<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-designates-china-a-currency-manipulator-as-yuan-hits-record-low-240948">Volatility in China's yuan </a>since August is a normal market reaction to escalating trade frictions stoked by the United States and was caused, to some extent, by Washington's decision to raise tariffs, a senior Chinese central bank official said.

Zhu Jun, director-general of the People's Bank of China's international department, made the comments on Saturday to a forum held in the northern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-renew-sanctions-waivers-for-five-iran-nuclear-programs-report-239595">US&nbsp;Treasury Department </a>on Monday labelled China a currency manipulator, hours after China let the yuan drop through a key support level to its lowest point in more than a decade. The moves jolted financial markets, fueling fears of a global currency war.

Days earlier, US President Donald Trump had vowed to impose a 10per cent tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports from Sept. 1, ending a temporary truce and sharply escalating the trade dispute.

Zhu said that the yuan's move was a normal reaction to Trump's tariff threat.

"The labeling violates basic, common economic sense and international consensus, and is unconvincing," Zhu said, adding that the Chinese economy was resilient and capable of coping with various situations.

The year-long trade war between the world's two largest economies has already spread beyond tit-for-tat tariffs on goods to other areas such as technology, and analysts caution retaliation could widen in scope and severity, weighing further on business confidence and global economic growth.

The yuan lost 1.6per cent against the dollar last week, but there were signs in the last few sessions that authorities were trying to stabilise it.

Volatility in China's yuan since August is a normal market reaction to escalating trade frictions stoked by the United States and was caused, to some extent, by Washington's decision to raise tariffs, a senior Chinese central bank official said.

Volatility in China's yuan since August is a normal market reaction to escalating trade frictions stoked by the United States and was caused, to some extent, by Washington's decision to raise tariffs, a senior Chinese central bank official said. Zhu Jun, director-general of the People's Bank of China's international department, made the comments on Saturday to a forum held in the northern Chinese province of Heilongjiang. The US Treasury Department on Monday labelled China a currency manipulator, hours after China let the yuan drop through a key support level to its lowest point in more than a decade. The moves jolted financial markets, fueling fears of a global currency war. Days earlier, US President Donald Trump had vowed to impose a 10per cent tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports from Sept. 1, ending a temporary truce and sharply escalating the trade dispute. Zhu said that the yuan's move was a normal reaction to Trump's tariff threat. "The labeling violates basic, common economic sense and international consensus, and is unconvincing," Zhu said, adding that the Chinese economy was resilient and capable of coping with various situations. The year-long trade war between the world's two largest economies has already spread beyond tit-for-tat tariffs on goods to other areas such as technology, and analysts caution retaliation could widen in scope and severity, weighing further on business confidence and global economic growth. The yuan lost 1.6per cent against the dollar last week, but there were signs in the last few sessions that authorities were trying to stabilise it.

Volatility in China's yuan due to escalating US trade friction: Chinese central bank official

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

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 10th, 2019

The International Monetary Fund on Friday stood by its assessment that the value of China's yuan was largely in line with economic fundamentals, but an IMF official said the fund was encouraging China to pursue a more flexible exchange rate with less intervention.

James Daniel, director of the IMF's China department, said that an assessment of China's economic policies found the yuan exchange rate in 2018 to be "not significantly over-valued or under-valued."

The IMF's views on the yuan are at odds with those of its largest shareholder, the United States, which this week declared China a, currency manipulator&nbsp;after it allowed the yuan to slip below 7 to the dollar to 11-year lows.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-to-soon-run-out-cash-treasury-secretary-steven-mnuchin-235422">US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin </a>is seeking to engage the IMF to help correct&nbsp;an unfair trade advantage from Beijing's currency actions, but Daniel declined to say how the IMF was responding to the request.

"Our discussions with the US treasury are ongoing on a range of issues," Daniel told reporters on a conference call, echoing an earlier statement from an IMF spokesperson.

The IMF said in the report that a worsening of trade tensions with the United States could put <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/belt-and-road-projects-china-expands-its-anti-corruption-campaign-238093">China's economic and financial stability at risk</a>, making new fiscal stimulus measures from the government warranted.

The IMF stated, if the United States were to impose 25per cent tariffs on a remaining $300 billion list of Chinese imports, this would reduce China's growth by around 0.8per cent points over the following 12 months, driven by a sharp fall in demand and a tightening of financial conditions. Negative global spillovers could be significant, it added.

Daniel said that a 10per cent tariff on this category of goods as US President Donald Trump intends to impose on Sept. 1 &nbsp;could result in a 0.3per cent point cut to growth.

Weighed down by weak demand at home and abroad, China's growth slowed to 6.2per cent in the second quarter, a near 30-year low.

More exchange rate flexibility could help China deal with these external pressures, freeing up monetary policy to deal with domestic demand conditions, Daniel said.

He also said the IMF was pressing China for structural reforms to its economy, including opening more sectors to foreign competition and reducing the role of the state in the certain industry goals also broadly sought by the Trump administration.

"We see continued rebalancing and opening up by China and increased exchange rate flexibility as being in China's interests and also benefiting the global economy."

IMF directors in a statement agreed with staff assessments that China's external position in 2018 was broadly in line with fundamentals.

But they also called for more transparency in China's exchange rate policies, the IMF said, with some seeking disclosures of China's foreign exchange market interventions.

The International Monetary Fund on Friday stood by its assessment that the value of China's yuan was largely in line with economic fundamentals, but an IMF official said the fund was encouraging China to pursue a more flexible exchange rate with less intervention.

The International Monetary Fund on Friday stood by its assessment that the value of China's yuan was largely in line with economic fundamentals, but an IMF official said the fund was encouraging China to pursue a more flexible exchange rate with less intervention. James Daniel, director of the IMF's China department, said that an assessment of China's economic policies found the yuan exchange rate in 2018 to be "not significantly over-valued or under-valued." The IMF's views on the yuan are at odds with those of its largest shareholder, the United States, which this week declared China a, currency manipulator after it allowed the yuan to slip below 7 to the dollar to 11-year lows. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is seeking to engage the IMF to help correct an unfair trade advantage from Beijing's currency actions, but Daniel declined to say how the IMF was responding to the request. "Our discussions with the US treasury are ongoing on a range of issues," Daniel told reporters on a conference call, echoing an earlier statement from an IMF spokesperson. The IMF said in the report that a worsening of trade tensions with the United States could put China's economic and financial stability at risk, making new fiscal stimulus measures from the government warranted. The IMF stated, if the United States were to impose 25per cent tariffs on a remaining $300 billion list of Chinese imports, this would reduce China's growth by around 0.8per cent points over the following 12 months, driven by a sharp fall in demand and a tightening of financial conditions. Negative global spillovers could be significant, it added. Daniel said that a 10per cent tariff on this category of goods as US President Donald Trump intends to impose on Sept. 1 could result in a 0.3per cent point cut to growth. Weighed down by weak demand at home and abroad, China's growth slowed to 6.2per cent in the second quarter, a near 30-year low. More exchange rate flexibility could help China deal with these external pressures, freeing up monetary policy to deal with domestic demand conditions, Daniel said. He also said the IMF was pressing China for structural reforms to its economy, including opening more sectors to foreign competition and reducing the role of the state in the certain industry goals also broadly sought by the Trump administration. "We see continued rebalancing and opening up by China and increased exchange rate flexibility as being in China's interests and also benefiting the global economy." IMF directors in a statement agreed with staff assessments that China's external position in 2018 was broadly in line with fundamentals. But they also called for more transparency in China's exchange rate policies, the IMF said, with some seeking disclosures of China's foreign exchange market interventions.

IMF stands by yuan view; says China could need stimulus if trade war worsens

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-decries-destabilising-behaviour-by-china-in-indo-pacific-pentagon-chief-240544">The United States and China </a>have stepped up an increasingly harsh war of words over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to push its accusations that the mass demonstrations are being fueled by foreign powers.&nbsp;

In the latest exchange, Washington on Friday called out Beijing-backed news outlets for sharing 'dangerous' reports after a newspaper revealed personal information about an American diplomat in Hong Kong who met with pro-democracy activists.

'Official Chinese media reports on our diplomat in Hong Kong have gone from irresponsible to dangerous. This must stop,' State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus posted on Twitter.

Beijing has increasingly pitched the anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous city as funded by the West, at one point describing violent unrest in the city as 'the work of the US.'

But China has provided little evidence for the claim beyond supportive statements from some Western politicians.

The Hong Kong-based, pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao reported that the political unit chief of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, Julie Eadeh, had met with members of the political party Demosisto including prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong.

It shared details on Eadeh's career as well as her family member's names.

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong denounced Ortagus remarks as 'blatant slander against China' that had 'again exposed US gangster logic.'

Ortagus, however, said that 'Chinese authorities know full well, our accredited consular personnel are just doing their jobs, just like diplomats from every other country.'

"Foreign diplomats in the United States, including Chinese ones, enjoy open access to all elements of American politics, civil society, academia, and business," she added.

On Thursday, China demanded that US diplomats based in Hong Kong 'stop interfering' in the city's affairs.

In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry urged the US diplomatic office in Hong Kong to 'immediately make a clean break with various anti-China rioters" and "stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs immediately.'

Ortagus responded at the time: 'I don't think that that's a formal protest, that is what a thuggish regime would do. That is not how a responsible nation would behave.'

A State Department official told AFP that representatives of the US government 'meet regularly with a wide cross-section of people across Hong Kong and Macau.'

Tensions are high in the Asian financial hub after two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms.

Demosisto says it campaigns for more self-determination for Hong Kong but not independence.

Last year, the Hong Kong National Party was outlawed on the grounds it posed a security threat, the first such ban since the city was handed over from Britain to China in 1997.

The United States and China have stepped up an increasingly harsh war of words over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to push its accusations that the mass demonstrations are being fueled by foreign powers.

The United States and China have stepped up an increasingly harsh war of words over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to push its accusations that the mass demonstrations are being fueled by foreign powers. In the latest exchange, Washington on Friday called out Beijing-backed news outlets for sharing 'dangerous' reports after a newspaper revealed personal information about an American diplomat in Hong Kong who met with pro-democracy activists. 'Official Chinese media reports on our diplomat in Hong Kong have gone from irresponsible to dangerous. This must stop,' State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus posted on Twitter. Beijing has increasingly pitched the anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous city as funded by the West, at one point describing violent unrest in the city as 'the work of the US.' But China has provided little evidence for the claim beyond supportive statements from some Western politicians. The Hong Kong-based, pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao reported that the political unit chief of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, Julie Eadeh, had met with members of the political party Demosisto including prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong. It shared details on Eadeh's career as well as her family member's names. The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong denounced Ortagus remarks as 'blatant slander against China' that had 'again exposed US gangster logic.' Ortagus, however, said that 'Chinese authorities know full well, our accredited consular personnel are just doing their jobs, just like diplomats from every other country.' "Foreign diplomats in the United States, including Chinese ones, enjoy open access to all elements of American politics, civil society, academia, and business," she added. On Thursday, China demanded that US diplomats based in Hong Kong 'stop interfering' in the city's affairs. In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry urged the US diplomatic office in Hong Kong to 'immediately make a clean break with various anti-China rioters" and "stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs immediately.' Ortagus responded at the time: 'I don't think that that's a formal protest, that is what a thuggish regime would do. That is not how a responsible nation would behave.' A State Department official told AFP that representatives of the US government 'meet regularly with a wide cross-section of people across Hong Kong and Macau.' Tensions are high in the Asian financial hub after two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. Demosisto says it campaigns for more self-determination for Hong Kong but not independence. Last year, the Hong Kong National Party was outlawed on the grounds it posed a security threat, the first such ban since the city was handed over from Britain to China in 1997.

US, China step up war of words over Hong Kong

Section 144 to be eased in parts of Kashmir for the Friday Eid prayers. However, restrictions will remain in some sensitive areas. Watch this video to know more.

Breaking News: Section 144 to be eased in Kashmir for Friday prayers

The United Nations has rejected Pakistan's request for intervention in the Kashmir issue after India abrogated the special status for Jammu & Kashmir. UN chief Antonio Guterres urged India and Pakistan to exercise “maximum restraint” and refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir, as he highlighted the Shimla Agreement which rejects any third-party mediation on the issue.

Antonio Guterres urges India, Pakistan to exercise ‘Maximum Restraint’ on Kashmir Issue

UN Chief urges India, Pakistan for ‘Maximum Restraint’ on Kashmir Issue, refers to Shimla Agreement

The United Nations has rejected Pakistan's request for intervention in the Kashmir issue after India abrogated the special status for Jammu & Kashmir. Watch this video to know more.

UN rejects Pakistan's appeal on Kashmir issue

The US State Department spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus on Thursday (August 8) said that recent announcements have no changes in the US policy on Kashmir. Watch this video to know more.

US: No change in the US policy on Kashmir

Russia on Friday accused the US Embassy of having meddled in Russia`s internal affairs when it published a map online showing the route of an unauthorised anti-government protest earlier this month.

Russia`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned a senior US diplomat over what it said was a post on Twitter and the embassy`s website containing a map drawn up by Russia`s opposition ahead of the August 3 rally in Moscow.

Russian police detained over 1,000 people at the protest, the latest in a series of opposition rallies ahead of a Moscow city election next month that have led to the biggest standoff between the authorities and the opposition in years.

The US Embassy warned US nationals in an English-language statement on its website on August&nbsp;2 to avoid the protest route, noting that the rally had not been sanctioned by Moscow authorities.

The statement contained a map of the planned route as well as details and information about it in Russian.

"We underlined that we consider the publication of the route ... as promoting participation in (the protest) and calling for action, which constitutes interference in the internal affairs of our country," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The US Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The complaint came a day after Russia accused German media outlet Deutsche Welle of having also called on Russians to take part in recent anti-government protests.

Russia on Friday accused the US Embassy of having meddled in Russia`s internal affairs when it published a map online showing the route of an unauthorised anti-government protest earlier this month.

Russia on Friday accused the US Embassy of having meddled in Russia`s internal affairs when it published a map online showing the route of an unauthorised anti-government protest earlier this month. Russia`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned a senior US diplomat over what it said was a post on Twitter and the embassy`s website containing a map drawn up by Russia`s opposition ahead of the August 3 rally in Moscow. Russian police detained over 1,000 people at the protest, the latest in a series of opposition rallies ahead of a Moscow city election next month that have led to the biggest standoff between the authorities and the opposition in years. The US Embassy warned US nationals in an English-language statement on its website on August 2 to avoid the protest route, noting that the rally had not been sanctioned by Moscow authorities. The statement contained a map of the planned route as well as details and information about it in Russian. "We underlined that we consider the publication of the route ... as promoting participation in (the protest) and calling for action, which constitutes interference in the internal affairs of our country," the foreign ministry said in a statement. The US Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The complaint came a day after Russia accused German media outlet Deutsche Welle of having also called on Russians to take part in recent anti-government protests.

Russia accuses US of meddling over publication of protest map

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-confirms-mark-esper-as-secretary-of-defense-238023">US&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;Mark Esper</a> met with senior&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean leaders on Friday amid a series of&nbsp;regional&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;ranging from a bitter trade row between Seoul and Tokyo to the cost of&nbsp;US troops stationed in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea.

Esper, on his first international trip since being confirmed as&nbsp;defence&nbsp;secretary, arrived in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;on Thursday evening amid an escalating trade feud between two of Washington's main Asian allies.

While the trade issue,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-warns-japan-of-security-pact-risk-calls-for-cooling-off-in-trade-row-240488"> which threatens&nbsp;regional intelligence sharing,</a> came up in his meetings in Seoul, Esper reiterated the importance of the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean US alliance and said the allies would continue to coordinate on North&nbsp;Korea.

In his opening remarks of the meeting with Esper,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-test-fired-same-type-of-missiles-in-may-seoul-223632">South&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo</a> said Japan's export restrictions against&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;are "causing adverse effects on&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea-Japan relations and security cooperation among&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea, the&nbsp;US, and Japan".

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has said it was exploring all options in a bitter trade dispute with Japan, including scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact.

The accord, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), facilitates a three-way intelligence gathering with Washington, which is crucial in fending off North&nbsp;Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The deal is automatically renewed annually on Aug. 24.

Relations between&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and Japan are at their worst in decades, with the trade row rooted in a long-running dispute over compensation for&nbsp;South&nbsp;Koreans forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two.

Esper arrived in Seoul a day after&nbsp;US President Donald Trump said&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;agreed to 'pay a lot more' to shoulder the costs required for the upkeep of 28,500&nbsp;US troops in South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and that talks are underway to discuss&nbsp;the issue.

But a spokesman at&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's foreign ministry told reporters on Thursday that the negotiations have not yet begun, and a ministry official said on Friday that Esper did not mention the costs during his meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha, according to Yonhap.

The trip comes after North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;recently carried out a series of missile tests and with de-nuclearisation talks between the United States and North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;stalled.

"At a time when the security environment is so severe, it is very meaningful to discuss&nbsp;the security situation on the&nbsp;Korean Peninsula and the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea-US alliance," Jeong said.

Noting that&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and the United States are working together to denuclearise North&nbsp;Korea, Jeong praised "President Trump's amazing imagination that transcends conventions" for bringing about his meeting with North&nbsp;Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the inter-Korean border in June.

On Tuesday, Esper said the United States would not overreact to the short-range missile launches by North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and would keep the door open to talks with Pyongyang. He also added that, despite complaints by North&nbsp;Korea, there was no plan to alter future joint military drills with Seoul.

Esper's visit comes as&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean President Moon Jae-in tapped a seasoned diplomat as the new ambassador to Washington on Friday. 
South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;is Esper's last stop on a trip that has also included&nbsp;visits&nbsp;to Australia, Japan, and Mongolia.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper met with senior South Korean leaders on Friday amid a series of regional challenges ranging from a bitter trade row between Seoul and Tokyo to the cost of US troops stationed in South Korea.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper met with senior South Korean leaders on Friday amid a series of regional challenges ranging from a bitter trade row between Seoul and Tokyo to the cost of US troops stationed in South Korea. Esper, on his first international trip since being confirmed as defence secretary, arrived in South Korea on Thursday evening amid an escalating trade feud between two of Washington's main Asian allies. While the trade issue, which threatens regional intelligence sharing, came up in his meetings in Seoul, Esper reiterated the importance of the South Korean US alliance and said the allies would continue to coordinate on North Korea. In his opening remarks of the meeting with Esper, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said Japan's export restrictions against South Korea are "causing adverse effects on South Korea-Japan relations and security cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan". South Korea has said it was exploring all options in a bitter trade dispute with Japan, including scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact. The accord, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), facilitates a three-way intelligence gathering with Washington, which is crucial in fending off North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The deal is automatically renewed annually on Aug. 24. Relations between South Korea and Japan are at their worst in decades, with the trade row rooted in a long-running dispute over compensation for South Koreans forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two. Esper arrived in Seoul a day after US President Donald Trump said South Korea agreed to 'pay a lot more' to shoulder the costs required for the upkeep of 28,500 US troops in South Korea and that talks are underway to discuss the issue. But a spokesman at South Korea's foreign ministry told reporters on Thursday that the negotiations have not yet begun, and a ministry official said on Friday that Esper did not mention the costs during his meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha, according to Yonhap. The trip comes after North Korea recently carried out a series of missile tests and with de-nuclearisation talks between the United States and North Korea stalled. "At a time when the security environment is so severe, it is very meaningful to discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and the South Korea-US alliance," Jeong said. Noting that South Korea and the United States are working together to denuclearise North Korea, Jeong praised "President Trump's amazing imagination that transcends conventions" for bringing about his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the inter-Korean border in June. On Tuesday, Esper said the United States would not overreact to the short-range missile launches by North Korea and would keep the door open to talks with Pyongyang. He also added that, despite complaints by North Korea, there was no plan to alter future joint military drills with Seoul. Esper's visit comes as South Korean President Moon Jae-in tapped a seasoned diplomat as the new ambassador to Washington on Friday. South Korea is Esper's last stop on a trip that has also included visits to Australia, Japan, and Mongolia.

US defence secretary visits South Korea as the region faces myriad challenges

China demanded Thursday that US diplomats based in <a href="In a statement Thursday, the ministry urged the diplomatic office to &quot;immediately make a clean break with various anti-China rioters&quot; and &quot;stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs immediately&quot;.">Hong Kong</a> "stop interfering" in the city's affairs, after reports that they met with pro-democracy activists, prompting a furious response from Washington.

China's foreign ministry had expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with US authorities, citing local media reports that a US official from Hong Kong's US consulate general had met with a local "independence group".

In a statement Thursday, the ministry urged the diplomatic office to "immediately make a clean break with various anti-China rioters" and "stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs immediately".

A report in Hong Kong newspaper Takungpao said there had been a meeting between members of the political party Demosisto -- including prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong -- and Julie Eadeh, political unit chief of the US consulate general in Hong Kong.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus rejected China's claims and accused it of leaking personal details of their diplomat.

"I don't think that that's a formal protest, that is what a thuggish regime would do," she said. "That is not how a responsible nation would behave."

"Our diplomat was doing her job and we commend her work," Ortagus added. "This is what American diplomats do every single day around the world."

A State Department official had earlier in the day told AFP representatives of the US government "meet regularly with a wide cross-section of people across Hong Kong and Macau."

"For example, the day of this particular meeting, our diplomats also met with both pro-establishment and pan-democratic camp legislators, as well as members of the American business community and the consular corps," the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.

Beijing has increasingly pitched the anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous region as funded by the West but has provided little evidence beyond supportive statements from some Western politicians.

Tensions are high in the Asian financial hub after two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms.

Demosisto says it campaigns for more self-determination for Hong Kong but not independence.

Last year, the Hong Kong National Party was outlawed on the grounds it posed a security threat, the first such ban since 1997.

China demanded Thursday that US diplomats based in Hong Kong "stop interfering" in the city's affairs, after reports that they met with pro-democracy activists, prompting a furious response from Washington.

China demanded Thursday that US diplomats based in Hong Kong "stop interfering" in the city's affairs, after reports that they met with pro-democracy activists, prompting a furious response from Washington. China's foreign ministry had expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with US authorities, citing local media reports that a US official from Hong Kong's US consulate general had met with a local "independence group". In a statement Thursday, the ministry urged the diplomatic office to "immediately make a clean break with various anti-China rioters" and "stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs immediately". A report in Hong Kong newspaper Takungpao said there had been a meeting between members of the political party Demosisto -- including prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong -- and Julie Eadeh, political unit chief of the US consulate general in Hong Kong. Speaking to reporters in Washington, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus rejected China's claims and accused it of leaking personal details of their diplomat. "I don't think that that's a formal protest, that is what a thuggish regime would do," she said. "That is not how a responsible nation would behave." "Our diplomat was doing her job and we commend her work," Ortagus added. "This is what American diplomats do every single day around the world." A State Department official had earlier in the day told AFP representatives of the US government "meet regularly with a wide cross-section of people across Hong Kong and Macau." "For example, the day of this particular meeting, our diplomats also met with both pro-establishment and pan-democratic camp legislators, as well as members of the American business community and the consular corps," the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. Beijing has increasingly pitched the anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous region as funded by the West but has provided little evidence beyond supportive statements from some Western politicians. Tensions are high in the Asian financial hub after two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. Demosisto says it campaigns for more self-determination for Hong Kong but not independence. Last year, the Hong Kong National Party was outlawed on the grounds it posed a security threat, the first such ban since 1997.

China tells United States diplomats in Hong Kong to stop interfering

Mounting signs of an economic slowdown and a ratcheting up of the US-China trade war have caused global oil demand to grow at its slowest pace since the financial crisis of 2008, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday.

Mounting signs of an economic slowdown and a ratcheting up of the US-China trade war have caused global oil demand to grow at its slowest pace since the financial crisis of 2008, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday. "The situation is becoming even more uncertain, global oil demand growth has been very sluggish in the first half of 2019," the IEA said in its monthly report. The Paris-based agency said that compared with the same month in 2018, global demand fell by 160,000 barrels per day (BPD) in May the second year-on-year fall of 2019. From January to May, oil demand increased by 520,000 BPD, marking the lowest rise for that period since 2008. "The prospects for a political agreement between China and the United States on trade have worsened. This could lead to reduced trade activity and less oil demand growth," the IEA said. Lowering its global demand growth forecasts for 2019 and 2020 to 1.1 million and 1.3 million BPD, respectively, the IEA cited China as the only major source of growth at 500,000 BPD for the first half of this year. Demand growth in the United States and India was just 100,000 BPD from January to June, it said. "The outlook is fragile with a greater likelihood of a downward revision than an upward one," the report said. Supply curbs by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, meanwhile, had tightened the oil market, helped by slower non-OPEC production. But the IEA said that balance would be temporary as it forecast robust non-OPEC production growth in 2020 at 2.2 million BPD, predicting the global oil market would be "well supplied". The IEA said economic concerns were overshadowing geopolitics, but the oil market continued to watch closely the tensions between the United States and Iran in the Gulf. US sanctions drove down Tehran's July exports of crude oil by 130,000 BPD to 400,000 BPD, the lowest since the 1980s.

Oil demand growth at lowest since 2008: International Energy Agency

The Trump administration hailed a large drop in migrant border crossings Thursday but found itself under attack&nbsp;over a massive sweep of&nbsp;long-resident <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-immigration-raids-sweep-up-hundreds-of-undocumented-migrants-241420">undocumented&nbsp;immigrants</a> working in several Mississippi slaughterhouses.

Detentions on the southern US border plunged for the second straight month in July after a deal with&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;to block Central American migrants, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday.

US Border Patrol agents detained or blocked 82,049 migrants at the frontier with&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;last month, down from 104,367 in June and a 13-year peak of 144,266 in May.

DHS credited a deal with&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;in June to stem the flow of migrants traveling northward to the United States from Central America --&nbsp;mainly Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador --&nbsp;as well as cooperation by the three in cracking down on migrant smuggling groups.

But the success of the border crackdown was clouded by criticism of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for its workplace raids in Mississippi on Wednesday that rounded up some 680 migrants, many of them longtime US residents, while leaving their children to fend for themselves.

The largest single-state immigration raids in US history targeted seven food processing plants in the southern state, an industry long known to employ undocumented migrants as inexpensive labor.

"They have to follow our laws, they have to abide by our rules, they have to come here legally or they shouldn't come here at all," Mike Hurst, the US attorney for the southern district of Mississippi, said.

But Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the mayor of Jackson, the state capital, blasted the raids and called on local churches to provide migrants sanctuary from authorities.

"The ICE raids are both dehumanizing and ineffective as a tactic for protecting citizens from potential harm," he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union accused the administration of "terrorizing" migrant communities.

"We are deeply concerned that the raids have separated Mississippians' families, disrupted our local economy, and diverted our state's limited resources to support Trump's mass deportation agenda," said Joshua Tom, interim executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi.

"Local law enforcement should refuse to cooperate with the president's anti-immigrant policies."

'I need my mommy'

Local television broadcast tearful scenes of children returning from school Wednesday to find out their parents had been taken away by authorities.

"I need my dad and mommy," 11-year-old Magdalena Gomez Gregorio told WJTV. "My dad didn't do anything, he's not a criminal."

Neighbor Christina Peralta said the girl's mother had been in the country for 15 years and had no record.

Peralta was taking care of two boys whose mother also was arrested.

"They've been crying all day since they got home from school," she said.

ICE, which has come under fire before for arresting undocumented migrants without providing for their children, said it had allowed detainees on Wednesday to contact their families and make arrangements for the children.

Around 300 of the 680 detainees had been released by Thursday after being processed by authorities. In a statement, the office of the federal prosecutor in Jackson said that if two parents were swept up in the raid, one would be released to care for their children.

"Based on these procedures, it is believed that all children were with at least one of their parents as of last night," it said.

Several Democratic politicians running for president attacked Trump's policies as immoral.

"This is inhumane and will have devastating effects on the children that are left behind," said Senator Elizabeth Warren, one of the candidates.

The Trump administration hailed a large drop in migrant border crossings Thursday but found itself under attack over a massive sweep of long-resident undocumented immigrants working in several Mississippi slaughterhouses.

The Trump administration hailed a large drop in migrant border crossings Thursday but found itself under attack over a massive sweep of long-resident undocumented immigrants working in several Mississippi slaughterhouses. Detentions on the southern US border plunged for the second straight month in July after a deal with Mexico to block Central American migrants, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday. US Border Patrol agents detained or blocked 82,049 migrants at the frontier with Mexico last month, down from 104,367 in June and a 13-year peak of 144,266 in May. DHS credited a deal with Mexico in June to stem the flow of migrants traveling northward to the United States from Central America -- mainly Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador -- as well as cooperation by the three in cracking down on migrant smuggling groups. But the success of the border crackdown was clouded by criticism of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for its workplace raids in Mississippi on Wednesday that rounded up some 680 migrants, many of them longtime US residents, while leaving their children to fend for themselves. The largest single-state immigration raids in US history targeted seven food processing plants in the southern state, an industry long known to employ undocumented migrants as inexpensive labor. "They have to follow our laws, they have to abide by our rules, they have to come here legally or they shouldn't come here at all," Mike Hurst, the US attorney for the southern district of Mississippi, said. But Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the mayor of Jackson, the state capital, blasted the raids and called on local churches to provide migrants sanctuary from authorities. "The ICE raids are both dehumanizing and ineffective as a tactic for protecting citizens from potential harm," he said. The American Civil Liberties Union accused the administration of "terrorizing" migrant communities. "We are deeply concerned that the raids have separated Mississippians' families, disrupted our local economy, and diverted our state's limited resources to support Trump's mass deportation agenda," said Joshua Tom, interim executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi. "Local law enforcement should refuse to cooperate with the president's anti-immigrant policies." 'I need my mommy' Local television broadcast tearful scenes of children returning from school Wednesday to find out their parents had been taken away by authorities. "I need my dad and mommy," 11-year-old Magdalena Gomez Gregorio told WJTV. "My dad didn't do anything, he's not a criminal." Neighbor Christina Peralta said the girl's mother had been in the country for 15 years and had no record. Peralta was taking care of two boys whose mother also was arrested. "They've been crying all day since they got home from school," she said. ICE, which has come under fire before for arresting undocumented migrants without providing for their children, said it had allowed detainees on Wednesday to contact their families and make arrangements for the children. Around 300 of the 680 detainees had been released by Thursday after being processed by authorities. In a statement, the office of the federal prosecutor in Jackson said that if two parents were swept up in the raid, one would be released to care for their children. "Based on these procedures, it is believed that all children were with at least one of their parents as of last night," it said. Several Democratic politicians running for president attacked Trump's policies as immoral. "This is inhumane and will have devastating effects on the children that are left behind," said Senator Elizabeth Warren, one of the candidates.

US border crossings plunge but immigration raids draw fire

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;on Wednesday accused Republican President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;of fueling the&nbsp;white supremacy beliefs blamed for several U.S. mass shootings, as&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;visited two cities where 31 people were killed in rampages last weekend. 
"In both clear language and code, this president has fanned the flames of&nbsp;white&nbsp;supremacy in this nation,"&nbsp;Biden, the former vice president, said in a speech in Burlington, Iowa.

Another contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, took up the themes of&nbsp;white&nbsp;nationalism and gun violence in a speech at the historically black South Carolina church where&nbsp;white&nbsp;supremacist Dylann Roof shot dead nine people in 2015. 
"These acts of hatred do not happen in a vacuum," Booker said at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. "They are harvested only once they have been planted."

The weekend's back-to-back mass shootings intensified criticism of what many say is incendiary rhetoric by&nbsp;Trump. 
The president, who has insisted he is not a racist, said Americans must "condemn&nbsp;racism, bigotry and&nbsp;white&nbsp;supremacy" in a speech on Monday.

On Saturday, a gunman killed 22 people in El Paso, a Texas city on the border with Mexico. Law enforcement agencies say the suspected gunman was driven by hatred for Hispanics, citing an online manifesto written by the shooter that was rife with anti-immigrant hatred. 
In the second mass shooting 13 hours later, a gunman in Dayton, Ohio, fatally shot nine people, including his sister, before he was killed by police.

Trump's rhetoric, including calling Central Americans trying to enter the United States "an invasion," and his hard-line immigration policies have exposed him to renewed condemnation following the El Paso shooting. 
"How far is it from&nbsp;Trump's saying this 'is an invasion' to the shooter in El Paso declaring 'his&nbsp;attack&nbsp;is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas?' Not far at all,"&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;said in a fiery address. 
Trump&nbsp;aides deny his rhetoric was a cause of the shootings. In his national address, the president proposed reforming mental health laws, working with social media to detect possible mass shooters and keeping guns away from people considered potentially violent. He stopped short of calling for major gun law reforms. 
Trump&nbsp;visited El Paso and Dayton on Wednesday, where he was greeted by protesters. 
Biden&nbsp;and Booker are among 24 candidates vying to become the nominee to take on&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;in the November 2020 election. 
Most of the&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;have called for stricter gun laws, including universal background checks for purchases and banning assault-style weapons. Booker has also proposed requiring licenses to own firearms. 
Biden&nbsp;invoked the rhetoric of previous presidents of both parties, including Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton, who he said 'oppose hate.' 
"We have a president who has aligned himself with the darkest forces in the nation,"&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;said in Iowa. "We have a president with a toxic tongue who has publicly and unapologetically embraced a political strategy of hate,&nbsp;racism, and division." 
In his remarks, Booker rejected the debate over whether&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;is a racist, saying that what matters is how people intend to address the problem. 
"If the answer to the question, 'Do&nbsp;racism&nbsp;and&nbsp;white&nbsp;supremacy exist?' is yes, then the real question isn't who is or isn't a racist - but who is and isn't doing something about it," he said.

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden on Wednesday accused Republican President Donald Trump of fueling the white supremacy beliefs blamed for several U.

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden on Wednesday accused Republican President Donald Trump of fueling the white supremacy beliefs blamed for several U.S. mass shootings, as Trump visited two cities where 31 people were killed in rampages last weekend. "In both clear language and code, this president has fanned the flames of white supremacy in this nation," Biden, the former vice president, said in a speech in Burlington, Iowa. Another contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, took up the themes of white nationalism and gun violence in a speech at the historically black South Carolina church where white supremacist Dylann Roof shot dead nine people in 2015. "These acts of hatred do not happen in a vacuum," Booker said at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. "They are harvested only once they have been planted." The weekend's back-to-back mass shootings intensified criticism of what many say is incendiary rhetoric by Trump. The president, who has insisted he is not a racist, said Americans must "condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy" in a speech on Monday. On Saturday, a gunman killed 22 people in El Paso, a Texas city on the border with Mexico. Law enforcement agencies say the suspected gunman was driven by hatred for Hispanics, citing an online manifesto written by the shooter that was rife with anti-immigrant hatred. In the second mass shooting 13 hours later, a gunman in Dayton, Ohio, fatally shot nine people, including his sister, before he was killed by police. Trump's rhetoric, including calling Central Americans trying to enter the United States "an invasion," and his hard-line immigration policies have exposed him to renewed condemnation following the El Paso shooting. "How far is it from Trump's saying this 'is an invasion' to the shooter in El Paso declaring 'his attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas?' Not far at all," Biden said in a fiery address. Trump aides deny his rhetoric was a cause of the shootings. In his national address, the president proposed reforming mental health laws, working with social media to detect possible mass shooters and keeping guns away from people considered potentially violent. He stopped short of calling for major gun law reforms. Trump visited El Paso and Dayton on Wednesday, where he was greeted by protesters. Biden and Booker are among 24 candidates vying to become the nominee to take on Trump in the November 2020 election. Most of the Democrats have called for stricter gun laws, including universal background checks for purchases and banning assault-style weapons. Booker has also proposed requiring licenses to own firearms. Biden invoked the rhetoric of previous presidents of both parties, including Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton, who he said 'oppose hate.' "We have a president who has aligned himself with the darkest forces in the nation," Biden said in Iowa. "We have a president with a toxic tongue who has publicly and unapologetically embraced a political strategy of hate, racism, and division." In his remarks, Booker rejected the debate over whether Trump is a racist, saying that what matters is how people intend to address the problem. "If the answer to the question, 'Do racism and white supremacy exist?' is yes, then the real question isn't who is or isn't a racist - but who is and isn't doing something about it," he said.

Biden says Trump fans 'flames of white supremacy' as Democrats attack racism

South Korean<a href="wionews.com/world/south-korean-president-moon-jae-indenies-us-north-korea-nuclear-talks-in-stalemate-230576"> President Moon Jae-in</a> on Friday appointed a new ambassador to the US who has described Donald Trump as "treacherous", only a month after Britain's envoy to Washington had to step down over his criticisms of the US president.

In the early 2000s, Lee Soo-hyuk, a career diplomat before becoming a ruling party lawmaker, was Seoul's chief negotiator in the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme.

Now he will be responsible for guiding the relationship between Seoul and Washington, who have not always seen eye-to-eye over the nuclear-armed North or their ties.&nbsp;

But only last year the South's Chosun Ilbo newspaper cited him as criticizing Trump.

Lee had been asked about an incident at the White House when the US president declined to have Moon's answer to a reporter's question translated, saying "I'm sure I've heard it before".

Lee told the paper: "That's Trump's style. I don't think he's only done that to Moon. He's treacherous," adding that as a former businessman the US leader tended to say insincere things.

"To be honest, I don't like", Lee went on, without making clear whether his disapproval was of Trump personally or his manner.

His appointment comes only a month after Britain's ambassador to Washington resigned after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democratic-congresswomen-hit-back-after-racist-trump-tirade-236437">Trump targeted him over highly critical </a>comments that put London and Washington's relationship on edge.

In a series of confidential diplomatic cables revealed by a British newspaper, Kim Darroch described the US leader as "inept" and his White House as "uniquely dysfunctional", adding the president was "radiating insecurity".

Trump hit back with a torrent of angry tweets, saying he would not deal with Darroch again, describing him as a "very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool", also calling Britain's then prime minister Theresa May "foolish".

Seoul and Washington are in a security alliance and the US stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it against its neighbor, which invaded in 1950.

Trump has repeatedly demanded Seoul pay more towards the cost of the US troop presence, and has hinted that it could be withdrawn.

Negotiations on another increase had started, he tweeted Thursday, only for Seoul to deny that was the case.

The North has fired four sets of projectiles in the last two weeks to demonstrate its anger over joint military exercises between the South and the US but Trump has played them down, raising concerns among some South Koreans that Washington is concerned primarily with its security.

And while Seoul and Tokyo are embroiled in a bitter dispute over trade and history, conservative Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has established a much closer relationship with Trump, bonding over burgers and golf, than has Moon, a left-leaning former human rights lawyer.&nbsp;

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday appointed a new ambassador to the US who has described Donald Trump as "treacherous", only a month after Britain's envoy to Washington had to step down over his criticisms of the US president.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday appointed a new ambassador to the US who has described Donald Trump as "treacherous", only a month after Britain's envoy to Washington had to step down over his criticisms of the US president. In the early 2000s, Lee Soo-hyuk, a career diplomat before becoming a ruling party lawmaker, was Seoul's chief negotiator in the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme. Now he will be responsible for guiding the relationship between Seoul and Washington, who have not always seen eye-to-eye over the nuclear-armed North or their ties. But only last year the South's Chosun Ilbo newspaper cited him as criticizing Trump. Lee had been asked about an incident at the White House when the US president declined to have Moon's answer to a reporter's question translated, saying "I'm sure I've heard it before". Lee told the paper: "That's Trump's style. I don't think he's only done that to Moon. He's treacherous," adding that as a former businessman the US leader tended to say insincere things. "To be honest, I don't like", Lee went on, without making clear whether his disapproval was of Trump personally or his manner. His appointment comes only a month after Britain's ambassador to Washington resigned after Trump targeted him over highly critical comments that put London and Washington's relationship on edge. In a series of confidential diplomatic cables revealed by a British newspaper, Kim Darroch described the US leader as "inept" and his White House as "uniquely dysfunctional", adding the president was "radiating insecurity". Trump hit back with a torrent of angry tweets, saying he would not deal with Darroch again, describing him as a "very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool", also calling Britain's then prime minister Theresa May "foolish". Seoul and Washington are in a security alliance and the US stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it against its neighbor, which invaded in 1950. Trump has repeatedly demanded Seoul pay more towards the cost of the US troop presence, and has hinted that it could be withdrawn. Negotiations on another increase had started, he tweeted Thursday, only for Seoul to deny that was the case. The North has fired four sets of projectiles in the last two weeks to demonstrate its anger over joint military exercises between the South and the US but Trump has played them down, raising concerns among some South Koreans that Washington is concerned primarily with its security. And while Seoul and Tokyo are embroiled in a bitter dispute over trade and history, conservative Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has established a much closer relationship with Trump, bonding over burgers and golf, than has Moon, a left-leaning former human rights lawyer.

Seoul appoints an envoy to US who called Donald Trump 'treacherous'

US President Donald Trump slams French President Emmanuel Macron for Iran diplomacy. Donald Trump tweeted, "nobody speaks for the United States but the United States itself. No one is authorized in any way, shape, or form, to represent us!"

Donald Trump slams Macron for Iran diplomacy

In the wake of India's decision to strip special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan must refrain from any retaliatory aggression, including support for infiltrations across the Line of Control (LoC) and take demonstrable action against terror infrastructure on its soil, said a joint statement by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

US urges Pakistan to stop infiltrations across LoC

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-support-direct-dialogue-between-india-pak-on-kashmir-us-state-department-241415">We support direct dialogue between India &amp; Pak on Kashmir: US State Department</a> 
 
The US State Department's move comes amid increased tension between India and Pakistan after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pak-must-stop-supporting-infiltration-across-loc-us-senate-foreign-affairs-committee-241424">Pak must stop supporting infiltration across LoC: US Senate foreign affairs committee</a> 
 
The joint statement comes amid spiralling tensions between India and Pakistan after the Indian Parliament passed a resolution to revoke Article 370.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyrgyz-officer-dies-after-security-forces-storm-ex-presidents-home-241418">Kyrgyz officer dies after security forces storm ex-president's home</a> 
 
Former president Atambayev saw his immunity lifted in June as the authorities seek to prosecute him on corruption charges.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-approves-800-million-in-helicopters-for-south-korea-241419">US approves $800 million in helicopters for South Korea</a>

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission Seahawk Helicopters and extensive associated radar, communications and weaponry equipment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-fanned-the-flames-of-white-supremacy-biden-241421">Trump has 'fanned the flames of white supremacy': Biden</a>

Trump has been accused by his Democratic critics and others of promoting white nationalism with his frequent attacks on immigrants and minorities.

We support direct dialogue between India & Pak on Kashmir: US State Department The US State Department's move comes amid increased tension between India and Pakistan after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

We support direct dialogue between India & Pak on Kashmir: US State Department The US State Department's move comes amid increased tension between India and Pakistan after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Pak must stop supporting infiltration across LoC: US Senate foreign affairs committee The joint statement comes amid spiralling tensions between India and Pakistan after the Indian Parliament passed a resolution to revoke Article 370. Kyrgyz officer dies after security forces storm ex-president's home Former president Atambayev saw his immunity lifted in June as the authorities seek to prosecute him on corruption charges. US approves $800 million in helicopters for South Korea The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission Seahawk Helicopters and extensive associated radar, communications and weaponry equipment. Trump has 'fanned the flames of white supremacy': Biden Trump has been accused by his Democratic critics and others of promoting white nationalism with his frequent attacks on immigrants and minorities.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Trump’s visit to sites of back-to-back massacres, which left at least 31 dead and more than 50 injured at the weekend in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.

Hundreds of people protests as Trump arrives in El Paso

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 8th, 2019

Adidas said supply shortages for North America will be fixed by the end of the year and the European market should return to growth after the German sportswear company reported weaker than expected second-quarter sales and profits.

Adidas said supply shortages for North America will be fixed by the end of the year and the European market should return to growth after the German sportswear company reported weaker than expected second-quarter sales and profits. Chief Executive Kasper Rorsted said he was more worried about the prospects for a currency war between the United States and China than about tariffs on Chinese-made shoes after Washington branded Beijing a currency manipulator on Monday. "There is no winner in a currency war, eventually everybody will lose as it will lead to a slowdown in the world economy," Rorsted told journalists, noting that a fall in currencies of its two top markets would be tough as the firm reports in euros. Adidas shares fell 1.6 per cent by 1000 GMT. The stock had rallied in recent weeks on hopes Adidas might lift its outlook after German rival Puma raised its sales and profit forecasts following a strong second quarter. "Given the recent rerating in the shares since April and narrowing valuation gap versus peers, the lack of a sales or earnings beat is unusual, and brand momentum remains concerning," Credit Suisse analysts wrote of Adidas. Second-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 4 per cent to 5.51 billion euros ($6.18 billion), shy of average analyst forecasts for 5.54 billion as the company saw a strong decline in the soccer category a year on from the World Cup. Operating profit rose 9 per cent to 643 million euros, also lagging average analyst forecasts for 651 million. Adidas warned in March that supply chain issues would hit sales growth in the first half, citing particular problems meeting North America demand for mid-market clothing. The shortages should be over by the end of the year, and have no impact in 2020, Rorsted said, noting that Adidas has built up capacity and accelerated the transfer of goods by air freight, but managed to make up for the higher costs elsewhere. He said the supply problems were unrelated to U.S.-China trade tensions, with few Adidas products for the U.S. market still produced in China. Adidas makes about 25 per cent of its sales in China, which accounts for about 20 per cent of manufacturing. EUROPE TO RETURN TO GROWTH Adidas quarterly sales were flat in Europe, recovering from a 3 per cent fall in the first quarter after the firm took steps to reduce its reliance on its Originals fashion line and boost sales of sports performance gear, with new product launches. Rorsted said Europe should return to growth by the end of the year, saying new shoe launches had been well received, such as 1980s-style Nite Jogger sneakers, Pulseboost running shoes and movie collaborations with Marvel and Toy Story. The company is celebrating its 70th anniversary on Friday and opening a new building at a glitzy ceremony in its small German hometown of Herzogenaurach. Athletes and celebrities including Pharrell Williams and rappers Run DMC are due to attend. Adidas has eroded Nike's dominance of the U.S. market in recent years, pushing retro styles and teaming up with singers such as Williams, Kanye West, and Beyonce. Nike has responded by ramping up spending on marketing, with its sales rising a currency-adjusted 10 per cent in the quarter ended May 31, as it grew faster than Adidas in China and Europe. Adidas said it was confident sales would accelerate in the second half, allowing it to confirm a full-year outlook for currency-neutral sales growth of 5-8 per cent and net income from continuing operations of between 1.88 and 1.95 billion euros. Sales of its long-struggling Reebok brand rose 3 per cent, driven by the popularity of retro styles. But Rorsted dismissed interest in the brand from former basketballer Shaquille O'Neal, saying Adidas was not in talks to sell it.

Adidas promises revival after sluggish quarter

The&nbsp;US maritime agency has told&nbsp;US flagged&nbsp;commercial&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;they should&nbsp;send&nbsp;transit&nbsp;plans&nbsp;in&nbsp;advance&nbsp;to American and British naval authorities if they intend to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flags-of-inconvenience-noose-tightens-around-iranian-shipping-238568">sail in&nbsp;Gulf&nbsp;waters following several incidents over tankers involving Iran.</a>

The seizure of&nbsp;commercial&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;and attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz have&nbsp;unsettled shipping lanes that link Middle Eastern oil producers to global markets.

The United States, which has increased its military forces in the region, has blamed Iran for blasts on several tankers near the Strait, a charge Tehran denies.

Britain said on Monday it was joining the United States in a maritime security mission in the&nbsp;Gulf&nbsp;to protect&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-put-your-life-in-danger-iran-publishes-exchange-with-british-warship-during-tanker-seizure-239211">Iran seized a British-flagged tanker</a>.

"Heightened military activity and increased political tensions in this region continue to pose serious threats to&nbsp;commercial&nbsp;vessels," the&nbsp;US Maritime Administration (MARAD) said in an advisory on Wednesday.

"Associated with these threats is a potential for miscalculation or misidentification that could lead to aggressive actions," it added.

Ships should also alert the&nbsp;US Navy's Fifth Fleet and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations in the event of any incident or suspicious activity. It warned they could face interference with their global positioning systems (GPS).

MARAD said in at least two incidents involving&nbsp;commercial&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;and Iran since May 2019 ships had reported interference with their GPS and "spoofed" communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be&nbsp;US or other warships.

It advised crews to decline Iranian forces permission to board if the safety of the ship and crew would not be at risk but said they should not forcibly resist any boarding party.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-guards-say-confiscated-british-tanker-in-strait-of-hormuz-237205">Traffic through the Strait</a>, through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes, has become the focus for a standoff between Iran and the United States after President Donald Trump quit a 2015 nuclear pact and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

Iran says the responsibility of securing these waters lies with Tehran and other countries in the region.

"The maritime coalition that&nbsp;US is trying to form will create more instability and insecurity," Iran's Defence Minister Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency on Thursday during phone calls with his counterparts from Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.

Washington is lobbying other nations to join the coalition along with Britain, which has the largest naval presence in the area after the United States.

Britain's P&amp;O Cruises said it had cancelled cruises around Dubai and the&nbsp;Gulf&nbsp;because of the increased tensions.

The US maritime agency has told US flagged commercial vessels they should send transit plans in advance to American and British naval authorities if they intend to sail in Gulf waters following several incidents over tankers involving Iran.

The US maritime agency has told US flagged commercial vessels they should send transit plans in advance to American and British naval authorities if they intend to sail in Gulf waters following several incidents over tankers involving Iran. The seizure of commercial vessels and attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz have unsettled shipping lanes that link Middle Eastern oil producers to global markets. The United States, which has increased its military forces in the region, has blamed Iran for blasts on several tankers near the Strait, a charge Tehran denies. Britain said on Monday it was joining the United States in a maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect vessels after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker. "Heightened military activity and increased political tensions in this region continue to pose serious threats to commercial vessels," the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) said in an advisory on Wednesday. "Associated with these threats is a potential for miscalculation or misidentification that could lead to aggressive actions," it added. Ships should also alert the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations in the event of any incident or suspicious activity. It warned they could face interference with their global positioning systems (GPS). MARAD said in at least two incidents involving commercial vessels and Iran since May 2019 ships had reported interference with their GPS and "spoofed" communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be US or other warships. It advised crews to decline Iranian forces permission to board if the safety of the ship and crew would not be at risk but said they should not forcibly resist any boarding party. Traffic through the Strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes, has become the focus for a standoff between Iran and the United States after President Donald Trump quit a 2015 nuclear pact and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran says the responsibility of securing these waters lies with Tehran and other countries in the region. "The maritime coalition that US is trying to form will create more instability and insecurity," Iran's Defence Minister Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency on Thursday during phone calls with his counterparts from Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. Washington is lobbying other nations to join the coalition along with Britain, which has the largest naval presence in the area after the United States. Britain's P&O Cruises said it had cancelled cruises around Dubai and the Gulf because of the increased tensions.

US tells commercial vessels to send Gulf transit plans in advance

The United States raised its travel warning for Hong Kong, urging increased caution by visitors to the Chinese territory in the face of what it described as civil unrest after months of sometimes violent street protests.

The United States raised its travel warning for Hong Kong, urging increased caution by visitors to the Chinese territory in the face of what it described as civil unrest after months of sometimes violent street protests. The protests in the Asian financial hub began with opposition to a now-suspended extradition law and have evolved into a direct challenge to the city's government and calls for full democracy. "The protests and confrontations have spilled over into neighbourhoods other than those where the police have permitted marches or rallies," said the advisory, posted on the website of the U.S. state department on Wednesday. "These demonstrations, which can take place with little or no notice, are likely to continue," it added. The advisory was raised to level two on a four-point scale. Australia also warned its travellers in an updated advisory. The protests pose a grave popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012. Xi is also grappling with a debilitating trade war with the United States and a slowing economy. China's Foreign Ministry lodged stern representations with the United States, urging U.S. officials to stop sending wrong signals to the "violent separatists" in Hong Kong. The protests have left Hong Kong facing its worst crisis since it returned to China from British rule in 1997, the head of China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office said. More protests are planned in several districts across the city this weekend, starting on Friday, with demonstrators also planning a three-day rally at the city's international airport. Police warned activists to protest peacefully and said they had detained three more people, raising the number arrested to nearly 600 since protests began in June, the youngest aged 13. Protesters want the city's embattled leader Carrie Lam to categorically withdraw the extradition bill and an independent inquiry into the government and the police handling of the controversy. Lam, who says the bill is dead but has not withdrawn it, visited some districts on Wednesday to speak with residents and inspect a police station recently targeted by protesters. The government would put forward measures to improve people's livelihoods, she said in a statement after the visit. Further demonstrations Young people are at the forefront of the protests, worried about China encroaching on Hong Kong's freedoms. The city is already battling problems such as sky-high living costs and what people see as an unfair housing policy favoring the wealthy. The normally efficient and orderly city has seen its transport network besieged and shut down by demonstrators, while protests have shut big-brand stores and popular shopping malls. Three masked activists, who did not give their names, held a news conference on Thursday, their second this week and broadcast on domestic television channels, to criticize what they called arbitrary arrests and police use of tear gas. "The continuation of such attempts at spreading fear and suppressing the freedom of press will eventually backfire on the government itself," one activist told the Citizens' Press Conference, a platform protesters are using to voice concerns over the situation in Hong Kong. "The ultimate victim of these tactics will be the police force's crumbling public image," said the activist, who spoke in English. The comments came after plainclothes police arrested a student leader from Baptist University, Keith Fong, because laser pointers he bought were offensive weapons. On Wednesday night, hundreds of protesters held a rally and shined lasers on the dome of the city's Space Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui, demanding Fong be released, and mocking the police's description of the pointers as "laser guns". Several thousand Hong Kong lawyers, dressed in black, marched in silence on Wednesday to call on the government to safeguard the independence of the city's department of justice. They fear the justice department's prosecutions of arrested protesters are taking on an increasingly political slant. Many of those arrested have been charged with rioting, which carries a 10-year jail term. Protesters have started to use increasingly diverse tactics to evade capture, shifting quickly from place to place and using online platforms such as Telegram to direct thousands of people. They also circulated brightly colored pamphlets online ahead of the airport demonstrations, aiming to help tourists understand events, in which they vowed never to surrender. "Dear travellers, please forgive us for the 'unexpected Hong Kong'. You arrive in a broken, torn-apart city, not the one you have once pictured. Yet the city you imagined is exactly what we are fighting for," the pamphlets said.

More Hong Kong protests planned as US raises travel warning

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