching $56.36. They ended 2.6% lower in the previous session and were headed for a&nbsp;weekly&nbsp;decline of around 6%.

Indications that the&nbsp;US Federal Reserve will cut rates aggressively to support the economy were also behind Friday's gains, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at Vanguard Markets.

"The Fed backstop and the report of the&nbsp;US&nbsp;Navy&nbsp;shooting down an&nbsp;Iranian&nbsp;drone&nbsp;are providing a modicum of support for&nbsp;oil&nbsp;markets amidst a very bearish landscape," he said.

The United States said on Thursday that a&nbsp;US&nbsp;Navy&nbsp;ship had "destroyed" an&nbsp;Iranian&nbsp;drone&nbsp;in the Strait of Hormuz&nbsp;after&nbsp;the aircraft threatened the vessel, but Iran said it had no information about losing a&nbsp;drone.

Also on Thursday, two influential Federal Reserve officials sharpened the public case for acting to support the&nbsp;US economy, reviving bets the central bank may deliver a larger-than-expected cut this month.

Still, the longer-term outlook for&nbsp;oil&nbsp;has grown increasingly bearish.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is reducing its 2019&nbsp;oil&nbsp;demand growth forecast to 1.1 million barrels per day (BPD) from 1.2 million BPD previously due to a slowing global economy amid a&nbsp;US-China trade spat, it's executive director said on Thursday.

The IEA may cut further if the global economy and especially China show further weakness, Fatih Birol told Reuters.

"Macro-economic concerns, uncertainty on trade discussions and increasing&nbsp;oil&nbsp;supply from the&nbsp;US continued to weigh on sentiments," said Warren Patterson, head of commodities at ING.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch said any start of&nbsp;US-Iran talks or a&nbsp;US-China trade deal would reduce volatility and anchor Brent&nbsp;oil&nbsp;prices in a $60-$67 per barrel range.

Oil prices rose on Friday as tensions spiked again in the Middle East after the United States said it had destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for global crude flows.

Oil prices rose on Friday as tensions spiked again in the Middle East after the United States said it had destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for global crude flows. Benchmark crude prices were still on track for their biggest weekly decline in seven weeks, however, having fallen sharply earlier in the week on concerns over global oil demand amid slowing economic growth. Brent crude futures were up 1.11 cents, or 1.78%, at $63.04 a barrel by 1037 GMT, having risen as high as $63.32. Brent fell 2.7% on Thursday, its fourth straight session of losses, and was set for a weekly drop of around 5%. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were 81 cents, or 1.44%, higher at $56.11 per barrel after touching $56.36. They ended 2.6% lower in the previous session and were headed for a weekly decline of around 6%. Indications that the US Federal Reserve will cut rates aggressively to support the economy were also behind Friday's gains, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at Vanguard Markets. "The Fed backstop and the report of the US Navy shooting down an Iranian drone are providing a modicum of support for oil markets amidst a very bearish landscape," he said. The United States said on Thursday that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz after the aircraft threatened the vessel, but Iran said it had no information about losing a drone. Also on Thursday, two influential Federal Reserve officials sharpened the public case for acting to support the US economy, reviving bets the central bank may deliver a larger-than-expected cut this month. Still, the longer-term outlook for oil has grown increasingly bearish. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is reducing its 2019 oil demand growth forecast to 1.1 million barrels per day (BPD) from 1.2 million BPD previously due to a slowing global economy amid a US-China trade spat, it's executive director said on Thursday. The IEA may cut further if the global economy and especially China show further weakness, Fatih Birol told Reuters. "Macro-economic concerns, uncertainty on trade discussions and increasing oil supply from the US continued to weigh on sentiments," said Warren Patterson, head of commodities at ING. Bank of America Merrill Lynch said any start of US-Iran talks or a US-China trade deal would reduce volatility and anchor Brent oil prices in a $60-$67 per barrel range.

Oil rises after US Navy downs Iranian drone; set for weekly fall

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-rejects-saudi-weapons-sales-trump-to-veto-236775">US House of Representatives</a> on Wednesday voted to block emergency arms sales to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-adds-saudi-arabia-cuba-in-human-trafficking-blacklist-china-myanmar-remain-on-list-229035">Saudi Arabia</a>, United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

The three resolutions which were approved by the US House were already passed by the Senate. This means that the measures will now go to US President Donald Trump, where he is expected to veto them.

The chamber approved two of the resolutions with 238-190. The third one was approved with 237-190 votes, according to The Hill.

While the US Congress cannot override Trump`s veto, it reflects the differing takes on Saudi Arabia which are held by the legislature and the executive in the United States.

The US legislature has previously been critical of Riyadh, especially after journalist Jamal Khashoggi`s killing and the mounting death toll in Yemen.

Trump had in May bypassed the Congress to fast-track the sale of weapons worth USD eight billion to Saudi Arabia and the other two Gulf countries, citing escalating tensions with Iran in the region.&nbsp;

The weapons sale bypassed laws which give the US Congress the power to review major arms sale, according to Al Jazeera.

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to block emergency arms sales to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The three resolutions which were approved by the US House were already passed by the Senate.

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to block emergency arms sales to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The three resolutions which were approved by the US House were already passed by the Senate. This means that the measures will now go to US President Donald Trump, where he is expected to veto them. The chamber approved two of the resolutions with 238-190. The third one was approved with 237-190 votes, according to The Hill. While the US Congress cannot override Trump`s veto, it reflects the differing takes on Saudi Arabia which are held by the legislature and the executive in the United States. The US legislature has previously been critical of Riyadh, especially after journalist Jamal Khashoggi`s killing and the mounting death toll in Yemen. Trump had in May bypassed the Congress to fast-track the sale of weapons worth USD eight billion to Saudi Arabia and the other two Gulf countries, citing escalating tensions with Iran in the region. The weapons sale bypassed laws which give the US Congress the power to review major arms sale, according to Al Jazeera.

US House votes to block 'emergency' arms sale to Saudi Arabia

Pakistan on Wednesday arrested the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-arrests-2611-mumbai-terror-attack-mastermind-hafiz-saeed-236587">Hafiz Saeed</a>, whose prosecution has long been sought by New Delhi and Washington over the ghastly attacks in India`s financial capital.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump welcomed the arrest. In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Trump wrote, "After a 10-year search, the so-called `mastermind` of the Mumbai terror attacks has been arrested in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-slaps-terror-financing-charges-against-hafiz-saeed-india-says-have-seen-this-before-232870">Pakistan</a>.

Great pressure has been exerted over the last two years to find him!"The US State Department also welcomed the arrest saying, "The arrest of LeT leader Hafiz Saeed is a positive step. A full and expeditious prosecution for his involvement in numerous acts of terror, such as the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans is necessary. The victims of the terrorist attacks deserve justice."

Contrary to Trump`s characterisation of a prolonged `search`, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-anti-terror-court-grants-interim-pre-arrest-bail-to-hafiz-saeed-in-seminary-land-case-236176">Pakistani authorities</a> have been aware of Saeed`s whereabouts for years, critics have argued.

Analysts in Washington see the detention as major cosmetic move ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s maiden official visit to the United States and said, "clearly, much is being done to put a happy face on Imran Khan`s visit to Washington DC."

"I think the arrest of Hafiz Saeed is purely cosmetic because there is no historical basis to conclude otherwise. Washington probably believes as I do, but places other issues like Pakistan`s potential positive role in the Afghan peace process as a higher priority, an assumption that, in my opinion, is mistaken," said Lawrence Sellin, a retired US Army Reserve colonel, Iraq, and an Afghanistan veteran.

Trump`s South Asia policy was seen as radical two years ago for its tough stance on Pakistan, but with Imran Khan`s visit to Washington from July 21 to 23, the policy seems to have made a sudden U-turn on some key aspects.

The changed South Asia policy of the Trump administration now has a welcoming bouquet of positives for Pakistan.&nbsp;

Some of the positives that moved within weeks before the big Trump-Khan meet - Hafiz Saeed`s arrest, a four-party joint statement on Afghan peace process being released, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) being suddenly designated a terrorist organisation and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for USD 6 billion being approved.

"I think this arrest should be seen in the same context as a number of other recent notable developments: Pakistan calling for India to resume dialogue, Pakistan arresting dozens of militants, and even Pakistan announcing it would be gifting a portrait of Donald Trump to the US President," said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the US-based Wilson`s Center.

Pakistan is leading a charm offensive in advance of Khan`s visit to the US, in the hope that US officials will be receptive to a number of Pakistani pitches and asks," he said.

Pakistan faces the threat of international financial sanctions over lax controls on financial close that could go to terrorists. Islamabad needs to show action in the next few weeks to prevent itself from being blacklisted that would restrict its access to the international banking system.

Pulitzer Prize-winner journalist and former New York Times reporter Pir Zubair Shah told ANI about Pakistan facing its worst economic crisis."The news of Hafiz Saeed`s arrest is clearly an effort by Pakistan to show to the US that it is now serious in combating terrorism and is willing to listen to the US and on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) demands," Shah said.

Meanwhile, Taj Ayubi, an international affairs advisor to former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and someone who played an active role in the Afghan resistance against the Soviets, also told ANI, "Pakistan is financially stapled and is almost on the verge of an economic collapse. It is desperately hoping it can get US assistance, maybe the World Bank or other financial institution. For the Khan government, this trip here to the US will give the crippled economy a push where Saudi Arabia and China would help Pakistan."

Islamabad has announced a raft of arrests, seizures of assets and other actions over the past few months against militants, saying it was taking a "proactive approach and that our territory cannot be used against anyone."

Imran Khan`s White House meeting is expected by the experts to be dominated by Afghanistan, where Pakistan is playing a key role in supporting talks between the US and the Taliban, another jihadist group that Islamabad is accused of supporting.

But Pakistan`s relation with India is also expected to be discussed during the meet, with the two countries coming close to war earlier this year.

A source within the Indian government sounded a note of scepticism about Saeed`s arrest.`This is not the first time that Hafiz Saeed has been arrested or detained. This drama has taken place at least eight times since 2001.&nbsp;

The question is whether this time it would be more than a cosmetic exercise and whether Saeed will be tried and sentenced for his terrorist activities," the official told ANI speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The official said that Pakistan`s sincerity to take action against terrorism will be judged based on their ability to demonstrate verifiable, credible and irreversible actions against terrorists and to disrupt and dismantle terror groups operating from their soil."We hope that this time Hafiz Saeed will genuinely be brought to justice," the official said.

The Trump-Khan meeting will likely to be relatively short and experts do not anticipate many splashy announcements or new deals.&nbsp;

Experts say that this visit could be mere optics with nothing of substance on the table or maybe even a pie in the sky.

It is a major diplomatic victory for Imran Khan - just being invited to Washington DC to meet Trump. Nothing else needs to happen!

Pakistan on Wednesday arrested the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Hafiz Saeed, whose prosecution has long been sought by New Delhi and Washington over the ghastly attacks in India`s financial capital.

Pakistan on Wednesday arrested the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Hafiz Saeed, whose prosecution has long been sought by New Delhi and Washington over the ghastly attacks in India`s financial capital. In Washington, US President Donald Trump welcomed the arrest. In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Trump wrote, "After a 10-year search, the so-called `mastermind` of the Mumbai terror attacks has been arrested in Pakistan. Great pressure has been exerted over the last two years to find him!"The US State Department also welcomed the arrest saying, "The arrest of LeT leader Hafiz Saeed is a positive step. A full and expeditious prosecution for his involvement in numerous acts of terror, such as the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans is necessary. The victims of the terrorist attacks deserve justice." Contrary to Trump`s characterisation of a prolonged `search`, Pakistani authorities have been aware of Saeed`s whereabouts for years, critics have argued. Analysts in Washington see the detention as major cosmetic move ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s maiden official visit to the United States and said, "clearly, much is being done to put a happy face on Imran Khan`s visit to Washington DC." "I think the arrest of Hafiz Saeed is purely cosmetic because there is no historical basis to conclude otherwise. Washington probably believes as I do, but places other issues like Pakistan`s potential positive role in the Afghan peace process as a higher priority, an assumption that, in my opinion, is mistaken," said Lawrence Sellin, a retired US Army Reserve colonel, Iraq, and an Afghanistan veteran. Trump`s South Asia policy was seen as radical two years ago for its tough stance on Pakistan, but with Imran Khan`s visit to Washington from July 21 to 23, the policy seems to have made a sudden U-turn on some key aspects. The changed South Asia policy of the Trump administration now has a welcoming bouquet of positives for Pakistan. Some of the positives that moved within weeks before the big Trump-Khan meet - Hafiz Saeed`s arrest, a four-party joint statement on Afghan peace process being released, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) being suddenly designated a terrorist organisation and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for USD 6 billion being approved. "I think this arrest should be seen in the same context as a number of other recent notable developments: Pakistan calling for India to resume dialogue, Pakistan arresting dozens of militants, and even Pakistan announcing it would be gifting a portrait of Donald Trump to the US President," said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the US-based Wilson`s Center. Pakistan is leading a charm offensive in advance of Khan`s visit to the US, in the hope that US officials will be receptive to a number of Pakistani pitches and asks," he said. Pakistan faces the threat of international financial sanctions over lax controls on financial close that could go to terrorists. Islamabad needs to show action in the next few weeks to prevent itself from being blacklisted that would restrict its access to the international banking system. Pulitzer Prize-winner journalist and former New York Times reporter Pir Zubair Shah told ANI about Pakistan facing its worst economic crisis."The news of Hafiz Saeed`s arrest is clearly an effort by Pakistan to show to the US that it is now serious in combating terrorism and is willing to listen to the US and on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) demands," Shah said. Meanwhile, Taj Ayubi, an international affairs advisor to former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and someone who played an active role in the Afghan resistance against the Soviets, also told ANI, "Pakistan is financially stapled and is almost on the verge of an economic collapse. It is desperately hoping it can get US assistance, maybe the World Bank or other financial institution. For the Khan government, this trip here to the US will give the crippled economy a push where Saudi Arabia and China would help Pakistan." Islamabad has announced a raft of arrests, seizures of assets and other actions over the past few months against militants, saying it was taking a "proactive approach and that our territory cannot be used against anyone." Imran Khan`s White House meeting is expected by the experts to be dominated by Afghanistan, where Pakistan is playing a key role in supporting talks between the US and the Taliban, another jihadist group that Islamabad is accused of supporting. But Pakistan`s relation with India is also expected to be discussed during the meet, with the two countries coming close to war earlier this year. A source within the Indian government sounded a note of scepticism about Saeed`s arrest.`This is not the first time that Hafiz Saeed has been arrested or detained. This drama has taken place at least eight times since 2001. The question is whether this time it would be more than a cosmetic exercise and whether Saeed will be tried and sentenced for his terrorist activities," the official told ANI speaking on the condition of anonymity. The official said that Pakistan`s sincerity to take action against terrorism will be judged based on their ability to demonstrate verifiable, credible and irreversible actions against terrorists and to disrupt and dismantle terror groups operating from their soil."We hope that this time Hafiz Saeed will genuinely be brought to justice," the official said. The Trump-Khan meeting will likely to be relatively short and experts do not anticipate many splashy announcements or new deals. Experts say that this visit could be mere optics with nothing of substance on the table or maybe even a pie in the sky. It is a major diplomatic victory for Imran Khan - just being invited to Washington DC to meet Trump. Nothing else needs to happen!

Hafiz Saeed's arrest mere cosmetic, it's Pakistan's happy face for Donald Trump- Imran Khan meet

The United States has removed Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program, this comes a day after Turkey received first delivery of S-400 missile defense system from Russian. Watch this video to know more.

US: Turkey can't have both S-400 and F-35

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