Business

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration wants to shift money for Pell Grants for college education to fund new spending, including a $1.6 billion bump for NASA to return American astronauts to the moon by 2024.

Under a budget amendment sent to Congress Monday evening, the administration would use an additional $1.9 billion in surplus Pell Grant money to fund other budget priorities, including an infusion of new cash for NASA “so that we can return to Space in a BIG WAY!” President Donald Trump tweeted.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s auto sales sank 17.7% in April from a year earlier, the 10th straight month of decline amid trade tension with Washington and an economic slowdown.

Drivers in the industry’s biggest global market bought 1.6 million sedans, SUVs and minivans, according to an industry group, the China Association of Auto Manufacturers. Total vehicle sales, including trucks and buses, fell 14.6% to 2 million.

TOKYO, May 14 (Xinhua): Japan's Fast Retailing Co. said Tuesday that personal information from 461,091 customer accounts of its Uniqlo and GU shopping websites may have been breached through unauthorized access.

The two online shopping websites were hacked between April 23 and May 10 and customers' data including names, addresses, phone numbers and credit card information may have been leaked, according to the operator of the two fast-fashion brands.

"We deeply apologize to our customers and pledge to prevent this from happening again," the company said in a statement.

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua): China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Tuesday met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in Beijing.

BRUSSELS, May 13 (Xinhua): The Europeans Union (EU) and member states' foreign ministers told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any escalation on the military side with Iran, the EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini said.

RIYADH, May 13 (Xinhua): Saudi Arabia confirmed on Monday that two of its oil tankers were part of the sabotage attack on Sunday in the waters near the United Arab Emirates, off the coast of the emirate of Fujairah.

The Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid Al-Falih, confirmed in a statement through Saudi Press Agency that the two oil tankers were attacked while on their way to cross into the Gulf.

The attack didn't lead to any casualties or oil spill; however, it caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels, the minister said.

BEIJING (AP) — Sending Wall Street into a slide, China announced higher tariffs Monday on $60 billion worth of American goods in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s latest penalties on Chinese products.

Duties of 5% to 25% will take effect on June 1 on about 5,200 American products, including batteries, spinach and coffee, China’s Finance Ministry said.

13 May 2019; MEMO: Israeli NGO “Breaking the Silence” has called on Eurovision goers to experience “the full picture” of Israel’s occupation by taking a tour to the West Bank city of Hebron.

The group yesterday erected a giant billboard on a highway between Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv – where this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is being held – in a bid to highlight Israel’s now 52-year-old occupation of the Palestinian territories.

13 May 2019; AFP: US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his tariff policy, insisting again that China will pay billions in duties to the US, after Trump's economic advisor raised eyebrows by saying both sides will suffer.

"We are right where we want to be with China," Trump said on Twitter.

"Remember, they broke the deal with us & tried to renegotiate. We will be taking in Tens of Billions of Dollars in Tariffs from China."

13 May 2019; DW: More foreign firms are relocating their operations to Germany than ever before, according to new figures. There was a big increase in the number of British firms setting up, apparently because of Brexit.

A record 2,062 foreign companies either set up shop or expanded their operations in Germany in 2018, acording to a report released Monday.