Iraqi political and militia leaders condemned US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's surprise visit to US&nbsp;troops in Iraq on Wednesday as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and lawmakers said a meeting between Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was cancelled due to a disagreement over venue.

Sabah al Saadi, the leader of the Islah parliamentary bloc, called for an emergency session of parliament "to discuss this blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty and to stop these aggressive actions by Trump who should know his limits: The US&nbsp;occupation of Iraq is over."

The Bina bloc, Islah's rival in parliament and led by Iran-backed militia leader Hadi al-Amiri, also objected to Trump's trip to Iraq.

"Trump's visit is a flagrant and clear violation of diplomatic norms and shows his disdain and hostility in his dealings with the Iraqi government," said a statement from Bina.

Abdul Mahdi's office said in a statement that US&nbsp;authorities had informed Iraq's leadership of the president's visit ahead of time. The statement said the Iraqi prime minister and US&nbsp;president talked by telephone due to a "disagreement over how to conduct the meeting."

Iraqi lawmakers told Reuters that the pair had disagreed over where their planned meeting should take place: Trump had asked to meet at the Ain al-Asad military base, an offer which Abdul Mahdi declined.

Trump's visit comes amid a backdrop of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, as Washington seeks to counter Iran's sway in the Middle East. The formation of Iraq's government has stalled as well amid intensifying discord between the Islah and Bina blocs.

Falih Khazali, a former militia leader turned politician allied with Bina, accused the United States of wanting to increase its presence in Iraq. "The American leadership was defeated in Iraq and wants to return again under any pretext, and this is what we will never allow," he said.

Bina said Trump's visit "places many question marks on the nature of the US&nbsp;military presence and its real objectives, and what these objectives could pose to the security of Iraq."

While there has been no full-scale violence in Iraq since Islamic State suffered a series of defeats last year, some 5,200 US&nbsp;troops train and advise Iraqi forces still waging a campaign against the militant group.

Islah is headed by populist Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Sadr has long opposed the US&nbsp;presence in Iraq since the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. He led two uprisings against US&nbsp;forces in Iraq and is one of the few Shi'ite leaders to also distance himself from Iran.

Iraq's Shi'ite militias, also known as the PMF, many of which are supported by Iran, oppose the presence of US&nbsp;troops in the region. The PMF was made formally part of the security forces this year after helping the military defeat Islamic State in Iraq in 2017.

Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the powerful Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia said on Twitter, "Iraqis will respond with a parliamentary decision to oust your (US) military forces. And if they do not leave, we have the experience and the ability to remove them by other means that your forces are familiar with."

Some Iraqis, however, were less concerned with the US&nbsp;president's visit.

"We won’t get anything from America," said Baghdad resident Mohammad Abdullah. "They’ve been in Iraq 16 years, and they haven’t given anything to the country except destruction and devastation."

Iraqi political and militia leaders condemned US President Donald Trump's surprise visit to US troops in Iraq on Wednesday as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and lawmakers said a meeting between Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was cancelled due to a disagreement over venue.

Iraqi political and militia leaders condemned US President Donald Trump's surprise visit to US troops in Iraq on Wednesday as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and lawmakers said a meeting between Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was cancelled due to a disagreement over venue. Sabah al Saadi, the leader of the Islah parliamentary bloc, called for an emergency session of parliament "to discuss this blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty and to stop these aggressive actions by Trump who should know his limits: The US occupation of Iraq is over." The Bina bloc, Islah's rival in parliament and led by Iran-backed militia leader Hadi al-Amiri, also objected to Trump's trip to Iraq. "Trump's visit is a flagrant and clear violation of diplomatic norms and shows his disdain and hostility in his dealings with the Iraqi government," said a statement from Bina. Abdul Mahdi's office said in a statement that US authorities had informed Iraq's leadership of the president's visit ahead of time. The statement said the Iraqi prime minister and US president talked by telephone due to a "disagreement over how to conduct the meeting." Iraqi lawmakers told Reuters that the pair had disagreed over where their planned meeting should take place: Trump had asked to meet at the Ain al-Asad military base, an offer which Abdul Mahdi declined. Trump's visit comes amid a backdrop of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, as Washington seeks to counter Iran's sway in the Middle East. The formation of Iraq's government has stalled as well amid intensifying discord between the Islah and Bina blocs. Falih Khazali, a former militia leader turned politician allied with Bina, accused the United States of wanting to increase its presence in Iraq. "The American leadership was defeated in Iraq and wants to return again under any pretext, and this is what we will never allow," he said. Bina said Trump's visit "places many question marks on the nature of the US military presence and its real objectives, and what these objectives could pose to the security of Iraq." While there has been no full-scale violence in Iraq since Islamic State suffered a series of defeats last year, some 5,200 US troops train and advise Iraqi forces still waging a campaign against the militant group. Islah is headed by populist Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Sadr has long opposed the US presence in Iraq since the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. He led two uprisings against US forces in Iraq and is one of the few Shi'ite leaders to also distance himself from Iran. Iraq's Shi'ite militias, also known as the PMF, many of which are supported by Iran, oppose the presence of US troops in the region. The PMF was made formally part of the security forces this year after helping the military defeat Islamic State in Iraq in 2017. Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the powerful Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia said on Twitter, "Iraqis will respond with a parliamentary decision to oust your (US) military forces. And if they do not leave, we have the experience and the ability to remove them by other means that your forces are familiar with." Some Iraqis, however, were less concerned with the US president's visit. "We won’t get anything from America," said Baghdad resident Mohammad Abdullah. "They’ve been in Iraq 16 years, and they haven’t given anything to the country except destruction and devastation."

Iraqi lawmakers criticise Trump visit as blow to Iraqi sovereignty

President Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed his decision to withdraw <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-invites-trump-to-visit-turkey-white-house-186256">US troops from Syria</a> and said that his country cannot be the world's policeman in a surprise visit to troops deployed in Iraq.

Trump made his remarks to reporters after arriving with first lady Melania Trump about 7:16 pm local time at Al Asad airbase in western Iraq on his first trip as president to visit troops stationed abroad.

The president defended his decision to withdraw US troops from neighboring Syria, where some 2,000 soldiers are deployed as part of an international coalition fighting the Islamic State terrorist group, and he said that he was not giving US generals any more extensions of the deployment to continue to degrade the IS and work out the logistics of leaving the Middle Eastern country.

"(The generals) said again, recently, can we have more time? I said, 'Nope.' You can't have any more time. You've had enough time. We've knocked them out. We've knocked them silly," said Trump, according to a pool report.

He emphasized that he had held very good talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he said also wants to deal a harsh blow against the IS and he said he expected the Turkish leader would do so, along with others.

"We're no longer suckers, folks," Trump told the troops, warning that he is committed to bringing home US troops from foreign wars even over the objections of his administration's experts.

"The United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world," Trump said. "It's not fair when the burden is all on us, the United States."

He suggested that he was not worried about losing the ability to hit the IS, called ISIS by the administration, saying that "If we see something happening with ISIS that we don't like, we can hit them so fast and so hard they really won't know what the hell happened," Trump said, according to Bloomberg News.

Trump also emphasized that his visit to the combat zone was to enable him to pay his respects to the "incredible troops" that the US currently has stationed in Iraq.

Trump had been scheduled to meet on Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdelmahdi, but that meeting ultimately was cancelled.

"Melania and I were honored to visit our incredible troops at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. GOD BLESS THE USA.!" said Trump on Twitter.

Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, Trump greeted more than 100 soldiers assembled at the Al Asad airbase, shaking hands with several of them who extended their hands to him and who responded to him by chanting "USA!"

Trump and the first lady had traveled to Iraq in secret to share Christmas with US troops stationed in the Arab country, the White House said on Wednesday.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote on Wednesday on Twitter that the president and his wife Melania traveled to the Middle Eastern country to thank the troops and the military command tasked with the mission in Iraq "for their service, their success and their sacrifice" and to "wish them a Merry Christmas."

"President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas," tweeted Sanders.

Local media emphasized that this is Trump's first visit to a combat zone since taking office in January 2017.

Trump has been the target of criticism for breaking with the Christmas tradition begun in 2002 according to which US presidents visit the country's troops to celebrate the holiday.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria and said that his country cannot be the world's policeman in a surprise visit to troops deployed in Iraq.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria and said that his country cannot be the world's policeman in a surprise visit to troops deployed in Iraq. Trump made his remarks to reporters after arriving with first lady Melania Trump about 7:16 pm local time at Al Asad airbase in western Iraq on his first trip as president to visit troops stationed abroad. The president defended his decision to withdraw US troops from neighboring Syria, where some 2,000 soldiers are deployed as part of an international coalition fighting the Islamic State terrorist group, and he said that he was not giving US generals any more extensions of the deployment to continue to degrade the IS and work out the logistics of leaving the Middle Eastern country. "(The generals) said again, recently, can we have more time? I said, 'Nope.' You can't have any more time. You've had enough time. We've knocked them out. We've knocked them silly," said Trump, according to a pool report. He emphasized that he had held very good talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he said also wants to deal a harsh blow against the IS and he said he expected the Turkish leader would do so, along with others. "We're no longer suckers, folks," Trump told the troops, warning that he is committed to bringing home US troops from foreign wars even over the objections of his administration's experts. "The United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world," Trump said. "It's not fair when the burden is all on us, the United States." He suggested that he was not worried about losing the ability to hit the IS, called ISIS by the administration, saying that "If we see something happening with ISIS that we don't like, we can hit them so fast and so hard they really won't know what the hell happened," Trump said, according to Bloomberg News. Trump also emphasized that his visit to the combat zone was to enable him to pay his respects to the "incredible troops" that the US currently has stationed in Iraq. Trump had been scheduled to meet on Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdelmahdi, but that meeting ultimately was cancelled. "Melania and I were honored to visit our incredible troops at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. GOD BLESS THE USA.!" said Trump on Twitter. Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, Trump greeted more than 100 soldiers assembled at the Al Asad airbase, shaking hands with several of them who extended their hands to him and who responded to him by chanting "USA!" Trump and the first lady had traveled to Iraq in secret to share Christmas with US troops stationed in the Arab country, the White House said on Wednesday. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote on Wednesday on Twitter that the president and his wife Melania traveled to the Middle Eastern country to thank the troops and the military command tasked with the mission in Iraq "for their service, their success and their sacrifice" and to "wish them a Merry Christmas." "President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas," tweeted Sanders. Local media emphasized that this is Trump's first visit to a combat zone since taking office in January 2017. Trump has been the target of criticism for breaking with the Christmas tradition begun in 2002 according to which US presidents visit the country's troops to celebrate the holiday.

'US can't be world's policeman': Trump defends Syria pullout in surprise visit to Iraq

A US&nbsp;trade team will travel to Beijing the week of January&nbsp;7 to hold talks with Chinese officials, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The delegation will be led by Deputy US&nbsp;Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish and will include David Malpass, Treasury under secretary for international affairs, Bloomberg said.

US&nbsp;and Chinese officials have spoken by phone in recent weeks, but next month's meeting would be the first in-person talks since President Donald Trump met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Buenos Aires on December&nbsp;1.

Trump and Xi agreed to stop escalating tit-for-tat tariffs that have disrupted the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars of goods between the world's two biggest economies. The two leaders also agreed to launch new talks while the United States delayed a planned January&nbsp;1 tariff increase until March 2.

A person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that talks were likely in early January.

The US&nbsp;Trade Representative's Office and the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A US trade team will travel to Beijing the week of January 7 to hold talks with Chinese officials, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

A US trade team will travel to Beijing the week of January 7 to hold talks with Chinese officials, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter. The delegation will be led by Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish and will include David Malpass, Treasury under secretary for international affairs, Bloomberg said. US and Chinese officials have spoken by phone in recent weeks, but next month's meeting would be the first in-person talks since President Donald Trump met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Buenos Aires on December 1. Trump and Xi agreed to stop escalating tit-for-tat tariffs that have disrupted the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars of goods between the world's two biggest economies. The two leaders also agreed to launch new talks while the United States delayed a planned January 1 tariff increase until March 2. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that talks were likely in early January. The US Trade Representative's Office and the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

US delegation to travel to China early in January for trade talks

President Donald Trump is considering an executive order in the new year to declare a national emergency that would bar US&nbsp;companies from using telecommunications equipment made by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/secured-over-25-commercial-5g-contracts-huawei-184989">China's Huawei</a> and ZTE, three sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

It would be the latest step by the Trump administration to cut Huawei Technologies Cos Ltd and ZTE Corp, two of China's biggest network equipment companies, out of the US&nbsp;market. The United States alleges that the two companies work at the behest of the Chinese government and that their equipment could be used to spy on Americans.

The executive order, which has been under consideration for more than eight months, could be issued as early as January and would direct the Commerce Department to block US&nbsp;companies from buying equipment from foreign telecommunications makers that pose significant national security risks, sources from the telecoms industry and the administration said.

While the order is unlikely to name Huawei or ZTE, a source said it is expected that Commerce officials would interpret it as authorization to limit the spread of equipment made by the two companies. The sources said the text for the order has not been finalized.

The executive order would invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law that gives the president the authority to regulate commerce in response to a national emergency that threatens the United States.

The issue has new urgency as US&nbsp;wireless carriers look for partners as they prepare to adopt next generation 5G wireless networks.

The order follows the passage of a defense policy bill in August that barred the US&nbsp;government itself from using Huawei and ZTE equipment.

Huawei and ZTE did not return requests for comment. Both in the past have denied allegations their products are used to spy. The White House also did not return a request for comment.

The Wall Street Journal first reported in early May that the order was under consideration, but it was never issued.

Hit to rural networks

Rural operators in the United States are among the biggest customers of Huawei and ZTE, and fear the executive order would also require them to rip out existing Chinese-made equipment without compensation. Industry officials are divided on whether the administration could legally compel operators to do that.

While the big US&nbsp;wireless companies have cut ties with Huawei in particular, small rural carriers have relied on Huawei and ZTE switches and other equipment because they tend to be less expensive.

The company is so central to small carriers that William Levy, vice president for sales of Huawei Tech USA, is on the board of directors of the Rural Wireless Association.

The RWA represents carriers with fewer than 100,000 subscribers. It estimates that 25 percent of its members had Huawei or ZTE equipment in their networks, it said in a filing to the Federal Communications Commission earlier this month.

The RWA is concerned that an executive order could force its members to remove ZTE and Huawei equipment and also bar future purchases, said Caressa Bennet, RWA general counsel.

It would cost $800 million to $1 billion for all RWA members to replace their Huawei and ZTE equipment, Bennet said.

Separately, the FCC in April granted initial approval to a regulation that bars giving federal funding to help pay for telecommunication infrastructure to companies that purchase equipment from firms deemed threats to US&nbsp;national security, which analysts have said is aimed at Huawei and ZTE.

The FCC is also considering whether to require carriers to remove and replace equipment from firms deemed a national security risk.

In March, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said "hidden 'back doors' to our networks in routers, switches — and virtually any other type of telecommunications equipment - can provide an avenue for hostile governments to inject viruses, launch denial-of-service attacks, steal data, and more."

In the December filing, Pine Belt Communications in Alabama estimated it would cost $7 million to $13 million to replace its Chinese-made equipment, while Sagebrush in Montana said replacement would cost $57 million and take two years.

Sagebrush has noted that Huawei products are significantly cheaper. When looking for bids in 2010 for its network, it found the cost of Ericsson equipment to be nearly four times the cost of Huawei.

President Donald Trump is considering an executive order in the new year to declare a national emergency that would bar US companies from using telecommunications equipment made by China's Huawei and ZTE, three sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

President Donald Trump is considering an executive order in the new year to declare a national emergency that would bar US companies from using telecommunications equipment made by China's Huawei and ZTE, three sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. It would be the latest step by the Trump administration to cut Huawei Technologies Cos Ltd and ZTE Corp, two of China's biggest network equipment companies, out of the US market. The United States alleges that the two companies work at the behest of the Chinese government and that their equipment could be used to spy on Americans. The executive order, which has been under consideration for more than eight months, could be issued as early as January and would direct the Commerce Department to block US companies from buying equipment from foreign telecommunications makers that pose significant national security risks, sources from the telecoms industry and the administration said. While the order is unlikely to name Huawei or ZTE, a source said it is expected that Commerce officials would interpret it as authorization to limit the spread of equipment made by the two companies. The sources said the text for the order has not been finalized. The executive order would invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law that gives the president the authority to regulate commerce in response to a national emergency that threatens the United States. The issue has new urgency as US wireless carriers look for partners as they prepare to adopt next generation 5G wireless networks. The order follows the passage of a defense policy bill in August that barred the US government itself from using Huawei and ZTE equipment. Huawei and ZTE did not return requests for comment. Both in the past have denied allegations their products are used to spy. The White House also did not return a request for comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported in early May that the order was under consideration, but it was never issued. Hit to rural networks Rural operators in the United States are among the biggest customers of Huawei and ZTE, and fear the executive order would also require them to rip out existing Chinese-made equipment without compensation. Industry officials are divided on whether the administration could legally compel operators to do that. While the big US wireless companies have cut ties with Huawei in particular, small rural carriers have relied on Huawei and ZTE switches and other equipment because they tend to be less expensive. The company is so central to small carriers that William Levy, vice president for sales of Huawei Tech USA, is on the board of directors of the Rural Wireless Association. The RWA represents carriers with fewer than 100,000 subscribers. It estimates that 25 percent of its members had Huawei or ZTE equipment in their networks, it said in a filing to the Federal Communications Commission earlier this month. The RWA is concerned that an executive order could force its members to remove ZTE and Huawei equipment and also bar future purchases, said Caressa Bennet, RWA general counsel. It would cost $800 million to $1 billion for all RWA members to replace their Huawei and ZTE equipment, Bennet said. Separately, the FCC in April granted initial approval to a regulation that bars giving federal funding to help pay for telecommunication infrastructure to companies that purchase equipment from firms deemed threats to US national security, which analysts have said is aimed at Huawei and ZTE. The FCC is also considering whether to require carriers to remove and replace equipment from firms deemed a national security risk. In March, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said "hidden 'back doors' to our networks in routers, switches — and virtually any other type of telecommunications equipment - can provide an avenue for hostile governments to inject viruses, launch denial-of-service attacks, steal data, and more." In the December filing, Pine Belt Communications in Alabama estimated it would cost $7 million to $13 million to replace its Chinese-made equipment, while Sagebrush in Montana said replacement would cost $57 million and take two years. Sagebrush has noted that Huawei products are significantly cheaper. When looking for bids in 2010 for its network, it found the cost of Ericsson equipment to be nearly four times the cost of Huawei.

Trump mulls executive order to bar Huawei, ZTE purchases

China and the United States have made plans for face-to-face consultations over trade in January, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, as the world's two biggest economies advanced efforts to resolve a months-long trade war.

Consultations through "intensive" telephone calls will continue in the meantime, Gao Feng, spokesman at the commerce ministry, told reporters, adding that talks have been steadily moving forward despite the Christmas break in the United States.

"Even as the US side is in the Christmas holiday period, China and US&nbsp;economic and trade teams have been in close communication, and the consultations are progressing in an orderly manner as scheduled," Gao said, when asked about progress on trade negotiations.

Gao did not comment directly when asked to confirm a media report on a US&nbsp;trade delegation visit scheduled for the week of January&nbsp;7.

"The two sides have indeed made specific arrangements for face-to-face consultations in January in addition to continuing intensive telephone consultations," he said, without elaborating.

US&nbsp;and Chinese officials have spoken by phone in recent weeks, but a meeting next month would be the first in-person talks since US&nbsp;President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Buenos Aires on December&nbsp;1.

Trump and Xi agreed to stop escalating tit-for-tat tariffs that have disrupted the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars of goods between the two nations. The two leaders also agreed to launch new talks while the United States delayed a planned January&nbsp;1 tariff increase until March.

In response, China has resumed purchases of US&nbsp;soybeans for the first time in six months, even though hefty tariffs on US&nbsp;cargoes remain in place.

Tariff suspension

China has also said it will suspend additional tariffs on US-made vehicles and auto parts for three months starting January 1, adding that it hopes both sides can speed up negotiations to remove all additional tariffs on each other's goods.

A US&nbsp;trade team will travel to Beijing the week of January&nbsp;7 to hold talks with Chinese officials, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

A person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that talks were likely in early January.

In yet another reconciliatory sign, China issued on Tuesday a so-called "negative" list that specifies industries where investors - domestic or foreign - are either restricted or prohibited.

The unified list is seen as an effort to address concerns from Western investors that there is no level-playing field in China. Investment in key Chinese sectors, however, is still prohibited.

Draft investment law

On Wednesday, China unveiled the draft of a foreign investment law for public consultation. In it, China has proposed a ban on forced technology transfer and illegal government "interference" in foreign business operations, practices that have come under the spotlight during the trade war.

While China has frequently denied accusations of engaging in such practices, it has pledged to improve market access for foreign investors and better protect their rights in the face of growing complaints and reduced foreign investment.

In an apparent move to emphasize reciprocity, the draft law said China would reserve the right to retaliate against countries that discriminate against Chinese investment with "corresponding measures".

The draft will likely go through several readings before being submitted to China's parliament for formal approval, which could take another year or more.

Heaping some uncertainty in the way of the bilateral trade talks was the recent arrest of the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in Canada at the request of the United States.

US&nbsp;prosecutors accuse Meng Wanzhou of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating US&nbsp;sanctions. Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, has said she is innocent.

China and the United States have made plans for face-to-face consultations over trade in January, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, as the world's two biggest economies advanced efforts to resolve a months-long trade war.

China and the United States have made plans for face-to-face consultations over trade in January, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, as the world's two biggest economies advanced efforts to resolve a months-long trade war. Consultations through "intensive" telephone calls will continue in the meantime, Gao Feng, spokesman at the commerce ministry, told reporters, adding that talks have been steadily moving forward despite the Christmas break in the United States. "Even as the US side is in the Christmas holiday period, China and US economic and trade teams have been in close communication, and the consultations are progressing in an orderly manner as scheduled," Gao said, when asked about progress on trade negotiations. Gao did not comment directly when asked to confirm a media report on a US trade delegation visit scheduled for the week of January 7. "The two sides have indeed made specific arrangements for face-to-face consultations in January in addition to continuing intensive telephone consultations," he said, without elaborating. US and Chinese officials have spoken by phone in recent weeks, but a meeting next month would be the first in-person talks since US President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Buenos Aires on December 1. Trump and Xi agreed to stop escalating tit-for-tat tariffs that have disrupted the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars of goods between the two nations. The two leaders also agreed to launch new talks while the United States delayed a planned January 1 tariff increase until March. In response, China has resumed purchases of US soybeans for the first time in six months, even though hefty tariffs on US cargoes remain in place. Tariff suspension China has also said it will suspend additional tariffs on US-made vehicles and auto parts for three months starting January 1, adding that it hopes both sides can speed up negotiations to remove all additional tariffs on each other's goods. A US trade team will travel to Beijing the week of January 7 to hold talks with Chinese officials, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that talks were likely in early January. In yet another reconciliatory sign, China issued on Tuesday a so-called "negative" list that specifies industries where investors - domestic or foreign - are either restricted or prohibited. The unified list is seen as an effort to address concerns from Western investors that there is no level-playing field in China. Investment in key Chinese sectors, however, is still prohibited. Draft investment law On Wednesday, China unveiled the draft of a foreign investment law for public consultation. In it, China has proposed a ban on forced technology transfer and illegal government "interference" in foreign business operations, practices that have come under the spotlight during the trade war. While China has frequently denied accusations of engaging in such practices, it has pledged to improve market access for foreign investors and better protect their rights in the face of growing complaints and reduced foreign investment. In an apparent move to emphasize reciprocity, the draft law said China would reserve the right to retaliate against countries that discriminate against Chinese investment with "corresponding measures". The draft will likely go through several readings before being submitted to China's parliament for formal approval, which could take another year or more. Heaping some uncertainty in the way of the bilateral trade talks was the recent arrest of the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in Canada at the request of the United States. US prosecutors accuse Meng Wanzhou of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating US sanctions. Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, has said she is innocent.

China says has made plans with US for face-to-face trade meeting in January

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-meets-pakistan-foreign-minister-qureshi-186178">Senior Chinese and Pakistani diplomats </a>discussed on Tuesday "new changes" to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/strongly-support-afghan-led-afghan-owned-peace-process-china-pakistan-186354">the situation in Afghanistan</a>, China`s foreign ministry said, amid plans by the United States to withdraw about half of the 14,000 US troops based in the country.

US officials have told Reuters that President Donald Trump has issued verbal orders to plan for a drawdown of close to 7,000 US troops. The White House and the Pentagon have not yet commented publicly.

China, a close ally of Pakistan, has been deepening its economic and political ties with Kabul and is using its influence to try to bring the two uneasy neighbours closer.

Meeting in Beijing, the Chinese government`s top diplomat State Councillor Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a "deep discussion about new changes to the situation in Afghanistan and reached a broad consensus", China`s Foreign Ministry said.

"Both sides believe that military means cannot resolve the Afghanistan issue, and promoting political reconciliation is the only realistic way," the ministry said in its short statement.

"The two sides welcome the various efforts made by all parties and are willing to maintain close communication and strategic coordination."

There was no direct mention of the planned US troop drawdown.&nbsp;

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, speaking at a daily news briefing, reiterated the statement and did not answer a question on whether the meeting was connected to the US troop withdrawal.

Wang visited Kabul earlier this month, where he pledged to help Afghanistan and Pakistan overcome their longstanding suspicions of each other.

China has long worried about the effect of instability in Afghanistan on China`s violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur people and where China says it faces a threat from Islamist militants.

Senior Chinese and Pakistani diplomats discussed on Tuesday "new changes" to the situation in Afghanistan, China`s foreign ministry said, amid plans by the United States to withdraw about half of the 14,000 US troops based in the country.

Senior Chinese and Pakistani diplomats discussed on Tuesday "new changes" to the situation in Afghanistan, China`s foreign ministry said, amid plans by the United States to withdraw about half of the 14,000 US troops based in the country. US officials have told Reuters that President Donald Trump has issued verbal orders to plan for a drawdown of close to 7,000 US troops. The White House and the Pentagon have not yet commented publicly. China, a close ally of Pakistan, has been deepening its economic and political ties with Kabul and is using its influence to try to bring the two uneasy neighbours closer. Meeting in Beijing, the Chinese government`s top diplomat State Councillor Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a "deep discussion about new changes to the situation in Afghanistan and reached a broad consensus", China`s Foreign Ministry said. "Both sides believe that military means cannot resolve the Afghanistan issue, and promoting political reconciliation is the only realistic way," the ministry said in its short statement. "The two sides welcome the various efforts made by all parties and are willing to maintain close communication and strategic coordination." There was no direct mention of the planned US troop drawdown. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, speaking at a daily news briefing, reiterated the statement and did not answer a question on whether the meeting was connected to the US troop withdrawal. Wang visited Kabul earlier this month, where he pledged to help Afghanistan and Pakistan overcome their longstanding suspicions of each other. China has long worried about the effect of instability in Afghanistan on China`s violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur people and where China says it faces a threat from Islamist militants.

China, Pakistan discuss 'new changes' to situation in Afghanistan

President Donald Trump set off a Christmas social media storm when he asked whether a 7-year-old was too old to believe in Santa Claus, capping a week of plunging stocks, a government shutdown and the US defense chief's unceremonious departure.

Twitter lit up like a Christmas tree after Trump made his remark during a holiday event with first lady Melania Trump, taking calls from children calling the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker.

A Christmas tradition, the tracker delights children with "real-time" updates on Saint Nick's Christmas Eve journey.

In one of the Christmas Eve calls, Trump chatted with a 7-year-old.

"Are you still a believer in Santa?" Trump asked the child. "Because at 7, it's marginal, right?"

In a twinkling, Twitter was bombarded with messages railing against the president for what sounded to some as if he was casting doubts on a cherished fantasy of childhood.

"It’s just too freaking fantastic that Trump spent his Christmas Eve calling seven-year-olds and telling them believing in Santa at their age is 'marginal,'" Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on his Twitter account.

“Actually there is no heaven," tweeted Dan Amira, head writer for "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" comedy show. "When you die you just rot in the ground and get eaten by worms. Okay Merry Christmas, Timmy.”

Others defended Trump

"Trump does a lot of things wrong, but suggesting to a 7-year old that Santa doesn't exist is probably the one right thing he's done while in office," said a man identified on his Twitter account as Irtiza Sheikh. "Someone's gotta do it."

The White House had no immediate comment on the social media response to the president's Santa comments.

In 2017, Trump spent the holidays at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, with his family, but for his second Christmas as president, Trump opted to cancel his holiday getaway because of the partial federal government shutdown. It began last week when top lawmakers failed to end an impasse over funding for his proposed wall along the border with Mexico.

Stuck in Washington on Christmas morning 2018, Trump displayed little holiday cheer while speaking with reporters after a 20-minute video conference with US troops serving abroad.

He assailed the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates, railed against Democrats who refuse to fund the wall he wants to build on the U.S.-Mexico border, and blasted the investigation into his campaign's ties to Russia, among other regular targets.

The president then closed with holiday wishes of sorts.

&nbsp;"It's a disgrace, what's happening in our country," he said. "But other than that, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas."

President Donald Trump set off a Christmas social media storm when he asked whether a 7-year-old was too old to believe in Santa Claus, capping a week of plunging stocks, a government shutdown and the US defense chief's unceremonious departure.

President Donald Trump set off a Christmas social media storm when he asked whether a 7-year-old was too old to believe in Santa Claus, capping a week of plunging stocks, a government shutdown and the US defense chief's unceremonious departure. Twitter lit up like a Christmas tree after Trump made his remark during a holiday event with first lady Melania Trump, taking calls from children calling the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker. A Christmas tradition, the tracker delights children with "real-time" updates on Saint Nick's Christmas Eve journey. In one of the Christmas Eve calls, Trump chatted with a 7-year-old. "Are you still a believer in Santa?" Trump asked the child. "Because at 7, it's marginal, right?" In a twinkling, Twitter was bombarded with messages railing against the president for what sounded to some as if he was casting doubts on a cherished fantasy of childhood. "It’s just too freaking fantastic that Trump spent his Christmas Eve calling seven-year-olds and telling them believing in Santa at their age is 'marginal,'" Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on his Twitter account. “Actually there is no heaven," tweeted Dan Amira, head writer for "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" comedy show. "When you die you just rot in the ground and get eaten by worms. Okay Merry Christmas, Timmy.” Others defended Trump "Trump does a lot of things wrong, but suggesting to a 7-year old that Santa doesn't exist is probably the one right thing he's done while in office," said a man identified on his Twitter account as Irtiza Sheikh. "Someone's gotta do it." The White House had no immediate comment on the social media response to the president's Santa comments. In 2017, Trump spent the holidays at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, with his family, but for his second Christmas as president, Trump opted to cancel his holiday getaway because of the partial federal government shutdown. It began last week when top lawmakers failed to end an impasse over funding for his proposed wall along the border with Mexico. Stuck in Washington on Christmas morning 2018, Trump displayed little holiday cheer while speaking with reporters after a 20-minute video conference with US troops serving abroad. He assailed the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates, railed against Democrats who refuse to fund the wall he wants to build on the U.S.-Mexico border, and blasted the investigation into his campaign's ties to Russia, among other regular targets. The president then closed with holiday wishes of sorts. "It's a disgrace, what's happening in our country," he said. "But other than that, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas."

Still believe in Santa at your age? Trump ignites Twitter storm

President Donald Trump set off a Christmas social media storm when he questioned whether a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/still-believe-in-santa-at-your-age-trump-ignites-twitter-storm-186486">seven-year-old was too long in the tooth to believe in Santa Claus</a>.

But not to worry.

The child, Collman Lloyd, from Lexington, South Carolina, told the Post and Courier newspaper she was still a believer. She and her two siblings left iced sugar cookies and milk out for Saint Nick overnight and, in the morning, the treats were gone and presents were under the tree.

Twitter had lit up after Trump, capping a week of plunging stocks, a government shutdown and the US&nbsp;defense chief's unceremonious departure, cast doubt on the cherished childhood fantasy.

"Are you still a believer in Santa?" Trump asked Collman in a phone call. "Because at seven, it's marginal, right?"

In a video her family posted on the Internet, she replied, "Yes sir," later telling the newspaper she had no idea what "marginal" meant.

Trump made the comment during a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/military-santa-tracker-norad-live-despite-us-government-shutdown-186404">holiday event with first lady Melania Trump</a>, taking calls from children calling the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker.

A Christmas tradition, the tracker delights children with "real-time" updates on his Christmas Eve journey.

"It's just too freaking fantastic that Trump spent his Christmas Eve calling seven-year-olds and telling them believing in Santa at their age is 'marginal,'" Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on his Twitter account.

"Actually there is no heaven," tweeted Dan Amira, head writer for "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" comedy show. "When you die you just rot in the ground and get eaten by worms. Okay Merry Christmas, Timmy."

The White House had no immediate comment on the social media response to the president's Santa comments.

Stuck in Washington on Christmas morning because of the partial federal government shutdown, Trump displayed little holiday cheer to reporters after a 20-minute video conference with US&nbsp;troops serving abroad.

He assailed the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates, railed against Democrats who refuse to fund the wall he wants to build on the US-Mexico border, and blasted the investigation into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia, among other regular targets.

The president then closed with holiday wishes of sorts. "It's a disgrace, what's happening in our country," he said. "But other than that, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas."

President Donald Trump set off a Christmas social media storm when he questioned whether a seven-year-old was too long in the tooth to believe in Santa Claus. But not to worry.

President Donald Trump set off a Christmas social media storm when he questioned whether a seven-year-old was too long in the tooth to believe in Santa Claus. But not to worry. The child, Collman Lloyd, from Lexington, South Carolina, told the Post and Courier newspaper she was still a believer. She and her two siblings left iced sugar cookies and milk out for Saint Nick overnight and, in the morning, the treats were gone and presents were under the tree. Twitter had lit up after Trump, capping a week of plunging stocks, a government shutdown and the US defense chief's unceremonious departure, cast doubt on the cherished childhood fantasy. "Are you still a believer in Santa?" Trump asked Collman in a phone call. "Because at seven, it's marginal, right?" In a video her family posted on the Internet, she replied, "Yes sir," later telling the newspaper she had no idea what "marginal" meant. Trump made the comment during a holiday event with first lady Melania Trump, taking calls from children calling the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker. A Christmas tradition, the tracker delights children with "real-time" updates on his Christmas Eve journey. "It's just too freaking fantastic that Trump spent his Christmas Eve calling seven-year-olds and telling them believing in Santa at their age is 'marginal,'" Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on his Twitter account. "Actually there is no heaven," tweeted Dan Amira, head writer for "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" comedy show. "When you die you just rot in the ground and get eaten by worms. Okay Merry Christmas, Timmy." The White House had no immediate comment on the social media response to the president's Santa comments. Stuck in Washington on Christmas morning because of the partial federal government shutdown, Trump displayed little holiday cheer to reporters after a 20-minute video conference with US troops serving abroad. He assailed the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates, railed against Democrats who refuse to fund the wall he wants to build on the US-Mexico border, and blasted the investigation into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia, among other regular targets. The president then closed with holiday wishes of sorts. "It's a disgrace, what's happening in our country," he said. "But other than that, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas."

Child says still believes in Santa after Trump's 'marginal' quip

North Korea on Tuesday hit back at a latest UN resolution that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-top-kim-jong-un-aides-over-north-korea-rights-183017">condemned Pyongyang's rights abuses</a>, calling it a "serious... provocation" that would undermine peace efforts on the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/historic-inter-korean-summit-when-the-two-koreas-met-186132">Korean peninsula</a>.

The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-condemns-us-sanctions-warns-denuclearization-at-risk-184559">UN General Assembly</a>&nbsp;last week adopted a resolution — which passed by consensus without a vote — condemning the "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations in the isolated North.&nbsp;

The impoverished but nuclear-armed nation, ruled by the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/east-asia/denuclearisation-includes-eliminating-us-nuclear-threat-in-korean-peninsula-north-korean-state-media-185456">Kim family </a>through three generations, has been accused of state-sanctioned abuses including torture, rape and extrajudicial killings.&nbsp;

It marked the 14th consecutive year the UN has passed such a document. The North has constantly denied any rights abuses in the country and labelled the UN criticisms as smear campaigns aimed at undermining its leadership.&nbsp;

The North's state-run Rodong newspaper slammed the latest resolution as a "serious political provocation against the (North) and a vicious move to tarnish its international image".

"The wicked intention of the US... in getting vocal about the non-existent 'human rights issue' of the DPRK is to broaden the scope of the sanctions and pressure and escalate them," it said in an editorial, using the North's official name.

The editorial also lashed out at a "thoughtless"<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pictures-with-kim-jong-un-mask-pulled-down-from-social-media-after-backlash-in-south-korea-183853"> South Korea</a> for backing the UN bill — a move that would be "tarnishing the atmosphere of improving the north-south ties".

Washington had separately sought to organize a Security Council meeting on human rights in the North but gave up on the option earlier this month because it was unsure of the support it would get from partners.&nbsp;

But the US hopes to hold the meeting next month with the arrival of new non-permanent council members that could be more favourable to doing so.

The South's President Moon Jae-in has advocated dialogue with the North to nudge it to denuclearisation negotiations and has met with its leader Kim Jong Un three times this year.&nbsp;

Kim also met with US President Donald Trump in a historic summit in June but progress has stalled with both sides accusing each other of dragging their feet and acting in bad faith.

North Korea on Tuesday hit back at a latest UN resolution that condemned Pyongyang's rights abuses, calling it a "serious... provocation" that would undermine peace efforts on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea on Tuesday hit back at a latest UN resolution that condemned Pyongyang's rights abuses, calling it a "serious... provocation" that would undermine peace efforts on the Korean peninsula. The UN General Assembly last week adopted a resolution — which passed by consensus without a vote — condemning the "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations in the isolated North. The impoverished but nuclear-armed nation, ruled by the Kim family through three generations, has been accused of state-sanctioned abuses including torture, rape and extrajudicial killings. It marked the 14th consecutive year the UN has passed such a document. The North has constantly denied any rights abuses in the country and labelled the UN criticisms as smear campaigns aimed at undermining its leadership. The North's state-run Rodong newspaper slammed the latest resolution as a "serious political provocation against the (North) and a vicious move to tarnish its international image". "The wicked intention of the US... in getting vocal about the non-existent 'human rights issue' of the DPRK is to broaden the scope of the sanctions and pressure and escalate them," it said in an editorial, using the North's official name. The editorial also lashed out at a "thoughtless" South Korea for backing the UN bill — a move that would be "tarnishing the atmosphere of improving the north-south ties". Washington had separately sought to organize a Security Council meeting on human rights in the North but gave up on the option earlier this month because it was unsure of the support it would get from partners. But the US hopes to hold the meeting next month with the arrival of new non-permanent council members that could be more favourable to doing so. The South's President Moon Jae-in has advocated dialogue with the North to nudge it to denuclearisation negotiations and has met with its leader Kim Jong Un three times this year. Kim also met with US President Donald Trump in a historic summit in June but progress has stalled with both sides accusing each other of dragging their feet and acting in bad faith.

North Korea say UN resolution on rights abuse 'serious provocation'

US President Donald Trump targets FED amid market slump

Donald Trump to visit Turkey soon

US Democratic leaders charged Monday that President Donald Trump was "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/as-markets-slump-trump-calls-fed-only-problem-in-us-economy-186249">plunging the country into chaos</a>" with multiple crises and said he was offering no way to end a government shutdown.

Nancy Pelosi, who takes over next month as House speaker, and Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Republican-led Senate, complained that White House aides were giving inconsistent messages on what Trump would accept to restart the government.

"It's Christmas Eve and President Trump is plunging the country into chaos," the two said in a joint statement.

"The stock market is tanking and the president is waging a personal war on the Federal Reserve -- after he just fired the secretary of defense," they said.

They warned that they saw little solution to the three-day-old shutdown so long as Trump aligns himself with hard-right Republicans in the House of Representatives.&nbsp;

"The president wanted the shutdown, but he seems not to know how to get himself out of it," they said.

Trump has refused to sign a bill to authorize spending to keep the government functioning as he demands funding for a $5 billion wall on the Mexican border, a top election promise as he railed against unauthorized immigrants.

Trump has put off vacation plans in Florida due to the shutdown and has been frequently posting his thoughts on Twitter.

On Monday he attacked the Federal Reserve, which is traditionally shielded from political pressure, over a sharp downturn on the stock market and defended his decision to pull all US troops from Syria, which led to the resignation last week of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, often considered the most respected member of his cabinet.

US Democratic leaders charged Monday that President Donald Trump was "plunging the country into chaos" with multiple crises and said he was offering no way to end a government shutdown.

US Democratic leaders charged Monday that President Donald Trump was "plunging the country into chaos" with multiple crises and said he was offering no way to end a government shutdown. Nancy Pelosi, who takes over next month as House speaker, and Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Republican-led Senate, complained that White House aides were giving inconsistent messages on what Trump would accept to restart the government. "It's Christmas Eve and President Trump is plunging the country into chaos," the two said in a joint statement. "The stock market is tanking and the president is waging a personal war on the Federal Reserve -- after he just fired the secretary of defense," they said. They warned that they saw little solution to the three-day-old shutdown so long as Trump aligns himself with hard-right Republicans in the House of Representatives. "The president wanted the shutdown, but he seems not to know how to get himself out of it," they said. Trump has refused to sign a bill to authorize spending to keep the government functioning as he demands funding for a $5 billion wall on the Mexican border, a top election promise as he railed against unauthorized immigrants. Trump has put off vacation plans in Florida due to the shutdown and has been frequently posting his thoughts on Twitter. On Monday he attacked the Federal Reserve, which is traditionally shielded from political pressure, over a sharp downturn on the stock market and defended his decision to pull all US troops from Syria, which led to the resignation last week of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, often considered the most respected member of his cabinet.

'Trump is plunging the country into chaos'

President Donald Trump blasted the Federal Reserve on Monday, describing it as the "only problem" for the US&nbsp;economy, as top officials convened to discuss the growing rout in stock markets caused in part by the president's attacks on the central bank.

Stocks fell again on Monday amid concern about slowing economic growth, the government shutdown and reports that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-discussed-firing-us-federal-reserve-chairman-powell-report-185879">Trump had discussed firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell</a>, whom he has repeatedly criticised for raising interest rates.

US&nbsp;stocks have dropped sharply in recent weeks on concerns over weaker economic growth. The S&amp;P 500 index was on pace for its biggest percentage decline in December since the Great Depression.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They don’t have a feel for the Market, they don’t understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch - he can’t putt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1077231267559755776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In a tweet that did nothing to ease market concerns about the Fed's cherished independence, the Republican president laid the blame for economic headwinds firmly at the feet of the central bank.

"The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They don't have a feel for the market," Trump said on Twitter. "The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can't score because he has no touch - he can't putt!"

In addition to frequently criticising the Fed's rate hikes this year, Trump has gone after Powell several times, telling Reuters in August he was "not thrilled" with his own appointee. The Fed hiked interest rates again last week, as had been widely expected.

A crisis call on Monday between US&nbsp;financial regulators and the Treasury Department did more to rattle markets than to assure them.

All three major indexes ended down more than 2 percent on the day before the Christmas holiday. The S&amp;P 500 ended down about 19.8 percent from its Sept. 20 closing high, just shy of the 20 percent threshold that commonly defines a bear market.

Oil prices followed equities down, tumbling more than 6 percent to the lowest level in over a year.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin hosted a call with the president's Working Group on Financial Markets, a body known colloquially as the "Plunge Protection team," which normally only convenes during times of heavy market volatility.

Regulators on the call said they were not seeing anything out of the ordinary in financial markets during the recent sell-off and also discussed how they will continue critical operations during the partial government shutdown, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

On Sunday, Mnuchin made calls to top US&nbsp;bankers and got reassurances that banks were still able to make loans, the Treasury said.

Markets lower again

If Mnuchin’s efforts were meant to soothe markets, that was not evident on Monday.

"When the Dow is down 600 points it's hard to say it was a positive," said J.J. Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade in Chicago. "Although his intention was a very good one, the net feeling I think was, ‘Is there a bigger problem that we don't know about?’"

Representative Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, said in a statement that Trump and Mnuchin's actions "have been erratic and are creating uncertainty and instability in the markets."

Wall Street is closely following reports that Trump had privately discussed the possibility of firing Powell, who became the Fed chief early last February after being appointed by Trump and has continued the path of gradual rate hikes started by his predecessor, Janet Yellen.

Mnuchin said on Saturday that Trump told him he had "never suggested firing" Powell.

Still, just the public suggestion that Trump might try to interfere so deeply with the Fed was unsettling to financial markets that have long operated on the presumption of the US&nbsp;central bank's independence from political meddling.

Adding to the disquiet is the lack of clarity over whether Trump could in fact dismiss Powell.

Sarah Binder, a professor of political science at George Washington University, said it was “ambiguous legally” whether Trump could remove Powell from the chairman role.

The Federal Reserve Act is clear that Powell can only be removed from the Fed’s board of governors “for cause,” which is generally understood to mean malfeasance, rather than disagreements over interest rates, Binder said.

But it may be lawful for Trump to remove Powell from the chairman role, Binder said. When Congress last amended the statute in 1977, it did not address whether removal from the chairman role must be “for cause,” she said.

Troubles in Washington have escalated in recent days with a partial government shutdown that began on Saturday following an impasse in Congress over funds for a wall on the border with Mexico. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' resignation on Thursday after Trump's surprise decision to pull US&nbsp;troops out of Syria also unsettled investors.

But Mnuchin's response to the market concerns was seen as an overreaction in Wall Street circles.

"It seems unexpected, abrupt and unnecessary," said Michael Purves, chief global strategist at Weeden &amp; Co in Greenwich, Connecticut.

President Donald Trump blasted the Federal Reserve on Monday, describing it as the "only problem" for the US economy, as top officials convened to discuss the growing rout in stock markets caused in part by the president's attacks on the central bank.

President Donald Trump blasted the Federal Reserve on Monday, describing it as the "only problem" for the US economy, as top officials convened to discuss the growing rout in stock markets caused in part by the president's attacks on the central bank. Stocks fell again on Monday amid concern about slowing economic growth, the government shutdown and reports that Trump had discussed firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom he has repeatedly criticised for raising interest rates. US stocks have dropped sharply in recent weeks on concerns over weaker economic growth. The S&P 500 index was on pace for its biggest percentage decline in December since the Great Depression. The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They don’t have a feel for the Market, they don’t understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch - he can’t putt! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018 × In a tweet that did nothing to ease market concerns about the Fed's cherished independence, the Republican president laid the blame for economic headwinds firmly at the feet of the central bank. "The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They don't have a feel for the market," Trump said on Twitter. "The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can't score because he has no touch - he can't putt!" In addition to frequently criticising the Fed's rate hikes this year, Trump has gone after Powell several times, telling Reuters in August he was "not thrilled" with his own appointee. The Fed hiked interest rates again last week, as had been widely expected. A crisis call on Monday between US financial regulators and the Treasury Department did more to rattle markets than to assure them. All three major indexes ended down more than 2 percent on the day before the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 ended down about 19.8 percent from its Sept. 20 closing high, just shy of the 20 percent threshold that commonly defines a bear market. Oil prices followed equities down, tumbling more than 6 percent to the lowest level in over a year. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin hosted a call with the president's Working Group on Financial Markets, a body known colloquially as the "Plunge Protection team," which normally only convenes during times of heavy market volatility. Regulators on the call said they were not seeing anything out of the ordinary in financial markets during the recent sell-off and also discussed how they will continue critical operations during the partial government shutdown, according to two sources familiar with the matter. On Sunday, Mnuchin made calls to top US bankers and got reassurances that banks were still able to make loans, the Treasury said. Markets lower again If Mnuchin’s efforts were meant to soothe markets, that was not evident on Monday. "When the Dow is down 600 points it's hard to say it was a positive," said J.J. Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade in Chicago. "Although his intention was a very good one, the net feeling I think was, ‘Is there a bigger problem that we don't know about?’" Representative Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, said in a statement that Trump and Mnuchin's actions "have been erratic and are creating uncertainty and instability in the markets." Wall Street is closely following reports that Trump had privately discussed the possibility of firing Powell, who became the Fed chief early last February after being appointed by Trump and has continued the path of gradual rate hikes started by his predecessor, Janet Yellen. Mnuchin said on Saturday that Trump told him he had "never suggested firing" Powell. Still, just the public suggestion that Trump might try to interfere so deeply with the Fed was unsettling to financial markets that have long operated on the presumption of the US central bank's independence from political meddling. Adding to the disquiet is the lack of clarity over whether Trump could in fact dismiss Powell. Sarah Binder, a professor of political science at George Washington University, said it was “ambiguous legally” whether Trump could remove Powell from the chairman role. The Federal Reserve Act is clear that Powell can only be removed from the Fed’s board of governors “for cause,” which is generally understood to mean malfeasance, rather than disagreements over interest rates, Binder said. But it may be lawful for Trump to remove Powell from the chairman role, Binder said. When Congress last amended the statute in 1977, it did not address whether removal from the chairman role must be “for cause,” she said. Troubles in Washington have escalated in recent days with a partial government shutdown that began on Saturday following an impasse in Congress over funds for a wall on the border with Mexico. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' resignation on Thursday after Trump's surprise decision to pull US troops out of Syria also unsettled investors. But Mnuchin's response to the market concerns was seen as an overreaction in Wall Street circles. "It seems unexpected, abrupt and unnecessary," said Michael Purves, chief global strategist at Weeden & Co in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Trump attacks US central bank, says it is 'only problem' in economy

WION Dispatch: Trump asks seven-year-old kid about Santa Claus' existence

The US government shutdown may have temporarily dimmed Washington's National Christmas Tree but never fear, Santa Claus still came to town —with the military tracking his path across the globe.

Just as it has since the 1950s the Canadian and American defence agency NORAD delivered live updates on the man in the red suit's international gift delivery route.

NORAD eased the fears of good little boys and girls concerned the tracker might be down, after US lawmakers failed to agree on a budget, triggering a partial shutdown of federal services, including the maintenance of the Christmas tree outside the White House.

"In the event of a government shutdown, NORAD will continue with its 63-year tradition of NORAD Tracks Santa on December 24," the agency tweeted of the tracker, the Pentagon's largest public outreach program.

"Military personnel who conduct NORAD Tracks Santa are supported by approximately 1,500 volunteers who make the program possible each and every year."

A 3-D interactive website showed Santa on his delivery route, allowing users to click and learn more about the various cities along the way.

Shortly before 1100 GMT, Father Christmas's reindeer-powered sleigh was heading home to the North Pole, having delivered more than 7.2 billion gifts.

In addition to tracking St Nick, volunteers donning military garb and Santa hats also respond to tens of thousands of calls and emails from eager children hoping to probe for details including their Christmas wish lists.

Do you believe in Santa?&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/on-christmas-eve-trump-tells-a-child-belief-in-santa-is-marginal-186296">The Trumps</a>, who cancelled their holiday trip to Mar a Lago, their residence and club in Florida, in light of the shutdown, took turn fielding calls from the White House on Monday evening.

"Hello, is this Coleman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you?" Trump said when answering one call.

But he went on to raise doubts about Santa's existence, asking: "Are you still a believer in Santa Claus? 'Cuz at seven it's marginal, right?"

Melania apparently managed to skirt the sensitive issue in calls she answered.

"I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. Thank you. Nice talking to you," she told one caller.

The couple later attended a Christmas Eve service at the Washington National Cathedral.

The Santa tracker presented by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) dates to 1955 when a Colorado newspaper advertisement misprinted a phone number to connect children with Santa and mistakenly directed them to the military nerve centre hotline.

To avoid disappointing the eager children, NORAD's director of operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, ordered his staff to check the radar to see where Santa might be and update the children on his location.

Decades later volunteers are armed with a 14-page playbook with talking points to respond to queries from excited children.

The Defense Department is able to follow Santa's journey thanks to satellites that pick up heat from lead reindeer Rudolph's bright red nose, which "gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch," according to Politico magazine.

And for those kids sceptical of Santa's existence?

"Historical data and more than 60 years of NORAD tracking information lead us to believe Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of people throughout the world," the Pentagon's handbook reads.

The US government shutdown may have temporarily dimmed Washington's National Christmas Tree but never fear, Santa Claus still came to town —with the military tracking his path across the globe.

The US government shutdown may have temporarily dimmed Washington's National Christmas Tree but never fear, Santa Claus still came to town —with the military tracking his path across the globe. Just as it has since the 1950s the Canadian and American defence agency NORAD delivered live updates on the man in the red suit's international gift delivery route. NORAD eased the fears of good little boys and girls concerned the tracker might be down, after US lawmakers failed to agree on a budget, triggering a partial shutdown of federal services, including the maintenance of the Christmas tree outside the White House. "In the event of a government shutdown, NORAD will continue with its 63-year tradition of NORAD Tracks Santa on December 24," the agency tweeted of the tracker, the Pentagon's largest public outreach program. "Military personnel who conduct NORAD Tracks Santa are supported by approximately 1,500 volunteers who make the program possible each and every year." A 3-D interactive website showed Santa on his delivery route, allowing users to click and learn more about the various cities along the way. Shortly before 1100 GMT, Father Christmas's reindeer-powered sleigh was heading home to the North Pole, having delivered more than 7.2 billion gifts. In addition to tracking St Nick, volunteers donning military garb and Santa hats also respond to tens of thousands of calls and emails from eager children hoping to probe for details including their Christmas wish lists. Do you believe in Santa? The Trumps, who cancelled their holiday trip to Mar a Lago, their residence and club in Florida, in light of the shutdown, took turn fielding calls from the White House on Monday evening. "Hello, is this Coleman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you?" Trump said when answering one call. But he went on to raise doubts about Santa's existence, asking: "Are you still a believer in Santa Claus? 'Cuz at seven it's marginal, right?" Melania apparently managed to skirt the sensitive issue in calls she answered. "I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. Thank you. Nice talking to you," she told one caller. The couple later attended a Christmas Eve service at the Washington National Cathedral. The Santa tracker presented by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) dates to 1955 when a Colorado newspaper advertisement misprinted a phone number to connect children with Santa and mistakenly directed them to the military nerve centre hotline. To avoid disappointing the eager children, NORAD's director of operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, ordered his staff to check the radar to see where Santa might be and update the children on his location. Decades later volunteers are armed with a 14-page playbook with talking points to respond to queries from excited children. The Defense Department is able to follow Santa's journey thanks to satellites that pick up heat from lead reindeer Rudolph's bright red nose, which "gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch," according to Politico magazine. And for those kids sceptical of Santa's existence? "Historical data and more than 60 years of NORAD tracking information lead us to believe Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of people throughout the world," the Pentagon's handbook reads.

Military Santa tracker 'NORAD' live despite US government shutdown

The week that was, in pictures

Trump was on Christmas bashed on social media after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-border-wall-no-match-for-mexican-girls-santa-wish-list-186288">he asked a seven-year-old whether he still believed in Santa</a>.&nbsp;

Trump and his wife Melania were answering calls for NORAD, the US defence agency which "tracks"&nbsp;Santa's Christmas eve movements. The answering of calls by the president is a Christmas tradition.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Helping children across the country track <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Santa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Santa</a> is becoming one of my favorite traditions! <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Potus</a> and I enjoyed working with <a href="https://twitter.com/NoradSanta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NORADSanta</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChristmasEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChristmasEve</a> <a href="https://t.co/CYNkARbFaI">pic.twitter.com/CYNkARbFaI</a>
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1077371798705111041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Hello, is this Coleman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you?" the US president asked the child.&nbsp;

And then followed it up with:&nbsp;&nbsp;"Are you still a believer in Santa Claus? 'Cuz at seven it's marginal, right?"&nbsp;&nbsp;

Expectedly, the blowback on social media was severe:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I don't think I've ever seen a REAL smile on trump's face before. 
 
But here he is, spending Christmas Eve, asking a 7-year-old if he still believes in Santa "because at 7, it's marginal, right?" Dream-crushing gets him smiling. 
 
What a nasty, grinchy crumb bum. <a href="https://t.co/oE8XClS8jv">pic.twitter.com/oE8XClS8jv</a>
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1077396376785510400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Per pool, Trump to the first child who called in tonight to talk to Santa: “Are you still a believer in Santa?"
— Dafna Linzer (@DafnaLinzer) <a href="https://twitter.com/DafnaLinzer/status/1077364540105523200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Donald Trump, the lyingest liar of all the liars who ever lied, couldn't bring himself to lie about Santa.
— David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lollardfish/status/1077383788571910145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

It is not known how Coleman answered Trump.&nbsp;

Trump was on Christmas bashed on social media after he asked a seven-year-old whether he still believed in Santa. Trump and his wife Melania were answering calls for NORAD, the US defence agency which "tracks" Santa's Christmas eve movements.

Trump was on Christmas bashed on social media after he asked a seven-year-old whether he still believed in Santa. Trump and his wife Melania were answering calls for NORAD, the US defence agency which "tracks" Santa's Christmas eve movements. The answering of calls by the president is a Christmas tradition. Helping children across the country track #Santa is becoming one of my favorite traditions! @Potus and I enjoyed working with @NORADSanta - #ChristmasEve pic.twitter.com/CYNkARbFaI — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 25, 2018 × "Hello, is this Coleman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you?" the US president asked the child. And then followed it up with: "Are you still a believer in Santa Claus? 'Cuz at seven it's marginal, right?" Expectedly, the blowback on social media was severe: I don't think I've ever seen a REAL smile on trump's face before. But here he is, spending Christmas Eve, asking a 7-year-old if he still believes in Santa "because at 7, it's marginal, right?" Dream-crushing gets him smiling. What a nasty, grinchy crumb bum. pic.twitter.com/oE8XClS8jv — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) December 25, 2018 × Per pool, Trump to the first child who called in tonight to talk to Santa: “Are you still a believer in Santa?" — Dafna Linzer (@DafnaLinzer) December 25, 2018 × Donald Trump, the lyingest liar of all the liars who ever lied, couldn't bring himself to lie about Santa. — David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) December 25, 2018 × It is not known how Coleman answered Trump.

Trump to 7-year-old: Do you still believe in Santa?

Israeli leaders have lauded <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/news-reports-concerning-the-shutdown-and-syria-are-mostly-fake-trump-185915">Donald Trump</a> for his list of decisions in support of their country since taking office, but the mercurial president's <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-islamic-state-defeated-us-will-pull-all-forces-out-of-syira-185369">withdrawal of US troops from Syria</a> will not rank among them.

After Trump's surprise announcement of the pullout last week, Israel is concerned over whether its main enemy Iran will have a freer hand to operate in the neighbouring country, analysts say.

Israel's response to the announcement has been measured, careful to point out that it respects the US decision, coupled with pledges to continue to defend its interests in Syria.

But beneath those public pronouncements are worries over whether Iran will seek to take advantage of the US absence from the war-torn country and if Russia will respond to Israel's calls to limit it.

Beyond that, the manner in which the decision was taken and announced and US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis's resignation in response may also give Israeli leaders pause, some analysts say.

"Since it's our major ally, we want the United States to be strong ... and we want an ally which is being perceived in the region as strong and effective," said Eyal Zisser, vice rector of Tel Aviv University and who has written extensively on Syria.

"And I think that what worries some Israelis is what message does this decision the way it was taken, what stood behind it send to the region?"

&nbsp;'Even expand our activities'&nbsp;

The United States has only around 2,000 troops in Syria focused on fighting the Islamic State group, but they have been deployed in two areas along the Iraqi border, helping keep Iranian movement into the country in check.

There have been warnings from Israel and others that Iran is seeking to form a "land bridge" across to the Mediterranean, and some analysts have said that the US withdrawal could help that effort.

With Iran supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war, Israeli Prime Minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-warns-hamas-after-deadly-west-bank-attacks-184607">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> has long pledged to keep it from entrenching itself militarily next door.

Israel has repeatedly taken action, carrying out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria against what it says are Iranian military targets and advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group.

With the United States pulling out, Israel may look more to Russia, which is also backing Assad, to use its influence to limit Iran, some analysts say.

But that is not a given, and a friendly fire incident in September that led to a Russian plane being downed by Syrian air defences during an Israeli strike remains an issue.

The incident angered Russia and complicated Israel's operations in Syria, particularly after Moscow's delivery of the advanced S-300 air defence system there in response.

Netanyahu and Israel's military chief of staff, Gadi Eisenkot, on Sunday sought to tamp down concerns over the withdrawal.

The Israeli premier has indicated he was not taken off-guard, saying he had spoken with Trump two days before the December 19 announcement as well as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the previous day.

"The decision to remove the 2,000 US soldiers from Syria won't change our consistent policy," Netanyahu said Sunday.

"We will continue to act against Iran's attempt to establish a military presence in Syria, and if the need arises, we will even expand our activities there."

'A free ride'&nbsp;

Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu and ex-military intelligence official, noted US troops were not directly involved in Israel's fight against Iran's presence in Syria.

But he said concerns over whether Iran will take advantage of the US withdrawal were legitimate.

"From now on, it will be a free ride for the Iranians and they will use the corridor logistically to enhance their capabilities to build the military forces in Syria and to help Hezbollah afterwards," he told AFP.

An analysis by the US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank said "Israel is among the most important losers" of the withdrawal, along with the United States' Kurdish allies in Syria.

But Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will continue to "defend ourselves" and Eisenkot, the military chief of staff, called it "a significant event but it should not be overstated".

"For decades we’ve been handling this front alone," said Eisenkot.

Israeli leaders have lauded Donald Trump for his list of decisions in support of their country since taking office, but the mercurial president's withdrawal of US troops from Syria will not rank among them.

Israeli leaders have lauded Donald Trump for his list of decisions in support of their country since taking office, but the mercurial president's withdrawal of US troops from Syria will not rank among them. After Trump's surprise announcement of the pullout last week, Israel is concerned over whether its main enemy Iran will have a freer hand to operate in the neighbouring country, analysts say. Israel's response to the announcement has been measured, careful to point out that it respects the US decision, coupled with pledges to continue to defend its interests in Syria. But beneath those public pronouncements are worries over whether Iran will seek to take advantage of the US absence from the war-torn country and if Russia will respond to Israel's calls to limit it. Beyond that, the manner in which the decision was taken and announced and US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis's resignation in response may also give Israeli leaders pause, some analysts say. "Since it's our major ally, we want the United States to be strong ... and we want an ally which is being perceived in the region as strong and effective," said Eyal Zisser, vice rector of Tel Aviv University and who has written extensively on Syria. "And I think that what worries some Israelis is what message does this decision the way it was taken, what stood behind it send to the region?" 'Even expand our activities' The United States has only around 2,000 troops in Syria focused on fighting the Islamic State group, but they have been deployed in two areas along the Iraqi border, helping keep Iranian movement into the country in check. There have been warnings from Israel and others that Iran is seeking to form a "land bridge" across to the Mediterranean, and some analysts have said that the US withdrawal could help that effort. With Iran supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long pledged to keep it from entrenching itself militarily next door. Israel has repeatedly taken action, carrying out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria against what it says are Iranian military targets and advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group. With the United States pulling out, Israel may look more to Russia, which is also backing Assad, to use its influence to limit Iran, some analysts say. But that is not a given, and a friendly fire incident in September that led to a Russian plane being downed by Syrian air defences during an Israeli strike remains an issue. The incident angered Russia and complicated Israel's operations in Syria, particularly after Moscow's delivery of the advanced S-300 air defence system there in response. Netanyahu and Israel's military chief of staff, Gadi Eisenkot, on Sunday sought to tamp down concerns over the withdrawal. The Israeli premier has indicated he was not taken off-guard, saying he had spoken with Trump two days before the December 19 announcement as well as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the previous day. "The decision to remove the 2,000 US soldiers from Syria won't change our consistent policy," Netanyahu said Sunday. "We will continue to act against Iran's attempt to establish a military presence in Syria, and if the need arises, we will even expand our activities there." 'A free ride' Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu and ex-military intelligence official, noted US troops were not directly involved in Israel's fight against Iran's presence in Syria. But he said concerns over whether Iran will take advantage of the US withdrawal were legitimate. "From now on, it will be a free ride for the Iranians and they will use the corridor logistically to enhance their capabilities to build the military forces in Syria and to help Hezbollah afterwards," he told AFP. An analysis by the US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank said "Israel is among the most important losers" of the withdrawal, along with the United States' Kurdish allies in Syria. But Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will continue to "defend ourselves" and Eisenkot, the military chief of staff, called it "a significant event but it should not be overstated". "For decades we’ve been handling this front alone," said Eisenkot.

With Syria pullout, Israel sees limits of Trump support

A US military delegation will visit <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-sends-military-reinforcements-to-syria-border-reports-186200">Turkey this week</a> to discuss the withdrawal of American ground forces from Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Monday.

"They will discuss how to coordinate (the withdrawal) with their counterparts," Ibrahim Kalin told a news conference in Ankara after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-turkeys-erdogan-will-take-care-of-islamic-state-in-syria-186109">US President Donald Trump</a>'s shock decision last week to order the pull-out of 2,000 troops.

The US has for years supported the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in Syria.

Critics of Trump's move fear that thousands of IS members could make gains in Syria, despite the US leader's claim that the group had been defeated.

"There is no question of a step backwards, vulnerability or a slowdown in the fight against Daesh (IS)," Kalin vowed, adding: "Turkey will show the same determination against Daesh... We can bring peace to this region."

He referred to Turkey's cross-border offensive launched in August 2016 against the IS in northern Syria and said Ankara would take all measures to avoid a power vacuum after the US withdrawal.

Kalin said there would be further talks between the two countries' foreign ministries and other departments including a meeting planned in Washington on January 8.

"There will be intensive traffic" between officials, he added, a day after Trump and Erdogan held a telephone conversation agreeing to coordinate the Syria pull out.

Trump's order came as Ankara warned it would launch an operation east of the Euphrates River against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which dominates the SDF.

Ankara says the YPG is a "terrorist offshoot" of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

Although Turkey said it would postpone the offensive, a Turkish military convoy has arrived in the Turkish border district of Elbeyli carrying howitzers and artillery batteries.

Parts of the convoy entered Syria, the private IHA news agency reported.

A US military delegation will visit Turkey this week to discuss the withdrawal of American ground forces from Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Monday.

A US military delegation will visit Turkey this week to discuss the withdrawal of American ground forces from Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Monday. "They will discuss how to coordinate (the withdrawal) with their counterparts," Ibrahim Kalin told a news conference in Ankara after US President Donald Trump's shock decision last week to order the pull-out of 2,000 troops. The US has for years supported the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in Syria. Critics of Trump's move fear that thousands of IS members could make gains in Syria, despite the US leader's claim that the group had been defeated. "There is no question of a step backwards, vulnerability or a slowdown in the fight against Daesh (IS)," Kalin vowed, adding: "Turkey will show the same determination against Daesh... We can bring peace to this region." He referred to Turkey's cross-border offensive launched in August 2016 against the IS in northern Syria and said Ankara would take all measures to avoid a power vacuum after the US withdrawal. Kalin said there would be further talks between the two countries' foreign ministries and other departments including a meeting planned in Washington on January 8. "There will be intensive traffic" between officials, he added, a day after Trump and Erdogan held a telephone conversation agreeing to coordinate the Syria pull out. Trump's order came as Ankara warned it would launch an operation east of the Euphrates River against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which dominates the SDF. Ankara says the YPG is a "terrorist offshoot" of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Although Turkey said it would postpone the offensive, a Turkish military convoy has arrived in the Turkish border district of Elbeyli carrying howitzers and artillery batteries. Parts of the convoy entered Syria, the private IHA news agency reported.

US team coming to discuss Syria troops withdrawal: Turkey

Outgoing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-replace-jim-mattis-with-deputy-patrick-shanahan-186048">US Defence Secretary James Mattis</a> has signed an order withdrawing US forces from Syria, a Defense Department spokesman said on Monday, following through on a decision by President Donald Trump that helped trigger Mattis' resignation last week.

The signing, which had been expected, occurred after Trump announced on Sunday that he would <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-irritated-by-resignation-letter-tells-mattis-to-go-2-months-early-186055">replace Mattis two months earlier than expected</a>, move officials said was driven by the president's anger at a rebuke of his foreign policy contained in Mattis' resignation letter.

"The execute order for Syria has been signed," a Defense Department spokesman said in an email to Reuters that provided no operational details.

Officials have cautioned against a timeline but the withdrawal could begin in weeks. A senior official said a specific plan was being worked on.

On Wednesday, Trump said he was withdrawing US troops from Syria, citing its cost in terms of US military lives and taxpayer money.

Mattis, whose embrace of NATO and America's traditional alliances often put him at odds with Trump, had advised against the Syria withdrawal - one of the factors in his resignation.

Mattis is highly regarded by Republicans and Democrats alike and his departure added to concerns over what many see as Trump's unpredictable go-it-alone approach to global security.

In his resignation letter, Mattis had said he would step down at the end of February to allow for a successor to be confirmed and to attend congressional hearings and a key NATO meeting.

But Trump, who was irked by the attention given to Mattis' letter, said Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan would take over on an acting basis from January 1.

Outgoing US Defence Secretary James Mattis has signed an order withdrawing US forces from Syria, a Defense Department spokesman said on Monday, following through on a decision by President Donald Trump that helped trigger Mattis' resignation last week.

Outgoing US Defence Secretary James Mattis has signed an order withdrawing US forces from Syria, a Defense Department spokesman said on Monday, following through on a decision by President Donald Trump that helped trigger Mattis' resignation last week. The signing, which had been expected, occurred after Trump announced on Sunday that he would replace Mattis two months earlier than expected, move officials said was driven by the president's anger at a rebuke of his foreign policy contained in Mattis' resignation letter. "The execute order for Syria has been signed," a Defense Department spokesman said in an email to Reuters that provided no operational details. Officials have cautioned against a timeline but the withdrawal could begin in weeks. A senior official said a specific plan was being worked on. On Wednesday, Trump said he was withdrawing US troops from Syria, citing its cost in terms of US military lives and taxpayer money. Mattis, whose embrace of NATO and America's traditional alliances often put him at odds with Trump, had advised against the Syria withdrawal - one of the factors in his resignation. Mattis is highly regarded by Republicans and Democrats alike and his departure added to concerns over what many see as Trump's unpredictable go-it-alone approach to global security. In his resignation letter, Mattis had said he would step down at the end of February to allow for a successor to be confirmed and to attend congressional hearings and a key NATO meeting. But Trump, who was irked by the attention given to Mattis' letter, said Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan would take over on an acting basis from January 1.

Outgoing defence secretary Mattis signs order withdrawing US troops from Syria

Iran&nbsp;said on Monday it was ready to respond to any hostile US&nbsp;action, but it did not consider the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in the Gulf last week as a significant threat.

The USS John C. Stennis entered the Gulf on Friday, ending a long absence of US&nbsp;aircraft carriers in the region as tensions rise between Tehran and Washington.

"The presence of this warship is insignificant to us,"&nbsp;Iran's Navy commander Habibollah Sayyari was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency.

"We will not allow this warship to come near our territorial waters in the Persian Gulf," he added.

Sayyari said the US&nbsp;Navy was allowed to sail in international waters near&nbsp;Iran, just as the&nbsp;Iranian navy could sail in the Atlantic Ocean near U.S. waters.

He said, however, that&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;was on alert for possible threats. "They do not have the courage or ability to take any measures against us. We have enough capabilities to stand against their actions and we have fully rehearsed for that."

A US-Iranian war of words has escalated since US&nbsp;President Donald Trump withdrew Washington in May from a world powers’ nuclear deal with&nbsp;Iran, and reimposed sanctions on its banking and energy sectors.

Iran&nbsp;has warned that if it cannot sell its oil due to US&nbsp;pressures, then no other regional country will be allowed to do so either, threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.

A fifth of global oil consumption passes through the Strait from the Middle East crude producers to major markets.

In recent years, there have been periodic confrontations between&nbsp;Iran's Revolutionary Guards and US&nbsp;military in the Gulf, but the number of incidents has dropped in recent months.

Iran said on Monday it was ready to respond to any hostile US action, but it did not consider the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in the Gulf last week as a significant threat.

Iran said on Monday it was ready to respond to any hostile US action, but it did not consider the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in the Gulf last week as a significant threat. The USS John C. Stennis entered the Gulf on Friday, ending a long absence of US aircraft carriers in the region as tensions rise between Tehran and Washington. "The presence of this warship is insignificant to us," Iran's Navy commander Habibollah Sayyari was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency. "We will not allow this warship to come near our territorial waters in the Persian Gulf," he added. Sayyari said the US Navy was allowed to sail in international waters near Iran, just as the Iranian navy could sail in the Atlantic Ocean near U.S. waters. He said, however, that Iran was on alert for possible threats. "They do not have the courage or ability to take any measures against us. We have enough capabilities to stand against their actions and we have fully rehearsed for that." A US-Iranian war of words has escalated since US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington in May from a world powers’ nuclear deal with Iran, and reimposed sanctions on its banking and energy sectors. Iran has warned that if it cannot sell its oil due to US pressures, then no other regional country will be allowed to do so either, threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf. A fifth of global oil consumption passes through the Strait from the Middle East crude producers to major markets. In recent years, there have been periodic confrontations between Iran's Revolutionary Guards and US military in the Gulf, but the number of incidents has dropped in recent months.

Presence of US warship insignificant to us, won't allow it to enter Persian Gulf: Iran

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-nifty-choppy-amid-weak-global-cues-186088">BSE benchmark Sensex</a> extended its losses for the second session Monday in the holiday-shortened week by declining 272 points on heavy selling in realty, consumer durables, metal and auto counters amid weak global cues as political uncertainties in the US dampened sentiment.

After rising briefly to 35,910.67 at the outset, the 30-share quickly slipped into the negative terrain in line with a weak trend at other Asian markets and touched a low of 35,423.24 before ending at 35,470.15, down by 271.92 points, or 0.76 per cent.&nbsp;

The gauge had plunged 572.04 points Friday.

Also, the broader NSE Nifty, after shuttling between 10,649.25 and 10,782.30 points, finally settled 90.50 points, or 0.84 per cent lower at 10,663.50.

Stock exchanges will remain closed Tuesday on account of Christmas.

According to experts, global equities were subdued as a partial US government shutdown that entered was set to stretch through Christmas, after Congress adjourned for the weekend with no deal in sight to end an impasse over funding for President Donald Trump's wall on the US-Mexico border.

Also, investors were nervous after reports emerged that Trump privately asked cabinet members if he had the authority to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell after interest rates were increased and the stock market tanked.

On a net basis, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 488.55 crore, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 134.14 crore on Friday, provisional data showed.

Meanwhile, the GST Council Saturday reduced tax rates on 23 goods and services, including movie tickets, TV and monitor screens and power banks, and exempted frozen and preserved vegetables from the levy.

The reduced rates are likely to come into effect from January 1, 2019, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the 31st meeting of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council here.

BSE benchmark Sensex extended its losses for the second session Monday in the holiday-shortened week by declining 272 points on heavy selling in realty, consumer durables, metal and auto counters amid weak global cues as political uncertainties in the US dampened sentiment.

BSE benchmark Sensex extended its losses for the second session Monday in the holiday-shortened week by declining 272 points on heavy selling in realty, consumer durables, metal and auto counters amid weak global cues as political uncertainties in the US dampened sentiment. After rising briefly to 35,910.67 at the outset, the 30-share quickly slipped into the negative terrain in line with a weak trend at other Asian markets and touched a low of 35,423.24 before ending at 35,470.15, down by 271.92 points, or 0.76 per cent. The gauge had plunged 572.04 points Friday. Also, the broader NSE Nifty, after shuttling between 10,649.25 and 10,782.30 points, finally settled 90.50 points, or 0.84 per cent lower at 10,663.50. Stock exchanges will remain closed Tuesday on account of Christmas. According to experts, global equities were subdued as a partial US government shutdown that entered was set to stretch through Christmas, after Congress adjourned for the weekend with no deal in sight to end an impasse over funding for President Donald Trump's wall on the US-Mexico border. Also, investors were nervous after reports emerged that Trump privately asked cabinet members if he had the authority to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell after interest rates were increased and the stock market tanked. On a net basis, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 488.55 crore, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 134.14 crore on Friday, provisional data showed. Meanwhile, the GST Council Saturday reduced tax rates on 23 goods and services, including movie tickets, TV and monitor screens and power banks, and exempted frozen and preserved vegetables from the levy. The reduced rates are likely to come into effect from January 1, 2019, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the 31st meeting of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council here.

Sensex, Nifty drop on global selloff

The top US commander in Afghanistan has not received orders to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-troops-withdrawal-will-not-have-security-impact-on-afghanistan-presidential-spokesman-185677">pull forces out of the war-torn country</a>, NATO confirmed Monday, days after President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw 7,000 troops leaked to the media. &nbsp;

General Scott Miller's remarks on Sunday capped a tumultuous few days for Afghanistan as foreign diplomats and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-leader-replaces-top-security-chiefs-in-major-shake-up-186004">Afghan officials </a>digested the possibility of the United States exiting the 17-year war it started and is now leading efforts to end.&nbsp;

An American official told AFP late last week that Trump had decided to pull out "roughly half" of the 14,000 US forces in the country, but the White House has so far not confirmed the widely-publicised move.

"I have no orders, so nothing has changed," said Miller, who is also the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, during a meeting with the governor of the eastern province of Nangarhar, according to Tolo News.&nbsp;

The remarks were confirmed by NATO's Resolute Support mission in Kabul.&nbsp;

"But if I do get orders, I think it is important for you to know that we are still with the security forces. Even if I have to get a little bit smaller, we will be okay," Miller continued.

US troops make up the bulk of the Resolute Support mission to train and advise local forces fighting the Taliban and the Islamic State group.

Others are part of a US-led counter-terrorism mission.

While there has been no official announcement of a US drawdown, the mere suggestion of the United States reducing its military presence has rattled the Afghan capital.&nbsp;

Trump's decision apparently came Tuesday as US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met with the Taliban in Abu Dhabi, part of efforts to bring the militants to the negotiating table with Kabul.

The Taliban has not issued a formal statement on Trump's plan, but a senior commander told AFP the group was "more than happy".

There are fears the hasty move could undermine Khalilzad's negotiating position, embolden the Taliban, and further erode morale among Afghan forces, which are suffering record losses.

Many Afghans are worried that President Ashraf Ghani's fragile unity government would collapse if US troops pulled out, enabling the Taliban to return to power and potentially sparking another bloody civil war.&nbsp;

A day after Miller's remarks, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived in Kabul for the start of a four-nation tour to discuss, among other things, peace efforts in Afghanistan.

Qureshi, who had hailed Trump's decision to slash troop numbers in Afghanistan as "a step forward" in the peace effort, will also visit Iran, China and Russia.&nbsp;

The top US commander in Afghanistan has not received orders to pull forces out of the war-torn country, NATO confirmed Monday, days after President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw 7,000 troops leaked to the media.

The top US commander in Afghanistan has not received orders to pull forces out of the war-torn country, NATO confirmed Monday, days after President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw 7,000 troops leaked to the media. General Scott Miller's remarks on Sunday capped a tumultuous few days for Afghanistan as foreign diplomats and Afghan officials digested the possibility of the United States exiting the 17-year war it started and is now leading efforts to end. An American official told AFP late last week that Trump had decided to pull out "roughly half" of the 14,000 US forces in the country, but the White House has so far not confirmed the widely-publicised move. "I have no orders, so nothing has changed," said Miller, who is also the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, during a meeting with the governor of the eastern province of Nangarhar, according to Tolo News. The remarks were confirmed by NATO's Resolute Support mission in Kabul. "But if I do get orders, I think it is important for you to know that we are still with the security forces. Even if I have to get a little bit smaller, we will be okay," Miller continued. US troops make up the bulk of the Resolute Support mission to train and advise local forces fighting the Taliban and the Islamic State group. Others are part of a US-led counter-terrorism mission. While there has been no official announcement of a US drawdown, the mere suggestion of the United States reducing its military presence has rattled the Afghan capital. Trump's decision apparently came Tuesday as US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met with the Taliban in Abu Dhabi, part of efforts to bring the militants to the negotiating table with Kabul. The Taliban has not issued a formal statement on Trump's plan, but a senior commander told AFP the group was "more than happy". There are fears the hasty move could undermine Khalilzad's negotiating position, embolden the Taliban, and further erode morale among Afghan forces, which are suffering record losses. Many Afghans are worried that President Ashraf Ghani's fragile unity government would collapse if US troops pulled out, enabling the Taliban to return to power and potentially sparking another bloody civil war. A day after Miller's remarks, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived in Kabul for the start of a four-nation tour to discuss, among other things, peace efforts in Afghanistan. Qureshi, who had hailed Trump's decision to slash troop numbers in Afghanistan as "a step forward" in the peace effort, will also visit Iran, China and Russia.

No orders to pull out: Top US commander in Afghanistan

By Gary Grappo

Rational observers, US allies and even America’s adversaries are left to wonder where President Donald Trump’s erratic foreign policies and unpredictable decision-making will now lead after the departure of Defence Secretary James Mattis, the one reliable constant on whom they could depend in a presidency defined by inconsistency, disorder and disarray.

Before considering Trump’s surprising and abrupt decision to withdraw US forces from Syria and Afghanistan and Mattis’ subsequent resignation, it is important to remind ourselves of the president’s notorious — one shudders at the use of such a term — “leadership” style.

Throughout his business career, when confronted with situations casting him in an unfavourable light or threatening him with loss of face, Trump’s almost instinctive response was to distract and create chaos. In those circumstances, he could then thrive as others veered to address the decoy issue while the underlying issue was forgotten, set aside or ignored.

Fast forward to this week’s Syria decision and the resulting Mattis resignation. Consider the array of dauntingly adverse news confronting Trump, all painting a particularly unpleasing portrait of the Trump presidency: a plunging Wall Street set to record the worst December since 1931; closure of 25 per cent of the federal government due to his refusal to compromise on his demand to fund an unnecessary and wasteful $5 billion wall on the border with Mexico; a special counsel investigation that is closing in on the centers of the fetid Trump campaign, administration and even family; an unresolved trade dispute with China, the world’s second largest economy; and loss of his coveted Republican majority in Congress in less than two weeks, rendering most of his campaign promises mere fiction.

Amid such overwhelming bad news, where else is a president to turn to exercise his authorities and coincidentally distract voters from his spiralling presidency? Of all his powers, the president of the United States enjoys near autonomy in foreign policy. The drafters of the Constitution, understanding the national security implications of the matter, purposely intended things that way. The Senate exercises confirmation authority over presidentially-appointed positions and the House maintains control of the purse in its power to approve or reject funding for virtually any government action.

Bad news in the Middle East

But that still leaves President Trump with considerable powers to address issues and crises, whether real or perceived. This brings us to Syria and Secretary Mattis. The nation will certainly survive the Syria conflict. What the decision does to US policy in the Middle East, however, is another question. Given that the US has little discernable overarching policy for the region other than countering Iran, bolstering Israel and defeating the Islamic State (IS), it would seem that everything else has been ceded to the much-discredited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The only effective US action in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011 has been its successful arming and training of a credible fighting force, the Syrian Democratic Forces, comprised largely of Kurds but also Arabs, to confront the Islamic State and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. By withdrawing US forces from Syria, Trump will have returned US policy in Syria to the status quo of before he entered the office. America again will have no leverage whatsoever for reaching anything approaching a balanced, humane and fair conclusion of the civil war and any form of representative government.

Barack Obama’s secretary of state, John Kerry, had pleaded with Obama for US military engagement in Syria, if only token, to give him negotiating leverage in the Geneva process with Russia. It did not happen until Donald Trump took office. It worked and is one reason why the Astana process, an alternative peace process that includes Russia, Iran, Turkey and the Assad regime but not the US or the European Union, has made no genuine progress. And it won’t until all interested parties return to Geneva and can have their concerns genuinely addressed.

With the loss of US leverage in any talks, Syria will now be left to the devices of Russia, Iran and Assad’s autocratic and self-interested machinations and exploitation. Syrians may see an end to their civil war but little prospect for prosperity or a change in the Assad dictatorship. Moreover, the Kurds and Arabs of northeastern Syria will be abandoned and exposed to the deprivations of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has set his sights on neutralizing the “Kurdish threat” in Syria.

The move also jeopardises the security of Syria’s surrounding states, including Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. Given Iran’s aggressive intentions in Syria against Israel and Tel Aviv’s firm determination to resist the Islamic Republic — recently reaffirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — we should expect more uncertainty and instability.

Finally, Trump’s claim of the defeat of IS can fairly be described as fake news. Experts estimate some 25,000 to 30,000 Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria, with an IS resurgence already planned in Syria. The Islamic State also remains a credible threat of instability and violence throughout Egypt and North Africa. So, while IS has certainly suffered major setbacks in Syria as well as Iraq, it is far from beaten. Once US forces depart, we should count on its return to eastern Syria and increased threats against Iraq. And we shouldn’t discount the likelihood that the other terrorist organization prominently engaged in Syria, Hezbollah, and its Iranian backers will also turn their attention to eastern Syria.

The political weather out there is frightening

For Americans, now wrapped up in preparations for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays, little concerning Syria will register. What should concern them and the entire world, however, is the departure of James Mattis. Given Trump’s fatal attraction to only those who agree with him in senior administration positions, there will be no more gatekeepers after Mattis.

All of those whom he once termed “my generals” will have left or been indicted (see former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn). Trump sometimes referred to his now departing defence secretary as “mad dog,” an apparent appellation acquired during the secretary’s days as a combat commander in the Marines. It was never appreciated by the cerebral and thoughtful former four-star general, universally respected for his breath of knowledge of world history and international affairs and his depth of experience. Mattis had found ways to talk the president out of unsound policies and decisions but clearly could not prevail in the Syria decision. His resignation was tantamount to a rebuke of Trump.

National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are practically Trump clones when it comes to rigid, blinkered, hard-edged and aggressive foreign and national security policies. We can expect Mattis’ successor to be of the same ilk.

That’s a chilling thought, given the extraordinary power of American forces around the world and their ability to wreak havoc on the order, or whim, of one very unpredictable, erratic and impulsive man. That power includes one of the world’s two largest nuclear weapons arsenals.

The effort to circumscribe America’s irresponsible and congenitally mercurial president must now reside with Congress. The US Senate, with its authority to block an unsuitable nominee to the soon-to-be-vacant post, and the House, with its power to initiate funding bills, must now exercise their constitutional powers to constrain Donald Trump. This will be especially challenging for the still Republican-controlled Senate, given its heretofore almost reflexive and uncritical support of its standard bearer in the White House.

The US system of democracy, under strain since Trump’s inauguration in 2017, must now confront yet another challenge. The American system, always an experiment in constitutional, multi-racial, multi-confessional democracy, may be facing its most serious crisis since the Civil War more than 150 years ago. Then, it was a strong president and properly-led armed forces that ultimately saved the republic. Today, America has anything but a strong president, though its armed forces are inarguably more capably led.

Can America’s other acclaimed democratic institutions — Congress, courts, media, state-level institutions — ensure the survival and continued prosperity of the world’s oldest democracy?

(Gary Grappo is a former US ambassador and a distinguished fellow at the Center for Middle East Studies at the Korbel School for International Studies)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/james-mattis-resignation-donald-trump-administration-jim-mattis-us-politics-world-news-29012/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

By Gary Grappo Rational observers, US allies and even America’s adversaries are left to wonder where President Donald Trump’s erratic foreign policies and unpredictable decision-making will now lead after the departure of Defence Secretary James Mattis, the one reliable constant on whom they could depend in a presidency defined by inconsistency, disorder and disarray.

By Gary Grappo Rational observers, US allies and even America’s adversaries are left to wonder where President Donald Trump’s erratic foreign policies and unpredictable decision-making will now lead after the departure of Defence Secretary James Mattis, the one reliable constant on whom they could depend in a presidency defined by inconsistency, disorder and disarray. Before considering Trump’s surprising and abrupt decision to withdraw US forces from Syria and Afghanistan and Mattis’ subsequent resignation, it is important to remind ourselves of the president’s notorious — one shudders at the use of such a term — “leadership” style. Throughout his business career, when confronted with situations casting him in an unfavourable light or threatening him with loss of face, Trump’s almost instinctive response was to distract and create chaos. In those circumstances, he could then thrive as others veered to address the decoy issue while the underlying issue was forgotten, set aside or ignored. Fast forward to this week’s Syria decision and the resulting Mattis resignation. Consider the array of dauntingly adverse news confronting Trump, all painting a particularly unpleasing portrait of the Trump presidency: a plunging Wall Street set to record the worst December since 1931; closure of 25 per cent of the federal government due to his refusal to compromise on his demand to fund an unnecessary and wasteful $5 billion wall on the border with Mexico; a special counsel investigation that is closing in on the centers of the fetid Trump campaign, administration and even family; an unresolved trade dispute with China, the world’s second largest economy; and loss of his coveted Republican majority in Congress in less than two weeks, rendering most of his campaign promises mere fiction. Amid such overwhelming bad news, where else is a president to turn to exercise his authorities and coincidentally distract voters from his spiralling presidency? Of all his powers, the president of the United States enjoys near autonomy in foreign policy. The drafters of the Constitution, understanding the national security implications of the matter, purposely intended things that way. The Senate exercises confirmation authority over presidentially-appointed positions and the House maintains control of the purse in its power to approve or reject funding for virtually any government action. Bad news in the Middle East But that still leaves President Trump with considerable powers to address issues and crises, whether real or perceived. This brings us to Syria and Secretary Mattis. The nation will certainly survive the Syria conflict. What the decision does to US policy in the Middle East, however, is another question. Given that the US has little discernable overarching policy for the region other than countering Iran, bolstering Israel and defeating the Islamic State (IS), it would seem that everything else has been ceded to the much-discredited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The only effective US action in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011 has been its successful arming and training of a credible fighting force, the Syrian Democratic Forces, comprised largely of Kurds but also Arabs, to confront the Islamic State and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. By withdrawing US forces from Syria, Trump will have returned US policy in Syria to the status quo of before he entered the office. America again will have no leverage whatsoever for reaching anything approaching a balanced, humane and fair conclusion of the civil war and any form of representative government. Barack Obama’s secretary of state, John Kerry, had pleaded with Obama for US military engagement in Syria, if only token, to give him negotiating leverage in the Geneva process with Russia. It did not happen until Donald Trump took office. It worked and is one reason why the Astana process, an alternative peace process that includes Russia, Iran, Turkey and the Assad regime but not the US or the European Union, has made no genuine progress. And it won’t until all interested parties return to Geneva and can have their concerns genuinely addressed. With the loss of US leverage in any talks, Syria will now be left to the devices of Russia, Iran and Assad’s autocratic and self-interested machinations and exploitation. Syrians may see an end to their civil war but little prospect for prosperity or a change in the Assad dictatorship. Moreover, the Kurds and Arabs of northeastern Syria will be abandoned and exposed to the deprivations of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has set his sights on neutralizing the “Kurdish threat” in Syria. The move also jeopardises the security of Syria’s surrounding states, including Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. Given Iran’s aggressive intentions in Syria against Israel and Tel Aviv’s firm determination to resist the Islamic Republic — recently reaffirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — we should expect more uncertainty and instability. Finally, Trump’s claim of the defeat of IS can fairly be described as fake news. Experts estimate some 25,000 to 30,000 Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria, with an IS resurgence already planned in Syria. The Islamic State also remains a credible threat of instability and violence throughout Egypt and North Africa. So, while IS has certainly suffered major setbacks in Syria as well as Iraq, it is far from beaten. Once US forces depart, we should count on its return to eastern Syria and increased threats against Iraq. And we shouldn’t discount the likelihood that the other terrorist organization prominently engaged in Syria, Hezbollah, and its Iranian backers will also turn their attention to eastern Syria. The political weather out there is frightening For Americans, now wrapped up in preparations for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays, little concerning Syria will register. What should concern them and the entire world, however, is the departure of James Mattis. Given Trump’s fatal attraction to only those who agree with him in senior administration positions, there will be no more gatekeepers after Mattis. All of those whom he once termed “my generals” will have left or been indicted (see former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn). Trump sometimes referred to his now departing defence secretary as “mad dog,” an apparent appellation acquired during the secretary’s days as a combat commander in the Marines. It was never appreciated by the cerebral and thoughtful former four-star general, universally respected for his breath of knowledge of world history and international affairs and his depth of experience. Mattis had found ways to talk the president out of unsound policies and decisions but clearly could not prevail in the Syria decision. His resignation was tantamount to a rebuke of Trump. National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are practically Trump clones when it comes to rigid, blinkered, hard-edged and aggressive foreign and national security policies. We can expect Mattis’ successor to be of the same ilk. That’s a chilling thought, given the extraordinary power of American forces around the world and their ability to wreak havoc on the order, or whim, of one very unpredictable, erratic and impulsive man. That power includes one of the world’s two largest nuclear weapons arsenals. The effort to circumscribe America’s irresponsible and congenitally mercurial president must now reside with Congress. The US Senate, with its authority to block an unsuitable nominee to the soon-to-be-vacant post, and the House, with its power to initiate funding bills, must now exercise their constitutional powers to constrain Donald Trump. This will be especially challenging for the still Republican-controlled Senate, given its heretofore almost reflexive and uncritical support of its standard bearer in the White House. The US system of democracy, under strain since Trump’s inauguration in 2017, must now confront yet another challenge. The American system, always an experiment in constitutional, multi-racial, multi-confessional democracy, may be facing its most serious crisis since the Civil War more than 150 years ago. Then, it was a strong president and properly-led armed forces that ultimately saved the republic. Today, America has anything but a strong president, though its armed forces are inarguably more capably led. Can America’s other acclaimed democratic institutions — Congress, courts, media, state-level institutions — ensure the survival and continued prosperity of the world’s oldest democracy? (Gary Grappo is a former US ambassador and a distinguished fellow at the Center for Middle East Studies at the Korbel School for International Studies) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

James Mattis: Who will keep Donald Trump in check now?

US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his demand for a wall on the southern border stating that it is the only way to "stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into" the United States.&nbsp;

"The only way to stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into our Country is with a Wall or Barrier. Drones and all of the rest are wonderful and lots of fun, but it is only a good old fashioned Wall that works!" Trump tweeted out.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said that all news reports concerning the US government shutdown and Syria are fake.&nbsp;

He further stated that he is working hard and negotiating with Democrats on the need for Border Security, saying that it could be a long stay.&nbsp;

In a tweet, Trump said, "I am in the White House, working hard. News reports concerning the Shutdown and Syria are mostly FAKE. We are negotiating with the Democrats on desperately needed Border Security (Gangs, Drugs, Human Trafficking &amp; more) but it could be a long stay."&nbsp;

Trump, on Friday in a video, emphasized the need for a wall and blamed the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/news-reports-concerning-the-shutdown-and-syria-are-mostly-fake-trump-185915">shutdown</a> on the Democrats.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The only way to stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into our Country is with a Wall or Barrier. Drones and all of the rest are wonderful and lots of fun, but it is only a good old fashioned Wall that works!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076844349860823042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Our great country must have border security," the tweet was captioned.&nbsp;

"We’re going to have a shutdown, there’s nothing we can do about that because we need the Democrats to give us their votes,” he said.&nbsp;

“Call it a Democrat shutdown, call it whatever you want, but we need their help to get this approved,” he added in the video.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
OUR GREAT COUNTRY MUST HAVE BORDER SECURITY! <a href="https://t.co/ZGcYygMf3a">pic.twitter.com/ZGcYygMf3a</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076308614372048897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

President Donald Trump's White House wants to see $5 billion for border security and the construction of physical barriers in any stop-gap government funding bill passed by Congress, a senior administration official said on Saturday, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

"We continue to articulate what our expectations are for Congress, which is $5 billion for border security and physical barriers," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

The official said the White House hopes that the partial government shutdown that began on Saturday only lasts for a few days, but that it could last longer.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his demand for a wall on the southern border stating that it is the only way to "stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into" the United States.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his demand for a wall on the southern border stating that it is the only way to "stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into" the United States. "The only way to stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into our Country is with a Wall or Barrier. Drones and all of the rest are wonderful and lots of fun, but it is only a good old fashioned Wall that works!" Trump tweeted out. US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said that all news reports concerning the US government shutdown and Syria are fake. He further stated that he is working hard and negotiating with Democrats on the need for Border Security, saying that it could be a long stay. In a tweet, Trump said, "I am in the White House, working hard. News reports concerning the Shutdown and Syria are mostly FAKE. We are negotiating with the Democrats on desperately needed Border Security (Gangs, Drugs, Human Trafficking & more) but it could be a long stay." Trump, on Friday in a video, emphasized the need for a wall and blamed the shutdown on the Democrats. The only way to stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into our Country is with a Wall or Barrier. Drones and all of the rest are wonderful and lots of fun, but it is only a good old fashioned Wall that works! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018 × "Our great country must have border security," the tweet was captioned. "We’re going to have a shutdown, there’s nothing we can do about that because we need the Democrats to give us their votes,” he said. “Call it a Democrat shutdown, call it whatever you want, but we need their help to get this approved,” he added in the video. OUR GREAT COUNTRY MUST HAVE BORDER SECURITY! pic.twitter.com/ZGcYygMf3a — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2018 × President Donald Trump's White House wants to see $5 billion for border security and the construction of physical barriers in any stop-gap government funding bill passed by Congress, a senior administration official said on Saturday, news agency Reuters reported. "We continue to articulate what our expectations are for Congress, which is $5 billion for border security and physical barriers," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. The official said the White House hopes that the partial government shutdown that began on Saturday only lasts for a few days, but that it could last longer.

It's the only way to stop drugs, gangs, criminals from entering US: Trump defends demand for border wall 

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/its-the-only-way-to-stop-drugs-gangs-criminals-from-entering-us-trump-defends-demand-for-border-wall-186037">Donald Trump</a> on Sunday announced he would replace <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-defence-secretary-jim-mattis-exit-sparks-concern-among-us-allies-185709">Defense Secretary Jim Mattis</a> with his deputy Patrick Shanahan, days after the outgoing Pentagon chief quit while citing key policy differences with the US president.

"I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019," the US President tweeted, accelerating Mattis's planned departure by two months.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, &amp; previously Boeing. He will be great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076881816462737408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, &amp; previously Boeing. He will be great!"

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned on December 20, a day after President Donald Trump stunned the US establishment by ordering a troop withdrawal from Syria.

In a letter to Trump, the 68-year-old Pentagon chief said his political outlook, which cherishes traditional alliances, could no longer be reconciled with that of the president, who has poured scorn on longstanding partnerships and repeatedly sought closer ties with Russia.

(With inputs from AFP)

Donald Trump on Sunday announced he would replace Defense Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan, days after the outgoing Pentagon chief quit while citing key policy differences with the US president.

Donald Trump on Sunday announced he would replace Defense Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan, days after the outgoing Pentagon chief quit while citing key policy differences with the US president. "I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019," the US President tweeted, accelerating Mattis's planned departure by two months. I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018 × "Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!" Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned on December 20, a day after President Donald Trump stunned the US establishment by ordering a troop withdrawal from Syria. In a letter to Trump, the 68-year-old Pentagon chief said his political outlook, which cherishes traditional alliances, could no longer be reconciled with that of the president, who has poured scorn on longstanding partnerships and repeatedly sought closer ties with Russia. (With inputs from AFP)

Trump to replace defence head Mattis with deputy Patrick Shanahan

By Scott Lucas

The last adult in the Trump White House playground has gone – and the president is throwing his toys around.

James Mattis, as defence secretary, was one of three retired generals in the Trump administration whose hope was to contain an ill-informed, temperamental, and unpredictable president. Now they’re all gone: national security adviser HR McMaster, pushed out early this year; White House chief of staff John Kelly, giving up at the end of December; and now Mattis, who resigned after losing hope that Trump can be restrained from impulsive actions, defying his advisers, threatening US allies and even embracing American foes.

The catalyst for Mattis’s departure was Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw all 2,000 US troops from Syria. But the list of his concerns about Trump is far longer. They include the president’s views on the American presence in Afghanistan and his hostility towards NATO allies, as well as Trump’s affinity for Vladimir Putin, even as Russia pursues an aggressive foreign policy and intervenes in US domestic affairs.

As Mattis put it in his resignation letter, a message of rebuke to Trump: "My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues."

With Trump willing to toss aside alliances and shred international arrangements, this could be the most serious challenge to US foreign policy and American partners since 1945. But what does it mean in specific areas?

Syria 
 
American policy has never been clear or decisive over Syria’s 93-month conflict. But Trump’s impulsive order for withdrawal threatens a new cycle of violence.

Since the autumn of 2015, Washington has worked with Kurdish groups to push back the Islamic State in northern and eastern Syria. Those groups, through the Syrian Democratic Forces, have reduced Islamic State to a pocket of territory near the Iraqi border. But Trump’s tweet that the battle against the group is “won” is simply wrong. IS could be resurgent if the opportunity presents itself.

Trump is also abandoning Syria’s Kurds to the predatory ambitions of others in the region. The Assad regime, propped up by Russia, has vowed to regain the one-third of the country controlled by Kurdish factions. Turkey has pledged offensives both west and east of the Euphrates River. Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said “terrorists” – Kurdish fighters – will be erased.

US support for the Kurds was never a benevolent mission. Beyond the anti-IS campaign, the American presence was a buffer against the influence of Iran – a key ally of the Assad regime. Now that buffer disappears, and American policy against IS has been thrown into disarray.

Afghanistan 
 
The Pentagon was already planning to pull out half of&nbsp;the 14,000 US troops currently in Afghanistan, but Trump’s shift on Syria may have an even more unsettling effect.

Even with the full complement of American forces and international partners, defeat of the Taliban has been a mirage. The insurgents have rebuilt their influence to control almost half the fragmented country. The focus has shifted from military victory to negotiation for political resolution.

But Trump has complicated the tactics with his impulsive interventions – leading to his being called an “idiot” by both McMaster and Kelly, and a “moron” by the then-secretary of state Rex Tillerson. He has angered Pakistan, an essential part of the negotiating process, by slashing US military aid, and his declarations about a full withdrawal have emboldened the Taliban rather than brought them to the table.

Russia 
 
The loss of Mattis will likely deepen the split personality of the Trump administration towards Russia. Most of Trump’s advisers view Moscow with concern and favour a firm line that includes sanctions and opposition to Russian ventures in areas such as Ukraine and the Baltic States.

But Trump’s admiration for Putin has led to his foot-dragging over Russia and even undermining of the American position. He has held out against enforcing sanctions until a combination of Congress and US agencies forced his compliance. With Putin standing next to him at a press conference in July, Trump failed to make a statement on Russia’s annexation of Crimea and sided with the Russian leader over the American officials who concluded that Moscow interfered in the 2016 election.

Putin is already revelling in the chaos within the administration. Asked about Trump’s announcement on withdrawal from Syria, he said: “On this, Donald is right. I agree with him.”

NATO 
 
The US deployment in Afghanistan is part of a NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces. But Trump’s threat to NATO is far more than an Afghan draw down.

The president has repeatedly bashed the alliance with his false insistence – the outcome of his lack of knowledge – that NATO “owes” money to the US. During his campaign, he labelled the organisation “obsolete” and at last July’s summit he was still threatening to withdraw the US from the bloc after 69 years. Meanwhile, Trump was casting insults at individual members, notably Germany.

Mattis was an assurance that the US institutional relationships with NATO and its members, the linchpin of the alliance, would continue despite the president. But the general’s departure, and the prospect that Trump will want a “yes man” to replace him, could renew uncertainties.

Into the void 
 
The replacement for Mattis is not yet apparent. But it is a marker of the decay of US policy that the question could be close to irrelevant, be the candidate former general and Fox TV pundit Jack Keane or Trump loyalist and defence hawk Senator Tom Cotton. For Trump is now beyond advice and guidance. US foreign policy rests on the whim of this man: angry and frustrated by investigations closing in on him, but bunkered in the self-confidence that he is smarter than anyone else in the room.

(Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/james-mattis-what-defence-secretarys-resignation-means-for-syria-afghanistan-and-nato-as-trump-leans-in-to-putin-109204">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

By Scott Lucas The last adult in the Trump White House playground has gone – and the president is throwing his toys around. James Mattis, as defence secretary, was one of three retired generals in the Trump administration whose hope was to contain an ill-informed, temperamental, and unpredictable president.

By Scott Lucas The last adult in the Trump White House playground has gone – and the president is throwing his toys around. James Mattis, as defence secretary, was one of three retired generals in the Trump administration whose hope was to contain an ill-informed, temperamental, and unpredictable president. Now they’re all gone: national security adviser HR McMaster, pushed out early this year; White House chief of staff John Kelly, giving up at the end of December; and now Mattis, who resigned after losing hope that Trump can be restrained from impulsive actions, defying his advisers, threatening US allies and even embracing American foes. The catalyst for Mattis’s departure was Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw all 2,000 US troops from Syria. But the list of his concerns about Trump is far longer. They include the president’s views on the American presence in Afghanistan and his hostility towards NATO allies, as well as Trump’s affinity for Vladimir Putin, even as Russia pursues an aggressive foreign policy and intervenes in US domestic affairs. As Mattis put it in his resignation letter, a message of rebuke to Trump: "My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues." With Trump willing to toss aside alliances and shred international arrangements, this could be the most serious challenge to US foreign policy and American partners since 1945. But what does it mean in specific areas? Syria American policy has never been clear or decisive over Syria’s 93-month conflict. But Trump’s impulsive order for withdrawal threatens a new cycle of violence. Since the autumn of 2015, Washington has worked with Kurdish groups to push back the Islamic State in northern and eastern Syria. Those groups, through the Syrian Democratic Forces, have reduced Islamic State to a pocket of territory near the Iraqi border. But Trump’s tweet that the battle against the group is “won” is simply wrong. IS could be resurgent if the opportunity presents itself. Trump is also abandoning Syria’s Kurds to the predatory ambitions of others in the region. The Assad regime, propped up by Russia, has vowed to regain the one-third of the country controlled by Kurdish factions. Turkey has pledged offensives both west and east of the Euphrates River. Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said “terrorists” – Kurdish fighters – will be erased. US support for the Kurds was never a benevolent mission. Beyond the anti-IS campaign, the American presence was a buffer against the influence of Iran – a key ally of the Assad regime. Now that buffer disappears, and American policy against IS has been thrown into disarray. Afghanistan The Pentagon was already planning to pull out half of the 14,000 US troops currently in Afghanistan, but Trump’s shift on Syria may have an even more unsettling effect. Even with the full complement of American forces and international partners, defeat of the Taliban has been a mirage. The insurgents have rebuilt their influence to control almost half the fragmented country. The focus has shifted from military victory to negotiation for political resolution. But Trump has complicated the tactics with his impulsive interventions – leading to his being called an “idiot” by both McMaster and Kelly, and a “moron” by the then-secretary of state Rex Tillerson. He has angered Pakistan, an essential part of the negotiating process, by slashing US military aid, and his declarations about a full withdrawal have emboldened the Taliban rather than brought them to the table. Russia The loss of Mattis will likely deepen the split personality of the Trump administration towards Russia. Most of Trump’s advisers view Moscow with concern and favour a firm line that includes sanctions and opposition to Russian ventures in areas such as Ukraine and the Baltic States. But Trump’s admiration for Putin has led to his foot-dragging over Russia and even undermining of the American position. He has held out against enforcing sanctions until a combination of Congress and US agencies forced his compliance. With Putin standing next to him at a press conference in July, Trump failed to make a statement on Russia’s annexation of Crimea and sided with the Russian leader over the American officials who concluded that Moscow interfered in the 2016 election. Putin is already revelling in the chaos within the administration. Asked about Trump’s announcement on withdrawal from Syria, he said: “On this, Donald is right. I agree with him.” NATO The US deployment in Afghanistan is part of a NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces. But Trump’s threat to NATO is far more than an Afghan draw down. The president has repeatedly bashed the alliance with his false insistence – the outcome of his lack of knowledge – that NATO “owes” money to the US. During his campaign, he labelled the organisation “obsolete” and at last July’s summit he was still threatening to withdraw the US from the bloc after 69 years. Meanwhile, Trump was casting insults at individual members, notably Germany. Mattis was an assurance that the US institutional relationships with NATO and its members, the linchpin of the alliance, would continue despite the president. But the general’s departure, and the prospect that Trump will want a “yes man” to replace him, could renew uncertainties. Into the void The replacement for Mattis is not yet apparent. But it is a marker of the decay of US policy that the question could be close to irrelevant, be the candidate former general and Fox TV pundit Jack Keane or Trump loyalist and defence hawk Senator Tom Cotton. For Trump is now beyond advice and guidance. US foreign policy rests on the whim of this man: angry and frustrated by investigations closing in on him, but bunkered in the self-confidence that he is smarter than anyone else in the room. (Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What James Mattis's resignation means for Syria, Afghanistan and NATO

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's budget director and chief of staff on Sunday said the partial US&nbsp;government shutdown could continue to January 3, when the new Congress convenes and Democrats take over the House of Representatives.

"It's very possible this shutdown will go beyond the 28th and into the new Congress," Mick Mulvaney said on Fox News Sunday.&nbsp;

"I don't think things are going to move very quickly here for the next few days" because of the Christmas holiday, added Mulvaney, who serves as director of the Office of Management and Budget and was named acting White House chief of staff 10 days ago.

The US&nbsp;Senate adjourned on Saturday unable to break an impasse over Trump's demand for more funds for a wall on the border with Mexico that Democrats are unwilling to accept.

Mulvaney said the White House made a "counteroffer" to Democrats on funding for border security that falls between the Democratic offer of $1.3 billion and Trump's demand for $5 billion.

As part of those talks on Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence offered to drop the demand for $5 billion for a border wall, substituting instead $2.1 billion, ABC News reported citing unnamed sources.

Mulvaney sought to shift blame for the partial shutdown to Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic nominee for speaker of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives, saying she might hold up negotiations to ensure she secures the position.

"I think she's in that unfortunate position of being beholden to her left wing to where she cannot be seen as agreeing with the president on anything until after she is speaker," Mulvaney said. "If that's the case, again, there's a chance we go into the next Congress." &nbsp;

Financing for about a quarter of federal government programs - including the departments of Homeland Security, Justice and Agriculture - expired at midnight on Friday and will not be renewed until a deal is done.

Federal parks were to close and more than 400,000 federal "essential" employees in those agencies will work without pay until the dispute is resolved. Another 380,000 will be "furloughed", meaning they are put on temporary leave.

Law enforcement efforts, border patrols, mail delivery and airport operations will keep running.

Building a wall to keep migrants from entering the United States illegally was a central plank of Trump's presidential campaign, but Democrats are vehemently opposed and have rejected his funding request.

Trump reiterated his push for border security on Sunday, saying on Twitter that "the only way" to stop drugs, gangs, and human trafficking at the border was with a wall or barrier.

"Drones and all of the rest are wonderful and lots of fun, but it is only a good old fashioned Wall that works!," the president said in the tweet.

Earlier in the week, leaders in both the Senate and House of Representatives thought they had reached a deal that Trump would sign that contained less money for border security, only to watch the president, under pressure from conservatives, re-assert his demand for $5 billion at the last minute.

Senator David Perdue, a Republican from Georgia on the Senate Banking Committee, said on Fox News'&nbsp;"Sunday Morning Futures" that he thought a deal this week was possible.

"I spoke to the President last night, he wants that," Purdue said, adding "I'm hopeful that cooler heads will prevail and we'll get to some number between $1.6 (billion) and $5 billion on that." 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump's budget director and chief of staff on Sunday said the partial US government shutdown could continue to January 3, when the new Congress convenes and Democrats take over the House of Representatives.

US President Donald Trump's budget director and chief of staff on Sunday said the partial US government shutdown could continue to January 3, when the new Congress convenes and Democrats take over the House of Representatives. "It's very possible this shutdown will go beyond the 28th and into the new Congress," Mick Mulvaney said on Fox News Sunday. "I don't think things are going to move very quickly here for the next few days" because of the Christmas holiday, added Mulvaney, who serves as director of the Office of Management and Budget and was named acting White House chief of staff 10 days ago. The US Senate adjourned on Saturday unable to break an impasse over Trump's demand for more funds for a wall on the border with Mexico that Democrats are unwilling to accept. Mulvaney said the White House made a "counteroffer" to Democrats on funding for border security that falls between the Democratic offer of $1.3 billion and Trump's demand for $5 billion. As part of those talks on Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence offered to drop the demand for $5 billion for a border wall, substituting instead $2.1 billion, ABC News reported citing unnamed sources. Mulvaney sought to shift blame for the partial shutdown to Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic nominee for speaker of the US House of Representatives, saying she might hold up negotiations to ensure she secures the position. "I think she's in that unfortunate position of being beholden to her left wing to where she cannot be seen as agreeing with the president on anything until after she is speaker," Mulvaney said. "If that's the case, again, there's a chance we go into the next Congress." Financing for about a quarter of federal government programs - including the departments of Homeland Security, Justice and Agriculture - expired at midnight on Friday and will not be renewed until a deal is done. Federal parks were to close and more than 400,000 federal "essential" employees in those agencies will work without pay until the dispute is resolved. Another 380,000 will be "furloughed", meaning they are put on temporary leave. Law enforcement efforts, border patrols, mail delivery and airport operations will keep running. Building a wall to keep migrants from entering the United States illegally was a central plank of Trump's presidential campaign, but Democrats are vehemently opposed and have rejected his funding request. Trump reiterated his push for border security on Sunday, saying on Twitter that "the only way" to stop drugs, gangs, and human trafficking at the border was with a wall or barrier. "Drones and all of the rest are wonderful and lots of fun, but it is only a good old fashioned Wall that works!," the president said in the tweet. Earlier in the week, leaders in both the Senate and House of Representatives thought they had reached a deal that Trump would sign that contained less money for border security, only to watch the president, under pressure from conservatives, re-assert his demand for $5 billion at the last minute. Senator David Perdue, a Republican from Georgia on the Senate Banking Committee, said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that he thought a deal this week was possible. "I spoke to the President last night, he wants that," Purdue said, adding "I'm hopeful that cooler heads will prevail and we'll get to some number between $1.6 (billion) and $5 billion on that."

US government shutdown may go into new year: Top Trump aide Mulvaney

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday criticised <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/its-the-only-way-to-stop-drugs-gangs-criminals-from-entering-us-trump-defends-demand-for-border-wall-186037">US President Donald Trump</a>'s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria, saying "an ally must be reliable".

Speaking in the Chad capital N'Djamena, Macron said "I deeply regret the decision" by Trump to pullout US troops.

Trump last week ordered a complete troop pullout from Syria, asserting that the Islamic State group had been defeated, and a significant withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"To be an ally is to fight shoulder to shoulder," Macron said, adding that France was doing just that in Chad in the fight against jihadist groups.

"An ally must be reliable, to coordinate with its other allies," he said.

Macron also paid tribute to Defense Secretary James Mattis, who said he was resigning on Thursday after Trump's Syria announcement.

"I want here to pay tribute to General Mattis... for a year we have seen how he was a reliable partner," Macron said at a news conference with his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby.

Mattis, 68, was one of Trump's first cabinet picks and has spent nearly two years at the Pentagon.

In his resignation letter Mattis spelled out to the world what seemed obvious to many observers: Trump's worldview was irreconcilable with his own.

"My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades' immersion in these issues," Mattis wrote to Trump, who has sought closer ties with Russia and heaped contempt on NATO and other alliances.

"Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position."

Brett McGurk, the US special envoy to the anti-Islamic State group coalition, also announced he would bring his departure forward from February due to the Syria policy change.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday criticised US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American forces from Syria, saying "an ally must be reliable".

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday criticised US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American forces from Syria, saying "an ally must be reliable". Speaking in the Chad capital N'Djamena, Macron said "I deeply regret the decision" by Trump to pullout US troops. Trump last week ordered a complete troop pullout from Syria, asserting that the Islamic State group had been defeated, and a significant withdrawal from Afghanistan. "To be an ally is to fight shoulder to shoulder," Macron said, adding that France was doing just that in Chad in the fight against jihadist groups. "An ally must be reliable, to coordinate with its other allies," he said. Macron also paid tribute to Defense Secretary James Mattis, who said he was resigning on Thursday after Trump's Syria announcement. "I want here to pay tribute to General Mattis... for a year we have seen how he was a reliable partner," Macron said at a news conference with his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby. Mattis, 68, was one of Trump's first cabinet picks and has spent nearly two years at the Pentagon. In his resignation letter Mattis spelled out to the world what seemed obvious to many observers: Trump's worldview was irreconcilable with his own. "My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades' immersion in these issues," Mattis wrote to Trump, who has sought closer ties with Russia and heaped contempt on NATO and other alliances. "Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position." Brett McGurk, the US special envoy to the anti-Islamic State group coalition, also announced he would bring his departure forward from February due to the Syria policy change.

Macron criticises US Syria pullout, says 'an ally must be reliable'

The partial US government shutdown is set to stretch on through Christmas as Congress adjourned Saturday with no deal in sight to end the impasse over funding for Donald Trump's wall on the US-Mexico border.

Due to the shutdown -- which saw several key US agencies cease operations at 12:01 am (0501 GMT) Saturday -- Trump said that he would remain in Washington over Christmas instead of going to Florida.

"I am in the White House, working hard," the Republican president tweeted Saturday morning. "We are negotiating with the Democrats on desperately needed Border Security (Gangs, Drugs, Human Trafficking &amp; more) but it could be a long stay."

Trump has dug in on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/standoff-over-trump-wall-leaves-us-govt-5-days-away-from-shutdown-184833">his demand for $5 billion for construction of the wall</a> on the US border with Mexico. Democrats are staunchly opposed, and the absence of an elusive deal meant federal funds for dozens of agencies lapsed at midnight Friday.

The House of Representatives and the Senate held sessions on Saturday, but both chambers adjourned without a deal being reached, and no votes were expected until December 27.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer blasted the president and blamed him for provoking the shutdown: "President Trump, if you want to open the government abandon the wall, plain and simple."

"The Trump shutdown isn't over border security; it's because President Trump is demanding billions of dollars for an expensive, ineffective wall that the majority of Americans don't support."

Most critical US security functions remain operational, but 800,000 federal workers are impacted, with many furloughed just days before Christmas while others deemed essential are working unpaid.

And as many other Americans and tourists began their end-of-the year holidays some national parks have shuttered completely, while others remain open but without any visitor services including restrooms and maintenance.&nbsp;

New York's governor provided funding to the Statue of Liberty monument and Ellis Island so those key attractions could remain open.

'Dereliction of duty' 
It remains unclear how long the shutdown will last, with Washington unable to accomplish one of its most basic tasks -- keeping the government up and running.

"This is a dereliction of duty by Congress and the president," said David Cox, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Trump's own Republican party still controls both the House and Senate, but in January the House comes under Democratic control.

Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia -- a state bordering the US capital that is home to many federal workers -- urged Trump in a letter Saturday to push immediate action to end the shutdown, saying it "inflicts real harm" on workers.

"I share your desire for strong economic growth throughout the United States, but the current partial government shutdown makes it harder to achieve this goal," the Democratic governor said.

About three-quarters of the government, including the military and the Department of Health and Human Services, is fully funded until the end of September 2019, leaving 25 percent unfunded as of Saturday.&nbsp;

Most NASA employees will be sent home, as will Commerce Department workers and many at the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Agriculture and State.

Should they eventually strike a deal, it could swiftly clear Congress and reach the president's desk, said Senate Republican Bob Corker.&nbsp;

One focus of discussion was the $1.6 billion in border security funding that was a part of pending Senate legislation, number two Senate Republican John Cornyn told AFP.

'No agreement' 
But conservatives in the House would likely balk at that figure.

"There's no agreement," congressman Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus of ultra-conservatives, told reporters as he left a closed-door meeting on the Capitol's Senate side.

"There's a whole lot of numbers being thrown around," but a maximum $1.6 billion for border security "is not acceptable."

Trump reversed course Thursday and rejected a measure that had unanimously passed the Senate and was under House consideration.

It would have extended government funding until February 8, but contained no money for a border wall, a pet project Trump has fought for since his presidential campaign.

Democrats painted Trump as the Grinch who stole the year-end deal.

With lawmakers like Meadows and prominent conservative commentators demanding that the president stick to his campaign promises, Trump would not budge on his wall.

The House swiftly passed a bill that fulfilled the president's demands. It included $5.7 billion in wall funding, and $7.8 billion in disaster relief.

But it stalled at the first hurdle in the Senate.

The partial US government shutdown is set to stretch on through Christmas as Congress adjourned Saturday with no deal in sight to end the impasse over funding for Donald Trump's wall on the US-Mexico border.

The partial US government shutdown is set to stretch on through Christmas as Congress adjourned Saturday with no deal in sight to end the impasse over funding for Donald Trump's wall on the US-Mexico border. Due to the shutdown -- which saw several key US agencies cease operations at 12:01 am (0501 GMT) Saturday -- Trump said that he would remain in Washington over Christmas instead of going to Florida. "I am in the White House, working hard," the Republican president tweeted Saturday morning. "We are negotiating with the Democrats on desperately needed Border Security (Gangs, Drugs, Human Trafficking & more) but it could be a long stay." Trump has dug in on his demand for $5 billion for construction of the wall on the US border with Mexico. Democrats are staunchly opposed, and the absence of an elusive deal meant federal funds for dozens of agencies lapsed at midnight Friday. The House of Representatives and the Senate held sessions on Saturday, but both chambers adjourned without a deal being reached, and no votes were expected until December 27. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer blasted the president and blamed him for provoking the shutdown: "President Trump, if you want to open the government abandon the wall, plain and simple." "The Trump shutdown isn't over border security; it's because President Trump is demanding billions of dollars for an expensive, ineffective wall that the majority of Americans don't support." Most critical US security functions remain operational, but 800,000 federal workers are impacted, with many furloughed just days before Christmas while others deemed essential are working unpaid. And as many other Americans and tourists began their end-of-the year holidays some national parks have shuttered completely, while others remain open but without any visitor services including restrooms and maintenance. New York's governor provided funding to the Statue of Liberty monument and Ellis Island so those key attractions could remain open. 'Dereliction of duty' It remains unclear how long the shutdown will last, with Washington unable to accomplish one of its most basic tasks -- keeping the government up and running. "This is a dereliction of duty by Congress and the president," said David Cox, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees. Trump's own Republican party still controls both the House and Senate, but in January the House comes under Democratic control. Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia -- a state bordering the US capital that is home to many federal workers -- urged Trump in a letter Saturday to push immediate action to end the shutdown, saying it "inflicts real harm" on workers. "I share your desire for strong economic growth throughout the United States, but the current partial government shutdown makes it harder to achieve this goal," the Democratic governor said. About three-quarters of the government, including the military and the Department of Health and Human Services, is fully funded until the end of September 2019, leaving 25 percent unfunded as of Saturday. Most NASA employees will be sent home, as will Commerce Department workers and many at the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Agriculture and State. Should they eventually strike a deal, it could swiftly clear Congress and reach the president's desk, said Senate Republican Bob Corker. One focus of discussion was the $1.6 billion in border security funding that was a part of pending Senate legislation, number two Senate Republican John Cornyn told AFP. 'No agreement' But conservatives in the House would likely balk at that figure. "There's no agreement," congressman Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus of ultra-conservatives, told reporters as he left a closed-door meeting on the Capitol's Senate side. "There's a whole lot of numbers being thrown around," but a maximum $1.6 billion for border security "is not acceptable." Trump reversed course Thursday and rejected a measure that had unanimously passed the Senate and was under House consideration. It would have extended government funding until February 8, but contained no money for a border wall, a pet project Trump has fought for since his presidential campaign. Democrats painted Trump as the Grinch who stole the year-end deal. With lawmakers like Meadows and prominent conservative commentators demanding that the president stick to his campaign promises, Trump would not budge on his wall. The House swiftly passed a bill that fulfilled the president's demands. It included $5.7 billion in wall funding, and $7.8 billion in disaster relief. But it stalled at the first hurdle in the Senate.

Partial US government shutdown set to last through Christmas

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-tsunami-death-toll-climbs-to-222-over-800-injured-185999">Indonesia tsunami: Death toll climbs to 222, over 800 injured</a>

The death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has climbed to 222 with over 800 people injured, news agency AFP reported.

"222 people are dead, 843 people are injured and 28 people are missing," Indonesia's national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-leader-replaces-top-security-chiefs-in-major-shake-up-186004">Afghanistan President Ghani replaces top security chiefs in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-leader-replaces-top-security-chiefs-in-major-shake-up-186004">major</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-leader-replaces-top-security-chiefs-in-major-shake-up-186004"> shake-up</a>

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday replaced two of the country's top security chiefs with staunch anti-Taliban officials, in a major shake-up days after US President Donald Trump's decision to slash troop numbers in the country.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/group-of-11-women-devotees-return-from-sabarimala-amid-intensifying-protests-186015">Group of 11 women devotees return from Sabarimala amid intensifying protests&nbsp;</a>

Special Officer, Law and Order in Pampa on Sunday stated that 11 women devotees, who had come to offer prayers at Sabarimala temple, have returned now, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/8-taliban-militants-killed-in-afghanistan-185979">Eight Taliban terrorists killed in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/8-taliban-militants-killed-in-afghanistan-185979">clash</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/8-taliban-militants-killed-in-afghanistan-185979"> with security forces in Afghanistan</a>

As many as eight Taliban militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Herat province in western Afghanistan, officials said on Sunday.

Ziarat Shah Abed, a top commander in Herat, was quoted by TOLOnews as saying that the skirmish occurred in Shayan village of Obe district in Herat when the Taliban launched an attack at an army check-post.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-recommends-army-generals-dismissal-hed-played-crucial-role-in-surgical-strike-185982">Army </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-recommends-army-generals-dismissal-hed-played-crucial-role-in-surgical-strike-185982">court martial</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-recommends-army-generals-dismissal-hed-played-crucial-role-in-surgical-strike-185982"> recommends Major General's dismissal over alleged sexual harassment</a>

An Army General Court Martial (GCM) on Sunday recommended the dismissal of a Major General from service over a two-year-old sexual harassment case.

News agency ANI quoted sources as saying that the Army General has been charged under section 354A of the IPC and Army Act 45.

Indonesia tsunami: Death toll climbs to 222, over 800 injured The death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has climbed to 222 with over 800 people injured, news agency AFP reported.

Indonesia tsunami: Death toll climbs to 222, over 800 injured The death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has climbed to 222 with over 800 people injured, news agency AFP reported. "222 people are dead, 843 people are injured and 28 people are missing," Indonesia's national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. Afghanistan President Ghani replaces top security chiefs in major shake-up Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday replaced two of the country's top security chiefs with staunch anti-Taliban officials, in a major shake-up days after US President Donald Trump's decision to slash troop numbers in the country. Group of 11 women devotees return from Sabarimala amid intensifying protests Special Officer, Law and Order in Pampa on Sunday stated that 11 women devotees, who had come to offer prayers at Sabarimala temple, have returned now, news agency ANI reported. Eight Taliban terrorists killed in clash with security forces in Afghanistan As many as eight Taliban militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Herat province in western Afghanistan, officials said on Sunday. Ziarat Shah Abed, a top commander in Herat, was quoted by TOLOnews as saying that the skirmish occurred in Shayan village of Obe district in Herat when the Taliban launched an attack at an army check-post. Army court martial recommends Major General's dismissal over alleged sexual harassment An Army General Court Martial (GCM) on Sunday recommended the dismissal of a Major General from service over a two-year-old sexual harassment case. News agency ANI quoted sources as saying that the Army General has been charged under section 354A of the IPC and Army Act 45.

News brief: Big stories of the day

donald-trump

Donald Trump, News on Donald Trump, stories on Donald Trump, articles on Donald Trump, Donald Trump stories at Wion, Donald Trump news, Donald Trump latest news

donald trump