Outgoing US President Barack Obama telephoned Indian&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for his partnership that enhanced the relations between India and America, the White House has said. The two leaders reviewed progress and cooperation in Indo-US ties.

PM Modi thanked President Obama for strong support and contribution to strengthening strategic partnership and conveyed best wishes to him for his future endeavours.

Obama spoke on the phone with Modi on Wednesday to thank him for &quot;his partnership&quot; and to review joint efforts of cooperation including defence, civil-nuclear energy, and enhanced people-to-people ties, a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders said.

&quot;Recalling his visit as the chief guest at India&#39;s Republic Day celebrations in 2015, President Obama wished the Prime Minister warm congratulations ahead of India&#39;s upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary,&quot; the White House said. &quot;Both leaders discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including recognition of India as a major defense partner of the United States and addressing the global challenge of climate change,&quot; it said.

Obama was one of the first leaders to congratulate Modi after his electoral victory in May 2014 and immediately invited him to visit the White House. The two leaders met at the White House in September 2014. Since then they have met each other for eight times. This is a record for leaders between India and America.

According to assistant secretary of state for South and central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal, the two leaders share a very warm relationship. &quot;They have a great deal of personal camaraderie. But they also have a great deal of respect for each other for the leadership and the values and the integrity of each other&#39;s approach,&quot; Biswal told PTI in a recent interview. &quot;You have seen from President Obama that appreciation of Prime Minister Modi in words that he has used to describe him including in that Time magazine profile of the Prime Minister.

You have seen that Prime Minister Modi&#39;s appreciation of President Obama, of his values, his leadership style which the Prime Minister has used to describe the President,&quot; she said.

She said that it is not a relationship that just came about that day when President called Prime Minister-elect Modi to congratulate him. &quot;The seeds of this relationship were actually sown many many decades earlier,&quot; Biswal had said.

&nbsp;

(PTI)

Obama spoke on the phone with Modi on Wednesday amd also?reviewed joint efforts of cooperation including defence

Outgoing US President Barack Obama telephoned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for his partnership that enhanced the relations between India and America, the White House has said. The two leaders reviewed progress and cooperation in Indo-US ties. PM Modi thanked President Obama for strong support and contribution to strengthening strategic partnership and conveyed best wishes to him for his future endeavours. Obama spoke on the phone with Modi on Wednesday to thank him for "his partnership" and to review joint efforts of cooperation including defence, civil-nuclear energy, and enhanced people-to-people ties, a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders said. "Recalling his visit as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 2015, President Obama wished the Prime Minister warm congratulations ahead of India's upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary," the White House said. "Both leaders discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including recognition of India as a major defense partner of the United States and addressing the global challenge of climate change," it said. Obama was one of the first leaders to congratulate Modi after his electoral victory in May 2014 and immediately invited him to visit the White House. The two leaders met at the White House in September 2014. Since then they have met each other for eight times. This is a record for leaders between India and America. According to assistant secretary of state for South and central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal, the two leaders share a very warm relationship. "They have a great deal of personal camaraderie. But they also have a great deal of respect for each other for the leadership and the values and the integrity of each other's approach," Biswal told PTI in a recent interview. "You have seen from President Obama that appreciation of Prime Minister Modi in words that he has used to describe him including in that Time magazine profile of the Prime Minister. You have seen that Prime Minister Modi's appreciation of President Obama, of his values, his leadership style which the Prime Minister has used to describe the President," she said. She said that it is not a relationship that just came about that day when President called Prime Minister-elect Modi to congratulate him. "The seeds of this relationship were actually sown many many decades earlier," Biswal had said. (PTI)

Outgoing US President Obama calls Indian PM Modi to thank him for his partnership

The United States will ease some financial sanctions against Sudan on Friday for efforts to help fight terrorism, although it will remain on a list of state sponsors of terrorism, two White House officials told AFP.

Washington is set to announce that it will &quot;ease some US sanctions on trade and investment&quot;, one of the officials from the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama said Thursday.

&quot;We are taking these actions in recognition of positive steps the government of Sudan has taken,&quot; the second official said.

However, the decision &quot;doesn&#39;t affect (President Omar) al-Bashir&#39;s war crimes nor does it lift the state sponsor of terror&quot; designation, which also includes Syria and Iran, the official added.

Washington in November extended sanctions against Sudan for a year, saying it could lift them at any time if the African country were to do more to tackle terror.

Sudan has been subject to a US trade embargo since 1997 for its alleged support for Islamist groups. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was based in Khartoum from 1992 to 1996.

In recent years, the government&#39;s scorched earth tactics against ethnic minority rebels in Darfur have been cited as a reason not to lift the sanctions.

But relations have improved lately, with Secretary of State John Kerry meeting with his Sudanese counterpart twice, while the US envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, visiting Khartoum several times.

That prompted speculation about possible sanctions relief.

Still, the Darfur conflict -- which has killed 300,000 people and displaced some 2.5 million since it began in 2003, according to the UN -- has continued to dog relations.

Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide related to the conflict. He denies the charges.

Washington refused Bashir a visa to attend the UN General Assembly in 2015, citing the ICC arrest warrant.

(AFP)

However it will remain on a list of state sponsors of terrorism, two White House officials told AFP

The United States will ease some financial sanctions against Sudan on Friday for efforts to help fight terrorism, although it will remain on a list of state sponsors of terrorism, two White House officials told AFP. Washington is set to announce that it will "ease some US sanctions on trade and investment", one of the officials from the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama said Thursday. "We are taking these actions in recognition of positive steps the government of Sudan has taken," the second official said. However, the decision "doesn't affect (President Omar) al-Bashir's war crimes nor does it lift the state sponsor of terror" designation, which also includes Syria and Iran, the official added. Washington in November extended sanctions against Sudan for a year, saying it could lift them at any time if the African country were to do more to tackle terror. Sudan has been subject to a US trade embargo since 1997 for its alleged support for Islamist groups. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was based in Khartoum from 1992 to 1996. In recent years, the government's scorched earth tactics against ethnic minority rebels in Darfur have been cited as a reason not to lift the sanctions. But relations have improved lately, with Secretary of State John Kerry meeting with his Sudanese counterpart twice, while the US envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, visiting Khartoum several times. That prompted speculation about possible sanctions relief. Still, the Darfur conflict -- which has killed 300,000 people and displaced some 2.5 million since it began in 2003, according to the UN -- has continued to dog relations. Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide related to the conflict. He denies the charges. Washington refused Bashir a visa to attend the UN General Assembly in 2015, citing the ICC arrest warrant. (AFP)

US to lift some sanctions against Sudan: Officials

US President Barack Obama awarded vice president Joe Biden America&#39;s highest civilian honour on Thursday, in an emotional surprise ceremony at the White House.

Biden was reduced to tears as the president in his last days in office surprised him by announcing he would be awarding the 74-year-old the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In remarks billed as a joint farewell to family, friends and staff before they leave the White House next week, Obama described Biden as &quot;the finest vice-president we have ever seen&quot; and a &quot;lion of American history&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;So, Joe, for your faith in your fellow Americans, for your love of country, and for your lifetime of service that will endure through the generations, I&#39;d like to ask the military aid to join us on stage. For the final time as president, I am pleased to award our nation&#39;s highest civilian honour, the presidential Medal of Freedom.&quot;

Biden&#39;s jaw dropped, he rolled his head back and turned his face away from the audience to wipe away the tears.

After composing himself and receiving the medal, Biden stepped up to the dais and looked around the room in search of his chief of staff -- and fired him, in jest, for not giving him an&nbsp;early warning.

&quot;I had no inkling,&quot; Biden said.

&quot;Mr President, I&#39;m indebted to you. I&#39;m indebted to your friendship. I&#39;m indebted to your family,&quot; he said.

(AFP)

Biden's jaw dropped, he rolled his head back and turned his face away from the audience to wipe away the tears

US President Barack Obama awarded vice president Joe Biden America's highest civilian honour on Thursday, in an emotional surprise ceremony at the White House. Biden was reduced to tears as the president in his last days in office surprised him by announcing he would be awarding the 74-year-old the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In remarks billed as a joint farewell to family, friends and staff before they leave the White House next week, Obama described Biden as "the finest vice-president we have ever seen" and a "lion of American history". "So, Joe, for your faith in your fellow Americans, for your love of country, and for your lifetime of service that will endure through the generations, I'd like to ask the military aid to join us on stage. For the final time as president, I am pleased to award our nation's highest civilian honour, the presidential Medal of Freedom." Biden's jaw dropped, he rolled his head back and turned his face away from the audience to wipe away the tears. After composing himself and receiving the medal, Biden stepped up to the dais and looked around the room in search of his chief of staff -- and fired him, in jest, for not giving him an early warning. "I had no inkling," Biden said. "Mr President, I'm indebted to you. I'm indebted to your friendship. I'm indebted to your family," he said. (AFP)

Obama surprises Biden with Medal of Freedom

President Barack Obama addressed America and the world for the final time as president Tuesday, in a speech that was both a tearful goodbye and a call to arms.

Capping his eight years in the White House, Obama returned to his adoptive hometown of Chicago to recast his &quot;yes we can&quot; campaign credo as &quot;yes we did&quot;.

Listing landmarks of his presidency -- from the Iran nuclear deal to reforming healthcare -- much of the speech was dedicated to lifting up supporters shaken by Donald Trump&#39;s shock election. Obama called on them to pick up the torch, fight for democracy and forge a new &quot;social compact&quot;.

&quot;For all our outward differences, we are all in this together,&quot; he said warning that partisanship, racism, and inequality all threatened democracy. &quot;We rise or fall as one.&quot;

&quot;All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions.&quot;

The incoming Republican president has smashed conventions, vowed to efface Obama&#39;s legacy and hurled personal insults left and right, while in a virtually unprecedented move US intelligence has accused the Kremlin of seeking to tip the election in Trump&#39;s favour.

Democrats, cast into the political wilderness with the loss of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives plus a majority of statehouses, are struggling to regroup.

Obama painted the task ahead as a generational challenge.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Emotional finale&nbsp;

&quot;A faith in reason, and enterprise, and the primacy of right over might&quot; he said, had allowed the United States to &quot;resist the lure of fascism and tyranny during the Great Depression, and build a post-World War II order with other democracies&quot;.

In comments that resonate as Americans ponder whether Russia helped to put Trump in the White House, Obama said &quot;that order is now being challenged&quot;.

&quot;First by violent fanatics who claim to speak for Islam; more recently by autocrats in foreign capitals who see free markets, open democracies, and civil society itself as a threat to their power.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;The peril each poses to our democracy is more far-reaching than a car bomb or a missile.&quot;

Obama&#39;s last trip on Air Force One was a pilgrimage to his adoptive hometown, where he addressed a sell-out crowd of some 18,000 not far from where he delivered his victory speech eight years ago.

Diehard fans -- many African Americans -- braved Chicago&#39;s frigid winter to collect free tickets, which were selling for upwards of $1,000 a piece on Craigslist.

They were joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill -- who the president described as &quot;family&quot; in an emotional finale to his speech. Wiping a tear from his eye, Obama paid poignant tribute to his own family, his daughter Malia who was present and Sasha who was not, and the first lady who he addressed as his best friend.

&quot;You took on a role you didn&#39;t ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor,&quot; he said. &quot;A new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model. You&#39;ve made me proud. You&#39;ve made the country proud.&quot;

&nbsp;

Life after White House

With an approval rating hovering around 55 per cent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll, Obama still carries considerable political weight.

Some 51 per cent of Americans polled believe that Trump is doing a bad job as president-elect. Trump&#39;s unorthodox politics have thrown the 55-year-old Obama&#39;s transition and post-presidency plans into flux.

Having vowed a smooth handover of power, Obama has found himself being increasingly critical of Trump as he prepares to leave office on January 20. After that there will still be a holiday and an autobiography, but Obama could find himself being dragged backed into the political fray if Trump were to enact a Muslim registry or deport adults brought to the United States years ago by their parents.

Having vowed to take a backseat in politics, Obama&#39;s second act could yet be as politically engaged as Jimmy Carter -- whose post-presidency has remade his image as an elder statesman.

Many Obama aides who had planned to take exotic holidays or launch coffer-replenishing forays into the private sector are also reassessing their future and mulling a return to the political trenches. Obama&#39;s foundation is already gearing up for a quasi-political role -- funneling idealistic youngsters into public life.

(AFP)

Capping his eight years in office, Obama returned to Chicago to recast his 'yes we can' campaign credo as 'yes we did'

President Barack Obama addressed America and the world for the final time as president Tuesday, in a speech that was both a tearful goodbye and a call to arms. Capping his eight years in the White House, Obama returned to his adoptive hometown of Chicago to recast his "yes we can" campaign credo as "yes we did". Listing landmarks of his presidency -- from the Iran nuclear deal to reforming healthcare -- much of the speech was dedicated to lifting up supporters shaken by Donald Trump's shock election. Obama called on them to pick up the torch, fight for democracy and forge a new "social compact". "For all our outward differences, we are all in this together," he said warning that partisanship, racism, and inequality all threatened democracy. "We rise or fall as one." "All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions." The incoming Republican president has smashed conventions, vowed to efface Obama's legacy and hurled personal insults left and right, while in a virtually unprecedented move US intelligence has accused the Kremlin of seeking to tip the election in Trump's favour. Democrats, cast into the political wilderness with the loss of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives plus a majority of statehouses, are struggling to regroup. Obama painted the task ahead as a generational challenge. Emotional finale "A faith in reason, and enterprise, and the primacy of right over might" he said, had allowed the United States to "resist the lure of fascism and tyranny during the Great Depression, and build a post-World War II order with other democracies". In comments that resonate as Americans ponder whether Russia helped to put Trump in the White House, Obama said "that order is now being challenged". "First by violent fanatics who claim to speak for Islam; more recently by autocrats in foreign capitals who see free markets, open democracies, and civil society itself as a threat to their power." "The peril each poses to our democracy is more far-reaching than a car bomb or a missile." Obama's last trip on Air Force One was a pilgrimage to his adoptive hometown, where he addressed a sell-out crowd of some 18,000 not far from where he delivered his victory speech eight years ago. Diehard fans -- many African Americans -- braved Chicago's frigid winter to collect free tickets, which were selling for upwards of $1,000 a piece on Craigslist. They were joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill -- who the president described as "family" in an emotional finale to his speech. Wiping a tear from his eye, Obama paid poignant tribute to his own family, his daughter Malia who was present and Sasha who was not, and the first lady who he addressed as his best friend. "You took on a role you didn't ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor," he said. "A new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model. You've made me proud. You've made the country proud." Life after White House With an approval rating hovering around 55 per cent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll, Obama still carries considerable political weight. Some 51 per cent of Americans polled believe that Trump is doing a bad job as president-elect. Trump's unorthodox politics have thrown the 55-year-old Obama's transition and post-presidency plans into flux. Having vowed a smooth handover of power, Obama has found himself being increasingly critical of Trump as he prepares to leave office on January 20. After that there will still be a holiday and an autobiography, but Obama could find himself being dragged backed into the political fray if Trump were to enact a Muslim registry or deport adults brought to the United States years ago by their parents. Having vowed to take a backseat in politics, Obama's second act could yet be as politically engaged as Jimmy Carter -- whose post-presidency has remade his image as an elder statesman. Many Obama aides who had planned to take exotic holidays or launch coffer-replenishing forays into the private sector are also reassessing their future and mulling a return to the political trenches. Obama's foundation is already gearing up for a quasi-political role -- funneling idealistic youngsters into public life. (AFP)

Obama's farewell address: 'We rise or fall as one'

In rare praise for Donald Trump, US President Barack Obama has said the President-elect is &quot;very engaging and gregarious&quot; and not lacking in confidence, but acknowledged that they were &quot;opposites in some ways&quot;.

&quot;He is somebody who I think is very engaging and gregarious. I have enjoyed the conversations that we have had. He is somebody who I think is not lacking in confidence,&quot; Obama said.

&quot;You have to have enough craziness to think that you can do the job. I think that he has not spent a lot of time sweating the details of, all the policies that I think that can be both a strength and a weakness. I think it depends on how he approaches it. If it gives him fresh eyes, then that can be valuable. But it also requires you knowing what you do not know and putting in place people who do have the kinds of experience and background and knowledge that can inform good decision&nbsp;making. I think it is fair to say that he and I are sort of opposites in some ways,&quot; Obama said.

After the November 8 general elections, Obama and Trump have had several talks over the phone after their first meeting at the Oval Office, days after the elections.

&quot;The conversations have been cordial. He has been open to suggestions. The main thing that I have tried to transmit is that there is a difference between governing and campaigning, so that what he has to appreciate is, as soon as you walk into this office after you have been sworn in, you are now in charge of the largest organisation on Earth,&quot; Obama told ABC News.

&quot;You cannot manage it the way you would manage a family business. You cannot manage it the way you would manage a Senate office as I was a senator before I became president and so you have to have a strong team around you. You have to have respect for institutions and the process to make good decisions because you are inherently reliant on other folks.

&quot;So when I talked to him about our intelligence agencies, what I have said to him is that there are going to be times where you have got raw intelligence that comes in and, in my experience, over eight years the intelligence community is pretty good about saying,&nbsp;&#39;Look, we cannot say for certain what this means,&#39;&quot; the US President said.

He said that &quot;there are going to be times where the only way you can make a good decision is if you have confidence that the process is working and the people that you put in charge are giving you their very best assessments&quot;.

Not lacking in confidence, Obama said, is probably a prerequisite for the job.

(PTI)&nbsp;

Obama's rare and faint praise also came with the warning, 'You have to have respect for institutions'

In rare praise for Donald Trump, US President Barack Obama has said the President-elect is "very engaging and gregarious" and not lacking in confidence, but acknowledged that they were "opposites in some ways". "He is somebody who I think is very engaging and gregarious. I have enjoyed the conversations that we have had. He is somebody who I think is not lacking in confidence," Obama said. "You have to have enough craziness to think that you can do the job. I think that he has not spent a lot of time sweating the details of, all the policies that I think that can be both a strength and a weakness. I think it depends on how he approaches it. If it gives him fresh eyes, then that can be valuable. But it also requires you knowing what you do not know and putting in place people who do have the kinds of experience and background and knowledge that can inform good decision making. I think it is fair to say that he and I are sort of opposites in some ways," Obama said. After the November 8 general elections, Obama and Trump have had several talks over the phone after their first meeting at the Oval Office, days after the elections. "The conversations have been cordial. He has been open to suggestions. The main thing that I have tried to transmit is that there is a difference between governing and campaigning, so that what he has to appreciate is, as soon as you walk into this office after you have been sworn in, you are now in charge of the largest organisation on Earth," Obama told ABC News. "You cannot manage it the way you would manage a family business. You cannot manage it the way you would manage a Senate office as I was a senator before I became president and so you have to have a strong team around you. You have to have respect for institutions and the process to make good decisions because you are inherently reliant on other folks. "So when I talked to him about our intelligence agencies, what I have said to him is that there are going to be times where you have got raw intelligence that comes in and, in my experience, over eight years the intelligence community is pretty good about saying, 'Look, we cannot say for certain what this means,'" the US President said. He said that "there are going to be times where the only way you can make a good decision is if you have confidence that the process is working and the people that you put in charge are giving you their very best assessments". Not lacking in confidence, Obama said, is probably a prerequisite for the job. (PTI)

Obama calls Trump 'engaging and gregarious'

What was President Barack Obama&#39;s hardest decision during his two terms in office? A massive troop surge in Afghanistan, he said in an interview aired on Sunday.

&quot;Toughest decision was early in my presidency when I ordered 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan,&quot; Obama, who leaves office in less than two weeks, told ABC&#39;s &quot;This Week.&quot;

After a protracted debate inside the administration that pitted US military commanders against White House advisers, Obama announced the 30,000-trooop &quot;surge&quot; in December 2009.

The decision would bring the US contingent in Afghanistan to nearly 100,000 troops along with almost 50,000 allied troops.

&quot;I think it was the right decision because the Taliban at that point had gotten a lot of momentum before I&#39;d gotten into office, partly because we hadn&#39;t been paying attention as much as we needed to Afghanistan,&quot; Obama said in the interview taped Friday.

The president had hoped to withdraw most US military forces from Afghanistan by now, leaving behind just a small force.

But the United States still has some 8,400 military personnel in the country, and announced Friday it is sending some 300 Marines to Helmand province in the coming months.

Meanwhile in Iraq, more than 5,000 US soldiers are still on the ground providing critical support to the country&#39;s army, which is unable to man a war alone against the Islamic State group&#39;s extremist fighters.

Asked whether he found it disappointing that so many troops remain in both countries, Obama said the United States is &quot;not going to get the kind of decisive, permanent victories in this fight against terrorism that we would get from fighting another country.&quot;

&quot;But we don&#39;t have this huge footprint, we are less likely to be targeted as, you know, occupiers,&quot; he added about the reduced number of troops.

Even after decimating Al-Qaeda in Pakistan&#39;s tribal areas and killing the jihadist group&#39;s leader Osama bin Laden, groups in the region still &quot;have both the interest and the capacity if we don&#39;t maintain vigilance to strike against the United States,&quot; he said.

(AFP)

'Toughest decision was early in my presidency when I ordered 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan,' he told ABC's 'This Week'

What was President Barack Obama's hardest decision during his two terms in office? A massive troop surge in Afghanistan, he said in an interview aired on Sunday. "Toughest decision was early in my presidency when I ordered 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan," Obama, who leaves office in less than two weeks, told ABC's "This Week." After a protracted debate inside the administration that pitted US military commanders against White House advisers, Obama announced the 30,000-trooop "surge" in December 2009. The decision would bring the US contingent in Afghanistan to nearly 100,000 troops along with almost 50,000 allied troops. "I think it was the right decision because the Taliban at that point had gotten a lot of momentum before I'd gotten into office, partly because we hadn't been paying attention as much as we needed to Afghanistan," Obama said in the interview taped Friday. The president had hoped to withdraw most US military forces from Afghanistan by now, leaving behind just a small force. But the United States still has some 8,400 military personnel in the country, and announced Friday it is sending some 300 Marines to Helmand province in the coming months. Meanwhile in Iraq, more than 5,000 US soldiers are still on the ground providing critical support to the country's army, which is unable to man a war alone against the Islamic State group's extremist fighters. Asked whether he found it disappointing that so many troops remain in both countries, Obama said the United States is "not going to get the kind of decisive, permanent victories in this fight against terrorism that we would get from fighting another country." "But we don't have this huge footprint, we are less likely to be targeted as, you know, occupiers," he added about the reduced number of troops. Even after decimating Al-Qaeda in Pakistan's tribal areas and killing the jihadist group's leader Osama bin Laden, groups in the region still "have both the interest and the capacity if we don't maintain vigilance to strike against the United States," he said. (AFP)

Obama's toughest decision was massive troop surge in Afghanistan

House Republicans have revived a law from 1876 that allows members of Congress to target individual federal employees and reduce their pay to $1, the Washington Post reports.

The Holman Rule, as it&#39;s known, permits Congress members to single out any of the 2.1 million civil servants the US employs for a career-ending reduction in pay, as well as to cut specific programs to $0, the Washington Post reports.

Majorities in the House and Senate still&nbsp;need to approve the amendment before the Holman Rule can be enacted, but the mere possibility has critics fearing&nbsp;Republicans can use this to target&nbsp;opponents.

There are reasons to be suspicious.

Two&nbsp;weeks ago the Trump transition team sent a questionnaire to&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.salon.com/2017/01/06/house-republicans-support-rule-that-could-allow-them-to-pay-individual-federal-workers-1/">Department of Energy</a>&nbsp;to identify&nbsp;specific employees working on&nbsp;climate change, <a href="http://www.salon.com/2017/01/06/house-republicans-support-rule-that-could-allow-them-to-pay-individual-federal-workers-1/">Salon reports</a>. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2016/12/22/trump-team-asked-state-department-for-info-on-womens-issues-programs-stoking-fears-of-another-witch-hunt/?utm_term=.f3fbe99d7958">The Washington Post</a> reports that Trump&#39;s team also sought the names from the State Department&nbsp;of individuals working on women&#39;s health issues.

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Oh, hey, remember when the transition team asked for names of climate change staff at DOE and women&#39;s program staff at State? This is why. <a href="https://t.co/fAxAOliFwG">https://t.co/fAxAOliFwG</a>
&mdash; Megan Carpentier (@megancarpentier) <a href="https://twitter.com/megancarpentier/status/817147618363117569">January 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Also in the crosshairs is&nbsp;intelligence.&nbsp;On Thursday,&nbsp;Trump said that plans to overhaul the Office of the Director National Intelligence, Salon reports.&nbsp;

Trump has clashed for weeks&nbsp;with US intelligence agencies, who now state&nbsp;unequivocally that&nbsp;Vladimir Putin interefered in the US election to benefit Trump. Trump, who in the presidential debates openly called on Russia&nbsp;to hack Clinton&#39;s emails, denied that Russia had any role in interfering&nbsp;with the US election. Last night he issued a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-admits-russia-interfered-with-us-election-after-meeting-intelligence-heads-10988">statement</a>&nbsp;admitting&nbsp;that Russia, among others, did interefere&nbsp;in the US election, but denied&nbsp;that it&nbsp;affected its&nbsp;outcome.

Trump&nbsp;has&nbsp;claimed&nbsp;he does not receive daily intelligence briefings, and has cast doubt on his country&#39;s own intellgence agencies. Last week he publicly sided with&nbsp;Julian Assange over&nbsp;the FBI, CIA and the White House.

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Julian Assange said &quot;a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta&quot; - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/816620855958601730">January 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Republican Represenative from Virginia H Morgan Griffith suggested the Holman Rule may really&nbsp;come about&nbsp;and&nbsp;appeared to justify it,&nbsp;telling&nbsp;the Washington Post:&nbsp;&quot;I can&#39;t tell you it won&#39;t happen...The Power is there. But isn&#39;t that appropriate? Who runs the country, the people of the United State or the people on the people&#39;s payroll?&quot;

House Majority leader told reporters earlier in the week appeared to justify the Holman Rule, saying, &quot;All agencies should be held accountable and tested in a manner, and this is an avenue to allow them to do it&quot;, Salon reports.

The Holman Rule could be used in still more places&nbsp;too, critics fear.&nbsp;

As <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/01/congress-can-now-cut-the-pay-of-individual-civil-servants.html">NYMag</a> neatly points&nbsp;out, Trump is picking candidates with decades of experience&nbsp;that run contrary to&nbsp;the stated objectives of the departments they will lead: &quot;The president-elect&rsquo;s Labor Secretary&ndash;designate is&nbsp;<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/12/trump-gives-middle-finger-to-wage-earners-with-labor-pick.html" target="_blank">a fast-food executive</a>&nbsp;whose restaurants are serial violators of labor law; his EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) head is an&nbsp;<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/12/report-donald-trump-names-scott-pruitt-as-head-of-the-epa.html" target="_blank">ally of the oil industry</a>&nbsp;who loves to sue the EPA; his&nbsp;<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/11/carson-is-trumps-pick-for-hud-for-some-awful-reason.html" target="_blank">head of Housing and Urban Development</a>&nbsp;has called the Fair Housing Act &#39;communist&#39;.&quot;

On Tuesday Republicans voted to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-republicans-scrap-move-to-gut-non-partisan-ethics-watchdog-10872">gut the only non-partisan ethics </a>watchdog committed to overseeing&nbsp;Congress.&nbsp;

This week, in an unprecedented step,&nbsp;Trump demanded&nbsp;that&nbsp;all US envoys around the world posted by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-us-envoys-appointed-by-obama-to-quit-by-inauguration-day-10984">Obama must quit their post</a> before his January 20 inauguration. This threatens to leave the US without envoys in several important countries, including Canada, Germany, and Britain.

How&nbsp;the Republicans use this 140-year-old law has yet to be seen, but&nbsp;their hostility to the previous administration&nbsp;is&nbsp;beyond a doubt.&nbsp;

(WION)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Critics fear Republicans will use the obscure Holman Rule to attack a broad spectrum of opponents. There are many good reasons to worry

House Republicans have revived a law from 1876 that allows members of Congress to target individual federal employees and reduce their pay to $1, the Washington Post reports. The Holman Rule, as it's known, permits Congress members to single out any of the 2.1 million civil servants the US employs for a career-ending reduction in pay, as well as to cut specific programs to $0, the Washington Post reports. Majorities in the House and Senate still need to approve the amendment before the Holman Rule can be enacted, but the mere possibility has critics fearing Republicans can use this to target opponents. There are reasons to be suspicious. Two weeks ago the Trump transition team sent a questionnaire to the Department of Energy to identify specific employees working on climate change, Salon reports. The Washington Post reports that Trump's team also sought the names from the State Department of individuals working on women's health issues. Oh, hey, remember when the transition team asked for names of climate change staff at DOE and women's program staff at State? This is why. https://t.co/fAxAOliFwG — Megan Carpentier (@megancarpentier) January 5, 2017 × Also in the crosshairs is intelligence. On Thursday, Trump said that plans to overhaul the Office of the Director National Intelligence, Salon reports. Trump has clashed for weeks with US intelligence agencies, who now state unequivocally that Vladimir Putin interefered in the US election to benefit Trump. Trump, who in the presidential debates openly called on Russia to hack Clinton's emails, denied that Russia had any role in interfering with the US election. Last night he issued a statement admitting that Russia, among others, did interefere in the US election, but denied that it affected its outcome. Trump has claimed he does not receive daily intelligence briefings, and has cast doubt on his country's own intellgence agencies. Last week he publicly sided with Julian Assange over the FBI, CIA and the White House. Julian Assange said "a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta" - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017 × Republican Represenative from Virginia H Morgan Griffith suggested the Holman Rule may really come about and appeared to justify it, telling the Washington Post: "I can't tell you it won't happen...The Power is there. But isn't that appropriate? Who runs the country, the people of the United State or the people on the people's payroll?" House Majority leader told reporters earlier in the week appeared to justify the Holman Rule, saying, "All agencies should be held accountable and tested in a manner, and this is an avenue to allow them to do it", Salon reports. The Holman Rule could be used in still more places too, critics fear. As NYMag neatly points out, Trump is picking candidates with decades of experience that run contrary to the stated objectives of the departments they will lead: "The president-elect’s Labor Secretary–designate is a fast-food executive whose restaurants are serial violators of labor law; his EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) head is an ally of the oil industry who loves to sue the EPA; his head of Housing and Urban Development has called the Fair Housing Act 'communist'." On Tuesday Republicans voted to gut the only non-partisan ethics watchdog committed to overseeing Congress. This week, in an unprecedented step, Trump demanded that all US envoys around the world posted by Obama must quit their post before his January 20 inauguration. This threatens to leave the US without envoys in several important countries, including Canada, Germany, and Britain. How the Republicans use this 140-year-old law has yet to be seen, but their hostility to the previous administration is beyond a doubt. (WION)

Republicans invoke 140-year-old law that could reduce federal employees' wage to $1

US President Barack Obama headed on Wednesday to Capitol Hill where he urged fellow Democrats to &quot;fight&quot; to preserve his signature health care reform that Donald Trump vows to start repealing on day one of his administration.

Obamacare, the fruit of an eight-year drive to extend medical coverage to tens of millions of Americans, will come under sustained assault when Trump takes office January 20 with Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress.

But the debate over US health care began in earnest Wednesday with Obama and Vice President-elect Mike Pence making duelling visits to Congress where they urged their footsoldiers to gird for battle.

&quot;I envy you for the opportunity you are going to have to engage in this fight to protect health care for the American people,&quot; the outgoing president told Senate and House Democrats, according to Senator Ed Markey who attended the 100-minute meeting.

After a crushing election loss, Democrats may have limited options for stalling a repeal of Obamacare without significant Republican defections.

They also face criticism that Obama&#39;s reforms have led to rising insurance premiums and a string of technical problems.

But certain elements of Obamacare remain popular, notably the provisions barring companies from refusing coverage due to pre-existing conditions and allowing children to retain coverage on family plans through age 26.

Republican opposition in general to Obamacare is clear, but their prescription to fix it is not, however.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has proposed a tax credit system as a possible replacement, but the costs to government and individuals remains vague.

The White House is betting that American voters will react with fury if Trump moves to strip millions of coverage with no viable alternative -- forcing the incoming president to confront the most radical reformers within his own party.

While Pence addressed the issue gingerly in Congress Wednesday, he stressed that Trump will begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act as the first step of the new administration.

&quot;The first order of business is to repeal and replace Obamacare,&quot; Pence told reporters in the US Capitol shortly after meeting with House Republicans.

But earlier in the day Trump himself warned against over-hasty action.

&quot;Republicans must be careful in that the Dems own the failed ObamaCare disaster, with its poor coverage and massive premium increases,&quot; the president-elect said on Twitter.

&quot;Massive increases of ObamaCare will take place this year and Dems are to blame for the mess. It will fall of its own weight - be careful!&quot;

While urging a full repeal of the law, House Speaker Paul Ryan also said Republicans should avoid putting millions of families in further financial jeopardy by gutting Obamacare without a viable alternative in place.

&quot;We&#39;ve got to fix this by replacing it with something better. In that transition we want to make sure we don&#39;t pull the rug out from anybody,&quot; the speaker said.

One Republican, congressman Chris Collins, said the party was looking at a six-month timeline for crafting an Obamacare alternative.

Other Republicans said that was far too ambitious.Republican legislators are eager to take charge after eight years spent fighting against Obama&#39;s policies.

But some are wary that white working class Americans, who delivered them to office, may bear the brunt of any reforms. 
Dismantling Obamacare could also have knock-on effects for funding health care for retirees, a group essential to the Republican Party&#39;s survival.

In these two issues, Democrats see pressure points they hope to exploit in defence of Obama&#39;s plan.

&quot;It&#39;s not surprising to me that there are some Republicans who are now a little queasy about the prospect of the impact that repealing Obamacare would have on their own supporters,&quot; said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

&quot;We know there are people all across the country who benefit from this law, who are protected by this law, whose lives have been saved by this law.&quot;&nbsp;

Obama is believed to have put this point directly to Trump when they talked soon after the election.

Democratic leaders voiced support for a stiff defence of the Affordable Care Act in the face of Republican attacks.

&quot;Instead of working to further ensure affordable care for all Americans, they seek to rip health care away from millions of Americans, creating chaos in our entire economy,&quot; charged Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

But privately many Democrats admit their best hope now could be offering Trump some form of political victory, so long as the plan survives more or less intact.

(AFP)

&nbsp;

Obamacare, the result of an eight-year drive,?will come under sustained assault when Trump takes office January 20

US President Barack Obama headed on Wednesday to Capitol Hill where he urged fellow Democrats to "fight" to preserve his signature health care reform that Donald Trump vows to start repealing on day one of his administration. Obamacare, the fruit of an eight-year drive to extend medical coverage to tens of millions of Americans, will come under sustained assault when Trump takes office January 20 with Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress. But the debate over US health care began in earnest Wednesday with Obama and Vice President-elect Mike Pence making duelling visits to Congress where they urged their footsoldiers to gird for battle. "I envy you for the opportunity you are going to have to engage in this fight to protect health care for the American people," the outgoing president told Senate and House Democrats, according to Senator Ed Markey who attended the 100-minute meeting. After a crushing election loss, Democrats may have limited options for stalling a repeal of Obamacare without significant Republican defections. They also face criticism that Obama's reforms have led to rising insurance premiums and a string of technical problems. But certain elements of Obamacare remain popular, notably the provisions barring companies from refusing coverage due to pre-existing conditions and allowing children to retain coverage on family plans through age 26. Republican opposition in general to Obamacare is clear, but their prescription to fix it is not, however. House Speaker Paul Ryan has proposed a tax credit system as a possible replacement, but the costs to government and individuals remains vague. The White House is betting that American voters will react with fury if Trump moves to strip millions of coverage with no viable alternative -- forcing the incoming president to confront the most radical reformers within his own party. While Pence addressed the issue gingerly in Congress Wednesday, he stressed that Trump will begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act as the first step of the new administration. "The first order of business is to repeal and replace Obamacare," Pence told reporters in the US Capitol shortly after meeting with House Republicans. But earlier in the day Trump himself warned against over-hasty action. "Republicans must be careful in that the Dems own the failed ObamaCare disaster, with its poor coverage and massive premium increases," the president-elect said on Twitter. "Massive increases of ObamaCare will take place this year and Dems are to blame for the mess. It will fall of its own weight - be careful!" While urging a full repeal of the law, House Speaker Paul Ryan also said Republicans should avoid putting millions of families in further financial jeopardy by gutting Obamacare without a viable alternative in place. "We've got to fix this by replacing it with something better. In that transition we want to make sure we don't pull the rug out from anybody," the speaker said. One Republican, congressman Chris Collins, said the party was looking at a six-month timeline for crafting an Obamacare alternative. Other Republicans said that was far too ambitious.Republican legislators are eager to take charge after eight years spent fighting against Obama's policies. But some are wary that white working class Americans, who delivered them to office, may bear the brunt of any reforms. Dismantling Obamacare could also have knock-on effects for funding health care for retirees, a group essential to the Republican Party's survival. In these two issues, Democrats see pressure points they hope to exploit in defence of Obama's plan. "It's not surprising to me that there are some Republicans who are now a little queasy about the prospect of the impact that repealing Obamacare would have on their own supporters," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. "We know there are people all across the country who benefit from this law, who are protected by this law, whose lives have been saved by this law." Obama is believed to have put this point directly to Trump when they talked soon after the election. Democratic leaders voiced support for a stiff defence of the Affordable Care Act in the face of Republican attacks. "Instead of working to further ensure affordable care for all Americans, they seek to rip health care away from millions of Americans, creating chaos in our entire economy," charged Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. But privately many Democrats admit their best hope now could be offering Trump some form of political victory, so long as the plan survives more or less intact. (AFP)

Obama asks democrats to 'fight' to preserve Obamacare

Pakistan has sought support of the US on the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with India, as Secretary of State John Kerry called for an amicable settlement of the issue by New Delhi and Islamabad, media reported today.

The development came after Pakistan was irked by the World Bank pause in mediation to resolve differences over construction of two water projects by India.

The Express Tribune reported that Kerry made a phone call to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday night and discussed the row over the IWT implementation and the role of the World Bank (WB), which had brokered the treaty in 1960.

After Kerry&#39;s call, US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale also met Dar in Islamabad at the Finance Ministry. 
The back-to-back contacts highlight the importance of the water issue, which can potentially endanger regional stability if the situation slips out of control, according to sources at Finance Ministry.

&quot;The US would like to see an amicable solution to this (water) issue,&quot; a Finance Ministry statement quoted Kerry as saying.

Kerry told Dar that the WB president had informed him about Pakistan&#39;s complaint against India on the IWT. 
The water dispute has catapulted the US back into Pakistan&#39;s economic picture.

The American civilian and military assistance to Pakistan has drastically come down in recent months and its implications on Pakistan&#39;s fiscal situation have started emerging in the shape of a larger-than-anticipated budget deficit.

Independent analysts argue that Washington may not play an effective role in resolving the water dispute, as the Obama administration is preparing to hand over the White House to Donald Trump next month.

&quot;Senator Dar indicated that the US support on the principles and legal position of Pakistan will be greatly appreciated,&quot; stated the Finance Ministry.

Early this month, the WB had announced a pause in playing its legally binding role of mediator in the IWT implementation.

In October, Pakistan had approached the WB seeking appointment of the Chairman of Court of Arbitration to resolve a dispute over construction of two mega hydropower projects by India in violation of the IWT.

The Finance Minister told Kerry that the IWT was an international commitment and it was the WB&#39;s responsibility to make sure India honoured the treaty and the water rights of hundreds of millions of Pakistani people were protected, said the finance ministry.

(PTI)

The US would like an amicable resolution, but this administration may not have a chance to be effective before Trump takes office

Pakistan has sought support of the US on the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with India, as Secretary of State John Kerry called for an amicable settlement of the issue by New Delhi and Islamabad, media reported today. The development came after Pakistan was irked by the World Bank pause in mediation to resolve differences over construction of two water projects by India. The Express Tribune reported that Kerry made a phone call to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday night and discussed the row over the IWT implementation and the role of the World Bank (WB), which had brokered the treaty in 1960. After Kerry's call, US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale also met Dar in Islamabad at the Finance Ministry. The back-to-back contacts highlight the importance of the water issue, which can potentially endanger regional stability if the situation slips out of control, according to sources at Finance Ministry. "The US would like to see an amicable solution to this (water) issue," a Finance Ministry statement quoted Kerry as saying. Kerry told Dar that the WB president had informed him about Pakistan's complaint against India on the IWT. The water dispute has catapulted the US back into Pakistan's economic picture. The American civilian and military assistance to Pakistan has drastically come down in recent months and its implications on Pakistan's fiscal situation have started emerging in the shape of a larger-than-anticipated budget deficit. Independent analysts argue that Washington may not play an effective role in resolving the water dispute, as the Obama administration is preparing to hand over the White House to Donald Trump next month. "Senator Dar indicated that the US support on the principles and legal position of Pakistan will be greatly appreciated," stated the Finance Ministry. Early this month, the WB had announced a pause in playing its legally binding role of mediator in the IWT implementation. In October, Pakistan had approached the WB seeking appointment of the Chairman of Court of Arbitration to resolve a dispute over construction of two mega hydropower projects by India in violation of the IWT. The Finance Minister told Kerry that the IWT was an international commitment and it was the WB's responsibility to make sure India honoured the treaty and the water rights of hundreds of millions of Pakistani people were protected, said the finance ministry. (PTI)

Pakistan seeks US support in water dispute with India

A code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by the Obama administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont electric utility, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

The Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations of the utility, the officials told the Post, but penetration of the nation&#39;s electrical grid is significant because it represents a potentially serious vulnerability.

Reuters could not independently confirm the story.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking US&nbsp;political groups in the 2016 presidential election.

Government and utility industry officials regularly monitor the nation&#39;s electrical grid because it is highly computerised and any disruptions can have disastrous implications for the functioning of medical and emergency services, the Post said.

US&nbsp;officials, including one senior administration official, said they are not yet sure what the intentions of the Russians might have been, the Post reported.

Federal officials have shared the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe with utility executives nationwide, a senior administration official said, and Vermont utility officials identified it within their operations, the Post reported.

While it is unclear which utility reported the incident, there are just two major utilities in Vermont, Green Mountain Power and Burlington Electric, the Post said.

The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Green Mountain Power and Burlington Electric did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The penetration may have been designed to disrupt the utility&#39;s operations or as a test by the Russians to see whether they could penetrate a portion of the grid, the newspaper said.

(Reuters)

While the intentions were unclear, disruptions can have disastrous implications for the functioning of medical and emergency servicen

A code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by the Obama administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont electric utility, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing unnamed U.S. officials. The Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations of the utility, the officials told the Post, but penetration of the nation's electrical grid is significant because it represents a potentially serious vulnerability. Reuters could not independently confirm the story. On Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking US political groups in the 2016 presidential election. Government and utility industry officials regularly monitor the nation's electrical grid because it is highly computerised and any disruptions can have disastrous implications for the functioning of medical and emergency services, the Post said. US officials, including one senior administration official, said they are not yet sure what the intentions of the Russians might have been, the Post reported. Federal officials have shared the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe with utility executives nationwide, a senior administration official said, and Vermont utility officials identified it within their operations, the Post reported. While it is unclear which utility reported the incident, there are just two major utilities in Vermont, Green Mountain Power and Burlington Electric, the Post said. The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Green Mountain Power and Burlington Electric did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The penetration may have been designed to disrupt the utility's operations or as a test by the Russians to see whether they could penetrate a portion of the grid, the newspaper said. (Reuters)

Russian hackers penetrated Vermont electric utility: Washington Post

US President Barack Obama has signed into law the $618 billion defence budget for 2017, which enhances security cooperation with India, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The bill also conditions nearly half of US funding to Pakistan on certification that it is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network.

The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017 asks the US defence secretary and secretary of state to take the steps necessary to recognise India as a &ldquo;major defence partner&rdquo; of the US.

It also asks the administration to help resolve any remaining issues impeding US-India defence and security cooperation, trade, and co-production and co-development opportunities, PTI reported.

The NDAA imposes four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for $400 million of $900 million of coalition support funds (CSF), PTI reported. &nbsp;

PTI reported that the US defence secretary needs to certify to Congress that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing significantly to disrupting the safe havens and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan and that Islamabad has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any of its territory as a safe haven.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

The bill conditions nearly half of US funding to Pakistan on certification that it is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network

US President Barack Obama has signed into law the $618 billion defence budget for 2017, which enhances security cooperation with India, news agency Press Trust of India reported. The bill also conditions nearly half of US funding to Pakistan on certification that it is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network. The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017 asks the US defence secretary and secretary of state to take the steps necessary to recognise India as a “major defence partner” of the US. It also asks the administration to help resolve any remaining issues impeding US-India defence and security cooperation, trade, and co-production and co-development opportunities, PTI reported. The NDAA imposes four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for $400 million of $900 million of coalition support funds (CSF), PTI reported. PTI reported that the US defence secretary needs to certify to Congress that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing significantly to disrupting the safe havens and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan and that Islamabad has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any of its territory as a safe haven. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Obama signs $618 billion defence bill, boosts security cooperation with India

A Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;ally has ignited widespread outrage after wishing for US President Barack Obama&#39;s death and making racially charged comments about the first lady.&nbsp;

Carl Paladino -- a businessman who served as a co-chairman of the president-elect&#39;s New York State election campaign -- made the incendiary jabs in a year-end feature published on Friday in Artvoice, a weekly newspaper in upstate New York.

Asked what he would &quot;most like to see happen&quot; in 2017, the former Republican candidate for governor of New York state said he hoped Obama &quot;catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations&quot; with a type of beef cattle and &quot;dies before his trial.&quot;

When questioned what he would &quot;most like to see go&quot; next year, Paladino replied &quot;Michelle Obama.&quot;

&quot;I&#39;d like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.&quot;

Paladino&#39;s remarks quickly spurred angry reaction on social media and drew the ire of elected officials.&nbsp;

Andrew Cuomo -- current New York governor who beat Paladino in 2010 -- slammed his ex-rival&#39;s comments as &quot;racist, ugly and reprehensible.&quot;

&quot;Paladino has a long history of racist and incendiary comments,&quot; Cuomo said in a statement. &quot;His remarks do not reflect the sentiments or opinions of any real New Yorker.

&quot;He has embarrassed the good people of the state with his latest hate-filled rage.&quot;

Trump&nbsp;did not personally defend or call out his political ally, though a spokeswoman for the president-elect said the comments &quot;are absolutely reprehensible, and they serve no place in our public discourse,&quot; according to the New York Times.

Facing broad condemnation, Paladino published an open letter that his remarks had &quot;nothing to do with race.&quot; In the statement he went on to call Obama &quot;a yellow-bellied coward&quot; and said the first lady should &quot;leave and go someplace she will be happy.&quot;

Paladino -- a developer in the city of Buffalo, New York -- visited&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;Tower earlier this month, a meeting he described to The Buffalo News as &quot;very warm.&quot;

(AFP)

Carl Paladino said he wished to see Barack Obama die and wanted Michelle to 'live with Maxie, the gorilla'

A Donald Trump ally has ignited widespread outrage after wishing for US President Barack Obama's death and making racially charged comments about the first lady. Carl Paladino -- a businessman who served as a co-chairman of the president-elect's New York State election campaign -- made the incendiary jabs in a year-end feature published on Friday in Artvoice, a weekly newspaper in upstate New York. Asked what he would "most like to see happen" in 2017, the former Republican candidate for governor of New York state said he hoped Obama "catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations" with a type of beef cattle and "dies before his trial." When questioned what he would "most like to see go" next year, Paladino replied "Michelle Obama." "I'd like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla." Paladino's remarks quickly spurred angry reaction on social media and drew the ire of elected officials. Andrew Cuomo -- current New York governor who beat Paladino in 2010 -- slammed his ex-rival's comments as "racist, ugly and reprehensible." "Paladino has a long history of racist and incendiary comments," Cuomo said in a statement. "His remarks do not reflect the sentiments or opinions of any real New Yorker. "He has embarrassed the good people of the state with his latest hate-filled rage." Trump did not personally defend or call out his political ally, though a spokeswoman for the president-elect said the comments "are absolutely reprehensible, and they serve no place in our public discourse," according to the New York Times. Facing broad condemnation, Paladino published an open letter that his remarks had "nothing to do with race." In the statement he went on to call Obama "a yellow-bellied coward" and said the first lady should "leave and go someplace she will be happy." Paladino -- a developer in the city of Buffalo, New York -- visited Trump Tower earlier this month, a meeting he described to The Buffalo News as "very warm." (AFP)

Trump's ally ignites outrage for making disparaging Obama, Michelle comments

Israel lashed out at US President Barack Obama over a UN Security Council resolution passed Friday demanding it halt settlements in Palestinian territory, while vowing it would not abide by it.

&quot;Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms,&quot; a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s office said.

&quot;The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it colluded with it behind the scenes,&quot; it said.

&quot;Israel looks forward to working with President-elect (Donald) Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution.&quot;

Israel also announced diplomatic retaliatory steps against Senegal and New Zealand, two of the four countries that pushed for a vote on the resolution. Israel does not have diplomatic relations with the other two, Malaysia and Venezuela.

In a rare and momentous step, the United States abstained from Friday&#39;s vote, enabling the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council.

The landmark move by the Security Council came despite intense lobbying efforts by Israel and Trump to block the resolution.

But the Obama administration has grown increasingly frustrated with settlement building in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied for nearly 50 years.

There have been growing warnings that settlement building is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations.

Settlements are constructed on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and have long been seen as illegal under international law.

The United States has traditionally served as Israel&#39;s diplomatic protector, shielding it from resolutions it opposes.

It is Israel&#39;s most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.

But there had been mounting speculation that Obama would allow such a resolution to pass before he leaves office on January 20.

Trump has signalled he is likely to be far more favourable to Israel.&nbsp;

His nominee for ambassador to the country, David Friedman, favours moving the embassy to Jerusalem and has voiced support for settlement building.

Harsh words for Obama

Obama and Netanyahu have had testy relations, but Israel&#39;s statement after the vote was particularly harsh toward the US administration, as were comments earlier in the day from an anonymous Israeli official.

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli official said that Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry were &quot;behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN&quot;.

After the vote, Netanyahu ordered Israel&#39;s ambassadors in New Zealand and Senegal to return for consultations, a statement from his spokesman said.

Israel also called off a planned visit by the Senegalese foreign minister in three weeks, while all aid programmes to Senegal were cancelled.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called the resolution a &quot;big blow for Israeli policies.&quot;

The move was &quot;an international and unanimous condemnation of settlements and strong support for the two-state solution,&quot; Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.

Saeb Erekat, a former peace negotiator and the number two in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), spoke of a &quot;historic day&quot;.

&quot;December 23 is a historic day and a victory for international legitimacy, international law and international documents,&quot; said Erekat.

The resolution demands that &quot;Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem.&quot;

It states that Israeli settlements have &quot;no legal validity&quot; and are &quot;dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-state solution&quot; that would see an independent Palestine co-exist alongside Israel.

Some 430,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the occupied West Bank and another 200,000 in annexed east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.

(AFP)

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Obama administration failed to protect Israel

Israel lashed out at US President Barack Obama over a UN Security Council resolution passed Friday demanding it halt settlements in Palestinian territory, while vowing it would not abide by it. "Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. "The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it colluded with it behind the scenes," it said. "Israel looks forward to working with President-elect (Donald) Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution." Israel also announced diplomatic retaliatory steps against Senegal and New Zealand, two of the four countries that pushed for a vote on the resolution. Israel does not have diplomatic relations with the other two, Malaysia and Venezuela. In a rare and momentous step, the United States abstained from Friday's vote, enabling the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy. The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council. The landmark move by the Security Council came despite intense lobbying efforts by Israel and Trump to block the resolution. But the Obama administration has grown increasingly frustrated with settlement building in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied for nearly 50 years. There have been growing warnings that settlement building is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations. Settlements are constructed on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and have long been seen as illegal under international law. The United States has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic protector, shielding it from resolutions it opposes. It is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid. But there had been mounting speculation that Obama would allow such a resolution to pass before he leaves office on January 20. Trump has signalled he is likely to be far more favourable to Israel. His nominee for ambassador to the country, David Friedman, favours moving the embassy to Jerusalem and has voiced support for settlement building. Harsh words for Obama Obama and Netanyahu have had testy relations, but Israel's statement after the vote was particularly harsh toward the US administration, as were comments earlier in the day from an anonymous Israeli official. Earlier on Friday, the Israeli official said that Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry were "behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN". After the vote, Netanyahu ordered Israel's ambassadors in New Zealand and Senegal to return for consultations, a statement from his spokesman said. Israel also called off a planned visit by the Senegalese foreign minister in three weeks, while all aid programmes to Senegal were cancelled. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called the resolution a "big blow for Israeli policies." The move was "an international and unanimous condemnation of settlements and strong support for the two-state solution," Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP. Saeb Erekat, a former peace negotiator and the number two in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), spoke of a "historic day". "December 23 is a historic day and a victory for international legitimacy, international law and international documents," said Erekat. The resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem." It states that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-state solution" that would see an independent Palestine co-exist alongside Israel. Some 430,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the occupied West Bank and another 200,000 in annexed east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as the capital of their future state. (AFP)

Israel rejects UN settler vote on Palestine, lashes out at Obama

It was only an abstention, but it was a long time coming. With just weeks left in office, Barack Obama finally gave vent to his frustration with Israel.

The White House said Obama had decided to allow the UN Security Council to pass a motion condemning Israeli settlement building just hours before the vote.

But officials confirmed they had been watching draft resolutions in circulation for a least a year and were ready to take a stand when one made it to the table.

Critics of Obama&#39;s Middle East policy allege that he has long been manoeuvring to engineer an opportunity to isolate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

White House aides, however, insist they had simply run out of ways to convince Israel that its building on Palestinian land is sabotaging hopes for peace.

Either way, Friday&#39;s UN vote ordering a halt to Israel&#39;s settlement building will stand as the final word from Obama before Donald Trump takes power.

&quot;Prime Minister Netanyahu had the opportunity to pursue policies that would have led to a different outcome today,&quot; Obama adviser Ben Rhodes said.

&quot;The fact that this is happening towards the end of our eighth year indicates that it is not our preferred course of action.

&quot;If it was an outcome that we sought, then we would have done it long ago.&quot;

For months, Washington has been warning in increasingly strident tones that Israel&#39;s accelerating settlement program is destroying hopes for a two-state peace deal.

This month, Secretary of State John Kerry told a US-Israeli forum in Washington that right-wing members of Netanyahu&#39;s government are deliberately working to that end.

After Friday&#39;s UN vote, the US special envoy to the peace process, Frank Lowenstein, said Kerry would in the coming days make a speech laying out ideas to revive it.

&#39;Grudge match&#39;

The White House insists the UN resolution, which Israel wasted no time in rejecting, simply reflects the consensus view of the international community on Israeli settlements.

But Obama&#39;s abstention came under withering criticism from across Washington -- with both Democrats and Republicans accusing the outgoing president of colluding with a biased world body to betray an ally.

President-elect Trump, who had earlier convinced Egypt to postpone the vote from Thursday, implied in a Tweet that he would punish the United Nations.

Democratic senator Chuck Schumer, who had lobbied the administration until the last minute, called the decision to let the vote pass &quot;extremely frustrating, disappointing and confounding.&quot; &nbsp;

And AIPAC, the largest pro-Israel lobby group in Washington, said: &quot;By adopting this resolution, the United Nations has once again served as an open forum to isolate and delegitimize Israel.&quot;

And many suggested Obama&#39;s decision, made while the president was on a Christmas break in Hawaii, had as much to do with his bad blood with Netanyahu as with diplomacy.

Jonathan Schanzer, vice president of Washington think-tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, dubbed the relationship a &quot;grudge match.&quot;

Netanyahu made no secret of his friendship with Obama&#39;s 2012 election opponent Mitt Romney, and last year broke protocol to go behind the US president&#39;s back and address Congress to oppose the Iran nuclear deal.

The two men have never hit it off, and the White House has never hidden its frustration with the bellicose rhetoric of Israel&#39;s right-wing coalition.

Schanzer suggested that if Hillary Clinton had won last month&#39;s presidential election, Obama would have deferred to her desire to rebuild warmer ties with Israel and held off on UN action.

But, faced with an incoming Trump presidency that may support settlement building, he opted for a binding Security Council vote that will weaken Israel&#39;s position in any future peace talks.

&quot;You can&#39;t unring this bell,&quot; Schanzer said.

(AFP)

The White House said Obama had decided to allow the UN to pass a motion condemning Israeli settlement building just hours before the vote

It was only an abstention, but it was a long time coming. With just weeks left in office, Barack Obama finally gave vent to his frustration with Israel. The White House said Obama had decided to allow the UN Security Council to pass a motion condemning Israeli settlement building just hours before the vote. But officials confirmed they had been watching draft resolutions in circulation for a least a year and were ready to take a stand when one made it to the table. Critics of Obama's Middle East policy allege that he has long been manoeuvring to engineer an opportunity to isolate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. White House aides, however, insist they had simply run out of ways to convince Israel that its building on Palestinian land is sabotaging hopes for peace. Either way, Friday's UN vote ordering a halt to Israel's settlement building will stand as the final word from Obama before Donald Trump takes power. "Prime Minister Netanyahu had the opportunity to pursue policies that would have led to a different outcome today," Obama adviser Ben Rhodes said. "The fact that this is happening towards the end of our eighth year indicates that it is not our preferred course of action. "If it was an outcome that we sought, then we would have done it long ago." For months, Washington has been warning in increasingly strident tones that Israel's accelerating settlement program is destroying hopes for a two-state peace deal. This month, Secretary of State John Kerry told a US-Israeli forum in Washington that right-wing members of Netanyahu's government are deliberately working to that end. After Friday's UN vote, the US special envoy to the peace process, Frank Lowenstein, said Kerry would in the coming days make a speech laying out ideas to revive it. 'Grudge match' The White House insists the UN resolution, which Israel wasted no time in rejecting, simply reflects the consensus view of the international community on Israeli settlements. But Obama's abstention came under withering criticism from across Washington -- with both Democrats and Republicans accusing the outgoing president of colluding with a biased world body to betray an ally. President-elect Trump, who had earlier convinced Egypt to postpone the vote from Thursday, implied in a Tweet that he would punish the United Nations. Democratic senator Chuck Schumer, who had lobbied the administration until the last minute, called the decision to let the vote pass "extremely frustrating, disappointing and confounding." And AIPAC, the largest pro-Israel lobby group in Washington, said: "By adopting this resolution, the United Nations has once again served as an open forum to isolate and delegitimize Israel." And many suggested Obama's decision, made while the president was on a Christmas break in Hawaii, had as much to do with his bad blood with Netanyahu as with diplomacy. Jonathan Schanzer, vice president of Washington think-tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, dubbed the relationship a "grudge match." Netanyahu made no secret of his friendship with Obama's 2012 election opponent Mitt Romney, and last year broke protocol to go behind the US president's back and address Congress to oppose the Iran nuclear deal. The two men have never hit it off, and the White House has never hidden its frustration with the bellicose rhetoric of Israel's right-wing coalition. Schanzer suggested that if Hillary Clinton had won last month's presidential election, Obama would have deferred to her desire to rebuild warmer ties with Israel and held off on UN action. But, faced with an incoming Trump presidency that may support settlement building, he opted for a binding Security Council vote that will weaken Israel's position in any future peace talks. "You can't unring this bell," Schanzer said. (AFP)

After eight years, Obama lets Israel frustration show

The White House blocked new leases for oil and gas drilling in sections of the Arctic and Atlantic Tuesday, a high-stakes bid to forestall exploration and tie Donald Trump&#39;s hands.

With Trump bringing a strident pro-oil stance to the White House, the outgoing administration has launched a rearguard action.

President Barack Obama announced he was placing swaths of the Arctic and Atlantic &quot;indefinitely off limits to future oil and gas leasing&quot;.

The protection covers an area of the Arctic roughly the size of Spain or Thailand and 31 sea canyons in the Atlantic.

A senior administration official said that there was a &quot;strong legal basis&quot; for the move, and suggested Trump could not revoke the decision without an act of Congress.

The action, based on a law from the 1950s, was taken in tandem with the Canadian government and introduces an additional headache should Trump try to row it back.

Obama said in a statement that the measures would &quot;protect a sensitive and unique ecosystem&quot;.

He also warned that the risk of oil spills &quot;are significant,&quot; and the ability &quot;to clean up from a spill in the region&rsquo;s harsh conditions is limited&quot;.

&nbsp;

Deepwater horizon&#39;s shadow

The Hawaii-born president&#39;s second year in office was dominated by the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon&nbsp;oil spill, which poured millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The spill could not be stopped for 87 days, devastating wildlife and fishing-dependent communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobby group, warned that Obama&#39;s decision &quot;blocking offshore exploration would weaken our national security, destroy good-paying jobs, and could make energy less affordable for consumers&quot;.

The Sierra Club, an environmental lobby group, welcomed the move as a step toward &quot;protecting our beaches, the climate, and coastal economies&quot;.

Obama&#39;s eight years in office have resulted in a tidal wave of new environmental legislation, protecting marine ecosystems, curbing carbon emissions and boosting renewable energy.

Obama rushed through ratification of the Paris Climate Accord in record time to make sure that it could not be shelved by the incoming administration.

Many rules have been finalized, making them difficult to roll back. States like California have also introduced their own climate-friendly legislation. But Obama&#39;s agenda is likely to come under sustained assault from the Trump administration.

The business tycoon-turned-commander-in-chief has named Exxon boss Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state and Scott Pruitt, a climate change denier, as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Administration officials fear that while Trump cannot scrap the Paris deal, it could fatally undermine it.

Many of the US commitments to reduce carbon emissions are in the Clean Power Act, which Obama unveiled in 2015. The Act limits the amount of carbon pollution&nbsp;power plants can emit.

Obama described the legislation at the time as &quot;the single most important step that America has ever made in the fight against global climate change.&quot;

The measures however have come under fierce legal challenge, including from Pruitt in his role as attorney general of Oklahoma, an oil state.

Sources familiar with Trump&#39;s transition planning say the new administration is weighing options like simply shutting down the government&#39;s legal defense of the act, or scrapping plans to appeal a Supreme Court ruling that froze portions of the program.

In practical terms that would mean abandoning the plan and reneging on international commitments.

According to a recent Pew poll 48 per cent of Americans believe climate change is caused by humans.

Trump once wrote, falsely, that global warming was a Chinese conspiracy to weaken the United States.

&quot;The concept of global warming&quot; was &quot;created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive,&quot; Trump wrote on Twitter in 2012.

(AFP)

The protection covers an area of the Arctic roughly the size of Spain or Thailand and 31 sea canyons in the Atlantic

The White House blocked new leases for oil and gas drilling in sections of the Arctic and Atlantic Tuesday, a high-stakes bid to forestall exploration and tie Donald Trump's hands. With Trump bringing a strident pro-oil stance to the White House, the outgoing administration has launched a rearguard action. President Barack Obama announced he was placing swaths of the Arctic and Atlantic "indefinitely off limits to future oil and gas leasing". The protection covers an area of the Arctic roughly the size of Spain or Thailand and 31 sea canyons in the Atlantic. A senior administration official said that there was a "strong legal basis" for the move, and suggested Trump could not revoke the decision without an act of Congress. The action, based on a law from the 1950s, was taken in tandem with the Canadian government and introduces an additional headache should Trump try to row it back. Obama said in a statement that the measures would "protect a sensitive and unique ecosystem". He also warned that the risk of oil spills "are significant," and the ability "to clean up from a spill in the region’s harsh conditions is limited". Deepwater horizon's shadow The Hawaii-born president's second year in office was dominated by the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which poured millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill could not be stopped for 87 days, devastating wildlife and fishing-dependent communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama. The American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobby group, warned that Obama's decision "blocking offshore exploration would weaken our national security, destroy good-paying jobs, and could make energy less affordable for consumers". The Sierra Club, an environmental lobby group, welcomed the move as a step toward "protecting our beaches, the climate, and coastal economies". Obama's eight years in office have resulted in a tidal wave of new environmental legislation, protecting marine ecosystems, curbing carbon emissions and boosting renewable energy. Obama rushed through ratification of the Paris Climate Accord in record time to make sure that it could not be shelved by the incoming administration. Many rules have been finalized, making them difficult to roll back. States like California have also introduced their own climate-friendly legislation. But Obama's agenda is likely to come under sustained assault from the Trump administration. The business tycoon-turned-commander-in-chief has named Exxon boss Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state and Scott Pruitt, a climate change denier, as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Administration officials fear that while Trump cannot scrap the Paris deal, it could fatally undermine it. Many of the US commitments to reduce carbon emissions are in the Clean Power Act, which Obama unveiled in 2015. The Act limits the amount of carbon pollution power plants can emit. Obama described the legislation at the time as "the single most important step that America has ever made in the fight against global climate change." The measures however have come under fierce legal challenge, including from Pruitt in his role as attorney general of Oklahoma, an oil state. Sources familiar with Trump's transition planning say the new administration is weighing options like simply shutting down the government's legal defense of the act, or scrapping plans to appeal a Supreme Court ruling that froze portions of the program. In practical terms that would mean abandoning the plan and reneging on international commitments. According to a recent Pew poll 48 per cent of Americans believe climate change is caused by humans. Trump once wrote, falsely, that global warming was a Chinese conspiracy to weaken the United States. "The concept of global warming" was "created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive," Trump wrote on Twitter in 2012. (AFP)

Obama bans oil, gas drilling in Arctic and Atlantic, ties Trump's hands

President Barack Obama has alleged that Russia possibly under President Vladimir Putin&#39;s directions carried out cyberattacks during the US polls, as he urged his successor Donald Trump to ensure that the American election process is not under potential &quot;foreign influence&quot;. 
 
&quot;What I can tell you is that the intelligence that I&#39;ve seen gives me great confidence in their assessment that the Russians carried out this hack. Not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin,&quot; Obama told reporters during a White House news conference, indicating Putin&#39;s involvement. 
 
&quot;They hacked into some Democratic Party e-mails that contained pretty routine stuff, some of it embarrassing or uncomfortable because I suspect that if any of us got our emails hacked into there might be some things that we would not want suddenly appearing on the front page of a newspaper or a telecast, even if there was not anything particularly illegal or controversial about it,&quot; he said yesterday. 
 
A worried Obama also lashed out at Russia for its alleged effort to influence the US election, saying the country does not produce anything and lacks innovation. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve got to think what is happening to our political culture here. The Russians can&#39;t change us or significantly weaken us. They are a smaller country, they are a weaker country, their economy doesn&#39;t produce anything that anybody wants to buy except oil and gas and arms. They don&#39;t innovate,&quot; Obama said. 
 
Obama assured Americans that the ballot itself was not rigged and promised to &quot;send a clear message to Russia or others not to do this to us, because we can do stuff to you.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;But they can impact us if we lose track of who we are. 
 
They can impact us if we abandon our values. Putin can weaken us just like he&#39;s trying to weaken Europe if we start buying into notions that it&#39;s OK to intimidate the press, or lock up dissidents, or discriminate against people because of their faith or what they look like,&quot; he said. 
 
Terming it a &quot;pretty hierarchical operation&quot;, Obama said there was not a lot of debate and democratic deliberation, particularly when it comes to policies directed at the US. 
 
&quot;We have said and I will confirm that this happened at the highest levels of the Russian government and I will let you make that determination as to whether there are high-level Russian officials who go off rogue and decide to tamper with the US election process without Vladimir Putin knowing about it,&quot; he said. 
 
Obama said he had raised the issue when he met Putin recently in China. 
 
Obama also hopedhis successor Donald Trump will show equal concern to ensure that the American election process is not under a potential &quot;foreign influence&quot;. 
 
&quot;My hope is that the president-elect is going to similarly be concerned with making sure that we don&#39;t have a potential foreign influence in our election process. I don&#39;t think any American wants that. And that shouldn&#39;t be a source of an argument,&quot; Obama said. 
 
The US President also called for bipartisan unity on the issue.

(PTI)

Outgoing US President Barack Obama lashed out at Russia for its alleged effort to influence the US election

President Barack Obama has alleged that Russia possibly under President Vladimir Putin's directions carried out cyberattacks during the US polls, as he urged his successor Donald Trump to ensure that the American election process is not under potential "foreign influence". "What I can tell you is that the intelligence that I've seen gives me great confidence in their assessment that the Russians carried out this hack. Not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin," Obama told reporters during a White House news conference, indicating Putin's involvement. "They hacked into some Democratic Party e-mails that contained pretty routine stuff, some of it embarrassing or uncomfortable because I suspect that if any of us got our emails hacked into there might be some things that we would not want suddenly appearing on the front page of a newspaper or a telecast, even if there was not anything particularly illegal or controversial about it," he said yesterday. A worried Obama also lashed out at Russia for its alleged effort to influence the US election, saying the country does not produce anything and lacks innovation. "We've got to think what is happening to our political culture here. The Russians can't change us or significantly weaken us. They are a smaller country, they are a weaker country, their economy doesn't produce anything that anybody wants to buy except oil and gas and arms. They don't innovate," Obama said. Obama assured Americans that the ballot itself was not rigged and promised to "send a clear message to Russia or others not to do this to us, because we can do stuff to you." "But they can impact us if we lose track of who we are. They can impact us if we abandon our values. Putin can weaken us just like he's trying to weaken Europe if we start buying into notions that it's OK to intimidate the press, or lock up dissidents, or discriminate against people because of their faith or what they look like," he said. Terming it a "pretty hierarchical operation", Obama said there was not a lot of debate and democratic deliberation, particularly when it comes to policies directed at the US. "We have said and I will confirm that this happened at the highest levels of the Russian government and I will let you make that determination as to whether there are high-level Russian officials who go off rogue and decide to tamper with the US election process without Vladimir Putin knowing about it," he said. Obama said he had raised the issue when he met Putin recently in China. Obama also hopedhis successor Donald Trump will show equal concern to ensure that the American election process is not under a potential "foreign influence". "My hope is that the president-elect is going to similarly be concerned with making sure that we don't have a potential foreign influence in our election process. I don't think any American wants that. And that shouldn't be a source of an argument," Obama said. The US President also called for bipartisan unity on the issue. (PTI)

US polls cyberattack orchestrated by Putin's Russia, Obama alleges

US President Barack Obama said on Friday it was fine for president-elect Donald Trump to review Washington&#39;s &quot;one-China&quot; policy toward Taiwan, but he cautioned that a shift could lead to significant consequences in the US&nbsp;relationship with Beijing.

&quot;For China, the issue of Taiwan is as important as anything on their docket,&quot; Obama told a news conference. &quot;The idea of one China is at the heart of their conception as a nation and so if you are going to upend this understanding, you have to have thought through what ... the consequences are.&quot;

China lodged a diplomatic protest earlier this month after Trump, a Republican, spoke by phone with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan.

The 10-minute telephone call was the first of its kind by a US&nbsp;president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of &quot;one China&quot;.

China considers Taiwan a wayward province, to be taken back by force if necessary.

Obama noted that, under the decades-old policy, China had recognised Taiwan was its own entity that did things its own way, while Taiwan had agreed that, with some autonomy, it would not declare independence.

&quot;That status quo, although not completely satisfactory to any of the parties involved, has kept the peace and allowed the Taiwanese to be a pretty successful ... economy and a people who have a high degree of self-determination,&quot; Obama said.

The Democratic president said he had advised Trump that foreign policy had to be conducted in a systematic, deliberate, intentional way.

&quot;There&#39;s probably no bilateral relationship that carries more significance and ... where there&#39;s also the potential, if that relationship breaks down or goes into a full conflict mode, that everybody is worse off,&quot; he said of the US-China ties.

He said Beijing would not treat a departure from US&nbsp;policy toward Taiwan lightly.

&quot;The Chinese will not treat that the way they&#39;ll treat some other issues. They won&#39;t even treat it the way they treat issues around the South China Sea, where we&#39;ve had a lot of tensions,&quot; he said.

Taiwan reiterated it was committed to keeping the status quo in its relations with China and in promoting peace and stability, and thanked Washington for deepening US-Taiwan relations.

A statement from Taiwan&#39;s Presidential Office said Tsai&#39;s government looked forward to strengthening that relationship under Trump&#39;s administration.

(Reuters)

He said he had advised Trump that foreign policy had to be conducted in a systematic, deliberate, and intentional way

US President Barack Obama said on Friday it was fine for president-elect Donald Trump to review Washington's "one-China" policy toward Taiwan, but he cautioned that a shift could lead to significant consequences in the US relationship with Beijing. "For China, the issue of Taiwan is as important as anything on their docket," Obama told a news conference. "The idea of one China is at the heart of their conception as a nation and so if you are going to upend this understanding, you have to have thought through what ... the consequences are." China lodged a diplomatic protest earlier this month after Trump, a Republican, spoke by phone with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan. The 10-minute telephone call was the first of its kind by a US president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of "one China". China considers Taiwan a wayward province, to be taken back by force if necessary. Obama noted that, under the decades-old policy, China had recognised Taiwan was its own entity that did things its own way, while Taiwan had agreed that, with some autonomy, it would not declare independence. "That status quo, although not completely satisfactory to any of the parties involved, has kept the peace and allowed the Taiwanese to be a pretty successful ... economy and a people who have a high degree of self-determination," Obama said. The Democratic president said he had advised Trump that foreign policy had to be conducted in a systematic, deliberate, intentional way. "There's probably no bilateral relationship that carries more significance and ... where there's also the potential, if that relationship breaks down or goes into a full conflict mode, that everybody is worse off," he said of the US-China ties. He said Beijing would not treat a departure from US policy toward Taiwan lightly. "The Chinese will not treat that the way they'll treat some other issues. They won't even treat it the way they treat issues around the South China Sea, where we've had a lot of tensions," he said. Taiwan reiterated it was committed to keeping the status quo in its relations with China and in promoting peace and stability, and thanked Washington for deepening US-Taiwan relations. A statement from Taiwan's Presidential Office said Tsai's government looked forward to strengthening that relationship under Trump's administration. (Reuters)

Obama says China would not take change in US policy on Taiwan lightly

Barack Obama has warned that the US will retaliate against Russian cyber attacks during the US presidential election, news agency AFP reported.

&quot;I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections that we need to take action,&quot; Obama told NPR radio, according to AFP.

&quot;And we will, at a time and place of our own choosing.&quot;

Obama made the remarks after intelligence officials said that Putin was personally linked to the hacking campaign, ABC News reports.

Russia has denied the hacking allegations.

&quot;I don&#39;t think things happen in the Russian government of this consequence without Vladimir Putin knowing about it,&quot; one of Obama&rsquo;s top advisers, Ben Rhodes, said earlier Thursday.

&quot;Everything we know about how Russia operates and how Putin controls that government would suggest that, again, when you&#39;re talking about a significant cyber intrusion like this, we&#39;re talking about the highest levels of government,&quot; he told MSNBC television.

The CIA has said that the Russian cyber attacks, including the hacking of emails from the Democratic National Committee, were intended to influence the election in Donald Trump&rsquo;s favour, according to The Guardian.

Trump has blasted the CIA&rsquo;s assessment as &quot;ridiculous&quot;.

&quot;If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?&quot; Trump tweeted earlier on Thursday.

In Congress, senior legislators are demanding a broad investigation and declassification of at least some of the secret CIA and FBI reports.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

He said they would 'at a time and place of our own choosing'

Barack Obama has warned that the US will retaliate against Russian cyber attacks during the US presidential election, news agency AFP reported. "I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections that we need to take action," Obama told NPR radio, according to AFP. "And we will, at a time and place of our own choosing." Obama made the remarks after intelligence officials said that Putin was personally linked to the hacking campaign, ABC News reports. Russia has denied the hacking allegations. "I don't think things happen in the Russian government of this consequence without Vladimir Putin knowing about it," one of Obama’s top advisers, Ben Rhodes, said earlier Thursday. "Everything we know about how Russia operates and how Putin controls that government would suggest that, again, when you're talking about a significant cyber intrusion like this, we're talking about the highest levels of government," he told MSNBC television. The CIA has said that the Russian cyber attacks, including the hacking of emails from the Democratic National Committee, were intended to influence the election in Donald Trump’s favour, according to The Guardian. Trump has blasted the CIA’s assessment as "ridiculous". "If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?" Trump tweeted earlier on Thursday. In Congress, senior legislators are demanding a broad investigation and declassification of at least some of the secret CIA and FBI reports. (WION with inputs from AFP)

America will retaliate against Russia hacking, says Obama

President Vladimir Putin said he and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan are working to organise a new series of Syrian peace talks without the involvement of the United States or the United Nations.

In a snub to Washington, Putin made clear on Friday that the initiative was the sole preserve of Moscow and Turkey and that the peace talks, if they happened, would be in addition to intermittent UN-brokered negotiations in Geneva.

&quot;The next step is to reach an agreement on a total ceasefire across the whole of Syria,&quot; Putin said in Tokyo. &quot;We are conducting very active negotiations with representatives of the armed opposition, brokered by Turkey.&quot;

Putin, who has leveraged Russia&#39;s role in Syria to boost his diplomatic muscle, said the talks proposal was being put to the Syrian government and the opposition. Kazakhstan, the proposed venue, is a Russian ally, and Putin said the talks could take place in Astana, the Kazakh capital.

The surprise move underlines the growing strength of Moscow&#39;s rapprochement with Ankara, with which it fell out last year over the shooting down of a Russian plane, and reflects Russia&#39;s desire to cement its growing influence in the Middle East and more widely.

It also shows how fed up Russia is with what it sees as long and pointless talks with the Obama administration over Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this week dismissed those talks as &quot;fruitless sitting around&quot; and said Ankara might prove a more effective partner on Syria.

Turkey, which wants to boost its global sway too, is also deeply frustrated by US&nbsp;policy in Syria, particularly Washington&#39;s support for Kurdish militia fighters it sees as a hostile force, and by what it views as Barack Obama&#39;s failure to give enough support to the rebels.

Putin played down the idea that the talks would sideline or overshadow similar talks brokered by the United Nations that have been held intermittently in Geneva.

&quot;It won&rsquo;t compete with the Geneva talks, but will complement them. Wherever the conflicting sides meet, in my view it is the right thing to do to try to find a political solution,&quot; he said.

The initiative is unlikely to go down well with UN&nbsp;envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura however. He told reporters in Paris on Thursday that it was time for all sides to return to the table, but the United Nations would have to broker any talks for them to have legitimacy.

&nbsp;

ODD COUPLE

Russia still hopes it can co-operate on Syria with the United States and join forces with Washington against Islamic State once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

But Trump will not be inaugurated until January&nbsp;20, leaving a power vacuum, and is likely in any case to need some time to formulate foreign policy.

The alliance between Moscow and Ankara is at first glance an odd one. Russia is one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s closest allies, while Turkey, a NATO member, wants him removed.

But Ankara may be ready to accept a transition in which Assad is involved, provided he ultimately relinquishes power.

Turkey&#39;s main priority, on which it will want at least tacit Russian agreement, is to ensure that Kurdish militias are unable to gain further territory in Syria along its borders.

Ankara launched an incursion into Syria, &quot;Operation Euphrates Shield&quot;, in August to push Islamic State out of a 90-km (55-mile) stretch of frontier territory and prevent Kurdish groups from seizing ground in their wake.

Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli acknowledged two weeks ago that Turkey &quot;would not have moved so comfortably&quot; without the rapprochement with Russia, which effectively controls parts of northern Syrian air space.

Turkey now wants the rebels it supports to push further south into Syria and take the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab, around 40 kilometres northeast of Aleppo.

Erdogan is determined that the Turkish-backed rebels capture the city to prevent Kurdish militias from doing so. But that ambition could cause difficulties with Moscow, as al-Bab lies close to the front lines of Assad&#39;s allies.

&nbsp;

ALEPPO DEAL

Putin had only warm words for the prospect of deeper Russo-Turkish co-operation however and said the evacuation of rebels from Aleppo was something that he and Erdogan had agreed on.

He hoped the Syrian army would be able to consolidate its position in Aleppo and civilians return to normal life.

The RIA agency this week quoted Andrei Kelin, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, as saying it had been easier to deal with Turkey on Aleppo than the United States.

&quot;It was much more straightforward to reach agreements with Turkey than with the Americans,&quot; he was cited as saying.

Putin played down the Syrian government&#39;s recent loss of Palmyra to Islamic State, blaming the lack of coordination between the US

led coalition, the Syrian authorities, and Russia for the setback.

&ldquo;Everything that is happening in Palmyra is the result of uncoordinated action,&quot; said Putin.

&ldquo;The question of Palmyra is purely symbolic. Aleppo is much more important from a military-political point of view.&rdquo;

(Reuters)

In a snub to Washington, Putin made clear on Friday that the initiative was the sole preserve of Moscow and Turkey

President Vladimir Putin said he and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan are working to organise a new series of Syrian peace talks without the involvement of the United States or the United Nations. In a snub to Washington, Putin made clear on Friday that the initiative was the sole preserve of Moscow and Turkey and that the peace talks, if they happened, would be in addition to intermittent UN-brokered negotiations in Geneva. "The next step is to reach an agreement on a total ceasefire across the whole of Syria," Putin said in Tokyo. "We are conducting very active negotiations with representatives of the armed opposition, brokered by Turkey." Putin, who has leveraged Russia's role in Syria to boost his diplomatic muscle, said the talks proposal was being put to the Syrian government and the opposition. Kazakhstan, the proposed venue, is a Russian ally, and Putin said the talks could take place in Astana, the Kazakh capital. The surprise move underlines the growing strength of Moscow's rapprochement with Ankara, with which it fell out last year over the shooting down of a Russian plane, and reflects Russia's desire to cement its growing influence in the Middle East and more widely. It also shows how fed up Russia is with what it sees as long and pointless talks with the Obama administration over Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this week dismissed those talks as "fruitless sitting around" and said Ankara might prove a more effective partner on Syria. Turkey, which wants to boost its global sway too, is also deeply frustrated by US policy in Syria, particularly Washington's support for Kurdish militia fighters it sees as a hostile force, and by what it views as Barack Obama's failure to give enough support to the rebels. Putin played down the idea that the talks would sideline or overshadow similar talks brokered by the United Nations that have been held intermittently in Geneva. "It won’t compete with the Geneva talks, but will complement them. Wherever the conflicting sides meet, in my view it is the right thing to do to try to find a political solution," he said. The initiative is unlikely to go down well with UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura however. He told reporters in Paris on Thursday that it was time for all sides to return to the table, but the United Nations would have to broker any talks for them to have legitimacy. ODD COUPLE Russia still hopes it can co-operate on Syria with the United States and join forces with Washington against Islamic State once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. But Trump will not be inaugurated until January 20, leaving a power vacuum, and is likely in any case to need some time to formulate foreign policy. The alliance between Moscow and Ankara is at first glance an odd one. Russia is one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's closest allies, while Turkey, a NATO member, wants him removed. But Ankara may be ready to accept a transition in which Assad is involved, provided he ultimately relinquishes power. Turkey's main priority, on which it will want at least tacit Russian agreement, is to ensure that Kurdish militias are unable to gain further territory in Syria along its borders. Ankara launched an incursion into Syria, "Operation Euphrates Shield", in August to push Islamic State out of a 90-km (55-mile) stretch of frontier territory and prevent Kurdish groups from seizing ground in their wake. Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli acknowledged two weeks ago that Turkey "would not have moved so comfortably" without the rapprochement with Russia, which effectively controls parts of northern Syrian air space. Turkey now wants the rebels it supports to push further south into Syria and take the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab, around 40 kilometres northeast of Aleppo. Erdogan is determined that the Turkish-backed rebels capture the city to prevent Kurdish militias from doing so. But that ambition could cause difficulties with Moscow, as al-Bab lies close to the front lines of Assad's allies. ALEPPO DEAL Putin had only warm words for the prospect of deeper Russo-Turkish co-operation however and said the evacuation of rebels from Aleppo was something that he and Erdogan had agreed on. He hoped the Syrian army would be able to consolidate its position in Aleppo and civilians return to normal life. The RIA agency this week quoted Andrei Kelin, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, as saying it had been easier to deal with Turkey on Aleppo than the United States. "It was much more straightforward to reach agreements with Turkey than with the Americans," he was cited as saying. Putin played down the Syrian government's recent loss of Palmyra to Islamic State, blaming the lack of coordination between the US led coalition, the Syrian authorities, and Russia for the setback. “Everything that is happening in Palmyra is the result of uncoordinated action," said Putin. “The question of Palmyra is purely symbolic. Aleppo is much more important from a military-political point of view.” (Reuters)

Putin and Erdogan push for Syria talks without US or UN

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been voted as the most powerful man by Forbes -- he wins the gong for the fourth straight year.

Putin was followed US President-elect Donald Trump, who recorded a stunning win over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the election last month. Trump was ranked 72nd last year.

Outgoing US President Barack Obama, who was the second-most powerful man last year, saw his influence drop, languishing at 48th spot.

&quot;Russia&#39;s president has exerted his country&#39;s influence in nearly every corner of the globe,&quot; the US business magazine wrote.

&quot;From the motherland to Syria to the US presidential elections, Putin continues to get what he wants.&quot;&nbsp;

The 64-year old Russian leader is &quot;unconstrained by conventional global norms (and) his reach has magnified in recent years,&quot; Forbes said.

The magazine wrote that at number two, Trump, who takes over the US presidency in a little more than a month, &quot;has a seeming immunity to scandal, both houses of Congress on his side, and a personal net worth in the billions.&quot;

Trump, who was elected US president last month, was listed 72nd in Forbes&#39; 2015 power rankings.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was third,&nbsp;China&#39;s President Xi Jinping, while the fifth spot on the list went to Pope Francis.

Forbes said it assesses the influence of &quot;hundreds of candidates from various walks of life all around the globe&quot; as it compiles its annual list, which this year has on it 74 powerful movers and shakers.

(With inputs from AFP)

Barack Obama, who was second in 2015, plummeted to 48th place this year

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been voted as the most powerful man by Forbes -- he wins the gong for the fourth straight year. Putin was followed US President-elect Donald Trump, who recorded a stunning win over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the election last month. Trump was ranked 72nd last year. Outgoing US President Barack Obama, who was the second-most powerful man last year, saw his influence drop, languishing at 48th spot. "Russia's president has exerted his country's influence in nearly every corner of the globe," the US business magazine wrote. "From the motherland to Syria to the US presidential elections, Putin continues to get what he wants." The 64-year old Russian leader is "unconstrained by conventional global norms (and) his reach has magnified in recent years," Forbes said. The magazine wrote that at number two, Trump, who takes over the US presidency in a little more than a month, "has a seeming immunity to scandal, both houses of Congress on his side, and a personal net worth in the billions." Trump, who was elected US president last month, was listed 72nd in Forbes' 2015 power rankings. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was third, China's President Xi Jinping, while the fifth spot on the list went to Pope Francis. Forbes said it assesses the influence of "hundreds of candidates from various walks of life all around the globe" as it compiles its annual list, which this year has on it 74 powerful movers and shakers. (With inputs from AFP)

Putin world's most powerful man, Trump second: Forbes

United States President Barack Obama has ordered intelligence agencies to review Russian intervention in the 2016 presidential elections, after being repeatedly asked to by the Democratic lawmakers, Reuters reported.

Obama has demanded a report before he leaves office on January 20, the White House said according to Reuters.&nbsp;

In October, the US government accused the &ldquo;senior-most&rdquo; levels of the Russian government of running a campaign of cyber attacks ahead of the November 8 presidential elections, after which Obama had even warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of &ldquo;consequences&rdquo;.&nbsp;

Putin, however, has dismissed the accusations as&nbsp;politically motivated.

Obama&#39;s homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, told reporters the results of the report would be shared with lawmakers and others.

&quot;The president has directed the intelligence community to conduct a full review of what happened during the 2016 election process ... and to capture lessons learned from that and to report to a range of stakeholders, to include the Congress,&quot; Monaco said during an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz added that the review will also look into the hacking practises of the presidential elections of 2008, 2012 and 2016, calling the review a &ldquo;deep-dive&rdquo;. &nbsp;

&ldquo;There were intrusions into both the Obama and John McCain campaigns in 2008, publicly attributed to the Chinese, he continued, and although there were no notable incidents in 2012, &ldquo;knowing what we know now&rdquo;, that election will also be scrutinised,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;

Obama has been under constant pressure from the Democratic lawmakers for &nbsp;a response to Russia&#39;s actions as well as to determine how much intelligence material on the subject could be declassified and made public.

(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Democratic lawmakers are demanding a response to Russia's actions of running a campaign of cyber attacks ahead of 2016 presidential election

United States President Barack Obama has ordered intelligence agencies to review Russian intervention in the 2016 presidential elections, after being repeatedly asked to by the Democratic lawmakers, Reuters reported. Obama has demanded a report before he leaves office on January 20, the White House said according to Reuters. In October, the US government accused the “senior-most” levels of the Russian government of running a campaign of cyber attacks ahead of the November 8 presidential elections, after which Obama had even warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of “consequences”. Putin, however, has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. Obama's homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, told reporters the results of the report would be shared with lawmakers and others. "The president has directed the intelligence community to conduct a full review of what happened during the 2016 election process ... and to capture lessons learned from that and to report to a range of stakeholders, to include the Congress," Monaco said during an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. White House spokesman Eric Schultz added that the review will also look into the hacking practises of the presidential elections of 2008, 2012 and 2016, calling the review a “deep-dive”. “There were intrusions into both the Obama and John McCain campaigns in 2008, publicly attributed to the Chinese, he continued, and although there were no notable incidents in 2012, “knowing what we know now”, that election will also be scrutinised,” he added. Obama has been under constant pressure from the Democratic lawmakers for a response to Russia's actions as well as to determine how much intelligence material on the subject could be declassified and made public. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Obama orders 'full review' of Russian hacking during elections

US President Barack Obama said he told Vladimir Putin on Sunday that he wants to reach a settlement that solves the Ukraine crisis before he leaves office in January.

&quot;I talked to him about Ukraine and the need for us to get things done,&quot; Obama told a press conference in Peru, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.&nbsp;

&quot;I urged him to instruct his negotiators to work with ourselves, with France, with Germany, with Ukraine to see if we can get that done before my term is up.&quot;

Russia backs a separatist, pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has claimed nearly 10,000 lives.

Moscow, which annexed Crimea from pro-Western Ukraine in 2014, denies either sending troops or weapons across its border to fuel the conflict, despite eyewitness testimony to the contrary.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande launched efforts in October to revive a stalled peace process during talks with Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko in Berlin.

Those involved are trying to draw up a roadmap for applying the frayed 2015 Minsk peace accords following months of impasse.

The shock election victory of Donald Trump in the United States has been met with trepidation in Kiev because of the mogul&#39;s praise for Putin.

(AFP)

'I talked to him about Ukraine and the need for us to get things done,' he told a press conference in Peru, on the sidelines of APEC summi

US President Barack Obama said he told Vladimir Putin on Sunday that he wants to reach a settlement that solves the Ukraine crisis before he leaves office in January. "I talked to him about Ukraine and the need for us to get things done," Obama told a press conference in Peru, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. "I urged him to instruct his negotiators to work with ourselves, with France, with Germany, with Ukraine to see if we can get that done before my term is up." Russia backs a separatist, pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has claimed nearly 10,000 lives. Moscow, which annexed Crimea from pro-Western Ukraine in 2014, denies either sending troops or weapons across its border to fuel the conflict, despite eyewitness testimony to the contrary. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande launched efforts in October to revive a stalled peace process during talks with Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko in Berlin. Those involved are trying to draw up a roadmap for applying the frayed 2015 Minsk peace accords following months of impasse. The shock election victory of Donald Trump in the United States has been met with trepidation in Kiev because of the mogul's praise for Putin. (AFP)

Obama wants Ukraine deal 'before term is up'

US President Barack Obama made a strident case for his successor Donald Trump to retain America&#39;s support for a liberal world order on Sunday, warning world peace and prosperity depend on it.

&quot;The main advice that I give to the incoming president is the United States really is an indispensable nation in our world order,&quot; Obama said in Peru as he wrapped up his final foreign visit.

The United States&#39; ability to uphold &quot;international norms and rules. That&#39;s what&#39;s made the modern world,&quot; Obama said, admitting that Washington had not always fulfilled its own ideals, but remained vital to global security.

&quot;Here in Latin America, there&#39;s been times when countries felt disrespected and on occasion had cause for that.&quot;

But he argued history served as a warning for those imagining or flirting with a revised global order.

&quot;Take an example like Europe before that order was imposed. We had two world wars in a span of 30 years. In the second one, 60 million people were killed. Not half a million, not a million but 60 million. Entire continents in rubble.&quot;

&quot;We&#39;re not going to be able to handle every problem, but the American president and the United States of America, if we&#39;re not on the side of what&#39;s right, if we&#39;re not making the argument and fighting for it even if sometimes we&#39;re not able to deliver it 100 per cent everywhere, then it collapses.&quot;

&quot;There&#39;s nobody to fill the void. There really isn&#39;t,&quot; he said.

(AFP)

America's ability to uphold 'international norms and rules. That's what's made the modern world', Obama said

US President Barack Obama made a strident case for his successor Donald Trump to retain America's support for a liberal world order on Sunday, warning world peace and prosperity depend on it. "The main advice that I give to the incoming president is the United States really is an indispensable nation in our world order," Obama said in Peru as he wrapped up his final foreign visit. The United States' ability to uphold "international norms and rules. That's what's made the modern world," Obama said, admitting that Washington had not always fulfilled its own ideals, but remained vital to global security. "Here in Latin America, there's been times when countries felt disrespected and on occasion had cause for that." But he argued history served as a warning for those imagining or flirting with a revised global order. "Take an example like Europe before that order was imposed. We had two world wars in a span of 30 years. In the second one, 60 million people were killed. Not half a million, not a million but 60 million. Entire continents in rubble." "We're not going to be able to handle every problem, but the American president and the United States of America, if we're not on the side of what's right, if we're not making the argument and fighting for it even if sometimes we're not able to deliver it 100 per cent everywhere, then it collapses." "There's nobody to fill the void. There really isn't," he said. (AFP)

Obama warns Trump that US underpins world order

After a crushing defeat for the Democrats at the hands of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America, the current US President Barack Obama congratulated his newly-elected successor.

Obama called Trump to congratulate him on pulling off a stunning victory against his rival Hillary Clinton, who a day before the election was said to have a 70 per cent chance of winning.&nbsp;

The President&#39;s office said Obama invited Trump to the White House for talks on Thursday and is due to make a statement later Wednesday about the election results.

He also called Hillary Clinton, his one-time secretary of state and fellow Democrat, to express his &quot;admiration for the strong campaign she waged throughout the country,&quot; White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Trump made his victory speech at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan, New York.&nbsp;

&quot;I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for every American. And that is very important to me,&quot; Donald Trump told a jubilant crowd.&nbsp;

&quot;For those that have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I&#39;m reaching out to you for your guidance and you help so we can work together and unify our great country.&quot;

He was gracious to his rival, saying, &quot;Hillary has worked very hard and very hard over a very long period of time and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to this country.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division.&quot;

Local media reports said Hillary Clinton had called Trump to concede the presidency but that she would not be making a concession speech on Wednesday. 
&nbsp;

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1">
	<thead>
		<tr>
			<th scope="col">No.</th>
			<th scope="col">&nbsp;States &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</th>
			<th scope="col">Electoral Votes &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</th>
			<th scope="col">Winner &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</th>
		</tr>
	</thead>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>Alabama</td>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2</td>
			<td>Alaska &nbsp;</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Arizona&nbsp;</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>Awaiting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>Arkansas</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>California &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td>55</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Colorado</td>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>Connecticut</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>Delaware &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>Florida &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>29</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10</td>
			<td>Georgia &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>16</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>Hawaii &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>Idaho &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>Illinois&nbsp;</td>
			<td>20</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>14</td>
			<td>Indiana &nbsp;</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15</td>
			<td>Iowa &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>16</td>
			<td>Kansas &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>17</td>
			<td>Kentucky &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>18</td>
			<td>Louisiana&nbsp;</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>19</td>
			<td>Maine&nbsp;</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20</td>
			<td>Maryland</td>
			<td>10</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>21</td>
			<td>Massachusetts</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>22</td>
			<td>Michigan</td>
			<td>16</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>23</td>
			<td>Minnesota&nbsp;</td>
			<td>10</td>
			<td>Awaiting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24</td>
			<td>Mississippi &nbsp;</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>25</td>
			<td>Missouri &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>10</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>26</td>
			<td>Montana &nbsp;</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>27</td>
			<td>Nebraska &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>28</td>
			<td>Nevada&nbsp;</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>29</td>
			<td>New Hampshire</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>Awaiting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>30</td>
			<td>New Jersey&nbsp;</td>
			<td>14</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>31</td>
			<td>New Mexico</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>32</td>
			<td>New York &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td>29</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>33</td>
			<td>North Carolina</td>
			<td>15</td>
			<td>Donald Trump&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>34</td>
			<td>North Dakota</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>35</td>
			<td>Ohio &nbsp;</td>
			<td>18</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>36</td>
			<td>Oklahoma &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>37</td>
			<td>Oregon &nbsp;</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>38</td>
			<td>Pennsylvania</td>
			<td>20</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>39</td>
			<td>Rhode Island</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>40</td>
			<td>South Carolina</td>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>Donald Trump&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>41</td>
			<td>South Dakota&nbsp;</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>42</td>
			<td>Tennessee&nbsp;</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>43</td>
			<td>Texas &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>38</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>44</td>
			<td>Utah&nbsp;</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>45</td>
			<td>Vermont &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>46</td>
			<td>Virginia&nbsp;</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>47</td>
			<td>Washington &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>48</td>
			<td>West Virginia&nbsp;</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>49</td>
			<td>Wisconsin &nbsp;</td>
			<td>10</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50</td>
			<td>Wyoming &nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;3</td>
			<td>Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

A stunning victory

Trump won Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire -- states that were considered to be swing states -- while his rival Hillary Clinton faltered in these key states.

Trump won Florida by 130,000 votes, which imply that third-party votes harmed Clinton in her bid to win the crucial state. Third-party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein won 260,000 votes in the state.

The win in the Sunshine state provided a major impetus for Trump during his stunning success.

The final blow to Clinton came when Trump won Pennsylvania well past midnight in New York.

Trump&#39;s early numbers put Clinton on the backfoot.

Clinton won in Virginia and banked on upper Midwestern states to shore up her numbers. She managed to stay in the race with California&#39;s 55 electoral seats.&nbsp;

Clinton also won three out of four electoral votes in Maine. &nbsp;

Hillary Clinton&#39;s campaign chairman, John Podesta thanked Hillary&#39;s supporters and asked them to go home. She would not be saying anything tonight.

The other states won by Clinton are New Mexico, Illinois, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Trump has won Missouri, Nebraska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. But none of these are battleground states.

South Carolina caused a minor flutter in the Trump camp as early data showed Clinton to be in the lead. However, he later surged ahead to win the state, which has traditionally been a Republican firewall.&nbsp;

Trump also won Texas, Wyoming, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota, whereas Clinton has scooped New York.

(WION)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In a huge setback for Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump won the presidential race after securing major wins in the battleground states

After a crushing defeat for the Democrats at the hands of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America, the current US President Barack Obama congratulated his newly-elected successor. Obama called Trump to congratulate him on pulling off a stunning victory against his rival Hillary Clinton, who a day before the election was said to have a 70 per cent chance of winning. The President's office said Obama invited Trump to the White House for talks on Thursday and is due to make a statement later Wednesday about the election results. He also called Hillary Clinton, his one-time secretary of state and fellow Democrat, to express his "admiration for the strong campaign she waged throughout the country," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement. Earlier in the day, Trump made his victory speech at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan, New York. "I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for every American. And that is very important to me," Donald Trump told a jubilant crowd. "For those that have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I'm reaching out to you for your guidance and you help so we can work together and unify our great country." He was gracious to his rival, saying, "Hillary has worked very hard and very hard over a very long period of time and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to this country." "Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division." Local media reports said Hillary Clinton had called Trump to concede the presidency but that she would not be making a concession speech on Wednesday. No. States Electoral Votes Winner 1 Alabama 9 Donald Trump 2 Alaska 3 Donald Trump 3 Arizona 11 Awaiting 4 Arkansas 6 Donald Trump 5 California 55 Hillary Clinton 6 Colorado 9 Hillary Clinton 7 Connecticut 7 Hillary Clinton 8 Delaware 3 Hillary Clinton 9 Florida 29 Donald Trump 10 Georgia 16 Donald Trump 11 Hawaii 4 Hillary Clinton 12 Idaho 4 Donald Trump 13 Illinois 20 Hillary Clinton 14 Indiana 11 Donald Trump 15 Iowa 6 Donald Trump 16 Kansas 6 Donald Trump 17 Kentucky 8 Donald Trump 18 Louisiana 8 Donald Trump 19 Maine 4 Hillary Clinton 20 Maryland 10 Hillary Clinton 21 Massachusetts 11 Hillary Clinton 22 Michigan 16 Donald Trump 23 Minnesota 10 Awaiting 24 Mississippi 6 Donald Trump 25 Missouri 10 Donald Trump 26 Montana 3 Donald Trump 27 Nebraska 5 Donald Trump 28 Nevada 6 Hillary Clinton 29 New Hampshire 4 Awaiting 30 New Jersey 14 Hillary Clinton 31 New Mexico 5 Hillary Clinton 32 New York 29 Hillary Clinton 33 North Carolina 15 Donald Trump 34 North Dakota 3 Donald Trump 35 Ohio 18 Donald Trump 36 Oklahoma 7 Donald Trump 37 Oregon 7 Hillary Clinton 38 Pennsylvania 20 Donald Trump 39 Rhode Island 4 Hillary Clinton 40 South Carolina 9 Donald Trump 41 South Dakota 3 Donald Trump 42 Tennessee 11 Donald Trump 43 Texas 38 Donald Trump 44 Utah 6 Donald Trump 45 Vermont 3 Hillary Clinton 46 Virginia 13 Hillary Clinton 47 Washington 12 Hillary Clinton 48 West Virginia 5 Donald Trump 49 Wisconsin 10 Donald Trump 50 Wyoming 3 Donald Trump A stunning victory Trump won Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire -- states that were considered to be swing states -- while his rival Hillary Clinton faltered in these key states. Trump won Florida by 130,000 votes, which imply that third-party votes harmed Clinton in her bid to win the crucial state. Third-party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein won 260,000 votes in the state. The win in the Sunshine state provided a major impetus for Trump during his stunning success. The final blow to Clinton came when Trump won Pennsylvania well past midnight in New York. Trump's early numbers put Clinton on the backfoot. Clinton won in Virginia and banked on upper Midwestern states to shore up her numbers. She managed to stay in the race with California's 55 electoral seats. Clinton also won three out of four electoral votes in Maine. Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta thanked Hillary's supporters and asked them to go home. She would not be saying anything tonight. The other states won by Clinton are New Mexico, Illinois, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Trump has won Missouri, Nebraska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. But none of these are battleground states. South Carolina caused a minor flutter in the Trump camp as early data showed Clinton to be in the lead. However, he later surged ahead to win the state, which has traditionally been a Republican firewall. Trump also won Texas, Wyoming, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota, whereas Clinton has scooped New York. (WION)

US election 2016: US President Obama invites successor Donald Trump to White House

US President Barack Obama on Friday eased sanctions on Myanmar by terminating an emergency order that deemed the policies of the southeast Asian country&rsquo;s former military government a threat to US national security.

&quot;I have determined that the situation that gave rise to the national emergency...has been significantly altered by Burma&rsquo;s (Myanmar&rsquo;s) substantial advances to promote democracy, including historic elections in November 2015,&quot; Obama said in a letter to congressional leaders announcing the decision, Reuters reported.

Under Obama&rsquo;s new executive order preferential tariffs for Myanmar, which were suspended more than two decades ago amid human rights abuses by the Junta, will be reinstated.

Obama had met the country&#39;s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi in September and had stated at the time that revoking sanctions would be &quot;the right thing to do to ensure that the people of Burma (Myanmar) see rewards for a new way of doing business.&quot;

The move aims at getting the rapidly transforming country out of decades of economic isolation.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Under Obama?s new executive order preferential tariffs for Myanmar will be reinstated

US President Barack Obama on Friday eased sanctions on Myanmar by terminating an emergency order that deemed the policies of the southeast Asian country’s former military government a threat to US national security. "I have determined that the situation that gave rise to the national emergency...has been significantly altered by Burma’s (Myanmar’s) substantial advances to promote democracy, including historic elections in November 2015," Obama said in a letter to congressional leaders announcing the decision, Reuters reported. Under Obama’s new executive order preferential tariffs for Myanmar, which were suspended more than two decades ago amid human rights abuses by the Junta, will be reinstated. Obama had met the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi in September and had stated at the time that revoking sanctions would be "the right thing to do to ensure that the people of Burma (Myanmar) see rewards for a new way of doing business." The move aims at getting the rapidly transforming country out of decades of economic isolation. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Obama eases sanctions on Myanmar

US President Barack Obama cast an early vote in his adopted hometown of Chicago on Friday during an unannounced visit.

According to AFP, Obama stood before the voting machine at the Chicago Board of Elections office, punched in his choice and smirked when asked who he picked.

A smiling Obama shook hands with the poll workers at the site and thanked them for their &quot;outstanding work&quot; before heading to an electronic voting machine, Reuters said.

&quot;Now they can&#39;t see me, can they?&quot; Obama asked the workers as he jokingly shielded his machine from reporters standing nearby, Reuters reported.

Obama&rsquo;s early vote might be an attempt to get people to poll&nbsp;before November 8.&nbsp;Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has also visited key states trying to get supporters to register and vote early where possible.

The outcome of the 2016 Presidential race could well be decided long before Election Day.

&quot;We expect that this year, in the battleground states that we&rsquo;re focused on, at least 40 per cent of votes are going to be cast before Election Day,&quot; said Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, AFP reported.

Obama has been campaigning for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to succeed him in the Oval office.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

The US President who is campaigning for Clinton cast his vote in Chicago on Friday, during an unannounced visit

US President Barack Obama cast an early vote in his adopted hometown of Chicago on Friday during an unannounced visit. According to AFP, Obama stood before the voting machine at the Chicago Board of Elections office, punched in his choice and smirked when asked who he picked. A smiling Obama shook hands with the poll workers at the site and thanked them for their "outstanding work" before heading to an electronic voting machine, Reuters said. "Now they can't see me, can they?" Obama asked the workers as he jokingly shielded his machine from reporters standing nearby, Reuters reported. Obama’s early vote might be an attempt to get people to poll before November 8. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has also visited key states trying to get supporters to register and vote early where possible. The outcome of the 2016 Presidential race could well be decided long before Election Day. "We expect that this year, in the battleground states that we’re focused on, at least 40 per cent of votes are going to be cast before Election Day," said Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, AFP reported. Obama has been campaigning for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to succeed him in the Oval office. (WION with inputs from agencies)

US elections 2016: Obama casts early vote

Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower, who has been living in exile in Russia for more than three years has called on US President Barack Obama to pardon him before he leaves his office next year.&nbsp; 
 
The former intelligence contractor said his decision to disclose classified information about the US and British surveillance program was &ldquo;morally correct&rdquo; and he should be pardoned.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;&quot;If not for these disclosures, if not for these revelations, we would be worse off,&quot; he told The Guardian newspaper in a video-link interview from Moscow yesterday.&nbsp; 
 
The 33-year-old insisted that the &ldquo;public cares more about these issues more than he had anticipated&rdquo;.&nbsp; 
 
Oliver Stone, director of the biopic thriller &ldquo;Snowden&rdquo;, also called for Obama to pardon the whistleblower at the Toronto film festival this year.&nbsp;

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<h5>The 33-year-old insisted that the &ldquo;public cares more about these issues more than he had anticipated&quot;.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The 33-year-old insisted that the ?public cares more about these issues more than he had anticipated&quot;. " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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Snowden&#39;s residency permit in Russia runs &nbsp;out next year. He even said that he was prepared to spend time in jail in the US, adding he was &ldquo;willing to make a lot of sacrifices for the country&rdquo;.&nbsp; 
 
Last year, the White House rejected a petition signed by over 150,000 urging a pardon for Snowden, saying he should be &quot;judged by a jury of his peers&quot;. 
 
In a video-link interview Snowden said the disclosure of the scale of surveillance had left people better off.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;Yes, there are laws on the books that say one thing, but that is perhaps why the pardon power exists &ndash; for the exceptions, for the things that may seem unlawful in letters on a page but when we look at them morally, when we look at them ethically, when we look at the results, it seems these were necessary things, these were vital things,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from PTI)

He said his decision to disclose classified information about the US and British mass surveillance program was 'morally correct'

Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower, who has been living in exile in Russia for more than three years has called on US President Barack Obama to pardon him before he leaves his office next year. The former intelligence contractor said his decision to disclose classified information about the US and British surveillance program was “morally correct” and he should be pardoned. "If not for these disclosures, if not for these revelations, we would be worse off," he told The Guardian newspaper in a video-link interview from Moscow yesterday. The 33-year-old insisted that the “public cares more about these issues more than he had anticipated”. Oliver Stone, director of the biopic thriller “Snowden”, also called for Obama to pardon the whistleblower at the Toronto film festival this year. The 33-year-old insisted that the “public cares more about these issues more than he had anticipated". Snowden's residency permit in Russia runs out next year. He even said that he was prepared to spend time in jail in the US, adding he was “willing to make a lot of sacrifices for the country”. Last year, the White House rejected a petition signed by over 150,000 urging a pardon for Snowden, saying he should be "judged by a jury of his peers". In a video-link interview Snowden said the disclosure of the scale of surveillance had left people better off. “Yes, there are laws on the books that say one thing, but that is perhaps why the pardon power exists – for the exceptions, for the things that may seem unlawful in letters on a page but when we look at them morally, when we look at them ethically, when we look at the results, it seems these were necessary things, these were vital things,” he said. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Former NSA whistleblower Snowden asks Obama for pardon

US President Barack Obama will receive Italy&#39;s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on October 18 at the White House for talks focusing on the future of Europe, press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday. 
 
The official visit &quot;will be an opportunity to recognize the depth and breadth of our relationship with Italy and exchange views on the future of Europe,&quot; Earnest said. 
 
Describing Italy as &quot;one of our closest and strongest allies,&quot; Earnest said the two leaders will also discuss climate change and the refugee crisis affecting southern Europe. 
 
At the end of the day, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host Renzi and his wife, Agnese Landini, at a state dinner at the White House. 
 
(AFP)

Matteo Renzi is visiting the US for talks focusing on the future of Europe. Apart from that, they will also discuss climate change

US President Barack Obama will receive Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on October 18 at the White House for talks focusing on the future of Europe, press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday. The official visit "will be an opportunity to recognize the depth and breadth of our relationship with Italy and exchange views on the future of Europe," Earnest said. Describing Italy as "one of our closest and strongest allies," Earnest said the two leaders will also discuss climate change and the refugee crisis affecting southern Europe. At the end of the day, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host Renzi and his wife, Agnese Landini, at a state dinner at the White House. (AFP)

Obama to host Italian PM at White House on Oct 18

Families of 9/11 victims can sue Saudi Arabia for damage, the US&nbsp;House of Representatives has voted. 
 
The US House passed a voice vote in favour of the bill just two days ahead of the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Centre attack that killed around 3,000 people. 
 
The legislation is likely to shake up US-Saudi bilateral ties. 
 
Outgoing US President Barack Obama will veto the bill, the White House said on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
The House of Representatives&#39;s legislation will have to be passed by the Senate and agreed by the president before it becomes a law. 
 
In July, a document suggested that one of the hijackers in the 9/11 terrorist attack had connections with the Saudi government. The 28-page report also suggested a possible nexus between the Saudi royal family and al Qaeda, althoug it failed to verify its claims. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

This comes after a July document suggested that one of the 9/11 hijackers had connections with the Saudi government

Families of 9/11 victims can sue Saudi Arabia for damage, the US House of Representatives has voted. The US House passed a voice vote in favour of the bill just two days ahead of the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Centre attack that killed around 3,000 people. The legislation is likely to shake up US-Saudi bilateral ties. Outgoing US President Barack Obama will veto the bill, the White House said on Friday. The House of Representatives's legislation will have to be passed by the Senate and agreed by the president before it becomes a law. In July, a document suggested that one of the hijackers in the 9/11 terrorist attack had connections with the Saudi government. The 28-page report also suggested a possible nexus between the Saudi royal family and al Qaeda, althoug it failed to verify its claims. (WION with inputs from agencies)

US House allows 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia for damage

<div style="text-align: justify;">Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte expressed regret on Friday for calling US President Barack Obama a &quot;son of a whore&quot;. But then he went on to call UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a &quot;fool&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Duterte specified he had not meant to insult the American President when he called him a &ldquo;son of a whore&rdquo; --&nbsp;a&nbsp;view most certainly not shared by the Americans who decided to cancel a meeting between the two heads of state.&nbsp; 
 
Duterete said his statement did not refer&nbsp;directly to Obama&nbsp;but to the US state department, which has raised concerns of human rights violations over the at least 3,000 deaths that have occurred during Duterte&#39;s &quot;war on drugs&quot;. That war was begun only about two months ago, when Duterte took over as President.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I got really angry about these threats over this human rights issue. This is the fault of the crazy people in the State Department,&quot; he said. 
 
Commenting on the espression &quot;putagina&quot;, Filipino&nbsp;slang for &quot;whore&quot;, Duterte said &ldquo;it is just an ordinary expression (used) by everyone&rdquo; and that it should not be taken literally.&nbsp; 
 
The two Presidents (Duterte and Obama)&nbsp;met briefly during the ASEAN summit in Laos, with&nbsp;AFP reporting Duterte as saying&nbsp;he had clarified the matter and that things were now settled.&nbsp; 
 
Duterte however will have to soothe&nbsp;other ruffled feathers too.&nbsp;The President of the Philippines has also called the pope and the&nbsp;US ambassador in Manila &quot;sons of whores&quot;. And on Friday he called UN chief Ban Ki-moon a &quot;fool&quot;;&nbsp;the United Nations has also&nbsp;spoken out against his crackdown, &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
There have been no apologies -- apart from the one to Obama --&nbsp;so far. &quot;I will continue the campaign against the criminals. I do not have any pity for them,&quot; Duterte said. 
 
He ended with the colourful:&nbsp;&quot;I don&#39;t give a shit. I am the president of the Philippines, not the republic of the international community.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)</div>

Says the insult was aimed at the US state department, not the President

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte expressed regret on Friday for calling US President Barack Obama a "son of a whore". But then he went on to call UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a "fool". Duterte specified he had not meant to insult the American President when he called him a “son of a whore” -- a view most certainly not shared by the Americans who decided to cancel a meeting between the two heads of state. Duterete said his statement did not refer directly to Obama but to the US state department, which has raised concerns of human rights violations over the at least 3,000 deaths that have occurred during Duterte's "war on drugs". That war was begun only about two months ago, when Duterte took over as President. "I got really angry about these threats over this human rights issue. This is the fault of the crazy people in the State Department," he said. Commenting on the espression "putagina", Filipino slang for "whore", Duterte said “it is just an ordinary expression (used) by everyone” and that it should not be taken literally. The two Presidents (Duterte and Obama) met briefly during the ASEAN summit in Laos, with AFP reporting Duterte as saying he had clarified the matter and that things were now settled. Duterte however will have to soothe other ruffled feathers too. The President of the Philippines has also called the pope and the US ambassador in Manila "sons of whores". And on Friday he called UN chief Ban Ki-moon a "fool"; the United Nations has also spoken out against his crackdown, There have been no apologies -- apart from the one to Obama -- so far. "I will continue the campaign against the criminals. I do not have any pity for them," Duterte said. He ended with the colourful: "I don't give a shit. I am the president of the Philippines, not the republic of the international community." (WION with inputs from agencies)

Philippines President Duterte regrets calling Obama 'son of a w****', then calls UN chief 'fool'

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is not fit to be the next US commander-in-chief, according to outgoing president Barack Obama. 
 
The criticism comes a day after billionaire Trump said Russia&nbsp;President Vladimir Putin is a better leader than Obama. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t think the guy&#39;s (Trump) qualified to be president of the United States, and every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed,&quot; said Obama, who is currently in Laos to attend a summit with Southeast Asian leaders. 
 
Obama also blasted Trump for being uninformed and having &#39;&#39;whacky ideas&#39;&#39;. 
 
Trump had previously said that if he came to power, he would ask the military brass to forge a plan within 30 days to destroy Islamic State in the Middle East. 
 
Trump&#39;s promise was assailed by&nbsp;a&nbsp;retired army general.&nbsp;&quot;I had to ask myself, what the hell does he think we&#39;ve been trying to do for the last 14 years in terms of al Qaeda?&quot;&nbsp;Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling had&nbsp;told CNN.&nbsp; 
 
Trump is contending with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to become the next president of the United States. The election is on November 8.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

The outgoing president also assailed the Republican presidential candidate for having 'whacky ideas'

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is not fit to be the next US commander-in-chief, according to outgoing president Barack Obama. The criticism comes a day after billionaire Trump said Russia President Vladimir Putin is a better leader than Obama. "I don't think the guy's (Trump) qualified to be president of the United States, and every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed," said Obama, who is currently in Laos to attend a summit with Southeast Asian leaders. Obama also blasted Trump for being uninformed and having ''whacky ideas''. Trump had previously said that if he came to power, he would ask the military brass to forge a plan within 30 days to destroy Islamic State in the Middle East. Trump's promise was assailed by a retired army general. "I had to ask myself, what the hell does he think we've been trying to do for the last 14 years in terms of al Qaeda?" Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling had told CNN. Trump is contending with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to become the next president of the United States. The election is on November 8. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Donald Trump unfit to be next US president: Obama

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