USA

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua): U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday held back from further escalating tension with Iran.

When asked by a reporter at the White House on Thursday morning about whether the United States was going to war with Iran, Trump replied "I hope not."

Washington has piled up military pressure on Tehran over the past week by intensifying deployment including an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East following U.S. intelligence information revealing "an escalating of threatening actions" from Iran.

WASHINGTON, May 16. /TASS/: Russian national Maria Butina jailed in the United States has filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals against the District of Columbia Circuit’s verdict, sentencing her to an 18-month prison term, according to her appeal.

"I, the above named appellant, hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from the above-stated judgment," the document says.

The statement says that the Russian woman is currently held at Oklahoma’s Grady County Jail.

16 May 2019; AFP: President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned disgraced British media mogul Conrad Black, who served more than three years in prison in the US for fraud and obstruction of justice.

"In 2007, prosecutors alleged that Lord Black had committed several acts of mail fraud and obstruction. The Supreme Court of the United States, however, largely disagreed and overturned almost all charges in his case," the White House said in a statement announcing the pardon.

16 May 2019; DW: Borussia Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko recently signed a deal worth a reported €10 million with Nike. At just 14 years old, it's a risky move for all parties involved and it isn't guaranteed to pay off in the long run.

Few would blink twice at a headline reading 'Borussia Dortmund star signs €10 million ($11.26 million) sponsorship deal.' But when the deal involves a 14-year-old it naturally garners more attention.

NEW YORK, May 15 (APP): U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who is a candidate for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, has warned that war with Iran would be “many times worse than the Iraq War,” in response to a report in The New York Times saying that the Trump administration is reviewing a plan to send up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East amid growing tensions with Tehran.

The idea was reportedly spearheaded by John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, who served in the George W. Bush administration at the height of the conflict in Iraq.

16 May 2019; DW: The United States claims militia with ties to Iran are planning attacks against its personnel in Iraq. Whether true or not, tensions between Iran and the US are putting Iraq in a tough position.

The United States on Wednesday ordered all non-essential American diplomatic personnel out of Iraq amid heightened tensions with Iran.

NEW YORK, May 15 (Xinhua): A helicopter fell short of the landing pad and crashed into the Hudson River in New York City on Wednesday afternoon, injuring one person on board.

The helicopter reportedly missed the landing pad on Manhattan's West 30th Street and the Hudson River at around 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) and slipped into the water, local media and authorities said.

The pilot, who was alone in the helicopter, escaped and was rescued from water with non-life-threatening injuries shortly after the crash, according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

WASHINGTON, May 15 (Xinhua): U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed reports of "infighting" within the administration on U.S. Iran policy.

Via tweets, Trump said, "The Fake News Washington Post, and even more Fake News New York Times, are writing stories that there is infighting with respect to my strong policy in the Middle East."

"There is no infighting whatsoever," he said. "Different opinions are expressed and I make a decisive and final decision - it is a very simple process."

Trump added that "I'm sure that Iran will want to talk soon."

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House sharply escalated its resistance to congressional attempts to investigate President Donald Trump , notifying the House Judiciary panel Wednesday that it would refuse to comply with sweeping requests for documents and witness testimony while declaring that the legislative branch had no right to a “do-over” of the special counsel’s Russia probe.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A self-driving shuttle got pulled over by police on its first day carrying passengers on a new Rhode Island route.

Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements said an officer pulled over the odd-looking autonomous vehicle because he had never seen one before.

“It looked like an oversize golf cart,” Clements said.