(Reuters) - Highlights for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday:
NORTH KOREA
Vice President Mike Pence says in Japan that Washington will work with its allies and China to put economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea but adds that the United States would defeat any attack with an "overwhelming response."
U.S. allies in Asia are silent over confusion about an American aircraft carrier group that was supposed to be headed toward North Korea in a show of force but was actually completing training exercises in Australia. Many Chinese, however, take to social media to joke about it.
AFGHANISTAN
U.S. troops are still battling suspected Islamic State fighters near the site where a massive bomb was dropped in eastern Afghanistan last week, an American military official says.
IRAN
The White House is aware of "potential negative impacts" from a review ordered by Trump of whether lifting sanctions through the Iran nuclear deal was in U.S. national security interests, his spokesman says.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says that Iran's destabilizing influence in the Middle East would have to be overcome to end the conflict in Yemen, as the United States weighs increasing support to the Saudi-led coalition fighting there.
CONGRESS
U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz, who chairs a House committee with broad investigative powers, says he will leave Congress after the 2018 midterm elections, saying he had no intention of running for any political office.
A political newcomer who thrilled Democrats with a strong finish in a Georgia congressional race - despite attacks by President Donald Trump - will face an experienced Republican candidate in a June runoff election for a district long dominated by the party.
THE DOLLAR
Trump is "absolutely not" trying to talk down the strength of the dollar, the Financial Times quotes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as saying.
EMISSIONS RULE
The Environmental Protection Agency says it will reconsider a rule on emissions from oil and gas operations and delay its implementation, marking the administration's latest effort to dismantle Obama-era environmental regulations.
GLOBAL ECONOMY
The International Monetary Fund warns that Trump's proposed tax cuts and rollback of financial regulations could spark a new round of financial risk-taking of the type that preceded the last crisis in 2008.
DAIRY TRADE
Australia and New Zealand dairy industry leaders say they would support U.S. moves to draw the World Trade Organization into a trade dispute with Canada, after Trump said existing rules were unfair.