President Donald Trump has said the US has "no stronger partner" than Saudi Arabia during his first major foreign trip - a whirlwind visit of Gulf countries mainly focused on shoring up investment.

The president has long complained that the United States pays more for medicines than other wealthy countries. But he offered no clear legal authority to mandate lower prices.

The White House backed off from the steepest levies, as the costs of an all-out trade war with China threatened global economic growth.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "personally" in Istanbul on Thursday for talks over ending the war.

President Donald Trump on Friday signaled that he may cut tariffs on China from 145 percent to 80 percent ahead of a meeting between the White House and top Chinese regime officials over the weekend.

Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, was breezing toward the office elevator in his signature trench coat in February when he passed a group of about 10 young prosecutors preparing to leave, framed diplomas and keepsakes in hand.

President Donald Trump has dismissed critics who have asked how many deals he has brokered after he paused some tariffs last month to allow for negotiations.

Donald Trump plans to announce while on his trip to Saudi Arabia next week that the US will now refer to the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia rather than the Persian Gulf.

The order directs the USFDA to reduce the time it takes to approve domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, get rid of unnecessary requirements, and provide support to domestic manufacturers to bring up facilities.