WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers from both parties in Congress demanded more information on the White House’s claims of rising threats in the Middle East, warning President Donald Trump off a dangerous escalation with Iran.

The top leaders in Congress — the so-called Gang of Eight— are to receive a classified briefing from the administration on Thursday. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House has resisted a wider presentation for all lawmakers, part of what Democrats say is a pattern of stonewalling.

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."

Paris, May 15; AFP/GANASHAKTI: The world's oil supply fell last month, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday, amid rising global tensions as US sanctions on Iran tightened and OPEC+ members produced less crude in line with their pact.

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: Regulators in the European Union have levied a hefty fine on Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Citigroup, JPMorgan and Japan's MUFG over collusion in currency trading.

The European Commission on Thursday fined five major banks €1.07 billion ($1.2 billion) for collusion in the foregin currency market.

The fines would normally have been 10% higher, but was reduced after the banks admitted their involvement.

PARIS (AP) — The White House is not endorsing a global pledge to step up efforts to keep internet platforms from being used to spread hate, organize extremist groups and broadcast attacks, citing respect for “freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”

16 May 2019; AFP: China said Thursday it has formally arrested two Canadians who have been detained for months on national security grounds, in a case that has inflamed tensions between Ottawa and Beijing.

Former diplomat Michael Kovrig is "suspected of collecting state secrets and intelligence" while businessman Michael Spavor is suspected of "stealing and illegally offering state secrets" abroad, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular briefing.

TEHRAN, May 16 (Xinhua): The United States will fail to crush Iranian resistance by imposing maximum pressure, the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was quoted as saying Thursday.

"This is the most decisive moment for the Islamic revolution, because the enemy has come to the battlefield with all of its capacities at its disposal," the Press TV quoted Major General Hossein Salami as saying during a meeting with IRGC officers on Wednesday.

16 May 2019 (AP) - In a fateful swipe at telecommunications giant Huawei, the Trump administration issued an executive order Wednesday apparently aimed at banning its equipment from U.S. networks and said it was subjecting the Chinese company to strict export controls.

Huawei would be the largest business ever subjected to the controls, a law enforcement measure that requires it to obtain U.S. government approval on purchases of American technology, said Kevin Wolf, who had been the assistant secretary of commerce for export administration in the Obama administration.

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.

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.

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).