USA

31 January 2020; AFP: The US government plans to relax restrictions on the army's use of anti-personnel mines, reversing an Obama-era commitment that more than 160 countries have signed up to, and which aims to limit injuries to civilians, US media reported Thursday.

31 January 2020; AFP: Incidence of sexual assault in US military academies rose again last year, the Pentagon said Thursday, despite efforts to combat the problem.

(Reuters) - Senior Plc (SNR.L), on Friday warned of a deeper hit to its 2020 revenue and margins from the grounding of the 737 MAX airliner, sending shares in the Boeing (BA.N) supplier to 8-year lows.

Shares of the FTSE 250 firm, which makes airframe and other components for the MAX, tumbled as much as 10% in morning trade.

Like many Boeing suppliers, Senior has seen a squeeze in profits and margins since the grounding of the MAX in March following two deadly crashes.

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US economy in 2019 expanded by the slowest rate since President Donald Trump took office as worsening trade friction undermined investment and exports, according to new government data released Thursday.

The $21 trillion economy grew by 2.3 percent compared to 2018, according to the government’s initial estimate.

Though that result remains stronger than many advanced economies, it is far from Trump’s promised target of 3.0 percent or higher.

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former US Pres Jimmy Carter said that President Donald Trump’s Middle East plan would violate international law and urged the United Nations to stop Israel from annexing Palestinian land.

“The new US plan undercuts prospects for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” the former US president said in a statement.

CHICAGO (US), Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pilots and flight attendants are demanding airlines stop flights to China as health officials declare a global emergency over the rapidly spreading coronavirus, with American Airlines’ pilots filing a lawsuit seeking an immediate halt.

China has reported nearly 10,000 cases and 213 deaths, but the virus has spread to 18 countries, mostly, presumably, by airline passengers.

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States extended exemptions to let an internationally backed nuclear deal with Iran go forward, even as it announced new sanctions to step up pressure.

President Donald Trump in 2018 pulled out of the accord negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama, sending tensions soaring with Iran and leading Tehran to curb compliance, but European powers still back the deal.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said that the organization welcomes the constructive dialogue between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, while noting that ASEAN plays a key role in the regional peace and security architecture.

"The United Nations also welcomes the constructive dialogue between ASEAN and China towards the maintenance of regional peace and maritime security," the UN chief told the Security Council meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed two bills seeking to curb U.S. presidents' war powers.

The Democratic-led House passed a measure to repeal the 2002 authorization for the use of military force for the war in Iraq in a largely party-line vote of 236 to 166. It also approved another bill by 228-175 trying to restrain U.S. military action against Iran without Congressional approval.

It's unclear about the fate of the bills in the Republican-controlled Senate.

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A Coast Guard lieutenant accused of stockpiling guns and drafting a hit list of prominent Democrats and TV journalists is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday for his guilty plea to firearms and drug offenses.

Christopher Hasson, 50, faces a maximum of 31 years in prison at sentencing by U.S. District Judge George Hazel. He pleaded guilty in October to possessing unregistered and unserialized silencers, being a drug addict in possession of firearms and illegal possession of tramadol, an opioid painkiller.