USA

NEW YORK, May 05 (APP): The fourth edition of Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) concluded in New York Saturday night after lively discussions of Pakistan’s arts and literature, with Pakistani Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi saying this annual event was an expression of the cultural renaissance that has been underway in the country in recent years.

“The cultural landscape in Pakistan has seen a flowering of art, music, literature, and yes, cinema too, all of which have presented a rich panorama of creativity” ,

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua): A two-seater helicopter crashed into the Chesapeake Bay in the U.S. state of Maryland Saturday, local police said, adding that search and rescue was underway.

The crash took place Saturday afternoon, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police, who are trying to determine how many people were on board the aircraft.

WASHINGTON, May 3. /TASS/: The US aims to improve relations with Russia and expand bilateral trade, US President Donald Trump said on the outcomes of the phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We also discussed trade. We intend to do a lot of trade with Russia, we do some right now, and it’s up a little bit," Trump said. "And getting along with Russia and China is a good thing."

WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua): Chinese and Australian scientists found that the bamboo-eating giant pandas are more of a carnivore than a herbivore in terms of their nutrient intake.

The study published on Thursday in the journal Current Biology showed that the protein and carbohydrate content of the panda's plant diet looks much like that of a hypercarnivore or animals that obtain more than 70 percent of their diet from other animals.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3 (Xinhua): An advocacy group in the Bay Area has met resistance from local residents who oppose a proposed plan to build permanent housing for the homeless in their neighborhood, a local TV outlet reported Friday.

The group called People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) is exploring possibilities of turning the site of a long-defunct grocery store into 100 permanent apartment homes for the homeless, the KRON4 TV said.

OMAHA, the United States, May 3 (Xinhua): Yahoo Finance will host a forum on business opportunities between China and the United States here Friday during the annual shareholders' meeting of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., according to a pre-event notice issued by Yahoo.

Co-hosted by Yahoo Finance, Asian Cultural Center U.S. and the China General Chamber of Commerce U.S.A., the U.S.-China Investor Forum "will focus on business and investment opportunities between the United States and China, how both countries can continue a stable and healthy bi-lateral relationship," Yahoo said.

4 May 2019; DW: The US renewed most of its sanction waivers for the Iranian civilian nuclear program on Friday, but allowed two key waivers to lapse.

It will now start imposing sanctions on Iranian exports of enriched uranium that had been allowed under the nuclear deal controversially rejected by the Trump administration.

4 May 2019; DW: The United Nations on Friday said Hungary was deliberately depriving rejected asylum-seekers awaiting deportation of food, in violation of international law.

"According to reports, since August 2018, at least 21 migrants awaiting deportation had been deprived of food by the Hungarian authorities — some for up to five days," said UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.

WASHINGTON, May 4. /TASS/: US President Donald Trump spoke about the importance of Russia’s steps aimed at the Korean Peninsula’s denuclearization during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters.

Washington, May 4 (AFP) At USD 70 per ton of carbon dioxide, a carbon tax would be the most efficient means of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, according to an International Monetary Fund report published Friday.

But for the moment, carbon taxes remain unpopular, particularly in France, where plans to increase it to 55 euros (or USD 61.60) from 44.60 euros recently ignited the Yellow Vest protest movement.