<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indian-national-hamid-nehal-ansari-set-to-cross-wagah-border-today-184927">Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari set to cross Wagah border today</a>

As Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari prepares to walk out of a prison today, the Pakistan foreign office said that he was an "Indian spy" who was involved in "anti-state crimes and forging documents".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wall-street-stocks-crash-dow-sp-fall-over-2-per-cent-184917">Wall Street stocks crash; Dow, S&amp;P fall over 2 per cent</a>

US President Donald Trump lambasted the Federal Reserve again, calling on the central bank not to raise interest rates a day before policymakers are due to meet. Markets widely expect the Fed to ignore the political pressure and announce its fourth rate hike of 2018.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/8-killed-in-fire-at-esic-kamgar-hospital-in-mumbais-andheri-184920">8 killed in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/8-killed-in-fire-at-esic-kamgar-hospital-in-mumbais-andheri-184920">fire</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/8-killed-in-fire-at-esic-kamgar-hospital-in-mumbais-andheri-184920"> at ESIC Kamgar hospital in Mumbai's Andheri</a>

The death toll in Mumbai's Andheri hospital fire incident has increased to eight from six.

A massive fire broke out at ESIC Kamgar hospital on Monday injuring more than 100 people.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/air-strikes-kill-62-shabaab-terrorists-in-somalia-us-military-184914">Air strikes kill 62 Shabaab terrorists in Somalia: US military</a>

The US military said Monday it has killed 62 terrorists from the jihadist Shabaab movement in six air strikes in Somalia.

Four strikes on Saturday killed 34 terrorists and another two on Sunday killed 28, the US Africa Command said in a statement.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-to-invest-over-1-billion-on-new-campus-in-new-york-184915">Google to invest over $1 billion on </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-to-invest-over-1-billion-on-new-campus-in-new-york-184915">new</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-to-invest-over-1-billion-on-new-campus-in-new-york-184915"> campus in New York</a>

Google is investing more than $1 billion on a new campus in New York, becoming the second major technology company after Amazon to pick America's financial capital to expand and create thousands of jobs.

Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari set to cross Wagah border today As Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari prepares to walk out of a prison today, the Pakistan foreign office said that he was an "Indian spy" who was involved in "anti-state crimes and forging documents".

Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari set to cross Wagah border today As Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari prepares to walk out of a prison today, the Pakistan foreign office said that he was an "Indian spy" who was involved in "anti-state crimes and forging documents". Wall Street stocks crash; Dow, S&P fall over 2 per cent US President Donald Trump lambasted the Federal Reserve again, calling on the central bank not to raise interest rates a day before policymakers are due to meet. Markets widely expect the Fed to ignore the political pressure and announce its fourth rate hike of 2018. 8 killed in fire at ESIC Kamgar hospital in Mumbai's Andheri The death toll in Mumbai's Andheri hospital fire incident has increased to eight from six. A massive fire broke out at ESIC Kamgar hospital on Monday injuring more than 100 people. Air strikes kill 62 Shabaab terrorists in Somalia: US military The US military said Monday it has killed 62 terrorists from the jihadist Shabaab movement in six air strikes in Somalia. Four strikes on Saturday killed 34 terrorists and another two on Sunday killed 28, the US Africa Command said in a statement. Google to invest over $1 billion on new campus in New York Google is investing more than $1 billion on a new campus in New York, becoming the second major technology company after Amazon to pick America's financial capital to expand and create thousands of jobs.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The global economy suffered a jolt in 2018 as world's two biggest economies - US and China - got involved in a trade war. Both the countries accuse each other of putting unfair tariffs on goods produced in respective countries.

The first step was taken by US President Donald Trump who announced increased tariffs on more than 1,300 Chinese industrial and other products, nine per cent of its total imports from China last year. There was no need to convince Trump who has long criticised China's trade practices. It was, in fact, a recurrent theme in his 2016 election campaign.

In response to Trump administration tariffs on Chinese goods, Beijing imposed levies on $50 billion worth of American imports, 36.7 per cent of its total imports from US in 2017. Among them was a 25 per cent tariff on soybeans, the single most valuable US farm export. US growers sold $12 billion worth to China last year alone.

Trump further escalated the trade dispute, threatening to identify Chinese imports worth $100 billion for a tariff increase. Trump's negotiating style, honed in his years as a real estate developer, is to take extreme positions to force concessions from his opponents. So far that approach has had mixed results at home and abroad.

A temporary truce came when Trump met with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on December 1 and 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.

Trump and Xi agreed to launch new talks while the United States delayed a planned January 1 tariff increase until March 2.

Since then, Beijing has resumed buying US soybeans, cut tariffs on imports of cars from the United States, and told its state refiners to buy more US oil. China also issued guidance to local governments dropping references to its "Made in China 2025" high-tech industrial development goals amid reports it was looking to replace the program aimed at rivaling US dominance in industries such as aerospace, robotics, semiconductors, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence.

Trump took those as signs that "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal".

While Beijing claims that Washington is the aggressor and is spurring global protectionism, China's trading partners have complained for years that it abuses World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and propagates unfair policies at home that lock foreign firms out of some sectors as domestic champions are being nurtured.

It is China's huge trade surplus with the United States that has attracted most of the Trump administration's ire. China ran a record $375.2 billion trade surplus with the United States in 2017 as the overall US trade deficit surged 12 per cent to $566 billion.

The global economy suffered a jolt in 2018 as world's two biggest economies - US and China - got involved in a trade war. Both the countries accuse each other of putting unfair tariffs on goods produced in respective countries.

The global economy suffered a jolt in 2018 as world's two biggest economies - US and China - got involved in a trade war. Both the countries accuse each other of putting unfair tariffs on goods produced in respective countries. The first step was taken by US President Donald Trump who announced increased tariffs on more than 1,300 Chinese industrial and other products, nine per cent of its total imports from China last year. There was no need to convince Trump who has long criticised China's trade practices. It was, in fact, a recurrent theme in his 2016 election campaign. In response to Trump administration tariffs on Chinese goods, Beijing imposed levies on $50 billion worth of American imports, 36.7 per cent of its total imports from US in 2017. Among them was a 25 per cent tariff on soybeans, the single most valuable US farm export. US growers sold $12 billion worth to China last year alone. Trump further escalated the trade dispute, threatening to identify Chinese imports worth $100 billion for a tariff increase. Trump's negotiating style, honed in his years as a real estate developer, is to take extreme positions to force concessions from his opponents. So far that approach has had mixed results at home and abroad. A temporary truce came when Trump met with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on December 1 and 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. Trump and Xi agreed to launch new talks while the United States delayed a planned January 1 tariff increase until March 2. Since then, Beijing has resumed buying US soybeans, cut tariffs on imports of cars from the United States, and told its state refiners to buy more US oil. China also issued guidance to local governments dropping references to its "Made in China 2025" high-tech industrial development goals amid reports it was looking to replace the program aimed at rivaling US dominance in industries such as aerospace, robotics, semiconductors, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence. Trump took those as signs that "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal". While Beijing claims that Washington is the aggressor and is spurring global protectionism, China's trading partners have complained for years that it abuses World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and propagates unfair policies at home that lock foreign firms out of some sectors as domestic champions are being nurtured. It is China's huge trade surplus with the United States that has attracted most of the Trump administration's ire. China ran a record $375.2 billion trade surplus with the United States in 2017 as the overall US trade deficit surged 12 per cent to $566 billion.

Explaining the US-China trade war which grabbed spotlight in 2018

A judge will decide on Tuesday whether former national <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-flynns-former-business-partner-bijan-rafiekian-with-secret-lobbying-for-turkey-184910">security adviser Michael Flynn</a> should be sent to prison for lying to the FBI in a case stemming from the investigation into possible collusion between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-central-bank-expected-to-raise-rates-tuesday-trump-lashes-out-at-it-184903">President Donald Trump</a>’s campaign team and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election.

US District Judge Emmet Sullivan will sentence Flynn in Washington at 11 am ET.

Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian interference, has asked Sullivan not to imprison Flynn, a former general, because of his military service and because he provided "substantial" cooperation with the probe.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with Sergei Kislyak, Russia ambassador in Washington at the time.

Flynn told investigators in January 2017 that he had not discussed US sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, when in fact he had, according to his plea agreement.

Lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. Flynn's plea agreement states that he is eligible for a sentence of between zero and six months, however, and can ask the court not to impose a fine.

Flynn’s lawyers have asked the court for a probation term of no more than one year, with minimal conditions of supervision, and 200 hours of community service.

Flynn also deserves leniency because he was not warned before the meeting with FBI agents that it was a crime to lie to them, his lawyers said in a recent court filing.

They also said that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had told Flynn that the "quickest way" to conduct the interview was without counsel present.

Critics of the Mueller probe argue that Flynn, who held the White House job for only 24 days, was set up.

Mueller last week countered in a court filing that Flynn had no cause to lie in the interviews and added that a "sitting National Security Adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents."

Flynn is so far the only member of Trump’s administration to plead guilty to a crime uncovered during Mueller's wide-ranging probe, which has so far ensnared 32 individuals and three Russian firms.

Trump denies there was any collusion and has labelled the investigation a "witch hunt." Russia also denies it meddled in the election, contrary to the conclusion of US&nbsp;intelligence agencies.

On Monday, Sullivan ordered the special counsel to release a redacted, five-page FBI account of Flynn’s January 2017 interview, saying it was relevant to his sentencing.

A judge will decide on Tuesday whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn should be sent to prison for lying to the FBI in a case stemming from the investigation into possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election.

A judge will decide on Tuesday whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn should be sent to prison for lying to the FBI in a case stemming from the investigation into possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election. US District Judge Emmet Sullivan will sentence Flynn in Washington at 11 am ET. Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian interference, has asked Sullivan not to imprison Flynn, a former general, because of his military service and because he provided "substantial" cooperation with the probe. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with Sergei Kislyak, Russia ambassador in Washington at the time. Flynn told investigators in January 2017 that he had not discussed US sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, when in fact he had, according to his plea agreement. Lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. Flynn's plea agreement states that he is eligible for a sentence of between zero and six months, however, and can ask the court not to impose a fine. Flynn’s lawyers have asked the court for a probation term of no more than one year, with minimal conditions of supervision, and 200 hours of community service. Flynn also deserves leniency because he was not warned before the meeting with FBI agents that it was a crime to lie to them, his lawyers said in a recent court filing. They also said that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had told Flynn that the "quickest way" to conduct the interview was without counsel present. Critics of the Mueller probe argue that Flynn, who held the White House job for only 24 days, was set up. Mueller last week countered in a court filing that Flynn had no cause to lie in the interviews and added that a "sitting National Security Adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents." Flynn is so far the only member of Trump’s administration to plead guilty to a crime uncovered during Mueller's wide-ranging probe, which has so far ensnared 32 individuals and three Russian firms. Trump denies there was any collusion and has labelled the investigation a "witch hunt." Russia also denies it meddled in the election, contrary to the conclusion of US intelligence agencies. On Monday, Sullivan ordered the special counsel to release a redacted, five-page FBI account of Flynn’s January 2017 interview, saying it was relevant to his sentencing.

Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn to be sentenced for lying to FBI

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lawyer-says-mueller-can-interview-trump-only-over-my-dead-body-184611">US President Donald Trump</a> said that he will review the case of a soldier charged with premeditated murder for killing an alleged bomb-maker in Afghanistan.

"I will be reviewing the case of a 'US Military hero,' Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder," Trump wrote on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
At the request of many, I will be reviewing the case of a “U.S. Military hero,” Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder. He could face the death penalty from our own government after he admitted to killing a Terrorist bomb maker while overseas. <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteHegseth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1074319076766433280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 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>

The president's tweet mentioned Fox News, the channel on which Golsteyn's attorney and his wife were interviewed about the issue earlier in the day.

US media reported that the soldier killed the suspected bomb-maker after he was detained in 2010, and that Golsteyn admitted to doing so both to the CIA in 2011 and on Fox in 2016.

The latter appearance prompted the military to open a new investigation after Golsteyn was previously cleared.

His attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, tweeted that Golsteyn is charged with "premeditated murder, a death penalty offence for allegedly killing a Taliban bomb-maker during combat operations in Marjah, Afghanistan."

A US military spokesperson confirmed the charge to AFP but said, "We are not at liberty to discuss details of an ongoing case or investigation to ensure the rights of the accused are protected."

Speaking on Fox, Stackhouse on Sunday denied "a narrative... Put out" by the military in which Golsteyn "released this Taliban bomb-maker, walked him back to the house... And assassinated him in his house." As to why his client is being charged now, Stackhouse said, "The prosecutor, in this case, has intimated to me that they have new evidence."

Golsteyn's wife Julie, also appearing on Fox, denied that her husband had "killed someone in cold blood" and said that "there are a lot of words flying around that make this very difficult for us as a family."

Golsteyn is due to report to Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Monday, she said.

The US has fought a grinding 17-year war against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan -- a bloody, destructive and expensive conflict for which there is no end in sight.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump said that he will review the case of a soldier charged with premeditated murder for killing an alleged bomb-maker in Afghanistan. "I will be reviewing the case of a 'US Military hero,' Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder," Trump wrote on Twitter.

US President Donald Trump said that he will review the case of a soldier charged with premeditated murder for killing an alleged bomb-maker in Afghanistan. "I will be reviewing the case of a 'US Military hero,' Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder," Trump wrote on Twitter. At the request of many, I will be reviewing the case of a “U.S. Military hero,” Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder. He could face the death penalty from our own government after he admitted to killing a Terrorist bomb maker while overseas. @PeteHegseth @FoxNews — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2018 × The president's tweet mentioned Fox News, the channel on which Golsteyn's attorney and his wife were interviewed about the issue earlier in the day. US media reported that the soldier killed the suspected bomb-maker after he was detained in 2010, and that Golsteyn admitted to doing so both to the CIA in 2011 and on Fox in 2016. The latter appearance prompted the military to open a new investigation after Golsteyn was previously cleared. His attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, tweeted that Golsteyn is charged with "premeditated murder, a death penalty offence for allegedly killing a Taliban bomb-maker during combat operations in Marjah, Afghanistan." A US military spokesperson confirmed the charge to AFP but said, "We are not at liberty to discuss details of an ongoing case or investigation to ensure the rights of the accused are protected." Speaking on Fox, Stackhouse on Sunday denied "a narrative... Put out" by the military in which Golsteyn "released this Taliban bomb-maker, walked him back to the house... And assassinated him in his house." As to why his client is being charged now, Stackhouse said, "The prosecutor, in this case, has intimated to me that they have new evidence." Golsteyn's wife Julie, also appearing on Fox, denied that her husband had "killed someone in cold blood" and said that "there are a lot of words flying around that make this very difficult for us as a family." Golsteyn is due to report to Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Monday, she said. The US has fought a grinding 17-year war against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan -- a bloody, destructive and expensive conflict for which there is no end in sight.

I will review case of US soldier charged with murdering Afghan: Trump

A top US lawmaker has said that any<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-to-check-pakistans-debt-sustainability-before-loan-official-184060"> IMF loan to cash-strapped Pakistan </a>cannot be just a "convenient way" to repay its debt to China which has engaged many countries in a debt trap.

Pakistan is seeking USD 8 billion from the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/imf-says-trade-war-already-hurting-asia-may-cut-global-growth-forecasts-184777">International Monetary Fund (IMF) </a>to bail itself out from a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy.

The US almost has a veto power in the IMF, said Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman, who in an address to a dissident Pakistani leader also said that the US aid to Pakistan which has been cut by the current Trump administration is unlikely to be restored soon.

Sherman said that last week, he has raised with the Trump administration the issue of IMF loan to Pakistan.

He spoke on this issue during a Congressional hearing with David Malpass, Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs.

"I've shared with him the concern that any IMF loan to Pakistan cannot be just a convenient way to repay China. China has engaged in a debt trap. We've seen it in Sri Lanka. We're seeing it in Africa. If the Chinese do that, then China has to learn that sometimes they just don't get repaid," he said. 
"In fact, this is beyond just South Asia, I'm working on a legislation that I would call Chinese Debt Trap Relief Act," Sharman said, adding that the legislation would encourage countries not to repay bad loans.

"The idea that Pakistan would turn to its own people and vilify a man who helped us destroy Osama bin Laden, does not speak well of the future of US-Pakistani relations. Our aid has been cut to Pakistan. I do not think it will be restored to major levels until the Dr (Shakil) Afridi issue is dealt with," Sherman said in his keynote address to the conference.

Dr Shakil Afridi is a Pakistani doctor serving a 33-year jail term for helping the CIA in tracking down Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden to Abbottabad in 2011.

The US has been pressing Pakistan to release Dr Afridi, who was involved in a CIA-linked plan to find bin Laden with a fake vaccination operation in the Pakistani garrison city.

Sherman, who is on the financial services committee, said the US should simply instruct American banks and more importantly, American bond rating agencies to say that if there's a default on a debt, but that debt is part of a Chinese debt trap, it just doesn't count.

And then turn to the Chinese and say that it is not going to be able to use western financial institutions to penalise countries who fall into their debt traps.&nbsp;

"So if China wants to make these loans, fine. If they don't get repaid, that's their business and countries will be then free to engage in other financial transactions with countries hopefully that do not engage in such traps," Sherman said.

In his address to the conference, organised under the banner of South Asians Against Terrorism and for Human Rights (SAATH), and co-hosted by US-based columnist Mohammad Taqi and Haqqani, the top American lawmaker said that US has provided Pakistan with USD 43 billion in financial assistance post-independence.

Sherman also slammed Pakistan for blocking US websites like Voice of America inside the country.&nbsp;

A top US lawmaker has said that any IMF loan to cash-strapped Pakistan cannot be just a "convenient way" to repay its debt to China which has engaged many countries in a debt trap.

A top US lawmaker has said that any IMF loan to cash-strapped Pakistan cannot be just a "convenient way" to repay its debt to China which has engaged many countries in a debt trap. Pakistan is seeking USD 8 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail itself out from a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy. The US almost has a veto power in the IMF, said Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman, who in an address to a dissident Pakistani leader also said that the US aid to Pakistan which has been cut by the current Trump administration is unlikely to be restored soon. Sherman said that last week, he has raised with the Trump administration the issue of IMF loan to Pakistan. He spoke on this issue during a Congressional hearing with David Malpass, Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs. "I've shared with him the concern that any IMF loan to Pakistan cannot be just a convenient way to repay China. China has engaged in a debt trap. We've seen it in Sri Lanka. We're seeing it in Africa. If the Chinese do that, then China has to learn that sometimes they just don't get repaid," he said. "In fact, this is beyond just South Asia, I'm working on a legislation that I would call Chinese Debt Trap Relief Act," Sharman said, adding that the legislation would encourage countries not to repay bad loans. "The idea that Pakistan would turn to its own people and vilify a man who helped us destroy Osama bin Laden, does not speak well of the future of US-Pakistani relations. Our aid has been cut to Pakistan. I do not think it will be restored to major levels until the Dr (Shakil) Afridi issue is dealt with," Sherman said in his keynote address to the conference. Dr Shakil Afridi is a Pakistani doctor serving a 33-year jail term for helping the CIA in tracking down Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden to Abbottabad in 2011. The US has been pressing Pakistan to release Dr Afridi, who was involved in a CIA-linked plan to find bin Laden with a fake vaccination operation in the Pakistani garrison city. Sherman, who is on the financial services committee, said the US should simply instruct American banks and more importantly, American bond rating agencies to say that if there's a default on a debt, but that debt is part of a Chinese debt trap, it just doesn't count. And then turn to the Chinese and say that it is not going to be able to use western financial institutions to penalise countries who fall into their debt traps. "So if China wants to make these loans, fine. If they don't get repaid, that's their business and countries will be then free to engage in other financial transactions with countries hopefully that do not engage in such traps," Sherman said. In his address to the conference, organised under the banner of South Asians Against Terrorism and for Human Rights (SAATH), and co-hosted by US-based columnist Mohammad Taqi and Haqqani, the top American lawmaker said that US has provided Pakistan with USD 43 billion in financial assistance post-independence. Sherman also slammed Pakistan for blocking US websites like Voice of America inside the country.

No 'convenient way' for Pakistan: US lawmaker on IMF loan

By John J Stremlau

US President Donald Trump has finally approved a “New Africa Strategy”. His national security adviser, John Bolton, described the contents on December 13 at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington. He began positively, declaring that, "Lasting stability, prosperity, independence and security on the African continent are in the national security interest of the United States."

But he then went on to ignore Africa’s own efforts to address these broad challenges, including its multilateral initiatives. Instead, Bolton’s announcement was replete with rhetoric reminiscent of the Cold War.

The new strategy makes one thing clear: What really matters to Trump is not Africa but containing and countering China.

The reaction from an African perspective is likely bemusement rather than surprise. Trump has shown little interest or empathy towards Africa. And much enmity toward China. His Africa strategy ignores two decades of complex – but generally positive – reactions across sub-Saharan Africa to China becoming the region’s biggest trading partner and a major source of aid and investment.

Previous US administrations generally welcomed Chinese engagement in Africa. Bolton, however, alleged that " China uses bribes, opaque agreements, and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing’s wishes and demands."

But does it need to be this way? I would argue not. Africa offers China and America an opportunity to demonstrate to the world – and to each other – that their competition can be constructive with Africa playing a moderating influence by brokering an agreed trilateral agenda.

We need to explore ways to advance cooperation between Africa, China and the US as a confidence-building measure in relations between the US and China. This would obviously need to be designed for the primary benefit of African partners.

Testing trilateralism

Collaborative projects that involve the US and China, with Africa in the forefront, have been the focus of a Carter Centre project since 2014. The centre’s many successful programs in Africa, especially public health, have generated high-level trilateral policy interest. Since the Trump administration took over, these conversations have excluded his senior advisors. Nevertheless, work has continued. This has included recent developments which suggest headway is being made.

In early December the South African Institute of International Affairs hosted the troika that leads this project. The troika was represented by Seyoum Mesfin, Ethiopia’s former and longest-serving foreign minister, an ambassador to China, and regional mediator in Sudan; Zhong Jianhua, formerly China’s Special Representative on African affairs and to the Sudan conflicts; and Donald Booth, a former US ambassador to Liberia, Zambia, Ethiopia and special envoy to Sudan/South Sudan.

Three dozen African, Chinese and US scholars, as well as policy experts, contributed their analyses of previous and possible future areas for trilateral cooperation. They drew on some recent examples. These included efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Guinea as well as jointly developing a university campus in Liberia. Other projects have involved coordinated mediation between Sudan and South Sudan and mutually reinforcing actions to deal with the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

Challenges ahead

Several priority areas for future tri-lateral cooperation were identified.

One was the recently constructed headquarters for the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Addis Ababa. Funded by China, the next priority for trilateral cooperation is to ensure the centre is equipped to provide better early warning and response to threats like Ebola.

Another priority area is expanding economic aid, trade and investment. This could be done through trilateral projects funded under China’s “Belt and Road” initiative and the US Build Act. The act was approved in October by a large bi-partisan majority of the US Congress.

A related issue is the huge loss of vital tax revenue to African governments due to huge “illicit financial flows”. These are estimated to exceed annual inflows of foreign assistance. The project will seek ways to encourage US and China to support the work of a panel set up by African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Two other broad areas for potential trilateral cooperation are sustainable agriculture and energy. Two initiatives started by the Obama Administration, with the support of Congress, have become popular in Africa. These are the “Feed the Future” and “Power Africa”.

Trump has long wanted to cut both. But his negative attitude isn’t shared by the US Congress, and perhaps even key members of his administration. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Tibor Nagy, summarised US-Africa policy before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the same day Trump approved the new Africa strategy. Nagy’s comments reflected a different mindset. He spoke positively about the two Obama initiatives. He also didn’t seem alarmed by China’s growing presence.

At a time when many in Africa are debating how to build capable states without the undesirable aspects of either America’s “decadent” democracy or China’s “responsive” authoritarianism, engaging both should yield important insights for advancing collective self-reliance and development.

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/trumps-africa-strategy-should-have-cast-china-as-a-regional-partner-not-a-global-adversary-108901">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 John J Stremlau US President Donald Trump has finally approved a “New Africa Strategy”. His national security adviser, John Bolton, described the contents on December 13 at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington.

By John J Stremlau US President Donald Trump has finally approved a “New Africa Strategy”. His national security adviser, John Bolton, described the contents on December 13 at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington. He began positively, declaring that, "Lasting stability, prosperity, independence and security on the African continent are in the national security interest of the United States." But he then went on to ignore Africa’s own efforts to address these broad challenges, including its multilateral initiatives. Instead, Bolton’s announcement was replete with rhetoric reminiscent of the Cold War. The new strategy makes one thing clear: What really matters to Trump is not Africa but containing and countering China. The reaction from an African perspective is likely bemusement rather than surprise. Trump has shown little interest or empathy towards Africa. And much enmity toward China. His Africa strategy ignores two decades of complex – but generally positive – reactions across sub-Saharan Africa to China becoming the region’s biggest trading partner and a major source of aid and investment. Previous US administrations generally welcomed Chinese engagement in Africa. Bolton, however, alleged that " China uses bribes, opaque agreements, and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing’s wishes and demands." But does it need to be this way? I would argue not. Africa offers China and America an opportunity to demonstrate to the world – and to each other – that their competition can be constructive with Africa playing a moderating influence by brokering an agreed trilateral agenda. We need to explore ways to advance cooperation between Africa, China and the US as a confidence-building measure in relations between the US and China. This would obviously need to be designed for the primary benefit of African partners. Testing trilateralism Collaborative projects that involve the US and China, with Africa in the forefront, have been the focus of a Carter Centre project since 2014. The centre’s many successful programs in Africa, especially public health, have generated high-level trilateral policy interest. Since the Trump administration took over, these conversations have excluded his senior advisors. Nevertheless, work has continued. This has included recent developments which suggest headway is being made. In early December the South African Institute of International Affairs hosted the troika that leads this project. The troika was represented by Seyoum Mesfin, Ethiopia’s former and longest-serving foreign minister, an ambassador to China, and regional mediator in Sudan; Zhong Jianhua, formerly China’s Special Representative on African affairs and to the Sudan conflicts; and Donald Booth, a former US ambassador to Liberia, Zambia, Ethiopia and special envoy to Sudan/South Sudan. Three dozen African, Chinese and US scholars, as well as policy experts, contributed their analyses of previous and possible future areas for trilateral cooperation. They drew on some recent examples. These included efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Guinea as well as jointly developing a university campus in Liberia. Other projects have involved coordinated mediation between Sudan and South Sudan and mutually reinforcing actions to deal with the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Challenges ahead Several priority areas for future tri-lateral cooperation were identified. One was the recently constructed headquarters for the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Addis Ababa. Funded by China, the next priority for trilateral cooperation is to ensure the centre is equipped to provide better early warning and response to threats like Ebola. Another priority area is expanding economic aid, trade and investment. This could be done through trilateral projects funded under China’s “Belt and Road” initiative and the US Build Act. The act was approved in October by a large bi-partisan majority of the US Congress. A related issue is the huge loss of vital tax revenue to African governments due to huge “illicit financial flows”. These are estimated to exceed annual inflows of foreign assistance. The project will seek ways to encourage US and China to support the work of a panel set up by African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Two other broad areas for potential trilateral cooperation are sustainable agriculture and energy. Two initiatives started by the Obama Administration, with the support of Congress, have become popular in Africa. These are the “Feed the Future” and “Power Africa”. Trump has long wanted to cut both. But his negative attitude isn’t shared by the US Congress, and perhaps even key members of his administration. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Tibor Nagy, summarised US-Africa policy before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the same day Trump approved the new Africa strategy. Nagy’s comments reflected a different mindset. He spoke positively about the two Obama initiatives. He also didn’t seem alarmed by China’s growing presence. At a time when many in Africa are debating how to build capable states without the undesirable aspects of either America’s “decadent” democracy or China’s “responsive” authoritarianism, engaging both should yield important insights for advancing collective self-reliance and development. (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)

Donald Trump’s Africa strategy should have cast China as a regional partner, not a global adversary

Asian markets mostly rose Monday as traders look ahead to a key meeting of the Federal Reserve, and a Chinese policy-setting conference this week.

However, there is <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/imf-says-trade-war-already-hurting-asia-may-cut-global-growth-forecasts-184777">still caution on trading floors </a>after Friday's sharp sell-off fuelled by concerns over China's economy, and despite a tweet from Donald Trump suggesting a trade deal could be hammered out between Washington and Beijing.

While there are signs the world's top two economies are beginning to move towards a resolution in their bitter tariffs spat, there are increasing concerns about the global outlook following another dour set of indicators out of China.

A string of below-par readings this year have highlighted a slowdown in the Asian giant and observers are forecasting leaders will unveil fresh measures to pep up the economy, which is on course for another year of relatively weak growth.

A speech from President Xi Jinping on Tuesday to mark 40 years since China's economy began opening up will be closely watched, and that is expected to be followed by the start of a conference setting out the country's 2019 economic plan.

"We should expect a raft of stimulus measures from China policymakers in an attempt to stabilise the domestic economy," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA.

The Fed will conclude its rate-setting policy meeting Wednesday and while expectations are for another hike in borrowing costs, comments from chairman Jerome Powell will be closely watched for an idea of its plans for 2019.

'A lot of volatility'

In light of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-trump-china-trade-war-how-will-it-end-171248">China-US trade</a> row and signs of weakness in the global economy, the bank has sounded a little more dovish in recent weeks, fuelling speculation it will slow down its pace of rate hikes -- which has provided some much-needed support to equities.

"The upcoming (Fed) meeting and China's policy-setting meeting have been the most actively discussed topics around the markets," Innes added. "And both events have a smoothing effect on risk sentiment."

Shanghai climbed 0.2 per cent and Tokyo finished 0.6 per cent higher, while Sydney put on one per cent and Singapore jumped 1.2 per cent.

Seoul and Taipei each gained 0.1 per cent while Wellington added 0.3 per cent. There were also gains in Mumbai and Manila, though Hong Kong inched down marginally.

In early European trade London dipped 0.1 per cent, Paris dropped 0.3 per cent and Frankfurt eased 0.2 per cent.

Steve Goldman, fund manager at Kapstream Capital, told Bloomberg TV in Sydney that "we're going to see a lot of volatility" in the new year because of global uncertainty.

Hopes that China and the US can reach a deal to end their trade war were given a boost by Trump on Friday when he tweeted: "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!"&nbsp;

That came after China earlier in the day backed off fresh levies imposed this summer on US-made cars and auto parts.

While a full-blown deal is some way off, the developments have provided some hope to dealers.

On currency markets, the pound remains bogged down around 20-month lows as Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to win concessions from EU leaders over her <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/brexit-vote-postponed-what-parliament-must-do-now-to-fix-theresa-mays-mess-183154">Brexit agreement</a>, which a majority of lawmakers in Westminster oppose.

Facing growing calls for another referendum to break the deadlock, May is expected to tell MPs that such a move will do "irreparable damage" to British politics.

However, with her agreement all but dead in the water, there is a growing expectation Britain will leave the EU without a deal, which commentators warn could hammer the British economy.

Asian markets mostly rose Monday as traders look ahead to a key meeting of the Federal Reserve, and a Chinese policy-setting conference this week. However, there is still caution on trading floors after Friday's sharp sell-off fuelled by concerns over China's economy, and despite a tweet from Donald Trump suggesting a trade deal could be hammered out between Washington and Beijing.

Asian markets mostly rose Monday as traders look ahead to a key meeting of the Federal Reserve, and a Chinese policy-setting conference this week. However, there is still caution on trading floors after Friday's sharp sell-off fuelled by concerns over China's economy, and despite a tweet from Donald Trump suggesting a trade deal could be hammered out between Washington and Beijing. While there are signs the world's top two economies are beginning to move towards a resolution in their bitter tariffs spat, there are increasing concerns about the global outlook following another dour set of indicators out of China. A string of below-par readings this year have highlighted a slowdown in the Asian giant and observers are forecasting leaders will unveil fresh measures to pep up the economy, which is on course for another year of relatively weak growth. A speech from President Xi Jinping on Tuesday to mark 40 years since China's economy began opening up will be closely watched, and that is expected to be followed by the start of a conference setting out the country's 2019 economic plan. "We should expect a raft of stimulus measures from China policymakers in an attempt to stabilise the domestic economy," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. The Fed will conclude its rate-setting policy meeting Wednesday and while expectations are for another hike in borrowing costs, comments from chairman Jerome Powell will be closely watched for an idea of its plans for 2019. 'A lot of volatility' In light of the China-US trade row and signs of weakness in the global economy, the bank has sounded a little more dovish in recent weeks, fuelling speculation it will slow down its pace of rate hikes -- which has provided some much-needed support to equities. "The upcoming (Fed) meeting and China's policy-setting meeting have been the most actively discussed topics around the markets," Innes added. "And both events have a smoothing effect on risk sentiment." Shanghai climbed 0.2 per cent and Tokyo finished 0.6 per cent higher, while Sydney put on one per cent and Singapore jumped 1.2 per cent. Seoul and Taipei each gained 0.1 per cent while Wellington added 0.3 per cent. There were also gains in Mumbai and Manila, though Hong Kong inched down marginally. In early European trade London dipped 0.1 per cent, Paris dropped 0.3 per cent and Frankfurt eased 0.2 per cent. Steve Goldman, fund manager at Kapstream Capital, told Bloomberg TV in Sydney that "we're going to see a lot of volatility" in the new year because of global uncertainty. Hopes that China and the US can reach a deal to end their trade war were given a boost by Trump on Friday when he tweeted: "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!" That came after China earlier in the day backed off fresh levies imposed this summer on US-made cars and auto parts. While a full-blown deal is some way off, the developments have provided some hope to dealers. On currency markets, the pound remains bogged down around 20-month lows as Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to win concessions from EU leaders over her Brexit agreement, which a majority of lawmakers in Westminster oppose. Facing growing calls for another referendum to break the deadlock, May is expected to tell MPs that such a move will do "irreparable damage" to British politics. However, with her agreement all but dead in the water, there is a growing expectation Britain will leave the EU without a deal, which commentators warn could hammer the British economy.

Asian markets rise ahead of key meetings in China and US

President Donald Trump on Sunday called his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-knew-hush-money-payments-were-wrong-ex-lawyer-cohen-184068">former personal lawyer</a>&nbsp;Michael Cohen - who was sentenced to three years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors in several investigations, including the so-called "Russia probe" - a "rat" on Twitter.

"Remember, Michael Cohen only became a 'Rat' after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable &amp; unheard of until the witch hunt was illegally started," tweeted Trump.

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Remember, Michael Cohen only became a “Rat” after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable &amp; unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE! Why didn’t they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked’s office?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1074313153679450113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The term "rat" is traditionally used in organised crime to refer to a "turncoat" or "informer" who has confessed to authorities and given law enforcement authorities inside information about the organisation.

Trump went on to say in the same Twitter post: "They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE! Why didn't they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked's office?"

The initials DNC refers to the Democratic National Committee and "Crooked" is one of Trump's favorite expressions for former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 election and whose use of a private email server to send certain official emails while she was secretary of state - deemed by the FBI to have been reckless but not harmful to national security - he continually mentions.

Cohen, who at one time had publicly said that he would "take a bullet" for Trump, was sentenced this past week to three years in prison for assorted crimes, including violating campaign finance laws in deeds which he testified under oath that the president directed him to undertake.

Cohen was sentenced by a New York court for, among other things, paying hush money to two women who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Trump, but he was also handed prison time for matters linked to the Russia probe, including his involvement in a project to build a "Trump Tower" in Moscow.

The president reacted this past week to the accusations against his former personal lawyer, tweeting "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

Since May 2017, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been heading an investigation - independent of government - into possible links between members of Trump's election campaign and the Kremlin, which US intelligence agencies accuse of interfering in the 2016 elections, but he has also been examining potential obstruction of justice by Trump himself.

President Donald Trump on Sunday called his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen - who was sentenced to three years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors in several investigations, including the so-called "Russia probe" - a "rat" on Twitter.

President Donald Trump on Sunday called his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen - who was sentenced to three years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors in several investigations, including the so-called "Russia probe" - a "rat" on Twitter. "Remember, Michael Cohen only became a 'Rat' after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the witch hunt was illegally started," tweeted Trump. Remember, Michael Cohen only became a “Rat” after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE! Why didn’t they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked’s office? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2018 × The term "rat" is traditionally used in organised crime to refer to a "turncoat" or "informer" who has confessed to authorities and given law enforcement authorities inside information about the organisation. Trump went on to say in the same Twitter post: "They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE! Why didn't they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked's office?" The initials DNC refers to the Democratic National Committee and "Crooked" is one of Trump's favorite expressions for former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 election and whose use of a private email server to send certain official emails while she was secretary of state - deemed by the FBI to have been reckless but not harmful to national security - he continually mentions. Cohen, who at one time had publicly said that he would "take a bullet" for Trump, was sentenced this past week to three years in prison for assorted crimes, including violating campaign finance laws in deeds which he testified under oath that the president directed him to undertake. Cohen was sentenced by a New York court for, among other things, paying hush money to two women who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Trump, but he was also handed prison time for matters linked to the Russia probe, including his involvement in a project to build a "Trump Tower" in Moscow. The president reacted this past week to the accusations against his former personal lawyer, tweeting "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law." Since May 2017, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been heading an investigation - independent of government - into possible links between members of Trump's election campaign and the Kremlin, which US intelligence agencies accuse of interfering in the 2016 elections, but he has also been examining potential obstruction of justice by Trump himself.

President Trump calls ex-attorney Cohen a 'rat'

The Modi government has so far succeeded in ensuring that India is least affected by challenges like immigration and working visas unveiled in the US under President Donald Trump, BJP leader Ram Madhav said Saturday, stressing that foreign policies cannot be guided by emotions or romanticism. 
 
Congress leader Anand Sharma said that foreign policy should uphold, secure and promote a country's national interest, but not be an extension of or reflect domestic narrative. 
 
They made these remarks during a discussion at the release of a book titled "Open Embrace: India-US Ties in the Age of Modi and Trump", by journalist Varghese K George. 
 
They were joined by academic C Rajamohan in the discussion moderated by journalist Suhasini Haider. 
 
"We are conscious of the challenges, whether it is his (Trump's) emphasis on domestic production, visa issues...We are negotiating, trying to ensure that India gets the best deal out of it. You cannot dictate Trump's policies. You can only try and ensure that India is least affected if there is anything adverse happening. We have more or less succeeded in ensuring that India is not affected," Madhav said. 
 
The BJP national general secretary said it could be easy to criticise the government but one must take note of the increment in trade and exports. 
"I am not saying that it has happened only in four years (of BJP), but we must acknowledge it," he said. 
 
Noting that the Indian diaspora played a role in the Indo-US nuclear agreement in 2005 during the Congress-led UPA regime, he said the current government had felt that it should leverage that not just in the US but other countries also. 
 
"We felt why not make it (diaspora) an important dimension in the foreign policy and with that objective in mind we started engaging with different diaspora in different countries," he said. 
 
On a continuum in the foreign policy, Sharma, who had served as a Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2006 to 2009 in the UPA government, said there cannot be abrupt changes in strategic engagements of a country as big as India. 
 
"But I would also like to say that the foreign policy of this country has evolved over a long period of time, not written in one day or one government. 
 
"Foreign policy is meant to uphold, secure and promote your supreme national interest. It is not de-linked to your national ambitions but you have to be careful not to allow the domestic narrative to reflect in the foreign policy," he said. 
 
"It cannot be personalised, it cannot be an extension of domestic politics particularly in our neighbourhood vis-a-vis Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. We have to be careful there. It is easy to say that we have moved or walked away from non-alignment movement...," Sharma said. 
 
BJP's Madhav said a lot of changes in the foreign policy were made by the Congress and held that the direction should be guided by national interest. 
"Congress has changed many things in our foreign policy. Who changed the foreign policy's focus from SAARC to BIMSTEC? Congress! Did we oppose it? We said no India needs BIMSTEC to engage with the extended neighbourhood because these are things that happen as per your requirement. 
 
"Foreign policy is not guided by emotions or romanticism, it is guided by national interest. Today your national interest demands, that you look for better platforms, look for reviving Commonwealth, which was also a Nehruvian-era creation, and we did it. 
 
"Where is the relevance of the NAM when there are no two poles in the world at all, it is a multi-polar world and who do we remain non-aligned with?" he asked. 
 
On the personal level relationship between PM Modi and President Trump, Madhav said, "The best relationship that we could have with the present leadership in the US we tried to establish it while maintaining strategic autonomy on many issues." 
 
On voting against the US on the Jerusalem issue in the UN, he said India is not influenced by any ideology except for the "nation-first" ideology and that is what happened. 
 
He said PM Modi is doing a stand-alone visit to Israel, then visiting Palestine also separately even as the country has the best of partners in the Middle East also. 
 
"We have strengthened the relationship with Israel but today our strongest relations are with the countries in the middle east, with the UAE, Saudi. We have a lasting strong legacy. We have strong ties with Iran also where we have not buckled under the pressure of any other power. 
 
"So, we are guided by the interest of our country. At that level it may be a continuum, but again it (BJP) is a new government, it has new ideas, it will implement them in a different way, that difference should be appreciated and the continuum should also be acknowledged," he said.&nbsp;

The Modi government has so far succeeded in ensuring that India is least affected by challenges like immigration and working visas unveiled in the US under President Donald Trump, BJP leader Ram Madhav said Saturday, stressing that foreign policies cannot be guided by emotions or romanticism.

The Modi government has so far succeeded in ensuring that India is least affected by challenges like immigration and working visas unveiled in the US under President Donald Trump, BJP leader Ram Madhav said Saturday, stressing that foreign policies cannot be guided by emotions or romanticism. Congress leader Anand Sharma said that foreign policy should uphold, secure and promote a country's national interest, but not be an extension of or reflect domestic narrative. They made these remarks during a discussion at the release of a book titled "Open Embrace: India-US Ties in the Age of Modi and Trump", by journalist Varghese K George. They were joined by academic C Rajamohan in the discussion moderated by journalist Suhasini Haider. "We are conscious of the challenges, whether it is his (Trump's) emphasis on domestic production, visa issues...We are negotiating, trying to ensure that India gets the best deal out of it. You cannot dictate Trump's policies. You can only try and ensure that India is least affected if there is anything adverse happening. We have more or less succeeded in ensuring that India is not affected," Madhav said. The BJP national general secretary said it could be easy to criticise the government but one must take note of the increment in trade and exports. "I am not saying that it has happened only in four years (of BJP), but we must acknowledge it," he said. Noting that the Indian diaspora played a role in the Indo-US nuclear agreement in 2005 during the Congress-led UPA regime, he said the current government had felt that it should leverage that not just in the US but other countries also. "We felt why not make it (diaspora) an important dimension in the foreign policy and with that objective in mind we started engaging with different diaspora in different countries," he said. On a continuum in the foreign policy, Sharma, who had served as a Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2006 to 2009 in the UPA government, said there cannot be abrupt changes in strategic engagements of a country as big as India. "But I would also like to say that the foreign policy of this country has evolved over a long period of time, not written in one day or one government. "Foreign policy is meant to uphold, secure and promote your supreme national interest. It is not de-linked to your national ambitions but you have to be careful not to allow the domestic narrative to reflect in the foreign policy," he said. "It cannot be personalised, it cannot be an extension of domestic politics particularly in our neighbourhood vis-a-vis Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. We have to be careful there. It is easy to say that we have moved or walked away from non-alignment movement...," Sharma said. BJP's Madhav said a lot of changes in the foreign policy were made by the Congress and held that the direction should be guided by national interest. "Congress has changed many things in our foreign policy. Who changed the foreign policy's focus from SAARC to BIMSTEC? Congress! Did we oppose it? We said no India needs BIMSTEC to engage with the extended neighbourhood because these are things that happen as per your requirement. "Foreign policy is not guided by emotions or romanticism, it is guided by national interest. Today your national interest demands, that you look for better platforms, look for reviving Commonwealth, which was also a Nehruvian-era creation, and we did it. "Where is the relevance of the NAM when there are no two poles in the world at all, it is a multi-polar world and who do we remain non-aligned with?" he asked. On the personal level relationship between PM Modi and President Trump, Madhav said, "The best relationship that we could have with the present leadership in the US we tried to establish it while maintaining strategic autonomy on many issues." On voting against the US on the Jerusalem issue in the UN, he said India is not influenced by any ideology except for the "nation-first" ideology and that is what happened. He said PM Modi is doing a stand-alone visit to Israel, then visiting Palestine also separately even as the country has the best of partners in the Middle East also. "We have strengthened the relationship with Israel but today our strongest relations are with the countries in the middle east, with the UAE, Saudi. We have a lasting strong legacy. We have strong ties with Iran also where we have not buckled under the pressure of any other power. "So, we are guided by the interest of our country. At that level it may be a continuum, but again it (BJP) is a new government, it has new ideas, it will implement them in a different way, that difference should be appreciated and the continuum should also be acknowledged," he said.

Government ensured India least affected by challenges like immigration, US working visa issue: Ram Madhav

A lawyer for Donald Trump Sunday pushed back Sunday against reports that the special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-sends-written-responses-to-robert-mueller-in-russia-probe-178500">might be seeking to interview the president</a>, saying it would happen only "over my dead body."

Rudy Giuliani said special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors could not be trusted to deal fairly with the president, suggesting they had trapped another witness into committing perjury.

Asked on "Fox News Sunday" about reports Mueller now wants a face-to-face interview to follow up on Trump's submission of written answers, Giuliani shot back: "Good luck. Good luck."

"Over my dead body."

Mueller's 19-month-long probe into possible Russian collusion with the Trump election campaign has led to dozens of indictments for federal crimes and several guilty pleas or convictions.

Regarding a separate federal inquiry into hush-money payments by Trump to two women alleging sexual encounters with him, Giuliani said they did not violate federal election law because, he said, they were intended to help Trump avoid embarrassing his family -- not to influence the 2016 election.

"I can produce witnesses that the president was concerned about how it would affect his children, his marriage," Giuliani told Fox.

"I know what he was concerned about. I can produce 20 witnesses to tell you what he was concerned about."

Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced last week to three years in prison in connection with the payments to an adult film star and a former Playboy model. Cohen said he regretted having helped the president carry out his "dirty deeds."

Trump, who first denied knowledge of the payments, then blamed them on bad advice from Cohen, posted an angry tweet Sunday blasting the FBI's handling of his former lawyer.

"Remember, Michael Cohen only became a 'Rat' after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable &amp; unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE!"

The FBI had a legal warrant to raid Cohen's office.

Asked on Fox whether anyone had suggested to Cohen that he might receive a presidential pardon if he refused to testify against Trump, Giuliani said, "The liar can say whatever he wants. There will be no pardons."

A lawyer for Donald Trump Sunday pushed back Sunday against reports that the special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election might be seeking to interview the president, saying it would happen only "over my dead body.

A lawyer for Donald Trump Sunday pushed back Sunday against reports that the special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election might be seeking to interview the president, saying it would happen only "over my dead body." Rudy Giuliani said special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors could not be trusted to deal fairly with the president, suggesting they had trapped another witness into committing perjury. Asked on "Fox News Sunday" about reports Mueller now wants a face-to-face interview to follow up on Trump's submission of written answers, Giuliani shot back: "Good luck. Good luck." "Over my dead body." Mueller's 19-month-long probe into possible Russian collusion with the Trump election campaign has led to dozens of indictments for federal crimes and several guilty pleas or convictions. Regarding a separate federal inquiry into hush-money payments by Trump to two women alleging sexual encounters with him, Giuliani said they did not violate federal election law because, he said, they were intended to help Trump avoid embarrassing his family -- not to influence the 2016 election. "I can produce witnesses that the president was concerned about how it would affect his children, his marriage," Giuliani told Fox. "I know what he was concerned about. I can produce 20 witnesses to tell you what he was concerned about." Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced last week to three years in prison in connection with the payments to an adult film star and a former Playboy model. Cohen said he regretted having helped the president carry out his "dirty deeds." Trump, who first denied knowledge of the payments, then blamed them on bad advice from Cohen, posted an angry tweet Sunday blasting the FBI's handling of his former lawyer. "Remember, Michael Cohen only became a 'Rat' after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE!" The FBI had a legal warrant to raid Cohen's office. Asked on Fox whether anyone had suggested to Cohen that he might receive a presidential pardon if he refused to testify against Trump, Giuliani said, "The liar can say whatever he wants. There will be no pardons."

Lawyer says Mueller can interview Trump only 'over my dead body'

As Britain's divorce from the European Union stumbles ahead, hardliners pushing for a full break are finding support in one foreign capital -- Washington.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who is barely holding on to power at home, found a frosty reception on her latest mission to Brussels as she struggles to sell Brexit on her terms.

Nor is she finding much support from US President Donald Trump, who has openly questioned her Brexit deal, instead favoring a full break.&nbsp;

Right-wing critics fear the current deal could leave Britain indefinitely in the EU customs union so as to prevent restoration of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Trump, speaking to reporters soon after May announced her Brexit package, dismissed it as "a great deal for the EU."

He suggested that the agreement could hold back a trade deal between the United States and Britain -- which conservatives in both countries have dangled as an incentive if Britain leaves the European Union.

"That would be a very big negative for the deal," Trump said.

'Back of the queue'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also embraced Brexit since he took over from the less ideological Rex Tillerson.&nbsp;

In a recent Fox News interview, Pompeo promised to pursue the vaunted US-Britain "special relationship" in the increasingly likely scenario of a "hard Brexit" without a negotiated deal.

Trump's enthusiasm for Brexit stands in marked contrast to the views of his predecessor Barack Obama, who had warned that Britain would be at the "back of the queue" for a US trade deal if it left the European Union.

In line with the thinking of much of the foreign policy establishment in both countries, Obama said that a Britain integrated within a forward-looking European Union was better for all sides economically and politically.

For Trump, Britain's 2016 referendum to leave the European Union foreshadowed his own election, with few experts predicting the groundswell of support outside major cities.

Looser ties to Europe

Nile Gardiner, an aide to former prime minister Margaret Thatcher now at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank, said Brexit was a natural philosophical fit for Trump. The American president has championed an "America First" policy suspicious of multinational institutions.

Gardiner said that Brexit would also have a practical benefit for Trump in pulling Britain out of a common EU foreign policy.

"Britain has been very heavily EU-focused for the last few decades," Gardiner said. "I would envisage a British foreign policy that is much more closely aligned with the United States."

He said, for example, that a successor to May supportive of hard Brexit could part ways with the European Union on championing a denuclearization deal with Iran.

Trump has enjoyed no support among Western leaders after exiting the multiparty deal negotiated by Obama and has reimposed punishing sanctions on Iran.

A post-Brexit Britain would also be certain to steer clear of a common European defense separate from NATO, as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron with the support of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Gardiner said.

'Very disruptive'

Yet even as part of the EU, Britain has been the premier international ally of the United States, controversially joining the invasion of Iraq despite widespread European opposition.

Kelly Magsamen, a vice president at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, called Trump's impact on Brexit "very disruptive." She said that US policy toward such a close ally should be, fundamentally, to "do no harm."

"Our objective at this point should be to contain whatever economic damage there may be from Brexit for both us and our allies. But also our objective should not be to make things worse for Theresa May or Angela Merkel," she said.

She said she doubted that Britain's core international policies would change much after Brexit -- but feared that a newly preoccupied Britain might be less active.

"The UK is going to be so inwardly consumed with managing the impact of Brexit that we could lose a focused partner on the international stage for a period of time," Magsamen said.

A recent survey by Emerson College in Boston found that the US public lacks firm views on whether Britain or the European Union would be a more important partner after Brexit.

But more than 90 percent of those surveyed said they valued a good relationship with Britain, with a strong majority supportive of a trade agreement.

As Britain's divorce from the European Union stumbles ahead, hardliners pushing for a full break are finding support in one foreign capital -- Washington. Prime Minister Theresa May, who is barely holding on to power at home, found a frosty reception on her latest mission to Brussels as she struggles to sell Brexit on her terms.

As Britain's divorce from the European Union stumbles ahead, hardliners pushing for a full break are finding support in one foreign capital -- Washington. Prime Minister Theresa May, who is barely holding on to power at home, found a frosty reception on her latest mission to Brussels as she struggles to sell Brexit on her terms. Nor is she finding much support from US President Donald Trump, who has openly questioned her Brexit deal, instead favoring a full break. Right-wing critics fear the current deal could leave Britain indefinitely in the EU customs union so as to prevent restoration of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Trump, speaking to reporters soon after May announced her Brexit package, dismissed it as "a great deal for the EU." He suggested that the agreement could hold back a trade deal between the United States and Britain -- which conservatives in both countries have dangled as an incentive if Britain leaves the European Union. "That would be a very big negative for the deal," Trump said. 'Back of the queue' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also embraced Brexit since he took over from the less ideological Rex Tillerson. In a recent Fox News interview, Pompeo promised to pursue the vaunted US-Britain "special relationship" in the increasingly likely scenario of a "hard Brexit" without a negotiated deal. Trump's enthusiasm for Brexit stands in marked contrast to the views of his predecessor Barack Obama, who had warned that Britain would be at the "back of the queue" for a US trade deal if it left the European Union. In line with the thinking of much of the foreign policy establishment in both countries, Obama said that a Britain integrated within a forward-looking European Union was better for all sides economically and politically. For Trump, Britain's 2016 referendum to leave the European Union foreshadowed his own election, with few experts predicting the groundswell of support outside major cities. Looser ties to Europe Nile Gardiner, an aide to former prime minister Margaret Thatcher now at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank, said Brexit was a natural philosophical fit for Trump. The American president has championed an "America First" policy suspicious of multinational institutions. Gardiner said that Brexit would also have a practical benefit for Trump in pulling Britain out of a common EU foreign policy. "Britain has been very heavily EU-focused for the last few decades," Gardiner said. "I would envisage a British foreign policy that is much more closely aligned with the United States." He said, for example, that a successor to May supportive of hard Brexit could part ways with the European Union on championing a denuclearization deal with Iran. Trump has enjoyed no support among Western leaders after exiting the multiparty deal negotiated by Obama and has reimposed punishing sanctions on Iran. A post-Brexit Britain would also be certain to steer clear of a common European defense separate from NATO, as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron with the support of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Gardiner said. 'Very disruptive' Yet even as part of the EU, Britain has been the premier international ally of the United States, controversially joining the invasion of Iraq despite widespread European opposition. Kelly Magsamen, a vice president at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, called Trump's impact on Brexit "very disruptive." She said that US policy toward such a close ally should be, fundamentally, to "do no harm." "Our objective at this point should be to contain whatever economic damage there may be from Brexit for both us and our allies. But also our objective should not be to make things worse for Theresa May or Angela Merkel," she said. She said she doubted that Britain's core international policies would change much after Brexit -- but feared that a newly preoccupied Britain might be less active. "The UK is going to be so inwardly consumed with managing the impact of Brexit that we could lose a focused partner on the international stage for a period of time," Magsamen said. A recent survey by Emerson College in Boston found that the US public lacks firm views on whether Britain or the European Union would be a more important partner after Brexit. But more than 90 percent of those surveyed said they valued a good relationship with Britain, with a strong majority supportive of a trade agreement.

As Brexit muddles along, Trump roots for a full break

Donald Trump said Saturday that his interior secretary will be leaving soon -- the latest in a series of high-profile departures from an administration beset by turnover and alleged ethical failings.

Zinke's exit will remove the distraction of the ethical issues that have dogged him -- and that reportedly have annoyed Trump -- but is unlikely to mark a shift away from the concerted environmental deregulation that took place during the secretary's tenure at the Interior Department.

"Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years," Trump wrote on Twitter, highlighting the fact that Zinke's tenure was substantially longer than that of some other former top officials in the administration.

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Secretary of the Interior <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanZinke?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RyanZinke</a> will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation.......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1073944491588022272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation," the president said, adding that a replacement would be announced next week.

The interior secretary is responsible for overseeing conservation and mineral extraction on public land that, if stitched together, would be larger than Mexico.

Zinke tied his departure to the burden of "false allegations" against him.

"I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars defending myself and my family against false allegations. It is better for the President and Interior to focus on accomplishments rather than fictitious allegations," he said in a statement on Twitter.

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I love working for the President and am incredibly proud of all the good work we’ve accomplished together. However, after 30 years of public service, I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars defending myself and my family against false allegations. Full statement attached. <a href="https://t.co/gwo75SA6bM">pic.twitter.com/gwo75SA6bM</a>
— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretaryZinke/status/1074014810830974977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Zinke, a former Montana congressman, has been the subject of various investigations linked to his real estate holdings in his home state and his actions in office, making him a lightning rod for complaints from Democrats.&nbsp;

They expressed no regrets over his impending departure.

'Staggering ethical abuses'

"Ryan Zinke was one of the most toxic members of the cabinet in the way he treated our environment, our precious public lands, and the way he treated the govt like it was his personal honey pot," tweeted Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.

"The swamp cabinet will be a little less foul without him."

Nancy Pelosi, the incoming speaker of the House of Representatives, also offered a harsh assessment.

"Secretary Zinke has been a shameless handmaiden for the special interests," she said in a statement.

"His staggering ethical abuses have delivered a serious and lasting blow to America's public lands, environment, clean air and clean water," she said.

Zinke's planned departure will see him leave office before the newly Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is seated, meaning he will avoid the threat of legislative investigation come January.

Along with Trump's first environmental protection chief Scott Pruitt -- who resigned in July amid a series of scandals over ethical lapses and lavish spending -- Zinke helped spearhead a presidential push to sharply relax environmental regulations and expand energy production.

The Zinke announcement came just a week after another impending high-profile departure -- that of Trump's chief of staff John Kelly -- was made public.

Riding with Pence

Trump on Friday tapped Mick Mulvaney -- the director of the Office of Management and Budget -- to serve as chief of staff on an acting basis, setting him up to be the third person to hold the post since the president took office in early 2017.

A series of other top officials have left the Trump White House, including a secretary of state, two national security advisors and an attorney general, as well as Pruitt.

Zinke is one of several members of Trump's cabinet to come under fire over expenditures, including reports that his department was spending nearly $139,000 to upgrade three sets of double doors in his office -- a cost he later said he negotiated down to $75,000.

He had been the subject of some 15 investigations, including one for taking a government security detail with him on a vacation trip to Turkey, according to The Washington Post.

He has also faced criticism over costly US Park Police helicopter flights last year that allowed him to return to Washington for a horseback ride with Vice President Mike Pence, and several other flights on non-commercial aircraft.

Zinke, a former Navy SEAL who wore cowboy boots to the office and carried himself with a Western swagger, seemed to emulate Trump when under fire, lashing back rather than retreating.

Last month, when a Democratic congressman said it was time for new leadership at the Interior Department, Zinke suggested in a tweet that his critic had a drinking problem.

"It's hard for him to think straight from the bottom of the bottle," he wrote, a comment that many in Washington thought crossed a line.

Donald Trump said Saturday that his interior secretary will be leaving soon -- the latest in a series of high-profile departures from an administration beset by turnover and alleged ethical failings.

Donald Trump said Saturday that his interior secretary will be leaving soon -- the latest in a series of high-profile departures from an administration beset by turnover and alleged ethical failings. Zinke's exit will remove the distraction of the ethical issues that have dogged him -- and that reportedly have annoyed Trump -- but is unlikely to mark a shift away from the concerted environmental deregulation that took place during the secretary's tenure at the Interior Department. "Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years," Trump wrote on Twitter, highlighting the fact that Zinke's tenure was substantially longer than that of some other former top officials in the administration. Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation....... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 × "Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation," the president said, adding that a replacement would be announced next week. The interior secretary is responsible for overseeing conservation and mineral extraction on public land that, if stitched together, would be larger than Mexico. Zinke tied his departure to the burden of "false allegations" against him. "I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars defending myself and my family against false allegations. It is better for the President and Interior to focus on accomplishments rather than fictitious allegations," he said in a statement on Twitter. I love working for the President and am incredibly proud of all the good work we’ve accomplished together. However, after 30 years of public service, I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars defending myself and my family against false allegations. Full statement attached. pic.twitter.com/gwo75SA6bM — Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) December 15, 2018 × Zinke, a former Montana congressman, has been the subject of various investigations linked to his real estate holdings in his home state and his actions in office, making him a lightning rod for complaints from Democrats. They expressed no regrets over his impending departure. 'Staggering ethical abuses' "Ryan Zinke was one of the most toxic members of the cabinet in the way he treated our environment, our precious public lands, and the way he treated the govt like it was his personal honey pot," tweeted Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. "The swamp cabinet will be a little less foul without him." Nancy Pelosi, the incoming speaker of the House of Representatives, also offered a harsh assessment. "Secretary Zinke has been a shameless handmaiden for the special interests," she said in a statement. "His staggering ethical abuses have delivered a serious and lasting blow to America's public lands, environment, clean air and clean water," she said. Zinke's planned departure will see him leave office before the newly Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is seated, meaning he will avoid the threat of legislative investigation come January. Along with Trump's first environmental protection chief Scott Pruitt -- who resigned in July amid a series of scandals over ethical lapses and lavish spending -- Zinke helped spearhead a presidential push to sharply relax environmental regulations and expand energy production. The Zinke announcement came just a week after another impending high-profile departure -- that of Trump's chief of staff John Kelly -- was made public. Riding with Pence Trump on Friday tapped Mick Mulvaney -- the director of the Office of Management and Budget -- to serve as chief of staff on an acting basis, setting him up to be the third person to hold the post since the president took office in early 2017. A series of other top officials have left the Trump White House, including a secretary of state, two national security advisors and an attorney general, as well as Pruitt. Zinke is one of several members of Trump's cabinet to come under fire over expenditures, including reports that his department was spending nearly $139,000 to upgrade three sets of double doors in his office -- a cost he later said he negotiated down to $75,000. He had been the subject of some 15 investigations, including one for taking a government security detail with him on a vacation trip to Turkey, according to The Washington Post. He has also faced criticism over costly US Park Police helicopter flights last year that allowed him to return to Washington for a horseback ride with Vice President Mike Pence, and several other flights on non-commercial aircraft. Zinke, a former Navy SEAL who wore cowboy boots to the office and carried himself with a Western swagger, seemed to emulate Trump when under fire, lashing back rather than retreating. Last month, when a Democratic congressman said it was time for new leadership at the Interior Department, Zinke suggested in a tweet that his critic had a drinking problem. "It's hard for him to think straight from the bottom of the bottle," he wrote, a comment that many in Washington thought crossed a line.

As Zinke departs, Trump to announce new interior secretary next week

President Donald Trump, who was criticized last month for skipping a visit to a cemetery in France where US soldiers are buried, made an unscheduled visit Saturday to a military cemetery near Washington for a wreath-laying ceremony.

His visit to nearby Arlington National Cemetery took place on a grey and rainy day -- not unlike the conditions at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery east of Paris, which Trump was set to visit in early November before cancelling.

Trump, who was in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, said at the time that aides had insisted the weather made it unsafe to fly by helicopter to the cemetery.

He was also criticized for failing, upon his return from France, to visit Arlington to mark Veterans Day. &nbsp;

Trump later explained that he was "extremely busy on calls for the country" that day, but added, in an interview with Fox News, "I should have done that."&nbsp;

Carrying a large black umbrella, the president took part in a brief ceremony in Arlington, part of a "Wreaths Across America" day when volunteers lay thousands of wreaths on the tombstones of military veterans.

In brief remarks to reporters, he said the government was working to expand Arlington, where more than 400,000 men and women are buried, by purchasing nearby land. "We're working very hard on it. We'll get it done."

Arlington, on land once owned by a descendant of George Washington, lies directly across the Potomac River from the capital, just a few minutes' drive away.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump, who was criticized last month for skipping a visit to a cemetery in France where US soldiers are buried, made an unscheduled visit Saturday to a military cemetery near Washington for a wreath-laying ceremony.

President Donald Trump, who was criticized last month for skipping a visit to a cemetery in France where US soldiers are buried, made an unscheduled visit Saturday to a military cemetery near Washington for a wreath-laying ceremony. His visit to nearby Arlington National Cemetery took place on a grey and rainy day -- not unlike the conditions at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery east of Paris, which Trump was set to visit in early November before cancelling. Trump, who was in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, said at the time that aides had insisted the weather made it unsafe to fly by helicopter to the cemetery. He was also criticized for failing, upon his return from France, to visit Arlington to mark Veterans Day. Trump later explained that he was "extremely busy on calls for the country" that day, but added, in an interview with Fox News, "I should have done that." Carrying a large black umbrella, the president took part in a brief ceremony in Arlington, part of a "Wreaths Across America" day when volunteers lay thousands of wreaths on the tombstones of military veterans. In brief remarks to reporters, he said the government was working to expand Arlington, where more than 400,000 men and women are buried, by purchasing nearby land. "We're working very hard on it. We'll get it done." Arlington, on land once owned by a descendant of George Washington, lies directly across the Potomac River from the capital, just a few minutes' drive away.

Trump, criticised for skipping earlier visits, travels to cemetery

North Korea on Sunday condemned the US&nbsp;administration for stepping up sanctions and pressure on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-still-maintaining-ballistic-missile-sites-us-think-tank-176984">the nuclear-armed country</a>, warning of a return to "exchanges of fire" and that disarming Pyongyang could be blocked forever.

The North's stinging response came after the United States said on Monday it had introduced sanctions on three North Korean officials, including a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, for alleged human rights abuses.

Denuclearising North Korea has made little progress since Kim Jong Un and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump met in Singapore in June in a historic summit. The two sides have yet to reschedule working-level talks between US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol, which were cancelled abruptly in November.

While crediting Trump for his "willingness" to improve relations with the North, also known as DPRK, Pyongyang accused the US&nbsp;State Department of being "bent on bringing the DPRK-US&nbsp;relations back to the status of last year which was marked by exchanges of fire."

North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement that Washington had taken "sanctions measures for as many as eight times against the companies, individuals and ships of not only the DPRK but also Russia, China and other third countries..."

If the US&nbsp;administration believed that heightened sanctions and pressure would force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons, "it will count as (its) greatest miscalculation, and it will block the path to denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula forever - a result desired by no one," according to the statement.

The foreign ministry statement was released under the name of the policy research director of the Institute for American Studies.

North Korea on Sunday condemned the US administration for stepping up sanctions and pressure on the nuclear-armed country, warning of a return to "exchanges of fire" and that disarming Pyongyang could be blocked forever.

North Korea on Sunday condemned the US administration for stepping up sanctions and pressure on the nuclear-armed country, warning of a return to "exchanges of fire" and that disarming Pyongyang could be blocked forever. The North's stinging response came after the United States said on Monday it had introduced sanctions on three North Korean officials, including a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, for alleged human rights abuses. Denuclearising North Korea has made little progress since Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump met in Singapore in June in a historic summit. The two sides have yet to reschedule working-level talks between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol, which were cancelled abruptly in November. While crediting Trump for his "willingness" to improve relations with the North, also known as DPRK, Pyongyang accused the US State Department of being "bent on bringing the DPRK-US relations back to the status of last year which was marked by exchanges of fire." North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement that Washington had taken "sanctions measures for as many as eight times against the companies, individuals and ships of not only the DPRK but also Russia, China and other third countries..." If the US administration believed that heightened sanctions and pressure would force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons, "it will count as (its) greatest miscalculation, and it will block the path to denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula forever - a result desired by no one," according to the statement. The foreign ministry statement was released under the name of the policy research director of the Institute for American Studies.

Denuclearisation is at risk, warns North Korea; condemns UN sanctions

The father of the&nbsp;seven-year-old Guatemalan migrant who died after being detained by US border agents called for an objective investigation into the incident on Saturday.

"The family is seeking an objective and thorough investigation and are asking that investigators will assess this incidence within nationally-recognised standards for the arrest and custody of children," her father Nery Caal's lawyers said in a statement.

The attorneys representing the father also urged media not to speculate on the cause of death as neither the hospital nor the medical examiner has released an official statement.

On December 8 Jakelin Caal died of high fever in a hospital in El Paso, Texas.&nbsp;She died hours later while she was in the care of US Customs and Border Patrol.&nbsp;

As US authorities are&nbsp;investigating the matter, the exact cause of her death has not been determined so far.

Her lawyers also criticised border authorities for asking her father Nery Caal to sign a form written in English about the state of his daughter's health as "he speaks no English".

As per the lawyers' statement, her father speaks Q'eqchi', a Mayan language used in Guatemala, and Spanish is his second language.

"It is unacceptable for any government agency to have persons in custody sign documents in a language that they clearly do not understand," the statement said.

The lawyers also clarified reports saying that that Jakelin had "not eaten or had any water for several days" while crossing the desert before the border patrol took her into custody.

"Jakelin's father took care of Jakelin... made sure she was fed and had sufficient water," the statement said.&nbsp;

"She had not suffered from a lack of water or food prior to approaching the border."

Jakelin Caal accompanied by her father Nery were in a group of over 160 migrants who handed themselves into US border agents in New Mexico earlier this week.

Her death has s<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/death-of-seven-year-old-migrant-girl-in-us-custody-sparks-furor-184139">parked an outrage across the country</a> with leaders demanding a proper investigation into the matter. The case has also raised pressure on Trump and his administration's efforts to halt the migration of Central American families.

White House deputy spokesman Hogan Gidley called Caal's death "a horrific, tragic situation," but also said it was avoidable.

"It's a needless death and it's 100 per cent preventable," he told reporters.

"This could be my daughter or yours, let that sink in America," said newly elected Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, herself a refugee from Somalia.

Deforestation to make way for palm-oil plantations has made subsistence farming increasingly hard for the 40,000 inhabitants of Raxruha municipality in Guatemala, That has spurred an exodus of migrants.

Almost 80 percent of Guatemala's indigenous population are poor, with half of those living in extreme poverty. The mayor of San Antonio de Cortez described the Caal family as among the worst off in the village.

Record numbers of parents travelling with children are being apprehended trying to cross the US border with Mexico. In November, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers detained 25,172 members of "family units," the highest monthly number ever recorded, the agency said. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from news agencies)

The father of the seven-year-old Guatemalan migrant who died after being detained by US border agents called for an objective investigation into the incident on Saturday.

The father of the seven-year-old Guatemalan migrant who died after being detained by US border agents called for an objective investigation into the incident on Saturday. "The family is seeking an objective and thorough investigation and are asking that investigators will assess this incidence within nationally-recognised standards for the arrest and custody of children," her father Nery Caal's lawyers said in a statement. The attorneys representing the father also urged media not to speculate on the cause of death as neither the hospital nor the medical examiner has released an official statement. On December 8 Jakelin Caal died of high fever in a hospital in El Paso, Texas. She died hours later while she was in the care of US Customs and Border Patrol. As US authorities are investigating the matter, the exact cause of her death has not been determined so far. Her lawyers also criticised border authorities for asking her father Nery Caal to sign a form written in English about the state of his daughter's health as "he speaks no English". As per the lawyers' statement, her father speaks Q'eqchi', a Mayan language used in Guatemala, and Spanish is his second language. "It is unacceptable for any government agency to have persons in custody sign documents in a language that they clearly do not understand," the statement said. The lawyers also clarified reports saying that that Jakelin had "not eaten or had any water for several days" while crossing the desert before the border patrol took her into custody. "Jakelin's father took care of Jakelin... made sure she was fed and had sufficient water," the statement said. "She had not suffered from a lack of water or food prior to approaching the border." Jakelin Caal accompanied by her father Nery were in a group of over 160 migrants who handed themselves into US border agents in New Mexico earlier this week. Her death has sparked an outrage across the country with leaders demanding a proper investigation into the matter. The case has also raised pressure on Trump and his administration's efforts to halt the migration of Central American families. White House deputy spokesman Hogan Gidley called Caal's death "a horrific, tragic situation," but also said it was avoidable. "It's a needless death and it's 100 per cent preventable," he told reporters. "This could be my daughter or yours, let that sink in America," said newly elected Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, herself a refugee from Somalia. Deforestation to make way for palm-oil plantations has made subsistence farming increasingly hard for the 40,000 inhabitants of Raxruha municipality in Guatemala, That has spurred an exodus of migrants. Almost 80 percent of Guatemala's indigenous population are poor, with half of those living in extreme poverty. The mayor of San Antonio de Cortez described the Caal family as among the worst off in the village. Record numbers of parents travelling with children are being apprehended trying to cross the US border with Mexico. In November, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers detained 25,172 members of "family units," the highest monthly number ever recorded, the agency said. (With inputs from news agencies)

Father of dead Guatemalan migrant calls for objective investigation into death

Donald Trump's <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-announces-mick-mulvaney-as-new-acting-white-house-chief-of-staff-replacing-john-kelly-184129">new acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney</a> allegedly called him "a terrible human being".&nbsp;According to media reports, a video accessed by the Daily Beast shows Mulvaney making the remark shortly before the 2016 Presidential polls.&nbsp;

As per reports, Mulvaney's comment came during a debate with Democratic challenger Fran Person in South Carolina.

Mulvaney, who heads the White House Office of Management and Budget, was named by Trump to take over as White House chief of staff on a temporary basis after two prominent candidates for the job withdrew from consideration in the space of a week, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

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....I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1073703746432049153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Mulvaney will take over from John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, who will step down from the top job in the West Wing in early January.

Mulvaney will be the third man in Trump's two years in office to take on what is seen as one of the most important jobs in Washington: the gatekeeper to the president charged with marshalling the resources of the office to carry out priorities.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

Donald Trump's new acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney allegedly called him "a terrible human being". According to media reports, a video accessed by the Daily Beast shows Mulvaney making the remark shortly before the 2016 Presidential polls.

Donald Trump's new acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney allegedly called him "a terrible human being". According to media reports, a video accessed by the Daily Beast shows Mulvaney making the remark shortly before the 2016 Presidential polls. As per reports, Mulvaney's comment came during a debate with Democratic challenger Fran Person in South Carolina. Mulvaney, who heads the White House Office of Management and Budget, was named by Trump to take over as White House chief of staff on a temporary basis after two prominent candidates for the job withdrew from consideration in the space of a week, news agency Reuters reported. ....I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 × Mulvaney will take over from John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, who will step down from the top job in the West Wing in early January. Mulvaney will be the third man in Trump's two years in office to take on what is seen as one of the most important jobs in Washington: the gatekeeper to the president charged with marshalling the resources of the office to carry out priorities. (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump's new acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney called him a 'terrible human being'

President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a court decision against <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/outraged-democrats-vow-to-challenge-court-ruling-undercutting-obamacare-184387">Obamacare </a>as "a great ruling for our country," while a US&nbsp;government official said the decision by a Texas judge would have no immediate impact on health coverage.

US&nbsp;District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, said that Obamacare, known formally as the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), was unconstitutional based on its mandate requiring that people buy health insurance.

In a decision that could reach the US&nbsp;Supreme Court, O'Connor sided with a coalition of 20 states that argued requiring people to pay for insurance coverage is illegal because a change in tax law last year eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance.

"It's a great ruling for our country. We will be able to get great healthcare. We will sit down with the Democrats if the Supreme Court upholds," Trump told reporters during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on a rainy Saturday.

Trump offered no details on the potential for healthcare talks with the Democrats, who are poised to take majority control of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives in early January. The Senate will remain in Republican hands.

O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law.

The head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Affordable Care Act, said there were no changes and exchanges were open for business.

"We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court," CMS Administrator Seema Verma wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place.”

"There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan,” she said late on Friday.

High Political Stakes

Since the law's formative stages amid concern about millions of Americans lacking health insurance, Republicans have opposed Obamacare, calling it a costly and unneeded government intrusion into Americans' lives. Trump campaigned against it in 2016.

They have repeatedly tried but failed, to repeal the law, which was the signature domestic policy achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama. Even with control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2017, Republicans could not push through a repeal.

The O'Connor ruling underscored the high political stakes involved in the divide over healthcare, especially for Trump and his fellow Republicans ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

If the Supreme Court were to uphold O'Connor's ruling, it would go a long way toward dismantling Obamacare. That would be a political victory for Republicans, but it would also likely strip millions of Americans of their health coverage, a policy problem for which Republicans have offered no clear solution.

About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans.

The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in 2012

Two days after November&nbsp;6 The US&nbsp;congressional elections, a Reuters/Ipsos national opinion poll found that healthcare was the top issue Americans wanted the US&nbsp;Congress to address.

'Silly, Irresponible'

On Friday, O'Connor ruled that after the enactment last year by Trump of a landmark tax bill, the ACA's individual mandate requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a tax could no longer be considered constitutional.

He said because the individual mandate was an "essential" part of Obamacare, the entire law, rather than just the individual mandate, was unconstitutional.

Timothy Jost, a health law expert and emeritus professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, said it was “silly” and “irresponsible” for O’Connor to find that the individual mandate could not be separated from the rest of the ACA. He said judges who find that portions of laws are invalid are required “to do as little damage as possible” to the rest of the law, and O’Connor had ignored that principle.

Jost noted that the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear an appeal in the case, is considered the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. But, “O’Connor is so far off the reservation here that virtually any (appeals) panel will reverse him,” Jost said.

Jost noted that in the 2012 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, a lower appeals court had found the individual mandate unlawful, but ruled it could be severed from the rest of the law. That ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “is at least as persuasive and probably more persuasive than a decision by a single judge in Wichita Falls, Texas,” Jost said.

He said the US&nbsp;Supreme Court’s conservative wing has been sceptical in the past of striking down entire laws because of a single problematic provision, and at least a bare majority of five justices would likely agree that O’Connor was wrong.

President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a court decision against Obamacare as "a great ruling for our country," while a US government official said the decision by a Texas judge would have no immediate impact on health coverage.

President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a court decision against Obamacare as "a great ruling for our country," while a US government official said the decision by a Texas judge would have no immediate impact on health coverage. US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, said that Obamacare, known formally as the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), was unconstitutional based on its mandate requiring that people buy health insurance. In a decision that could reach the US Supreme Court, O'Connor sided with a coalition of 20 states that argued requiring people to pay for insurance coverage is illegal because a change in tax law last year eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance. "It's a great ruling for our country. We will be able to get great healthcare. We will sit down with the Democrats if the Supreme Court upholds," Trump told reporters during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on a rainy Saturday. Trump offered no details on the potential for healthcare talks with the Democrats, who are poised to take majority control of the US House of Representatives in early January. The Senate will remain in Republican hands. O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law. The head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Affordable Care Act, said there were no changes and exchanges were open for business. "We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court," CMS Administrator Seema Verma wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place.” "There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan,” she said late on Friday. High Political Stakes Since the law's formative stages amid concern about millions of Americans lacking health insurance, Republicans have opposed Obamacare, calling it a costly and unneeded government intrusion into Americans' lives. Trump campaigned against it in 2016. They have repeatedly tried but failed, to repeal the law, which was the signature domestic policy achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama. Even with control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2017, Republicans could not push through a repeal. The O'Connor ruling underscored the high political stakes involved in the divide over healthcare, especially for Trump and his fellow Republicans ahead of the 2020 presidential election. If the Supreme Court were to uphold O'Connor's ruling, it would go a long way toward dismantling Obamacare. That would be a political victory for Republicans, but it would also likely strip millions of Americans of their health coverage, a policy problem for which Republicans have offered no clear solution. About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in 2012 Two days after November 6 The US congressional elections, a Reuters/Ipsos national opinion poll found that healthcare was the top issue Americans wanted the US Congress to address. 'Silly, Irresponible' On Friday, O'Connor ruled that after the enactment last year by Trump of a landmark tax bill, the ACA's individual mandate requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a tax could no longer be considered constitutional. He said because the individual mandate was an "essential" part of Obamacare, the entire law, rather than just the individual mandate, was unconstitutional. Timothy Jost, a health law expert and emeritus professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, said it was “silly” and “irresponsible” for O’Connor to find that the individual mandate could not be separated from the rest of the ACA. He said judges who find that portions of laws are invalid are required “to do as little damage as possible” to the rest of the law, and O’Connor had ignored that principle. Jost noted that the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear an appeal in the case, is considered the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. But, “O’Connor is so far off the reservation here that virtually any (appeals) panel will reverse him,” Jost said. Jost noted that in the 2012 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, a lower appeals court had found the individual mandate unlawful, but ruled it could be severed from the rest of the law. That ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “is at least as persuasive and probably more persuasive than a decision by a single judge in Wichita Falls, Texas,” Jost said. He said the US Supreme Court’s conservative wing has been sceptical in the past of striking down entire laws because of a single problematic provision, and at least a bare majority of five justices would likely agree that O’Connor was wrong.

Trump hails judge's ruling against Obamacare as 'great'

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will be leaving by the end of the year, US President Donald Trump announced Saturday. That will make him the latest top official to exit the US leader's circle of close advisers.

Dozens of White House aides -- from attorney general Jeff Sessions to press secretary Sean Spicer to chief of staff Reince Priebus -- have either left or been sacked from their posts since Trump took office on January 20, 2017.

Here is a sampling of senior departures:

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke

Zinke, a former Navy SEAL and ex-member of the House of Representatives, was one of the main executors of Trump's efforts to reduce environmental protections in the United States.

He managed to hold onto his post for some two years despite a series of scandals over expenditures, including reports that his department was spending nearly $139,000 to upgrade three sets of double doors in his office -- a cost he later said he negotiated down to $75,000.

Zinke has also faced criticism over costly US Park Police helicopter flights last year that allowed him to return to Washington for a horseback ride with Vice President Mike Pence, and several other flights on non-commercial aircraft.

Chief of staff John Kelly

Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, has been credited with helping restore a degree of order to the often-chaotic Trump White House.&nbsp;

But in the process, he clashed with members of the Trump clan, and at times infuriated Democrats with his blunt comments.

Trump, who once said he wanted his aide to stay with him until the presidential election year of 2020, had made it clear of late that the relationship had chilled.&nbsp;

"At some point, he's going to want to move on," the president said in mid-November.

Indeed, Kelly, 68, made it known he did not always love the job -- one of the most vital in any White House, quipping, "God punished me, I guess."&nbsp;

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Sessions, a Republican senator from Alabama, was the first member of the Senate to back Trump's insurgent bid in 2015 for the Republican presidential nomination.

After winning the presidency, Trump rewarded Sessions by naming him to head the Department of Justice.

But relations between the two quickly soured after Sessions recused himself from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump presidential campaign colluded with Russia to get him elected.

Trump personally attacked Sessions on several occasions for failing to protect him from the Mueller probe.

"I don't have an attorney general," Trump told Hill.TV in an interview in September. "It's very sad."&nbsp;

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley

Haley, who announced in October that she would leave the administration at the end of 2018, was a shining star of the administration from the start.

Thrust onto the international stage, she quickly became an astute advocate for Trump's foreign policy, using forceful language against North Korea, Syria and Iran.

The former South Carolina governor was also unafraid to speak her mind, often in fairly undiplomatic language, and built a reputation for standing up to Trump when she felt it was warranted.

Her aggressive criticism of Russia won plaudits, even as she stepped beyond the position held by the White House.

Her resignation announcement last month sparked speculation about her political future, though she denied any plans to challenge Trump in 2020, saying she would remain loyal to the president.

Environment chief Scott Pruitt

Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt's tenure was beset by scandal, and Trump pushed him out in July.

A former Oklahoma attorney general with ties to fossil fuel industries, Pruitt was accused of using his position to enrich his family's lifestyle in violation of federal law.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

Rex Tillerson was fired by Trump in March, ending a rocky tenure for the former Exxon chief executive as the nation's top diplomat.

Tillerson was frequently at odds with the mercurial president. They notably disagreed on the Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew in May.

During his brief stay at Foggy Bottom, Tillerson frequently found himself out of the loop and caught unawares by policy shifts announced in Trump tweets.

In one of his first public criticisms of the president since stepping down, Tillerson told a gathering in Texas earlier this month that Trump was undisciplined, did not like to read briefing papers and sometimes asked him to do things that were illegal.

Trump shot back on Twitter that Tillerson was "dumb as a rock."&nbsp;

Chief strategist Steve Bannon

The architect of Trump's nationalist-populist campaign and his election victory, White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was nicknamed the Prince of Darkness and the Shadow President.

His economic nationalism became the lynchpin of Trump policies, even as many of Bannon's other ideas were rebuffed by policy rivals.

Bannon's constant clashes with other advisors became untenable, as did his ties to the extreme right. Bannon left in August 2017.

National Security Advisors Flynn, McMaster

Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, was being investigated for his contacts with Russians and eventually pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

He lasted only 22 days as the national security advisor.

Flynn's replacement, HR McMaster, also a lieutenant general, lasted barely a year.

He never really clicked with the president, who bristled at McMaster echoing the US intelligence establishment consensus that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will be leaving by the end of the year, US President Donald Trump announced Saturday. That will make him the latest top official to exit the US leader's circle of close advisers.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will be leaving by the end of the year, US President Donald Trump announced Saturday. That will make him the latest top official to exit the US leader's circle of close advisers. Dozens of White House aides -- from attorney general Jeff Sessions to press secretary Sean Spicer to chief of staff Reince Priebus -- have either left or been sacked from their posts since Trump took office on January 20, 2017. Here is a sampling of senior departures: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Zinke, a former Navy SEAL and ex-member of the House of Representatives, was one of the main executors of Trump's efforts to reduce environmental protections in the United States. He managed to hold onto his post for some two years despite a series of scandals over expenditures, including reports that his department was spending nearly $139,000 to upgrade three sets of double doors in his office -- a cost he later said he negotiated down to $75,000. Zinke has also faced criticism over costly US Park Police helicopter flights last year that allowed him to return to Washington for a horseback ride with Vice President Mike Pence, and several other flights on non-commercial aircraft. Chief of staff John Kelly Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, has been credited with helping restore a degree of order to the often-chaotic Trump White House. But in the process, he clashed with members of the Trump clan, and at times infuriated Democrats with his blunt comments. Trump, who once said he wanted his aide to stay with him until the presidential election year of 2020, had made it clear of late that the relationship had chilled. "At some point, he's going to want to move on," the president said in mid-November. Indeed, Kelly, 68, made it known he did not always love the job -- one of the most vital in any White House, quipping, "God punished me, I guess." Attorney General Jeff Sessions Sessions, a Republican senator from Alabama, was the first member of the Senate to back Trump's insurgent bid in 2015 for the Republican presidential nomination. After winning the presidency, Trump rewarded Sessions by naming him to head the Department of Justice. But relations between the two quickly soured after Sessions recused himself from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump presidential campaign colluded with Russia to get him elected. Trump personally attacked Sessions on several occasions for failing to protect him from the Mueller probe. "I don't have an attorney general," Trump told Hill.TV in an interview in September. "It's very sad." UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Haley, who announced in October that she would leave the administration at the end of 2018, was a shining star of the administration from the start. Thrust onto the international stage, she quickly became an astute advocate for Trump's foreign policy, using forceful language against North Korea, Syria and Iran. The former South Carolina governor was also unafraid to speak her mind, often in fairly undiplomatic language, and built a reputation for standing up to Trump when she felt it was warranted. Her aggressive criticism of Russia won plaudits, even as she stepped beyond the position held by the White House. Her resignation announcement last month sparked speculation about her political future, though she denied any plans to challenge Trump in 2020, saying she would remain loyal to the president. Environment chief Scott Pruitt Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt's tenure was beset by scandal, and Trump pushed him out in July. A former Oklahoma attorney general with ties to fossil fuel industries, Pruitt was accused of using his position to enrich his family's lifestyle in violation of federal law. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Tillerson was fired by Trump in March, ending a rocky tenure for the former Exxon chief executive as the nation's top diplomat. Tillerson was frequently at odds with the mercurial president. They notably disagreed on the Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew in May. During his brief stay at Foggy Bottom, Tillerson frequently found himself out of the loop and caught unawares by policy shifts announced in Trump tweets. In one of his first public criticisms of the president since stepping down, Tillerson told a gathering in Texas earlier this month that Trump was undisciplined, did not like to read briefing papers and sometimes asked him to do things that were illegal. Trump shot back on Twitter that Tillerson was "dumb as a rock." Chief strategist Steve Bannon The architect of Trump's nationalist-populist campaign and his election victory, White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was nicknamed the Prince of Darkness and the Shadow President. His economic nationalism became the lynchpin of Trump policies, even as many of Bannon's other ideas were rebuffed by policy rivals. Bannon's constant clashes with other advisors became untenable, as did his ties to the extreme right. Bannon left in August 2017. National Security Advisors Flynn, McMaster Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, was being investigated for his contacts with Russians and eventually pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. He lasted only 22 days as the national security advisor. Flynn's replacement, HR McMaster, also a lieutenant general, lasted barely a year. He never really clicked with the president, who bristled at McMaster echoing the US intelligence establishment consensus that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.

Trump's revolving door: Interior Secretary Zinke is latest senior White House departure

A US federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday that the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-halts-billions-in-insurance-payments-under-obamacare-149904"> Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare</a>, is unconstitutional, a decision that was likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

US&nbsp;District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth agreed with a coalition of 20 states that a change in tax law last year eliminating a penalty for not having health insurance invalidated the entire Obamacare law.

O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law.

About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans, according to the US government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The coalition of states challenging the law was led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, both Republicans.

Republicans have opposed the 2010 law, the signature domestic policy achievement of President Donald Trump's Democratic predecessor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-extend-skimpy-health-insurance-outside-of-obamacare-33538">Barack Obama</a>, since its inception and have repeatedly tried and failed to repeal it.

The White House hailed Friday's ruling, but said the law would remain in place pending its expected appeal to the Supreme Court.

"Once again, the president calls on Congress to replace Obamacare and act to protect people with preexisting conditions and provide Americans with quality affordable healthcare," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

In June, the Justice Department declared the healthcare law's "individual mandate" unconstitutional in federal court. The decision was a break with a long-standing executive branch practice of defending existing statutes in court.

A year ago, Trump signed a $1.5 trillion tax bill that included a provision eliminating the individual mandate.

A US federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional, a decision that was likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

A US federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional, a decision that was likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth agreed with a coalition of 20 states that a change in tax law last year eliminating a penalty for not having health insurance invalidated the entire Obamacare law. O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law. About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans, according to the US government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The coalition of states challenging the law was led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, both Republicans. Republicans have opposed the 2010 law, the signature domestic policy achievement of President Donald Trump's Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, since its inception and have repeatedly tried and failed to repeal it. The White House hailed Friday's ruling, but said the law would remain in place pending its expected appeal to the Supreme Court. "Once again, the president calls on Congress to replace Obamacare and act to protect people with preexisting conditions and provide Americans with quality affordable healthcare," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. In June, the Justice Department declared the healthcare law's "individual mandate" unconstitutional in federal court. The decision was a break with a long-standing executive branch practice of defending existing statutes in court. A year ago, Trump signed a $1.5 trillion tax bill that included a provision eliminating the individual mandate.

Entire 'Obamacare' unconstitutional, declares federal judge in Texas

President Donald Trump on Friday predicted a major <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-and-china-called-a-truce-in-the-trade-war-now-what-181070">US-China trade deal</a> in the near future, saying that Beijing's negotiating position had been weakened by the impact of the tariffs war between the world's top two economies.

"China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!" Trump tweeted.

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China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them. They have just suspended U.S. Tariff Hikes. U.S. is doing very well. China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1073617541476569088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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His optimism followed China's decision earlier Friday to back off from extra punitive duties that had been imposed this summer on US-made cars and auto parts.

The move was seen as the first concrete result of the US leader's<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-agree-to-trade-war-ceasefire-more-talks-180930"> G20 talks with his counterpart Xi Jinping </a>earlier this month.

Those tariffs now fall from 40 per cent to 15 per cent -- the same rate imposed on all foreign-made vehicles. The relief will last for three months from January 1.

"Suspension of the tariffs is a concrete measure to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state," said the announcement by the State Council's Tariff Commission Office, noting it applied to 211 product codes.

Trump said the climbdown showed that China had been forced to blink in their on-off spat, after months of heavy <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-envoy-warns-of-dire-consequences-if-us-hardliners-hold-sway-179861">US tariffs</a> on Chinese imports.

"China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them. They have just suspended U.S. Tariff Hikes. US&nbsp;is doing very well," Trump said.

Beijing's move also demonstrated that talks to resolve the trade conflict have survived the tension sparked by Canada's arrest of a top Chinese telecom executive at the behest of US law enforcement.

Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms behemoth Huawei, has been released on bail in Canada. China wants her unconditional release. Washington wants her extradited for allegedly violating US sanctions on Iran.

China apparently retaliated by detaining two Canadians on suspicion of "harm to national security" -- a phrase often used by Beijing when alleging espionage.

Washington insists that the case is driven purely by the US Justice Department, rather than anything to do with the trade dispute, but Trump has muddied the waters by suggesting he might intervene if that would help the trade talks.

Tit for tat

Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires on December 1 to a 90-day truce while they tried to find a solution to the escalating trade dispute.

Confusion and unease over what agreement the two sides reached in Argentina has roiled stock markets.

But trade negotiators talked on the phone this week to discuss a timetable for talks. Friday's announcement in Beijing also confirms what Trump said on December 2 about China acting on the auto tariffs.

"We hope that both sides will -- in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, on the premise of mutual respect, mutual equality, faithfulness, words and actions -- intensify consultations in the direction of cancelling all of the extra tariff increases," the State Council's statement said.

Stand to benefit

The tariff suspension will benefit US carmakers like Tesla and Ford which have seen China sales tumble.

"It is essential that governments work together to advance balanced and fair trade. We look forward to learning more," a spokesman for Ford said after Trump announced China would cut car tariffs.

International automakers Daimler, maker of the Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have also exported American-made SUVs to China.

US exports to China fell 25 per cent on-year in November as the higher tariffs on hundreds of American goods hurt demand.

In another signal that China may move to satisfy Trump, the country's top legislature announced Friday that it would hold a session from December 23-29 to discuss legislation on foreign investment and draft revisions to the patent law.

The United States has long complained of a lack of fair access for foreign companies in China and rampant theft of intellectual property.

For now, the National People's Congress Standing Committee has not provided details about the draft legislation.

Maintaining and resolving the trade truce could help stabilize sentiment in China, where confidence in the economy has been hurt by the trade frictions with Washington.

Earlier on Friday, economic data showed Chinese consumer spending grew at its slowest pace in 15 years and factories eased up in November, raising the prospect that Beijing could turn to fresh stimulus measures to help the sputtering economy.

China's top officials on the Politburo said in a statement Thursday that major economic indicators will be kept within a reasonable range next year.

"The meeting also signalled further market opening," economists at Trivium Research wrote in a newsletter.

President Donald Trump on Friday predicted a major US-China trade deal in the near future, saying that Beijing's negotiating position had been weakened by the impact of the tariffs war between the world's top two economies.

President Donald Trump on Friday predicted a major US-China trade deal in the near future, saying that Beijing's negotiating position had been weakened by the impact of the tariffs war between the world's top two economies. "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!" Trump tweeted. China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them. They have just suspended U.S. Tariff Hikes. U.S. is doing very well. China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 × His optimism followed China's decision earlier Friday to back off from extra punitive duties that had been imposed this summer on US-made cars and auto parts. The move was seen as the first concrete result of the US leader's G20 talks with his counterpart Xi Jinping earlier this month. Those tariffs now fall from 40 per cent to 15 per cent -- the same rate imposed on all foreign-made vehicles. The relief will last for three months from January 1. "Suspension of the tariffs is a concrete measure to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state," said the announcement by the State Council's Tariff Commission Office, noting it applied to 211 product codes. Trump said the climbdown showed that China had been forced to blink in their on-off spat, after months of heavy US tariffs on Chinese imports. "China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them. They have just suspended U.S. Tariff Hikes. US is doing very well," Trump said. Beijing's move also demonstrated that talks to resolve the trade conflict have survived the tension sparked by Canada's arrest of a top Chinese telecom executive at the behest of US law enforcement. Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms behemoth Huawei, has been released on bail in Canada. China wants her unconditional release. Washington wants her extradited for allegedly violating US sanctions on Iran. China apparently retaliated by detaining two Canadians on suspicion of "harm to national security" -- a phrase often used by Beijing when alleging espionage. Washington insists that the case is driven purely by the US Justice Department, rather than anything to do with the trade dispute, but Trump has muddied the waters by suggesting he might intervene if that would help the trade talks. Tit for tat Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires on December 1 to a 90-day truce while they tried to find a solution to the escalating trade dispute. Confusion and unease over what agreement the two sides reached in Argentina has roiled stock markets. But trade negotiators talked on the phone this week to discuss a timetable for talks. Friday's announcement in Beijing also confirms what Trump said on December 2 about China acting on the auto tariffs. "We hope that both sides will -- in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, on the premise of mutual respect, mutual equality, faithfulness, words and actions -- intensify consultations in the direction of cancelling all of the extra tariff increases," the State Council's statement said. Stand to benefit The tariff suspension will benefit US carmakers like Tesla and Ford which have seen China sales tumble. "It is essential that governments work together to advance balanced and fair trade. We look forward to learning more," a spokesman for Ford said after Trump announced China would cut car tariffs. International automakers Daimler, maker of the Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have also exported American-made SUVs to China. US exports to China fell 25 per cent on-year in November as the higher tariffs on hundreds of American goods hurt demand. In another signal that China may move to satisfy Trump, the country's top legislature announced Friday that it would hold a session from December 23-29 to discuss legislation on foreign investment and draft revisions to the patent law. The United States has long complained of a lack of fair access for foreign companies in China and rampant theft of intellectual property. For now, the National People's Congress Standing Committee has not provided details about the draft legislation. Maintaining and resolving the trade truce could help stabilize sentiment in China, where confidence in the economy has been hurt by the trade frictions with Washington. Earlier on Friday, economic data showed Chinese consumer spending grew at its slowest pace in 15 years and factories eased up in November, raising the prospect that Beijing could turn to fresh stimulus measures to help the sputtering economy. China's top officials on the Politburo said in a statement Thursday that major economic indicators will be kept within a reasonable range next year. "The meeting also signalled further market opening," economists at Trivium Research wrote in a newsletter.

'Big' China-US trade deal could happen rather soon : Trump

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-concerned-about-being-impeached-report-183111">President Donald Trump</a>'s administration asked the US&nbsp;Supreme Court this week to suspend nationwide orders by federal judges blocking two of his major policies in an unusual step but one in line with an aggressive White House litigation strategy.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court traditionally has been viewed as the court of last resort in the United States, but Trump's Justice Department increasingly has tried to enlist it in paring back or halting unfavourable rulings by lower courts on signature Trump policies, often at early stages of litigation. In another tactic, the administration has asked the justices to review disputes even before lower appeals courts have acted.

Trump has appointed conservatives Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch to lifetime jobs on the Supreme Court since taking office last year, cementing its 5-4 conservative majority. The Republican president often has criticized lower court rulings that went against his policies and expressed his desire to be heard by the Supreme Court instead.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the administration asked the high court for a stay of a San Francisco-based federal judge's nationwide injunction that blocked Trump's policy prohibiting asylum for immigrants who enter the United States outside an official port of entry.

On Thursday, the administration asked the court to stay nationwide injunctions issued by federal judges blocking Trump's plan to bar some transgender people from serving in the military, if the justices decline an unusual earlier request to review the cases before lower appeals courts have ruled.

Since Trump took office in January 2017, lower courts have issued a series of nationwide injunctions blocking a number of his policies such as his travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries a policy the Supreme Court later allowed to go into effect.

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who Trump ousted last month, had criticized federal judges for such injunctions. In Thursday's stay request over the transgender military policy, US&nbsp;Solicitor General Noel Francisco, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, did too.

"Such injunctions previously were rare, but in recent years they have become routine," Francisco wrote, adding that 25 such injunctions had been imposed on the Trump administration.

'NEW CIRCUMSTANCES'

Michael McConnell, who previously served alongside Gorsuch as a conservative judge on the Denver-based 10th US&nbsp;Circuit Court of Appeals and is now a professor of law at Stanford University in California, said the administration is responding to a recent legal development.

The issuance of nationwide injunctions like that one that has drawn the administration's ire did not become common until late in the Obama administration and have now "proliferated in this administration," McConnell said, adding that judges should limit the scope of their injunctions.

"The (solicitor general) cannot be faulted for responding to the new circumstances," McConnell said.

This week's two Justice Department requests for the Supreme Court to lift nationwide injunctions followed other administration efforts to stop trials in lower courts over federal policies, prevent documents from being released or shield administration officials from questioning.

Robert Loeb, a former Justice Department official who served under presidents of both parties, said the "amazing" number of Trump administration requests to the Supreme Court reflected a belief that its conservative majority will be sympathetic towards Trump.

"They may be breaking institutional boundaries because they view it as a more favourable forum than in the past," Loeb said.

Loeb said the Justice Department's actions repeatedly seeking early relief from lower court orders risk undermining the credibility of the solicitor general's office and politicizing the Supreme Court.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The administration has asked the high court with some success for help in disputes over evidence, including in its bid to rescind a programme created by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children, and in its plan to add a contentious citizenship question to the 2020 census.

There are signs that the administration's offensive against nationwide injunctions may be paying off in lower courts.

The San Francisco-based 9th US&nbsp;Circuit Court of Appeals, a liberal-leaning court that Trump often criticizes, on Thursday narrowed an injunction issued by a federal judge against a plan to expand exemptions to birth control insurance, saying its nationwide scope was "overbroad."

In August, the 9th Circuit also threw out the nationwide aspect of an injunction issued by a federal judge involving the administration's move to withhold certain federal funding from so-called "sanctuary cities" that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The degree to which the high court will be amenable to the administration's requests is not entirely clear. In the wake of heated Senate confirmation hearings for Trump's latest Supreme Court Kavanaugh, the justices have steered clear of some cases on volatile social issues involving abortion and rights for gay and transgender people.

It has not been a sure bet for the administration at the Supreme Court, however. The justices, for example, have rebuffed administration requests to stop trials in lower courts over the census question and a lawsuit concerning climate change.

President Donald Trump's administration asked the US Supreme Court this week to suspend nationwide orders by federal judges blocking two of his major policies in an unusual step but one in line with an aggressive White House litigation strategy.

President Donald Trump's administration asked the US Supreme Court this week to suspend nationwide orders by federal judges blocking two of his major policies in an unusual step but one in line with an aggressive White House litigation strategy. The Supreme Court traditionally has been viewed as the court of last resort in the United States, but Trump's Justice Department increasingly has tried to enlist it in paring back or halting unfavourable rulings by lower courts on signature Trump policies, often at early stages of litigation. In another tactic, the administration has asked the justices to review disputes even before lower appeals courts have acted. Trump has appointed conservatives Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch to lifetime jobs on the Supreme Court since taking office last year, cementing its 5-4 conservative majority. The Republican president often has criticized lower court rulings that went against his policies and expressed his desire to be heard by the Supreme Court instead. On Tuesday, the administration asked the high court for a stay of a San Francisco-based federal judge's nationwide injunction that blocked Trump's policy prohibiting asylum for immigrants who enter the United States outside an official port of entry. On Thursday, the administration asked the court to stay nationwide injunctions issued by federal judges blocking Trump's plan to bar some transgender people from serving in the military, if the justices decline an unusual earlier request to review the cases before lower appeals courts have ruled. Since Trump took office in January 2017, lower courts have issued a series of nationwide injunctions blocking a number of his policies such as his travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries a policy the Supreme Court later allowed to go into effect. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who Trump ousted last month, had criticized federal judges for such injunctions. In Thursday's stay request over the transgender military policy, US Solicitor General Noel Francisco, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, did too. "Such injunctions previously were rare, but in recent years they have become routine," Francisco wrote, adding that 25 such injunctions had been imposed on the Trump administration. 'NEW CIRCUMSTANCES' Michael McConnell, who previously served alongside Gorsuch as a conservative judge on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals and is now a professor of law at Stanford University in California, said the administration is responding to a recent legal development. The issuance of nationwide injunctions like that one that has drawn the administration's ire did not become common until late in the Obama administration and have now "proliferated in this administration," McConnell said, adding that judges should limit the scope of their injunctions. "The (solicitor general) cannot be faulted for responding to the new circumstances," McConnell said. This week's two Justice Department requests for the Supreme Court to lift nationwide injunctions followed other administration efforts to stop trials in lower courts over federal policies, prevent documents from being released or shield administration officials from questioning. Robert Loeb, a former Justice Department official who served under presidents of both parties, said the "amazing" number of Trump administration requests to the Supreme Court reflected a belief that its conservative majority will be sympathetic towards Trump. "They may be breaking institutional boundaries because they view it as a more favourable forum than in the past," Loeb said. Loeb said the Justice Department's actions repeatedly seeking early relief from lower court orders risk undermining the credibility of the solicitor general's office and politicizing the Supreme Court. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The administration has asked the high court with some success for help in disputes over evidence, including in its bid to rescind a programme created by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children, and in its plan to add a contentious citizenship question to the 2020 census. There are signs that the administration's offensive against nationwide injunctions may be paying off in lower courts. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, a liberal-leaning court that Trump often criticizes, on Thursday narrowed an injunction issued by a federal judge against a plan to expand exemptions to birth control insurance, saying its nationwide scope was "overbroad." In August, the 9th Circuit also threw out the nationwide aspect of an injunction issued by a federal judge involving the administration's move to withhold certain federal funding from so-called "sanctuary cities" that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The degree to which the high court will be amenable to the administration's requests is not entirely clear. In the wake of heated Senate confirmation hearings for Trump's latest Supreme Court Kavanaugh, the justices have steered clear of some cases on volatile social issues involving abortion and rights for gay and transgender people. It has not been a sure bet for the administration at the Supreme Court, however. The justices, for example, have rebuffed administration requests to stop trials in lower courts over the census question and a lawsuit concerning climate change.

Challenging judges' orders, Trump aims to enlist Supreme Court

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-going-to-open-up-whole-country-they-want-to-please-me-trump-183898">US President Donald Trump</a> was at a meeting in August 2015 when his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">personal lawyer Michael Cohen</a> and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday.

A non-prosecution agreement between federal prosecutors and American Media Inc, which publishes the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper, was disclosed on Wednesday in conjunction with the sentencing of Cohen for crimes that included violating campaign finance laws by orchestrating hush payments to women.

As part of the agreement American Media admitted that it had made a $150,000 payment to silence a woman about her alleged affair with Trump "in concert" with a presidential campaign and with the intent of influencing the 2016 election.

In its "Statement of Admitted Facts," American Media said that in August 2015 Pecker and Cohen met with at least "one other member of the campaign" where the scheme to identify and suppress such stories by making hush payments was discussed.

The "other member of the campaign" in that meeting was Trump, NBC reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Charles Stillman, an attorney for American Media, declined to comment to Reuters.

Neither Guy Petrillo, a lawyer for Cohen, nor Jay Sekulow, an attorney for Trump, immediately responded to requests for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump in a series of tweets distanced himself from Cohen, saying that he never directed Cohen to break the law and that the payments were unrelated to his campaign.

Cohen said in a guilty plea in August that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Prosecutors in New York confirmed last week in a court filing that they believed the president ordered the payments to protect his campaign.

Trump has denied the affairs and argues the payments to the two women were not campaign contributions.

In tweets on Thursday, Trump said, "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

US President Donald Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Michael Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Michael Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday. A non-prosecution agreement between federal prosecutors and American Media Inc, which publishes the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper, was disclosed on Wednesday in conjunction with the sentencing of Cohen for crimes that included violating campaign finance laws by orchestrating hush payments to women. As part of the agreement American Media admitted that it had made a $150,000 payment to silence a woman about her alleged affair with Trump "in concert" with a presidential campaign and with the intent of influencing the 2016 election. In its "Statement of Admitted Facts," American Media said that in August 2015 Pecker and Cohen met with at least "one other member of the campaign" where the scheme to identify and suppress such stories by making hush payments was discussed. The "other member of the campaign" in that meeting was Trump, NBC reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Charles Stillman, an attorney for American Media, declined to comment to Reuters. Neither Guy Petrillo, a lawyer for Cohen, nor Jay Sekulow, an attorney for Trump, immediately responded to requests for comment. Earlier on Thursday, Trump in a series of tweets distanced himself from Cohen, saying that he never directed Cohen to break the law and that the payments were unrelated to his campaign. Cohen said in a guilty plea in August that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Prosecutors in New York confirmed last week in a court filing that they believed the president ordered the payments to protect his campaign. Trump has denied the affairs and argues the payments to the two women were not campaign contributions. In tweets on Thursday, Trump said, "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

Trump was at meeting in 2015 when hush payments were discussed: Source

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-going-to-open-up-whole-country-they-want-to-please-me-trump-183898">US President Donald Trump</a>'s administration on Thursday urged the nation's highest court to temporarily block the military recruitment of transgender people, pending the outcome of an ongoing legal battle.

The administration said there is "too great a risk to military effectiveness and lethality" to allow transgender people to serve openly -- a policy enacted under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama.

Under the policy, the military was to begin accepting transgender recruits on July 1, 2017 -- but the Trump administration pushed the deadline to January 1, 2018, before deciding to reverse the policy completely.

But the ban on transgender people in the military was repeatedly challenged in court, leading to an updated policy that also contained major restrictions on transgender service, and which was also suspended because of its similarity to the original measure.

The government appealed and asked the Supreme Court to hear the case, and, pending its final decision, on Thursday requested that it suspend the rulings of the lower courts.

Otherwise, "the nationwide injunction would... Remain in place for at least another year and likely well into 2020 -- a period too long for the military to be forced to maintain a policy that it has determined, in its professional judgment, to be contrary to the nation's interests," the Trump administration argued.

US President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday urged the nation's highest court to temporarily block the military recruitment of transgender people, pending the outcome of an ongoing legal battle.

US President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday urged the nation's highest court to temporarily block the military recruitment of transgender people, pending the outcome of an ongoing legal battle. The administration said there is "too great a risk to military effectiveness and lethality" to allow transgender people to serve openly -- a policy enacted under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. Under the policy, the military was to begin accepting transgender recruits on July 1, 2017 -- but the Trump administration pushed the deadline to January 1, 2018, before deciding to reverse the policy completely. But the ban on transgender people in the military was repeatedly challenged in court, leading to an updated policy that also contained major restrictions on transgender service, and which was also suspended because of its similarity to the original measure. The government appealed and asked the Supreme Court to hear the case, and, pending its final decision, on Thursday requested that it suspend the rulings of the lower courts. Otherwise, "the nationwide injunction would... Remain in place for at least another year and likely well into 2020 -- a period too long for the military to be forced to maintain a policy that it has determined, in its professional judgment, to be contrary to the nation's interests," the Trump administration argued.

White House asks top court to block transgender military service

Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, on whose watch India cancelled the scam-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal, says that the defence scandal hurt the competitiveness of Italian companies. 
&nbsp; 
"It was a big problem for Italian competitiveness. Italian companies lost a lot from this situation," Letta tells WION in an exclusive interview in New Delhi. 
&nbsp; 
He says that the underlying message in all his contacts with India at the time was that independence of the judiciary has to be respected. 
&nbsp; 
Remember, the AgustaWestland helicopter scam came to light a few weeks before Letta's inauguration as Italy's prime minister but New Delhi cancelled the deal in January 2014 when Letta was the premier. 
&nbsp; 
Letta tells WION that his government adopted a clear and constructive approach with India, especially because he had to deal with the fallout of the "Enrica Lexie" case, too, involving the arrest of two Italian navy personnel who were jailed for the killing of two Indian fishermen. 
&nbsp; 
Further, speaking on Brexit, Letta said, "Brexit is a bad story without a happy end". "I strongly hope that the voters, British Parliament and British people will think again and will reverse this decision," he told WION. "(The Brexit referendum) was a very superficial decision. The only happy end I imagine is a second referendum and the decision to stop Brexit. The second referendum is completion of the first," he added. 
&nbsp; 
He was also critical of European Union’s migration policy. "We need a human rights-friendly migration policy of the EU. I am not proud of the way in which Europe dealt with migration," Letta said. 
&nbsp; 
He also spoke at length on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is the greater threat for EU: Russia or China? And US President Donald Trump. “When it comes to trade, Trump is against Europe,” Letta told WION. “Obama or Hillary Clinton would have been better for EU,” he added. 
&nbsp; 
Currently, former prime minister of Italy, Enrico Letta, is the Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po. 
&nbsp; 
The full interview runs in WION's Global Leadership Series at 21:00 IST on Saturday, December 15, 2018, and repeats at 20:00 IST on Sunday, December 16, 2018.

Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, on whose watch India cancelled the scam-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal, says that the defence scandal hurt the competitiveness of Italian companies.

Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, on whose watch India cancelled the scam-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal, says that the defence scandal hurt the competitiveness of Italian companies. "It was a big problem for Italian competitiveness. Italian companies lost a lot from this situation," Letta tells WION in an exclusive interview in New Delhi. He says that the underlying message in all his contacts with India at the time was that independence of the judiciary has to be respected. Remember, the AgustaWestland helicopter scam came to light a few weeks before Letta's inauguration as Italy's prime minister but New Delhi cancelled the deal in January 2014 when Letta was the premier. Letta tells WION that his government adopted a clear and constructive approach with India, especially because he had to deal with the fallout of the "Enrica Lexie" case, too, involving the arrest of two Italian navy personnel who were jailed for the killing of two Indian fishermen. Further, speaking on Brexit, Letta said, "Brexit is a bad story without a happy end". "I strongly hope that the voters, British Parliament and British people will think again and will reverse this decision," he told WION. "(The Brexit referendum) was a very superficial decision. The only happy end I imagine is a second referendum and the decision to stop Brexit. The second referendum is completion of the first," he added. He was also critical of European Union’s migration policy. "We need a human rights-friendly migration policy of the EU. I am not proud of the way in which Europe dealt with migration," Letta said. He also spoke at length on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is the greater threat for EU: Russia or China? And US President Donald Trump. “When it comes to trade, Trump is against Europe,” Letta told WION. “Obama or Hillary Clinton would have been better for EU,” he added. Currently, former prime minister of Italy, Enrico Letta, is the Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po. The full interview runs in WION's Global Leadership Series at 21:00 IST on Saturday, December 15, 2018, and repeats at 20:00 IST on Sunday, December 16, 2018.

Global Leadership Series: Former Italy PM on AgustaWestland, Brexit, Trump and more

There will be no meeting between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ex-lawyer-cohens-crimes-are-unrelated-to-me-183823">US President Donald Trump</a> and Russian President Vladimir Putin while Russia still holds Ukrainian ships and sailors seized near Crimea, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-adviser-john-bolton-heading-plan-to-assassinate-me-maduro-183649">US national security adviser John Bolton</a> said on Thursday.

"I don’t see circumstances in the foreseeable future where such a meeting could take place until the ships and the crews are released," Bolton told reporters at a Washington think tank.

Russia seized three Ukrainian navy vessels and their combined crew of 24 last month off the coast of Russian-annexed Crimea and accused them of illegally entering Russian waters.

Ukraine has said Russia captured the two small gunboats and one tugboat illegally and accused Moscow of military aggression.

Two Ukrainian navy captains being held in a Russian jail have refused to provide testimony because they consider themselves prisoners of war, their lawyers said.

There will be no meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin while Russia still holds Ukrainian ships and sailors seized near Crimea, US national security adviser John Bolton said on Thursday.

There will be no meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin while Russia still holds Ukrainian ships and sailors seized near Crimea, US national security adviser John Bolton said on Thursday. "I don’t see circumstances in the foreseeable future where such a meeting could take place until the ships and the crews are released," Bolton told reporters at a Washington think tank. Russia seized three Ukrainian navy vessels and their combined crew of 24 last month off the coast of Russian-annexed Crimea and accused them of illegally entering Russian waters. Ukraine has said Russia captured the two small gunboats and one tugboat illegally and accused Moscow of military aggression. Two Ukrainian navy captains being held in a Russian jail have refused to provide testimony because they consider themselves prisoners of war, their lawyers said.

No Trump-Putin meeting while Russia holds Ukraine ship: US NSA John Bolton

US President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-cohen-to-be-sentenced-for-hush-money-payments-183522">former personal lawyer</a>&nbsp;Michael&nbsp;Cohen claimed on Friday that Trump was aware that the hush money payments were wrong.

News agency AFP quoted Cohen as saying, "Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong".

Michael Cohen&nbsp;has been sentenced to three years in jail&nbsp;for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign.

In an interview to a media, Cohen said:&nbsp;"Trump acted because he was very concerned about how this would affect the election".

Cohen's claims have come after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-was-at-meeting-in-2015-when-hush-payments-were-discussed-source-183942">news reports on Thursday</a> stated that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was at a meeting in August 2015 when his&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">personal lawyer Cohen</a>&nbsp;and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump.

Trump who had earlier called Cohen "liar" distanced himself from Cohen and said he had never directed Cohen to break the law.

He also said that the payments made were unrelated to his campaign.

In a guilty plea in August, Cohen had said&nbsp;that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president.

Cohen,&nbsp;who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said in federal court on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his&nbsp;boss's "dirty deeds".

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen claimed on Friday that Trump was aware that the hush money payments were wrong. News agency AFP quoted Cohen as saying, "Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong".

US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen claimed on Friday that Trump was aware that the hush money payments were wrong. News agency AFP quoted Cohen as saying, "Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong". Michael Cohen has been sentenced to three years in jail for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign. In an interview to a media, Cohen said: "Trump acted because he was very concerned about how this would affect the election". Cohen's claims have come after news reports on Thursday stated that Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump. Trump who had earlier called Cohen "liar" distanced himself from Cohen and said he had never directed Cohen to break the law. He also said that the payments made were unrelated to his campaign. In a guilty plea in August, Cohen had said that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Cohen, who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said in federal court on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his boss's "dirty deeds". (With inputs from agencies)

Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong: Ex-lawyer Cohen

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday warned the United States not to politicise extradition cases, a day after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-cohen-liar-after-his-sentencing-report-183616">President Donald Trump</a> said he could intervene in the affair of a Chinese executive detained in Canada at Washington's request.

Freeland also told reporters that a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-cfo-arrest-fallout-after-ex-diplomat-another-canadian-national-goes-missing-after-questioning-by-chinese-authorities-183587">second Canadian citizen could be in trouble in China</a>. Authorities in China are already holding former diplomat Michael Kovrig, who was detained on Monday.

Officials say China had so far not linked Kovrig's detention to the arrest in Vancouver on Dec. 1 of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, which infuriated Beijing. But Canadian diplomatic experts have said they have no doubt the two cases are linked.

US prosecutors accuse Meng of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating US sanctions. She has said she is innocent.

Trump told Reuters on Tuesday he would intervene&nbsp;in the US Justice Department's case against Meng if it would serve national security interests or help close a trade deal with China.

Freeland said it was obvious the legal process should not be hijacked for political purposes and that Meng's lawyers would have the option of raising Trump's remarks if they decided to fight extradition.

"Our extradition partners should not seek to politicize the extradition process or use it for ends other than the pursuit of justice and following the rule of law," she said when asked about Trump's comments.

Her words mark another potentially difficult moment in ties between Canada and the United States, which were heavily strained during more than a year of talks to negotiate a new North American trade pact.

Others also questioned whether Trump might be misusing the extradition request.

"This is a legal issue and one that appears properly executed but your comments can only diminish an important extradition agreement," said Bruce Heyman, an ex-US ambassador to Canada who was appointed by President Barack Obama, Trump's predecessor.

Meng was released on bail by a Canadian court on Tuesday and is next due to appear before a judge on February 6.

The United States has not yet made a formal extradition petition. Once it does, if a Canadian judge rules in favour of the request, Canada's justice minister must decide whether to extradite Meng to the United States.

Canadian government officials earlier told a briefing that Meng had many legal options to fight extradition and the process could take years.

The justice minister could deny the US request if they deem "it has been made for an improper purpose," said one official.

The Meng affair has soured Canada's ties with China at a time when Ottawa is trying to boost bilateral trade.

Freeland expressed deep concern over the Kovrig case and said a second unnamed man had called Canadian authorities to say Chinese officials were asking him questions.

"We have not been able to make contact with him since he let us know about this," she said.

"We are working very hard to ascertain his whereabouts and we have also raised this case with the Chinese authorities."

The government officials said they had seen an uptick in anti-Canadian sentiment online and in China and have communicated concerns about diplomatic staff safety to the Chinese government, which beefed up security in response.

"We have in general informed our personnel in Beijing and in our consulates to take extra precautions," an official said.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday warned the United States not to politicise extradition cases, a day after President Donald Trump said he could intervene in the affair of a Chinese executive detained in Canada at Washington's request.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday warned the United States not to politicise extradition cases, a day after President Donald Trump said he could intervene in the affair of a Chinese executive detained in Canada at Washington's request. Freeland also told reporters that a second Canadian citizen could be in trouble in China. Authorities in China are already holding former diplomat Michael Kovrig, who was detained on Monday. Officials say China had so far not linked Kovrig's detention to the arrest in Vancouver on Dec. 1 of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, which infuriated Beijing. But Canadian diplomatic experts have said they have no doubt the two cases are linked. US prosecutors accuse Meng of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating US sanctions. She has said she is innocent. Trump told Reuters on Tuesday he would intervene in the US Justice Department's case against Meng if it would serve national security interests or help close a trade deal with China. Freeland said it was obvious the legal process should not be hijacked for political purposes and that Meng's lawyers would have the option of raising Trump's remarks if they decided to fight extradition. "Our extradition partners should not seek to politicize the extradition process or use it for ends other than the pursuit of justice and following the rule of law," she said when asked about Trump's comments. Her words mark another potentially difficult moment in ties between Canada and the United States, which were heavily strained during more than a year of talks to negotiate a new North American trade pact. Others also questioned whether Trump might be misusing the extradition request. "This is a legal issue and one that appears properly executed but your comments can only diminish an important extradition agreement," said Bruce Heyman, an ex-US ambassador to Canada who was appointed by President Barack Obama, Trump's predecessor. Meng was released on bail by a Canadian court on Tuesday and is next due to appear before a judge on February 6. The United States has not yet made a formal extradition petition. Once it does, if a Canadian judge rules in favour of the request, Canada's justice minister must decide whether to extradite Meng to the United States. Canadian government officials earlier told a briefing that Meng had many legal options to fight extradition and the process could take years. The justice minister could deny the US request if they deem "it has been made for an improper purpose," said one official. The Meng affair has soured Canada's ties with China at a time when Ottawa is trying to boost bilateral trade. Freeland expressed deep concern over the Kovrig case and said a second unnamed man had called Canadian authorities to say Chinese officials were asking him questions. "We have not been able to make contact with him since he let us know about this," she said. "We are working very hard to ascertain his whereabouts and we have also raised this case with the Chinese authorities." The government officials said they had seen an uptick in anti-Canadian sentiment online and in China and have communicated concerns about diplomatic staff safety to the Chinese government, which beefed up security in response. "We have in general informed our personnel in Beijing and in our consulates to take extra precautions," an official said.

Do not politicise extradition cases: Canada warns US

Michael Cohen, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-cohen-to-be-sentenced-for-hush-money-payments-183522">former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump</a> has been sentenced to 3 years in jail&nbsp;for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign.

Cohen,&nbsp;who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his&nbsp;boss's "dirty deeds".

In a blistering attack on his former boss in federal court, Cohen said he was taking responsibility for his crimes "including those implicating the President of the United States of America".&nbsp;

Cohen pleaded for leniency in the court on Wednesday for the multiple charges levelled against him.

Cohen's lawyers had asked for no jail time after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, making false statements to a financial institution, illegal campaign contributions, and making false statements to Congress.

But the judge sentenced Cohen to three years in jail.

The 52-year-old former lawyer walked into federal court in downtown Manhattan with his wife, son and daughter.

He pleaded guilty in August to charges by federal prosecutors in New York that, just before the election, he paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 and helped arrange a $150,000 payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal so the women would keep quiet about their past relationships with Trump, who is married. Trump denies having the affairs.

Prosecutors say the hush money payments violated campaign finance laws and they concurred with Cohen's assertion that the payments were directed by Trump, implicating Trump in a possible campaign finance law violation.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump has been sentenced to 3 years in jail for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign.

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump has been sentenced to 3 years in jail for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign. Cohen, who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his boss's "dirty deeds". In a blistering attack on his former boss in federal court, Cohen said he was taking responsibility for his crimes "including those implicating the President of the United States of America". Cohen pleaded for leniency in the court on Wednesday for the multiple charges levelled against him. Cohen's lawyers had asked for no jail time after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, making false statements to a financial institution, illegal campaign contributions, and making false statements to Congress. But the judge sentenced Cohen to three years in jail. The 52-year-old former lawyer walked into federal court in downtown Manhattan with his wife, son and daughter. He pleaded guilty in August to charges by federal prosecutors in New York that, just before the election, he paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 and helped arrange a $150,000 payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal so the women would keep quiet about their past relationships with Trump, who is married. Trump denies having the affairs. Prosecutors say the hush money payments violated campaign finance laws and they concurred with Cohen's assertion that the payments were directed by Trump, implicating Trump in a possible campaign finance law violation. (With inputs from agencies)

Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen says job was to cover up boss's 'dirty deeds', sentenced to 3 years in prison

In a rare break with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-cohen-liar-after-his-sentencing-report-183616">President Donald Trump</a>, the Senate voted on Wednesday to move ahead with a resolution to end US military support for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition in the war in Yemen and lawmakers vowed to push for sanctions against the kingdom in the new year.

Eleven of Trump's fellow Republicans joined Democrats to provide the 60 votes needed to advance the war powers resolution in the Republican-led chamber. The vote paved the way for debate and a vote on US involvement in a conflict that has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, many of them young children and left millions more at risk of starvation and death by disease.

The nearly unprecedented break the 11 Republicans made from Trump was largely symbolic because the House of Representatives is not expected to take the matter up this year. Trump has threatened a veto.

But backers of the resolution said it sent an important message that lawmakers are unhappy with the humanitarian disaster in Yemen, and angry about the lack of a strong US response to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers also vowed to keep pushing after the new Congress take office in January for further tough action against Saudi Arabia, including legislation to impose human rights sanctions and opposition to weapons sales.

"If you want to buy our weapons, there are certain things you have to accept. How you use them matters," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told a news conference.

"The individual, the crown prince, is so toxic, so tainted, so flawed, that I can't ever see myself doing business with Saudi Arabia unless there's a change there," said Graham, generally a close Trump ally in the Senate.

Republicans will hold a slightly larger majority in the new Senate, but Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives, increasing the chances of sanctions legislation passing.

The Trump administration had urged Congress not to oppose US fuelling, targeting help and other support for the Saudi-led coalition as it battles the Houthis, Shi'ite Muslim fighters viewed by Yemen's neighbours as agents of Iran.

Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the administration's handling of Khashoggi's killing.

Pompeo repeated his assertion there was no direct evidence linking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the October 2 killing of Khashoggi in Istanbul, despite a CIA assessment it was likely he ordered the killing.

Riyadh initially denied knowledge of Khashoggi’s disappearance, then offered contradictory explanations, including that he was killed in a rogue operation.

TRUMP STANDS BY CROWN PRINCE

Trump condemned the murder but has stood by the Saudi crown prince. "He's the leader of Saudi Arabia. They've been a very good ally," Trump told Reuters on Tuesday in an Oval Office interview.

Central Intelligence Agency Director Gina Haspel briefed leaders of the House of Representatives behind closed doors about the killing. After the classified meeting, House members said they had not heard anything to change their minds about Khashoggi's death.

Democratic Representative Eliot Engel, likely the next chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee when Democrats take control of the House in January, said he intended to hold hearings starting early next year on all aspects of Saudi behaviour and the US-Saudi relationship.

"Saudi Arabia's an important ... partner, but I don't think we can simply look the other way when things happen and talk about business as usual," Engel said.

Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who held a separate briefing for the entire Senate, are due to discuss Saudi Arabia with the entire House on Thursday.

But several lawmakers have urged that Congress keep the Yemen conflict separate from anger over the killing of Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post columnist.

They view Saudi Arabia as an essential counterweight in the Middle East to Iran, arch-enemy of close US ally Israel. White House officials see Saudi support as a linchpin for an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan yet to be unveiled by the Trump administration.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Wednesday in Jerusalem that Saudi Arabia's role in the Middle East must be taken into account in responding to Khashoggi's "horrific" fate.

"If Saudi Arabia were to be destabilized, the world would be destabilized," Netanyahu told foreign reporters, speaking in English.

In a rare break with President Donald Trump, the Senate voted on Wednesday to move ahead with a resolution to end US military support for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition in the war in Yemen and lawmakers vowed to push for sanctions against the kingdom in the new year.

In a rare break with President Donald Trump, the Senate voted on Wednesday to move ahead with a resolution to end US military support for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition in the war in Yemen and lawmakers vowed to push for sanctions against the kingdom in the new year. Eleven of Trump's fellow Republicans joined Democrats to provide the 60 votes needed to advance the war powers resolution in the Republican-led chamber. The vote paved the way for debate and a vote on US involvement in a conflict that has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, many of them young children and left millions more at risk of starvation and death by disease. The nearly unprecedented break the 11 Republicans made from Trump was largely symbolic because the House of Representatives is not expected to take the matter up this year. Trump has threatened a veto. But backers of the resolution said it sent an important message that lawmakers are unhappy with the humanitarian disaster in Yemen, and angry about the lack of a strong US response to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey. Republican and Democratic lawmakers also vowed to keep pushing after the new Congress take office in January for further tough action against Saudi Arabia, including legislation to impose human rights sanctions and opposition to weapons sales. "If you want to buy our weapons, there are certain things you have to accept. How you use them matters," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told a news conference. "The individual, the crown prince, is so toxic, so tainted, so flawed, that I can't ever see myself doing business with Saudi Arabia unless there's a change there," said Graham, generally a close Trump ally in the Senate. Republicans will hold a slightly larger majority in the new Senate, but Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives, increasing the chances of sanctions legislation passing. The Trump administration had urged Congress not to oppose US fuelling, targeting help and other support for the Saudi-led coalition as it battles the Houthis, Shi'ite Muslim fighters viewed by Yemen's neighbours as agents of Iran. Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the administration's handling of Khashoggi's killing. Pompeo repeated his assertion there was no direct evidence linking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the October 2 killing of Khashoggi in Istanbul, despite a CIA assessment it was likely he ordered the killing. Riyadh initially denied knowledge of Khashoggi’s disappearance, then offered contradictory explanations, including that he was killed in a rogue operation. TRUMP STANDS BY CROWN PRINCE Trump condemned the murder but has stood by the Saudi crown prince. "He's the leader of Saudi Arabia. They've been a very good ally," Trump told Reuters on Tuesday in an Oval Office interview. Central Intelligence Agency Director Gina Haspel briefed leaders of the House of Representatives behind closed doors about the killing. After the classified meeting, House members said they had not heard anything to change their minds about Khashoggi's death. Democratic Representative Eliot Engel, likely the next chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee when Democrats take control of the House in January, said he intended to hold hearings starting early next year on all aspects of Saudi behaviour and the US-Saudi relationship. "Saudi Arabia's an important ... partner, but I don't think we can simply look the other way when things happen and talk about business as usual," Engel said. Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who held a separate briefing for the entire Senate, are due to discuss Saudi Arabia with the entire House on Thursday. But several lawmakers have urged that Congress keep the Yemen conflict separate from anger over the killing of Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post columnist. They view Saudi Arabia as an essential counterweight in the Middle East to Iran, arch-enemy of close US ally Israel. White House officials see Saudi support as a linchpin for an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan yet to be unveiled by the Trump administration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Wednesday in Jerusalem that Saudi Arabia's role in the Middle East must be taken into account in responding to Khashoggi's "horrific" fate. "If Saudi Arabia were to be destabilized, the world would be destabilized," Netanyahu told foreign reporters, speaking in English.

Defying Trump, US Senate advances measure to end support for Saudis in Yemen

He was the personal lawyer to Donald Trump and the epitome of loyalty - a man who said he would "take a bullet" for his boss.

But since August, Michael Cohen has been the witness Trump fears most in the Russia investigation, one whose testimony has the power to strike at the heart of Trump's increasingly embattled presidency.

The 52-year-old New Yorker has gone from being one of Trump's most trusted lieutenants over the course of 12 years to telling authorities everything he knows about the former real estate magnate's business affairs.

On Wednesday, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">Cohen was sentenced</a> for campaign finance law violations and tax and bank fraud offenses.

Until now, this attorney and businessman who met Trump through real estate dealings was as close to Trump as you can get.

Cohen admired Trump the brash tycoon and twice read his book "The Art of the Deal." He was fiercely faithful to Trump as the latter moved toward a life in politics and he is said to have fancied, in vain, the job of White House chief counsel - the President's official lawyer.

Named vice president of the Trump family business, The Trump Organisation, Cohen was the fixer assigned the most delicate tasks the president needed done.

These included making nasty threats to journalists who asked too many questions about the shady dealings of a man whose empire was built on pillars of loud, cocky and grandiose self-promotion.

Nickname, the pitbull

"If somebody does something Mr Trump doesn't like, I do everything in my power to resolve it to Mr Trump's benefit," Cohen told ABC News in 2011. "If you do something wrong, I'm going to come at you, grab you by the neck, and I'm not going to let you go until I'm finished."

This devotion would earn Cohen - the son of a nurse and a Polish-born doctor who survived the Holocaust - the nickname of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-cohen-liar-after-his-sentencing-report-183616">Trump's pitbull</a>. And ultimately it has also dragged him into life-altering legal woes.

US media say Cohen's first taste of lawyering prepared him for shady dealings.

After graduating from law school at Western Michigan University, he specialised in helping people who were hurt in accidents - an ambulance chaser in slang.

For instance, he once defended a woman accused of trying to defraud an insurance company by seeking damages from a fictitious road accident.

Along with his Ukrainian-born wife, Cohen later made a boatload investing in New York taxi licenses, in a pre-Uber era when their value was high and always climbing.

As Trump's fixer, Cohen arranged for Trump to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playmate Karen McDougal, both of whom claimed to have had sex with Trump, right before the 2016 election.

Damaging admissions

But it was an FBI raid on his office in April of this year that paved the way for Cohen to start cooperating with authorities investigation whether Trump colluded with Russia.

Four months later, Cohen acknowledged paying a total of $280,000 to those two women in exchange for their silence. He confessed to violating campaign finance laws that bar individual contributions of more than $2,700 to a politician's campaign.

For the first time, and very importantly, he said he had acted at the president's request in an effort to keep those women from harming Trump's chances of winning the election by triggering a scandal on the eve of the vote.

Cohen thus became a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to sway the vote in his favor and whether the president has tried to obstruct justice by blocking the probe into his relationship with the Russians.

Last month Cohen acknowledged that he lied to Congress about his contacts with Russia about building a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Cohen said these contacts went on until June 2016, far longer than he had previously told lawmakers.

Cohen also said he had been approached in late 2015 by a Russian proposing "political" cooperation with team Trump -- an admission that fueled suspicions of collusion.

Cohen's admissions have people talking about possible impeachment of Trump or criminal charges against him if he does not win re-election in 2020. It is generally thought that a sitting US president cannot be indicted.

Cohen's defenders depict him as a fall guy, but for now he is the only one who is about to go to prison.

New York prosecutors want to see Cohen sentenced to what they call a substantial term of four to five years in prison.

Cohen is hoping that his cooperation with authorities investigating Trump will land him a more lenient punishment.

Cohen's goal now is to get his widely expected prison time over and done with and "begin his life virtually anew, including developing new means to support his family," as his lawyer puts it.

He was the personal lawyer to Donald Trump and the epitome of loyalty - a man who said he would "take a bullet" for his boss. But since August, Michael Cohen has been the witness Trump fears most in the Russia investigation, one whose testimony has the power to strike at the heart of Trump's increasingly embattled presidency.

He was the personal lawyer to Donald Trump and the epitome of loyalty - a man who said he would "take a bullet" for his boss. But since August, Michael Cohen has been the witness Trump fears most in the Russia investigation, one whose testimony has the power to strike at the heart of Trump's increasingly embattled presidency. The 52-year-old New Yorker has gone from being one of Trump's most trusted lieutenants over the course of 12 years to telling authorities everything he knows about the former real estate magnate's business affairs. On Wednesday, Cohen was sentenced for campaign finance law violations and tax and bank fraud offenses. Until now, this attorney and businessman who met Trump through real estate dealings was as close to Trump as you can get. Cohen admired Trump the brash tycoon and twice read his book "The Art of the Deal." He was fiercely faithful to Trump as the latter moved toward a life in politics and he is said to have fancied, in vain, the job of White House chief counsel - the President's official lawyer. Named vice president of the Trump family business, The Trump Organisation, Cohen was the fixer assigned the most delicate tasks the president needed done. These included making nasty threats to journalists who asked too many questions about the shady dealings of a man whose empire was built on pillars of loud, cocky and grandiose self-promotion. Nickname, the pitbull "If somebody does something Mr Trump doesn't like, I do everything in my power to resolve it to Mr Trump's benefit," Cohen told ABC News in 2011. "If you do something wrong, I'm going to come at you, grab you by the neck, and I'm not going to let you go until I'm finished." This devotion would earn Cohen - the son of a nurse and a Polish-born doctor who survived the Holocaust - the nickname of Trump's pitbull. And ultimately it has also dragged him into life-altering legal woes. US media say Cohen's first taste of lawyering prepared him for shady dealings. After graduating from law school at Western Michigan University, he specialised in helping people who were hurt in accidents - an ambulance chaser in slang. For instance, he once defended a woman accused of trying to defraud an insurance company by seeking damages from a fictitious road accident. Along with his Ukrainian-born wife, Cohen later made a boatload investing in New York taxi licenses, in a pre-Uber era when their value was high and always climbing. As Trump's fixer, Cohen arranged for Trump to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playmate Karen McDougal, both of whom claimed to have had sex with Trump, right before the 2016 election. Damaging admissions But it was an FBI raid on his office in April of this year that paved the way for Cohen to start cooperating with authorities investigation whether Trump colluded with Russia. Four months later, Cohen acknowledged paying a total of $280,000 to those two women in exchange for their silence. He confessed to violating campaign finance laws that bar individual contributions of more than $2,700 to a politician's campaign. For the first time, and very importantly, he said he had acted at the president's request in an effort to keep those women from harming Trump's chances of winning the election by triggering a scandal on the eve of the vote. Cohen thus became a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to sway the vote in his favor and whether the president has tried to obstruct justice by blocking the probe into his relationship with the Russians. Last month Cohen acknowledged that he lied to Congress about his contacts with Russia about building a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen said these contacts went on until June 2016, far longer than he had previously told lawmakers. Cohen also said he had been approached in late 2015 by a Russian proposing "political" cooperation with team Trump -- an admission that fueled suspicions of collusion. Cohen's admissions have people talking about possible impeachment of Trump or criminal charges against him if he does not win re-election in 2020. It is generally thought that a sitting US president cannot be indicted. Cohen's defenders depict him as a fall guy, but for now he is the only one who is about to go to prison. New York prosecutors want to see Cohen sentenced to what they call a substantial term of four to five years in prison. Cohen is hoping that his cooperation with authorities investigating Trump will land him a more lenient punishment. Cohen's goal now is to get his widely expected prison time over and done with and "begin his life virtually anew, including developing new means to support his family," as his lawyer puts it.

Michael Cohen, Trump's loyal fixer turned tell-all accuser

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