USA

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Democratic Party said Wednesday that it would not allow conservative Fox News to host a presidential primary debate.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement that the news channel had an "inappropriate relationship" with the Trump administration which led him to make the decision.

UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council met behind closed doors Wednesday to discuss the latest findings by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) of the chemical weapon use in Syria.

The report from the UN-backed watchdog concluded, based on its Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) assessment, that there were "reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon has taken place, on 7 April," during the battle for control of Eastern Ghouta.

NEW YORK, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The United States will see its annual economic growth decline to about 2 percent this year and slower growth is just a "new normal," New York Fed President John Williams said on Wednesday.

A downturn in global growth, heightened geopolitical uncertainty and the effects of tighter financial conditions are the three constraining factors that will contribute to the slower pace this year, the central bank official said in a speech to the Economic Club of New York.

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday that the United States would impose sanctions on foreign financial institutions that benefit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his administration.

"The United States is putting foreign financial institutions on notice that they will face sanctions for being involved in facilitating illegitimate transactions that benefit Nicolas Maduro and his corrupt network," Bolton said in a statement.

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would be "very disappointed" if reports on Pyongyang's alledged efforts of rebuilding its rocket sites prove to be true.

U.S. media reported on Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) appeared to have started "rapid rebuilding" of the long-range rocket site at Tongchang-ri Launch Facility, citing an imagery analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

New York, Mar 6 (PTI) An Indian-origin former employee of Cisco Systems has been arrested and charged with a criminal complaint alleging he defrauded the technology major of more than USD 9.3 million.

Prithviraj Bhikha, 50 was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud, US Attorney David Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John Bennett have said.

Washington, Mar 6 (PTI) The US has said the ongoing negotiations with the Taliban are focused on four interconnected issues, including counterterrorism and troop withdrawal, that will be key for any future agreement to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan.

A high-powered American delegation led by Special US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has been holding marathon meetings in Doha, Qatar with a high-level Taliban team led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Back in January, the Democrats welcomed their brash young newcomers to Congress with smiles and hugs. That was before the new colleagues dragged the party’s simmering divisions over Israel out in the open.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has beefed up its legal team. Its political team is ready to distract and disparage. And President Donald Trump is venting against Democratic prying.

Trump’s plan for responding to the multiplying congressional probes into his campaign, White House and personal affairs is coming into focus as newly empowered Democrats intensify their efforts. Deploying a mix of legal legwork and political posturing, the administration is trying to minimize its exposure while casting the president as the victim of overzealous partisans.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s former lawyer is returning to Capitol Hill for a fourth day of testimony as Democrats pursue a flurry of investigations into Trump’s White House, businesses and presidential campaign.

Michael Cohen became a key figure in those investigations after turning on his former boss and cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. He was interviewed behind closed doors by both the Senate and House intelligence committees last week and is due for another private, daylong meeting with the House intelligence panel on Wednesday.