President Trump to propose ban on flavorings used in e-cigarettes

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says his administration will propose banning thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes amid an outbreak of breathing problems tied to vaping.State and federal health authorities are investigating hundreds of breathing illnesses reported in people who have used e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.No single device, ingredient or additive has been identified.Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says the Food and Drug Administration will develop guidelines to remove all e-cigarette flavors from the market, especially those favored by children.The FDA regulates e-cigarettes and has authority to ban vaping flavors, but has resisted calls to take that step.Instead, the agency has said it is studying the role of flavors in vaping products, including whether they help adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes.

President Trump marks another 9/11 anniversary with war still raging

WASHINGTON — On his third Sept. 11 anniversary as president, Donald Trump on Wednesday remembered the victims, first responders and U.S. troops that have battled in Afghanistan, and he unleashed threats against militants contemplating another attack on America."If anyone dares to strike our land, we will respond with the full measure of American power and the iron will of the American spirit and that spirit is unbreakable," President Trump said at the Pentagon.It has been 18 years since al-Qaida hijackers commandeered four U.S. commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

President Trump fires national security adviser John Bolton

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he fired national security adviser John Bolton, citing strong disagreements on a number of policy issues.President Trump tweeted that he told Bolton Monday night his services were no longer needed at the White House and said Bolton submitted his resignation on Tuesday morning.

Mick Jagger slams Pres. Trump over environmental policy

NEW YORK -- Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger took on President Donald Trump's environmental policies and slammed him for leaving the Paris climate agreement at the Venice Film Festival this weekend."We are in a very difficult situation at the moment, especially in the US, where all the environmental controls that were put in place -- that were just about adequate -- have been rolled back by the current administration so much that they are being wiped out," Jagger said, according to The Hollywood Reporter."The US should be the world leader in environmental control but now it has decided to go the other way," he added.Jagger, the 76-year-old English rock star, was in Venice to promote the film "The Burnt Orange Heresy," in which he plays an art collector.In a sharp departure from former President Barack Obama, the Trump administration has attempted to remove many of the prior guardrails that were installed to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford to challenge Pres. Trump in primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor and congressman, has decided to launch a longshot Republican challenge to President Donald Trump, saying Sunday that he aims to put his Appalachian trail travails behind him for good as he tries to navigate a path to the presidency."I am here to tell you now that I am going to get in," Sanford said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday." ''This is the beginning of a long walk."When asked why he was taking on an incumbent who's popular within the party, Sanford said: "I think we need to have a conversation on what it means to be a Republican.

China's trade with US shrinks as tariff war worsens

BEIJING — China's trade with the United States is falling as the two sides prepare for negotiations with no signs of progress toward ending a tariff war that threatens global economic growth.Imports of American goods tumbled 22% in August from a year earlier to $10.3 billion, customs data showed Sunday.

NOAA assailed for defending President Trump's Hurricane Dorian claim

WASHINGTON — Former top officials of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are assailing the agency for undermining its weather forecasters as it defends President Donald Trump's statement from days ago that Hurricane Dorian threatened Alabama.They say NOAA's action risks the credibility of the nation's weather and science agency and may even risk lives.Dismay came from those who served under Republican and Democratic presidents alike as leaders in meteorology and disaster response sized up a sustained effort by President Trump and his aides to justify his warning that Alabama, among other states, was "most likely" to be hit hard by Dorian, contrary to forecasts showing Alabama was clear.

South Carolina GOP scraps 2020 presidential primary; other states may follow

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republican leaders in South Carolina voted Saturday to scrap their presidential primary in 2020, while party officials in Kansas and Nevada were deciding whether to follow suit with their nominating contests as the GOP erects more hurdles for the long shots challenging President Donald Trump.Canceling primaries, caucuses and other voting is not an unusual move for the party of the White House incumbent seeking a second term, and allows Pres.

Envoy says US-Taliban deal would see 5,000 troops leave 1st

KABUL, Afghanistan — A U.S. envoy said Monday the first 5,000 U.S. troops would leave Afghanistan within five months' time under a deal with the Taliban that has been reached "in principle" but still needs President Donald Trump's approval.

Iran warns of 'strong step' from atomic deal if no new terms

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran will "take a strong step" away from its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers if Europe cannot offer the country new terms by a deadline at the end of this week, a government spokesman said Monday as top Iranian diplomats traveled to France and Russia for last-minute talks.The comments from Ali Rabiei reinforced the deadline Iran had set for Friday for Europe to offer it a way to sell its crude oil on the global market.

Pres. Trump says he'll work with Congress to stop mass shootings

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says his administration is committed to working with Congress to "stop the menace of mass attacks" as he bemoans the "monstrous" and "wicked" rampage by a gunman in West Texas.He says the goal is to "substantially reduce the violent crime ...

Latest US, Chinese tariff hikes take effect in trade war

WASHINGTON — The United States and China went ahead with their latest tariff increases on each other's goods Sunday, Sept. 1, potentially raising prices Americans pay for some clothes, shoes, sporting goods, and other consumer items in advance of the holiday shopping season.The 15% U.S. taxes apply to about $112 billion of Chinese imports.

'Likely to raise prices:' Tariffs on Chinese imports could deliver direct hit on consumers

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs on Chinese imports is likely to deliver a direct hit on many consumers, who were largely spared from higher prices in his previous rounds of import taxes.Beginning Sunday, Sept. 1, the U.S. government will begin collecting 15% tariffs on $112 billion in Chinese imports — items ranging from smartwatches and TVs to shoes, diapers, sporting goods, and meat and dairy products.

'Landmark day:' President Trump declares new Space Command key to American defense

WASHINGTON — Declaring space crucial to the nation's defense, President Donald Trump said Thursday the Pentagon has established U.S. Space Command to preserve American dominance on "the ultimate high ground.""This is a landmark day," President Trump said in a Rose Garden ceremony, "one that recognizes the centrality of space to America's national security and defense."