USA

Washington, Jun 22 (PTI) Ahead of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to India next week, an influential American lawmaker has asked him to take up the issue of increased tariff on almonds during his meeting with Prime Minster Narendra Modi.

India has announced a hike in customs duties on as many as 28 US products, including almond, apple, pulses and walnut, in response to higher tariffs imposed by Washington on Indian products like steel and aluminium.

Washington, Jun 22 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has nominated Mark Esper, an Army veteran, to be the next defence secretary, as the Pentagon faces a leadership vacuum amid a mounting confrontation with Iran.

The decision comes as lawmakers increasingly pressure the president to bring stable civilian leadership to the Pentagon after Jim Mattis abruptly resigned as defence secretary late last year.

Washington, Jun 22 (PTI) The US has asked Pakistan to release more than 40 members of the religious minorities facing blasphemy charges and also to appoint an envoy to address the various religious freedom concerns in the country.

Speaking at the release of the annual report on the International Religious Freedom of the State Department for the year 2018, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted how the Pakistan's Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Catholic, of blasphemy, sparing her the death penalty after she spent nearly a decade in prison.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 21 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed a landmark international agreement banning violence and harassment in the workplace which was adopted on Friday at the International Labour Organization’s Centenary Conference in Geneva.

In his speech to delegates in the Swiss city, Guterres congratulated member states for “building upon a legacy of achievement, guided by that age-old vision of social justice through social dialogue and international cooperation”.

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday spoke over phone with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Iran.

The two leaders discussed issues related to Iran and Saudi Arabia's role in ensuring stability in the Middle East and the global oil market, the White House said in a statement.

The ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran further intensified after the downing of a U.S. military drone by Iran on Wednesday.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Mayors of sanctuary cities in San Francisco Bay Area Friday denounced the federal government's planned deportation operations targeting undocumented immigrants, which could begin on Sunday.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed slammed the potential raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, ordered by President Donald Trump, on up to 2,000 migrant families.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — So many gray whales are dying off the U.S. West Coast that scientists and volunteers dealing with the putrid carcasses have an urgent request for coastal residents: Lend us your private beaches so these ocean giants can rot in peace.

NEW YORK (AP) — All 18 of the nation’s largest and most complex banks are strong enough to withstand a severe economic downturn and would be able to stay in business without collapsing, the Federal Reserve said Friday.

The results are from the first round of the central bank’s annual stress tests, which showed the 18 big banks have benefited from an improving economy and have balance sheets strong enough to withstand a deep global downturn and the U.S. unemployment rate rising to double digits.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Explosions and a blaze at the largest oil refinery on the East Coast sent a fireball into the sky and shook homes before dawn Friday, though authorities reported only a few minor injuries and said the air was safe to breathe.

The fire at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex was deemed contained and controlled but continued to burn late Friday afternoon, said Craig Murphy, deputy fire commissioner.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Nearly 400 claims have been filed against New Mexico’s largest and oldest Roman Catholic diocese as part of a pending bankruptcy case that stems from the clergy sex abuse scandal, church officials announced Friday.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe reported that 395 people filed claims against the church as of the June 17 deadline. That included 374 claims involving allegations of sex abuse. The remaining 21 were related to other grievances.