Britain reacted angrily on Monday to a tweet from US President Donald Trump attacking its public healthcare system in the latest spat to strain US-UK ties, casting further doubt on his possible visit to London.

&quot;The Democrats are pushing for Universal HealthCare while thousands of people are marching in the UK because their U system is going broke and not working,&quot; Trump wrote in an early morning tweet.

&quot;Dems want to greatly raise taxes for really bad and non-personal medical care. No thanks!&quot;

The tweet came after thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday in support of the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), which is straining under the weight of winter demand.

One possible explanation for Trump&#39;s criticism was an appearance by Brexit champion Nigel Farage, a personal friend of the president, on Fox News earlier Monday where he talked about the NHS.

British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued a sharp rebuke, tweeting: &quot;I may disagree with claims made on that march but not ONE of them wants to live in a system where 28m people have no cover.

&quot;NHS may have challenges but I&#39;m proud to be from the country that invented universal coverage -- where all get care no matter the size of their bank balance,&quot; he wrote.

NHS staffing levels have been in crisis for months, an issue made worse by a winter flu outbreak.

Despite its current woes, the NHS, which was created after World War II, is a revered institution and Trump&#39;s comments prompted widespread resentment.

&quot;Wrong. People were marching because we love our NHS and hate what the Tories are doing to it,&quot; tweeted Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, in a reference to the ruling conservatives.&nbsp;

&quot;Healthcare is a human right,&quot; he added.

&nbsp;&#39;Divisive, incorrect rhetoric&#39;&nbsp;

The People&#39;s Assembly, an anti-austerity campaign group that organised the demonstration, also wrote an open letter to Trump defending the NHS.

&quot;It has been a shining example to the world of what can be achieved when we put the needs of the collective good over the interests of a few wealthy individuals,&quot; the letter read.

&quot;Unfortunately our current government have been persuaded to increasingly adopt policies which represent those of your government,&quot; it said.

&quot;We don&#39;t agree with your divisive and incorrect rhetoric. No thanks,&quot; the letter said.

Trump&#39;s own attempts to reverse his predecessor&#39;s healthcare reform -- known as Obamacare -- twice ended in failure, before his party succeeded in eliminating a key element, the so-called &quot;individual mandate&quot; as part of tax reform.

The measure required individuals to buy health insurance as a way to lower costs by ensuring that healthy people were part of insurance pools.

The &quot;special relationship&quot; between Britain and the United States has shown some signs of strain since Trump came to office a year ago.

Prime Minister Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit Trump following his inauguration in January last year, when she invited him to make a state visit to Britain, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

The trip has been delayed, however, and Trump recently pulled out of a plan to open the new US embassy in London, a move British officials blamed on threats of mass protests.

Trump has also angered the British with previous controversial tweets, including retweeting an extremist group&#39;s anti-Muslim propaganda and sparring with London mayor Sadiq Khan following a terror attack.

'The Democrats are pushing for Universal HealthCare while thousands of people are marching in the UK because their U system is going broke and not working,' Trump wrote in an early morning tweet

Britain reacted angrily on Monday to a tweet from US President Donald Trump attacking its public healthcare system in the latest spat to strain US-UK ties, casting further doubt on his possible visit to London. "The Democrats are pushing for Universal HealthCare while thousands of people are marching in the UK because their U system is going broke and not working," Trump wrote in an early morning tweet. "Dems want to greatly raise taxes for really bad and non-personal medical care. No thanks!" The tweet came after thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday in support of the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), which is straining under the weight of winter demand. One possible explanation for Trump's criticism was an appearance by Brexit champion Nigel Farage, a personal friend of the president, on Fox News earlier Monday where he talked about the NHS. British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued a sharp rebuke, tweeting: "I may disagree with claims made on that march but not ONE of them wants to live in a system where 28m people have no cover. "NHS may have challenges but I'm proud to be from the country that invented universal coverage -- where all get care no matter the size of their bank balance," he wrote. NHS staffing levels have been in crisis for months, an issue made worse by a winter flu outbreak. Despite its current woes, the NHS, which was created after World War II, is a revered institution and Trump's comments prompted widespread resentment. "Wrong. People were marching because we love our NHS and hate what the Tories are doing to it," tweeted Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, in a reference to the ruling conservatives. "Healthcare is a human right," he added. 'Divisive, incorrect rhetoric' The People's Assembly, an anti-austerity campaign group that organised the demonstration, also wrote an open letter to Trump defending the NHS. "It has been a shining example to the world of what can be achieved when we put the needs of the collective good over the interests of a few wealthy individuals," the letter read. "Unfortunately our current government have been persuaded to increasingly adopt policies which represent those of your government," it said. "We don't agree with your divisive and incorrect rhetoric. No thanks," the letter said. Trump's own attempts to reverse his predecessor's healthcare reform -- known as Obamacare -- twice ended in failure, before his party succeeded in eliminating a key element, the so-called "individual mandate" as part of tax reform. The measure required individuals to buy health insurance as a way to lower costs by ensuring that healthy people were part of insurance pools. The "special relationship" between Britain and the United States has shown some signs of strain since Trump came to office a year ago. Prime Minister Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit Trump following his inauguration in January last year, when she invited him to make a state visit to Britain, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. The trip has been delayed, however, and Trump recently pulled out of a plan to open the new US embassy in London, a move British officials blamed on threats of mass protests. Trump has also angered the British with previous controversial tweets, including retweeting an extremist group's anti-Muslim propaganda and sparring with London mayor Sadiq Khan following a terror attack.

Britain hits back at Trump over attack on healthcare system

Bitterly divided<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/congress-votes-to-end-us-shutdown-trump-claims-victory-30415"> US lawmakers return this week </a>to face a shrinking window for reaching deals on immigration, federal spending and the debt, as Republican infighting swirls and President Donald Trump complains he is getting zero cooperation from Democrats.

 
Trump vowed during his State of the Union address last week to &quot;extend an open hand&quot; to both parties in pursuing an immigration deal that shields 1.8 million undocumented migrants from deportation.

 
But his proposal has been savaged by opposition Democrats, and Trump&#39;s &quot;open hand&quot; soon wagged an accusatory finger.

 
&quot;They Resist, Blame, Complain and Obstruct - and do nothing&quot; to break the immigration stalemate, Trump tweeted a few days after his January 30 speech.

 
Congress has also been haggling over spending caps for domestic programs and the military as they seek to finalize a budget for the remainder of 2018.

 
But Republican leaders have acknowledged they will not meet a Thursday deadline for a spending bill, and will have to pass yet another stopgap measure this week -- with help from Democrats -- to avoid a government shutdown.

 
House Speaker Paul Ryan said that while both sides were &quot;making progress&quot; on a budget agreement, a temporary spending bill was necessary to keep the lights on in Washington.

 
&quot;We&#39;re still negotiating the contents and the duration of that,&quot; he said.

 
Lawmakers are smarting from an embarrassing three-day shutdown last month, when Democrats refused to back a spending measure that did not break the immigration impasse.

 
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this time he did not expect another threat of a government shutdown, which Trump critics blamed on Republicans but McConnell pinned on Democrats.

 
&quot;There&#39;s no education in the second kick of a mule,&quot; the Kentucky lawmaker said.

Trump vowed during his State of the Union address last week to "extend an open hand" to both parties

Bitterly divided US lawmakers return this week to face a shrinking window for reaching deals on immigration, federal spending and the debt, as Republican infighting swirls and President Donald Trump complains he is getting zero cooperation from Democrats. Trump vowed during his State of the Union address last week to "extend an open hand" to both parties in pursuing an immigration deal that shields 1.8 million undocumented migrants from deportation. But his proposal has been savaged by opposition Democrats, and Trump's "open hand" soon wagged an accusatory finger. "They Resist, Blame, Complain and Obstruct - and do nothing" to break the immigration stalemate, Trump tweeted a few days after his January 30 speech. Congress has also been haggling over spending caps for domestic programs and the military as they seek to finalize a budget for the remainder of 2018. But Republican leaders have acknowledged they will not meet a Thursday deadline for a spending bill, and will have to pass yet another stopgap measure this week -- with help from Democrats -- to avoid a government shutdown. House Speaker Paul Ryan said that while both sides were "making progress" on a budget agreement, a temporary spending bill was necessary to keep the lights on in Washington. "We're still negotiating the contents and the duration of that," he said. Lawmakers are smarting from an embarrassing three-day shutdown last month, when Democrats refused to back a spending measure that did not break the immigration impasse. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this time he did not expect another threat of a government shutdown, which Trump critics blamed on Republicans but McConnell pinned on Democrats. "There's no education in the second kick of a mule," the Kentucky lawmaker said.

US Congress seeks deals on budget, immigration as shutdown looms

Several hundred highly-skilled Indian workers, in long agonising green card wait, from across the US along with their children and spouses held a rally in front of the White House here in support of President Donald Trump&#39;s plan for a merit-based immigration system that among other things ends chain migration and diversity lottery visa.

Flying to the US capital from as far as California, Texas and Chicago and driving several hundred miles from places like Florida, New York and Massachusetts, these highly skilled Indians, living in the US for the past several years and in many cases for more than a decade, urged Trump to end the per country limit on legal permanent residency so as to eliminate the massive Green Card backlog of highly skilled Indians.

&quot;We are looking strictly for a merit-based immigration. That will bring prosperity and fast economic growth of the US,&quot; Krishna Bansal, national policy and political director of Republican Hindu Coalition, told the rally of highly skilled

Indians, who want to make the US now their permanent home.

&quot;We are with President Trump for taking initiative towards a merit-based immigration system,&quot; Bansal said, adding that his group is working with the White House and lawmakers towards a comprehensive immigration bill that should include all these things.

Giving green cards to thousands of highly skilled professionals from India would help them realise their full potential and boost country?s growth and prosperity, he said.

The participants, many of them software engineers, at the rally yesterday had banner and posters with slogans like &#39;Cut Green Card backlog&#39;, &#39;strictly merit-based point system&#39;, &#39;end country limit&#39;, &#39;we need to support legal dreamers&#39;, and &#39;We support Trump.&#39;

This was one of the rare pro-Trump immigration rallies at the White House.

President Trump last week used his first State of the Union address to push for the merit-based immigration system that admits skilled people, a proposal that could benefit technology professionals from countries like India. 
&quot;It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system -- one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country,&quot; Trump had said.

Akshita Ramesh, 13, a student of Ronald Regan Middle School in Virginia, said that green card backlogs have been taunting most high skilled immigrants who have come to this country for a better life.

&quot;The wait expectancy for a green card for a high skilled immigrant from India tends to be somewhat from 12 Years to 70+ Years, when most of the world can get their Green Card in less than 2 years,&quot; she said.

Thanjavur-born, Akshita was one and half year old when she moved to the US along with her father Ramesh Ranathan, who is in the IT profession and had a H-1B visa.

Describing herself as legal H-4 dreamer, Akshita said the current green card waiting period for Indians means that her parents are unlikely to get legal permanent residency for next few decades.

&quot;I have always known I was born in India, and that I was on H4 Visa with my dad having an approved petition to apply for Green Card, but I didn?t know about everything to the full extent. I didn?t know that being on a H4 could mean that it will be much harder for colleges to accept me, no matter how good my grades are,&quot; she said.

&quot;I didn&#39;t know that having a H4 until 21 would mean possibly getting pretty much &#39;kicked out&#39; of the US, the only home I?ve ever known, the land that I felt all the happiness of achievement, and the burning anger of disappointment,&quot; Akshita said in a passionate plea.

&quot;And all of this just because I was born in a different country that I barely even lived in? ?Don?t you think that?s unfair?&quot; she said, adding that she feels that her dreams would be shattered.

&quot;It sounds scary when I think the day I would turn 21, I would be made to feel a bit like an outcast, or a misfit in the country that I grew up in, how would you feel if you were the only one kid in an area who will be stamped as an alien, a foreigner when you turn 21, even though you?ve lived in the country your whole life?&quot; she asked.

&quot;I urge all lawmakers and the President to hear me and support us in every way you can to solve the backlogs ASAP, and guarantee that this problem is solved once and for all, and no single ambitious kid and parent will have to go through the same scenario as me,&quot; Akshita said.

According to Republican Hindu Coalition, there are nearly 200,000 children of legal immigrants-in-line from India, who have never broken the law, but who simply age out at 21 and have to go back, because their parents have a 60 year wait to get their green card after it is approved.

&quot;US Economy if it was to grow four per cent per year will need another 400,000 high-skilled workers added to the work force each year. Immigration reform needs to address this issue as well. The Hindu and Indian community has some anxiety related to Immigration issues,&quot; said Anil Sharma a member of the organizing team.

Souptik Mukherjee, another member, said that for the high skilled professional with advanced degrees the green card wait seems to be endless. &quot;Any initiative to move towards a merit- based immigration system is highly laudable.&quot;&nbsp;

Rally participants had banner and posters with slogans like 'Cut Green Card backlog', 'strictly merit-based point system', 'end country limit', 'we need to support legal dreamers', and 'We support Trump'

Several hundred highly-skilled Indian workers, in long agonising green card wait, from across the US along with their children and spouses held a rally in front of the White House here in support of President Donald Trump's plan for a merit-based immigration system that among other things ends chain migration and diversity lottery visa. Flying to the US capital from as far as California, Texas and Chicago and driving several hundred miles from places like Florida, New York and Massachusetts, these highly skilled Indians, living in the US for the past several years and in many cases for more than a decade, urged Trump to end the per country limit on legal permanent residency so as to eliminate the massive Green Card backlog of highly skilled Indians. "We are looking strictly for a merit-based immigration. That will bring prosperity and fast economic growth of the US," Krishna Bansal, national policy and political director of Republican Hindu Coalition, told the rally of highly skilled Indians, who want to make the US now their permanent home. "We are with President Trump for taking initiative towards a merit-based immigration system," Bansal said, adding that his group is working with the White House and lawmakers towards a comprehensive immigration bill that should include all these things. Giving green cards to thousands of highly skilled professionals from India would help them realise their full potential and boost country?s growth and prosperity, he said. The participants, many of them software engineers, at the rally yesterday had banner and posters with slogans like 'Cut Green Card backlog', 'strictly merit-based point system', 'end country limit', 'we need to support legal dreamers', and 'We support Trump.' This was one of the rare pro-Trump immigration rallies at the White House. President Trump last week used his first State of the Union address to push for the merit-based immigration system that admits skilled people, a proposal that could benefit technology professionals from countries like India. "It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system -- one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country," Trump had said. Akshita Ramesh, 13, a student of Ronald Regan Middle School in Virginia, said that green card backlogs have been taunting most high skilled immigrants who have come to this country for a better life. "The wait expectancy for a green card for a high skilled immigrant from India tends to be somewhat from 12 Years to 70+ Years, when most of the world can get their Green Card in less than 2 years," she said. Thanjavur-born, Akshita was one and half year old when she moved to the US along with her father Ramesh Ranathan, who is in the IT profession and had a H-1B visa. Describing herself as legal H-4 dreamer, Akshita said the current green card waiting period for Indians means that her parents are unlikely to get legal permanent residency for next few decades. "I have always known I was born in India, and that I was on H4 Visa with my dad having an approved petition to apply for Green Card, but I didn?t know about everything to the full extent. I didn?t know that being on a H4 could mean that it will be much harder for colleges to accept me, no matter how good my grades are," she said. "I didn't know that having a H4 until 21 would mean possibly getting pretty much 'kicked out' of the US, the only home I?ve ever known, the land that I felt all the happiness of achievement, and the burning anger of disappointment," Akshita said in a passionate plea. "And all of this just because I was born in a different country that I barely even lived in? ?Don?t you think that?s unfair?" she said, adding that she feels that her dreams would be shattered. "It sounds scary when I think the day I would turn 21, I would be made to feel a bit like an outcast, or a misfit in the country that I grew up in, how would you feel if you were the only one kid in an area who will be stamped as an alien, a foreigner when you turn 21, even though you?ve lived in the country your whole life?" she asked. "I urge all lawmakers and the President to hear me and support us in every way you can to solve the backlogs ASAP, and guarantee that this problem is solved once and for all, and no single ambitious kid and parent will have to go through the same scenario as me," Akshita said. According to Republican Hindu Coalition, there are nearly 200,000 children of legal immigrants-in-line from India, who have never broken the law, but who simply age out at 21 and have to go back, because their parents have a 60 year wait to get their green card after it is approved. "US Economy if it was to grow four per cent per year will need another 400,000 high-skilled workers added to the work force each year. Immigration reform needs to address this issue as well. The Hindu and Indian community has some anxiety related to Immigration issues," said Anil Sharma a member of the organizing team. Souptik Mukherjee, another member, said that for the high skilled professional with advanced degrees the green card wait seems to be endless. "Any initiative to move towards a merit- based immigration system is highly laudable."

Indian-Americans stage rare pro-Trump immigration rally to support merit-based system

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-was-a-tool-of-my-opponents-during-2016-presidential-elections-us-president-donald-trump-31715">FBI was a &#39;tool of my opponents&#39; during 2016 presidential elections: US president Donald Trump</a>

United States President Donald Trump said that the Nunes memo revealed how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) were used to influence the presidential elections in 2016.

The President alleged that the FBI became a &quot;tool of anti-Trump political actors&quot; and dismissed it be a non-partisan enforcer of the law.

In a series of tweets, he said, &quot;The four-page memo released Friday reports the disturbing fact about how the FBI and FISA appear to have been used to influence the 2016 election and its aftermath....The FBI failed to inform the FISA court that the Clinton campaign had funded the dossier....the FBI became....&quot; a tool of anti-Trump political actors.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamabad-pashtuns-carry-out-anti-pakistan-protest-wont-move-till-demands-met-31716">Islamabad: Pashtuns carry out anti-Pakistan protest, won&#39;t move till demands met</a>

Thousands of Pashtuns gathered outside the press club in Islamabad and chanted Azadi (Freedom) slogans by highlighting human rights violations against the community.

The participants of the Pashtun sit-in have refused to budge from their stated position until the government accepts their &ldquo;five-point charter of demand&rdquo; and arrest the suspended Malir SSP, Rao Anwar, besides ensuring the rule of law in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

They undertook a Long March demanding justice for Naqeeb Mahsood, a Pashtun killed in a fake police encounter on January 13 in Karachi.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-pilot-killed-after-plane-downed-over-syria-31703">Russian jet shot down in Syria, pilot killed by militants</a>

A Russian pilot was killed Saturday in fighting with Islamists after his warplane was downed over northwest Syria, Russia&#39;s defence ministry and a monitor said.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a powerful jihadist-dominated alliance said, on an affiliated media channel it had shot down the plane but made no mention of the pilot.

&quot;We were able to bring down the Russian warplane with a shoulder-fired missile above Saraqib in Idlib this afternoon,&quot; said Mahmoud al-Turkmani who, according to the statement, heads HTS`s &quot;air defence brigade.&quot;

He said the attack was in retaliation for a ferocious bombing campaign by Russian warplanes over Idlib.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ankit-saxena-murder-delhis-khyala-area-remains-tense-31708">Ankit Saxena murder: Delhi&#39;s Khyala area remains tense</a>

Police kept a hawk-eyed vigil on west Delhi&#39;s Khayala area which was gripped by tension after a 23-year-old man was stabbed to death by the family members of a woman with whom he was in a relationship.

Ankit Saxena, a professional photographer, was killed on Thursday night in the area. The woman&#39;s family opposed her relationship with Saxena as the two belonged to different communities.

Four persons, including the brother of the woman, were nabbed a few hours after Saxena was stabbed to death by them.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/seven-turkish-soldiers-die-in-syria-including-five-in-tank-attack-31714">Seven Turkish soldiers die in Syria, including five in tank attack</a>

Seven Turkish soldiers were killed Saturday in Turkey&#39;s offensive against Kurdish militia inside Syria, including five who died in a single attack on a tank, the army said.

The losses marked the highest toll in one day for the Turkish military in operation &quot;Olive Branch&quot;, launched on January 20 against Syrian Kurdish People&#39;s Protection Units (YPG) militia seen by Ankara as a terror group.

The attack on the tank, details of which were not disclosed, was also the single deadliest attack on the military of the offensive so far.

 
&nbsp;

FBI was a 'tool of my opponents' during 2016 presidential elections: US president Donald Trump United States President Donald Trump said that the Nunes memo revealed how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) were used to influence the presidential elections in 2016. The President alleged that the FBI became a "tool of anti-Trump political actors" and dismissed it be a non-partisan enforcer of the law. In a series of tweets, he said, "The four-page memo released Friday reports the disturbing fact about how the FBI and FISA appear to have been used to influence the 2016 election and its aftermath....The FBI failed to inform the FISA court that the Clinton campaign had funded the dossier....the FBI became...." a tool of anti-Trump political actors. Islamabad: Pashtuns carry out anti-Pakistan protest, won't move till demands met Thousands of Pashtuns gathered outside the press club in Islamabad and chanted Azadi (Freedom) slogans by highlighting human rights violations against the community. The participants of the Pashtun sit-in have refused to budge from their stated position until the government accepts their “five-point charter of demand” and arrest the suspended Malir SSP, Rao Anwar, besides ensuring the rule of law in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). They undertook a Long March demanding justice for Naqeeb Mahsood, a Pashtun killed in a fake police encounter on January 13 in Karachi. Russian jet shot down in Syria, pilot killed by militants A Russian pilot was killed Saturday in fighting with Islamists after his warplane was downed over northwest Syria, Russia's defence ministry and a monitor said. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a powerful jihadist-dominated alliance said, on an affiliated media channel it had shot down the plane but made no mention of the pilot. "We were able to bring down the Russian warplane with a shoulder-fired missile above Saraqib in Idlib this afternoon," said Mahmoud al-Turkmani who, according to the statement, heads HTS`s "air defence brigade." He said the attack was in retaliation for a ferocious bombing campaign by Russian warplanes over Idlib. Ankit Saxena murder: Delhi's Khyala area remains tense Police kept a hawk-eyed vigil on west Delhi's Khayala area which was gripped by tension after a 23-year-old man was stabbed to death by the family members of a woman with whom he was in a relationship. Ankit Saxena, a professional photographer, was killed on Thursday night in the area. The woman's family opposed her relationship with Saxena as the two belonged to different communities. Four persons, including the brother of the woman, were nabbed a few hours after Saxena was stabbed to death by them. Seven Turkish soldiers die in Syria, including five in tank attack Seven Turkish soldiers were killed Saturday in Turkey's offensive against Kurdish militia inside Syria, including five who died in a single attack on a tank, the army said. The losses marked the highest toll in one day for the Turkish military in operation "Olive Branch", launched on January 20 against Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia seen by Ankara as a terror group. The attack on the tank, details of which were not disclosed, was also the single deadliest attack on the military of the offensive so far.

WION news brief, February 4, 2018

The US Congress made no notable progress this week toward a deal on the status of 700,000 &quot;Dreamer&quot; immigrants, with President Donald Trump saying on Friday that one &quot;could very well not happen&quot; by a deadline next month.

Whether the lack of progress signalled the possibility of another federal government shutdown next week was unclear, but it worried the Dreamers, young people who were brought illegally into the United States as children.

Trump said last year that he would end by March 5 a program that was set up by former President Barack Obama to protect the Dreamers from deportation, and he urged Congress to act before that date. No action has resulted.

&quot;We want to make a deal,&quot; Trump said at an event in Virginia with US Customs and Border Protection officials. And he blamed Democratic lawmakers for the impasse.

&quot;I think they want to use it for political purposes for elections. I really am not happy with the way it&#39;s going from the standpoint of the Democrats,&quot; he said.

Democrats have said repeatedly that they want protections written into law for the Dreamers, who were given temporary legal status by Obama&#39;s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which lets them study and work in the United States without fear of deportation.

Republicans, who control Congress, are undecided on what to do about DACA and the Dreamers. They ended a three-day retreat at a mountain resort in West Virginia on Friday not much nearer to consensus than they were a week ago.

The partisan standoff caused a partial shutdown of the federal government for three days last month after Congress failed to pass a stopgap spending measure needed to keep the lights on at federal facilities across the country.

The House of Representatives plans to vote on Tuesday on legislation to keep federal agencies operating beyond Feb. 8, when existing funds expire, a senior House Republican aide said.

The aide did not provide details, however, on the duration of this latest-in-a-series of temporary funding measures.

Democrats have leverage on the immigration issue because their votes are needed to pass spending measures in the Senate.

The next spending deadline looms on Thursday, with Democrats defiant in their demands and Republicans remaining divided.

Four-Part Offer&nbsp;

Trump has offered the Dreamers a path to citizenship, but only on the condition he also gets funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border, as well as other immigration-related measures that Democrats oppose.

Last month, he proposed letting 1.8 million Dreamers stay in the country and become citizens in exchange for $25 billion for the wall, curbs on family-sponsored immigration, and an end to a visa lottery program.

Some lawmakers want Trump&#39;s four-part immigration framework pared back, while others want it approved or made even more strict on future immigration.

&quot;If we can solve DACA and border security that may be the best I can hope for,&quot; Senator John Thune, a member of the Republican leadership, told reporters at the retreat.

Senator James Lankford was among Republicans who said this week that Trump could give Congress more time to reach a deal by extending the Dreamers&#39; deadline beyond March 5.

Trump reiterated on Thursday at the retreat that all four components of his framework must be included in a deal, a stance viewed as unworkable by many lawmakers in both parties.

Some Republicans say the March 5 deadline lost its power last month when a federal court blocked the rescinding of DACA. That meant the law would remain in effect until the Supreme Court resolves the case, which is unlikely by March 5.

In a research note, financial firm Height Analytics set the odds of another shutdown next week at 65 per cent.

Republicans are trying to call Democrats&#39; bluff on DACA, but the Democrats look even more willing to allow a shutdown than they were last month, the analysts said. &quot;What this has become is a very absurd game of chicken,&quot; they said in the note.

The US Congress made no notable progress this week toward a deal on the status of 700,000 'Dreamer' immigrants, with President Donald Trump saying on Friday that one 'could very well not happen' by a deadline next month

The US Congress made no notable progress this week toward a deal on the status of 700,000 "Dreamer" immigrants, with President Donald Trump saying on Friday that one "could very well not happen" by a deadline next month. Whether the lack of progress signalled the possibility of another federal government shutdown next week was unclear, but it worried the Dreamers, young people who were brought illegally into the United States as children. Trump said last year that he would end by March 5 a program that was set up by former President Barack Obama to protect the Dreamers from deportation, and he urged Congress to act before that date. No action has resulted. "We want to make a deal," Trump said at an event in Virginia with US Customs and Border Protection officials. And he blamed Democratic lawmakers for the impasse. "I think they want to use it for political purposes for elections. I really am not happy with the way it's going from the standpoint of the Democrats," he said. Democrats have said repeatedly that they want protections written into law for the Dreamers, who were given temporary legal status by Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which lets them study and work in the United States without fear of deportation. Republicans, who control Congress, are undecided on what to do about DACA and the Dreamers. They ended a three-day retreat at a mountain resort in West Virginia on Friday not much nearer to consensus than they were a week ago. The partisan standoff caused a partial shutdown of the federal government for three days last month after Congress failed to pass a stopgap spending measure needed to keep the lights on at federal facilities across the country. The House of Representatives plans to vote on Tuesday on legislation to keep federal agencies operating beyond Feb. 8, when existing funds expire, a senior House Republican aide said. The aide did not provide details, however, on the duration of this latest-in-a-series of temporary funding measures. Democrats have leverage on the immigration issue because their votes are needed to pass spending measures in the Senate. The next spending deadline looms on Thursday, with Democrats defiant in their demands and Republicans remaining divided. Four-Part Offer Trump has offered the Dreamers a path to citizenship, but only on the condition he also gets funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border, as well as other immigration-related measures that Democrats oppose. Last month, he proposed letting 1.8 million Dreamers stay in the country and become citizens in exchange for $25 billion for the wall, curbs on family-sponsored immigration, and an end to a visa lottery program. Some lawmakers want Trump's four-part immigration framework pared back, while others want it approved or made even more strict on future immigration. "If we can solve DACA and border security that may be the best I can hope for," Senator John Thune, a member of the Republican leadership, told reporters at the retreat. Senator James Lankford was among Republicans who said this week that Trump could give Congress more time to reach a deal by extending the Dreamers' deadline beyond March 5. Trump reiterated on Thursday at the retreat that all four components of his framework must be included in a deal, a stance viewed as unworkable by many lawmakers in both parties. Some Republicans say the March 5 deadline lost its power last month when a federal court blocked the rescinding of DACA. That meant the law would remain in effect until the Supreme Court resolves the case, which is unlikely by March 5. In a research note, financial firm Height Analytics set the odds of another shutdown next week at 65 per cent. Republicans are trying to call Democrats' bluff on DACA, but the Democrats look even more willing to allow a shutdown than they were last month, the analysts said. "What this has become is a very absurd game of chicken," they said in the note.

No progress on 'Dreamers' as another US shutdown looms

President Trump today attacked the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-likely-to-approve-release-of-secret-surveillance-memo-31549">FBI and US Justice Department </a>for showing pro-Democrats bias, and working against Republicans.

In a tweet, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/andrew-mccabe-fbi-deputy-director-blasted-by-donald-trump-steps-down-31141">President said: &quot;The top leadership</a> and investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago.&quot;

&quot;Rank &amp; File are great people!, he added sarcastically in his tweet.

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The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Rank &amp; File are great people!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/959389424806191104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In another tweet soon after the US president said,&quot;You(FBI) had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly.&quot;

&quot;By all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team. Tom Fitton, JW,&quot; Trump added.

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&ldquo;You had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly, by all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team.&rdquo; Tom Fitton, JW
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/959393270144086016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump&#39;s latest Twitter attack comes ahead of his expected decision to approve the release of a confidential Republican-drafted memo alleging abuse of authority in the FBI&#39;s probe of the US election campaign.

CNN had earlier reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray who was handpicked by Trump could resign if &nbsp;Trump goes ahead and approves the release of the secret memo.

The four-page memo reportedly reveals abuse at the FBI and Justice Department in connection with surveillance of a member of Trump&#39;s 2016 presidential campaign who had ties to Russia.

The four-page memo reportedly reveals abuse at the FBI and Justice Department

President Trump today attacked the FBI and US Justice Department for showing pro-Democrats bias, and working against Republicans. In a tweet, the President said: "The top leadership and investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago." "Rank & File are great people!, he added sarcastically in his tweet. The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Rank & File are great people! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2018 × In another tweet soon after the US president said,"You(FBI) had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly." "By all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team. Tom Fitton, JW," Trump added. “You had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly, by all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team.” Tom Fitton, JW — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2018 × Trump's latest Twitter attack comes ahead of his expected decision to approve the release of a confidential Republican-drafted memo alleging abuse of authority in the FBI's probe of the US election campaign. CNN had earlier reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray who was handpicked by Trump could resign if Trump goes ahead and approves the release of the secret memo. The four-page memo reportedly reveals abuse at the FBI and Justice Department in connection with surveillance of a member of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign who had ties to Russia.

Now, Trump attacks FBI, US Justice Department for 'favouring' Democrats

The US State Department&rsquo;s third-ranking official, Tom Shannon, is stepping down from his post, the department said on Thursday, becoming the latest senior diplomat to exit since President Donald Trump took office a year ago.

Shannon, who serves as under secretary of state for political affairs, is the top US career diplomat and has been a fixture among the nation&rsquo;s diplomatic ranks during more than 34 years of service. In a letter to department staff, Shannon, 60, said he was resigning for personal reasons.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Shannon agreed to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson&rsquo;s request that he stay on until his successor is named. Nauert said Shannon had served under six presidents and 10 secretaries of state.

&ldquo;My decision is personal, and driven by a desire to attend to my family, take stock of my life, and set a new direction for my remaining years,&rdquo; Shannon wrote.

His departure deprives the State Department of a seasoned veteran at a time of pressing diplomatic concerns including the threat posed by a nuclear-armed North Korea.

Tillerson in November said he was offended by claims that the State Department was being hollowed out under Trump, saying it was functioning well despite scathing criticism from former American diplomats including Nicholas Burns and Ryan Crocker.

The forcing out of many senior diplomats, the failure to nominate or to win Senate confirmation for officials to fill key agency roles, and a perception that Tillerson is inaccessible have eroded morale, according to current officials.

Shannon&rsquo;s departure is part of a steady stream of senior career diplomatic officers to leave since Trump became president in January 2017. His departure was first reported by the Associated Press.

Trump kept Shannon on board when he assumed the presidency and must now appoint a successor who would need Senate confirmation.

The US State Department’s third-ranking official, Tom Shannon, is stepping down from his post, the department said on Thursday, becoming the latest senior diplomat to exit since President Donald Trump took office a year ago

The US State Department’s third-ranking official, Tom Shannon, is stepping down from his post, the department said on Thursday, becoming the latest senior diplomat to exit since President Donald Trump took office a year ago. Shannon, who serves as under secretary of state for political affairs, is the top US career diplomat and has been a fixture among the nation’s diplomatic ranks during more than 34 years of service. In a letter to department staff, Shannon, 60, said he was resigning for personal reasons. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Shannon agreed to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s request that he stay on until his successor is named. Nauert said Shannon had served under six presidents and 10 secretaries of state. “My decision is personal, and driven by a desire to attend to my family, take stock of my life, and set a new direction for my remaining years,” Shannon wrote. His departure deprives the State Department of a seasoned veteran at a time of pressing diplomatic concerns including the threat posed by a nuclear-armed North Korea. Tillerson in November said he was offended by claims that the State Department was being hollowed out under Trump, saying it was functioning well despite scathing criticism from former American diplomats including Nicholas Burns and Ryan Crocker. The forcing out of many senior diplomats, the failure to nominate or to win Senate confirmation for officials to fill key agency roles, and a perception that Tillerson is inaccessible have eroded morale, according to current officials. Shannon’s departure is part of a steady stream of senior career diplomatic officers to leave since Trump became president in January 2017. His departure was first reported by the Associated Press. Trump kept Shannon on board when he assumed the presidency and must now appoint a successor who would need Senate confirmation.

No.3 US diplomat quits in latest departure under Trump

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/budget-2018-govts-landmark-national-health-scheme-to-be-implemented-from-october-2nd-31610">Budget 2018: Govt&#39;s landmark national health scheme to be implemented from October 2nd</a>

The national health protection scheme announced in the Union Budget 2018 on Thursday will be implemented from October 2, reports said. A Niti Ayog official said the health insurance scheme proposed in the Budget will cost Rs 10,000-12,000 crore.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-watch-figure-skating-champion-performs-ghoomar-on-ice-and-its-jaw-dropping-31608">Watch: Figure skating champion performs &#39;Ghoomar on ice&#39; and it&#39;s jaw-dropping</a>

Sanjay Leela Bhansali&#39;s Padmaavat released on January 25 and has ever since raked in more than Rs 150 crore at the box office. The film has become such a hit among US and UK audiences, that women in San Francisco even dressed up like Deepika&#39;s character in the film to go watch the movie in theatres.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/now-trump-attacks-fbi-us-justice-department-for-favouring-democrats-31607">Now, Trump attacks FBI, US Justice Department for &#39;favouring&#39; Democrats</a>

President Trump today attacked the FBI and US Justice Department for showing pro-Democrats bias, and working against Republicans. In a tweet, the President said: &quot;The top leadership and investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-in-photos-anushka-sharma-cant-get-over-husband-virat-kohlis-33rd-odi-century-31589">In Photos: Anushka Sharma can&#39;t get over husband Virat Kohli&#39;s 33rd ODI century</a>

Resting all doubts, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli led the Indian team to a 6-wicket win against South Africa on their 1st ODI match in Durban. While the cricketer hit 112 from 119 balls to help his team get an easy win over South Africa, his wife and actress Anushka Sharma supported him on social media by posting sweet messages.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-24-surgeries-bangladesh-tree-man-relapses-31548">After 24 surgeries, Bangladesh &#39;tree man&#39; relapses</a>

A year ago Abul Bajandar, a Bangladeshi rickshaw-puller dubbed &quot;tree-man&quot; for the bark-like growths that once covered his body, appeared to have made a full recovery from the rare condition that has afflicted him for a decade. But twelve months after doctors declared him all but cured following 24 surgeries, Bajandar&#39;s hands are once again covered in the growths that characterise his rare condition. 
&nbsp;

Budget 2018: Govt's landmark national health scheme to be implemented from October 2nd The national health protection scheme announced in the Union Budget 2018 on Thursday will be implemented from October 2, reports said. A Niti Ayog official said the health insurance scheme proposed in the Budget will cost Rs 10,000-12,000 crore. Watch: Figure skating champion performs 'Ghoomar on ice' and it's jaw-dropping Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat released on January 25 and has ever since raked in more than Rs 150 crore at the box office. The film has become such a hit among US and UK audiences, that women in San Francisco even dressed up like Deepika's character in the film to go watch the movie in theatres. Now, Trump attacks FBI, US Justice Department for 'favouring' Democrats President Trump today attacked the FBI and US Justice Department for showing pro-Democrats bias, and working against Republicans. In a tweet, the President said: "The top leadership and investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago." In Photos: Anushka Sharma can't get over husband Virat Kohli's 33rd ODI century Resting all doubts, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli led the Indian team to a 6-wicket win against South Africa on their 1st ODI match in Durban. While the cricketer hit 112 from 119 balls to help his team get an easy win over South Africa, his wife and actress Anushka Sharma supported him on social media by posting sweet messages. After 24 surgeries, Bangladesh 'tree man' relapses A year ago Abul Bajandar, a Bangladeshi rickshaw-puller dubbed "tree-man" for the bark-like growths that once covered his body, appeared to have made a full recovery from the rare condition that has afflicted him for a decade. But twelve months after doctors declared him all but cured following 24 surgeries, Bajandar's hands are once again covered in the growths that characterise his rare condition.

WION Evening News Brief, February 2, 2018

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/as-india-unveils-budget-all-eyes-on-fiscal-deficit-target-31386">As India unveils budget today, all eyes on fiscal deficit target</a>

Facing discontent over falling farm incomes and a backlash following policy initiatives that have dented growth, Prime Minister Modi will be aiming to woo rural voters and small business owners.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/iaf-officer-detained-for-leaking-info-allegedly-to-pakistan-spy-31388">IAF officer detained for leaking information allegedly to Pakistani woman spy</a>

A team of the IAF&#39;s central security and investigation took the officer into custody, and currently, he is being interrogated.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-one-abolishes-grid-girls-31391">Formula One ends use of &#39;grid girls&#39;</a>

F1 said the practice of having the women milling about in the grid area before races was &#39;clearly at odds with modern-day societal norms&#39;.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indian-budget-less-transparent-bangladeshs-is-better-notes-anti-corruption-watchdog-31385">Indian budget &#39;incomprehensible&#39; to citizens: Transparency International</a>

The anti-corruption watchdog noted on Wednesday the fact that less transparency would trigger severe economic problems.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/letter-from-trump-prompts-african-leaders-to-refrain-from-criticising-him-31392">&#39;Shithole&#39; countries: Trump writes letter saying he respects Africa</a>

African leaders say they have decided, after the letter, to refrain from issuing a resolution criticising Trump.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

As India unveils budget today, all eyes on fiscal deficit target Facing discontent over falling farm incomes and a backlash following policy initiatives that have dented growth, Prime Minister Modi will be aiming to woo rural voters and small business owners. IAF officer detained for leaking information allegedly to Pakistani woman spy A team of the IAF's central security and investigation took the officer into custody, and currently, he is being interrogated. Formula One ends use of 'grid girls' F1 said the practice of having the women milling about in the grid area before races was 'clearly at odds with modern-day societal norms'. Indian budget 'incomprehensible' to citizens: Transparency International The anti-corruption watchdog noted on Wednesday the fact that less transparency would trigger severe economic problems. 'Shithole' countries: Trump writes letter saying he respects Africa African leaders say they have decided, after the letter, to refrain from issuing a resolution criticising Trump.

WION Morning News Brief, January 31, 2018

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

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

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

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

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered his first State of the Union address and provided his assessment of his first year in office with a look ahead at his agenda as he continues to work towards fulfilling his campaign promise to &quot;make America great again.&quot;

In the hour-long address, Donald Trump spoke about the American economy and the tax cuts undertaken by his government. He also talked about &quot;decades of unfair trade deals&quot;, &quot;immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American Workers and American Families&quot;, &quot;what kind of nation&quot; America will be, and America&#39;s &quot;fight until ISIS is defeated&quot; among others.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-state-of-the-union-speech-full-text-31279" target="_blank">Full text of Donald Trump&#39;s State of the Union speech</a>

The State of the Union Address is an annual message presented by President of United States to a joint session of the United States Congress after the president completes one year of his term.&nbsp;

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US President Trump said that &quot;together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a> <a href="https://t.co/FOEqVUyHho">pic.twitter.com/FOEqVUyHho</a>
&mdash; AFP news agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/958533775742328832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2">https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958524829233184768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America.&nbsp;

As Trump took the stage, amid cheer and jubilation, he talked about issues of prime importance and utmost significance to the country, its prosperity and its ties with allies. Here is a quick look at some of the key points from Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-state-of-the-union-address-31215">What is the State of the Union Address?</a>

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&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958523660683415554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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United America&nbsp;

&quot;Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of nation we are going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family.&quot;

Trump emphasised the importance of a &quot;united America&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;As we rebuild America&rsquo;s strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad,&quot; Trump noted.&nbsp;

A staunch believer and propagator of the idea of the &quot;American dream&quot;, Trump further added, &quot;This is our New American Moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American dream.&quot;

Trump noted that the citizens of America love their country and deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return.&nbsp;

&quot;Tonight I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens, of every background, color, and creed,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America. (WION)
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Fight until ISIS is defeated

Reinstating America&#39;s zero tolerance on terrorism, the US President noted that as he assumed office last year, he had pledged to work with allies to extinguish ISIS from the face of the earth.

&quot;One year later, I&rsquo;m proud to report that the coalition to defeat ISIS has liberated almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria. But there is much more work to be done,&quot; he shared.

&quot;We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated,&quot; Trump exclaimed.&nbsp;

Economically strong America

&quot;We want every American to know the dignity of a hard day&rsquo;s work; we want every child to be safe in their home at night, and we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we love,&quot; said Trump noting that the key to a stronger nation is closely tied to economic growth and prosperity.&nbsp;

&quot;I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve,&quot; he noted.&nbsp;

Trump furthered his statement by talking about tax relief provided to the US citizens.&nbsp;

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&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958525971765907456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Just as I promised the American People from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reform in American history.&quot;

He shared that since the tax cuts were passed, roughly 3 million workers have received tax cut bonuses &ndash; thousands of dollars per worker for many.

&quot;&Uuml;nemployment has hit a 45-year low,&quot; Trump shared.

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Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>: <a href="https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb">https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb</a> <a href="https://t.co/lZeqog5Zd3">pic.twitter.com/lZeqog5Zd3</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958525610141343744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump also touched upon issues like the immigration policy and trade practices, among others.&nbsp;

&quot;America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs and our nation&rsquo;s wealth,&quot; Trump shared.&nbsp;

Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered his first State of the Union address and provided his assessment of his first year in office with a look ahead at his agenda as he continues to work towards fulfilling his campaign promise to "make America great again." In the hour-long address, Donald Trump spoke about the American economy and the tax cuts undertaken by his government. He also talked about "decades of unfair trade deals", "immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American Workers and American Families", "what kind of nation" America will be, and America's "fight until ISIS is defeated" among others. Also read: Full text of Donald Trump's State of the Union speech The State of the Union Address is an annual message presented by President of United States to a joint session of the United States Congress after the president completes one year of his term. US President Trump said that "together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong." #SOTU pic.twitter.com/FOEqVUyHho — AFP news agency (@AFP) January 31, 2018 × "So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong." #SOTU: https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America. As Trump took the stage, amid cheer and jubilation, he talked about issues of prime importance and utmost significance to the country, its prosperity and its ties with allies. Here is a quick look at some of the key points from Trump's first State of the Union address. Also read: What is the State of the Union Address? #SOTU: https://t.co/nJF9j414YL pic.twitter.com/9akH7raQta — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × United America "Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of nation we are going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family." Trump emphasised the importance of a "united America". "As we rebuild America’s strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad," Trump noted. A staunch believer and propagator of the idea of the "American dream", Trump further added, "This is our New American Moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American dream." Trump noted that the citizens of America love their country and deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return. "Tonight I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens, of every background, color, and creed," Trump said. Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America. (WION) × Fight until ISIS is defeated Reinstating America's zero tolerance on terrorism, the US President noted that as he assumed office last year, he had pledged to work with allies to extinguish ISIS from the face of the earth. "One year later, I’m proud to report that the coalition to defeat ISIS has liberated almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria. But there is much more work to be done," he shared. "We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated," Trump exclaimed. Economically strong America "We want every American to know the dignity of a hard day’s work; we want every child to be safe in their home at night, and we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we love," said Trump noting that the key to a stronger nation is closely tied to economic growth and prosperity. "I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve," he noted. Trump furthered his statement by talking about tax relief provided to the US citizens. #SOTU: https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb pic.twitter.com/Ppd1dRB6Hm — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × "Just as I promised the American People from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reform in American history." He shared that since the tax cuts were passed, roughly 3 million workers have received tax cut bonuses – thousands of dollars per worker for many. "Ünemployment has hit a 45-year low," Trump shared. Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low.#SOTU: https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb pic.twitter.com/lZeqog5Zd3 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × Trump also touched upon issues like the immigration policy and trade practices, among others. "America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs and our nation’s wealth," Trump shared.

Never been a better time to start living the American dream, says US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged the Congress to pass a legislation that promotes merit-based immigration, a move that would benefit hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-state-of-the-union-speech-full-text-31279" target="_blank">Full text of Donald Trump&#39;s State of the Union Speech</a>

He proposed a pathway to citizenship for almost 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought in the US by their parents at a young age.

&quot;It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system -- one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country,&quot; Trump said in his first State of the Union address.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-the-union-address-us-president-donald-trump-bids-for-safe-strong-and-united-america-31271" target="_blank">US President Donald Trump bids for &#39;safe strong and united America</a>

The State of the Union address is a traditional annual speech of the US president to a joint session of the Congress where he gives an account of the situation in the country.

He proposed four pillars of his immigration reform.

This includes building a wall, and ending chain migration and diversity visa.

Trump said that his proposal should be supported by both parties (Republican and Democratic) as a fair compromise -- one where nobody gets everything they want, but where the country gets the critical reforms it needs.

&quot;The first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age -- that covers almost three times more people than the previous administration.

&quot;Under our plan, those who meet education and work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the United States,&quot; Trump said.

The second pillar fully secures the border, that means building a wall on the Southern border, and it means hiring more people to keep the communities safe.

&quot;Crucially, our plan closes the terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country -- and it finally ends the dangerous practice of &#39;catch and release&#39;,&quot; Trump said.

Trump said the third pillar ends the visa lottery -- a programme that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of Americans.

The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration, he said, ruing that under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives.

&quot;Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. This vital reform is necessary, not just for our economy, but for our security, and our future,&quot; he said.

Trump said in recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration.

In the age of terrorism, these programmes present risks we can no longer afford.

&quot;It is time to reform these outdated immigration rules, and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;These four pillars represent a down-the-middle compromise, and one that will create a safe, modern, and lawful immigration system. For over 30 years, Washington has tried and failed to solve this problem. This Congress can be the one that finally makes it happen.

&quot;Most importantly, these four pillars will produce legislation that fulfils my ironclad pledge to only sign a bill that puts America first. So let us come together, set politics aside, and finally get the job done,&quot; Trump urged the lawmakers.

Trump proposed four pillars of his immigration reform

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged the Congress to pass a legislation that promotes merit-based immigration, a move that would benefit hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals. Full text of Donald Trump's State of the Union Speech He proposed a pathway to citizenship for almost 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought in the US by their parents at a young age. "It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system -- one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country," Trump said in his first State of the Union address. Also read: US President Donald Trump bids for 'safe strong and united America The State of the Union address is a traditional annual speech of the US president to a joint session of the Congress where he gives an account of the situation in the country. He proposed four pillars of his immigration reform. This includes building a wall, and ending chain migration and diversity visa. Trump said that his proposal should be supported by both parties (Republican and Democratic) as a fair compromise -- one where nobody gets everything they want, but where the country gets the critical reforms it needs. "The first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age -- that covers almost three times more people than the previous administration. "Under our plan, those who meet education and work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the United States," Trump said. The second pillar fully secures the border, that means building a wall on the Southern border, and it means hiring more people to keep the communities safe. "Crucially, our plan closes the terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country -- and it finally ends the dangerous practice of 'catch and release'," Trump said. Trump said the third pillar ends the visa lottery -- a programme that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of Americans. The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration, he said, ruing that under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. "Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. This vital reform is necessary, not just for our economy, but for our security, and our future," he said. Trump said in recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration. In the age of terrorism, these programmes present risks we can no longer afford. "It is time to reform these outdated immigration rules, and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century," Trump said. "These four pillars represent a down-the-middle compromise, and one that will create a safe, modern, and lawful immigration system. For over 30 years, Washington has tried and failed to solve this problem. This Congress can be the one that finally makes it happen. "Most importantly, these four pillars will produce legislation that fulfils my ironclad pledge to only sign a bill that puts America first. So let us come together, set politics aside, and finally get the job done," Trump urged the lawmakers.

Donald Trump for legislation that promotes merit-based immigration, move to affect Indians

Branding North Korea&rsquo;s leadership &ldquo;depraved,&rdquo; President Donald Trump told Americans on Tuesday that Pyongyang&rsquo;s pursuit of nuclear missiles could &ldquo;very soon threaten our homeland&rdquo; and vowed a continued campaign of maximum pressure to keep that from happening.

In his first State of the Union speech to the US&nbsp;Congress, Trump&rsquo;s tough rhetoric underscored persistent tensions despite recent talks between North and South Korea that led to Pyongyang&rsquo;s agreement to participate in next month&rsquo;s Winter Olympic games in South Korea.

&ldquo;North Korea&#39;s reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland,&rdquo; Trump said.

&ldquo;We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from ever happening.&rdquo; &ldquo;We need only look at the depraved character of the North Korean regime to understand the nature of the nuclear threat it could pose to America and to our allies,&rdquo; he said.

North-South negotiations earlier this month have eased fears of war on the Korean peninsula that were in part stoked by an exchange of insults and threats between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump and top advisers have publicly welcomed the talks but US&nbsp;officials have said privately that Pyongyang might be trying to drive a wedge between allies Washington and Seoul.&nbsp;

Attending the State of the Union address as Trump&rsquo;s guests were the parents of Otto Warmbier, the American college student who died in June shortly after he was released by North Korea in a coma. &ldquo;Tonight, we pledge to honour Otto&#39;s memory with total American resolve,&rdquo; Trump said.

But he offered no new prescription or specifics on how he intended to rein in North Korea.

The Trump administration has repeatedly stressed its preference for a diplomatic solution to the Korea tensions while saying all options are on the table.

But US&nbsp;officials have said the internal debate on military action, including the possibility of a limited pre-emptive strike on a nuclear or missile site, has lost some momentum in recent weeks after the North-South talks ahead of ahead of the Olympics. 
 
North Korea Missiles&nbsp;

Earlier on Tuesday, the vice chairman of the US&nbsp;Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea&#39;s nuclear program had made strides in recent months but the country has not yet demonstrated all the components of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), including a survivable re-entry vehicle that can deliver a nuclear weapon.

Air Force General Paul Selva also said he was confident that if required the United States would be able to destroy &quot;most&quot; of North Korea&#39;s nuclear missile infrastructure.&nbsp;

In November, North Korea said it had successfully tested a new type of ICBM that could reach all of the US&nbsp;mainlands. US-based experts said data from the test appeared to support that.

Trump refrained from referring to Kim as &ldquo;Rocket Man,&rdquo; a disparaging nickname he has used before. But he insisted that &ldquo;no regime has oppressed its own citizens more totally or brutally than the cruel dictatorship in North Korea.&rdquo;

Trump said that among the witnesses to the &ldquo;ominous&rdquo; nature of the North Korean government was Ji Seong-ho, a defector who escaped from North Korea after being run over by a train while trying to steal coal and suffering torture and starvation.&nbsp;

Joining Trump&rsquo;s guests in the gallery, Ji, who lost a hand and foot, now heads a group that rescues and resettles North Korean refugees.

Trump had recently held back on harsher language after having threatened last year to unleash &quot;fire and fury&rdquo; on North Korea.

Pyongyang, in turn, has threatened to target the US&nbsp;territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. Kim has shown no sign of willingness to give in to US&nbsp;demands and negotiate away a weapons program he sees as vital to his survival.

North-South negotiations earlier this month have eased fears of war on the Korean peninsula

Branding North Korea’s leadership “depraved,” President Donald Trump told Americans on Tuesday that Pyongyang’s pursuit of nuclear missiles could “very soon threaten our homeland” and vowed a continued campaign of maximum pressure to keep that from happening. In his first State of the Union speech to the US Congress, Trump’s tough rhetoric underscored persistent tensions despite recent talks between North and South Korea that led to Pyongyang’s agreement to participate in next month’s Winter Olympic games in South Korea. “North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland,” Trump said. “We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from ever happening.” “We need only look at the depraved character of the North Korean regime to understand the nature of the nuclear threat it could pose to America and to our allies,” he said. North-South negotiations earlier this month have eased fears of war on the Korean peninsula that were in part stoked by an exchange of insults and threats between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump and top advisers have publicly welcomed the talks but US officials have said privately that Pyongyang might be trying to drive a wedge between allies Washington and Seoul. Attending the State of the Union address as Trump’s guests were the parents of Otto Warmbier, the American college student who died in June shortly after he was released by North Korea in a coma. “Tonight, we pledge to honour Otto's memory with total American resolve,” Trump said. But he offered no new prescription or specifics on how he intended to rein in North Korea. The Trump administration has repeatedly stressed its preference for a diplomatic solution to the Korea tensions while saying all options are on the table. But US officials have said the internal debate on military action, including the possibility of a limited pre-emptive strike on a nuclear or missile site, has lost some momentum in recent weeks after the North-South talks ahead of ahead of the Olympics. North Korea Missiles Earlier on Tuesday, the vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea's nuclear program had made strides in recent months but the country has not yet demonstrated all the components of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), including a survivable re-entry vehicle that can deliver a nuclear weapon. Air Force General Paul Selva also said he was confident that if required the United States would be able to destroy "most" of North Korea's nuclear missile infrastructure. In November, North Korea said it had successfully tested a new type of ICBM that could reach all of the US mainlands. US-based experts said data from the test appeared to support that. Trump refrained from referring to Kim as “Rocket Man,” a disparaging nickname he has used before. But he insisted that “no regime has oppressed its own citizens more totally or brutally than the cruel dictatorship in North Korea.” Trump said that among the witnesses to the “ominous” nature of the North Korean government was Ji Seong-ho, a defector who escaped from North Korea after being run over by a train while trying to steal coal and suffering torture and starvation. Joining Trump’s guests in the gallery, Ji, who lost a hand and foot, now heads a group that rescues and resettles North Korean refugees. Trump had recently held back on harsher language after having threatened last year to unleash "fire and fury” on North Korea. Pyongyang, in turn, has threatened to target the US territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. Kim has shown no sign of willingness to give in to US demands and negotiate away a weapons program he sees as vital to his survival.

State of the Union address: Trump calls North Korea leadership 'depraved,' warns of nuclear missile threat

President Donald Trump declared Tuesday in his State of the Union address to Congress that what he calls America&#39;s &quot;open borders&quot; had allowed drug gangs to pour into US communities.

Pointing out a guest &mdash; a mother who lost two daughters to murder &mdash; Trump urged Congress to come together to &quot;close the loopholes&quot; that he said allow in groups like El Salvador&#39;s MS-13.

&quot;Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes and our laws to enter the country as illegal, unaccompanied, alien minors,&quot; Trump claimed, laying out his immigration plan.

If the president wins congressional backing for his immigration plans they will include four pillars tightening what he and his populist supporters see as weak links in current law.

The first pillar, and one that might not find immediate support with the most vocal members of Trump&#39;s anti-immigrant base, is a &quot;path to citizenship&quot; for undocumented migrants who arrived at a young age.

The second pillar, Trump said, &quot;fully secures the border&quot; by building a huge wall on the Mexican frontier and hiring more immigration agents.

The third pillar would end America&#39;s Green Card lottery, and replace it with a so-called merit-based system for migrants with skills needed by US businesses.

And the fourth pillar &mdash; an idea that drew protests from Democrat lawmakers during the speech, would end &quot;chain migration&quot; policies that allow migrants to bring in family members.

Trump urged Congress to come together to "close the loopholes" that he said allow in groups like El Salvador's MS-13

President Donald Trump declared Tuesday in his State of the Union address to Congress that what he calls America's "open borders" had allowed drug gangs to pour into US communities. Pointing out a guest — a mother who lost two daughters to murder — Trump urged Congress to come together to "close the loopholes" that he said allow in groups like El Salvador's MS-13. "Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes and our laws to enter the country as illegal, unaccompanied, alien minors," Trump claimed, laying out his immigration plan. If the president wins congressional backing for his immigration plans they will include four pillars tightening what he and his populist supporters see as weak links in current law. The first pillar, and one that might not find immediate support with the most vocal members of Trump's anti-immigrant base, is a "path to citizenship" for undocumented migrants who arrived at a young age. The second pillar, Trump said, "fully secures the border" by building a huge wall on the Mexican frontier and hiring more immigration agents. The third pillar would end America's Green Card lottery, and replace it with a so-called merit-based system for migrants with skills needed by US businesses. And the fourth pillar — an idea that drew protests from Democrat lawmakers during the speech, would end "chain migration" policies that allow migrants to bring in family members.

'Open borders' promote guns, gangs and cost lives: Donald Trump

<p content="Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility." data-reactid="22" type="text">US President Donald Trump announced today he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama&#39;s lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility.

<p content="&quot;I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay,&quot; Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise." data-reactid="23" type="text">&quot;I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay,&quot; Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise.

<p content="Under president George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks." data-reactid="24" type="text">Under President George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

At first, inmates were held in cages and fenced in with razor wire, and conditions for the orange-jumpsuit-clad detainees provoked a global outcry in 2002.

<p content="That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings." data-reactid="26" type="text">That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings.

At the height of its operations after 9/11, the facility held 780 people, detained mostly for their alleged ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Since then, hundreds have been transferred back to their home countries or other places.

<p content="Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial." data-reactid="29" type="text">Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them, accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial.

<p content="Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered &quot;unprivileged enemy belligerents&quot; -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee." data-reactid="30" type="text">Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered &quot;unprivileged enemy belligerents&quot; -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee.

Of the 41 inmates remaining at Guantanamo, about 26 are trapped in legal purgatory.

These so-called &quot;forever prisoners&quot; have never been charged -- yet they have been deemed too dangerous to release.

Some were cleared for release under Obama, but have been stranded at Guantanamo under the Trump administration.

- &#39;Bad dudes&#39; -

<p content="On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with &quot;bad dudes,&quot; and said it would be &quot;fine&quot; if US terror suspects were sent there for trial." data-reactid="35" type="text">On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with &quot;bad dudes,&quot; and said it would be &quot;fine&quot; if US terror suspects were sent there for trial.

In 2009, soon after he was sworn in, Obama ordered the prison to be closed within a year, and no new inmate has been sent there since early 2008.

<p content="Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies' reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch." data-reactid="37" type="text">Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies&#39; reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch.

Since becoming president, Trump has toyed with the idea of sending Americans to Guantanamo, though federal judges would likely bar any such attempt.

<p content="In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea." data-reactid="39" type="text">In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea.

<p content="Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group." data-reactid="40" type="text">Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group.

The man, whose name has not been released, is apparently being held in Iraq.

<p content="The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas." data-reactid="42" type="text">The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas.

That would allow time for the ACLU to mount a legal challenge.

Trump announces he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the facility

US President Donald Trump announced today he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility. "I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay," Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise. Under President George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks. At first, inmates were held in cages and fenced in with razor wire, and conditions for the orange-jumpsuit-clad detainees provoked a global outcry in 2002. That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings. At the height of its operations after 9/11, the facility held 780 people, detained mostly for their alleged ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Since then, hundreds have been transferred back to their home countries or other places. Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them, accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial. Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered "unprivileged enemy belligerents" -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee. Of the 41 inmates remaining at Guantanamo, about 26 are trapped in legal purgatory. These so-called "forever prisoners" have never been charged -- yet they have been deemed too dangerous to release. Some were cleared for release under Obama, but have been stranded at Guantanamo under the Trump administration. - 'Bad dudes' - On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with "bad dudes," and said it would be "fine" if US terror suspects were sent there for trial. In 2009, soon after he was sworn in, Obama ordered the prison to be closed within a year, and no new inmate has been sent there since early 2008. Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies' reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch. Since becoming president, Trump has toyed with the idea of sending Americans to Guantanamo, though federal judges would likely bar any such attempt. In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea. Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group. The man, whose name has not been released, is apparently being held in Iraq. The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas. That would allow time for the ACLU to mount a legal challenge.

Trump vows to keep Guantanamo Bay prison open

Each test has forged new American heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be

Donald Trump's State of the Union Speech: Full text

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to move beyond the angry partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans in his State of the Union address to Congress.

&quot;Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve,&quot; he said.

The speech marked Trump&#39;s first year in office and came as his opinion poll approval numbers touched new lows, despite promising economic data and the president&#39;s frequent boasts of historic victories.

&quot;So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;And together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong.&quot;

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&quot;I am asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2">https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958531462126546946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

President Donald Trump gives his first official State of the Union Address from the United States Capitol in front of a joint session of Congress

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to move beyond the angry partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans in his State of the Union address to Congress. "Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve," he said. The speech marked Trump's first year in office and came as his opinion poll approval numbers touched new lows, despite promising economic data and the president's frequent boasts of historic victories. "So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong," Trump said. "And together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong." "I am asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve." #SOTU: https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 ×

President Donald Trump urges US parties set aside differences

President Donald Trump, battling a probe into his campaign&rsquo;s alleged ties with Russia and struggling to sell Americans on his leadership abilities, will take credit for US economic gains in the past year in an address to Congress on Tuesday night.

Facing a deadline on an immigration controversy and strong Democratic opposition, Trump will also call for a bipartisan compromise of the type that has eluded him during the first year in office marked by heated political battles.

Trump will visit Capitol Hill to deliver his first State of the Union speech at 9:10 pm&nbsp;(0210 GMT on Wednesday).

In preparing for the event, Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-state-of-the-union-address-31215">What is the State of the Union Address?</a>

&ldquo;I would consider it a great achievement if we could make our country united,&rdquo; he told the anchors during a lunch, according to comments released by the White House.

Aides said the Republican president would use the televised speech to tout the benefits of a tax overhaul approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in December that was his first major legislative victory.

&ldquo;The economy will be front and centre,&rdquo; White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told NBC News on Tuesday.

The atmosphere in the House of Representatives chamber where Trump will speak could be tense. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they will boycott the event. Some Democratic women who will attend plan to wear black in support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.

Ahead of Trump&rsquo;s speech, Republicans and Democrats were deeply divided over immigration, which has been linked to congressional efforts to pass a spending bill. Lawmakers face a Feb. 8 deadline to reach a compromise on the issue and pass a new budget measure to avoid a second government shutdown after a brief closure earlier this month.

To attract Democratic votes for an immigration deal, Trump has said he is open to letting &ldquo;Dreamers,&rdquo; a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States.

In return, he has demanded to fund for his long-proposed wall along the border with Mexico and measures to curb family sponsorship of immigrants, proposals that have failed to gain traction with Democrats in the past.

US Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said the two sides had made little progress so far in bridging differences on immigration.

&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t agree on anything,&rdquo; Durbin said after a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-to-expect-from-trumps-first-state-of-the-union-speech-31225">Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address</a>

Russia probe

Trump will also promote a $1.7 trillion plan to rebuild America&rsquo;s ageing roads and other infrastructure, but he is not expected to offer many details.

Trump is expected to address the various global issues that have preoccupied his administration, such as the challenge posed by North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear and weapons programs, and Iran&rsquo;s clout in the Middle East.

The speech comes as the president is buffeted by a series of headlines about US Special Counsel Robert Mueller&rsquo;s investigation into whether Trump or his aides colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in Trump&rsquo;s favor. Russia has denied meddling. Trump, who has called Mueller&rsquo;s probe a &ldquo;witch hunt,&rdquo; has denied any collusion with Russia or that he has obstructed justice in his actions related to the federal investigation.

Americans, at the same time, are voicing concerns about Trump&rsquo;s fitness for office. Opinion polls show his job approval ratings are about 40 percent, a number that is alarming to Republicans as they seek to maintain control of the US Congress in midterm elections in November.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-deliver-first-state-of-the-union-address-tomorrow-indian-techies-widow-among-guests-31233">In Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address, Indian techie&#39;s widow will be among guests</a>

Leaders of the two parties had sharply different expectations for the speech. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was &ldquo;excited&rdquo; to hear a State of the Union speech when things were so promising.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really encouraging to be able to come and hear an upbeat tone at a State of the Union,&rdquo; Ryan told reporters. &ldquo;Economic confidence is coming back to America.&rdquo;

Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Trump&rsquo;s theme of a &ldquo;safe, strong and proud America&rdquo; did not reflect reality.

&ldquo;That may be the theme, but that&rsquo;s not what has happened over the last year,&rdquo; he said, adding that Trump had alienated US allies, hollowed out the diplomatic corps and increased the national debt with tax legislation.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump should thank his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, for the strong economic outlook. &ldquo;Like many things in life, he inherited the healthy economy,&rdquo; Schumer said of Trump.

Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president

President Donald Trump, battling a probe into his campaign’s alleged ties with Russia and struggling to sell Americans on his leadership abilities, will take credit for US economic gains in the past year in an address to Congress on Tuesday night. Facing a deadline on an immigration controversy and strong Democratic opposition, Trump will also call for a bipartisan compromise of the type that has eluded him during the first year in office marked by heated political battles. Trump will visit Capitol Hill to deliver his first State of the Union speech at 9:10 pm (0210 GMT on Wednesday). In preparing for the event, Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president. Also read: What is the State of the Union Address? “I would consider it a great achievement if we could make our country united,” he told the anchors during a lunch, according to comments released by the White House. Aides said the Republican president would use the televised speech to tout the benefits of a tax overhaul approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in December that was his first major legislative victory. “The economy will be front and centre,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told NBC News on Tuesday. The atmosphere in the House of Representatives chamber where Trump will speak could be tense. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they will boycott the event. Some Democratic women who will attend plan to wear black in support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment. Ahead of Trump’s speech, Republicans and Democrats were deeply divided over immigration, which has been linked to congressional efforts to pass a spending bill. Lawmakers face a Feb. 8 deadline to reach a compromise on the issue and pass a new budget measure to avoid a second government shutdown after a brief closure earlier this month. To attract Democratic votes for an immigration deal, Trump has said he is open to letting “Dreamers,” a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States. In return, he has demanded to fund for his long-proposed wall along the border with Mexico and measures to curb family sponsorship of immigrants, proposals that have failed to gain traction with Democrats in the past. US Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said the two sides had made little progress so far in bridging differences on immigration. “We didn’t agree on anything,” Durbin said after a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Monday. Also read: Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump's first State of the Union address Russia probe Trump will also promote a $1.7 trillion plan to rebuild America’s ageing roads and other infrastructure, but he is not expected to offer many details. Trump is expected to address the various global issues that have preoccupied his administration, such as the challenge posed by North Korea’s nuclear and weapons programs, and Iran’s clout in the Middle East. The speech comes as the president is buffeted by a series of headlines about US Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Trump or his aides colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in Trump’s favor. Russia has denied meddling. Trump, who has called Mueller’s probe a “witch hunt,” has denied any collusion with Russia or that he has obstructed justice in his actions related to the federal investigation. Americans, at the same time, are voicing concerns about Trump’s fitness for office. Opinion polls show his job approval ratings are about 40 percent, a number that is alarming to Republicans as they seek to maintain control of the US Congress in midterm elections in November. Also read: In Trump's first State of the Union address, Indian techie's widow will be among guests Leaders of the two parties had sharply different expectations for the speech. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was “excited” to hear a State of the Union speech when things were so promising. “It’s really encouraging to be able to come and hear an upbeat tone at a State of the Union,” Ryan told reporters. “Economic confidence is coming back to America.” Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Trump’s theme of a “safe, strong and proud America” did not reflect reality. “That may be the theme, but that’s not what has happened over the last year,” he said, adding that Trump had alienated US allies, hollowed out the diplomatic corps and increased the national debt with tax legislation. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump should thank his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, for the strong economic outlook. “Like many things in life, he inherited the healthy economy,” Schumer said of Trump.

After turbulent year, Trump to tout strong economy in speech to Congress

In a freewheeling interview with the BBC,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-is-aiming-to-interfere-in-coming-us-elections-warns-cia-chief-31153"> Central Intelligence Agency(CIA) director Mike Pompeo</a> said China has much &quot;bigger footprint&quot; to carry out covert activities than Russia.

The CIA director had earlier <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-declines-to-apply-new-russia-sanctions-for-now-31162">said Moscow is expected to meddle</a> in the 2018 US mid-term elections.

However, Pompeo expressed the hope that America will be able to hold a free and fair election.

The mid-term elections would be crucial for the Democrats as they will attempt to prise seats from the Republicans in the 435-member House of Representatives and 33 Senate seats in the Upper chamber.

President Trump&#39;s election in 2016 was marred with rumors about Russian interference intended to undermine Hillary Clinton&#39;s chances of becoming president.

Trump has however repeatedly denied he colluded with Russia to win the US elections.

Last week the US president had said he was willing to be interviewed under oath by former FBI director Mueller who is investigating alleged Russia meddling in the 2016 election.

&quot;I&#39;m looking forward to it,&quot; Trump had said, adding, that he would do it &quot;under oath.&quot;

The mid-term elections would be crucial for the Democrats as they will attempt to prise seats from the Republicans

In a freewheeling interview with the BBC, Central Intelligence Agency(CIA) director Mike Pompeo said China has much "bigger footprint" to carry out covert activities than Russia. The CIA director had earlier said Moscow is expected to meddle in the 2018 US mid-term elections. However, Pompeo expressed the hope that America will be able to hold a free and fair election. The mid-term elections would be crucial for the Democrats as they will attempt to prise seats from the Republicans in the 435-member House of Representatives and 33 Senate seats in the Upper chamber. President Trump's election in 2016 was marred with rumors about Russian interference intended to undermine Hillary Clinton's chances of becoming president. Trump has however repeatedly denied he colluded with Russia to win the US elections. Last week the US president had said he was willing to be interviewed under oath by former FBI director Mueller who is investigating alleged Russia meddling in the 2016 election. "I'm looking forward to it," Trump had said, adding, that he would do it "under oath."

China has bigger footprint than Russia for covert activities: CIA chief Pompeo

The US Treasury has released a long-awaited list of Russian officials and business leaders eligible for sanctions under a law designed to punish Moscow for its alleged meddling in the election that brought Donald Trump to power.

The list published shortly before midnight yesterday features the names of most of the senior members in President Vladimir Putin&#39;s administration -- 114 politicians altogether -- and 96 business people the US considers &#39;oligarchs&#39; close to Putin and worth at least USD 1 billion each.

The seven-page unclassified list, which does not trigger sanctions right away, features Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and top officials in Russian intelligence agencies.

Also on the list were the chief executives of big state-owned companies such as energy giant Rosneft and Sberbank.

The list was widely expected to infuriate Putin and send shivers through his inner circle and Moscow&#39;s moneyed elite, threatening to cut them off from world finance.

Yesterday was the deadline for its release under a law passed last year by Congress over the objections of Trump, whom critics in the US say has been oddly reluctant to criticise Russia or Putin.

Under the same law, the State Department yesterday also declined to punish any US or foreign companies for dealings with Russian arms companies. It argued this was not needed because governments around the world have already nixed billions in contracts with those Russian firms.

US lawmakers passed the law -- called the Countering America&#39;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act -- out of concern that Trump, eager to have warm ties with Putin, might not take tough action to punish Moscow and Russian officials for interfering in US elections and destabilising Ukraine.&nbsp;

The list was published shortly before midnight yesterday

The US Treasury has released a long-awaited list of Russian officials and business leaders eligible for sanctions under a law designed to punish Moscow for its alleged meddling in the election that brought Donald Trump to power. The list published shortly before midnight yesterday features the names of most of the senior members in President Vladimir Putin's administration -- 114 politicians altogether -- and 96 business people the US considers 'oligarchs' close to Putin and worth at least USD 1 billion each. The seven-page unclassified list, which does not trigger sanctions right away, features Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and top officials in Russian intelligence agencies. Also on the list were the chief executives of big state-owned companies such as energy giant Rosneft and Sberbank. The list was widely expected to infuriate Putin and send shivers through his inner circle and Moscow's moneyed elite, threatening to cut them off from world finance. Yesterday was the deadline for its release under a law passed last year by Congress over the objections of Trump, whom critics in the US say has been oddly reluctant to criticise Russia or Putin. Under the same law, the State Department yesterday also declined to punish any US or foreign companies for dealings with Russian arms companies. It argued this was not needed because governments around the world have already nixed billions in contracts with those Russian firms. US lawmakers passed the law -- called the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act -- out of concern that Trump, eager to have warm ties with Putin, might not take tough action to punish Moscow and Russian officials for interfering in US elections and destabilising Ukraine.

US releases 'Putin list' of Russians eligible for sanctions

US president Donald Trump is all set to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, an hour-long speech to Congress and the nation.&nbsp;

The speech marks the ceremonial kickoff of Trump&rsquo;s second year in office and is traditionally a president&rsquo;s biggest platform to speak to the nation.&nbsp;

The State of the Union speech is expected to focus on &ldquo;building a safe, strong, and proud America,&rdquo; and will touch&nbsp;on topics such as the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and trade. &ldquo;The tone will be one of bipartisanship. It will be very forward-looking,&rdquo; officials say.

What will be a surprise is if Trump talks at all about Robert Mueller&rsquo;s Russia investigation and, in turn, congressional Republican efforts to respond with their own probe of the government &ldquo;deep state.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Here is what Trump is expected to talk about in his first State of the Union speech:&nbsp;

<ins>Trade and Infrastructure&nbsp;</ins>

President Trump will likely urge Democrats for their support on an infrastructure bill to rebuild the nation&#39;s crumbling roads, bridges and airports. White House aides have said they will propose $200 billion in federal spending, but they haven&#39;t said where the money will come from.&nbsp;

Trump has pledged to rebuild the nation&rsquo;s ageing infrastructure but has provided few details on his $1.7 trillion plan, but most of that would be state and local spending, not federal dollars, reports said.&nbsp;

Trump also said that his speech will cover his efforts to lower trade barriers around the world for American exports. &ldquo;We have to have reciprocal trade. It&rsquo;s not a one-way deal anymore,&rdquo; an official&nbsp;said.

He is also likely to discuss the US trade imbalance with China during his State of the Union speech and may&nbsp;consider&nbsp;retaliation over intellectual property issues.&nbsp;

<ins>Immigration&nbsp;</ins>

The most controversial part of his speech is likely to be when he talks about immigration.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump said on Monday he will address his proposed immigration overhaul in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday and will seek Democratic support for it.

Trump said his immigration overhaul will have to be bipartisan &ldquo;because the Republicans don&rsquo;t really have the votes to get it done in any other way.&rdquo;

Republicans and Democrats have been long arguing over the future of some 1.8 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.&nbsp;

Trump has vowed to protect the so-called &quot;Dreamers&quot; (a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States) from deportation but is also calling for changes to legal immigration that are controversial with both parties - &nbsp;in return for $25 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and other tougher border security measures as well.

He will also insist lawmakers to agree to curb immigrants&rsquo; ability to sponsor family members.&nbsp;

Some Democratic lawmakers have invited &ldquo;Dreamers&rdquo; as guests to hear the speech in person.

<ins>Jobs&nbsp;</ins>

The path towards&nbsp;lower unemployment and higher growth began during Trump&#39;s administration. Trump argues that the tax overhaul he signed late last year has boosted business confidence and will lead companies to reinvest in the United States.

With unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics and women at record lows, in his speech on Tuesday, Trump will &ldquo;make clear that all groups are benefiting under this presidency,&rdquo; officials said.

He may also talk about some of first lady Melania Trump&rsquo;s guests for the speech, who are expected to include people who have benefited from the tax cuts.

<ins>Mid-Term polls&nbsp;</ins>

Republicans might want to check in on the state of its own party as we inch closer to the fall midterm elections. On paper, the GOP remains in the strongest position, it&rsquo;s been ahead of the elections since before the Obama administration. There are more than two times as many Republican governors as Democrats this time around.

But there are warning signs that the party&rsquo;s time may be coming to an end ahead of the midterm elections in November.

While Republicans in Congress are eyeing the exits, a growing number of Democrats are looking for a way in.&nbsp;

<ins>Unfiltered Moments&nbsp;</ins>

This could be an opportunity for the audience to see the unfiltered Trump for 60 minutes, and an opportunity for Trump to try to boost his approval ratings which have sagged in the mid- to upper- 30s.

The White House often struggles to maintain momentum on policy when Trump&rsquo;s tweets and off-the-cuff remarks upstage his scripted speeches.&nbsp;

He can be captivating at a campaign rally when his speech is an unpredictable stream of consciousness. He can be straight and authentic on Twitter, the unfiltered mode of communication that he says is &quot;MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL.&quot;

 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SH1KZ7nw_L8" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The theme of the speech will be: 'Building a safe, strong and proud America'

US president Donald Trump is all set to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, an hour-long speech to Congress and the nation. The speech marks the ceremonial kickoff of Trump’s second year in office and is traditionally a president’s biggest platform to speak to the nation. The State of the Union speech is expected to focus on “building a safe, strong, and proud America,” and will touch on topics such as the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and trade. “The tone will be one of bipartisanship. It will be very forward-looking,” officials say. What will be a surprise is if Trump talks at all about Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and, in turn, congressional Republican efforts to respond with their own probe of the government “deep state.” Here is what Trump is expected to talk about in his first State of the Union speech: Trade and Infrastructure President Trump will likely urge Democrats for their support on an infrastructure bill to rebuild the nation's crumbling roads, bridges and airports. White House aides have said they will propose $200 billion in federal spending, but they haven't said where the money will come from. Trump has pledged to rebuild the nation’s ageing infrastructure but has provided few details on his $1.7 trillion plan, but most of that would be state and local spending, not federal dollars, reports said. Trump also said that his speech will cover his efforts to lower trade barriers around the world for American exports. “We have to have reciprocal trade. It’s not a one-way deal anymore,” an official said. He is also likely to discuss the US trade imbalance with China during his State of the Union speech and may consider retaliation over intellectual property issues. Immigration The most controversial part of his speech is likely to be when he talks about immigration. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will address his proposed immigration overhaul in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday and will seek Democratic support for it. Trump said his immigration overhaul will have to be bipartisan “because the Republicans don’t really have the votes to get it done in any other way.” Republicans and Democrats have been long arguing over the future of some 1.8 million immigrants living in the United States illegally. Trump has vowed to protect the so-called "Dreamers" (a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States) from deportation but is also calling for changes to legal immigration that are controversial with both parties - in return for $25 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and other tougher border security measures as well. He will also insist lawmakers to agree to curb immigrants’ ability to sponsor family members. Some Democratic lawmakers have invited “Dreamers” as guests to hear the speech in person. Jobs The path towards lower unemployment and higher growth began during Trump's administration. Trump argues that the tax overhaul he signed late last year has boosted business confidence and will lead companies to reinvest in the United States. With unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics and women at record lows, in his speech on Tuesday, Trump will “make clear that all groups are benefiting under this presidency,” officials said. He may also talk about some of first lady Melania Trump’s guests for the speech, who are expected to include people who have benefited from the tax cuts. Mid-Term polls Republicans might want to check in on the state of its own party as we inch closer to the fall midterm elections. On paper, the GOP remains in the strongest position, it’s been ahead of the elections since before the Obama administration. There are more than two times as many Republican governors as Democrats this time around. But there are warning signs that the party’s time may be coming to an end ahead of the midterm elections in November. While Republicans in Congress are eyeing the exits, a growing number of Democrats are looking for a way in. Unfiltered Moments This could be an opportunity for the audience to see the unfiltered Trump for 60 minutes, and an opportunity for Trump to try to boost his approval ratings which have sagged in the mid- to upper- 30s. The White House often struggles to maintain momentum on policy when Trump’s tweets and off-the-cuff remarks upstage his scripted speeches. He can be captivating at a campaign rally when his speech is an unpredictable stream of consciousness. He can be straight and authentic on Twitter, the unfiltered mode of communication that he says is "MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL."

Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump's first State of the Union address

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-lifts-ban-on-refugees-from-11-countries-31145" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-lifts-ban-on-refugees-from-11-countries-31145" target="_blank">&nbsp;lifts ban on refugees from 11 countries</a>

The United States announced Monday it was lifting its ban on refugees from 11 &quot;high-risk&quot; countries, but said those seeking to enter the US would come under much tougher scrutiny than in the past.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-is-aiming-to-interfere-in-coming-us-elections-warns-cia-chief-31153" target="_blank">Russia is aiming to interfere </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-is-aiming-to-interfere-in-coming-us-elections-warns-cia-chief-31153" target="_blank">in coming</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-is-aiming-to-interfere-in-coming-us-elections-warns-cia-chief-31153" target="_blank"> US elections, warns CIA chief</a>

Russian election interference has not stopped and Moscow can be expected to meddle in the 2018 US vote, Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo said in an interview published Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-su-27-fighter-jet-intercepted-us-spy-plane-us-protests-31164" target="_blank">Russia says Su-27 fighter jet intercepted US spy plane; US protests</a>

A Russian Su-27 fighter jet intercepted a US surveillance plane over the Black Sea on Monday, prompting the US State Department to protest the maneuver as &ldquo;an unsafe interaction.&rdquo;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/punishments-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots-cases-would-have-led-to-a-different-india-delhi-high-court-31163" target="_blank">Punishments in 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases would have led to a different India: Delhi High Court</a>

If those responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots had been punished back then, India would have been different now, the Delhi High Court today said, while asking the police to take action against those involved in the recent attacks on properties of lawyers.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-lashes-out-at-iran-in-talks-with-putin-31154" target="_blank">Netanyahu lashes out at Iran in talks with Putin</a>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after accusing Iran of wanting &quot;to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site&quot;.

US lifts ban on refugees from 11 countries The United States announced Monday it was lifting its ban on refugees from 11 "high-risk" countries, but said those seeking to enter the US would come under much tougher scrutiny than in the past. Russia is aiming to interfere in coming US elections, warns CIA chief Russian election interference has not stopped and Moscow can be expected to meddle in the 2018 US vote, Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo said in an interview published Monday. Russia says Su-27 fighter jet intercepted US spy plane; US protests A Russian Su-27 fighter jet intercepted a US surveillance plane over the Black Sea on Monday, prompting the US State Department to protest the maneuver as “an unsafe interaction.” Punishments in 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases would have led to a different India: Delhi High Court If those responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots had been punished back then, India would have been different now, the Delhi High Court today said, while asking the police to take action against those involved in the recent attacks on properties of lawyers. Netanyahu lashes out at Iran in talks with Putin Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after accusing Iran of wanting "to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site".

WION Morning News Brief, January 30, 2018

US President Donald Trump on Monday rejected the idea of talks with the Taliban after a series of deadly attacks in Afghanistan, in an apparent contradiction of his own strategy to end America&#39;s longest foreign war.

Trump condemned the militant group for the carnage in Kabul and pledged to &quot;finish what we have to finish.&quot;

Trump&#39;s comments suggest he sees a military victory over the Taliban, an outcome that military and diplomatic officials say cannot be achieved with the resources and manpower he has authorised.

When he announced an increase in US troops to Afghanistan in August, US officials said the goal was to force the Taliban to negotiate a political settlement.

&quot;I don&#39;t see any talking taking place,&quot; Trump told reporters as he began meeting at the White House with members of the United Nations Security Council.

&quot;I don&#39;t think we&#39;re prepared to talk right now. It&#39;s a whole different fight over there. They&#39;re killing people left and right. Innocent people are being killed left and right.&quot;

Trump last year ordered an increase in US troops to Afghanistan, air strikes and other assistance to Afghan forces. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said earlier this month the strategy was working and pushing the insurgents closer to peace talks.

That was before a suicide bomber penetrated the highly guarded centre of Kabul on Saturday and detonated an explosives-laden ambulance, killing more than 100 people and wounding at least 235. That attack followed a brazen Taliban assault on the city&#39;s Intercontinental Hotel and other acts of violence.

Four US citizens were killed and two wounded in the January 20 attack on the Intercontinental Hotel, the US State Department said last week. At least 20 people were killed in the hotel assault.

No evidence of military victory

&quot;When you see what they&#39;re doing and the atrocities that they&#39;re committing, and killing their own people, and those people are women and children ... it is horrible,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;We don&#39;t want to talk to the Taliban. We&#39;re going to finish what we have to finish, what nobody else has been able to finish, we&#39;re going to be able to do it,&quot; Trump said.

Current and former US officials said that despite the carnage, the United States had no choice but to promote peace talks.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at Trump&rsquo;s comments and said there was an understanding that defeating the Taliban was not purely a military problem.

&ldquo;You can never really take talks off the table,&rdquo; the official said.

Laurel Miller, who served as acting US special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan until June, said the stated goal of Trump&#39;s Afghanistan strategy was &quot;to increase military pressure on the Taliban in order to motivate them to engage in a political settlement.&quot;

There is no evidence, she said, &quot;that suggests that the US and Afghan forces can defeat the Taliban on the battlefield.&quot;

Afghanistan&#39;s UN ambassador, Mahmoud Saikal, told Reuters on Monday that fighting needed to continue against certain elements of the Taliban.

&quot;There are two categories of Taliban: One is the reconcilable elements who are in touch with us, who are talking to us, and one is the irreconcilable,&quot; Saikal said.

&ldquo;The irreconcilables and those who have chosen to fight, we need to fight. We need to fight against them, we need to have the capability to withstand against them and to defend our people,&quot; he said.

'We don't want to talk to the Taliban. We're going to finish what we have to finish, what nobody else has been able to finish, we're going to be able to do it,'Trump said

US President Donald Trump on Monday rejected the idea of talks with the Taliban after a series of deadly attacks in Afghanistan, in an apparent contradiction of his own strategy to end America's longest foreign war. Trump condemned the militant group for the carnage in Kabul and pledged to "finish what we have to finish." Trump's comments suggest he sees a military victory over the Taliban, an outcome that military and diplomatic officials say cannot be achieved with the resources and manpower he has authorised. When he announced an increase in US troops to Afghanistan in August, US officials said the goal was to force the Taliban to negotiate a political settlement. "I don't see any talking taking place," Trump told reporters as he began meeting at the White House with members of the United Nations Security Council. "I don't think we're prepared to talk right now. It's a whole different fight over there. They're killing people left and right. Innocent people are being killed left and right." Trump last year ordered an increase in US troops to Afghanistan, air strikes and other assistance to Afghan forces. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said earlier this month the strategy was working and pushing the insurgents closer to peace talks. That was before a suicide bomber penetrated the highly guarded centre of Kabul on Saturday and detonated an explosives-laden ambulance, killing more than 100 people and wounding at least 235. That attack followed a brazen Taliban assault on the city's Intercontinental Hotel and other acts of violence. Four US citizens were killed and two wounded in the January 20 attack on the Intercontinental Hotel, the US State Department said last week. At least 20 people were killed in the hotel assault. No evidence of military victory "When you see what they're doing and the atrocities that they're committing, and killing their own people, and those people are women and children ... it is horrible," Trump said. "We don't want to talk to the Taliban. We're going to finish what we have to finish, what nobody else has been able to finish, we're going to be able to do it," Trump said. Current and former US officials said that despite the carnage, the United States had no choice but to promote peace talks. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at Trump’s comments and said there was an understanding that defeating the Taliban was not purely a military problem. “You can never really take talks off the table,” the official said. Laurel Miller, who served as acting US special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan until June, said the stated goal of Trump's Afghanistan strategy was "to increase military pressure on the Taliban in order to motivate them to engage in a political settlement." There is no evidence, she said, "that suggests that the US and Afghan forces can defeat the Taliban on the battlefield." Afghanistan's UN ambassador, Mahmoud Saikal, told Reuters on Monday that fighting needed to continue against certain elements of the Taliban. "There are two categories of Taliban: One is the reconcilable elements who are in touch with us, who are talking to us, and one is the irreconcilable," Saikal said. “The irreconcilables and those who have chosen to fight, we need to fight. We need to fight against them, we need to have the capability to withstand against them and to defend our people," he said.

Trump rejects peace talks with Taliban in departure from Afghan strategy

President Donald Trump`s national security team is looking at options to counter the threat of China spying on U.S. phone calls that include the government building a super-fast 5G wireless network, a senior administration official said on Sunday.

 
The official, confirming the gist of a report from Axios.com, said the option was being debated at a low level in the administration and was six to eight months away from being considered by the president himself.

 
The 5G network concept is aimed at addressing what officials see as China`s threat to U.S. cyber security and economic security.

 
The Trump administration has taken a harder line on policies initiated by predecessor Barack Obama on issues ranging from Beijing`s role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries.

 
This month AT&amp;T was forced to scrap a plan to offer its customers handsets built by China`s Huawei after some members of Congress lobbied against the idea with federal regulators, sources told Reuters.&nbsp;

 
In 2012, Huawei and ZTE Corp were the subject of a U.S. investigation into whether their equipment provided an opportunity for foreign espionage and threatened critical US&nbsp;infrastructure.&nbsp; 
Some members of the House intelligence committee remain troubled by security threats posed by Huawei and ZTE, according to a congressional aide.

 
Issues raised in a 2012 committee report about the Chinese firms have &quot;never subsided,&quot; the aide said, adding that there was newer classified intelligence that recently resurfaced those concerns. 
&quot;We want to build a network so the Chinese can`t listen to your calls,&quot; the senior official told Reuters.

 
&quot;We have to have a secure network that doesn`t allow bad actors to get in. We also have to ensure the Chinese don`t take over the market and put every non-5G network out of business.&quot;

 
In Beijing on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China prohibited all forms of hacking, but did not specifically address the 5G network security issue.

 
&quot;We believe that the international community should, on the basis of mutual respect and trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation and join hands in addressing the threat of cyber attacks,&quot; Hua told a regular news briefing.

 
Major wireless carriers have spent billions of dollars buying spectrum to launch 5G networks, and it is unclear if the U.S. government would have enough spectrum to build its own 5G network.

 
Furthermore, Accenture has estimated that wireless operators will invest as much as $275 billion in the United States over seven years as they build out 5G.

 
Last year, T-Mobile US Inc spent $8 billion and Dish Network Corp $6.2 billion to win the bulk of broadcast airwaves spectrum for sale in a government auction.&nbsp;

An AT&amp;T spokesman said they could not comment on something they have not seen, and added, &quot;Thanks to multi-billion dollar investments made by American companies, the work to launch 5G service in the United States is already well down the road.&quot;

 
Later this year, AT&amp;T is set to be the first to launch mobile 5G service in 12 US&nbsp;locations, the spokesman said.

 
A Verizon spokesman declined to comment. Representatives for Sprint and T-Mobile did not immediately respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;

 
Another option includes having a 5G network built by a consortium of wireless carriers, the US&nbsp;official said.

 
&quot;We want to build a secure 5G network and we have to work with industry to figure out the best way to do it,&quot; the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 
Axios published documents it said were from a presentation from a National Security Council official. If the government built the network, it would rent access to carriers, Axios said.

 
A looming concern laid out in the presentation was China`s growing presence in the manufacture and operation of wireless networks. A concerted government push could help the US&nbsp;compete on that front, according to the presentation.

 
A 5G network is expected to offer significantly faster speeds, more capacity and shorter response times, which could be utilized for new technologies ranging from self-driving cars to remote surgeries. Telecom companies and their suppliers consider it to be a multibillion-dollar revenue opportunity.

The Trump administration has taken a harder line on policies initiated by predecessor Barack Obama

President Donald Trump`s national security team is looking at options to counter the threat of China spying on U.S. phone calls that include the government building a super-fast 5G wireless network, a senior administration official said on Sunday. The official, confirming the gist of a report from Axios.com, said the option was being debated at a low level in the administration and was six to eight months away from being considered by the president himself. The 5G network concept is aimed at addressing what officials see as China`s threat to U.S. cyber security and economic security. The Trump administration has taken a harder line on policies initiated by predecessor Barack Obama on issues ranging from Beijing`s role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries. This month AT&T was forced to scrap a plan to offer its customers handsets built by China`s Huawei after some members of Congress lobbied against the idea with federal regulators, sources told Reuters. In 2012, Huawei and ZTE Corp were the subject of a U.S. investigation into whether their equipment provided an opportunity for foreign espionage and threatened critical US infrastructure. Some members of the House intelligence committee remain troubled by security threats posed by Huawei and ZTE, according to a congressional aide. Issues raised in a 2012 committee report about the Chinese firms have "never subsided," the aide said, adding that there was newer classified intelligence that recently resurfaced those concerns. "We want to build a network so the Chinese can`t listen to your calls," the senior official told Reuters. "We have to have a secure network that doesn`t allow bad actors to get in. We also have to ensure the Chinese don`t take over the market and put every non-5G network out of business." In Beijing on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China prohibited all forms of hacking, but did not specifically address the 5G network security issue. "We believe that the international community should, on the basis of mutual respect and trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation and join hands in addressing the threat of cyber attacks," Hua told a regular news briefing. Major wireless carriers have spent billions of dollars buying spectrum to launch 5G networks, and it is unclear if the U.S. government would have enough spectrum to build its own 5G network. Furthermore, Accenture has estimated that wireless operators will invest as much as $275 billion in the United States over seven years as they build out 5G. Last year, T-Mobile US Inc spent $8 billion and Dish Network Corp $6.2 billion to win the bulk of broadcast airwaves spectrum for sale in a government auction. An AT&T spokesman said they could not comment on something they have not seen, and added, "Thanks to multi-billion dollar investments made by American companies, the work to launch 5G service in the United States is already well down the road." Later this year, AT&T is set to be the first to launch mobile 5G service in 12 US locations, the spokesman said. A Verizon spokesman declined to comment. Representatives for Sprint and T-Mobile did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Another option includes having a 5G network built by a consortium of wireless carriers, the US official said. "We want to build a secure 5G network and we have to work with industry to figure out the best way to do it," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Axios published documents it said were from a presentation from a National Security Council official. If the government built the network, it would rent access to carriers, Axios said. A looming concern laid out in the presentation was China`s growing presence in the manufacture and operation of wireless networks. A concerted government push could help the US compete on that front, according to the presentation. A 5G network is expected to offer significantly faster speeds, more capacity and shorter response times, which could be utilized for new technologies ranging from self-driving cars to remote surgeries. Telecom companies and their suppliers consider it to be a multibillion-dollar revenue opportunity.

Trump's NSA eyeing 5G network to counter China 'spying' threat

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/gunfire-and-explosions-at-marshal-fahim-military-university-in-kabul-31031" target="_blank">Military university in Kabul rocked by explosions and heavy gunfire: Reports</a>

The Marshal Fahim Military University in the Afghan capital of Kabul has come under attack on Monday morning with a series of explosions and heavy gunfire heard at the compound, according to local media.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/grammys-2018-live-ed-sheeran-wins-best-solo-performance-for-shape-of-you-31014" target="_blank">Grammys 2018, Live: Bruno Mars wins Song of The Year for &#39;That&#39;s What I Like&#39;</a>

Bruno Mars receives the Grammy for the Best Song of the year during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards show on January 28, 2018, in New York.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/budget-2018-with-assembly-elections-lined-up-government-to-woo-rural-voters-in-budget-31027" target="_blank">Budget 2018: With assembly elections lined up, government to woo rural voters in budget</a>

The Modi government will be trying to woo back rural voters and small businesses when it announces the 2018/19 budget on Thursday and pick up economic momentum as it heads into a season of elections, officials said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aap-leaders-to-march-to-parliament-today-urging-government-to-end-sealing-drive-in-delhi-31032" target="_blank">AAP leaders to march to Parliament today urging government to end sealing drive in Delhi&nbsp;</a>

AAP leaders will march to the Parliament today urging the Modi government to end sealing of markets in the national capital.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-eu-trade-policy-with-us-as-very-unfair-31020" target="_blank">Trump blasts EU trade policy with </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-eu-trade-policy-with-us-as-very-unfair-31020" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-eu-trade-policy-with-us-as-very-unfair-31020" target="_blank"> as &#39;very unfair&#39;</a>

The European Union`s trade policy with America is &quot;very unfair&quot;, President Donald Trump said in an interview to be aired Sunday, warning that his many problems with Brussels &quot;may morph into something very big&quot;.

Military university in Kabul rocked by explosions and heavy gunfire: Reports The Marshal Fahim Military University in the Afghan capital of Kabul has come under attack on Monday morning with a series of explosions and heavy gunfire heard at the compound, according to local media. Grammys 2018, Live: Bruno Mars wins Song of The Year for 'That's What I Like' Bruno Mars receives the Grammy for the Best Song of the year during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards show on January 28, 2018, in New York. Budget 2018: With assembly elections lined up, government to woo rural voters in budget The Modi government will be trying to woo back rural voters and small businesses when it announces the 2018/19 budget on Thursday and pick up economic momentum as it heads into a season of elections, officials said. AAP leaders to march to Parliament today urging government to end sealing drive in Delhi AAP leaders will march to the Parliament today urging the Modi government to end sealing of markets in the national capital. Trump blasts EU trade policy with US as 'very unfair' The European Union`s trade policy with America is "very unfair", President Donald Trump said in an interview to be aired Sunday, warning that his many problems with Brussels "may morph into something very big".

WION Morning News Brief, January 29, 2018

The European Union`s trade policy with America is &quot;very unfair&quot;, President Donald Trump said in an interview to be aired Sunday, warning that his many problems with Brussels &quot;may morph into something very big&quot;.

&quot;We cannot get our product in. It`s very, very tough. And yet, they send their product to us -- no taxes, very little taxes. It`s very unfair,&quot; Trump told ITV News in the interview conducted Thursday.

&quot;I`ve had a lot of problems with (the) European Union, and it may morph into something very big from that standpoint -- from a trade standpoint.&quot;

Trump delivered the warning during a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he took his &quot;America First&quot; agenda to the global business elite.

In a speech Friday he told the forum that his mantra &quot;does not mean America alone&quot; and hinted that the US could rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal he withdrew from a year ago.

But earlier this month the Trump Administration imposed steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels, and his comments in the interview to air Sunday may cause alarm in European capitals over future trade with the US.

The Trump Administration last year vowed to impose nearly 300 percent punitive tariffs on airplanes manufactured by Canada`s Bombardier.

A bipartisan US trade panel blocked that decision on Friday but the dispute, which has inflamed relations with Ottawa -- and to a lesser degree Britain, where Bombardier has a large workforce -- could be a harbinger for the EU.In other remarks released ahead of the interview`s airing, Trump appeared to slight British Prime Minister Theresa May`s handling of fraught Brexit negotiations, declaring that he would have &quot;negotiated it differently&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;I would have had a different attitude,&quot; he said of the talks, which have followed Britain`s June 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU, and will continue through to its planned departure in March 2019.

&quot;I think I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what it`s supposed to be. And I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out,&quot; Trump added.

In excerpts of the discussion screened in Britain Friday, the US president apologised for the first time for retweeting a British far-right group`s videos apparently showing Islamist violence.&nbsp;

&quot;If you`re telling me they`re horrible racist people, I would certainly apologise if you`d like me to do that,&quot; the president said.

Trump confirmed he will visit Britain later this year, where he believes he is &quot;very popular&quot;, according to the interviewer Piers Morgan, who wrote an account of the sit-down in the Mail on Sunday newspaper.&nbsp;

The president said he does not care about those opposed to his British visit, who include London mayor Sadiq Khan and the opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, amid predictions of large protests.

&quot;I think a lot of people in your country like what I stand for, they respect what I stand for,&quot; he told Morgan, according to the presenter.

Asked if he had received an invitation to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle later this year, Trump replied &quot;not that I know of&quot;.

&quot;I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple,&quot; he added when pressed if he would like to attend the ceremony.During the interview -- billed as the first of his presidency with a non-US international broadcaster -- Trump was asked if he identifies as a feminist.

&quot;No, I wouldn`t say I`m a feminist,&quot; he replied.

&quot;I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. I`m for women, I`m for men, I`m for everyone.&quot;

Trump also signalled he would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change.

He was met with global condemnation when he announced in June 2017 that America was pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, painting it a &quot;bad deal&quot; for its economy.

&quot;The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster,&quot; he said in the interview to run Sunday.

&quot;If they made a good deal... there`s always a chance we`d get back.&quot;

'We cannot get our product in. It`s very, very tough. And yet, they send their product to us -- no taxes, very little taxes. It`s very unfair,' Trump told ITV News in the interview conducted Thursday

The European Union`s trade policy with America is "very unfair", President Donald Trump said in an interview to be aired Sunday, warning that his many problems with Brussels "may morph into something very big". "We cannot get our product in. It`s very, very tough. And yet, they send their product to us -- no taxes, very little taxes. It`s very unfair," Trump told ITV News in the interview conducted Thursday. "I`ve had a lot of problems with (the) European Union, and it may morph into something very big from that standpoint -- from a trade standpoint." Trump delivered the warning during a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he took his "America First" agenda to the global business elite. In a speech Friday he told the forum that his mantra "does not mean America alone" and hinted that the US could rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal he withdrew from a year ago. But earlier this month the Trump Administration imposed steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels, and his comments in the interview to air Sunday may cause alarm in European capitals over future trade with the US. The Trump Administration last year vowed to impose nearly 300 percent punitive tariffs on airplanes manufactured by Canada`s Bombardier. A bipartisan US trade panel blocked that decision on Friday but the dispute, which has inflamed relations with Ottawa -- and to a lesser degree Britain, where Bombardier has a large workforce -- could be a harbinger for the EU.In other remarks released ahead of the interview`s airing, Trump appeared to slight British Prime Minister Theresa May`s handling of fraught Brexit negotiations, declaring that he would have "negotiated it differently". "I would have had a different attitude," he said of the talks, which have followed Britain`s June 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU, and will continue through to its planned departure in March 2019. "I think I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what it`s supposed to be. And I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out," Trump added. In excerpts of the discussion screened in Britain Friday, the US president apologised for the first time for retweeting a British far-right group`s videos apparently showing Islamist violence. "If you`re telling me they`re horrible racist people, I would certainly apologise if you`d like me to do that," the president said. Trump confirmed he will visit Britain later this year, where he believes he is "very popular", according to the interviewer Piers Morgan, who wrote an account of the sit-down in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. The president said he does not care about those opposed to his British visit, who include London mayor Sadiq Khan and the opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, amid predictions of large protests. "I think a lot of people in your country like what I stand for, they respect what I stand for," he told Morgan, according to the presenter. Asked if he had received an invitation to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle later this year, Trump replied "not that I know of". "I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple," he added when pressed if he would like to attend the ceremony.During the interview -- billed as the first of his presidency with a non-US international broadcaster -- Trump was asked if he identifies as a feminist. "No, I wouldn`t say I`m a feminist," he replied. "I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. I`m for women, I`m for men, I`m for everyone." Trump also signalled he would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change. He was met with global condemnation when he announced in June 2017 that America was pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, painting it a "bad deal" for its economy. "The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster," he said in the interview to run Sunday. "If they made a good deal... there`s always a chance we`d get back."

Trump blasts EU trade policy with US as 'very unfair'

A game reserve in Nambia has slammed US president Donald Trump&#39;s alleged remark over African countries and made a video promoting the country.&nbsp;

The video called - &quot;S***hole Nambia&quot; - was made by the Gondwana Collection Namibia, which runs several game reserves in the southern African nation. It comes following Trump&#39;s comment over immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/why-do-we-want-people-from-these-shithole-countries-trump-over-immigrants-from-africa-haiti-29278" target="_blank">&quot;shithole countries</a>&quot;.

&quot;Why do we want all these people from Africa here? They&#39;re shithole countries ... We should have more people from Norway&quot; he said. He further slammed the need for Haitians in the United States.

Gondwana Collection Namibia, in their video, shows the country&#39;s great beauty - weeping desert dunes, starry skies and tourists enjoying a sunset beer overlooking the game reserve.

&quot;We would like to invite you to come to s***hole Namibia, one of the most beautiful s***hole countries out there,&quot; the faux-Trump voice-over says.

&quot;Actually Namibia is such a s***hole country that we converted about 42 per cent of it into various conservation areas, where wild s***hole animals can roam freely,&quot; it continues, with stunning footage of ostriches and elephants.

&quot;Not only is our country a s***hole place,&quot; the narrator continues, &quot;even our elephants are highly qualified to dump large amounts of s*** everywhere.&quot;

Watch the video here:

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&quot;You&#39;re more than welcome to visit Africa&#39;s number one s***hole country, known to your president as Nambia,&quot; it ends, in reference to another Trump gaffe.

The video has become a hit on social media - receiving thousands of views on Facebook and over 200,000 on Youtube.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A group of &quot;extremely appalled&quot; African countries earlier demanded that US President Donald Trump <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/54-african-countries-demand-trump-apology-over-shithole-remark-29377">retract and apologise</a> for his reported denunciation of immigration from &quot;shithole&quot; nations.

However, US President Donald Trump on Friday<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-denies-vulgar-remarks-about-haiti-african-countries-condemnation-mounts-29379" target="_blank"> denied using the word</a> &quot;shithole&quot; to describe Haiti and African countries, but kept up criticism of a Senate immigration plan that he said would force the United States to admit people from countries that &quot;are doing badly.&quot;

The video called - 'S***hole Nambia' - was made by the Gondwana Collection Namibia, which runs several game reserves in the southern African nation

A game reserve in Nambia has slammed US president Donald Trump's alleged remark over African countries and made a video promoting the country. The video called - "S***hole Nambia" - was made by the Gondwana Collection Namibia, which runs several game reserves in the southern African nation. It comes following Trump's comment over immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as "shithole countries". "Why do we want all these people from Africa here? They're shithole countries ... We should have more people from Norway" he said. He further slammed the need for Haitians in the United States. Gondwana Collection Namibia, in their video, shows the country's great beauty - weeping desert dunes, starry skies and tourists enjoying a sunset beer overlooking the game reserve. "We would like to invite you to come to s***hole Namibia, one of the most beautiful s***hole countries out there," the faux-Trump voice-over says. "Actually Namibia is such a s***hole country that we converted about 42 per cent of it into various conservation areas, where wild s***hole animals can roam freely," it continues, with stunning footage of ostriches and elephants. "Not only is our country a s***hole place," the narrator continues, "even our elephants are highly qualified to dump large amounts of s*** everywhere." Watch the video here: × "You're more than welcome to visit Africa's number one s***hole country, known to your president as Nambia," it ends, in reference to another Trump gaffe. The video has become a hit on social media - receiving thousands of views on Facebook and over 200,000 on Youtube. A group of "extremely appalled" African countries earlier demanded that US President Donald Trump retract and apologise for his reported denunciation of immigration from "shithole" nations. However, US President Donald Trump on Friday denied using the word "shithole" to describe Haiti and African countries, but kept up criticism of a Senate immigration plan that he said would force the United States to admit people from countries that "are doing badly."

'You're welcome to visit Africa's number one s***hole country': Namibia mocks Trump

President Donald Trump said on Thursday the US&nbsp;government &ldquo;could very well&rdquo; shut down and that would be very harmful to the military.

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A government shutdown will be devastating to our military...something the Dems care very little about!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/953987636057821184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Already on Thursday, the White House appeared to be downplaying the impact of a possible shutdown, while at the same time preparing to lay blame on Congress if the government shuts down.&nbsp;

Less than an hour before a scheduled House vote on a spending bill Thursday night, Trump tweeted at lawmakers: &quot;Our military needs it!&quot; he wrote.

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House of Representatives needs to pass Government Funding Bill tonight. So important for our country - our Military needs it!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/954136290768846850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The president has consistently claimed that Democrats in Congress actually want a government shutdown, in order to detract attention away from the recently enacted Republican tax cuts.

Trump took to Twitter and wrote: &quot;either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good &quot;shutdown&quot; in September to fix mess!&quot;

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either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good &quot;shutdown&quot; in September to fix mess!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/859393829505552385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&ldquo;If the country shuts down, which could very well be, the budget should be handled a lot different than it has been handled for the last long period of time,&rdquo; Trump said in answer to reporters&rsquo; questions as he arrived for a visit at the Pentagon. &ldquo;If for any reason it shuts down, the worst thing is what happens to our military.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

Already on Thursday, the White House appeared to be downplaying the impact of a possible shutdown, while at the same time preparing to lay blame on Congress if the government shuts down.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday the US government “could very well” shut down and that would be very harmful to the military. A government shutdown will be devastating to our military...something the Dems care very little about! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 × Already on Thursday, the White House appeared to be downplaying the impact of a possible shutdown, while at the same time preparing to lay blame on Congress if the government shuts down. Less than an hour before a scheduled House vote on a spending bill Thursday night, Trump tweeted at lawmakers: "Our military needs it!" he wrote. House of Representatives needs to pass Government Funding Bill tonight. So important for our country - our Military needs it! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 × The president has consistently claimed that Democrats in Congress actually want a government shutdown, in order to detract attention away from the recently enacted Republican tax cuts. Trump took to Twitter and wrote: "either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess!" either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2017 × “If the country shuts down, which could very well be, the budget should be handled a lot different than it has been handled for the last long period of time,” Trump said in answer to reporters’ questions as he arrived for a visit at the Pentagon. “If for any reason it shuts down, the worst thing is what happens to our military.”

Trump says government 'could very well' shut down

President Donald Trump has given it back: this time to members of the media. The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/president-trump-unveils-fake-news-award-takes-dig-at-nyt-cnn-abc-29900" target="_blank">Fake News &ldquo;awards&rdquo;</a> announced by the unstoppable US President have now gone viral. The shoe is on the other foot. But were things between the media and mighty leaders always hunky-dory? Who messed with the press?

From 1933 onwards and right up to the end of World War II, criminal Adolf Hitler succeeded in ending one-party democracy and turning Germany into a one-man dictatorship. And dictators and editors are not exactly a match made in heaven. Hitler&rsquo;s Nazi propaganda ministry took control of all newspapers, magazines, art exhibits, music, movies and radio stations. No public rally or meeting could be held without permission. Disagreeing with Nazi beliefs was verboten. &nbsp;

There is no greater irony that before he turned a fascist, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was a journalist himself. Yet, Mussolini imposed censorship and ruled with an iron fist.

It has happened even in India. &nbsp;In light of her growing unpopularity due to inflation, unemployment and corruption in her government, former prime minister Indira Gandhi pushed the then president to impose an Emergency. Mrs Gandhi assumed draconian powers. The opposition was arrested, civil liberties suspended, the constitution almost tampered with and &ndash; the media gagged. Newspapers left editorial spaces blank in protests, foreign correspondents were thrown out of the country. Many others were detained for organising protests and 7,000 persons were arrested for distributing print matter opposing the emergency. &nbsp;It was lifted in 1977 &ndash; upon Mrs Gandhi&rsquo;s astrologer&rsquo;s advice. There were fresh elections which Mrs Gandhi lost. The Emergency was one of the darkest periods in the history of independent India.

So which are the world&rsquo;s most repressive nations as far as the media is concerned?

According to the 2015 list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the 10 countries where the media continues to be censored by the political leadership are Eritrea, North Korea, China, Ethiopia, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Iran and Myanmar.

Leaders and the lead, rajas and reporters: most rulers cannot resign themselves to the fact that the minute they become public figures and act in the name of those whom they govern, they can and will be attacked. But the media, too, has to learn that without solid research, no story ought to ever make it to the headlines. There&rsquo;s a term for that tendency: yellow journalism.

It's happened in Germany, in Italy, and in India too

President Donald Trump has given it back: this time to members of the media. The Fake News “awards” announced by the unstoppable US President have now gone viral. The shoe is on the other foot. But were things between the media and mighty leaders always hunky-dory? Who messed with the press? From 1933 onwards and right up to the end of World War II, criminal Adolf Hitler succeeded in ending one-party democracy and turning Germany into a one-man dictatorship. And dictators and editors are not exactly a match made in heaven. Hitler’s Nazi propaganda ministry took control of all newspapers, magazines, art exhibits, music, movies and radio stations. No public rally or meeting could be held without permission. Disagreeing with Nazi beliefs was verboten. There is no greater irony that before he turned a fascist, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was a journalist himself. Yet, Mussolini imposed censorship and ruled with an iron fist. It has happened even in India. In light of her growing unpopularity due to inflation, unemployment and corruption in her government, former prime minister Indira Gandhi pushed the then president to impose an Emergency. Mrs Gandhi assumed draconian powers. The opposition was arrested, civil liberties suspended, the constitution almost tampered with and – the media gagged. Newspapers left editorial spaces blank in protests, foreign correspondents were thrown out of the country. Many others were detained for organising protests and 7,000 persons were arrested for distributing print matter opposing the emergency. It was lifted in 1977 – upon Mrs Gandhi’s astrologer’s advice. There were fresh elections which Mrs Gandhi lost. The Emergency was one of the darkest periods in the history of independent India. So which are the world’s most repressive nations as far as the media is concerned? According to the 2015 list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the 10 countries where the media continues to be censored by the political leadership are Eritrea, North Korea, China, Ethiopia, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Iran and Myanmar. Leaders and the lead, rajas and reporters: most rulers cannot resign themselves to the fact that the minute they become public figures and act in the name of those whom they govern, they can and will be attacked. But the media, too, has to learn that without solid research, no story ought to ever make it to the headlines. There’s a term for that tendency: yellow journalism.

Trump's fake news awards: He's not the first to mess with the press

Do not expect<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/president-trump-unveils-fake-news-award-takes-dig-at-nyt-cnn-abc-29900" target="_blank"> US President Donald Trump</a> to hit the gym, despite his doctor&#39;s orders.

He gets plenty of exercise on the golf course and at the White House complex, the president told Reuters on Wednesday.

&quot;I get exercise. I mean I walk, I this, I that,&quot; Trump, 71, said during an Oval Office interview. &quot;I run over to a building next door. I get more exercise than people think.&quot;

Dr Ronny Jackson, the White House physician, said on Tuesday that Trump was in excellent health overall but needed to lose weight, eat better, and break a sweat more often.

The fast-food-loving Trump praised Jackson, who has served as a physician to previous presidents, but seemed wary of taking the not-so-subtle suggestion to use the White House&#39;s exercise facilities.

&quot;A lot of people go to the gym and they&rsquo;ll work out for two hours and all. I&rsquo;ve seen people ... then they get their new knees when they&#39;re 55 years old and they get their new hips and they do all those things. I don&rsquo;t have those problems,&quot; Trump said.

He did say he was open to changing his diet, perhaps with smaller portion sizes on White House meals.

Trump&#39;s predecessors, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican George W. Bush, were fitness enthusiasts, but Trump has no daily workout routine. He gets exercise by playing golf, he said, even though he typically rides around the course in a golf cart.

Walking would leave him on the course longer than he prefers, he said. &quot;I don&rsquo;t want to spend the time.&quot;

Trump is considered overweight and borderline obese at 6 feet 3 inches (1.9 meters) tall and 239 pounds (108 kg).

&quot;Most of us could lose a couple of pounds,&quot; he said, before scanning the Reuters reporters in the room and pronouncing them in &quot;pretty good shape.&quot;

As for his mental acuity, Trump was quick to note his doctor&#39;s pronouncement that he aced a cognitive exam, which he referenced with a dig at predecessors Obama, Bush and Bill Clinton for not doing more to curb threats from North Korea.

&quot;I guess they all realized they&#39;re going to have to leave it to a president that scored the highest on tests. What can I tell you?&quot; he said.

He said he had impressed medical staff with his recent performance on a treadmill, regular workouts or not.

&quot;I was on a treadmill for the first time actually in quite a while, and it was at a very steep angle, and I was there for a very long time,&quot; he said. &quot;They were surprised. And they said, &#39;Well you can stop now, that&rsquo;s amazing.&#39; And I said, &#39;I can go much longer than this if you want me to.&#39;&quot;

Trump said he had dieted successfully before.

&quot;I&#39;ve always been more of a believer in diet &#39;cause I&#39;m strong, you know? I hit the ball far. I mean, I&#39;m strong, physically,&quot; he said.

&quot;The people that do the food at the White House are extraordinary, but I think they can maybe make the portions a little bit smaller and maybe we&#39;ll cut out some of the more fattening ingredients,&quot; he said. &quot;And I&#39;m OK with that.&quot;

He gets plenty of exercise on the golf course and at the White House complex, the president said on Wednesday

Do not expect US President Donald Trump to hit the gym, despite his doctor's orders. He gets plenty of exercise on the golf course and at the White House complex, the president told Reuters on Wednesday. "I get exercise. I mean I walk, I this, I that," Trump, 71, said during an Oval Office interview. "I run over to a building next door. I get more exercise than people think." Dr Ronny Jackson, the White House physician, said on Tuesday that Trump was in excellent health overall but needed to lose weight, eat better, and break a sweat more often. The fast-food-loving Trump praised Jackson, who has served as a physician to previous presidents, but seemed wary of taking the not-so-subtle suggestion to use the White House's exercise facilities. "A lot of people go to the gym and they’ll work out for two hours and all. I’ve seen people ... then they get their new knees when they're 55 years old and they get their new hips and they do all those things. I don’t have those problems," Trump said. He did say he was open to changing his diet, perhaps with smaller portion sizes on White House meals. Trump's predecessors, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican George W. Bush, were fitness enthusiasts, but Trump has no daily workout routine. He gets exercise by playing golf, he said, even though he typically rides around the course in a golf cart. Walking would leave him on the course longer than he prefers, he said. "I don’t want to spend the time." Trump is considered overweight and borderline obese at 6 feet 3 inches (1.9 meters) tall and 239 pounds (108 kg). "Most of us could lose a couple of pounds," he said, before scanning the Reuters reporters in the room and pronouncing them in "pretty good shape." As for his mental acuity, Trump was quick to note his doctor's pronouncement that he aced a cognitive exam, which he referenced with a dig at predecessors Obama, Bush and Bill Clinton for not doing more to curb threats from North Korea. "I guess they all realized they're going to have to leave it to a president that scored the highest on tests. What can I tell you?" he said. He said he had impressed medical staff with his recent performance on a treadmill, regular workouts or not. "I was on a treadmill for the first time actually in quite a while, and it was at a very steep angle, and I was there for a very long time," he said. "They were surprised. And they said, 'Well you can stop now, that’s amazing.' And I said, 'I can go much longer than this if you want me to.'" Trump said he had dieted successfully before. "I've always been more of a believer in diet 'cause I'm strong, you know? I hit the ball far. I mean, I'm strong, physically," he said. "The people that do the food at the White House are extraordinary, but I think they can maybe make the portions a little bit smaller and maybe we'll cut out some of the more fattening ingredients," he said. "And I'm OK with that."

Exercise? I get more than people think, Trump says

&nbsp;

By Peter Finn and Robert Ledger*

Few books on American politics have ever dominated the news cycle like Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff&rsquo;s tell-all book about Donald Trump, his presidential campaign and first year in the White House. In the book itself, as well as in Trump&rsquo;s response: &ldquo;Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book&rdquo;, historians now have an unexpected bounty of material to pick over for years to come.

With Trump himself weighing in so loudly, it&rsquo;s easy to miss the signal in the noise. Without wanting to give too much credence to any potential strategy of the Trump administration, it pays to think about what students of the US presidency can and cannot learn from existing theories on the presidency, when applied to the current office holder &ndash; if nothing else, to help weigh up how the administration&rsquo;s actions might affect Trump&rsquo;s chances of re-election.

For many, the foundational text that tried to theorise the US executive is Richard Neustadt&rsquo;s book Presidential Power and the Modern President, originally published in 1960. Neustadt argued that thanks to the structure of the US government, the power of presidents is measured mainly by their ability to &ldquo;persuade&rdquo; others. According to 1950s commentator Robert Donovan, this feature of the office infuriated the 34th president, veteran General Dwight D. Eisenhower: &ldquo;In the face of the continuing dissonance and disunity, the president sometimes simply exploded with exasperation.&rdquo;

Given the Trump administration has failed to score any significant legislative victories despite holding majorities in both houses of Congress &ndash; aside from a highly controversial and regressive tax bill &ndash; Neustadt&rsquo;s work seems as resonant as ever. And if the Republicans lose control of either or both chambers of Congress in November&rsquo;s midterm elections, Trump will need more than ever to develop his ability to persuade those he disagrees with rather than simply pummelling them.

Reign of the mad man

While the social media broadside is Trump&rsquo;s preferred way to communicate with the American people, that doesn&rsquo;t make him unique; Theodore Roosevelt for one made no secret of his belief that the presidency could be used as a bully pulpit. But historians usually think of Roosevelt as a president who strived to clearly articulate a moral agenda by using what Neustadt called the &ldquo;status and authority inherent in his office&rdquo;. Judging by Fire and Fury and other accounts, it&rsquo;s not clear that Trump is capable of this, or that he even has a vision beyond the nebulous slogan &ldquo;America First&rdquo;.

<figure class="align-left "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/201166/original/file-20180108-83574-jg70kj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>
Arthur Schlesinger Jr. <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arthur_Schlesinger,_Jr._NBC-TV_program_1951.JPG">Wikimedia Commons</a>

Thirteen years after Neustadt&rsquo;s tome was published, Arthur Schlesinger proffered what is still the most famous of all theories on the US executive: The Imperial Presidency. Influenced by the twin nightmares of Watergate and Vietnam, Schlesinger set out a dystopian vision of an office corrupted by war-making powers assigned to presidents by the US Constitution, and identified just how much the judicious (or otherwise) use of the Imperial Presidency depended on the character of its incumbent.
</figcaption>
</figure>

Richard Nixon, for instance, sought to force concessions on his adversaries abroad by invoking the so-called Mad Man Theory &ndash; a strategy to convince his adversaries he was so unpredictable and virulently anti-communist that American power under his watch was a force to be both respected and feared. Perhaps this was the thinking behind Trump&rsquo;s infamous &ldquo;my button is bigger&rdquo; tweet railing at Kim Jong-un on January 2, 2017.

During the 1980s, Ronald Reagan pursued a not-too-dissimilar strategy. At the end of that decade, Coral Bell described the Reagan Paradox: a style that blended aggressive ideological rhetoric designed to cow the Soviet Union and the communist world with a more pragmatic, conciliatory &ldquo;operational policy&rdquo;.

But again, all the work done to make sense of previous presidencies seems of little use today. From what we currently know about the Trump administration, it is difficult to imagine this president or those around him operating with enough self-reflection to frame a rationale, however reckless or dangerous, that can compare with Nixon&rsquo;s or Reagan&rsquo;s.

Stirring them up

For many Trump supporters and what remains of the Tea Party movement, a better point of reference is G. Calvin Mackenzie&rsquo;s 2016 work The Imperiled Presidency. As Mackenzie sees it, the office of the president is by its very nature &ldquo;imperiled&rdquo; because it&rsquo;s too weak and bureaucratically constricted to properly exert influence over a federal government that&rsquo;s too big and out of control.

This condones the familiar idea that Washington is a &ldquo;swamp&rdquo; overrun by lobbyists trying to extract money and special treatment from a corrupt system. Many Trump supporters argue that this is where &ldquo;their&rdquo; president can offer a fresh approach as a political outsider ostensibly accustomed to &ldquo;getting things done&rdquo;.

It may be that Trump can keep mobilising his supporters from the bully pulpit, a Rooseveltian Persuader-in-Chief operating via Twitter. He could also continue to project his rhetoric overseas in ways reminiscent of Nixon or Reagan. But post-Fire and Fury in particular, it seems more likely that future historians will need a new category altogether to make sense of Trump.

As Politico&rsquo;s Jack Shafer noted, Fire and Fury has cemented Trump&rsquo;s reputation &ldquo;as a shallow, narcissistic, dim, post-literate, impulsive, temperamental and doddering buffoon who blusters and lurches from crisis to crisis&rdquo;. Of all Trump&rsquo;s 44 predecessors, none comes close to fitting that description.

Regardless, the furore over Wolff&rsquo;s book will also reinforce many Trump supporters&rsquo; most distinctive view: that the &ldquo;elite&rdquo; is hostile to both the insurgent president and those who voted for him. Perhaps this will make them even more likely to vote for him in 2020 &ndash; providing years of baffling material for future thinkers to try and make sense of.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/fire-and-fury-aside-what-can-you-read-to-understand-trump-89807" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

*Robert Ledger is Visiting Professor, Schiller International University.

&nbsp;

The furore over Wolff’s book will also reinforce many Trump supporters’ most distinctive view: that the “elite” is hostile to both the insurgent president and those who voted for him.

By Peter Finn and Robert Ledger* Few books on American politics have ever dominated the news cycle like Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff’s tell-all book about Donald Trump, his presidential campaign and first year in the White House. In the book itself, as well as in Trump’s response: “Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book”, historians now have an unexpected bounty of material to pick over for years to come. With Trump himself weighing in so loudly, it’s easy to miss the signal in the noise. Without wanting to give too much credence to any potential strategy of the Trump administration, it pays to think about what students of the US presidency can and cannot learn from existing theories on the presidency, when applied to the current office holder – if nothing else, to help weigh up how the administration’s actions might affect Trump’s chances of re-election. For many, the foundational text that tried to theorise the US executive is Richard Neustadt’s book Presidential Power and the Modern President, originally published in 1960. Neustadt argued that thanks to the structure of the US government, the power of presidents is measured mainly by their ability to “persuade” others. According to 1950s commentator Robert Donovan, this feature of the office infuriated the 34th president, veteran General Dwight D. Eisenhower: “In the face of the continuing dissonance and disunity, the president sometimes simply exploded with exasperation.” Given the Trump administration has failed to score any significant legislative victories despite holding majorities in both houses of Congress – aside from a highly controversial and regressive tax bill – Neustadt’s work seems as resonant as ever. And if the Republicans lose control of either or both chambers of Congress in November’s midterm elections, Trump will need more than ever to develop his ability to persuade those he disagrees with rather than simply pummelling them. Reign of the mad man While the social media broadside is Trump’s preferred way to communicate with the American people, that doesn’t make him unique; Theodore Roosevelt for one made no secret of his belief that the presidency could be used as a bully pulpit. But historians usually think of Roosevelt as a president who strived to clearly articulate a moral agenda by using what Neustadt called the “status and authority inherent in his office”. Judging by Fire and Fury and other accounts, it’s not clear that Trump is capable of this, or that he even has a vision beyond the nebulous slogan “America First”. Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Wikimedia Commons Thirteen years after Neustadt’s tome was published, Arthur Schlesinger proffered what is still the most famous of all theories on the US executive: The Imperial Presidency. Influenced by the twin nightmares of Watergate and Vietnam, Schlesinger set out a dystopian vision of an office corrupted by war-making powers assigned to presidents by the US Constitution, and identified just how much the judicious (or otherwise) use of the Imperial Presidency depended on the character of its incumbent. Richard Nixon, for instance, sought to force concessions on his adversaries abroad by invoking the so-called Mad Man Theory – a strategy to convince his adversaries he was so unpredictable and virulently anti-communist that American power under his watch was a force to be both respected and feared. Perhaps this was the thinking behind Trump’s infamous “my button is bigger” tweet railing at Kim Jong-un on January 2, 2017. During the 1980s, Ronald Reagan pursued a not-too-dissimilar strategy. At the end of that decade, Coral Bell described the Reagan Paradox: a style that blended aggressive ideological rhetoric designed to cow the Soviet Union and the communist world with a more pragmatic, conciliatory “operational policy”. But again, all the work done to make sense of previous presidencies seems of little use today. From what we currently know about the Trump administration, it is difficult to imagine this president or those around him operating with enough self-reflection to frame a rationale, however reckless or dangerous, that can compare with Nixon’s or Reagan’s. Stirring them up For many Trump supporters and what remains of the Tea Party movement, a better point of reference is G. Calvin Mackenzie’s 2016 work The Imperiled Presidency. As Mackenzie sees it, the office of the president is by its very nature “imperiled” because it’s too weak and bureaucratically constricted to properly exert influence over a federal government that’s too big and out of control. This condones the familiar idea that Washington is a “swamp” overrun by lobbyists trying to extract money and special treatment from a corrupt system. Many Trump supporters argue that this is where “their” president can offer a fresh approach as a political outsider ostensibly accustomed to “getting things done”. It may be that Trump can keep mobilising his supporters from the bully pulpit, a Rooseveltian Persuader-in-Chief operating via Twitter. He could also continue to project his rhetoric overseas in ways reminiscent of Nixon or Reagan. But post-Fire and Fury in particular, it seems more likely that future historians will need a new category altogether to make sense of Trump. As Politico’s Jack Shafer noted, Fire and Fury has cemented Trump’s reputation “as a shallow, narcissistic, dim, post-literate, impulsive, temperamental and doddering buffoon who blusters and lurches from crisis to crisis”. Of all Trump’s 44 predecessors, none comes close to fitting that description. Regardless, the furore over Wolff’s book will also reinforce many Trump supporters’ most distinctive view: that the “elite” is hostile to both the insurgent president and those who voted for him. Perhaps this will make them even more likely to vote for him in 2020 – providing years of baffling material for future thinkers to try and make sense of. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. *Robert Ledger is Visiting Professor, Schiller International University.

Opinion: Fire and Fury and other books to understand Trump

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