Daily Mail: Trump is asked if Russia is STILL targeting the U.S. and says 'thank you, NO' - but White House claims he wasn't contradicting his own intelligence chiefs, he was saying he wouldn't take more questions
* The president answered 'no' when asked if Russia was still meddling in U.S. elections
* Hours later said Trump was only saying 'no' he wouldn't take questions
* He did proceed to take another question
* Intelligence chief Dan Coats cited 'ongoing' and 'pervasive' efforts by Russia
* President Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to slam critics of his press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin
* He claimed to be a victim of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'
* His storm of tweets abandoned his contrite tone from Tuesday
* He claims those at the 'higher ends of intelligence loved my press conference performance' and his meeting with Putin will prove to be a great success
The White House was forced to engage in its second major walk-back of the week after President Trump appeared to answer 'no' to a question about Russian meddling that his spokeswoman says reporters misunderstood.
Hours after the on-camera statement, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump was simply trying to end an informal period for questions.
'The president said thank you very much – he was saying "No" to answering questions, Sanders said at a mid-afternoon press briefing.
Sanders said that she was in the room and 'interpreted' the remark the way that she was characterizing it in her public comments and that reporters challenging her were wrong.
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MIDDLE EAST
Iran nuclear chief says uranium stockpile reaches 950 tons.
Iran opens new centrifuge rotor factory: nuclear chief.
Iran seeks to secure global trade deals before fresh US sanctions.
Trump asked Iran's Rouhani for meeting 8 times at UN: official.
Syrian forces’ bombing intensifies in southern rebel holdout.
Evacuations begin from besieged pro-regime Syria towns: AFP.
Russia, Turkey reach deal with rebels to evacuate Syrian towns.
Saudi Arabia intercepts Yemen rebel missile: coalition.
Southern Iraq unrest: Protest outside oil field near Basra.
Israel passes law to ban groups critical of state, military from schools.
Hamas defiant after Israeli threats over burning kites.
Turkey keeps American pastor in jail, defying US pressure.
ASIA
Direct talks with Taliban: 'US exploring all avenues,' State Department tells DW.
Philippines' Duterte praises China amid South China Sea expansion.
N. Korea may return up to 55 sets of US war dead remains next week, US official says.
Trump-Kim statement overpromised on return of war remains.
Report: Kim Jong Un calls for unscheduled meeting of ambassadors.
North Korea admonishes Japan over colonial past after IAEA meeting.
Australia needs to follow US, China lead in APAC investment, Penny Wong says.
Thai cave rescue: Wild Boars reveal moment of joy when divers emerged.
AFRICA
Fifteen dead in armed clashes in DR Congo.
South Sudan leaders 'to decide on power-sharing deal'.
Cameroon's anglophone crisis hits palm oil, cocoa production.
Libya migrant centres near breaking point after spike in arrivals.
Ethiopia makes first commercial flight to Eritrea in 20 years.
100 years since his birth, S.Africa pays tribute to Mandela.
EUROPE
Russian ambassador affirms no ‘secret deals’ struck between Putin, Trump in Helsinki.
Trump efforts to split EU 'are in vain', Juncker says.
Hungary joins US in refusing UN's safe global migration compact.
Numerous deaths as boat capsizes off Cyprus.
Migrant crisis: Italy and NGO in row over migrant deaths.
Romania and Hungary clash over Black Sea gas distribution.
Hungary PM dogged by corruption allegations.
Sweden battles wildfires from Arctic Circle to Baltic Sea.
Germany to bring back mistakenly deported Afghan asylum seeker.
AMERICAS
Trump expects ‘big results’ from Helsinki summit. Trump says Putin summit could prove long-term 'success'.
Trump says no president has been as 'tough' on Russia.
White House says Trump was answering different question when he said Russia wasn’t targeting US. White House: 'Threat' from Russia still exists.
Nicaragua: Pro-Ortega forces take opposition stronghold Monimbo. Nicaragua forces 'regain control' of protest city Masaya.
OAS condemns human rights abuses in Nicaragua.
Peru arrests 50 in Colombia border drugs bust.
US military invasion of Venezuela 'possible' - Russian Ambassador in Caracas.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Scores of ISIS fighters ‘could travel to Spain’ after fighting in Syria.
Man guilty of plot to behead Theresa May in Isis-inspired attack.
Behind closed doors, Gitmo secret court talks about CIA, torture, rights.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
US stocks edge higher as airlines, railroads and banks jump.
US businesses already hurt by tariffs: Fed chair Powell.
Boeing, Airbus order $110B worth of new jetliners at British airshow.
Google hit with €4.3bn Android fine from EU.
Elon Musk apologises to UK diver for 'pedo' comment.
