2018年10月31日星期三

Yahoo! News: Iraq

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yahoo! News: Iraq


Uncle of girl who died in bus stop crash remembers her as 'mother hen' to her twin brothers

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 07:29 AM PDT

Uncle of girl who died in bus stop crash remembers her as 'mother hen' to her twin brothersThe uncle of the Indiana girl who was tragically killed alongside her twin


Pittsburgh comes together to mourn victims, and protesters turn their backs on Trump

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 06:29 PM PDT

Pittsburgh comes together to mourn victims, and protesters turn their backs on TrumpAs the Jewish community of Squirrel Hill began to bury its dead Tuesday from the massacre in the Tree of Life synagogue Saturday, President Trump paid his respects, in a visit few had requested and many opposed. A line stretched far down the block for the funeral of Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, one of the 11 killed by a gunman whom police have identified as a 46-year-old man, whose social media posts indicate he was enraged by what he perceived as Jewish support for immigration. Rabinowitz, 66, was known for his compassionate treatment of AIDS victims.


The Bizarre And Failed Attempt To Smear Robert Mueller

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 04:20 PM PDT

The Bizarre And Failed Attempt To Smear Robert MuellerIt's hoaxes all the way down in what appears to be an effort to discredit


Man says traffic made him miss doomed Lion Air crash, believed to have killed everyone on board

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 09:33 AM PDT

Man says traffic made him miss doomed Lion Air crash, believed to have killed everyone on boardA man who was supposed to be on the Lion Air jet that crashed on Monday


Jamal Khashoggi Was Strangled On Entering Consulate, Istanbul's Chief Prosecutor Says

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 07:40 AM PDT

Jamal Khashoggi Was Strangled On Entering Consulate, Istanbul's Chief Prosecutor SaysThe missing Saudi Arabian journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi was


7 days until the midterm elections: Where things stand

Posted: 29 Oct 2018 09:01 PM PDT

7 days until the midterm elections: Where things standHere's the latest news on the midterm elections on Nov. 6, 2018.


Synagogue rampage suspect indicted on 2nd day of funerals

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 03:21 PM PDT

Synagogue rampage suspect indicted on 2nd day of funeralsPITTSBURGH (AP) — The suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday, and members of a grief-stricken Jewish community endured another round of funerals for victims of the worst anti-Semitic attack in American history.


China's yuan hits decade low on trade, economy fears

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 03:10 AM PDT

China's yuan hits decade low on trade, economy fearsThe Chinese yuan weakened to a decade low on Tuesday on concerns over China's slowing economy and the US trade war, but Beijing was expected to prevent it breaking the psychologically important 7 yuan per dollar barrier. Breaking 7 could further undermine market confidence and potentially trigger fresh US accusations that China was allowing the yuan to weaken to blunt the impact of tariffs that Washington has imposed on Chinese goods. A weaker yuan makes Chinese exports less expensive overseas, ameliorating some of the higher costs brought by the tariffs.


Visit JetBlue's 'JetBoo' house this Halloween for a free surprise

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 02:17 PM PDT

Visit JetBlue's 'JetBoo' house this Halloween for a free surpriseNot every lucky Halloween-er will have the chance to hit the pavement this


Born in the USA? Not so fast: Trump takes aim at birthright citizenship

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 12:51 PM PDT

Born in the USA? Not so fast: Trump takes aim at birthright citizenshipIn an interview scheduled to air Sunday, President Trump said he believes he can end birthright citizenship with an executive order, but legal scholars disagree.


India Now Boasts The World's Tallest Statue, And It's Twice Lady Liberty's Size

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 12:00 PM PDT

India Now Boasts The World's Tallest Statue, And It's Twice Lady Liberty's SizeIndia is now home to the world's tallest statue.


Indonesia sifts through plane debris, orders jet inspection

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 06:31 AM PDT

Indonesia sifts through plane debris, orders jet inspectionIndonesia ordered the inspection of all Boeing 737-MAX airliners on Tuesday as rescue teams recovered more victims from a brand new Lion Air jet that plunged into the sea with 189 people on board. On a Jakarta dockside, officials took up the grim task of separating human remains from plane debris and recovered personal effects, sending the body parts -- including from an infant -- to hospital for DNA testing. The Boeing-737 MAX, which went into service just a few months ago, crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia's northern coast moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday.


Germany's deadliest post-war serial killer: nurse admits killing 100 patients

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 08:51 AM PDT

Germany's deadliest post-war serial killer: nurse admits killing 100 patientsWhen judge Sebastian Buehrmann asked 41-year-old Niels Hoegel if the charges against him were valid, he responded in the affirmative, adding: "All that I have admitted to is true." Hoegel hid his face behind a blue plastic folder as he was ushered into the courtroom in the northern city of Oldenburg by police and his attorney. "We want him to get the sentence that he deserves," said Frank Brinkers, whose father died in an overdose allegedly administered by Hoegel. "When this trial is over we want to put this whole thing behind us and find closure." Prosecutors in the northern German city of Oldenburg say an investigation and toxicology reports showed that he injected 35 people at one clinic, in Oldenburg, and 62 at another in nearby Delmenhorst, with drugs that could kill them.


'Crossings' — perspectives on transition and transformation in photography

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 02:54 PM PDT

'Crossings' — perspectives on transition and transformation in photography"Crossings" brings together a selection of over 100 images by international artists to explore perspectives on transition and transformation in photography. Magnum Photos and Aperture have a long-standing shared history, spanning many collaborations on publications and events through the decades. For the second time, Magnum Photos has invited a roster of artists published by Aperture to participate in the project, alongside Magnum's own photographers, to visually explore a common theme through both classic and contemporary artistic practices.


Death of mob boss James 'Whitey' Bulger ruled a homicide

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 02:29 AM PDT

Death of mob boss James 'Whitey' Bulger ruled a homicideThe FBI is investigating Bulger's death, while new details reveal the notorious criminal was badly beaten in his cell. ABC News' Kendis Gibson reports.


‘Goodnight, Kepler’: NASA’s Planet-Hunting Telescope Has Finally Run Out Of Fuel

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 05:38 AM PDT

'Goodnight, Kepler': NASA's Planet-Hunting Telescope Has Finally Run Out Of FuelNASA is saying "goodnight" to its pioneering Kepler telescope, which a few


Joe Kennedy praises Republican in close House race, but endorses Democrat

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 11:50 AM PDT

Joe Kennedy praises Republican in close House race, but endorses DemocratRep. Joe Kennedy III picks an odd time to praise Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, and the campaign of her Democratic challenger, Carolyn Long, issues a response.


Passengers on Lion Air jet night before crash described "roller coaster"

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 04:52 AM PDT

Passengers on Lion Air jet night before crash described "roller coaster"Searchers in Indonesia are continuing their efforts to recover the black boxes from Lion Air Flight JT610 as new details emerge of problems on its previous flight. The black box data could reveal the plane's last moments before it plunged into the sea on Monday. All 189 people on board are presumed dead. Kris Van Cleave reports.


Eaton: 3Q Earnings Snapshot

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 06:21 AM PDT

Eaton: 3Q Earnings SnapshotDUBLIN (AP) — Eaton Corp. PLC (ETN) on Tuesday reported third-quarter profit of $416 million.


Turkey presses Saudi to say who sent Khashoggi killers: Erdogan

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 05:20 AM PDT

Turkey presses Saudi to say who sent Khashoggi killers: ErdoganSaudi prosecutor Saud Al Mojeb held talks with Istanbul's prosecutor on Monday and Tuesday about Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which has escalated into a crisis for the world's top oil exporter. Riyadh at first denied any knowledge of, or role in, his disappearance four weeks ago but Mojeb has contradicted those statements, saying the killing of Khashoggi, a critic of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was premeditated. The case has put into focus the West's close relationship with Saudi Arabia - a major arms buyer and lynchpin of Washington's regional plans to contain Iran - given the widespread scepticism over its initial response.


Couple Who Fell to Their Death at Yosemite Died While Taking a Selfie, Family Says

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 04:53 AM PDT

Couple Who Fell to Their Death at Yosemite Died While Taking a Selfie, Family SaysShe was a self-described "adrenaline junkie," and he took "wow-worthy photos"


Synagogue Shooter Indicted on 44 Counts

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 11:16 AM PDT

Synagogue Shooter Indicted on 44 CountsA federal grand jury has indicted Robert Bowers, the gunman accused of massacring eleven congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday, on 44 separate counts, including a number of hate crimes, the Associated Press first reported. BREAKING: Federal grand jury indicts Robert Bowers on 44 counts, including hate crimes, in synagogue shooting. The charges, ranging from the obstruction of religious practices to the use of a firearm in commission of a murder, will likely result in life without parole or the death penalty, which the Department of Justice said previously it believes is appropriate in this case.


3 siblings struck, killed by truck at bus stop in Indiana

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 05:08 PM PDT

3 siblings struck, killed by truck at bus stop in IndianaROCHESTER, Ind. (AP) — A 9-year-old girl and her twin 6-year-old brothers were struck and killed by a pickup truck as they crossed a northern Indiana road to board a school bus before sunrise Tuesday, police said. A fourth child was critically injured and airlifted to a hospital.


Donald Trump Vows To End Birthright Citizenship

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 03:18 AM PDT

Donald Trump Vows To End Birthright CitizenshipPresident Donald Trump said he's considering an executive order to remove the


Thanksgiving Crafting Ideas That Let You Decorate With Food

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 02:20 PM PDT

Thanksgiving Crafting Ideas That Let You Decorate With Food


Quake rattles New Zealand as Harry and Meghan visit

Posted: 29 Oct 2018 09:20 PM PDT

Quake rattles New Zealand as Harry and Meghan visitA 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of central New Zealand Tuesday, where British royals Meghan and Harry are on tour, but officials said it caused no major damage. The quake was felt in Wellington during a session of parliament, prompting lawmakers to stop deliberations and seek refuge as a precaution. Reporters travelling with the couple said they did not feel any tremors during the quake, which the US Geological Survey (USGS) gave a magnitude of 6.1.


Indonesia protests after Saudi Arabia executes domestic maid

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 07:00 AM PDT

Indonesia protests after Saudi Arabia executes domestic maidIndonesia has filed an official protest to Saudi Arabia after it executed an Indonesian maid without notifying its consular staff or her family.  Tuti Tursilawati, a mother of one, had been convicted of murdering her employer, who workers rights' group Migrant Care said was trying to rape her at the time.  Joko Widodo, the Indonesian president, criticised Saudi Arabia's action on Wednesday, saying that his government had demanded better protection of Indonesian workers in the country. "We have called Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and conveyed our protest," Mr Widodo was quoted as saying by the office of his cabinet secretary. Ms Tursilawati, who was convicted in 2011, was executed on Monday in the city of Thaif, marking the fourth such case of Saudi Arabia carrying out the death sentence on an Indonesian migrant worker without prior notice in the past three years. Eighteen more Indonesians remain on death row.  Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has criticised a Saudi decision to execute an Indonesian maid Credit: Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP The controversy over her death comes at a time when Saudi Arabia continues to face harsh questions over the brutal murder of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its consulate in Istanbul.  Indonesia's frustration has been heightened by the timing of the execution, which was carried out less than a week after Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, met with his counterpart in Jakarta to discuss migrant workers rights.  During the meeting, Retno Marsudi, the Indonesia's foreign minister, stressed the need for mandatory consular notification before any capital punishment of Indonesian citizens.  "[The execution] is evidence that Saudi Arabia does not fulfil the terms and conditions pertaining to the protection of domestic workers," Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Migrant Care told Australia's ABC news channel.  Saudi Arabia remains the world's biggest destination for Indonesian maids after the government lifted an earlier ban on domestic workers going to the Middle East over reports of torture and abuse.  #Indonesian#migrantworker#TutiTursilawati was executed in #SaudiArabia on Monday (29/10) after being sentenced to death in 2011 for murdering her employer. The Saudi government failed to give any prior notice of the execution, flouting the rules of international diplomacy. pic.twitter.com/4iPxOcLutm— The Jakarta Globe (@thejakartaglobe) October 31, 2018 Many Indonesians took to social media to protest Ms Tursilawati's execution.  "Tuti Tursilawati case again demonstrates the weak protection of human rights in Saudi Arabia," said Fina, an Indonesian student on Twitter.  "Bring justice for our country, our people!" said another protestor.  The Saudi ambassador to Indonesia has been summoned by the authorities but the Saudi embassy has not commented publicly.  "The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ignored principles of human rights, including a right for everyone to live," said Abidin Fikri, a member of Indonesia's parliament, told Reuters.    


Priyanka Chopra's Bridal Shower Looked Like An Awesome Mini Wedding

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 03:09 PM PDT

Priyanka Chopra's Bridal Shower Looked Like An Awesome Mini WeddingHere comes the bride-to-be!


Rouhani tells Iranians to brace for hard times under U.S. sanctions

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 04:31 AM PDT

Rouhani tells Iranians to brace for hard times under U.S. sanctionsIranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned Iranians they face hard times when new U.S. sanctions take effect on Sunday but said the government would do its best to alleviate them. Washington reimposed a number of sanctions on Iran in May after pulling out of an international 2015 agreement intended to curb Tehran's nuclear program. U.S. officials have said they aim to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero.


Arizona workers find woman who survived in desert for 6 days

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 04:52 PM PDT

Arizona workers find woman who survived in desert for 6 daysPHOENIX (AP) — Arizona transportation worker Zach Moralez knew something wasn't right when he saw a damaged fence along a highway.


Correction: Shooting-Synagogue-The Latest story

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 01:38 PM PDT

Correction: Shooting-Synagogue-The Latest storyPITTSBURGH (AP) — In a story Oct. 29 about developments in the aftermath of the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, The Associated Press erroneously reported the professional position of Cecil and David Rosenthal's sister. She is state Rep. Dan Frankel's former chief of staff, not his current chief of staff.


Gifts for travelers: Best gift ideas for people who love to travel

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 02:00 AM PDT

Gifts for travelers: Best gift ideas for people who love to travelTraveling to distant countries and locations can be very exciting — and rewarding. There's nothing like going out into the world and experiencing new cultures, cuisines, and different ways of life. There's a whole big planet out there that extends so much further than small neighborhoods and towns. While the reward of traveling is pretty big, packing for those fun adventures around the world can be tedious and rough. When buying a gift for someone with an acute case of wanderlust, consider the items that can help make their travels easier and more pleasurable. We've rounded up the best gifts for travelers who need smart, tech-savvy, and multi-functional gear that makes it easier to pursue their passions. From backpacks to subscription services to adapters and more, we've found gifts that can streamline their way of packing or just keep them entertained while waiting for a connecting flight, so their adventures can be lighter, smarter, better, and most of all: more fun. Here are 20 of the best gifts for travel enthusiasts:


Immigrant caravan still far from border, but fear reaches Tennessee, stoked by Senate race

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 12:45 PM PDT

Immigrant caravan still far from border, but fear reaches Tennessee, stoked by Senate raceA week before Election Day, immigration appears to be emerging as a flashpoint in Tennessee's closely watched Senate race.


AD Welcomes L'ÉCOLE School of Jewelry Arts to New York City

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 09:21 AM PDT

AD Welcomes L'ÉCOLE School of Jewelry Arts to New York City


Human Activity Is Decimating Global Wildlife Populations, Says New WWF Report

Posted: 29 Oct 2018 10:52 PM PDT

Human Activity Is Decimating Global Wildlife Populations, Says New WWF ReportWildlife populations declined by an average of 60% over the last four decades


Denmark says consulting allies over possible Iran sanctions

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 07:21 AM PDT

Denmark says consulting allies over possible Iran sanctionsDenmark said Wednesday it was consulting with its allies about possible sanctions against Iran after accusing Tehran of plotting an attack against Iranian dissidents living in the Scandinavian country. "We are going to reach out to our European allies in the coming days to try to find a united response," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters during a meeting of Northern European leaders in Oslo. British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her support for Denmark at the meeting.


Saudi-led coalition masses troops near Yemen's Hodeidah as pressure mounts to end war

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 03:51 PM PDT

Saudi-led coalition masses troops near Yemen's Hodeidah as pressure mounts to end warThe United States and Britain have called for an end to the 3-1/2-year war that has driven impoverished Yemen to the verge of famine, raising pressure on Saudi Arabia as it faces a global outcry over the murder of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. The military alliance of Sunni Muslim states led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has deployed forces around 30,000-strong south of Houthi-held Hodeidah and near its eastern entrance, pro-coalition Yemeni military sources told Reuters. "Thousands of Yemeni soldiers trained by the coalition have been sent to the outskirts of Hodeidah in addition to modern weaponry including armored vehicles and tanks... in preparation for a big operation in coming days," said one source.


This Might Be the Most Dangerous 'Gun' Ever Made

Posted: 31 Oct 2018 07:32 AM PDT

This Might Be the Most Dangerous 'Gun' Ever MadeShe terrified millions. 


Teen charged in fatal high school shooting appears in court

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 04:09 PM PDT

Teen charged in fatal high school shooting appears in courtCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The teenager accused of fatally shooting a fellow student at a North Carolina high school appeared before a judge Tuesday as his public defender requested a low bond and permission for the boy to stay home with his mother while awaiting trial.


It's impossible to resist the charms of these 'Poorly Drawn Cats' on Twitter

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 01:08 PM PDT

It's impossible to resist the charms of these 'Poorly Drawn Cats' on TwitterThis is Ode To... , a weekly column where we share the stuff we're really into in hopes that you'll be really into it, too. Poorly Drawn Cats is a Twitter account dedicated to, as the name suggests, poorly drawn cats. But calling these charming little pictures "poorly drawn" doesn't seem like a fair description considering how beloved they've become by the account's many followers. The crude, contour-line drawings created by a Brazilian artist named Heloísa, who started the account in 2016, capture the distinct personalities of cats — not always an easy task. The drawings featured on the account are of cats featured in photos submitted by fans of the account. SEE ALSO: These Insta-famous felines prove how photogenic black cats truly are The quirky portraits have gained somewhat of a cult following online, and in the two years since it launched, the account's racked up almost 188,000 followers. The feed retweets satisfied cat owners who've commissioned "poorly drawn" portraits of their cats from the account. I had to keep it under wraps for a bit, butI got @poorlycatdraw commissions of Evy and Geth! :D pic.twitter.com/0028H8OTNw — (☞ ●̙̂ ̟ ̟̎ ̟ ̘●̂) ☞ (@stealingzen) October 17, 2018 Thank you @poorlycatdraw for capturing Tychus and his bizarre facial expressions! I love it! �� pic.twitter.com/M2xR8n23eZ — Pasta-Kitty (@2CatSons) October 17, 2018 Another triumph by @poorlycatdraw turning our Tiffs into a masterpiece! You have captured her devil may care/pissed off attitude perfectly :D pic.twitter.com/uBW1bcRmqL — Dan Tappin (@oitappin) September 24, 2018 ahhhhh look at my baby! thank u sm heloísa!! ❤️@poorlycatdraw pic.twitter.com/bmQzuaZ0Gq — moni (@reallygross) September 24, 2018 @ravanbok got @poorlycatdraw to sketch the love of my life aka Poptart! FABULOUS! �� pic.twitter.com/eBdNcBSaa2 — kelvanbo (@kelvanbo) October 17, 2018 Some people are so pleased with their cats' portraits that they've taken to getting them permanently inked on their bodies — a very bold move.  Look at this ��@poorlycatdraw pic.twitter.com/p7TXUJBLdE — Моvo (@__movo__) October 28, 2018 Got my first tattoo! Thanks @poorlycatdraw for the inspiration! pic.twitter.com/mZf9EsRqdp — Eli Gundry (@EliGundry) October 26, 2018 Poorly Drawn Cats gets such an influx of requests for portraits of their cats that it now announces when it will accept new commissions. When the account puts out the call, message or email your request and hope for the best. Commissions cost a small fee — $12 for just your cat's face, or $18 for a full portrait. get your cats readysoon commissions will open again!stay t u n e d — poorly drawn cats (@poorlycatdraw) August 14, 2018 pic.twitter.com/nvIzsTNeZa — poorly drawn cats (@poorlycatdraw) August 14, 2018 Sure, not everyone's a cat person, but who can resist the charms of quirky little cat doodles popping up periodically on your Twitter feed? And, if nothing else the account serves as a reminder that if you sincerely enjoy doing something, even your imperfect efforts will be applauded. WATCH: The Met is redefining what it means to be a museum in the digital age — Mashable Originals


Rabbi Has One Haunting Question For Trump Defender After Synagogue Shooting

Posted: 29 Oct 2018 09:17 PM PDT

Rabbi Has One Haunting Question For Trump Defender After Synagogue ShootingA former aide to President Donald Trump ran into a wall of opposition on a CNN


Waldo Works Devises a Brutalist Space for the Jeweler that Made Meghan Markle's Wedding Ring

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 08:44 AM PDT

Waldo Works Devises a Brutalist Space for the Jeweler that Made Meghan Markle's Wedding RingWelsh company Wartski has a new shop inside a 1910 London building


A 'deal for nature' to rescue wildlife: WWF chief

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 03:38 AM PDT

A 'deal for nature' to rescue wildlife: WWF chiefWWF director general Marco Lambertini tells AFP what went wrong and what's at stake. "We have always taken nature for granted. Humans evolved for two million years in a nature that was abundant, rich, dominant.


North Korea 'preparing to allow international inspectors to visit Punggye-ri nuclear test site'

Posted: 30 Oct 2018 11:30 PM PDT

North Korea 'preparing to allow international inspectors to visit Punggye-ri nuclear test site'North Korea is preparing to allow international inspectors into its Punggye-ri test site, the Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a South Korean politician. Pyongyang has stopped its nuclear and missile tests over the past year during a rapprochement with the United States and South Korea, and it blew up facilities at Punggye-ri in May in the presence of foreign journalists. However, its refusal to allow international experts to observe the destruction of the site, which has been the staging ground for all six of its nuclear tests, including its most powerful one – reportedly of an H-bomb – last September, drew criticism that its actions were for show and could be reversed. At a summit between the North and South's leaders last month, Pyongyang finally agreed to allow foreign inspectors to observe a "permanent dismantlement" of key missile facilities, and to move towards closing its main Yongbyon nuclear complex in return for reciprocal US measures. News of the apparent latest gesture came from Kim Min-ki, a member of the ruling Democratic Party, who told reporters in Seoul that intelligence officials had observed what they believed to be preparations for possible inspections at Punggye-ri and the Sohae Satellite launching ground. The South's National Intelligence Service observed North Koreans "conducting preparation and intelligence activities that seemed to be in preparation for foreign inspectors' visit," said Mr Kim, according to Reuters. No major movements were spotted at Yongbyon. The move to open up Punggye-ri to inspection, if confirmed, would be seen as a confidence-building measure ahead of a proposed second meeting between Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, and Donald Trump, the US president. The meeting is expected to take place early next year despite concerns in Washington that North Korea is dragging its feet over nuclear disarmament and frustration in Pyongyang that the US has not agreed to ease economic sanctions or an official end to the Korean War of 1950-53. Washington has repeatedly reminded its regional allies of the need to maintain "maximum pressure" on the North Korean regime to give up its nuclear weapons – a policy that appears to be increasingly at odds with a push from South Korean President Moon Jae-in towards closer economic ties. N Korea nuclear test site The US embassy in Seoul reportedly made the unusual move of contacting major South Korean conglomerates that sent representatives to Pyongyang with President Moon for his September summit with Kim Jong-un. "The U.S. Embassy in Seoul is known to have directly called key companies to discern the status of the cooperation projects discussed during their visit to the North," a key official from the presidential Blue House told the JoongAng Ilbo on Tuesday.  Executives from Samsung, Hyundai Motor, LG and SK were among 17 business representatives who accompanied President Moon on his three-day trip. North Korea is likely to depend on South Korean investment for its future economic development.  "It appears that the U.S. government, along with the objective of grasping the situation in regard to North Korea-related projects, is attempting to synchronise the speed between the South and the United States ahead of North-U.S. denuclearisation negotiations," said the source. Teleconferences in late September between the US Treasury Department and seven South Korean banks over sanctions enforcement were also viewed as a sign that Washington is nervous that inter-Korean relations appears to be advancing faster than denuclearisation talks.


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