Twitter has announced it would not block the accounts of world leaders even if their statements are &quot;controversial,&quot; citing a need to promote a &quot;public conversation&quot; on political issues.

The announcement came just days after a tweet from President Donald Trump hinting at the use of US nuclear weapons sparked criticism that the social network was allowing threats of violence.

&quot;Twitter is here to serve and help advance the global, public conversation. Elected world leaders play a critical role in that conversation because of their outsized impact on our society,&quot; the California-based company said in a blog post.

&quot;Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial tweets would hide important information people should be able to see and debate. It would also not silence that leader, but it would certainly hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions.&quot;

Twitter made no specific reference to Trump or his tweet this week saying he has a &quot;nuclear button&quot; which is &quot;bigger and more powerful&quot; than that of North Korea&#39;s.

Some activists said Twitter should have banned Trump and one group projected images on the company&#39;s headquarters with a message &quot;@jack is #complicit,&quot; a reference to chief executive Jack Dorsey and &quot;Ban @realDonaldTrump.&quot;

The group called Resistance SF accused Dorsey of &quot;endangering the world&quot; and violating its own rules by not banning Trump.

Friday&#39;s announcement comes less than a month after Twitter began enforcing new rules aimed at filtering out &quot;hateful&quot; and &quot;abusive&quot; content on the social network, including messages which promote or glorify violence.

Twitter, which has struggled to maintain an open platform without allowing violence or hate speech, said at the time it would not cut off accounts for military or government entities.

The statement left open the possibility however that Twitter could remove specific tweets from political leaders which violate its policies.

&quot;We review tweets by leaders within the political context that defines them, and enforce our rules accordingly,&quot; the statement said.

&quot;No one person&#39;s account drives Twitter&#39;s growth, or influences these decisions. We work hard to remain unbiased with the public interest in mind.&quot;&nbsp;

Twitter has announced it would not block the accounts of world leaders even if their statements are 'controversial,' citing a need to promote a 'public conversation' on political issues

Twitter has announced it would not block the accounts of world leaders even if their statements are "controversial," citing a need to promote a "public conversation" on political issues. The announcement came just days after a tweet from President Donald Trump hinting at the use of US nuclear weapons sparked criticism that the social network was allowing threats of violence. "Twitter is here to serve and help advance the global, public conversation. Elected world leaders play a critical role in that conversation because of their outsized impact on our society," the California-based company said in a blog post. "Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial tweets would hide important information people should be able to see and debate. It would also not silence that leader, but it would certainly hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions." Twitter made no specific reference to Trump or his tweet this week saying he has a "nuclear button" which is "bigger and more powerful" than that of North Korea's. Some activists said Twitter should have banned Trump and one group projected images on the company's headquarters with a message "@jack is #complicit," a reference to chief executive Jack Dorsey and "Ban @realDonaldTrump." The group called Resistance SF accused Dorsey of "endangering the world" and violating its own rules by not banning Trump. Friday's announcement comes less than a month after Twitter began enforcing new rules aimed at filtering out "hateful" and "abusive" content on the social network, including messages which promote or glorify violence. Twitter, which has struggled to maintain an open platform without allowing violence or hate speech, said at the time it would not cut off accounts for military or government entities. The statement left open the possibility however that Twitter could remove specific tweets from political leaders which violate its policies. "We review tweets by leaders within the political context that defines them, and enforce our rules accordingly," the statement said. "No one person's account drives Twitter's growth, or influences these decisions. We work hard to remain unbiased with the public interest in mind."

Twitter won't block world leaders, citing need for discourse

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif today alleged that US President Donald Trump&#39;s recent remarks against his country showed that he was &quot;talking in the language of India&quot;.

Briefing the Parliamentary Committee on National Security about the tension between Pakistan and the US following Trump&#39;s remarks, Asif said the US is making Islamabad a scapegoat for its failure in Afghanistan.

Trump had accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but &quot;lies and deceit&quot; in return for USD 33 billion aid.

Sources privy to the discussion in the meeting said Asif told lawmakers, &quot;Trump was speaking in the language of India.&quot;

&quot;The statements from the US leaders are contrary to the facts,&quot; Asif said.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who heads the body, told the media after the meeting that there should be &quot;balanced response&quot; to the statements from the US.

&quot;The country&#39;s dignity should be maintained while engaging with the US,&quot; he said.

He said the committee has decided to reconvene next week for a briefing by security agencies.

The closed-door meeting came on the heels of a high-level National Security Committee meet and the cabinet meeting earlier this week.

Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir was also present in the meeting.

Dastagir said when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis visited Pakistan, they presented their stance in accordance with diplomatic norms and the talks were not threatening and insulting, Geo TV reported.

&quot;(But) this was present in Trump&#39;s tweet and before that when US Vice President Mike Pence made the &#39;put Pakistan on notice&#39; statement from Afghanistan,&quot; the defence minister said, referring to the threatening tone of the US leaders.

&quot;We need to have a holistic review of the entire situation. We are conducting a complete analysis and coolly formulating our response,&quot; he said, adding that there should not be any doubts when it comes to the defence of Pakistan.

&quot;The question is will America create a situation which will harm Pakistan...We are ready for this but still want to engage the US,&quot; he shared.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and NSA Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua also briefed the participants.

Briefing the Parliamentary Committee on National Security about the tension between Pakistan and the US following Trump's remarks, Pakistan Foreign minister Asif said the US is making Islamabad a scapegoat for its failure in Afghanistan

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif today alleged that US President Donald Trump's recent remarks against his country showed that he was "talking in the language of India". Briefing the Parliamentary Committee on National Security about the tension between Pakistan and the US following Trump's remarks, Asif said the US is making Islamabad a scapegoat for its failure in Afghanistan. Trump had accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" in return for USD 33 billion aid. Sources privy to the discussion in the meeting said Asif told lawmakers, "Trump was speaking in the language of India." "The statements from the US leaders are contrary to the facts," Asif said. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who heads the body, told the media after the meeting that there should be "balanced response" to the statements from the US. "The country's dignity should be maintained while engaging with the US," he said. He said the committee has decided to reconvene next week for a briefing by security agencies. The closed-door meeting came on the heels of a high-level National Security Committee meet and the cabinet meeting earlier this week. Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir was also present in the meeting. Dastagir said when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis visited Pakistan, they presented their stance in accordance with diplomatic norms and the talks were not threatening and insulting, Geo TV reported. "(But) this was present in Trump's tweet and before that when US Vice President Mike Pence made the 'put Pakistan on notice' statement from Afghanistan," the defence minister said, referring to the threatening tone of the US leaders. "We need to have a holistic review of the entire situation. We are conducting a complete analysis and coolly formulating our response," he said, adding that there should not be any doubts when it comes to the defence of Pakistan. "The question is will America create a situation which will harm Pakistan...We are ready for this but still want to engage the US," he shared. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and NSA Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua also briefed the participants.

Trump 'talking in the language of India', Pakistan Foreign Minister

Following a disruptive start to 2018, President Donald Trump will huddle with top Republicans on a two-day retreat starting on Friday to lay out legislative priorities for the year and discuss a strategy for pivotal November congressional elections.

Days after explosive comments by Trump&#39;s former chief strategist Steve Bannon left the White House in a defensive crouch, the president will sit down at Camp David with party leaders including House of Representative Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Trump achieved the first major legislative win of his presidency in December with tax legislation long sought by his party and its supporters.

He is eager for more such victories and the White House has targeted infrastructure policy and a welfare overhaul as its top priorities. Immigration legislation, in particular, a plan to help people who were brought to the United States illegally as children, is also on the agenda.

How and when to execute those priorities must be decided. While Trump and McConnell want to work on infrastructure first, Ryan is more interested in tackling welfare.

A White House official said the timing of legislation would be discussed as well as the political priority of giving Republicans substantive issues to highlight ahead of November elections when the party will seek to maintain control of Congress.

All 435 members in the House and a third of the 100 members in the Senate will be up for re-election. A Democratic takeover of one or both chambers could help stifle Trump&#39;s agenda.

The meeting at the presidential retreat in Maryland, which will include Trump Cabinet officials, follows an uproar over the description in a new book of an inept Trump White House and Bannon&#39;s suggestion the president&#39;s son and son-in-law committed treason by meeting with a Russian official during the 2016 campaign.

Trump broke with Bannon on Wednesday, saying his former adviser had &quot;lost his mind,&quot; in a statement issued after comments attributed to Bannon in Michael Wolff&#39;s &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; were made public.

Aligning Priorities

The strategy session will provide an opportunity to switch topics after the furore over the book, which goes on sale on Friday.

&quot;The White House doesn&#39;t mind the optics after a few days of the president unloading on Bannon and making our views clear on the book, the president sits down and charts the course forward ... with the actual leaders of the Republican Party,&quot; a White House official said.

Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that Wolff&#39;s book was a &quot;complete fantasy&quot; filled with tabloid gossip. She called for the conservative outlet Breitbart News to consider parting ways with Bannon, who leads the group and had pledged to campaign for anti-establishment Republican candidates in the 2018 elections.

Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn said the weekend meeting would help lawmakers and administration officials get on the same page about their priorities.

&quot;This administration came into office perhaps not really knowing for sure that they would win the election and was a little bit behind the curve in terms of preparing. Now I think they&rsquo;ve recognized that that sort of coordination is really important in order to get things done,&quot; he said.

&quot;So I look forward to having those conversations and making sure that the president&rsquo;s priorities and our priorities are aligned.&rdquo;

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Following a disruptive start to 2018, President Donald Trump will huddle with top Republicans on a two-day retreat starting on Friday to lay out legislative priorities for the year and discuss a strategy for pivotal November congressional elections

Following a disruptive start to 2018, President Donald Trump will huddle with top Republicans on a two-day retreat starting on Friday to lay out legislative priorities for the year and discuss a strategy for pivotal November congressional elections. Days after explosive comments by Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon left the White House in a defensive crouch, the president will sit down at Camp David with party leaders including House of Representative Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Trump achieved the first major legislative win of his presidency in December with tax legislation long sought by his party and its supporters. He is eager for more such victories and the White House has targeted infrastructure policy and a welfare overhaul as its top priorities. Immigration legislation, in particular, a plan to help people who were brought to the United States illegally as children, is also on the agenda. How and when to execute those priorities must be decided. While Trump and McConnell want to work on infrastructure first, Ryan is more interested in tackling welfare. A White House official said the timing of legislation would be discussed as well as the political priority of giving Republicans substantive issues to highlight ahead of November elections when the party will seek to maintain control of Congress. All 435 members in the House and a third of the 100 members in the Senate will be up for re-election. A Democratic takeover of one or both chambers could help stifle Trump's agenda. The meeting at the presidential retreat in Maryland, which will include Trump Cabinet officials, follows an uproar over the description in a new book of an inept Trump White House and Bannon's suggestion the president's son and son-in-law committed treason by meeting with a Russian official during the 2016 campaign. Trump broke with Bannon on Wednesday, saying his former adviser had "lost his mind," in a statement issued after comments attributed to Bannon in Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" were made public. Aligning Priorities The strategy session will provide an opportunity to switch topics after the furore over the book, which goes on sale on Friday. "The White House doesn't mind the optics after a few days of the president unloading on Bannon and making our views clear on the book, the president sits down and charts the course forward ... with the actual leaders of the Republican Party," a White House official said. Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that Wolff's book was a "complete fantasy" filled with tabloid gossip. She called for the conservative outlet Breitbart News to consider parting ways with Bannon, who leads the group and had pledged to campaign for anti-establishment Republican candidates in the 2018 elections. Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn said the weekend meeting would help lawmakers and administration officials get on the same page about their priorities. "This administration came into office perhaps not really knowing for sure that they would win the election and was a little bit behind the curve in terms of preparing. Now I think they’ve recognized that that sort of coordination is really important in order to get things done," he said. "So I look forward to having those conversations and making sure that the president’s priorities and our priorities are aligned.”

Fresh from Bannon feud, Trump meets Republicans to strategise for 2018

With the Dow Jones industrial index crossing the 25,000 mark for the first time, President Donald Trump has said &#39;Make America Great Again&#39; was happening at a faster pace than anyone thought possible.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average closed over 25,000 for the first time and covered the fastest 1,000-point move in its history, following the release of stronger-than- expected jobs data.

The other two indexes also made substantial progress. The S&amp;P 500 advanced 10 points to 2,723 and Nasdaq Composite was up 12 points at 7,077.

&quot;When the dreams of the American people are unleashed, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - we can&#39;t achieve. We are going to make America great again, and it&#39;s happening a lot faster than anyone thought possible,&quot; he said in a video message played during the daily White House news conference.

Trump said that the historic tax cut he signed into law two weeks ago, before Christmas, is already delivering major economic gains.

&quot;Hundreds of thousands of Americans are seeing larger paycheques, bigger bonuses, and higher pension contribution, and it&#39;s all because of the tax cuts and the tax reform,&quot; he said.

Workers at AT&amp;T, Bank of America, Comcast, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and many other companies were receiving bonuses of US $1,000 or more.

In his message, the US President said that Aflac and others are investing more in employees&#39; 401(k)s. CVS announced it will hire 3,000 new workers. Boeing, another great company, is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in employee training and infrastructure.

Aflac provides supplemental insurance for individuals and groups to help pay benefits that major medical insurance does not cover.

A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by an employer which allows workers save and invest a piece of their paycheque before taxes are taken out. Taxes are not paid until the money is withdrawn from the account.

&quot;More than 60 companies have announced they are raising wages, including many that have voluntarily raised their minimum wage to USD 15 per hour -- and I mean they did that voluntarily, which many politicians said could only be achieved by government mandate,&quot; he said.

Trump also said that investing in American worker is the most important investment a business will ever make.

&quot;I want to thank all of these companies for putting their tax savings to the best possible use by creating more jobs and higher wages for the American family. These great results are just the beginning,&quot; he said.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that the Dow Jones Industrial Average broke through 25,000 for the first time ever and it was the result of the President&#39;s economic agenda of lower taxes, less regulation and more opportunity for all which is paying off, and American families and workers are the big winners.

According to Fox Business, Dow Jones Industrial Average has crossed six 1,000-point milestones since Trump&#39;s election on November 8, 2016.

USA Today said rising stock prices have been powered by a global economic recovery and optimism that the Republican tax-cut bill will provide a fresh boost for the US growth and help American companies make more money.

&quot;We should not be surprised that markets continue to move higher because fundamentals continue to be positive and investor optimism is actually improving rather than investors becoming more cautious,&quot; Kate Warne, an investment strategist at retail brokerage Edward Jon was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal.

A confident Trump also said that he has now set a new target of 30,000 mark.

&quot;We broke a very, very big barrier - 25,000. And there were those who&#39;d say we wouldn&#39;t break 25,000 by the end of the eighth year, and we are in the eleventh month. We broke 25,000 just as we came in now,&quot; Trump told reporters at the top of his meeting with Republican Senators on immigration.

Trump said that the historic tax cut he signed into law two weeks ago, before Christmas, is already delivering major economic gains.

With the Dow Jones industrial index crossing the 25,000 mark for the first time, President Donald Trump has said 'Make America Great Again' was happening at a faster pace than anyone thought possible. On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average closed over 25,000 for the first time and covered the fastest 1,000-point move in its history, following the release of stronger-than- expected jobs data. The other two indexes also made substantial progress. The S&P 500 advanced 10 points to 2,723 and Nasdaq Composite was up 12 points at 7,077. "When the dreams of the American people are unleashed, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - we can't achieve. We are going to make America great again, and it's happening a lot faster than anyone thought possible," he said in a video message played during the daily White House news conference. Trump said that the historic tax cut he signed into law two weeks ago, before Christmas, is already delivering major economic gains. "Hundreds of thousands of Americans are seeing larger paycheques, bigger bonuses, and higher pension contribution, and it's all because of the tax cuts and the tax reform," he said. Workers at AT&T, Bank of America, Comcast, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and many other companies were receiving bonuses of US $1,000 or more. In his message, the US President said that Aflac and others are investing more in employees' 401(k)s. CVS announced it will hire 3,000 new workers. Boeing, another great company, is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in employee training and infrastructure. Aflac provides supplemental insurance for individuals and groups to help pay benefits that major medical insurance does not cover. A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by an employer which allows workers save and invest a piece of their paycheque before taxes are taken out. Taxes are not paid until the money is withdrawn from the account. "More than 60 companies have announced they are raising wages, including many that have voluntarily raised their minimum wage to USD 15 per hour -- and I mean they did that voluntarily, which many politicians said could only be achieved by government mandate," he said. Trump also said that investing in American worker is the most important investment a business will ever make. "I want to thank all of these companies for putting their tax savings to the best possible use by creating more jobs and higher wages for the American family. These great results are just the beginning," he said. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that the Dow Jones Industrial Average broke through 25,000 for the first time ever and it was the result of the President's economic agenda of lower taxes, less regulation and more opportunity for all which is paying off, and American families and workers are the big winners. According to Fox Business, Dow Jones Industrial Average has crossed six 1,000-point milestones since Trump's election on November 8, 2016. USA Today said rising stock prices have been powered by a global economic recovery and optimism that the Republican tax-cut bill will provide a fresh boost for the US growth and help American companies make more money. "We should not be surprised that markets continue to move higher because fundamentals continue to be positive and investor optimism is actually improving rather than investors becoming more cautious," Kate Warne, an investment strategist at retail brokerage Edward Jon was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal. A confident Trump also said that he has now set a new target of 30,000 mark. "We broke a very, very big barrier - 25,000. And there were those who'd say we wouldn't break 25,000 by the end of the eighth year, and we are in the eleventh month. We broke 25,000 just as we came in now," Trump told reporters at the top of his meeting with Republican Senators on immigration.

Dow crossing 25,000 mark sign of 'Make America Great Again': Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump lashed out at a bombshell-filled book that hits the shelves on Friday, dismissing it as &quot;full of lies&quot; after threats of legal action failed to block its release.

Publishers responded to a cease-and-desist letter by moving forward by four days the release of &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; -- an expose by author and political muckraker Michael Wolff that quotes key Trump aides expressing serious doubt about his fitness for office.

&quot;I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for the author of the phony book! I never spoke to him for the book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don`t exist,&quot; Trump tweeted.

&quot;Look at this guy`s past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve!&quot; Trump wrote -- a possible reference to Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist, or Steve Rubin, the publisher of Wolff`s book.

The book -- which paints Trump as mentally unstable and far out of his depth -- includes extensive quotes from Bannon, who also received a &quot;cease and desist&quot; order from Trump`s attorneys.

&quot;Your publication of the false/baseless statements about Mr. Trump gives rise to, among other claims, defamation by libel, defamation by libel per se, false light invasion of privacy, tortious interference with contractual relations, and inducement of breach of contract,&quot; Trump`s lawyers said in the letter to Wolff.

In the book, excerpts of which were published this week, Bannon is quoted accusing Trump`s eldest son Don Jr of &quot;treasonous&quot; contacts with a Kremlin-connected lawyer, and saying the president`s daughter Ivanka, who imagines running for president one day, is &quot;dumb as a brick.&quot;But it is Trump himself who is cast in the most unfavorable light by a series of his top aides.

The book claims that for &quot;Steve Mnuchin and Reince Priebus, the president was an `idiot.` For Gary Cohn, he was `dumb as shit.` For H.R. McMaster, he was a `dope.` The list went on.&quot;

White House issued a scorched-earth dismissal of the book, its author and his sources.

&quot;I don`t think (Americans) really care about some trash that an author that no one had ever heard of until today, or a fired employee, wants to peddle,&quot; said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, calling the book &quot;complete fantasy.&quot;

Behind the scenes, though, Trump has been enraged by the betrayal by Bannon -- a man who engineered the New York real estate mogul`s link to the nationalist far right and helped create a pro-Trump media ecosystem.&nbsp;

&quot;He called me a great man last night. He obviously changed his tune pretty quick,&quot; Trump said in the White House`s Roosevelt Room Thursday.&nbsp;

Sanders suggested that Bannon`s employer, Breitbart News, should consider firing him.He wasn`t fired, but Bannon`s main financial backer is formally cutting ties with him, The Washington Post reported.

&quot;I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected,&quot; the newspaper quoted billionaire conservative donor Rebekah Mercer as saying.

Her family has had no contact with Bannon for months, nor has it given money to support his political agenda, &quot;nor do we support his recent actions and statements,&quot; she was quoted as saying.

Bannon, who left the White House in August, is also quoted in the book as saying that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election will focus on money laundering.

The investigation by Mueller, a former FBI director, is looking into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to help get him elected -- a charge the president has repeatedly and vehemently denied. 
Russia-related allegations in the book also ensnare Don Junior, who took a meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016 after an intermediary promised material that would incriminate Trump`s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump`s son-in-law Jared Kushner and then campaign chairman Paul Manafort also attended the meeting at Trump Tower in New York.&quot;The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor -- with no lawyers,&quot; Bannon was quoted as saying in the book.&nbsp;

&quot;Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it`s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately,&quot; he said.

Wolff`s book -- which he says is based on interviews with Trump, his senior aides and others -- makes a litany of shocking claims, including Trump`s belief that he installed Mohammed bin Salman as Saudi Arabia`s crown prince.

&quot;We`ve put our man on top,&quot; Trump is said to have claimed to friends.&nbsp;

The book also claims that Trump considered appointing a friend to the Supreme Court vacancy filled by Neil Gorsuch, eats food from McDonald`s because he believes it to be safe from poison, and that his team did not believe he was capable of winning the election.

&quot;Shortly after 8 p.m. on Election Night, when the unexpected trend -- Trump might actually win -- seemed confirmed, Don Jr. told a friend that his father, or DJT, as he calls him, looked as if he had seen a ghost. Melania was in tears -- and not of joy,&quot; it said.

"I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don`t exist," Trump tweeted.

US President Donald Trump lashed out at a bombshell-filled book that hits the shelves on Friday, dismissing it as "full of lies" after threats of legal action failed to block its release. Publishers responded to a cease-and-desist letter by moving forward by four days the release of "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" -- an expose by author and political muckraker Michael Wolff that quotes key Trump aides expressing serious doubt about his fitness for office. "I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for the author of the phony book! I never spoke to him for the book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don`t exist," Trump tweeted. "Look at this guy`s past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve!" Trump wrote -- a possible reference to Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist, or Steve Rubin, the publisher of Wolff`s book. The book -- which paints Trump as mentally unstable and far out of his depth -- includes extensive quotes from Bannon, who also received a "cease and desist" order from Trump`s attorneys. "Your publication of the false/baseless statements about Mr. Trump gives rise to, among other claims, defamation by libel, defamation by libel per se, false light invasion of privacy, tortious interference with contractual relations, and inducement of breach of contract," Trump`s lawyers said in the letter to Wolff. In the book, excerpts of which were published this week, Bannon is quoted accusing Trump`s eldest son Don Jr of "treasonous" contacts with a Kremlin-connected lawyer, and saying the president`s daughter Ivanka, who imagines running for president one day, is "dumb as a brick."But it is Trump himself who is cast in the most unfavorable light by a series of his top aides. The book claims that for "Steve Mnuchin and Reince Priebus, the president was an `idiot.` For Gary Cohn, he was `dumb as shit.` For H.R. McMaster, he was a `dope.` The list went on." White House issued a scorched-earth dismissal of the book, its author and his sources. "I don`t think (Americans) really care about some trash that an author that no one had ever heard of until today, or a fired employee, wants to peddle," said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, calling the book "complete fantasy." Behind the scenes, though, Trump has been enraged by the betrayal by Bannon -- a man who engineered the New York real estate mogul`s link to the nationalist far right and helped create a pro-Trump media ecosystem. "He called me a great man last night. He obviously changed his tune pretty quick," Trump said in the White House`s Roosevelt Room Thursday. Sanders suggested that Bannon`s employer, Breitbart News, should consider firing him.He wasn`t fired, but Bannon`s main financial backer is formally cutting ties with him, The Washington Post reported. "I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected," the newspaper quoted billionaire conservative donor Rebekah Mercer as saying. Her family has had no contact with Bannon for months, nor has it given money to support his political agenda, "nor do we support his recent actions and statements," she was quoted as saying. Bannon, who left the White House in August, is also quoted in the book as saying that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election will focus on money laundering. The investigation by Mueller, a former FBI director, is looking into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to help get him elected -- a charge the president has repeatedly and vehemently denied. Russia-related allegations in the book also ensnare Don Junior, who took a meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016 after an intermediary promised material that would incriminate Trump`s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Trump`s son-in-law Jared Kushner and then campaign chairman Paul Manafort also attended the meeting at Trump Tower in New York."The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor -- with no lawyers," Bannon was quoted as saying in the book. "Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it`s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately," he said. Wolff`s book -- which he says is based on interviews with Trump, his senior aides and others -- makes a litany of shocking claims, including Trump`s belief that he installed Mohammed bin Salman as Saudi Arabia`s crown prince. "We`ve put our man on top," Trump is said to have claimed to friends. The book also claims that Trump considered appointing a friend to the Supreme Court vacancy filled by Neil Gorsuch, eats food from McDonald`s because he believes it to be safe from poison, and that his team did not believe he was capable of winning the election. "Shortly after 8 p.m. on Election Night, when the unexpected trend -- Trump might actually win -- seemed confirmed, Don Jr. told a friend that his father, or DJT, as he calls him, looked as if he had seen a ghost. Melania was in tears -- and not of joy," it said.

Trump lashes out at bombshell book after failing to block release

Is there really a red button on the desks of leaders which they can press to trigger off a nuclear strike?

In the United States, the so-called red button is a real metal briefcase.The military aid accompanying the president always carries this metal briefcase.&nbsp;

The briefcase and its cover weighing about 20 kg are also known as the Atomic Football, the Black Box or even the &quot;Button&quot;.

It consists of four items which include two books, a folder and a small card.&nbsp;

One of the books is black in colour and lists the options open to the launching country for retaliation.&nbsp;

The other book lists out site locations of where the President can be whisked away to safety.

A small folder contains a description of procedures for the emergency alert system, while the card includes the authentication codes on it.&nbsp;

To launch a strike the President will first decide on which weapons are to be launched.&nbsp;Next, his order will be verified by the secretary of the defence. Then, the president has to identify himself to the joint chiefs of staff through his personal code. It is only after all these steps that nuclear weapon would be launched.&nbsp;

Procedures vary slightly in different countries but there you have it. It is not as easy as President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seem to make it believable.&nbsp;

&nbsp;In short, the red button does not exist.

To launch a strike the President will first decide on which weapons are to be launched

Is there really a red button on the desks of leaders which they can press to trigger off a nuclear strike? In the United States, the so-called red button is a real metal briefcase.The military aid accompanying the president always carries this metal briefcase. The briefcase and its cover weighing about 20 kg are also known as the Atomic Football, the Black Box or even the "Button". It consists of four items which include two books, a folder and a small card. One of the books is black in colour and lists the options open to the launching country for retaliation. The other book lists out site locations of where the President can be whisked away to safety. A small folder contains a description of procedures for the emergency alert system, while the card includes the authentication codes on it. To launch a strike the President will first decide on which weapons are to be launched. Next, his order will be verified by the secretary of the defence. Then, the president has to identify himself to the joint chiefs of staff through his personal code. It is only after all these steps that nuclear weapon would be launched. Procedures vary slightly in different countries but there you have it. It is not as easy as President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seem to make it believable. In short, the red button does not exist.

Can US, North Korea 'trigger' nuclear strike?

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-targets-book-threatens-ex-ally-bannon-with-legal-action-28582" target="_blank">Explosive book on Trump&#39;s White House to be released early after Trump&#39;s lawyers try to block it</a>

President Donald Trump&#39;s lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over &quot;defamatory&quot; comments in the book. &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-kabul-suicide-attack-28581" target="_blank">Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul suicide attack</a>

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Thursday in Afghanistan&#39;s capital Kabul, the militant group&rsquo;s Amaq news agency said. Officials in the capital said the attacker blew himself up close to a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol dealing.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan-28587" target="_blank">Watch: </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan-28587" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan-28587" target="_blank"> suspends security assistance to Pakistan</a>

The United States has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, revealed State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. &quot;Until the Pakistan government takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting US personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan,&quot; &nbsp;said Heather Nauert.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/a-failed-north-korean-missile-launch-crashed-into-its-own-city-last-year-reports-28586" target="_blank">A failed North Korean missile launch crashed into its own city last year: Reports</a>

North Korea reportedly tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called Hwasong-12 in April last year, which came crashing down in a North Korean city. The failed launch of Hwasong-12 crashed in Tokchon just a few seconds after being in the air, media reports said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apple-to-issue-fix-for-iphones-macs-at-risk-from-spectre-chip-flaw-28585" target="_blank">Apple to issue fix for iPhones, Macs at risk from &#39;Spectre&#39; chip flaw</a>

Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc&#39;s &nbsp;Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel&#39;s stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker.

Explosive book on Trump's White House to be released early after Trump's lawyers try to block it President Donald Trump's lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over "defamatory" comments in the book. "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job. Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul suicide attack Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Thursday in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, the militant group’s Amaq news agency said. Officials in the capital said the attacker blew himself up close to a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol dealing. Watch: US suspends security assistance to Pakistan The United States has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, revealed State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. "Until the Pakistan government takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting US personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan," said Heather Nauert. A failed North Korean missile launch crashed into its own city last year: Reports North Korea reportedly tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called Hwasong-12 in April last year, which came crashing down in a North Korean city. The failed launch of Hwasong-12 crashed in Tokchon just a few seconds after being in the air, media reports said. Apple to issue fix for iPhones, Macs at risk from 'Spectre' chip flaw Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc's Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel's stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker.

WION Morning News Brief, January 5, 2018

US President Donald Trump is getting furious over the release of a book, and there is a reason for that. Michael Wolff, the author of the book &#39;Fire And Fury: Inside the Trump White House&#39; has some explosive anecdotes about the US President.

While Wolff is standing by his his new White House tell-all, here are some excerpts from the book:

&#39;The President can get to be a bit of a bore&#39; 
A Trump associate told the author that the US President tends to drone on and repeat himself

&#39;Trump didn&#39;t really want to be President&#39; 
Wolff says Trumps looked stressed and angry at his inauguration since big stars boycotted the event. Trump and Melania had been fighting, and the US First Lady seemed tearful, the author adds.

&#39;A President has only 6 months to set his agenda&#39; 
An aide tried to impress upon the US President to make an impression, but a distracted Trump would sneak off for rounds of golf, says Wolff.

&#39;Trump&#39;s hair colour is a result of his impatience&#39; 
The hair colour was from a product called Just For Men - the longer it was left on, the darker it got. But Trump&#39;s impatience resulted in orange-blonde hair colour.

&#39;Locked bedrooms, TVs&#39; 
The President has a separate bedroom with multiple screens and a lock on the door, says Wolff citing his Wihte House sources. This is the first time since the Kennedys that the first couple have separate sleeping quarters.

&#39;Hands off my stuff!&#39; 
President Trump reprimanded housekeeping for picking up his shirt. And he has made a new rule: Nobody touch anything, especially not his toothbrush

&#39;Trump had a longtime fear of being poisoned&#39; 
This is why he liked to eat at McDonald&#39;s - nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely pre-made

US President Donald Trump is getting furious over the release of a book, and there is a reason for that. Michael Wolff, the author of the book 'Fire And Fury: Inside the Trump White House' has some explosive anecdotes about the US President.

US President Donald Trump is getting furious over the release of a book, and there is a reason for that. Michael Wolff, the author of the book 'Fire And Fury: Inside the Trump White House' has some explosive anecdotes about the US President. While Wolff is standing by his his new White House tell-all, here are some excerpts from the book: 'The President can get to be a bit of a bore' A Trump associate told the author that the US President tends to drone on and repeat himself 'Trump didn't really want to be President' Wolff says Trumps looked stressed and angry at his inauguration since big stars boycotted the event. Trump and Melania had been fighting, and the US First Lady seemed tearful, the author adds. 'A President has only 6 months to set his agenda' An aide tried to impress upon the US President to make an impression, but a distracted Trump would sneak off for rounds of golf, says Wolff. 'Trump's hair colour is a result of his impatience' The hair colour was from a product called Just For Men - the longer it was left on, the darker it got. But Trump's impatience resulted in orange-blonde hair colour. 'Locked bedrooms, TVs' The President has a separate bedroom with multiple screens and a lock on the door, says Wolff citing his Wihte House sources. This is the first time since the Kennedys that the first couple have separate sleeping quarters. 'Hands off my stuff!' President Trump reprimanded housekeeping for picking up his shirt. And he has made a new rule: Nobody touch anything, especially not his toothbrush 'Trump had a longtime fear of being poisoned' This is why he liked to eat at McDonald's - nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely pre-made

Watch: Why Michael Wolff's book is making Donald Trump furious

President Donald Trump&#39;s lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over &quot;defamatory&quot; comments in the book.

&quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job.

Some of the harshest commentaries came from Bannon, the right-wing firebrand who headed the final stage of Trump&#39;s campaign and became chief strategist at the White House before being fired in August.

Charles Harder, Trump&#39;s personal lawyer, in a legal notice provided to Reuters, warned of possible claims including libel against Wolff and publisher Henry Holt &amp; Co and threatened to try to block publication of the book. Harder also told Reuters that &quot;legal action is imminent&quot; against Bannon.

The publishing house announced that &quot;due to unprecedented demand,&quot; it would release the book on Friday morning, rushing it to print after previously planning to put it out next Tuesday.

Wolff and Holt did not respond to requests for comment.

Trump cut ties with Bannon on Wednesday, saying his former adviser had &quot;lost his mind,&quot; in a blistering statement issued after comments attributed to Bannon in the book were made public.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders heaped scorn on Bannon and the book at her briefing on Thursday. She said Breitbart News should consider firing Bannon and attempted to cast doubt on Wolff&#39;s accuracy.

She called the book &quot;some trash&quot; that came from &quot;an author that no one had ever heard of until today.&quot;

&quot;This book is mistake after mistake after mistake,&quot; she said.

Trump lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon on Wednesday asking him not to disclose any confidential information. They said Bannon had breached an agreement by communicating with Wolff about Trump, his family and the campaign and made &quot;disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements&quot; about them.

In the book, Bannon was quoted as describing a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York as &quot;treasonous&quot; and &quot;unpatriotic.&quot; The meeting, held after the Russians promised damaging information on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, was attended by Donald Trump Jr., Trump&#39;s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort, Trump&#39;s campaign manager at the time.

Trump&#39;s statement also diminished Bannon&#39;s role in the election victory and accused him of leaking to the media. Before joining the campaign, Bannon headed the conservative Breitbart News website and proved to be a divisive figure in the White House. He returned to Breitbart after being fired, although he is reported to have continued to talk with Trump.

&#39;Chnaged his tune&#39;

Bannon&#39;s reaction to the book controversy has been muted. In interviews with Breitbart News after the news broke, he called Trump a &quot;great man&quot; and pledged continued support for the president&#39;s agenda.

The president took note. &quot;He called me a great man last night so he obviously changed his tune pretty quick,&quot; Trump told reporters on Thursday. &quot;I don&#39;t talk to him. That&#39;s a misnomer.&quot;

Bradley Moss, a Washington lawyer specializing in national security law, said any non-disclosure agreement would not apply to Bannon once he became a government employee. The government has far less power to limit speech by employees than private companies, Moss said.

A lawsuit could hurt Trump because Bannon&#39;s lawyers would be entitled to interview White House officials and collect potentially damaging documents from them in his defence, Moss said.

&quot;I assume the cease-and-desist letter is aimed primarily at the public,&quot; added Michael Dorf, a professor at Cornell Law School. &quot;The idea that he could block publication is absurd.&quot;

On Thursday, the White House also said no personal devices, including cellphones, would be allowed in the White House West Wing beginning next week for security purposes. The moves followed the Bannon split but had been considered for some time, White House officials said.

Bannon helped Trump shape a populist, anti-establishment message and had been the president&#39;s link to his hard-line conservative base of support, which is often at odds with the Republican Party establishment.

The story that triggered the Trump-Bannon split was an offshoot of the investigation into whether Trump campaign aides colluded with Russia to sway the election to Trump, allegations Trump and Moscow deny.

Manafort and business associate Rick Gates, another campaign aide, pleaded not guilty in November to federal charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller including conspiracy to launder money. Manafort sued Mueller on Wednesday, alleging that his investigation exceeded its legal authority.

"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job

President Donald Trump's lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over "defamatory" comments in the book. "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job. Some of the harshest commentaries came from Bannon, the right-wing firebrand who headed the final stage of Trump's campaign and became chief strategist at the White House before being fired in August. Charles Harder, Trump's personal lawyer, in a legal notice provided to Reuters, warned of possible claims including libel against Wolff and publisher Henry Holt & Co and threatened to try to block publication of the book. Harder also told Reuters that "legal action is imminent" against Bannon. The publishing house announced that "due to unprecedented demand," it would release the book on Friday morning, rushing it to print after previously planning to put it out next Tuesday. Wolff and Holt did not respond to requests for comment. Trump cut ties with Bannon on Wednesday, saying his former adviser had "lost his mind," in a blistering statement issued after comments attributed to Bannon in the book were made public. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders heaped scorn on Bannon and the book at her briefing on Thursday. She said Breitbart News should consider firing Bannon and attempted to cast doubt on Wolff's accuracy. She called the book "some trash" that came from "an author that no one had ever heard of until today." "This book is mistake after mistake after mistake," she said. Trump lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon on Wednesday asking him not to disclose any confidential information. They said Bannon had breached an agreement by communicating with Wolff about Trump, his family and the campaign and made "disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements" about them. In the book, Bannon was quoted as describing a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic." The meeting, held after the Russians promised damaging information on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, was attended by Donald Trump Jr., Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort, Trump's campaign manager at the time. Trump's statement also diminished Bannon's role in the election victory and accused him of leaking to the media. Before joining the campaign, Bannon headed the conservative Breitbart News website and proved to be a divisive figure in the White House. He returned to Breitbart after being fired, although he is reported to have continued to talk with Trump. 'Chnaged his tune' Bannon's reaction to the book controversy has been muted. In interviews with Breitbart News after the news broke, he called Trump a "great man" and pledged continued support for the president's agenda. The president took note. "He called me a great man last night so he obviously changed his tune pretty quick," Trump told reporters on Thursday. "I don't talk to him. That's a misnomer." Bradley Moss, a Washington lawyer specializing in national security law, said any non-disclosure agreement would not apply to Bannon once he became a government employee. The government has far less power to limit speech by employees than private companies, Moss said. A lawsuit could hurt Trump because Bannon's lawyers would be entitled to interview White House officials and collect potentially damaging documents from them in his defence, Moss said. "I assume the cease-and-desist letter is aimed primarily at the public," added Michael Dorf, a professor at Cornell Law School. "The idea that he could block publication is absurd." On Thursday, the White House also said no personal devices, including cellphones, would be allowed in the White House West Wing beginning next week for security purposes. The moves followed the Bannon split but had been considered for some time, White House officials said. Bannon helped Trump shape a populist, anti-establishment message and had been the president's link to his hard-line conservative base of support, which is often at odds with the Republican Party establishment. The story that triggered the Trump-Bannon split was an offshoot of the investigation into whether Trump campaign aides colluded with Russia to sway the election to Trump, allegations Trump and Moscow deny. Manafort and business associate Rick Gates, another campaign aide, pleaded not guilty in November to federal charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller including conspiracy to launder money. Manafort sued Mueller on Wednesday, alleging that his investigation exceeded its legal authority.

Explosive book on Trump's White House to be released early after Trump's lawyers try to block it

US President Donald Trump started a storm on Twitter with a post threatening North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un over his nuclear button comment.

&quot;North Korean leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the &#39;nuclear button is on his desk at all times.&#39; Will someone from his depleted and food-starved regime please inform him that I too have a nuclear button, but it is a much bigger and more powerful one than his, and my Button works!&quot; Trump tweeted on Tuesday.

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North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the &ldquo;Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.&rdquo; Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger &amp; more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/948355557022420992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

This led to questions from users who wanted to know whether Trump&#39;s tweet which raised prospect of nuclear war with North Korea violated Twitter&#39;s revised <a href="https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-rules">terms of service</a>. The new rules put in place by Twitter recently targets violent and hateful content posted on the micro-blogging platform; in order to curb violence, Twitter takes down such tweets and suspends the account too.

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<a href="https://t.co/vYQyvVoDEr">pic.twitter.com/vYQyvVoDEr</a>
&mdash; amy brown (@arb) <a href="https://twitter.com/arb/status/948362687360090112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://t.co/6gq9ROMPpx">pic.twitter.com/6gq9ROMPpx</a>
&mdash; Camille Fournier (@skamille) <a href="https://twitter.com/skamille/status/948375452275666944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But much to the surprise of users, Twitter sent them replies on email saying Trump&#39;s post did not violate &quot;Twitter Rules against abusive behavior.&quot;

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that was fast <a href="https://t.co/E7KmG5wPs7">pic.twitter.com/E7KmG5wPs7</a>
&mdash; amy brown (@arb) <a href="https://twitter.com/arb/status/948363265377210369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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They didn&#39;t even pretend to care about this one <a href="https://t.co/7YMhLfIrXO">pic.twitter.com/7YMhLfIrXO</a>
&mdash; Camille Fournier (@skamille) <a href="https://twitter.com/skamille/status/948376571756318721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The White House too has defended President Trump&#39;s tweet directed at the North Korean leader, saying it was not &#39;taunting&#39;.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said what the American public should be concerned about is the mental fitness of the North Korean leader, not Trump.

&quot;I don&#39;t think that it&#39;s taunting to stand up for the people of this country,&quot; Sanders said.

Trump and Kim have exchanged insults in recent months, raising alarm worldwide, with Trump at times dismissing the prospect of a diplomatic solution to a crisis in which both sides have threatened to destroy each other.

The new rules put in place by Twitter recently targets violent and hateful content posted on the micro-blogging platform.

US President Donald Trump started a storm on Twitter with a post threatening North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un over his nuclear button comment. "North Korean leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'nuclear button is on his desk at all times.' Will someone from his depleted and food-starved regime please inform him that I too have a nuclear button, but it is a much bigger and more powerful one than his, and my Button works!" Trump tweeted on Tuesday. North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 × This led to questions from users who wanted to know whether Trump's tweet which raised prospect of nuclear war with North Korea violated Twitter's revised terms of service. The new rules put in place by Twitter recently targets violent and hateful content posted on the micro-blogging platform; in order to curb violence, Twitter takes down such tweets and suspends the account too. pic.twitter.com/vYQyvVoDEr — amy brown (@arb) January 3, 2018 × pic.twitter.com/6gq9ROMPpx — Camille Fournier (@skamille) January 3, 2018 × But much to the surprise of users, Twitter sent them replies on email saying Trump's post did not violate "Twitter Rules against abusive behavior." that was fast pic.twitter.com/E7KmG5wPs7 — amy brown (@arb) January 3, 2018 × They didn't even pretend to care about this one pic.twitter.com/7YMhLfIrXO — Camille Fournier (@skamille) January 3, 2018 × The White House too has defended President Trump's tweet directed at the North Korean leader, saying it was not 'taunting'. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said what the American public should be concerned about is the mental fitness of the North Korean leader, not Trump. "I don't think that it's taunting to stand up for the people of this country," Sanders said. Trump and Kim have exchanged insults in recent months, raising alarm worldwide, with Trump at times dismissing the prospect of a diplomatic solution to a crisis in which both sides have threatened to destroy each other.

Users say Trump's North Korea tweet threatens nuclear war, ban him; Twitter says no

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-accuses-donald-trump-of-interfering-in-internal-affairs-28508" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> did not want to be the president of the US and First Lady Melania was in tears not of joy on knowing about his surprising electoral victory last year, according to a new book by an American journalist.

The book &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-28391" target="_blank">Trump White House</a>&quot; written by Michael Wolff, claims that the ultimate goal of Trump was never to win.

&quot;His ultimate goal, after all, had never been to win. I can be the most famous man in the world,&quot; he had told his aide Sam Nunberg at the outset of the race.

&quot;His longtime friend Roger Ailes, the former head of Fox News, liked to say that if you want a career in television, first run for president,&quot; according to the excerpts of the book.

Shortly after Trump&#39;s inauguration, Wolff said, he was able to take up &quot;something like a semi-permanent seat on a couch in the West Wing&quot; an idea encouraged by the president himself. Because no one was in a position to either officially approve or formally deny such access, Wolff became &quot;more a constant interloper than an invited guest.&quot;

&quot;There were no ground rules placed on his access, and he was required to make no promises about how he would report on what he witnessed,&quot; the book said.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has however denied this after excerpts from the book were published by New York Magazine with the title &quot;Donald Trump Did Not Want to be President.&quot;

&quot;There was one brief conversation that had nothing to do, originally, with the book. It was, I think, around five to seven minutes in total since the President has taken office. And that&#39;s the only interaction that he&#39;s had,&quot; she said.

According to Wolff, after entering the White House, Trump, while proposing the most radical departure from governing and policy norms in several generations, had few specific ideas about how to turn his themes and vitriol into policy.

&quot;And making suggestions to him was deeply complicated. Here, arguably, was the central issue of the Trump presidency, informing every aspect of Trumpian policy and leadership: He didn&#39;t process information in any conventional sense. He didn&#39;t read. He didn&#39;t really even skim. Some believed that for all practical purposes he was no more than semi-literate. He trusted his own expertise&nbsp;no matter how paltry or irrelevant&nbsp;more than anyone else&#39;s,&quot; the author claimed.

&quot;Shortly after 8 PM on election night, when the unexpected trend&nbsp;Trump might actually win seemed confirmed, Don Jr. told a friend that his father, or DJT, as he calls him, looked as if he had seen a ghost. Melania was in tears&nbsp;and not of joy,&quot; the book said.

&quot;There was, in the space of little more than an hour, in Steve Bannon&#39;s not unamused observation, a befuddled Trump morphing into a disbelieving Trump and then into a horrified Trump. But still to come was the final transformation: Suddenly, Donald Trump became a man who believed that he deserved to be, and was wholly capable of being, the president of the United States,&quot; according to the book.

Wolf claims that from the moment of victory, the Trump administration became a looking-glass presidency: Every inverse assumption about how to assemble and run a White House was enacted and compounded, many times over.

&quot;The decisions that Trump and his top advisers made in those first few months&nbsp;from the slapdash transition to the disarray in the West Wing set the stage for the chaos and dysfunction that have persisted throughout his first year in office,&quot; Wolf said in his book.

&quot;This was a real-life version of Mel Brooks&nbsp;The Producers, where the mistaken outcome trusted by everyone in Trump&#39;s inner circle that they would lose the election wound up exposing them for who they really were,&quot; Wolff said.

According to New York Magazine, Wolff, who chronicles the administration from the Election Day to this past October, conducted conversations and interviews over a period of 18 months with the president, most members of his senior staff, and many people to whom they in turn spoke.

&quot;Nothing contributed to the chaos and dysfunction of the White House as much as Trump&#39;s own behavior. The big deal of being president was just not apparent to him,&quot; Wolff said.

&quot;Most victorious candidates, arriving in the White House from ordinary political life, could not help but be reminded of their transformed circumstances by their sudden elevation to a mansion with palaces like servants and security, a plane at constant readiness, and downstairs a retinue of courtiers and advisers. But this wasn&#39;t that different from Trump&#39;s former life in Trump Tower, which was actually more commodious and to his taste than the White House,&quot; said the author.

The White House has ridiculed the contents of the book, which will hit the stores next week, and described it as a fiction.

&quot;This book is filled with false and misleading accounts from individuals who have no access or influence with the White House,&quot; Sanders said.

&quot;Participating in a book that can only be described as trashy tabloid fiction exposes their sad desperate attempts at relevancy,&quot; she said.

The White House has described the book as &quot;trashy tabloid fiction.&quot;

&quot;The author did not get any access from the White House for this book. He never actually sat down with the President, just to be very clear,&quot; Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference.

&quot;I know that the book has a lot of things, so far of what we&#39;ve seen, that is completely untrue. You have many people that have quotes that are sourced to them that are now coming out publicly and saying that those things are not true,&quot; she said in response to a question.

The book also says that US President Donald Trump was sympathetic to the issues of Silicon Valley including H-1B visa issue.

This appears to be contrary to the tough stand he has taken on H-1B visa now. After a meeting with a delegation of Silicon Valley leaders at the Trump Towers on December 14, 2016.

Trump then as president-elect is quoted as saying that the tech industry needs help as there are too much of a regulation.

&quot;Take this H-1B visa issue. They really need these H-1B visas,&quot; Trump is quoted as telling Rupert Murdoch over phone after the meeting, according to the book.

&quot;The president-elect enjoyed being courted. On December 14, a high-level delegation from Silicon Valley came to Trump Tower to meet him. Later that afternoon, according to a source privy to details of the conversation, Trump called Rupert Murdoch, who asked him how the meeting had gone,&quot; Wolff writes in the book.

&quot;Oh, great, just great,&quot; said Trump. &quot;These guys really need my help. Obama was not very favorable to them, too much regulation. This is really an opportunity for me to help them,&quot; the book said.

&quot;Donald,&quot; said Murdoch, &quot;for eight years these guys had Obama in their pocket. They practically ran the administration. They don&#39;t need your help. Take this H-1B visa issue. They really need these H-1B visas,&quot; Trump said, according to the book.

&quot;Murdoch suggested that taking a liberal approach to H-1B visas, which open America&#39;s doors to select immigrants, might be hard to square with his promises to build a wall and close the borders. But Trump seemed unconcerned, assuring Murdoch, &quot;We&#39;ll figure it out,&quot; Wolff writes.

&quot;What a fucking idiot,&quot; said Murdoch, shrugging, as he got off the phone, the author claims.

The sympathetic view of Trump towards H-1B visa appears contrary to his public views on this popular work visa. Even during his election days, he had called for his strict review and described it as eating away with American jobs.

After becoming the president, Trump has ordered for review of H-1B visas. His administration has come out with strict policies on issuing H-1B visas, the book said.

The book 'Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House' written by Michael Wolff, claims that the ultimate goal of Trump was never to win

Donald Trump did not want to be the president of the US and First Lady Melania was in tears not of joy on knowing about his surprising electoral victory last year, according to a new book by an American journalist. The book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" written by Michael Wolff, claims that the ultimate goal of Trump was never to win. "His ultimate goal, after all, had never been to win. I can be the most famous man in the world," he had told his aide Sam Nunberg at the outset of the race. "His longtime friend Roger Ailes, the former head of Fox News, liked to say that if you want a career in television, first run for president," according to the excerpts of the book. Shortly after Trump's inauguration, Wolff said, he was able to take up "something like a semi-permanent seat on a couch in the West Wing" an idea encouraged by the president himself. Because no one was in a position to either officially approve or formally deny such access, Wolff became "more a constant interloper than an invited guest." "There were no ground rules placed on his access, and he was required to make no promises about how he would report on what he witnessed," the book said. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has however denied this after excerpts from the book were published by New York Magazine with the title "Donald Trump Did Not Want to be President." "There was one brief conversation that had nothing to do, originally, with the book. It was, I think, around five to seven minutes in total since the President has taken office. And that's the only interaction that he's had," she said. According to Wolff, after entering the White House, Trump, while proposing the most radical departure from governing and policy norms in several generations, had few specific ideas about how to turn his themes and vitriol into policy. "And making suggestions to him was deeply complicated. Here, arguably, was the central issue of the Trump presidency, informing every aspect of Trumpian policy and leadership: He didn't process information in any conventional sense. He didn't read. He didn't really even skim. Some believed that for all practical purposes he was no more than semi-literate. He trusted his own expertise no matter how paltry or irrelevant more than anyone else's," the author claimed. "Shortly after 8 PM on election night, when the unexpected trend Trump might actually win seemed confirmed, Don Jr. told a friend that his father, or DJT, as he calls him, looked as if he had seen a ghost. Melania was in tears and not of joy," the book said. "There was, in the space of little more than an hour, in Steve Bannon's not unamused observation, a befuddled Trump morphing into a disbelieving Trump and then into a horrified Trump. But still to come was the final transformation: Suddenly, Donald Trump became a man who believed that he deserved to be, and was wholly capable of being, the president of the United States," according to the book. Wolf claims that from the moment of victory, the Trump administration became a looking-glass presidency: Every inverse assumption about how to assemble and run a White House was enacted and compounded, many times over. "The decisions that Trump and his top advisers made in those first few months from the slapdash transition to the disarray in the West Wing set the stage for the chaos and dysfunction that have persisted throughout his first year in office," Wolf said in his book. "This was a real-life version of Mel Brooks The Producers, where the mistaken outcome trusted by everyone in Trump's inner circle that they would lose the election wound up exposing them for who they really were," Wolff said. According to New York Magazine, Wolff, who chronicles the administration from the Election Day to this past October, conducted conversations and interviews over a period of 18 months with the president, most members of his senior staff, and many people to whom they in turn spoke. "Nothing contributed to the chaos and dysfunction of the White House as much as Trump's own behavior. The big deal of being president was just not apparent to him," Wolff said. "Most victorious candidates, arriving in the White House from ordinary political life, could not help but be reminded of their transformed circumstances by their sudden elevation to a mansion with palaces like servants and security, a plane at constant readiness, and downstairs a retinue of courtiers and advisers. But this wasn't that different from Trump's former life in Trump Tower, which was actually more commodious and to his taste than the White House," said the author. The White House has ridiculed the contents of the book, which will hit the stores next week, and described it as a fiction. "This book is filled with false and misleading accounts from individuals who have no access or influence with the White House," Sanders said. "Participating in a book that can only be described as trashy tabloid fiction exposes their sad desperate attempts at relevancy," she said. The White House has described the book as "trashy tabloid fiction." "The author did not get any access from the White House for this book. He never actually sat down with the President, just to be very clear," Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference. "I know that the book has a lot of things, so far of what we've seen, that is completely untrue. You have many people that have quotes that are sourced to them that are now coming out publicly and saying that those things are not true," she said in response to a question. The book also says that US President Donald Trump was sympathetic to the issues of Silicon Valley including H-1B visa issue. This appears to be contrary to the tough stand he has taken on H-1B visa now. After a meeting with a delegation of Silicon Valley leaders at the Trump Towers on December 14, 2016. Trump then as president-elect is quoted as saying that the tech industry needs help as there are too much of a regulation. "Take this H-1B visa issue. They really need these H-1B visas," Trump is quoted as telling Rupert Murdoch over phone after the meeting, according to the book. "The president-elect enjoyed being courted. On December 14, a high-level delegation from Silicon Valley came to Trump Tower to meet him. Later that afternoon, according to a source privy to details of the conversation, Trump called Rupert Murdoch, who asked him how the meeting had gone," Wolff writes in the book. "Oh, great, just great," said Trump. "These guys really need my help. Obama was not very favorable to them, too much regulation. This is really an opportunity for me to help them," the book said. "Donald," said Murdoch, "for eight years these guys had Obama in their pocket. They practically ran the administration. They don't need your help. Take this H-1B visa issue. They really need these H-1B visas," Trump said, according to the book. "Murdoch suggested that taking a liberal approach to H-1B visas, which open America's doors to select immigrants, might be hard to square with his promises to build a wall and close the borders. But Trump seemed unconcerned, assuring Murdoch, "We'll figure it out," Wolff writes. "What a fucking idiot," said Murdoch, shrugging, as he got off the phone, the author claims. The sympathetic view of Trump towards H-1B visa appears contrary to his public views on this popular work visa. Even during his election days, he had called for his strict review and described it as eating away with American jobs. After becoming the president, Trump has ordered for review of H-1B visas. His administration has come out with strict policies on issuing H-1B visas, the book said.

Trump did not want to be US president: Book

A lawyer representing President Donald Trump sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing his former chief strategist of violating a non-disclosure agreement by speaking to the author of an upcoming book, US media reported Wednesday.

Excerpts from the book by Michael Wolff that were published on Wednesday sparked a firestorm in Washington, with Trump lashing out at Steve Bannon, describing him as insane and irrelevant.

In a letter to Bannon quoted by US media, attorney Charles Harder wrote: &quot;You have breached the Agreement by, among other things, communicating with author Michael Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members&quot; and his presidential campaign.

Additionally, the letter accused Bannon of &quot;disclosing Confidential Information to Mr Wolff, and making disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements to Mr. Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members.&quot;

In the excerpts of &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot;, Bannon is quoted as having described a meeting between Trump&#39;s eldest son, son-in-law and campaign chairman and a Kremlin-connected lawyer as &quot;treasonous&quot; and &quot;unpatriotic.&quot;

Bannon, who left the White House in August, is also quoted as saying that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election will focus on money laundering.

Trump wasted little time in hitting back at Bannon, saying he &quot;has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.&quot;&nbsp;

Trump said Bannon -- who engineered the New York real estate mogul&#39;s link to the nationalist far right and helped create a pro-Trump media ecosystem -- was &quot;only in it for himself.&quot;

Excerpts from excerpts from the book by Michael Wolff that were published on Wednesday sparked a firestorm in Washington, with Trump lashing out at Steve Bannon, describing him as insane and irrelevant.

A lawyer representing President Donald Trump sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing his former chief strategist of violating a non-disclosure agreement by speaking to the author of an upcoming book, US media reported Wednesday. Excerpts from the book by Michael Wolff that were published on Wednesday sparked a firestorm in Washington, with Trump lashing out at Steve Bannon, describing him as insane and irrelevant. In a letter to Bannon quoted by US media, attorney Charles Harder wrote: "You have breached the Agreement by, among other things, communicating with author Michael Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members" and his presidential campaign. Additionally, the letter accused Bannon of "disclosing Confidential Information to Mr Wolff, and making disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements to Mr. Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members." In the excerpts of "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House", Bannon is quoted as having described a meeting between Trump's eldest son, son-in-law and campaign chairman and a Kremlin-connected lawyer as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic." Bannon, who left the White House in August, is also quoted as saying that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election will focus on money laundering. Trump wasted little time in hitting back at Bannon, saying he "has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind." Trump said Bannon -- who engineered the New York real estate mogul's link to the nationalist far right and helped create a pro-Trump media ecosystem -- was "only in it for himself."

Trump lawyer sends Bannon cease-and-desist letter: Reports

Iranian government on Thursday attacked the United States President Donald Trump for backing the anti-government protestors and meddling in Iran&#39;s domestic affairs.

The government accused President Trump of encouraging disruption through his absurd tweets.&nbsp;

In a letter to the UN Security Council yesterday, Iran&#39;s UN Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo said that U.S. government &quot;has stepped up its acts of intervention in a grotesque way in Iran&#39;s internal affairs under the pretext of providing support for sporadic protests.&quot;

Khoshroo highlighted that US has violated international law and the principles of the UN charter, urging other countries to condemn Washington&#39;s statements.

&quot;The U.S. Department of State went so far as admitting that the U.S. government wants to encourage protesters in Iran to change their government, admitting that the U.S. is engaged in interfering with the internal affairs of Iran through Facebook and Twitter,&quot; he wrote.

In a series of tweets, Trump attacked Iran of failing at every level and said that it is time for a change in the Islamic Republic.

&quot;Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government.You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time,&quot; Trump tweeted earlier.

Protests in Iran began when people raised their grievances over the rising cost of food and other necessities, which in a short time spread to expressions of anger against the government.

At least 21 people were killed and hundreds have been arrested during a week of anti-government protests and unrest.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The government accused Trump of encouraging disruption through his absurd tweets

Iranian government on Thursday attacked the United States President Donald Trump for backing the anti-government protestors and meddling in Iran's domestic affairs. The government accused President Trump of encouraging disruption through his absurd tweets. In a letter to the UN Security Council yesterday, Iran's UN Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo said that U.S. government "has stepped up its acts of intervention in a grotesque way in Iran's internal affairs under the pretext of providing support for sporadic protests." Khoshroo highlighted that US has violated international law and the principles of the UN charter, urging other countries to condemn Washington's statements. "The U.S. Department of State went so far as admitting that the U.S. government wants to encourage protesters in Iran to change their government, admitting that the U.S. is engaged in interfering with the internal affairs of Iran through Facebook and Twitter," he wrote. In a series of tweets, Trump attacked Iran of failing at every level and said that it is time for a change in the Islamic Republic. "Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government.You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time," Trump tweeted earlier. Protests in Iran began when people raised their grievances over the rising cost of food and other necessities, which in a short time spread to expressions of anger against the government. At least 21 people were killed and hundreds have been arrested during a week of anti-government protests and unrest.

Iran accuses Donald Trump of interfering in 'internal affairs'

The White House has said it would announce specific actions against Pakistan this week to force it to crack down on terrorists on its soil, reflecting president Donald Trump&#39;s tough stance against the country over the issue.

The remarks by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders came after Trump accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but &quot;lies and deceit&quot; and providing &quot;safe haven&quot; to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.

&quot;They can do more to stop terrorism and we want them to do that,&quot; Sanders said.

The White House said it would likely announce actions to pressure Pakistan within days.

&quot;We&#39;ll continue to keep you posted as those decisions are finalised,&quot; Sanders said.

&quot;In terms of specific actions, I think you will see some more details come out on that in the next 24 to 48 hours...&quot; Sanders told reporters on Tuesday during a news conference in which she asked Pakistan to step up its actions against terrorists and militant groups operating from its soil.

Fox News reported that the announcement in this regard is expected Thursday.

However, there was no response from the White House on the timing and nature of such an announcement.

On Monday, in his first tweet of the year, Trump said that the US has &quot;foolishly&quot; given Pakistan more than USD 33 billion in aid over the last 15 years.

A day later, the White House said that it was suspended USD 255 million financial security assistance to Pakistan as mandated by Congress in its 2016 budget.

US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also accused Pakistan of playing a &quot;double game&quot; by claiming to support the US-led war against terrorism while providing a haven to terrorist groups.

Pakistan has expressed &quot;deep disappointment&quot; over the US statements, saying the accusations strike with &quot;great insensitivity&quot; at the trust between the two countries.

Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif in a tweet challenged President Trump&#39;s claim that the US has given Pakistan more than USD 33 billion dollars as aid over the last 15 years, saying verification by an audit firm would prove the US president wrong.&nbsp;

The remarks by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders came after Trump accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit"

The White House has said it would announce specific actions against Pakistan this week to force it to crack down on terrorists on its soil, reflecting president Donald Trump's tough stance against the country over the issue. The remarks by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders came after Trump accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years. "They can do more to stop terrorism and we want them to do that," Sanders said. The White House said it would likely announce actions to pressure Pakistan within days. "We'll continue to keep you posted as those decisions are finalised," Sanders said. "In terms of specific actions, I think you will see some more details come out on that in the next 24 to 48 hours..." Sanders told reporters on Tuesday during a news conference in which she asked Pakistan to step up its actions against terrorists and militant groups operating from its soil. Fox News reported that the announcement in this regard is expected Thursday. However, there was no response from the White House on the timing and nature of such an announcement. On Monday, in his first tweet of the year, Trump said that the US has "foolishly" given Pakistan more than USD 33 billion in aid over the last 15 years. A day later, the White House said that it was suspended USD 255 million financial security assistance to Pakistan as mandated by Congress in its 2016 budget. US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also accused Pakistan of playing a "double game" by claiming to support the US-led war against terrorism while providing a haven to terrorist groups. Pakistan has expressed "deep disappointment" over the US statements, saying the accusations strike with "great insensitivity" at the trust between the two countries. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif in a tweet challenged President Trump's claim that the US has given Pakistan more than USD 33 billion dollars as aid over the last 15 years, saying verification by an audit firm would prove the US president wrong.

US to announce more specific actions against Pakistan

President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as having &quot;lost his mind&quot; in the fallout over damaging comments Bannon made about Trump&#39;s son Donald Trump Jr. in excerpts from a new book.

Trump, who had continued to speak privately with Bannon after firing him in August, essentially cut ties with Bannon at least for now in a blistering statement issued after Bannon&#39;s comments came to light.

&quot;Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind,&quot; Trump said.

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<h5>According to excerpts from &#39;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&#39; by Michael Wolff, Bannon described a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York arranged by the president&#39;s son and attended by top Trump campaign officials as &#39;treasonous&#39; and &#39;unpatriotic&#39;</h5>
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Trump had relied heavily on Bannon, chairman of the right-wing Breitbart News website, for advice in the months leading up to his upset victory in the November 2016 election.

Bannon helped Trump shape a populist, anti-establishment message and has been the president&#39;s link to his conservative base of support. It was not clear if the split would push Bannon to be even more aggressive in his campaign against the Republican establishment and whether he now would also target Trump, or whether he would emerge much weaker.

According to excerpts from &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; by Michael Wolff, to be released on Tuesday, Bannon described a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York arranged by the president&#39;s son and attended by top Trump campaign officials as &quot;treasonous&quot; and &quot;unpatriotic&quot;.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-nuclear-button-bigger-and-more-powerful-than-north-koreas-president-trump-28372" target="_blank">My nuclear button &#39;bigger, more powerful&#39; than North Korea&#39;s, says Trump</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-to-cut-aid-to-palestinian-territories-28373" target="_blank">Trump threatens to cut aid to Palestinian territories</a>

While Trump in the past praised Bannon for his friendship, the president said in his statement on Wednesday that Bannon had little to do with his election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, calling him &quot;a staffer who worked for me&quot; after he had already won the Republican nomination.

Trump said Bannon was to blame for the loss of a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat in Alabama in December when Republican Roy Moore, whose campaign was derailed by accusations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls, lost to Democrat Doug Jones. During the campaign, Trump joined Bannon in backing Moore.

&quot;Now that he is on his own, Steve is learning that winning isn&#39;t as easy as I make it look. Steve had very little to do with our historic victory, which was delivered by the forgotten men and women of this country. Yet Steve had everything to do with the loss of a Senate seat in Alabama held for more than thirty years by Republicans,&quot; Trump said.

&#39;Nightmare of backstabbing harassing&#39;

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had been upset over Trump&#39;s backing of Moore at the urging of Bannon, was clearly pleased Trump was willing to rid himself of the former aide. McConnell&#39;s campaign organization tweeted an image of the normally taciturn senator with a beaming smile.

Donald Trump Jr. attacked Bannon in a tweet.

&quot;Steve had the honour of working in the White House &amp; serving the country. Unfortunately, he squandered that privilege &amp; turned that opportunity into a nightmare of backstabbing, harassing, leaking, lying &amp; undermining the President. Steve is not a strategist, he is an opportunist,&quot; he said.

The president, an expert at self-promotion, said Bannon was trying to promote himself by &quot;leaking false information to the media to make himself seem far more important than he was.&quot;

&quot;Steve was rarely in a one-on-one meeting with me and only pretends to have had influence to fool a few people with no access and no clue, whom he helped write phony books,&quot; said Trump, who famously values loyalty in associates and employees.

With elections looming in November that could cost Republicans control of Congress, Trump praised Republican lawmakers and candidates, words likely to be welcomed by McConnell and House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.

&quot;Like me, they love the United States of America and are helping to finally take our country back and build it up, rather than simply seeking to burn it all down,&quot; Trump said.

&#39;Brain trust&#39;

As with much in the Trump White House, the story that triggered the harsh back-and-forth was an offshoot of the investigation into whether Trump campaign aides colluded with Russia to sway the election to Trump, allegations Trump and Moscow deny.

Bannon expressed derision about the June 2016 meeting in which a Russian lawyer was said to be offering damaging information about Clinton, according to the book.

The meeting was attended by Trump&#39;s son, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Bannon also was quoted as saying he was sure Trump Jr. would have taken the Russians who took part in the meeting to meet his father in Trump Tower.

&quot;The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor - with no lawyers. They didn&#39;t have any lawyers,&quot; Bannon said in the book in excerpts seen by Reuters.

&quot;Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it&#39;s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately.&quot;

When an intermediary proposed the meeting, saying the Russians were offering damaging information about Clinton, Trump Jr. responded in an email: &quot;I love it.&quot;

Bannon was incredulous about the meeting shortly after it was revealed, according to the book, concluding sarcastically: &quot;That&#39;s the brain trust they had.&quot;

The Wolff book, parts of which were published by New York magazine, portrayed Trump as shocked that he won the election and said his wife, Melania Trump, was in tears, and &quot;not of joy.&quot;

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called the book &quot;trashy tabloid fiction.&quot;

The first lady&#39;s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, added: &quot;The book is clearly going to be sold in the bargain fiction section. Mrs. Trump supported her husband&#39;s decision to run for President and in fact, encouraged him to do so. She was confident he would win and was very happy when he did.&quot;

'Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind,' Trump said

President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as having "lost his mind" in the fallout over damaging comments Bannon made about Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. in excerpts from a new book. Trump, who had continued to speak privately with Bannon after firing him in August, essentially cut ties with Bannon at least for now in a blistering statement issued after Bannon's comments came to light. "Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind," Trump said. According to excerpts from 'Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House' by Michael Wolff, Bannon described a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York arranged by the president's son and attended by top Trump campaign officials as 'treasonous' and 'unpatriotic' × Trump had relied heavily on Bannon, chairman of the right-wing Breitbart News website, for advice in the months leading up to his upset victory in the November 2016 election. Bannon helped Trump shape a populist, anti-establishment message and has been the president's link to his conservative base of support. It was not clear if the split would push Bannon to be even more aggressive in his campaign against the Republican establishment and whether he now would also target Trump, or whether he would emerge much weaker. According to excerpts from "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by Michael Wolff, to be released on Tuesday, Bannon described a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York arranged by the president's son and attended by top Trump campaign officials as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic". Also read: My nuclear button 'bigger, more powerful' than North Korea's, says Trump Also read: Trump threatens to cut aid to Palestinian territories While Trump in the past praised Bannon for his friendship, the president said in his statement on Wednesday that Bannon had little to do with his election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, calling him "a staffer who worked for me" after he had already won the Republican nomination. Trump said Bannon was to blame for the loss of a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat in Alabama in December when Republican Roy Moore, whose campaign was derailed by accusations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls, lost to Democrat Doug Jones. During the campaign, Trump joined Bannon in backing Moore. "Now that he is on his own, Steve is learning that winning isn't as easy as I make it look. Steve had very little to do with our historic victory, which was delivered by the forgotten men and women of this country. Yet Steve had everything to do with the loss of a Senate seat in Alabama held for more than thirty years by Republicans," Trump said. 'Nightmare of backstabbing harassing' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had been upset over Trump's backing of Moore at the urging of Bannon, was clearly pleased Trump was willing to rid himself of the former aide. McConnell's campaign organization tweeted an image of the normally taciturn senator with a beaming smile. Donald Trump Jr. attacked Bannon in a tweet. "Steve had the honour of working in the White House & serving the country. Unfortunately, he squandered that privilege & turned that opportunity into a nightmare of backstabbing, harassing, leaking, lying & undermining the President. Steve is not a strategist, he is an opportunist," he said. The president, an expert at self-promotion, said Bannon was trying to promote himself by "leaking false information to the media to make himself seem far more important than he was." "Steve was rarely in a one-on-one meeting with me and only pretends to have had influence to fool a few people with no access and no clue, whom he helped write phony books," said Trump, who famously values loyalty in associates and employees. With elections looming in November that could cost Republicans control of Congress, Trump praised Republican lawmakers and candidates, words likely to be welcomed by McConnell and House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan. "Like me, they love the United States of America and are helping to finally take our country back and build it up, rather than simply seeking to burn it all down," Trump said. 'Brain trust' As with much in the Trump White House, the story that triggered the harsh back-and-forth was an offshoot of the investigation into whether Trump campaign aides colluded with Russia to sway the election to Trump, allegations Trump and Moscow deny. Bannon expressed derision about the June 2016 meeting in which a Russian lawyer was said to be offering damaging information about Clinton, according to the book. The meeting was attended by Trump's son, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Bannon also was quoted as saying he was sure Trump Jr. would have taken the Russians who took part in the meeting to meet his father in Trump Tower. "The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor - with no lawyers. They didn't have any lawyers," Bannon said in the book in excerpts seen by Reuters. "Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it's all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately." When an intermediary proposed the meeting, saying the Russians were offering damaging information about Clinton, Trump Jr. responded in an email: "I love it." Bannon was incredulous about the meeting shortly after it was revealed, according to the book, concluding sarcastically: "That's the brain trust they had." The Wolff book, parts of which were published by New York magazine, portrayed Trump as shocked that he won the election and said his wife, Melania Trump, was in tears, and "not of joy." White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called the book "trashy tabloid fiction." The first lady's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, added: "The book is clearly going to be sold in the bargain fiction section. Mrs. Trump supported her husband's decision to run for President and in fact, encouraged him to do so. She was confident he would win and was very happy when he did."

Trump says Bannon 'lost his mind' after comments about Donald Jr

An attorney for President Donald Trump sought Thursday to halt publication of an upcoming <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-did-not-want-to-be-us-president-book-28531" target="_blank">bombshell book about his White House</a>, claiming it was &quot;libelous.&quot;

The cease and desist letter to author Michael Wolff and publisher Henry Holt and Co. claimed the book contained &quot;numerous false and/or baseless statements&quot; about Trump.

The book, &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; is scheduled to be published on January 9, but excerpts appeared in several media outlets on Wednesday, prompting an angry reaction from the White House.

A copy of the letter from Trump&#39;s attorney Charles Harder to Wolff and the publisher was obtained by AFP.

An attorney for President Donald Trump sought Thursday to halt publication of an upcoming bombshell book about his White House, claiming it was 'libelous'

An attorney for President Donald Trump sought Thursday to halt publication of an upcoming bombshell book about his White House, claiming it was "libelous." The cease and desist letter to author Michael Wolff and publisher Henry Holt and Co. claimed the book contained "numerous false and/or baseless statements" about Trump. The book, "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" is scheduled to be published on January 9, but excerpts appeared in several media outlets on Wednesday, prompting an angry reaction from the White House. A copy of the letter from Trump's attorney Charles Harder to Wolff and the publisher was obtained by AFP.

Trump lawyer seeks to halt publication of 'libelous' book

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/4-dead-after-fire-breaks-out-at-maimoon-building-in-marol-mumbai-28478" target="_blank">Video: 4 dead after fire breaks out at Maimoon building in Marol, Mumbai</a>

Four people are dead and five injured after a &nbsp;fire broke out at the Maimoon building in Marol, Mumbai.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-road-building-teams-entered-1-km-into-arunachal-forced-back-sources-28477" target="_blank">Chinese road-building teams entered 1 km into Arunachal, forced back: Sources</a>

Chinese road-building teams entered around 1 kilometre inside Indian territory in Tuting area of Arunachal Pradesh last week but returned after being confronted by Indian troops, government sources said on Wednesday.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-protests-16-year-old-dies-fleeing-police-in-nanded-28486" target="_blank">Maharashtra protests: 16-year-old dies fleeing police in Nanded</a>

A 16-year-old boy died in Nanded on Wednesday during the Dalit protests.&nbsp;

News reports said the boy was part of a mob blocking the road. The reports said the protesters had run when police chased them. &nbsp;

Police said the boy, identified as Yogesh Jadhav, had run along with the other demonstrators. But that he lost his balance and fell and was crushed by other protesters.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-breaks-with-bannon-says-former-aide-lost-his-mind-28476" target="_blank">Trump says Bannon &#39;lost his mind&#39; after comments about Donald Jr</a>

President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as having &quot;lost his mind&quot; in the fallout over damaging comments Bannon made about Trump&#39;s son Donald Trump Jr. in excerpts from a new book.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-or-not-muslims-fret-amid-drive-against-illegal-immigrants-in-assam-28485" target="_blank">Indian or not? Fear in Assam over citizens&#39; register</a>

Marzina Bibi, a Muslim woman living in Assam, is petrified she will be declared stateless.

The 26-year-old&#39;s name was not on a preliminary list of citizens that was published at midnight on Sunday, although she holds a voter identity card and had voted in state elections in 2016.

&quot;Why are they doing this to me?&quot; Bibi asked, sitting beside a bamboo mat she was weaving outside her mud house in Assam&#39;s Fofonga village. &quot;They think I am a Bangladeshi. I was born here, my parents were born here, I am an Indian.&quot;

Video: 4 dead after fire breaks out at Maimoon building in Marol, Mumbai Four people are dead and five injured after a fire broke out at the Maimoon building in Marol, Mumbai. Chinese road-building teams entered 1 km into Arunachal, forced back: Sources Chinese road-building teams entered around 1 kilometre inside Indian territory in Tuting area of Arunachal Pradesh last week but returned after being confronted by Indian troops, government sources said on Wednesday. Maharashtra protests: 16-year-old dies fleeing police in Nanded A 16-year-old boy died in Nanded on Wednesday during the Dalit protests. News reports said the boy was part of a mob blocking the road. The reports said the protesters had run when police chased them. Police said the boy, identified as Yogesh Jadhav, had run along with the other demonstrators. But that he lost his balance and fell and was crushed by other protesters. Trump says Bannon 'lost his mind' after comments about Donald Jr President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as having "lost his mind" in the fallout over damaging comments Bannon made about Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. in excerpts from a new book. Indian or not? Fear in Assam over citizens' register Marzina Bibi, a Muslim woman living in Assam, is petrified she will be declared stateless. The 26-year-old's name was not on a preliminary list of citizens that was published at midnight on Sunday, although she holds a voter identity card and had voted in state elections in 2016. "Why are they doing this to me?" Bibi asked, sitting beside a bamboo mat she was weaving outside her mud house in Assam's Fofonga village. "They think I am a Bangladeshi. I was born here, my parents were born here, I am an Indian."

WION Morning News Brief, January 4, 2018

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistans-propaganda-exercise-on-jadhav-carries-no-credibility-india-28543" target="_blank">Pakistan&#39;s propaganda exercise on Jadhav carries no credibility: India</a>

As Pakistan released a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-releases-another-video-of-kulbhushan-jadhav-28518">new video of Kulbhashan Jadhav</a>, the ministry of external affairs(MEA) said it was not surprised by the new video asserting that Pakistan was simply continuing to put out &quot;coerced statements&quot; on the video.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-puts-tibetan-language-advocate-on-trial-for-inciting-separatism-28558" target="_blank">China puts Tibetan language advocate on trial for &#39;inciting separatism&#39;</a>

China today put a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/how-are-tibetan-refugees-doing-as-dalai-lama-celebrates-his-birthday-17626">Tibetan on trial for &quot;inciting separatism&quot;</a>&nbsp;even as rights group denounced the decision as a &quot;sham&quot; after appearing in a New York Times video documentary after he criticised policies related to Tibetan language education.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-needs-to-earn-the-money-provided-to-fight-terror-us-28533" target="_blank">Pakistan needs to earn the money provided to fight terror: US</a>

At the State Department&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-announce-specific-actions-against-pakistan-28503">spokesperson Heather Nauert said Pakistan&nbsp;</a>needs to show that it is sincere in cracking down on terrorism even as the White House said it would announce new measures against Pakistan on terror-related issues.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fodder-scam-case-got-phone-calls-from-lalus-men-says-judge-28549" target="_blank">Fodder scam case: Got phone calls from Lalu&#39;s men, says judge</a>

As Lalu Prasad appeared in Ranchi court for sentencing in the fodder scam case, the judge told the RJD chief that &quot;he got phone calls from Lalu&#39;s men&quot;. &quot;I got many references for you but don&#39;t worry, I will follow only law&quot;, Special CBI court judge Shivpal Singh said in court on Thursday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vijay-mallya-declared-proclaimed-offender-by-delhi-court-28547" target="_blank">Vijay Mallya declared &#39;proclaimed offender&#39; by Delhi court</a>

A Delhi court today declared beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in a FERA violation case. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Shehrawat passed the order after noting that Mallya failed to appear before it despite repeated summons.

&nbsp;

Pakistan's propaganda exercise on Jadhav carries no credibility: India As Pakistan released a new video of Kulbhashan Jadhav, the ministry of external affairs(MEA) said it was not surprised by the new video asserting that Pakistan was simply continuing to put out "coerced statements" on the video. China puts Tibetan language advocate on trial for 'inciting separatism' China today put a Tibetan on trial for "inciting separatism" even as rights group denounced the decision as a "sham" after appearing in a New York Times video documentary after he criticised policies related to Tibetan language education. Pakistan needs to earn the money provided to fight terror: US At the State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said Pakistan needs to show that it is sincere in cracking down on terrorism even as the White House said it would announce new measures against Pakistan on terror-related issues. Fodder scam case: Got phone calls from Lalu's men, says judge As Lalu Prasad appeared in Ranchi court for sentencing in the fodder scam case, the judge told the RJD chief that "he got phone calls from Lalu's men". "I got many references for you but don't worry, I will follow only law", Special CBI court judge Shivpal Singh said in court on Thursday. Vijay Mallya declared 'proclaimed offender' by Delhi court A Delhi court today declared beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in a FERA violation case. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Shehrawat passed the order after noting that Mallya failed to appear before it despite repeated summons.

WION Evening news brief, 4 January 2018

If Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&rsquo;s foreign policy track record is anything to go by, the ongoing situation in Iran could tempt him to embark on yet another risky adventure. This is following the&nbsp;widespread anti-government protests&nbsp;in Iran, which is the real focus of his multiple regional quagmires that include the devastating war in Yemen and the failed effort to force Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign.

In many ways, Prince Mohammed faces the same considerations in deciding how to respond to events in Iran, as does US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;In January, the&nbsp;president&nbsp;not only has to choose whether to certify Iranian compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, but also whether to waive US sanctions on Iran. A decision to re-impose economic sanctions could mean a US withdrawal from the agreement.

At the core of Trump&rsquo;s decision, as well as Prince Mohammed&rsquo;s deliberations on how and if to respond to the Iranian protests, is the question of whether the US and/or Saudi Arabia see a strengthening of hardline conservative factions in Iran as serving their national interests. This is includes containing the Islamic Republic and possibly engineering a situation that would be conducive to regime change.

&ldquo;The most likely scenario is that the evidence of popular dissatisfaction and the inevitable repression will harden the Trump administration&rsquo;s position on sustaining the deal and provide additional incentives for ratcheting up new economic pressure on the government,&rdquo; said Brookings fellow and former State Department policy planning Iran expert&nbsp;Suzanne Maloney. &ldquo;They also may see some possibility of flipping the Europeans if the crackdown is fierce and well-documented.&rdquo; The European Union has urged President Trump not to nix the nuclear agreement.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in contrast to hardliners, has sought to reach out to the protesters. He has recognized their right to criticize the government, while denouncing violence and promising to address their economic grievances. Rouhani may be able to tackle some issues like the fraudulent financial institutions that have deprived many of their savings, but he will struggle to fix the country&rsquo;s structural economic issues, including the power of hardline institutions such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. He may also be able to institutionalize and anchor in law the right to protest with the&nbsp;backing of hardliners. Moreover, addressing economic issues would be even more daunting if Trump withdraws from the nuclear deal.

Ultimately, the odds are that hardliners, irrespective of what scenario unfolds, will emerge strengthened by the current crisis. This will either be the result of protests losing momentum as the regime curbs access to social media, a brutal squashing of the protests as a last resort, or because increased external pressure will initially unite rival factions and reinforce widespread disillusionment with the nuclear deal, which has failed to provide tangible economic benefits to a majority of Iranians.

Prince Mohammed

Looming in the background is the risk that Prince Mohammed &mdash; with or without US backing or cooperation &mdash; will seek to exploit the Iranian government&rsquo;s problems by attempting to further destabilize the Islamic Republic. This could be by stirring unrest among already restive ethnic minority groups such as the Kurds and the Baluchis. Kermanshah, a city in the predominantly Kurdish western Iran, was one of the first cities to which the protests spread after initially erupting in the conservative stronghold of Mashhad.

&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia has funneled large amounts of money in the last 18 months to militant groups and madrassas or religious seminaries in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which borders the Iranian region of Sistan and Baluchistan &mdash; both populated by restive Baluchis. In 2017, a Riyadh-based think tank believed to be supported by Prince Mohammed, published a&nbsp;blueprint&nbsp;for stirring unrest among the Iranian Baluch.

President Trump

In recent days,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and the&nbsp;US State Department&nbsp;have expressed support for the protesters. They have urged the international community to chirp in, and also said they back those in Iran who are seeking a peaceful transition of government.

Various US analysts have argued that Trump&rsquo;s anti-Iranian track record, including his attempted bans on granting visas to Iranians, curtails the impact of his support for the protesters. It may even strengthen the hardliners by allowing them to point fingers at alleged foreign instigation. &ldquo;While we&rsquo;re on Trump, the impact of his tweets has been marginal at best. They&rsquo;ve triggered a slew of angry comments, packed with ridicule. Across classes, factions and generations in Iran, there is a shared contempt for&nbsp;#POTUS&nbsp;whose policies look erratic and hypocritical,&rdquo; tweeted Bloomberg&rsquo;s Iran correspondent,&nbsp;Golnar Motevalli.

Rather than speaking out, the analysts proposed concrete steps the United States could take to support the demonstrators.&nbsp;Maloney&nbsp;and journalist&nbsp;Maziar Bahari&nbsp;suggested the US could use its influence with technology, satellite internet providers and social media networks to try keep communications channels open for protesters.

In an article for Lobe Log, former State Department official&nbsp;Reza Marashi&nbsp;argued that advice he and others proffered in 2009, when the Iranian government faced far larger protests against alleged election fraud, remained valid in the current situation. &ldquo;We advised our superiors to express concern about the violence against protestors, and highlight the importance of respecting free speech, democratic process, and peaceful dissent. We also emphasized a need for the US government to publicly express its respect for Iranian sovereignty, its desire to avoid making America the issue during a domestic Iranian protest, and its belief that it is up to Iranians to determine who Iran&rsquo;s leaders will be,&rdquo; Marashi recalled.

Much of that advice has been ignored by the White House. In doing so, the Trump administration has not only allowed Rouhani and the hardliners to point to a scapegoat. It has seemingly gone out of its way to raise Iranian fears that US policy, with the Saudis in tow, is focused on regime change. Marashi added: &ldquo;Washington would be wise to acknowledge the limits of its power inside Iran. Policymakers and pundits cannot change this simple truth: The problems are Iranian, the protestors are Iranian, and the solution will be Iranian.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

This <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/iran-protests-hassan-rouhani-saudi-arabia-donald-trump-latest-news-34069/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">article </a>was originally carried by the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Fair Observer</a>.

&nbsp;

Protests in Iran raise tricky questions for American and Saudi policymakers, amid Iranian fears that US policy, with the Saudis in tow, is focused on regime change.

If Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s foreign policy track record is anything to go by, the ongoing situation in Iran could tempt him to embark on yet another risky adventure. This is following the widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which is the real focus of his multiple regional quagmires that include the devastating war in Yemen and the failed effort to force Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign. In many ways, Prince Mohammed faces the same considerations in deciding how to respond to events in Iran, as does US President Donald Trump. In January, the president not only has to choose whether to certify Iranian compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, but also whether to waive US sanctions on Iran. A decision to re-impose economic sanctions could mean a US withdrawal from the agreement. At the core of Trump’s decision, as well as Prince Mohammed’s deliberations on how and if to respond to the Iranian protests, is the question of whether the US and/or Saudi Arabia see a strengthening of hardline conservative factions in Iran as serving their national interests. This is includes containing the Islamic Republic and possibly engineering a situation that would be conducive to regime change. “The most likely scenario is that the evidence of popular dissatisfaction and the inevitable repression will harden the Trump administration’s position on sustaining the deal and provide additional incentives for ratcheting up new economic pressure on the government,” said Brookings fellow and former State Department policy planning Iran expert Suzanne Maloney. “They also may see some possibility of flipping the Europeans if the crackdown is fierce and well-documented.” The European Union has urged President Trump not to nix the nuclear agreement. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in contrast to hardliners, has sought to reach out to the protesters. He has recognized their right to criticize the government, while denouncing violence and promising to address their economic grievances. Rouhani may be able to tackle some issues like the fraudulent financial institutions that have deprived many of their savings, but he will struggle to fix the country’s structural economic issues, including the power of hardline institutions such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. He may also be able to institutionalize and anchor in law the right to protest with the backing of hardliners. Moreover, addressing economic issues would be even more daunting if Trump withdraws from the nuclear deal. Ultimately, the odds are that hardliners, irrespective of what scenario unfolds, will emerge strengthened by the current crisis. This will either be the result of protests losing momentum as the regime curbs access to social media, a brutal squashing of the protests as a last resort, or because increased external pressure will initially unite rival factions and reinforce widespread disillusionment with the nuclear deal, which has failed to provide tangible economic benefits to a majority of Iranians. Prince Mohammed Looming in the background is the risk that Prince Mohammed — with or without US backing or cooperation — will seek to exploit the Iranian government’s problems by attempting to further destabilize the Islamic Republic. This could be by stirring unrest among already restive ethnic minority groups such as the Kurds and the Baluchis. Kermanshah, a city in the predominantly Kurdish western Iran, was one of the first cities to which the protests spread after initially erupting in the conservative stronghold of Mashhad. Saudi Arabia has funneled large amounts of money in the last 18 months to militant groups and madrassas or religious seminaries in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which borders the Iranian region of Sistan and Baluchistan — both populated by restive Baluchis. In 2017, a Riyadh-based think tank believed to be supported by Prince Mohammed, published a blueprint for stirring unrest among the Iranian Baluch. President Trump In recent days, Trump and the US State Department have expressed support for the protesters. They have urged the international community to chirp in, and also said they back those in Iran who are seeking a peaceful transition of government. Various US analysts have argued that Trump’s anti-Iranian track record, including his attempted bans on granting visas to Iranians, curtails the impact of his support for the protesters. It may even strengthen the hardliners by allowing them to point fingers at alleged foreign instigation. “While we’re on Trump, the impact of his tweets has been marginal at best. They’ve triggered a slew of angry comments, packed with ridicule. Across classes, factions and generations in Iran, there is a shared contempt for #POTUS whose policies look erratic and hypocritical,” tweeted Bloomberg’s Iran correspondent, Golnar Motevalli. Rather than speaking out, the analysts proposed concrete steps the United States could take to support the demonstrators. Maloney and journalist Maziar Bahari suggested the US could use its influence with technology, satellite internet providers and social media networks to try keep communications channels open for protesters. In an article for Lobe Log, former State Department official Reza Marashi argued that advice he and others proffered in 2009, when the Iranian government faced far larger protests against alleged election fraud, remained valid in the current situation. “We advised our superiors to express concern about the violence against protestors, and highlight the importance of respecting free speech, democratic process, and peaceful dissent. We also emphasized a need for the US government to publicly express its respect for Iranian sovereignty, its desire to avoid making America the issue during a domestic Iranian protest, and its belief that it is up to Iranians to determine who Iran’s leaders will be,” Marashi recalled. Much of that advice has been ignored by the White House. In doing so, the Trump administration has not only allowed Rouhani and the hardliners to point to a scapegoat. It has seemingly gone out of its way to raise Iranian fears that US policy, with the Saudis in tow, is focused on regime change. Marashi added: “Washington would be wise to acknowledge the limits of its power inside Iran. Policymakers and pundits cannot change this simple truth: The problems are Iranian, the protestors are Iranian, and the solution will be Iranian.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL). This article was originally carried by the Fair Observer.

Opinion: Iran protests raise risk of regime change

Palestinians condemned as blackmail on Wednesday US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s threat to withhold future aid payments over what he called the Palestinians&#39; unwillingness to talk peace with Israel.

Trump drew praise from a cabinet minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing government but a warning from a former Israeli peace negotiator of the dangers in cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinians.

On Twitter on Tuesday, Trump said that Washington gives Palestinians &quot;HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don&#39;t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel ... with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?&quot;

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization&#39;s executive committee, said in response: &quot;We will not be blackmailed.&quot;

Palestinian anger at Trump is already high over his December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, a declaration that also generated outrage across the Arab world and concern among Washington&#39;s Western allies.

Commenting on Trump&#39;s tweets, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: &quot;Jerusalem is not for sale, neither for gold nor for silver.&quot;

Abu Rdainah said the Palestinians were not opposed to returning to peace talks that collapsed in 2014, but only on the basis of establishing a state of their own along the lines that existed before Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 war.

&quot;If the United States is keen about peace and about its interests it must abide by that,&quot; he said.

Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, has called the pre-1967 war West Bank boundaries indefensible and has pledged to hold on to all of Jerusalem forever.

UNRWA funding

A report prepared for the US&nbsp;Congress in December 2016 by the US&nbsp;Congressional Research Service said annual US&nbsp;economic support to the West Bank and Gaza Strip has averaged around $400 million since fiscal 2008.

Much of the money has gone toward US&nbsp;Agency for International Development-administered project assistance and the rest toward budget support for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers limited self-rule in the Palestinian territories under interim peace agreements.

Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev, a member of Netanyahu&#39;s Likud party, welcomed Trump&#39;s aid comments, saying on Army Radio: &quot;I am very satisfied ... (Trump) is saying the time has come to stop saying flattering words (to the Palestinians).&quot;

But Tzipi Livni, an Israeli opposition politician and a former peace negotiator, said &quot;a responsible and serious (Israeli) government&quot; should quietly tell Trump that it would be in Israel&#39;s interest to prevent a &quot;humanitarian crisis in Gaza&quot; and to continue to fund Palestinian security forces cooperating with Israel.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump&#39;s UN&nbsp;ambassador disclosed plans to stop funding a United Nations agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.

&quot;The president has basically said he doesn&#39;t want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table,&quot; Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters when asked about future US&nbsp;funding for the UN&nbsp;Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)for Palestinian refugees.

In an emailed statement, UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said &quot;UNRWA has not been informed by the United States administration of any changes in US&nbsp;funding to the Agency&quot;.

The United States is the largest donor to the agency, with a pledge of nearly $370 million as of 2016, according to UNRWA&#39;s website.

According to UNRWA&#39;s website, there are 5.9 million UNRWA refugees and other registered persons eligible for its services, which include education and health care, in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Trump drew praise from a cabinet minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government but a warning from a former Israeli peace negotiator of the dangers in cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinians

Palestinians condemned as blackmail on Wednesday US President Donald Trump's threat to withhold future aid payments over what he called the Palestinians' unwillingness to talk peace with Israel. Trump drew praise from a cabinet minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government but a warning from a former Israeli peace negotiator of the dangers in cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinians. On Twitter on Tuesday, Trump said that Washington gives Palestinians "HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don't even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel ... with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?" Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee, said in response: "We will not be blackmailed." Palestinian anger at Trump is already high over his December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a declaration that also generated outrage across the Arab world and concern among Washington's Western allies. Commenting on Trump's tweets, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "Jerusalem is not for sale, neither for gold nor for silver." Abu Rdainah said the Palestinians were not opposed to returning to peace talks that collapsed in 2014, but only on the basis of establishing a state of their own along the lines that existed before Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 war. "If the United States is keen about peace and about its interests it must abide by that," he said. Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, has called the pre-1967 war West Bank boundaries indefensible and has pledged to hold on to all of Jerusalem forever. UNRWA funding A report prepared for the US Congress in December 2016 by the US Congressional Research Service said annual US economic support to the West Bank and Gaza Strip has averaged around $400 million since fiscal 2008. Much of the money has gone toward US Agency for International Development-administered project assistance and the rest toward budget support for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers limited self-rule in the Palestinian territories under interim peace agreements. Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, welcomed Trump's aid comments, saying on Army Radio: "I am very satisfied ... (Trump) is saying the time has come to stop saying flattering words (to the Palestinians)." But Tzipi Livni, an Israeli opposition politician and a former peace negotiator, said "a responsible and serious (Israeli) government" should quietly tell Trump that it would be in Israel's interest to prevent a "humanitarian crisis in Gaza" and to continue to fund Palestinian security forces cooperating with Israel. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump's UN ambassador disclosed plans to stop funding a United Nations agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees. "The president has basically said he doesn't want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table," Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters when asked about future US funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)for Palestinian refugees. In an emailed statement, UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said "UNRWA has not been informed by the United States administration of any changes in US funding to the Agency". The United States is the largest donor to the agency, with a pledge of nearly $370 million as of 2016, according to UNRWA's website. According to UNRWA's website, there are 5.9 million UNRWA refugees and other registered persons eligible for its services, which include education and health care, in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Palestinians condemn Trump aid halt threat, mixed reaction in Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump are supporting the anti-government protests in Iran, Turkey&#39;s foreign minister was quoted as saying by broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran.

Cavusoglu said Turkey had not made any assurances to the United States in the resolution of a months-long row which had led to the two countries suspending visa services, CNN Turk said.

It said Cavusoglu would meet his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are supporting the anti-government protests in Iran, Turkey's foreign minister was quoted as saying by broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday. Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran. Cavusoglu said Turkey had not made any assurances to the United States in the resolution of a months-long row which had led to the two countries suspending visa services, CNN Turk said. It said Cavusoglu would meet his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

Netanyahu, Trump supporting Iran protests: Turkey

Fresh protests broke out as night fell in Iran Monday with reports of a policeman shot dead, as the authorities moved to crack down on days of unrest across the country.

There was a heavy police presence in Tehran as small groups of protesters ran through the city centre shouting anti-regime slogans, local agencies reported.

Some arrests were made before calm returned to the capital, reports said.

State television said one policeman had been killed and three others wounded by fire from hunting rifles in the city of Najafabad in central Iran.

The latest demonstrations came despite President Hassan Rouhani&#39;s vow that the nation would deal with &quot;rioters and lawbreakers&quot;.

Media cited Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran&#39;s Supreme National Security Council, as blaming the violence on social media.

&quot;Hashtags and messages about the situation in Iran come from the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia,&quot; he said.

&quot;What is happening on social networks concerning the situation in the country is a proxy war against the Iranian people.&quot;

US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Tehran over four days of demonstrations, said it was &quot;time for a change&quot; and that Iran&#39;s people were &quot;hungry&quot; for freedom.

Iran&#39;s intelligence ministry released a statement saying &quot;rioters and instigators&quot; have been identified &quot;and will be dealt with seriously soon&quot;.

The Revolutionary Guards published photos of three wanted people and called on the public to report any &quot;seditionist elements&quot;.

The deadliest night yet was on Sunday, with state television reporting six people killed by gunfire in the western town of Tuyserkan, and a local lawmaker saying two people had been shot dead in the southwestern town of Izeh.

Two others, including a teenage boy, were run down and killed by a fire engine protesters stole in the western town of Dorud, the state broadcaster said.

The total death toll linked to the protests currently stands at 13.

Biggest test for regime 
Rouhani tried to play down the unrest, which began in second city Mashhad last Thursday and quickly spread across the country to become the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009.

&quot;This is nothing,&quot; Rouhani said in a statement on the presidency website.

&quot;Our nation will deal with this minority who chant slogans against the law and people&#39;s wishes, and insult the sanctities and values of the revolution.&quot;

Pro-regime rallies were held across several towns and cities.&nbsp;

Reporting restrictions remained tight, but videos on social media showed seemingly widespread anti-government protests, with attacks on government buildings and a school for clergy in the northwestern town of Takestan on Sunday.

&#39;Scared of talking&#39; 
Tehran has seen relatively small protests, but many people sympathise with economic grievances driving the unrest.

&quot;Life is really difficult. The high prices really put me under pressure. My husband is a government worker but his salary is no way enough for us to make ends meet,&quot; said Farzaneh Mirzaie, 42, a mother of two.

&quot;Mr Rouhani says it&#39;s free for people to protest but we&#39;re scared of speaking. Even now, I&#39;m scared of talking to you,&quot; added Sarita Mohammadi, a 35-year-old teacher.

The authorities have confirmed more than 400 arrests since the outbreak of the unrest, of whom around 100 have been freed.&nbsp;

&quot;Those who have rightful demands must be guided in lawful ways and those who riot and commit sabotage and chaos and set fire to public property... must be confronted decisively,&quot; judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani told the state broadcaster.

&quot;The country must have discipline,&quot; he added.

Trump, a fierce critic of Tehran, used one of his first tweets of 2018 to again lash out.

&quot;The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food &amp; for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!&quot; he tweeted.

The European Union Monday pushed Iran to guarantee the right to protest and separately British foreign minister Boris Johnson said &quot;the UK is watching events in Iran closely&quot;.

&quot;We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this,&quot; Johnson said in a statement.

Living costs, unemployment 
After initial silence, state media have shown some footage of demonstrations, focusing on young men attacking banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran and images of a man burning the Iranian flag.

Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but high living costs and a 12 percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow.

&quot;We have no problem bigger than unemployment. Our economy needs an operation. We must all stand together,&quot; Rouhani acknowledged on Monday.

In 2009, authorities ruthlessly put down protests which followed a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term. At least 36 people were killed in 2009, according to an official toll, while the opposition says 72 died.

There was a heavy police presence in Tehran as small groups of protesters ran through the city centre shouting anti-regime slogans, local agencies reported

Fresh protests broke out as night fell in Iran Monday with reports of a policeman shot dead, as the authorities moved to crack down on days of unrest across the country. There was a heavy police presence in Tehran as small groups of protesters ran through the city centre shouting anti-regime slogans, local agencies reported. Some arrests were made before calm returned to the capital, reports said. State television said one policeman had been killed and three others wounded by fire from hunting rifles in the city of Najafabad in central Iran. The latest demonstrations came despite President Hassan Rouhani's vow that the nation would deal with "rioters and lawbreakers". Media cited Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as blaming the violence on social media. "Hashtags and messages about the situation in Iran come from the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia," he said. "What is happening on social networks concerning the situation in the country is a proxy war against the Iranian people." US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Tehran over four days of demonstrations, said it was "time for a change" and that Iran's people were "hungry" for freedom. Iran's intelligence ministry released a statement saying "rioters and instigators" have been identified "and will be dealt with seriously soon". The Revolutionary Guards published photos of three wanted people and called on the public to report any "seditionist elements". The deadliest night yet was on Sunday, with state television reporting six people killed by gunfire in the western town of Tuyserkan, and a local lawmaker saying two people had been shot dead in the southwestern town of Izeh. Two others, including a teenage boy, were run down and killed by a fire engine protesters stole in the western town of Dorud, the state broadcaster said. The total death toll linked to the protests currently stands at 13. Biggest test for regime Rouhani tried to play down the unrest, which began in second city Mashhad last Thursday and quickly spread across the country to become the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009. "This is nothing," Rouhani said in a statement on the presidency website. "Our nation will deal with this minority who chant slogans against the law and people's wishes, and insult the sanctities and values of the revolution." Pro-regime rallies were held across several towns and cities. Reporting restrictions remained tight, but videos on social media showed seemingly widespread anti-government protests, with attacks on government buildings and a school for clergy in the northwestern town of Takestan on Sunday. 'Scared of talking' Tehran has seen relatively small protests, but many people sympathise with economic grievances driving the unrest. "Life is really difficult. The high prices really put me under pressure. My husband is a government worker but his salary is no way enough for us to make ends meet," said Farzaneh Mirzaie, 42, a mother of two. "Mr Rouhani says it's free for people to protest but we're scared of speaking. Even now, I'm scared of talking to you," added Sarita Mohammadi, a 35-year-old teacher. The authorities have confirmed more than 400 arrests since the outbreak of the unrest, of whom around 100 have been freed. "Those who have rightful demands must be guided in lawful ways and those who riot and commit sabotage and chaos and set fire to public property... must be confronted decisively," judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani told the state broadcaster. "The country must have discipline," he added. Trump, a fierce critic of Tehran, used one of his first tweets of 2018 to again lash out. "The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!" he tweeted. The European Union Monday pushed Iran to guarantee the right to protest and separately British foreign minister Boris Johnson said "the UK is watching events in Iran closely". "We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this," Johnson said in a statement. Living costs, unemployment After initial silence, state media have shown some footage of demonstrations, focusing on young men attacking banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran and images of a man burning the Iranian flag. Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but high living costs and a 12 percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow. "We have no problem bigger than unemployment. Our economy needs an operation. We must all stand together," Rouhani acknowledged on Monday. In 2009, authorities ruthlessly put down protests which followed a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term. At least 36 people were killed in 2009, according to an official toll, while the opposition says 72 died.

Fresh protests in Iran; policeman killed, 3 injured

Responding to US President Donald Trump&#39;s allegation that Pakistan was providing safe haven to terrorists, India has said that its stand has been vindicated.&nbsp;

&quot;The Trump administration`s decision today has abundantly vindicated India`s stand as far as terror is concerned and as far as Pakistan`s role in perpetrating terror is concerned,&quot; ANI quoted Minister of State Jitender Singh as saying.&nbsp;

Singh added that the US was now understanding that there can be no differentiating between good and bad terrorism.&nbsp;

&quot;They are also understanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s reiteration that the war against terrorism has to be fought collectively. There can`t be good terror or bad terror, there can`t be a distinction in terrorism happening, terrorism is terrorism,&quot; Singh said.

Trump had on Monday tweeted that Pakistan had given the US nothing but &quot;lies and deceit&quot; in return for $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years.&nbsp;

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The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies &amp; deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947802588174577664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It was his first tweet of the year.&nbsp;

Pakistan reacted quickly, saying the US should not blame them for their failures in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

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Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting has said that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnitedStates?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnitedStates</a> should not put blames for its failure in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> on Pakistan. 
She further said that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the war against# terrorism and there is no ambiguity about it <a href="https://t.co/u76OBadmtJ">pic.twitter.com/u76OBadmtJ</a>
&mdash; Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/947858274724012034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-summons-us-ambassador-after-trump-criticism-28272" target="_blank">summoned the US ambassador</a> to Pakistan, asking him to explain Trump&#39;s tweets.&nbsp;

The US has since announced that it will be <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-summons-us-ambassador-after-trump-criticism-28272" target="_blank">cutting $255 million in military aid</a> to Pakistan.&nbsp;

'The Trump administration`s decision today has abundantly vindicated India`s stand as far as terror is concerned and as far as Pakistan`s role in perpetrating terror is concerned,' MoS Jitendra Singh said

Responding to US President Donald Trump's allegation that Pakistan was providing safe haven to terrorists, India has said that its stand has been vindicated. "The Trump administration`s decision today has abundantly vindicated India`s stand as far as terror is concerned and as far as Pakistan`s role in perpetrating terror is concerned," ANI quoted Minister of State Jitender Singh as saying. Singh added that the US was now understanding that there can be no differentiating between good and bad terrorism. "They are also understanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s reiteration that the war against terrorism has to be fought collectively. There can`t be good terror or bad terror, there can`t be a distinction in terrorism happening, terrorism is terrorism," Singh said. Trump had on Monday tweeted that Pakistan had given the US nothing but "lies and deceit" in return for $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018 × It was his first tweet of the year. Pakistan reacted quickly, saying the US should not blame them for their failures in Afghanistan. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting has said that the #UnitedStates should not put blames for its failure in #Afghanistan on Pakistan. She further said that #Pakistan has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the war against# terrorism and there is no ambiguity about it pic.twitter.com/u76OBadmtJ — Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) January 1, 2018 × It also summoned the US ambassador to Pakistan, asking him to explain Trump's tweets. The US has since announced that it will be cutting $255 million in military aid to Pakistan.

Our stand vindicated, says India after Trump slams Pakistan on terrorism

The Trump administration is considering introducing a proposal that will restrict&nbsp;extension of H-1B visa.&nbsp;

The initiative by the public security department of US aims to further President&#39;s &quot;Buy America, Hire America&quot; drive.&nbsp;

The move is likely to affect thousands of Indians working in the country on&nbsp;H-1B visa.&nbsp;The&nbsp;proposal will prevent foreign immigrants without Green Card from working in the US.&nbsp;

Currently, the immigrants get an extension of over&nbsp;two or three years even if their Green Card is pending. Once the proposal&nbsp;gets approved, about 500,000 to 750,000 Indians working on H-1B visa may have to be deported from the US.&nbsp;

&quot;The idea is to create a sort of &#39;self- deportation&#39; of hundreds of thousands of Indian tech workers in the United States to open up those jobs for Americans,&quot; said a US source briefed by Homeland Security officials as reported by McClatchy DC Bureau. 
 
The proposal has been initiated by the Department of Homeland Security, the public security department of US.

The proposal has been&nbsp;passed by the House Judiciary Committee and is now awaiting to be cleared by the&nbsp;US Senate.&nbsp;

According to an estimated figure, about 70 per cent of these visas&nbsp;is given to Indians.The program allows immigrants to work despite having pending Green Card. It has recently received huge criticism from &nbsp;American workers as they&nbsp;claim that the visa abuses their job opportunities.

The initiative taken by the public security department of US aims to further President's 'Buy America, Hire America' drive

The Trump administration is considering introducing a proposal that will restrict extension of H-1B visa. The initiative by the public security department of US aims to further President's "Buy America, Hire America" drive. The move is likely to affect thousands of Indians working in the country on H-1B visa. The proposal will prevent foreign immigrants without Green Card from working in the US. Currently, the immigrants get an extension of over two or three years even if their Green Card is pending. Once the proposal gets approved, about 500,000 to 750,000 Indians working on H-1B visa may have to be deported from the US. "The idea is to create a sort of 'self- deportation' of hundreds of thousands of Indian tech workers in the United States to open up those jobs for Americans," said a US source briefed by Homeland Security officials as reported by McClatchy DC Bureau. The proposal has been initiated by the Department of Homeland Security, the public security department of US. The proposal has been passed by the House Judiciary Committee and is now awaiting to be cleared by the US Senate. According to an estimated figure, about 70 per cent of these visas is given to Indians.The program allows immigrants to work despite having pending Green Card. It has recently received huge criticism from American workers as they claim that the visa abuses their job opportunities.

New H-1B visa proposal may lead to deportation of Indians

US President Donald Trump has said the US will have a &quot;fantastic year&quot; ahead as he touted the economic success during his first year in office.

The remarks came as the president walked into the New Year&#39;s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, with first lady Melania Trump.

The president said the country is already &quot;off to a very good start&quot; while highlighting some of provisions included in the Republican tax cut plan, his administration&#39;s first major legislative victory.

He touted opening Alaska&#39;s remote Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and natural gas drilling and repealing ObamaCare&#39;s individual mandate, which requires individuals to buy health insurance or face a fine, The Hill reported.

&quot;We are off to a very good start, as you know, with the great tax cuts and ANWR and getting rid of the individual mandate, which is very, very unpopular, as you know,&quot; he said.

&quot;We&#39;re going to have a great year. We&#39;re going to have a fantastic 2018,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;But we are going to have a tremendous year. Stock market, I think, is going to continue to go up. Companies are going to continue to come into the country. And they&#39;re doing it now, soon to be a record clip,&quot; he continued.

The president did not say much when asked about the latest wave of threats by North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un, who touted in a New Year speech that he possesses nuclear weapons that are capable of striking mainland US.

&quot;We&#39;ll see, we&#39;ll see,&quot; he said.

High profile guests at the president&#39;s party included his children as well as other top government officials.

Trump and and Barron were both in tuxedos. First Lady Melania had a full length rose gold glittery gown with floral accents.

The remarks came as the president walked into the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, with first lady Melania Trump.

US President Donald Trump has said the US will have a "fantastic year" ahead as he touted the economic success during his first year in office. The remarks came as the president walked into the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, with first lady Melania Trump. The president said the country is already "off to a very good start" while highlighting some of provisions included in the Republican tax cut plan, his administration's first major legislative victory. He touted opening Alaska's remote Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and natural gas drilling and repealing ObamaCare's individual mandate, which requires individuals to buy health insurance or face a fine, The Hill reported. "We are off to a very good start, as you know, with the great tax cuts and ANWR and getting rid of the individual mandate, which is very, very unpopular, as you know," he said. "We're going to have a great year. We're going to have a fantastic 2018," Trump said. "But we are going to have a tremendous year. Stock market, I think, is going to continue to go up. Companies are going to continue to come into the country. And they're doing it now, soon to be a record clip," he continued. The president did not say much when asked about the latest wave of threats by North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un, who touted in a New Year speech that he possesses nuclear weapons that are capable of striking mainland US. "We'll see, we'll see," he said. High profile guests at the president's party included his children as well as other top government officials. Trump and and Barron were both in tuxedos. First Lady Melania had a full length rose gold glittery gown with floral accents.

US will have a fantastic year ahead: Donald Trump in New Year Eve message

Hours after Donald Trump lambasted Pakistan&nbsp;for giving US nothing but &quot;lies and deceit&quot; in return for billions in aid, Pakistan Minister of State for Information &amp; Broadcasting said that the US should not blame Pakistan for its failure in Afghanistan. Pakistan has rendered &#39;&#39;unmatched sacrifices&#39;&#39; in the &#39;&#39;war against terrorism&#39;&#39; and there was no ambiguity about it.

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Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting has said that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnitedStates?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnitedStates</a> should not put blames for its failure in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> on Pakistan. 
She further said that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the war against# terrorism and there is no ambiguity about it <a href="https://t.co/u76OBadmtJ">pic.twitter.com/u76OBadmtJ</a>
&mdash; Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/947858274724012034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In a strongly worded reaction to earlier US accusations, Pakistan Army spokesman, Major General Asif Ghafoor, asserted that aid Pakistan received from the US was &quot;reimbursement for support Islamabad gave to the coalition for its fight against Al Qaeda&quot;.&nbsp;

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Hitting back at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> the Foreign Office had also warned against the malicious campaign being used to trivialize Pakistan&#39;s achievements in the war against terrorism. The foreign office said allies do not put each other on notice. <a href="https://t.co/fbhLuClU6O">pic.twitter.com/fbhLuClU6O</a>
&mdash; Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/947857868589617152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Pakistan Foreign Office also issued a warning against what it called &#39;&#39;malicious campaign&#39;&#39; being used to trivialize Pakistan&#39;s achievements in the war against terrorism. The foreign office said that allies do not put each other on notice.&nbsp;

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In a strong worded reaction to earlier <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> accusations and allegations the Pakistan Army spokesman, Major General Asif Ghafoor asserted that the aid Pakistan received from the US was &quot;reimbursement for support Islamabad gave to the coalition for its fight against Al Qaeda.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/yzKmYbuOx0">pic.twitter.com/yzKmYbuOx0</a>
&mdash; Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/947857527613640704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Pakistan also said that it received nothing but invective and mistrust from US for the cooperation it extended for &#39;&#39;war on terrorism&#39;&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pakistan as anti-terror ally has given land, air communication, military bases, intel cooperation that decimated Al-Qaeda over last 16 years free of cost, but they have given us nothing in return but invective and mistrust, the statement said.

The statement also accused the US of overlooking the cross-border safe havens of terrorists who murder Pakistanis.&nbsp;

Aid Pakistan received from the US was "reimbursement for support Islamabad gave to the coalition for its fight against Al Qaeda".

Hours after Donald Trump lambasted Pakistan for giving US nothing but "lies and deceit" in return for billions in aid, Pakistan Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting said that the US should not blame Pakistan for its failure in Afghanistan. Pakistan has rendered ''unmatched sacrifices'' in the ''war against terrorism'' and there was no ambiguity about it. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting has said that the #UnitedStates should not put blames for its failure in #Afghanistan on Pakistan. She further said that #Pakistan has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the war against# terrorism and there is no ambiguity about it pic.twitter.com/u76OBadmtJ — Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) January 1, 2018 × In a strongly worded reaction to earlier US accusations, Pakistan Army spokesman, Major General Asif Ghafoor, asserted that aid Pakistan received from the US was "reimbursement for support Islamabad gave to the coalition for its fight against Al Qaeda". Hitting back at the #US the Foreign Office had also warned against the malicious campaign being used to trivialize Pakistan's achievements in the war against terrorism. The foreign office said allies do not put each other on notice. pic.twitter.com/fbhLuClU6O — Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) January 1, 2018 × Pakistan Foreign Office also issued a warning against what it called ''malicious campaign'' being used to trivialize Pakistan's achievements in the war against terrorism. The foreign office said that allies do not put each other on notice. In a strong worded reaction to earlier #US accusations and allegations the Pakistan Army spokesman, Major General Asif Ghafoor asserted that the aid Pakistan received from the US was "reimbursement for support Islamabad gave to the coalition for its fight against Al Qaeda." pic.twitter.com/yzKmYbuOx0 — Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) January 1, 2018 × Pakistan also said that it received nothing but invective and mistrust from US for the cooperation it extended for ''war on terrorism''. Pakistan as anti-terror ally has given land, air communication, military bases, intel cooperation that decimated Al-Qaeda over last 16 years free of cost, but they have given us nothing in return but invective and mistrust, the statement said. The statement also accused the US of overlooking the cross-border safe havens of terrorists who murder Pakistanis.

Pak in denial; says rendered 'unmatched sacrifices' in war against terrorism

Minutes after United States President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of &nbsp;&#39;lies&#39; and &#39;deceit&#39; and threatened to cut&nbsp;$255 million in aid,&nbsp;Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif tweeted &#39;&#39;will let the world know the truth&#39;&#39;.&nbsp;

&#39;&#39;We will respond to President Trump&#39;s tweet shortly inshallah...Will let the world know the truth.. the difference between facts and&nbsp;fiction,&#39;&#39;&nbsp;tweeted&nbsp;Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.

Trump in his first tweet of 2018 attacked Pakistan for providing &#39;&#39;safe heavens&#39;&#39; to the terrorists. The United States has been fooled by Pakistan for 15 years, but no more, Trump tweeted on Monday.&nbsp;

The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies &amp; deceit, the tweet said. &nbsp;

Accusing Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists, Trump said that Pakistan extended no help in hunting down the terrorists in Afghanistan despite getting billions in aid from the United States. &nbsp;

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The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies &amp; deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947802588174577664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&#39;&#39;The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies &amp; deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!,&#39;&#39; the president tweeted.

&nbsp;

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We will respond to President Trump&#39;s tweet shortly inshallah...Will let the world know the truth..difference between facts &amp; fiction..
&mdash; Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) <a href="https://twitter.com/KhawajaMAsif/status/947816295738863616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It was not immediately clear what prompted Trump&rsquo;s criticism of Pakistan but he has long complained that Islamabad is not doing enough to tackle Islamist militants.

The New York Times reported on Dec. 29 that the Trump administration was &quot;strongly considering&quot; whether to withhold $255 million in aid to Pakistan.

It said U.S. officials had sought but been denied access to a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network captured in Pakistan who potentially could provide information about at least one American hostage.

The Trump administration said in August that it was delaying sending the $255 million in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Trump said in a speech the U.S. government makes &quot;massive payments every year to Pakistan. They have to help.&quot;

(With Reuters inputs)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Accusing Pakistan of providing safe heavens to terrorists, Trump said that the United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years.

Minutes after United States President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of 'lies' and 'deceit' and threatened to cut $255 million in aid, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif tweeted ''will let the world know the truth''. ''We will respond to President Trump's tweet shortly inshallah...Will let the world know the truth.. the difference between facts and fiction,'' tweeted Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif. Trump in his first tweet of 2018 attacked Pakistan for providing ''safe heavens'' to the terrorists. The United States has been fooled by Pakistan for 15 years, but no more, Trump tweeted on Monday. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, the tweet said. Accusing Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists, Trump said that Pakistan extended no help in hunting down the terrorists in Afghanistan despite getting billions in aid from the United States. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018 × ''The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!,'' the president tweeted. We will respond to President Trump's tweet shortly inshallah...Will let the world know the truth..difference between facts & fiction.. — Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 1, 2018 × It was not immediately clear what prompted Trump’s criticism of Pakistan but he has long complained that Islamabad is not doing enough to tackle Islamist militants. The New York Times reported on Dec. 29 that the Trump administration was "strongly considering" whether to withhold $255 million in aid to Pakistan. It said U.S. officials had sought but been denied access to a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network captured in Pakistan who potentially could provide information about at least one American hostage. The Trump administration said in August that it was delaying sending the $255 million in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Trump said in a speech the U.S. government makes "massive payments every year to Pakistan. They have to help." (With Reuters inputs)

After Trump's tweetstorm, Pakistan says 'will let the world know the truth'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/weve-been-fooled-for-15-years-no-more-donald-trumps-tweet-to-pakistan-28253">We&#39;ve been fooled for 15 years, no more: Donald Trump&#39;s tweet to Pakistan</a>

United States President Donald Trump accusing Pakistan of &nbsp;&#39;lies&#39; and &#39;deceit&#39;, threatened to cut $255 million in aid.&nbsp;

The United States has been fooled by Pakistan for 15 years, but no more, Trump tweeted on Monday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajinikanth-urges-fans-to-come-together-and-register-on-his-new-website-28255">Rajinikanth urges people to come under one umbrella to change TN political landscape</a>

After announcing his political innings in his inimitable style on December 31, South Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Monday urged his fans and those longing for a change in the Tamil Nadu political landscape to come under one umbrella in order to bring the change they have been craving for.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-plans-takeover-of-charities-run-by-islamist-figure-us-has-targeted-28237">Pakistan plans takeover of charities linked to Hafiz Saeed</a>

Pakistan&#39;s government plans to seize control of charities and financial assets linked to Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed, who Washington has designated a terrorist, according to officials and documents.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ten-people-killed-in-iran-unrest-on-sunday-state-television-28251">Ten people killed in Iran unrest on Sunday: State television</a>

Ten people were killed during street protests in Iran on Sunday, state television said on Monday.

The nationwide protests have drawn in tens of thousands of people and represent the boldest challenge to Iran`s leadership since pro-reform unrest in 2009. Calls for more demonstrations on Monday raised the possibility of prolonged instability.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pakistan-exchange-list-of-nuclear-installations-28249">India, Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installations</a>

India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities under a three-decade-old bilateral pact.

We've been fooled for 15 years, no more: Donald Trump's tweet to Pakistan United States President Donald Trump accusing Pakistan of 'lies' and 'deceit', threatened to cut $255 million in aid. The United States has been fooled by Pakistan for 15 years, but no more, Trump tweeted on Monday. Rajinikanth urges people to come under one umbrella to change TN political landscape After announcing his political innings in his inimitable style on December 31, South Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Monday urged his fans and those longing for a change in the Tamil Nadu political landscape to come under one umbrella in order to bring the change they have been craving for. Pakistan plans takeover of charities linked to Hafiz Saeed Pakistan's government plans to seize control of charities and financial assets linked to Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed, who Washington has designated a terrorist, according to officials and documents. Ten people killed in Iran unrest on Sunday: State television Ten people were killed during street protests in Iran on Sunday, state television said on Monday. The nationwide protests have drawn in tens of thousands of people and represent the boldest challenge to Iran`s leadership since pro-reform unrest in 2009. Calls for more demonstrations on Monday raised the possibility of prolonged instability. India, Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installations India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities under a three-decade-old bilateral pact.

WION Evening News Brief, January 1, 2018

US President Donald Trump has got similar approval ratings in his first year in office as former US president Barack Obama in a recent poll.&nbsp;

The Rasmussen Reports poll Thursday revealed Trump had an approval rating of 46 per cent and a disapproval rating of 53 per cent. This is similar to what Obama scored in his first year of the presidency in 2009.

<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5C5B1tIASy0" width="560"></iframe>

Obama had received an approval rating of 46 per cent and a disapproval rating of 54 per cent.&nbsp;

In terms of work done, the poll gave Trump an approval rating of 29 per cent and a disapproval rating of 44 per cent.&nbsp;

That was better than Obama, who got an approval rating of 24 per cent and a disapproval rating of 42 per cent.

On his inauguration day, Obama entered office with a high approval rating of 67 per cent&nbsp;and a disapproval rating of 32 per cent. Trump, on the other hand, received a much higher disapproval rating of almost 80 per cent.&nbsp;

Donald Trump has time and again protested against the unfavourable numbers released by media. The high disapproval and low approval rates for the current president are the outcomes of his controversial policies including ban on citizens from Muslim majority countries, constant jibes at North Korea over their nuclear tests, and recent&nbsp;one being his decision on Jerusalem.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;poll conducted by Politico/Morning Consult reflected a 51 per cent disapproval rating, with 60 per cent of respondents viewing Trump as &#39;reckless and stupid&#39;. At least 54 per cent believe Trump to be a &#39;sexist&#39;.

Rasmussen Reports' poll's number on Thursday revealed Trump getting an approval rating of 46 per cent, while disapproval rating of 53 per cent

US President Donald Trump has got similar approval ratings in his first year in office as former US president Barack Obama in a recent poll. The Rasmussen Reports poll Thursday revealed Trump had an approval rating of 46 per cent and a disapproval rating of 53 per cent. This is similar to what Obama scored in his first year of the presidency in 2009. Obama had received an approval rating of 46 per cent and a disapproval rating of 54 per cent. In terms of work done, the poll gave Trump an approval rating of 29 per cent and a disapproval rating of 44 per cent. That was better than Obama, who got an approval rating of 24 per cent and a disapproval rating of 42 per cent. On his inauguration day, Obama entered office with a high approval rating of 67 per cent and a disapproval rating of 32 per cent. Trump, on the other hand, received a much higher disapproval rating of almost 80 per cent. Donald Trump has time and again protested against the unfavourable numbers released by media. The high disapproval and low approval rates for the current president are the outcomes of his controversial policies including ban on citizens from Muslim majority countries, constant jibes at North Korea over their nuclear tests, and recent one being his decision on Jerusalem. A poll conducted by Politico/Morning Consult reflected a 51 per cent disapproval rating, with 60 per cent of respondents viewing Trump as 'reckless and stupid'. At least 54 per cent believe Trump to be a 'sexist'.

Trump's approval ratings similar to Obama's in first year in office

China on Friday denied reports it has been illicitly selling oil products to North Korea, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was not happy that China had allowed oil to reach the isolated nation.

Trump said on Twitter the previous day that China had been &quot;caught&quot; allowing oil into North Korea and that would prevent &quot;a friendly solution&quot; to the crisis over North Korea&#39;s nuclear programme.

&quot;I have been soft on China because the only thing more important to me than trade is war,&quot; Trump said in a separate interview with The New York Times.

South Korea&#39;s Chosun Ilbo newspaper this week quoted South Korean government sources as saying that U.S. spy satellites had detected Chinese ships transferring oil to North Korean vessels about 30 times since October.

US&nbsp;officials have not confirmed details of this report.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters she had noted recent media reports including suggestions a Chinese vessel was suspected of transporting oil to a North Korean vessel on October&nbsp;19.

&quot;The Chinese side has conducted immediate investigation. In reality, the ship in question has, since August, not docked at a Chinese port and there is no record of it entering or leaving a Chinese port,&quot; Hua said.

She said she was not aware if the vessel had docked at the port in other countries but the relevant media reports &quot;did not accord with facts&quot;.

&quot;China has always implemented UN&nbsp;Security Council resolutions pertaining to North Korea in their entirety and fulfils its international obligations. We never allow Chinese companies and citizens to violate the resolutions,&quot; Hua said.&nbsp;

&quot;If, through investigation, it`s confirmed there are violations of the UN&nbsp;Security Council resolutions, China will deal with them seriously in accordance with laws and regulations.&quot;

In the New York Times interview, Trump explicitly tied his administration&#39;s trade policy with China to its perceived cooperation in resolving the North Korea nuclear crisis.

&quot;When I campaigned, I was very tough on China in terms of trade. They made &mdash; last year, we had a trade deficit with China of $350 billion, minimum. That doesn&#39;t include the theft of intellectual property, O.K., which is another $300 billion,&quot; Trump said, according to a transcript of the interview.

&quot;If they&#39;re helping me with North Korea, I can look at trade a little bit differently, at least for a period of time. And that&#39;s what I&#39;ve been doing. But when oil is going in, I&#39;m not happy about that.&quot;

An official of the U.S. State Department said the U.S. government was aware of vessels engaged in such activity involving refined petroleum and coal.

&quot;We have evidence that some of the vessels engaged in these activities are owned by companies in several countries, including China,&quot; the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The United States says the full cooperation of China, North Korea&#39;s neighbour and main trading partner, is vital to the success of efforts to rein in North Korea, while warning that all options are on the table, including military ones, in dealing with it.

China has repeatedly said it is fully enforcing all resolutions against North Korea, despite suspicion in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that loopholes still exist.

Evading sanctions&nbsp;

South Korea said on Friday it had seized a Hong Kong-flagged ship suspected of transferring oil to North Korea in defiance of the sanctions.

A senior South Korean foreign ministry official said the ship, the Lighthouse Winmore, was seized when it arrived at a South Korean port in late November.

&quot;It&#39;s unclear how much oil the ship had transferred to North Korea for how long and on how many occasions, but it clearly showed North Korea is engaged in evading the sanctions,&quot; the official told Reuters.

South Korea&#39;s customs service concluded that the Lighthouse Winmore had loaded about 14,000 tons of Japanese refined petroleum products in South Korea on Oct. 11, reportedly bound for Taiwan, the official said.&nbsp;

But instead, it transferred as much as 600 tons to the North Korea-flagged Sam Jong 2 on October 19 in international waters between China and the Korean peninsula, on the order of its charterer, Billions Bunker Group Corp., based in Taiwan, the ministry official said.

It was not immediately possible to find contact information for the company.

The Hong Kong government said it was &quot;liaising with the Korean parties concerned to obtain further information about the incident, and will take appropriate actions as necessary&quot;.

Employees at the office of Lighthouse Ship Management, the ship&#39;s registered manager, in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou, declined to comment and said they had no knowledge of the situation.&nbsp;

China&#39;s foreign ministry spokeswoman said she did not have any information about the matter.

Both ships were among 10 vessels that the United States had proposed that the UN&nbsp;Security Council should blacklist for transporting banned items from North

Korea, documents seen by Reuters this month showed.

China and Russia subsequently asked for more time to consider the U.S. proposal.&nbsp;

Ship tracking data in Thomson Reuters Eikon shows that the Lighthouse Winmore has mainly been doing supply runs between China and Taiwan since August.&nbsp;

Prior to that, it was active between India and the United Arab Emirates. In October, when it allegedly transferred petroleum products to the North Korean ship, the Lighthouse Winmore had its tracking transponder switched off.

The Trump administration has led a drive to step up global sanctions on North Korea in response to its efforts to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States.

The UN&nbsp;Security Council last week unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea for a recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, seeking to further limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil.

The US-drafted UN&nbsp;resolution seeks to ban nearly 90 percent of refined petroleum exports to North Korea by capping them at 500,000 barrels a year.

It also caps crude oil supplies to North Korea at 4 million barrels a year and commits the Security Council to further cuts if North Korea conducts another nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile test.

In September, the Security Council put a cap of 2 million barrels a year on refined petroleum products exports to North Korea.

Trump said on Twitter that China had been "caught" allowing oil into North Korea

China on Friday denied reports it has been illicitly selling oil products to North Korea, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was not happy that China had allowed oil to reach the isolated nation. Trump said on Twitter the previous day that China had been "caught" allowing oil into North Korea and that would prevent "a friendly solution" to the crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme. "I have been soft on China because the only thing more important to me than trade is war," Trump said in a separate interview with The New York Times. South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper this week quoted South Korean government sources as saying that U.S. spy satellites had detected Chinese ships transferring oil to North Korean vessels about 30 times since October. US officials have not confirmed details of this report. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters she had noted recent media reports including suggestions a Chinese vessel was suspected of transporting oil to a North Korean vessel on October 19. "The Chinese side has conducted immediate investigation. In reality, the ship in question has, since August, not docked at a Chinese port and there is no record of it entering or leaving a Chinese port," Hua said. She said she was not aware if the vessel had docked at the port in other countries but the relevant media reports "did not accord with facts". "China has always implemented UN Security Council resolutions pertaining to North Korea in their entirety and fulfils its international obligations. We never allow Chinese companies and citizens to violate the resolutions," Hua said. "If, through investigation, it`s confirmed there are violations of the UN Security Council resolutions, China will deal with them seriously in accordance with laws and regulations." In the New York Times interview, Trump explicitly tied his administration's trade policy with China to its perceived cooperation in resolving the North Korea nuclear crisis. "When I campaigned, I was very tough on China in terms of trade. They made — last year, we had a trade deficit with China of $350 billion, minimum. That doesn't include the theft of intellectual property, O.K., which is another $300 billion," Trump said, according to a transcript of the interview. "If they're helping me with North Korea, I can look at trade a little bit differently, at least for a period of time. And that's what I've been doing. But when oil is going in, I'm not happy about that." An official of the U.S. State Department said the U.S. government was aware of vessels engaged in such activity involving refined petroleum and coal. "We have evidence that some of the vessels engaged in these activities are owned by companies in several countries, including China," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United States says the full cooperation of China, North Korea's neighbour and main trading partner, is vital to the success of efforts to rein in North Korea, while warning that all options are on the table, including military ones, in dealing with it. China has repeatedly said it is fully enforcing all resolutions against North Korea, despite suspicion in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that loopholes still exist. Evading sanctions South Korea said on Friday it had seized a Hong Kong-flagged ship suspected of transferring oil to North Korea in defiance of the sanctions. A senior South Korean foreign ministry official said the ship, the Lighthouse Winmore, was seized when it arrived at a South Korean port in late November. "It's unclear how much oil the ship had transferred to North Korea for how long and on how many occasions, but it clearly showed North Korea is engaged in evading the sanctions," the official told Reuters. South Korea's customs service concluded that the Lighthouse Winmore had loaded about 14,000 tons of Japanese refined petroleum products in South Korea on Oct. 11, reportedly bound for Taiwan, the official said. But instead, it transferred as much as 600 tons to the North Korea-flagged Sam Jong 2 on October 19 in international waters between China and the Korean peninsula, on the order of its charterer, Billions Bunker Group Corp., based in Taiwan, the ministry official said. It was not immediately possible to find contact information for the company. The Hong Kong government said it was "liaising with the Korean parties concerned to obtain further information about the incident, and will take appropriate actions as necessary". Employees at the office of Lighthouse Ship Management, the ship's registered manager, in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou, declined to comment and said they had no knowledge of the situation. China's foreign ministry spokeswoman said she did not have any information about the matter. Both ships were among 10 vessels that the United States had proposed that the UN Security Council should blacklist for transporting banned items from North Korea, documents seen by Reuters this month showed. China and Russia subsequently asked for more time to consider the U.S. proposal. Ship tracking data in Thomson Reuters Eikon shows that the Lighthouse Winmore has mainly been doing supply runs between China and Taiwan since August. Prior to that, it was active between India and the United Arab Emirates. In October, when it allegedly transferred petroleum products to the North Korean ship, the Lighthouse Winmore had its tracking transponder switched off. The Trump administration has led a drive to step up global sanctions on North Korea in response to its efforts to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States. The UN Security Council last week unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea for a recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, seeking to further limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil. The US-drafted UN resolution seeks to ban nearly 90 percent of refined petroleum exports to North Korea by capping them at 500,000 barrels a year. It also caps crude oil supplies to North Korea at 4 million barrels a year and commits the Security Council to further cuts if North Korea conducts another nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile test. In September, the Security Council put a cap of 2 million barrels a year on refined petroleum products exports to North Korea.

After Trump criticism, China says no illicit oil sales to North Korea

US President Donald Trump has said he believes the probe into Russian meddling in the US election &quot;makes the country look very bad,&quot; according to The New York Times.

Speaking to the newspaper yesterday, Trump said he believes special counsel Robert Mueller will treat him fairly -- a view in contrast with recent attacks on Mueller&#39;s credibility from Republicans, who have pressed for a new independent prosecutor to investigate anti-Trump bias.

&quot;It makes the country look very bad, and it puts the country in a very bad position,&quot; Trump told the Times. &quot;So the sooner it&#39;s worked out, the better it is for the country.&quot;

The president added that he was not concerned about the ongoing investigation -- which his lawyers insisted would be finished by Thanksgiving -- as &quot;everybody knows&quot; there was no Russian collusion.

&quot;There&#39;s been no collusion. But I think he&#39;s going to be fair,&quot; Trump said of Mueller.

He repeated the allegations were invented by Democrats &quot;as a hoax, as a ruse, as an excuse for losing an election,&quot; the Times reported.

Trump also distanced himself from ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was indicted in October in the first legal action stemming from the investigation.

&quot;He worked for me for -- what was it, three and a half months&quot; he told the Times, mentioning Manafort&#39;s connections to other Republicans including John McCain and Ronald Reagan.

According to the newspaper, Trump added it was &quot;too bad&quot; that Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from overseeing the probe -- pointing out that although he did not want to &quot;get into loyalty,&quot; Barack Obama&#39;s first attorney general, Eric Holder Jr, &quot;totally protected him.&quot;

Meanwhile, questioned on the re-opening of the investigation into Hillary Clinton&#39;s emails, Trump maintained focus on the collusion probe.

He told the Times that &quot;for purposes of hopefully thinking I&#39;m going to be treated fairly, I&#39;ve stayed uninvolved with this particular matter.&quot;&nbsp;

'It makes the country look very bad, and it puts the country in a very bad position,' Trump said

US President Donald Trump has said he believes the probe into Russian meddling in the US election "makes the country look very bad," according to The New York Times. Speaking to the newspaper yesterday, Trump said he believes special counsel Robert Mueller will treat him fairly -- a view in contrast with recent attacks on Mueller's credibility from Republicans, who have pressed for a new independent prosecutor to investigate anti-Trump bias. "It makes the country look very bad, and it puts the country in a very bad position," Trump told the Times. "So the sooner it's worked out, the better it is for the country." The president added that he was not concerned about the ongoing investigation -- which his lawyers insisted would be finished by Thanksgiving -- as "everybody knows" there was no Russian collusion. "There's been no collusion. But I think he's going to be fair," Trump said of Mueller. He repeated the allegations were invented by Democrats "as a hoax, as a ruse, as an excuse for losing an election," the Times reported. Trump also distanced himself from ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was indicted in October in the first legal action stemming from the investigation. "He worked for me for -- what was it, three and a half months" he told the Times, mentioning Manafort's connections to other Republicans including John McCain and Ronald Reagan. According to the newspaper, Trump added it was "too bad" that Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from overseeing the probe -- pointing out that although he did not want to "get into loyalty," Barack Obama's first attorney general, Eric Holder Jr, "totally protected him." Meanwhile, questioned on the re-opening of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, Trump maintained focus on the collusion probe. He told the Times that "for purposes of hopefully thinking I'm going to be treated fairly, I've stayed uninvolved with this particular matter."

Russia probe makes US 'look very bad': Trump

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