U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu projected a message of unit

Author:steven
Source:chinatopwin
Release on:2017-03-14

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu projected a

message of unity during aWhite House meeting Wednesday. Mr. Trump suggested that

the U.S. could back either a two-state or a one-state solution for the region depending on

what both parties like.

"The two pre-requisites of peace: Recognition of the Jewish state, andIsrael's security

needs west of the

Jordan. They remain pertinent. We have to look for new ways,new ideas, on how to reinstate

them."

During their news conference, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Netanyahu to "hold back for a little bit"

onexpanding settlements in Palestinian territory while the White House works on efforts to

revive theMiddle East peace process.

President Trump struck back Wednesday at media reports about alleged links between him

and Russia.

In a string of Twitter comments, the president blamed the intelligence community for what

hecalled "illegal" leaks to the media.

Reports appearing in The Washington Post last week revealed possibly improper

conversations between ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and the Russian

ambassador.

Later in public remarks, the president staunchly defended Flynn, saying he is a wonderful

man thathas been treated unfairly by the media.

"... very, very unfairly by the media, as I call it, the fake media in many cases. And I think it's

reallya sad thing that he was treated so badly."

Some senior Republican senators vowed Wednesday to investigate the matter while

opposition Democrats are calling for an independent probe.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday to prevent

thead ministration from repealing sanctions on Russia without congressional approval.

This is VOA news.

U.S. retail sales and inflation rose in January, strengthening the case for the central bank to

raiseinterest rates. Retail sales advanced four-tenths of a percent for the month.

Another report shows U.S. consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in nearly four years, with

costsgaining six-tenths of a percent in January and 2.5 percent in the past year.

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis sought Wednesday to allay NATO concerns about

America's commitment to Europe's security at a meeting in Brussels with his NATO

counterparts.

Mattis said the military alliance is central to the relationship between America and its

Europeanallies. He also said it is time for members to pay their fair share of defense costs.

"It's absolutely appropriate, as the European minister of defense said last week, it's a fair

demandthat all who benefit from the best defense in the world carry their proportionate

share of thenecessary cost to defend freedom."

NATO members see the meeting as a chance to reaffirm America's commitment to Europe's

security.

President Trump's nominee for labor secretary says he is withdrawing his name from

consideration for the job.

Andrew Puzder has raised concerns on Capitol Hill due to his failure to pay taxes on a house

keep erwho was not authorized to work in the U.S.

Organizers are calling for immigrants in several American cities to miss class, miss work

and not shop on Thursday, the so-called "Day Without Immigrants" demonstrations being

staged toprotest the immigration policieso the Trump administration.

A round of Syria peace talks scheduled to begin Wednesday in Kazakhstan has been

delayed untilThursday.

Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry did not offer an explanation for the change.

A second round of talks in Moscow on Afghanistan ended Wednesday.

Representatives from Afghanistan were included in the talks for the first time, joining those

fromRussia, Pakistan, China, Iran and India.

Two bomb explosions in northwestern Pakistan killed at least six people and wounded

manyothers Wednesday.

Officials say the deadliest incident happened in the Mohmand tribal district near the Afghanborder,

where a suicide bomber blew himself up after security forces spotted him and tried to stophim.

A second bomber accompanying the attacker was gunned down while he tried to detonateex

plosives strapped to his body.

A splinter faction of the Taliban is claiming responsibility.

Hours after that, a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle attacked an official van transporting

members of the provincial judiciary in the city of Peshawar.

Taking a brief look at market activities, on Wall Street, U.S. stock indexes were up at the close

oftrade on Wednesday.