North America

Tehran, Aug 10, IRNA -- A jury verdict allowing the US government to seize a midtown Manhattan office tower that it said was effectively controlled by Iran was thrown out on Friday by a federal appeals court, which cited several errors by the trial judge.

Jurors had found in June 2017 that the nonprofit Alavi Foundation, which had a 60% stake in the partnership that owned the building, violated US sanctions imposed against Iran in 1995 because it knew that the 40% owner, Assa Corp, was a front for an Iranian state-owned lender, Bank Melli.

Washington, Aug 9; GANASHAKTI - The US has said that there is no change in its policy on Kashmir as it called on India and Pakistan to maintain restraint and hold direct dialogue to resolve their differences.

"No", replied State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus when asked by reporters on Thursday if there has been any change in America's policy on Kashmir.

The US policy has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and it is up to the two countries to decide on the pace and scope of the talks on the issue.

Washington, Aug 10 (PTI) US President Donald Trump on Saturday said America will not do any business with Chinese tech giant Huawei.

The Trump administration believes that giving access to the state-controlled Huawei on 5G would risk America's national security. As such the US is not only denying Huawei access inside the country but also is asking other countries to follow suit.

"We're not going to do business with Huawei. We're not doing business with them. And I really made the decision," Trump told reporters at the White House.

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Mexico expressed concern on Friday about the massive transfer of illegal arms from the United States during the Carribean nation's battle against drug trafficking.

The United States identified Mexico as one of the 22 major drug transit and producing countries in a memorandum on Thursday, in which U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to take action against the country "if it does not do more against drug trafficking".

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had received a "beautiful" letter from Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Trump told the press before departing the White House for New York State that he received a "three-paged" "very beautiful letter" from Kim on Thursday, in which Kim expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S-South Korea military exercises.

Trump also believed that he and Kim would be having another meeting, without mentioning the possible date and location.

TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Lizbeth De La Cruz Santana returned Friday to the Mexican beach where her father entered the U.S. illegally before she was born, this time to put final touches on a mural of adults who came to the U.S. illegally as young children and were deported. Visitors who hold up their phones to the painted faces are taken to a website that voices first-person narratives.

El Paso, Texas (AP) —  Families of those killed when a gunman opened fire at an El Paso Walmart are gathering at funerals on each side of the U.S.-Mexico border to remember loved ones whose lives told the story of the vibrant region.

The 22 people killed ranged in age from 15 to 90, and included citizens of Mexico and the U.S. Many had deep ties in each country, with family on each side of the border and routines that included crossing the border to shop.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Daniel Bowen came to Alaska in 2011, looking for adventure and opportunity. He and his wife eventually settled on the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage, a salmon fishing haven calling itself “Alaska’s Playground.”

But the Bowens, both teachers, recently returned to their native Michigan. After years of stress over delayed state budgets, their breaking point, he said, was Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed reductions to K-12 spending and health and social service programs.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Friday that President Donald Trump “seems to derive joy” from provoking some Americans to hateful speech and actions, and she says that goes to issues deeper than whether the president is a white supremacist.

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) — The suspect in a Southern California stabbing rampage that left four people dead and two injured pleaded not guilty Friday to murder, attempted murder and other counts.

Zachary Castaneda was arraigned in his jail cell instead of court after refusing to leave his jail cell, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a tweet.

Castaneda was arrested Wednesday by police responding to two hours of slashing and stabbing attacks in Garden Grove and Santa Ana.