The number of Americans who approve of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-never-agreed-to-testify-on-mueller-report-says-trump-211835">President Donald Trump</a> dropped by 3 percentage points to the lowest level of the year following the release of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-mueller-report-everything-you-need-to-know-about-it-211667">a special counsel report detailing Russian interference</a> in the last US&nbsp;presidential election, according to an exclusive Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll.

The poll, conducted Thursday afternoon to Friday morning, is the first national survey to measure the response from the American public after the US&nbsp;Justice Department released Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 448-page report that recounted numerous occasions in which Trump may have interfered with the investigation.

According to the poll, 37 per cent of adults in the United States approved of Trump’s performance in office, down from 40 per cent in a similar poll conducted on April 15 and matching the lowest level of the year.

That is also down from 43 per cent in a poll conducted shortly after US Attorney General William Barr circulated a summary of the report in March.

In his report, Mueller said his investigation did not establish that the Trump campaign had coordinated with Russians. However, investigators did find “multiple acts by the President that was capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations.”

While Mueller ultimately decided not to charge Trump with a crime, he also said that the investigation did not exonerate the president, either.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,005 adults, including 924 who were familiar with the Mueller report. It has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of 4 percentage points.

Sharp split

The poll found that 50 per cent of Americans agreed that “Trump or someone from his campaign worked with Russia to influence the 2016 election,” and 58 per cent agreed that the president “tried to stop investigations into Russian influence on his administration.”

Forty per cent said they thought Trump should be impeached, while 42 per cent said he should not.

The poll responses were sharply split along party lines, with Democrats much more critical of Trump than his fellow Republicans.

The Mueller investigation had previously charged 34 other people and three Russian entities, netting convictions or guilty pleas from several Trump associates including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen.

So far, the report does not appear to have convinced many to change their opinions about the president’s conduct during a bitter presidential campaign, whether his inner circle improperly engaged with Russian agents, or if he tried to interfere with federal investigators afterwards.

Among those respondents who said they were familiar with the Mueller report, 70 per cent said the report had not changed their view of Trump or Russia’s involvement in the US presidential race.&nbsp;

Only 15 per cent said they had learned something that changed their view of Trump or the Russia investigation, and a majority of those respondents said they were now more likely to believe that “Trump or someone close to him broke the law.”

The number of Americans who approve of President Donald Trump dropped by 3 percentage points to the lowest level of the year following the release of a special counsel report detailing Russian interference in the last US presidential election, according to an exclusive Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll.

The number of Americans who approve of President Donald Trump dropped by 3 percentage points to the lowest level of the year following the release of a special counsel report detailing Russian interference in the last US presidential election, according to an exclusive Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll. The poll, conducted Thursday afternoon to Friday morning, is the first national survey to measure the response from the American public after the US Justice Department released Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 448-page report that recounted numerous occasions in which Trump may have interfered with the investigation. According to the poll, 37 per cent of adults in the United States approved of Trump’s performance in office, down from 40 per cent in a similar poll conducted on April 15 and matching the lowest level of the year. That is also down from 43 per cent in a poll conducted shortly after US Attorney General William Barr circulated a summary of the report in March. In his report, Mueller said his investigation did not establish that the Trump campaign had coordinated with Russians. However, investigators did find “multiple acts by the President that was capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations.” While Mueller ultimately decided not to charge Trump with a crime, he also said that the investigation did not exonerate the president, either. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,005 adults, including 924 who were familiar with the Mueller report. It has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of 4 percentage points. Sharp split The poll found that 50 per cent of Americans agreed that “Trump or someone from his campaign worked with Russia to influence the 2016 election,” and 58 per cent agreed that the president “tried to stop investigations into Russian influence on his administration.” Forty per cent said they thought Trump should be impeached, while 42 per cent said he should not. The poll responses were sharply split along party lines, with Democrats much more critical of Trump than his fellow Republicans. The Mueller investigation had previously charged 34 other people and three Russian entities, netting convictions or guilty pleas from several Trump associates including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen. So far, the report does not appear to have convinced many to change their opinions about the president’s conduct during a bitter presidential campaign, whether his inner circle improperly engaged with Russian agents, or if he tried to interfere with federal investigators afterwards. Among those respondents who said they were familiar with the Mueller report, 70 per cent said the report had not changed their view of Trump or Russia’s involvement in the US presidential race. Only 15 per cent said they had learned something that changed their view of Trump or the Russia investigation, and a majority of those respondents said they were now more likely to believe that “Trump or someone close to him broke the law.”

Trump approval drops three points to 2019 low after release of Mueller report

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-22-dialogue-us-japan-discuss-enhancing-ties-with-india-212049">In 2+2 dialogue, US-Japan discuss enhancing ties with India</a>

As part of a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region, the US and Japan have agreed to grow ties with India, along with countries like Australia and South Korea.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-envoys-meet-syrias-assad-discuss-post-war-efforts-trade-212033">Russian envoys meet Syria's Assad, discuss post-war efforts, trade</a>

Several Russian envoys met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and discussed a constitutional committee, trade, as well as the ways to improve Syria's relations with neighbouring Arab countries, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-lawyers-reviewed-mueller-report-for-10-hours-before-it-was-made-public-211967">Trump lawyers reviewed Mueller report for 10 hours before it was made public</a>

US President Donald Trump's personal lawyers spent at least 10 hours reviewing Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian meddling in the 2016 election before it was made public, two of the lawyers told on Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-cant-wait-for-people-like-me-to-grow-up-and-be-the-ones-in-charge-climate-activist-greta-warns-212059">'We can't wait for people like me to grow up and be the ones in charge,' climate activist Greta warns</a>

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has a simple wish for the future, she just wants everything fixed.

Sixteen-year-old Thunberg spoke to Reuters underneath a stage in Rome's Piazza del Popolo on Friday before she addressed thousands of Italian youth on the climate crisis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-teenagers-held-after-killing-of-northern-irish-journalist-212030">Two teenagers held after killing of Northern Irish journalist</a>

Two teenagers have been arrested over the killing of a journalist shot dead in Northern Ireland, police said Saturday, after a murder that has triggered international condemnation.

In 2+2 dialogue, US-Japan discuss enhancing ties with India As part of a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region, the US and Japan have agreed to grow ties with India, along with countries like Australia and South Korea.

In 2+2 dialogue, US-Japan discuss enhancing ties with India As part of a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region, the US and Japan have agreed to grow ties with India, along with countries like Australia and South Korea. Russian envoys meet Syria's Assad, discuss post-war efforts, trade Several Russian envoys met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and discussed a constitutional committee, trade, as well as the ways to improve Syria's relations with neighbouring Arab countries, Russia's Foreign Ministry said. Trump lawyers reviewed Mueller report for 10 hours before it was made public US President Donald Trump's personal lawyers spent at least 10 hours reviewing Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian meddling in the 2016 election before it was made public, two of the lawyers told on Friday. 'We can't wait for people like me to grow up and be the ones in charge,' climate activist Greta warns Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has a simple wish for the future, she just wants everything fixed. Sixteen-year-old Thunberg spoke to Reuters underneath a stage in Rome's Piazza del Popolo on Friday before she addressed thousands of Italian youth on the climate crisis. Two teenagers held after killing of Northern Irish journalist Two teenagers have been arrested over the killing of a journalist shot dead in Northern Ireland, police said Saturday, after a murder that has triggered international condemnation.

News brief: Big stories of the day

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-muellers-decision-on-obstruction-helped-save-us-president-donald-trump-211649">How Mueller's decision on obstruction helped save US President Donald Trump</a>

The US Attorney General decided that President Donald Trump did not obstruct a probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia, but some legal experts said prosecutors laid out a wealth of evidence to the contrary and that they intended to leave that determination to Congress.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/uber-lands-1-billion-from-softbank-toyota-for-self-driving-unit-211646">Uber lands $1 billion from SoftBank, Toyota for self-driving unit</a>

Uber's autonomous vehicle unit has raised $1 billion from a consortium of investors including SoftBank Group Corp, giving the company a much-needed funding boost for its pricey self-driving ambitions on the eve of its public stock offering.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-in-major-cabinet-reshuffle-portfolios-of-several-ministers-changed-211652">In major cabinet reshuffle, portfolios of several ministers changed in Pakistan</a>

Announcing his first major cabinet reshuffle after taking office, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday brought in five new aides and changed the portfolios of four ministers, including that of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who has now been assigned Science and Technology ministry.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-unflattering-detail-mueller-report-reveals-trump-actions-to-impede-inquiry-211647">In unflattering detail, Mueller report reveals Trump actions to impede inquiry</a>

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on his inquiry into Russia's role in the 2016 US election described in extensive and sometimes unflattering detail how&nbsp;President Donald Trump&nbsp;tried to impede the probe, raising questions about whether he committed the crime of obstruction of justice.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mueller-finds-no-conspiracy-but-extensive-trump-russia-contacts-211659">Mueller finds no conspiracy, but extensive Trump-Russia contacts</a>

Special Counsel Robert Mueller may not have found evidence of a criminal conspiracy between&nbsp;Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia, but his report details extensive contacts between the campaign and Russian operatives who sought to influence the election. &nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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

How Mueller's decision on obstruction helped save US President Donald Trump The US Attorney General decided that President Donald Trump did not obstruct a probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia, but some legal experts said prosecutors laid out a wealth of evidence to the contrary and that they intended to leave that determination to Congress. Uber lands $1 billion from SoftBank, Toyota for self-driving unit Uber's autonomous vehicle unit has raised $1 billion from a consortium of investors including SoftBank Group Corp, giving the company a much-needed funding boost for its pricey self-driving ambitions on the eve of its public stock offering. In major cabinet reshuffle, portfolios of several ministers changed in Pakistan Announcing his first major cabinet reshuffle after taking office, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday brought in five new aides and changed the portfolios of four ministers, including that of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who has now been assigned Science and Technology ministry. In unflattering detail, Mueller report reveals Trump actions to impede inquiry Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on his inquiry into Russia's role in the 2016 US election described in extensive and sometimes unflattering detail how President Donald Trump tried to impede the probe, raising questions about whether he committed the crime of obstruction of justice. Mueller finds no conspiracy, but extensive Trump-Russia contacts Special Counsel Robert Mueller may not have found evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia, but his report details extensive contacts between the campaign and Russian operatives who sought to influence the election.

Grappling with a ballooning number of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-migrants-form-caravan-in-honduras-to-head-for-the-us-209346&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwihrqzl2NvhAhVP7HMBHQjuCJMQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw22mt-osXCI2yOFh3q0ja7P">migrants at the US</a> southern border, President<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trump-floats-idea-white-house-studying-plan-to-send-migrants-to-sanctuary-cities-210417&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwihrqzl2NvhAhVP7HMBHQjuCJMQFggOMAM&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Zei5TQcCQw_fRP0j8i5eT"> Donald Trump</a> has suggested increasingly bold steps to fulfil his signature campaign pledge to stem illegal immigration.&nbsp;

Yet many of his administration`s ideas have been hindered by legal, practical and political obstacles.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the flow of migrants seeking asylum or a better life in the United States continues to swell.

By March, the number of illegal entrants into the country had surged to the highest level in more than a decade.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the acting director of the US Department of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan visited the Texas border to underscore the administration`s concerns about a growing crisis.&nbsp;

The US Customs and Border Protection confirmed Thursday that the agency would set up two temporary tent facilities in Texas to process migrants, each with a capacity to hold up to 500 people.

Such camps have been criticized by Congress members for holding migrants too long and not providing adequate places to sleep or shower.&nbsp;

The president, whose statements and tweets suggest a rising level of frustration, recently cleaned house at the Department of Homeland Security, firing Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and several other high-ranking staff. He has vowed to move in a "tougher direction."&nbsp;

But a look at several significant Trump Administration ideas or policies shows the difficulty the president faces in trying to reverse the tide of migration, which today is largely driven by poverty, corruption, crime and other factors in Central America.

Some examples of administration proposals or policies that have run, or may run, into trouble:

Detain asylum seekers indefinitely

US Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday issued a ruling that allows asylum seekers who cross the border illegally to be held without bond as they challenge their deportation – a decision affecting perhaps tens of thousands of migrants. It was the latest move by top justice officials seeking to reshape legal precedent in the country`s US immigration courts.

Rights groups have already threatened to sue over the measure - which goes into effect in 90 days - and as a practical matter, additional detention space would be needed, requiring funding from Congress. Until that happens, many migrants are likely to continue to be released with an order to appear in court.&nbsp;

Send immigrants to sanctuary cities

Earlier this month, Trump proposed sending "an unlimited supply" of immigrants who are fighting deportation to so-called sanctuaries - the hundreds of cities, counties and states where law enforcement limits its cooperation with Trump`s crackdown on immigrants living in the country illegally.

Immigration experts said it would be costly to transport migrants from the border and would require shifting funds from Border Patrol and other operations.

In addition, the migrants would be free to move elsewhere once released.&nbsp;

Close the border with Mexico

The administration recently backed off a threat to shut the southern border, one of the busiest in the world, amid opposition from Democrats as well as often Republican-friendly business groups. The US Chamber of Commerce called the idea an "economic calamity."&nbsp;

Make asylum seekers wait in Mexico

One of the boldest proposals by the Trump administration has been to tap a little-used clause in immigration law to send hundreds of migrants who ask for asylum in the United States back to border towns in Mexico to wait months - or potentially years - for their cases to be resolved in US courts.

Local Mexican officials say their towns are already overwhelmed with migrants who have nowhere to live and few job prospects, while immigration advocates say those who are stuck in Mexico often have trouble finding lawyers and receiving proper notice for their US hearings.

A federal judge ordered a halt to the policy but an appeals court said it could continue while the administration appeals.

Detain migrant children

The current wave of migrants includes many more families, as opposed to the single men who flocked north in the past.

That has caused the administration to take another look at a 1997 agreement, known as the Flores settlement, that strictly limits the detention of children.

The administration has said repeatedly that t wants to scrap the legal deal and propose new regulations.

It is unclear where - and with what funding - the government would detain the youngsters. Legal challenges to this proposal have been in the works from the moment it was announced.&nbsp;

Grappling with a ballooning number of migrants at the US southern border, President Donald Trump has suggested increasingly bold steps to fulfil his signature campaign pledge to stem illegal immigration.

Grappling with a ballooning number of migrants at the US southern border, President Donald Trump has suggested increasingly bold steps to fulfil his signature campaign pledge to stem illegal immigration. Yet many of his administration`s ideas have been hindered by legal, practical and political obstacles. Meanwhile, the flow of migrants seeking asylum or a better life in the United States continues to swell. By March, the number of illegal entrants into the country had surged to the highest level in more than a decade. On Wednesday, the acting director of the US Department of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan visited the Texas border to underscore the administration`s concerns about a growing crisis. The US Customs and Border Protection confirmed Thursday that the agency would set up two temporary tent facilities in Texas to process migrants, each with a capacity to hold up to 500 people. Such camps have been criticized by Congress members for holding migrants too long and not providing adequate places to sleep or shower. The president, whose statements and tweets suggest a rising level of frustration, recently cleaned house at the Department of Homeland Security, firing Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and several other high-ranking staff. He has vowed to move in a "tougher direction." But a look at several significant Trump Administration ideas or policies shows the difficulty the president faces in trying to reverse the tide of migration, which today is largely driven by poverty, corruption, crime and other factors in Central America. Some examples of administration proposals or policies that have run, or may run, into trouble: Detain asylum seekers indefinitely US Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday issued a ruling that allows asylum seekers who cross the border illegally to be held without bond as they challenge their deportation – a decision affecting perhaps tens of thousands of migrants. It was the latest move by top justice officials seeking to reshape legal precedent in the country`s US immigration courts. Rights groups have already threatened to sue over the measure - which goes into effect in 90 days - and as a practical matter, additional detention space would be needed, requiring funding from Congress. Until that happens, many migrants are likely to continue to be released with an order to appear in court. Send immigrants to sanctuary cities Earlier this month, Trump proposed sending "an unlimited supply" of immigrants who are fighting deportation to so-called sanctuaries - the hundreds of cities, counties and states where law enforcement limits its cooperation with Trump`s crackdown on immigrants living in the country illegally. Immigration experts said it would be costly to transport migrants from the border and would require shifting funds from Border Patrol and other operations. In addition, the migrants would be free to move elsewhere once released. Close the border with Mexico The administration recently backed off a threat to shut the southern border, one of the busiest in the world, amid opposition from Democrats as well as often Republican-friendly business groups. The US Chamber of Commerce called the idea an "economic calamity." Make asylum seekers wait in Mexico One of the boldest proposals by the Trump administration has been to tap a little-used clause in immigration law to send hundreds of migrants who ask for asylum in the United States back to border towns in Mexico to wait months - or potentially years - for their cases to be resolved in US courts. Local Mexican officials say their towns are already overwhelmed with migrants who have nowhere to live and few job prospects, while immigration advocates say those who are stuck in Mexico often have trouble finding lawyers and receiving proper notice for their US hearings. A federal judge ordered a halt to the policy but an appeals court said it could continue while the administration appeals. Detain migrant children The current wave of migrants includes many more families, as opposed to the single men who flocked north in the past. That has caused the administration to take another look at a 1997 agreement, known as the Flores settlement, that strictly limits the detention of children. The administration has said repeatedly that t wants to scrap the legal deal and propose new regulations. It is unclear where - and with what funding - the government would detain the youngsters. Legal challenges to this proposal have been in the works from the moment it was announced.

Explainer: Five ways Trump's moves to stem border surge have hit hurdles

President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iranian armed forces were not a threat against any regional country, as Tehran held an Army Day military parade to unveil its latest military equipment amid rising tensions with the United States.

In a ceremony in Tehran, broadcast live on state television, marching soldiers passed a podium where Rouhani and top military commanders were standing, and locally-designed and produced fighter jets took part for the first time in an air display.

Iran also unveiled missiles, submarines, armoured vehicles, radars and electronic warfare systems. It also showed off its Russian S-300 missile defence system.

"I want to tell the regional countries that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are not against you and your national interests. They stand against invaders... The roots of our problems are the Zionist regime and American imperialism," Rouhani said.

Iranian armed forces were more powerful than ever, said Rouhani. "We seek regional security and stability, countries' sovereignty and end of terrorism and their activities in this region," he said.

Iran has two armies, a regular one which operates as a national defensive force, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that was created after the 1979 revolution to protect the Islamic Republic against both internal and external adversaries.

The United States officially designated the Revolutionary Guards as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday, an unprecedented move which was condemned by Iran and created concerns about reprisal attacks on US&nbsp;forces.

Rouhani called the US&nbsp;move against the Guards "abhorrent" and said "Insulting the Revolutionary Guards is an insult to all (Iranian) armed forces, and an insult to Iranian great nation.”

Iran's army has the biggest ground force in Iran and Revolutionary Guards is in control of a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles.

The parade was cancelled in a few provinces where the armed forces were deployed to help flood-affected people. The flooding, which began on March 19, has killed 76 people, forced more than 220,000 people into emergency shelters, and left aid agencies struggling to cope.

Rouhani said: "I doubt we can find this level of unity between people and armed forces in any other country."

Separately, Iran and Oman held a joint naval exercise and performed maritime rescue operations in the Gulf, Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iranian armed forces were not a threat against any regional country, as Tehran held an Army Day military parade to unveil its latest military equipment amid rising tensions with the United States.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iranian armed forces were not a threat against any regional country, as Tehran held an Army Day military parade to unveil its latest military equipment amid rising tensions with the United States. In a ceremony in Tehran, broadcast live on state television, marching soldiers passed a podium where Rouhani and top military commanders were standing, and locally-designed and produced fighter jets took part for the first time in an air display. Iran also unveiled missiles, submarines, armoured vehicles, radars and electronic warfare systems. It also showed off its Russian S-300 missile defence system. "I want to tell the regional countries that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are not against you and your national interests. They stand against invaders... The roots of our problems are the Zionist regime and American imperialism," Rouhani said. Iranian armed forces were more powerful than ever, said Rouhani. "We seek regional security and stability, countries' sovereignty and end of terrorism and their activities in this region," he said. Iran has two armies, a regular one which operates as a national defensive force, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that was created after the 1979 revolution to protect the Islamic Republic against both internal and external adversaries. The United States officially designated the Revolutionary Guards as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday, an unprecedented move which was condemned by Iran and created concerns about reprisal attacks on US forces. Rouhani called the US move against the Guards "abhorrent" and said "Insulting the Revolutionary Guards is an insult to all (Iranian) armed forces, and an insult to Iranian great nation.” Iran's army has the biggest ground force in Iran and Revolutionary Guards is in control of a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles. The parade was cancelled in a few provinces where the armed forces were deployed to help flood-affected people. The flooding, which began on March 19, has killed 76 people, forced more than 220,000 people into emergency shelters, and left aid agencies struggling to cope. Rouhani said: "I doubt we can find this level of unity between people and armed forces in any other country." Separately, Iran and Oman held a joint naval exercise and performed maritime rescue operations in the Gulf, Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

Iran says its armed forces are not a regional threat, calls for unity against US

Libya's unity government has issued a warrant for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypts-sisi-meets-libyan-strongman-haftar-in-cairo-state-media-210327">strongman general Khalifa Haftar</a> on Thursday. It was issued by the military prosecutor general and was published by the unity government's press office.

The arrest warrant comes after Haftar ordered for deadly air strikes against civilian areas.

The warrant also named six of Haftar's officers. &nbsp;

Earlier, Haftar met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss the latest developments in Libya.

Haftar, who was exiled in the United States for two decades, returned to Libya in 2011 when the revolution erupted, commanding forces that eventually toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Libya's unity government has issued a warrant for strongman general Khalifa Haftar on Thursday. It was issued by the military prosecutor general and was published by the unity government's press office.

Libya's unity government has issued a warrant for strongman general Khalifa Haftar on Thursday. It was issued by the military prosecutor general and was published by the unity government's press office. The arrest warrant comes after Haftar ordered for deadly air strikes against civilian areas. The warrant also named six of Haftar's officers. Earlier, Haftar met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss the latest developments in Libya. Haftar, who was exiled in the United States for two decades, returned to Libya in 2011 when the revolution erupted, commanding forces that eventually toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Libya's unity government issues arrest warrant for Khalifa Haftar

WION Global Round-up: Ivanka Trump announces investment for women in Ivory Coast and other stories

WION Global Round-up: Ivanka Trump announces investment for women in Ivory Coast

President Donald Trump has vetoed a bill Congress passed to end the United State's military assistance in the Saudi Arabia-led war in Yemen.

Donald Trump vetoes bill to end US involvement in Yemen war

President <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-gives-us-china-trade-talks-another-four-weeks-208038&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwia2JrWhNThAhXEjOYKHZkFBMgQFggLMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0kYQ7I11waEJeU6QwHYfuc">Donald Trump</a> said on Monday he believed the United States would emerge from its<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-china-trade-conflict-lack-of-trust-hobbling-the-ability-to-reach-a-deal-198533&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwia2JrWhNThAhXEjOYKHZkFBMgQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3coeH4O-T-B7dg0K5QbEbn"> trade dispute</a> with China as a winner, no matter what happened.

"We're going to win either way. We either win by getting a deal or we win by not getting a deal," Trump said during a visit to a business roundtable in Burnsville, Minnesota.

The world's two biggest economies are nine months into a trade war that has cost billions of dollars, roiled financial markets and upended supply chains.

Trump's administration has slapped tariffs on $250 billion worth of imports of Chinese goods to press demands for an end to policies that Washington says hurt US companies competing with Chinese firms. China responded with its own tit-for-tat tariffs on U.S. goods.

Trump's Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said earlier on Monday that trade negotiators are making a lot of progress. He told Fox Business Network there is more work to do, however, including enforcement.

President Donald Trump said on Monday he believed the United States would emerge from its trade dispute with China as a winner, no matter what happened. "We're going to win either way.

President Donald Trump said on Monday he believed the United States would emerge from its trade dispute with China as a winner, no matter what happened. "We're going to win either way. We either win by getting a deal or we win by not getting a deal," Trump said during a visit to a business roundtable in Burnsville, Minnesota. The world's two biggest economies are nine months into a trade war that has cost billions of dollars, roiled financial markets and upended supply chains. Trump's administration has slapped tariffs on $250 billion worth of imports of Chinese goods to press demands for an end to policies that Washington says hurt US companies competing with Chinese firms. China responded with its own tit-for-tat tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump's Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said earlier on Monday that trade negotiators are making a lot of progress. He told Fox Business Network there is more work to do, however, including enforcement.

Trump on China trade spat: 'We're going to win either way'

US Senator<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senator-warren-seeks-to-quiet-critics-with-2020-campaign-launch-196253&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiQuZjr_NPhAhWJMY8KHWxjCoIQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw19K7kWtoZBxFowvGikMlGC"> Elizabeth Warren</a> has hired the largest campaign staff in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, quickly building a payroll that far exceeds her Democratic rivals, according to disclosures filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

Warren spent more than $1 million on the payroll in the first quarter of 2019, more than double that of rivals such as US Senators Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, the two who raised the most money in the first quarter.

The total does not include other payroll-related expenses. She spent about $566,000 on payroll taxes and $114,000 on health insurance.

Warren has said she intends to build a "grassroots" campaign. She has sworn off expensive fundraisers and is relying almost entirely on online donations to fund her <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senator-warren-formally-launches-2020-campaign-sounds-note-of-economic-equality-196404&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiQuZjr_NPhAhWJMY8KHWxjCoIQFggLMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw16IsazWGM_hy4Rc0wcdf3q">campaign</a>.

Building a large campaign staff can create challenges. If a campaign begins to run short on cash, it is often more difficult to cut back on staff compared to trimming other expenses, such as advertising.

Warren had 161 employees already on her staff by the end of the first quarter, according to the disclosures she filed. About half of the staff, her campaign said, are positioned in early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

By comparison, Sanders' campaign had 86 people on its payroll by the end of the quarter, during which he spent $417,209 on salaries. Harris spent $477,108 on salaries on the 44 people she had on her payroll in the first quarter.

Warren has also outpaced Republican President Donald Trump's campaign hiring. Trump spent about $408,000 on staff in the first quarter, although the Republican National Committee is already working to help his reelection and has hundreds on staff.

Warren isn't without cash to pay her employees - she raised $6 million in the first quarter and had an additional $10.4 million from her Senate campaign. She finished the quarter with $11 million in cash.

However, her campaign disclosures revealed that she may be making tradeoffs.

Warren spent about $905,000 on online advertising. Sanders spent about $1.6 million and Harris $1 million.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren has hired the largest campaign staff in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, quickly building a payroll that far exceeds her Democratic rivals, according to disclosures filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren has hired the largest campaign staff in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, quickly building a payroll that far exceeds her Democratic rivals, according to disclosures filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Warren spent more than $1 million on the payroll in the first quarter of 2019, more than double that of rivals such as US Senators Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, the two who raised the most money in the first quarter. The total does not include other payroll-related expenses. She spent about $566,000 on payroll taxes and $114,000 on health insurance. Warren has said she intends to build a "grassroots" campaign. She has sworn off expensive fundraisers and is relying almost entirely on online donations to fund her campaign. Building a large campaign staff can create challenges. If a campaign begins to run short on cash, it is often more difficult to cut back on staff compared to trimming other expenses, such as advertising. Warren had 161 employees already on her staff by the end of the first quarter, according to the disclosures she filed. About half of the staff, her campaign said, are positioned in early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. By comparison, Sanders' campaign had 86 people on its payroll by the end of the quarter, during which he spent $417,209 on salaries. Harris spent $477,108 on salaries on the 44 people she had on her payroll in the first quarter. Warren has also outpaced Republican President Donald Trump's campaign hiring. Trump spent about $408,000 on staff in the first quarter, although the Republican National Committee is already working to help his reelection and has hundreds on staff. Warren isn't without cash to pay her employees - she raised $6 million in the first quarter and had an additional $10.4 million from her Senate campaign. She finished the quarter with $11 million in cash. However, her campaign disclosures revealed that she may be making tradeoffs. Warren spent about $905,000 on online advertising. Sanders spent about $1.6 million and Harris $1 million.

Elizabeth Warren builds largest United States presidential campaign staff

The United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will reward golfer&nbsp;Tiger Woods with&nbsp;country's highest civilian honour.&nbsp;

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States.

In the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal are the highest civilian awards.&nbsp;

Woods capped his remarkable comeback from injuries and personal problems with a victory at the Masters. He captured the green jacket by one stroke for his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tiger-woods-wins-15th-major-title-with-spectacular-masters-victory-210438">15th major title</a> -- but the first since 2008.&nbsp;

Woods had not won at Augusta National since 2005.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump himself is a lifelong golfer and owner of golf resorts, wrote on his Twitter handle, "Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters."

"Because of his incredible Success &amp; Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM!" Trump said.&nbsp;

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Spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TigerWoods</a> to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMasters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheMasters</a>, &amp; to inform him that because of his incredible Success &amp; Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1117843954437767168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump is an especially close watcher of the game, being the owner of Trump-brand golf courses and something of a student of the game himself -- although there have been multiple reports, including from established golfers, that he cheats when competing.

The United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will reward golfer Tiger Woods with country's highest civilian honour. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States.

The United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will reward golfer Tiger Woods with country's highest civilian honour. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States. In the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal are the highest civilian awards. Woods capped his remarkable comeback from injuries and personal problems with a victory at the Masters. He captured the green jacket by one stroke for his 15th major title -- but the first since 2008. Woods had not won at Augusta National since 2005. Trump himself is a lifelong golfer and owner of golf resorts, wrote on his Twitter handle, "Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters." "Because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM!" Trump said. Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters, & to inform him that because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019 × Trump is an especially close watcher of the game, being the owner of Trump-brand golf courses and something of a student of the game himself -- although there have been multiple reports, including from established golfers, that he cheats when competing.

Donald Trump to give 'incredible' Tiger Woods Presidential Medal of Freedom

The United States and Japanese negotiators are set to open the first round of trade talks on Monday, in the latest front in President Donald Trump's aggressive, multi-pronged strategy to address "chronic US trade imbalances."

After launching blistering tariffs on allies and rivals alike, Trump's trade team has completed a new North American trade pact with Canada and Mexico &nbsp;-- the USMCA -- and one with South Korea and appears to be approaching the final stages of a deal with China, while preparing for the start of negotiations with Europe.

Trump has focused attention on the countries which have the biggest trade surpluses with the United States and pushed his preference for country-specific rather than multilateral deals.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Japan's Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will lead the two days of talks starting Monday afternoon.

Golf buddies Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed in September to launch the talks between the world's first and third-largest economies, which represent about 30 per cent of global output.

In Tokyo last week, Motegi predicted the crunch talks would be "candid," with the first round focused on "making a decision on which areas we will discuss, chiefly in the field of goods."

"I will do my best to have thorough discussions so as to produce a good result in line with our national interest," he said.

The agreement between Trump and Abe said the negotiations initially would address "goods, as well as other key areas including services, that can produce early achievements," while leaving access for US agriculture to Japan's market for a later day.

In May, Trump ordered his administration to investigate the possibility of imposing tariffs of up to 25 per cent on foreign autos and auto parts, a prospect that alarmed the industry and could have serious repercussions for Japan and Europe.

'Very quick agreement'&nbsp;

US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said last week he was seeking a "very quick agreement" with Japan on tariff cuts for agricultural goods.

"I hope we can come to a very quick agreement with Japan over maybe some temporary ... provisions and hash out the many other issues that take longer in this area," Perdue told reporters in Washington, Kyodo News and the business daily Nikkei reported.

However, the US side is likely to run into opposition from Japan on this issue, Jiji Press reported, citing unnamed government sources.

"There's no way for us to conclude an agricultural deal first," a senior Japanese official told Jiji.

If Japan does so, it may violate World Trade Organization rules related to free-trade agreements, the officials noted, according to the report.

Tokyo is expected to counter with demands that the United States scrap tariffs on Japanese industrial goods if Washington urges an early opening of Japanese agricultural markets.

Tokyo aims to focus only on tariff matters, describing the talks as "TAG," or trade agreement on goods.&nbsp;

However, Washington trade officials have spelt out 22 specific negotiation areas also including non-tariff barriers in Japan's auto market and currency.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Saturday any agreement will include a requirement to refrain from manipulating currencies to gain an advantage in international trade.

Trump and Abe will have plenty of opportunities to talk trade in the coming months. Abe is visiting the United States later this month and Trump is expected in Japan in May to pay his respects to the country's new emperor who will take the throne on May 1.

Trump is then expected back in Japan the following month as the western city of Osaka hosts the Group of 20 summits of world leaders on June 28-29.

The United States and Japanese negotiators are set to open the first round of trade talks on Monday, in the latest front in President Donald Trump's aggressive, multi-pronged strategy to address "chronic US trade imbalances.

The United States and Japanese negotiators are set to open the first round of trade talks on Monday, in the latest front in President Donald Trump's aggressive, multi-pronged strategy to address "chronic US trade imbalances." After launching blistering tariffs on allies and rivals alike, Trump's trade team has completed a new North American trade pact with Canada and Mexico -- the USMCA -- and one with South Korea and appears to be approaching the final stages of a deal with China, while preparing for the start of negotiations with Europe. Trump has focused attention on the countries which have the biggest trade surpluses with the United States and pushed his preference for country-specific rather than multilateral deals. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Japan's Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will lead the two days of talks starting Monday afternoon. Golf buddies Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed in September to launch the talks between the world's first and third-largest economies, which represent about 30 per cent of global output. In Tokyo last week, Motegi predicted the crunch talks would be "candid," with the first round focused on "making a decision on which areas we will discuss, chiefly in the field of goods." "I will do my best to have thorough discussions so as to produce a good result in line with our national interest," he said. The agreement between Trump and Abe said the negotiations initially would address "goods, as well as other key areas including services, that can produce early achievements," while leaving access for US agriculture to Japan's market for a later day. In May, Trump ordered his administration to investigate the possibility of imposing tariffs of up to 25 per cent on foreign autos and auto parts, a prospect that alarmed the industry and could have serious repercussions for Japan and Europe. 'Very quick agreement' US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said last week he was seeking a "very quick agreement" with Japan on tariff cuts for agricultural goods. "I hope we can come to a very quick agreement with Japan over maybe some temporary ... provisions and hash out the many other issues that take longer in this area," Perdue told reporters in Washington, Kyodo News and the business daily Nikkei reported. However, the US side is likely to run into opposition from Japan on this issue, Jiji Press reported, citing unnamed government sources. "There's no way for us to conclude an agricultural deal first," a senior Japanese official told Jiji. If Japan does so, it may violate World Trade Organization rules related to free-trade agreements, the officials noted, according to the report. Tokyo is expected to counter with demands that the United States scrap tariffs on Japanese industrial goods if Washington urges an early opening of Japanese agricultural markets. Tokyo aims to focus only on tariff matters, describing the talks as "TAG," or trade agreement on goods. However, Washington trade officials have spelt out 22 specific negotiation areas also including non-tariff barriers in Japan's auto market and currency. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Saturday any agreement will include a requirement to refrain from manipulating currencies to gain an advantage in international trade. Trump and Abe will have plenty of opportunities to talk trade in the coming months. Abe is visiting the United States later this month and Trump is expected in Japan in May to pay his respects to the country's new emperor who will take the throne on May 1. Trump is then expected back in Japan the following month as the western city of Osaka hosts the Group of 20 summits of world leaders on June 28-29.

US, Japan to open trade talks amid China deal optimism

British police dragged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ecuadors-president-says-assange-tried-to-use-its-embassy-to-spy-210565">Julian Assange</a> from the Ecuadorean embassy last Thursday after his asylum was revoked, ending his seven-year stay there and opening the way for his extradition to the United States.

Assange's supporters, who cast him as a dissident facing the wrath of a superpower, fear the 47-year-old will end up on trial in the United States.

The United States wants Assange for one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history.

What happens now?

Who is Assange?

Assange was born on July 3, 1971 in Australia. In his teens, he gained a reputation as a talented computer programmer and in the mid-1990s he was arrested and pleaded guilty to hacking. He founded WikiLeaks in 2006.

He shot to fame in early 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified US military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

WikiLeaks published hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables that laid bare often critical US appraisals of world leaders, from Russian President Vladimir Putin to members of the Saudi royal family.

Why was he in the Ecuadorean embassy?

Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in June 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where authorities wanted to question him as part of a preliminary sexual assault investigation.

That investigation was later dropped but because he had breached his British bail in 2012, he was arrested last week and found guilty of failing to surrender to Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Following his arrest, US prosecutors announced charges against him and Swedish prosecutors are considering reopening the rape investigation.

Jail in the United Kingdom?

Westminster Magistrates' Court's Judge Michael Snow said Assange faces up to 12 months in jail when he is sentenced at a later date at Southwark Crown Court.

The British criminal action against Assange will take precedence over extradition proceedings although Nick Vamos, lawyer at London-based firm Peters &amp; Peters and former head of extradition at Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, said in practice it would make little difference.

"Even if he gets a maximum 12-month sentence, that means he will serve six and it will take at least six months for his extradition proceedings to be resolved," Vamos told Reuters.

&nbsp;So while he is in custody, the extradition hearings can proceed. The British judge gave the US government a deadline of June 12 to outline its case against Assange.

So dopes Assange end up in Sweden or the United States?

The courts will have to rule on any extradition request and Home Secretary Sajid Javid would decide which one takes precedence.

Vamos said the home secretary would take into account the seriousness of the offence and which request was issued first, and expected a Swedish one would take supremacy.

"Even though technically it would be a re-issued request, in effect it would be just a repeat of the request that was issued many years ago and therefore it would be treated as if it was the earliest one," he said.

"The fact that his extradition had already been ordered on it once would be in the home secretary's mind. The US government can wait a bit longer, they've taken quite a long time to sort out whether they were ever going to charge him or not ...

"We don't know what happened in Sweden, we don't whether he committed that offence and there's a victim there who's been waiting for justice for many years and I think that should take priority."

What is the US case?

Just hours after Assange's arrest, US prosecutors announced charges against him for conspiring with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to gain access to a government computer.

The indictment, filed in March 2018 and unsealed on Thursday, said Assange in March 2010 engaged in a conspiracy to help Manning crack a password stored on Defense Department computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), a US government network used for classified documents and communications.

Manning, formerly Bradley Manning, was jailed on March 8 after being held in contempt by a judge in Virginia for refusing to testify before a grand jury in what is widely believed to be related to the Assange investigation.

Manning was convicted by court-martial in 2013 of espionage and other offences for furnishing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks while she was an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Former President Barack Obama commuted the final 28 years of Manning's 35-year sentence.

What is the Swedish investigation?

Assange was accused by two Swedish women of sexual assault and rape in 2010. After opening an initial investigation, prosecutors dropped it, only to reopen it and issue a European arrest order for Assange, who had left the country for Britain.

Assange, who denied the allegations, fought through the courts to get an extradition order and the preliminary investigation dropped.

His lawyers said he feared that should he go to Sweden, authorities could hand him over to the United States.

Prosecutors ended the preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual molestation and unlawful coercion in 2015 as the statute of limitations had already passed, but kept open the rape probe.

In May 2017, then chief prosecutor Marianne Ny dropped the preliminary investigation into rape without filing any charges, saying that there was no prospect of Assange being handed over within a reasonable timeframe.

Swedish prosecutors said on April 11 they had received a formal request to reopen the rape investigation from the legal counsel representing the alleged victim.

The request was assigned to Deputy Chief Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson, who said prosecutors would look into the matter and determine how to proceed.

The statute of limitation for rape is 10 years, a deadline which would be reached in the mid-August next year.

How could Assange fight extradition?

"Everybody can challenge an extradition request on the basis it would be contrary to their human rights for them to be extradited," Vamos said.

"So Assange could argue that it would be impossible for him to have a fair trial in the US given what happened to Chelsea Manning, given the notoriety, the publicity about his case that effectively he's been tried in the media, public statements by US officials (that) it's impossible for him to have a fair trial."

He could also bring up potential conditions he would face in US prisons.

"He could argue the entire request is politically motivated that he is being prosecuted by reason of his political opinions or his political affiliations, that it's revenge, it's vindictive, it's a vendetta," Vamos said. "All of those arguments have legs."&nbsp;

&nbsp;Sweden's original request for Assange's extradition went to Britain's Supreme Court which backed the request.

&nbsp;If a lower court orders his extradition, then he could again appeal the decision to London's High Court and ultimately again to the Supreme Court if he can identify a challenge based on a point of law.

For US requests, the courts' decision has to be ratified by the Home Secretary but Vamos said in effect this was now just a rubber-stamping exercise.

British police dragged Julian Assange from the Ecuadorean embassy last Thursday after his asylum was revoked, ending his seven-year stay there and opening the way for his extradition to the United States.

British police dragged Julian Assange from the Ecuadorean embassy last Thursday after his asylum was revoked, ending his seven-year stay there and opening the way for his extradition to the United States. Assange's supporters, who cast him as a dissident facing the wrath of a superpower, fear the 47-year-old will end up on trial in the United States. The United States wants Assange for one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history. What happens now? Who is Assange? Assange was born on July 3, 1971 in Australia. In his teens, he gained a reputation as a talented computer programmer and in the mid-1990s he was arrested and pleaded guilty to hacking. He founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He shot to fame in early 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified US military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff. WikiLeaks published hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables that laid bare often critical US appraisals of world leaders, from Russian President Vladimir Putin to members of the Saudi royal family. Why was he in the Ecuadorean embassy? Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in June 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where authorities wanted to question him as part of a preliminary sexual assault investigation. That investigation was later dropped but because he had breached his British bail in 2012, he was arrested last week and found guilty of failing to surrender to Westminster Magistrates' Court. Following his arrest, US prosecutors announced charges against him and Swedish prosecutors are considering reopening the rape investigation. Jail in the United Kingdom? Westminster Magistrates' Court's Judge Michael Snow said Assange faces up to 12 months in jail when he is sentenced at a later date at Southwark Crown Court. The British criminal action against Assange will take precedence over extradition proceedings although Nick Vamos, lawyer at London-based firm Peters & Peters and former head of extradition at Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, said in practice it would make little difference. "Even if he gets a maximum 12-month sentence, that means he will serve six and it will take at least six months for his extradition proceedings to be resolved," Vamos told Reuters. So while he is in custody, the extradition hearings can proceed. The British judge gave the US government a deadline of June 12 to outline its case against Assange. So dopes Assange end up in Sweden or the United States? The courts will have to rule on any extradition request and Home Secretary Sajid Javid would decide which one takes precedence. Vamos said the home secretary would take into account the seriousness of the offence and which request was issued first, and expected a Swedish one would take supremacy. "Even though technically it would be a re-issued request, in effect it would be just a repeat of the request that was issued many years ago and therefore it would be treated as if it was the earliest one," he said. "The fact that his extradition had already been ordered on it once would be in the home secretary's mind. The US government can wait a bit longer, they've taken quite a long time to sort out whether they were ever going to charge him or not ... "We don't know what happened in Sweden, we don't whether he committed that offence and there's a victim there who's been waiting for justice for many years and I think that should take priority." What is the US case? Just hours after Assange's arrest, US prosecutors announced charges against him for conspiring with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to gain access to a government computer. The indictment, filed in March 2018 and unsealed on Thursday, said Assange in March 2010 engaged in a conspiracy to help Manning crack a password stored on Defense Department computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), a US government network used for classified documents and communications. Manning, formerly Bradley Manning, was jailed on March 8 after being held in contempt by a judge in Virginia for refusing to testify before a grand jury in what is widely believed to be related to the Assange investigation. Manning was convicted by court-martial in 2013 of espionage and other offences for furnishing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks while she was an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Former President Barack Obama commuted the final 28 years of Manning's 35-year sentence. What is the Swedish investigation? Assange was accused by two Swedish women of sexual assault and rape in 2010. After opening an initial investigation, prosecutors dropped it, only to reopen it and issue a European arrest order for Assange, who had left the country for Britain. Assange, who denied the allegations, fought through the courts to get an extradition order and the preliminary investigation dropped. His lawyers said he feared that should he go to Sweden, authorities could hand him over to the United States. Prosecutors ended the preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual molestation and unlawful coercion in 2015 as the statute of limitations had already passed, but kept open the rape probe. In May 2017, then chief prosecutor Marianne Ny dropped the preliminary investigation into rape without filing any charges, saying that there was no prospect of Assange being handed over within a reasonable timeframe. Swedish prosecutors said on April 11 they had received a formal request to reopen the rape investigation from the legal counsel representing the alleged victim. The request was assigned to Deputy Chief Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson, who said prosecutors would look into the matter and determine how to proceed. The statute of limitation for rape is 10 years, a deadline which would be reached in the mid-August next year. How could Assange fight extradition? "Everybody can challenge an extradition request on the basis it would be contrary to their human rights for them to be extradited," Vamos said. "So Assange could argue that it would be impossible for him to have a fair trial in the US given what happened to Chelsea Manning, given the notoriety, the publicity about his case that effectively he's been tried in the media, public statements by US officials (that) it's impossible for him to have a fair trial." He could also bring up potential conditions he would face in US prisons. "He could argue the entire request is politically motivated that he is being prosecuted by reason of his political opinions or his political affiliations, that it's revenge, it's vindictive, it's a vendetta," Vamos said. "All of those arguments have legs." Sweden's original request for Assange's extradition went to Britain's Supreme Court which backed the request. If a lower court orders his extradition, then he could again appeal the decision to London's High Court and ultimately again to the Supreme Court if he can identify a challenge based on a point of law. For US requests, the courts' decision has to be ratified by the Home Secretary but Vamos said in effect this was now just a rubber-stamping exercise.

Looking for America - Is Julian Assange heading to the United States?

The United States does not want to pursue a "precipitous" withdrawal from <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/left-out-of-peace-talks-united-states-allies-reassess-afghan-support-203565&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjvh8m2-NHhAhWTiXAKHQHsBwoQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sxsb-b8-qZr9s36lX8ROi">Afghanistan</a>, a top Democratic lawmaker said in Kabul on Monday amid an ongoing push to end the war.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who sits on the influential Senate Armed Services Committee that oversees the<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-talks-end-for-now-with-no-afghan-peace-deal-202982&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjvh8m2-NHhAhWTiXAKHQHsBwoQFggOMAM&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3xA_Yv2_qbP0vM-avxEb88"> US </a>military, also stressed that women must have a place at the table as the US tries to negotiate with the Taliban.

President Donald Trump last year told advisors he wanted to slash America's 14,000-strong troop presence in Afghanistan by about half, prompting criticism he was seeking to rush a withdrawal.

"What we've heard here (is) that whatever negotiated settlement ends the conflict, that it be done in a way that's very deliberate, that ensures a transition that all sides can participate in, and that there should not be a precipitous withdrawal from Afghanistan," Shaheen told reporters at the US embassy.

Congressional colleagues agreed, she said, adding "that's the position of the administration as well".&nbsp;

"There is a deliberate position that may not always be reflected in the tweets that come from the White House," she said, referring to Trump's penchant of firing off unexpected foreign policy messages.

Shaheen also sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is the only woman on the panel.&nbsp;

She said it is vital for women to be included in talks with the Taliban, whose regime shredded any Western notion of women's rights and executed women for allegations of adultery.

"What we know from the data is that when women are engaged, there is about a 35 per cent more likely chance that those negotiations will ... endure for a longer period of time," Shaheen said.

It's important that "whatever comes out of any peace negotiations, that we support having women at the table."

A fresh round of talks is expected to take place later this month between Afghan political leaders, including some officials from the Kabul government, and the Taliban in the Qatari capital Doha.&nbsp;

The Taliban have long refused to speak officially with Kabul, dubbing the government a "puppet" of the West, and the militants have insisted that government officials are attending only in a "personal capacity".

The makeup of the delegation has not yet been announced, but an initial list reportedly only had two female participants.

The United States does not want to pursue a "precipitous" withdrawal from Afghanistan, a top Democratic lawmaker said in Kabul on Monday amid an ongoing push to end the war.

The United States does not want to pursue a "precipitous" withdrawal from Afghanistan, a top Democratic lawmaker said in Kabul on Monday amid an ongoing push to end the war. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who sits on the influential Senate Armed Services Committee that oversees the US military, also stressed that women must have a place at the table as the US tries to negotiate with the Taliban. President Donald Trump last year told advisors he wanted to slash America's 14,000-strong troop presence in Afghanistan by about half, prompting criticism he was seeking to rush a withdrawal. "What we've heard here (is) that whatever negotiated settlement ends the conflict, that it be done in a way that's very deliberate, that ensures a transition that all sides can participate in, and that there should not be a precipitous withdrawal from Afghanistan," Shaheen told reporters at the US embassy. Congressional colleagues agreed, she said, adding "that's the position of the administration as well". "There is a deliberate position that may not always be reflected in the tweets that come from the White House," she said, referring to Trump's penchant of firing off unexpected foreign policy messages. Shaheen also sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is the only woman on the panel. She said it is vital for women to be included in talks with the Taliban, whose regime shredded any Western notion of women's rights and executed women for allegations of adultery. "What we know from the data is that when women are engaged, there is about a 35 per cent more likely chance that those negotiations will ... endure for a longer period of time," Shaheen said. It's important that "whatever comes out of any peace negotiations, that we support having women at the table." A fresh round of talks is expected to take place later this month between Afghan political leaders, including some officials from the Kabul government, and the Taliban in the Qatari capital Doha. The Taliban have long refused to speak officially with Kabul, dubbing the government a "puppet" of the West, and the militants have insisted that government officials are attending only in a "personal capacity". The makeup of the delegation has not yet been announced, but an initial list reportedly only had two female participants.

US does not want 'precipitous' withdrawal from Afghanistan: Senator

The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he believes the fall of Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela was closer by the day and reiterated his opposition to Russian and Cuban support for the leftist president during an interview with Spanish news agency Efe near the Venezuelan border.&nbsp;

The US' top diplomat spoke with Efe near the Tiendita international border bridge on the outskirts of the northeastern Colombian city of Cúcuta, which has witnessed a mass influx of migrants escaping the ongoing humanitarian and socio-economic crisis in oil-rich Venezuela.&nbsp;

Both the Tiendita bridge and the nearby Simón Bolivar bridge, were the scene of recent tensions and sporadic clashes after Maduro blocked off access to US-provided humanitarian aid stockpiled on the Colombian side of the border.

Capping off a tour of four South American countries – Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Colombia – Pompeo braved the torrential rain that welcomed him off the plane from Lima, to visit a centre for Venezuelan migrants and meet with Colombian President Ivan Duque.

Question: Mr Secretary, after your visit to the border, do you think that the fall of Maduro is getting closer? And what do you think about what you saw on the Simón Bolivar bridge?

Pompeo: It was really quite something today to see, we visited one of the migration centres, we got to talk to some of the children, some of the families that fled horrible conditions that had been imposed on them by Maduro and his military thugs.

It was really quite something to get a chance to talk to them and hear what their lives were before and then how bad they've gotten under Maduro. To your first question, yes, I think every minute, every hour is one step closer to Maduro leaving, all the Venezuelan people want is democracy restored, a chance to live, to work, to be with their families and Maduro is denying them that. The Russians are no help, the Cubans are worse; I hope there'll be a change soon.

Question: Does the US have a plan to counter the growing presence of both Russia and Cuba in Venezuela?

Pompeo: The Russians are responsible for allowing Maduro to stay in power. The Cubans even more so, they've been there longer, they're more deeply committed. How the Cuban government can watch the faces of these people, to watch their starvation when there's food in the building in which we're sitting, see the kids not get medicine, vaccines, when there's medicine sitting right here in this building. How the Cubans and Russians permit that to happen is beyond me just as a human being, and the United States is committed to restoring democracy in Venezuela.

Question: Is the White House intensifying the blockade on Cuba as the government in Havana claims?

Pompeo: We need the Cubans to stop supporting that murderous tyrant Nicolaás Maduro; that's our goal, that's our objective. We are going to use the tools that we have available to create a setup so that the Cubans will see – the Cuban people will see that it's not in their best interest to control Venezuela and to keep Nicolás Maduro in power, that's our simple goal, that's our mission.

Question: Will the US support negotiations with new Chavista factions to remove Maduro from power?

Pompeo: Look, we've said all along, those who behave well, those who land on the right side of history, on the right side of freedom, they can be part of the government moving forward. Those who don't, those who commit acts of aggression, those who commit violence, those who act in ways that are inconsistent with it, those who support Maduro to the end, will face a very different fate.

Question: Will the US sanction the Spanish oil company Repsol for doing business in Venezuela?

Pompeo: We never get in front of announcing sanctions before we do them. We've made very clear what is lawful and what is unlawful, and each day that goes by we are further tightening that set of restrictions, not only the political restrictions but economic restrictions as well.

Question: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin revealed today that the US is working with other countries to create a fund with $10 billion to help the next Venezuelan government. What impact could this fund have on the fall of Maduro?

Pompeo: Well, we are fully prepared for the day after, not only to provide the economic support that secretary Mnuchin spoke of, but to help provide the infrastructure, the political infrastructure, we want free and fair elections. Juan Guaidó is the interim president. We want to lead the path forward for democracy so that Venezuelan people can have the basic freedom that they so richly deserve. That's the mission for the day after Maduro leaves.

Question: How is the relationship between the US and Colombia? President Trump has criticized President Ivan Duque twice this month about the drug war.

Pompeo: I think you saw it today, the relationship with President Duque is excellent: we have economic relationships, we have political relationships, we are working incredibly closely to restore democracy in Venezuela, we have been working for years to reduce coca production here in Colombia, president Duque is working on that as well. We want it to go faster, I think President Duque wants it to go faster as well and we are committed to doing what we can to support that.

Question: How do you think that the withdrawal aid to the countries in the Northern Triangle of Central America (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) will contribute to reducing the flow of migrants to the US?

Pompeo: Here's what we know: hundreds of millions of dollars have been provided to the Northern Triangle countries and we have an enormous migration problem, people fleeing El Salvador, people fleeing Guatemala. What we're trying to do is get those governments to take this seriously, to assist the people of their country so that they won't have to do this long, dangerous track along Mexico.&nbsp;

President Trump is committed to securing our southern border and that effort in the Northern Triangle is to get them to do what those countries need to do; to have not only the will, but to demonstrate that will in closing down the capacity of their people to flee their countries.

Question: The US government has said that this crisis at the southern border is caused by criminal gangs and drug dealers. Do you think that it's useful to separate those migrant kids from their parents in order to fight that crisis?

Pompeo: We're going to stop their flow across our southern border, period, full stop. President Trump has made that every country has the right to determine who comes into their country. We have to stop the flow of drugs, we have to stop the flow of migrants, to watch these people who are traversing Mexico. They're being preyed upon by drug cartels inside of Mexico. This is morally wrong and President Trump is determined to stop that.

The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he believes the fall of Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela was closer by the day and reiterated his opposition to Russian and Cuban support for the leftist president during an interview with Spanish news agency Efe near the Venezuelan border.

The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he believes the fall of Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela was closer by the day and reiterated his opposition to Russian and Cuban support for the leftist president during an interview with Spanish news agency Efe near the Venezuelan border. The US' top diplomat spoke with Efe near the Tiendita international border bridge on the outskirts of the northeastern Colombian city of Cúcuta, which has witnessed a mass influx of migrants escaping the ongoing humanitarian and socio-economic crisis in oil-rich Venezuela. Both the Tiendita bridge and the nearby Simón Bolivar bridge, were the scene of recent tensions and sporadic clashes after Maduro blocked off access to US-provided humanitarian aid stockpiled on the Colombian side of the border. Capping off a tour of four South American countries – Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Colombia – Pompeo braved the torrential rain that welcomed him off the plane from Lima, to visit a centre for Venezuelan migrants and meet with Colombian President Ivan Duque. Question: Mr Secretary, after your visit to the border, do you think that the fall of Maduro is getting closer? And what do you think about what you saw on the Simón Bolivar bridge? Pompeo: It was really quite something today to see, we visited one of the migration centres, we got to talk to some of the children, some of the families that fled horrible conditions that had been imposed on them by Maduro and his military thugs. It was really quite something to get a chance to talk to them and hear what their lives were before and then how bad they've gotten under Maduro. To your first question, yes, I think every minute, every hour is one step closer to Maduro leaving, all the Venezuelan people want is democracy restored, a chance to live, to work, to be with their families and Maduro is denying them that. The Russians are no help, the Cubans are worse; I hope there'll be a change soon. Question: Does the US have a plan to counter the growing presence of both Russia and Cuba in Venezuela? Pompeo: The Russians are responsible for allowing Maduro to stay in power. The Cubans even more so, they've been there longer, they're more deeply committed. How the Cuban government can watch the faces of these people, to watch their starvation when there's food in the building in which we're sitting, see the kids not get medicine, vaccines, when there's medicine sitting right here in this building. How the Cubans and Russians permit that to happen is beyond me just as a human being, and the United States is committed to restoring democracy in Venezuela. Question: Is the White House intensifying the blockade on Cuba as the government in Havana claims? Pompeo: We need the Cubans to stop supporting that murderous tyrant Nicolaás Maduro; that's our goal, that's our objective. We are going to use the tools that we have available to create a setup so that the Cubans will see – the Cuban people will see that it's not in their best interest to control Venezuela and to keep Nicolás Maduro in power, that's our simple goal, that's our mission. Question: Will the US support negotiations with new Chavista factions to remove Maduro from power? Pompeo: Look, we've said all along, those who behave well, those who land on the right side of history, on the right side of freedom, they can be part of the government moving forward. Those who don't, those who commit acts of aggression, those who commit violence, those who act in ways that are inconsistent with it, those who support Maduro to the end, will face a very different fate. Question: Will the US sanction the Spanish oil company Repsol for doing business in Venezuela? Pompeo: We never get in front of announcing sanctions before we do them. We've made very clear what is lawful and what is unlawful, and each day that goes by we are further tightening that set of restrictions, not only the political restrictions but economic restrictions as well. Question: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin revealed today that the US is working with other countries to create a fund with $10 billion to help the next Venezuelan government. What impact could this fund have on the fall of Maduro? Pompeo: Well, we are fully prepared for the day after, not only to provide the economic support that secretary Mnuchin spoke of, but to help provide the infrastructure, the political infrastructure, we want free and fair elections. Juan Guaidó is the interim president. We want to lead the path forward for democracy so that Venezuelan people can have the basic freedom that they so richly deserve. That's the mission for the day after Maduro leaves. Question: How is the relationship between the US and Colombia? President Trump has criticized President Ivan Duque twice this month about the drug war. Pompeo: I think you saw it today, the relationship with President Duque is excellent: we have economic relationships, we have political relationships, we are working incredibly closely to restore democracy in Venezuela, we have been working for years to reduce coca production here in Colombia, president Duque is working on that as well. We want it to go faster, I think President Duque wants it to go faster as well and we are committed to doing what we can to support that. Question: How do you think that the withdrawal aid to the countries in the Northern Triangle of Central America (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) will contribute to reducing the flow of migrants to the US? Pompeo: Here's what we know: hundreds of millions of dollars have been provided to the Northern Triangle countries and we have an enormous migration problem, people fleeing El Salvador, people fleeing Guatemala. What we're trying to do is get those governments to take this seriously, to assist the people of their country so that they won't have to do this long, dangerous track along Mexico. President Trump is committed to securing our southern border and that effort in the Northern Triangle is to get them to do what those countries need to do; to have not only the will, but to demonstrate that will in closing down the capacity of their people to flee their countries. Question: The US government has said that this crisis at the southern border is caused by criminal gangs and drug dealers. Do you think that it's useful to separate those migrant kids from their parents in order to fight that crisis? Pompeo: We're going to stop their flow across our southern border, period, full stop. President Trump has made that every country has the right to determine who comes into their country. We have to stop the flow of drugs, we have to stop the flow of migrants, to watch these people who are traversing Mexico. They're being preyed upon by drug cartels inside of Mexico. This is morally wrong and President Trump is determined to stop that.

US is committed to restoring democracy in Venezuela: Mike Pompeo

Russian aluminium giant Rusal on Monday announced plans for its first investment in the United States since sanctions against the company were lifted.

The US sanctions, which targeted oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, were imposed on Rusal last year and only removed in January after owner Oleg Deripaska divested and resigned his seat on the board.

Rusal on Monday said it would partner with US manufacturer Braidy Industries Inc "to establish a joint project in Ashland, Kentucky, USA to produce flat-rolled aluminium products for the US automotive industry".

The factory "will be the widest US-based cold rolling mill" and "will aid towards rebalancing the anticipated deficit of the auto body sheet in the US market," Rusal said in a statement.

Rusal, the world's largest aluminium maker outside of China, will hold a 40 per cent share in the project and be the exclusive supplier to the factory.&nbsp;

It will, therefore, be subject to the 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports announced by US President Donald Trump last year.

Rusal will initially invest $200 million in the $1.7 billion projects, executives of both companies told S&amp;P Global Platts.

The company took a hit last year when Russian billionaire Deripaska was included the US Treasury's sanctions which sought to punish Putin's inner circle for Moscow's alleged interference in the politics of Western democracies.

The penalties were lifted against Rusal and two of Deripaska's other companies when he reduced his stakes in them, but sanctions remain on him personally, preventing others from doing business with him.

Deripaska was also mentioned frequently in the investigation by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian meddling in America's 2016 election, but he has not been charged.

He had been formerly involved in business with Paul Manafort, Trump's ex-campaign chairman who has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for financial and other crimes

Russian aluminium giant Rusal on Monday announced plans for its first investment in the United States since sanctions against the company were lifted. The US sanctions, which targeted oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, were imposed on Rusal last year and only removed in January after owner Oleg Deripaska divested and resigned his seat on the board.

Russian aluminium giant Rusal on Monday announced plans for its first investment in the United States since sanctions against the company were lifted. The US sanctions, which targeted oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, were imposed on Rusal last year and only removed in January after owner Oleg Deripaska divested and resigned his seat on the board. Rusal on Monday said it would partner with US manufacturer Braidy Industries Inc "to establish a joint project in Ashland, Kentucky, USA to produce flat-rolled aluminium products for the US automotive industry". The factory "will be the widest US-based cold rolling mill" and "will aid towards rebalancing the anticipated deficit of the auto body sheet in the US market," Rusal said in a statement. Rusal, the world's largest aluminium maker outside of China, will hold a 40 per cent share in the project and be the exclusive supplier to the factory. It will, therefore, be subject to the 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports announced by US President Donald Trump last year. Rusal will initially invest $200 million in the $1.7 billion projects, executives of both companies told S&P Global Platts. The company took a hit last year when Russian billionaire Deripaska was included the US Treasury's sanctions which sought to punish Putin's inner circle for Moscow's alleged interference in the politics of Western democracies. The penalties were lifted against Rusal and two of Deripaska's other companies when he reduced his stakes in them, but sanctions remain on him personally, preventing others from doing business with him. Deripaska was also mentioned frequently in the investigation by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian meddling in America's 2016 election, but he has not been charged. He had been formerly involved in business with Paul Manafort, Trump's ex-campaign chairman who has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for financial and other crimes

Rusal invests in US aluminium mill after sanctions lifted

Ivanka Trump, daughter of the United States President Donald Trump, on Sunday touched down in Ethiopia as part of a government-organized trip to promote the empowerment of women, especially in the ambit of employment and business.&nbsp;

"Just landed in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa and the continent's highest city," Trump, who is also an advisor to her father, in a message shared on her Twitter account.&nbsp;

She later joined US Agency for International Development representatives at the Ethiopian Coffee Association (USAID).&nbsp;

"With USAID support, they are overcoming a lack of access to capital and growing their businesses," she said.&nbsp;

The first daughter was welcomed to Addis Ababa by the US representative to the African Union, Mary Beth Leonard, and the US ambassador to Ethiopia, Michael Raynor.&nbsp;

Trump met with female coffee entrepreneurs at the Dumoro café in the capital to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing women in the industry.&nbsp;

During the meeting, Trump said she supported initiatives to boost opportunities for women looking to start up business in Ethiopia and announced that a loan of $260,000 would be granted to help the company Azalech Coffee Roasting expand.&nbsp;

Trumps's entourage took part in a traditional coffee ceremony – the African nation is world-renowned for its quality coffee production.&nbsp;

The US State Department said the presidential advisor would visit both Ethiopia and the Ivory Coast between April&nbsp;14-17, along with the director of USAID, Mark Green.&nbsp;

The visit comes as part of Trump's Women's Global Development and Prosperity initiative which aims to help over 50 million women in developing countries improve their economic prospects by 2025.&nbsp;

The program aims to promote new projects, offer training, facilitate financial support and promote reforms to break down gender inequality faced by women, especially in developing nations.&nbsp;

It is to be financed with public and private funds, with an initial budget of around $50 million allocated by USAID, which came under fire when some interpreted the budget as being the equivalent of just $1 per woman the plan hopes to help.&nbsp;

Trump's visit to the Ivory Coast is set to focus on women in the cocoa industry.&nbsp;

Ivanka Trump, daughter of the United States President Donald Trump, on Sunday touched down in Ethiopia as part of a government-organized trip to promote the empowerment of women, especially in the ambit of employment and business.

Ivanka Trump, daughter of the United States President Donald Trump, on Sunday touched down in Ethiopia as part of a government-organized trip to promote the empowerment of women, especially in the ambit of employment and business. "Just landed in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa and the continent's highest city," Trump, who is also an advisor to her father, in a message shared on her Twitter account. She later joined US Agency for International Development representatives at the Ethiopian Coffee Association (USAID). "With USAID support, they are overcoming a lack of access to capital and growing their businesses," she said. The first daughter was welcomed to Addis Ababa by the US representative to the African Union, Mary Beth Leonard, and the US ambassador to Ethiopia, Michael Raynor. Trump met with female coffee entrepreneurs at the Dumoro café in the capital to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing women in the industry. During the meeting, Trump said she supported initiatives to boost opportunities for women looking to start up business in Ethiopia and announced that a loan of $260,000 would be granted to help the company Azalech Coffee Roasting expand. Trumps's entourage took part in a traditional coffee ceremony – the African nation is world-renowned for its quality coffee production. The US State Department said the presidential advisor would visit both Ethiopia and the Ivory Coast between April 14-17, along with the director of USAID, Mark Green. The visit comes as part of Trump's Women's Global Development and Prosperity initiative which aims to help over 50 million women in developing countries improve their economic prospects by 2025. The program aims to promote new projects, offer training, facilitate financial support and promote reforms to break down gender inequality faced by women, especially in developing nations. It is to be financed with public and private funds, with an initial budget of around $50 million allocated by USAID, which came under fire when some interpreted the budget as being the equivalent of just $1 per woman the plan hopes to help. Trump's visit to the Ivory Coast is set to focus on women in the cocoa industry.

Ivanka Trump touches down in Ethiopia for women entrepreneur initiative

Iran will ask the international community to take a position on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-designates-irans-revolutionary-guards-as-a-terrorist-organisation-donald-trump-208837">US&nbsp;designation of its Revolutionary Guards</a> as a terrorist organisation, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was cited as saying on Sunday.

Iran condemned US&nbsp;President Donald Trump’s step last week as illegal. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is a powerful elite force which controls much of the Iranian state and economy.

"We will send messages to foreign ministers of all countries to tell them it is necessary for them to express their stances, and to warn them that this unprecedented and dangerous US&nbsp;measure has had and will have consequences," Zarif was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

Zarif said he had also sent letters to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the United Nations Security Council to protest against "this illegal US&nbsp;measure".

Tehran retaliated against Washington's move by designating the regional United States Central Command (CENTCOM) as a terrorist organisation.

Relations between Tehran and Washington took a turn for the worse last May when Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, reached before he took office, and reimposed sanctions.

The United States has already blacklisted dozens of entities and people for affiliations with the IRGC, but had not previously targeted the organisation as a whole.

Revolutionary Guards commanders have repeatedly said that US&nbsp;bases in the Middle East and US&nbsp;aircraft carriers in the Gulf are within range of Iranian missiles.

Tehran has also threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf if the United States tries to strangle Iran's economy by halting its oil exports.

Iran's oil minister said on Sunday that the supply-demand balance in the global oil market is fragile due to US&nbsp;sanctions on Iran and Venezuela and tensions in Libya, and warned of consequences for increasing pressures on Tehran.

&nbsp;

Iran will ask the international community to take a position on the US designation of its Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was cited as saying on Sunday.

Iran will ask the international community to take a position on the US designation of its Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was cited as saying on Sunday. Iran condemned US President Donald Trump’s step last week as illegal. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is a powerful elite force which controls much of the Iranian state and economy. "We will send messages to foreign ministers of all countries to tell them it is necessary for them to express their stances, and to warn them that this unprecedented and dangerous US measure has had and will have consequences," Zarif was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA. Zarif said he had also sent letters to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the United Nations Security Council to protest against "this illegal US measure". Tehran retaliated against Washington's move by designating the regional United States Central Command (CENTCOM) as a terrorist organisation. Relations between Tehran and Washington took a turn for the worse last May when Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, reached before he took office, and reimposed sanctions. The United States has already blacklisted dozens of entities and people for affiliations with the IRGC, but had not previously targeted the organisation as a whole. Revolutionary Guards commanders have repeatedly said that US bases in the Middle East and US aircraft carriers in the Gulf are within range of Iranian missiles. Tehran has also threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf if the United States tries to strangle Iran's economy by halting its oil exports. Iran's oil minister said on Sunday that the supply-demand balance in the global oil market is fragile due to US sanctions on Iran and Venezuela and tensions in Libya, and warned of consequences for increasing pressures on Tehran.

This unprecedented, dangerous move will have consequences: Iran slams US step against Revolutionary Guards, urges countries to take position

North Korea President Kim Jong Un says talks are only possible if US shows right attitude. Watch video to know more

Kim Jong Un: Open to third summit with Trump

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday defended sanctions on Venezuela and said the United States would not "quit the fight" in the socialist-run Latin American nation which is spiralling into deepening the economic and political crisis.

Pompeo is on a three-day trip to Chile, Paraguay and Peru, a clutch of fast-growing countries in a region where Washington's concerns are focused on China's growing presence as well as the Venezuelan crisis.

Washington is pressuring President Nicolas Maduro to step down and urging more countries to join the coalition supporting opposition leader Juan Guaido.

South America has seen a political shift in recent years towards the right, and most nations have backed Guaido.

Asked about China in Santiago, Pompeo warned about "predatory" lending practices and "malign or nefarious" actions, mirroring criticism previous US officials have made about China during Latin America trips.

China, whose booming economy over the past two decades has driven up demand for raw materials, is already the top trade partner for nations from tiny Uruguay to Brazil, Latin America's largest economy and the world's top soybean exporter. The pivot by Latin American countries towards China for financing has alarmed Washington.

Pompeo will travel later on Friday to Paraguay, the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to the country since 1965, a gesture experts say underscores U.S. commitment to the region. On Sunday he is set to visit Cucuta, a Colombian border city receiving significant numbers of Venezuelan migrants fleeing hunger and violence in their homeland.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday defended sanctions on Venezuela and said the United States would not "quit the fight" in the socialist-run Latin American nation which is spiralling into deepening the economic and political crisis.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday defended sanctions on Venezuela and said the United States would not "quit the fight" in the socialist-run Latin American nation which is spiralling into deepening the economic and political crisis. Pompeo is on a three-day trip to Chile, Paraguay and Peru, a clutch of fast-growing countries in a region where Washington's concerns are focused on China's growing presence as well as the Venezuelan crisis. Washington is pressuring President Nicolas Maduro to step down and urging more countries to join the coalition supporting opposition leader Juan Guaido. South America has seen a political shift in recent years towards the right, and most nations have backed Guaido. Asked about China in Santiago, Pompeo warned about "predatory" lending practices and "malign or nefarious" actions, mirroring criticism previous US officials have made about China during Latin America trips. China, whose booming economy over the past two decades has driven up demand for raw materials, is already the top trade partner for nations from tiny Uruguay to Brazil, Latin America's largest economy and the world's top soybean exporter. The pivot by Latin American countries towards China for financing has alarmed Washington. Pompeo will travel later on Friday to Paraguay, the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to the country since 1965, a gesture experts say underscores U.S. commitment to the region. On Sunday he is set to visit Cucuta, a Colombian border city receiving significant numbers of Venezuelan migrants fleeing hunger and violence in their homeland.

Pompeo says US won't quit fight in Venezuela, defends sanctions

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-authorities-show-off-nuclear-advances-despite-us-sanctions-210084">Iran shows off nuclear advances despite US sanctions; insists its nuclear program is peaceful</a>

Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belt-and-road-forum-to-enable-china-to-establish-its-direction-policy-framework-imf-chief-210055">IMF chief lauds Belt and Road Initiative, says it focuses on financing global infrastructure</a>

The Belt and Road Forum will be a good opportunity for China to identify its direction and the policy framework within which they want to develop this very large initiative, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said in Washington, DC ahead of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jon-un-gains-more-power-in-north-korea-leadership-shuffle-210060">Kim Jon Un gains more power in North Korea leadership shuffle</a>

North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader Kim Jong Un, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-ipl-2019-mumbai-vs-rajasthan-210054">Live | IPL 2019: Mumbai vs Rajasthan</a>

Boundaries are raining for Rajasthan and the credit of it goes to Jos Buttler. Mumbai are stunned and don't know how to stop him.&nbsp;

Jos Buttler once again rose to the occasion and smashed a brilliant half century to keep Rajasthan in the chase.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/dont-like-surprises-artificial-intelligence-predicts-who-survives-game-of-thrones-210104">Don't like surprises? Artificial intelligence predicts who survives 'Game of Thrones'</a>

If you are a "Game of Thrones" fan and appreciate the element of surprise, stop reading now.

Students at the Technical University of Munich have developed an application to predict which character has the best chance to claim the coveted Iron Throne in the HBO hit medieval fantasy series about warring families.&nbsp;

Iran shows off nuclear advances despite US sanctions; insists its nuclear program is peaceful Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran shows off nuclear advances despite US sanctions; insists its nuclear program is peaceful Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal. IMF chief lauds Belt and Road Initiative, says it focuses on financing global infrastructure The Belt and Road Forum will be a good opportunity for China to identify its direction and the policy framework within which they want to develop this very large initiative, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said in Washington, DC ahead of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings. Kim Jon Un gains more power in North Korea leadership shuffle North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader Kim Jong Un, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday. Live | IPL 2019: Mumbai vs Rajasthan Boundaries are raining for Rajasthan and the credit of it goes to Jos Buttler. Mumbai are stunned and don't know how to stop him. Jos Buttler once again rose to the occasion and smashed a brilliant half century to keep Rajasthan in the chase. Don't like surprises? Artificial intelligence predicts who survives 'Game of Thrones' If you are a "Game of Thrones" fan and appreciate the element of surprise, stop reading now. Students at the Technical University of Munich have developed an application to predict which character has the best chance to claim the coveted Iron Throne in the HBO hit medieval fantasy series about warring families.

More than 70 British lawmakers have urged their government to prioritise any extradition bid Sweden might make for WikiLeaks founder <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-to-fight-us-extradition-request-lawyer-209644&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiMp7OU_czhAhVEvo8KHc1PAawQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2nC2jSy7ub-wNMc--ZIwI1">Julian Assange</a>, who is also wanted in the United States.

Assange was arrested on Thursday at<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-being-spied-upon-at-ecuador-embassy-wikileaks-209435&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiMp7OU_czhAhVEvo8KHc1PAawQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3m-J-BqfblGOcZZkMc5gQc"> Ecuador</a>'s London embassy on allegations of skipping bail and on a US extradition warrant related to a huge leak of official documents.

He had sought refuge in the embassy in 2012 while on bail awaiting extradition to Sweden for allegations of sexual assault and rape, which he always denied.

In the letter, the MPs and peers urge British Home Secretary Sajid Javid to "give every assistance to Sweden should they want to revive and pursue the investigation".

British law states that if Sweden does make an extradition request, it would be up to Javid to decide which should take precedence.

"We must send a strong message of the priority the UK has in tackling sexual violence and the seriousness with which such allegations are viewed," the letter says.

The sexual assault claim expired in 2015 and Swedish prosecutors dropped a preliminary investigation into the rape allegation in 2017, arguing that since Assange could not be reached, they could not proceed.

Following his arrest, however, the alleged rape victim asked that her case now is reopened -- but the limitation period on this claim expires in August 2020.

"We do not presume guilt, of course, but we believe due process should be followed and the complainant should see justice be done," the letter says.

The MPs and peers add that it is "of grave concern to us" that the Swedish authorities did not appear to have prior warning of Assange's arrest, unlike the US authorities.

The letter was also copied to Diane Abbott, the home affairs spokeswoman for the main opposition Labour party.

'Fight it hard'

Abbott said: "Assange skipping bail in the UK, or any rape charge that may be brought by Swedish authorities shouldn't be ignored.&nbsp;

"But the only extradition request is from the USA because he's a whistle-blower on atrocities caused by US military ops. This extradition would be wrong so we oppose it."

Assange is currently being held at the high-security Belmarsh jail in southeast London.

The 47-year-old Australian claims the Swedish cases against him were politically motivated, linked to the leak in 2010 of a huge number of US military and diplomatic documents.

He sought refuge with Ecuador, claiming that his extradition to Sweden was a pretext for his transfer to the United States.

But Ecuador withdrew his asylum status and allowed British police into the embassy on Thursday to arrest the white-bearded Assange.

He appeared in court a few hours later and was found guilty of breaching his bail terms back in 2012. He could be jailed for up to a year when he is sentenced at a later date.

The separate extradition case on US charges of computer hacking is set for May 2, although the United States has until June 12 to submit full extradition papers.

Assange's London lawyer Jennifer Robinson said: "He's obviously going to fight extradition and fight it hard."

More than 70 British lawmakers have urged their government to prioritise any extradition bid Sweden might make for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is also wanted in the United States.

More than 70 British lawmakers have urged their government to prioritise any extradition bid Sweden might make for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is also wanted in the United States. Assange was arrested on Thursday at Ecuador's London embassy on allegations of skipping bail and on a US extradition warrant related to a huge leak of official documents. He had sought refuge in the embassy in 2012 while on bail awaiting extradition to Sweden for allegations of sexual assault and rape, which he always denied. In the letter, the MPs and peers urge British Home Secretary Sajid Javid to "give every assistance to Sweden should they want to revive and pursue the investigation". British law states that if Sweden does make an extradition request, it would be up to Javid to decide which should take precedence. "We must send a strong message of the priority the UK has in tackling sexual violence and the seriousness with which such allegations are viewed," the letter says. The sexual assault claim expired in 2015 and Swedish prosecutors dropped a preliminary investigation into the rape allegation in 2017, arguing that since Assange could not be reached, they could not proceed. Following his arrest, however, the alleged rape victim asked that her case now is reopened -- but the limitation period on this claim expires in August 2020. "We do not presume guilt, of course, but we believe due process should be followed and the complainant should see justice be done," the letter says. The MPs and peers add that it is "of grave concern to us" that the Swedish authorities did not appear to have prior warning of Assange's arrest, unlike the US authorities. The letter was also copied to Diane Abbott, the home affairs spokeswoman for the main opposition Labour party. 'Fight it hard' Abbott said: "Assange skipping bail in the UK, or any rape charge that may be brought by Swedish authorities shouldn't be ignored. "But the only extradition request is from the USA because he's a whistle-blower on atrocities caused by US military ops. This extradition would be wrong so we oppose it." Assange is currently being held at the high-security Belmarsh jail in southeast London. The 47-year-old Australian claims the Swedish cases against him were politically motivated, linked to the leak in 2010 of a huge number of US military and diplomatic documents. He sought refuge with Ecuador, claiming that his extradition to Sweden was a pretext for his transfer to the United States. But Ecuador withdrew his asylum status and allowed British police into the embassy on Thursday to arrest the white-bearded Assange. He appeared in court a few hours later and was found guilty of breaching his bail terms back in 2012. He could be jailed for up to a year when he is sentenced at a later date. The separate extradition case on US charges of computer hacking is set for May 2, although the United States has until June 12 to submit full extradition papers. Assange's London lawyer Jennifer Robinson said: "He's obviously going to fight extradition and fight it hard."

British lawmakers urge government to cooperate with Sweden in Assange case

Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Tehran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and falls well within the confines of the historic deal, which saw Iran limit its atomic program in exchange for a mild alleviation of international economic sanctions.

This year, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran's (AEOI) tally of achievements – which outnumbered the previous year by 31 – coincided with Iranian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-says-us-leader-of-world-terrorism-after-trump-designated-republican-guard-as-terrorists-209135">President Hassan Rouhani</a>'s announcement that he would authorize the installation of advanced IR-6 centrifuges.&nbsp;

"The US policy of harassment cannot hinder our progress in the field of nuclear technology," Ali Akbar Saheli, the head of the AEOI, said in a ceremony this week.&nbsp;

Notable advances in the field included new control systems to monitor nuclear processes; two nuclear medicines, including Yttrium-90, which is used in radiation therapy to treat cancer; a medical linear accelerator, which tailor x-rays to a patient's needs and the production of oxygen-18, which can be used in the medical industry in things like positron-emission tomography (PET scans).&nbsp;

Speaking to Efe, Ali Asghar Zarean, Salehi's special advisor, said it had taken four years of investigation to be able to produce oxygen-18, which could now be commercialized.&nbsp;

"Production capacity is around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) a year. We are in the first stage producing about 50 kilos but our annual domestic consumption is very few kilos, for that reason we're moving towards exportation.&nbsp;

Iran was also ready to export its centrifuges, he said.&nbsp;

According to Zarean, the AEOI has managed to domestically design and produce "whatever kind" of centrifuge for use in various industries, like medicine.&nbsp;

Iran was forced to produce the machines domestically because of sanctions.&nbsp;

This week a network of 20 IR-6 centrifuges was installed at the Natanz nuclear plant in central Iran.

Each IR-6 centrifuge is eight times as powerful than the more primitive IR-1 designs, according to Zarean.&nbsp;

Rouhani used this achievement to level a warning at the US.&nbsp;

"If you were scared about the out IR-1 centrifuges in the past, you should know now that we are launching a network of 20 IR-6 models and that, if you keep up the pressure, we will unveil a network of IR-8 centrifuges in the near future," he said.&nbsp;

The use of IR-8 centrifuges in Iran is prohibited by the 2015 nuclear deal.&nbsp;

The accord was signed by Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States) plus Germany.&nbsp;

However, US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the framework and to reimpose – and, indeed strengthen – sanctions on Iran has left the deal on shaky ground.&nbsp;

Trump's administration said the deal would only delay Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons, despite the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed Iran's compliance to with the accord 14 times.&nbsp;

The nuclear deal meant Iran had to dismantle or remodel certain atomic plants and temporary limit investigations that used nuclear material or technology, such as its uranium enrichment program.&nbsp;

Salehi said all of Iran's achievements in 2018 were in line with the IAEA guidelines.&nbsp;

Zarean warned, however, that Iran would crank up its full atomic program once again should authorities ever judge that the remaining signatories of the 2015 pact were failing to uphold their end of the deal.&nbsp;

Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal. Tehran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and falls well within the confines of the historic deal, which saw Iran limit its atomic program in exchange for a mild alleviation of international economic sanctions. This year, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran's (AEOI) tally of achievements – which outnumbered the previous year by 31 – coincided with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's announcement that he would authorize the installation of advanced IR-6 centrifuges. "The US policy of harassment cannot hinder our progress in the field of nuclear technology," Ali Akbar Saheli, the head of the AEOI, said in a ceremony this week. Notable advances in the field included new control systems to monitor nuclear processes; two nuclear medicines, including Yttrium-90, which is used in radiation therapy to treat cancer; a medical linear accelerator, which tailor x-rays to a patient's needs and the production of oxygen-18, which can be used in the medical industry in things like positron-emission tomography (PET scans). Speaking to Efe, Ali Asghar Zarean, Salehi's special advisor, said it had taken four years of investigation to be able to produce oxygen-18, which could now be commercialized. "Production capacity is around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) a year. We are in the first stage producing about 50 kilos but our annual domestic consumption is very few kilos, for that reason we're moving towards exportation. Iran was also ready to export its centrifuges, he said. According to Zarean, the AEOI has managed to domestically design and produce "whatever kind" of centrifuge for use in various industries, like medicine. Iran was forced to produce the machines domestically because of sanctions. This week a network of 20 IR-6 centrifuges was installed at the Natanz nuclear plant in central Iran. Each IR-6 centrifuge is eight times as powerful than the more primitive IR-1 designs, according to Zarean. Rouhani used this achievement to level a warning at the US. "If you were scared about the out IR-1 centrifuges in the past, you should know now that we are launching a network of 20 IR-6 models and that, if you keep up the pressure, we will unveil a network of IR-8 centrifuges in the near future," he said. The use of IR-8 centrifuges in Iran is prohibited by the 2015 nuclear deal. The accord was signed by Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States) plus Germany. However, US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the framework and to reimpose – and, indeed strengthen – sanctions on Iran has left the deal on shaky ground. Trump's administration said the deal would only delay Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons, despite the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed Iran's compliance to with the accord 14 times. The nuclear deal meant Iran had to dismantle or remodel certain atomic plants and temporary limit investigations that used nuclear material or technology, such as its uranium enrichment program. Salehi said all of Iran's achievements in 2018 were in line with the IAEA guidelines. Zarean warned, however, that Iran would crank up its full atomic program once again should authorities ever judge that the remaining signatories of the 2015 pact were failing to uphold their end of the deal.

Iran shows off nuclear advances despite US sanctions; insists its nuclear program is peaceful

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/lyft-files-for-stock-offering-beating-uber-to-wall-street-200590&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiBu--y9MnhAhUOY48KHbzbDJMQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0gfyJ0M7_GliGQQErJNKH8">Uber </a>Technologies Inc’s initial public offering filing on Thursday contains data that will be key to selling itself to investors.

The share sale follows a public offering by rival ride-sharing service Lyft Inc last month, whose shares have dropped to about $61 from an IPO price of $72.

Here are how the two companies compare on key metrics from Uber's filing:

REVENUE

Uber had $11.3 billion in 2018 vs Lyft $2.2 billion.

Uber's growth has been slowing relative to Lyft due to scandals and aggressive discounting by Lyft.

Lyft’s revenue more than doubled between 2017 and 2018 while Uber's grew around 42 per cent.

MARKET SHARE

Uber has lost market share but remains the leader.

Uber has 65 per cent share in North America while Lyft says it has 39 per cent in the United States.

ADJUSTED EBITDA

Both Uber and Lyft lose money though Uber has trimmed its losses in recent years.

Uber's adjusted loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was just over $1.8 billion in 2018 compared to $2.6 billion in 2017.

Lyft lost $950 million in 2018 on the same basis.

MONTHLY ACTIVE USERS

Uber has 91 million monthly active users compared to Lyft's 18.6 million.

Uber's number includes customers of additional services beyond ride sharing.

Uber Technologies Inc’s initial public offering filing on Thursday contains data that will be key to selling itself to investors. The share sale follows a public offering by rival ride-sharing service Lyft Inc last month, whose shares have dropped to about $61 from an IPO price of $72.

Uber Technologies Inc’s initial public offering filing on Thursday contains data that will be key to selling itself to investors. The share sale follows a public offering by rival ride-sharing service Lyft Inc last month, whose shares have dropped to about $61 from an IPO price of $72. Here are how the two companies compare on key metrics from Uber's filing: REVENUE Uber had $11.3 billion in 2018 vs Lyft $2.2 billion. Uber's growth has been slowing relative to Lyft due to scandals and aggressive discounting by Lyft. Lyft’s revenue more than doubled between 2017 and 2018 while Uber's grew around 42 per cent. MARKET SHARE Uber has lost market share but remains the leader. Uber has 65 per cent share in North America while Lyft says it has 39 per cent in the United States. ADJUSTED EBITDA Both Uber and Lyft lose money though Uber has trimmed its losses in recent years. Uber's adjusted loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was just over $1.8 billion in 2018 compared to $2.6 billion in 2017. Lyft lost $950 million in 2018 on the same basis. MONTHLY ACTIVE USERS Uber has 91 million monthly active users compared to Lyft's 18.6 million. Uber's number includes customers of additional services beyond ride sharing.

How Uber and Lyft compare on key financial metrics

The most powerful operational rocket in the world, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, launched its first commercial mission on Thursday (April 11) from Florida in a key demonstration for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company in the race to grasp lucrative military launch contracts.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy conducts first commercial flight

US Vice President Mike Pence asked the United Nations on Wednesday to revoke the UN credentials of the government of Nicolas Maduro and recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president.

Venezuela unrest: United States asks UN to recognise Guaido as President

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

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

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

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

Donald Trump is the first president in four decades to not publicly release his tax returns. Watch video to know more.

Donald Trump refuses to release his tax returns

Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who released reams of secret documents that embarrassed the United States government, was arrested by the British police on Thursday at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he had lived since 2012, after Ecuador withdrew the asylum it had granted him.

WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange is arrested in London

As the popular U.S. television series 'Game of Thrones' comes to an end, the creator of the show's unique languages - Dothraki and High Valyrian - is helping fans learn key phrases.

For the ultimate 'Game of Thrones' fan, how to speak Valyrian

Almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday night in the town of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras to form a new caravan to reach the United States, police said.

"There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number.

The caravan, which followed a call on social media, took the authorities by surprise after similar appeals since February failed to muster numbers.

Many families with children were among those gathered, and some have already started their journeys in crowded minibuses.

Alexis Perez, 27, said,&nbsp;"We are done with this government, there is no work."

Since October 13, when the first caravan of 2,000 set off, three other similar convoys of migrants have left Honduras for the US in search of work or fleeing drug-traffickers.

The groups are a target of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to tighten migration policy and build a wall to stop them from entering the United States through Mexico.

Several thousand Central Americans have trekked across Mexico by caravan since last year, fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries.

They travel en masse in hopes of finding safety in numbers against Mexican gangs that regularly extort, kidnap and kill migrants, sometimes in collusion with local authorities.

 
&nbsp;

Almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday night in the town of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras to form a new caravan to reach the United States, police said. "There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number.

Almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday night in the town of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras to form a new caravan to reach the United States, police said. "There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number. The caravan, which followed a call on social media, took the authorities by surprise after similar appeals since February failed to muster numbers. Many families with children were among those gathered, and some have already started their journeys in crowded minibuses. Alexis Perez, 27, said, "We are done with this government, there is no work." Since October 13, when the first caravan of 2,000 set off, three other similar convoys of migrants have left Honduras for the US in search of work or fleeing drug-traffickers. The groups are a target of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to tighten migration policy and build a wall to stop them from entering the United States through Mexico. Several thousand Central Americans have trekked across Mexico by caravan since last year, fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries. They travel en masse in hopes of finding safety in numbers against Mexican gangs that regularly extort, kidnap and kill migrants, sometimes in collusion with local authorities.

Hundreds of migrants form caravan in Honduras to head for the US

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