France, Germany and the EU have issued a cautious warning to Donald Trump, urging the US president-elect to refrain from actions that threaten the &ldquo;sovereign borders&rdquo; of the European Union. This comes after Trump refused to rule out using military force to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory under Denmark, a member state of the EU.
&ldquo;There is no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be... attack its sovereign borders,&rdquo; French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said during an interview with France Inter radio.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-about-we-buy-alaska-canadian-lawmaker-counters-trumps-51st-state-offer-8602615">How about we buy Alaska...?: Canadian lawmaker counters Trump's 51st state offer</a>
Barrot added, &ldquo;We are a strong continent. We need to strengthen ourselves more.&rdquo; When asked directly whether the United States might invade Greenland, he responded, &ldquo;If you ask me: 'Is the United States going to invade Greenland?' the answer is no.&rdquo;
<h2>'Should we be overcome with worry? Evidently, no'</h2>
He added, &ldquo;We have entered an era that is seeing the return of the law of the strongest. Should we be intimidated? Should we be overcome with worry? Evidently, no. We need to wake up and reinforce ourselves, militarily, in competition, in a world where the law of the strongest prevails.&rdquo;
Barrot also said that he believes that the US is &ldquo;inherently not imperialistic&rdquo; and he doubts that this fundamental nature is changing. However, French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said, &ldquo;Today we are seeing the rise in blocs, we can see this as a form of imperialism, which materialises itself in the statements that we saw from Mr Trump on the annexation of an entire territory.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/girl-youre-no-longer-governor-musk-slams-trudeau-for-rejecting-canada-us-merger-pitch-by-trump-8601912">'Girl, you&rsquo;re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Trump's Canada-US 'merger' pitch</a>
"More than ever, we and our European partners need to be conscious, to get away from a form of naivety, to protect ourselves, to rearm," she added.
<h2>'Wild hypothetical stuff'</h2>
The European Commission also dismissed Trump&rsquo;s comments about Greenland as &ldquo;wild hypothetical stuff,&rdquo; but added that EU member states are obligated to defend Greenland if it came under attack. A commission spokesman said, &ldquo;We are talking about fairly wild hypothetical stuff about an administration that hasn&rsquo;t come in yet.&rdquo;
When asked if Greenland is protected under the EU&rsquo;s mutual defence clause, Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho confirmed it is, adding, &ldquo;But we are indeed speaking of something extremely theoretical on which we will not want to elaborate.&rdquo;
<h2>'Borders must not be moved by force'</h2>
In Germany, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said, &ldquo;As always, the firm principle applies... that borders must not be moved by force.&rdquo;&nbsp;
However, he refrained from commenting further on whether Berlin takes Trump&rsquo;s statements about NATO allies Denmark and Canada seriously, saying only that the German government had &ldquo;taken note&rdquo; of his comments.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-donald-trump-interested-in-acquiring-ownership-of-greenland-8602066">Why is Donald Trump interested in acquiring ownership of Greenland?</a>
Trump&rsquo;s remarks came after a press conference on Tuesday during which he called the US-Canada border an &ldquo;artificially drawn line&rdquo; and suggested that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the &ldquo;Gulf of America.&rdquo; He also refused to rule out the use of military force to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, while hinting at plans to use &ldquo;economic force&rdquo; to make Canada part of the US.
&ldquo;We need Greenland for national security purposes,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-crisis-impeached-prez-yoons-legal-team-says-willing-to-comply-with-warrant-only-if-8602752">South Korea crisis: Impeached Prez Yoon&rsquo;s legal team says willing to comply with warrant &lsquo;only if...&rsquo;</a>
Greenland, which was granted home rule in 1979 as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has made it clear that it is not for sale. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, &ldquo;There is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either. Greenland belongs to the Greelanders.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: “There is no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be... attack its sovereign borders,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said during an interview with France Inter radio.

France, Germany and the EU have issued a cautious warning to Donald Trump, urging the US president-elect to refrain from actions that threaten the “sovereign borders” of the European Union. This comes after Trump refused to rule out using military force to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory under Denmark, a member state of the EU. “There is no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be... attack its sovereign borders,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said during an interview with France Inter radio. Also read: How about we buy Alaska...?: Canadian lawmaker counters Trump's 51st state offer Barrot added, “We are a strong continent. We need to strengthen ourselves more.” When asked directly whether the United States might invade Greenland, he responded, “If you ask me: 'Is the United States going to invade Greenland?' the answer is no.” 'Should we be overcome with worry? Evidently, no' He added, “We have entered an era that is seeing the return of the law of the strongest. Should we be intimidated? Should we be overcome with worry? Evidently, no. We need to wake up and reinforce ourselves, militarily, in competition, in a world where the law of the strongest prevails.” Barrot also said that he believes that the US is “inherently not imperialistic” and he doubts that this fundamental nature is changing. However, French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said, “Today we are seeing the rise in blocs, we can see this as a form of imperialism, which materialises itself in the statements that we saw from Mr Trump on the annexation of an entire territory.” Also read: 'Girl, you’re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Trump's Canada-US 'merger' pitch "More than ever, we and our European partners need to be conscious, to get away from a form of naivety, to protect ourselves, to rearm," she added. 'Wild hypothetical stuff' The European Commission also dismissed Trump’s comments about Greenland as “wild hypothetical stuff,” but added that EU member states are obligated to defend Greenland if it came under attack. A commission spokesman said, “We are talking about fairly wild hypothetical stuff about an administration that hasn’t come in yet.” When asked if Greenland is protected under the EU’s mutual defence clause, Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho confirmed it is, adding, “But we are indeed speaking of something extremely theoretical on which we will not want to elaborate.” 'Borders must not be moved by force' In Germany, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said, “As always, the firm principle applies... that borders must not be moved by force.” However, he refrained from commenting further on whether Berlin takes Trump’s statements about NATO allies Denmark and Canada seriously, saying only that the German government had “taken note” of his comments. Also read: Why is Donald Trump interested in acquiring ownership of Greenland? Trump’s remarks came after a press conference on Tuesday during which he called the US-Canada border an “artificially drawn line” and suggested that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the “Gulf of America.” He also refused to rule out the use of military force to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, while hinting at plans to use “economic force” to make Canada part of the US. “We need Greenland for national security purposes,” Trump said. Also read: South Korea crisis: Impeached Prez Yoon’s legal team says willing to comply with warrant ‘only if...’ Greenland, which was granted home rule in 1979 as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has made it clear that it is not for sale. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, “There is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either. Greenland belongs to the Greelanders.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Thanks, but no thanks': EU nations strike cautious tone over Trump's Greenland plan

US President-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. He declared that US control over both territories would be crucial to American national security.

Donald Trump sets his eyes on critical Panama Canal

President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to pause criminal proceedings in his hush money case, after a New York appeals court denied his bid to halt sentencing scheduled for Friday.
In a filing released on Wednesday, Trump's lawyers asked the nation's top court to immediately order a stay in the case as he seeks an appeal to resolve questions of presidential immunity following an earlier Supreme Court ruling.
That appeal effort could reach the Supreme Court as well, his lawyers noted. They also urged the court to issue a temporary "administrative stay" while it considers the request for a broader pause, the filing said.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-donald-trump-interested-in-acquiring-ownership-of-greenland-8602066" rel="dofollow">Why is Donald Trump interested in acquiring ownership of Greenland?</a>
Trump, who won another term in the White House and is set to take office January 20, was convicted by a New York jury on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
The hush money case made Trump the first US president, sitting or former, to be charged with a crime and also the first to be convicted.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hush-money-case-judge-rejects-trumps-plea-to-delay-sentencing-8597798" rel="dofollow">Hush money case: Judge rejects Trump&rsquo;s plea to delay sentencing</a>
Since the verdict, his lawyers have made two unsuccessful attempts to have the case tossed.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World: In a filing released on Wednesday, Donald Trump's lawyers asked the United States (US) Supreme Court to immediately order a stay in the case. 

President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to pause criminal proceedings in his hush money case, after a New York appeals court denied his bid to halt sentencing scheduled for Friday. In a filing released on Wednesday, Trump's lawyers asked the nation's top court to immediately order a stay in the case as he seeks an appeal to resolve questions of presidential immunity following an earlier Supreme Court ruling. That appeal effort could reach the Supreme Court as well, his lawyers noted. They also urged the court to issue a temporary "administrative stay" while it considers the request for a broader pause, the filing said. Also read | Why is Donald Trump interested in acquiring ownership of Greenland? Trump, who won another term in the White House and is set to take office January 20, was convicted by a New York jury on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. The hush money case made Trump the first US president, sitting or former, to be charged with a crime and also the first to be convicted. Also read | Hush money case: Judge rejects Trump’s plea to delay sentencing Since the verdict, his lawyers have made two unsuccessful attempts to have the case tossed. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Trump hush money case: US president-elect asks SC to pause case ahead of sentencing

United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump has been floating the idea of making Canada the 51st state of America following his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November, but a Canadian lawmaker has now made a cheeky counteroffer to Trump.&nbsp;
Following Trudeau's decision to step down as PM, Trump renewed the offer. On Tuesday (Jan 7) Trudeau denied this would happen.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/girl-youre-no-longer-governor-musk-slams-trudeau-for-rejecting-canada-us-merger-pitch-by-trump-8601912" rel="dofollow">'Girl, you&rsquo;re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Trump's Canada-US 'merger' pitch</a>
Echoing his remarks, a Canadian lawmaker made a cheeky counteroffer to Trump, a report by the New York Post said.&nbsp;
<h2>'How about if we buy...'</h2>
During a press conference on Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was asked about Trump's offer to make Canada a part of the US.
Ford replied, "To the president (Donald Trump), I&rsquo;ll make him a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska? And we&rsquo;ll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-a-snowballs-chance-in-hell-trudeau-responds-to-trumps-remarks-of-making-canada-51st-state-of-us-8600358" rel="dofollow">'Not a snowball's chance in hell': Trudeau responds to Trump's remarks of making Canada 51st US state</a>
&ldquo;You know, it&rsquo;s not realistic,&rdquo; he added. Ford also told reporters that Trump might be joking about his offer (to make Canada part of the US), "but under my watch, that will never, ever happen."
<h2>A previous tit-for-tat with Trump&nbsp;</h2>
This is not the first time that Doug Ford has responded bluntly to Donald Trump's remarks about Canada.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trudeaus-half-brother-says-canadian-pm-wasnt-one-calling-plays-while-in-power-8601963" rel="dofollow">He was handed script to read...: Trudeau's half brother says Canadian PM wasn't 'one calling plays' while in power</a>
In December, the Ontario premier threatened to cut power to over a million Americans and ban American-made beer over Trump's tariff proposal for Canada.
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World | Trending: Ontario Premier Doug Ford made a cheeky counteroffer to Donald Trump, saying how about if Canada buys two American states—Alaska and Minnesota.

United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump has been floating the idea of making Canada the 51st state of America following his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November, but a Canadian lawmaker has now made a cheeky counteroffer to Trump. Following Trudeau's decision to step down as PM, Trump renewed the offer. On Tuesday (Jan 7) Trudeau denied this would happen. Also read | 'Girl, you’re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Trump's Canada-US 'merger' pitch Echoing his remarks, a Canadian lawmaker made a cheeky counteroffer to Trump, a report by the New York Post said. 'How about if we buy...' During a press conference on Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was asked about Trump's offer to make Canada a part of the US. Ford replied, "To the president (Donald Trump), I’ll make him a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska? And we’ll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?” Also read | 'Not a snowball's chance in hell': Trudeau responds to Trump's remarks of making Canada 51st US state “You know, it’s not realistic,” he added. Ford also told reporters that Trump might be joking about his offer (to make Canada part of the US), "but under my watch, that will never, ever happen." A previous tit-for-tat with Trump This is not the first time that Doug Ford has responded bluntly to Donald Trump's remarks about Canada. Also read | He was handed script to read...: Trudeau's half brother says Canadian PM wasn't 'one calling plays' while in power In December, the Ontario premier threatened to cut power to over a million Americans and ban American-made beer over Trump's tariff proposal for Canada. (With inputs from agencies)

How about we buy Alaska...?: Canadian lawmaker counters Trump's 51st state offer

Donald Trump ramps up threats to gain control of Greenland & Panama canal

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reestablished communication lines, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic relations between the two global powers amid ongoing global challenges.

Donald Trump-Xi Jinping communication lines are open

Donald Trump escalates threats against Greenland, Panama canal

President-elect Donald Trump announced a $20 billion investment for data centers in the United States by an Emirati company led by billionaire Hussain Sajwani. Watch this report for more details!

US: Donald Trump partners with Hussain Sajwani for tech push

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday (7 January) issued a stern warning to Hamas, demanding the release of hostages before his inauguration on 20 January, 2025.

Donald Trump: All hell to break out if hostages not released by Jan 20

China has openly admitted that its president, Xi Jinping, is in contact with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. This marks China's first official acknowledgment of talks between the two leaders ahead of Trump's inauguration. The admission comes a day after the Republican leader told a conservative radio host that he is already in touch with President Xi through representatives and expects to have a good relationship with his Chinese counterpart.

Donald Trump's Inauguration Day: Will The Chinese President Attend Trump's Inauguration?

Nearly a week after the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=+Cybertruck+" rel="dofollow"> Tesla Cybertruck explosion</a> outside the Trump International Hotel, the Las Vegas police said that Matthew Livelsberger used generative AI, including ChatGPT to plan the attack.&nbsp;
A review of Livelsberger's searches through ChatGPT indicates that he was looking for information on explosive targets, the speed at which certain rounds of ammunition would travel and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona.&nbsp;
Last week, officials said that Livelsberger left notes saying the explosion was a stunt meant to be a "wake-up call" for the nation's troubles.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosives-discovered-at-new-orleans-attackers-home-say-officials-8592470">Explosives discovered at New Orleans attacker's home, say officials</a>
&ldquo;Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives,&rdquo; the soldier wrote.
&ldquo;We are the United States of America, the best country people to ever exist! But right now we are terminally ill and headed toward collapse,&rdquo; the note further read.
<h2>'Concerning moment'</h2>
Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said the use of generative AI was a "game-changer", adding that the department was sharing information with other law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This is the first incident that I&rsquo;m aware of on US soil where ChatGPT is utilised to help an individual build a particular device,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a concerning moment.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-orleans-terror-attack-by-shamsud-din-jabbar-victims-identities-age-family-what-we-know-about-them-8590856">New Orleans terror attack victims' stories: 'He said he'll be alright, but...'</a>
Moreover, he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had written a 'manifesto' detailing a conspiracy theory regarding Chinese drones, the US investigators said.&nbsp;
Livelsberger, a US Army Special Forces soldier, carried out the explosion outside the Trump International Hotel on January 1.&nbsp;
The explosion caused minor injuries to seven people.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cybertruck-blast-suspect-suffered-from-ptsd-wrote-manifesto-alleging-drone-conspiracy-8590228">US Cybertruck blast: Suspect had PTSD; wrote manifesto alleging 'China drone conspiracy'</a>
The law enforcement officials said Livelsberger harboured no ill will towards US President-elect Donald Trump as in one of his notes, he said, the country needed to 'rally around' him and Tesla boss Elon Musk.
(With inputs from agencies)

World, trending: Sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said the use of generative AI was a "game-changer," adding that it is a "concerning moment". 

Nearly a week after the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel, the Las Vegas police said that Matthew Livelsberger used generative AI, including ChatGPT to plan the attack. A review of Livelsberger's searches through ChatGPT indicates that he was looking for information on explosive targets, the speed at which certain rounds of ammunition would travel and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona. Last week, officials said that Livelsberger left notes saying the explosion was a stunt meant to be a "wake-up call" for the nation's troubles. Also read: Explosives discovered at New Orleans attacker's home, say officials “Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives,” the soldier wrote. “We are the United States of America, the best country people to ever exist! But right now we are terminally ill and headed toward collapse,” the note further read. 'Concerning moment' Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said the use of generative AI was a "game-changer", adding that the department was sharing information with other law enforcement agencies. “This is the first incident that I’m aware of on US soil where ChatGPT is utilised to help an individual build a particular device,” he said. “It’s a concerning moment.” Also read: New Orleans terror attack victims' stories: 'He said he'll be alright, but...' Moreover, he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had written a 'manifesto' detailing a conspiracy theory regarding Chinese drones, the US investigators said. Livelsberger, a US Army Special Forces soldier, carried out the explosion outside the Trump International Hotel on January 1. The explosion caused minor injuries to seven people. Also read: US Cybertruck blast: Suspect had PTSD; wrote manifesto alleging 'China drone conspiracy' The law enforcement officials said Livelsberger harboured no ill will towards US President-elect Donald Trump as in one of his notes, he said, the country needed to 'rally around' him and Tesla boss Elon Musk. (With inputs from agencies)

ChatGPT used to plan Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel, say US police

In his post-certification address, former President Donald Trump announced a significant $20 billion investment in new data centers. The initiative aims to boost the nation's digital infrastructure and create thousands of jobs, marking a major step in the tech sector's growth.

Donald Trump Unveils $20 Billion Investment in New Data Centers in Post-Certification Address

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 7) said that when he was in power there were no wars, stressing that "I'm going into a world that's burning." He slammed President Joe Biden's negotiating tactics with Ukraine for the situation.&nbsp;
"Now I'm going into a world that's burning," Trump said while delivering his first remarks as certified election winner.&nbsp;
He said this in reference to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars. Trump said that Russia's war in Ukraine is &ldquo;much more complicated&rdquo; now and that it could escalate further.&nbsp;
&ldquo;That war could escalate to be much worse than it is right now,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-special-counsel-jack-smiths-confidential-report-on-donald-trump-cases-mar-a-lago-classified-documents-case-8600091" rel="dofollow">Also read: US Federal Judge temporarily blocks special counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump cases</a>
<h2>&lsquo;Gulf of Mexico should be called Gulf of America&rsquo;</h2>
Trump further said that the Gulf of Mexico should instead be called the &ldquo;Gulf of America&rdquo; as he continues his expansionist streak, saying that it is "appropriate".&nbsp;
However, he did not mention how he would make the renaming happen.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory. What a beautiful name. And it&rsquo;s appropriate,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;
He further blamed Mexico for undocumented migration and threatened tariffs on both of America&rsquo;s continental neighbours.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-arrives-in-greenland-and-shares-video-featuring-mini-statue-of-donald-trump-netizens-want-him-to-close-the-deal-8599840" rel="dofollow">Also read: Trump Jr arrives in Greenland, shares video featuring 'mini statue of Donald Trump'. Netizens react</a>
"Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country," he said.&nbsp;
He further warned that the US is going to put "very serious tariffs on Mexico and Canada."&nbsp;
"They can stop them. And we&rsquo;re going to put very serious tariffs on Mexico and Canada, because Canada, they come through Canada too, and the drugs that are coming through are at record numbers, record numbers. So we&rsquo;re going to make up for that by putting tariffs on Mexico and Canada, substantial tariffs," he said.&nbsp;
<h2>'All hell will break out'</h2>
Trump warned that if hostages still being held in Gaza are not released by the time he is inaugurated on January 20, &ldquo;all hell will break out in the Middle East.&rdquo;
He said that it would not be good for Hamas, stressing that there should have never been the October 7 attack.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-offshore-drilling-ban-why-cant-trump-undo-it-read-to-know-8599327" rel="dofollow">Also read: Biden's offshore drilling ban: Why can't Trump undo it? Read to know</a>
"It will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out. I don&rsquo;t have to say anymore, but that&rsquo;s what it is,&rdquo; Trump said, adding that &ldquo;there should have never been&rdquo; the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
<h2>'Looking at' possibility of pardoning Jan 6 rioters</h2>
The president-elect said that he was "looking at" the possibility of pardoning January 6 rioters who are charged with violent offences.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Well, we&rsquo;re looking at it, and we have other people in there,&rdquo; Trump said when a reporter asked, "You said on your first day of office you were going to pardon January 6th defendants. Are you planning to pardon those who were charged with violent offences?&rdquo;
&ldquo;People that were doing some bad things weren&rsquo;t prosecuted, and people that didn&rsquo;t even walk into the building are in jail right now. So, we&rsquo;ll be looking at the whole thing. But I&rsquo;ll be making major pardons, yes," Trump further said.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hush-money-case-judge-rejects-trumps-plea-to-delay-sentencing-8597798" rel="dofollow">Also read: Hush money case: Judge rejects Trump&rsquo;s plea to delay sentencing</a>
<h2>Biden 'trying to make the transition difficult'&nbsp;</h2>
Further slamming US President Biden, Trump said the Biden administration is &ldquo;trying everything they can to make it more difficult&rdquo; and is seeking to &ldquo;block the reforms of the American people and that they voted for.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Remember, this is a man that said he wants to transition to be smooth,&rdquo; he said of President Joe Biden. &ldquo;Well, you don&rsquo;t do the kind of things&mdash;you don&rsquo;t have a judge working real hard to try and embarrass you.&rdquo;
<h2>Trump satisfied with Meta's move</h2>
Trump said Facebook-parent Meta's abrupt policy shift on content moderation, including ending fact-checking in the US, was "probably" motivated by his threats against CEO Mark Zuckerberg.&nbsp;
While speaking to reporters, he expressed satisfaction with the new move.&nbsp;
When asked if he believed it was a response to his threats against Zuckerberg, Trump said, "Probably, yeah."
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: Donald Trump further blamed Mexico for undocumented migration and threatened tariffs on both of America’s continental neighbours, Mexico and Canada. 

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 7) said that when he was in power there were no wars, stressing that "I'm going into a world that's burning." He slammed President Joe Biden's negotiating tactics with Ukraine for the situation. "Now I'm going into a world that's burning," Trump said while delivering his first remarks as certified election winner. He said this in reference to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars. Trump said that Russia's war in Ukraine is “much more complicated” now and that it could escalate further. “That war could escalate to be much worse than it is right now,” he said. Also read: US Federal Judge temporarily blocks special counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump cases ‘Gulf of Mexico should be called Gulf of America’ Trump further said that the Gulf of Mexico should instead be called the “Gulf of America” as he continues his expansionist streak, saying that it is "appropriate". However, he did not mention how he would make the renaming happen. “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory. What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate,” Trump said. He further blamed Mexico for undocumented migration and threatened tariffs on both of America’s continental neighbours. Also read: Trump Jr arrives in Greenland, shares video featuring 'mini statue of Donald Trump'. Netizens react "Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country," he said. He further warned that the US is going to put "very serious tariffs on Mexico and Canada." "They can stop them. And we’re going to put very serious tariffs on Mexico and Canada, because Canada, they come through Canada too, and the drugs that are coming through are at record numbers, record numbers. So we’re going to make up for that by putting tariffs on Mexico and Canada, substantial tariffs," he said. 'All hell will break out' Trump warned that if hostages still being held in Gaza are not released by the time he is inaugurated on January 20, “all hell will break out in the Middle East.” He said that it would not be good for Hamas, stressing that there should have never been the October 7 attack. Also read: Biden's offshore drilling ban: Why can't Trump undo it? Read to know "It will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out. I don’t have to say anymore, but that’s what it is,” Trump said, adding that “there should have never been” the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. 'Looking at' possibility of pardoning Jan 6 rioters The president-elect said that he was "looking at" the possibility of pardoning January 6 rioters who are charged with violent offences. “Well, we’re looking at it, and we have other people in there,” Trump said when a reporter asked, "You said on your first day of office you were going to pardon January 6th defendants. Are you planning to pardon those who were charged with violent offences?” “People that were doing some bad things weren’t prosecuted, and people that didn’t even walk into the building are in jail right now. So, we’ll be looking at the whole thing. But I’ll be making major pardons, yes," Trump further said. Also read: Hush money case: Judge rejects Trump’s plea to delay sentencing Biden 'trying to make the transition difficult' Further slamming US President Biden, Trump said the Biden administration is “trying everything they can to make it more difficult” and is seeking to “block the reforms of the American people and that they voted for.” “Remember, this is a man that said he wants to transition to be smooth,” he said of President Joe Biden. “Well, you don’t do the kind of things—you don’t have a judge working real hard to try and embarrass you.” Trump satisfied with Meta's move Trump said Facebook-parent Meta's abrupt policy shift on content moderation, including ending fact-checking in the US, was "probably" motivated by his threats against CEO Mark Zuckerberg. While speaking to reporters, he expressed satisfaction with the new move. When asked if he believed it was a response to his threats against Zuckerberg, Trump said, "Probably, yeah." (With inputs from agencies)

Trump slams Biden in first remarks after Congress certifies election win. Know what he said

Amid the speculation of US President-elect Donald Trump's administration planning to take Greenland under US territory, his eldest son Donald Trump Jr arrived in the Danish territory on Tuesday (Jan 7). Trump Jr shared a video on his X account from the helicopter with the caption, "Greenland coming in hot&hellip; well, actually, really really cold!!!!" But what caught people's attention was a mini statue of Trump in the aircraft.&nbsp;
An X user replied to Trump Jr, &ldquo;Close the deal!" with one replying, "Making Greenland Great! Let's go! Stay warm."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5mmp3nh-n4c8iip4-xsj20i0h">
Greenland coming in hot&hellip; well, actually, really really cold!!!! <a href="https://t.co/IhLKVOfYVM">pic.twitter.com/IhLKVOfYVM</a>
&mdash; Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1876624138174976459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;The pilot look's like he LOVES his job!&rdquo; another wrote.
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-pm-race-rock-star-central-banker-mark-carney-considering-to-run-for-top-job-8599742" aria-label="Canada PM race: 'Rock star' central banker Mark Carney considering to run for top job">Canada PM race: 'Rock star' central banker Mark Carney considering to run for top job</a>
After Trump Jr's announcement of visiting Greenland, the island's government issued a statement saying the visit was "private" and not official. The statement claimed that no official will be meeting with Trump Jr.&nbsp;
Mininguaq Kleist, permanent secretary for the Greenland foreign affairs department, told The Associated Press that Trump Jr has planned to stay on the island for only 4-5 hours.&nbsp;
Trump Jr's visit came after the upcoming US President expressed his desire to acquire Greenland (an autonomous territory, part of the Kingdom of Denmark).&nbsp;
The visit is also crucial as Greenland's Prime Minister M&uacute;te Egede called for independence from Denmark in his New Year's speech.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-death-row-inmates-turn-down-joe-bidens-pardon-choose-death-sentence-instead-heres-why-clemency-death-penalty-shannon-agofsky-len-davis-8599736" aria-label="Two death row inmates turn down Biden's pardon, choose death sentence instead. Here's why">Two death row inmates turn down Biden's pardon, choose death sentence instead. Here's why</a>
<h2>Why has Trump Jr gone to Greenland?&nbsp;</h2>
As per the reports, Trump Jr visited Greenland for a day to shoot videos for his podcast.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I am hearing that the people of Greenland are &lsquo;MAGA.&rsquo; My son, Don Jr., and various representatives will be travelling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights,&rdquo; President-elect Donald Trump posted on his social media site on Monday night, referring to his &ldquo;Make America Great Again&rdquo; movement," a person familiar with the situation has been reported saying by the Voice of America.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-bans-xl-bully-dog-people-opt-for-this-breed-known-as-killing-machine-8599703" aria-label="UK bans XL Bully dog, people opt for THIS breed known as 'killing machine'">UK bans XL Bully dog, people opt for THIS breed known as 'killing machine'</a>
"Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation,&rdquo; Trump wrote. &ldquo;We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!&rdquo; the source further added.&nbsp;
Trump Jr came into the headlines during the 2024 presidential election campaign as he played a vital role in selecting an official for Trump's upcoming term in the White House.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-to-toss-out-factcheckers-reduce-censorship-and-restore-free-expression-8599677" aria-label="Meta to toss out factcheckers, reduce censorship and restore 'free expression'">Meta to toss out factcheckers, reduce censorship and restore 'free expression'</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World | trending: The interaction on X reflects ongoing interest and humour around the idea of purchasing Greenland, a topic that gained attention during Trump's presidency.

Amid the speculation of US President-elect Donald Trump's administration planning to take Greenland under US territory, his eldest son Donald Trump Jr arrived in the Danish territory on Tuesday (Jan 7). Trump Jr shared a video on his X account from the helicopter with the caption, "Greenland coming in hot… well, actually, really really cold!!!!" But what caught people's attention was a mini statue of Trump in the aircraft. An X user replied to Trump Jr, “Close the deal!" with one replying, "Making Greenland Great! Let's go! Stay warm." Greenland coming in hot… well, actually, really really cold!!!! pic.twitter.com/IhLKVOfYVM — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 7, 2025 “The pilot look's like he LOVES his job!” another wrote. Also read | Canada PM race: 'Rock star' central banker Mark Carney considering to run for top job After Trump Jr's announcement of visiting Greenland, the island's government issued a statement saying the visit was "private" and not official. The statement claimed that no official will be meeting with Trump Jr. Mininguaq Kleist, permanent secretary for the Greenland foreign affairs department, told The Associated Press that Trump Jr has planned to stay on the island for only 4-5 hours. Trump Jr's visit came after the upcoming US President expressed his desire to acquire Greenland (an autonomous territory, part of the Kingdom of Denmark). The visit is also crucial as Greenland's Prime Minister Múte Egede called for independence from Denmark in his New Year's speech. Also read | Two death row inmates turn down Biden's pardon, choose death sentence instead. Here's why Why has Trump Jr gone to Greenland? As per the reports, Trump Jr visited Greenland for a day to shoot videos for his podcast. “I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA.’ My son, Don Jr., and various representatives will be travelling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights,” President-elect Donald Trump posted on his social media site on Monday night, referring to his “Make America Great Again” movement," a person familiar with the situation has been reported saying by the Voice of America. Also read | UK bans XL Bully dog, people opt for THIS breed known as 'killing machine' "Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation,” Trump wrote. “We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!” the source further added. Trump Jr came into the headlines during the 2024 presidential election campaign as he played a vital role in selecting an official for Trump's upcoming term in the White House. Also read | Meta to toss out factcheckers, reduce censorship and restore 'free expression' (With inputs from agencies)

Trump Jr arrives in Greenland, shares video featuring 'mini statue of Donald Trump'. Netizens react

Donald Trump has reportedly suggested the possibility of making Canada the 51st state of the United States, an idea he has floated since meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following his November 5 election victory.

Canada: Hours After Trudeau's Resignation Trump Calls For US-Canada 'Merger' | WION

Melania Trump, former and potential future First Lady of the United States, unveils her self-titled memoir, offering insights into her personal life, experiences in the White House, and vision for the future.

'Melania’: Former and future first lady releases self-titled memoir

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=meta" rel="dofollow">Meta </a>CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday (Jan 7) announced that the company will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech.&nbsp;
The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X.&nbsp;
This comes just weeks ahead of Donald Trump takes office. US President-elect Trump and other Republicans have been slamming Meta CEO for what they view as censorship of right-wing voices.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/meta-denies-taking-down-its-ai-powered-chatbots-on-instagram-and-facebook-heres-why-8591383" rel="dofollow">Meta denies taking down its AI-powered chatbots from Instagram and Facebook</a>
&ldquo;Fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they&rsquo;ve created,&rdquo; Zuckerberg said in a video on Tuesday.&nbsp;
&ldquo;What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it&rsquo;s gone too far," he added.&nbsp;
However, he acknowledged a "tradeoff" in the new policy, noting more harmful content will appear on the platform as a result of the content moderation changes.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-to-donate-1-million-to-trumps-inaugural-fund-after-meta-783729" rel="dofollow">After Meta, Amazon to donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund</a>
He further pointed to the election as a major influence on the company's decision and criticised "governments and legacy media" for allegedly pushing "to censor more and more."
"The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech," he said.
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Earlier today, Meta&rsquo;s newly appointed Chief of Global Affairs Joel Kaplan told Fox that the company's partnerships with third-party fact-checkers were &ldquo;well-intentioned at the outset but there&rsquo;s just been too much political bias in what they choose to fact check and how.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-restores-global-outages-after-whatsapp-instagram-go-down-chatgpt-goes-offline-783334" rel="dofollow">Meta restores global outages after WhatsApp, Instagram go down, ChatGPT goes offline</a>
<h2>Seeking better relations with Trump</h2>
This comes as Zuckerberg seeks to better relations with Trump before he takes office.&nbsp;
A day earlier, Meta announced Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board, along with two other new directors.&nbsp;
Moreover, the company also said that it will donate USD 1 million to Trump&rsquo;s inaugural fund and that Zuckerberg wants to take an &ldquo;active role&rdquo; in tech policy discussions.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World, science & tech: Meta will be altering the way content is moderated online and will be getting rid of fact-checkers, replacing them with "community notes".

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday (Jan 7) announced that the company will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech. The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X. This comes just weeks ahead of Donald Trump takes office. US President-elect Trump and other Republicans have been slamming Meta CEO for what they view as censorship of right-wing voices. Also read: Meta denies taking down its AI-powered chatbots from Instagram and Facebook “Fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created,” Zuckerberg said in a video on Tuesday. “What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far," he added. However, he acknowledged a "tradeoff" in the new policy, noting more harmful content will appear on the platform as a result of the content moderation changes. Also read: After Meta, Amazon to donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund He further pointed to the election as a major influence on the company's decision and criticised "governments and legacy media" for allegedly pushing "to censor more and more." "The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech," he said. Earlier today, Meta’s newly appointed Chief of Global Affairs Joel Kaplan told Fox that the company's partnerships with third-party fact-checkers were “well-intentioned at the outset but there’s just been too much political bias in what they choose to fact check and how.” Also read: Meta restores global outages after WhatsApp, Instagram go down, ChatGPT goes offline Seeking better relations with Trump This comes as Zuckerberg seeks to better relations with Trump before he takes office. A day earlier, Meta announced Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board, along with two other new directors. Moreover, the company also said that it will donate USD 1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and that Zuckerberg wants to take an “active role” in tech policy discussions. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta to toss out factcheckers to reduce censorship, restore 'free expression'

The US Congress has certified US President-elect Donald Trump's election victory in a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives. Watch in for more details!

Donald Trump Calls Congress Certification Of His Win A 'Moment In History'

US President-elect Donald Trump&rsquo;s plea to postpone his sentencing in the hush money case was rejected by Judge Juan Merchan Monday (Jan 6), according to court documents. Trump&rsquo;s attorneys are now expected to appeal the decision in a New York court. Trump&rsquo;s legal team has already approached the New York appellate court to thwart Merchan&rsquo;s two previous rulings that upheld his hush money conviction.
Last week, the judge rejected Trump&rsquo;s request to cancel his conviction on the ground that he has been elected as the president and instead set his sentencing for Friday (Jan 10). However, the judge made clear he won&rsquo;t give any jail time to the incoming commander-in-chief. On the other hand, Trump&rsquo;s legal team wants the sentencing to be put on hold as the appeal plays out.
&ldquo;The Court should vacate the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 10, 2025, and suspend all further deadlines in the case until President Trump&rsquo;s immunity appeals are fully and finally resolved, which should result in a dismissal of this case, which should have never been brought in the first place,&rdquo; Trump&rsquo;s filing read.
<h2>Trump's legal team disputes Merchan&rsquo;s &ldquo;erroneous decision"</h2>
Trump&rsquo;s attorneys added that Merchan&rsquo;s &ldquo;erroneous decisions&rdquo; threaten the &ldquo;institution of the Presidency and run squarely against established precedent disallowing any criminal process against a President-Elect.&rdquo;
Responding to this, the Manhattan district attorney&rsquo;s office urged Merchan to dismiss Trump&rsquo;s request and instead proceed with the sentencing.
&ldquo;Defendant will suffer no prejudice from the conclusion of criminal proceedings in the trial court given the Court&rsquo;s intended sentence of an unconditional discharge and defendant&rsquo;s decision to appear for sentencing virtually instead of in person&mdash;indeed, entry of judgment is necessary to allow the appeal defendant has repeatedly stated he will pursue,&rdquo; wrote the prosecutors in their filing.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-trial-judge-sets-sentencing-date-but-signals-no-jail-time-8589737">Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time</a>
Trump was found guilty on 34 charges related to the falsification of business records associated with payments made to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, in May last year. These payments were allegedly intended to reimburse a $130,000 hush money disbursement to adult film actress Stormy Daniels aimed at preventing her from disclosing an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election. Trump has denied the charges.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Last week, the judge rejected Trump’s request to cancel his conviction on the ground that he has been elected as the president and instead set his sentencing for Friday.

US President-elect Donald Trump’s plea to postpone his sentencing in the hush money case was rejected by Judge Juan Merchan Monday (Jan 6), according to court documents. Trump’s attorneys are now expected to appeal the decision in a New York court. Trump’s legal team has already approached the New York appellate court to thwart Merchan’s two previous rulings that upheld his hush money conviction. Last week, the judge rejected Trump’s request to cancel his conviction on the ground that he has been elected as the president and instead set his sentencing for Friday (Jan 10). However, the judge made clear he won’t give any jail time to the incoming commander-in-chief. On the other hand, Trump’s legal team wants the sentencing to be put on hold as the appeal plays out. “The Court should vacate the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 10, 2025, and suspend all further deadlines in the case until President Trump’s immunity appeals are fully and finally resolved, which should result in a dismissal of this case, which should have never been brought in the first place,” Trump’s filing read. Trump's legal team disputes Merchan’s “erroneous decision" Trump’s attorneys added that Merchan’s “erroneous decisions” threaten the “institution of the Presidency and run squarely against established precedent disallowing any criminal process against a President-Elect.” Responding to this, the Manhattan district attorney’s office urged Merchan to dismiss Trump’s request and instead proceed with the sentencing. “Defendant will suffer no prejudice from the conclusion of criminal proceedings in the trial court given the Court’s intended sentence of an unconditional discharge and defendant’s decision to appear for sentencing virtually instead of in person—indeed, entry of judgment is necessary to allow the appeal defendant has repeatedly stated he will pursue,” wrote the prosecutors in their filing. Also read: Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time Trump was found guilty on 34 charges related to the falsification of business records associated with payments made to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, in May last year. These payments were allegedly intended to reimburse a $130,000 hush money disbursement to adult film actress Stormy Daniels aimed at preventing her from disclosing an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election. Trump has denied the charges. (With inputs from agencies)

Hush money case: Judge rejects Trump’s plea to delay sentencing

Kamala Harris Certifies Donald Trump's US Election Win

US President Joe Biden will ban new offshore oil and gas development along most US coastlines, a decision President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to boost domestic energy production, may find difficult to reverse.
The move is considered mostly symbolic, as it will not impact areas where oil and gas development is currently underway, and mainly covers zones where drillers have no important prospects, including in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The White House said on Monday that Biden will use his authority under the 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect all federal waters off the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of the northern Bering Sea in Alaska. The ban will affect 625 million acres (253 million hectares) of ocean.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/january-6-four-years-apart-capitol-goes-from-chaos-to-calm-as-congress-certifies-trump-win-photos-8597194">January 6, four years apart: Capitol goes from chaos to calm as Congress certifies Trump&nbsp;win&nbsp;|&nbsp;Photos</a>
Biden said the move was aligned with both his efforts to combat climate change and his goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
He also invoked the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, saying the low drilling potential of the areas included in the ban did not justify the public health and economic risks of future leasing.
"My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation's energy needs," Biden said in a statement. "It is not worth the risks."
Around 15% of U.S. oil production comes from federal offshore acreage, mainly in the Gulf of Mexico, a share that has been falling sharply in the last decade as drilling onshore booms, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The United States is now the world's top oil and gas producer thanks to big increases in production from places like Texas and New Mexico, fueled by improved drilling technology and strong demand since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement comes as Trump has pledged to reverse Biden's conservation and climate change policies when he takes office later this month.
"It's ridiculous. I'll unban it immediately. I will unban it. I have the right to unban it immediately," Trump said in an interview on the Hugh Hewitt radio program.
During his term, Biden also limited new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters, drawing criticism from drilling states and companies.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-congress-formally-certifies-donald-trumps-election-as-president-8597130">US Congress certifies Trump's election as president, four years after Capitol riot</a>
But the Lands Act, which allows presidents to withdraw areas from mineral leasing and drilling, does not grant them the legal authority to overturn prior bans, according to a 2019 court ruling - meaning a reversal would likely require an act of Congress. That order came in response to Trump's effort to reverse Arctic and Atlantic Ocean withdrawals made by former President Barack Obama at the end of his presidency.
Trump also used the Lands Act to ban sales of offshore drilling rights in the eastern Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida through 2032. Biden's decision will protect the same area with no expiration.
It is unclear whether lawmakers would support reversing Biden's decision to protect these waters.
A Trump-era proposal in 2018 to open up the Atlantic, Pacific and new parts of the Arctic oceans to offshore drilling drew vehement opposition from most coastal states, including those led by Republicans. The states argued at the time that offshore drilling would pose significant risks to lucrative coastal tourism.
Two years later, Trump banned drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia as he campaigned for re-election.
An oil and gas industry trade group said the decision would harm American energy security and should be reversed.
"We urge policymakers to use every tool at their disposal to reverse this politically motivated decision and restore a pro-American energy approach to federal leasing," American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers said in a statement.
Environmental group Oceana called it a victory for Americans who depend on clean coastlines and fisheries.
"Our treasured coastal communities are now safeguarded for future generations,&rdquo; Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon said in a statement.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

World: The move is considered mostly symbolic, as it will not impact areas where oil and gas development is currently underway, and mainly covers zones where drillers have no important prospects, including in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

US President Joe Biden will ban new offshore oil and gas development along most US coastlines, a decision President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to boost domestic energy production, may find difficult to reverse. The move is considered mostly symbolic, as it will not impact areas where oil and gas development is currently underway, and mainly covers zones where drillers have no important prospects, including in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The White House said on Monday that Biden will use his authority under the 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect all federal waters off the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of the northern Bering Sea in Alaska. The ban will affect 625 million acres (253 million hectares) of ocean. Also read: January 6, four years apart: Capitol goes from chaos to calm as Congress certifies Trump win | Photos Biden said the move was aligned with both his efforts to combat climate change and his goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. He also invoked the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, saying the low drilling potential of the areas included in the ban did not justify the public health and economic risks of future leasing. "My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation's energy needs," Biden said in a statement. "It is not worth the risks." Around 15% of U.S. oil production comes from federal offshore acreage, mainly in the Gulf of Mexico, a share that has been falling sharply in the last decade as drilling onshore booms, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The United States is now the world's top oil and gas producer thanks to big increases in production from places like Texas and New Mexico, fueled by improved drilling technology and strong demand since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The announcement comes as Trump has pledged to reverse Biden's conservation and climate change policies when he takes office later this month. "It's ridiculous. I'll unban it immediately. I will unban it. I have the right to unban it immediately," Trump said in an interview on the Hugh Hewitt radio program. During his term, Biden also limited new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters, drawing criticism from drilling states and companies. Also read: US Congress certifies Trump's election as president, four years after Capitol riot But the Lands Act, which allows presidents to withdraw areas from mineral leasing and drilling, does not grant them the legal authority to overturn prior bans, according to a 2019 court ruling - meaning a reversal would likely require an act of Congress. That order came in response to Trump's effort to reverse Arctic and Atlantic Ocean withdrawals made by former President Barack Obama at the end of his presidency. Trump also used the Lands Act to ban sales of offshore drilling rights in the eastern Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida through 2032. Biden's decision will protect the same area with no expiration. It is unclear whether lawmakers would support reversing Biden's decision to protect these waters. A Trump-era proposal in 2018 to open up the Atlantic, Pacific and new parts of the Arctic oceans to offshore drilling drew vehement opposition from most coastal states, including those led by Republicans. The states argued at the time that offshore drilling would pose significant risks to lucrative coastal tourism. Two years later, Trump banned drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia as he campaigned for re-election. An oil and gas industry trade group said the decision would harm American energy security and should be reversed. "We urge policymakers to use every tool at their disposal to reverse this politically motivated decision and restore a pro-American energy approach to federal leasing," American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers said in a statement. Environmental group Oceana called it a victory for Americans who depend on clean coastlines and fisheries. "Our treasured coastal communities are now safeguarded for future generations,” Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon said in a statement. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Biden bans offshore drilling across most US coastlines, Trump vows reversal

A Democrat from New Jersey on Monday (January 6) shared two contrasting images taken inside the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-posts-throwback-image-from-capitol-riots-ahead-of-his-certification-as-2024-election-winner-8596663">US Capitol</a>, each captured four years apart on the day of certification day of Trump's 2020 loss and 2024 win, respectively.
Senator Andy Kim shared the visuals to show the stark differences between the two days. One image, taken on January 6, 2021, showed chaos, with shattered glass on doors, overturned furniture, and a mob storming through the hallways in an attempt to disrupt the certification of President Biden&rsquo;s electoral win.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-congress-formally-certifies-donald-trumps-election-as-president-8597130">US Congress certifies Trump's election as president, four years after Capitol riot</a>
In contrast, the second image, taken on Monday, showed a calm and quiet Capitol as lawmakers gathered to certify President-elect Donald J. Trump&rsquo;s victory.
Take a look at the pictures here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5lemjl3-pexy707b-m5umk6vj">
I&rsquo;m walking through the Capitol this morning and took some photos in the same spots as what we saw 4 years ago <a href="https://t.co/UI0CtGV0rs">pic.twitter.com/UI0CtGV0rs</a>
&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1876317095761490277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://t.co/PvWvdACTRA">pic.twitter.com/PvWvdACTRA</a>
&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1876317104024301950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://t.co/ahvncaZS6O">pic.twitter.com/ahvncaZS6O</a>
&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1876317277622358384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://t.co/ygeMgsYcG3">pic.twitter.com/ygeMgsYcG3</a>
&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1876317313332641945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://t.co/U7L9YBbasF">pic.twitter.com/U7L9YBbasF</a>
&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1876318548097929695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://t.co/rk6J3sr4Al">pic.twitter.com/rk6J3sr4Al</a>
&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1876318644956987422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>US Congress formally certifies Donald Trump's election as president</h2>
On Monday, Congress formally certified Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election during a joint session of lawmakers. The proceedings were conducted peacefully, marking a contrast to the events of four years ago when his supporters attacked the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-the-us-capitol-riot-anniversary-heres-what-happened-four-years-ago-8595915">On the US Capitol riot anniversary, here's what happened four years ago</a>
Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-capital-riot-should-not-be-rewritten-says-biden-day-before-trumps-certification-8594343">Kamala Harris</a>, who was the Democratic nominee and lost to Trump in this election, oversaw the certification process. While presiding over the session, she announced, &ldquo;The state of the vote for the president of the United States as delivered to the president of the Senate is as follows: the whole number of the electors appointed to vote for president of the United States is 538. Within that whole number, the majority is 270. The votes for president of the United States are as follows: Donald J Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: On Monday, Congress formally certified Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election during a joint session of lawmakers. 

A Democrat from New Jersey on Monday (January 6) shared two contrasting images taken inside the US Capitol, each captured four years apart on the day of certification day of Trump's 2020 loss and 2024 win, respectively. Senator Andy Kim shared the visuals to show the stark differences between the two days. One image, taken on January 6, 2021, showed chaos, with shattered glass on doors, overturned furniture, and a mob storming through the hallways in an attempt to disrupt the certification of President Biden’s electoral win. Also read: US Congress certifies Trump's election as president, four years after Capitol riot In contrast, the second image, taken on Monday, showed a calm and quiet Capitol as lawmakers gathered to certify President-elect Donald J. Trump’s victory. Take a look at the pictures here: I’m walking through the Capitol this morning and took some photos in the same spots as what we saw 4 years ago pic.twitter.com/UI0CtGV0rs — Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2025 pic.twitter.com/PvWvdACTRA — Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2025 pic.twitter.com/ahvncaZS6O — Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2025 pic.twitter.com/ygeMgsYcG3 — Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2025 pic.twitter.com/U7L9YBbasF — Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2025 pic.twitter.com/rk6J3sr4Al — Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2025 US Congress formally certifies Donald Trump's election as president On Monday, Congress formally certified Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election during a joint session of lawmakers. The proceedings were conducted peacefully, marking a contrast to the events of four years ago when his supporters attacked the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Also read: On the US Capitol riot anniversary, here's what happened four years ago Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the Democratic nominee and lost to Trump in this election, oversaw the certification process. While presiding over the session, she announced, “The state of the vote for the president of the United States as delivered to the president of the Senate is as follows: the whole number of the electors appointed to vote for president of the United States is 538. Within that whole number, the majority is 270. The votes for president of the United States are as follows: Donald J Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes.” (With inputs from agencies)

January 6, four years apart: Capitol goes from chaos to calm as Congress certifies Trump win | Photos

In just a few hours from now, the US Congress will formally certify Donald Trump's election as president.&nbsp;Monday's (Jan 6) certification comes exactly four years after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to block the certification of his 2020 loss.
The approval also comes as Washington would be hit by the biggest snowstorm in years. On Sunday, Speaker Mike Johnson said that he and other Republicans urged their members to stay in the area over the weekend to avoid travel disruptions from the winter weather.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-posts-throwback-image-from-capitol-riots-ahead-of-his-certification-as-2024-election-winner-8596663" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump stirs 2021 Capitol riot memories ahead of his certification as US election winner</a>
According to American media, there were around five inches of snow in Washington by Monday morning, and more was predicted later in the day.&nbsp;
<h2>Winter will not delay or disrupt proceedings</h2>
A report by the New York Times (NYT) said that even if the Congress session on Monday was sparsely attended because of the winter weather, that alone probably would not delay or disrupt the proceedings.
The report said that lawmakers convening at the Capitol had started posting about the wintry backdrop of their work.
Sharing a video post on X, Republican Morgan Griffith expressed confidence that the unfavourable weather would not stop him from certifying Trump as president.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It may be snowing and subfreezing in DC, but that will not stop me from certifying President-elect Trump as America&rsquo;s 47th president! <a href="https://t.co/PKvILJhDcr">pic.twitter.com/PKvILJhDcr</a>
&mdash; Morgan Griffith (@RepMGriffith) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMGriffith/status/1876252010581983675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"It may be snowing and subfreezing in DC, but that will not stop me from certifying President-elect Trump as America&rsquo;s 47th president!" Griffith, the representative of the ninth district of Virginia, said.
<h2>Capitol under tight security</h2>
The Capitol has been placed under tight security ahead of the session to certify Trump's election as president. The NYT report said that, unlike the same day in 2021, Monday has been declared a "national special security event."
This means that significant federal, state, and local resources have been directed to protect Congress.
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World | Trending: Monday's (Jan 6) certification comes exactly four years after a mob of Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to block the certification of his 2020 loss.

In just a few hours from now, the US Congress will formally certify Donald Trump's election as president. Monday's (Jan 6) certification comes exactly four years after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to block the certification of his 2020 loss. The approval also comes as Washington would be hit by the biggest snowstorm in years. On Sunday, Speaker Mike Johnson said that he and other Republicans urged their members to stay in the area over the weekend to avoid travel disruptions from the winter weather. Also read | Donald Trump stirs 2021 Capitol riot memories ahead of his certification as US election winner According to American media, there were around five inches of snow in Washington by Monday morning, and more was predicted later in the day. Winter will not delay or disrupt proceedings A report by the New York Times (NYT) said that even if the Congress session on Monday was sparsely attended because of the winter weather, that alone probably would not delay or disrupt the proceedings. The report said that lawmakers convening at the Capitol had started posting about the wintry backdrop of their work. Sharing a video post on X, Republican Morgan Griffith expressed confidence that the unfavourable weather would not stop him from certifying Trump as president. It may be snowing and subfreezing in DC, but that will not stop me from certifying President-elect Trump as America’s 47th president! pic.twitter.com/PKvILJhDcr — Morgan Griffith (@RepMGriffith) January 6, 2025 "It may be snowing and subfreezing in DC, but that will not stop me from certifying President-elect Trump as America’s 47th president!" Griffith, the representative of the ninth district of Virginia, said. Capitol under tight security The Capitol has been placed under tight security ahead of the session to certify Trump's election as president. The NYT report said that, unlike the same day in 2021, Monday has been declared a "national special security event." This means that significant federal, state, and local resources have been directed to protect Congress. (With inputs from agencies)

US Congress to certify Trump's election as president despite unfavourable weather

People of the LGBTQ community across the United States (US) are arming themselves over a perceived concern that they would be rounded up and placed in concentration camps under the second Trump administration, American media reported on Sunday (January 5).&nbsp;
Since Donald Trump won the November 5, 2024, presidential election, non-traditional gun groups across the US have seen a flood of interest (in purchasing firearms).&nbsp;
<h2>The surge in firearm training requests&nbsp;</h2>
Speaking to The Philadelphia Inquirer, a spokesperson from the Liberal Gun Club said that the group received thousands of firearm training requests since the polls, more than in all 2023 combined.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/rewind-2023-did-the-lgbtq-movement-cross-the-line-674625" rel="dofollow">Rewind 2023: Did the LGBTQ movement cross the line?</a>
The spokesperson said that about a quarter of these requests were from those in the LGBTQ community.&nbsp;
The head of the Delaware Valley chapter of the gay gun group Pink Pistols said that the organisation received a sudden flurry of emails inquiring about gun training.&nbsp;
<h2>'If I can't protect myself, who will?'</h2>
Speaking to the publication, a trans woman in Glen Mills who runs a social group said, "There&rsquo;s definitely a feeling among a lot of LGBT individuals: &lsquo;If I can&rsquo;t protect myself, who will."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/indias-lgbtqia-community-marks-one-year-since-the-marriage-equality-verdict-has-anything-changed-768213" rel="dofollow">India&rsquo;s LGBTQIA+ community marks one year since the marriage equality verdict. Has anything changed?&nbsp;</a>
David Yamane, a professor of sociology at Wake Forest University said that it is difficult to track the rise or fall in gun ownership among the LGBTQ community as there are few published studies about the relatively small population.&nbsp;
<h2>A dramatic shift in gun culture in recent years</h2>
However, Yamane argued that the American gun culture dramatically shifted in recent years, away from a focus on hunting and recreation and towards self-defence.&nbsp;
He said that as the culture shifted, people who owned guns became far more diverse.&nbsp;The professor said that the year 2020 was a period of tremendous social unrest and social uncertainty.&nbsp;
"And a large number of people in the United States, under those conditions, look to firearms to reestablish some sense of safety and security,&rdquo; Yamane said.
He added that racial and gender minorities &ldquo;led the way&rdquo; in terms of new gun ownership rates in 2020 and afterwards.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: Since Donald Trump emerged victorious in the November 5 presidential election, non-traditional gun groups across the US have seen a flood of interest (in purchasing firearms). 

People of the LGBTQ community across the United States (US) are arming themselves over a perceived concern that they would be rounded up and placed in concentration camps under the second Trump administration, American media reported on Sunday (January 5). Since Donald Trump won the November 5, 2024, presidential election, non-traditional gun groups across the US have seen a flood of interest (in purchasing firearms). The surge in firearm training requests Speaking to The Philadelphia Inquirer, a spokesperson from the Liberal Gun Club said that the group received thousands of firearm training requests since the polls, more than in all 2023 combined. Also read | Rewind 2023: Did the LGBTQ movement cross the line? The spokesperson said that about a quarter of these requests were from those in the LGBTQ community. The head of the Delaware Valley chapter of the gay gun group Pink Pistols said that the organisation received a sudden flurry of emails inquiring about gun training. 'If I can't protect myself, who will?' Speaking to the publication, a trans woman in Glen Mills who runs a social group said, "There’s definitely a feeling among a lot of LGBT individuals: ‘If I can’t protect myself, who will." Also read | India’s LGBTQIA+ community marks one year since the marriage equality verdict. Has anything changed? David Yamane, a professor of sociology at Wake Forest University said that it is difficult to track the rise or fall in gun ownership among the LGBTQ community as there are few published studies about the relatively small population. A dramatic shift in gun culture in recent years However, Yamane argued that the American gun culture dramatically shifted in recent years, away from a focus on hunting and recreation and towards self-defence. He said that as the culture shifted, people who owned guns became far more diverse. The professor said that the year 2020 was a period of tremendous social unrest and social uncertainty. "And a large number of people in the United States, under those conditions, look to firearms to reestablish some sense of safety and security,” Yamane said. He added that racial and gender minorities “led the way” in terms of new gun ownership rates in 2020 and afterwards. (With inputs from agencies)

LGBTQ people across US arming themselves over concern of being placed in concentration camps under Trump 2.0

Donald Trump holds a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before US President Joe Biden's upcoming visit to Italy, strengthening bilateral ties.

Donald Trump meets Italian PM Giorgia Meloni before us president Joe Biden's Italy visit

The New York City has introduced the United States' first congestion charge scheme, aiming to tackle its infamous traffic woes. Drivers entering the congestion zone south of Central Park, which includes iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Wall Street, will face charges of up to $9 (&pound;7) per day during peak hours. Rates for other vehicles range from $2.25 during off-peak hours to $21.60 for larger trucks and tourist buses.
<h2>Trump and local Republicans oppose</h2>
The plan has sparked significant opposition, notably from US President-elect Donald Trump, who has even vowed to dismantle the scheme upon taking office later this month. Congressman Mike Lawler, representing a district just north of New York City, has also urged Trump to end what he called an "absurd congestion pricing cash grab."
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/authorities-begin-culling-after-bird-flu-outbreak-in-japan-8593238">Authorities begin culling after bird flu outbreak strike Japan farms</a>
The congestion charge comes after years of political disputes and legal hurdles. The scheme, initially proposed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul two years ago, underwent revisions following resistance from commuters and businesses. Neighbouring New Jersey filed a last-minute legal challenge to block the scheme but was unsuccessful, clearing the way for its implementation.
<h2>Resistance from Taxi drivers&nbsp;</h2>
Taxi drivers' associations and various commuter groups have criticised the charges, citing financial burdens. Businesses in Manhattan have also expressed concerns over potential negative impacts on customers and deliveries.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-weather-snow-storm-flight-disruptions-what-we-know-8593095">UK snow: Arctic blast snowstorm leads to airport runway closures, powercuts</a>
<h2>Goals of the scheme</h2>
Despite the backlash, the congestion charge aims to reduce vehicle traffic in one of the world's busiest urban areas while generating billions of dollars to improve New York's public transit system. With Trump promising to intervene, the scheme&rsquo;s future may depend on ongoing political dynamics and public response.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: The congestion charge comes after years of political disputes and legal hurdles. The scheme proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul two years ago underwent revisions after resistance from commuters and businesses.

The New York City has introduced the United States' first congestion charge scheme, aiming to tackle its infamous traffic woes. Drivers entering the congestion zone south of Central Park, which includes iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Wall Street, will face charges of up to $9 (£7) per day during peak hours. Rates for other vehicles range from $2.25 during off-peak hours to $21.60 for larger trucks and tourist buses. Trump and local Republicans oppose The plan has sparked significant opposition, notably from US President-elect Donald Trump, who has even vowed to dismantle the scheme upon taking office later this month. Congressman Mike Lawler, representing a district just north of New York City, has also urged Trump to end what he called an "absurd congestion pricing cash grab." Also Read | Authorities begin culling after bird flu outbreak strike Japan farms The congestion charge comes after years of political disputes and legal hurdles. The scheme, initially proposed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul two years ago, underwent revisions following resistance from commuters and businesses. Neighbouring New Jersey filed a last-minute legal challenge to block the scheme but was unsuccessful, clearing the way for its implementation. Resistance from Taxi drivers Taxi drivers' associations and various commuter groups have criticised the charges, citing financial burdens. Businesses in Manhattan have also expressed concerns over potential negative impacts on customers and deliveries. Also Read | UK snow: Arctic blast snowstorm leads to airport runway closures, powercuts Goals of the scheme Despite the backlash, the congestion charge aims to reduce vehicle traffic in one of the world's busiest urban areas while generating billions of dollars to improve New York's public transit system. With Trump promising to intervene, the scheme’s future may depend on ongoing political dynamics and public response. (With inputs from agencies)

New York becomes first US city to implement congestion charge scheme despite Trump's objection

Ryan Routh, who made an assasination bid on US President-elect Donald Trump offered to join the Palestinian militant group Hamas as a captive it was revealed in a letter from a jailhouse in Miami, where he is currently imprisoned and pending trial, according to the New York Post&nbsp;
The 58-year-old Routh is incarcerated in a federal prison in Miami pending trial for allegedly attempting to kill Trump.&nbsp;
Routh in a bizarre letter confirmed by the New York Post, expressed concern for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-state-secy-warned-netanyahu-biden-would-not-visit-israel-if-they-wont-allow-aid-into-gaza-8591823" rel="dofollow">Also read: US top diplomat Blinken warned Netanyahu, Biden would not visit Israel if they won't allow aid into Gaza</a>
"Will you go with me to Gaza and surrender to Hamas in exchange for a hostage life, please? Will you help me stop the killing of innocent children and families by offering yourself to restart the peace process and end this war?&rdquo; Routh asked in the letter.
Routh depicts himself as Alexander Hamilton from &ldquo;It's a Wonderful Life,&rdquo; who is highly obsessed with George Bailey.
Routh has been researching and reading about the life of founding father Hamilton, who worked as the first US treasury secretary from 1789 to 1795, "crying", over his passing in a battle with former Vice President Aaron Burr.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-administration-proposes-8b-arms-sale-to-israel-reports-8591476" rel="dofollow">Also read: Biden administration proposes $8B arms sale to Israel: Report</a>
Further, he linked himself to Bailey, the kindhearted banker portrayed by Jimmy Stewart in the Frank Capra Christmastime classic from 1946.&nbsp;
In his letter, Routh expressed his willingness to surrender to Gaza, stressing that he does not desire a world where "our neighbours struggle" around the world.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I feel as George Bailey, wondering if there is support and value in honor, dignity, righteousness, meek, modest, altruism, magnanimity, empathy, kindness, caring [and] sacrifice," he stated.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-delegation-departs-for-qatar-to-hold-hostage-deal-talks-with-hamas-8588239" rel="dofollow">Also read: Israeli delegation departs for Qatar to hold hostage deal talks with Hamas</a>
The letter's envelope has Routh's name, his prison ID number, and prison return address, according to the New York Post.&nbsp;
Moreover, Routh's 31-year-old daughter Sara, also signed the letter and confirmed the letter's legitimacy, according to the New York Post.
As he expressed his "willingness to surrender" in Gaza, Routh said this would be merely to restart the peace talks.&nbsp;
He also expressed solidarity with the university students staging violent protests on campus in&nbsp; support of Hamas.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-police-chief-deputy-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-gaza-humanitarian-zone-8585896" rel="dofollow">Also read: Hamas police chief, deputy killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza humanitarian zone</a>
&ldquo;It was extremely sad when our US leaders crushed the tent cities created by the University students for Gaza,&rdquo; Routh said, encouraging students to rebuild encampments at the &ldquo;edge of Gaza.&rdquo;
Routh was apprehended by federal agents on September 15 last year, with a semiautomatic rifle during a search at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: In his letter, Routh expressed his willingness to surrender to Gaza, stressing that he does not desire a world where "our neighbours struggle" around the world. 

Ryan Routh, who made an assasination bid on US President-elect Donald Trump offered to join the Palestinian militant group Hamas as a captive it was revealed in a letter from a jailhouse in Miami, where he is currently imprisoned and pending trial, according to the New York Post The 58-year-old Routh is incarcerated in a federal prison in Miami pending trial for allegedly attempting to kill Trump. Routh in a bizarre letter confirmed by the New York Post, expressed concern for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Also read: US top diplomat Blinken warned Netanyahu, Biden would not visit Israel if they won't allow aid into Gaza "Will you go with me to Gaza and surrender to Hamas in exchange for a hostage life, please? Will you help me stop the killing of innocent children and families by offering yourself to restart the peace process and end this war?” Routh asked in the letter. Routh depicts himself as Alexander Hamilton from “It's a Wonderful Life,” who is highly obsessed with George Bailey. Routh has been researching and reading about the life of founding father Hamilton, who worked as the first US treasury secretary from 1789 to 1795, "crying", over his passing in a battle with former Vice President Aaron Burr. Also read: Biden administration proposes $8B arms sale to Israel: Report Further, he linked himself to Bailey, the kindhearted banker portrayed by Jimmy Stewart in the Frank Capra Christmastime classic from 1946. In his letter, Routh expressed his willingness to surrender to Gaza, stressing that he does not desire a world where "our neighbours struggle" around the world. “I feel as George Bailey, wondering if there is support and value in honor, dignity, righteousness, meek, modest, altruism, magnanimity, empathy, kindness, caring [and] sacrifice," he stated. Also read: Israeli delegation departs for Qatar to hold hostage deal talks with Hamas The letter's envelope has Routh's name, his prison ID number, and prison return address, according to the New York Post. Moreover, Routh's 31-year-old daughter Sara, also signed the letter and confirmed the letter's legitimacy, according to the New York Post. As he expressed his "willingness to surrender" in Gaza, Routh said this would be merely to restart the peace talks. He also expressed solidarity with the university students staging violent protests on campus in support of Hamas. Also read: Hamas police chief, deputy killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza humanitarian zone “It was extremely sad when our US leaders crushed the tent cities created by the University students for Gaza,” Routh said, encouraging students to rebuild encampments at the “edge of Gaza.” Routh was apprehended by federal agents on September 15 last year, with a semiautomatic rifle during a search at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. (With inputs from agencies)

'Willing to surrender in Gaza': Trump's alleged shooter Routh wishes to become Hamas hostage in shocking letter

US President Joe Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a group of former government officials, entertainers, athletes and philanthropists for their contributions to serving the nation. Among the receivers of the medal are former Secretary of State and US Senator Hillary Clinton, soccer player Lionel Messi, and other big names. Philanthropist George Soros is also among the recipients. Robert F Kennedy, the former attorney general and US senator, will be cited posthumously. There are a total of 19 people chosen for awarding the medal on Saturday (Jan 4) at a White House ceremony.
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-administration-proposes-8b-arms-sale-to-israel-reports-8591476" aria-label="Biden administration proposes $8B arms sale to Israel: Report">Biden administration proposes $8B arms sale to Israel: Report</a>
The ceremony will be the latest in a series of events by the outgoing president Joe Biden during his last weeks in the White House.&nbsp;
Spanish-born chef Josė Andrės who founded World Central Kitchen, which the White House said &ldquo;revolutionized the way food aid reaches communities affected by natural disasters and conflict around the world," is among other recipients of the medal.&nbsp;
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honour in America and is given to people who have made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours". &nbsp;
<h3>The medal and president's political leaning&nbsp;</h3>
The medal is also said to be a representation of the political leaning of the ongoing US president. Clinton was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016 and ran against the upcoming US President Donald Trump. Soros is a well-known supporter of liberal causes and candidates.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-trial-judge-sets-sentencing-date-but-signals-no-jail-time-8589737" aria-label="Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time">Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time</a>
In his first term in the White House, Trump awarded the medal to the conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh and the Republican donor Miriam Adelson.
(With inputs from agencies)

The White House ceremony on January will honor individuals with prestigious medals, recognizing their significant contributions across various fields and sectors.

US President Joe Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a group of former government officials, entertainers, athletes and philanthropists for their contributions to serving the nation. Among the receivers of the medal are former Secretary of State and US Senator Hillary Clinton, soccer player Lionel Messi, and other big names. Philanthropist George Soros is also among the recipients. Robert F Kennedy, the former attorney general and US senator, will be cited posthumously. There are a total of 19 people chosen for awarding the medal on Saturday (Jan 4) at a White House ceremony. Also read | Biden administration proposes $8B arms sale to Israel: Report The ceremony will be the latest in a series of events by the outgoing president Joe Biden during his last weeks in the White House. Spanish-born chef Josė Andrės who founded World Central Kitchen, which the White House said “revolutionized the way food aid reaches communities affected by natural disasters and conflict around the world," is among other recipients of the medal. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honour in America and is given to people who have made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours". The medal and president's political leaning The medal is also said to be a representation of the political leaning of the ongoing US president. Clinton was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016 and ran against the upcoming US President Donald Trump. Soros is a well-known supporter of liberal causes and candidates. Also read | Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time In his first term in the White House, Trump awarded the medal to the conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh and the Republican donor Miriam Adelson. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Lionel Messi among 16 others

A New York judge has scheduled the sentencing of US President-elect Donald Trump in his hush-money case for January 10, just over a week before he is set to take office.
Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw Trump&rsquo;s trial last year, rejected a request from the president-elect to dismiss the case following his victory in the November election. In his order, Judge Merchan wrote that Trump could appear for the sentencing either in person or virtually.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intense-negotiations-call-from-trump-what-went-down-before-mike-johnsons-reelection-as-us-speaker-8589649">Intense negotiations, call from Trump: What went down before Mike Johnson's reelection as US speaker</a>
The judge also suggested that Trump would not face jail time, probation, or fine, but would instead receive an "unconditional discharge."&nbsp;
&ldquo;A sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution,&rdquo; Judge Merchan wrote. He added, &ldquo;Finding no legal impediment to sentencing and recognising that Presidential immunity will likely attach once Defendant takes his Oath of Office, it is incumbent upon this Court to set this matter down for the imposition of sentence prior to January 20, 2025.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-musk-not-gonna-be-president-vows-to-make-male-and-female-the-only-two-legal-genders-in-us-786064">Trump says Musk 'not gonna be president,' vows to make 'male and female' the only two legal genders in US</a>
<h2>Not allowed to defend myself: Donald Trump&nbsp;</h2>
Trump criticised Judge Juan Merchan's decision, calling it an "illegitimate political attack."&nbsp;
Trump posted on his social media platform <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-blames-open-borders-democrats-after-deadly-new-orleans-attack-kills-15-8585338">Truth Social</a>, &ldquo;This illegitimate political attack is nothing but a Rigged Charade... Merchan has so little respect for the Constitution that he is keeping in place an illegal gag order on me, your President and President-Elect,&nbsp;just so I cannot expose his and his family&rsquo;s disqualifying and illegal conflicts. I am the only Political Opponent in American History not allowed to defend myself &ndash; A despicable First Amendment Violation!&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-hmpv-scare-beijing-confirms-infection-surge-calls-it-annual-winter-occurrence-8589673">China HMPV scare: Beijing confirms infection surge, calls it 'annual winter occurrence'</a>
Trump was convicted last year in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges are linked to a $130,000 (&pound;105,000) payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment, arranged by Trump&rsquo;s former lawyer Michael Cohen, was made to silence Daniels about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump has consistently denied all wrongdoing, pleading not guilty to the charges and arguing that the case is a politically motivated attempt to undermine his 2024 presidential bid.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Judge Merchan rejected a request from Trump to dismiss the case following his election win. Trump criticised his decision, calling it an "illegitimate political attack." 

A New York judge has scheduled the sentencing of US President-elect Donald Trump in his hush-money case for January 10, just over a week before he is set to take office. Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw Trump’s trial last year, rejected a request from the president-elect to dismiss the case following his victory in the November election. In his order, Judge Merchan wrote that Trump could appear for the sentencing either in person or virtually. Also read: Intense negotiations, call from Trump: What went down before Mike Johnson's reelection as US speaker The judge also suggested that Trump would not face jail time, probation, or fine, but would instead receive an "unconditional discharge." “A sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution,” Judge Merchan wrote. He added, “Finding no legal impediment to sentencing and recognising that Presidential immunity will likely attach once Defendant takes his Oath of Office, it is incumbent upon this Court to set this matter down for the imposition of sentence prior to January 20, 2025.” Also read: Trump says Musk 'not gonna be president,' vows to make 'male and female' the only two legal genders in US Not allowed to defend myself: Donald Trump Trump criticised Judge Juan Merchan's decision, calling it an "illegitimate political attack." Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, “This illegitimate political attack is nothing but a Rigged Charade... Merchan has so little respect for the Constitution that he is keeping in place an illegal gag order on me, your President and President-Elect, just so I cannot expose his and his family’s disqualifying and illegal conflicts. I am the only Political Opponent in American History not allowed to defend myself – A despicable First Amendment Violation!” Also read: China HMPV scare: Beijing confirms infection surge, calls it 'annual winter occurrence' Trump was convicted last year in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges are linked to a $130,000 (£105,000) payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment, arranged by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, was made to silence Daniels about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has consistently denied all wrongdoing, pleading not guilty to the charges and arguing that the case is a politically motivated attempt to undermine his 2024 presidential bid. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time

The deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day has opened the floodgates to a larger political conversation, and that's around immigration in the United States. This narrative is being championed by none other than U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Watch in for more details!

Donald Trump Draws Parallel Between New Orleans Attack & Immigration

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky on Thursday (Jan 2) said that US President-elect Donald Trump's unpredictable approach might help in resolving the war with Russia.&nbsp;
During the presidential campaign, Trump had said several times that he would end the Ukrainian war in &ldquo;24 hours&rdquo; if elected.
Ukrainian officials fear a peace agreement under Trump&rsquo;s terms might require territorial concession.&nbsp;
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Zelensky also commented on the possibility of France deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal but stressed that any such initiative should be aligned with Ukraine&rsquo;s goal of NATO membership.&nbsp;
Zelensky said, &ldquo;We support this initiative, but France alone is not enough. We would not want it to be one or two countries if it comes to this initiative. It should definitely be on the way to NATO.&rdquo;&nbsp;
In late 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron had floated the idea of Western troops being sent to Ukraine.
He also said that troops from NATO countries on the Ukrainain soil could not be ruled out.&nbsp;
Zelensky has also admitted that the Ukrainian army was experiencing strain and fatigue due to Russia's ongoing and intense assaults along the front line.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-kyiv-halts-russian-gas-flow-to-europe-calls-it-historic-8583058">Ukraine war: Kyiv halts Russian gas flow to Europe, calls it 'historic'</a>
<h2 class="p1">Russia gaining territory&nbsp;</h2>
According to a a report by AFP based on data from the Institute for the Study of War, Russia gained nearly 4,000 square kilometres (1,500 square miles) of territory in Ukraine last year, as Kyiv's forces faced persistent manpower shortages and fatigue.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Zelensky believes that Trump's distinct approach could break the stalemate in negotiations, potentially offering a unique angle to achieve peace in the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky on Thursday (Jan 2) said that US President-elect Donald Trump's unpredictable approach might help in resolving the war with Russia. During the presidential campaign, Trump had said several times that he would end the Ukrainian war in “24 hours” if elected. Ukrainian officials fear a peace agreement under Trump’s terms might require territorial concession. Also read: Ukraine war: Russia launches New Year drone strike on Kyiv, killing two, wounding six Zelensky also commented on the possibility of France deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal but stressed that any such initiative should be aligned with Ukraine’s goal of NATO membership. Zelensky said, “We support this initiative, but France alone is not enough. We would not want it to be one or two countries if it comes to this initiative. It should definitely be on the way to NATO.” In late 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron had floated the idea of Western troops being sent to Ukraine. He also said that troops from NATO countries on the Ukrainain soil could not be ruled out. Zelensky has also admitted that the Ukrainian army was experiencing strain and fatigue due to Russia's ongoing and intense assaults along the front line. Also read: Ukraine war: Kyiv halts Russian gas flow to Europe, calls it 'historic' Russia gaining territory According to a a report by AFP based on data from the Institute for the Study of War, Russia gained nearly 4,000 square kilometres (1,500 square miles) of territory in Ukraine last year, as Kyiv's forces faced persistent manpower shortages and fatigue. (With inputs from agencies)

'Unpredictable': Zelensky hopes Trump's approach can help end war with Russia

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