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The United States and South Korea advanced trade talks on Wednesday, addressing details of $350 billion that would be invested in the American economy, after negotiations and ceremonies that included the presentation of a gold medal and crown to President Donald Trump. Both were gifts from the country’s president, Lee Jae Myung, who dialled up the flattery while Washington and Seoul worked to nail down financial promises during the last stop of Trump’s Asia trip. Although both sides said progress has been made — Trump said things were “pretty much finalized” — no agreement has been signed yet. The framework includes gradual investments, cooperation on shipbuilding and the lowering of Trump’s tariffs on South Korea’s automobile exports, according to Kim Yong-beom, Lee’s chief of staff for policy. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Here's the latest: House Democrats call on Trump to return to Washington and save SNAP “If the president wanted to help feed hungry American children, he would,” said Rep. Angie Craig, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee that handles the food aid program. At a press conference at the Capitol, the Democrats said Trump has focused more on his priorities, including his new ballroom at the White House, than the everyday needs of Americans. “I’m calling on the president to get back from Asia and do the right thing — and the moral thing,” Craig said. “Where is the great dealmaker now?” asked Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C. “We’re ready to make a bipartisan deal that, first of all, would keep SNAP funded, that would reopen the government, that would extend the ACA tax credits — that would end the pain that’s being inflicted on the American people.” Forecasting for Hurricane Melissa continued despite shutdown National weather forecasters were able to provide critical warnings, collect satellite data and fly aircraft into the eye of powerful Hurricane Melissa during the government shutdown. Experts say they saw no major problems with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hurricane forecasting ability. That work was critical ahead of Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica as a violent storm that is not expected to strike the United States. Many NOAA employees are considered essential, which means they are working during the shutdown without pay. “They are carrying on as normal, without getting paid for their sometimes stressful and exhausting work,” said Kristen Corbosiero, professor and chair of the department of Atmospheric and environmental science at the University of Albany. Weather forecasters have been among those hit by the Trump administration’s staff cuts, although some positions were reopened after concerns about dangerous understaffing. US lifts sanctions against separatist Bosnian Serb leader The United States on Wednesday lifted sanctions against separatist Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and his family, turning back financial penalties that were imposed by the Biden administration in 2022. Dodik is staunchly pro-Russian and has called for the Serb-run part of Bosnia to break off and join Serbia. Until recently he was the president of the Bosnian Serb republic in Bosnia, sharing the tripartite presidency with a Bosniak and a Croat. Dodik agreed to step down this month after a Bosnian court banned him for politics over his separatist actions. Dodik on X thanked President Donald Trump and his associates for “correcting a grave injustice.” New Hampshire approves funding for mobile food pantries for SNAP recipients The New Hampshire Executive Council on Wednesday approved using $2 million from a tax on hospital revenues to partner with the New Hampshire Food Bank to set up mobile food pantries for SNAP recipients and increase food options at traditional food pantries. Lawmakers approved the plan Tuesday. Republicans hold a majority in both the Legislature and the five-member council that approves state contracts. The prospect of millions of people going hungry has prompted action to fill the void across the country, even in Republican states where leaders blame Democrats for the shutdown. Vance said he has joked with Rubio about running for the White House together in 2028 Vance, speaking on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, said he had brought it up “in jest” with Rubio after Trump said his vice president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be “unstoppable” if they ran together on a presidential ticket. He said he works with Rubio a lot and there would be no tension between them if they both considered campaigns for the presidency down the road. “Marco is my best friend in the administration,” Vance said. He said speculation about the 2028 presidential election is “feels so premature because we’re still so early.” Vance said it is not a focus in his current role. “I never want to...
