Donald Trump delivers a high-profile address to the U.S. Congress ahead of the midterm elections, criticizing Democrats over issues of affordability and economic policy. The speech highlights his administration’s priorities, outlines achievements, and sets the stage for upcoming election campaigns.

Breaking: Trump Slams Democrats Over Affordability Ahead of Midterms

'Putin has no idea what's coming', this was Joe Biden's message to Moscow in his first SOTU address. But what's making headlines is a gaffe where POTUS referred to Ukrainians as 'Iranians'. Palki Sharma reports.

Gravitas: Gaffes, Hits & Misses: Decoding Biden's State Of The Union Address

US President Donald Trump intensified his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blocks-pelosi-trip-as-tensions-mount-over-government-shutdown-191083">war of words with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi</a> Wednesday after she effectively blocked him from delivering his annual address in Congress during the government shutdown, now in its 33rd day.

The growing acrimony came on the eve of a pair of US Senate votes that appear unlikely to end the longest-ever shutdown -- and as furloughed federal workers vented their fury on Capitol Hill.

The president and his Republicans still have the better part of a week to resolve differences with Democrats and get federal operations going again, allowing his State of the Union speech to proceed.&nbsp;

But the prospects were dim, with the Senate votes -- one on Trump's plan that includes money for his border wall, the other by Democrats seeking to reopen government before negotiating border security -- bound to fail on Thursday.

Traditionally the president's annual speech, scheduled for next Tuesday, is delivered before a joint session of Congress in the ornate chamber of the House of Representatives.

In an effort to force the hand of Pelosi, who had already urged Trump to reschedule due to shutdown-related security shortcomings, the president wrote to her saying it would be "so very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location!"

Pelosi, who has become the face of Democratic opposition to Trump in Congress, pushed back, informing the president that the House would not authorize the speech in the chamber.

"Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened," said Pelosi.&nbsp;

The rejection sent Washington's establishment into uncharted territory, and all but forced Trump to retreat over his address.

"The State of the Union speech has been cancelled by Nancy Pelosi because she doesn't want to hear the truth" about border security, Trump told reporters, adding that he is considering an "alternative" for the speech.

"We'll be announcing what we'll do," he said.

'Will work for pay' 
The shutdown, which has seen some 800,000 federal employees left without pay for a month, was triggered by Trump's refusal to sign funding bills in December.&nbsp;

This was in retaliation for the Democrats' refusal to approve funds for extending walls along the US-Mexico border.

With the closure of about one quarter of federal agencies affecting millions of Americans, hundreds of government workers who have not been paid in weeks used the power of protest to publicize their plight, peacefully occupying a congressional office building for several hours.

Some held posters or paper plates with messages including "Will work for pay" and "Do your job -- so Americans can do theirs."

And with no solution in sight, they were bracing for Friday, when they expect to miss their second paycheck in a row.

Trump says he will not reopen government before his wall funding comes through. But he also pointed the finger and Pelosi and her caucus.

"It's really a shame, what's happening with the Democrats," he said. "They've become radicalized."

The votes in the Republican-controlled Senate have the potential to break the impasse, but since both need to clear a 60-vote threshold to advance in the 100-member chamber, their passage is unlikely.&nbsp;

Government shutdowns are a disruptive political ritual that have occurred in various administrations and are almost unique to the American system.&nbsp;

This one is the longest on record, and has left a broad swath of federal workers unpaid -- among them airport security officers, FBI agents, museum workers, US Coast Guard personnel, and Environmental Protection Agency personnel charged with monitoring toxic chemicals or other pollutants.

US President Donald Trump intensified his war of words with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday after she effectively blocked him from delivering his annual address in Congress during the government shutdown, now in its 33rd day.

US President Donald Trump intensified his war of words with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday after she effectively blocked him from delivering his annual address in Congress during the government shutdown, now in its 33rd day. The growing acrimony came on the eve of a pair of US Senate votes that appear unlikely to end the longest-ever shutdown -- and as furloughed federal workers vented their fury on Capitol Hill. The president and his Republicans still have the better part of a week to resolve differences with Democrats and get federal operations going again, allowing his State of the Union speech to proceed. But the prospects were dim, with the Senate votes -- one on Trump's plan that includes money for his border wall, the other by Democrats seeking to reopen government before negotiating border security -- bound to fail on Thursday. Traditionally the president's annual speech, scheduled for next Tuesday, is delivered before a joint session of Congress in the ornate chamber of the House of Representatives. In an effort to force the hand of Pelosi, who had already urged Trump to reschedule due to shutdown-related security shortcomings, the president wrote to her saying it would be "so very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location!" Pelosi, who has become the face of Democratic opposition to Trump in Congress, pushed back, informing the president that the House would not authorize the speech in the chamber. "Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened," said Pelosi. The rejection sent Washington's establishment into uncharted territory, and all but forced Trump to retreat over his address. "The State of the Union speech has been cancelled by Nancy Pelosi because she doesn't want to hear the truth" about border security, Trump told reporters, adding that he is considering an "alternative" for the speech. "We'll be announcing what we'll do," he said. 'Will work for pay' The shutdown, which has seen some 800,000 federal employees left without pay for a month, was triggered by Trump's refusal to sign funding bills in December. This was in retaliation for the Democrats' refusal to approve funds for extending walls along the US-Mexico border. With the closure of about one quarter of federal agencies affecting millions of Americans, hundreds of government workers who have not been paid in weeks used the power of protest to publicize their plight, peacefully occupying a congressional office building for several hours. Some held posters or paper plates with messages including "Will work for pay" and "Do your job -- so Americans can do theirs." And with no solution in sight, they were bracing for Friday, when they expect to miss their second paycheck in a row. Trump says he will not reopen government before his wall funding comes through. But he also pointed the finger and Pelosi and her caucus. "It's really a shame, what's happening with the Democrats," he said. "They've become radicalized." The votes in the Republican-controlled Senate have the potential to break the impasse, but since both need to clear a 60-vote threshold to advance in the 100-member chamber, their passage is unlikely. Government shutdowns are a disruptive political ritual that have occurred in various administrations and are almost unique to the American system. This one is the longest on record, and has left a broad swath of federal workers unpaid -- among them airport security officers, FBI agents, museum workers, US Coast Guard personnel, and Environmental Protection Agency personnel charged with monitoring toxic chemicals or other pollutants.

Trump forced to 'cancel' State of Union speech

The United States' <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-elects-democrat-nancy-pelosi-to-be-speaker-for-2019-2020-188126">newly-elected Speaker</a> in the House of Representatives on Thursday invited the country's president to deliver his second State of the Union address on January 29.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to President Donald Trump hours after reaching 220 votes to become the new House speaker, a position she also held between 2007 and 2011.

"In the spirit of our Constitution, I invite you to deliver your State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 in the House Chamber," the letter Pelosi posted on Twitter said.

The Democrat said the Constitution established the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the government to be co-equal checks and balances on each other and asks that the president "from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union.”

Trump delivered his first State of the Union address on January 30, 2018, a tradition in which the president assesses the country's situation each year before Congress and presents his priorities.

This time the president would address a Congress in which the Democrats have regained control of the House, while the Republicans hold the majority in the Senate.

The appearance would take place with a political atmosphere marked by partial government shutdown, ongoing since December 22.

The United States' newly-elected Speaker in the House of Representatives on Thursday invited the country's president to deliver his second State of the Union address on January 29.

The United States' newly-elected Speaker in the House of Representatives on Thursday invited the country's president to deliver his second State of the Union address on January 29. Democrat Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to President Donald Trump hours after reaching 220 votes to become the new House speaker, a position she also held between 2007 and 2011. "In the spirit of our Constitution, I invite you to deliver your State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 in the House Chamber," the letter Pelosi posted on Twitter said. The Democrat said the Constitution established the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the government to be co-equal checks and balances on each other and asks that the president "from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union.” Trump delivered his first State of the Union address on January 30, 2018, a tradition in which the president assesses the country's situation each year before Congress and presents his priorities. This time the president would address a Congress in which the Democrats have regained control of the House, while the Republicans hold the majority in the Senate. The appearance would take place with a political atmosphere marked by partial government shutdown, ongoing since December 22.

Pelosi invites Trump to deliver State of the Union address

Donald J. Trump was the first candidate to become president of the United States without prior experience as a military leader, a politician or ever having held a senior government post.

As he delivered his State of the Union address with the promise of a &ldquo;new American moment,&rdquo; the president had the lowest approval rating of any modern-day commander-in-chief.

Yet he carries enough appeal to illustrate that what people say to pollsters isn&rsquo;t always how they cast their ballots. After all, polls overwhelmingly predicted Trump&rsquo;s electoral defeat in 2016, yet he won. Polls are now indicating a failed presidency. Is it?

Election rhetoric, more often than not, withers in the face of reality once a candidate becomes the sitting president. Not the case with Trump.

Henry Kissinger noted that Trump is different from most because he owes very few favours and debts to others. In that regard, Trump has had a freer hand than most politicians.

The Trump administration has seen more than its share of problems, not surprising given that an outsider group &mdash; separate and distinct from the political class of both dominant parties &mdash; has taken power.

Candidate Trump went through three sets of top campaign officials, and two top transitional team leaders, before he assumed office. He&rsquo;s now on his second set of White House staff and cabinet members. And today&rsquo;s Team Trump is beginning to deliver eyebrow-raising change in many areas, from defence to the economy.

Trump&rsquo;s message unfiltered

What has stayed constant, however, is Trump&rsquo;s approach to governing by bringing his message directly to his constituents by means that include Twitter and political rallies.

His speech and mannerisms not only reflect the aforementioned free hand, but also a fundamental break from the carefully crafted, controlled politician-speak that became dominant in the late 20th century in most industrialized democracies.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/203703/original/file-20180129-100893-k3ptsb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arrival at the White House from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

Trump-speak has barely changed since his campaign began. It&rsquo;s not classical politician-speak, which prioritizes an avoidance of publicly offending anyone. Making offensive comments, after all, can cost votes that could tip an election or derail a legislative agenda. Internationally, if a president routinely offends the country&rsquo;s foes and allies alike, delicate relationships are put at risk.

Measured and controlled speech that carefully avoids upsetting anyone and not playing fast and loose with readily disproved facts is what politician-speak is all about.

Politicians usually deal with any significant, legitimate domestic concerns by appeasement: Using &ldquo;motherhood and apple pie&rdquo; references in public statements, and delivering speeches that more often than not don&rsquo;t result in any substantive action unless it&rsquo;s a bona fide priority of their administration.

As long as not openly spoken of approvingly by those in authority, many alleged universal evils, like systemic racial discrimination, can quietly continue.

No spit-and-polish

Other ongoing concerns, like the investigation into Trump&rsquo;s alleged ties to Russia, allow opposing politicians to appear righteous and therefore exempt from the civility of politician-speak. Their targets can be openly denigrated, insulted and vilified.

Candidate Trump, and now President Trump, made a clean break from this 20th-century tradition by speaking to Americans and the world in a plain-spoken, homey and at times explicit manner free of the spit-and-polish that all democracies have come to expect of their politicians.

Frank Bruni, the New York Times columnist and no friend of the president, termed him a radically honest politician in some ways. Bruni observes there is more transparency into the president&rsquo;s beliefs and ideas, and his thought processes &mdash;however wrong or misled he might be &mdash; than there has been for any previous president in recent memory.

We know that some politicians aren&rsquo;t much different from Trump privately because there is a long trail of what they really thought and said during unguarded moments.

On tape, Richard Nixon was profane and angry about his perceived enemies, including Canada&rsquo;s Pierre Trudeau. Lyndon Johnson was much warier in private comments about the Vietnam war than he was in public.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/203806/original/file-20180129-41450-6ro53o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau talk in Trudeau&rsquo;s office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in this April 1972 photo. Tapes released decades later revealed Nixon speaking scornfully about Trudeau privately. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck Mitchell</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

The difference is that past presidents and establishment politicians hid their true beliefs better, and a less critical media helped.

Trump, on the other hand, has faced hostile media worldwide that amplify every &ldquo;misstep.&rdquo;

Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;open source&rdquo; thoughts are unprecedented in any modern politician. This radical transparency allows us to understand the president in a way that no other modern politician can be understood.

Trump supporters hear and see a man whose thoughts and beliefs are similar to theirs, whom they know expresses ideas that they cannot speak out loud unless in safe, like-minded and trusted company &mdash; or they risk being branded racist, sexist, homophobic and xenophobic, or, as Hillary Clinton termed them, &ldquo;deplorables.&rdquo;

Such accusations are not just rhetorical. In the #MeToo era, they&rsquo;re now more than sufficient grounds to cause careers and lives to go up in smoke, to cause politicians to be forced from their posts, to be denied equal protection under the law and to be vilified in public in a way that can never be erased in the age of the internet.

The internet-amplified accusations, often dating back decades, are enough to derail many prominent people&rsquo;s careers, whether they&rsquo;re guilty or not.

Trump&rsquo;s tweets, comments are a goldmine

Trump-speak, therefore, is a goldmine for those making accusations. The president&rsquo;s unfiltered, often anger-fuelled tweets and public remarks have lead to charges that, to name just a few examples, he&rsquo;s an enemy of prosperity due to his protectionism, that he&rsquo;s racist, sexist, Islamaphobic or just plain boorish.

But to date, none of these accusations have bothered his base &mdash; or the American economy. Business confidence in America is at an all-time high since 2008, while unemployment is down.

Trump, by breaking from the &ldquo;offend no one&rdquo; style of political discourse, still appeals to those Americans who share beliefs with him that are largely overlooked by the incumbent political class that the president is dismantling.

But it is not &ldquo;populism,&rdquo; per se. Most populists, like the Nicol&aacute;s Maduro regime of Venezuela, do not have an agenda for radical change. Trump, on the other hand, insists he&rsquo;s all about remaking America, and reiterated that intention in his first State of the Union address.

The question is, remake America in what way?

Trump&rsquo;s beliefs do not fit neatly into existing and established factions of the Republican or Democratic party. His ideas are a mix from both parties that is more than pragmatism &mdash; defined as expedient ad hoc solutions that most politicians end up practising with a slight tilt to the traditional &ldquo;left&rdquo; or &ldquo;right.&rdquo;

Trump is about more than muddling through, or incremental change. He is a president of radical change.

His takeover of the Republican Party was a hostile one that paid lip service to most of the party&rsquo;s ideological dogma.

That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s been so difficult for any political class to coalesce around Trump. He is not really a Republican or a Democrat, but a cross-dresser with new, radical ideas.

Remaking politics

What Trump is about is remaking the American body politic. And it is happening, subtly, behind the scenes; it&rsquo;s beginning to emerge how radical the changes are that he&rsquo;s bringing about in defence, taxation and regulation, to name a few. No wonder the political class, tied to the perquisites from the established order, is revolting.

Trump is attempting to remake government in a manner that has not been done since President Franklin D. Roosevelt. And Trump-speak is a key component of that overhaul, because it allows for the open discussion of the many problems America and the world is facing but are usually only spoken about in whispers behind closed doors.

Trump&rsquo;s greatest achievement is breaking the old political order &mdash; its stranglehold on power and its control of political discourse.

This will be the legacy of Trumpism as it reinvents how politics is conducted in the 21st century.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-donald-trump-is-retooling-politics-for-the-21st-century-90836" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump-speak is a key component of that overhaul, because it allows for the open discussion of the many problems America and the world is facing but are usually only spoken about in whispers behind closed doors.

Donald J. Trump was the first candidate to become president of the United States without prior experience as a military leader, a politician or ever having held a senior government post. As he delivered his State of the Union address with the promise of a “new American moment,” the president had the lowest approval rating of any modern-day commander-in-chief. Yet he carries enough appeal to illustrate that what people say to pollsters isn’t always how they cast their ballots. After all, polls overwhelmingly predicted Trump’s electoral defeat in 2016, yet he won. Polls are now indicating a failed presidency. Is it? Election rhetoric, more often than not, withers in the face of reality once a candidate becomes the sitting president. Not the case with Trump. Henry Kissinger noted that Trump is different from most because he owes very few favours and debts to others. In that regard, Trump has had a freer hand than most politicians. The Trump administration has seen more than its share of problems, not surprising given that an outsider group — separate and distinct from the political class of both dominant parties — has taken power. Candidate Trump went through three sets of top campaign officials, and two top transitional team leaders, before he assumed office. He’s now on his second set of White House staff and cabinet members. And today’s Team Trump is beginning to deliver eyebrow-raising change in many areas, from defence to the economy. Trump’s message unfiltered What has stayed constant, however, is Trump’s approach to governing by bringing his message directly to his constituents by means that include Twitter and political rallies. His speech and mannerisms not only reflect the aforementioned free hand, but also a fundamental break from the carefully crafted, controlled politician-speak that became dominant in the late 20th century in most industrialized democracies. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arrival at the White House from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Trump-speak has barely changed since his campaign began. It’s not classical politician-speak, which prioritizes an avoidance of publicly offending anyone. Making offensive comments, after all, can cost votes that could tip an election or derail a legislative agenda. Internationally, if a president routinely offends the country’s foes and allies alike, delicate relationships are put at risk. Measured and controlled speech that carefully avoids upsetting anyone and not playing fast and loose with readily disproved facts is what politician-speak is all about. Politicians usually deal with any significant, legitimate domestic concerns by appeasement: Using “motherhood and apple pie” references in public statements, and delivering speeches that more often than not don’t result in any substantive action unless it’s a bona fide priority of their administration. As long as not openly spoken of approvingly by those in authority, many alleged universal evils, like systemic racial discrimination, can quietly continue. No spit-and-polish Other ongoing concerns, like the investigation into Trump’s alleged ties to Russia, allow opposing politicians to appear righteous and therefore exempt from the civility of politician-speak. Their targets can be openly denigrated, insulted and vilified. Candidate Trump, and now President Trump, made a clean break from this 20th-century tradition by speaking to Americans and the world in a plain-spoken, homey and at times explicit manner free of the spit-and-polish that all democracies have come to expect of their politicians. Frank Bruni, the New York Times columnist and no friend of the president, termed him a radically honest politician in some ways. Bruni observes there is more transparency into the president’s beliefs and ideas, and his thought processes —however wrong or misled he might be — than there has been for any previous president in recent memory. We know that some politicians aren’t much different from Trump privately because there is a long trail of what they really thought and said during unguarded moments. On tape, Richard Nixon was profane and angry about his perceived enemies, including Canada’s Pierre Trudeau. Lyndon Johnson was much warier in private comments about the Vietnam war than he was in public. President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau talk in Trudeau’s office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in this April 1972 photo. Tapes released decades later revealed Nixon speaking scornfully about Trudeau privately. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck Mitchell The difference is that past presidents and establishment politicians hid their true beliefs better, and a less critical media helped. Trump, on the other hand, has faced hostile media worldwide that amplify every “misstep.” Trump’s “open source” thoughts are unprecedented in any modern politician. This radical transparency allows us to understand the president in a way that no other modern politician can be understood. Trump supporters hear and see a man whose thoughts and beliefs are similar to theirs, whom they know expresses ideas that they cannot speak out loud unless in safe, like-minded and trusted company — or they risk being branded racist, sexist, homophobic and xenophobic, or, as Hillary Clinton termed them, “deplorables.” Such accusations are not just rhetorical. In the #MeToo era, they’re now more than sufficient grounds to cause careers and lives to go up in smoke, to cause politicians to be forced from their posts, to be denied equal protection under the law and to be vilified in public in a way that can never be erased in the age of the internet. The internet-amplified accusations, often dating back decades, are enough to derail many prominent people’s careers, whether they’re guilty or not. Trump’s tweets, comments are a goldmine Trump-speak, therefore, is a goldmine for those making accusations. The president’s unfiltered, often anger-fuelled tweets and public remarks have lead to charges that, to name just a few examples, he’s an enemy of prosperity due to his protectionism, that he’s racist, sexist, Islamaphobic or just plain boorish. But to date, none of these accusations have bothered his base — or the American economy. Business confidence in America is at an all-time high since 2008, while unemployment is down. Trump, by breaking from the “offend no one” style of political discourse, still appeals to those Americans who share beliefs with him that are largely overlooked by the incumbent political class that the president is dismantling. But it is not “populism,” per se. Most populists, like the Nicolás Maduro regime of Venezuela, do not have an agenda for radical change. Trump, on the other hand, insists he’s all about remaking America, and reiterated that intention in his first State of the Union address. The question is, remake America in what way? Trump’s beliefs do not fit neatly into existing and established factions of the Republican or Democratic party. His ideas are a mix from both parties that is more than pragmatism — defined as expedient ad hoc solutions that most politicians end up practising with a slight tilt to the traditional “left” or “right.” Trump is about more than muddling through, or incremental change. He is a president of radical change. His takeover of the Republican Party was a hostile one that paid lip service to most of the party’s ideological dogma. That’s why it’s been so difficult for any political class to coalesce around Trump. He is not really a Republican or a Democrat, but a cross-dresser with new, radical ideas. Remaking politics What Trump is about is remaking the American body politic. And it is happening, subtly, behind the scenes; it’s beginning to emerge how radical the changes are that he’s bringing about in defence, taxation and regulation, to name a few. No wonder the political class, tied to the perquisites from the established order, is revolting. Trump is attempting to remake government in a manner that has not been done since President Franklin D. Roosevelt. And Trump-speak is a key component of that overhaul, because it allows for the open discussion of the many problems America and the world is facing but are usually only spoken about in whispers behind closed doors. Trump’s greatest achievement is breaking the old political order — its stranglehold on power and its control of political discourse. This will be the legacy of Trumpism as it reinvents how politics is conducted in the 21st century. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Trump wants to remake America. But in what way?

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-live-lunar-eclipse-gives-super-blue-blood-moon-31350" target="_blank">Watch Live: Lunar eclipse gives super blue blood moon</a>

The super blood blue moon is currently visible in Los Angeles, California and Tokyo. Residents in Arizona and Los Angeles were the first to witness the sightings. Stargazers in Tokyo were also able to see the first glimpse of the unique celestial phenomena.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-2016-17-gdp-growth-unchanged-at-71-per-cent-government-data-31349" target="_blank">India&#39;s 2016-17 GDP growth unchanged at 7.1 </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-2016-17-gdp-growth-unchanged-at-71-per-cent-government-data-31349" target="_blank">per cent</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-2016-17-gdp-growth-unchanged-at-71-per-cent-government-data-31349" target="_blank">: Government data</a>

India&#39;s annual economic growth in the fiscal year that ended in March 2017 was unchanged at 7.1 percent, a government statement said on Wednesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-the-union-address-barack-obama-versus-donald-trump-31291" target="_blank">State of the Union address: Barack Obama versus Donald Trump</a>

As the 45th President of the United States delivered his&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-the-union-address-us-president-donald-trump-bids-for-safe-strong-and-united-america-31271">first State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;today, Donald Trump touched upon the themes of building a stronger, safer and united America, and pacing towards realising the &#39;American dream&#39;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/earthquake-hits-afghanistan-1-killed-in-pakistan-31314" target="_blank">Earthquake hits Afghanistan, 1 killed in Pakistan</a>

A powerful<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/earthquake-jolts-delhi-tremors-felt-across-north-india-31299">&nbsp;6.1 magnitude earthquake hit northern</a>&nbsp;Afghanistan today. No casualties were immediately reported in &nbsp;Afghanistan. The epicentre was near Afghanistan&#39;s Jarm which had witnessed a devastating earthquake in 2015.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-bans-ivory-sales-traders-angry-31346" target="_blank">Hong Kong bans ivory sales, traders angry</a>

Hong Kong voted to ban ivory sales in a landmark move Wednesday to end the infamous trade in the city.

Watch Live: Lunar eclipse gives super blue blood moon The super blood blue moon is currently visible in Los Angeles, California and Tokyo. Residents in Arizona and Los Angeles were the first to witness the sightings. Stargazers in Tokyo were also able to see the first glimpse of the unique celestial phenomena. India's 2016-17 GDP growth unchanged at 7.1 per cent: Government data India's annual economic growth in the fiscal year that ended in March 2017 was unchanged at 7.1 percent, a government statement said on Wednesday. State of the Union address: Barack Obama versus Donald Trump As the 45th President of the United States delivered his first State of the Union address today, Donald Trump touched upon the themes of building a stronger, safer and united America, and pacing towards realising the 'American dream'. Earthquake hits Afghanistan, 1 killed in Pakistan A powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan today. No casualties were immediately reported in Afghanistan. The epicentre was near Afghanistan's Jarm which had witnessed a devastating earthquake in 2015. Hong Kong bans ivory sales, traders angry Hong Kong voted to ban ivory sales in a landmark move Wednesday to end the infamous trade in the city.

WION Evening News brief, January 31, 2018