The US blocked more than $46 million in funds of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-imran-khan-speaks-to-pm-modi-expresses-desire-to-work-together-foreign-office-221781">designated terrorist groups</a>, including Pakistan-based outfits, until the last year as part of its crackdown on foreign terrorist organisations and individuals, according to an annual report.

The report released by the US Department of Treasury states the US blocked nearly $400,000 in funds of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and $1,725 of the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is the leading US Government agency responsible for implementing sanctions against the assets of international terrorist organisations and terrorism-supporting countries.

The federal body implements these sanctions as part of its general mission to administer and enforce economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals.

According to the report, till 2018, the US blocked more than $46.1 million in funds of designated terrorist groups and individuals, an increase of about $2.5 million than that of $43.6 million in 2017.

The list includes the Haqqani network ($3,626), the Harkat ul-Mujahidin ($11,988) and the Hizbul Mujahideen ($2,287).

For the Lashkar-I Jhangvi, the amount of funds blocked by the US dropped from $12,829 in 2017 to $10,962.

The report states there was a significant jump in Taliban funds blocked by the United States, which increased from $10,728 in 2017 to $206,805 in 2018.

However, for the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the US had blocked a paltry $318 in 2018.

The US continues to block more than $500,000 in funds of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has remained the same for the past two years.

Notably, the al-Qaeda tops the list of the blocked amount, In 2018, the US had blocked $6.4 million of the al Qaeda funds, which was nearly $900,000 less than the $7.3 million blocked in 2017.

The OFAC also blocked approximately $216.83 million in assets relating to the three designated state sponsors of terrorism in 2018 - Syria, Iran and North Korea.

The US blocked more than $46 million in funds of designated terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based outfits, until the last year as part of its crackdown on foreign terrorist organisations and individuals, according to an annual report.

The US blocked more than $46 million in funds of designated terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based outfits, until the last year as part of its crackdown on foreign terrorist organisations and individuals, according to an annual report. The report released by the US Department of Treasury states the US blocked nearly $400,000 in funds of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and $1,725 of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is the leading US Government agency responsible for implementing sanctions against the assets of international terrorist organisations and terrorism-supporting countries. The federal body implements these sanctions as part of its general mission to administer and enforce economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals. According to the report, till 2018, the US blocked more than $46.1 million in funds of designated terrorist groups and individuals, an increase of about $2.5 million than that of $43.6 million in 2017. The list includes the Haqqani network ($3,626), the Harkat ul-Mujahidin ($11,988) and the Hizbul Mujahideen ($2,287). For the Lashkar-I Jhangvi, the amount of funds blocked by the US dropped from $12,829 in 2017 to $10,962. The report states there was a significant jump in Taliban funds blocked by the United States, which increased from $10,728 in 2017 to $206,805 in 2018. However, for the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the US had blocked a paltry $318 in 2018. The US continues to block more than $500,000 in funds of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has remained the same for the past two years. Notably, the al-Qaeda tops the list of the blocked amount, In 2018, the US had blocked $6.4 million of the al Qaeda funds, which was nearly $900,000 less than the $7.3 million blocked in 2017. The OFAC also blocked approximately $216.83 million in assets relating to the three designated state sponsors of terrorism in 2018 - Syria, Iran and North Korea.

US blocks over 46 million in funds of terrorist groups: Report

The US has said that it is closely working with India to minimise any impact of New Delhi reducing oil imports from Iran as Washington has refused to give waivers to any country from its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-debate-behind-trumps-move-to-tighten-iran-oil-sanctions-215055">sanctions on the West Asian country</a>.

US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, while replying to a question in a briefing said, "So we work – we coordinated closely, of course, with them to minimize any negative impact".

She explained that Washington's "goal... is for everyone" to "cease importing Iranian oil entirely" and "we appreciate everyone who has worked with us steadfastly to get to zero".

A couple of weeks ago, Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif had visited New Delhi and met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj regarding many issues including the import of oil.

On purchase of oil from Iran, Sushma Swaraj told Zarif that a decision on the same will be taken after the elections result keeping in mind "our commercial considerations, energy security and economic interests".

Even though there hasn't been any statement from the Ministry of External Affairs or the petroleum ministry if India has cut oil imports from Iran, Indian envoy to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla was quoted as saying that New Delhi has reduced oil import from the West Asian country.

"India had already sharply decreased its imports from Iran and bought one million tonnes (tons) of crude in April, the last month before Washington stepped up its pressure campaign against Tehran and ended all exemptions to sanctions. That's it. After that we haven't imported any," Mr Shringla was quoted by news agency PTI.

The India-Iran bilateral trade during the fiscal year 2016-17 stood at $12.89 billion of which New Delhi imported $10.5 billion worth of goods - mainly crude oil.

The US has said that it is closely working with India to minimise any impact of New Delhi reducing oil imports from Iran as Washington has refused to give waivers to any country from its sanctions on the West Asian country.

The US has said that it is closely working with India to minimise any impact of New Delhi reducing oil imports from Iran as Washington has refused to give waivers to any country from its sanctions on the West Asian country. US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, while replying to a question in a briefing said, "So we work – we coordinated closely, of course, with them to minimize any negative impact". She explained that Washington's "goal... is for everyone" to "cease importing Iranian oil entirely" and "we appreciate everyone who has worked with us steadfastly to get to zero". A couple of weeks ago, Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif had visited New Delhi and met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj regarding many issues including the import of oil. On purchase of oil from Iran, Sushma Swaraj told Zarif that a decision on the same will be taken after the elections result keeping in mind "our commercial considerations, energy security and economic interests". Even though there hasn't been any statement from the Ministry of External Affairs or the petroleum ministry if India has cut oil imports from Iran, Indian envoy to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla was quoted as saying that New Delhi has reduced oil import from the West Asian country. "India had already sharply decreased its imports from Iran and bought one million tonnes (tons) of crude in April, the last month before Washington stepped up its pressure campaign against Tehran and ended all exemptions to sanctions. That's it. After that we haven't imported any," Mr Shringla was quoted by news agency PTI. The India-Iran bilateral trade during the fiscal year 2016-17 stood at $12.89 billion of which New Delhi imported $10.5 billion worth of goods - mainly crude oil.

Working to minimise any negative impact: US on India cutting oil imports from Iran

Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives to protect work authorisation of H-4 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-trump-immigration-plan-may-increase-visas-for-highly-skilled-workers-213463">visa workers</a>, a significant number of whom are Indian-American women.

The introduction of such legislation comes days after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that it would publish this month the long-promised regulation that would prevent the work authorisation to spouses on H-4 visas.

H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, a significantly large number of whom are high-skilled professionals from India.

This week, the Trump administration announced plans to overturn current the DHS regulations that allow certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders who are stuck in green card backlogs to obtain employment authorisation, pursue their own professional goals and contribute to the US economy, said the lawmakers Anna G Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren.

Many H-4 visa holders are highly skilled professionals, and the DHS previously extended eligibility for employment authorisation to them recognising the economic burdens of families of many H-1B workers, particularly those who live in high-cost areas like Silicon Valley on a single income as they await green card approvals, they said.

Since the rule was implemented, over 100,000 workers, mainly women, have received employment authorisation, and the H-4 Employment Protection Act prohibits the Trump administration from revoking this important rule.

"H-4 visa holders deserve a chance to contribute to their local economies and provide for their families," Eshoo said.

"This is a matter of economic fairness and this legislation ensures it will continue," she added.

H-4 visa holders had obtained work permits under a special order issued by the previous Obama administration. Indian-Americans were a major beneficiary of this provision. More than one lakh H-4 visa holders have been beneficiary of this rule.

"While the Trump administration sits on its hands and does nothing, American citizens in-waiting are stuck in line for their number to come up," Lofgren said.

"Nobody benefits from this system, least of all the American economy when H-1B dependent spouses are prohibited from working. Many of these are accomplished and qualified individuals whose skills we'll lose to other countries unless the Administration finds a more sensible approach to immigration," she said.

Last November, Eshoo and Lofgren originally introduced the H-4 Employment Protection Act.

In March 2018, Eshoo and Lofgren led 13 Members of Congress in writing to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, urging her to reconsider DHS's proposal to revoke eligibility for employment authorisation to H-4 dependent spouses.

A 2015 rule issued by the Obama administration allows work permits for spouses who otherwise could not be employed while H-1B visa holders seek permanent resident status, a process that can take a decade or longer.

The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals working in areas with shortages of qualified American workers.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has been talking about cracking down on the H- 1B visa scheme.

During his election campaign, President Trump promised to increase oversight of our H-1B and L-1 visa programmes to prevent its abuse.&nbsp;

Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives to protect work authorisation of H-4 visa workers, a significant number of whom are Indian-American women.

Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives to protect work authorisation of H-4 visa workers, a significant number of whom are Indian-American women. The introduction of such legislation comes days after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that it would publish this month the long-promised regulation that would prevent the work authorisation to spouses on H-4 visas. H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, a significantly large number of whom are high-skilled professionals from India. This week, the Trump administration announced plans to overturn current the DHS regulations that allow certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders who are stuck in green card backlogs to obtain employment authorisation, pursue their own professional goals and contribute to the US economy, said the lawmakers Anna G Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren. Many H-4 visa holders are highly skilled professionals, and the DHS previously extended eligibility for employment authorisation to them recognising the economic burdens of families of many H-1B workers, particularly those who live in high-cost areas like Silicon Valley on a single income as they await green card approvals, they said. Since the rule was implemented, over 100,000 workers, mainly women, have received employment authorisation, and the H-4 Employment Protection Act prohibits the Trump administration from revoking this important rule. "H-4 visa holders deserve a chance to contribute to their local economies and provide for their families," Eshoo said. "This is a matter of economic fairness and this legislation ensures it will continue," she added. H-4 visa holders had obtained work permits under a special order issued by the previous Obama administration. Indian-Americans were a major beneficiary of this provision. More than one lakh H-4 visa holders have been beneficiary of this rule. "While the Trump administration sits on its hands and does nothing, American citizens in-waiting are stuck in line for their number to come up," Lofgren said. "Nobody benefits from this system, least of all the American economy when H-1B dependent spouses are prohibited from working. Many of these are accomplished and qualified individuals whose skills we'll lose to other countries unless the Administration finds a more sensible approach to immigration," she said. Last November, Eshoo and Lofgren originally introduced the H-4 Employment Protection Act. In March 2018, Eshoo and Lofgren led 13 Members of Congress in writing to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, urging her to reconsider DHS's proposal to revoke eligibility for employment authorisation to H-4 dependent spouses. A 2015 rule issued by the Obama administration allows work permits for spouses who otherwise could not be employed while H-1B visa holders seek permanent resident status, a process that can take a decade or longer. The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals working in areas with shortages of qualified American workers. Since taking office, the Trump administration has been talking about cracking down on the H- 1B visa scheme. During his election campaign, President Trump promised to increase oversight of our H-1B and L-1 visa programmes to prevent its abuse.

US lawmakers introduce legislation to protect work visa of spouses of H-1B holders

The Trump administration on Tuesday removed India from its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-treasury-again-says-china-is-not-manipulating-currency-222375">currency monitoring</a> list of major trading partners, citing certain developments and steps being taken by New Delhi which address some of its major concerns.

Switzerland is the other nation that has been removed by the US from its currency monitoring list which among others include China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

"India has been removed from the monitoring list in this report, having met only one out of three criteria - a significant bilateral surplus with the US - for two consecutive reports," the Treasury Department said in its latest semi-annual report on macroeconomic and foreign exchange policies of major trading partners of the US sent to the Congress.

After purchasing foreign exchange on net in 2017, the central bank steadily sold reserves for most of 2018, with net sales of foreign exchange reaching 1.7 per cent of GDP over the year, it said.

India maintains ample reserves according to the IMF metrics for reserve adequacy, it said.

Watch: China's utmost sincerity in trade talks a sign of strength

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-utmost-sincerity-in-trade-talks-a-sign-of-strength-222362/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In both Switzerland and India, there was a notable decline in 2018 in the scale and frequency of foreign exchange purchases, the report said.

"Neither Switzerland nor India met the criteria for having engaged in persistent, one-sided intervention in either the October 2018 report or this report. Both Switzerland and India have been removed from the monitoring list,"&nbsp;the Treasury said in its report running into over 40 pages.

India for the first time was placed by the US in its currency monitoring list of countries with potentially questionable foreign exchange policies in May 2018 along with five other countries - China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland.

In its next report in October 2018, the Treasury had said that India has made improvements and its name would be removed from the currency manipulation list in the next report.

"India's circumstances have shifted markedly, as the central bank's net sales of foreign exchange over the first six months of 2018 led net purchases over the four quarters through June 2018 to fall to $4 billion, or 0.2 per cent of the GDP," the Treasury had said in its October 2018 report.&nbsp;

The Trump administration on Tuesday removed India from its currency monitoring list of major trading partners, citing certain developments and steps being taken by New Delhi which address some of its major concerns.

The Trump administration on Tuesday removed India from its currency monitoring list of major trading partners, citing certain developments and steps being taken by New Delhi which address some of its major concerns. Switzerland is the other nation that has been removed by the US from its currency monitoring list which among others include China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. "India has been removed from the monitoring list in this report, having met only one out of three criteria - a significant bilateral surplus with the US - for two consecutive reports," the Treasury Department said in its latest semi-annual report on macroeconomic and foreign exchange policies of major trading partners of the US sent to the Congress. After purchasing foreign exchange on net in 2017, the central bank steadily sold reserves for most of 2018, with net sales of foreign exchange reaching 1.7 per cent of GDP over the year, it said. India maintains ample reserves according to the IMF metrics for reserve adequacy, it said. Watch: China's utmost sincerity in trade talks a sign of strength In both Switzerland and India, there was a notable decline in 2018 in the scale and frequency of foreign exchange purchases, the report said. "Neither Switzerland nor India met the criteria for having engaged in persistent, one-sided intervention in either the October 2018 report or this report. Both Switzerland and India have been removed from the monitoring list," the Treasury said in its report running into over 40 pages. India for the first time was placed by the US in its currency monitoring list of countries with potentially questionable foreign exchange policies in May 2018 along with five other countries - China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland. In its next report in October 2018, the Treasury had said that India has made improvements and its name would be removed from the currency manipulation list in the next report. "India's circumstances have shifted markedly, as the central bank's net sales of foreign exchange over the first six months of 2018 led net purchases over the four quarters through June 2018 to fall to $4 billion, or 0.2 per cent of the GDP," the Treasury had said in its October 2018 report.

US removes India from its currency monitoring list of major trading allies, China stays

China's Communist Party newspaper warned the United States on Wednesday that the country was ready to use rare earths to strike back in their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-any-us-trade-talks-must-be-based-on-mutual-respect-221968">bitter trade war</a>, saying in an extremely strongly worded commentary "don't say we didn't warn you".

President Xi Jinping's visit to a rare earths plant last week fuelled speculation that <a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-treasury-again-says-china-is-not-manipulating-currency-222375">China</a> would use its dominant position as a supplier of rare earths for leverage in the trade war.

Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements used in everything from high-tech consumer electronics to military equipment.

While China has so far not explicitly said it will restrict rare earths exports to the United States, Chinese media has strongly implied this will happen, including remarks from the editor of influential paper the Global Times on Twitter late on Tuesday.

In a commentary headline "United States, don't underestimate China's ability to strike back", the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily noted the "uncomfortable" dependence on rare earths from China of the United States.

Watch: China's utmost sincerity in trade talks a sign of strength

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-utmost-sincerity-in-trade-talks-a-sign-of-strength-222362/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Will rare earths become a counter weapon for China to hit back against the pressure the United States has put on for no reason at all? The answer is no mystery," it said.

"Undoubtedly, the US&nbsp;side wants to use the products made by China's exported rare earths to counter and suppress China's development. The Chinese people will never accept this!" the paper added.

The industrial chain between China and the United States is highly integrated and highly complementary, and there are no winners in a trade war, it said.

"We advise the US&nbsp;side not to underestimate the Chinese side's ability to safeguard its development rights and interests. Don't say we didn't warn you!"

The expression "don't say we didn't warn you" is generally only used by official Chinese media to warn rivals over major areas of disagreement, for example during a border dispute with India in 2017 and in 1978 before China invaded Vietnam.

China accounted for 80% of rare earth imports between 2014 and 2017 by the United States, which has excluded them from recent tariffs along with some other critical Chinese minerals.

Beijing, however, has raised tariffs on imports of US&nbsp;rare earth metal ores from 10% to 25% from June 1, making it less economical to process the material in China.

China's Communist Party newspaper warned the United States on Wednesday that the country was ready to use rare earths to strike back in their bitter trade war, saying in an extremely strongly worded commentary "don't say we didn't warn you".

China's Communist Party newspaper warned the United States on Wednesday that the country was ready to use rare earths to strike back in their bitter trade war, saying in an extremely strongly worded commentary "don't say we didn't warn you". President Xi Jinping's visit to a rare earths plant last week fuelled speculation that China would use its dominant position as a supplier of rare earths for leverage in the trade war. Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements used in everything from high-tech consumer electronics to military equipment. While China has so far not explicitly said it will restrict rare earths exports to the United States, Chinese media has strongly implied this will happen, including remarks from the editor of influential paper the Global Times on Twitter late on Tuesday. In a commentary headline "United States, don't underestimate China's ability to strike back", the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily noted the "uncomfortable" dependence on rare earths from China of the United States. Watch: China's utmost sincerity in trade talks a sign of strength "Will rare earths become a counter weapon for China to hit back against the pressure the United States has put on for no reason at all? The answer is no mystery," it said. "Undoubtedly, the US side wants to use the products made by China's exported rare earths to counter and suppress China's development. The Chinese people will never accept this!" the paper added. The industrial chain between China and the United States is highly integrated and highly complementary, and there are no winners in a trade war, it said. "We advise the US side not to underestimate the Chinese side's ability to safeguard its development rights and interests. Don't say we didn't warn you!" The expression "don't say we didn't warn you" is generally only used by official Chinese media to warn rivals over major areas of disagreement, for example during a border dispute with India in 2017 and in 1978 before China invaded Vietnam. China accounted for 80% of rare earth imports between 2014 and 2017 by the United States, which has excluded them from recent tariffs along with some other critical Chinese minerals. Beijing, however, has raised tariffs on imports of US rare earth metal ores from 10% to 25% from June 1, making it less economical to process the material in China.

'Don't say we didn't warn you!' China ready to hit back at US with 'rare earths'

The US State Department said Tuesday that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-military-identifies-more-remains-of-american-war-dead-handed-over-by-north-korea-222369">North Korea</a>'s overall program of weapons of mass destruction violated UN resolutions after President Donald Trump brushed off recent missile launches.

Choosing words carefully after Trump's latest warm words for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/endemic-corruption-in-north-korea-people-survive-by-paying-bribes-un-report-222287">North Korean</a> leader Kim Jong Un, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus declined to say if North Korea's launches were of ballistic missiles or constituted weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

"I think the entire North Korean WMD program, it's in conflict with the UN Security (Council) resolutions," Ortagus told reporters.

She said the United States wanted a favourable relationship between Trump and Kim with a goal to "negotiate a peaceful end to the North Korean WMD program."

Watch: North Korea demands immediate return of Cargo Ship seized by US

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-korea-demands-immediate-return-of-cargo-ship-seized-by-us-218720/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We have said many times and we will continue to reiterate that the economic sanctions will remain in place until we're there," she said.

When he arrived in Japan for a weekend state visit, Trump tweeted that North Korea had tested "some small weapons" that had "disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me."

He appeared to be referring to his National Security Advisor John Bolton, who said Saturday there was "no doubt" that North Korea's launches had contravened United Nations Security Council resolutions.

North Korea wasted no time piling onto Bolton, who has long promoted a hawkish foreign policy, calling him a "human defect" and "war maniac."

North Korea has previously called for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to be excluded from negotiations after he apparently pressed Trump at his February summit with Kim in Hanoi not to accept sanctions relief without further action by Pyongyang in ending its nuclear program.

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

The US State Department said Tuesday that North Korea's overall program of weapons of mass destruction violated UN resolutions after President Donald Trump brushed off recent missile launches. Choosing words carefully after Trump's latest warm words for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus declined to say if North Korea's launches were of ballistic missiles or constituted weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "I think the entire North Korean WMD program, it's in conflict with the UN Security (Council) resolutions," Ortagus told reporters. She said the United States wanted a favourable relationship between Trump and Kim with a goal to "negotiate a peaceful end to the North Korean WMD program." Watch: North Korea demands immediate return of Cargo Ship seized by US "We have said many times and we will continue to reiterate that the economic sanctions will remain in place until we're there," she said. When he arrived in Japan for a weekend state visit, Trump tweeted that North Korea had tested "some small weapons" that had "disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me." He appeared to be referring to his National Security Advisor John Bolton, who said Saturday there was "no doubt" that North Korea's launches had contravened United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korea wasted no time piling onto Bolton, who has long promoted a hawkish foreign policy, calling him a "human defect" and "war maniac." North Korea has previously called for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to be excluded from negotiations after he apparently pressed Trump at his February summit with Kim in Hanoi not to accept sanctions relief without further action by Pyongyang in ending its nuclear program.

US says North Korea program violates UN resolutions, after Trump tweet

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/johnson-johnson-rejects-report-by-rajasthan-government-on-presence-of-formaldehyde-in-baby-shampoo-214079">Johnson &amp; Johnson's</a> greed led the drugmaker to use deceptive marketing to create an oversupply of painkillers that fuelled the US&nbsp;opioid epidemic, the state of Oklahoma alleged at the start of the first trial to result from lawsuits over the drug crisis.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, who filed the multibillion-dollar case, argued in a state court in the city of Norman that J&amp;J should be forced to pay for helping cause the "worst manmade public health crisis in our state's history."

His case is the first to reach trial from around 2,000 lawsuits filed by state and local governments seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for a drug epidemic the US&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says led to a record 47,600 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2017.

The non-jury trial came after Oklahoma resolved claims against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP in March for $270 million and against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd on Sunday for $85 million, leaving only J&amp;J as a defendant.

Brad Beckworth, a lawyer for the state, told Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman that New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&amp;J, along with Purdue and Teva, used misleading marketing beginning in the 1990s to push doctors to prescribe more opioids.

Watch: After Teva Pharm to pay Oklahoma $85 mn to settle opioid claims; Johnson &amp; Johnson still set for trial

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/after-teva-pharm-to-pay-oklahoma-85-mln-to-settle-opioid-claims-johnson-johnson-still-set-for-trial-222190/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Beckworth said J&amp;J, which sold the painkillers Duragesic and Nucynta, marketed the opioids as "safe and effective for everyday pain" while downplaying their addictive qualities, helping create a drug oversupply.

He said J&amp;J was motivated to boost prescriptions not only because it sold opioid painkillers, but because it also grew and imported raw materials opioid manufacturers like Purdue used.

"If you have an oversupply, people will die," Beckworth said.

J&amp;J lawyer Larry Ottway countered that its products made up a small share of opioids prescribed in Oklahoma and carried US&nbsp;Food and Drug Administration-approved labels that warned of the addictive risks.

"You have to examine the details because facts are stubborn things," he said.

He also argued Oklahoma was seeking to "stretch" the bounds of a public nuisance statute in order to force it to pay up to $17.5 billion to help the state address the epidemic for the next 30 years.

The case is being closely watched by plaintiffs in other opioid lawsuits, particularly the 1,850 cases consolidated before a federal judge in Ohio, who has been pushing for a settlement ahead of an October trial.

Some plaintiffs' lawyers have compared the cases to litigation by states against the tobacco industry that led to a $246 billion settlement in 1998.

Johnson & Johnson's greed led the drugmaker to use deceptive marketing to create an oversupply of painkillers that fuelled the US opioid epidemic, the state of Oklahoma alleged at the start of the first trial to result from lawsuits over the drug crisis.

Johnson & Johnson's greed led the drugmaker to use deceptive marketing to create an oversupply of painkillers that fuelled the US opioid epidemic, the state of Oklahoma alleged at the start of the first trial to result from lawsuits over the drug crisis. Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, who filed the multibillion-dollar case, argued in a state court in the city of Norman that J&J should be forced to pay for helping cause the "worst manmade public health crisis in our state's history." His case is the first to reach trial from around 2,000 lawsuits filed by state and local governments seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for a drug epidemic the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says led to a record 47,600 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2017. The non-jury trial came after Oklahoma resolved claims against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP in March for $270 million and against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd on Sunday for $85 million, leaving only J&J as a defendant. Brad Beckworth, a lawyer for the state, told Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman that New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J, along with Purdue and Teva, used misleading marketing beginning in the 1990s to push doctors to prescribe more opioids. Watch: After Teva Pharm to pay Oklahoma $85 mn to settle opioid claims; Johnson & Johnson still set for trial Beckworth said J&J, which sold the painkillers Duragesic and Nucynta, marketed the opioids as "safe and effective for everyday pain" while downplaying their addictive qualities, helping create a drug oversupply. He said J&J was motivated to boost prescriptions not only because it sold opioid painkillers, but because it also grew and imported raw materials opioid manufacturers like Purdue used. "If you have an oversupply, people will die," Beckworth said. J&J lawyer Larry Ottway countered that its products made up a small share of opioids prescribed in Oklahoma and carried US Food and Drug Administration-approved labels that warned of the addictive risks. "You have to examine the details because facts are stubborn things," he said. He also argued Oklahoma was seeking to "stretch" the bounds of a public nuisance statute in order to force it to pay up to $17.5 billion to help the state address the epidemic for the next 30 years. The case is being closely watched by plaintiffs in other opioid lawsuits, particularly the 1,850 cases consolidated before a federal judge in Ohio, who has been pushing for a settlement ahead of an October trial. Some plaintiffs' lawyers have compared the cases to litigation by states against the tobacco industry that led to a $246 billion settlement in 1998.

Johnson & Johnson's greed helped fuel US opioid crisis, Oklahoma claims at trial

A heat wave with record-breaking potential gripped the southeastern United States on Monday, while the Central Plains will get a respite from the deadly weather that has pounded and flooded the region since last week, forecasters said.

But the conditions for violent weather that spawned numerous tornadoes and drenching rains that prompted several riverfront evacuations will return in the coming week, they said. A tornado in Oklahoma killed two people on Saturday.

As Americans celebrate the Memorial Day holiday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said 14 cities in South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida could tie or top their previous high temperatures for this date in a hot spell that could remain in place through the week.

They include Atlanta with an expected high of 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) and Jacksonville, Florida, and Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, where highs could hit about 100 degrees F (38 C).

"We are expecting triple-digit readings for a good chunk of the southeast United States," said meteorologist Brian Hurley at the NWS Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

Severe thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes pose a risk for northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, Hurley added.

River city flooding

In Oklahoma, where the city of El Reno is still cleaning up from the tornado that killed two people and injured 29 on Saturday, chances for violent thunderstorms have diminished until late Monday or early Tuesday, he said.

The pattern of drenching thunderstorms and tornadoes, which has been recurring in the Central Plains states since last week, has caused flooding in several river cities.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, officials are monitoring the rain-swollen Arkansas River after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers raised the flow at the upriver Keystone Dam by 65% since last week to 275,000 cubic feet per second.

The heavier flow, which is testing two aging levees in Tulsa, is still less than the 300,000 cubic feet per second high flow for the dam in 1986, the City of Tulsa said.

All 77 Oklahoma counties are under a state of emergency, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said.

A heat wave with record-breaking potential gripped the southeastern United States on Monday, while the Central Plains will get a respite from the deadly weather that has pounded and flooded the region since last week, forecasters said.

A heat wave with record-breaking potential gripped the southeastern United States on Monday, while the Central Plains will get a respite from the deadly weather that has pounded and flooded the region since last week, forecasters said. But the conditions for violent weather that spawned numerous tornadoes and drenching rains that prompted several riverfront evacuations will return in the coming week, they said. A tornado in Oklahoma killed two people on Saturday. As Americans celebrate the Memorial Day holiday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said 14 cities in South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida could tie or top their previous high temperatures for this date in a hot spell that could remain in place through the week. They include Atlanta with an expected high of 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) and Jacksonville, Florida, and Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, where highs could hit about 100 degrees F (38 C). "We are expecting triple-digit readings for a good chunk of the southeast United States," said meteorologist Brian Hurley at the NWS Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. Severe thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes pose a risk for northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, Hurley added. River city flooding In Oklahoma, where the city of El Reno is still cleaning up from the tornado that killed two people and injured 29 on Saturday, chances for violent thunderstorms have diminished until late Monday or early Tuesday, he said. The pattern of drenching thunderstorms and tornadoes, which has been recurring in the Central Plains states since last week, has caused flooding in several river cities. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, officials are monitoring the rain-swollen Arkansas River after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers raised the flow at the upriver Keystone Dam by 65% since last week to 275,000 cubic feet per second. The heavier flow, which is testing two aging levees in Tulsa, is still less than the 300,000 cubic feet per second high flow for the dam in 1986, the City of Tulsa said. All 77 Oklahoma counties are under a state of emergency, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said.

Record heat hits US Southeast, threat of flooding remains in Central states

Taiwan displayed how its fighter jets can land, refuel and rearm on the island's highways Tuesday as part of its largest annual exercise simulating defence against a Chinese invasion.&nbsp;

The self-ruled island has long lived under the threat of invasion by Beijing which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it back by force if necessary.

Chinese military and diplomatic pressure have been significantly ramped up since the 2016 election of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-has-stepped-up-efforts-to-infiltrate-taiwan-president-217441"> President Tsai Ing-wen</a>, whose government refuses to acknowledge that the self-ruled island is part of "one China".

This week Taiwan's 23 million inhabitants have witnessed stark reminders of the military threats they face.

On Monday the streets were briefly deserted as authorities carried out an annual missile drill across the island's north, with text messages sent to every mobile phone and air raid sirens wailing.&nbsp;

The following day 1,600 soldiers were mobilised in central Taiwan as aircraft practised landing on a closed highway for the annual "Han Kuang" (Han Glory) war games.

Three jet fighters, as well as an early warning aircraft, also practised refuelling and loading missiles and other ammunition before taking off again.&nbsp;

Taiwan would be massively outgunned in terms of troop numbers and firepower in any war with China but it has developed sophisticated asymmetric tactics to hold out for as long as possible and make an invasion of the island hugely costly for Beijing.

"There are only a few military air bases which would become the prime targets in the event of an attack. The highway drill is necessary as highway strips would be our priority choice if the runways are damaged during a war," air force Colonel Shu Kuo-mao told reporters.

Inspecting the drill on Tuesday, president Tsai referred to the marked uptick in Chinese naval and airforce patrols in recent months which have rattled nerves.&nbsp;

"They have caused a certain degree of threat to regional peace and stability. We should maintain high vigilance," she said.

The manoeuvres in Taiwan come after the US, Japan, South Korea and Australia kicked off operation "Pacific Vanguard" near Guam, bringing together more than 3,000 sailors from the four countries last week.

Beijing has also been angered by warming relations between Taipei and Washington since Tsai came to power.

On Monday, Beijing reacted frostily to photos showing a rare meeting between uniformed Taiwanese officers and their US counterparts earlier this month.&nbsp;

Last week, China lodged a protest with Washington after two US warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan displayed how its fighter jets can land, refuel and rearm on the island's highways Tuesday as part of its largest annual exercise simulating defence against a Chinese invasion.

Taiwan displayed how its fighter jets can land, refuel and rearm on the island's highways Tuesday as part of its largest annual exercise simulating defence against a Chinese invasion. The self-ruled island has long lived under the threat of invasion by Beijing which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it back by force if necessary. Chinese military and diplomatic pressure have been significantly ramped up since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, whose government refuses to acknowledge that the self-ruled island is part of "one China". This week Taiwan's 23 million inhabitants have witnessed stark reminders of the military threats they face. On Monday the streets were briefly deserted as authorities carried out an annual missile drill across the island's north, with text messages sent to every mobile phone and air raid sirens wailing. The following day 1,600 soldiers were mobilised in central Taiwan as aircraft practised landing on a closed highway for the annual "Han Kuang" (Han Glory) war games. Three jet fighters, as well as an early warning aircraft, also practised refuelling and loading missiles and other ammunition before taking off again. Taiwan would be massively outgunned in terms of troop numbers and firepower in any war with China but it has developed sophisticated asymmetric tactics to hold out for as long as possible and make an invasion of the island hugely costly for Beijing. "There are only a few military air bases which would become the prime targets in the event of an attack. The highway drill is necessary as highway strips would be our priority choice if the runways are damaged during a war," air force Colonel Shu Kuo-mao told reporters. Inspecting the drill on Tuesday, president Tsai referred to the marked uptick in Chinese naval and airforce patrols in recent months which have rattled nerves. "They have caused a certain degree of threat to regional peace and stability. We should maintain high vigilance," she said. The manoeuvres in Taiwan come after the US, Japan, South Korea and Australia kicked off operation "Pacific Vanguard" near Guam, bringing together more than 3,000 sailors from the four countries last week. Beijing has also been angered by warming relations between Taipei and Washington since Tsai came to power. On Monday, Beijing reacted frostily to photos showing a rare meeting between uniformed Taiwanese officers and their US counterparts earlier this month. Last week, China lodged a protest with Washington after two US warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan fighters land on highway for Chinese 'invasion' war games

The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imf-warns-us-china-trade-war-will-jeopardize-2019-global-growth-221117"> trade war between Beijing and Washington </a>has stoked concern in financial markets that China might opt to weaponise its holdings of more than $1.1 trillion worth of US&nbsp;Treasuries in retaliation for the tariffs the Trump administration has imposed on Chinese imports.

Often referred to as the "nuclear option," choosing to dump so large a pool of assets would likely destabilise world financial markets, drive interest rates higher and push tensions between the world's two largest economies into uncharted territory.

China has been slimming its Treasury securities portfolio for some time, but most analysts see an aggressive reduction of its holdings as a remote possibility at most. There is no evidence Beijing is seriously looking to flood markets with its US&nbsp;bonds.

Here are some key points about China's Treasuries portfolio:

How much US debt does Chins own?

About a decade ago, China overtook Japan as the largest foreign holder of US&nbsp;government debt.

Its holdings stood at more than $1.12 trillion at the end of March, according to US&nbsp;Treasury Department data. Japan is a close second with nearly $1.08 trillion.

China's holdings peaked in late 2013 at nearly $1.32 trillion and have come down by about 15% since then. In March they were the lowest in about two years.

Its share of the Treasury market has fallen even faster, due to the steady issuance of US&nbsp;debt required to finance the growing federal budget deficit.

The world's second-biggest economy owns about 7% of the $16.18 trillion of US&nbsp;public debt outstanding, its lowest share in 14 years, and down from a peak of 14% in 2011. Still, its slice of the pie is exceeded only by the US&nbsp;Federal Reserve, which owns $2.15 trillion of Treasuries, or 13.5% of the market.

Treasury issuance is expected to keep accelerating following a massive tax cut enacted in December 2017, so China's share of the market will likely drop even further.

Why does China own so much US debt?

As a net exporter to the United States and the rest of the world, China has the world's largest stash of foreign-exchange reserves at more than $3 trillion. Much of that is denominated in US dollars accumulated through its persistent trade surplus with the United States since the early 1990s.

A natural place for China to park a lot of those greenbacks is the US&nbsp;Treasury market, which is by far the largest and most liquid pool of safe assets in the world.

Also, since the financial crisis of 2007-2009, US&nbsp;Treasuries have consistently yielded more than bonds issued by other large developed economies such as Japan and Germany, which has been another lure.

What is the risk to the United States if China sells?

Most analysts agree that large-scale selling by Beijing would disrupt the Treasury market and other markets.

An abrupt shift in the balance of supply and demand could drive down Treasury prices, and drive up their yields, which move in the opposite direction to prices. That would cause a spike in borrowing costs for the US government.

Also, because Treasury yields are a benchmark for US&nbsp;consumer and business credit, interest rates on everything from corporate bonds to homeowners' mortgages would rise, likely slowing the economy.

Such a jarring move would also erode global investors' confidence in the US&nbsp;dollar as the world's top reserve currency.

What is the risk to China if IT dumbs treasures?

Most analysts argue China has not opted to sell Uncle Sam's IOUs because a nosedive in US&nbsp;bond prices also would bring down the value of China's remaining Treasury holdings.

Also, China's currency, the yuan, is not fully free floating. Beijing uses its Treasury holdings as a key tool to stabilise the yuan within a targeted range, against the dollar in particular.

Some critics have alleged China uses Treasuries and its other currency reserves to hold down the yuan, making its exports more attractive. At the same time, allowing the currency to cheapen too many risks other problems, such as foreign capital flight.

Any sharp depreciation in the greenback might force Beijing to defend the yuan, which may mean shedding more of its Treasuries stake. Back in 2016, China's Treasuries holdings fell sharply by some $200 billion from May to November of that year as the yuan depreciated on worries about the Chinese economy.

Lastly, any knock-on effect in the US&nbsp;economy would also be felt in China because the United States is the destination for nearly a fifth of Chinese exports.

The trade war between Beijing and Washington has stoked concern in financial markets that China might opt to weaponise its holdings of more than $1.1 trillion worth of US Treasuries in retaliation for the tariffs the Trump administration has imposed on Chinese imports.

The trade war between Beijing and Washington has stoked concern in financial markets that China might opt to weaponise its holdings of more than $1.1 trillion worth of US Treasuries in retaliation for the tariffs the Trump administration has imposed on Chinese imports. Often referred to as the "nuclear option," choosing to dump so large a pool of assets would likely destabilise world financial markets, drive interest rates higher and push tensions between the world's two largest economies into uncharted territory. China has been slimming its Treasury securities portfolio for some time, but most analysts see an aggressive reduction of its holdings as a remote possibility at most. There is no evidence Beijing is seriously looking to flood markets with its US bonds. Here are some key points about China's Treasuries portfolio: How much US debt does Chins own? About a decade ago, China overtook Japan as the largest foreign holder of US government debt. Its holdings stood at more than $1.12 trillion at the end of March, according to US Treasury Department data. Japan is a close second with nearly $1.08 trillion. China's holdings peaked in late 2013 at nearly $1.32 trillion and have come down by about 15% since then. In March they were the lowest in about two years. Its share of the Treasury market has fallen even faster, due to the steady issuance of US debt required to finance the growing federal budget deficit. The world's second-biggest economy owns about 7% of the $16.18 trillion of US public debt outstanding, its lowest share in 14 years, and down from a peak of 14% in 2011. Still, its slice of the pie is exceeded only by the US Federal Reserve, which owns $2.15 trillion of Treasuries, or 13.5% of the market. Treasury issuance is expected to keep accelerating following a massive tax cut enacted in December 2017, so China's share of the market will likely drop even further. Why does China own so much US debt? As a net exporter to the United States and the rest of the world, China has the world's largest stash of foreign-exchange reserves at more than $3 trillion. Much of that is denominated in US dollars accumulated through its persistent trade surplus with the United States since the early 1990s. A natural place for China to park a lot of those greenbacks is the US Treasury market, which is by far the largest and most liquid pool of safe assets in the world. Also, since the financial crisis of 2007-2009, US Treasuries have consistently yielded more than bonds issued by other large developed economies such as Japan and Germany, which has been another lure. What is the risk to the United States if China sells? Most analysts agree that large-scale selling by Beijing would disrupt the Treasury market and other markets. An abrupt shift in the balance of supply and demand could drive down Treasury prices, and drive up their yields, which move in the opposite direction to prices. That would cause a spike in borrowing costs for the US government. Also, because Treasury yields are a benchmark for US consumer and business credit, interest rates on everything from corporate bonds to homeowners' mortgages would rise, likely slowing the economy. Such a jarring move would also erode global investors' confidence in the US dollar as the world's top reserve currency. What is the risk to China if IT dumbs treasures? Most analysts argue China has not opted to sell Uncle Sam's IOUs because a nosedive in US bond prices also would bring down the value of China's remaining Treasury holdings. Also, China's currency, the yuan, is not fully free floating. Beijing uses its Treasury holdings as a key tool to stabilise the yuan within a targeted range, against the dollar in particular. Some critics have alleged China uses Treasuries and its other currency reserves to hold down the yuan, making its exports more attractive. At the same time, allowing the currency to cheapen too many risks other problems, such as foreign capital flight. Any sharp depreciation in the greenback might force Beijing to defend the yuan, which may mean shedding more of its Treasuries stake. Back in 2016, China's Treasuries holdings fell sharply by some $200 billion from May to November of that year as the yuan depreciated on worries about the Chinese economy. Lastly, any knock-on effect in the US economy would also be felt in China because the United States is the destination for nearly a fifth of Chinese exports.

Will China dump US bonds as a trade weapon? Not so fast

A tornado slammed into the US&nbsp;city of Dayton, Ohio on Monday as severe storms were forecast to pound the area overnight, officials and media reports said.

At least two other tornadoes touched down near the city, including one near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, just east of Dayton, media reports said.

The latest storm comes after a spate of tornadoes and floods killed at least six people in Oklahoma over the weekend, including two people in El Reno, near the state capital on Saturday.

In Ohio, the extent of the damage and injuries was not immediately clear.

"We're right in the middle of it right now. It's a mess," said a phone operator with the Office of Emergency Management in Montgomery County.

Some media outlets reported that rescue workers were going door-to-door in parts of Dayton. Police and sheriff's departments were not immediately available for comment.

Twitter users posted images of debris flying in the air and damaged mobile homes and cars.

The National Weather Service said that there were reports of multiple tornadoes in the Dayton area between 11 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday.

"We'll have to get survey crews on the ground in the morning to confirm the severity of the storms, but yes, there is at least one tornado touch down in the city," said Zack Taylor, a meteorologist with the NWS Weather Prediction Center in College Park Maryland.

"The storm system is weakening as it pushes into West Virginia and Virginia, but along with the winds, it has dropped about two or three inches of rain in just two hours," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-heat-hits-us-southeast-threat-of-flooding-remains-in-central-states-222096">Flooded areas of Arkansas and Oklahoma</a> were bracing for more rain that will feed the already swollen Arkansas River, forecasters said on Monday, as Missouri deployed the National Guard in anticipation of further storms.

Arkansas and Oklahoma have also activated National Guard units.

Millions of Americans were under flood warnings on the Memorial Day holiday with Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois getting a deluge while Oklahoma and Arkansas got a reprieve for the most part.

In Tulsa, officials were monitoring the Arkansas River after the US Army Corps of Engineers raised the flow at the upriver Keystone Dam by 65% since last week to 275,000 cubic feet per second. The heavier flow is testing two ageing levees in Tulsa, the city said.

In neighbouring Missouri, Governor Mike Parson on Monday activated the National Guard to respond to flooding and prepare for severe storms this week, his office said in a statement.

Tornadoes and severe storms that slammed into the state last week killed three people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes.

A tornado slammed into the US city of Dayton, Ohio on Monday as severe storms were forecast to pound the area overnight, officials and media reports said. At least two other tornadoes touched down near the city, including one near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, just east of Dayton, media reports said.

A tornado slammed into the US city of Dayton, Ohio on Monday as severe storms were forecast to pound the area overnight, officials and media reports said. At least two other tornadoes touched down near the city, including one near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, just east of Dayton, media reports said. The latest storm comes after a spate of tornadoes and floods killed at least six people in Oklahoma over the weekend, including two people in El Reno, near the state capital on Saturday. In Ohio, the extent of the damage and injuries was not immediately clear. "We're right in the middle of it right now. It's a mess," said a phone operator with the Office of Emergency Management in Montgomery County. Some media outlets reported that rescue workers were going door-to-door in parts of Dayton. Police and sheriff's departments were not immediately available for comment. Twitter users posted images of debris flying in the air and damaged mobile homes and cars. The National Weather Service said that there were reports of multiple tornadoes in the Dayton area between 11 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday. "We'll have to get survey crews on the ground in the morning to confirm the severity of the storms, but yes, there is at least one tornado touch down in the city," said Zack Taylor, a meteorologist with the NWS Weather Prediction Center in College Park Maryland. "The storm system is weakening as it pushes into West Virginia and Virginia, but along with the winds, it has dropped about two or three inches of rain in just two hours," he said. Flooded areas of Arkansas and Oklahoma were bracing for more rain that will feed the already swollen Arkansas River, forecasters said on Monday, as Missouri deployed the National Guard in anticipation of further storms. Arkansas and Oklahoma have also activated National Guard units. Millions of Americans were under flood warnings on the Memorial Day holiday with Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois getting a deluge while Oklahoma and Arkansas got a reprieve for the most part. In Tulsa, officials were monitoring the Arkansas River after the US Army Corps of Engineers raised the flow at the upriver Keystone Dam by 65% since last week to 275,000 cubic feet per second. The heavier flow is testing two ageing levees in Tulsa, the city said. In neighbouring Missouri, Governor Mike Parson on Monday activated the National Guard to respond to flooding and prepare for severe storms this week, his office said in a statement. Tornadoes and severe storms that slammed into the state last week killed three people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes.

Tornado hits city of Dayton, more storms expected in south, central US

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-fall-on-surging-us-crude-stockpiles-economic-concerns-221236">Oil prices</a> were mixed on Tuesday as supply cuts, led by producer club OPEC, and US&nbsp;sanctions on fuel exports from Iran and Venezuela supported crude, while concerns about an economic slowdown weighed on the market.

Front-month Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $69.99 at 0637 GMT, down 12 cents, or 0.2%, from the last session's close, when they rose 2.1%.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $59.03 per barrel, up 40 cents, or 0.7%, from their last close on Friday. WTI did not trade on Monday due to a US&nbsp;public holiday.

Prices have been supported by supply cuts led by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since the start of the year, and by political tensions in the Middle East.

OPEC and some allies including Russia are due to meet on June 25 and 26 to discuss output policy.

Beyond the output cuts, US&nbsp;bank, Citi said, "Geopolitical turmoil across the Middle East ... are likely to encourage financial investors to realign with their bullish physical counterparties."

In physical oil markets, the Middle East crude premiums hit their highest levels in years earlier this month amid falling supply.

Beyond the OPEC cuts, US&nbsp;sanctions on petroleum exports from Iran and Venezuela have tightened markets.

"Iran exports remain under pressure as US sanctions bite. This comes as OPEC appears to be heading towards extending the current production cut agreement," Citi added.

Trump last year withdrew the United States from a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, and Washington is ratcheting up sanctions seeking to end Tehran's international sales of crude oil and strangle its economy.

Washington has also imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil exports, in a bid to topple the government under President Nicolas Maduro there.

Despite this, markets remain cautious amid an economic slowdown as a result of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, which is also expected to dent fuel consumption.

"We really need to see some strong demand figures, which so far this year has not happened before we can really start listening to the bulls," said Matt Stanley, a broker at Starfuels in Dubai.

Oil prices were mixed on Tuesday as supply cuts, led by producer club OPEC, and US sanctions on fuel exports from Iran and Venezuela supported crude, while concerns about an economic slowdown weighed on the market.

Oil prices were mixed on Tuesday as supply cuts, led by producer club OPEC, and US sanctions on fuel exports from Iran and Venezuela supported crude, while concerns about an economic slowdown weighed on the market. Front-month Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $69.99 at 0637 GMT, down 12 cents, or 0.2%, from the last session's close, when they rose 2.1%. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $59.03 per barrel, up 40 cents, or 0.7%, from their last close on Friday. WTI did not trade on Monday due to a US public holiday. Prices have been supported by supply cuts led by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since the start of the year, and by political tensions in the Middle East. OPEC and some allies including Russia are due to meet on June 25 and 26 to discuss output policy. Beyond the output cuts, US bank, Citi said, "Geopolitical turmoil across the Middle East ... are likely to encourage financial investors to realign with their bullish physical counterparties." In physical oil markets, the Middle East crude premiums hit their highest levels in years earlier this month amid falling supply. Beyond the OPEC cuts, US sanctions on petroleum exports from Iran and Venezuela have tightened markets. "Iran exports remain under pressure as US sanctions bite. This comes as OPEC appears to be heading towards extending the current production cut agreement," Citi added. Trump last year withdrew the United States from a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, and Washington is ratcheting up sanctions seeking to end Tehran's international sales of crude oil and strangle its economy. Washington has also imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil exports, in a bid to topple the government under President Nicolas Maduro there. Despite this, markets remain cautious amid an economic slowdown as a result of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, which is also expected to dent fuel consumption. "We really need to see some strong demand figures, which so far this year has not happened before we can really start listening to the bulls," said Matt Stanley, a broker at Starfuels in Dubai.

Oil mixed as OPEC cuts, US sanctions prop up prices while trade war weighs

Alibaba is considering raising as much as $20 billion through a listing in Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, lining up a second blockbuster deal following its 2014 record $25 billion floats in New York.

The deal, the biggest follow-on share sale in seven years globally, would give Alibaba a war chest to keep investing in technology - a priority for China as growth flags and as the world's second-largest economy faces a mounting trade spat with the United States.

The e-commerce giant is working with financial advisers on the offering and is aiming to file an application confidentially in Hong Kong as early as the second half of 2019, three people said on condition of anonymity as the plans are not public yet.

They cautioned that many details were not clear, including the final planned size. One person with direct knowledge said it was more likely to be between $10 billion and $15 billion.

At $20 billion, Alibaba's deal would be the sixth-biggest follow-on share sale ever, Refinitiv data shows, ranking behind NTT's 1987 $36.8 billion sale, crisis-era offerings of $24.4 billion and $22.5 billion from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, as well as the $20.7 billion raised by US&nbsp;insurer AIG in 2012.

A spokesman for Alibaba declined to comment. SoftBank Group, Alibaba's largest investor, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Japanese tech investor has a 28.8% stake, worth $115.7 billion, in Alibaba after it sold a small part of its original holding via derivatives to fund its acquisition of chip designer ARM in a transaction that completes next month.

SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is a close friend of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jack-mas-669-advice-to-alibaba-employees-have-sex-six-times-in-six-days-218815">Alibaba founder Jack Ma.</a> Bloomberg was the first to report the plan for a Hong Kong listing.

ADDED LIQUIDITY

Since its US listing, Alibaba has nearly doubled in size to become the largest-listed Chinese company with a market value of more than $400 billion.

A Hong Kong listing would give mainland investors their first direct access to one of China's biggest success stories, via the stock connect trading link between Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

It would also give the company an extra pocket of liquidity and potentially a better valuation if the household name became a favourite among retail investors in Hong Kong.

A Hong Kong-based analyst said while Alibaba is not in need of cash, the listing could help it improve its access to loans from Asian banks. "It means closer access to Chinese investors, and maybe Chinese investors are more bullish than the global investors in Alibaba," the analyst added.

Rival Tencent, which is listed in Hong Kong, is trading at 26 times its expected earnings compared with Alibaba's 22 times in New York, according to Refinitiv data.

A Hong Kong listing for Alibaba would come as its 54-year-old founder prepares to step down as chairman in September, handing over the mantle to CEO Daniel Zhang.

The company is also expanding into new sectors including cloud computing division and Hema, its chain of brick-and-mortar supermarkets as growth in its core e-commerce business slows.

The listing would provide Alibaba with additional capital to fund its new and expensive initiatives, said James Hull, founder of Hull capital and co-host of the China Tech investor podcast.

"Alibaba has strong and growing free cash flow, but they're also pursuing cash-hungry new initiatives," he added.

HOMECOMING

An Alibaba float would be seen in Hong Kong as a victory after the city lost the tech giant's initial public offering to New York because it then rules precluded it accepting Alibaba's governance structure, where a self-selecting group of senior managers control the majority of board appointments.

Hong Kong amended its rules last year to make it easier for "innovative companies" listed in New York or London to carry out a secondary listing in Hong Kong, as part of a broader shakeup of the city's listing regime.

The new rules allow already-listed companies based in greater China, whose original float was before Dec. 15, 2017, to list in the city even if their current weighted voting rights structures contravene Hong Kong's rules for primary listings.

Such companies can also apply confidentially for a listing, as Alibaba is expected to do.

Early last year, when Hong Kong was preparing to allow dual-class share listings, Alibaba founder Jack Ma had said that the company would "seriously consider" a listing on its exchange.

So far, no company has used the new secondary listing rules to raise funds in Hong Kong.

A spokesman for HKEX declined to comment on news of Alibaba's listing plans in Hong Kong.&nbsp;

Alibaba is considering raising as much as $20 billion through a listing in Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, lining up a second blockbuster deal following its 2014 record $25 billion floats in New York.

Alibaba is considering raising as much as $20 billion through a listing in Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, lining up a second blockbuster deal following its 2014 record $25 billion floats in New York. The deal, the biggest follow-on share sale in seven years globally, would give Alibaba a war chest to keep investing in technology - a priority for China as growth flags and as the world's second-largest economy faces a mounting trade spat with the United States. The e-commerce giant is working with financial advisers on the offering and is aiming to file an application confidentially in Hong Kong as early as the second half of 2019, three people said on condition of anonymity as the plans are not public yet. They cautioned that many details were not clear, including the final planned size. One person with direct knowledge said it was more likely to be between $10 billion and $15 billion. At $20 billion, Alibaba's deal would be the sixth-biggest follow-on share sale ever, Refinitiv data shows, ranking behind NTT's 1987 $36.8 billion sale, crisis-era offerings of $24.4 billion and $22.5 billion from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, as well as the $20.7 billion raised by US insurer AIG in 2012. A spokesman for Alibaba declined to comment. SoftBank Group, Alibaba's largest investor, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Japanese tech investor has a 28.8% stake, worth $115.7 billion, in Alibaba after it sold a small part of its original holding via derivatives to fund its acquisition of chip designer ARM in a transaction that completes next month. SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is a close friend of Alibaba founder Jack Ma. Bloomberg was the first to report the plan for a Hong Kong listing. ADDED LIQUIDITY Since its US listing, Alibaba has nearly doubled in size to become the largest-listed Chinese company with a market value of more than $400 billion. A Hong Kong listing would give mainland investors their first direct access to one of China's biggest success stories, via the stock connect trading link between Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen. It would also give the company an extra pocket of liquidity and potentially a better valuation if the household name became a favourite among retail investors in Hong Kong. A Hong Kong-based analyst said while Alibaba is not in need of cash, the listing could help it improve its access to loans from Asian banks. "It means closer access to Chinese investors, and maybe Chinese investors are more bullish than the global investors in Alibaba," the analyst added. Rival Tencent, which is listed in Hong Kong, is trading at 26 times its expected earnings compared with Alibaba's 22 times in New York, according to Refinitiv data. A Hong Kong listing for Alibaba would come as its 54-year-old founder prepares to step down as chairman in September, handing over the mantle to CEO Daniel Zhang. The company is also expanding into new sectors including cloud computing division and Hema, its chain of brick-and-mortar supermarkets as growth in its core e-commerce business slows. The listing would provide Alibaba with additional capital to fund its new and expensive initiatives, said James Hull, founder of Hull capital and co-host of the China Tech investor podcast. "Alibaba has strong and growing free cash flow, but they're also pursuing cash-hungry new initiatives," he added. HOMECOMING An Alibaba float would be seen in Hong Kong as a victory after the city lost the tech giant's initial public offering to New York because it then rules precluded it accepting Alibaba's governance structure, where a self-selecting group of senior managers control the majority of board appointments. Hong Kong amended its rules last year to make it easier for "innovative companies" listed in New York or London to carry out a secondary listing in Hong Kong, as part of a broader shakeup of the city's listing regime. The new rules allow already-listed companies based in greater China, whose original float was before Dec. 15, 2017, to list in the city even if their current weighted voting rights structures contravene Hong Kong's rules for primary listings. Such companies can also apply confidentially for a listing, as Alibaba is expected to do. Early last year, when Hong Kong was preparing to allow dual-class share listings, Alibaba founder Jack Ma had said that the company would "seriously consider" a listing on its exchange. So far, no company has used the new secondary listing rules to raise funds in Hong Kong. A spokesman for HKEX declined to comment on news of Alibaba's listing plans in Hong Kong.

Alibaba plans $20 billion in Hong Kong listing, biggest follow-on sale in seven years

US President Donald Trump and Japan President Shinzo Abe holds a formal meeting in Tokyo, Japan. President Donald Trump exclusively talks about billateral ties between Japan and US, and how they are best.

'Ties with Japan have never been better' says Donald Trump during formal meeting with Shinzo Abe

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a joint press conference <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trade-beef-aside-trump-and-abe-bond-over-burgers-sumo-and-golf-221840">after holding talks</a>.&nbsp;

While Trump stated that US ties with Japan have never been better, Abe said he is determined to show the strength of US-Japan ties to the world.

The US President also informed that Japan will be buying 105 F-35 US stealth warplanes, adding that the two countries look forward to collaborating on space exploration.

Trump said that even though there exists an "imbalance" in trade with Japan, the same should be resolved over time.

"I think we will be announcing some things, probably in August, that will be very good for both countries."&nbsp;

Both the leaders are slated to meet again for the G20 Summit to be held in Osaka, Japan this year. &nbsp;

The two leaders met in Tokyo and discussed a range of issues from Iran, North Korea to bilateral trade.&nbsp;

Top Japanese and American trade negotiators spent more than two hours locked in talks on Saturday night but failed to achieve a breakthrough, although the Japanese side said there was more "understanding" between the two.

There exists 'full support' from Trump for meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, Abe said.&nbsp;

Trump is in Japan as the first foreign leader to visit the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-becomes-first-foreign-leader-to-meet-japans-new-emperor-221846">country's newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito</a> - an honour Abe hopes will help charm the US president when it comes to thorny trade talks.

Monday marked the start of the official programme for the two leaders after a fun-filled weekend of sumo, golf and meals out. Trump said on Sunday he was having a "great time" with his friend and close ally Abe.

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Trump honours Japanese sumo wrestler with 'Trump Award'

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US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a joint press conference after holding talks. While Trump stated that US ties with Japan have never been better, Abe said he is determined to show the strength of US-Japan ties to the world.

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a joint press conference after holding talks. While Trump stated that US ties with Japan have never been better, Abe said he is determined to show the strength of US-Japan ties to the world. The US President also informed that Japan will be buying 105 F-35 US stealth warplanes, adding that the two countries look forward to collaborating on space exploration. Trump said that even though there exists an "imbalance" in trade with Japan, the same should be resolved over time. "I think we will be announcing some things, probably in August, that will be very good for both countries." Both the leaders are slated to meet again for the G20 Summit to be held in Osaka, Japan this year. The two leaders met in Tokyo and discussed a range of issues from Iran, North Korea to bilateral trade. Top Japanese and American trade negotiators spent more than two hours locked in talks on Saturday night but failed to achieve a breakthrough, although the Japanese side said there was more "understanding" between the two. There exists 'full support' from Trump for meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, Abe said. Trump is in Japan as the first foreign leader to visit the country's newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito - an honour Abe hopes will help charm the US president when it comes to thorny trade talks. Monday marked the start of the official programme for the two leaders after a fun-filled weekend of sumo, golf and meals out. Trump said on Sunday he was having a "great time" with his friend and close ally Abe. (With inputs from AFP) Watch: Trump honours Japanese sumo wrestler with 'Trump Award' ×

Japan to buy 105 F-35 US stealth warplanes: Donald Trump 

Israel&nbsp;voiced&nbsp;openness on Monday to&nbsp;US-mediated&nbsp;talks&nbsp;with&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;on resolving a dispute over the neighbours' maritime&nbsp;border&nbsp;that has dogged Mediterranean oil and gas exploration.

Such&nbsp;talks,&nbsp;Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz's office said in a statement after he met&nbsp;US&nbsp;envoy David Satterfield, could be "for the good of both countries' interests in developing natural gas reserves and oil" by agreeing on a&nbsp;border.

There was no immediate comment from Lebanese or&nbsp;US&nbsp;officials.

Technically at war since&nbsp;Israel's founding in 1948,&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;have long disagreed on&nbsp;border&nbsp;demarcations, a dispute affecting a&nbsp;sea&nbsp;area of about 860 sq km (330 square miles) extending along the edge of three of&nbsp;Lebanon's southern energy blocks.

Waters in one of those blocks are also claimed by&nbsp;Israel, which kicked off a gas bonanza in the eastern Mediterranean almost a decade ago with the discovery of two huge gas fields.

The dispute has led to years of brinkmanship with both sides promising to protect their resources and warning about encroachment.

Israel voiced openness on Monday to US-mediated talks with Lebanon on resolving a dispute over the neighbours' maritime border that has dogged Mediterranean oil and gas exploration.

Israel voiced openness on Monday to US-mediated talks with Lebanon on resolving a dispute over the neighbours' maritime border that has dogged Mediterranean oil and gas exploration. Such talks, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz's office said in a statement after he met US envoy David Satterfield, could be "for the good of both countries' interests in developing natural gas reserves and oil" by agreeing on a border. There was no immediate comment from Lebanese or US officials. Technically at war since Israel's founding in 1948, Israel and Lebanon have long disagreed on border demarcations, a dispute affecting a sea area of about 860 sq km (330 square miles) extending along the edge of three of Lebanon's southern energy blocks. Waters in one of those blocks are also claimed by Israel, which kicked off a gas bonanza in the eastern Mediterranean almost a decade ago with the discovery of two huge gas fields. The dispute has led to years of brinkmanship with both sides promising to protect their resources and warning about encroachment.

Israel open to US-mediated talks with Lebanon on sea border

Rescuers in the US state of Oklahoma were searching Sunday for survivors in the tangled remains of mobile homes and other structures demolished overnight by a powerful tornado that killed at least two people.

"Right now (we are) doing a search effort to assess everything," El Reno Mayor Matt White told reporters in a televised news conference. "We can confirm there have been two fatalities at this time."

"It is very traumatic."&nbsp;The city of about 17,000, 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of state capital Oklahoma City, was just recovering from serious flooding when the storm hit late Saturday with little warning.

At least 29 people were hospitalized, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. A mobile home park was nearly flattened, and White said residents had been moved to temporary shelters.

"We do need some help," he said. "We have moved all the people out of the trailer park." Photos showed widespread devastation, with many mobile homes mangled beyond recognition.

In addition, White said, most of the second story of a local motel, the American Budget Value Inn, was lost. "Pray for the families," he told reporters. "People have absolutely lost everything. You're not going to believe the devastation."

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman, Oklahoma tweeted that Saturday's tornado was an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, meaning it packed winds of 136 to 165 miles per hour, making it capable of inflicting severe damage. The NWS said the storm was on the ground for 2.2 miles.

El Reno and Oklahoma City are in what is often referred to as Tornado Alley, a region frequently hammered by storms of rare intensity, particularly in spring and early summer.

A tornado on May 3, 1999, that struck parts of the capital city reached estimated wind speeds of more than 300 miles per hour (480 kilometres per hour), among the highest speeds, and with the most violent force, ever recorded anywhere. Thirty-six people died.

Rescuers in the US state of Oklahoma were searching Sunday for survivors in the tangled remains of mobile homes and other structures demolished overnight by a powerful tornado that killed at least two people.

Rescuers in the US state of Oklahoma were searching Sunday for survivors in the tangled remains of mobile homes and other structures demolished overnight by a powerful tornado that killed at least two people. "Right now (we are) doing a search effort to assess everything," El Reno Mayor Matt White told reporters in a televised news conference. "We can confirm there have been two fatalities at this time." "It is very traumatic." The city of about 17,000, 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of state capital Oklahoma City, was just recovering from serious flooding when the storm hit late Saturday with little warning. At least 29 people were hospitalized, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. A mobile home park was nearly flattened, and White said residents had been moved to temporary shelters. "We do need some help," he said. "We have moved all the people out of the trailer park." Photos showed widespread devastation, with many mobile homes mangled beyond recognition. In addition, White said, most of the second story of a local motel, the American Budget Value Inn, was lost. "Pray for the families," he told reporters. "People have absolutely lost everything. You're not going to believe the devastation." The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman, Oklahoma tweeted that Saturday's tornado was an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, meaning it packed winds of 136 to 165 miles per hour, making it capable of inflicting severe damage. The NWS said the storm was on the ground for 2.2 miles. El Reno and Oklahoma City are in what is often referred to as Tornado Alley, a region frequently hammered by storms of rare intensity, particularly in spring and early summer. A tornado on May 3, 1999, that struck parts of the capital city reached estimated wind speeds of more than 300 miles per hour (480 kilometres per hour), among the highest speeds, and with the most violent force, ever recorded anywhere. Thirty-six people died.

Powerful tornado devastates US town, killing two

The United States is not seeking regime change in Iran, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-becomes-first-foreign-leader-to-meet-japans-new-emperor-221846">President Donald Trump </a>said Monday, as tensions between the two countries rise with Washington deploying troops to the region.

"I know so many people from Iran, these are great people, it has a chance to be a great country, with the same leadership," Trump said at a press conference in Tokyo where he is on a state visit.

"We're not looking for regime change, I just want to make that clear. We're looking for no nuclear weapons."

"I'm not looking to hurt Iran at all," added Trump.

The United States on Friday said it was deploying 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East to counter "credible threats" from Tehran, the latest step in a series of military escalations.

Tensions have been rising between Washington and Tehran since Trump's decision last year to withdraw from an international nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions on the oil producer.

The US president reiterated Monday his criticism of that "horrible Iran deal" but said he was open to new negotiations.

"I think we'll make a deal," he said at the press conference alongside <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-shinzo-abe-calls-for-strengthing-ties-with-india-221913">Prime Minister Shinzo Abe</a>.

Hours earlier, Trump had insisted: "I do believe that Iran would like to talk, and if they'd like to talk, we'd like to talk also."

Trump sounded a similarly conciliatory tone on North Korea, a key topic of his discussions in Japan, which views Pyongyang as a major threat.

The US leader, who has had two rounds of talks with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, described him as a "very smart" man who knew he needed to denuclearise.

"He knows that with nuclear... only bad can happen. He is a very smart man, he gets it well," said Trump, who repeated that North Korea has "tremendous economic potential".

And he once again dismissed missile launches earlier this month by Pyongyang that National Security Advisor John Bolton has said were a violation of UN resolutions.

"My people think it could have been a violation... I view it as a man who perhaps wants to get attention," Trump said.

Abe reiterated his willingness to meet with Kim himself, in particular, to raise the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by Pyongyang, and said Trump backed his push to hold direct talks.

In addition to North Korea, Trump and Abe have been focused on trade, with Washington and Tokyo locked in negotiations to reduce what the US president calls an "unbelievably large trade imbalance".

Trump has said a final deal will not come until after Japan's upper house elections in July, but said he expected an agreement that would "benefit both of our economies".

He also said that Japan has "just announced its intent to purchase 105 brand new F35 stealth aircraft".

"This purchase would give Japan the largest F35 fleet of any US ally," Trump added.

The US president said he there was a "very good" chance of clinching a trade deal with China, despite recent retaliatory measures between the world's top economies.

"I think sometime in the future, China and the US will have a great trade deal and we look forward to that," Trump said.

The United States is not seeking regime change in Iran, President Donald Trump said Monday, as tensions between the two countries rise with Washington deploying troops to the region.

The United States is not seeking regime change in Iran, President Donald Trump said Monday, as tensions between the two countries rise with Washington deploying troops to the region. "I know so many people from Iran, these are great people, it has a chance to be a great country, with the same leadership," Trump said at a press conference in Tokyo where he is on a state visit. "We're not looking for regime change, I just want to make that clear. We're looking for no nuclear weapons." "I'm not looking to hurt Iran at all," added Trump. The United States on Friday said it was deploying 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East to counter "credible threats" from Tehran, the latest step in a series of military escalations. Tensions have been rising between Washington and Tehran since Trump's decision last year to withdraw from an international nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions on the oil producer. The US president reiterated Monday his criticism of that "horrible Iran deal" but said he was open to new negotiations. "I think we'll make a deal," he said at the press conference alongside Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Hours earlier, Trump had insisted: "I do believe that Iran would like to talk, and if they'd like to talk, we'd like to talk also." Trump sounded a similarly conciliatory tone on North Korea, a key topic of his discussions in Japan, which views Pyongyang as a major threat. The US leader, who has had two rounds of talks with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, described him as a "very smart" man who knew he needed to denuclearise. "He knows that with nuclear... only bad can happen. He is a very smart man, he gets it well," said Trump, who repeated that North Korea has "tremendous economic potential". And he once again dismissed missile launches earlier this month by Pyongyang that National Security Advisor John Bolton has said were a violation of UN resolutions. "My people think it could have been a violation... I view it as a man who perhaps wants to get attention," Trump said. Abe reiterated his willingness to meet with Kim himself, in particular, to raise the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by Pyongyang, and said Trump backed his push to hold direct talks. In addition to North Korea, Trump and Abe have been focused on trade, with Washington and Tokyo locked in negotiations to reduce what the US president calls an "unbelievably large trade imbalance". Trump has said a final deal will not come until after Japan's upper house elections in July, but said he expected an agreement that would "benefit both of our economies". He also said that Japan has "just announced its intent to purchase 105 brand new F35 stealth aircraft". "This purchase would give Japan the largest F35 fleet of any US ally," Trump added. The US president said he there was a "very good" chance of clinching a trade deal with China, despite recent retaliatory measures between the world's top economies. "I think sometime in the future, China and the US will have a great trade deal and we look forward to that," Trump said.

United States 'not looking for regime change' in Iran: Trump

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced his new 22-member Cabinet which includes a record seven women.

The new Cabinet will be sworn in on Wednesday.

The ruling conservative coalition, led by Prime Minister Morrison, defied exit polls to deliver a shock defeat to the opposition Labor Party, forcing its leader Bill Shorten to resign.

Morrison announced Linda Reynolds to be the Defence Minister while Bridget McKenzie will become Australia's first-ever female Agriculture Minister.

"I have high expectations of my ministry and clear goals for each of their roles," Morrison was quoted as saying by media reports from Canberra.

"This will include congestion-busting on regulatory and bureaucratic roadblocks, making better use of technology and better-integrating service delivery across portfolios," he said.

Peter Dutton will remain in Home Affairs and Senator Arthur Sinodinos will be the new Ambassador to the United States, succeeding Joe Hockey when his finishes his term.

Sussan Ley was announced the environment minister, replacing Melissa Price.

He will also recommend Mitch Fifield to become Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations, with Paul Fletcher to take over his communications portfolio.

"They will both be exceptional representatives and our countries interests abroad will be well served in that role," Morrison said.

David Littleproud will now focus on the natural disaster and emergency management portfolio.

Ken Wyatt becomes the first Aboriginal person to hold the Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

"Incredibly honoured to be the first Aboriginal Minister for Indigenous Australians," Wyatt tweeted.

"Committed to working and walking together with our elders, families and communities to ensure the greatness of our many nations is reflected in the greatness of our Australian nation, now and forever".

Attorney-General Christian Porter will become the Leader of the House while frontbenchers continuing in their roles include Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Education Minister Dan Tehan.&nbsp;

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced his new 22-member Cabinet which includes a record seven women. The new Cabinet will be sworn in on Wednesday.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced his new 22-member Cabinet which includes a record seven women. The new Cabinet will be sworn in on Wednesday. The ruling conservative coalition, led by Prime Minister Morrison, defied exit polls to deliver a shock defeat to the opposition Labor Party, forcing its leader Bill Shorten to resign. Morrison announced Linda Reynolds to be the Defence Minister while Bridget McKenzie will become Australia's first-ever female Agriculture Minister. "I have high expectations of my ministry and clear goals for each of their roles," Morrison was quoted as saying by media reports from Canberra. "This will include congestion-busting on regulatory and bureaucratic roadblocks, making better use of technology and better-integrating service delivery across portfolios," he said. Peter Dutton will remain in Home Affairs and Senator Arthur Sinodinos will be the new Ambassador to the United States, succeeding Joe Hockey when his finishes his term. Sussan Ley was announced the environment minister, replacing Melissa Price. He will also recommend Mitch Fifield to become Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations, with Paul Fletcher to take over his communications portfolio. "They will both be exceptional representatives and our countries interests abroad will be well served in that role," Morrison said. David Littleproud will now focus on the natural disaster and emergency management portfolio. Ken Wyatt becomes the first Aboriginal person to hold the Indigenous Affairs portfolio. "Incredibly honoured to be the first Aboriginal Minister for Indigenous Australians," Wyatt tweeted. "Committed to working and walking together with our elders, families and communities to ensure the greatness of our many nations is reflected in the greatness of our Australian nation, now and forever". Attorney-General Christian Porter will become the Leader of the House while frontbenchers continuing in their roles include Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Education Minister Dan Tehan.

Australian PM Scott Morrison's new Cabinet includes a record seven women

US&nbsp;National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Saturday North Korea's recent missile launches violated a UN&nbsp;Security Council resolution and urged leader Kim Jong Un to return to denuclearisation talks.

It was the first time a senior US&nbsp;official has described the tests as a violation of UN&nbsp;resolutions aimed at halting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/north-korea-missile-tests-does-diplomacy-still-have-a-chance-218607">North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes</a> and came ahead of a four-day visit to Japan by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump who arrives later in the day.

"The UN&nbsp;resolution prohibits the launch of any ballistic missiles," Bolton said at a press roundtable. North Korea's test firings included short-range ballistic missiles and so there was "no doubt" it was a violation, he added.

Earlier this month, Kim Jong Un oversaw the first flight of a previously untested weapon - a relatively small, fast missile experts believe will be easier to hide, launch and manoeuvre in flight.

Bolton said that the United States was still open to talks with Kim's regime but that it had not changed its position from the one outlined at the last <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-blames-us-for-failed-summit-urges-new-calculation-221306">summit between the United States and North Korea</a> in Hanoi.

"Trump has held the door open for Kim, the next step is for Kim to walk through it," he said.

Bolton also urged Kim to agree to a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which he said could help restart dialogue on North Korea's weapons programmes.

An Abe Kim summit "could be substantive assistance to that", he said.

Trump, who will play golf with Abe on Sunday before watching Sumo wrestling, is expected to discuss topics ranging from North Korea to China and two-way trade when they sit down for a summit on Monday.

The two leaders will also discuss rising tensions with Iran, Bolton said. Abe is considering a visit to Iran as early as mid-June, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday, the first such trip in four decades.

Washington has said it will stop waivers for countries buying Iranian oil and has designated Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation.

The <a href="http://wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-biggest-issue-in-us-ties-is-impounded-ship-220662http://wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-biggest-issue-in-us-ties-is-impounded-ship-220662">United States&nbsp;</a>is also deploying a carrier strike group and bombers to the Middle East in response to what the Trump administration described as troubling “indications and warnings” from Iran.

Bolton, who has spearheaded an increasingly hawkish US&nbsp;policy on Iran, described recent attacks on tankers off the United Arab Emirates and a pipeline pumping station in Saudi Arabia, as well as a rocket attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone in Iraq, as "manifestations of concern".

The United States has "deep and serious" intelligence on the threat posed by Iran, said Bolton, who declined to provide details.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Saturday North Korea's recent missile launches violated a UN Security Council resolution and urged leader Kim Jong Un to return to denuclearisation talks.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Saturday North Korea's recent missile launches violated a UN Security Council resolution and urged leader Kim Jong Un to return to denuclearisation talks. It was the first time a senior US official has described the tests as a violation of UN resolutions aimed at halting North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and came ahead of a four-day visit to Japan by US President Donald Trump who arrives later in the day. "The UN resolution prohibits the launch of any ballistic missiles," Bolton said at a press roundtable. North Korea's test firings included short-range ballistic missiles and so there was "no doubt" it was a violation, he added. Earlier this month, Kim Jong Un oversaw the first flight of a previously untested weapon - a relatively small, fast missile experts believe will be easier to hide, launch and manoeuvre in flight. Bolton said that the United States was still open to talks with Kim's regime but that it had not changed its position from the one outlined at the last summit between the United States and North Korea in Hanoi. "Trump has held the door open for Kim, the next step is for Kim to walk through it," he said. Bolton also urged Kim to agree to a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which he said could help restart dialogue on North Korea's weapons programmes. An Abe Kim summit "could be substantive assistance to that", he said. Trump, who will play golf with Abe on Sunday before watching Sumo wrestling, is expected to discuss topics ranging from North Korea to China and two-way trade when they sit down for a summit on Monday. The two leaders will also discuss rising tensions with Iran, Bolton said. Abe is considering a visit to Iran as early as mid-June, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday, the first such trip in four decades. Washington has said it will stop waivers for countries buying Iranian oil and has designated Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation. The United States is also deploying a carrier strike group and bombers to the Middle East in response to what the Trump administration described as troubling “indications and warnings” from Iran. Bolton, who has spearheaded an increasingly hawkish US policy on Iran, described recent attacks on tankers off the United Arab Emirates and a pipeline pumping station in Saudi Arabia, as well as a rocket attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone in Iraq, as "manifestations of concern". The United States has "deep and serious" intelligence on the threat posed by Iran, said Bolton, who declined to provide details.

North Korean missile test violated UN resolution: John Bolton

In response to Pyongyang`s statement that the dialogue between the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-blames-us-for-failed-summit-urges-new-calculation-221306"> United States and North Korea </a>would not resume unless Washington comes up with " a new method of calculation," US State Department on Friday said that it remains open to holding talks with the communist country and is "very clear" about that position.

The State Department added the Trump administration sticks to the Singapore agreement signed by the leaders of the two countries, that committed to the complete denuclearisation of the North and building a lasting peace, reported Yonhap news agency.

North Korea has upped its criticism towards the United States, especially after Washington seized one of its cargo ships on suspicions of violating sanctions. Yesterday, Pyongyang blamed the US for the collapse of the second summit between the two countries in Vietnam.

"Unless the United States puts aside the current method of calculation and comes forward with a new method of calculation, the North Korea-US dialogue will never be resumed and by extension, the prospect for resolving the nuclear issue will be much gloomy," North Korea`s state news agency quoted the country`s spokesperson as saying.

The spokesperson also said that the US is attempting to shift the blame regarding the reigning impasse onto the reclusive state."We hereby make it clear once again that the United States would not be able to move us even an inch with the device it is now weighing in its mind, and the further its mistrust and hostile acts towards the DPRK grow, the fiercer our reaction will be," the official added.

In its response, the US State Department added that it is ready to have a constructive discussion with the North to advance the process "simultaneously and in parallel."Nuclear talks between the two countries hit a roadblock after the second summit in Vietnam ended abruptly with no joint statement earlier this year. The two sides reportedly failed to resolve their differences on sanctions waivers.

North Korea has since launched multiple projectiles as a sign of their apparent frustration regarding the stalled talks and continuing sanctions.

&nbsp;

In response to Pyongyang`s statement that the dialogue between the United States and North Korea would not resume unless Washington comes up with " a new method of calculation," US State Department on Friday said that it remains open to holding talks with the communist country and is "very clear" about that position.

In response to Pyongyang`s statement that the dialogue between the United States and North Korea would not resume unless Washington comes up with " a new method of calculation," US State Department on Friday said that it remains open to holding talks with the communist country and is "very clear" about that position. The State Department added the Trump administration sticks to the Singapore agreement signed by the leaders of the two countries, that committed to the complete denuclearisation of the North and building a lasting peace, reported Yonhap news agency. North Korea has upped its criticism towards the United States, especially after Washington seized one of its cargo ships on suspicions of violating sanctions. Yesterday, Pyongyang blamed the US for the collapse of the second summit between the two countries in Vietnam. "Unless the United States puts aside the current method of calculation and comes forward with a new method of calculation, the North Korea-US dialogue will never be resumed and by extension, the prospect for resolving the nuclear issue will be much gloomy," North Korea`s state news agency quoted the country`s spokesperson as saying. The spokesperson also said that the US is attempting to shift the blame regarding the reigning impasse onto the reclusive state."We hereby make it clear once again that the United States would not be able to move us even an inch with the device it is now weighing in its mind, and the further its mistrust and hostile acts towards the DPRK grow, the fiercer our reaction will be," the official added. In its response, the US State Department added that it is ready to have a constructive discussion with the North to advance the process "simultaneously and in parallel."Nuclear talks between the two countries hit a roadblock after the second summit in Vietnam ended abruptly with no joint statement earlier this year. The two sides reportedly failed to resolve their differences on sanctions waivers. North Korea has since launched multiple projectiles as a sign of their apparent frustration regarding the stalled talks and continuing sanctions.

Doors remain open for North Korea to resume talks: United States

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting incident outside a bar in New Jersey on Saturday.

The incident happened at about 12:25 am (local time) on the Brunswick Avenue of Trenton city, reported SputnikTrenton police spokesman Captain Stephen Varn said that five men and five women injured in the gunfire were rushed to the hospital.

One of the victims was critically injured and taken into emergency service. An investigation into the shootout has begun.

The incident comes nearly a year after a shooting incident occurred inside the `Art All Night` event in Trenton, in which one person was killed and twenty-two others sustained injuries.

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting incident outside a bar in New Jersey on Saturday. The incident happened at about 12:25 am (local time) on the Brunswick Avenue of Trenton city, reported SputnikTrenton police spokesman Captain Stephen Varn said that five men and five women injured in the gunfire were rushed to the hospital.

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting incident outside a bar in New Jersey on Saturday. The incident happened at about 12:25 am (local time) on the Brunswick Avenue of Trenton city, reported SputnikTrenton police spokesman Captain Stephen Varn said that five men and five women injured in the gunfire were rushed to the hospital. One of the victims was critically injured and taken into emergency service. An investigation into the shootout has begun. The incident comes nearly a year after a shooting incident occurred inside the `Art All Night` event in Trenton, in which one person was killed and twenty-two others sustained injuries.

United States: 10 injured in shooting incident outside bar in New Jersey

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, declaring a national emergency because of tensions with Iran, swept aside objections from Congress on Friday to complete the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-officials-plan-to-bypass-congress-for-saudi-arms-sales-report-221244">sale of over $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia</a>, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

The Trump administration informed congressional committees that it will go ahead with 22 military sales to the Saudis, United Arab Emirates and Jordan, infuriating lawmakers by circumventing a long-standing precedent for congressional review of major weapons sales.

Members of Congress had been blocking sales of offensive military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for months, angry about the huge civilian toll from their air campaign in Yemen, as well as human rights abuses such as the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Lawmakers and congressional aides warned earlier this week that Trump, frustrated with Congress holding up weapons deals including the sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia, was considering using a loophole in arms control law to go ahead by declaring a national emergency.

"President Trump is only using this loophole because he knows Congress would disapprove ... There is no new 'emergency' reason to sell bombs to the Saudis to drop in Yemen, and doing so only perpetuates the humanitarian crisis there," said Senator Chris Murphy.

Murphy, a Democrat, made public on Twitter on Wednesday that Trump was considering the loophole in the Arms Control Export Act to clear the sales.

Several of Trump's fellow Republicans, as well as Democrats, said they would object to such a plan, fearing that blowing through the "holds" process would eliminate Congress' ability to check not just Trump but future presidents from selling weapons where they liked.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that US&nbsp;partners in the Middle East needed the contracts to be completed to help deter Iran and that the decision to circumvent Congress was meant to be a "one-time event."

It is not the first time Congress and Trump have clashed over policy in the region or the division of powers between the White House and Capitol Hill. The House and Senate voted to end US&nbsp;military support for the campaign in Yemen earlier this year, but Trump vetoed the resolution.

Boon to defence industry

In documents sent to Congress, Pompeo listed a wide range of products and services that would be provided to the countries.

They include Raytheon precision-guided munitions (PGMs), support for Boeing Co F-15 aircraft, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, which are made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Corp.

Other companies that will benefit include General Electric, now cleared to sell engines for use in F-16 fighter jets operated by the UAE and the US&nbsp;unit of French firm Thales, which was cleared to sell a fuzing system for Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to Britain and the UAE.

It will also likely be welcome news for Britain’s BAE Systems Plc and Europe’s Airbus, clearing the way for installation of Paveway laser-guided bombs on European-built Eurofighter and Tornado fighter jets sold to Saudi Arabia, as well F-15 fighters built by Boeing.

"I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the Trump Administration has failed once again to prioritize our long-term national security interests or stand up for human rights, and instead is granting favours to authoritarian countries like Saudi Arabia," Senator Bob Menendez said in a statement.

Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, vowed to fight the action and said he was in talks with both Democrats and some of Trump's fellow Republicans on ways to preserve congressional review of arms sales.

The Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Republican Senator Jim Risch, said he had received formal notification of the administration's intent to move forward.

In a statement, Risch said, "I am reviewing and analysing the legal justification for this action and the associated implications."

In his memorandum justifying the emergency declaration, Pompeo listed years of actions by Iran. "Iranian malign activity poses a fundamental threat to the stability of the Middle East and to American security at home and abroad," he wrote and cited "a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" from Tehran.

Trump's administration also announced that it was sending 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East, which it described as an effort to bolster defences against Iran against what it sees as a threat of potential attack.&nbsp;

Members of Congress from both parties have worried that Trump is pushing toward war with Iran. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said the administration was responding to important needs from partners.

"This is about deterrence and it's not about war," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

US President Donald Trump, declaring a national emergency because of tensions with Iran, swept aside objections from Congress on Friday to complete the sale of over $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

US President Donald Trump, declaring a national emergency because of tensions with Iran, swept aside objections from Congress on Friday to complete the sale of over $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The Trump administration informed congressional committees that it will go ahead with 22 military sales to the Saudis, United Arab Emirates and Jordan, infuriating lawmakers by circumventing a long-standing precedent for congressional review of major weapons sales. Members of Congress had been blocking sales of offensive military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for months, angry about the huge civilian toll from their air campaign in Yemen, as well as human rights abuses such as the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey. Lawmakers and congressional aides warned earlier this week that Trump, frustrated with Congress holding up weapons deals including the sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia, was considering using a loophole in arms control law to go ahead by declaring a national emergency. "President Trump is only using this loophole because he knows Congress would disapprove ... There is no new 'emergency' reason to sell bombs to the Saudis to drop in Yemen, and doing so only perpetuates the humanitarian crisis there," said Senator Chris Murphy. Murphy, a Democrat, made public on Twitter on Wednesday that Trump was considering the loophole in the Arms Control Export Act to clear the sales. Several of Trump's fellow Republicans, as well as Democrats, said they would object to such a plan, fearing that blowing through the "holds" process would eliminate Congress' ability to check not just Trump but future presidents from selling weapons where they liked. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that US partners in the Middle East needed the contracts to be completed to help deter Iran and that the decision to circumvent Congress was meant to be a "one-time event." It is not the first time Congress and Trump have clashed over policy in the region or the division of powers between the White House and Capitol Hill. The House and Senate voted to end US military support for the campaign in Yemen earlier this year, but Trump vetoed the resolution. Boon to defence industry In documents sent to Congress, Pompeo listed a wide range of products and services that would be provided to the countries. They include Raytheon precision-guided munitions (PGMs), support for Boeing Co F-15 aircraft, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, which are made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Corp. Other companies that will benefit include General Electric, now cleared to sell engines for use in F-16 fighter jets operated by the UAE and the US unit of French firm Thales, which was cleared to sell a fuzing system for Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to Britain and the UAE. It will also likely be welcome news for Britain’s BAE Systems Plc and Europe’s Airbus, clearing the way for installation of Paveway laser-guided bombs on European-built Eurofighter and Tornado fighter jets sold to Saudi Arabia, as well F-15 fighters built by Boeing. "I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the Trump Administration has failed once again to prioritize our long-term national security interests or stand up for human rights, and instead is granting favours to authoritarian countries like Saudi Arabia," Senator Bob Menendez said in a statement. Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, vowed to fight the action and said he was in talks with both Democrats and some of Trump's fellow Republicans on ways to preserve congressional review of arms sales. The Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Republican Senator Jim Risch, said he had received formal notification of the administration's intent to move forward. In a statement, Risch said, "I am reviewing and analysing the legal justification for this action and the associated implications." In his memorandum justifying the emergency declaration, Pompeo listed years of actions by Iran. "Iranian malign activity poses a fundamental threat to the stability of the Middle East and to American security at home and abroad," he wrote and cited "a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" from Tehran. Trump's administration also announced that it was sending 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East, which it described as an effort to bolster defences against Iran against what it sees as a threat of potential attack. Members of Congress from both parties have worried that Trump is pushing toward war with Iran. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said the administration was responding to important needs from partners. "This is about deterrence and it's not about war," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Defying Congress, Trump sets $8 billion-plus in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE

US President Donald Trump urged Japanese business leaders on Saturday to increase their investment in the United States while saying Japan had a substantial edge on trade that negotiators were trying to even out.

Trump arrived in Japan on Saturday for a largely ceremonial visit meant to showcase strong ties with Tokyo even as trade tensions loom. He told the group of top business executives there had never been a better time to invest in the United States.

He said he hoped to address the trade imbalance between the United States and Japan and ensure fairness and reciprocity.

"Japan has had a substantial edge for many, many years, but that’s OK, maybe that’s why you like us so much," he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will treat Trump to an imperial banquet and front row seats at a sumo tournament during the trip, which lasts through Tuesday.

The two men share a warm relationship, which the Japanese leader aims to emphasize as Washington considers tariffs on Japanese auto exports that the Trump administration views as a potential national security threat.

The United States is in the middle of an expensive trade war with China in protest against Beijing's treatment of US companies, and tensions with Japan and the European Union over trade are simmering.

Trump and Abe are expected to discuss trade during talks on Monday, but officials have played down the possibility of a deal during the visit.

Trump will become the first foreign leader to be received by new Japanese Emperor Naruhito since he inherited the throne earlier this month.

He made clear during an impromptu news conference on Thursday that he was flattered by the invitation.

"Prime Minister Abe said to me, very specifically, 'You are the guest of honor.' There's only one guest of honor ... I'm the guest of honor at the biggest event that they've had in over 200 years," Trump said.

"So it's a great thing. And we get along very well with Japan. I get along very well with the prime minister."

On Sunday, Trump and Abe are expected to play golf and attend a sumo match. On Monday, they will discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in addition to trade.

A medium-strength earthquake hit eastern Japan, causing buildings to shake in Tokyo, hours before Trump's arrival.

The epicenter was southern Chiba, southeast of the capital, the prefecture where Trump is due to play golf on Sunday.

No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage.

US President Donald Trump urged Japanese business leaders on Saturday to increase their investment in the United States while saying Japan had a substantial edge on trade that negotiators were trying to even out.

US President Donald Trump urged Japanese business leaders on Saturday to increase their investment in the United States while saying Japan had a substantial edge on trade that negotiators were trying to even out. Trump arrived in Japan on Saturday for a largely ceremonial visit meant to showcase strong ties with Tokyo even as trade tensions loom. He told the group of top business executives there had never been a better time to invest in the United States. He said he hoped to address the trade imbalance between the United States and Japan and ensure fairness and reciprocity. "Japan has had a substantial edge for many, many years, but that’s OK, maybe that’s why you like us so much," he said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will treat Trump to an imperial banquet and front row seats at a sumo tournament during the trip, which lasts through Tuesday. The two men share a warm relationship, which the Japanese leader aims to emphasize as Washington considers tariffs on Japanese auto exports that the Trump administration views as a potential national security threat. The United States is in the middle of an expensive trade war with China in protest against Beijing's treatment of US companies, and tensions with Japan and the European Union over trade are simmering. Trump and Abe are expected to discuss trade during talks on Monday, but officials have played down the possibility of a deal during the visit. Trump will become the first foreign leader to be received by new Japanese Emperor Naruhito since he inherited the throne earlier this month. He made clear during an impromptu news conference on Thursday that he was flattered by the invitation. "Prime Minister Abe said to me, very specifically, 'You are the guest of honor.' There's only one guest of honor ... I'm the guest of honor at the biggest event that they've had in over 200 years," Trump said. "So it's a great thing. And we get along very well with Japan. I get along very well with the prime minister." On Sunday, Trump and Abe are expected to play golf and attend a sumo match. On Monday, they will discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in addition to trade. A medium-strength earthquake hit eastern Japan, causing buildings to shake in Tokyo, hours before Trump's arrival. The epicenter was southern Chiba, southeast of the capital, the prefecture where Trump is due to play golf on Sunday. No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage.

Trump urges greater Japanese investment in US, knocks trade advantage

Hours after the United States announced that it will deploy 1500 additional troops to the Middle East as a "protective measure", Iranian Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-troop-boost-threat-to-international-peace-iran-foreign-minister-mohammad-javad-zarif-221514">Mohammad Javad Zarif </a>on Saturday deemed the move "extremely dangerous for world peace", state media reported.

In an interview to IRNA just before his departure to Tehran at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Pakistan, Zarif said that the US was levelling baseless allegations against Iran to justify its aggressive policy towards the country.

The top Iranian diplomat added that the move would only "simmer tensions" in the Persian Gulf regions. In a press briefing on Friday afternoon, Pentagon officials had informed that about 600 troops have already arrived in the Middle East with the Patriot battery, a defence system designed to track and destroy incoming missiles, while the remaining 900 troops will be deployed to mainly operate intelligence surveillance radar and drones.

The move had come hours after the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo confirmed the approval of USD 8.1 billion in arms transfers to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates amid hostilities with Iran. The equipment includes aircraft support maintenance; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions and other supplies reported Sputnik.

US military is increasing its presence in the Middle East. Recently, the country deployed carrier strike warships and B-52 bombers off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to counter an alleged and unexplained threat from Iran.

Hours after the United States announced that it will deploy 1500 additional troops to the Middle East as a "protective measure", Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday deemed the move "extremely dangerous for world peace", state media reported.

Hours after the United States announced that it will deploy 1500 additional troops to the Middle East as a "protective measure", Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday deemed the move "extremely dangerous for world peace", state media reported. In an interview to IRNA just before his departure to Tehran at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Pakistan, Zarif said that the US was levelling baseless allegations against Iran to justify its aggressive policy towards the country. The top Iranian diplomat added that the move would only "simmer tensions" in the Persian Gulf regions. In a press briefing on Friday afternoon, Pentagon officials had informed that about 600 troops have already arrived in the Middle East with the Patriot battery, a defence system designed to track and destroy incoming missiles, while the remaining 900 troops will be deployed to mainly operate intelligence surveillance radar and drones. The move had come hours after the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo confirmed the approval of USD 8.1 billion in arms transfers to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates amid hostilities with Iran. The equipment includes aircraft support maintenance; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions and other supplies reported Sputnik. US military is increasing its presence in the Middle East. Recently, the country deployed carrier strike warships and B-52 bombers off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to counter an alleged and unexplained threat from Iran.

US move to deploy additional troops 'threat to world peace': Iran FM

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-tariff-rate-is-unjustified-us-commerce-secretary-wilbur-ross-216716">US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross </a>announced Thursday that the US has proposed a new regulation allowing it to impose countervailing duties on imports from countries that seek to undervalue their currencies.

Under the proposed regulation, "foreign nations would no longer be able to use currency policies to the disadvantage of American workers and businesses," Ross said in a statement.

"This proposed rulemaking is a step toward implementing President (Donald) Trump's campaign promise to address unfair currency practices by our trading partners."

Ross, who did not respond to a request for comment, did not specify which countries would be targeted.

The statement only said that the proposed regulation "identifies the criteria the department would use to determine if countervailing duties should be imposed for currency undervaluation."

Countervailing duties on imports are sometimes imposed against countries to offset any premiums or subsidies given, directly or indirectly, to the fabrication, production or export of merchandise.

Trump often accuses Beijing of deliberately weakening its currency to boost its exports, but his administration has refused several times to officially accuse China of manipulating its currency.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced Thursday that the US has proposed a new regulation allowing it to impose countervailing duties on imports from countries that seek to undervalue their currencies.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced Thursday that the US has proposed a new regulation allowing it to impose countervailing duties on imports from countries that seek to undervalue their currencies. Under the proposed regulation, "foreign nations would no longer be able to use currency policies to the disadvantage of American workers and businesses," Ross said in a statement. "This proposed rulemaking is a step toward implementing President (Donald) Trump's campaign promise to address unfair currency practices by our trading partners." Ross, who did not respond to a request for comment, did not specify which countries would be targeted. The statement only said that the proposed regulation "identifies the criteria the department would use to determine if countervailing duties should be imposed for currency undervaluation." Countervailing duties on imports are sometimes imposed against countries to offset any premiums or subsidies given, directly or indirectly, to the fabrication, production or export of merchandise. Trump often accuses Beijing of deliberately weakening its currency to boost its exports, but his administration has refused several times to officially accuse China of manipulating its currency.

US considering duties on countries that undervalue currency

Israel Hidalgo and his wife left home around 7:30 a.m. to reach a supermarket across Havana because they heard it might be selling chicken, a staple of the&nbsp;Cuban diet increasingly scarce on the shortage-plagued island.

After&nbsp;Cuba&nbsp;started limiting sales this month, partly blaming tightened&nbsp;US economic&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;on the Communist-run island, the couple wanted to buy as much as possible and lined up for three hours&nbsp;under the Caribbean sun to get tickets guaranteeing them their rations.

Inside, they lined up again to collect two bags of chicken thighs each, as fellow shoppers elbowed one another in pursuit of their own rations, and headed for the checkout feeling like they had won the lottery.

"We were born in this revolution and are used to rough times," said Hidalgo, a 61-year old blacksmith. "We are bracing ourselves for it to get worse."

Long lines outside shops with mostly bare shelves are increasingly common in&nbsp;Cuba, and the government has indeed signalled that things are going from bad to worse.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, in a speech last month, accused the Trump administration of engaging in an “asphyxiating financial persecution that makes the import of goods and resources of primary necessity particularly difficult.”

The degree to which new&nbsp;US&nbsp;sanctions, due in part to&nbsp;Cuba's support for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-says-norway-talks-sought-peaceful-agenda-with-opposition-219519">Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro</a>, have compounded its&nbsp;economic&nbsp;woes&nbsp;is open to debate.

The economy had already stagnated in recent years in tandem with the implosion of strategically Venezuela, resulting in cuts&nbsp;in fuel and energy use by state entities and this year shortages of basic goods such as bread, chicken and eggs.

But the increase in&nbsp;sanctions, which have hit the key tourism sector and added to investor and bank jitters about dealing with&nbsp;Cuba, has some economists predicting the economy will slip from stagnation into a full-blown recession later this year.

The economy has averaged 1% annual growth over the last three years, compared with the 5% to 7% rate economists say is needed to recover fully from the depression caused by the fall of its former benefactor, the Soviet Union, in 1991.

"While the crisis will not be as bad as in the 1990s, it will have a worrying social impact on the most vulnerable households, which are already on subsistence salaries," said Pavel Vidal, a former&nbsp;Cuban central bank economist who teaches at Colombia's Universidad Javeriana Cali.

Bracing for harder&nbsp;economic&nbsp;times, the government has resorted to what it knows best to manage the crisis and prevent social unrest: more control.&nbsp;

Interior Commerce Minister Betsy Diaz said two weeks ago the government would "temporarily" ration sales of a handful of basic products like eggs on a monthly basis, using ration books distributed after the 1959 Revolution, and limit the sale of others like chicken to ensure everyone gets their fair share.

"A CRITICAL MOMENT"

Some&nbsp;Cuban economists say the developing crisis stems fundamentally from an inefficient centrally-planned economy that imports more than two-thirds of its food needs. Calling rationing little more than a short-term solution, they say the government must open up to a series of market-oriented&nbsp;economic&nbsp;reforms before the crisis deepens.

"This could be a critical moment that generates the consensus necessary to apply changes," said Vidal. "The government needs to give more space to the private sector and investment."

Cuba&nbsp;has enacted some&nbsp;economic&nbsp;reforms in recent years, including expanding the private sector from 2010 onward and introducing a new foreign investment law that cut taxes by around 50% in 2014.

But local economists like Omar Everleny say the reforms undertaken have been too cautious so far. The government has backtracked on overhauls&nbsp;of areas like agriculture and the dominant public sector remains deeply inefficient.

Cuba&nbsp;was already behind on an estimated $1.5 billion in short-term commercial debt and warning of austerity before&nbsp;US President Donald Trump started the latest round of tightening of the decades-old&nbsp;US&nbsp;trade embargo.

Aid from Venezuela, in the form of subsidized oil, had long masked the true extent of&nbsp;Cuba's&nbsp;economic&nbsp;problems, but it started to fall from 2015 when a drop in oil prices roiled that OPEC nation's economy.

Venezuela's crude shipments to&nbsp;Cuba&nbsp;are now about half what they were four years ago, and they could soon fall further. Last month, the United States also began targeting vessels and companies that ship oil to the island from Venezuela for&nbsp;sanctions, threatening the energy grid and transportation.

The US&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;against its old Cold War foe are also hitting the two bright spots in the otherwise glum economy: tourism and foreign investment. Both had boomed briefly after the announcement of a&nbsp;Cuba-US&nbsp;detente in 2014.

Tourism revenues&nbsp;dropped by 4.6% in 2018, according to official data released last month. The announcement in 2017 of tighter travel restrictions on&nbsp;US citizens played a role.

"At one point&nbsp;US&nbsp;visits dropped more than 40 per cent,"&nbsp;Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero told Reuters, adding he still hoped tourism would grow this year.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has activated a long-dormant law under which&nbsp;Cuban-Americans can sue foreign companies that profit from their properties nationalized during the first years of the 1959 Revolution.

Western diplomats and businessmen have called the threat of potentially costly&nbsp;US&nbsp;court battle another clear disincentive for banks and outside investors to do business with&nbsp;Cuba.

The United States has also threatened to further tighten restrictions on travel and to impose a cap on cash remittances to&nbsp;Cuba, measures that could hit the economy hard.

SIEGE MENTALITY

Cuba's government has said it will continue moving down the path toward reform. But it has failed to respond so far to calls from the island's entrepreneurs&nbsp;for basic changes such as the creation of wholesale markets for the private sector, and the right to import and export.

Instead of opening the economy further, some Western diplomats and analysts say there is risk&nbsp;Cuba's leadership will adopt a siege mentality in the face of increased&nbsp;US hostility. That could mean turning to allies like Russia, Vietnam and China for help to muddle through while keeping its stranglehold on&nbsp;economic&nbsp;life.

"The&nbsp;US sanctions&nbsp;could be counterproductive," said one diplomat who asked not to be identified. "Cuba&nbsp;has historically closed up at times like these."

Cubans are not going hungry as they did during the so-called "Special Period" after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But they are increasingly connected to the rest of the world via the internet and foreign travel, and many have grown weary of government attempts to blame the&nbsp;US&nbsp;embargo for the bulk of their country's&nbsp;woes.

"We are in total freefall," said Hidalgo's wife, Carmen Lozano, 55, clinging to her two bags of rationed chicken. "They should have allowed free production and sales from the beginning of the revolution."

Inequality has risen in recent years in&nbsp;Cuba&nbsp;and many believe the&nbsp;economic&nbsp;crisis could have a more disproportionate impact now than it might have in the past.

In a country where the government's claim to legitimacy rests to a large extent on ensuring a certain level of equality, the authorities seem well aware that most people lack the cash to stock up on whatever basics they need on the black market.

"The government’s new rationing program is trying to address that simmering discontent by making the small quantities of goods that are in stock more widely available," said William LeoGrande, a professor of government at American University.

"The government understands that discontent over the economy is their biggest political vulnerability so they will do everything they can to maintain supplies of basic goods."

Israel Hidalgo and his wife left home around 7:30 a.m. to reach a supermarket across Havana because they heard it might be selling chicken, a staple of the Cuban diet increasingly scarce on the shortage-plagued island.

Israel Hidalgo and his wife left home around 7:30 a.m. to reach a supermarket across Havana because they heard it might be selling chicken, a staple of the Cuban diet increasingly scarce on the shortage-plagued island. After Cuba started limiting sales this month, partly blaming tightened US economic sanctions on the Communist-run island, the couple wanted to buy as much as possible and lined up for three hours under the Caribbean sun to get tickets guaranteeing them their rations. Inside, they lined up again to collect two bags of chicken thighs each, as fellow shoppers elbowed one another in pursuit of their own rations, and headed for the checkout feeling like they had won the lottery. "We were born in this revolution and are used to rough times," said Hidalgo, a 61-year old blacksmith. "We are bracing ourselves for it to get worse." Long lines outside shops with mostly bare shelves are increasingly common in Cuba, and the government has indeed signalled that things are going from bad to worse. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, in a speech last month, accused the Trump administration of engaging in an “asphyxiating financial persecution that makes the import of goods and resources of primary necessity particularly difficult.” The degree to which new US sanctions, due in part to Cuba's support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, have compounded its economic woes is open to debate. The economy had already stagnated in recent years in tandem with the implosion of strategically Venezuela, resulting in cuts in fuel and energy use by state entities and this year shortages of basic goods such as bread, chicken and eggs. But the increase in sanctions, which have hit the key tourism sector and added to investor and bank jitters about dealing with Cuba, has some economists predicting the economy will slip from stagnation into a full-blown recession later this year. The economy has averaged 1% annual growth over the last three years, compared with the 5% to 7% rate economists say is needed to recover fully from the depression caused by the fall of its former benefactor, the Soviet Union, in 1991. "While the crisis will not be as bad as in the 1990s, it will have a worrying social impact on the most vulnerable households, which are already on subsistence salaries," said Pavel Vidal, a former Cuban central bank economist who teaches at Colombia's Universidad Javeriana Cali. Bracing for harder economic times, the government has resorted to what it knows best to manage the crisis and prevent social unrest: more control. Interior Commerce Minister Betsy Diaz said two weeks ago the government would "temporarily" ration sales of a handful of basic products like eggs on a monthly basis, using ration books distributed after the 1959 Revolution, and limit the sale of others like chicken to ensure everyone gets their fair share. "A CRITICAL MOMENT" Some Cuban economists say the developing crisis stems fundamentally from an inefficient centrally-planned economy that imports more than two-thirds of its food needs. Calling rationing little more than a short-term solution, they say the government must open up to a series of market-oriented economic reforms before the crisis deepens. "This could be a critical moment that generates the consensus necessary to apply changes," said Vidal. "The government needs to give more space to the private sector and investment." Cuba has enacted some economic reforms in recent years, including expanding the private sector from 2010 onward and introducing a new foreign investment law that cut taxes by around 50% in 2014. But local economists like Omar Everleny say the reforms undertaken have been too cautious so far. The government has backtracked on overhauls of areas like agriculture and the dominant public sector remains deeply inefficient. Cuba was already behind on an estimated $1.5 billion in short-term commercial debt and warning of austerity before US President Donald Trump started the latest round of tightening of the decades-old US trade embargo. Aid from Venezuela, in the form of subsidized oil, had long masked the true extent of Cuba's economic problems, but it started to fall from 2015 when a drop in oil prices roiled that OPEC nation's economy. Venezuela's crude shipments to Cuba are now about half what they were four years ago, and they could soon fall further. Last month, the United States also began targeting vessels and companies that ship oil to the island from Venezuela for sanctions, threatening the energy grid and transportation. The US sanctions against its old Cold War foe are also hitting the two bright spots in the otherwise glum economy: tourism and foreign investment. Both had boomed briefly after the announcement of a Cuba-US detente in 2014. Tourism revenues dropped by 4.6% in 2018, according to official data released last month. The announcement in 2017 of tighter travel restrictions on US citizens played a role. "At one point US visits dropped more than 40 per cent," Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero told Reuters, adding he still hoped tourism would grow this year. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has activated a long-dormant law under which Cuban-Americans can sue foreign companies that profit from their properties nationalized during the first years of the 1959 Revolution. Western diplomats and businessmen have called the threat of potentially costly US court battle another clear disincentive for banks and outside investors to do business with Cuba. The United States has also threatened to further tighten restrictions on travel and to impose a cap on cash remittances to Cuba, measures that could hit the economy hard. SIEGE MENTALITY Cuba's government has said it will continue moving down the path toward reform. But it has failed to respond so far to calls from the island's entrepreneurs for basic changes such as the creation of wholesale markets for the private sector, and the right to import and export. Instead of opening the economy further, some Western diplomats and analysts say there is risk Cuba's leadership will adopt a siege mentality in the face of increased US hostility. That could mean turning to allies like Russia, Vietnam and China for help to muddle through while keeping its stranglehold on economic life. "The US sanctions could be counterproductive," said one diplomat who asked not to be identified. "Cuba has historically closed up at times like these." Cubans are not going hungry as they did during the so-called "Special Period" after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But they are increasingly connected to the rest of the world via the internet and foreign travel, and many have grown weary of government attempts to blame the US embargo for the bulk of their country's woes. "We are in total freefall," said Hidalgo's wife, Carmen Lozano, 55, clinging to her two bags of rationed chicken. "They should have allowed free production and sales from the beginning of the revolution." Inequality has risen in recent years in Cuba and many believe the economic crisis could have a more disproportionate impact now than it might have in the past. In a country where the government's claim to legitimacy rests to a large extent on ensuring a certain level of equality, the authorities seem well aware that most people lack the cash to stock up on whatever basics they need on the black market. "The government’s new rationing program is trying to address that simmering discontent by making the small quantities of goods that are in stock more widely available," said William LeoGrande, a professor of government at American University. "The government understands that discontent over the economy is their biggest political vulnerability so they will do everything they can to maintain supplies of basic goods."

Shortages plague Cuba as US sanctions sharpen economic woes

China ramped up a war of words with the United States over Huawei on Friday, accusing Washington of spreading "lies" about the telecom giant thrust to the centre of their trade war.

The fiery response came hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected Huawei's denials that the Chinese company works with the Communist government.

The Trump administration has infuriated Beijing by blacklisting the smartphone and telecommunications company over worries that China uses it as a tool for espionage, and allegations of breaking sanctions on Iran.

Huawei has repeatedly denied it works with the Communist-led government.

"To say that they don't work with the Chinese government is a false statement," Pompeo told CNBC on Thursday, adding that Huawei was "deeply tied" to the Communist Party.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said US politicians have spread rumours about Huawei without providing evidence.

"These American politicians continue to fabricate various subjective, presumptive lies in an attempt to mislead the American people, and now they are trying to incite ideological opposition," Lu said at a regular press briefing.

Trump on Thursday again said Huawei posed a threat to national security.

"You look at what they've done from a security standpoint, a military standpoint. Very dangerous," he told reporters at the White House.

The heated rhetoric comes as trade negotiations have stalled, with neither side announcing a new date to resume talks after they exchanged increases in tariffs earlier this month.

But Trump also said Thursday there was a "good" possibility that the two sides will strike a bargain and linked Huawei to any deal for the first time.

"If we made a deal, I can imagine Huawei being included in some form or some part of a trade deal," he said.

'Long March'&nbsp;

Trump's comments directly contradicted Pompeo, who earlier said Huawei and the trade issues were not linked.

The chief US diplomat separated the two issues between national security concerns and efforts to create a "fair reciprocal balanced trade relationship."

Lu said he was not aware of the "specifics" of Trump's comments and repeated that dialogue must be based on "mutual respect".

The official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on Friday that China has "fully prepared for a protracted trade war" with the United States.

President Xi Jinping himself declared on Monday that China faced a "new Long March" -- a reference to the legendary 1934-35 strategic retreat by Communist revolutionaries before their victory in 1949.

"All of the Chinese people are ready to embark on a new 'Long March' journey with greater courage and resilience and will never yield to foreign bullying and assault," Xinhua said.

Trump, meanwhile, unveiled a new $16 billion aid package to help farmers hit by tariffs.

'Foreign adversary'

In Washington, US lawmakers this week introduced a bipartisan proposal to help telecom networks remove Huawei as they upgrade to 5G systems.

The bill is aimed at preventing "companies subject to extra-judicial directions of a foreign adversary to infiltrate our nation's communications networks," said Democratic Senator Mark Warner.

Companies around the world are scrambling to comply with the US blacklist, which would prevent them from supplying American technology components or software to Huawei.

Major Japanese and British mobile carriers said this week they would delay releasing new Huawei handsets as a result of the US sanctions.

In the US, equipment makers Inphi Corp, Qorvo, Neophotonics and Rogers Corp. all said they would see lower sales due to the Huawei sanctions.

Last week, Trump declared a national emergency to bar US companies from using foreign telecom equipment deemed a security risk -- a move seen as targeting Huawei.

The Commerce Department also announced a ban on US companies selling or transferring technology to Huawei, though it later issued a 90-day reprieve.

Google said it would cut off Huawei devices from some services on the Android operating system.

Huawei has since indicated that it could roll out its own mobile operating system this year in China and internationally next year.

China ramped up a war of words with the United States over Huawei on Friday, accusing Washington of spreading "lies" about the telecom giant thrust to the centre of their trade war.

China ramped up a war of words with the United States over Huawei on Friday, accusing Washington of spreading "lies" about the telecom giant thrust to the centre of their trade war. The fiery response came hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected Huawei's denials that the Chinese company works with the Communist government. The Trump administration has infuriated Beijing by blacklisting the smartphone and telecommunications company over worries that China uses it as a tool for espionage, and allegations of breaking sanctions on Iran. Huawei has repeatedly denied it works with the Communist-led government. "To say that they don't work with the Chinese government is a false statement," Pompeo told CNBC on Thursday, adding that Huawei was "deeply tied" to the Communist Party. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said US politicians have spread rumours about Huawei without providing evidence. "These American politicians continue to fabricate various subjective, presumptive lies in an attempt to mislead the American people, and now they are trying to incite ideological opposition," Lu said at a regular press briefing. Trump on Thursday again said Huawei posed a threat to national security. "You look at what they've done from a security standpoint, a military standpoint. Very dangerous," he told reporters at the White House. The heated rhetoric comes as trade negotiations have stalled, with neither side announcing a new date to resume talks after they exchanged increases in tariffs earlier this month. But Trump also said Thursday there was a "good" possibility that the two sides will strike a bargain and linked Huawei to any deal for the first time. "If we made a deal, I can imagine Huawei being included in some form or some part of a trade deal," he said. 'Long March' Trump's comments directly contradicted Pompeo, who earlier said Huawei and the trade issues were not linked. The chief US diplomat separated the two issues between national security concerns and efforts to create a "fair reciprocal balanced trade relationship." Lu said he was not aware of the "specifics" of Trump's comments and repeated that dialogue must be based on "mutual respect". The official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on Friday that China has "fully prepared for a protracted trade war" with the United States. President Xi Jinping himself declared on Monday that China faced a "new Long March" -- a reference to the legendary 1934-35 strategic retreat by Communist revolutionaries before their victory in 1949. "All of the Chinese people are ready to embark on a new 'Long March' journey with greater courage and resilience and will never yield to foreign bullying and assault," Xinhua said. Trump, meanwhile, unveiled a new $16 billion aid package to help farmers hit by tariffs. 'Foreign adversary' In Washington, US lawmakers this week introduced a bipartisan proposal to help telecom networks remove Huawei as they upgrade to 5G systems. The bill is aimed at preventing "companies subject to extra-judicial directions of a foreign adversary to infiltrate our nation's communications networks," said Democratic Senator Mark Warner. Companies around the world are scrambling to comply with the US blacklist, which would prevent them from supplying American technology components or software to Huawei. Major Japanese and British mobile carriers said this week they would delay releasing new Huawei handsets as a result of the US sanctions. In the US, equipment makers Inphi Corp, Qorvo, Neophotonics and Rogers Corp. all said they would see lower sales due to the Huawei sanctions. Last week, Trump declared a national emergency to bar US companies from using foreign telecom equipment deemed a security risk -- a move seen as targeting Huawei. The Commerce Department also announced a ban on US companies selling or transferring technology to Huawei, though it later issued a 90-day reprieve. Google said it would cut off Huawei devices from some services on the Android operating system. Huawei has since indicated that it could roll out its own mobile operating system this year in China and internationally next year.

China slams US 'lies' about Huawei's government ties

Pacific Island countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan should maintain them in the face of "heavy-handed" attempts by China to reduce Taiwan`s overseas contacts, a top US&nbsp;official said on Friday.

US Acting Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia W. Patrick Murphy also said the United States was keen to help Pacific countries protect their sovereignty, in a region where the United States and is allies are competing for influence with China.

"Our encouragement on countries that have relations with Taiwan is to maintain the status quo," Murphy told reporters in Canberra, on a three-day visit to Australia.

China claims self-ruled and democratic Taiwan as sacred Chinese territory and merely a province with no right to state-to-state ties.&nbsp;

Taiwan is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which include a trade war, US sanctions and China`s increasingly muscular military posture in the South China Sea.

"China is changing (the) status quo, and the Pacific is a good example where China is attempting to reduce Taiwan’s diplomatic relations in the region," Murphy said.&nbsp; "And that`s kind of heavy-handed."&nbsp;

"Countries should be able to make their own independent choices of their partners in diplomatic relations, and do so on the basis of domestic ingredients, not foreign influence."

China has offered to help developing countries including in the Pacific, and many see Chinese lending as the best bet to develop their economies. But critics say Chinese loans can lead countries into a "debt trap".

Murphy said the United States was very keen to help countries "protect their sovereignty and their independence, to have viable alternatives and options to meet their development needs, their infrastructure needs, and their nation-building needs".

Taiwan has formal ties with just 17 countries, almost all small, less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific, like Belize and Nauru.&nbsp;

Five countries have switched over to China since Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016. Others such as the Solomon Islands, where two-thirds of exports go to China, are weighing the merits of diplomatic relations with Taiwan.&nbsp;

Although Pacific Island states offer little economically to either China and Taiwan, their support is valued in global forums such as the United Nations and as China seeks to isolate Taiwan.

"Taiwan is a core issue for China, and it will not be backing down on that. The comments do little to provide a way forward for the US-China relationship to be repaired," said James Laurenceson, director of&nbsp;Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology, Sydney.

This year,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/get-ready-for-difficult-times-chinas-xi-warns-during-trade-war-220625"> President Xi Jinping</a> renewed China`s longstanding threat to use force if necessary to bring Taiwan under its control.

Pacific Island countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan should maintain them in the face of "heavy-handed" attempts by China to reduce Taiwan`s overseas contacts, a top US official said on Friday.

Pacific Island countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan should maintain them in the face of "heavy-handed" attempts by China to reduce Taiwan`s overseas contacts, a top US official said on Friday. US Acting Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia W. Patrick Murphy also said the United States was keen to help Pacific countries protect their sovereignty, in a region where the United States and is allies are competing for influence with China. "Our encouragement on countries that have relations with Taiwan is to maintain the status quo," Murphy told reporters in Canberra, on a three-day visit to Australia. China claims self-ruled and democratic Taiwan as sacred Chinese territory and merely a province with no right to state-to-state ties. Taiwan is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which include a trade war, US sanctions and China`s increasingly muscular military posture in the South China Sea. "China is changing (the) status quo, and the Pacific is a good example where China is attempting to reduce Taiwan’s diplomatic relations in the region," Murphy said. "And that`s kind of heavy-handed." "Countries should be able to make their own independent choices of their partners in diplomatic relations, and do so on the basis of domestic ingredients, not foreign influence." China has offered to help developing countries including in the Pacific, and many see Chinese lending as the best bet to develop their economies. But critics say Chinese loans can lead countries into a "debt trap". Murphy said the United States was very keen to help countries "protect their sovereignty and their independence, to have viable alternatives and options to meet their development needs, their infrastructure needs, and their nation-building needs". Taiwan has formal ties with just 17 countries, almost all small, less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific, like Belize and Nauru. Five countries have switched over to China since Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016. Others such as the Solomon Islands, where two-thirds of exports go to China, are weighing the merits of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Although Pacific Island states offer little economically to either China and Taiwan, their support is valued in global forums such as the United Nations and as China seeks to isolate Taiwan. "Taiwan is a core issue for China, and it will not be backing down on that. The comments do little to provide a way forward for the US-China relationship to be repaired," said James Laurenceson, director of Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology, Sydney. This year, President Xi Jinping renewed China`s longstanding threat to use force if necessary to bring Taiwan under its control.

US official urges Pacific Island nations to keep ties with Taiwan

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-biggest-issue-in-us-ties-is-impounded-ship-220662">North Korea </a>said on Friday an "arbitrary and dishonest" US&nbsp;position had resulted in the failure to reach a deal during a second <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-biggest-issue-in-us-ties-is-impounded-ship-220662/amp">North Korea-US</a>&nbsp;summit, warning the nuclear issue would never be resolved without a new approach.

A spokesman for North Korea`s foreign ministry accused the United States of trying to shift the blame for the breakdown of the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-officials-plan-to-bypass-congress-for-saudi-arms-sales-report-221244"> US President Donald Trump</a> in February by raising a "completely irrelevant issue". He did not elaborate.

"The underlying cause of setback of the DPRK-US&nbsp;summit talks in Hanoi is the arbitrary and dishonest position taken by the United States, insisting on a method which is totally impossible to get through," the unidentified spokesman said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

"The United States would not be able to move us even an inch with the device it is now weighing in its mind, and the further its mistrust and hostile acts towards the DPRK grow, the fiercer our reaction will be."&nbsp;

The official was referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name - the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea.

The statement was the latest criticism of the United States since the failed summit in Vietnam, where Kim had sought sanctions relief in return for the partial dismantling of North Korea`s nuclear programme.

Trump called for a full roadmap for denuclearisation including the transfer of bombs to the United States.

Tension has again mounted in recent weeks. The North fired short-range missiles early this month and Washington unveiled the seizure of a North Korean ship suspected of illicit coal shipments in breach of sanctions.&nbsp;

Kim has set a year-end deadline for the United States to show more flexibility, but Trump and other US&nbsp;officials have brushed that aside, calling for Kim to take action on a commitment to denuclearise.

Unless the United States offered a new method of calculation, the stalled nuclear talks would never be restarted, the foreign ministry spokesman said. 
"And by extension, the prospect for resolving the nuclear issue will be much gloomier," the official said.&nbsp;

North Korea said on Friday an "arbitrary and dishonest" US position had resulted in the failure to reach a deal during a second North Korea-US summit, warning the nuclear issue would never be resolved without a new approach.

North Korea said on Friday an "arbitrary and dishonest" US position had resulted in the failure to reach a deal during a second North Korea-US summit, warning the nuclear issue would never be resolved without a new approach. A spokesman for North Korea`s foreign ministry accused the United States of trying to shift the blame for the breakdown of the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in February by raising a "completely irrelevant issue". He did not elaborate. "The underlying cause of setback of the DPRK-US summit talks in Hanoi is the arbitrary and dishonest position taken by the United States, insisting on a method which is totally impossible to get through," the unidentified spokesman said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. "The United States would not be able to move us even an inch with the device it is now weighing in its mind, and the further its mistrust and hostile acts towards the DPRK grow, the fiercer our reaction will be." The official was referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name - the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea. The statement was the latest criticism of the United States since the failed summit in Vietnam, where Kim had sought sanctions relief in return for the partial dismantling of North Korea`s nuclear programme. Trump called for a full roadmap for denuclearisation including the transfer of bombs to the United States. Tension has again mounted in recent weeks. The North fired short-range missiles early this month and Washington unveiled the seizure of a North Korean ship suspected of illicit coal shipments in breach of sanctions. Kim has set a year-end deadline for the United States to show more flexibility, but Trump and other US officials have brushed that aside, calling for Kim to take action on a commitment to denuclearise. Unless the United States offered a new method of calculation, the stalled nuclear talks would never be restarted, the foreign ministry spokesman said. "And by extension, the prospect for resolving the nuclear issue will be much gloomier," the official said.

North Korea blames US for failed summit, urges 'new calculation'

Oil&nbsp;prices dropped on Thursday, extending falls from the previous session amid surging US&nbsp;crude inventories and weak demand from refineries.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for&nbsp;oil&nbsp;prices, were at $70.62 per barrel at 0109 GMT, down 37 cents, or 0.5 per cent, from their last close.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down by 31 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $61.11 per barrel.

Crude futures already fell by around 2 per cent the previous day.

"Rising inventories and a slowdown with refined product demand could suggest we could see further pressure (on&nbsp;prices)," said Edward Moya, senior analyst at futures brokerage OANDA.

The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-fall-on-surging-us-crude-stockpiles-economic-concerns-220779"> US&nbsp;crude&nbsp;oil&nbsp;</a>inventories rose last week, hitting their highest levels since July 2017, due to weak refinery demand, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Commercial US&nbsp;crude inventories rose by 4.7 million barrels in the week ended May 17, to 476.8 million barrels, their highest since July 2017, the EIA data showed.

Beyond weak refinery demand for feedstock crude&nbsp;oil, the increase in commercial inventories also came on the back of planned sales of US&nbsp;strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) into the commercial market.

The US&nbsp;crude&nbsp;oil&nbsp;production climbed by 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 12.2 million bpd, putting output near its record of 12.3 million bpd reached late last month.

Ole Hansen, head of the commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, said "concerns about slowing (oil) demand growth due to the negative impact on the global economy of the US-China&nbsp;trade war" were also weighing on&nbsp;oil&nbsp;prices.

Countering these bearish&nbsp;price&nbsp;factors have been escalating political tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as ongoing supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that started in January in an effort to prop up the market.

"Large but opposing forces have kept Brent in a $70-$75 per barrel range in recent weeks," Morgan Stanley said in a note on&nbsp;oil&nbsp;markets published this week.

"Macroeconomic data has rapidly deteriorated, and this is reflected in weaker&nbsp;oil&nbsp;demand. At the same time, the downside risk to supply is materialising in key countries (adding to OPEC's production cuts)," the US bank said.

"On balance, however, we still see tightness in 2H19," Morgan Stanley said, adding it expected Brent to trade in the $75-$80 per barrel range in the second half of 2019.

French bank BNP Paribas said high inventories meant that OPEC would likely keep its voluntary supply cuts in place. "Supply management is here to stay," the bank said.

Oil prices dropped on Thursday, extending falls from the previous session amid surging US crude inventories and weak demand from refineries. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $70.

Oil prices dropped on Thursday, extending falls from the previous session amid surging US crude inventories and weak demand from refineries. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $70.62 per barrel at 0109 GMT, down 37 cents, or 0.5 per cent, from their last close. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down by 31 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $61.11 per barrel. Crude futures already fell by around 2 per cent the previous day. "Rising inventories and a slowdown with refined product demand could suggest we could see further pressure (on prices)," said Edward Moya, senior analyst at futures brokerage OANDA. The US crude oil inventories rose last week, hitting their highest levels since July 2017, due to weak refinery demand, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. Commercial US crude inventories rose by 4.7 million barrels in the week ended May 17, to 476.8 million barrels, their highest since July 2017, the EIA data showed. Beyond weak refinery demand for feedstock crude oil, the increase in commercial inventories also came on the back of planned sales of US strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) into the commercial market. The US crude oil production climbed by 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 12.2 million bpd, putting output near its record of 12.3 million bpd reached late last month. Ole Hansen, head of the commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, said "concerns about slowing (oil) demand growth due to the negative impact on the global economy of the US-China trade war" were also weighing on oil prices. Countering these bearish price factors have been escalating political tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as ongoing supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that started in January in an effort to prop up the market. "Large but opposing forces have kept Brent in a $70-$75 per barrel range in recent weeks," Morgan Stanley said in a note on oil markets published this week. "Macroeconomic data has rapidly deteriorated, and this is reflected in weaker oil demand. At the same time, the downside risk to supply is materialising in key countries (adding to OPEC's production cuts)," the US bank said. "On balance, however, we still see tightness in 2H19," Morgan Stanley said, adding it expected Brent to trade in the $75-$80 per barrel range in the second half of 2019. French bank BNP Paribas said high inventories meant that OPEC would likely keep its voluntary supply cuts in place. "Supply management is here to stay," the bank said.

Oil prices fall on surging US crude stockpiles, economic concerns

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