US President Trump, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/canada-us-reach-deal-save-nafta-trilateral-trade-pact-168687">Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau</a> and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took part in the signing ceremony to approve the Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Buenos Aires today ahead of the G20 summit.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USMCA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USMCA</a>🇺🇸🇲🇽🇨🇦 <a href="https://t.co/7CYsYBYbd1">https://t.co/7CYsYBYbd1</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1068491952696557575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The deal came about after over a year of negotiations between all three parties aimed at replacing&nbsp;the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA). Canada had reached a deal at the last minute in September, Mexico had already struck a deal with the US earlier.

President Trump had personally pushed for the deal, however, it wasn't without its bottlenecks. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said working with Trump was "not always simple," during the renegotiation stage.

Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had said he was putting Mexico first, saying the deal would be known in Spanish as "T-MEC," after conducting a poll of his Twitter followers.

"T-MEC stands for "Tratado Mexico-Estados Unidos-Canada" which translates as the Mexico-United States-Canada Treaty. More than 102,000 people participated in the poll on the social media site.

Canada, Mexico and the United States had reached the deal on September 30th.

The deal has made sweeping changes in manufacturing and labour requirements in the auto sector. According to the new deal, 75 per cent of auto content be made in the region, increased from 62.5 per cent, and that 40-45 per cent be made by workers earning at least $16 an hour.

Mexico, in turn, agreed to continue to recognise US auto safety standards. USMCA exempts Mexico and Canada autos up to a threshold of 2.6 million vehicles a year, including light trucks.

Canada on its part agreed to open its borders wider to American milk, cheese, cream, butter and other goods and allowed greater import of US chicken, eggs and turkey. The US agreed to keep Canada's demand for keeping Chapter 19 which involves the dispute settlement system.

Under the new agreement, the signatories also allowed equal copyright treatment for writers, composers and others from member countries.

The new agreement also prohibited customs duties for digitally distributed goods namely software and games, e-books, music and movies.&nbsp;

US President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took part in the signing ceremony to approve the Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Buenos Aires today ahead of the G20 summit.

US President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took part in the signing ceremony to approve the Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Buenos Aires today ahead of the G20 summit. #USMCA🇺🇸🇲🇽🇨🇦 https://t.co/7CYsYBYbd1 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2018 × The deal came about after over a year of negotiations between all three parties aimed at replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA). Canada had reached a deal at the last minute in September, Mexico had already struck a deal with the US earlier. President Trump had personally pushed for the deal, however, it wasn't without its bottlenecks. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said working with Trump was "not always simple," during the renegotiation stage. Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had said he was putting Mexico first, saying the deal would be known in Spanish as "T-MEC," after conducting a poll of his Twitter followers. "T-MEC stands for "Tratado Mexico-Estados Unidos-Canada" which translates as the Mexico-United States-Canada Treaty. More than 102,000 people participated in the poll on the social media site. Canada, Mexico and the United States had reached the deal on September 30th. The deal has made sweeping changes in manufacturing and labour requirements in the auto sector. According to the new deal, 75 per cent of auto content be made in the region, increased from 62.5 per cent, and that 40-45 per cent be made by workers earning at least $16 an hour. Mexico, in turn, agreed to continue to recognise US auto safety standards. USMCA exempts Mexico and Canada autos up to a threshold of 2.6 million vehicles a year, including light trucks. Canada on its part agreed to open its borders wider to American milk, cheese, cream, butter and other goods and allowed greater import of US chicken, eggs and turkey. The US agreed to keep Canada's demand for keeping Chapter 19 which involves the dispute settlement system. Under the new agreement, the signatories also allowed equal copyright treatment for writers, composers and others from member countries. The new agreement also prohibited customs duties for digitally distributed goods namely software and games, e-books, music and movies.

G20 summit: Trump, Trudeau and Enrique Pena sign US-Mexico–Canada Agreement, replace NAFTA

President Trump met <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/g20-opens-under-assault-from-trump-on-collective-action-180345">Argentine President Mauricio Macri </a>ahead of the G20 opening at Buenos Aires in Argentina on Friday.

The US president in a nostalgic mood, said: "People wouldn't know that he was a young man, very handsome man and we knew each other very well, and I actually did business with his family, with his father, great father, friend of mine, and I purchased the West Side Railroad Yards and it was a great job, a successful job."

"We're going to be talking about lots of good things for Argentina, for the United States, including trade, including military purchases and other things but we have a lot to talk about," the US president said as he promised to help the Argentinian economy which has been hit by an economic crisis.

"You're my friend long time, great family and you're doing a fantastic job," Trump said.

Just before leaving for the summit on Thursday, Trump in a tweet had said he won't be meeting President Putin due to the ongoing military standoff between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia's foreign ministry said the meeting was cancelled due to due to domestic issues rather than the Ukraine situation

During the G20, Trump will be meeting several world leaders including PM Modi today. All eyes are on Trump's meeting with President Xi on Saturday as the two leaders are widely expected to address the escalating trade war between the two countries with experts speculating a likely breakthrough.

Although President Trump had indicated that he was looking forward to meeting Xi but did not assure a breakthrough. On Thursday, the president tweeted saying the US was making billions of dollars due to tariffs imposed on China.

President Trump met Argentine President Mauricio Macri ahead of the G20 opening at Buenos Aires in Argentina on Friday. The US president in a nostalgic mood, said: "People wouldn't know that he was a young man, very handsome man and we knew each other very well, and I actually did business with his family, with his father, great father, friend of mine, and I purchased the West Side Railroad Yards and it was a great job, a successful job.

President Trump met Argentine President Mauricio Macri ahead of the G20 opening at Buenos Aires in Argentina on Friday. The US president in a nostalgic mood, said: "People wouldn't know that he was a young man, very handsome man and we knew each other very well, and I actually did business with his family, with his father, great father, friend of mine, and I purchased the West Side Railroad Yards and it was a great job, a successful job." "We're going to be talking about lots of good things for Argentina, for the United States, including trade, including military purchases and other things but we have a lot to talk about," the US president said as he promised to help the Argentinian economy which has been hit by an economic crisis. "You're my friend long time, great family and you're doing a fantastic job," Trump said. Just before leaving for the summit on Thursday, Trump in a tweet had said he won't be meeting President Putin due to the ongoing military standoff between Russia and Ukraine. Russia's foreign ministry said the meeting was cancelled due to due to domestic issues rather than the Ukraine situation During the G20, Trump will be meeting several world leaders including PM Modi today. All eyes are on Trump's meeting with President Xi on Saturday as the two leaders are widely expected to address the escalating trade war between the two countries with experts speculating a likely breakthrough. Although President Trump had indicated that he was looking forward to meeting Xi but did not assure a breakthrough. On Thursday, the president tweeted saying the US was making billions of dollars due to tariffs imposed on China.

G20: Trump meets Argentine President Mauricio Macri; discuss trade, military ties

The new strategy of United States in Afghanistan, announced by President Donald Trump last summer, has been a game changer for the advancement of the country`s peace process, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-president-forms-team-to-negotiate-peace-with-taliban-179970">Afghan President Ashraf Ghani </a>said in Geneva on Wednesday.

Sputnik quoted Ghani saying in a statement during the Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan, "We would like to specifically recognize the commitment and blood and treasure that the United States has shown since 2001 as our key ally. The South Asia strategy of President Trump has been a game changer allowing us to focus in earnest on self-reliance, reforms and peace because it is a condition-based strategy."

The two-day Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan began in the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the key consultations as part of the event are being held.

Last August, Trump unveiled his new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia. Among the changes provided in the document were the increase of the number of the US troops on the ground and the lifting of restrictions on the US forces attacking Taliban militants and other terrorist formations in Afghanistan which had been previously imposed by the administration of former US President Barack Obama.

Addressing the situation in the country, John Sopko, head of the Special Inspector General on Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), stated that `after 17 years of US and coalition effort and financial largesse, Afghanistan remains one of the poorest, least educated and most corrupt countries in the world`, Sputnik reported.

According to SIGAR, earlier this year Afghan authorities controlled or influenced a mere 55.5 per cent of the country, which was the lowest figure since the government oversight authority began keeping tabs on it in November 2015.

The new strategy of United States in Afghanistan, announced by President Donald Trump last summer, has been a game changer for the advancement of the country`s peace process, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said in Geneva on Wednesday.

The new strategy of United States in Afghanistan, announced by President Donald Trump last summer, has been a game changer for the advancement of the country`s peace process, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said in Geneva on Wednesday. Sputnik quoted Ghani saying in a statement during the Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan, "We would like to specifically recognize the commitment and blood and treasure that the United States has shown since 2001 as our key ally. The South Asia strategy of President Trump has been a game changer allowing us to focus in earnest on self-reliance, reforms and peace because it is a condition-based strategy." The two-day Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan began in the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the key consultations as part of the event are being held. Last August, Trump unveiled his new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia. Among the changes provided in the document were the increase of the number of the US troops on the ground and the lifting of restrictions on the US forces attacking Taliban militants and other terrorist formations in Afghanistan which had been previously imposed by the administration of former US President Barack Obama. Addressing the situation in the country, John Sopko, head of the Special Inspector General on Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), stated that `after 17 years of US and coalition effort and financial largesse, Afghanistan remains one of the poorest, least educated and most corrupt countries in the world`, Sputnik reported. According to SIGAR, earlier this year Afghan authorities controlled or influenced a mere 55.5 per cent of the country, which was the lowest figure since the government oversight authority began keeping tabs on it in November 2015.

Trump strategy a 'game changer' for peace process in Afghanistan: Ashraf Ghani

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he would raise the killing of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/canada-imposes-sanctions-against-saudi-nationals-allegedly-linked-to-khashoggis-murder-180300">journalist Jamal Khashoggi </a>with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

"I will no doubt have the opportunity to mention it with the crown prince on the margins of the summit," Macron told journalists in Buenos Aires.

Macron also said he had called a meeting to coordinate the views of European G20 leaders on policy challenges ahead of the summit, which begins Friday.&nbsp;

In a tweet later, he said they would also discuss the fallout from Khashoggi's murder.&nbsp;

"I have always been clear with Saudi Arabia. It will be one of the subjects we will talk about among Europeans. I wanted us to have a coordination meeting before the opening of the G20 on this subject and all the challenges at the summit."

The de facto Saudi ruler arrived in Argentina on Wednesday, bidding to shrug off international outrage over the October 2 murder in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he would raise the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he would raise the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 summit. "I will no doubt have the opportunity to mention it with the crown prince on the margins of the summit," Macron told journalists in Buenos Aires. Macron also said he had called a meeting to coordinate the views of European G20 leaders on policy challenges ahead of the summit, which begins Friday. In a tweet later, he said they would also discuss the fallout from Khashoggi's murder. "I have always been clear with Saudi Arabia. It will be one of the subjects we will talk about among Europeans. I wanted us to have a coordination meeting before the opening of the G20 on this subject and all the challenges at the summit." The de facto Saudi ruler arrived in Argentina on Wednesday, bidding to shrug off international outrage over the October 2 murder in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

Will meet Saudi crown prince Salman at G20 summit: Macron

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that new auto tariffs were "being studied now," asserting they could <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/general-motors-shuttering-plants-cutting-15-of-workforce-179659">prevent job cuts such as the US layoffs and plant closures</a> that General Motors Co announced this week.

Trump said on Twitter that the 25 percent tariff placed on imported pickup trucks and commercial vans from markets outside North America in the 1960s had long boosted US vehicle production.

"If we did that with cars coming in, many more cars would be built here," Trump said, "and G.M. would not be closing their plants in Ohio, Michigan &amp; Maryland."

The United States currently has a 2.5 percent tariff on imported cars and sport utility vehicles from markets outside North America and South Korea. The new North American trade deal exempts the first 2.6 million SUVs and passenger cars built in Mexico and Canada from new tariffs.

Several automakers said privately on Wednesday they feared GM's action could prompt Trump to take action faster than expected on new tariffs.

GM did not directly comment on Trump's tweets, but reiterated that it was committed to investing in the United States. On Monday, the company said it would shutter five North American plants, stop building six low-selling passenger cars in North America and cut up to 15,000 jobs. The company has no plans to shift production of those vehicles to other markets.

The administration has for months been considering imposing dramatic new tariffs on imported vehicles.

The U.S. Commerce Department has circulated draft recommendations to the White House on its investigation into whether to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on imported cars and parts on national security grounds, Reuters reported earlier this month.

"The President has great power on this issue - Because of the G.M. event, it is being studied now!" Trump said.

The prospect of tariffs of 25 percent on imported autos and parts has sent shockwaves through the auto industry, with both U.S. and foreign-brand producers lobbying against it and warning that national security tariffs on EU and Japanese vehicles could dramatically raise the price of many vehicles.

'ALL AVAILABLE TOOLS'

Trump has also harshly criticized GM for building cars in China. The United States slapped an additional 25 percent tariff on Chinese-made vehicles earlier this year, prompting China to retaliate.

China currently imposes a 40 percent tariff on U.S. automobiles, while the United States has a 27.5 percent tariff on Chinese vehicles.

US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement on Wednesday that he "will examine all available tools to equalise the tariffs applied to automobiles."

Additional tariffs on Chinese-made vehicle and parts would have a limited impact, said Kristin Dziczek, an economist at the Center for Automotive Research. She noted only a small number of vehicles were exported from China to the United States annually.

The White House previously pledged not to move forward with imposing national security tariffs on the European Union or Japan as long as it was making constructive progress in trade talks.

Trump wants the EU and Japan to buy more American-made vehicles. He wants the EU and Japan to make trade concessions including lowering the EU’s 10 percent tariff on imported vehicles and cutting non-tariff barriers.

The White House in recent weeks has reached out to the chief executives of German automakers including Daimler AG, BMW AG, and Volkswagen AG about meeting to discuss the status of auto trade.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that new auto tariffs were "being studied now," asserting they could prevent job cuts such as the US layoffs and plant closures that General Motors Co announced this week.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that new auto tariffs were "being studied now," asserting they could prevent job cuts such as the US layoffs and plant closures that General Motors Co announced this week. Trump said on Twitter that the 25 percent tariff placed on imported pickup trucks and commercial vans from markets outside North America in the 1960s had long boosted US vehicle production. "If we did that with cars coming in, many more cars would be built here," Trump said, "and G.M. would not be closing their plants in Ohio, Michigan & Maryland." The United States currently has a 2.5 percent tariff on imported cars and sport utility vehicles from markets outside North America and South Korea. The new North American trade deal exempts the first 2.6 million SUVs and passenger cars built in Mexico and Canada from new tariffs. Several automakers said privately on Wednesday they feared GM's action could prompt Trump to take action faster than expected on new tariffs. GM did not directly comment on Trump's tweets, but reiterated that it was committed to investing in the United States. On Monday, the company said it would shutter five North American plants, stop building six low-selling passenger cars in North America and cut up to 15,000 jobs. The company has no plans to shift production of those vehicles to other markets. The administration has for months been considering imposing dramatic new tariffs on imported vehicles. The U.S. Commerce Department has circulated draft recommendations to the White House on its investigation into whether to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on imported cars and parts on national security grounds, Reuters reported earlier this month. "The President has great power on this issue - Because of the G.M. event, it is being studied now!" Trump said. The prospect of tariffs of 25 percent on imported autos and parts has sent shockwaves through the auto industry, with both U.S. and foreign-brand producers lobbying against it and warning that national security tariffs on EU and Japanese vehicles could dramatically raise the price of many vehicles. 'ALL AVAILABLE TOOLS' Trump has also harshly criticized GM for building cars in China. The United States slapped an additional 25 percent tariff on Chinese-made vehicles earlier this year, prompting China to retaliate. China currently imposes a 40 percent tariff on U.S. automobiles, while the United States has a 27.5 percent tariff on Chinese vehicles. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement on Wednesday that he "will examine all available tools to equalise the tariffs applied to automobiles." Additional tariffs on Chinese-made vehicle and parts would have a limited impact, said Kristin Dziczek, an economist at the Center for Automotive Research. She noted only a small number of vehicles were exported from China to the United States annually. The White House previously pledged not to move forward with imposing national security tariffs on the European Union or Japan as long as it was making constructive progress in trade talks. Trump wants the EU and Japan to buy more American-made vehicles. He wants the EU and Japan to make trade concessions including lowering the EU’s 10 percent tariff on imported vehicles and cutting non-tariff barriers. The White House in recent weeks has reached out to the chief executives of German automakers including Daimler AG, BMW AG, and Volkswagen AG about meeting to discuss the status of auto trade.

Trump studying new auto tariffs after General Motors announces job cuts

US President Donald Trump told the special counsel investigating possible collusion between his campaign and Russia that he was not aware ahead of time of a meeting in June 2016 between campaign officials and Russians, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday.

Trump`s response, in written answers to questions posed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, was first reported by CNN.

"Almost all the answers he gave are consistent with what he said publicly, and publicly he said he did not know about it," Giuliani said.&nbsp;

Trump`s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has said he agreed to the meeting after being promised damaging information on Hillary Clinton, Trump`s Democratic opponent in the 2016 election. Trump`s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and senior campaign aide Paul Manafort also took part in the June 9, 2016, meeting.

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment.&nbsp;

Trump, who has repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow, has said publicly he had no prior knowledge of the June 2016 meeting.

US intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the election with the aim of tipping it towards Trump and away from Clinton. Russia has denied any interference.

US President Donald Trump told the special counsel investigating possible collusion between his campaign and Russia that he was not aware ahead of time of a meeting in June 2016 between campaign officials and Russians, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump told the special counsel investigating possible collusion between his campaign and Russia that he was not aware ahead of time of a meeting in June 2016 between campaign officials and Russians, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday. Trump`s response, in written answers to questions posed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, was first reported by CNN. "Almost all the answers he gave are consistent with what he said publicly, and publicly he said he did not know about it," Giuliani said. Trump`s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has said he agreed to the meeting after being promised damaging information on Hillary Clinton, Trump`s Democratic opponent in the 2016 election. Trump`s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and senior campaign aide Paul Manafort also took part in the June 9, 2016, meeting. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Trump, who has repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow, has said publicly he had no prior knowledge of the June 2016 meeting. US intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the election with the aim of tipping it towards Trump and away from Clinton. Russia has denied any interference.

Trump told Mueller he had no prior knowledge of meeting between campaign, Russians: Guiliani

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday.

The trilateral, which would be an expansion of the bilateral between Trump and Abe, is part of the series of meetings Trump would have later this week on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina. The annual meeting is being attended by leaders of the top 20 economies of the world.

However, all eyes are expected to be on two meetings that Trump would have with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Briefing reporters ahead of the G-20 Summit, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Trump will also have meetings with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, President Moon Jae-In of South Korea, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Bolton said the Trump-Abe bilateral meeting would expand into a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

"He is going to meet with President Macri, the host government of Argentina, he'll meet with President Moon of South Korea, he'll meet with President Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, that will transform at some point during that meeting a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi,"&nbsp;Bolton said.

"The president will meet with President Putin and have a working dinner with President Xi," he said. PTI&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday. The trilateral, which would be an expansion of the bilateral between Trump and Abe, is part of the series of meetings Trump would have later this week on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina. The annual meeting is being attended by leaders of the top 20 economies of the world. However, all eyes are expected to be on two meetings that Trump would have with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Briefing reporters ahead of the G-20 Summit, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Trump will also have meetings with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, President Moon Jae-In of South Korea, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Bolton said the Trump-Abe bilateral meeting would expand into a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. "He is going to meet with President Macri, the host government of Argentina, he'll meet with President Moon of South Korea, he'll meet with President Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, that will transform at some point during that meeting a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi," Bolton said. "The president will meet with President Putin and have a working dinner with President Xi," he said. PTI

PM Modi to have trilateral meeting with Trump and Japanese counterpart in Argentina

President Donald Trump will hold a make-or-break trade meeting with his Chinese counterpart at the G20 summit this week and also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-may-cancel-putin-meeting-at-g20-over-ukraine-conflict-179853">navigate a diplomatic minefield with Russia's president</a> after unrest in Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday.

Trump is due to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires for a working dinner at the Group of 20 summit that runs Friday and Saturday.

Economic advisor Larry Kudlow told a White House press conference that "the president said there is a good possibility that we can make a deal and he is open to it."

But Kudlow warned that if China holds out against US demands, Washington could ramp up the trade war.

"If need be, if things don't work out in this US-China summit meeting, he will invoke another $267 some odd billion dollars in tariffs."

The issue is the biggest looming over Trump's visit to Argentina, with the two economic giants locked in exchanges of punitive tariffs and Washington effectively threatening to target all remaining Chinese imports, including Apple products made in China.

Despite Kudlow's repeated insistence that Trump sees cause for optimism, he also underlined the tough conditions that the administration wants to impose on Beijing.

"China should change its practices and come into the community of responsible trading nations," Kudlow said, stressing that he considers the US economy in far better shape than China's to weather a prolonged trade war.

"We are in a position to deal with it and handle it very well," he said.

China will have to give way on "fairness and reciprocity," he said, warning that US concerns over intellectual property theft and China's forced technology transfers "must be solved."

Cancel Putin summit?

Trump is also to meet separately with Russia's Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Argentina, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey, White House officials said.

His talks with Putin present an especially tricky task -- and may be cancelled at the last minute over Russia's seizure of Ukrainian vessels in the latest episode of a long-simmering military confrontation.

US-Russia relations are under huge strain, while Trump is under investigation at home for alleged collusion with Moscow during his 2016 presidential election win.

Complicating the already complex diplomatic landscape, Russia shot at Ukrainian ships and captured three vessels on Sunday, prompting the government in Ukraine to accuse Moscow of preparing for "full-scale war."

Trump told The Washington Post on Tuesday that "maybe I won't have the meeting." He said he would wait for the results of a report from his national security team before deciding.

Trump's last summit with Putin, in Helsinki in July 2018, prompted an outpouring of criticism that the US president had failed to hold his Russian counterpart to account over what US intelligence services have concluded was deliberate Kremlin meddling in the 2016 elections.

There are no plans, the White House says, for Trump to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.

The CIA reportedly has told Trump that Prince Mohammed, who has close ties to the administration, was behind the brutal murder of dissident journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi. But Trump has dismissed this, prompting an outcry from opponents and even some allies in Congress.

Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders indicated that an informal meeting may yet happen.

"I wouldn't say we've ruled out any interaction," she said, although she stressed that "the president's schedule is pretty packed."

President Donald Trump will hold a make-or-break trade meeting with his Chinese counterpart at the G20 summit this week and also navigate a diplomatic minefield with Russia's president after unrest in Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump will hold a make-or-break trade meeting with his Chinese counterpart at the G20 summit this week and also navigate a diplomatic minefield with Russia's president after unrest in Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday. Trump is due to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires for a working dinner at the Group of 20 summit that runs Friday and Saturday. Economic advisor Larry Kudlow told a White House press conference that "the president said there is a good possibility that we can make a deal and he is open to it." But Kudlow warned that if China holds out against US demands, Washington could ramp up the trade war. "If need be, if things don't work out in this US-China summit meeting, he will invoke another $267 some odd billion dollars in tariffs." The issue is the biggest looming over Trump's visit to Argentina, with the two economic giants locked in exchanges of punitive tariffs and Washington effectively threatening to target all remaining Chinese imports, including Apple products made in China. Despite Kudlow's repeated insistence that Trump sees cause for optimism, he also underlined the tough conditions that the administration wants to impose on Beijing. "China should change its practices and come into the community of responsible trading nations," Kudlow said, stressing that he considers the US economy in far better shape than China's to weather a prolonged trade war. "We are in a position to deal with it and handle it very well," he said. China will have to give way on "fairness and reciprocity," he said, warning that US concerns over intellectual property theft and China's forced technology transfers "must be solved." Cancel Putin summit? Trump is also to meet separately with Russia's Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Argentina, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey, White House officials said. His talks with Putin present an especially tricky task -- and may be cancelled at the last minute over Russia's seizure of Ukrainian vessels in the latest episode of a long-simmering military confrontation. US-Russia relations are under huge strain, while Trump is under investigation at home for alleged collusion with Moscow during his 2016 presidential election win. Complicating the already complex diplomatic landscape, Russia shot at Ukrainian ships and captured three vessels on Sunday, prompting the government in Ukraine to accuse Moscow of preparing for "full-scale war." Trump told The Washington Post on Tuesday that "maybe I won't have the meeting." He said he would wait for the results of a report from his national security team before deciding. Trump's last summit with Putin, in Helsinki in July 2018, prompted an outpouring of criticism that the US president had failed to hold his Russian counterpart to account over what US intelligence services have concluded was deliberate Kremlin meddling in the 2016 elections. There are no plans, the White House says, for Trump to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the oil-rich Gulf kingdom. The CIA reportedly has told Trump that Prince Mohammed, who has close ties to the administration, was behind the brutal murder of dissident journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi. But Trump has dismissed this, prompting an outcry from opponents and even some allies in Congress. Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders indicated that an informal meeting may yet happen. "I wouldn't say we've ruled out any interaction," she said, although she stressed that "the president's schedule is pretty packed."

At G20, Trump faces showdown with Russia over Ukraine, with China over tariffs

US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to eliminate subsidies for General Motors Co in retaliation for the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/general-motors-says-cutting-15-of-workforce-to-save-6-billion-179614">automaker cutting US jobs and plants</a>, and the automaker also took fire from Canadian political and labour leaders for cutbacks there.

"The US saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including ... for electric cars," Trump said on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland. Nothing being closed in Mexico &amp; China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all <a href="https://twitter.com/GM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GM</a> subsidies, including....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1067494680416407552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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....for electric cars. General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1067494682249318402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump`s harsh words rattled investors, who bid down GM shares by 2.6 per cent on Tuesday after sending them up on Monday in response to the automaker`s cost-cutting. Separately, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trump to discuss GM`s actions, according to union leaders.

The wrath of the leaders of the United States and Canada dramatized the challenges GM and its Detroit rivals will face as they restructure to cope with the most dramatic technology and market shifts in decades.

Trump has made boosting auto jobs a key priority during his almost two years in office and has often attacked automakers on Twitter for not doing enough to boost US employment. The president on Tuesday escalated his attacks on GM`s plan to cut 15,000 jobs and mothball five North American factories, including four in the United States. Among the four US factories on the block is a car factory in northeast Ohio, a state critical to victory in the 2020 presidential campaign.

GM electric vehicles are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit under federal law, but it is not clear how the administration could restrict those credits or if Trump had other subsidies in mind.&nbsp;

GM said in a statement following Trump`s comments that it was "committed to maintaining a strong manufacturing presence" in the United States after investing $22 billion in operations here since 2009 and will add new jobs in electrification and autonomous vehicles.

The cuts will "position the company for long-term success and maintain and grow American jobs," GM said, adding that many workers at impacted plants will be able to move to other GM factories.

GM Chief Executive Mary Barra spoke to Trump over the weekend to discuss the cuts and was at the White House on Monday to meet with economic adviser Larry Kudlow.

Kudlow told reporters Tuesday that the administration had helped GM with fuel efficiency standards and other regulations.

"We’ve done this to help you and I think his disappointment is, it seems like that they kind of turned his back on him," Kudlow said.

WORKERS DISCUSSING "MASS ACTIONS"

Trump also criticized GM for not closing facilities in Mexico or China.

&nbsp;"General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

GM currently builds just one vehicle in China that it exports to the United States - the Buick Envision and has sold about 22,000 through September. GM sold nearly 2.7 million vehicles in China through September, nearly all of them built in China for the market.&nbsp;

White House spokesman Sarah Sanders told reporters on Tuesday that the president is looking at options.&nbsp;

"The president wants to see American companies build cars here in America not build them overseas and he is hopeful that GM will continue to do that here," she said.

GM has been lobbying Congress, along with Tesla Inc, to lift the current cap on electric vehicles eligible for tax credits, but any action by Congress before 2019 is a long-shot, congressional aides said.

Under current law, once a manufacturer sells 200,000 electric vehicles, the tax credit phases out starting in the following quarter. GM has said it expects to hit the 200,000-vehicle threshold by the end of the year and Tesla hit the cap in July.&nbsp;

In Canada, workers returned to the assembly line at General Motors` Oshawa, Ontario, plant on Tuesday, as their union president met with Prime Minister Trudeau and said he was ready for "mass actions" at GM facilities.&nbsp;

GM said on Monday that the Oshawa plant would close in December 2019.&nbsp;

"We`re dealing with a corporation that doesn`t have any respect for Canadian and American workers, and I think we should treat them in the same vein," said Jerry Dias, national president of Unifor, which represents GM workers in Canada.

Dias said he would meet with the United Auto Workers on Wednesday and discuss the possibility of "mass actions" in GM plants across the two countries.

Dias floated the idea of a tariff on GM vehicles built in Mexico, saying a 40 per cent tariff would get the company`s attention.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to eliminate subsidies for General Motors Co in retaliation for the automaker cutting US jobs and plants, and the automaker also took fire from Canadian political and labour leaders for cutbacks there.

US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to eliminate subsidies for General Motors Co in retaliation for the automaker cutting US jobs and plants, and the automaker also took fire from Canadian political and labour leaders for cutbacks there. "The US saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including ... for electric cars," Trump said on Twitter. Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland. Nothing being closed in Mexico & China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2018 × ....for electric cars. General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2018 × Trump`s harsh words rattled investors, who bid down GM shares by 2.6 per cent on Tuesday after sending them up on Monday in response to the automaker`s cost-cutting. Separately, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trump to discuss GM`s actions, according to union leaders. The wrath of the leaders of the United States and Canada dramatized the challenges GM and its Detroit rivals will face as they restructure to cope with the most dramatic technology and market shifts in decades. Trump has made boosting auto jobs a key priority during his almost two years in office and has often attacked automakers on Twitter for not doing enough to boost US employment. The president on Tuesday escalated his attacks on GM`s plan to cut 15,000 jobs and mothball five North American factories, including four in the United States. Among the four US factories on the block is a car factory in northeast Ohio, a state critical to victory in the 2020 presidential campaign. GM electric vehicles are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit under federal law, but it is not clear how the administration could restrict those credits or if Trump had other subsidies in mind. GM said in a statement following Trump`s comments that it was "committed to maintaining a strong manufacturing presence" in the United States after investing $22 billion in operations here since 2009 and will add new jobs in electrification and autonomous vehicles. The cuts will "position the company for long-term success and maintain and grow American jobs," GM said, adding that many workers at impacted plants will be able to move to other GM factories. GM Chief Executive Mary Barra spoke to Trump over the weekend to discuss the cuts and was at the White House on Monday to meet with economic adviser Larry Kudlow. Kudlow told reporters Tuesday that the administration had helped GM with fuel efficiency standards and other regulations. "We’ve done this to help you and I think his disappointment is, it seems like that they kind of turned his back on him," Kudlow said. WORKERS DISCUSSING "MASS ACTIONS" Trump also criticized GM for not closing facilities in Mexico or China. "General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers!" Trump wrote on Twitter. GM currently builds just one vehicle in China that it exports to the United States - the Buick Envision and has sold about 22,000 through September. GM sold nearly 2.7 million vehicles in China through September, nearly all of them built in China for the market. White House spokesman Sarah Sanders told reporters on Tuesday that the president is looking at options. "The president wants to see American companies build cars here in America not build them overseas and he is hopeful that GM will continue to do that here," she said. GM has been lobbying Congress, along with Tesla Inc, to lift the current cap on electric vehicles eligible for tax credits, but any action by Congress before 2019 is a long-shot, congressional aides said. Under current law, once a manufacturer sells 200,000 electric vehicles, the tax credit phases out starting in the following quarter. GM has said it expects to hit the 200,000-vehicle threshold by the end of the year and Tesla hit the cap in July. In Canada, workers returned to the assembly line at General Motors` Oshawa, Ontario, plant on Tuesday, as their union president met with Prime Minister Trudeau and said he was ready for "mass actions" at GM facilities. GM said on Monday that the Oshawa plant would close in December 2019. "We`re dealing with a corporation that doesn`t have any respect for Canadian and American workers, and I think we should treat them in the same vein," said Jerry Dias, national president of Unifor, which represents GM workers in Canada. Dias said he would meet with the United Auto Workers on Wednesday and discuss the possibility of "mass actions" in GM plants across the two countries. Dias floated the idea of a tariff on GM vehicles built in Mexico, saying a 40 per cent tariff would get the company`s attention.

After US job cuts, Trump threatens to stop all GM subsidies

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he may cancel his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Argentina because of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-warns-of-threat-of-full-scale-war-with-russia-179864">Russia`s maritime clash with Ukraine</a>.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump said he was awaiting a "full report" from his national security team Tuesday evening about Russia’s capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews on Sunday.

"That will be very determinative," Trump told the Post. "Maybe I won`t have the meeting. Maybe I won`t even have the meeting ... I don`t like that aggression. I don`t want that aggression at all," he said.

Trump is due to meet Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, which convenes on Friday and Saturday. The Trump-Putin meeting will cover security issues, arms control, and issues in the Middle East and Ukraine, White House national security John Bolton told reporters.&nbsp;

Russia opened fire on the Ukrainian boats and then seized them and their crews on Sunday near Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Moscow and Kiev have tried to pin the blame on each other for the incident.&nbsp;

The US State Department urged European nations on Tuesday to do more to assist Ukraine in its standoff with Russia.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he may cancel his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Argentina because of Russia`s maritime clash with Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he may cancel his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Argentina because of Russia`s maritime clash with Ukraine. In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump said he was awaiting a "full report" from his national security team Tuesday evening about Russia’s capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews on Sunday. "That will be very determinative," Trump told the Post. "Maybe I won`t have the meeting. Maybe I won`t even have the meeting ... I don`t like that aggression. I don`t want that aggression at all," he said. Trump is due to meet Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, which convenes on Friday and Saturday. The Trump-Putin meeting will cover security issues, arms control, and issues in the Middle East and Ukraine, White House national security John Bolton told reporters. Russia opened fire on the Ukrainian boats and then seized them and their crews on Sunday near Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Moscow and Kiev have tried to pin the blame on each other for the incident. The US State Department urged European nations on Tuesday to do more to assist Ukraine in its standoff with Russia.

Trump says he may cancel meeting with Putin at G20 over Ukraine conflict

President Donald Trump slammed American broadcast network&nbsp;CNN for portraying the US in an "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/cnn-sues-us-president-donald-trump-top-white-house-aides-177129">unfair and false way</a>" to the rest of the world and suggested launching a "Worldwide Network" to counter CNN`s reporting by showing another view on the situation in the country.

Sputnik on Monday reported that the American broadcast network and President Trump have long been engaged in a war of words, with the latter accusing the news network of spreading "fake news", while CNN urges Trump to stop vilifying the media.

The president did not elaborate in his official Twitter account on November 26, what this new worldwide network will look like and how will it be different from the Voice of America, funded by the US government and broadcasting to the rest of the world.

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....and false way. Something has to be done, including the possibility of the United States starting our own Worldwide Network to show the World the way we really are, GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1067142820388052993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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According to Sputnik, Trump`s suggestion has spurred a wide range of reactions across social media.

A lot of people supported the president`s initiative, confirming that CNN`s reporting of the events in the US can often shape the opinion of people abroad.

Some even alleged that CNN actually poses a real threat to the US with its news and urged Trump to take action.

Not all netizens were positive about Trump`s idea, noting it is strikingly similar to practices of dictatorships, Sputnik mentioned in its reports.

Others noted that watching CNN abroad was still better than watching Fox News.

One Twitterian reminded Trump that the US already has its `state propaganda` airing internationally in 40 languages.

The US president and CNN have been engaged in a long-running feud for a long time now. Trump has slammed the news network on multiple occasions over allegedly spreading `fake news`, claiming it has led to a sharp decline in CNN`s domestic ratings.

The White House recently revoked a press pass for CNN reporter Jim Acosta, after an incident, where he refused to give up the microphone during a Trump press conference, engaging in a verbal feud with the US president. The news network filed a suit against the Trump administration, demanding the restoration of Acosta`s pass.

CNN, in turn, has accused Trump of `continued attacks on the media` and of allegedly inciting violence against journalists by calling media outlets `the enemy of the people`.

President Donald Trump slammed American broadcast network CNN for portraying the US in an "unfair and false way" to the rest of the world and suggested launching a "Worldwide Network" to counter CNN`s reporting by showing another view on the situation in the country.

President Donald Trump slammed American broadcast network CNN for portraying the US in an "unfair and false way" to the rest of the world and suggested launching a "Worldwide Network" to counter CNN`s reporting by showing another view on the situation in the country. Sputnik on Monday reported that the American broadcast network and President Trump have long been engaged in a war of words, with the latter accusing the news network of spreading "fake news", while CNN urges Trump to stop vilifying the media. The president did not elaborate in his official Twitter account on November 26, what this new worldwide network will look like and how will it be different from the Voice of America, funded by the US government and broadcasting to the rest of the world. ....and false way. Something has to be done, including the possibility of the United States starting our own Worldwide Network to show the World the way we really are, GREAT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018 × According to Sputnik, Trump`s suggestion has spurred a wide range of reactions across social media. A lot of people supported the president`s initiative, confirming that CNN`s reporting of the events in the US can often shape the opinion of people abroad. Some even alleged that CNN actually poses a real threat to the US with its news and urged Trump to take action. Not all netizens were positive about Trump`s idea, noting it is strikingly similar to practices of dictatorships, Sputnik mentioned in its reports. Others noted that watching CNN abroad was still better than watching Fox News. One Twitterian reminded Trump that the US already has its `state propaganda` airing internationally in 40 languages. The US president and CNN have been engaged in a long-running feud for a long time now. Trump has slammed the news network on multiple occasions over allegedly spreading `fake news`, claiming it has led to a sharp decline in CNN`s domestic ratings. The White House recently revoked a press pass for CNN reporter Jim Acosta, after an incident, where he refused to give up the microphone during a Trump press conference, engaging in a verbal feud with the US president. The news network filed a suit against the Trump administration, demanding the restoration of Acosta`s pass. CNN, in turn, has accused Trump of `continued attacks on the media` and of allegedly inciting violence against journalists by calling media outlets `the enemy of the people`.

To counter CNN's 'unfair' reporting, Trump suggests creating a 'Worldwide Network'

President Donald Trump's renewed demand for US taxpayer funding of his proposed US-Mexico border wall was threatening again on Tuesday to bring on a budget standoff and a partial government shutdown, leaving Congress just 11 days to act.

With time running short, Trump and Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives huddled at the White House.

Representative Steve Scalise, who attended the meeting, later told Fox News: "It's all about border security and $5 billion is the number" for the wall.

That figure is significantly higher than even Republicans in the Senate have sought and Democrats have rejected.

Trump, in an interview with the Washington Post, hinted at a way to avoid a government shutdown but still build his wall.

He referred to his ordering of US troops to the border in October to install "barbed wire and fencing and various other things," the newspaper reported.

By December 7, Congress must pass a spending bill to keep some government agencies funded, including the Department of Homeland Security, which polices the border and immigration.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with the incoming foreign minister of Mexico on Sunday to discuss immigration, a top White House official said.

"They will have a full conversation about all the issues in connection with the border," White House national security adviser John Bolton told reporters.

Washington's focus on the Mexican border coincides with televised images of US border police lobbing tear gas canisters over a border fence in Southern California on Sunday into crowds of asylum seekers, mostly from Central America.

Even with the divisive November 6 congressional elections over, Trump has continued to rail against thousands of migrants in a caravan travelling from violence-ridden Central American countries to seek asylum in the United States.

The latest border incident was unlikely to shift the partisan split in Congress over Trump's proposed, $23 billion wall, with many Republicans in favour and most Democrats against, Senator Marco Rubio told reporters.

"People here are pretty dug in," said Rubio, a Republican.

Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who like Rubio is a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, predicted a border security deal would be struck in coming days.

But a House Democratic aide familiar with the negotiations said in a telephone interview that, at least for now, talks over Homeland Security's budget were "a total mess."

The $5 billion House Republicans tout for Trump's wall, compares with $1.6 billion Senate Republicans have sought for this fiscal year. The Trump administration would like the entire $23 billion up front, fearing that a House run by Democrats next year would never fully fund the long-term costs.

Rubio said more "physical structures" are needed to reinforce the border. But, he said, "The ultimate border security is to help address ... the causes of people leaving Guatemala and Honduras" and fleeing to the United States.

Under Republican control of the Senate and House in recent years, US spending on combating violence and promoting the economies of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras has declined. Meanwhile, despite Trump's efforts to make immigration more difficult, the number of illegal crossings has risen.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, apprehensions on the southwest border of unaccompanied children rose 21per cent&nbsp;from the previous year to 50,000, while family apprehensions were up 42 per cent to more than 107,000.

As Trump gears up for his 2020 re-election bid, he is expected to hammer on his 2016 campaign pledge to stop illegal immigration, raising fears that he might not back down, as he has before, from a threat to close the government.

"Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. A government shutdown would be stupid," said Republican Senator John Kennedy, also an Appropriations Committee member. "But if we can't agree on the budget, we can't agree on the budget," he added.

President Donald Trump's renewed demand for US taxpayer funding of his proposed US-Mexico border wall was threatening again on Tuesday to bring on a budget standoff and a partial government shutdown, leaving Congress just 11 days to act.

President Donald Trump's renewed demand for US taxpayer funding of his proposed US-Mexico border wall was threatening again on Tuesday to bring on a budget standoff and a partial government shutdown, leaving Congress just 11 days to act. With time running short, Trump and Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives huddled at the White House. Representative Steve Scalise, who attended the meeting, later told Fox News: "It's all about border security and $5 billion is the number" for the wall. That figure is significantly higher than even Republicans in the Senate have sought and Democrats have rejected. Trump, in an interview with the Washington Post, hinted at a way to avoid a government shutdown but still build his wall. He referred to his ordering of US troops to the border in October to install "barbed wire and fencing and various other things," the newspaper reported. By December 7, Congress must pass a spending bill to keep some government agencies funded, including the Department of Homeland Security, which polices the border and immigration. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with the incoming foreign minister of Mexico on Sunday to discuss immigration, a top White House official said. "They will have a full conversation about all the issues in connection with the border," White House national security adviser John Bolton told reporters. Washington's focus on the Mexican border coincides with televised images of US border police lobbing tear gas canisters over a border fence in Southern California on Sunday into crowds of asylum seekers, mostly from Central America. Even with the divisive November 6 congressional elections over, Trump has continued to rail against thousands of migrants in a caravan travelling from violence-ridden Central American countries to seek asylum in the United States. The latest border incident was unlikely to shift the partisan split in Congress over Trump's proposed, $23 billion wall, with many Republicans in favour and most Democrats against, Senator Marco Rubio told reporters. "People here are pretty dug in," said Rubio, a Republican. Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who like Rubio is a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, predicted a border security deal would be struck in coming days. But a House Democratic aide familiar with the negotiations said in a telephone interview that, at least for now, talks over Homeland Security's budget were "a total mess." The $5 billion House Republicans tout for Trump's wall, compares with $1.6 billion Senate Republicans have sought for this fiscal year. The Trump administration would like the entire $23 billion up front, fearing that a House run by Democrats next year would never fully fund the long-term costs. Rubio said more "physical structures" are needed to reinforce the border. But, he said, "The ultimate border security is to help address ... the causes of people leaving Guatemala and Honduras" and fleeing to the United States. Under Republican control of the Senate and House in recent years, US spending on combating violence and promoting the economies of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras has declined. Meanwhile, despite Trump's efforts to make immigration more difficult, the number of illegal crossings has risen. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, apprehensions on the southwest border of unaccompanied children rose 21per cent from the previous year to 50,000, while family apprehensions were up 42 per cent to more than 107,000. As Trump gears up for his 2020 re-election bid, he is expected to hammer on his 2016 campaign pledge to stop illegal immigration, raising fears that he might not back down, as he has before, from a threat to close the government. "Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. A government shutdown would be stupid," said Republican Senator John Kennedy, also an Appropriations Committee member. "But if we can't agree on the budget, we can't agree on the budget," he added.

As Trump renews border wall demands, US government shutdown looms

Donald Trump piled pressure on Emmanuel Macron Sunday, pushing for resolutions to disputes on trade and defense spending, as he weighed in on the mass protests against his French counterpart's government.

Writing on Twitter, Trump showed he had been keeping an eye on Saturday's demonstrations across France and refrained from showing sympathy for the beleaguered Macron, whose once cozy ties with the US president have chilled.

"The large and violent French protests don't take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection," said Trump.

"Both of these topics must be remedied soon."

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The large and violent French protests don’t take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection. Both of these topics must be remedied soon.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1066682146683846657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Around 130 people were arrested in France on Saturday during the nationwide protests, while 24 people were injured, five of them police officers.

The protesters -- dubbed "yellow vests" for the high-visibility jackets that are widely worn at the demonstrations -- are drawn mainly from rural areas and have vented their fury at policies they see as being pushed through by a Parisian elite deaf to their concerns.

Some of their arguments carry echoes of Trump's rallying call to "Make America Great Again" and his denunciation of "The Swamp" in Washington, including the anger that they voice at globalization. 
Trump's once-close relations with Macron have been strained in recent weeks, with the US president criticizing his French counterpart on everything from his touting of a European army to his continued backing for a nuclear deal with Iran that the US has already ditched.

Trump has frequently criticized other NATO countries, including France, over their levels of defense spending and says the European Union has treated the US "very unfairly" on a range of trade issues.

Donald Trump piled pressure on Emmanuel Macron Sunday, pushing for resolutions to disputes on trade and defense spending, as he weighed in on the mass protests against his French counterpart's government.

Donald Trump piled pressure on Emmanuel Macron Sunday, pushing for resolutions to disputes on trade and defense spending, as he weighed in on the mass protests against his French counterpart's government. Writing on Twitter, Trump showed he had been keeping an eye on Saturday's demonstrations across France and refrained from showing sympathy for the beleaguered Macron, whose once cozy ties with the US president have chilled. "The large and violent French protests don't take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection," said Trump. "Both of these topics must be remedied soon." The large and violent French protests don’t take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection. Both of these topics must be remedied soon. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2018 × Around 130 people were arrested in France on Saturday during the nationwide protests, while 24 people were injured, five of them police officers. The protesters -- dubbed "yellow vests" for the high-visibility jackets that are widely worn at the demonstrations -- are drawn mainly from rural areas and have vented their fury at policies they see as being pushed through by a Parisian elite deaf to their concerns. Some of their arguments carry echoes of Trump's rallying call to "Make America Great Again" and his denunciation of "The Swamp" in Washington, including the anger that they voice at globalization. Trump's once-close relations with Macron have been strained in recent weeks, with the US president criticizing his French counterpart on everything from his touting of a European army to his continued backing for a nuclear deal with Iran that the US has already ditched. Trump has frequently criticized other NATO countries, including France, over their levels of defense spending and says the European Union has treated the US "very unfairly" on a range of trade issues.

Trump ups pressure on Macron as weighs in on French demonstration

United States President Donald Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to immediately consider the ban on transgenders serving in the US military, breaking the current judicial protocol that binds the top court to wait until regional appeal courts give rulings on an issue.

The lower courts have issued injunctions on the issue but not yet delivered any rulings, reported Sputnik.

Insisting that "they cannot afford to wait for lower courts to decide," Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco asked the top court to haste the process, ignoring the fact that no rulings have been issued yet, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

"The military has been forced to maintain its prior policy for nearly a year," Francisco complained, adding that "without Court`s prompt intervention; it is unlikely that the military will be able to implement its new policy any time soon."

According to Francisco, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and a panel of senior military leaders along with other experts had deducted that the prior policy posed the risk of ineffectiveness and lethality towards the military.

In 2017, Trump took to Twitter and announced that the country would no longer allow transgender Americans to serve in the military arguing that it induces enormous medical costs and disruption.

United States President Donald Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to immediately consider the ban on transgenders serving in the US military, breaking the current judicial protocol that binds the top court to wait until regional appeal courts give rulings on an issue.

United States President Donald Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to immediately consider the ban on transgenders serving in the US military, breaking the current judicial protocol that binds the top court to wait until regional appeal courts give rulings on an issue. The lower courts have issued injunctions on the issue but not yet delivered any rulings, reported Sputnik. Insisting that "they cannot afford to wait for lower courts to decide," Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco asked the top court to haste the process, ignoring the fact that no rulings have been issued yet, the Washington Post reported on Friday. "The military has been forced to maintain its prior policy for nearly a year," Francisco complained, adding that "without Court`s prompt intervention; it is unlikely that the military will be able to implement its new policy any time soon." According to Francisco, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and a panel of senior military leaders along with other experts had deducted that the prior policy posed the risk of ineffectiveness and lethality towards the military. In 2017, Trump took to Twitter and announced that the country would no longer allow transgender Americans to serve in the military arguing that it induces enormous medical costs and disruption.

Trump asks Supreme Court to consider Trans military ban

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday said that US accusations that Tehran has a chemical weapons programme were "obscene and dangerous".

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The US allegations are the latest salvo against Iran from the administration of President Donald Trump, who earlier this year pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Tehran and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions.

"(The) US wants to resort to international conventions to make allegations against Iran when it's made a policy of violating them itself," Zarif said in a tweet.

He said that allegations about weapons of mass destruction "by a country that supported Iraq's use of CW (chemical weapons) against Iran, then invaded Iraq to allegedly rid it of them is not just obscene, it's dangerous".

Earlier on Friday the Iranian foreign ministry said Tehran "strongly rejects" the US accusations.

"The United States... has made, as is its habit, baseless accusations against the Islamic republic which we strongly reject," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Such incorrect and false accusations are due solely to enmity towards the Iranian nation and are intended to deflect international attention from its own broken commitments and continued support for the Zionist regime's chemical arsenal and for terrorist groups."

The US accused Iran on Thursday of failing to declare a chemical weapons programme to the global watchdog in breach of international agreements.

US envoy Kenneth Ward told the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague that Tehran was also seeking deadly nerve agents for offensive purposes.

Iran has accused the US of being the "only member state that has a chemical weapons arsenal and has, until now, not acted on its obligations to destroy it".

Iran is one of the few countries that has been attacked with chemical weapons since the end of World War I in 1918.

Chemical weapons used by Saddam Hussein's Iraq during its 1980-88 war with Iran killed and wounded tens of thousands of Iranian soldiers and civilians.

Iran has expressed strong opposition ever since to the use or possession of chemical weapons by any country.

Zarif, who is in Italy for a conference, on Friday also expressed his frustration with the European Union's delay to come up with means of allowing EU trade with Tehran despite US sanctions .&nbsp;

"(The) EU needs to make a decision: does it want the US to dictate its relations with others...?" he asked in a tweet.

The nuclear deal "was in the interest of the security of Europe (which) now needs to invest in that security." he added.

Although the European Union has vowed to create a "special purpose vehicle" (SPV) to protect companies buying oil, analysts see little chance that firms will risk US penalties by using it.&nbsp;

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday said that US accusations that Tehran has a chemical weapons programme were "obscene and dangerous". × The US allegations are the latest salvo against Iran from the administration of President Donald Trump, who earlier this year pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Tehran and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday said that US accusations that Tehran has a chemical weapons programme were "obscene and dangerous". × The US allegations are the latest salvo against Iran from the administration of President Donald Trump, who earlier this year pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Tehran and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions. "(The) US wants to resort to international conventions to make allegations against Iran when it's made a policy of violating them itself," Zarif said in a tweet. He said that allegations about weapons of mass destruction "by a country that supported Iraq's use of CW (chemical weapons) against Iran, then invaded Iraq to allegedly rid it of them is not just obscene, it's dangerous". Earlier on Friday the Iranian foreign ministry said Tehran "strongly rejects" the US accusations. "The United States... has made, as is its habit, baseless accusations against the Islamic republic which we strongly reject," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Such incorrect and false accusations are due solely to enmity towards the Iranian nation and are intended to deflect international attention from its own broken commitments and continued support for the Zionist regime's chemical arsenal and for terrorist groups." The US accused Iran on Thursday of failing to declare a chemical weapons programme to the global watchdog in breach of international agreements. US envoy Kenneth Ward told the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague that Tehran was also seeking deadly nerve agents for offensive purposes. Iran has accused the US of being the "only member state that has a chemical weapons arsenal and has, until now, not acted on its obligations to destroy it". Iran is one of the few countries that has been attacked with chemical weapons since the end of World War I in 1918. Chemical weapons used by Saddam Hussein's Iraq during its 1980-88 war with Iran killed and wounded tens of thousands of Iranian soldiers and civilians. Iran has expressed strong opposition ever since to the use or possession of chemical weapons by any country. Zarif, who is in Italy for a conference, on Friday also expressed his frustration with the European Union's delay to come up with means of allowing EU trade with Tehran despite US sanctions . "(The) EU needs to make a decision: does it want the US to dictate its relations with others...?" he asked in a tweet. The nuclear deal "was in the interest of the security of Europe (which) now needs to invest in that security." he added. Although the European Union has vowed to create a "special purpose vehicle" (SPV) to protect companies buying oil, analysts see little chance that firms will risk US penalties by using it.

Iran says US accusing Tehran of having chemical weapons programme is 'obscene and dangerous'

The US government on Friday will issue a new report detailing the threat climate change poses to the economy, in what is expected to be a dire warning at odds with the Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuels agenda.

The congressionally mandated report, written with the help of more than a dozen US government agencies and departments, will supplement a study issued last year that concluded humans are the main driver of global warming, and warned of potentially catastrophic effects to the planet.

"It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century," according to that report. "There is no convincing alternative explanation ...”

This year`s report is expected to detail the costs of climate change and provide scientific assessments of the risks and the extent to which people can adapt to it.&nbsp;

The report is expected clash with policy under President Donald Trump, who has been rolling back environmental and climate protections to maximize production of domestic fossil fuels, including crude oil, already the highest in the world above Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Trump last year announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Deal agreed by nearly 200 nations to combat climate change, arguing the accord would hurt the US economy and provide little tangible environmental benefit. Under the Paris pact`s rules, however, Trump can not officially withdraw from the agreement until after the 2020 US presidential election. The US government still sends delegations to UN climate negotiations.

Trump and several members of his cabinet have also repeatedly cast doubt on the science of climate change, saying the causes are not yet settled.&nbsp; 
That is despite the fact an overwhelming majority of climate scientists around the globe agree that the burning of fossil fuels drives global warming, and is leading to rising seas, flooding, droughts, and more frequent powerful storms.

Previous research, including from US government scientists, has concluded that climate change could have severe economic consequences, including damage to infrastructure, water supplies and agriculture.&nbsp;

Severe weather and other impacts also increase the risk of disease transmission, decrease air quality, and can increase mental health problems, among other effects, according to US and international studies.

Thirteen government departments and agencies, from the Agriculture Department to NASA, were part of the committee that compiled the new report.&nbsp;

The US government on Friday will issue a new report detailing the threat climate change poses to the economy, in what is expected to be a dire warning at odds with the Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuels agenda.

The US government on Friday will issue a new report detailing the threat climate change poses to the economy, in what is expected to be a dire warning at odds with the Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuels agenda. The congressionally mandated report, written with the help of more than a dozen US government agencies and departments, will supplement a study issued last year that concluded humans are the main driver of global warming, and warned of potentially catastrophic effects to the planet. "It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century," according to that report. "There is no convincing alternative explanation ...” This year`s report is expected to detail the costs of climate change and provide scientific assessments of the risks and the extent to which people can adapt to it. The report is expected clash with policy under President Donald Trump, who has been rolling back environmental and climate protections to maximize production of domestic fossil fuels, including crude oil, already the highest in the world above Saudi Arabia and Russia. Trump last year announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Deal agreed by nearly 200 nations to combat climate change, arguing the accord would hurt the US economy and provide little tangible environmental benefit. Under the Paris pact`s rules, however, Trump can not officially withdraw from the agreement until after the 2020 US presidential election. The US government still sends delegations to UN climate negotiations. Trump and several members of his cabinet have also repeatedly cast doubt on the science of climate change, saying the causes are not yet settled. That is despite the fact an overwhelming majority of climate scientists around the globe agree that the burning of fossil fuels drives global warming, and is leading to rising seas, flooding, droughts, and more frequent powerful storms. Previous research, including from US government scientists, has concluded that climate change could have severe economic consequences, including damage to infrastructure, water supplies and agriculture. Severe weather and other impacts also increase the risk of disease transmission, decrease air quality, and can increase mental health problems, among other effects, according to US and international studies. Thirteen government departments and agencies, from the Agriculture Department to NASA, were part of the committee that compiled the new report.

US report to detail costs of climate change as Trump downplays threat

Trump threatens to close Mexico border; describes immigrants as 'invasion'

By Tom Engelhardt

Face it: It’s been an abusive time, to use a word he likes to wield. In his telling, of course, it’s he or his people who are always the abused ones, and they — the “fake news media” — are the abusers. But let’s be honest. You’ve been abused, too, and so have I. All of us have and by that same fake news media.

It isn’t complicated, really. Thanks to them, to those cable news talking heads who never stop yammering about him, to the reporters who clamour over his every word or twitch, he’s always there, 24/7. I know that it’s still called covering the news, but it’s a phrase that no longer faintly fits the situation. Yes, a near majority of Americans voted for him as president, but no one voted to make him a living (and living-room) icon, a never-ending presence not just in our world, but in all our private worlds, too.

Never, not ever, has a single human being been so inescapable. You can’t turn on TV news, read a newspaper, listen to the radio, wander on social media or do much of anything else without almost instantly bumping into or tripping over him — attacking them, praising himself, telling you how wonderful or terrible he feels and how much he loves or loathes. Well, whatever happens, to be ever so briefly on his mind that very moment.

And if that isn’t really almost too obvious to write down, then what is? Still, just briefly, let’s try to take in the obvious. Let me put it this way: never, not since Adam or certainly Nebuchadnezzar, not to speak of Eve or Cleopatra, has anyone in history been so unrelentingly focused upon or mercilessly covered, so, in a sense, fawned upon — and, of course, “abused”. In the past, I’ve labelled what we’re living through “the white Ford Bronco presidency” because, for the last nearly three years, the media has covered him as if he were indeed O.J. Simpson in that car fleeing the police over his wife’s murder, as if, that is, there was nothing else on Earth worth gluing our eyeballs to, and not as in O.J.’s case for a relatively few hours, but for what already seems like an eternity.

In a way, this is the simplest piece I’ve ever written, because whoever you are, wherever you live in this country (or possibly on the planet), whatever you think of him, positive or negative, you already know all of this. You’ve already discussed it with your friends. You’ve certainly wondered what would happen if the mainstream media suddenly stopped attending to Donald Trump. Oh yes, I hadn’t mentioned his name until now, because why bother? You never had a doubt, did you?

The Unthinkable

My guess on the effect of such a withdrawal of coverage: He’d shrivel up and die. Your guess may be different, but it doesn’t matter because we’re clearly never going to find out. Even the recent presidential decision to take away CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass — with the doctored video of his behavior and all — after a distinctly abusive press conference (“I’ll tell you what: CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN”), was only the cause for yet another deluge of coverage.

None of Acosta’s media compatriots, not even at CNN, decided, for instance, to protest by refusing to cover another White House event until he got that pass back, though CNN is suing the Trump administration. None of them evidently even seriously considered closing the door, shutting the gate, turning their backs on you-know-who. That clearly is 21st-century media version of thinking about the unthinkable.

Honestly, who doesn’t talk about all this in the face of a presidency that’s in your face, all our faces, in a way that no other president, emperor, king, autocrat, dictator, movie star, celebrity or — feel free to fill in whatever I haven’t thought of here — has ever before been. His every phrase, tweet, complaint, bit of praise, parenthetical comment, angry snit, insult, or even policy decision is reported, discussed, gnawed on, considered, reconsidered, yakked about nonstop, hour after hour after endless hour, reshown in clip after repetitive clip. This is, in short, a unique historical experience of ours and ours alone. How could we not talk about it all the time?

Oh wait! Oddly enough, in case you hadn’t noticed, there’s one place where it’s barely talked about at all, where silence largely reigns, and to my mind that couldn’t be stranger. Here’s the only catch in the non-stop coverage of Donald J. Trump (2015 to 2018 and beyond): That same mainstream media that can’t get enough of him, that eats up and gnaws on his every odd phrase, gesture, act or passing thought is essentially silent on only one thing — the coverage itself.

The most obvious subject in the world — not him, but the thing that keeps him going, that keeps the whole ship of state more or less afloat at this point — the unprecedented focus on him just doesn’t seem to be a subject fit for significant coverage, even though it’s a commonplace in our conversations out here in what still passes for the real world. We may regularly roll our eyes, but the mainstream media programmatically never does. Not in public anyway. And as was true from the beginning of the Trump era, from The New York Times and Politico to The Atlantic magazine, media outfits have hired yet more people to cover — well, Donald Trump (and not just from Washington either) and ploughed right on.

But do they cover themselves? Hardly. Media critics inside those mainstream companies have become an ever rarer species. The New York Times, for instance, let go of its “public editor” in May 2017 and left it to perhaps random tweeters to handle how the paper was covering anything. And that’s been typical. Or put another way: There’s really only one media critic left in the mainstream world — and you know just who he is! (A typical tweeted comment of his: “A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”)

And sometimes that criticism couldn’t be more personal. (“Loser,” he recently called White House reporter April Ryan. “What a stupid question that is,” he said to CNN’s Abby Phillip. “What a stupid question. But I watch you a lot, you ask a lot of stupid questions.”) I’m referring, of course, to America’s media-critic-in-chief now in residence in Washington, DC, when, of course, he isn’t out in the provinces getting a little love from his adoring “base” in those endless rallies for the midterm elections and, of course, the ones for the 2020 campaign, which began long ago.

And naturally enough, the “fake news” reporters can’t cover those rallies enough or discuss them and what he says at them more often. But again, there’s one catch, one lacuna, in all this. They almost never cover Donald J. Trump’s rally of rallies in that same analytical and dissecting fashion. I’m thinking, of course, of the rallies that truly keep him going, and by that I mean his endless set of interactions with — yep, the media. After all, without being eternally in their glowing spotlight, without that endless coverage of everything him, what would he be?

The Media Critic-in-Chief

In a sense, those hordes of reporters crowding into his world are his most adoring fans (even if many of them may loathe him personally). They may not literally bathe him in love (as his fans in those stadiums do), but they certainly bathe him in what he loves most, what clearly keeps him up and running — attention. And from each of those media “rallies” of his, however small, however impromptu, however angry or insulting, no matter the nature of the words exchanged, he clearly comes away feeling clean as a new born babe (though they perhaps feel dirty as, well, who knows what).

It may not be a love affair, but it certainly is an affair to remember. And despite the fact that his official news conferences may be rare, he manages to meet the press (to use a thoroughly outmoded phrase) constantly and in ways too numerous to mention. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that he’s taken more questions from reporters — even if he’s regularly mangled and shredded them — than all our recent presidents (except that other classic narcissist, Bill Clinton).

Being the canny self-promoter that he is, Donald Trump knows the value of those exchanges, no matter their nature. He knows that the specifics of what the media may write or say about him matter remarkably little, as long as they cover him in this totalistic fashion, as long as they never stop bathing him in his own ultimate form of glory. They are, as he would be the first to tell you, his “earned media.” In fact, just the other day at his post-election news conference, he had this little exchange with a reporter:

“Q: Mr. President, first off, I personally think it’s very good to have you here because a free press and this type of engagement—”

“The President: I do, too. Actually? I do, too.”

“Q: Yes. It’s vital to democracy.”

“The President: It’s called ‘earned media.’ It’s worth billions. Go ahead.”

Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is no fool. He knows that he’s got not just a knack but the knack for accruing “earned media” — that is, unpaid for publicity and advertising. Estimates were that he got a staggering $5.6 billion of it during his 2015-2016 election campaign and, exactly as he implied in that knowing aside, it’s never ended. And yes, it is “vital” to him, if not to “democracy.” Think of him, in fact, as President Earned Media.

Since we are talking about a mutual affair, however, the opposite is also true: Donald Trump is the media’s version of, at the risk of being completely repetitious, earned media. No one’s put it better than former CBS head Leslie Moonves — recently taken down by the #MeToo moment — during the 2016 election campaign. “It may not be good for America,” he said, “but it’s damn good for CBS.” He added, “The money’s rolling in and this is fun. I’ve never seen anything like this, and this [is] going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It’s a terrible thing to say. But bring it on, Donald. Keep going.” And, as we all know, Donald did.

Keep in mind that the media had been thrown into chaos and confusion by the growth of the online world of the internet, as many news businesses faltered and staff cuts were widespread. How convenient, then, to stumble upon such genuine human clickbait, someone on whom you could focus your attention so relatively cheaply and profitably. So much for covering the world, a distinctly expensive proposition. Talk about bargain basement candidacies and presidencies.

From the moment he descended that escalator in Trump Tower in June 2015, Donald Trump became the media equivalent of a freebie — someone viewers and readers just couldn’t help watching, hearing about, reading about. It was like stumbling on a gold mine in the desert. As it turned out, Americans were indeed ready to have the talking heads of CNN (now the president’s eternal punching bag), MSNBC and Fox News yammer on hour after hour, day after day about him and only him. It was, in its own way, a genuine miracle for news companies that had found themselves up against the wall, and it couldn’t have been more real, or — as, at some level, Donald Trump himself grasped — more fake.

Quite A Performance

Put it all together and you can understand how a major Trump rally — oops, I mean that post-election news conference of his — actually worked. But first let me take a moment, in truly Trumpian fashion, to thank myself on your behalf. Like you, I watched clips of that news conference. Then I did all of you a favour and actually read the whole 17,000-plus words of it, one hour and 26 minutes worth of his and their words, so you wouldn’t have to.

And believe me, it was quite a performance as the president called on or ignored reporters desperate to get his attention, insulted them, spoke with them, spoke against them, spoke over them (“We are a hot country. This is a hot White House”), spoke around them, described them (“I come in here as a nice person wanting to answer questions and I have people jumping out of there seats, screaming questions at me”), wandered away from them, wandered away from himself, ignored or didn’t answer their questions, was incoherent for significant stretches of time, or couldn’t even hold onto a thought. And by the way, the reporters there more than matched him (“One, I was tempted to ask you why you like Oprah so much, but I think I’ll go on to the question that”), blow for blowhard (“Based off of that, how would you say, over the last two years, God plays — what kind of a factor He plays in the day-to-day execution of the Office of the Presidency?”).

Read the whole thing and you’d have to be struck — even by the less-than-soaring standards of past presidential news conferences — by how little (with a bow to Gertrude Stein) there there actually was there. The president’s incoherence was remarkably well matched by the dreariness of the generally expectable, largely thought-free questions he was asked on a limited set of topics.

As always, though, there were those Trumpian moments that aren’t likely to leave your head soon thereafter. There was, for instance, the exchange in which the president called on PBS’s Yamiche Alcindor, a relatively rare black reporter in that room. She began her question this way, “On the campaign trail, you called yourself a nationalist. Some people saw that as emboldening white nationalists. Now people are also saying…”

At that point, the president promptly interrupted to respond: “I don’t know why you’d say that. That’s such a racist question.” (Something he’d then repeat twice more.) The pure chutzpah of that response should have taken anyone’s breath away, but it was also a reminder of the strange sense of freedom Trump feels to say anything in the presence of the media, including mocking or insulting three black female reporters at that news conference. And this can only happen again and again and again. It’s hard not to feel that we are all now eternally watching two sets of addicts who simply can’t exist without or get enough of each other.

Toward the end of that news conference, one of the reporters began a question (also focused on white nationalism) this way: “Thank you, sir. And I think we’d all love to have more of these, if you’re willing…”

It tells us so much about our 21st-century Trumpian world that anyone in that press corps would wish for more of the same. I have a feeling that somewhere in all of this someone, maybe Bob Mueller, should indict all of them for fraud. In the meantime, the rest of us remain in a world wallpapered with Donald Trump, a world in which the fake news media, which is his truest “base,” just can’t get enough of him. 
 
(The author is&nbsp;co-founder of the American Empire Project and runs TomDispatch.com)

(This article was originally published on Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/donald-trump-media-fake-news-cnn-jim-accosta-us-politics-news-10920/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

By Tom Engelhardt Face it: It’s been an abusive time, to use a word he likes to wield. In his telling, of course, it’s he or his people who are always the abused ones, and they — the “fake news media” — are the abusers.

By Tom Engelhardt Face it: It’s been an abusive time, to use a word he likes to wield. In his telling, of course, it’s he or his people who are always the abused ones, and they — the “fake news media” — are the abusers. But let’s be honest. You’ve been abused, too, and so have I. All of us have and by that same fake news media. It isn’t complicated, really. Thanks to them, to those cable news talking heads who never stop yammering about him, to the reporters who clamour over his every word or twitch, he’s always there, 24/7. I know that it’s still called covering the news, but it’s a phrase that no longer faintly fits the situation. Yes, a near majority of Americans voted for him as president, but no one voted to make him a living (and living-room) icon, a never-ending presence not just in our world, but in all our private worlds, too. Never, not ever, has a single human being been so inescapable. You can’t turn on TV news, read a newspaper, listen to the radio, wander on social media or do much of anything else without almost instantly bumping into or tripping over him — attacking them, praising himself, telling you how wonderful or terrible he feels and how much he loves or loathes. Well, whatever happens, to be ever so briefly on his mind that very moment. And if that isn’t really almost too obvious to write down, then what is? Still, just briefly, let’s try to take in the obvious. Let me put it this way: never, not since Adam or certainly Nebuchadnezzar, not to speak of Eve or Cleopatra, has anyone in history been so unrelentingly focused upon or mercilessly covered, so, in a sense, fawned upon — and, of course, “abused”. In the past, I’ve labelled what we’re living through “the white Ford Bronco presidency” because, for the last nearly three years, the media has covered him as if he were indeed O.J. Simpson in that car fleeing the police over his wife’s murder, as if, that is, there was nothing else on Earth worth gluing our eyeballs to, and not as in O.J.’s case for a relatively few hours, but for what already seems like an eternity. In a way, this is the simplest piece I’ve ever written, because whoever you are, wherever you live in this country (or possibly on the planet), whatever you think of him, positive or negative, you already know all of this. You’ve already discussed it with your friends. You’ve certainly wondered what would happen if the mainstream media suddenly stopped attending to Donald Trump. Oh yes, I hadn’t mentioned his name until now, because why bother? You never had a doubt, did you? The Unthinkable My guess on the effect of such a withdrawal of coverage: He’d shrivel up and die. Your guess may be different, but it doesn’t matter because we’re clearly never going to find out. Even the recent presidential decision to take away CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass — with the doctored video of his behavior and all — after a distinctly abusive press conference (“I’ll tell you what: CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN”), was only the cause for yet another deluge of coverage. None of Acosta’s media compatriots, not even at CNN, decided, for instance, to protest by refusing to cover another White House event until he got that pass back, though CNN is suing the Trump administration. None of them evidently even seriously considered closing the door, shutting the gate, turning their backs on you-know-who. That clearly is 21st-century media version of thinking about the unthinkable. Honestly, who doesn’t talk about all this in the face of a presidency that’s in your face, all our faces, in a way that no other president, emperor, king, autocrat, dictator, movie star, celebrity or — feel free to fill in whatever I haven’t thought of here — has ever before been. His every phrase, tweet, complaint, bit of praise, parenthetical comment, angry snit, insult, or even policy decision is reported, discussed, gnawed on, considered, reconsidered, yakked about nonstop, hour after hour after endless hour, reshown in clip after repetitive clip. This is, in short, a unique historical experience of ours and ours alone. How could we not talk about it all the time? Oh wait! Oddly enough, in case you hadn’t noticed, there’s one place where it’s barely talked about at all, where silence largely reigns, and to my mind that couldn’t be stranger. Here’s the only catch in the non-stop coverage of Donald J. Trump (2015 to 2018 and beyond): That same mainstream media that can’t get enough of him, that eats up and gnaws on his every odd phrase, gesture, act or passing thought is essentially silent on only one thing — the coverage itself. The most obvious subject in the world — not him, but the thing that keeps him going, that keeps the whole ship of state more or less afloat at this point — the unprecedented focus on him just doesn’t seem to be a subject fit for significant coverage, even though it’s a commonplace in our conversations out here in what still passes for the real world. We may regularly roll our eyes, but the mainstream media programmatically never does. Not in public anyway. And as was true from the beginning of the Trump era, from The New York Times and Politico to The Atlantic magazine, media outfits have hired yet more people to cover — well, Donald Trump (and not just from Washington either) and ploughed right on. But do they cover themselves? Hardly. Media critics inside those mainstream companies have become an ever rarer species. The New York Times, for instance, let go of its “public editor” in May 2017 and left it to perhaps random tweeters to handle how the paper was covering anything. And that’s been typical. Or put another way: There’s really only one media critic left in the mainstream world — and you know just who he is! (A typical tweeted comment of his: “A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”) And sometimes that criticism couldn’t be more personal. (“Loser,” he recently called White House reporter April Ryan. “What a stupid question that is,” he said to CNN’s Abby Phillip. “What a stupid question. But I watch you a lot, you ask a lot of stupid questions.”) I’m referring, of course, to America’s media-critic-in-chief now in residence in Washington, DC, when, of course, he isn’t out in the provinces getting a little love from his adoring “base” in those endless rallies for the midterm elections and, of course, the ones for the 2020 campaign, which began long ago. And naturally enough, the “fake news” reporters can’t cover those rallies enough or discuss them and what he says at them more often. But again, there’s one catch, one lacuna, in all this. They almost never cover Donald J. Trump’s rally of rallies in that same analytical and dissecting fashion. I’m thinking, of course, of the rallies that truly keep him going, and by that I mean his endless set of interactions with — yep, the media. After all, without being eternally in their glowing spotlight, without that endless coverage of everything him, what would he be? The Media Critic-in-Chief In a sense, those hordes of reporters crowding into his world are his most adoring fans (even if many of them may loathe him personally). They may not literally bathe him in love (as his fans in those stadiums do), but they certainly bathe him in what he loves most, what clearly keeps him up and running — attention. And from each of those media “rallies” of his, however small, however impromptu, however angry or insulting, no matter the nature of the words exchanged, he clearly comes away feeling clean as a new born babe (though they perhaps feel dirty as, well, who knows what). It may not be a love affair, but it certainly is an affair to remember. And despite the fact that his official news conferences may be rare, he manages to meet the press (to use a thoroughly outmoded phrase) constantly and in ways too numerous to mention. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that he’s taken more questions from reporters — even if he’s regularly mangled and shredded them — than all our recent presidents (except that other classic narcissist, Bill Clinton). Being the canny self-promoter that he is, Donald Trump knows the value of those exchanges, no matter their nature. He knows that the specifics of what the media may write or say about him matter remarkably little, as long as they cover him in this totalistic fashion, as long as they never stop bathing him in his own ultimate form of glory. They are, as he would be the first to tell you, his “earned media.” In fact, just the other day at his post-election news conference, he had this little exchange with a reporter: “Q: Mr. President, first off, I personally think it’s very good to have you here because a free press and this type of engagement—” “The President: I do, too. Actually? I do, too.” “Q: Yes. It’s vital to democracy.” “The President: It’s called ‘earned media.’ It’s worth billions. Go ahead.” Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is no fool. He knows that he’s got not just a knack but the knack for accruing “earned media” — that is, unpaid for publicity and advertising. Estimates were that he got a staggering $5.6 billion of it during his 2015-2016 election campaign and, exactly as he implied in that knowing aside, it’s never ended. And yes, it is “vital” to him, if not to “democracy.” Think of him, in fact, as President Earned Media. Since we are talking about a mutual affair, however, the opposite is also true: Donald Trump is the media’s version of, at the risk of being completely repetitious, earned media. No one’s put it better than former CBS head Leslie Moonves — recently taken down by the #MeToo moment — during the 2016 election campaign. “It may not be good for America,” he said, “but it’s damn good for CBS.” He added, “The money’s rolling in and this is fun. I’ve never seen anything like this, and this [is] going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It’s a terrible thing to say. But bring it on, Donald. Keep going.” And, as we all know, Donald did. Keep in mind that the media had been thrown into chaos and confusion by the growth of the online world of the internet, as many news businesses faltered and staff cuts were widespread. How convenient, then, to stumble upon such genuine human clickbait, someone on whom you could focus your attention so relatively cheaply and profitably. So much for covering the world, a distinctly expensive proposition. Talk about bargain basement candidacies and presidencies. From the moment he descended that escalator in Trump Tower in June 2015, Donald Trump became the media equivalent of a freebie — someone viewers and readers just couldn’t help watching, hearing about, reading about. It was like stumbling on a gold mine in the desert. As it turned out, Americans were indeed ready to have the talking heads of CNN (now the president’s eternal punching bag), MSNBC and Fox News yammer on hour after hour, day after day about him and only him. It was, in its own way, a genuine miracle for news companies that had found themselves up against the wall, and it couldn’t have been more real, or — as, at some level, Donald Trump himself grasped — more fake. Quite A Performance Put it all together and you can understand how a major Trump rally — oops, I mean that post-election news conference of his — actually worked. But first let me take a moment, in truly Trumpian fashion, to thank myself on your behalf. Like you, I watched clips of that news conference. Then I did all of you a favour and actually read the whole 17,000-plus words of it, one hour and 26 minutes worth of his and their words, so you wouldn’t have to. And believe me, it was quite a performance as the president called on or ignored reporters desperate to get his attention, insulted them, spoke with them, spoke against them, spoke over them (“We are a hot country. This is a hot White House”), spoke around them, described them (“I come in here as a nice person wanting to answer questions and I have people jumping out of there seats, screaming questions at me”), wandered away from them, wandered away from himself, ignored or didn’t answer their questions, was incoherent for significant stretches of time, or couldn’t even hold onto a thought. And by the way, the reporters there more than matched him (“One, I was tempted to ask you why you like Oprah so much, but I think I’ll go on to the question that”), blow for blowhard (“Based off of that, how would you say, over the last two years, God plays — what kind of a factor He plays in the day-to-day execution of the Office of the Presidency?”). Read the whole thing and you’d have to be struck — even by the less-than-soaring standards of past presidential news conferences — by how little (with a bow to Gertrude Stein) there there actually was there. The president’s incoherence was remarkably well matched by the dreariness of the generally expectable, largely thought-free questions he was asked on a limited set of topics. As always, though, there were those Trumpian moments that aren’t likely to leave your head soon thereafter. There was, for instance, the exchange in which the president called on PBS’s Yamiche Alcindor, a relatively rare black reporter in that room. She began her question this way, “On the campaign trail, you called yourself a nationalist. Some people saw that as emboldening white nationalists. Now people are also saying…” At that point, the president promptly interrupted to respond: “I don’t know why you’d say that. That’s such a racist question.” (Something he’d then repeat twice more.) The pure chutzpah of that response should have taken anyone’s breath away, but it was also a reminder of the strange sense of freedom Trump feels to say anything in the presence of the media, including mocking or insulting three black female reporters at that news conference. And this can only happen again and again and again. It’s hard not to feel that we are all now eternally watching two sets of addicts who simply can’t exist without or get enough of each other. Toward the end of that news conference, one of the reporters began a question (also focused on white nationalism) this way: “Thank you, sir. And I think we’d all love to have more of these, if you’re willing…” It tells us so much about our 21st-century Trumpian world that anyone in that press corps would wish for more of the same. I have a feeling that somewhere in all of this someone, maybe Bob Mueller, should indict all of them for fraud. In the meantime, the rest of us remain in a world wallpapered with Donald Trump, a world in which the fake news media, which is his truest “base,” just can’t get enough of him. (The author is co-founder of the American Empire Project and runs TomDispatch.com) (This article was originally published on Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Donald Trump and the Media: A match made in hell?

US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed a threat to close the US-Mexico border if the situation there gets out of control and warned it would hurt Mexico's trade with the United States.

"If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he told reporters.

"The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," he said.

President Donald Trump had issued the proclamation earlier this month as a matter of what he called national security as a US-bound caravan of Central American migrants made its way through Mexico toward the US border.

A federal judge on Monday (November 19) put a temporary halt to a Trump administration order denying the possibility of asylum to people who enter the US illegally.

(With inputs from AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed a threat to close the US-Mexico border if the situation there gets out of control and warned it would hurt Mexico's trade with the United States.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed a threat to close the US-Mexico border if the situation there gets out of control and warned it would hurt Mexico's trade with the United States. "If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he told reporters. "The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," he said. President Donald Trump had issued the proclamation earlier this month as a matter of what he called national security as a US-bound caravan of Central American migrants made its way through Mexico toward the US border. A federal judge on Monday (November 19) put a temporary halt to a Trump administration order denying the possibility of asylum to people who enter the US illegally. (With inputs from AFP)

Trump renews threat to close down entire border with Mexico

US President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on the judiciary Thursday, accusing judges of making the country unsafe as he fanned <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/arrest-detain-and-deport-donald-trump-on-people-entering-us-illegally-171934">a bitter row over asylum seekers</a>.

Trump launched his latest salvo of tweets on the issue a day after clashing publicly with the chief justice of the Supreme Court over the independence of the courts.

"Judges must not Legislate Security ... and Safety at the Border, or anywhere else," Trump tweeted.

"They know nothing about it and are making our Country unsafe."

"Our great Law Enforcement professionals MUST BE ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB! If not there will be only bedlam, chaos, injury and death," he added.

Trump, who has attacked judges before after unfavourable court rulings, gave vent to his anger earlier this week after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a presidential proclamation on asylum.

The proclamation said only people entering the United States at official checkpoints can apply for asylum, automatically rejecting those caught sneaking across the border.

In an extraordinary step, US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts reacted to Trump's calling the federal judge who issued the ruling an "Obama judge."

"We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges," Roberts said in a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday.

"What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them," Roberts said.

Trump responded on Thursday.

"Justice Roberts can say what he wants, but the 9th Circuit is a complete &amp; total disaster," Trump tweeted Thursday.

"It is out of control, has a horrible reputation, is overturned more than any Circuit in the Country, 79%, &amp; is used to get an almost guaranteed result."

According to US media reports, the Supreme Court did reverse around 79 per cent of 9th Circuit cases reviewed from 2010-2015 -- but the 6th Circuit, in fact, had the highest reversal rate of 87 per cent.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on the judiciary Thursday, accusing judges of making the country unsafe as he fanned a bitter row over asylum seekers.

US President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on the judiciary Thursday, accusing judges of making the country unsafe as he fanned a bitter row over asylum seekers. Trump launched his latest salvo of tweets on the issue a day after clashing publicly with the chief justice of the Supreme Court over the independence of the courts. "Judges must not Legislate Security ... and Safety at the Border, or anywhere else," Trump tweeted. "They know nothing about it and are making our Country unsafe." "Our great Law Enforcement professionals MUST BE ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB! If not there will be only bedlam, chaos, injury and death," he added. Trump, who has attacked judges before after unfavourable court rulings, gave vent to his anger earlier this week after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a presidential proclamation on asylum. The proclamation said only people entering the United States at official checkpoints can apply for asylum, automatically rejecting those caught sneaking across the border. In an extraordinary step, US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts reacted to Trump's calling the federal judge who issued the ruling an "Obama judge." "We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges," Roberts said in a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday. "What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them," Roberts said. Trump responded on Thursday. "Justice Roberts can say what he wants, but the 9th Circuit is a complete & total disaster," Trump tweeted Thursday. "It is out of control, has a horrible reputation, is overturned more than any Circuit in the Country, 79%, & is used to get an almost guaranteed result." According to US media reports, the Supreme Court did reverse around 79 per cent of 9th Circuit cases reviewed from 2010-2015 -- but the 6th Circuit, in fact, had the highest reversal rate of 87 per cent.

Trump accuses US judges of making country 'unsafe'

When US President Donald Trump pledged to investigate large scale killings of white farmers in South Africa and violent takeovers of land, Pretoria said he was misinformed. Elsewhere, there was quiet satisfaction.

For a little-known South African activist group, Trump`s intervention, following a Fox News show criticising the land reform plans of President Cyril Ramaphosa`s ruling African National Congress, signalled a job well done.

"The best possible outcome that we hoped for was for a statement by the president of the USA, which we got," Ernst Roets, deputy CEO of Afriforum, told Reuters in his office in a quiet suburb of the capital.

The office walls display photographs of street protests by Afriforum, stepped up this year against land distribution plans and what it calls the targeted killing of white farmers.

In South Africa, no land has been seized and while violent crime is a huge problem, the vast majority of victims are poor and black. Of 20,000 murders in the last recorded year, 46 were white people killed on farms, according to police data.

Afriforum is an interest group representing Afrikaners - the 5 per cent of the population descended mainly from Dutch, German and French settlers.

It belongs to a wider movement called Solidarity, which has grown from a 100-year-old trade union into a sprawling and well-resourced organisation offering education and training and a range of other services in Afrikaans.

Ramaphosa`s vague pledge this year to pursue land expropriation without compensation to right the wrongs of apartheid has given new impetus to both groups, who have brushed aside his insistence he will protect property rights.

Critics, including some prominent Afrikaners, accuse them of stirring racial fears at a time when Ramaphosa is trying to defuse threats of unrest from a far-left party.

Solidarity says it reflects fears rather than stirring them.

"On expropriation, they can`t threaten that sort of thing and not expect a reaction," Flip Buys, chairman of the umbrella movement, said by telephone. 
"Some battles you must fight. We must save the country from what happened in Zimbabwe," he said, referring to the widespread violent takeover of white-owned farms in the early 2000s.

More fringe white groups, including the survivalist Suidlanders, have been warning for decades that Afrikaners are under threat.

But Solidarity and Afriforum are working at a different level, holding prominent protests, lobbying foreign governments and preparing to approach the United Nations to request land expropriation be recognised as a breach of human rights.

Afriforum and COPE, a party formed by dissident ANC members with three seats in parliament, said they met senior U.S. embassy officials on Monday to ask Washington to put pressure on South Africa to protect property rights.

The US embassy said COPE and AfriForum delivered a petition to one of its officials.

HIJACKED

Conversations with a dozen members of Afriforum at its rallies and elsewhere, reviews of its social media accounts and private text messages sent by its members reveal an increasingly influential movement with an agenda that divides South Africa.

Roets had appeared on Tucker Carlson`s Fox News show in May where they spoke about what they called targeted killings of white farmers and plans to take land along racial lines.

The government, academics and a wide range of commentators say neither is happening, but right-wing journalists from Canada, Britain and Australia have made programmes on the issue.

"Afriforum has understood this emergence of white chauvinist identities around the world and is manipulating it for its own ends," said Adam Habib, vice-chancellor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

"The problem with that is it will fracture our communities."

Max du Preez, an Afrikaans-speaking author and commentator, said Afriforum did not represent the community and did it a disservice by making it seem racist. "If black people want to insult an Afrikaner they call him Afriforum," he said.

Roets denies Afriforum preys on white people`s fears and said it was employing the same tactics as the ANC used in the 1980s to build pressure on the apartheid government.

"We learnt from the best. We have found the South African government is very sensitive to international criticism."

Trump`s intervention stole the limelight during Ramaphosa`s high-profile visit to the UN general assembly in September.

Ramaphosa made light of Trump`s comments but an ANC source said he was very angry.

Every president since Nelson Mandela led South Africa out of white-minority rule in 1994 has tried, and largely failed, to redress an imbalance whereby whites - nine percent of 56 million South Africans - own more than 70 percent of agricultural land.

Ramaphosa is competing in next year`s election with a far-left party exploiting anger at persistent rural destitution among blacks alongside wealthy, white-owned commercial farms.

That party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, has threatened to nationalise all land and urged people to occupy it - calls which have so-far gone unheeded beyond a few groups erecting shacks on unused plots.

Ramaphosa, who replaced scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma in February, has said reforms will not harm the economy, investment or food security and that unused land in towns and cities would be a high priority. He has given few details, but has the support of most big businesses and foreign investor community.

Trump`s tweet unnerved investors and drove down the rand and share prices, although they subsequently recovered. "I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers," it said.

A US embassy spokesman said it was continuing to evaluate various issues, including land, as normal.

STATE WITHIN A STATE

Solidarity contains around 20 organisations, including a media company, a university and an investment fund. Its half a million members pay fees and a property portfolio and stock market investments are among other funding sources.

Reuters spoke to Afriforum members who believed the Afrikaner community was under threat and felt Solidarity was the only support network they could rely on.

Some described Solidarity as a "state within a state".&nbsp;

Roets said Afriforum`s membership was growing but it had no intention of trying to carve out a de-facto white state.

"There are certain buzzwords that we like to use and we encourage among our membership and those are words like `self-reliance` like `self-help` like `independence`," he said.

"If you want to describe that as a `state within a state` that`s fine."

The Suidlanders, meanwhile, are preparing for battle.

In an isolated outpost town on the Orange River, they say they expect an "imminent" racial civil war.

Hoarding guns, clothes and food in bunkers hidden in the dry barren landscape, its growing membership has drawn up a detailed plan to carve off a section of the country.

"Some people think we are racists. It`s totally not the case. We are purely and simply a civil defence organisation," Suidlanders spokesman Simon Roche told Reuters.

Roche, who showed Reuters caravans filled with supplies ready for when "war" breaks out, says he has travelled to Washington and Europe to meet with likeminded groups and with politicians, although he declined to name them.

"We must tell the world what is coming. People can call us conspiracy theorists. Soon we will see who was right."

When US President Donald Trump pledged to investigate large scale killings of white farmers in South Africa and violent takeovers of land, Pretoria said he was misinformed.

When US President Donald Trump pledged to investigate large scale killings of white farmers in South Africa and violent takeovers of land, Pretoria said he was misinformed. Elsewhere, there was quiet satisfaction. For a little-known South African activist group, Trump`s intervention, following a Fox News show criticising the land reform plans of President Cyril Ramaphosa`s ruling African National Congress, signalled a job well done. "The best possible outcome that we hoped for was for a statement by the president of the USA, which we got," Ernst Roets, deputy CEO of Afriforum, told Reuters in his office in a quiet suburb of the capital. The office walls display photographs of street protests by Afriforum, stepped up this year against land distribution plans and what it calls the targeted killing of white farmers. In South Africa, no land has been seized and while violent crime is a huge problem, the vast majority of victims are poor and black. Of 20,000 murders in the last recorded year, 46 were white people killed on farms, according to police data. Afriforum is an interest group representing Afrikaners - the 5 per cent of the population descended mainly from Dutch, German and French settlers. It belongs to a wider movement called Solidarity, which has grown from a 100-year-old trade union into a sprawling and well-resourced organisation offering education and training and a range of other services in Afrikaans. Ramaphosa`s vague pledge this year to pursue land expropriation without compensation to right the wrongs of apartheid has given new impetus to both groups, who have brushed aside his insistence he will protect property rights. Critics, including some prominent Afrikaners, accuse them of stirring racial fears at a time when Ramaphosa is trying to defuse threats of unrest from a far-left party. Solidarity says it reflects fears rather than stirring them. "On expropriation, they can`t threaten that sort of thing and not expect a reaction," Flip Buys, chairman of the umbrella movement, said by telephone. "Some battles you must fight. We must save the country from what happened in Zimbabwe," he said, referring to the widespread violent takeover of white-owned farms in the early 2000s. More fringe white groups, including the survivalist Suidlanders, have been warning for decades that Afrikaners are under threat. But Solidarity and Afriforum are working at a different level, holding prominent protests, lobbying foreign governments and preparing to approach the United Nations to request land expropriation be recognised as a breach of human rights. Afriforum and COPE, a party formed by dissident ANC members with three seats in parliament, said they met senior U.S. embassy officials on Monday to ask Washington to put pressure on South Africa to protect property rights. The US embassy said COPE and AfriForum delivered a petition to one of its officials. HIJACKED Conversations with a dozen members of Afriforum at its rallies and elsewhere, reviews of its social media accounts and private text messages sent by its members reveal an increasingly influential movement with an agenda that divides South Africa. Roets had appeared on Tucker Carlson`s Fox News show in May where they spoke about what they called targeted killings of white farmers and plans to take land along racial lines. The government, academics and a wide range of commentators say neither is happening, but right-wing journalists from Canada, Britain and Australia have made programmes on the issue. "Afriforum has understood this emergence of white chauvinist identities around the world and is manipulating it for its own ends," said Adam Habib, vice-chancellor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. "The problem with that is it will fracture our communities." Max du Preez, an Afrikaans-speaking author and commentator, said Afriforum did not represent the community and did it a disservice by making it seem racist. "If black people want to insult an Afrikaner they call him Afriforum," he said. Roets denies Afriforum preys on white people`s fears and said it was employing the same tactics as the ANC used in the 1980s to build pressure on the apartheid government. "We learnt from the best. We have found the South African government is very sensitive to international criticism." Trump`s intervention stole the limelight during Ramaphosa`s high-profile visit to the UN general assembly in September. Ramaphosa made light of Trump`s comments but an ANC source said he was very angry. Every president since Nelson Mandela led South Africa out of white-minority rule in 1994 has tried, and largely failed, to redress an imbalance whereby whites - nine percent of 56 million South Africans - own more than 70 percent of agricultural land. Ramaphosa is competing in next year`s election with a far-left party exploiting anger at persistent rural destitution among blacks alongside wealthy, white-owned commercial farms. That party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, has threatened to nationalise all land and urged people to occupy it - calls which have so-far gone unheeded beyond a few groups erecting shacks on unused plots. Ramaphosa, who replaced scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma in February, has said reforms will not harm the economy, investment or food security and that unused land in towns and cities would be a high priority. He has given few details, but has the support of most big businesses and foreign investor community. Trump`s tweet unnerved investors and drove down the rand and share prices, although they subsequently recovered. "I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers," it said. A US embassy spokesman said it was continuing to evaluate various issues, including land, as normal. STATE WITHIN A STATE Solidarity contains around 20 organisations, including a media company, a university and an investment fund. Its half a million members pay fees and a property portfolio and stock market investments are among other funding sources. Reuters spoke to Afriforum members who believed the Afrikaner community was under threat and felt Solidarity was the only support network they could rely on. Some described Solidarity as a "state within a state". Roets said Afriforum`s membership was growing but it had no intention of trying to carve out a de-facto white state. "There are certain buzzwords that we like to use and we encourage among our membership and those are words like `self-reliance` like `self-help` like `independence`," he said. "If you want to describe that as a `state within a state` that`s fine." The Suidlanders, meanwhile, are preparing for battle. In an isolated outpost town on the Orange River, they say they expect an "imminent" racial civil war. Hoarding guns, clothes and food in bunkers hidden in the dry barren landscape, its growing membership has drawn up a detailed plan to carve off a section of the country. "Some people think we are racists. It`s totally not the case. We are purely and simply a civil defence organisation," Suidlanders spokesman Simon Roche told Reuters. Roche, who showed Reuters caravans filled with supplies ready for when "war" breaks out, says he has travelled to Washington and Europe to meet with likeminded groups and with politicians, although he declined to name them. "We must tell the world what is coming. People can call us conspiracy theorists. Soon we will see who was right."

Insight: Trump and land fears boost South Africa's white right 'state'

After Democrat Andrew Gillum <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-polls-republican-martha-mcsally-loses-arizona-senate-seat-176966">conceded race for Florida governor </a>to his Republican rival, Ron DeSantis, Republican Rick Scott narrowly won the US Senate seat from Florida beating Democrat Bill Nelson.

The vote had gone into a recount which was being conducted by hand in a long-drawn out battle of nerves resulted in Scott's favour who won &nbsp;over 10,000 votes, or 50.05 percent to 49.93 percent.

"I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service," Scott said.

President Trump was quick to react on his fellow Republicans win, saying: "From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida."&nbsp;

"Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!"&nbsp;

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From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida. Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1064246787161145346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The elections which were held on November 6th had led to a bitter war of words between the Democrats and Republicans with President Trump accusing&nbsp;Florida authorities of fraud although no evidence was found of voter fraud in the state.

After his victory, Scott said: "We must do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of our state and our country," adding,"my focus will not be on looking backward, but on doing exactly what I ran on: Making Washington Work."

Earlier on Saturday, Democrat Andrew Gillum had lost the Governor's race. In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams lost to Republican Brian Kemp, Georgia's secretary of state with a one percentage point win.

After Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded race for Florida governor to his Republican rival, Ron DeSantis, Republican Rick Scott narrowly won the US Senate seat from Florida beating Democrat Bill Nelson.

After Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded race for Florida governor to his Republican rival, Ron DeSantis, Republican Rick Scott narrowly won the US Senate seat from Florida beating Democrat Bill Nelson. The vote had gone into a recount which was being conducted by hand in a long-drawn out battle of nerves resulted in Scott's favour who won over 10,000 votes, or 50.05 percent to 49.93 percent. "I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service," Scott said. President Trump was quick to react on his fellow Republicans win, saying: "From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida." "Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!" From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida. Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2018 × The elections which were held on November 6th had led to a bitter war of words between the Democrats and Republicans with President Trump accusing Florida authorities of fraud although no evidence was found of voter fraud in the state. After his victory, Scott said: "We must do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of our state and our country," adding,"my focus will not be on looking backward, but on doing exactly what I ran on: Making Washington Work." Earlier on Saturday, Democrat Andrew Gillum had lost the Governor's race. In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams lost to Republican Brian Kemp, Georgia's secretary of state with a one percentage point win.

US midterm elections: Republican Rick Scott wins Florida Senate race

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "very vicious" but that he wants to stick with Saudi Arabia as a close ally in the Middle East.

Under pressure to punish Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi`s death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, Trump questioned the alleged role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is known as MbS and is the kingdom`s de facto ruler.

"He told me that he had nothing to do with it," Trump said in an interview with "Fox News Sunday", adding that "many people" also said the crown prince had no knowledge of the killing.

The interview was taped on Friday, hours before government sources said the CIA had briefed the Trump administration on the murder and its belief that MbS ordered it.&nbsp;

Trump said on Saturday that the CIA assessment was "very premature" and in the interview that aired on Sunday he said it may never be possible to know who ordered Khashoggi`s murder.&nbsp;

"Well, will anybody really know?" he said.

"He did have certainly people that were reasonably close to him and close to him that were probably involved ... But at the same time we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good."

Trump faces intense pressure from senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers to take tougher action against Saudi Arabia. Some have said the United States should suspend arms sales to the kingdom and drop his support for MbS, but Trump has so far resisted that pressure.&nbsp;

The US government on Thursday imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but the sanctions did not target the Saudi government.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia is a major oil supplier and a close ally of the United States in countering Iranian power in the Middle East.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, said on Sunday he had no doubt about MbS` involvement in ordering the murder of Khashoggi. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"They are an important ally but when it comes to the crown prince, he`s irrational, he`s unhinged and I think he`s done a lot of damage to the relationship (between) the United States and Saudi Arabia. And I have no intention of working with him ever again," he said on NBC`s "Meet the Press."&nbsp;

Trump said his administration has a taped recording related to the Khashoggi murder, provided by the Turkish government, but that he has not listened to it and does not want to.

"I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it," he said. "It was very violent, very vicious and terrible."

US President Donald Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "very vicious" but that he wants to stick with Saudi Arabia as a close ally in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "very vicious" but that he wants to stick with Saudi Arabia as a close ally in the Middle East. Under pressure to punish Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi`s death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, Trump questioned the alleged role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is known as MbS and is the kingdom`s de facto ruler. "He told me that he had nothing to do with it," Trump said in an interview with "Fox News Sunday", adding that "many people" also said the crown prince had no knowledge of the killing. The interview was taped on Friday, hours before government sources said the CIA had briefed the Trump administration on the murder and its belief that MbS ordered it. Trump said on Saturday that the CIA assessment was "very premature" and in the interview that aired on Sunday he said it may never be possible to know who ordered Khashoggi`s murder. "Well, will anybody really know?" he said. "He did have certainly people that were reasonably close to him and close to him that were probably involved ... But at the same time we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good." Trump faces intense pressure from senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers to take tougher action against Saudi Arabia. Some have said the United States should suspend arms sales to the kingdom and drop his support for MbS, but Trump has so far resisted that pressure. The US government on Thursday imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but the sanctions did not target the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia is a major oil supplier and a close ally of the United States in countering Iranian power in the Middle East. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, said on Sunday he had no doubt about MbS` involvement in ordering the murder of Khashoggi. "They are an important ally but when it comes to the crown prince, he`s irrational, he`s unhinged and I think he`s done a lot of damage to the relationship (between) the United States and Saudi Arabia. And I have no intention of working with him ever again," he said on NBC`s "Meet the Press." Trump said his administration has a taped recording related to the Khashoggi murder, provided by the Turkish government, but that he has not listened to it and does not want to. "I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it," he said. "It was very violent, very vicious and terrible."

Trump wants Saudi Arabia as an ally despite 'vicious' Khashoggi murder

President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday he would not intervene if Matthew Whitaker, his acting US attorney general, moved to curtail Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

In an interview with the "Fox News Sunday" program taped on Friday, Trump also said he probably would not agree to a sit-down interview with Mueller, who also is investigating whether the Republican president`s campaign conspired with Moscow and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe.

Whitaker took over supervision of Mueller`s investigation on November 7 after Trump appointed him as the chief US law enforcement official to replace Jeff Sessions, who the president ousted. Whitaker, who Democrats have called a Trump "political lackey," in the past criticized the scope of the Mueller probe and brought up the possibility of undermining it by slashing Mueller`s funding.

Trump, in the interview, said he was unaware of Whitaker`s past statements about Mueller`s probe and that he would "not get involved" if Whitaker moved to curtail it.

"It`s going to be up to him," Trump said told "Fox News Sunday" interviewer Chris Wallace. "I think he`s very well aware politically. I think he`s astute politically. ... He`s going to do what`s right."

Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and has called the Mueller investigation a "witch hunt." Russia also has denied collusion.

"There is no collusion, he happened to be right," Trump said, referring to one of Whitaker`s previous statements.

Mueller has brought charges against a series of former Trump aides, including his former campaign chairman and his former national security adviser, as well as a number of Russian individuals and entities. Congressional critics have voiced concern that Whitaker could hamper or even fire Mueller.

A bipartisan group of US senators renewed a push last week for legislation to protect the special counsel, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, opposes it. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who will likely lead the Senate panel overseeing the Justice Department next year, met with Whitaker last week and expressed confidence Russia probe would continue.

'The rule of law'

Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Democrats will not stand for any effort by Whitaker to curb Mueller`s probe.

"We will expose any involvement he has in it," Schiff, referring to Whitaker, told ABC`s "This Week" program," accusing Trump of appointing Whitaker in order to interfere with the investigation. "This is an attack on the rule of law."

Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday he had "very easily" completed his written answers for Mueller`s investigation. In his "Fox News Sunday" comments, he signaled he had no plans to do a face-to-face interview with Mueller`s team.

Trump and his lawyers had been in negotiations with Mueller`s team for months over how the president would be questioned as part of the investigation.

Wallace asked Trump whether it was his final position that he would not do a sit-down interview and would not give written responses to questions relating to obstruction of justice.

"I think we`ve wasted enough time on this witch hunt and the answer is probably, we`re finished," Trump said, though he added "I can change my mind."

"We gave very, very complete answers to a lot of questions that I shouldn`t have even been asked, and I think that should solve the problem," Trump added.

President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday he would not intervene if Matthew Whitaker, his acting US attorney general, moved to curtail Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday he would not intervene if Matthew Whitaker, his acting US attorney general, moved to curtail Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In an interview with the "Fox News Sunday" program taped on Friday, Trump also said he probably would not agree to a sit-down interview with Mueller, who also is investigating whether the Republican president`s campaign conspired with Moscow and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. Whitaker took over supervision of Mueller`s investigation on November 7 after Trump appointed him as the chief US law enforcement official to replace Jeff Sessions, who the president ousted. Whitaker, who Democrats have called a Trump "political lackey," in the past criticized the scope of the Mueller probe and brought up the possibility of undermining it by slashing Mueller`s funding. Trump, in the interview, said he was unaware of Whitaker`s past statements about Mueller`s probe and that he would "not get involved" if Whitaker moved to curtail it. "It`s going to be up to him," Trump said told "Fox News Sunday" interviewer Chris Wallace. "I think he`s very well aware politically. I think he`s astute politically. ... He`s going to do what`s right." Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and has called the Mueller investigation a "witch hunt." Russia also has denied collusion. "There is no collusion, he happened to be right," Trump said, referring to one of Whitaker`s previous statements. Mueller has brought charges against a series of former Trump aides, including his former campaign chairman and his former national security adviser, as well as a number of Russian individuals and entities. Congressional critics have voiced concern that Whitaker could hamper or even fire Mueller. A bipartisan group of US senators renewed a push last week for legislation to protect the special counsel, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, opposes it. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who will likely lead the Senate panel overseeing the Justice Department next year, met with Whitaker last week and expressed confidence Russia probe would continue. 'The rule of law' Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Democrats will not stand for any effort by Whitaker to curb Mueller`s probe. "We will expose any involvement he has in it," Schiff, referring to Whitaker, told ABC`s "This Week" program," accusing Trump of appointing Whitaker in order to interfere with the investigation. "This is an attack on the rule of law." Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday he had "very easily" completed his written answers for Mueller`s investigation. In his "Fox News Sunday" comments, he signaled he had no plans to do a face-to-face interview with Mueller`s team. Trump and his lawyers had been in negotiations with Mueller`s team for months over how the president would be questioned as part of the investigation. Wallace asked Trump whether it was his final position that he would not do a sit-down interview and would not give written responses to questions relating to obstruction of justice. "I think we`ve wasted enough time on this witch hunt and the answer is probably, we`re finished," Trump said, though he added "I can change my mind." "We gave very, very complete answers to a lot of questions that I shouldn`t have even been asked, and I think that should solve the problem," Trump added.

Trump would not intervene if Whitaker moves to curtail Mueller probe

Oil rose about 1 per cent on Wednesday, recouping some of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/oil-markets-struggle-to-find-footing-after-seven-per-cent-slump-177187">previous session's heavy sell-off</a>, on growing prospects that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers would cut output at a meeting next month to prop up prices.

After a record 12 straight days of losses and the steepest one-day loss in more than three years, the oil market reversed course after Reuters reported that OPEC and its partners were discussing a proposal to cut output by up to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), more than officials had mentioned previously.

Brent crude settled up 65 cents, or 1 per cent, at $66.12 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $67.63.

US crude futures rose 56 cents, or 1.01 per cent, to settle at $56.25 a barrel, after sliding for 12 straight sessions to the lowest since November 2017.

Prices pared gains in a post-settlement trade as the American Petroleum Institute said crude inventories rose by 8.8 million barrels in the week to November 9 to 440.7 million, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 3.2 million barrels.

Oil markets are being pressured by surging supply from OPEC, Russia, the United States and other producers and worries that a global economic slowdown could cut into energy demand.

This has pushed the price of global benchmark Brent down more than 20 per cent since early October, one of the biggest declines since a price collapse in 2014.

"The market has cratered over the last few weeks and the pop today is related to the chatter that producers could cut up to 1.4 million bpd in 2019," said Gene McGillian, vice president of market research for Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

"Maybe some of the fears of extra supplies and reduced demand have finally been priced into the market, but I wouldn't say that a bottom has set in yet."

As oil has crashed from its October high, natural gas futures soared as much as 56 per cent during that time to a 4-1/2 year high. Oil's latest sell-off was exacerbated as traders unwound long oil-short natural gas trades, market participants said.

The relative strength index (RSI) for both Brent and U.S. crude remained below 30, a technical level often regarded as signalling a market that has fallen too far.

Financial firms hedging the risk incurred by selling put options to oil producers generated added downward pressure when prices fell toward option strikes, Goldman Sachs said in a note.

"This market is attempting to find a price bottom following an unprecedented 12 consecutive days of decline," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note.

"Although the supply surplus is still relatively modest, the market is focusing on the dynamic of expansion in the overhang that will need to show signs of reversal before a price bottom can be established."

In its monthly report, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said the implied stock build for the first half of 2019 is 2 million bpd.

The IEA left its forecast for global demand growth for 2018 and 2019 unchanged from last month, but cut its forecast for non-OECD demand growth, the engine of expansion in world consumption.

US crude output from its seven major shale basins was expected to hit a record 7.94 million bpd in December, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

The surge in onshore output has helped overall US crude production hit a record 11.6 million bpd, making the United States the world's biggest oil producer ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Most analysts expect US output to climb above 12 million bpd in the first half of 2019.

The rise in US production is contributing to higher stockpiles. Storage data from the US government is due on Thursday.&nbsp;

Oil rose about 1 per cent on Wednesday, recouping some of the previous session's heavy sell-off, on growing prospects that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers would cut output at a meeting next month to prop up prices.

Oil rose about 1 per cent on Wednesday, recouping some of the previous session's heavy sell-off, on growing prospects that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers would cut output at a meeting next month to prop up prices. After a record 12 straight days of losses and the steepest one-day loss in more than three years, the oil market reversed course after Reuters reported that OPEC and its partners were discussing a proposal to cut output by up to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), more than officials had mentioned previously. Brent crude settled up 65 cents, or 1 per cent, at $66.12 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $67.63. US crude futures rose 56 cents, or 1.01 per cent, to settle at $56.25 a barrel, after sliding for 12 straight sessions to the lowest since November 2017. Prices pared gains in a post-settlement trade as the American Petroleum Institute said crude inventories rose by 8.8 million barrels in the week to November 9 to 440.7 million, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 3.2 million barrels. Oil markets are being pressured by surging supply from OPEC, Russia, the United States and other producers and worries that a global economic slowdown could cut into energy demand. This has pushed the price of global benchmark Brent down more than 20 per cent since early October, one of the biggest declines since a price collapse in 2014. "The market has cratered over the last few weeks and the pop today is related to the chatter that producers could cut up to 1.4 million bpd in 2019," said Gene McGillian, vice president of market research for Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. "Maybe some of the fears of extra supplies and reduced demand have finally been priced into the market, but I wouldn't say that a bottom has set in yet." As oil has crashed from its October high, natural gas futures soared as much as 56 per cent during that time to a 4-1/2 year high. Oil's latest sell-off was exacerbated as traders unwound long oil-short natural gas trades, market participants said. The relative strength index (RSI) for both Brent and U.S. crude remained below 30, a technical level often regarded as signalling a market that has fallen too far. Financial firms hedging the risk incurred by selling put options to oil producers generated added downward pressure when prices fell toward option strikes, Goldman Sachs said in a note. "This market is attempting to find a price bottom following an unprecedented 12 consecutive days of decline," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note. "Although the supply surplus is still relatively modest, the market is focusing on the dynamic of expansion in the overhang that will need to show signs of reversal before a price bottom can be established." In its monthly report, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said the implied stock build for the first half of 2019 is 2 million bpd. The IEA left its forecast for global demand growth for 2018 and 2019 unchanged from last month, but cut its forecast for non-OECD demand growth, the engine of expansion in world consumption. US crude output from its seven major shale basins was expected to hit a record 7.94 million bpd in December, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday. The surge in onshore output has helped overall US crude production hit a record 11.6 million bpd, making the United States the world's biggest oil producer ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia. Most analysts expect US output to climb above 12 million bpd in the first half of 2019. The rise in US production is contributing to higher stockpiles. Storage data from the US government is due on Thursday.

Oil rebounds from steep sell-off as OPEC, partners discuss supply cut

US President Trump while c<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-interviews-indian-american-woman-to-replace-kavanaugh-in-dc-circuit-court-174293">elebrating Diwali at the White House </a>joked that Indians are "very good traders" and "very good negotiators".

"I am grateful for my friendship with Prime Minister Modi. We are trying very hard to make better trade deals with India. But they're very good traders. They're very good negotiators, the best," the US president said.

"So we're working and it's moving along. India is the world's largest democracy and the relationship between our two countries can act as a bulwark for freedom, prosperity and peace," he said as Indian-Americans at the White House applauded.&nbsp;

Last year, President Trump had celebrated Diwali at the Oval Office with his cabinet minister Nikki Haley and other senior officials along with a few Indian-Americans.

"As we light the diya in the White House and we join in the fellowship with all of those who light lamps in their own home, cities and places of worship. America is a land of faith and we are truly fortunate to have these wonderful traditions woven into the tapestry of our national life," he said.

President Trump had invited the Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, his wife Dr Avina Sarna, and his special assistant Pratik Mathur to be present during the White House Diwali celebrations&nbsp;

"I think, we are looking at one of the best times we ever had in India-US relationship," Sarna said, to which the US president said: "I think, that's true. Very close, closer than ever before."

The first White House Diwali celebrations was held in 2003 under the then president George W Bush, however, he didn't attend the ceremony. 
&nbsp; 
Since 2003, Diwali celebrations at the White House has become an annual tradition. In 2009, former President Barack Obama had lit the ceremonial lamp in the East room of the White House. &nbsp;

In 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated Diwali.

"I'm honored to host this beautiful ceremony at the White House. Very, very special people. We're gathered today to celebrate a very special holiday observed by Buddhist, Sikhs and Jains throughout the United States and around the world. Hundreds of millions of people have gathered with family and friends to light the Diya and to mark the beginning of a New year: very special new year," the president said.

US President Trump while celebrating Diwali at the White House joked that Indians are "very good traders" and "very good negotiators". "I am grateful for my friendship with Prime Minister Modi.

US President Trump while celebrating Diwali at the White House joked that Indians are "very good traders" and "very good negotiators". "I am grateful for my friendship with Prime Minister Modi. We are trying very hard to make better trade deals with India. But they're very good traders. They're very good negotiators, the best," the US president said. "So we're working and it's moving along. India is the world's largest democracy and the relationship between our two countries can act as a bulwark for freedom, prosperity and peace," he said as Indian-Americans at the White House applauded. Last year, President Trump had celebrated Diwali at the Oval Office with his cabinet minister Nikki Haley and other senior officials along with a few Indian-Americans. "As we light the diya in the White House and we join in the fellowship with all of those who light lamps in their own home, cities and places of worship. America is a land of faith and we are truly fortunate to have these wonderful traditions woven into the tapestry of our national life," he said. President Trump had invited the Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, his wife Dr Avina Sarna, and his special assistant Pratik Mathur to be present during the White House Diwali celebrations "I think, we are looking at one of the best times we ever had in India-US relationship," Sarna said, to which the US president said: "I think, that's true. Very close, closer than ever before." The first White House Diwali celebrations was held in 2003 under the then president George W Bush, however, he didn't attend the ceremony. Since 2003, Diwali celebrations at the White House has become an annual tradition. In 2009, former President Barack Obama had lit the ceremonial lamp in the East room of the White House. In 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated Diwali. "I'm honored to host this beautiful ceremony at the White House. Very, very special people. We're gathered today to celebrate a very special holiday observed by Buddhist, Sikhs and Jains throughout the United States and around the world. Hundreds of millions of people have gathered with family and friends to light the Diya and to mark the beginning of a New year: very special new year," the president said.

Video: Indians are very good negotiators, says Trump during Diwali celebrations

A liberal-leaning California-based federal appeals court that has often ruled against President Donald Trump dealt him another setback this week in a major immigration case and soon could be asked to weigh in on a pipeline project he has championed.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, has been a thorn in Trump`s side since he took office last year and has drawn the Republican president`s ire for its decisions in high-profile cases.

His latest setback before the 9th Circuit came on Thursday when a three-judge panel rejected his bid to rescind a program launched by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants brought into the country as children.

The 9th Circuit has handed him defeats on his travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries and his bid to withhold federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities that limit cooperation on immigration enforcement. It also is set to rule on the administration`s appeal of a judge`s order blocking Trump`s move to put restrictions on transgender people serving in the US military.

The 9th Circuit would hear any appeal by Trump`s administration of the ruling late on Thursday by a federal judge in Montana blocking construction for environmental reasons of the Keystone XL pipeline project that is designed to carry heavy crude oil from Canada to the United States.

The Justice Department said on Friday it is reviewing the Keystone XL ruling to decide its next step. TransCanada Corp said it remains committed to building the $8 billion, 1,180-mile (1,900-km) pipeline.

"The 9th Circuit is an easy punching bag for Trump because not only has it been traditionally liberal but California is its beating heart, and we all know how Trump fares in California," said Barry McDonald, a law professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu. "He probably sees much of the West Coast as a nemesis for him."

California, the most populous US state, is a liberal bastion that is unfriendly political territory for Trump.

"A fair decision"

The president regularly belittles the 9th Circuit, as he did on Friday after the court`s ruling preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

"The DACA will now hopefully go to the Supreme Court where it will be given a fair decision," Trump told reporters.

Trump already has appointed two justices to the nine-member Supreme Court, solidifying its 5-4 conservative majority.

The 9th circuit has 16 judges who were appointed by Democratic presidents and seven who were named by Republican presidents. Democratic presidents tend to appoint more liberal jurists while Republican presidents favour more conservatives judges.

It is one of the series of powerful regional federal appeals courts that are one step below the Supreme Court. These circuit courts often provide the last word in a legal dispute because the Supreme Court hears only a limited number of cases.

The 9th Circuit hears appeals in federal cases spanning a huge region in terms of both geography and population, covering the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Trump already has named two judges to the 9th Circuit, with six other vacancies waiting to be filled. Trump will not be able to create a conservative majority on the 9th Circuit, however, without additional vacancies caused when actively presiding judges retire.&nbsp;

Aided by fellow Republicans in the US Senate, Trump has made it a top priority to rapidly appoint judges in a bid to make the federal judiciary more conservative.

Trump has suggested his policies do not get a fair shake in the 9th Circuit and has touted the idea of breaking up that court. Trump last year decried the 9th Circuit`s "ridiculous" ruling on the travel ban, and said that court has "a terrible record of being overturned" by the Supreme Court - an often-made charge that the 9th Circuit`s chief judge took issue with in congressional testimony.

A liberal-leaning California-based federal appeals court that has often ruled against President Donald Trump dealt him another setback this week in a major immigration case and soon could be asked to weigh in on a pipeline project he has championed.

A liberal-leaning California-based federal appeals court that has often ruled against President Donald Trump dealt him another setback this week in a major immigration case and soon could be asked to weigh in on a pipeline project he has championed. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, has been a thorn in Trump`s side since he took office last year and has drawn the Republican president`s ire for its decisions in high-profile cases. His latest setback before the 9th Circuit came on Thursday when a three-judge panel rejected his bid to rescind a program launched by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants brought into the country as children. The 9th Circuit has handed him defeats on his travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries and his bid to withhold federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities that limit cooperation on immigration enforcement. It also is set to rule on the administration`s appeal of a judge`s order blocking Trump`s move to put restrictions on transgender people serving in the US military. The 9th Circuit would hear any appeal by Trump`s administration of the ruling late on Thursday by a federal judge in Montana blocking construction for environmental reasons of the Keystone XL pipeline project that is designed to carry heavy crude oil from Canada to the United States. The Justice Department said on Friday it is reviewing the Keystone XL ruling to decide its next step. TransCanada Corp said it remains committed to building the $8 billion, 1,180-mile (1,900-km) pipeline. "The 9th Circuit is an easy punching bag for Trump because not only has it been traditionally liberal but California is its beating heart, and we all know how Trump fares in California," said Barry McDonald, a law professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu. "He probably sees much of the West Coast as a nemesis for him." California, the most populous US state, is a liberal bastion that is unfriendly political territory for Trump. "A fair decision" The president regularly belittles the 9th Circuit, as he did on Friday after the court`s ruling preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. "The DACA will now hopefully go to the Supreme Court where it will be given a fair decision," Trump told reporters. Trump already has appointed two justices to the nine-member Supreme Court, solidifying its 5-4 conservative majority. The 9th circuit has 16 judges who were appointed by Democratic presidents and seven who were named by Republican presidents. Democratic presidents tend to appoint more liberal jurists while Republican presidents favour more conservatives judges. It is one of the series of powerful regional federal appeals courts that are one step below the Supreme Court. These circuit courts often provide the last word in a legal dispute because the Supreme Court hears only a limited number of cases. The 9th Circuit hears appeals in federal cases spanning a huge region in terms of both geography and population, covering the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Trump already has named two judges to the 9th Circuit, with six other vacancies waiting to be filled. Trump will not be able to create a conservative majority on the 9th Circuit, however, without additional vacancies caused when actively presiding judges retire. Aided by fellow Republicans in the US Senate, Trump has made it a top priority to rapidly appoint judges in a bid to make the federal judiciary more conservative. Trump has suggested his policies do not get a fair shake in the 9th Circuit and has touted the idea of breaking up that court. Trump last year decried the 9th Circuit`s "ridiculous" ruling on the travel ban, and said that court has "a terrible record of being overturned" by the Supreme Court - an often-made charge that the 9th Circuit`s chief judge took issue with in congressional testimony.

California-based appeals court has been thorn in Trump's side

President Donald Trump on Wednesday fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after a heated midterm vote, naming a loyalist to replace him in a move that raises questions over the future of the Russia investigation.

The axing capped more than a year of bitter criticism by the president over his legal advisor's decision to recuse himself from the probe into Moscow's interference in the 2016 election, paving the way for the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

In announcing the resignation in a tweet that thanked the former Alabama senator "for his service" -- Trump right away named as acting attorney general Sessions' chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker.

The announcement set off immediate alarm bells: Whitaker has been overtly critical of the broad scope granted to Mueller's team to probe beyond allegations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia in 2016, into other ties between Trump, his family and aides, and Russia -- an investigation the president calls a "witch hunt."

In an op-ed in August last year he publicly urged Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein -- who oversees the probe -- to "limit the scope of his investigation to the four corners of the order appointing him special counsel."

As acting attorney general, Whitaker now has the power to wrest oversight away from Rosenstein and take charge himself.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer immediately called on Whitaker to recuse himself from the probe as his predecessor had, "given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations" on it.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a former presidential hopeful, went further, tweeting that "any attempt by the president or the Justice Department to interfere with Mueller's probe would be an obstruction of justice and impeachable offense."

First casualty after midterms

They were joined in their demands by Republican Mitt Romney, a former presidential candidate and frequent Trump critic who won a US Senate seat in Tuesday's midterm.

Thanking Sessions for his service, Romney said that it was "imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded."

Whitaker himself meanwhile offered little clue about his intentions in a bland statement to reporters that praised his former boss as a "dedicated public servant" and said he would work to leading a department that conformed to the "highest ethical standards."&nbsp;

Sessions was the first casualty of a cabinet shakeup that had been expected from Trump following the midterm elections where his Republican party lost control of the House of Representatives but retained the Senate.

But his departure was anticipated since early this year, after he endured withering and repeated criticism from the president over the legally troubled ban on Muslim travelers Trump sought when he came into office, and over the Mueller probe.

"At your request, I am submitting my resignation," Sessions said in the first line of a letter addressed to Trump, released by the Department of Justice. 
&nbsp;Trump's first backer -

Sessions was the first US senator to back Trump's presidential run in 2016, giving the New York real estate billionaire credibility against a broad field of Republican stalwarts.

The two were reportedly brought together by a shared wish to crack down on immigration.&nbsp;

After taking office in January 2017, the former prosecutor launched tough law-and-order policies and a broad ban on Muslim travelers promised by Trump during the campaign.

He was in the vanguard of administration pushes to expand the ranks of federal law enforcement, fill courts with conservative judges, and crack down on Central American gangs such as MS-13.

But the president was infuriated when in March 2017 Sessions recused himself from the nascent Russia investigation, because of his own Russian contacts during the 2016 campaign. Instead, he gave Rosenstein that authority.&nbsp;

When Trump weeks later fired FBI director James Comey in anger at the Russia investigation, Rosenstein stunned the administration by naming Mueller, a former FBI chief, to lead the probe as an independent prosecutor.

That structure, with Sessions recused and Rosenstein supervising Mueller, has insulated the investigation from outside interference. 
Still, Trump has repeatedly accused Mueller of running an illegal investigation staffed by Democrats and threatened to shut it down.

Indictments looming

Matters though were clearly coming to a head after Mueller racked up indictments against 34 people and three companies, in direct and spinoff cases. Eight guilty pleas have resulted, and one jury trial conviction.

Most notably, several top Trump aides have agreed to cooperate: former national security advisor Michael Flynn; former campaign chair Paul Manafort; former vice chair Richard Gates; and former Trump Organization vice president Michael Cohen, a lawyer who used to work as Trump's personal fixer.

Mueller was expected to unveil in the coming weeks new indictments, possibly against 2016 campaign consultant Roger Stone and Trump's son Donald Jr.

Moreover, Mueller's team and the White House have been haggling for months over whether the president himself would answer questions. Mueller is known to be examining whether Trump obstructed justice in firing Comey -- and other acts.

In addition, the White House has shown concern that Mueller is investigating the finances of the Trump Organization, and links to Russia.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump on Wednesday fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after a heated midterm vote, naming a loyalist to replace him in a move that raises questions over the future of the Russia investigation.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after a heated midterm vote, naming a loyalist to replace him in a move that raises questions over the future of the Russia investigation. The axing capped more than a year of bitter criticism by the president over his legal advisor's decision to recuse himself from the probe into Moscow's interference in the 2016 election, paving the way for the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In announcing the resignation in a tweet that thanked the former Alabama senator "for his service" -- Trump right away named as acting attorney general Sessions' chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker. The announcement set off immediate alarm bells: Whitaker has been overtly critical of the broad scope granted to Mueller's team to probe beyond allegations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia in 2016, into other ties between Trump, his family and aides, and Russia -- an investigation the president calls a "witch hunt." In an op-ed in August last year he publicly urged Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein -- who oversees the probe -- to "limit the scope of his investigation to the four corners of the order appointing him special counsel." As acting attorney general, Whitaker now has the power to wrest oversight away from Rosenstein and take charge himself. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer immediately called on Whitaker to recuse himself from the probe as his predecessor had, "given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations" on it. Senator Bernie Sanders, a former presidential hopeful, went further, tweeting that "any attempt by the president or the Justice Department to interfere with Mueller's probe would be an obstruction of justice and impeachable offense." First casualty after midterms They were joined in their demands by Republican Mitt Romney, a former presidential candidate and frequent Trump critic who won a US Senate seat in Tuesday's midterm. Thanking Sessions for his service, Romney said that it was "imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded." Whitaker himself meanwhile offered little clue about his intentions in a bland statement to reporters that praised his former boss as a "dedicated public servant" and said he would work to leading a department that conformed to the "highest ethical standards." Sessions was the first casualty of a cabinet shakeup that had been expected from Trump following the midterm elections where his Republican party lost control of the House of Representatives but retained the Senate. But his departure was anticipated since early this year, after he endured withering and repeated criticism from the president over the legally troubled ban on Muslim travelers Trump sought when he came into office, and over the Mueller probe. "At your request, I am submitting my resignation," Sessions said in the first line of a letter addressed to Trump, released by the Department of Justice. Trump's first backer - Sessions was the first US senator to back Trump's presidential run in 2016, giving the New York real estate billionaire credibility against a broad field of Republican stalwarts. The two were reportedly brought together by a shared wish to crack down on immigration. After taking office in January 2017, the former prosecutor launched tough law-and-order policies and a broad ban on Muslim travelers promised by Trump during the campaign. He was in the vanguard of administration pushes to expand the ranks of federal law enforcement, fill courts with conservative judges, and crack down on Central American gangs such as MS-13. But the president was infuriated when in March 2017 Sessions recused himself from the nascent Russia investigation, because of his own Russian contacts during the 2016 campaign. Instead, he gave Rosenstein that authority. When Trump weeks later fired FBI director James Comey in anger at the Russia investigation, Rosenstein stunned the administration by naming Mueller, a former FBI chief, to lead the probe as an independent prosecutor. That structure, with Sessions recused and Rosenstein supervising Mueller, has insulated the investigation from outside interference. Still, Trump has repeatedly accused Mueller of running an illegal investigation staffed by Democrats and threatened to shut it down. Indictments looming Matters though were clearly coming to a head after Mueller racked up indictments against 34 people and three companies, in direct and spinoff cases. Eight guilty pleas have resulted, and one jury trial conviction. Most notably, several top Trump aides have agreed to cooperate: former national security advisor Michael Flynn; former campaign chair Paul Manafort; former vice chair Richard Gates; and former Trump Organization vice president Michael Cohen, a lawyer who used to work as Trump's personal fixer. Mueller was expected to unveil in the coming weeks new indictments, possibly against 2016 campaign consultant Roger Stone and Trump's son Donald Jr. Moreover, Mueller's team and the White House have been haggling for months over whether the president himself would answer questions. Mueller is known to be examining whether Trump obstructed justice in firing Comey -- and other acts. In addition, the White House has shown concern that Mueller is investigating the finances of the Trump Organization, and links to Russia.

Fears for Russia probe as Trump fires Jeff Sessions

Republican Brian Kemp's campaign said on Wednesday he had won Georgia's high-profile governor's race, but Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams vowed not to concede until all ballots were counted.

"Simply put, it is mathematically impossible for Stacey Abrams to win or force a run-off election," Kemp spokesman Cody Hall said in a statement Wednesday evening. "Brian Kemp will now begin his transition as governor-elect of Georgia."

Abrams, 44, is trying to become the first black woman elected governor of a US state. Unofficial results from Tuesday`s election showed Kemp leading by more than 60,000 votes and just over the 50 percent threshold he needs to avoid a runoff under Georgia state law.

Abrams'&nbsp;campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo said there were thousands more mail, provisional and absentee ballots, however, still to be tallied.

The Democratic campaign cited an "incredible amount of irregularities" on Election Day, including rejected ballots and broken voting machines, and said it would consider all options including litigation to ensure a fair election.

The Georgia contest was among three dozen governor elections on Tuesday.&nbsp;

In some states, the races were seen as an early test of the parties` strength ahead of the 2020 presidential race. Democrats seized seven Republican-held governorships, including in several states that helped deliver Republican President Donald Trump`s surprise win in 2016, without suffering any losses.

But Republicans triumphed in Florida and Ohio, both swing states that could play an outsized role in 2020.

In Florida, Democrat Andrew Gillum lost his attempt to become the state`s first black governor, suffering a narrow defeat to Republican Ron DeSantis in a racially charged contest.

Republicans also scored a major victory in Ohio`s governor race, where Mike DeWine, the state attorney general, defeated Democrat Richard Cordray.

But in Wisconsin, Democrat Tony Evers appeared to pull off a narrow win to deny Republican incumbent Scott Walker a third term.

Democrats also won gubernatorial races in three other states - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Kansas - that supported Trump in 2016.

In Michigan, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer turned back Republican Bill Schuette, while in Kansas, Democrat Laura Kelly defeated Kris Kobach, a staunch Trump ally.

Democratic candidates also triumphed in Illinois, Maine, New Mexico and Nevada, where Republicans had held the governorships.&nbsp;

'Every vote counted'

The races in Florida and Georgia were seen as a test of whether liberal candidates could prevail in Southern states, where centrist Democrats have repeatedly lost, by appealing to a coalition of young and minority voters.

Both DeSantis and Kemp had strong support from Trump, who travelled to their states in the closing days of the campaigns to energise Republicans at "Make America Great Again" rallies. Democratic former President Barack Obama swooped in to boost the Democrats.

Kemp, 55, oversees elections in his current role as secretary of state, a potential conflict of interest that drew repeated criticism from Democrats during the campaign. He refused to step down from his position and denied Democratic accusations that he used his office to suppress minority voters.

The fight for state power received less attention than the battle for control of the U.S. Congress but could have a major impact on issues such as congressional redistricting and healthcare.

Governors and hundreds of legislators elected this year will be in office when each state redraws congressional districts after the 2020 Census.

Going into Tuesday, Republicans controlled 33 governors` mansions and two-thirds of state legislative chambers.

Democrats, playing catch-up after a net loss of 13 governorships and more than 900 state legislative seats during the eight-year Obama administration, fielded their largest slate of legislative candidates in more than three decades.

The party flipped six legislative chambers on Tuesday and now has complete control of state government in Colorado, New York, Illinois, Maine and New Mexico.

Republican Brian Kemp's campaign said on Wednesday he had won Georgia's high-profile governor's race, but Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams vowed not to concede until all ballots were counted.

Republican Brian Kemp's campaign said on Wednesday he had won Georgia's high-profile governor's race, but Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams vowed not to concede until all ballots were counted. "Simply put, it is mathematically impossible for Stacey Abrams to win or force a run-off election," Kemp spokesman Cody Hall said in a statement Wednesday evening. "Brian Kemp will now begin his transition as governor-elect of Georgia." Abrams, 44, is trying to become the first black woman elected governor of a US state. Unofficial results from Tuesday`s election showed Kemp leading by more than 60,000 votes and just over the 50 percent threshold he needs to avoid a runoff under Georgia state law. Abrams' campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo said there were thousands more mail, provisional and absentee ballots, however, still to be tallied. The Democratic campaign cited an "incredible amount of irregularities" on Election Day, including rejected ballots and broken voting machines, and said it would consider all options including litigation to ensure a fair election. The Georgia contest was among three dozen governor elections on Tuesday. In some states, the races were seen as an early test of the parties` strength ahead of the 2020 presidential race. Democrats seized seven Republican-held governorships, including in several states that helped deliver Republican President Donald Trump`s surprise win in 2016, without suffering any losses. But Republicans triumphed in Florida and Ohio, both swing states that could play an outsized role in 2020. In Florida, Democrat Andrew Gillum lost his attempt to become the state`s first black governor, suffering a narrow defeat to Republican Ron DeSantis in a racially charged contest. Republicans also scored a major victory in Ohio`s governor race, where Mike DeWine, the state attorney general, defeated Democrat Richard Cordray. But in Wisconsin, Democrat Tony Evers appeared to pull off a narrow win to deny Republican incumbent Scott Walker a third term. Democrats also won gubernatorial races in three other states - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Kansas - that supported Trump in 2016. In Michigan, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer turned back Republican Bill Schuette, while in Kansas, Democrat Laura Kelly defeated Kris Kobach, a staunch Trump ally. Democratic candidates also triumphed in Illinois, Maine, New Mexico and Nevada, where Republicans had held the governorships. 'Every vote counted' The races in Florida and Georgia were seen as a test of whether liberal candidates could prevail in Southern states, where centrist Democrats have repeatedly lost, by appealing to a coalition of young and minority voters. Both DeSantis and Kemp had strong support from Trump, who travelled to their states in the closing days of the campaigns to energise Republicans at "Make America Great Again" rallies. Democratic former President Barack Obama swooped in to boost the Democrats. Kemp, 55, oversees elections in his current role as secretary of state, a potential conflict of interest that drew repeated criticism from Democrats during the campaign. He refused to step down from his position and denied Democratic accusations that he used his office to suppress minority voters. The fight for state power received less attention than the battle for control of the U.S. Congress but could have a major impact on issues such as congressional redistricting and healthcare. Governors and hundreds of legislators elected this year will be in office when each state redraws congressional districts after the 2020 Census. Going into Tuesday, Republicans controlled 33 governors` mansions and two-thirds of state legislative chambers. Democrats, playing catch-up after a net loss of 13 governorships and more than 900 state legislative seats during the eight-year Obama administration, fielded their largest slate of legislative candidates in more than three decades. The party flipped six legislative chambers on Tuesday and now has complete control of state government in Colorado, New York, Illinois, Maine and New Mexico.

Republican declares Georgia governor win, Democrat does not concede

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fires-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-vows-to-fight-democrats-if-they-launch-probes-176119">Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions, vows to fight Democrats if they launch probes</a>

President Donald Trump on Wednesday forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after congressional elections, and vowed to fight if the US House of Representatives' new Democratic majority&nbsp;launches probes into his administration.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-revokes-press-pass-of-cnn-reporter-after-furious-exchange-with-trump-176127">White House revokes CNN reporter's press pass after </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-revokes-press-pass-of-cnn-reporter-after-furious-exchange-with-trump-176127">furious</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-revokes-press-pass-of-cnn-reporter-after-furious-exchange-with-trump-176127"> exchange with Trump</a>

White House has barred CNN reporter, Jim Acosta, after a heated exchange when a visibly angry US President Donald Trump called the former "enemy of the people" and a "terrible person" after being asked why he "demonized immigrants"

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-christian-woman-asia-bibi-leaves-jail-flies-out-of-multan-176122">Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi leaves jail, flies out of Multan</a>

A Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy has been freed from jail and is believed to have already flown out of the city of Multan where she was being held, heading for an unknown destination, her lawyer said Thursday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-christian-woman-asia-bibi-leaves-jail-flies-out-of-multan-176122">Delhi chokes after Diwali as several places record AQI at 999</a>

A day after Diwali a thick haze engulfed the national capital region which recorded an overall Air Quality Index of 319. The AQI at several other places in the national capital reached 999 marks falling in the hazardous category.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fuel-prices-down-again-petrol-at-rs-7821-per-litre-in-delhi-8372-per-litre-in-mumbai-176126">Fuel prices down again, petrol at Rs 78.21 per litre in Delhi, Rs 83.72 per litre in Mumbai</a>

Fuel prices in the country continued to decline on Thursday with prices of petrol reaching Rs 78.21 per litre in Delhi and Rs 83.72 per litre in Mumbai. While petrol reduced by 21 paise in Delhi and 20 paise in Mumbai, diesel witnessed a reduction of 18 paise in the national capital and 19 paise in Mumbai.

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Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions, vows to fight Democrats if they launch probes President Donald Trump on Wednesday forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after congressional elections, and vowed to fight if the US House of Representatives' new Democratic majority launches probes into his administration.

Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions, vows to fight Democrats if they launch probes President Donald Trump on Wednesday forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after congressional elections, and vowed to fight if the US House of Representatives' new Democratic majority launches probes into his administration. White House revokes CNN reporter's press pass after furious exchange with Trump White House has barred CNN reporter, Jim Acosta, after a heated exchange when a visibly angry US President Donald Trump called the former "enemy of the people" and a "terrible person" after being asked why he "demonized immigrants" Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi leaves jail, flies out of Multan A Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy has been freed from jail and is believed to have already flown out of the city of Multan where she was being held, heading for an unknown destination, her lawyer said Thursday. Delhi chokes after Diwali as several places record AQI at 999 A day after Diwali a thick haze engulfed the national capital region which recorded an overall Air Quality Index of 319. The AQI at several other places in the national capital reached 999 marks falling in the hazardous category. Fuel prices down again, petrol at Rs 78.21 per litre in Delhi, Rs 83.72 per litre in Mumbai Fuel prices in the country continued to decline on Thursday with prices of petrol reaching Rs 78.21 per litre in Delhi and Rs 83.72 per litre in Mumbai. While petrol reduced by 21 paise in Delhi and 20 paise in Mumbai, diesel witnessed a reduction of 18 paise in the national capital and 19 paise in Mumbai.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fires-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-vows-to-fight-democrats-if-they-launch-probes-176119">ouster of Attorney General</a> Jeff Sessions by President Donald Trump on Wednesday drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who warned Trump against moving to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-faces-a-blitz-of-investigations-from-democratic-run-house-176101">squash a probe</a> of Russian <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-calls-new-us-election-meddling-claim-hysteria-156757?first_load=no">meddling in the 2016 US presidential</a> election.

The probe, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller under the supervision of the Justice Department, has clouded the Trump presidency. The president had<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-again-blasts-us-attorney-general-sessions-166716"> long complained about Sessions</a> recusing himself from supervising Mueller.

Democrats raised concerns about <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-attacks-attorney-general-sessions-for-filing-charges-against-two-partymen-163434&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiCqPjV0cPeAhXFo48KHX95CvwQFggXMAY&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw00Z20uQldBP6MdG0_zpQS6">Sessions</a>' acting replacement, Matthew Whitaker, who now oversees Mueller and once argued Mueller's probe was going too far. They also questioned whether the removal of the top US law enforcement officer was an attempt to undermine or end the investigation.

"Congress must take bipartisan action to protect the integrity of Special Counsel Mueller's investigation," said Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House of Representatives, hours after Democrats won a House majority in Tuesday's elections.

If Sessions' departure was an "opening move" by Trump to meddle in Mueller’s investigation, Hoyer said in a statement, "the president must be held accountable."

Asked if Whitaker would now oversee Mueller, a Justice Department spokeswoman said: "The acting attorney general is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice."

A spokesman for Mueller's office declined to comment on Sessions' departure. Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani told Reuters on Tuesday that he assumed it was "not going to affect" the Mueller investigation.

Justice Department rules on special counsels set boundaries on how Mueller could be removed. Under those rules, he could only be discharged for good cause, such as misconduct or dereliction of duty, such as violating department policy.

Mueller is investigating if Trump's campaign colluded with Russia, and whether Trump unlawfully tried to obstruct the probe, along with possible financial misconduct by Trump's family and associates.

The special counsel has brought charges against Trump's former campaign chairman and other campaign figures, along with 25 Russians and three firms accused of meddling in the campaign to help Trump win.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/factbox-seven-takeaways-from-the-us-congressional-elections-176061">Factbox: Seven takeaways from US congressional elections</a>

Trump has denied his campaign colluded with Russia.

Recusal demand

In a Twitter message, the medium he often uses for dismissing subordinates, Trump said he had replaced Sessions with Whitaker, who will be acting attorney general. Whitaker was previously Sessions' chief of staff.

Sessions said in a letter to Trump that he had resigned at the president's request.

Some Democrats quickly demanded that Whitaker should recuse himself from supervising Mueller, as Sessions did because Whitaker wrote an opinion piece for CNN in August 2017 that argued Mueller had too much latitude in his investigation.

The Mueller probe should not extend to the finances of Trump, his family or their business, the Trump Organization, he argued.

"Given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations on the Mueller investigation, Mr. Whitaker should recuse himself from its oversight for the duration of his time as acting attorney general,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler, expected to chair the House Judiciary Committee starting in January, said removing Sessions fit Trump's pattern of interfering in the work of the Justice Department and Mueller.

"Donald Trump may think he has the power to hire and fire whomever he pleases, but he cannot take such action if it is determined that it is for the purposes of subverting the rule of law and obstructing justice," Nadler said in a statement.

Republican Mitt Romney, the party's 2012 presidential nominee who was elected on Tuesday to the US Senate from Utah, also said Mueller's probe should not be affected by Sessions' departure.

"Under Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, it is imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded," he said on Twitter.

Harsh attacks

Never in modern history has a president attacked a Cabinet member as frequently and harshly in public as Trump did Sessions, 71, who had been one of the first members of Congress to back his presidential campaign in 2015.

Trump was only a few weeks into his presidency in March 2017 when Sessions upset him by stepping aside from overseeing an FBI probe of potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, citing news reports of previously undisclosed meetings he had with Russia's ambassador to Washington for his recusal.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein took over supervision of the Russia investigation. He appointed Mueller in May 2017 as the Justice Department's special counsel to take control of the FBI's Russia probe after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.

Despite Trump's criticism, Sessions aggressively carried out the administration's conservative policies. He sought to strip federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities and states, typically governed by Democrats, that he accused of sheltering illegal immigrants from deportation.

He also announced Trump's decision to rescind protections for young adults brought into the country illegally as children and backed Trump's ban on people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

A permanent replacement for Sessions must be confirmed by the Senate, which Trump's Republicans will continue to control as a result of Tuesday's midterm elections.

The ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions by President Donald Trump on Wednesday drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who warned Trump against moving to squash a probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

The ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions by President Donald Trump on Wednesday drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who warned Trump against moving to squash a probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. The probe, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller under the supervision of the Justice Department, has clouded the Trump presidency. The president had long complained about Sessions recusing himself from supervising Mueller. Democrats raised concerns about Sessions' acting replacement, Matthew Whitaker, who now oversees Mueller and once argued Mueller's probe was going too far. They also questioned whether the removal of the top US law enforcement officer was an attempt to undermine or end the investigation. "Congress must take bipartisan action to protect the integrity of Special Counsel Mueller's investigation," said Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House of Representatives, hours after Democrats won a House majority in Tuesday's elections. If Sessions' departure was an "opening move" by Trump to meddle in Mueller’s investigation, Hoyer said in a statement, "the president must be held accountable." Asked if Whitaker would now oversee Mueller, a Justice Department spokeswoman said: "The acting attorney general is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice." A spokesman for Mueller's office declined to comment on Sessions' departure. Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani told Reuters on Tuesday that he assumed it was "not going to affect" the Mueller investigation. Justice Department rules on special counsels set boundaries on how Mueller could be removed. Under those rules, he could only be discharged for good cause, such as misconduct or dereliction of duty, such as violating department policy. Mueller is investigating if Trump's campaign colluded with Russia, and whether Trump unlawfully tried to obstruct the probe, along with possible financial misconduct by Trump's family and associates. The special counsel has brought charges against Trump's former campaign chairman and other campaign figures, along with 25 Russians and three firms accused of meddling in the campaign to help Trump win. Also read: Factbox: Seven takeaways from US congressional elections Trump has denied his campaign colluded with Russia. Recusal demand In a Twitter message, the medium he often uses for dismissing subordinates, Trump said he had replaced Sessions with Whitaker, who will be acting attorney general. Whitaker was previously Sessions' chief of staff. Sessions said in a letter to Trump that he had resigned at the president's request. Some Democrats quickly demanded that Whitaker should recuse himself from supervising Mueller, as Sessions did because Whitaker wrote an opinion piece for CNN in August 2017 that argued Mueller had too much latitude in his investigation. The Mueller probe should not extend to the finances of Trump, his family or their business, the Trump Organization, he argued. "Given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations on the Mueller investigation, Mr. Whitaker should recuse himself from its oversight for the duration of his time as acting attorney general,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler, expected to chair the House Judiciary Committee starting in January, said removing Sessions fit Trump's pattern of interfering in the work of the Justice Department and Mueller. "Donald Trump may think he has the power to hire and fire whomever he pleases, but he cannot take such action if it is determined that it is for the purposes of subverting the rule of law and obstructing justice," Nadler said in a statement. Republican Mitt Romney, the party's 2012 presidential nominee who was elected on Tuesday to the US Senate from Utah, also said Mueller's probe should not be affected by Sessions' departure. "Under Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, it is imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded," he said on Twitter. Harsh attacks Never in modern history has a president attacked a Cabinet member as frequently and harshly in public as Trump did Sessions, 71, who had been one of the first members of Congress to back his presidential campaign in 2015. Trump was only a few weeks into his presidency in March 2017 when Sessions upset him by stepping aside from overseeing an FBI probe of potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, citing news reports of previously undisclosed meetings he had with Russia's ambassador to Washington for his recusal. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein took over supervision of the Russia investigation. He appointed Mueller in May 2017 as the Justice Department's special counsel to take control of the FBI's Russia probe after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. Despite Trump's criticism, Sessions aggressively carried out the administration's conservative policies. He sought to strip federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities and states, typically governed by Democrats, that he accused of sheltering illegal immigrants from deportation. He also announced Trump's decision to rescind protections for young adults brought into the country illegally as children and backed Trump's ban on people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. A permanent replacement for Sessions must be confirmed by the Senate, which Trump's Republicans will continue to control as a result of Tuesday's midterm elections.

Democrats warn Trump after Attorney General Sessions forced out

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