WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday directed the Pentagon to develop plans to create a new Space Force within the Air Force, accepting less than the full-fledged department he’d wanted.

Before signing a document instructing the defense secretary to draft proposed legislation, Trump said space is the “future” and the “next step.”

“We have to be prepared,” he said in the Oval Office, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and other top officials.

GAZA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 Palestinians were shot and wounded on Tuesday evening during clashes between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, medics said.

Ashraf al-Qedra, Health Ministry spokesman in Gaza, told reporters that 20 Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli gunfire on the border between northern Gaza Strip and Israel.

DETROIT (AP) — America’s auto industry is bracing for a potential escalation in President Donald Trump’s tariff war with the world, one that could weaken the global auto industry and economy, inflate car prices and trigger a backlash in Congress.

Houston, Feb 19 (PTI) An Indian-American couple was found dead in their home in an apparent murder-suicide at an affluent suburb in the US state of Texas, police said.

Police officers were called to the house in Sugar Land on Monday around 6 am.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday that it plans to cancel $929 million awarded to California’s high-speed rail project and wants the state to return an additional $2.5 billion that it has already spent.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announcement follows through on President Donald Trump’s threats to claw back $3.5 billion that the federal government gave to California to build a bullet train between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

New Delhi, Feb 20 (PTI) The Supreme Court of India Wednesday held RCom chairman Anil Ambani guilty of contempt of court for wilfully violating its order by not paying Rs 550-crore dues to Telecom equipment maker Ericsson

The apex court held that the RCom chiarman and Reliance Telecom chairman Satish Seth and Reliance Infratel chairperson Chhaya Virani breached the undertaking given to the apex court and the related orders

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday offered India cooperation in the probe into a recent deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir that has soured relations between the neighbors, while Islamabad also sought international help to ease tensions in the region.

In a televised address to the nation, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan asked India to share "actionable evidence" regarding the attack and Pakistan will extend cooperation in the investigation.

NEW DEHLI, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES)- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has arrived in India after visiting Pakistan, on Tuesday.

New Delhi blames Pakistan for a suicide bombing attack last week that killed at least 40 Indian soldiers in disputed Kashmir.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the crown prince at the airport.

Prince Mohammed is expected to make an effort to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan as New Delhi weighs its response to the attack.

Srinagar, Feb 19; PTI/GANASHAKTI: The Pakistan Army and its espionage agency ISI were involved in the car bomb attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead, a top Army official said on Tuesday, also sending out the message that anyone picking up the gun in Kashmir would be eliminated unless he surrenders.

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations condemns the bombings in the city of Idlib in northwestern Syria, which caused civilian deaths and injuries, a UN spokesperson said Tuesday.

In the bombings on Monday, at least 17 people were reportedly killed in twin explosions in the al-Qusor neighborhood in Idlib, and nearly 100 people reportedly injured, including civilians and aid volunteers, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said at a press briefing.

Islamabad, Feb 19 (PTI) Pakistan has come out of the financial crisis with the help of friendly countries and the economy has been set on the right path, the governor of the cash-strapped country's central bank has claimed.

Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Tariq Bajwa's remarks coincided with the announcement by Saudi Arabia that it would invest USD 20 billion in Pakistan under various projects.

New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) India Tuesday strongly rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's response to its allegations of Islamabad's involvement in the Pulwama attack, saying disclaiming its link with terrorist attacks is an oft-repeated excuse by the neighbouring country.

In a hard-hitting statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was not surprised that Khan refused to acknowledge the attack on India's security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism.