Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, India has said that both sides don't want to rush into a trade deal and the deal is not stuck.&nbsp;

A government source told WION that "both sides want to reach an understanding with outcomes that balance both sides" and US and India "don't want to rush into the deal as the issues are complicated with many decisions having an impact on people's lives and long term economic consequences".

The source added, "we look to the future and seek to achieve a win-win solution for both side" and as we do that, we don't want comprises and are "not in a hurry to rush into a trade deal on the eve of the visit".

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-trumps-agra-visit-500-cusecs-of-water-released-into-yamuna-to-tackle-foul-smell-281629">Ahead of Trump's Agra visit, 500 cusecs of water released into Yamuna to tackle 'foul smell'</a>

Asked, if the deal is stuck, the source said, "not correct to say India-US trade deal is stuck. It is an ongoing process. Both ministers have agreed to talk and look at a larger Free trade agreement".

Earlier today, US President Trump said, he looks forward to a major trade deal later.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/trump-signals-very-big-trade-deal-with-india-before-us-presidential-elections-281582">Trump signals 'very big' trade deal with India before US presidential elections</a>

Trump said, "Well, we can have a trade deal with India, but I’m really saving the big deal for later on. We’re doing a very big trade deal with India. We’ll have it. I don’t know if it’ll be done before the election, but we’ll have a very big deal with India."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/preparations-in-full-swing-ahead-of-us-president-donald-trumps-india-visit-281468">India to spend Rs 1.5 crore a minute during US president's Ahmedabad visit</a>

India-US trade has been growing more than 10 per cent per annum over the past 2 years and the trade deficit has been declining and expected to reduce as New Delhi imports more US oil and gas and purchase of civilian planes. The US is India's 6th largest importer of crude oil and India is now its 4th largest customer.

India is also keen that US restores Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which is Washington's largest and oldest US trade preference program which was withdrawn last year for India.

Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, India has said that both sides don't want to rush into a trade deal and the deal is not stuck. A government source told WION that "both sides want to reach an understanding with outcomes that balance both sides" and US and India "don't want to rush into the deal as the issues are complicated with many decisions having an impact on people's lives and long term economic consequences".

Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, India has said that both sides don't want to rush into a trade deal and the deal is not stuck. A government source told WION that "both sides want to reach an understanding with outcomes that balance both sides" and US and India "don't want to rush into the deal as the issues are complicated with many decisions having an impact on people's lives and long term economic consequences". The source added, "we look to the future and seek to achieve a win-win solution for both side" and as we do that, we don't want comprises and are "not in a hurry to rush into a trade deal on the eve of the visit". Also read: Ahead of Trump's Agra visit, 500 cusecs of water released into Yamuna to tackle 'foul smell' Asked, if the deal is stuck, the source said, "not correct to say India-US trade deal is stuck. It is an ongoing process. Both ministers have agreed to talk and look at a larger Free trade agreement". Earlier today, US President Trump said, he looks forward to a major trade deal later. Also read: Trump signals 'very big' trade deal with India before US presidential elections Trump said, "Well, we can have a trade deal with India, but I’m really saving the big deal for later on. We’re doing a very big trade deal with India. We’ll have it. I don’t know if it’ll be done before the election, but we’ll have a very big deal with India." Also read: India to spend Rs 1.5 crore a minute during US president's Ahmedabad visit India-US trade has been growing more than 10 per cent per annum over the past 2 years and the trade deficit has been declining and expected to reduce as New Delhi imports more US oil and gas and purchase of civilian planes. The US is India's 6th largest importer of crude oil and India is now its 4th largest customer. India is also keen that US restores Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which is Washington's largest and oldest US trade preference program which was withdrawn last year for India.

'Not in a hurry for a trade deal,' says India ahead of Trump's visit

US President Donald Trump is a showman, his extreme rhetoric won him votes but his bluster on Twitter and impulsive diplomacy have caused more pains than gains for America.&nbsp;

The US President is scheduled to travel to India&nbsp;on February 24 and 25. Ahead of his visit, let's find out if&nbsp;Donald Trump is India's best bet for a strong relationship with the United States?

Previous American Presidents have maintained a steady policy towards India. Bill Clinton called out Pakistan for violating the line of control during the Kargil war.

This was the first time that an American President publically sided with India against Pakistan. In 2005, George Bush signed a historic deal - this agreement lifted a three-decade-old moratorium on Nuclear trade with India.

Despite his initial reservations, Barack Obama pushed for America's defence alliance with India, among other things, he understood how important a market India is. 
 
WATCH:&nbsp;

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He was the first American President to attend the Republic Day celebrations as a chief guest. Under Obama, America elevated India's status to a major defence partner.

Of course, all these presidents also kept giving military and other aid to Pakistan in their miscalculated and poorly executed war on terror. But on India, there was gradual progress and some semblance of consistency.

However, under Donald Trump, you can't be sure - one day he's your best friend, the next day he's mocking you. As far as India is concerned, he has little to show in terms of achievements or progress. His foreign policy is erratic.

Just before his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump tried to set the tone. He said that tariffs on American goods are unacceptable and they must be withdrawn.

This was a&nbsp;clear attempt at pressure tactics by the American President. He calls himself the best deal maker, but he's yet to make a winning deal as President. The word that describes him is disruptive and not of a good kind.

He removed a preferential trade status to India. Since taking office, Trump has tried to cut back on H1B&nbsp;Visas to Indian techies.

As of November, the denials had gone up from six to 24 per cent. Americans are transactional, Trump is another level.

This is what explains why India and the US have not been able to close a trade deal for so long. 
 
Trump is&nbsp;working on re-election. Everything he does is campaign fodder. &nbsp;

So, he would want an agreement, even a modest one to showcase at home. But he will be hard to negotiate with. On the plus side,&nbsp;relations between nations are bigger than the men and women ruling them. Indo-US ties are strong, with or without Trump.

There is bipartisan support in favour of this relationship. Three things work for India:

1. It's a big market.

2. It's a major defence buyer.

3. Strategically, America needs India.

American policymakers see India as an obvious counterweight to China because of India's size, location and economic prospects. And as the past has shown, any American President will have to find a way to work with India. &nbsp;

We are not sure if Donald Trump can provide the stability that this relationship needs. His erratic behaviour, narcissistic tendencies and disruptive approach to foreign policy do not inspire confidence.

But he's the man America has chosen and if he secures a second term, expect the rollercoaster ride to continue for the next four years. 
 
(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump is a showman, his extreme rhetoric won him votes but his bluster on Twitter and impulsive diplomacy have caused more pains than gains for America.

US President Donald Trump is a showman, his extreme rhetoric won him votes but his bluster on Twitter and impulsive diplomacy have caused more pains than gains for America. The US President is scheduled to travel to India on February 24 and 25. Ahead of his visit, let's find out if Donald Trump is India's best bet for a strong relationship with the United States? Previous American Presidents have maintained a steady policy towards India. Bill Clinton called out Pakistan for violating the line of control during the Kargil war. This was the first time that an American President publically sided with India against Pakistan. In 2005, George Bush signed a historic deal - this agreement lifted a three-decade-old moratorium on Nuclear trade with India. Despite his initial reservations, Barack Obama pushed for America's defence alliance with India, among other things, he understood how important a market India is. WATCH: × He was the first American President to attend the Republic Day celebrations as a chief guest. Under Obama, America elevated India's status to a major defence partner. Of course, all these presidents also kept giving military and other aid to Pakistan in their miscalculated and poorly executed war on terror. But on India, there was gradual progress and some semblance of consistency. However, under Donald Trump, you can't be sure - one day he's your best friend, the next day he's mocking you. As far as India is concerned, he has little to show in terms of achievements or progress. His foreign policy is erratic. Just before his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump tried to set the tone. He said that tariffs on American goods are unacceptable and they must be withdrawn. This was a clear attempt at pressure tactics by the American President. He calls himself the best deal maker, but he's yet to make a winning deal as President. The word that describes him is disruptive and not of a good kind. He removed a preferential trade status to India. Since taking office, Trump has tried to cut back on H1B Visas to Indian techies. As of November, the denials had gone up from six to 24 per cent. Americans are transactional, Trump is another level. This is what explains why India and the US have not been able to close a trade deal for so long. Trump is working on re-election. Everything he does is campaign fodder. So, he would want an agreement, even a modest one to showcase at home. But he will be hard to negotiate with. On the plus side, relations between nations are bigger than the men and women ruling them. Indo-US ties are strong, with or without Trump. There is bipartisan support in favour of this relationship. Three things work for India: 1. It's a big market. 2. It's a major defence buyer. 3. Strategically, America needs India. American policymakers see India as an obvious counterweight to China because of India's size, location and economic prospects. And as the past has shown, any American President will have to find a way to work with India. We are not sure if Donald Trump can provide the stability that this relationship needs. His erratic behaviour, narcissistic tendencies and disruptive approach to foreign policy do not inspire confidence. But he's the man America has chosen and if he secures a second term, expect the rollercoaster ride to continue for the next four years. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Donald Trump India visit - can India deal with the US President?

US First Lady Melania Trump is likely to visit a Delhi government school and interact with students on February 25, sources said.

US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania Trump and a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a little less than 36-hour-long trip. From Ahmedabad, he will travel to Agra before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia are likely to give a tour of the school to the US first lady and brief her about the "happiness curriculum" introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the sources said.

The Delhi government introduced the happiness curriculum in July, 2018. As per the curriculum, students studying in classes 1-8 at Delhi government schools spend 45 minutes every day to attend "Happiness Classes" where they participate in exercises such as storytelling, meditation and question and answer sessions. Similarly, for nursery and KG students, the classes are held twice a week.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/on-trade-deal-with-us-india-says-dont-want-to-set-artificial-deadlines-281734">On trade deal with US, India says 'don't want to set artificial deadlines'</a>

In Ahmedabad, President Trump will address the 'Namaste Trump' event jointly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly built Motera cricket stadium.

After the event, the US President and the First Lady will visit Agra, where they will spend about an hour at the Taj Mahal before the sunset. President Trump will then depart for Delhi.

On the morning of February 25, Trump and the First Lady will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

From there, they will go to Rajghat to pay homage at the 'samadhi' of Mahatma Gandhi.

It will be followed by restricted and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at Hyderabad House.

Prime Minister Modi will host a lunch for the US president following the talks.

In the afternoon, Trump is expected to attend certain private events at the US Embassy, including a private roundtable with industry representatives.

In the evening, the US president will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A banquet will be hosted by Kovind and President Trump will depart from India later that evening.&nbsp;

US First Lady Melania Trump is likely to visit a Delhi government school and interact with students on February 25, sources said. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania Trump and a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a little less than 36-hour-long trip.

US First Lady Melania Trump is likely to visit a Delhi government school and interact with students on February 25, sources said. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania Trump and a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a little less than 36-hour-long trip. From Ahmedabad, he will travel to Agra before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia are likely to give a tour of the school to the US first lady and brief her about the "happiness curriculum" introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the sources said. The Delhi government introduced the happiness curriculum in July, 2018. As per the curriculum, students studying in classes 1-8 at Delhi government schools spend 45 minutes every day to attend "Happiness Classes" where they participate in exercises such as storytelling, meditation and question and answer sessions. Similarly, for nursery and KG students, the classes are held twice a week. Also read: On trade deal with US, India says 'don't want to set artificial deadlines' In Ahmedabad, President Trump will address the 'Namaste Trump' event jointly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly built Motera cricket stadium. After the event, the US President and the First Lady will visit Agra, where they will spend about an hour at the Taj Mahal before the sunset. President Trump will then depart for Delhi. On the morning of February 25, Trump and the First Lady will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. From there, they will go to Rajghat to pay homage at the 'samadhi' of Mahatma Gandhi. It will be followed by restricted and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at Hyderabad House. Prime Minister Modi will host a lunch for the US president following the talks. In the afternoon, Trump is expected to attend certain private events at the US Embassy, including a private roundtable with industry representatives. In the evening, the US president will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A banquet will be hosted by Kovind and President Trump will depart from India later that evening.

Trump visit: US first lady likely to visit Delhi govt school, interact with students

The US Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced a goal for biofuels to make up 30 per cent of US transportation fuels by 2050, a move that could bolster an industry that has been otherwise battered by the Trump administration.

The US Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced a goal for biofuels to make up 30 per cent of US transportation fuels by 2050, a move that could bolster an industry that has been otherwise battered by the Trump administration. Refineries are currently required to blend 20.09 billion gallons of biofuel in 2020, about 10 per cent of projected crude oil production, according to the US Energy Information Administration. President Donald Trump has been criticized by the corn-based ethanol industry after his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted exemptions to the blend requirement for dozens of oil companies over the last two years. Also Read: Oil up on slowing pace of coronavirus, Venezuela sanctions The biofuel goal is part of a new department-wide sustainability initiative, set to be announced Thursday by USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, which aims to boost farm production by 40 per cent and cut the farm sector's environmental impact by 50 per cent during the same period. The environmental goal also could deflect criticism from farmers and ethanol producers in an election year. “We can increase the production of renewable energy feedstocks and set a goal to increase biofuel production efficiency and competitiveness to achieve market-driven blend rates of 15 per cent of transportation fuels in 2030 and 30 per cent of transportation fuels by 2050,” the agency said in a statement. Trump's first term ends in 2021, and he is campaigning for reelection in November. Also Read: Oil prices fall on oversupply worries as virus hits China demand As part of the broader plan, USDA officials will tap research already being conducted by the agency’s Research, Education and Economics branch (REE) and its Office of the Chief Economist. Among the various goals, according to USDA, is to sift through crop productivity and conservation data, as well as public sector data, and use that to help guide farm programs. The plan stands in stark contrast to the Trump administration’s ongoing approach toward environmental issues. Trump has described climate change as a “hoax.” Over the past two years, the EPA has granted more than 30 biofuel waivers to refineries, including facilities owned by Exxon Mobil and Chevron Corp. Meanwhile, the farm community’s anger over the administration’s ethanol policy has continued and given a potential opportunity to Democratic rivals, who hope rural voters in corn-producing states such as Iowa may be more open to voting for a Democrat – or simply not turn out on election day.

Trump's agriculture department announces 30 per cent biofuel goal for 2050

How US-built MH-60 Romeo helicopters will give Indian navy combat edge

Quarantined passengers on coronavirus-hit cruise liner Diamond Princess start disembarking Hundreds of passengers started disembarking the quarantined cruise ship docked at Yokohama near Tokyo on Wednesday, after a controversial two-week quarantine.

Quarantined passengers on coronavirus-hit cruise liner Diamond Princess start disembarking Hundreds of passengers started disembarking the quarantined cruise ship docked at Yokohama near Tokyo on Wednesday, after a controversial two-week quarantine. Read More US Attorney General Barr mulling resignation over Trump tweets: Report US Attorney General William Barr is mulling resignation over President Donald Trump's tweets about Justice Department investigations, according to a report in Washington Post. Read More Trump commutes ex-Illinois governor Blagojevich's sentence, pardons seven others US President Donald Trump on Monday commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, the ex-Illinois governor and pardoned Michael Milken, once considered Wall Street’s "junk bond king," along with six others, and commuted the sentences of another three people. Read More SpaceX announces partnership to send four people into deep orbit SpaceX announced its intention to send four people deeper into orbit than any private citizen before them, in a mission that could cost more than $100 million and take place by 2022. Read More Turkey's Erdogan says Syria talks with Russia unsatisfactory, offensive 'matter of time' Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday talks with Russia on the conflict in Syria's northwestern Idlib province were far from meeting Turkey's demands and he said a military operation there was a "matter of time". Read More Air strikes hit hospitals, camps in northwest Syria; 300 civilian casualties Government airstrikes have hit hospitals and refugee camps in northwest Syria and killed about 300 civilians as President Bashar al-Assad's forces press an assault against the last rebel stronghold, the United Nations said on Tuesday. Read More Dengue outbreak in Latin America as 12 die in Peru The Latin American region has been hit by a severe dengue outbreak, with Peru reporting the latest victims of this pestilence. Read More UK's new immigration plan designed to cut 'cheap Labour from Europe' sparks criticism Britain's government on Wednesday faced a backlash over its new post-Brexit immigration plans, which are designed to cut "cheap Labour from Europe" in favour of high-skilled English speakers. Read More Amsterdam considers banning tourists from cannabis cafes Amsterdam is plagued by overflowing hordes of tourists and is considering a ban on visitors from cannabis-vending coffee shops, to balance the quality of life for locals and the demands of travellers. Read More First baby born through new egg-freezing technique in France A woman in France has given birth to a baby after her immature eggs were matured in a lab and frozen for use five years after she was left infertile by cancer treatment. Read More

Top 10 World News of the day: Erdogan warns of offensive, Iran refuses to give black box and more!

Amazon has managed to score&nbsp;a victory over the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-curbs-trumps-ability-to-wage-war-with-iran-280607">Trump administration</a> in the on-going tussle surrounding a major defence contract.

The controversy revolves around a Pentagon cloud computing deal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-amazon-wants-trump-esper-to-testify-in-fight-for-10-billion-pentagon-contract-279956">Amazon wants Trump, Esper to testify in fight for $10 billion Pentagon contract</a>

Both Amazon and Microsoft were competing for the $10 billion contract which was ultimately awarded to Microsoft, however&nbsp;in November last year, Amazon sued the Defence Department accusing it of bias.

President Trump has been publicly critical of the Amazon-owned newspaper in the Washington Post. Amazon alleged&nbsp;that Trump used his influence over the Pentagon to deny the company the mega deal.

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A federal judge has temporarily blocked Microsoft from going ahead with their work.&nbsp;The actual contents of the court decision remain sealed.

Amazon has demanded testimonies from President Trump, Defence Secretary Mark Esper and his predecessor James Mattis.

Microsoft said it was disappointed by the decision, however, it remains confident of being able to carry on with the deal.

Analysts believe the deal could be a huge driver for Microsoft's growth in 2020.

Amazon has managed to score a victory over the Trump administration in the on-going tussle surrounding a major defence contract. The controversy revolves around a Pentagon cloud computing deal.

Amazon has managed to score a victory over the Trump administration in the on-going tussle surrounding a major defence contract. The controversy revolves around a Pentagon cloud computing deal. Also read: Amazon wants Trump, Esper to testify in fight for $10 billion Pentagon contract Both Amazon and Microsoft were competing for the $10 billion contract which was ultimately awarded to Microsoft, however in November last year, Amazon sued the Defence Department accusing it of bias. President Trump has been publicly critical of the Amazon-owned newspaper in the Washington Post. Amazon alleged that Trump used his influence over the Pentagon to deny the company the mega deal. × A federal judge has temporarily blocked Microsoft from going ahead with their work. The actual contents of the court decision remain sealed. Amazon has demanded testimonies from President Trump, Defence Secretary Mark Esper and his predecessor James Mattis. Microsoft said it was disappointed by the decision, however, it remains confident of being able to carry on with the deal. Analysts believe the deal could be a huge driver for Microsoft's growth in 2020.

Amazon wins as US court blocks Microsoft's Pentagon cloud contract

Good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day with Wion’s daily news brief.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-coronavirus-death-toll-rises-to-over-1480-japan-confirms-first-death-280603" hreflang="en">China's coronavirus death toll rises to over 1,480; Japan confirms first death</a>

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China on Friday confirmed 116 more deaths due to&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;with the death toll rising to 1,483 with as many as 4,823 new cases.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-curbs-trumps-ability-to-wage-war-with-iran-280607" hreflang="en">US Senate curbs Trump's ability to wage war with Iran</a>

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The US Senate has passed the Iran war powers resolution. The&nbsp;bill seeks to prevent&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;from waging war with Iran.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-edit-why-hafiz-saeeds-conviction-is-an-eyewash-280481" hreflang="en">WION Edit: Why Hafiz Saeed's conviction is an eyewash</a>

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An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has sentenced Hafiz Saeed to 11 years in jail in two separate cases. The sentence runs concurrently, so he effectively has to spend a little more than 5 years in jail.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manpreet-singh-first-indian-to-win-fih-hockey-player-of-the-year-award-280605">Manpreet Singh becomes first Indian to win FIH hockey player of the year award</a>

<img alt="Manpreet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="969858bc-90ca-404b-81f1-1229ba5dad6f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_27.jpg" />

The captain of the Indian men's team won 35.2 per cent of the combined votes and beat Belgium's Arthur van Doren and Lucas Vila of Argentina to the coveted honour.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/those-who-say-i-commercialised-pain-of-kashmiri-pandits-in-shikara-are-donkeys-vidhu-vinod-chopra-280577" hreflang="en">Those who say I commercialised pain of Kashmiri pandits in 'Shikara' are donkeys: Vidhu Vinod Chopra</a>

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Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra slammed those alleging that he "commercialised the pain of Kashmiri pandits" with his film "Shikara"&nbsp;and termed them "donkeys".&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-anti-islam-rant-triggers-national-debate-in-france-280600" hreflang="en">Gravitas: Anti-Islam rant triggers national debate in France</a>

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Good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day with Wion’s daily news brief. China's coronavirus death toll rises to over 1,480; Japan confirms first death China on Friday confirmed 116 more deaths due to coronavirus with the death toll rising to 1,483 with as many as 4,823 new cases.

Good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day with Wion’s daily news brief. China's coronavirus death toll rises to over 1,480; Japan confirms first death China on Friday confirmed 116 more deaths due to coronavirus with the death toll rising to 1,483 with as many as 4,823 new cases. US Senate curbs Trump's ability to wage war with Iran The US Senate has passed the Iran war powers resolution. The bill seeks to prevent Donald Trump from waging war with Iran. WION Edit: Why Hafiz Saeed's conviction is an eyewash An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has sentenced Hafiz Saeed to 11 years in jail in two separate cases. The sentence runs concurrently, so he effectively has to spend a little more than 5 years in jail. Manpreet Singh becomes first Indian to win FIH hockey player of the year award The captain of the Indian men's team won 35.2 per cent of the combined votes and beat Belgium's Arthur van Doren and Lucas Vila of Argentina to the coveted honour. Those who say I commercialised pain of Kashmiri pandits in 'Shikara' are donkeys: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra slammed those alleging that he "commercialised the pain of Kashmiri pandits" with his film "Shikara" and termed them "donkeys". WATCH | Gravitas: Anti-Islam rant triggers national debate in France ×

Morning News Brief: Coronavirus death toll rises, US Senate curbs Trump's war powers and more!

Good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day with Wion’s daily news brief.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/news-breaking-update-Coronavirus-death-toll-surges-to-highest-in-one-day-in-China-Hubei-province" hreflang="en">Coronavirus death toll surges to highest in one day in China's Hubei province</a>

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The death toll in China's coronavirus leaped to 242 in just one day with over 60,000 infected, China's health ministry said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/matteo-salvini-to-face-trial-after-senate-strips-impunity-280384" hreflang="en">Matteo Salvini to face trial after Senate strips impunity</a>

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Italian far-right leader and former interior minister Matteo Salvini will face trial after Senators voted on Wednesday to strip him of the parliamentary protection.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/donald-trump-india-visit-can-india-deal-with-the-us-president-280334" hreflang="en">WION Edit: Donald Trump India visit - can India deal with the US President?</a>

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US President Donald Trump is a showman, his extreme rhetoric won him votes but his bluster on Twitter and impulsive diplomacy have caused more pains than gains for America.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-africa-beat-england-by-1-run-in-a-thrilling-clash-280386" hreflang="en">South Africa beat England by 1 run in thrilling clash</a>

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In a thrilling clash, the Proteas beat England by 1 run on Buffalo Park, South Africa and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-news-charlize-therons-star-studded-oscar-selfie-reminds-fans-of-ellen-degeneres-record-breaking-selfie-280349" hreflang="en">Charlize Theron's star-studded Oscar selfie reminds fans of Ellen Degeneres' record breaking selfie</a>

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'Bombshell' star Charlize Theron posted a selfie with some prominent Hollywood stars from the Oscars which took fans back to 2014 selfie that host Ellen Degeneres had taken at the same ceremony.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iranian-woman-dies-of-suspected-coronavirus-infection-280275" hreflang="en">Iranian woman dies of suspected coronavirus infection</a>

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Good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day with Wion’s daily news brief. Coronavirus death toll surges to highest in one day in China's Hubei province The death toll in China's coronavirus leaped to 242 in just one day with over 60,000 infected, China's health ministry said.

Good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day with Wion’s daily news brief. Coronavirus death toll surges to highest in one day in China's Hubei province The death toll in China's coronavirus leaped to 242 in just one day with over 60,000 infected, China's health ministry said. Matteo Salvini to face trial after Senate strips impunity Italian far-right leader and former interior minister Matteo Salvini will face trial after Senators voted on Wednesday to strip him of the parliamentary protection. WION Edit: Donald Trump India visit - can India deal with the US President? US President Donald Trump is a showman, his extreme rhetoric won him votes but his bluster on Twitter and impulsive diplomacy have caused more pains than gains for America. South Africa beat England by 1 run in thrilling clash In a thrilling clash, the Proteas beat England by 1 run on Buffalo Park, South Africa and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Charlize Theron's star-studded Oscar selfie reminds fans of Ellen Degeneres' record breaking selfie 'Bombshell' star Charlize Theron posted a selfie with some prominent Hollywood stars from the Oscars which took fans back to 2014 selfie that host Ellen Degeneres had taken at the same ceremony. WATCH | Iranian woman dies of suspected coronavirus infection ×

Morning News Brief: Coronavirus death toll surges to highest in one day, Italy's ex-minister Salvini on trial and more

Highlights from Trump's reality-TV style State of the Union address

Donald Trump is known for mocking his political rivals, and the eve of the Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses gave him fresh ammunition.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-on-the-campaign-trail-democrats-deliver-closing-arguments-with-dogs-comedians-and-planes-278114">On the campaign trail: Democrats deliver closing arguments with dogs, comedians and planes</a>

"I have little nicknames for all of them," the US president told pro-Trump Fox News host Sean Hannity, the night before Democrats vote for their nominee in the Midwestern state, to officially start the presidential election season.

Senator <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../us-presidential-elections-2020-which- democratic-contender-stands-where-277723">Bernie Sanders</a> holds a narrow lead among the Democratic contenders.

"I think he's a communist," said Trump, for whom name-calling and character smearing are an integral part of his campaign for re-election in November this year.

Trump added: "I think of Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist."

Sanders describes himself as a democratic socialist.

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"At least he's true to what he believes," Trump said, in contrast to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Sanders' fellow progressive in the race.

She is "not true to it," Trump said, before returning to "crazy Bernie" -- a moniker Trump has regularly used for Sanders.

The Democrats are "now sort of rigging the election against him," the president said.

Joe Biden, over whom Sanders holds a narrow lead, makes Trump "think of sleepy."

"I just watch him. He's sleepy. Sleepy Joe," said Trump, repeating a sobriquet he has previously used for Barack Obama's former vice president.

As for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, he is "very little."

"You know, now he wants a box for the debates to stand on," Trump said of his fellow New York billionaire.

"There's nothing wrong. You can be short... He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that?"

Bloomberg's team fired back at Trump's comments.

"The president is lying," said campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood in a statement. "He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan."

Donald Trump is known for mocking his political rivals, and the eve of the Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses gave him fresh ammunition. Also read- On the campaign trail: Democrats deliver closing arguments with dogs, comedians and planes "I have little nicknames for all of them," the US president told pro-Trump Fox News host Sean Hannity, the night before Democrats vote for their nominee in the Midwestern state, to officially start the presidential election season.

Donald Trump is known for mocking his political rivals, and the eve of the Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses gave him fresh ammunition. Also read- On the campaign trail: Democrats deliver closing arguments with dogs, comedians and planes "I have little nicknames for all of them," the US president told pro-Trump Fox News host Sean Hannity, the night before Democrats vote for their nominee in the Midwestern state, to officially start the presidential election season. Senator Bernie Sanders holds a narrow lead among the Democratic contenders. "I think he's a communist," said Trump, for whom name-calling and character smearing are an integral part of his campaign for re-election in November this year. Trump added: "I think of Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist." Sanders describes himself as a democratic socialist. × "At least he's true to what he believes," Trump said, in contrast to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Sanders' fellow progressive in the race. She is "not true to it," Trump said, before returning to "crazy Bernie" -- a moniker Trump has regularly used for Sanders. The Democrats are "now sort of rigging the election against him," the president said. Joe Biden, over whom Sanders holds a narrow lead, makes Trump "think of sleepy." "I just watch him. He's sleepy. Sleepy Joe," said Trump, repeating a sobriquet he has previously used for Barack Obama's former vice president. As for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, he is "very little." "You know, now he wants a box for the debates to stand on," Trump said of his fellow New York billionaire. "There's nothing wrong. You can be short... He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that?" Bloomberg's team fired back at Trump's comments. "The president is lying," said campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood in a statement. "He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan."

Trump mocks 'communist' Bernie and 'Sleepy Joe' before Iowa

The Arab League on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump's controversial Middle East plan, saying it did not meet the "minimum rights" of the Palestinians.

The pan-Arab bloc convened in Cairo days after the US unveiled its plan which is seen as favouring Israel.

The meeting brought together Arab senior officials including Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs.

In a statement released afterwards, the League said it "rejects the US-Israeli 'deal of the century' considering that it does not meet the minimum rights and aspirations of Palestinian people."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/has-donald-trump-proposed-a-middle-east-peace-plan-or-terms-of-surrender-for-the-palestinians-277760">Has Donald Trump proposed a Middle East peace plan – or terms of surrender for the Palestinians?</a>

Arab states also vowed "not to ... cooperate with the US administration to implement this plan."

They insisted on a two-state solution that includes a Palestinian state based on borders before the 1967 Six-Day War -- when Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza -- and with east Jerusalem as its capital.

The US plan suggests that Israel would retain control of the contested city of Jerusalem as its "undivided capital" and annex settlements on Palestinian lands.

Trump said Palestinians would be allowed to declare a capital within annexed east Jerusalem.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/benjamin-netanyahu-tells-vladimir-putin-mideast-deal-a-new-opportunity-277570">Middle East peace plan a new opportunity - Netanyahu to Putin</a>

The only Arab ambassadors present at the plan's unveiling were from Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates -- three of Washington's closest allies in a region where many nations host US forces.

Other Arab states gave carefully worded initial responses to the plan, which was strongly rejected by Palestinian leaders.

Abbas said on Saturday "there will be no relations" with Israel and the US including on security cooperation following their "disavowal of signed agreements and international legitimacy".

The Arab League on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump's controversial Middle East plan, saying it did not meet the "minimum rights" of the Palestinians.

The Arab League on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump's controversial Middle East plan, saying it did not meet the "minimum rights" of the Palestinians. The pan-Arab bloc convened in Cairo days after the US unveiled its plan which is seen as favouring Israel. The meeting brought together Arab senior officials including Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs. In a statement released afterwards, the League said it "rejects the US-Israeli 'deal of the century' considering that it does not meet the minimum rights and aspirations of Palestinian people." Also read: Has Donald Trump proposed a Middle East peace plan – or terms of surrender for the Palestinians? Arab states also vowed "not to ... cooperate with the US administration to implement this plan." They insisted on a two-state solution that includes a Palestinian state based on borders before the 1967 Six-Day War -- when Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza -- and with east Jerusalem as its capital. The US plan suggests that Israel would retain control of the contested city of Jerusalem as its "undivided capital" and annex settlements on Palestinian lands. Trump said Palestinians would be allowed to declare a capital within annexed east Jerusalem. Also read: Middle East peace plan a new opportunity - Netanyahu to Putin The only Arab ambassadors present at the plan's unveiling were from Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates -- three of Washington's closest allies in a region where many nations host US forces. Other Arab states gave carefully worded initial responses to the plan, which was strongly rejected by Palestinian leaders. Abbas said on Saturday "there will be no relations" with Israel and the US including on security cooperation following their "disavowal of signed agreements and international legitimacy".

It didn't meet 'minimum rights': Arab League rejects Trump's Mideast plan

US President Donald Trump campaigned on Thursday in Iowa - the state that kicks off the presidential nominating race next week - basking in the support of his base while the US Senate trial considering his impeachment continued in Washington.

Reviving some of the most polarizing speech lines from his 2016 campaign and mocking his potential Democratic opponents, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-top-court-sides-with-trump-on-immigrant-welfare-benefits-276959">Trump regaled the crowd</a> with a series of campaign promises, including revamping the US healthcare system and continuing to build a wall along the country's southern border with Mexico.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/democratic-debate-in-iowa-274401">Democratic contenders</a> for their party's nomination to challenge Trump in the November election face their first electoral test in the Iowa caucuses on Monday. Trump, who is seeking a second term, is expected to easily win the Republican caucus.

<img alt="Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c628d394-3e03-449a-b53b-89fba6cfa78e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2818%29_5.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;U.S. President Donald Trump mocks House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff&nbsp;as he rallies with supporters (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

His campaign, regardless, is making a show of force in the state and several of his supporters, including both of his adult sons, will be in the state on Monday. Trump's speech on Thursday was squarely focused on the general election. He won Iowa in 2016 and Democrats are not expected to invest many resources trying to flip it back to their column this year.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-swing-district-democrats-back-joe-bidens-presidential-bid-272511">Three swing-state Democrats back for Joe Biden's presidential bid</a>

But Democrats have dominated the airwaves in Iowa for the past year, making Trump the focus of their appeals to the state's Democratic voters. 
Trump repeated his criticism of his potential Democratic opponents, denigrating former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg for his height and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg for his last name, and repeating his reference to US Senator Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas.”

"Democrats stand for crime, corruption and chaos, Republicans stand for law, order and justice," Trump said. Trump renewed a 2016 campaign promise to make Mexico pay for a wall along the US-Mexico border, a vow he made daily while campaigning the first time but has rarely mentioned since taking office.

"Illegal aliens from Mexico are going to pay for the wall ... through remittance, 100 per cent," Trump said. He also revisited a line from his 2016 campaign, maligning some migrants trying to enter the United States as criminals.

Fresh from signing a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada on Wednesday and a separate pact with China earlier this month, the president said the Democrats would be bad for Iowa’s farmers - warning they would "kill your cows." "If we don't win, your farms are going to hell," he said. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump campaigned on Thursday in Iowa - the state that kicks off the presidential nominating race next week - basking in the support of his base while the US Senate trial considering his impeachment continued in Washington.

US President Donald Trump campaigned on Thursday in Iowa - the state that kicks off the presidential nominating race next week - basking in the support of his base while the US Senate trial considering his impeachment continued in Washington. Reviving some of the most polarizing speech lines from his 2016 campaign and mocking his potential Democratic opponents, Trump regaled the crowd with a series of campaign promises, including revamping the US healthcare system and continuing to build a wall along the country's southern border with Mexico. Democratic contenders for their party's nomination to challenge Trump in the November election face their first electoral test in the Iowa caucuses on Monday. Trump, who is seeking a second term, is expected to easily win the Republican caucus. [ U.S. President Donald Trump mocks House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff as he rallies with supporters (Courtesy: Reuters) ] His campaign, regardless, is making a show of force in the state and several of his supporters, including both of his adult sons, will be in the state on Monday. Trump's speech on Thursday was squarely focused on the general election. He won Iowa in 2016 and Democrats are not expected to invest many resources trying to flip it back to their column this year. Also Read: Three swing-state Democrats back for Joe Biden's presidential bid But Democrats have dominated the airwaves in Iowa for the past year, making Trump the focus of their appeals to the state's Democratic voters. Trump repeated his criticism of his potential Democratic opponents, denigrating former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg for his height and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg for his last name, and repeating his reference to US Senator Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas.” "Democrats stand for crime, corruption and chaos, Republicans stand for law, order and justice," Trump said. Trump renewed a 2016 campaign promise to make Mexico pay for a wall along the US-Mexico border, a vow he made daily while campaigning the first time but has rarely mentioned since taking office. "Illegal aliens from Mexico are going to pay for the wall ... through remittance, 100 per cent," Trump said. He also revisited a line from his 2016 campaign, maligning some migrants trying to enter the United States as criminals. Fresh from signing a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada on Wednesday and a separate pact with China earlier this month, the president said the Democrats would be bad for Iowa’s farmers - warning they would "kill your cows." "If we don't win, your farms are going to hell," he said.

Donald Trump revives border wall promise in Iowa campaign speech, mocks Democrats

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15804758481624880179160">emphasised</gwmw> Washington's support for Ukraine on a visit to Kyiv on Friday, as both countries sought to smooth over relations buffeted by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-i-am-legally-required-to-testify-will-be-happy-to-do-it-pompeo-on-trumps-impeachment-275980">impeachment trial of President Donald Trump</a>.

Ukraine was thrust into a domestic political battle in Washington last year as Trump faced allegations he pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate the son of his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

Pompeo has also walked back from comments <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/radio-reporter-says-pompeo-cursed-at-her-after-testy-interview-276466">he was accused</a> of making to a National Public Radio reporter before his trip that appeared to play down Ukraine's importance to Americans.

Pompeo is the highest-ranking US official to travel to Ukraine since the impeachment began. His visit comes as Trump's impeachment trial was set for a climactic vote on Friday or Saturday that is likely to acquit the president.

After meeting Zelenskiy, both men played down the fallout from impeachment. "Today I'm here with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/palestinian-leaders-free-to-come-up-with-a-counter-offer-pompeo-277390">a clear message</a>: The United States sees that the Ukrainian struggle for freedom, democracy and prosperity is a valiant one. Our commitment to support it will not waver," Pompeo said.

Ukraine counts on Washington for diplomatic support, sanctions on Moscow and military aid to buy Javelin anti-tank missiles and other hardware as it battles Russian-backed fighters in a war that has killed more than 13,000 people.

Trump had frozen nearly $400 million in US security assistance shortly before speaking to Zelenskiy in a July phone call, prompting accusations from Democrats he had misused US foreign policy for personal gain.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-probe-possible-surveillance-of-ukraine-envoy-pompeo-274945">Will probe possible surveillance of Ukraine envoy: Pompeo</a>

Trump's camp has called on Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma.

Impeachment overshadowed the first months of Zelenskiy's presidency, and he has voiced frustration about being constantly asked about it. He has repeatedly denied being pressured by Trump to launch investigations.

"I was wondering when this question would come up. When we speak with the USA, there is always a question about the impeachment of President Trump," Zelenskiy said on Friday when asked whether impeachment had spoiled bilateral ties.

"It seems to me honestly that, on the contrary, there are very good relations between our countries, not just in words. The US supports and defends Ukraine."

Pompeo also denied suggestions that Zelenskiy would only be granted a visit to the White House to meet Trump if Ukraine agreed to announce investigations into Hunter Biden and Burisma.

"No, there's no condition of the nature you described for President Zelenskiy to come to Washington and have that visit," Pompeo said in response to a question. "We'll find the right time. We'll find the appropriate opportunity."

Asked before the trip whether he would raise Burisma or the Bidens with Ukrainian officials, Pompeo had said, "I don't want to talk about particular individuals."

Democrats had hoped to hear from former National Security Adviser John Bolton as a witness in Trump's impeachment trial, but they do not appear to have enough support from Republicans to bring witnesses to the proceedings.

A report, which Bolton has not denied, said Bolton had written in an upcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to freeze military aid to Ukraine until it investigated both Bidens. 
&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasised Washington's support for Ukraine on a visit to Kyiv on Friday, as both countries sought to smooth over relations buffeted by the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasised Washington's support for Ukraine on a visit to Kyiv on Friday, as both countries sought to smooth over relations buffeted by the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Ukraine was thrust into a domestic political battle in Washington last year as Trump faced allegations he pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate the son of his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Pompeo has also walked back from comments he was accused of making to a National Public Radio reporter before his trip that appeared to play down Ukraine's importance to Americans. Pompeo is the highest-ranking US official to travel to Ukraine since the impeachment began. His visit comes as Trump's impeachment trial was set for a climactic vote on Friday or Saturday that is likely to acquit the president. After meeting Zelenskiy, both men played down the fallout from impeachment. "Today I'm here with a clear message: The United States sees that the Ukrainian struggle for freedom, democracy and prosperity is a valiant one. Our commitment to support it will not waver," Pompeo said. Ukraine counts on Washington for diplomatic support, sanctions on Moscow and military aid to buy Javelin anti-tank missiles and other hardware as it battles Russian-backed fighters in a war that has killed more than 13,000 people. Trump had frozen nearly $400 million in US security assistance shortly before speaking to Zelenskiy in a July phone call, prompting accusations from Democrats he had misused US foreign policy for personal gain. Also Read: Will probe possible surveillance of Ukraine envoy: Pompeo Trump's camp has called on Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma. Impeachment overshadowed the first months of Zelenskiy's presidency, and he has voiced frustration about being constantly asked about it. He has repeatedly denied being pressured by Trump to launch investigations. "I was wondering when this question would come up. When we speak with the USA, there is always a question about the impeachment of President Trump," Zelenskiy said on Friday when asked whether impeachment had spoiled bilateral ties. "It seems to me honestly that, on the contrary, there are very good relations between our countries, not just in words. The US supports and defends Ukraine." Pompeo also denied suggestions that Zelenskiy would only be granted a visit to the White House to meet Trump if Ukraine agreed to announce investigations into Hunter Biden and Burisma. "No, there's no condition of the nature you described for President Zelenskiy to come to Washington and have that visit," Pompeo said in response to a question. "We'll find the right time. We'll find the appropriate opportunity." Asked before the trip whether he would raise Burisma or the Bidens with Ukrainian officials, Pompeo had said, "I don't want to talk about particular individuals." Democrats had hoped to hear from former National Security Adviser John Bolton as a witness in Trump's impeachment trial, but they do not appear to have enough support from Republicans to bring witnesses to the proceedings. A report, which Bolton has not denied, said Bolton had written in an upcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to freeze military aid to Ukraine until it investigated both Bidens.

US state secretary Pompeo pledges support for Ukraine amid Trump impeachment trial

A new section of President Donald Trump's signature wall along the <a href="Migrants gather at U.S.-Mexico border for Christmas party">US-Mexico border</a> has been blown over in strong winds, US officials say. Steel panels from the fence in the town of Calexico, California were knocked down on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;Strong winds have damaged Trump yet again, but this time it is the President's precious border wall that was blown over and not his hairpiece.

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Great photos from a SOUTHERN BORDER WALL Briefing with Secretary of Defense, Mark <a href="https://twitter.com/EsperDoD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EsperDoD</a>! <a href="https://t.co/rpGHpdoIa6">pic.twitter.com/rpGHpdoIa6</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1222973224092258304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Steel panels from a <a href="Longest smuggling tunnel discovered under US-Mexico Border; possible connections to Sinaloa cartel">fence bordering</a> the town of Calexico, California were knocked down by gusts of around 48 km/h. According to officials, the concrete used to anchor the 9-meter tall panels in place had not set, causing the collapse of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-frees-36-bn-for-wall-construction-on-mexican-border-247477">border panelling</a>. The wall was part of this administration's construction project to deter illegal immigration across the 3,145 kilometre US-Mexico border.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/build-that-wall-barriers-back-30-years-after-berlin-wall-259802">Build that wall! Barriers back 30 years after Berlin Wall</a>

The day before the wind took with it the wall, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-trump-revives-border-wall-promise-in-iowa-campaign-speech-and-mocks-his-democrat-coworkers-277639">Donald Trump</a> was conducting a campaign event in New Jersey and boasting of the "record speed" with which the border wall is being constructed.&nbsp;The newly installed panels flew off with the wind a day later in Mexicali, a city on the Mexican side of the border. Thankfully, authorities were able to divert traffic from the nearby street and no property damage or injuries have been reported.

Donald Trump had claimed that the steel slats and concrete constituting the border wall was "virtually impenetrable" when visiting a section of the wall in California last year. The project has progressed, albeit slowly due to the multitudes of legal obstacles faced by the Trump administration. They had claimed to have built around 100 miles of brand new border walls, even though most of it was to repair and replace existing structures.

Trump had declared a government-shutdown last February to funnel taxpayers' money into the border wall and later declared a national emergency on the pretext of lax southern border security. US Appeals Court lifted a legal block earlier this month on $3.6 billion in defence funds which the President used for his border wall

A new section of President Donald Trump's signature wall along the US-Mexico border has been blown over in strong winds, US officials say. Steel panels from the fence in the town of Calexico, California were knocked down on Wednesday morning.

A new section of President Donald Trump's signature wall along the US-Mexico border has been blown over in strong winds, US officials say. Steel panels from the fence in the town of Calexico, California were knocked down on Wednesday morning. Strong winds have damaged Trump yet again, but this time it is the President's precious border wall that was blown over and not his hairpiece. Great photos from a SOUTHERN BORDER WALL Briefing with Secretary of Defense, Mark @EsperDoD! pic.twitter.com/rpGHpdoIa6 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2020 × Steel panels from a fence bordering the town of Calexico, California were knocked down by gusts of around 48 km/h. According to officials, the concrete used to anchor the 9-meter tall panels in place had not set, causing the collapse of the border panelling. The wall was part of this administration's construction project to deter illegal immigration across the 3,145 kilometre US-Mexico border. Also Read: Build that wall! Barriers back 30 years after Berlin Wall The day before the wind took with it the wall, Donald Trump was conducting a campaign event in New Jersey and boasting of the "record speed" with which the border wall is being constructed. The newly installed panels flew off with the wind a day later in Mexicali, a city on the Mexican side of the border. Thankfully, authorities were able to divert traffic from the nearby street and no property damage or injuries have been reported. Donald Trump had claimed that the steel slats and concrete constituting the border wall was "virtually impenetrable" when visiting a section of the wall in California last year. The project has progressed, albeit slowly due to the multitudes of legal obstacles faced by the Trump administration. They had claimed to have built around 100 miles of brand new border walls, even though most of it was to repair and replace existing structures. Trump had declared a government-shutdown last February to funnel taxpayers' money into the border wall and later declared a national emergency on the pretext of lax southern border security. US Appeals Court lifted a legal block earlier this month on $3.6 billion in defence funds which the President used for his border wall

Gone with the wind; Trump's 'impenetrable' border wall blown away by strong winds

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../trumps-west-asia-plan-is-the-last-chance-to- bring-peace-says-jared-kushner-trump-277191">Donald Trump</a> and White House lawyers pushed back on Wednesday against Democratic efforts to have John Bolton testify at the Senate impeachment trial of the president, arguing that the former national security adviser could reveal government secrets.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-files-lawsuits-against-overseas-call-centers-for-making-fake-robocalls-277174">Trump administration files lawsuits against overseas call centres for making fake robocalls</a>

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it may be an "uphill" fight to garner enough Republican support to compel the 71-year-old Bolton -- seen as a potentially damaging witness to the president -- to testify.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trumps-west-asia-plan-most-of-west-bank-recognised-as-israel-277297">Trump's West Asia Plan: Most Of West Bank Recognised As Israel</a>

Democrats have been pressing for the Senate to subpoena Bolton, who was fired by Trump in September, after reports that his upcoming White House tell-all book corroborates charges that the president withheld military aid to Ukraine in a bid to seek political dirt on his election rival <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../impeachment-trial-of-donald-trump-all-star- defence-team-scared-of-going-near-bolton-276987">Joe Biden</a>.

Republicans hold a 53 to 47 seat edge in the Senate and four Republicans would need to side with the Democrats for Bolton and others to be called as witnesses at Trump's trial for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

"We've always known it will be an uphill fight," Schumer said of getting Bolton to testify.

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"Is it more likely than not?" the Democratic senator from New York asked. "Probably, no. But is it a decent, good chance? Yes."

Trump called on Republicans to reject a push for witnesses when the issue comes up for a vote on Friday and blasted Bolton.

"Remember Republicans, the Democrats already had 17 witnesses, we were given NONE!" he wrote on Twitter. "Don't let the Dems play you!"

Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming came out firmly against calling witnesses, echoing the views of the vast majority of his Republican colleagues.

"America has heard enough," Barrasso said. "A majority of Americans are saying this is a waste of time because they know the president is not going to be removed."

Opinion polls on whether Trump should be removed are actually pretty evenly divided but a two-thirds majority -- 67 senators -- is needed to convict the president and the Republicans' 53-47 majority virtually assures Trump will be acquitted.

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- 'Don't wait for the book'- 
The fight over Bolton intensified as the senators who hold the president's fate in their hands began directly questioning Democratic prosecutors and White House lawyers.

The 100 members of the Senate have 16 hours over the next two days to submit written questions, which are being read aloud by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, presiding over just the third impeachment trial of a president in US history.

Asked whether Bolton should appear, chief Democratic prosecutor Adam Schiff said his testimony was "plainly relevant" and essential to conducting a "fair trial."

"Don't wait for the book," the California lawmaker told the senators sitting as trial jurors. "This case is overwhelmingly clear without John Bolton but if you have any question about it you can erase all doubt."

White House deputy counsel Patrick Philbin countered that the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, which impeached Trump on December 18, had conducted their inquiry in a "half-baked partisan fashion" and had not issued their own subpoena for Bolton's testimony.

Having Bolton testify would present "grave security issues," Philbin said.

"He has all of the nation's secrets from the time he was national security advisor," he said.

The White House would seek to prevent his testimony by citing executive privilege and the matter would end up in the courts. "This institution will be effectively paralyzed for months on end," he said.

- 'World War Six' - 
Schiff pushed back against White House arguments that the Senate should let American voters decide Trump's fate in November's presidential election.

"If you say you can't hold a president accountable in an election year where they are trying to cheat in that election then you are giving them carte blanche," he said.

In his book, Bolton reportedly writes that the president told him in August that a freeze in military aid to Ukraine was directly linked to his demand that Kiev investigate Biden, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Trump lashed out at Bolton on Twitter, saying he had shown poor judgment in a job he had begged for and that he hired the veteran diplomat and prominent "hawk" against the advice of others.

"Frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now," Trump said. "(He) goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty &amp; untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this?"

The National Security Council said meanwhile that a preliminary review of the manuscript of Bolton's book had found that it contained "significant amounts of classified information" and cannot be published in its current form.

"Some of this information is at the TOP SECRET level," the NSC said in a letter to Bolton's lawyer, adding that "the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information."

Before the explosive revelations about what Bolton knew, the White House had assumed the trial could be wrapped up with no witnesses and an acquittal by this weekend, just in time for Trump's annual "State of the Union" address before Congress on Tuesday, February 4.&nbsp;

Donald Trump and White House lawyers pushed back on Wednesday against Democratic efforts to have John Bolton testify at the Senate impeachment trial of the president, arguing that the former national security adviser could reveal government secrets.

Donald Trump and White House lawyers pushed back on Wednesday against Democratic efforts to have John Bolton testify at the Senate impeachment trial of the president, arguing that the former national security adviser could reveal government secrets. Also read: Trump administration files lawsuits against overseas call centres for making fake robocalls Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it may be an "uphill" fight to garner enough Republican support to compel the 71-year-old Bolton -- seen as a potentially damaging witness to the president -- to testify. Also read: Trump's West Asia Plan: Most Of West Bank Recognised As Israel Democrats have been pressing for the Senate to subpoena Bolton, who was fired by Trump in September, after reports that his upcoming White House tell-all book corroborates charges that the president withheld military aid to Ukraine in a bid to seek political dirt on his election rival Joe Biden. Republicans hold a 53 to 47 seat edge in the Senate and four Republicans would need to side with the Democrats for Bolton and others to be called as witnesses at Trump's trial for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. "We've always known it will be an uphill fight," Schumer said of getting Bolton to testify. × "Is it more likely than not?" the Democratic senator from New York asked. "Probably, no. But is it a decent, good chance? Yes." Trump called on Republicans to reject a push for witnesses when the issue comes up for a vote on Friday and blasted Bolton. "Remember Republicans, the Democrats already had 17 witnesses, we were given NONE!" he wrote on Twitter. "Don't let the Dems play you!" Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming came out firmly against calling witnesses, echoing the views of the vast majority of his Republican colleagues. "America has heard enough," Barrasso said. "A majority of Americans are saying this is a waste of time because they know the president is not going to be removed." Opinion polls on whether Trump should be removed are actually pretty evenly divided but a two-thirds majority -- 67 senators -- is needed to convict the president and the Republicans' 53-47 majority virtually assures Trump will be acquitted. × - 'Don't wait for the book'- The fight over Bolton intensified as the senators who hold the president's fate in their hands began directly questioning Democratic prosecutors and White House lawyers. The 100 members of the Senate have 16 hours over the next two days to submit written questions, which are being read aloud by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, presiding over just the third impeachment trial of a president in US history. Asked whether Bolton should appear, chief Democratic prosecutor Adam Schiff said his testimony was "plainly relevant" and essential to conducting a "fair trial." "Don't wait for the book," the California lawmaker told the senators sitting as trial jurors. "This case is overwhelmingly clear without John Bolton but if you have any question about it you can erase all doubt." White House deputy counsel Patrick Philbin countered that the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, which impeached Trump on December 18, had conducted their inquiry in a "half-baked partisan fashion" and had not issued their own subpoena for Bolton's testimony. Having Bolton testify would present "grave security issues," Philbin said. "He has all of the nation's secrets from the time he was national security advisor," he said. The White House would seek to prevent his testimony by citing executive privilege and the matter would end up in the courts. "This institution will be effectively paralyzed for months on end," he said. - 'World War Six' - Schiff pushed back against White House arguments that the Senate should let American voters decide Trump's fate in November's presidential election. "If you say you can't hold a president accountable in an election year where they are trying to cheat in that election then you are giving them carte blanche," he said. In his book, Bolton reportedly writes that the president told him in August that a freeze in military aid to Ukraine was directly linked to his demand that Kiev investigate Biden, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination. Trump lashed out at Bolton on Twitter, saying he had shown poor judgment in a job he had begged for and that he hired the veteran diplomat and prominent "hawk" against the advice of others. "Frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now," Trump said. "(He) goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this?" The National Security Council said meanwhile that a preliminary review of the manuscript of Bolton's book had found that it contained "significant amounts of classified information" and cannot be published in its current form. "Some of this information is at the TOP SECRET level," the NSC said in a letter to Bolton's lawyer, adding that "the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information." Before the explosive revelations about what Bolton knew, the White House had assumed the trial could be wrapped up with no witnesses and an acquittal by this weekend, just in time for Trump's annual "State of the Union" address before Congress on Tuesday, February 4.

Trump, White House seek to quash Bolton testimony at Senate trial

The Maccoux family receive visitors to their beautiful home in a Minneapolis suburb with an infectious warmth that belies the fact their youngest daughter Olivia has had more than 140 brain surgeries, all by the age of 24.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-unveils-middle-east-peace-plan-jerusalem-to-be-undivided-capital-277163" hreflang="en">Trump unveils Middle East peace plan; Jerusalem to be undivided capital</a>

Mom Cathy smiles tenderly as she scrolls through photos of Olivia on hospital beds at various ages, from a baby to toddler to a teen.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/trump-administration-files-lawsuits-against-overseas-call-centers-for-making-fake-robocalls-277174" hreflang="en">Trump administration files lawsuits against overseas call centers for making fake robocalls</a>

"That's just a hole in her skull from one of the shunts, isn't that crazy?" she says.

And dad, Dan, is close to laughing as he reads from bills sprawled out on a table cataloguing medical costs going back to 1996 including parking tickets and hospital meals.

"Very surprisingly, very few people have a love of records," says the 57-year-old independent consultant in the semiconductor industry.

The family's case is a telling illustration of the flaws of the US health care system, which Democratic candidates for the White House have promised to overhaul or scrap ahead of their first primary contests in February.

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Despite spending the most on health care in the world, 27.5 million Americans are without any health insurance.

And for the "lucky" insured, sky-high costs can lead many to bankruptcy, or as in the case of the Maccoux, indebted for life.

Olivia was born three months early, which is at the root of her misfortunes.

She has a rare condition called hydrocephalus, meaning fluids build up in the cavities of her brain that require valves and catheters to drain down toward the abdomen.

But the devices have needed to be changed dozens of times -- not to say anything of epilepsy she experiences, among several other neurological conditions.

"I grew up with no hair," she says of her childhood.

But the Maccoux family are fortunate in one respect: Dan has a six-figure income and has always had health insurance.

When he worked for a company, his insurance coverage was "gold," he says.

The problem is that in the US, coverage rarely covers 100 per cent of people's needs. The system is largely privatized, and reimbursements to patients depend on negotiations between a hospital or pharmacy and the insurer.

The level of reimbursement varies from case to case. There are different levels of "deductibles" -- the amount paid by the patient before the insurance kicks in, as well as "copays," the fixed amount of out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits or drugs once the deductible has been met.

"It was the copays I think that killed us because we had so many appointments," said Cathy. "We were drowning for a while because it was just constant, constant."

- Advised to divorce -

Dan sat with an AFP team and added up the columns on spreadsheets he has used to calculate costs since 2005, the year he began documenting expenses in detail (before that, he has estimates).

Across a total of 15 years, it came to $100,000 for out-of-pocket costs, $22,000 for prescription co-pays, $15,000 for meals during hospitalization...with provider co-pays and parking threw in, totalling $192,000.

From 1996 to 2004, he estimates the costs were around $130,000 with the two figures combining to around $322,000.

"Considering the catastrophe, we did relatively good," said Dan. "We probably had a couple of dozen times where a provider turned it over to a debt collector and those situations were probably the hardest to deal with."

The house in which they live has served as a piggy bank for their debts: the family has borrowed money by remortgaging it, a permanent financial juggle.

In 2001, their woes multiplied when their second youngest, Traci was diagnosed at the age of 11 with complex regional pain syndrome, a rare affliction that started in her leg and spread to her arms (their eldest, Amanda, is fine).

The family has on occasion turned to GoFundMe to raise money for the two; the platform has become indispensable for Americans trapped in medical debt.

"We've had people tell us you should get a divorce," said Cathy, as a financial strategy. Under this plan, she would have taken custody of the children and, without being employed, would have benefited from public coverage.

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The couple never considered it.

Obamacare, the insurance reforms enacted by former President Barack Obama in 2010, helped the family by removing lifetime caps previously imposed by insurance companies on their payouts.

It also prevented insurers from refusing patients coverage on the basis of having pre-existing conditions&nbsp;something that would have made the family pariahs when Dan left his company and went freelance.

In the last few years, things have improved markedly, said Dan. Olivia and Traci are still sick but have successfully moved to state health insurance, a more comprehensive package that reduces the burden of out-of-pocket costs on the family.

Olivia finished college last year. "Neurologically I'm doing a lot better," she said.

But the system isn't finished yet with the parents. While Obamacare helped the family in some ways, it also sent their insurance premiums soaring. For this year, Dan and Cathy are paying $1,261 a month. Any reimbursements won't kick in until they reach their annual deductible of $6,400 each.

"We all have to laugh," said Dan. While his friends are discussing their retirement plans, "I'm like, I'll never be able to retire!"

The Maccoux family receive visitors to their beautiful home in a Minneapolis suburb with an infectious warmth that belies the fact their youngest daughter Olivia has had more than 140 brain surgeries, all by the age of 24.

The Maccoux family receive visitors to their beautiful home in a Minneapolis suburb with an infectious warmth that belies the fact their youngest daughter Olivia has had more than 140 brain surgeries, all by the age of 24. Also read: Trump unveils Middle East peace plan; Jerusalem to be undivided capital Mom Cathy smiles tenderly as she scrolls through photos of Olivia on hospital beds at various ages, from a baby to toddler to a teen. Also read: Trump administration files lawsuits against overseas call centers for making fake robocalls "That's just a hole in her skull from one of the shunts, isn't that crazy?" she says. And dad, Dan, is close to laughing as he reads from bills sprawled out on a table cataloguing medical costs going back to 1996 including parking tickets and hospital meals. "Very surprisingly, very few people have a love of records," says the 57-year-old independent consultant in the semiconductor industry. The family's case is a telling illustration of the flaws of the US health care system, which Democratic candidates for the White House have promised to overhaul or scrap ahead of their first primary contests in February. × Despite spending the most on health care in the world, 27.5 million Americans are without any health insurance. And for the "lucky" insured, sky-high costs can lead many to bankruptcy, or as in the case of the Maccoux, indebted for life. Olivia was born three months early, which is at the root of her misfortunes. She has a rare condition called hydrocephalus, meaning fluids build up in the cavities of her brain that require valves and catheters to drain down toward the abdomen. But the devices have needed to be changed dozens of times -- not to say anything of epilepsy she experiences, among several other neurological conditions. "I grew up with no hair," she says of her childhood. But the Maccoux family are fortunate in one respect: Dan has a six-figure income and has always had health insurance. When he worked for a company, his insurance coverage was "gold," he says. The problem is that in the US, coverage rarely covers 100 per cent of people's needs. The system is largely privatized, and reimbursements to patients depend on negotiations between a hospital or pharmacy and the insurer. The level of reimbursement varies from case to case. There are different levels of "deductibles" -- the amount paid by the patient before the insurance kicks in, as well as "copays," the fixed amount of out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits or drugs once the deductible has been met. "It was the copays I think that killed us because we had so many appointments," said Cathy. "We were drowning for a while because it was just constant, constant." - Advised to divorce - Dan sat with an AFP team and added up the columns on spreadsheets he has used to calculate costs since 2005, the year he began documenting expenses in detail (before that, he has estimates). Across a total of 15 years, it came to $100,000 for out-of-pocket costs, $22,000 for prescription co-pays, $15,000 for meals during hospitalization...with provider co-pays and parking threw in, totalling $192,000. From 1996 to 2004, he estimates the costs were around $130,000 with the two figures combining to around $322,000. "Considering the catastrophe, we did relatively good," said Dan. "We probably had a couple of dozen times where a provider turned it over to a debt collector and those situations were probably the hardest to deal with." The house in which they live has served as a piggy bank for their debts: the family has borrowed money by remortgaging it, a permanent financial juggle. In 2001, their woes multiplied when their second youngest, Traci was diagnosed at the age of 11 with complex regional pain syndrome, a rare affliction that started in her leg and spread to her arms (their eldest, Amanda, is fine). The family has on occasion turned to GoFundMe to raise money for the two; the platform has become indispensable for Americans trapped in medical debt. "We've had people tell us you should get a divorce," said Cathy, as a financial strategy. Under this plan, she would have taken custody of the children and, without being employed, would have benefited from public coverage. × The couple never considered it. Obamacare, the insurance reforms enacted by former President Barack Obama in 2010, helped the family by removing lifetime caps previously imposed by insurance companies on their payouts. It also prevented insurers from refusing patients coverage on the basis of having pre-existing conditions something that would have made the family pariahs when Dan left his company and went freelance. In the last few years, things have improved markedly, said Dan. Olivia and Traci are still sick but have successfully moved to state health insurance, a more comprehensive package that reduces the burden of out-of-pocket costs on the family. Olivia finished college last year. "Neurologically I'm doing a lot better," she said. But the system isn't finished yet with the parents. While Obamacare helped the family in some ways, it also sent their insurance premiums soaring. For this year, Dan and Cathy are paying $1,261 a month. Any reimbursements won't kick in until they reach their annual deductible of $6,400 each. "We all have to laugh," said Dan. While his friends are discussing their retirement plans, "I'm like, I'll never be able to retire!"

Health care in America: For one family, a $300,000 debt nightmare

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-anti-abortion-rally-trump-assails-democrats-draws-applause-276481">US Supreme Court</a> on Monday allowed the Trump administration to proceed with a rule that aims to deny permanent residency and citizenship to immigrants who claim welfare benefits.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-detains-800-central-american-migrants-headed-to-united-states-276281">Mexico detains 800 Central American migrants headed to&nbsp;United States</a> 
&nbsp;

The top chamber's five conservative justices outvoted their four progressive colleagues to support a request by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../trump-had-ukraine-aid-withheld-reveals-boltons -new-book-276814">President Donald Trump</a> to lift a New York court injunction that had blocked the rule's application.

Trump has made clamping down on immigrants a cornerstone of his presidency, and Monday's ruling is the latest by the Supreme Court in favour of his migrant-related policies.

"Today the Court (rightly) grants a stay, allowing the government to pursue (for now) its policy everywhere save Illinois," the Supreme Court ruling said.

The White House lauded the ruling, calling it a "massive win for American taxpayers, American workers, and the American Constitution" in a statement.

Announcing last August a new definition of the longstanding "public charge" law, Trump said that "to protect benefits for American citizens, immigrants must be financially self-sufficient."

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The new rules threatened to set back the citizenship hopes of millions of mostly Hispanic migrants who work for low wages and depend in part on public services to get by.

Under the changes, the 22 million non-citizen residents of the United States using food stamps, public healthcare and other welfare will not be able to obtain green cards or US citizenship, according to the White House.

Additionally, hopeful migrants will not be granted resident visas if they are deemed too poor and likely to need public assistance.

'Activist' judges

Immigration officials will have more leeway to deny the entry of immigrants or to grant a certain migrant status to those receiving public assistance.

A coalition of states in August quickly sued Trump's administration over the rule. They said it was unconstitutional and disproportionately targeted non-white immigrants.

Ken Cuccinelli, acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, welcomed Monday's ruling.

He said the Supreme Court "is fed up" with injunctions by judges whom he said are trying to impose policy rather than enforce the law.

"I hope some of these activist district court judges finally get the message that they need to deal with the law, not their policy preferences. If they want to do that, get out and run for Congress," he said.

The Democratic National Committee, charged with the process of choosing the party's challenger to Trump in this year's elections, countered that "it's sickening to see the United States Supreme Court rubber-stamp Trump's extreme, anti-immigrant, xenophobic agenda."

In September, the Supreme Court said Trump could enact severe restrictions on asylum seekers.

That followed a July ruling backing the president's move to divert billions of dollars in Pentagon funds for extending or rebuilding stretches of the wall on the Mexican border.

The US Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to proceed with a rule that aims to deny permanent residency and citizenship to immigrants who claim welfare benefits.

The US Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to proceed with a rule that aims to deny permanent residency and citizenship to immigrants who claim welfare benefits. Also read: Mexico detains 800 Central American migrants headed to United States The top chamber's five conservative justices outvoted their four progressive colleagues to support a request by President Donald Trump to lift a New York court injunction that had blocked the rule's application. Trump has made clamping down on immigrants a cornerstone of his presidency, and Monday's ruling is the latest by the Supreme Court in favour of his migrant-related policies. "Today the Court (rightly) grants a stay, allowing the government to pursue (for now) its policy everywhere save Illinois," the Supreme Court ruling said. The White House lauded the ruling, calling it a "massive win for American taxpayers, American workers, and the American Constitution" in a statement. Announcing last August a new definition of the longstanding "public charge" law, Trump said that "to protect benefits for American citizens, immigrants must be financially self-sufficient." × The new rules threatened to set back the citizenship hopes of millions of mostly Hispanic migrants who work for low wages and depend in part on public services to get by. Under the changes, the 22 million non-citizen residents of the United States using food stamps, public healthcare and other welfare will not be able to obtain green cards or US citizenship, according to the White House. Additionally, hopeful migrants will not be granted resident visas if they are deemed too poor and likely to need public assistance. 'Activist' judges Immigration officials will have more leeway to deny the entry of immigrants or to grant a certain migrant status to those receiving public assistance. A coalition of states in August quickly sued Trump's administration over the rule. They said it was unconstitutional and disproportionately targeted non-white immigrants. Ken Cuccinelli, acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, welcomed Monday's ruling. He said the Supreme Court "is fed up" with injunctions by judges whom he said are trying to impose policy rather than enforce the law. "I hope some of these activist district court judges finally get the message that they need to deal with the law, not their policy preferences. If they want to do that, get out and run for Congress," he said. The Democratic National Committee, charged with the process of choosing the party's challenger to Trump in this year's elections, countered that "it's sickening to see the United States Supreme Court rubber-stamp Trump's extreme, anti-immigrant, xenophobic agenda." In September, the Supreme Court said Trump could enact severe restrictions on asylum seekers. That followed a July ruling backing the president's move to divert billions of dollars in Pentagon funds for extending or rebuilding stretches of the wall on the Mexican border.

US top court sides with Trump on immigrant welfare benefits

President Trump's impeachment trial has been frequently compared to that of Bill Clinton. In 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached as a president. The affair of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton was the driving force for the impeachment.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-lawyers-say-voters-should-decide-trumps-fate-276578">White House lawyers say voters should decide Trump's fate</a>

Monica Lewinsky has urged political analysts not to use her name while making comparisons. As a 'gentle reminder' Monica offered alternative names who played a role in the 1998 saga. As alternatives, she suggested the Starr Investigation, the 1998 Impeachment, the Scandal of 1998, or the Clinton Impeachment.&nbsp;

<h6><img alt="Monica Lewinsky" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cdd4076e-d62a-420b-8c9c-d7f2ff7ce686" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/____.jpg" /> 
Monica Lewinsky's tweet | Twitter/ @MonicaLewinsky</h6>

Democratic President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../sparks-fly-as-trump-impeachment-trial-opens- 275837">Bill Clinton</a> was impeached by the House of Representatives under the Republicans but was cleared off by House of Senate under Democrats.&nbsp;

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President Bill Clinton was accused of having a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky which took place between 1995 and 1997 and came into light in 1998. Clinton ended a televised speech in late January 1998 with the statement that he "did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky."

But eventually, Clinton admitted in taped grand jury testimony on August 17, 1998, that he had engaged in an "improper physical relationship" with Lewinsky.

Trump will be looking forward to a similar procedure for his impeachment trial. He has been impeached by the House of Representatives led by Democrats and will be looking to get clearance by the House of Senate under the Republicans.

His trial in the House of Senate began on Saturday.

President Trump's impeachment trial has been frequently compared to that of Bill Clinton. In 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached as a president. The affair of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton was the driving force for the impeachment.

President Trump's impeachment trial has been frequently compared to that of Bill Clinton. In 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached as a president. The affair of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton was the driving force for the impeachment. Also read: White House lawyers say voters should decide Trump's fate Monica Lewinsky has urged political analysts not to use her name while making comparisons. As a 'gentle reminder' Monica offered alternative names who played a role in the 1998 saga. As alternatives, she suggested the Starr Investigation, the 1998 Impeachment, the Scandal of 1998, or the Clinton Impeachment. Monica Lewinsky's tweet | Twitter/ @MonicaLewinsky Democratic President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives under the Republicans but was cleared off by House of Senate under Democrats. × President Bill Clinton was accused of having a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky which took place between 1995 and 1997 and came into light in 1998. Clinton ended a televised speech in late January 1998 with the statement that he "did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky." But eventually, Clinton admitted in taped grand jury testimony on August 17, 1998, that he had engaged in an "improper physical relationship" with Lewinsky. Trump will be looking forward to a similar procedure for his impeachment trial. He has been impeached by the House of Representatives led by Democrats and will be looking to get clearance by the House of Senate under the Republicans. His trial in the House of Senate began on Saturday.

Monica Lewinsky offers 'Gentle Reminder' not to use her name in 1998 impeachment comparisons

Donald Trump demanded the dismissal of Marie Yovanovitch, the ambassador to Ukraine and a key figure in the president's impeachment trial, according to a video recording released to US media on Saturday.

Donald Trump demanded the dismissal of Marie Yovanovitch, the ambassador to Ukraine and a key figure in the president's impeachment trial, according to a video recording released to US media on Saturday. The footage was reportedly taken during an April 2018 donor dinner at a hotel and released to news outlets by an attorney for Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani. Parnas and his business partner Igor Fruman are key players in Trump's alleged campaign to pressure the government of Ukraine to dig up dirt on Joe Biden, a potential election opponent for the president. The issue is central to Trump's ongoing impeachment trial in the US Senate. His order to fire the ambassador came after Parnas told him that Yovanovich was an impediment, and claiming that she had privately disparaged the President. Also Read: Donald Trump's Impeachment: Democrats lay out abuse of power case [Former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch (Courtesy: AFP) ] "Get rid of her!" Trump says on the tape, reportedly addressing a White House aide at the dining table. "Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it." Images taken at an awkward angle appear at the start of the one hour, 23-minute-long video. The rest of the recording shows a tan background as if the camera were covered, but Trump's distinctive voice is clear. In a TV interview with MSNBC News last week, Parnas said Trump "knew exactly what was going on" with his and Fruman's efforts to pressure Ukrainian authorities to investigate Biden. His appearance came after Democrats released documents that showed Giuliani worked with Parnas to pressure Kyiv to investigate Biden. Both Parnas and Fruman were charged with violating US campaign finance laws in October. The documents also showed the pair, working with Ukrainian officials, trying to force out Yovanovitch, a respected career diplomat who Trump eventually removed in May 2019. Saturday's recording corroborates much of what Parnas said in his TV interview, including that he knew Trump - something the president has denied. More recordings In October Yovanovitch testified to Congress that she was recalled due to "unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives." Joseph Bondy, an attorney for Parnas, said that he submitted the evidence to investigators in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. He also told CNN that Parnas has more recordings and photographs that may be released to the public. The release of the tape increases pressure on US senators to subpoena witnesses for the impeachment trial, a move several polls show has strong support among the US public. White House lawyers began Trump's defence in the impeachment trial on Saturday. They have argued that the president did nothing wrong in his dealings with Ukraine and that US voters - not Congress - should decide his fate. Trump's lawyers will resume his defence on Monday.

Trump caught saying 'get rid' of Ukraine ambassador on tape: report

US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said Thursday.

The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key trading partners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long thrashed as a job killer and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mexican-businesses-want-clarity-on-details-of-usmca-trade-deal-267698">threatened to scrap outright</a>.

<img alt="NAFTA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3349387-d5f0-41e7-9ba0-c19f18aa21ad" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2885%29_1.jpg" /> 
[Flags of all three nations involved in the agreement&nbsp;(Courtesy: Reuters) ]

The US Senate approved the pact last week and White House officials said Trump will sign it Wednesday. The earlier NAFTA created a vast free-trade zone across North America, leading to radical shifts in the makeup of industries in the three countries and vastly increasing cross-border exchanges in goods, services and people.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usmca-united-states-mexico-and-canada-finalize-new-trade-agreement-267552">United States, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing USMCA trade pact</a>

While the agreement produced winners and losers in some areas, economists say overall it increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America. The new deal changes content rules on auto manufacturing and requires higher salaries for some Mexican auto workers.

It also makes changes to e-commerce, intellectual property protection and dispute settlement for investors, as well as tougher labour provisions that require reforms to Mexico's labour laws. Mexico ratified the new agreement December 10, and Canada is expected to follow suit in coming weeks.

US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said Thursday. The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key trading partners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long thrashed as a job killer and threatened to scrap outright.

US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said Thursday. The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key trading partners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long thrashed as a job killer and threatened to scrap outright. [Flags of all three nations involved in the agreement (Courtesy: Reuters) ] The US Senate approved the pact last week and White House officials said Trump will sign it Wednesday. The earlier NAFTA created a vast free-trade zone across North America, leading to radical shifts in the makeup of industries in the three countries and vastly increasing cross-border exchanges in goods, services and people. Also Read: United States, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing USMCA trade pact While the agreement produced winners and losers in some areas, economists say overall it increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America. The new deal changes content rules on auto manufacturing and requires higher salaries for some Mexican auto workers. It also makes changes to e-commerce, intellectual property protection and dispute settlement for investors, as well as tougher labour provisions that require reforms to Mexico's labour laws. Mexico ratified the new agreement December 10, and Canada is expected to follow suit in coming weeks.

Donald Trump to sign trade accord with Mexico, Canada next week

President Donald Trump tore into environmental "prophets of doom" at the Davos forum Tuesday, rejecting fiery warnings from teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg and talking up his own record in a counterpoint to impeachment back home.

Thunberg was in the audience in the Swiss Alps to hear the typically bullish speech by Trump, delivered just before the US Senate opened the crucial next stage in his trial for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thunberg-changes-required-are-nowhere-in-sight-267938">Thunberg: changes required are nowhere in sight</a>

The 50th meeting of the World Economic Forum aimed for a strong focus on climate change but Trump made clear he had no time for Thunberg's warning that "our house is still on fire."

Watch | Donald Trump delivers keynote address at WEF 2020

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Instead, he touted the US economy, which he said was enjoying an "unprecedented" boom thanks to his policies. That was a message he then continued at a dinner meeting with CEOs including Europe's richest person Bernard Arnault of luxury firm LVMH and the Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

The Republican was also to meet Wednesday with the president of Iraq and the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan before heading back to Washington.&nbsp;

This will be his first talks with the Iraqi leadership since a US drone strike killed Iran's top military figure and also a senior Iraqi commander in Baghdad, triggering a parliament vote calling for the expulsion of US troops from Iraq.

Dismissing the 'apocalypse'

Dismissing scientifically backed warnings that global warming is wrecking the planet, Trump said "we must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse."

He claimed that "alarmists" had been wrong over the decades when predicting population crisis, mass starvation or the end of oil.

Trump branded those warning of out-of-control global warming and other environmental disasters "the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers".

Trump did not even mention global warming.

He was just as unapologetic over his impeachment, which is now kicking into high gear.

That's "just a hoax," he said, calling the impeachment trial "disgraceful".

Trump campaigns

Large parts of Trump's address sounded like a campaign speech aimed at a domestic audience as much as the Davos gathering of global political and business elites, which began in 1971.

"I'm glad to declare the United States is in the midst of a great economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen before," he said.

Over and over, Trump brought up statistics he claimed proved his "unprecedented" success, based on slashing environmental protections and renegotiating trade relationships with China and the United States' two huge neighbours Canada and Mexico.

"The American dream is back, bigger, better, stronger than ever before," he said.

Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank, called Trump's performance "an almost plain vanilla presidential campaign speech, laying out an unassailable set of statistics that tell the Democrats 'good luck taking me on on this, because you won't stand a chance'."

'Just the very beginning'

Earlier, Thunberg underlined the message that has inspired millions around the world, saying "basically nothing has been done" to fight climate change.

Speaking calmly and with a wry smile, Thunberg acknowledged that her campaign, which began with school strikes, had attracted huge attention without yet achieving concrete change.

"There is a difference between being heard to actually leading to something," the 17-year-old said.

And despite the focus given by the Davos forum, Greenpeace said in a new report that some of the world's biggest banks, insurers and pension funds have collectively invested $1.4 trillion (1.26 trillion euros) in fossil fuel companies since the Paris climate deal in 2016.

Trump touted the United States as the "number one producer of oil and natural gas" and said he would not let "radical socialists" attack the lucrative industry.

'Governments continue to fail'

Sustainability is the buzzword at the Davos forum, with heel crampons handed out to participants to encourage them to walk on the icy streets rather than use cars, and the signage paint made from seaweed.

"People are paying a lot more attention" to climate, Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer told AFP at Davos, adding there was "genuine action by some big players", after investment titan BlackRock said it was partially divesting out of coal.

"But let's be clear -- a big part of this is because we failed for a very long time and governments continue to fail," he added.

Business leaders are likely also to be concerned by the state of the global economy whose prospects, according to the International Monetary Fund, have improved but remain brittle.

The IMF cut its global growth estimate for 2020 to 3.3 percent, saying that a recent truce in the trade war between China and the US had brought some stability but that risks remained.

Activists meanwhile will be pressing for much more concrete action to fight inequality, after Oxfam issued a report outlining how the number of billionaires has doubled in the past decade and the world's 22 richest men now have more wealth than all the women in Africa.

President Donald Trump tore into environmental "prophets of doom" at the Davos forum Tuesday, rejecting fiery warnings from teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg and talking up his own record in a counterpoint to impeachment back home.

President Donald Trump tore into environmental "prophets of doom" at the Davos forum Tuesday, rejecting fiery warnings from teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg and talking up his own record in a counterpoint to impeachment back home. Thunberg was in the audience in the Swiss Alps to hear the typically bullish speech by Trump, delivered just before the US Senate opened the crucial next stage in his trial for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Also Read: Thunberg: changes required are nowhere in sight The 50th meeting of the World Economic Forum aimed for a strong focus on climate change but Trump made clear he had no time for Thunberg's warning that "our house is still on fire." Watch | Donald Trump delivers keynote address at WEF 2020 × Instead, he touted the US economy, which he said was enjoying an "unprecedented" boom thanks to his policies. That was a message he then continued at a dinner meeting with CEOs including Europe's richest person Bernard Arnault of luxury firm LVMH and the Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. The Republican was also to meet Wednesday with the president of Iraq and the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan before heading back to Washington. This will be his first talks with the Iraqi leadership since a US drone strike killed Iran's top military figure and also a senior Iraqi commander in Baghdad, triggering a parliament vote calling for the expulsion of US troops from Iraq. Dismissing the 'apocalypse' Dismissing scientifically backed warnings that global warming is wrecking the planet, Trump said "we must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse." He claimed that "alarmists" had been wrong over the decades when predicting population crisis, mass starvation or the end of oil. Trump branded those warning of out-of-control global warming and other environmental disasters "the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers". Trump did not even mention global warming. He was just as unapologetic over his impeachment, which is now kicking into high gear. That's "just a hoax," he said, calling the impeachment trial "disgraceful". Trump campaigns Large parts of Trump's address sounded like a campaign speech aimed at a domestic audience as much as the Davos gathering of global political and business elites, which began in 1971. "I'm glad to declare the United States is in the midst of a great economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen before," he said. Over and over, Trump brought up statistics he claimed proved his "unprecedented" success, based on slashing environmental protections and renegotiating trade relationships with China and the United States' two huge neighbours Canada and Mexico. "The American dream is back, bigger, better, stronger than ever before," he said. Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank, called Trump's performance "an almost plain vanilla presidential campaign speech, laying out an unassailable set of statistics that tell the Democrats 'good luck taking me on on this, because you won't stand a chance'." 'Just the very beginning' Earlier, Thunberg underlined the message that has inspired millions around the world, saying "basically nothing has been done" to fight climate change. Speaking calmly and with a wry smile, Thunberg acknowledged that her campaign, which began with school strikes, had attracted huge attention without yet achieving concrete change. "There is a difference between being heard to actually leading to something," the 17-year-old said. And despite the focus given by the Davos forum, Greenpeace said in a new report that some of the world's biggest banks, insurers and pension funds have collectively invested $1.4 trillion (1.26 trillion euros) in fossil fuel companies since the Paris climate deal in 2016. Trump touted the United States as the "number one producer of oil and natural gas" and said he would not let "radical socialists" attack the lucrative industry. 'Governments continue to fail' Sustainability is the buzzword at the Davos forum, with heel crampons handed out to participants to encourage them to walk on the icy streets rather than use cars, and the signage paint made from seaweed. "People are paying a lot more attention" to climate, Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer told AFP at Davos, adding there was "genuine action by some big players", after investment titan BlackRock said it was partially divesting out of coal. "But let's be clear -- a big part of this is because we failed for a very long time and governments continue to fail," he added. Business leaders are likely also to be concerned by the state of the global economy whose prospects, according to the International Monetary Fund, have improved but remain brittle. The IMF cut its global growth estimate for 2020 to 3.3 percent, saying that a recent truce in the trade war between China and the US had brought some stability but that risks remained. Activists meanwhile will be pressing for much more concrete action to fight inequality, after Oxfam issued a report outlining how the number of billionaires has doubled in the past decade and the world's 22 richest men now have more wealth than all the women in Africa.

Trump tears into environmental 'doom' mongers at Davos forum

The United States President Donald Trump yesterday rejected the impeachment charges against him and called for their immediate dismissal by the Senate, where the case is due very soon.&nbsp;

The Democratic-led House of Representatives' had charged Trump with the abuse of power and the obstruction of Congress.

Trump's 116-page-long Trial Memorandum is his first official defence against the charges.

Watch:&nbsp;Senate begins trial on Donald Trump's impeachment

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"The Senate should reject the Articles of Impeachment and acquit the president immediately," the memo mentioned.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnel had recently put forward rules to facilitate a quick impeachment trial, and offered no guarantee of admission of new witnesses and evidence.

<h6><img alt="oooo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cf4364d8-99c5-47fd-b3a9-bfcd2730cc3d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_52.jpg" /> 
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (C) is handed a document while signing the articles of impeachment of US President Donald Trump during an engrossment ceremony on Capitol Hill January 15, 2020, in Washington, DC. The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to transmit articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate, opening the way for the historic trial of the 45th president for abuse of power | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The resolution could face a vote today, with Trump's lawyers intending to seek dismissal of all charges.

According to the proposal put forth by the Republicans, the Senate is expected to vote on whether the material collected by the House would be valid in the trial.

Trump is the fourth of 45 American presidents to face an impeachment hearing. Allegedly, Trump had approached Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky to investigate his political rival Joe Biden, and stopping an enquiry into his whataboutery.

The Democrats claim that by withholding US military aid to Ukraine, Trump abused his power. 
 
Additionally, he allegedly obstructed Congress by denying access to documents and withholding testimonies from administration officials, and this was after the House had already issued a subpoena.&nbsp;

<h6><img alt="pppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6d6cb370-1219-4c8b-ad02-3d5b7dd1a69d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_59.jpg" /> 
US President Donald Trump departs the White House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2020 to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

Trump's defence has reiterated that neither of the charges constitutes a crime or an impeachable offence, and that, as president, Trump has the rights to make foreign policy decisions as well as for deciding what information he gives to Congress. Additionally, his team called it a one-sided process.

Based on the defence memo, the theory of the abuse of power&nbsp;is not an impeachable offence and needs supplementary support from the US constitution's stature pertaining to ''Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanours''.

The memo also referred to the obstruction of Congress charge as ''frivolous and dangerous''.

The discourse of Trump's innocence and a rigged process was the memo's highlight, which suggested that this was an attempt to overturn Trump's 2016 victory and undemocratic. 
 
It's imperative to note that the Senate is highly unlikely to remove Trump office.

Read more: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-73-donald-trump-says-he-is-physically-strong-and-gets-more-exercise-than-people-think-275326">At 73, Donald Trump says he is 'physically strong' and gets 'more exercise than people think'</a>

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The United States President Donald Trump yesterday rejected the impeachment charges against him and called for their immediate dismissal by the Senate, where the case is due very soon.

The United States President Donald Trump yesterday rejected the impeachment charges against him and called for their immediate dismissal by the Senate, where the case is due very soon. The Democratic-led House of Representatives' had charged Trump with the abuse of power and the obstruction of Congress. Trump's 116-page-long Trial Memorandum is his first official defence against the charges. Watch: Senate begins trial on Donald Trump's impeachment "The Senate should reject the Articles of Impeachment and acquit the president immediately," the memo mentioned. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnel had recently put forward rules to facilitate a quick impeachment trial, and offered no guarantee of admission of new witnesses and evidence. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (C) is handed a document while signing the articles of impeachment of US President Donald Trump during an engrossment ceremony on Capitol Hill January 15, 2020, in Washington, DC. The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to transmit articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate, opening the way for the historic trial of the 45th president for abuse of power | AFP The resolution could face a vote today, with Trump's lawyers intending to seek dismissal of all charges. According to the proposal put forth by the Republicans, the Senate is expected to vote on whether the material collected by the House would be valid in the trial. Trump is the fourth of 45 American presidents to face an impeachment hearing. Allegedly, Trump had approached Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky to investigate his political rival Joe Biden, and stopping an enquiry into his whataboutery. The Democrats claim that by withholding US military aid to Ukraine, Trump abused his power. Additionally, he allegedly obstructed Congress by denying access to documents and withholding testimonies from administration officials, and this was after the House had already issued a subpoena. US President Donald Trump departs the White House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2020 to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos | AFP Trump's defence has reiterated that neither of the charges constitutes a crime or an impeachable offence, and that, as president, Trump has the rights to make foreign policy decisions as well as for deciding what information he gives to Congress. Additionally, his team called it a one-sided process. Based on the defence memo, the theory of the abuse of power is not an impeachable offence and needs supplementary support from the US constitution's stature pertaining to ''Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanours''. The memo also referred to the obstruction of Congress charge as ''frivolous and dangerous''. The discourse of Trump's innocence and a rigged process was the memo's highlight, which suggested that this was an attempt to overturn Trump's 2016 victory and undemocratic. It's imperative to note that the Senate is highly unlikely to remove Trump office. Read more: At 73, Donald Trump says he is 'physically strong' and gets 'more exercise than people think' (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump's impeachment trial to begin in US Senate, his defence team calls for immediate acquittal

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday assailed environmental "prophets of doom", delivering an uncompromising message in Davos after Swedish teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg slammed government inaction on the climate crisis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-power-of-youth-greta-thunberg-named-time-magazines-person-of-the-year-267728">Thunberg </a>was in the audience in the Swiss Alps to hear a typically bullish speech by Trump, delivered just before the start of his Senate impeachment trial in Washington. The 50th meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) got underway in the ski resort with an avowed focus on climate change but with starkly different visions over global warming laid bare.

"We must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse," said Trump, growling that "they want to see us do badly". 
He claimed that "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/greta-thunberg-joined-by-thousands-of-swiss-activist-in-climate-march-275084">alarmists</a>" had been wrong on previous occasions by predicting population crisis, mass starvation and the end of oil.

Trump-branded those warnings of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-davos-summit-greta-thunberg-calls-for-real-climate-action-274917">out-of-control global warming</a> and other environmental disasters "the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers". 
Trump told reporters later that his Davos trip was devoted to meeting "the most important people in the world and we're bringing back tremendous business".

Before Trump's appearance,&nbsp;Thunberg underlined the message that has inspired millions around the world, saying "basically nothing has been done" to fight climate change. "It will require much more than this. This is just the very beginning," the 17-year-old said. Speaking calmly and with a wry smile, Thunberg acknowledged that her campaign which began with school strikes had attracted huge attention without yet achieving concrete change. "There is a difference between being heard to actually leading to something," she said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thunberg-changes-required-are-nowhere-in-sight-267938">Thunberg: changes required are nowhere in sight</a>

While the WEF and individual business leaders have been detailing their concerns about climate change, Greenpeace complained in a new report that some of the world's biggest banks, insurers, and pension funds have collectively invested $1.4 trillion in fossil fuel companies since the Paris climate deal in 2016.

Trump in his speech reeled off a list of achievements for the American economy and touted the United States as the "number one producer of oil and natural gas".

There&nbsp;are no expectations that Trump and Thunberg, who have exchanged barbs through Twitter, would meet, but the crowded venue and intense schedule mean a chance encounter cannot be ruled out. When Trump and his entourage walked through UN headquarters last year at the annual General Assembly, a photo of the teenager staring in apparent fury at the president from the sidelines went viral.

Although Trump's Republican party holds a majority in the Senate and is almost sure to acquit him on charges of abusing his power and obstructing Congress, the impeachment adds volatility to an already tense 2020 presidential election. "We will never let radical socialists destroy our economy," said Trump, apparently referring to his Democratic party opponents ahead of the presidential election in November.

'Governments continue to fail'

Sustainability is the buzzword at the Davos forum, which began in 1971, with heel crampons handed out to participants to encourage them to walk on the icy streets rather than used cars, and the signage paint made out of seaweed. Trump's opposition to renewable energy, his withdrawal from the Paris accord negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, and the freehand extended to the fossil fuel industry put him at odds with the thrust of this year's event.

"People are paying a lot more attention" to climate, Eurasia Group president Ian Bremner said at Davos, adding there was "genuine action by some big players" after investment titan BlackRock said it was partially divesting out of coal. "But let's be clear -- a big part of this is because we failed for a very long time and governments continue to fail," he added.

Business leaders are likely also to be concerned by the state of the global economy whose prospects, according to the International Monetary Fund, have improved but remain brittle. The IMF cut its global growth estimate for 2020 to 3.3 per cent, saying that a recent truce in the trade war between China and the US had brought some stability but that risks remained.

Activists meanwhile will be pressing for much more concrete action to fight inequality, after Oxfam issued a report outlining how the number of billionaires has doubled in the past decade and the world's 22 richest men now have more wealth than all the women in Africa.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday assailed environmental "prophets of doom", delivering an uncompromising message in Davos after Swedish teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg slammed government inaction on the climate crisis.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday assailed environmental "prophets of doom", delivering an uncompromising message in Davos after Swedish teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg slammed government inaction on the climate crisis. Thunberg was in the audience in the Swiss Alps to hear a typically bullish speech by Trump, delivered just before the start of his Senate impeachment trial in Washington. The 50th meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) got underway in the ski resort with an avowed focus on climate change but with starkly different visions over global warming laid bare. "We must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse," said Trump, growling that "they want to see us do badly". He claimed that "alarmists" had been wrong on previous occasions by predicting population crisis, mass starvation and the end of oil. Trump-branded those warnings of out-of-control global warming and other environmental disasters "the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers". Trump told reporters later that his Davos trip was devoted to meeting "the most important people in the world and we're bringing back tremendous business". Before Trump's appearance, Thunberg underlined the message that has inspired millions around the world, saying "basically nothing has been done" to fight climate change. "It will require much more than this. This is just the very beginning," the 17-year-old said. Speaking calmly and with a wry smile, Thunberg acknowledged that her campaign which began with school strikes had attracted huge attention without yet achieving concrete change. "There is a difference between being heard to actually leading to something," she said. Also Read: Thunberg: changes required are nowhere in sight While the WEF and individual business leaders have been detailing their concerns about climate change, Greenpeace complained in a new report that some of the world's biggest banks, insurers, and pension funds have collectively invested $1.4 trillion in fossil fuel companies since the Paris climate deal in 2016. Trump in his speech reeled off a list of achievements for the American economy and touted the United States as the "number one producer of oil and natural gas". There are no expectations that Trump and Thunberg, who have exchanged barbs through Twitter, would meet, but the crowded venue and intense schedule mean a chance encounter cannot be ruled out. When Trump and his entourage walked through UN headquarters last year at the annual General Assembly, a photo of the teenager staring in apparent fury at the president from the sidelines went viral. Although Trump's Republican party holds a majority in the Senate and is almost sure to acquit him on charges of abusing his power and obstructing Congress, the impeachment adds volatility to an already tense 2020 presidential election. "We will never let radical socialists destroy our economy," said Trump, apparently referring to his Democratic party opponents ahead of the presidential election in November. 'Governments continue to fail' Sustainability is the buzzword at the Davos forum, which began in 1971, with heel crampons handed out to participants to encourage them to walk on the icy streets rather than used cars, and the signage paint made out of seaweed. Trump's opposition to renewable energy, his withdrawal from the Paris accord negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, and the freehand extended to the fossil fuel industry put him at odds with the thrust of this year's event. "People are paying a lot more attention" to climate, Eurasia Group president Ian Bremner said at Davos, adding there was "genuine action by some big players" after investment titan BlackRock said it was partially divesting out of coal. "But let's be clear -- a big part of this is because we failed for a very long time and governments continue to fail," he added. Business leaders are likely also to be concerned by the state of the global economy whose prospects, according to the International Monetary Fund, have improved but remain brittle. The IMF cut its global growth estimate for 2020 to 3.3 per cent, saying that a recent truce in the trade war between China and the US had brought some stability but that risks remained. Activists meanwhile will be pressing for much more concrete action to fight inequality, after Oxfam issued a report outlining how the number of billionaires has doubled in the past decade and the world's 22 richest men now have more wealth than all the women in Africa.

Trump rejects climate 'prophets of doom' as Thunberg warns Davos

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the current US - Japan security treaty with a call for a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-abe-discusses-iran-north-korea-in-call-with-trump-report-269505">stronger and deeper alliance</a> between the two countries, despite criticising the pact six months ago.

"I am confident that in the months and years ahead, Japan's contributions to our <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-japan-to-hike-payments-for-us-troops-to-8-billion-foreign-policy-262592">mutual security</a> will continue to grow, and the alliance will continue to thrive."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-us-reiterate-unshakeable-commitment-to-security-treaty-274935">Japan, US reiterate 'unshakeable commitment' to security treaty</a>

<img alt="Shinzo Abe and Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88d806ea-b691-425a-ae06-f2d716b891d3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_21.jpg" /> 
[ Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Donald Trump (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

In June last year, Trump told a news conference in Japan that the 1960 treaty - which was signed exactly six decades ago on Sunday, and is the linchpin of Japan's defense policies - was "unfair" and should be changed, echoing his long-held view that Japan is a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-donald-trump-said-us-japan-trade-deal-is-a-game-changer-254372">free-rider on defense</a>.

Trump at the time added he was not thinking of withdrawing from the pact.

The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its US-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by the United States to project power in Asia.

The treaty was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi. Kishi was forced to step down afterwards following a public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would pull their country into conflict.

&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the current US - Japan security treaty with a call for a stronger and deeper alliance between the two countries, despite criticising the pact six months ago.

US President Donald Trump marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the current US - Japan security treaty with a call for a stronger and deeper alliance between the two countries, despite criticising the pact six months ago. "I am confident that in the months and years ahead, Japan's contributions to our mutual security will continue to grow, and the alliance will continue to thrive." Also Read: Japan, US reiterate 'unshakeable commitment' to security treaty [ Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Donald Trump (Courtesy: Reuters) ] In June last year, Trump told a news conference in Japan that the 1960 treaty - which was signed exactly six decades ago on Sunday, and is the linchpin of Japan's defense policies - was "unfair" and should be changed, echoing his long-held view that Japan is a free-rider on defense. Trump at the time added he was not thinking of withdrawing from the pact. The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its US-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by the United States to project power in Asia. The treaty was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi. Kishi was forced to step down afterwards following a public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would pull their country into conflict.

Trump marks US-Japan security pact with call for stronger, deeper alliance

In a 111-page document filed before <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trumps-impeachment-trial-officialy-gets-underway-274778">Trump's Senate trial begins</a> in earnest on Tuesday, the lawmakers laid out their arguments supporting charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress against the president.

"The Senate should convict and remove President Trump to avoid serious and long term damage to our democratic values and the nation's security," the lawmakers said, for the first time formally calling for the Senate to convict the president and remove him from office.

"The case against the president of the United States is simple, the facts are indisputable, and the evidence is overwhelming," they said.

<img alt="45th US President Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f783268-83a5-4d7a-bb4d-8d51e494d17d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_13.jpg" /> 
[US President Donald Trump (Courtesy: WION Web Team) ]

The document was an appeal directly to the senators to be impartial. "History will judge each senator's willingness to rise above partisan differences, view the facts honestly and defend the Constitution," the managers said in a statement noting "the President is not a king."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impeachment-dream-team-meet-us-president-trumps-star-studded-legal-team-274978">Trump's legal team</a> issued a resounding rejection of the impeachment charges, which were read out in the Senate earlier in the week during formalities setting the stage for the trial. They are expected to release a longer, separate response to the Democrats' pretrial brief on Monday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazen-and-unlawful-donald-trumps-legal-team-rejects-impeachment-charges-275143">'Brazen and unlawful': Donald Trump's legal team rejects impeachment charges</a>

<img alt="File Photo: Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0c15c550-c635-4775-8c64-91e5c2ebf1f2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_15.jpg" /> 
[President of the United States,&nbsp;Donald Trump (Courtesy: WION Web Team) ]

Rejecting the charges, Trump's lawyers reiterated the president's insistence, echoed by many of his fellow Republicans in Congress, that the charges are nothing more than a partisan attempt to remove him from office, a "dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president."

"This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election -&nbsp;now just months away," they argued in a six-page document released on Saturday.

It was the first time Trump formally responded to the two articles of impeachment - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - that the Democratic-led House approved late last year.

Trump and Democratic lawmakers offered dueling arguments about the politically polarizing impeachment case involving Trump's attempt to persuade Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden last year.

"President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment," the Trump lawyers' document said.

As well as the charge of abuse of office for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden, Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress in its investigation into his conduct by refusing to hand over documents and barring administration officials from testifying, even when subpoenaed by House investigators.

<img alt="File Photo: Donald Trump, 45th US President" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="887e6be4-d9e9-44b0-a81b-42164f1c2489" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%289%29_17.jpg" /> 
[ Donald Trump, 45th US President (CourtesyL WION Web Team) ]

The document filed by the Democratic House impeachment managers on Saturday explained why the House passed the two articles of impeachment, and listed evidence supporting the charges.

The evidence included references to information released in the past few days from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who was involved in Giuliani's contacts with Ukraine's government.

It also included a finding on Thursday by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) that Trump broke the law when he withheld military aid that Congress had designated for Ukraine. Trump is charged with withholding the $391 million in security assistance to put pressure on Kiev to announce an investigation of the Bidens, to boost his 2020 re-election prospects.

“An acquittal would also provide license to President Trump and his successors to use taxpayer dollars for personal political ends,” the Democratic lawmakers' brief said.

Trump has denied wrongdoing.

The trial in the Republican-led Senate is unlikely to lead to Trump's ouster, as no Republican senators have voiced support for doing so and a two-thirds majority vote is required to convict.

Trump, at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, for the weekend, played a round of golf on Saturday.

The Trump lawyers, in their document, argued that the president acted at all times with full constitutional legal authority, said one of three sources close to Trump's legal team who briefed reporters on a conference call on Saturday.

"We will take the facts head-on and we believe that the facts will prove, and have proven, that the president did absolutely nothing wrong," the source said.

In a 111-page document filed before Trump's Senate trial begins in earnest on Tuesday, the lawmakers laid out their arguments supporting charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress against the president.

In a 111-page document filed before Trump's Senate trial begins in earnest on Tuesday, the lawmakers laid out their arguments supporting charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress against the president. "The Senate should convict and remove President Trump to avoid serious and long term damage to our democratic values and the nation's security," the lawmakers said, for the first time formally calling for the Senate to convict the president and remove him from office. "The case against the president of the United States is simple, the facts are indisputable, and the evidence is overwhelming," they said. [US President Donald Trump (Courtesy: WION Web Team) ] The document was an appeal directly to the senators to be impartial. "History will judge each senator's willingness to rise above partisan differences, view the facts honestly and defend the Constitution," the managers said in a statement noting "the President is not a king." Trump's legal team issued a resounding rejection of the impeachment charges, which were read out in the Senate earlier in the week during formalities setting the stage for the trial. They are expected to release a longer, separate response to the Democrats' pretrial brief on Monday. Also Read: 'Brazen and unlawful': Donald Trump's legal team rejects impeachment charges [President of the United States, Donald Trump (Courtesy: WION Web Team) ] Rejecting the charges, Trump's lawyers reiterated the president's insistence, echoed by many of his fellow Republicans in Congress, that the charges are nothing more than a partisan attempt to remove him from office, a "dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president." "This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election - now just months away," they argued in a six-page document released on Saturday. It was the first time Trump formally responded to the two articles of impeachment - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - that the Democratic-led House approved late last year. Trump and Democratic lawmakers offered dueling arguments about the politically polarizing impeachment case involving Trump's attempt to persuade Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden last year. "President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment," the Trump lawyers' document said. As well as the charge of abuse of office for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden, Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress in its investigation into his conduct by refusing to hand over documents and barring administration officials from testifying, even when subpoenaed by House investigators. [ Donald Trump, 45th US President (CourtesyL WION Web Team) ] The document filed by the Democratic House impeachment managers on Saturday explained why the House passed the two articles of impeachment, and listed evidence supporting the charges. The evidence included references to information released in the past few days from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who was involved in Giuliani's contacts with Ukraine's government. It also included a finding on Thursday by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) that Trump broke the law when he withheld military aid that Congress had designated for Ukraine. Trump is charged with withholding the $391 million in security assistance to put pressure on Kiev to announce an investigation of the Bidens, to boost his 2020 re-election prospects. “An acquittal would also provide license to President Trump and his successors to use taxpayer dollars for personal political ends,” the Democratic lawmakers' brief said. Trump has denied wrongdoing. The trial in the Republican-led Senate is unlikely to lead to Trump's ouster, as no Republican senators have voiced support for doing so and a two-thirds majority vote is required to convict. Trump, at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, for the weekend, played a round of golf on Saturday. The Trump lawyers, in their document, argued that the president acted at all times with full constitutional legal authority, said one of three sources close to Trump's legal team who briefed reporters on a conference call on Saturday. "We will take the facts head-on and we believe that the facts will prove, and have proven, that the president did absolutely nothing wrong," the source said.

In impeachment document, Democrats say Trump endangers security, president denies

Japan and the United States on Friday lauded the decades-old security treaty that is the bedrock of their alliance, but which US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has criticised as "unfair" and imbalanced.

The comments from the two countries' top diplomatic officials marked the 60th anniversary of the current treaty, which was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi.

"While honouring the achievements of the past 60 years, we reiterate our unshakeable commitment to strengthen the Alliance and to uphold our common values and principles towards the future," said a joint statement by Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Taro Kono, and US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Mark Secretary Esper.

The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its US-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by Washington to project power deep into Asia.

Kishi was forced to resign afterwards following a huge public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would suck their country into conflict.

Echoing his long-held view that Japan is a free-rider on defense, Trump last June told a news conference in Japan that the treaty was "unfair" and should be changed, at a time when China is flexing its regional military muscle and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes.

Abe since taking office in 2012 has boosted Japan's defence spending by 10 per cent&nbsp;after years of decline and in a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two.

But public wariness about putting troops in harm's way and fear of entanglement in US-led wars has hampered Abe's push to revise the postwar constitution's pacifist Article 9.

Article 9, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been interpreted to allow armed forces for self-defence.

Although generally supportive of the alliance, Japanese voters remain concerned about entanglement in US-led conflicts. A recent survey by Kyodo news agency showed 58.4 per cent&nbsp;opposed Tokyo's decision to send forces to the Middle East to help ensure the safety of merchant ships.

Trump's administration has also pushed for Japan to pay more for US&nbsp;forces stationed in the country. Under an agreement reached in 2015, Japan pledged to boost its spending for US&nbsp;forces stationed there by 1.4 per cent&nbsp;over the following five years to 189.3 billion yen per year on average.

Japan and the United States on Friday lauded the decades-old security treaty that is the bedrock of their alliance, but which US President Donald Trump has criticised as "unfair" and imbalanced.

Japan and the United States on Friday lauded the decades-old security treaty that is the bedrock of their alliance, but which US President Donald Trump has criticised as "unfair" and imbalanced. The comments from the two countries' top diplomatic officials marked the 60th anniversary of the current treaty, which was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi. "While honouring the achievements of the past 60 years, we reiterate our unshakeable commitment to strengthen the Alliance and to uphold our common values and principles towards the future," said a joint statement by Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Taro Kono, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Mark Secretary Esper. The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its US-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by Washington to project power deep into Asia. Kishi was forced to resign afterwards following a huge public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would suck their country into conflict. Echoing his long-held view that Japan is a free-rider on defense, Trump last June told a news conference in Japan that the treaty was "unfair" and should be changed, at a time when China is flexing its regional military muscle and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes. Abe since taking office in 2012 has boosted Japan's defence spending by 10 per cent after years of decline and in a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two. But public wariness about putting troops in harm's way and fear of entanglement in US-led wars has hampered Abe's push to revise the postwar constitution's pacifist Article 9. Article 9, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been interpreted to allow armed forces for self-defence. Although generally supportive of the alliance, Japanese voters remain concerned about entanglement in US-led conflicts. A recent survey by Kyodo news agency showed 58.4 per cent opposed Tokyo's decision to send forces to the Middle East to help ensure the safety of merchant ships. Trump's administration has also pushed for Japan to pay more for US forces stationed in the country. Under an agreement reached in 2015, Japan pledged to boost its spending for US forces stationed there by 1.4 per cent over the following five years to 189.3 billion yen per year on average.

Japan, US reiterate 'unshakeable commitment' to security treaty

Six Democratic hopefuls are sharing a platform for the principal discussion of the new year and the last before the much-awaited Iowa caucuses.

The discussion on the grounds of Drake University highlights four of the six competitors driving the enormous presidential pack: Ex-Vice President Joe Biden; 32nd Mayor of South Bend Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg; and Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trumps-impeachment-what-happens-next-274216">Also read: US President Donald Trump's impeachment —&nbsp;What happens next</a>

The first choosing challenge of the essential, the Iowa caucuses, will happen over the state only half a month later on February 3.

For the US President, Wisconsin is a crucial state. Traditionally, the state has gone to the Democrats.But in 2016, Trump carried Wisconsin by fewer than 23,000 votes.

But the democrats feel they can reclaim the state in 2020. Which is why Trump is scheduled to make frequent visits to Wisconsin in the coming months.

There were a couple of protests outside the University of Wisconsin where Trump is holding his rally.

He aimed at the Democrats saying they were impeaching him for giving America its greatest ever economy.

Over in Iowa, 6 democrats are vying to challenge trump later this year.

The last Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses started just a while back.

All eyes will, of course, be on the top 3 contenders -- Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

In the aftermath of Qasem Soleimani's killing, foreign affairs are expected to figure prominently in the debate.

Sanders versus warren is the fight to watch out for.

The debate is happening in the backdrop of Elizabeth warren's allegation that sanders told her that a woman could not win the Democratic nomination and defeat Donald Trump.

Sanders has categorically denied the allegations.At some point in the debate, this issue might also play out between the two left-leaning candidates.

Six Democratic hopefuls are sharing a platform for the principal discussion of the new year and the last before the much-awaited Iowa caucuses. The discussion on the grounds of Drake University highlights four of the six competitors driving the enormous presidential pack: Ex-Vice President Joe Biden; 32nd Mayor of South Bend Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg; and Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Six Democratic hopefuls are sharing a platform for the principal discussion of the new year and the last before the much-awaited Iowa caucuses. The discussion on the grounds of Drake University highlights four of the six competitors driving the enormous presidential pack: Ex-Vice President Joe Biden; 32nd Mayor of South Bend Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg; and Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Also read: US President Donald Trump's impeachment — What happens next The first choosing challenge of the essential, the Iowa caucuses, will happen over the state only half a month later on February 3. For the US President, Wisconsin is a crucial state. Traditionally, the state has gone to the Democrats.But in 2016, Trump carried Wisconsin by fewer than 23,000 votes. But the democrats feel they can reclaim the state in 2020. Which is why Trump is scheduled to make frequent visits to Wisconsin in the coming months. There were a couple of protests outside the University of Wisconsin where Trump is holding his rally. He aimed at the Democrats saying they were impeaching him for giving America its greatest ever economy. Over in Iowa, 6 democrats are vying to challenge trump later this year. The last Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses started just a while back. All eyes will, of course, be on the top 3 contenders -- Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. In the aftermath of Qasem Soleimani's killing, foreign affairs are expected to figure prominently in the debate. Sanders versus warren is the fight to watch out for. The debate is happening in the backdrop of Elizabeth warren's allegation that sanders told her that a woman could not win the Democratic nomination and defeat Donald Trump. Sanders has categorically denied the allegations.At some point in the debate, this issue might also play out between the two left-leaning candidates.

Democratic debate: Six candidates face off in Iowa's capital city Des Moines

US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../us-prez-donald-trump-holds-rally-in-wisconsin- 274347">Donald Trump</a> has joined the chorus for weakening device encryptions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-backs-sanders-in-row-with-warren-over-prospect-of-female-us-president-274374">Trump backs Sanders in row with Warren over prospect of female US president</a>

And on his radar, this time is the technology giant Apple.

Also see-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/democratic-debate-in-iowa-274401">Democratic Debate in Iowa</a>

Trump asked Apple to help the federal agencies unlock phones that are used by criminals something that Apple has refused to do.

He said that his government had consistently helped apple in trade matters and so it was time for Apple to reciprocate.

The US president in his tweet, said:&nbsp;"We are helping Apple all of the time on trade&nbsp;and so many other issues, and yet they refuse to unlock phones used by killers, drug dealers and other violent criminal elements. They will have to step up to the plate and help our great Country, Now! Make America great again."

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We are helping Apple all of the time on TRADE and so many other issues, and yet they refuse to unlock phones used by killers, drug dealers and other violent criminal elements. They will have to step up to the plate and help our great Country, NOW! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1217228960964038658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump's latest comments came after attorney general William Barr said that Apple "refused to cooperate"&nbsp;in the Florida shooting case involving a Saudi gunman.

Apple says that they offered all the necessary data to the FBI, including cloud data and back-ups.

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But they have consistently denied easing encryption levels for law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;In a statement issued on Monday, the company said there would be no backdoor entry for the good guys.

This is the latest instance in a long stand-off between Apple and the American government.&nbsp;Back in 2015, a terrorist attack in San Bernardino claimed the lives of 14 people.&nbsp;The FBI obtained a court order asking Apple to unlock the attacker's I-phone.

But Apple did not comply, and the FBI ended up using a private company to bypass the encryption.

Apple had a stand-off with the Obama administration over the same problem, and now it has spilt over to the Trump regime.

Tech companies like Apple and Google argue that weaker encryption will jeopardize billions of devices across the world.

But US Senate in December warned that if tech companies do not cooperate with law enforcement, they would introduce laws to regulate encryption.

Even in India, the government is fighting a battle with tech giants over encryption.

The Indian government argued that a terrorist cannot have privacy in India, and so phones belonging to criminals must be decrypted by the parent companies.

The disputes reached the Supreme Court, where Facebook argued that it was not legally bound to share data with the Indian government.

The company said it was open to the government decrypting messages by itself, but not to wilfully sharing user data.&nbsp;The case is a reminder of an earlier row between Facebook and the Indian government&nbsp;over WhatsApp decryption row.

US President Donald Trump has joined the chorus for weakening device encryptions. Also read: Trump backs Sanders in row with Warren over prospect of female US president And on his radar, this time is the technology giant Apple.

US President Donald Trump has joined the chorus for weakening device encryptions. Also read: Trump backs Sanders in row with Warren over prospect of female US president And on his radar, this time is the technology giant Apple. Also see- Democratic Debate in Iowa Trump asked Apple to help the federal agencies unlock phones that are used by criminals something that Apple has refused to do. He said that his government had consistently helped apple in trade matters and so it was time for Apple to reciprocate. The US president in his tweet, said: "We are helping Apple all of the time on trade and so many other issues, and yet they refuse to unlock phones used by killers, drug dealers and other violent criminal elements. They will have to step up to the plate and help our great Country, Now! Make America great again." We are helping Apple all of the time on TRADE and so many other issues, and yet they refuse to unlock phones used by killers, drug dealers and other violent criminal elements. They will have to step up to the plate and help our great Country, NOW! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2020 × Trump's latest comments came after attorney general William Barr said that Apple "refused to cooperate" in the Florida shooting case involving a Saudi gunman. Apple says that they offered all the necessary data to the FBI, including cloud data and back-ups. × But they have consistently denied easing encryption levels for law enforcement agencies. In a statement issued on Monday, the company said there would be no backdoor entry for the good guys. This is the latest instance in a long stand-off between Apple and the American government. Back in 2015, a terrorist attack in San Bernardino claimed the lives of 14 people. The FBI obtained a court order asking Apple to unlock the attacker's I-phone. But Apple did not comply, and the FBI ended up using a private company to bypass the encryption. Apple had a stand-off with the Obama administration over the same problem, and now it has spilt over to the Trump regime. Tech companies like Apple and Google argue that weaker encryption will jeopardize billions of devices across the world. But US Senate in December warned that if tech companies do not cooperate with law enforcement, they would introduce laws to regulate encryption. Even in India, the government is fighting a battle with tech giants over encryption. The Indian government argued that a terrorist cannot have privacy in India, and so phones belonging to criminals must be decrypted by the parent companies. The disputes reached the Supreme Court, where Facebook argued that it was not legally bound to share data with the Indian government. The company said it was open to the government decrypting messages by itself, but not to wilfully sharing user data. The case is a reminder of an earlier row between Facebook and the Indian government over WhatsApp decryption row.

We help Apple on trade, yet they refuse to unlock phones used by killers: Trump

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../india-to-tweak-proposed-content-regulations-to- ease-burden-on-some-sources-272997">Facebook</a>&nbsp;Inc said on Thursday it was making&nbsp;some&nbsp;changes to its approach to&nbsp;political&nbsp;ads, including allowing&nbsp;users&nbsp;to turn off certain ad-targeting tools, but the updates stop far short of critics' demands and what rival companies have pledged to do.

The world's biggest social network has vowed to curb&nbsp;political&nbsp;manipulation of its platform, after failing to counter alleged Russian interference and the misuse of user data by defunct&nbsp;political&nbsp;consulting firm <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../brazil-fines-facebook-16-million-for-improper- sharing-of-user-data-271120">Cambridge Analytica</a> in 2016.

But&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../three-swing-district-democrats-back-joe-bidens- presidential-bid-272511">US&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;election</a>&nbsp;in November 2020,&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;is struggling to quell criticism of its relatively hands-off&nbsp;ads&nbsp;policies. In particular, it has come under fire after it exempted politicians'&nbsp;ads&nbsp;from fact-checking standards applied to other content on its network.

Facebook&nbsp;said that in addition to rolling out a tool enabling individual&nbsp;users&nbsp;to choose to&nbsp;see&nbsp;fewer&nbsp;political&nbsp;and social issue&nbsp;ads&nbsp;on&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;and its photo-sharing app Instagram, it will also make more ad audience data publicly available.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-executive-says-it-helped-put-trump-in-white-house-272838">Facebook executive says it helped put Trump in White House</a>

In contrast, Twitter Inc banned&nbsp;political&nbsp;ads&nbsp;in October, while Alphabet Inc's Google said it would stop letting advertisers target&nbsp;election&nbsp;ads&nbsp;using data such as public voter records and general&nbsp;political&nbsp;affiliations.

Other online platforms like Spotify, Pinterest and TikTok have also issued bans.

In a blog post,&nbsp;Facebook's director of product management Rob Leathern said the company considered imposing limits like Google's but decided against them as internal data indicated most&nbsp;ads&nbsp;run by&nbsp;US&nbsp;presidential candidates are broadly targeted, at audiences larger than 250,000 people.

"We have based (our policies) on the principle that people should be able to hear from those who wish to lead them, warts and all," Leathern wrote.

The expanded ad audience data features will be rolled out in the first quarter of this year and&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;plans to deploy the&nbsp;political&nbsp;ads&nbsp;control&nbsp;starting in the United States early this summer, eventually expanding this preference to more locations.

Another change will be to allow&nbsp;users&nbsp;to choose to stop&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;ads&nbsp;based on an advertiser's "Custom Audience" and that will apply to all types of advertising, not only&nbsp;political&nbsp;ads.

The "Custom Audiences" feature lets advertisers upload lists of personal data they maintain, like email addresses and phone numbers.&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;then matches that information to user accounts and shows the advertiser's content to those people.

However,&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;will not give&nbsp;users&nbsp;a blanket option to turn off the feature, meaning they will have to opt-out of&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;ads&nbsp;for each advertiser one by one, a spokesman told Reuters.

The change will also not affect ad targeting via&nbsp;Facebook's Lookalike Audiences tool, which uses the same uploads&nbsp;of personal data to direct&nbsp;ads&nbsp;at people with similar characteristics to those on the lists, the spokesman said.

Leathern said in the post the company would make new information publicly available about the audience size of&nbsp;political&nbsp;ads&nbsp;in the company's Ad Library, showing approximately&nbsp;how&nbsp;many people the advertisers aimed to reach.

The changes follow a New York Times report this week of an internal memo by senior&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;executive Andrew Bosworth, who told employees the company had a duty not to tilt the scales against&nbsp;US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../could-iran-us-tensions-mean-troubled-waters- ahead-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-273207">Donald Trump</a>'s re-election&nbsp;campaign.

Bosworth, a close confidant of Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg who subsequently made his post public, wrote that he believed&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;was responsible for Trump's&nbsp;election&nbsp;in 2016, but not because of misinformation or Trump's work with Cambridge Analytica.

Rather, he said, the Trump campaign used&nbsp;Facebook's advertising tools most effectively.

&nbsp;

Facebook Inc said on Thursday it was making some changes to its approach to political ads, including allowing users to turn off certain ad-targeting tools, but the updates stop far short of critics' demands and what rival companies have pledged to do.

Facebook Inc said on Thursday it was making some changes to its approach to political ads, including allowing users to turn off certain ad-targeting tools, but the updates stop far short of critics' demands and what rival companies have pledged to do. The world's biggest social network has vowed to curb political manipulation of its platform, after failing to counter alleged Russian interference and the misuse of user data by defunct political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica in 2016. But ahead of the US presidential election in November 2020, Facebook is struggling to quell criticism of its relatively hands-off ads policies. In particular, it has come under fire after it exempted politicians' ads from fact-checking standards applied to other content on its network. Facebook said that in addition to rolling out a tool enabling individual users to choose to see fewer political and social issue ads on Facebook and its photo-sharing app Instagram, it will also make more ad audience data publicly available. Also Read: Facebook executive says it helped put Trump in White House In contrast, Twitter Inc banned political ads in October, while Alphabet Inc's Google said it would stop letting advertisers target election ads using data such as public voter records and general political affiliations. Other online platforms like Spotify, Pinterest and TikTok have also issued bans. In a blog post, Facebook's director of product management Rob Leathern said the company considered imposing limits like Google's but decided against them as internal data indicated most ads run by US presidential candidates are broadly targeted, at audiences larger than 250,000 people. "We have based (our policies) on the principle that people should be able to hear from those who wish to lead them, warts and all," Leathern wrote. The expanded ad audience data features will be rolled out in the first quarter of this year and Facebook plans to deploy the political ads control starting in the United States early this summer, eventually expanding this preference to more locations. Another change will be to allow users to choose to stop seeing ads based on an advertiser's "Custom Audience" and that will apply to all types of advertising, not only political ads. The "Custom Audiences" feature lets advertisers upload lists of personal data they maintain, like email addresses and phone numbers. Facebook then matches that information to user accounts and shows the advertiser's content to those people. However, Facebook will not give users a blanket option to turn off the feature, meaning they will have to opt-out of seeing ads for each advertiser one by one, a spokesman told Reuters. The change will also not affect ad targeting via Facebook's Lookalike Audiences tool, which uses the same uploads of personal data to direct ads at people with similar characteristics to those on the lists, the spokesman said. Leathern said in the post the company would make new information publicly available about the audience size of political ads in the company's Ad Library, showing approximately how many people the advertisers aimed to reach. The changes follow a New York Times report this week of an internal memo by senior Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth, who told employees the company had a duty not to tilt the scales against US President Donald Trump's re-election campaign. Bosworth, a close confidant of Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg who subsequently made his post public, wrote that he believed Facebook was responsible for Trump's election in 2016, but not because of misinformation or Trump's work with Cambridge Analytica. Rather, he said, the Trump campaign used Facebook's advertising tools most effectively.

Ahead of US election, Facebook gives users some control over how they see political ads

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed the nation from &nbsp;White House after Iran fired ballistic missiles on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-its-time-for-iraqi-response-to-us-drone-strike-says-paramilitary-chief-qais-al-khazali-272966">US airbases in Iraq </a>targeting Al-Asad and Irbil.

Trump, in a nationally televised address from the White House, said that these missile attacks had not harmed any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanted to de-escalate a standoff.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-fires-missiles-at-us-bases-in-iraq-272811">Also read: Iran fires 'more than a dozen' ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq</a>

"All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases. Our great American forces are prepared for anything. Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world. No American or Iraqi lives were lost," Trump said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/key-facts-about-al-asad-us-air-base-in-iraq-attacked-by-iran-272873">In Pics: Key facts about Al-Asad US air base in Iraq attacked by Iran</a>

"The US Administration will impose new sanctions on Iran in response to the attack," Trump said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-slain-general-soleimani-laid-to-rest-in-hometown-kerman-272814">Also Read: Iran's slain general Soleimani laid to rest in hometown Kerman</a>

He termed these sanctions as 'punishing economic sanctions' against the Iran government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-surge-to-new-high-after-iran-attacks-us-bases-in-iraq-272812">Also Read: Oil prices surge to new high after Iran attacks US bases in Iraq</a>

He did not specify how those sanctions would be applied.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/we-have-slapped-americans-on-the-face-ayatollah-khamenei-273042/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Earlier in the day, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called his country's missile strike on US bases in Iraq a "slap in the face" for America and said that Washington's troops must leave the region.

Khamenei was addressing the public in Teheran just hours after the burial of General Solemani.

"Military action like this is not sufficient. What is important is ending the corrupting presence of America in the region," he said. 
&nbsp; 
"Today Iran is well equipped," Khomeini said, adding, "More people will join the movement and it will spread outside Iran."

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed the nation from White House after Iran fired ballistic missiles on US airbases in Iraq targeting Al-Asad and Irbil.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed the nation from White House after Iran fired ballistic missiles on US airbases in Iraq targeting Al-Asad and Irbil. Trump, in a nationally televised address from the White House, said that these missile attacks had not harmed any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanted to de-escalate a standoff. Also read: Iran fires 'more than a dozen' ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq "All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases. Our great American forces are prepared for anything. Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world. No American or Iraqi lives were lost," Trump said. In Pics: Key facts about Al-Asad US air base in Iraq attacked by Iran "The US Administration will impose new sanctions on Iran in response to the attack," Trump said. Also Read: Iran's slain general Soleimani laid to rest in hometown Kerman He termed these sanctions as 'punishing economic sanctions' against the Iran government. Also Read: Oil prices surge to new high after Iran attacks US bases in Iraq He did not specify how those sanctions would be applied. Watch: Earlier in the day, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called his country's missile strike on US bases in Iraq a "slap in the face" for America and said that Washington's troops must leave the region. Khamenei was addressing the public in Teheran just hours after the burial of General Solemani. "Military action like this is not sufficient. What is important is ending the corrupting presence of America in the region," he said. "Today Iran is well equipped," Khomeini said, adding, "More people will join the movement and it will spread outside Iran." (With inputs from agencies)

Trump says no US troops hurt in Iran strikes, announces new sanctions on Iran

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