President Donald Trump will come good on election promises and shift the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city of Jerusalem. This is music to Israeli ears.&nbsp;

But Washington&rsquo;s European allies and the Islamic Middle East have condemned the move. Islamist groups around the world have asked people to take to the streets for a &#39;day of rage&#39;, travel advisories are being issued thick and fast. &nbsp;What is the unpredictable Mr Trump up to?

But WION got it right, hours before the President&rsquo;s speech. WION&rsquo;s senior Foreign Editor Padma Rao Sundarji analyses the least reported and most important part of the president&rsquo;s announcement.

Le shanah haba be Yerushalayim: Next year in Jerusalem.&nbsp;

That&rsquo;s what devout Jews have chanted for thousands of years at the end of Passover and Yom Kippur, two solemn Jewish holidays and continue to, in the Jewish state of Israel today.

But US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is a man in a hurry: he wants to shift the American embassy to Jerusalem. And, as the Americans say, he wants to do that not next year but &lsquo;asap.&rsquo;

Israel considers the ancient city of Jerusalem its capital; its parliament, the Knesset, is situated there, all official business is conducted in the city holy to three of the world&rsquo;s oldest faiths.

But Jerusalem is a divided city. &nbsp;Known as Al-Quds in Arabic, the section holiest to all Muslims falls in East Jerusalem: for it is here, from the Dome of the Rock, that the Prophet Mohammed is said to have ascended to the heavens on a white steed. &nbsp;

Consequently, the Palestinians have always claimed East Jerusalem as their real capital in vain and &ndash; the status of the city remains globally disputed. So what is Mr Trump trying to achieve by his announcement?

American analysts say that it is absurd to imagine that a shift of the American embassy will help solve the Middle East&rsquo;s longstanding conflict.&nbsp;

There is an American consulate in Jerusalem. If President Trump were really in a hurry, he only need change the nameplate on that building, they point out. Further, it&rsquo;s been nearly seventy years since the first US&nbsp;ambassador presented his credentials to Israel&rsquo;s government and promises to broker peace have been since made by one envoy after another.

Yet, peace between the Palestinians and Israelis remains a distant dream.

Hours ahead of Mr Trump&rsquo;s announcement last night, WION had reasoned that moving the embassy will not mean that the United States, through the move, recognizes Israel&rsquo;s claim that all of Jerusalem - both its Palestinian-dominated Eastern and Jewish Western sectors - is sovereign Israel territory. &nbsp;

And a section of Mr Trump&rsquo;s announcement that went largely unnoticed in the frenetic media coverage that followed it across the world, proved WION&rsquo;s prophecy right.

&ldquo;In making these announcements, I also want to make one point very clear,&rdquo; said Mr Trump, with a dramatic pause and deliberate emphasis.

&ldquo;This decision is not intended in any way to reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement. We want an agreement that is a great deal for the Israelis and a great deal for the Palestinians. We are not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved. The United States remains deeply committed to helping facilitate a peace agreement that is acceptable to both sides. I intend to do everything in my power to help forge such an agreement.&rdquo; 
&nbsp; 
Mr Trump could have easily glossed over territorial issues between Israel and Palestine without mentioning Jerusalem. Instead, he mentioned the city&rsquo;s divided status not once, but twice.

 
&ldquo;Without question, Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues in those talks,&rdquo; he continued.

&ldquo;The United States would support a two-state solution if agreed to by both sides.&rdquo; 
&nbsp; 
The American president also asked for the status quo at Jerusalem&rsquo;s Muslim and Jewish holy sites both on the Dome of the Rock to remain the same for now. &nbsp;This effectively opens a window of opportunity for the Palestinians to achieve what is core to their demand: East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. &nbsp;

Finally: by &#39;leaving&#39; the resolution of Jerusalem&rsquo;s disputed status to the Israelis and Palestinians and welcoming the Two-States solution in the same -magnanimous -breath, &nbsp;the US President is also keeping an avenue open for the United States &ndash; speak, for the garrulous Mr Trump himself &ndash; to squeeze his large frame into the centre of that photo-op, if and when that happens.

But will it? Will both the Israelis and Palestinians see it as a now-or-never chance to settle their issues once and for all ? &nbsp; That&rsquo;s a question as eternal as the city of Jerusalem. But this time, the outlook seems positive. &nbsp;

 
Over a span of nearly thirty years, the Palestinians have gone from accepting no Jewish state to living as neighbors with one, from daily disturbances to a slightly less turbulent existence.Fundamentalist Palestinian organization, Hamas, is in the process of shedding its rebel clothing, demilitarizing and acquiring mainstream respectability.

And be it militant nationalists or moderate Palestinians, East Jerusalem has always been the emotional core of their demand. &nbsp;

There&#39;s another point worth noting in the President&#39;s announcement. Through his slowly and deliberately enunciated passage on the disputed status of the entire city of Jerusalem side-by-side with his recognition of Jerusalem (with &lsquo;West&rsquo; remaining the unsaid word), Mr Trump has subtly positioned himself on the same side as his allies like France and Germany who have criticized the move.

After all, there&rsquo;s hardly a country in the world with full diplomatic and trade relations with Israel that has not long &lsquo;recognized&rsquo; Israel&rsquo;s sovereignty over West Jerusalem. Otherwise, the Israel government&rsquo;s mere operation out of West Jerusalem would long emerged as a key bone of contention in every international forum. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Will there be a Muslim backlash to Mr Trump&rsquo;s announcement in the Middle East?

Elsewhere in the Middle East, governments have slammed the American president. Yet, most will likely spot that slightly-opened window and keep up protests -but under temperature control - as a key negotiating tool. &nbsp;

 
And what about Islamist terror groups? They&rsquo;ve been on decades-long killing sprees against the &ldquo;Satanic&rdquo;, US-led western bloc&rsquo;s global war against terror and it&rsquo;s been quite a while since any of them mentioned Jerusalem.

To them, this announcement will make little difference. They will merely add the Zionist Enemy to the Satanic West - and the killings and lone wolf attacks will continue. And they, too, may be temperature-controlled by Saudi Arabia, the country said to be the fountainhead for all Waha&rsquo;bi terrorism.

Sunni Saudi Arabia and Jewish Israel have no diplomatic relations. As home to the holiest sites of Islam itself, Saudi Arabia must officially support the Palestinian demand for East Jerusalem &ndash; the home of the Al-Aqsa mosque - of course.

As expected, &nbsp;Riyadh offered sharp and immediate condemnation of President Trump&rsquo;s announcement. &nbsp;But, there&rsquo;s a twist.

Israel and Saudi Arabia have been making overtures towards each other for years. And though for different reasons, Israel and Sunni Saudi Arabia have a common bogeyman: Shia Iran. &nbsp;

There&rsquo;s an old saying that may well have originated in the stormy sands: &quot;my enemy&rsquo;s enemy is my best friend.&#39;&#39; It would surprise no one if Riyadh &lsquo;informed&rsquo; Jerusalem, before slamming President Trump in public.

And as over the past seventy years with fledgling friendships that later developed into full-blown relationships (see India), the Israelis must have nodded in understanding.

 
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dSjRmUrmloI" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WION?s accurate prediction ahead of President Trump?s speech

President Donald Trump will come good on election promises and shift the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city of Jerusalem. This is music to Israeli ears. But Washington’s European allies and the Islamic Middle East have condemned the move. Islamist groups around the world have asked people to take to the streets for a 'day of rage', travel advisories are being issued thick and fast. What is the unpredictable Mr Trump up to? But WION got it right, hours before the President’s speech. WION’s senior Foreign Editor Padma Rao Sundarji analyses the least reported and most important part of the president’s announcement. Le shanah haba be Yerushalayim: Next year in Jerusalem. That’s what devout Jews have chanted for thousands of years at the end of Passover and Yom Kippur, two solemn Jewish holidays and continue to, in the Jewish state of Israel today. But US President Donald Trump is a man in a hurry: he wants to shift the American embassy to Jerusalem. And, as the Americans say, he wants to do that not next year but ‘asap.’ Israel considers the ancient city of Jerusalem its capital; its parliament, the Knesset, is situated there, all official business is conducted in the city holy to three of the world’s oldest faiths. But Jerusalem is a divided city. Known as Al-Quds in Arabic, the section holiest to all Muslims falls in East Jerusalem: for it is here, from the Dome of the Rock, that the Prophet Mohammed is said to have ascended to the heavens on a white steed. Consequently, the Palestinians have always claimed East Jerusalem as their real capital in vain and – the status of the city remains globally disputed. So what is Mr Trump trying to achieve by his announcement? American analysts say that it is absurd to imagine that a shift of the American embassy will help solve the Middle East’s longstanding conflict. There is an American consulate in Jerusalem. If President Trump were really in a hurry, he only need change the nameplate on that building, they point out. Further, it’s been nearly seventy years since the first US ambassador presented his credentials to Israel’s government and promises to broker peace have been since made by one envoy after another. Yet, peace between the Palestinians and Israelis remains a distant dream. Hours ahead of Mr Trump’s announcement last night, WION had reasoned that moving the embassy will not mean that the United States, through the move, recognizes Israel’s claim that all of Jerusalem - both its Palestinian-dominated Eastern and Jewish Western sectors - is sovereign Israel territory. And a section of Mr Trump’s announcement that went largely unnoticed in the frenetic media coverage that followed it across the world, proved WION’s prophecy right. “In making these announcements, I also want to make one point very clear,” said Mr Trump, with a dramatic pause and deliberate emphasis. “This decision is not intended in any way to reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement. We want an agreement that is a great deal for the Israelis and a great deal for the Palestinians. We are not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved. The United States remains deeply committed to helping facilitate a peace agreement that is acceptable to both sides. I intend to do everything in my power to help forge such an agreement.” Mr Trump could have easily glossed over territorial issues between Israel and Palestine without mentioning Jerusalem. Instead, he mentioned the city’s divided status not once, but twice. “Without question, Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues in those talks,” he continued. “The United States would support a two-state solution if agreed to by both sides.” The American president also asked for the status quo at Jerusalem’s Muslim and Jewish holy sites both on the Dome of the Rock to remain the same for now. This effectively opens a window of opportunity for the Palestinians to achieve what is core to their demand: East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. Finally: by 'leaving' the resolution of Jerusalem’s disputed status to the Israelis and Palestinians and welcoming the Two-States solution in the same -magnanimous -breath, the US President is also keeping an avenue open for the United States – speak, for the garrulous Mr Trump himself – to squeeze his large frame into the centre of that photo-op, if and when that happens. But will it? Will both the Israelis and Palestinians see it as a now-or-never chance to settle their issues once and for all ? That’s a question as eternal as the city of Jerusalem. But this time, the outlook seems positive. Over a span of nearly thirty years, the Palestinians have gone from accepting no Jewish state to living as neighbors with one, from daily disturbances to a slightly less turbulent existence.Fundamentalist Palestinian organization, Hamas, is in the process of shedding its rebel clothing, demilitarizing and acquiring mainstream respectability. And be it militant nationalists or moderate Palestinians, East Jerusalem has always been the emotional core of their demand. There's another point worth noting in the President's announcement. Through his slowly and deliberately enunciated passage on the disputed status of the entire city of Jerusalem side-by-side with his recognition of Jerusalem (with ‘West’ remaining the unsaid word), Mr Trump has subtly positioned himself on the same side as his allies like France and Germany who have criticized the move. After all, there’s hardly a country in the world with full diplomatic and trade relations with Israel that has not long ‘recognized’ Israel’s sovereignty over West Jerusalem. Otherwise, the Israel government’s mere operation out of West Jerusalem would long emerged as a key bone of contention in every international forum. Will there be a Muslim backlash to Mr Trump’s announcement in the Middle East? Elsewhere in the Middle East, governments have slammed the American president. Yet, most will likely spot that slightly-opened window and keep up protests -but under temperature control - as a key negotiating tool. And what about Islamist terror groups? They’ve been on decades-long killing sprees against the “Satanic”, US-led western bloc’s global war against terror and it’s been quite a while since any of them mentioned Jerusalem. To them, this announcement will make little difference. They will merely add the Zionist Enemy to the Satanic West - and the killings and lone wolf attacks will continue. And they, too, may be temperature-controlled by Saudi Arabia, the country said to be the fountainhead for all Waha’bi terrorism. Sunni Saudi Arabia and Jewish Israel have no diplomatic relations. As home to the holiest sites of Islam itself, Saudi Arabia must officially support the Palestinian demand for East Jerusalem – the home of the Al-Aqsa mosque - of course. As expected, Riyadh offered sharp and immediate condemnation of President Trump’s announcement. But, there’s a twist. Israel and Saudi Arabia have been making overtures towards each other for years. And though for different reasons, Israel and Sunni Saudi Arabia have a common bogeyman: Shia Iran. There’s an old saying that may well have originated in the stormy sands: "my enemy’s enemy is my best friend.'' It would surprise no one if Riyadh ‘informed’ Jerusalem, before slamming President Trump in public. And as over the past seventy years with fledgling friendships that later developed into full-blown relationships (see India), the Israelis must have nodded in understanding.

In four years in Jerusalem...

&nbsp;

By&nbsp;Spyros Sofos&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Vittorio Felci*

Donald Trump&rsquo;s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and start preparations for the US to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city, has the potential to further inflame tensions across the Middle East.

Although this is not an unexpected move &ndash; Trump expressed his intention to do so during his electoral campaign &ndash; the decision breaks with years of precedent.

Trump&rsquo;s decision to move the embassy means he will not follow his predecessors by renewing a waiver on the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which required the embassy to eventually be moved from Tel Aviv.

Since then, there has been a cross-party consensus in the US that any act which recognises the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel and its designation as the country&rsquo;s capital would affect the fragile balance of power in the Middle East &ndash; and the ability of the US to promote its interests in the region. US diplomats have sought to tread carefully on this issue in one of the world&rsquo;s most treacherous political landscapes.

The Palestinian leadership condemned the move before Trump spoke, as did leaders from the Arab world and beyond. The announcement of the embassy move is likely to cause a wave of resentment among Palestinians in the occupied territories and the city itself, especially after two decades of stalemate in the peace process and deteriorating conditions throughout the Palestinian territories. Ahead of the speech, US citizens and government employees were told to avoid Jerusalem&rsquo;s Old City and the West Bank until further notice.

Central to the peace process

Jerusalem is not just a city of historical importance to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, but also a site key to both Israeli and Palestinian identity. Add to this the centrality of the status of Jerusalem in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often described as one of the world&rsquo;s most intractable disputes, and it&rsquo;s clear why the decision to move the US embassy there has been described as tantamount to political arson.

At the political level, most Israelis and Palestinians insist that Jerusalem must be the capital of their states, present and future, and that this is non-negotiable. This is why the final status of Jerusalem was deemed to be one of the thorniest issues in the Oslo peace process in the 1990s. It was envisaged to be circumnavigated, dealt with only at the stage of &ldquo;permanent status negotiations&rdquo;, once all other issues between the state of Israel and the Palestinians were resolved.

As there has not been any progress in less important, yet substantive issues since Oslo, the issue of Jerusalem has acquired a symbolic importance among Palestinians.

Jerusalem is a city dense in symbolism in the Palestinian national imagination. Particularly so as other, more material anchors of identity such as territory, governance and self-determination are continually being eroded by the harsh realities of Israeli occupation, the blockade of Gaza and deteriorating cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

The response to Trump&rsquo;s announcement by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and most of his government was muted. But its symbolic value among nationalist circles in Israel, and also among many ordinary Israelis, should not be underestimated.

The Israeli government has been active in strengthening Israeli claims to the entire city since its annexation in 1980. Settlement building around Jerusalem has aimed to ring-fence the city and integrate it more into Israel. Meanwhile, there were building restrictions in East Jerusalem, and a series of restrictions to Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa mosque, built on the remnants of the last Jewish Temple. Both sets of restrictions were lifted.

Equally important in terms of symbolic politics has been Israel&rsquo;s archaeological intervention around Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as an attempt to strengthen Israel&rsquo;s historical connection with the city.

Wider significance

Trump&rsquo;s decision seems oblivious to the fragility of coexistence in the city between its Israeli and Palestinian inhabitants. It also ignores the significance of Jerusalem in Palestinian national identity and national aspirations, and the devastating impact on the future of a moribund peace process.

It has the potential of not only affecting the political ecology of a place where history is a matter of life and death, but could also cause a ripple effect much further afield. It can destabilise a Palestinian authority already deprived of legitimacy and an array of fragile Arab regimes. And it is likely to accentuate the enmity between Israel and Iran. Iran perceives such a move as a &ldquo;violation of Islamic sanctities&rdquo; and, together with Trump&rsquo;s revitalised alliance with Saudi Arabia, a clear sign of the US president&rsquo;s anti-Iranian stance.

Last but not least, it could further stoke the flames of anti-Western Islamic movements in the Muslim world and the West alike, which have always put Jerusalem and the Palestinian issue in a central position.

&nbsp;

*Vittorio Felci is Researcher, Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University

&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/what-trumps-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-the-capital-of-israel-means-for-the-middle-east-88722" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

<section>&nbsp;</section>

<h1>&nbsp;</h1>

It has the potential of not only affecting the political ecology of a place where history is a matter of life and death, but could also cause a ripple effect much further afield.

By Spyros Sofos & Vittorio Felci* Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and start preparations for the US to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city, has the potential to further inflame tensions across the Middle East. Although this is not an unexpected move – Trump expressed his intention to do so during his electoral campaign – the decision breaks with years of precedent. Trump’s decision to move the embassy means he will not follow his predecessors by renewing a waiver on the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which required the embassy to eventually be moved from Tel Aviv. Since then, there has been a cross-party consensus in the US that any act which recognises the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel and its designation as the country’s capital would affect the fragile balance of power in the Middle East – and the ability of the US to promote its interests in the region. US diplomats have sought to tread carefully on this issue in one of the world’s most treacherous political landscapes. The Palestinian leadership condemned the move before Trump spoke, as did leaders from the Arab world and beyond. The announcement of the embassy move is likely to cause a wave of resentment among Palestinians in the occupied territories and the city itself, especially after two decades of stalemate in the peace process and deteriorating conditions throughout the Palestinian territories. Ahead of the speech, US citizens and government employees were told to avoid Jerusalem’s Old City and the West Bank until further notice. Central to the peace process Jerusalem is not just a city of historical importance to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, but also a site key to both Israeli and Palestinian identity. Add to this the centrality of the status of Jerusalem in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often described as one of the world’s most intractable disputes, and it’s clear why the decision to move the US embassy there has been described as tantamount to political arson. At the political level, most Israelis and Palestinians insist that Jerusalem must be the capital of their states, present and future, and that this is non-negotiable. This is why the final status of Jerusalem was deemed to be one of the thorniest issues in the Oslo peace process in the 1990s. It was envisaged to be circumnavigated, dealt with only at the stage of “permanent status negotiations”, once all other issues between the state of Israel and the Palestinians were resolved. As there has not been any progress in less important, yet substantive issues since Oslo, the issue of Jerusalem has acquired a symbolic importance among Palestinians. Jerusalem is a city dense in symbolism in the Palestinian national imagination. Particularly so as other, more material anchors of identity such as territory, governance and self-determination are continually being eroded by the harsh realities of Israeli occupation, the blockade of Gaza and deteriorating cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian authorities. The response to Trump’s announcement by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and most of his government was muted. But its symbolic value among nationalist circles in Israel, and also among many ordinary Israelis, should not be underestimated. The Israeli government has been active in strengthening Israeli claims to the entire city since its annexation in 1980. Settlement building around Jerusalem has aimed to ring-fence the city and integrate it more into Israel. Meanwhile, there were building restrictions in East Jerusalem, and a series of restrictions to Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa mosque, built on the remnants of the last Jewish Temple. Both sets of restrictions were lifted. Equally important in terms of symbolic politics has been Israel’s archaeological intervention around Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as an attempt to strengthen Israel’s historical connection with the city. Wider significance Trump’s decision seems oblivious to the fragility of coexistence in the city between its Israeli and Palestinian inhabitants. It also ignores the significance of Jerusalem in Palestinian national identity and national aspirations, and the devastating impact on the future of a moribund peace process. It has the potential of not only affecting the political ecology of a place where history is a matter of life and death, but could also cause a ripple effect much further afield. It can destabilise a Palestinian authority already deprived of legitimacy and an array of fragile Arab regimes. And it is likely to accentuate the enmity between Israel and Iran. Iran perceives such a move as a “violation of Islamic sanctities” and, together with Trump’s revitalised alliance with Saudi Arabia, a clear sign of the US president’s anti-Iranian stance. Last but not least, it could further stoke the flames of anti-Western Islamic movements in the Muslim world and the West alike, which have always put Jerusalem and the Palestinian issue in a central position. *Vittorio Felci is Researcher, Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Trump recognised Jerusalem. How will it impact Middle East

Pakistan today joined the international chorus against US decision to name Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

Trump in a speech in the White House said today that it is &quot;time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel&quot;, adding that &quot;new approach&quot; was needed to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said he deeply regretted that pleas from states across the globe not to alter the &quot;legal and historical status&quot; of Al Quds Al Sharif have been ignored.

&quot;This decision represents a serious violation of international law and applicable UN Security Council resolutions, particularly the UNSCR 478,&quot; Pakistan PM said in a statement.

&quot;It is a serious setback to the rule of law and international norms. It signals a severe blow to the Middle East peace process as well,&quot;&nbsp;the statement added.

Trump&#39;s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital created a firestorm in the Middle East, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Trump&#39;s decision was &quot;deplorable and unacceptable&quot;.

On the other hand, &nbsp;Israel&#39;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a &quot;courageous and just decision.&quot;

On Tuesday, Trump in a meeting with cabinet ministers at the White House had said the decision was &quot;long overdue&quot;.&nbsp;

America&#39;s NATO allies Britain and France called Trump&#39;s decision &quot;unhelpful&quot; and &quot;regrettable&quot;.

Germany said it &quot;does not support&quot; Trump&#39;s decision.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Trump&#39;s decision puts the region in a &quot;ring of fire&quot;.

Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Trump's decision signals a severe blow to the Middle East peace process

Pakistan today joined the international chorus against US decision to name Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump in a speech in the White House said today that it is "time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel", adding that "new approach" was needed to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said he deeply regretted that pleas from states across the globe not to alter the "legal and historical status" of Al Quds Al Sharif have been ignored. "This decision represents a serious violation of international law and applicable UN Security Council resolutions, particularly the UNSCR 478," Pakistan PM said in a statement. "It is a serious setback to the rule of law and international norms. It signals a severe blow to the Middle East peace process as well," the statement added. Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital created a firestorm in the Middle East, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Trump's decision was "deplorable and unacceptable". On the other hand, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "courageous and just decision." On Tuesday, Trump in a meeting with cabinet ministers at the White House had said the decision was "long overdue". America's NATO allies Britain and France called Trump's decision "unhelpful" and "regrettable". Germany said it "does not support" Trump's decision. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Trump's decision puts the region in a "ring of fire".

Jerusalem status: US decision a serious violation of international law, says Pak PM Abbasi

PM Justin Trudeau said<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-after-trumps-jerusalem-announcement-palestinians-clash-with-israeli-forces-in-west-bank-26156"> today Canada won&#39;t be moving its embassy</a> from Tel Aviv even as US President Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

&quot;We will not be moving Canada&#39;s embassy from Tel Aviv,&quot; Trudeau said.

Israeli PM Benjamin<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-now-palestinians-bring-down-trumps-mural-in-bethlehem-26148"> Netanyahu said many would </a>follow the United States, adding that contacts were underway, Reuters reported. However, he did not name the countries.

&quot;President Trump has immortalized himself in the chronicles of our capital. His name will now be held aloft, alongside other names connected to the glorious history of Jerusalem and of our people,&quot; Netanyahu said.

The United Nations Security Council is likely to meet on Friday to discuss the US decision as most countries including US allies Britain, France and Germany spoke out against US move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital&nbsp;of Israel.

The EU&#39;s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said: &quot;The European Union has a clear and united position. We believe the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on two states and with Jerusalem as the capital of both.&quot;

Protests broke out in Amman in areas inhabited by Palestinian refugees, Istanbul too witnessed protests by Palestinians as several gathered the US consulate.

Hamas urged Palestinians on Thursday to abandon peace efforts and launch a new uprising against Israel in response to US President.

&quot;We should call for and we should work on launching an intifada in the face of the Zionist enemy,&quot; Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech in Gaza.

He said Palestinians, Muslims and Arabs should hold rallies against the US decision on Friday, calling it a &quot;day of rage&quot;.&nbsp;

The United Nations Security Council is likely to meet on Friday to discuss the US decision as most countries including Britain, France and Germany spoke out against US move

PM Justin Trudeau said today Canada won't be moving its embassy from Tel Aviv even as US President Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "We will not be moving Canada's embassy from Tel Aviv," Trudeau said. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said many would follow the United States, adding that contacts were underway, Reuters reported. However, he did not name the countries. "President Trump has immortalized himself in the chronicles of our capital. His name will now be held aloft, alongside other names connected to the glorious history of Jerusalem and of our people," Netanyahu said. The United Nations Security Council is likely to meet on Friday to discuss the US decision as most countries including US allies Britain, France and Germany spoke out against US move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said: "The European Union has a clear and united position. We believe the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on two states and with Jerusalem as the capital of both." Protests broke out in Amman in areas inhabited by Palestinian refugees, Istanbul too witnessed protests by Palestinians as several gathered the US consulate. Hamas urged Palestinians on Thursday to abandon peace efforts and launch a new uprising against Israel in response to US President. "We should call for and we should work on launching an intifada in the face of the Zionist enemy," Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech in Gaza. He said Palestinians, Muslims and Arabs should hold rallies against the US decision on Friday, calling it a "day of rage".

Jerusalem as Israel's capital: Several nations would follow US decision, says PM Netanyahu

President Donald Trump recognised the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital Wednesday, prompting an almost universal diplomatic backlash and fears of new bloodshed in the Middle East.

Trump&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/decision-on-jerusalem-long-overdue-trump-26070">defiant move</a>, making good on a core campaign pledge, ended seven decades of US ambiguity on the status of the Holy City, which is vociferously claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.

America&#39;s leader appeared further isolated, as allies and foes alike denounced his decision and Palestinians questioned whether their dream of statehood, as part of a peace deal brokered by Washington, was still possible.&nbsp;

But the US president claimed this marked the start of a &quot;new approach&quot; to solving the thorny Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Also Read -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-to-meet-friday-on-jerusalem-diplomats-26073">UN Security Council to meet Friday on Jerusalem: Diplomats</a>)

&quot;Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital,&quot; Trump said in a speech given from the White House.

&quot;It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,&quot; he said, urging calm and &quot;the voices of tolerance to prevail over the purveyors of hate.&quot;&nbsp;(Also Read - <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-trump-is-wrong-israel-alone-cant-claim-jerusalem-26037">Opinion: Trump is wrong; Israel alone can&#39;t claim Jerusalem</a>)

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<div class="media-description">
US President Donald Trump delivers a statement on Jerusalem from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington as US Vice President Mike Pence looks on. (AFP)
</div>
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;&#39;Courageous&#39; or &#39;deplorable&#39;? 
 
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Trump&#39;s &quot;deplorable and unacceptable&quot; move signified America&#39;s withdrawal as a sponsor of the peace process.

Hamas -- the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip -- warned that Trump had opened &quot;the gates of hell on US interests in the region.&quot;

And although welcomed by Israel&#39;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a &quot;courageous and just decision,&quot; Trump&#39;s move left many angry US allies struggling to find a measured response -- and hoping that the tinderbox region is not destined for yet another round of bloodletting.

Through gritted teeth, Britain described the move as &quot;unhelpful&quot; and France called it &quot;regrettable.&quot; Germany said plainly that it &quot;does not support&quot; Trump&#39;s decision.

Eight countries including Britain, France and Italy pressed for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the move, which was set for Friday.

The leaders of Muslim nations meanwhile deployed ever-harsher rhetoric to describe Trump&#39;s decision.

Turkey and Iran -- both vying for regional influence -- tried to give voice to the anger felt by many across the Muslim world.

Turkey called the decision &quot;irresponsible&quot; and illegal. Iran said it would &quot;provoke Muslims and inflame a new intifada.&quot;

Diplomatic fallout 
 
Trump also kicked off the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In doing so, he begins to make good on a campaign promise dear to evangelical Christian and right-wing Jewish voters -- as well as donors.

Trump&#39;s predecessors -- from Bill Clinton to George Bush -- had made the same promise, but quickly reneged upon taking office and assuming responsibility for war and peace.

The 45th US president was determined to show his arrival in Washington spells the end of business as usual, suggesting his predecessors failed to act though lack of &quot;courage.&quot;

Moving the embassy will probably take years to implement, but the repercussions of Trump&#39;s decision preceded even his announcement.

Hundreds of Palestinians burned US and Israeli flags as well as pictures of Trump in the Gaza Strip, while relatively small clashes erupted near the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron.

The Palestine Liberation Organization announced a strike across the West Bank Thursday, while Hamas called for a &quot;day of rage&quot; on Friday. &nbsp;

US government officials and their families were ordered to avoid Jerusalem&#39;s Old City and the West Bank, though the situation remained largely calm up until Trump&#39;s address.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on a visit to Germany, said the United States had &quot;implemented robust security plans to protect the safety of Americans in affected regions.&quot;&nbsp;

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the main pan-Islamic body, in Istanbul next week to display joint action over Jerusalem.

Jordan and the Palestinians also requested an emergency meeting of the Arab League.

Peace still possible, US says

Most of the international community does not formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, insisting the issue can only be resolved in negotiations -- a point reiterated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the wake of Trump&#39;s decision.

Guterres implicitly criticized Trump, stressing his opposition to &quot;any unilateral measures that would jeopardize the prospect of peace.&quot;

Trump insisted the move did not prejudge final talks, saying it simply reflected the reality that west Jerusalem is and will continue to be part of Israel under any settlement.

&quot;This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;Peace is never beyond the grasp of those willing to reach it,&quot; said the US leader, who declared that &quot;this decision is not intended in any way to reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace.&quot;

&quot;The United States would support a two-state solution if agreed to by both sides,&quot; Trump said, as he announced that Vice President Mike Pence would travel to the region in the coming days.

Trump further stated that the United States was not taking a position on any &quot;final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested borders.&quot;

&quot;Those questions are up to the parties involved,&quot; he said.

Israel seized the largely Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, claiming both sides of the city as its capital.

The Palestinians want the eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

Several peace plans have unravelled in the past decades over the issue of how to divide sovereignty or oversee holy sites in Jerusalem.

America's leader appeared further isolated, as allies and foes alike denounced his decision and Palestinians questioned whether their dream of statehood, as part of a peace deal brokered by Washington, was still possible

President Donald Trump recognised the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital Wednesday, prompting an almost universal diplomatic backlash and fears of new bloodshed in the Middle East. Trump's defiant move, making good on a core campaign pledge, ended seven decades of US ambiguity on the status of the Holy City, which is vociferously claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. America's leader appeared further isolated, as allies and foes alike denounced his decision and Palestinians questioned whether their dream of statehood, as part of a peace deal brokered by Washington, was still possible. But the US president claimed this marked the start of a "new approach" to solving the thorny Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Also Read - UN Security Council to meet Friday on Jerusalem: Diplomats) "Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital," Trump said in a speech given from the White House. "It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," he said, urging calm and "the voices of tolerance to prevail over the purveyors of hate." (Also Read - Opinion: Trump is wrong; Israel alone can't claim Jerusalem) US President Donald Trump delivers a statement on Jerusalem from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington as US Vice President Mike Pence looks on. (AFP) × 'Courageous' or 'deplorable'? Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Trump's "deplorable and unacceptable" move signified America's withdrawal as a sponsor of the peace process. Hamas -- the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip -- warned that Trump had opened "the gates of hell on US interests in the region." And although welcomed by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "courageous and just decision," Trump's move left many angry US allies struggling to find a measured response -- and hoping that the tinderbox region is not destined for yet another round of bloodletting. Through gritted teeth, Britain described the move as "unhelpful" and France called it "regrettable." Germany said plainly that it "does not support" Trump's decision. Eight countries including Britain, France and Italy pressed for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the move, which was set for Friday. The leaders of Muslim nations meanwhile deployed ever-harsher rhetoric to describe Trump's decision. Turkey and Iran -- both vying for regional influence -- tried to give voice to the anger felt by many across the Muslim world. Turkey called the decision "irresponsible" and illegal. Iran said it would "provoke Muslims and inflame a new intifada." Diplomatic fallout Trump also kicked off the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In doing so, he begins to make good on a campaign promise dear to evangelical Christian and right-wing Jewish voters -- as well as donors. Trump's predecessors -- from Bill Clinton to George Bush -- had made the same promise, but quickly reneged upon taking office and assuming responsibility for war and peace. The 45th US president was determined to show his arrival in Washington spells the end of business as usual, suggesting his predecessors failed to act though lack of "courage." Moving the embassy will probably take years to implement, but the repercussions of Trump's decision preceded even his announcement. Hundreds of Palestinians burned US and Israeli flags as well as pictures of Trump in the Gaza Strip, while relatively small clashes erupted near the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron. The Palestine Liberation Organization announced a strike across the West Bank Thursday, while Hamas called for a "day of rage" on Friday. US government officials and their families were ordered to avoid Jerusalem's Old City and the West Bank, though the situation remained largely calm up until Trump's address. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on a visit to Germany, said the United States had "implemented robust security plans to protect the safety of Americans in affected regions." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the main pan-Islamic body, in Istanbul next week to display joint action over Jerusalem. Jordan and the Palestinians also requested an emergency meeting of the Arab League. Peace still possible, US says Most of the international community does not formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, insisting the issue can only be resolved in negotiations -- a point reiterated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the wake of Trump's decision. Guterres implicitly criticized Trump, stressing his opposition to "any unilateral measures that would jeopardize the prospect of peace." Trump insisted the move did not prejudge final talks, saying it simply reflected the reality that west Jerusalem is and will continue to be part of Israel under any settlement. "This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do," Trump said. "Peace is never beyond the grasp of those willing to reach it," said the US leader, who declared that "this decision is not intended in any way to reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace." "The United States would support a two-state solution if agreed to by both sides," Trump said, as he announced that Vice President Mike Pence would travel to the region in the coming days. Trump further stated that the United States was not taking a position on any "final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested borders." "Those questions are up to the parties involved," he said. Israel seized the largely Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, claiming both sides of the city as its capital. The Palestinians want the eastern sector as the capital of their future state. Several peace plans have unravelled in the past decades over the issue of how to divide sovereignty or oversee holy sites in Jerusalem.

Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital, sparks firestorm

Twitter announced today&nbsp;that PM Modi is one of the &#39;most tweeted about&nbsp;world leaders&#39; in 2017.&nbsp;

The annual data revealed that Modi is the second most tweeted world leader after United States President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
Here are the most Tweeted about elected world leaders. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisHappened?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThisHappened</a> <a href="https://t.co/2pXMuwKQRa">pic.twitter.com/2pXMuwKQRa</a>
&mdash; Twitter Government (@TwitterGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterGov/status/938127182551044096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Trump has 44.1 million Twitter followers and Narendra Modi has 37.5 million making him the most followed Indian on Twitter.&nbsp;

PM Modi&rsquo;s &lsquo;Mann Ki Baat&rsquo; was also one of the most widely used and talked about hashtags in India in 2017.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;see: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/modi-tops-twitter-2017-most-followed-list-amitabh-srk-virat-way-behind-597#photo-30982">Modi tops Twitter 2017 most followed list; Amitabh, SRK, Virat way behind</a>

Two posts by former US president Barack Obama were among the top three most-liked tweets of 2017, he currently has 97.6 million followers on Twitter.

Obama&#39;s tweet &quot;No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion...&quot; was the second most retweeted post of the year.

A tweet by Carter Wilkerson &quot;Help me please... a man needs his nuggs&quot; retweeted 3.6 million times was the most retweeted post of this year, according to data compiled by Twitter.

Other world leaders to feature in the top 10 list are Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Emmanuel Macron from France, Enrique Pena Nieto from Mexico, Mauricip Macri of Argentina, Britain&#39;s Theresa May, Columbia&#39;s Juan Manuel Santos and Akun resmi Joko Widodo of Indonesia.

India's PM Narendra Modi topped the list of Twitter followers, adding over 13 million followers this year

Twitter announced today that PM Modi is one of the 'most tweeted about world leaders' in 2017. The annual data revealed that Modi is the second most tweeted world leader after United States President Donald Trump. Here are the most Tweeted about elected world leaders. #ThisHappened pic.twitter.com/2pXMuwKQRa — Twitter Government (@TwitterGov) December 5, 2017 × Trump has 44.1 million Twitter followers and Narendra Modi has 37.5 million making him the most followed Indian on Twitter. PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was also one of the most widely used and talked about hashtags in India in 2017. Also see: Modi tops Twitter 2017 most followed list; Amitabh, SRK, Virat way behind Two posts by former US president Barack Obama were among the top three most-liked tweets of 2017, he currently has 97.6 million followers on Twitter. Obama's tweet "No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion..." was the second most retweeted post of the year. A tweet by Carter Wilkerson "Help me please... a man needs his nuggs" retweeted 3.6 million times was the most retweeted post of this year, according to data compiled by Twitter. Other world leaders to feature in the top 10 list are Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Emmanuel Macron from France, Enrique Pena Nieto from Mexico, Mauricip Macri of Argentina, Britain's Theresa May, Columbia's Juan Manuel Santos and Akun resmi Joko Widodo of Indonesia.

PM Modi 'most-tweeted leader' after Trump

Every year, at the very end of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, and at the end of the Passover Seder, Jews all over the world recite, &ldquo;Next year in Jerusalem.&rdquo; The City, older than Bible, is at the heart and mind of all practising Jews. Jerusalem, more than any other city, stands as the symbol of the &#39;Promised Land&#39; as the Jews survived expulsion by the Romans, slavery in the land of the Pharaohs and the Holocaust in Europe. At the end of the Second World War, many Jewish survivors of Hitler&#39;s concentration camps came back to settle in and around Jerusalem.&nbsp;

For long, the Jewish stakeholders around the world had been trying very hard to gain a recognition for the Holy City as Israel&#39;s capital. But they have faced tough luck so far. Even Israel&#39;s closest ally, the US had been refusing to grant capital status to Jerusalem primarily because of the sensitivity of the matter.&nbsp;

Battle for Jerusalem

Palestinians and Israelis have been fighting over Jerusalem ever since the state of Israel has been established. Israel&rsquo;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has himself asserted that Israel is in the midst of a &ldquo;battle for Jerusalem&rdquo;. While political and religious acrimony over the city has caused much bloodshed among members of both the communities, the lives of the Jerusalem&#39;s citizens have been almost inextricably intertwined.&nbsp;

The primary flashpoint in Jerusalem is the sacred compound in the Old City, known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The religious topography there is meaningful for the current conflict. Islamic structures stand on the Haram today and are used on a daily basis. The Jewish holy places exist primarily in archaeology and memory. Worship focuses on a remaining fragment of the Second, or Herod&rsquo;s, Temple, known as the Western Wall. A fragile modus vivendi has existed since 1967 that enables Jews to pray below at the Wall and Muslims above on the esplanade.&nbsp;

Such entwined existence is ubiquitous because the two communities, over the ages, have lived there in harmony as well as in discord. So much so that when violence breaks out it has become impossible to spare anyone community from sufferings such attacks entail. In 2014, for instance, when an attack took place in West Jerusalem at a synagogue, killing four Jewish worshippers, it also resulted in the death of Israeli Druze Zidan Saif.&nbsp;

Saif, incidentally, was not an Israeli Jew.&nbsp; He belonged to a distinct branch of Islam whose members often serve in Israel&rsquo;s police or armed forces. Saif&#39;s funeral was attended by the President of Israel and a large number of ultra-orthodox Jews.&nbsp;

My city, your city, our city

President Trump&#39;s announcement in support of making Jerusalem the capital city of Israel will further weaken the fragile balance on which Jerusalem sustains itself. The decision has the potential to embroil the different religious communities in bloody violence. Particularly because just like the Israeli state, in May 2017, the Palestinian group Hamas presented a document that proposed the formation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.&nbsp;

Giving to the demand of one community over the other, particularly when one-third of the population of Jerusalem is actually Muslim, and with a large number of Christians living in the area too, tantamounts to playing with fire. But Trump to fulfill his election promises and to pacify a large number of his orthodox influential voters is ready to let an already volatile region go further the extremist way.&nbsp;

But as Trump does not seem to care, it seems similar dogged determination has taken over supporters of the Zionist cause living in Israel too.&nbsp;Shumel Rosner, an expert in the Israeli politics and Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for instance, writes in the New York Times that the Israelis will not be deterred by threats of violence or by actual violence itself. Indeed as per the words of Rosner, the US declaration in support of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel is a truly Trumansque moment. The author is here referring back to President Truman&#39;s decision to support the partition of Palestine, though the C.I.A. warned the President that &ldquo;armed hostilities between Jews and Arabs will break out if the U.N. General Assembly accepts the plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Whose city is it anyway?

Jews, Muslims and Christians all the three communities have very long and intimate association with Jerusalem. For historical reasons, one community might have come before the other, but their histories overlap for a significant stretch of time.

Jews had been praying facing Jerusalem for time immemorial.&nbsp;

It is Jerusalem that matter most to the Christians, more than Bethlehem and Nazareth. This was where Christ preached, ate the Last Supper with his disciples before his death, where he was arrested, put on trial, condemned to death, crucified, and died, a man mocked and tortured by the occupying Romans. It is where, Christians believe, his tomb was found empty and he rose from the dead. Jerusalem, they say, is the &#39;sacred heart&#39; of the Christian story.

Jerusalem&#39;s pivotal place in the religious and political history of Islam is equally undeniable. According to Islamic tradition, the prophet travelled miraculously from Mecca to Jerusalem and then upwards through the seven heavens, culminating in a direct conversation with, and/or vision of, God. Before his ascension, he led all the previous prophets of God, including all the Biblical and Israelite prophets, in prayer. Islamic rule over Jerusalem lasted for 12 centuries, longer than any other rule, whether Israelite, Roman, Persian or Christian.

President Trump should have shown better judgement on the matter. He needed to have shown more nuanced appreciation towards the shared history of the region. But characteristically to his rash and provocative nature, Trump went ahead without heeding the advice of the world community.&nbsp;

We can just hope that Jerusalem in spite of its newfound recognition will continue to be a place of harmony for all peoples. And, instead of being the political capital of nation-state, it will be the emotional center of a multicultural universe. After all, the root meaning of Jerusalem is shalom- a city of peace. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

To fulfill his election promises and to pacify a large number of his orthodox influential voters, Trump is ready to let an already volatile region go further down the extremist way.?

Every year, at the very end of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, and at the end of the Passover Seder, Jews all over the world recite, “Next year in Jerusalem.” The City, older than Bible, is at the heart and mind of all practising Jews. Jerusalem, more than any other city, stands as the symbol of the 'Promised Land' as the Jews survived expulsion by the Romans, slavery in the land of the Pharaohs and the Holocaust in Europe. At the end of the Second World War, many Jewish survivors of Hitler's concentration camps came back to settle in and around Jerusalem. For long, the Jewish stakeholders around the world had been trying very hard to gain a recognition for the Holy City as Israel's capital. But they have faced tough luck so far. Even Israel's closest ally, the US had been refusing to grant capital status to Jerusalem primarily because of the sensitivity of the matter. Battle for Jerusalem Palestinians and Israelis have been fighting over Jerusalem ever since the state of Israel has been established. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has himself asserted that Israel is in the midst of a “battle for Jerusalem”. While political and religious acrimony over the city has caused much bloodshed among members of both the communities, the lives of the Jerusalem's citizens have been almost inextricably intertwined. The primary flashpoint in Jerusalem is the sacred compound in the Old City, known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The religious topography there is meaningful for the current conflict. Islamic structures stand on the Haram today and are used on a daily basis. The Jewish holy places exist primarily in archaeology and memory. Worship focuses on a remaining fragment of the Second, or Herod’s, Temple, known as the Western Wall. A fragile modus vivendi has existed since 1967 that enables Jews to pray below at the Wall and Muslims above on the esplanade. Such entwined existence is ubiquitous because the two communities, over the ages, have lived there in harmony as well as in discord. So much so that when violence breaks out it has become impossible to spare anyone community from sufferings such attacks entail. In 2014, for instance, when an attack took place in West Jerusalem at a synagogue, killing four Jewish worshippers, it also resulted in the death of Israeli Druze Zidan Saif. Saif, incidentally, was not an Israeli Jew. He belonged to a distinct branch of Islam whose members often serve in Israel’s police or armed forces. Saif's funeral was attended by the President of Israel and a large number of ultra-orthodox Jews. My city, your city, our city President Trump's announcement in support of making Jerusalem the capital city of Israel will further weaken the fragile balance on which Jerusalem sustains itself. The decision has the potential to embroil the different religious communities in bloody violence. Particularly because just like the Israeli state, in May 2017, the Palestinian group Hamas presented a document that proposed the formation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Giving to the demand of one community over the other, particularly when one-third of the population of Jerusalem is actually Muslim, and with a large number of Christians living in the area too, tantamounts to playing with fire. But Trump to fulfill his election promises and to pacify a large number of his orthodox influential voters is ready to let an already volatile region go further the extremist way. But as Trump does not seem to care, it seems similar dogged determination has taken over supporters of the Zionist cause living in Israel too. Shumel Rosner, an expert in the Israeli politics and Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for instance, writes in the New York Times that the Israelis will not be deterred by threats of violence or by actual violence itself. Indeed as per the words of Rosner, the US declaration in support of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel is a truly Trumansque moment. The author is here referring back to President Truman's decision to support the partition of Palestine, though the C.I.A. warned the President that “armed hostilities between Jews and Arabs will break out if the U.N. General Assembly accepts the plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.” Whose city is it anyway? Jews, Muslims and Christians all the three communities have very long and intimate association with Jerusalem. For historical reasons, one community might have come before the other, but their histories overlap for a significant stretch of time. Jews had been praying facing Jerusalem for time immemorial. It is Jerusalem that matter most to the Christians, more than Bethlehem and Nazareth. This was where Christ preached, ate the Last Supper with his disciples before his death, where he was arrested, put on trial, condemned to death, crucified, and died, a man mocked and tortured by the occupying Romans. It is where, Christians believe, his tomb was found empty and he rose from the dead. Jerusalem, they say, is the 'sacred heart' of the Christian story. Jerusalem's pivotal place in the religious and political history of Islam is equally undeniable. According to Islamic tradition, the prophet travelled miraculously from Mecca to Jerusalem and then upwards through the seven heavens, culminating in a direct conversation with, and/or vision of, God. Before his ascension, he led all the previous prophets of God, including all the Biblical and Israelite prophets, in prayer. Islamic rule over Jerusalem lasted for 12 centuries, longer than any other rule, whether Israelite, Roman, Persian or Christian. President Trump should have shown better judgement on the matter. He needed to have shown more nuanced appreciation towards the shared history of the region. But characteristically to his rash and provocative nature, Trump went ahead without heeding the advice of the world community. We can just hope that Jerusalem in spite of its newfound recognition will continue to be a place of harmony for all peoples. And, instead of being the political capital of nation-state, it will be the emotional center of a multicultural universe. After all, the root meaning of Jerusalem is shalom- a city of peace. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Trump is wrong; Israel alone can't claim Jerusalem

US President Donald Trump is close to a decision on whether to recognize Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, his son-in-law and Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner said Sunday.

Palestinian leaders are lobbying desperately against such a move, fearing it could provoke such fury in the Arab world it could sink peace hopes for a generation.

But Kushner, the 36-year-old head of a small and tight-knit White House negotiating team, made a rare public appearance to put an optimistic face on his efforts.

&quot;The president&#39;s going to make his decision,&quot; Kushner told the Saban Forum, choosing not to deny reports Trump will declare Jerusalem Israel&#39;s capital on Wednesday. (Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://http://www.wionews.com/world/arab-league-chief-warns-trump-jerusalem-move-could-fuel-violence-25777">Arab League chief warns Trump Jerusalem move could fuel violence</a>)

&quot;He&#39;s still looking at a lot of different facts and when he makes his decision he&#39;ll be the one who wants to tell you. So he&#39;ll make sure he does that at the right time.&quot;

On Monday, Trump must decide whether to sign a legal waiver that would delay plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for another six months.

Every US president has done this since 1995, judging the time not ripe for such a move, and Trump is expected to begrudgingly do so for a second time this week.

But, according to diplomats and observers, he is also now expected to announce in a speech on Wednesday that he supports Israel&#39;s claim on Jerusalem as its capital.

&nbsp;New intifada? 
This will likely provoke fury among Palestinians and the wider Arab world, and may hamper Kushner&#39;s long-shot effort to revamp the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Palestinians have been lobbying regional leaders to oppose the decision and the armed Islamist movement Hamas has threatened to launch a new &quot;intifada&quot;.

But Kushner, addressing a sympathetic audience at an annual meeting of Israeli and US policy-makers hosted by businessman Haim Saban, sees grounds for optimism.

The real estate developer turned presidential adviser is working closely with Israeli officials and has developed ties with the young Saudi and Emirati monarchs.&nbsp;

He sees an opportunity for peace if the Sunni Arab countries of the region align themselves with Israel in opposition to the threat of Iran.&nbsp;

Israel&#39;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shares this hope, although he dares hope an accommodation with Arab countries could precede any Palestinian deal.

Kushner, in common with US official thinking under previous administrations, sees a Israeli-Palestinian settlement as coming before any great re-alignment.

&quot;You&#39;ve got to focus on solving the big issue,&quot; he told a friendly but frankly skeptical Saban, and an audience of dignitaries and policy experts.

&quot;The regional dynamic plays a big role in what we think the opportunities are because ... a lot of these countries look and say they all want the same thing.&nbsp;

&quot;And they look at the regional threats and I think that they see Israel, who is traditionally their foe, is a much more natural ally to them than it was 20 years ago.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;You&#39;ve a lot of people who want to put this together, but you have to overcome this issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order for that to happen,&quot; he said.

&nbsp;&#39;Regime will fall&#39; 
 
Earlier, Netanyahu also addressed the forum by video link from Israel, and also spoke of the opportunity for reconciliation in the region.

But his focus was firmly on the threat of Iran, which he again compared to Nazi Germany in its alleged determination to &quot;murder Jews.&quot;

His address barely touched on the Palestinian issue, but did speak of regional peace, under a longer timeframe than the one Kushner has in mind.

&quot;And that&#39;s just one reason why I&#39;m so hopeful about the future. Today Israel is more welcomed by the nations of the world than ever before,&quot; Netanyahu said.

&quot;When I look forward 50 and 100 years I believe Israel will be embraced openly by its Arab neighbors rather than in secret in the way it&#39;s done today.&quot;

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, was less optimistic, warning a change in the US stance on Jerusalem would spell disaster.

In a statement, he warned the United States would &quot;be disqualifying itself to play any role in any initiative towards achieving a just and lasting peace.&quot; 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

According to diplomats and observers, the US President is also now expected to announce in a speech on Wednesday that he supports Israel's claim on Jerusalem as its capital

US President Donald Trump is close to a decision on whether to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, his son-in-law and Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner said Sunday. Palestinian leaders are lobbying desperately against such a move, fearing it could provoke such fury in the Arab world it could sink peace hopes for a generation. But Kushner, the 36-year-old head of a small and tight-knit White House negotiating team, made a rare public appearance to put an optimistic face on his efforts. "The president's going to make his decision," Kushner told the Saban Forum, choosing not to deny reports Trump will declare Jerusalem Israel's capital on Wednesday. (Also Read: Arab League chief warns Trump Jerusalem move could fuel violence) "He's still looking at a lot of different facts and when he makes his decision he'll be the one who wants to tell you. So he'll make sure he does that at the right time." On Monday, Trump must decide whether to sign a legal waiver that would delay plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for another six months. Every US president has done this since 1995, judging the time not ripe for such a move, and Trump is expected to begrudgingly do so for a second time this week. But, according to diplomats and observers, he is also now expected to announce in a speech on Wednesday that he supports Israel's claim on Jerusalem as its capital. New intifada? This will likely provoke fury among Palestinians and the wider Arab world, and may hamper Kushner's long-shot effort to revamp the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Palestinians have been lobbying regional leaders to oppose the decision and the armed Islamist movement Hamas has threatened to launch a new "intifada". But Kushner, addressing a sympathetic audience at an annual meeting of Israeli and US policy-makers hosted by businessman Haim Saban, sees grounds for optimism. The real estate developer turned presidential adviser is working closely with Israeli officials and has developed ties with the young Saudi and Emirati monarchs. He sees an opportunity for peace if the Sunni Arab countries of the region align themselves with Israel in opposition to the threat of Iran. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shares this hope, although he dares hope an accommodation with Arab countries could precede any Palestinian deal. Kushner, in common with US official thinking under previous administrations, sees a Israeli-Palestinian settlement as coming before any great re-alignment. "You've got to focus on solving the big issue," he told a friendly but frankly skeptical Saban, and an audience of dignitaries and policy experts. "The regional dynamic plays a big role in what we think the opportunities are because ... a lot of these countries look and say they all want the same thing. "And they look at the regional threats and I think that they see Israel, who is traditionally their foe, is a much more natural ally to them than it was 20 years ago." "You've a lot of people who want to put this together, but you have to overcome this issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order for that to happen," he said. 'Regime will fall' Earlier, Netanyahu also addressed the forum by video link from Israel, and also spoke of the opportunity for reconciliation in the region. But his focus was firmly on the threat of Iran, which he again compared to Nazi Germany in its alleged determination to "murder Jews." His address barely touched on the Palestinian issue, but did speak of regional peace, under a longer timeframe than the one Kushner has in mind. "And that's just one reason why I'm so hopeful about the future. Today Israel is more welcomed by the nations of the world than ever before," Netanyahu said. "When I look forward 50 and 100 years I believe Israel will be embraced openly by its Arab neighbors rather than in secret in the way it's done today." Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, was less optimistic, warning a change in the US stance on Jerusalem would spell disaster. In a statement, he warned the United States would "be disqualifying itself to play any role in any initiative towards achieving a just and lasting peace."

Trump close to decision on whether to recognise Jerusalem as Israel capital: Jared Kushner

US President Donald Trump <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asked-about-flynn-plea-says-absolutely-no-collusion-25700">insisted Saturday</a> that his former national security adviser Michael Flynn had done nothing illegal during the transition.

Flynn pleaded guilty Friday to lying to the FBI about contacts he had with the Russian ambassador. Trump said he fired Flynn because he lied to the vice president and the FBI about those dealings.

&quot;It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!&quot; Trump said in a tweet, his second comment of the day of the explosive turn of events in the Russia probe.&nbsp;

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I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/937007006526959618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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It is now moving closer to the Oval Office itself as Flynn has agreed to cooperate with special prosecutor Robert Mueller.

With this new tweet Trump seems to admit for the first time that he knew Flynn lied to the FBI, which is a crime.

At the time of Flynn&#39;s dismissal, the White House acknowledged only that Flynn had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about what he discussed with the ambassador -- sanctions imposed by then-president Barack Obama against Russia for meddling in the election.

Trump&#39;s ties with Flynn have been under intense scrutiny since FBI director James Comey was fired by the president in May.

Comey testified before a Senate panel in June that after Flynn&#39;s firing, Trump asked Comey to drop an investigation into the former national security director. &nbsp;&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump insisted that his former national security adviser Michael Flynn had done nothing illegal during the transition

US President Donald Trump insisted Saturday that his former national security adviser Michael Flynn had done nothing illegal during the transition. Flynn pleaded guilty Friday to lying to the FBI about contacts he had with the Russian ambassador. Trump said he fired Flynn because he lied to the vice president and the FBI about those dealings. "It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!" Trump said in a tweet, his second comment of the day of the explosive turn of events in the Russia probe. I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017 × It is now moving closer to the Oval Office itself as Flynn has agreed to cooperate with special prosecutor Robert Mueller. With this new tweet Trump seems to admit for the first time that he knew Flynn lied to the FBI, which is a crime. At the time of Flynn's dismissal, the White House acknowledged only that Flynn had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about what he discussed with the ambassador -- sanctions imposed by then-president Barack Obama against Russia for meddling in the election. Trump's ties with Flynn have been under intense scrutiny since FBI director James Comey was fired by the president in May. Comey testified before a Senate panel in June that after Flynn's firing, Trump asked Comey to drop an investigation into the former national security director.

Flynn's actions during the transition 'were lawful': President Trump

United States President Donald Trump&nbsp;on Saturday denied any&nbsp;collusion&nbsp;between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.&nbsp;

&quot;Absolutely no collusion&quot; between his campaign and Russia, he said.

Trump made the&nbsp;comment for the first time since ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty in a federal investigation into a probable collusion between Moscow and Trump representatives.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-aide-flynn-pleads-guilty-to-lying-about-russia-links-25647">Flynn pleaded guilty </a>on Friday for lying to the FBI about having associations with the Russian ambassador, making him the first representative of the White House to be charged in the criminal investigation.&nbsp;

Flynn, as part of his plea on Friday, agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller&#39;s investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump&#39;s 2016 presidential election campaign.

Trump made a comment for the first time since ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty in a federal investigation into a probable collusion between Moscow and Trump representatives.?

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday denied any collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. "Absolutely no collusion" between his campaign and Russia, he said. Trump made the comment for the first time since ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty in a federal investigation into a probable collusion between Moscow and Trump representatives. Flynn pleaded guilty on Friday for lying to the FBI about having associations with the Russian ambassador, making him the first representative of the White House to be charged in the criminal investigation. Flynn, as part of his plea on Friday, agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign.

'Absolutely no collusion': Trump after Michael Flynn's guilty plea

America&#39;s Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) has charged President Trump&#39;s ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn with &quot;lying&quot; over his contacts with Russia.

Flynn resigned in February after being under fire for weeks over his links to the Russian government. He was reported to have discussed the possibility of lifting US sanctions on Russia before Trump took office.

Flynn had promised former US vice-president Pence that he had not discussed US sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications by US officials later showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak.

Such contacts are potentially in violation of a law banning US private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act.

The FBI charged Flynn with one count of lying.&nbsp;

A court document showed Flynn was charged for lying about his private discussions with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador, regarding US sanctions being imposed on Moscow by the government former president Barack Obama.

The former US national security advisor is scheduled to appear in court today on hearing related to making &quot;false, fictitious and fraudulent representations&quot; to the FBI.

Flynn had promised former US vice-president Pence that he had not discussed US sanctions with the Russians

America's Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) has charged President Trump's ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn with "lying" over his contacts with Russia. Flynn resigned in February after being under fire for weeks over his links to the Russian government. He was reported to have discussed the possibility of lifting US sanctions on Russia before Trump took office. Flynn had promised former US vice-president Pence that he had not discussed US sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications by US officials later showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. Such contacts are potentially in violation of a law banning US private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act. The FBI charged Flynn with one count of lying. A court document showed Flynn was charged for lying about his private discussions with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador, regarding US sanctions being imposed on Moscow by the government former president Barack Obama. The former US national security advisor is scheduled to appear in court today on hearing related to making "false, fictitious and fraudulent representations" to the FBI.

Trump's ex-NSA Michael Flynn charged for lying about Russia links

Russia today rejected <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/major-sanctions-coming-against-north-korea-china-must-press-all-levers-to-influence-kim-trump-25465">US call to cut ties with North Korea </a>even as the Trump administration upped the ante on China to stop crude oil shipment to Kim&#39;s regime.

On Wednesday, President Trump had warned of &quot;major sanctions&quot; against North Korea after Kim&#39;s regime test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile targeting the whole of United States.

Trump spoke to President Xi to rein in Kim, tweeting later that he had asked the Chinese leader to&nbsp;use &quot;all available levers&quot; to press North Korea to stop its weapons programme.

During the phone call, Trump appealed to Xi to turn off oil trade with North Korea in an attempt to economically strangle Kim&#39;s regime.&nbsp;

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley later told the United Nations at an emergency meeting after North Korea&#39;s missile test that it &quot;would be a pivotal step in the world&#39;s effort to stop this international pariah&quot;.

The US Energy Information Administration estimates North Korea consumes around 15,000 barrels a day, the majority of it comes from China. 
According to UN customs data, China sent 6,000 barrels a day of oil products to North Korea in 2016. 
&nbsp; 
Both Russia and China who are North Korea&#39;s principal oil suppliers have refused to toe the US line.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said: &quot;We see this negatively. We have repeatedly stated that the pressure of sanctions has been exhausted.&quot;

China too has indicated it won&#39;t be turning off the oil tap on North Korea, just yet. President Xi&nbsp;is not keen&nbsp;to shut the &quot;Sino-DPRK Friendship Oil Pipeline&quot;.

For North Korea, crude oil flows across the Yalu River from the Chinese city of Dandong to the Sinuiju oil depot in North Korea through the 30-kilometre (18-mile) &quot;Sino-DPRK Friendship Oil Pipeline&quot;.

The pipeline went into operation in 1975 with a capacity of three million tonnes per year, but the China National Petroleum Corporation said in 2015 that annual capacity stood at 520,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, North Korea released latest missile test with new rocket engines and a larger design that likely puts Kim Jong Un closer to his goal of being able to deliver a nuclear warhead to a target anywhere in the world, analysts told Reuters. 
&nbsp;

Trump spoke to President Xi to rein in Kim, tweeting later that he had asked the Chinese leader to?use "all available levers" to press North Korea to stop its weapons programme

Russia today rejected US call to cut ties with North Korea even as the Trump administration upped the ante on China to stop crude oil shipment to Kim's regime. On Wednesday, President Trump had warned of "major sanctions" against North Korea after Kim's regime test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile targeting the whole of United States. Trump spoke to President Xi to rein in Kim, tweeting later that he had asked the Chinese leader to use "all available levers" to press North Korea to stop its weapons programme. During the phone call, Trump appealed to Xi to turn off oil trade with North Korea in an attempt to economically strangle Kim's regime. US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley later told the United Nations at an emergency meeting after North Korea's missile test that it "would be a pivotal step in the world's effort to stop this international pariah". The US Energy Information Administration estimates North Korea consumes around 15,000 barrels a day, the majority of it comes from China. According to UN customs data, China sent 6,000 barrels a day of oil products to North Korea in 2016. Both Russia and China who are North Korea's principal oil suppliers have refused to toe the US line. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said: "We see this negatively. We have repeatedly stated that the pressure of sanctions has been exhausted." China too has indicated it won't be turning off the oil tap on North Korea, just yet. President Xi is not keen to shut the "Sino-DPRK Friendship Oil Pipeline". For North Korea, crude oil flows across the Yalu River from the Chinese city of Dandong to the Sinuiju oil depot in North Korea through the 30-kilometre (18-mile) "Sino-DPRK Friendship Oil Pipeline". The pipeline went into operation in 1975 with a capacity of three million tonnes per year, but the China National Petroleum Corporation said in 2015 that annual capacity stood at 520,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, North Korea released latest missile test with new rocket engines and a larger design that likely puts Kim Jong Un closer to his goal of being able to deliver a nuclear warhead to a target anywhere in the world, analysts told Reuters.

Despite Trump's sanctions call, Russia, China against oil embargo on North Korea

President Donald Trump on Wednesday retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by the deputy head of a British far-right group who has been convicted of a hate crime, Jayda Fransen.

The first one shows&nbsp;a Muslim hitting a boy on crutches. The second one is seen as an Islamist mob pushing a teenager of a rooftop.

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Video 1 (Twitter)
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The third allegedly shows a Muslim throwing down and smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary.

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The video of the Virgin Mary statue being destroyed has been on YouTube for a long time.

Fransen was declared guilty last year with a hate crime after abusing a Muslim woman wearing a hijab.

Brendan Cox, the widower of MP Jo Cox who was killed by a right-wing extremist last year, said: &quot;Trump has legitimised the far right in his own country, now he&#39;s trying to do it in ours.&quot;

&quot;Spreading hatred has consequences &amp; the President should be ashamed of himself,&quot; he said.

David Lammy, an MP for the opposition Labour Party, said: &quot;The President of the United States is promoting a fascist, racist, extremist hate group whose leaders have been arrested and convicted.

&quot;He is no ally or friend of ours,&quot; he said.

Stephen Doughty, another Labour MP, said the videos were &quot;highly inflammatory&quot; and his colleague Yvette Cooper said Trump had given Fransen a &quot;huge platform&quot;.

Fransen appeared to celebrate the retweets saying: &quot;THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, HAS RETWEETED THREE OF DEPUTY LEADER JAYDA FRANSEN&#39;S TWITTER VIDEOS! DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF HAS RETWEETED THESE VIDEOS AND HAS AROUND 44 MILLION FOLLOWERS! GOD BLESS YOU TRUMP! GOD BLESS AMERICA!&quot;

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THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, HAS RETWEETED THREE OF DEPUTY LEADER JAYDA FRANSEN&#39;S TWITTER VIDEOS! DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF HAS RETWEETED THESE VIDEOS AND HAS AROUND 44 MILLION FOLLOWERS! GOD BLESS YOU TRUMP! GOD BLESS AMERICA! OCS <a href="https://twitter.com/JaydaBF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JaydaBF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://t.co/BiQfQkTra9">pic.twitter.com/BiQfQkTra9</a>
&mdash; Jayda Fransen (@JaydaBF) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaydaBF/status/935842051991711745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Trump&#39;s pokes&nbsp;in British politics and controversial foreign policy have weakened the so-called &quot;special relationship&quot;.

He has infuriated British authorities with his tweets on terrorism in Britain, including highly publicised run-ins with London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Wednesday&#39;s retweets were part of an early morning burst in which Trump again dismissed CNN as &quot;Fake News&quot; and insisted the US economy was in &quot;record territory&quot; by many measures.

US President Donald Trump was &quot;wrong&quot; to retweet three anti-Muslim videos posted by the deputy head of British far-right group Britain First, Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s spokesman said.

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I hope our Government will condemn far-right retweets by Donald Trump. They are abhorrent, dangerous and a threat to our society.
&mdash; Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/935867651859079168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Britain First seeks to divide communities through their use of hateful narratives which peddle lies and stoke tensions. They cause anxiety to law abiding people,&quot; he said.

&quot;British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right, which is the antithesis of the values that this country represents -- decency, tolerance and respect. It is wrong for the president to have done this.&quot;

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour party, had tweeted earlier: &quot;I hope our government will condemn far-right retweets by Donald Trump. They are abhorrent, dangerous and a threat to our society.&quot;

Trump's pokes?in British politics and controversial foreign policy have weakened the so-called "special relationship"

President Donald Trump on Wednesday retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by the deputy head of a British far-right group who has been convicted of a hate crime, Jayda Fransen. The first one shows a Muslim hitting a boy on crutches. The second one is seen as an Islamist mob pushing a teenager of a rooftop. Video 1 (Twitter) × Video 2 (Twitter) × The third allegedly shows a Muslim throwing down and smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary. Video 3 (Twitter) × The video of the Virgin Mary statue being destroyed has been on YouTube for a long time. Fransen was declared guilty last year with a hate crime after abusing a Muslim woman wearing a hijab. Brendan Cox, the widower of MP Jo Cox who was killed by a right-wing extremist last year, said: "Trump has legitimised the far right in his own country, now he's trying to do it in ours." "Spreading hatred has consequences & the President should be ashamed of himself," he said. David Lammy, an MP for the opposition Labour Party, said: "The President of the United States is promoting a fascist, racist, extremist hate group whose leaders have been arrested and convicted. "He is no ally or friend of ours," he said. Stephen Doughty, another Labour MP, said the videos were "highly inflammatory" and his colleague Yvette Cooper said Trump had given Fransen a "huge platform". Fransen appeared to celebrate the retweets saying: "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, HAS RETWEETED THREE OF DEPUTY LEADER JAYDA FRANSEN'S TWITTER VIDEOS! DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF HAS RETWEETED THESE VIDEOS AND HAS AROUND 44 MILLION FOLLOWERS! GOD BLESS YOU TRUMP! GOD BLESS AMERICA!" THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, HAS RETWEETED THREE OF DEPUTY LEADER JAYDA FRANSEN'S TWITTER VIDEOS! DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF HAS RETWEETED THESE VIDEOS AND HAS AROUND 44 MILLION FOLLOWERS! GOD BLESS YOU TRUMP! GOD BLESS AMERICA! OCS @JaydaBF @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/BiQfQkTra9 — Jayda Fransen (@JaydaBF) November 29, 2017 × Trump's pokes in British politics and controversial foreign policy have weakened the so-called "special relationship". He has infuriated British authorities with his tweets on terrorism in Britain, including highly publicised run-ins with London mayor Sadiq Khan. Wednesday's retweets were part of an early morning burst in which Trump again dismissed CNN as "Fake News" and insisted the US economy was in "record territory" by many measures. US President Donald Trump was "wrong" to retweet three anti-Muslim videos posted by the deputy head of British far-right group Britain First, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said. I hope our Government will condemn far-right retweets by Donald Trump. They are abhorrent, dangerous and a threat to our society. — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 29, 2017 × "Britain First seeks to divide communities through their use of hateful narratives which peddle lies and stoke tensions. They cause anxiety to law abiding people," he said. "British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right, which is the antithesis of the values that this country represents -- decency, tolerance and respect. It is wrong for the president to have done this." Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour party, had tweeted earlier: "I hope our government will condemn far-right retweets by Donald Trump. They are abhorrent, dangerous and a threat to our society."

Trump retweets anti-Muslim videos posted by British far-right group head Jayda Fransen

As <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-tests-icbm-in-fresh-challenge-to-trump-25388">North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic </a>missile on Wednesday, US President Trump said his administration will impose major sanctions against Kim Jong-un&#39;s regime.

Earlier in the day, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nkorea-launch-a-grave-threat-to-entire-world-trump-moon-25386">North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic</a> missile as the Korean peninsula slipped into a major crisis mode on Wednesday morning with South Korea and Japan terming the missile tests as a &quot;violent&quot; and &quot;reckless&quot; act.

President Trump tweeted saying he spoke to Chinese President Xi on North Korea&#39;s &quot;provocative actions&quot;, adding that &quot;major sanctions will be imposed on the country&quot;.

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Just spoke to President XI JINPING of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/935881037254725632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&quot;This situation will be handled!,&quot; the US&nbsp;president added in his tweet.

Trump during his call with Xi asked the Chinese leader to use &quot;all available levers&quot; to press North Korea.

The White House said that Trump and Xi discussed North Korea&#39;s latest ballistic missile test, with Trump again pressing China to take a tougher line against Kim.

&nbsp;

President Trump tweeted saying he spoke to Chinese President Xi on North Korea's "provocative actions", adding that "major sanctions will be imposed on the country".

As North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, US President Trump said his administration will impose major sanctions against Kim Jong-un's regime. Earlier in the day, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile as the Korean peninsula slipped into a major crisis mode on Wednesday morning with South Korea and Japan terming the missile tests as a "violent" and "reckless" act. President Trump tweeted saying he spoke to Chinese President Xi on North Korea's "provocative actions", adding that "major sanctions will be imposed on the country". Just spoke to President XI JINPING of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017 × "This situation will be handled!," the US president added in his tweet. Trump during his call with Xi asked the Chinese leader to use "all available levers" to press North Korea. The White House said that Trump and Xi discussed North Korea's latest ballistic missile test, with Trump again pressing China to take a tougher line against Kim.

Major sanctions coming against North Korea, China must 'press all levers' to influence Kim: Trump

US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In warned Tuesday that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-tests-icbm-in-fresh-challenge-to-trump-25388">Pyongyang&#39;s latest ballistic missile launch</a> posed a &quot;grave&quot; global threat.&nbsp;

&quot;Both leaders underscored the grave threat that North Korea&#39;s latest provocation poses not only to the United States and the Republic of Korea, but to the entire world,&quot; the White House said in an account of a crisis call between Trump and Moon.

Trump also spoke Tuesday with Japan&#39;s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as the United States, Japan and South Korea requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address Pyongyang&#39;s launch of what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Trump also spoke Tuesday with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as the US, Japan and South Korea requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address Pyongyang's launch

US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In warned Tuesday that Pyongyang's latest ballistic missile launch posed a "grave" global threat. "Both leaders underscored the grave threat that North Korea's latest provocation poses not only to the United States and the Republic of Korea, but to the entire world," the White House said in an account of a crisis call between Trump and Moon. Trump also spoke Tuesday with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as the United States, Japan and South Korea requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address Pyongyang's launch of what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.

North Korea missile test 'grave threat' to 'entire world': Trump, Moon

Trump&nbsp;called a Democratic rival &quot;Pocahantas&quot; while hosting Native Americans veterans at the White House Monday.&nbsp;

The Native Americans had been &quot;wind talkers&quot; -- Navajo Indians who helped keep Allied operations secret during World War II.&nbsp;

&quot;You were here long before any of us were here,&quot; Trump said to one of them.

&quot;Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas,&quot; he added.

Trump has continuously referred to Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren as &quot;Pocahontas&quot;.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders disagreed that Trump&#39;s remark was a racial slur and said that Warren&#39;s lies about her ancestry were the offensive part.

Warren has spoken about her mother&#39;s Native American ancestry and has been a political thorn in Trump&#39;s side.

&quot;I think what most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career,&quot; Sanders told reporters.

Trump and the veterans, as they spoke, had been standing beneath a portrait of controversial President Andrew Jackson -- who ordered the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands, causing thousands to die.

Trump has continuously referred to Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren, who has spoken about her mother's Native American ancestry, as 'Pocahontas'

Trump called a Democratic rival "Pocahantas" while hosting Native Americans veterans at the White House Monday. The Native Americans had been "wind talkers" -- Navajo Indians who helped keep Allied operations secret during World War II. "You were here long before any of us were here," Trump said to one of them. "Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas," he added. Trump has continuously referred to Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren as "Pocahontas". White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders disagreed that Trump's remark was a racial slur and said that Warren's lies about her ancestry were the offensive part. Warren has spoken about her mother's Native American ancestry and has been a political thorn in Trump's side. "I think what most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career," Sanders told reporters. Trump and the veterans, as they spoke, had been standing beneath a portrait of controversial President Andrew Jackson -- who ordered the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands, causing thousands to die.

Trump cracks Pocahontas 'joke' while hosting Native American veterans

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/after-bagging-quickest-300-test-wickets-ravichandran-ashwin-now-eyes-to-double-the-record-25268" target="_blank">After bagging quickest 300 Test wickets, Ashwin eyes &#39;super 600&#39;</a>

As&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-india-two-wickets-away-from-crushing-win-against-sri-lanka-25236" target="_blank">India beat Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;by an inning and 239 runs in the Nagpur test today,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/ashwin-breaks-record-as-india-crush-sri-lanka-in-2nd-test-25259" target="_blank">spinner Ravichandran Ashwin penned history</a>&nbsp;by becoming the quickest bowler to collect 300 Test wickets in 54 matches, two shy of Australian pace bowler Dennis Lillee&#39;s who held the record previously.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/prince-harry-announces-his-engagement-to-actress-meghan-markle-25254" target="_blank">Prince Harry announces his engagement to actress Meghan Markle</a>

It is official. Prince Harry of UK is engaged to actress Meghan Markle. The two will be getting married in the spring of 2018, Harry&#39;s father Prince Charles announced in a statement on Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/12-afghan-soldiers-killed-in-attack-by-taliban-25258" target="_blank">12 Afghan soldiers killed in attack by Taliban</a>

Twelve Afghan&nbsp;soldiers have been killed in an attack by Taliban in Nimroz province, reports said. Afghan news agencies reported district governor of Khashrood in Nimroz said the blast occurred due to a&nbsp;roadside bomb. No group has taken responsibility for the attack.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ivanka-trump-in-india-mum-about-working-conditions-of-employees-25249" target="_blank">Ivanka Trump in India, mum about working conditions of employees</a>

The American president&#39;s daughter, who is a White House adviser, will be in the country to promote female entrepreneurship and economic power.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-love-jihad-nia-submits-100-page-report-on-hadiya-25262" target="_blank">Kerala &#39;love jihad&#39;: I want freedom, Hadiya tells Supreme Court</a>

The Supreme Court has directed that Hadiya be&nbsp;taken to college for her studies and that the college should provide her hostel facilities. The next hearing of the case&nbsp;has been postponed the next hearing for&nbsp;the third week of January.&nbsp;

After bagging quickest 300 Test wickets, Ashwin eyes 'super 600' As India beat Sri Lanka by an inning and 239 runs in the Nagpur test today, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin penned history by becoming the quickest bowler to collect 300 Test wickets in 54 matches, two shy of Australian pace bowler Dennis Lillee's who held the record previously. Prince Harry announces his engagement to actress Meghan Markle It is official. Prince Harry of UK is engaged to actress Meghan Markle. The two will be getting married in the spring of 2018, Harry's father Prince Charles announced in a statement on Monday. 12 Afghan soldiers killed in attack by Taliban Twelve Afghan soldiers have been killed in an attack by Taliban in Nimroz province, reports said. Afghan news agencies reported district governor of Khashrood in Nimroz said the blast occurred due to a roadside bomb. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. Ivanka Trump in India, mum about working conditions of employees The American president's daughter, who is a White House adviser, will be in the country to promote female entrepreneurship and economic power. Kerala 'love jihad': I want freedom, Hadiya tells Supreme Court The Supreme Court has directed that Hadiya be taken to college for her studies and that the college should provide her hostel facilities. The next hearing of the case has been postponed the next hearing for the third week of January.

WION Evening News Brief, November 27

Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has &quot;blood on his hands&quot;, and wants to bring extremism into the mainstream politics of Pakistan, a former top American spymaster said on Saturday.

The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder, who has a $10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan yesterday.

&quot;Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with the LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaida on attacks,&quot; Michael Morell, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deputy director, who has also served twice as its acting director, said in a tweet.

Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January.

The fire-brand cleric&#39;s release after&nbsp;midnight&nbsp;came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed.

A deeply concerned US has asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. It also asked Pakistan to ensure that the LeT leader is behind bars.

&quot;NO! JuD is NOT tied to Islamic State. What a rookie... Seriously. Hafiz Saeed&#39;s Release Completes the Political Mainstreaming of Jihadists in Pakistan,&quot; tweeted Christine Fair, a well-known South Asian expert on terrorist groups.

NBC news said Saeed&#39;s release could once again sour US relations with Pakistan.

The New York Times said, for decades, Pakistan has cast a benign eye on groups like LeT which is perceived as an asset because its attacks target Indian soldiers in Kashmir even as the government battles jihadist groups like the Pakistan Taliban that directly threatens the country.

&quot;But despite its pressure on Pakistan to move against militants like Saeed, the United States has also sent mixed messages. Just a month ago, the United States Senate struck down a provision tying American government funding to Pakistan to the country&#39;s efforts to curb Lashkar-e-Taiba&#39;s operations.

&quot;The provision, part of a broader Pentagon-funding legislation that Congress introduced this past summer, would have forced the secretary of defence to certify that Islamabad was thwarting Lashkar-e-Taiba&#39;s activities inside Pakistan or risk $350 million in American assistance,&quot; the Times wrote.

Meanwhile, in an op-ed, The Washington Examiner said the Trump administration &quot;should work with India&quot; to &quot;capture or kill&quot; Saeed.

&quot;Trump should call Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and offer to work with him to capture or kill Saeed,&quot; the daily said, adding that Saeed intends to lead a new Muslim theocratic political bloc in next year&#39;s parliamentary polls.

&quot;Although Pakistan&#39;s electoral commission has refused to certify the bloc, Saeed&#39;s populist power should not be understated. Charismatic and determined, if left unchecked in his political party or terrorist activities, Saeed could destabilise the region,&quot; the daily added.

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the banned LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attack.

Additionally, an expert on terrorist group, said, 'Hafiz Saeed's release completes the political mainstreaming of jihadists in Pakistan'

Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has "blood on his hands", and wants to bring extremism into the mainstream politics of Pakistan, a former top American spymaster said on Saturday. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder, who has a $10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan yesterday. "Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with the LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaida on attacks," Michael Morell, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deputy director, who has also served twice as its acting director, said in a tweet. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. A deeply concerned US has asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. It also asked Pakistan to ensure that the LeT leader is behind bars. "NO! JuD is NOT tied to Islamic State. What a rookie... Seriously. Hafiz Saeed's Release Completes the Political Mainstreaming of Jihadists in Pakistan," tweeted Christine Fair, a well-known South Asian expert on terrorist groups. NBC news said Saeed's release could once again sour US relations with Pakistan. The New York Times said, for decades, Pakistan has cast a benign eye on groups like LeT which is perceived as an asset because its attacks target Indian soldiers in Kashmir even as the government battles jihadist groups like the Pakistan Taliban that directly threatens the country. "But despite its pressure on Pakistan to move against militants like Saeed, the United States has also sent mixed messages. Just a month ago, the United States Senate struck down a provision tying American government funding to Pakistan to the country's efforts to curb Lashkar-e-Taiba's operations. "The provision, part of a broader Pentagon-funding legislation that Congress introduced this past summer, would have forced the secretary of defence to certify that Islamabad was thwarting Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities inside Pakistan or risk $350 million in American assistance," the Times wrote. Meanwhile, in an op-ed, The Washington Examiner said the Trump administration "should work with India" to "capture or kill" Saeed. "Trump should call Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and offer to work with him to capture or kill Saeed," the daily said, adding that Saeed intends to lead a new Muslim theocratic political bloc in next year's parliamentary polls. "Although Pakistan's electoral commission has refused to certify the bloc, Saeed's populist power should not be understated. Charismatic and determined, if left unchecked in his political party or terrorist activities, Saeed could destabilise the region," the daily added. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the banned LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attack.

Hafiz Saeed a terrorist, Trump should work with Modi to kill him: US media

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has begun paying his own legal bills related to the Russia investigation and will no longer cover the costs using political donations to his re-election campaign or the Republican Party, his attorneys confirmed on Friday.

Trump defense lawyer John Dowd said that following payments by the Republican National Committee, the president began paying the bills and now wants to make the party &quot;even.&quot; The RNC confirmed it is no longer paying the bills.

The expenses cover personal lawyers representing Trump in special prosecutor Robert Mueller&#39;s probe of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in last year&#39;s election. Moscow has denied meddling in the election, and Trump has denied any collusion.

The investigation has hounded Trump&#39;s presidency. Mueller already has secured an indictment of Trump&#39;s former campaign chief and another aide, while a third former adviser pleaded guilty.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has offered shifting accounts of his Russia contacts while he was a campaign adviser, including with Moscow&#39;s former ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, and his knowledge of contacts between the campaign and Russian intermediaries.

But Sessions made light of the investigation during a speech on Friday before a conservative lawyers&#39; group.

&quot;Is Ambassador Kislyak in the room? Before I get started here, any Russians?&quot; Sessions said, prompting applause and laughter from the crowd at the Federalist Society event. &quot;Anybody been to Russia? Got a cousin in Russia or something?&quot;

Special White House counsel Ty Cobb said the administration was working with others to establish a legal fund for current and former staffers. Dowd said White House counsel Don McGahn and campaign lawyer Ben Ginsberg of Jones Day are working to structure that fund, which would be subject to rules that prohibit staff from receiving gifts or pro bono legal service.

The president is exempt from those rules, Dowd said.

&quot;The geniuses are working on it,&quot; Dowd said. &quot;If it passes muster with the tax lawyers and accountants, then it has to pass muster with the Office of Government Ethics.&quot;

During former President Bill Clinton&#39;s administration, private funds were raised to cover Clinton&#39;s legal expenses related to the Whitewater investigation. Under former President George W. Bush, a legal fund was set up to help former Bush staffer Lewis &quot;Scooter&quot; Libby, but only after he had left White House employment.

In August, Reuters first reported that the RNC was paying Trump&#39;s legal bills, which amounted to more than $230,000 that month. The payments were made to Trump&#39;s outside legal team, which includes Dowd.

Additionally, Trump&#39;s re-election campaign paid more than $300,000 this year in bills to lawyers representing his son, Donald Trump Jr., according to public disclosures. The campaign did not respond to a request for comment on whether it will continue to pay for Trump Jr&#39;s legal expenses.

The Federal Election Commission allows use of private campaign funds to pay legal bills arising from being a candidate or elected official.

While previous presidential campaigns have used these funds to pay for routine legal matters such as ballot access disputes and compliance requirements, Trump is the first president in the modern campaign finance era to use such funds on the costs of responding to a criminal probe, said election law experts.

Trump defense lawyer John Dowd said that following payments by the Republican National Committee, the president began paying the bills and now wants to make the party "even." The RNC confirmed it is no longer paying the bills.

US President Donald Trump has begun paying his own legal bills related to the Russia investigation and will no longer cover the costs using political donations to his re-election campaign or the Republican Party, his attorneys confirmed on Friday. Trump defense lawyer John Dowd said that following payments by the Republican National Committee, the president began paying the bills and now wants to make the party "even." The RNC confirmed it is no longer paying the bills. The expenses cover personal lawyers representing Trump in special prosecutor Robert Mueller's probe of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in last year's election. Moscow has denied meddling in the election, and Trump has denied any collusion. The investigation has hounded Trump's presidency. Mueller already has secured an indictment of Trump's former campaign chief and another aide, while a third former adviser pleaded guilty. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has offered shifting accounts of his Russia contacts while he was a campaign adviser, including with Moscow's former ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, and his knowledge of contacts between the campaign and Russian intermediaries. But Sessions made light of the investigation during a speech on Friday before a conservative lawyers' group. "Is Ambassador Kislyak in the room? Before I get started here, any Russians?" Sessions said, prompting applause and laughter from the crowd at the Federalist Society event. "Anybody been to Russia? Got a cousin in Russia or something?" Special White House counsel Ty Cobb said the administration was working with others to establish a legal fund for current and former staffers. Dowd said White House counsel Don McGahn and campaign lawyer Ben Ginsberg of Jones Day are working to structure that fund, which would be subject to rules that prohibit staff from receiving gifts or pro bono legal service. The president is exempt from those rules, Dowd said. "The geniuses are working on it," Dowd said. "If it passes muster with the tax lawyers and accountants, then it has to pass muster with the Office of Government Ethics." During former President Bill Clinton's administration, private funds were raised to cover Clinton's legal expenses related to the Whitewater investigation. Under former President George W. Bush, a legal fund was set up to help former Bush staffer Lewis "Scooter" Libby, but only after he had left White House employment. In August, Reuters first reported that the RNC was paying Trump's legal bills, which amounted to more than $230,000 that month. The payments were made to Trump's outside legal team, which includes Dowd. Additionally, Trump's re-election campaign paid more than $300,000 this year in bills to lawyers representing his son, Donald Trump Jr., according to public disclosures. The campaign did not respond to a request for comment on whether it will continue to pay for Trump Jr's legal expenses. The Federal Election Commission allows use of private campaign funds to pay legal bills arising from being a candidate or elected official. While previous presidential campaigns have used these funds to pay for routine legal matters such as ballot access disputes and compliance requirements, Trump is the first president in the modern campaign finance era to use such funds on the costs of responding to a criminal probe, said election law experts.

Trump starts paying his own legal bills on Russia probe: Attorneys

Cards against humanity, a popular card game largely known for its inappropriate responses to questions, has purchased a section of land the along the Mexican-American border in order to stop Donald Trump from building the border wall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cards Against Humanity is said to be a &ldquo;party game for horrible people&rdquo; where &ldquo;one player asks a question from a black card&rdquo; and other players choose amusing and inappropriate responses from the white cards.

The founders of the game have launched a special website called &#39;Card Against Humanity Saves America&#39; which gives all the details about a &#39;holiday promotion&#39;, asking people to spend 15 USD for which they will be given &#39;an illustrated map of the land, a certificate of our promise to fight the wall, some new cards, and a few other surprises&#39;.&nbsp;

Then it introduces this campaign saying - &quot;It&rsquo;s 2017, and the government is being run by a toilet. We have no choice: Cards Against Humanity is going to save America.&quot;

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Cards Against Humanity claims that the government is being run by a toilet. (Others)
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&quot;There&rsquo;s no time for questions&mdash;now is the time to act. You give us $15, and we&rsquo;ll send six America-saving surprises right to your doorstep. It will be fun, it will be weird, and if you voted for Trump, you might want to sit this one out.&quot;

&quot;Donald Trump is a preposterous golem who is afraid of Mexicans. He is so afraid that he wants to build a twenty-billion-dollar wall that everyone knows will accomplish nothing. So we&rsquo;ve purchased a plot of vacant land on the border and retained a law firm specializing in eminent domain to make it as time-consuming and expensive as possible for the wall to get built.&quot;

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For just $15, the game promises an illustrated map of the land, a certificate of promise to fight the wall, some new cards, and a few other surprises, all of which will arrive during the month of December (Others)
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The website mentions that &#39;if one had voted for trump, they must consider sitting this one out&#39;.

In their new anti-Trump antic, they have informed that they will only let 150,000 participate in saving the United States from &ldquo;injustice, lies, racism, the whole enchilada&rdquo;.

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They answered a number of questions, trying to mock the president. (Others)
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Cards against humanity, a popular card game largely known for its inappropriate responses. (Others)
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Trump had pledged to bill a 700-mile huge wall along the border which was estimated to cost $18billion, but internal DHS investigators estimate the cost to be nearly $21billion.&nbsp;

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The government is being run by a toilet. We have no choice... we are going to save America and attempt to keep our brand relevant in 2017 
 
Join in and for $15 we&rsquo;ll send you six America-saving surprises this December: <a href="https://t.co/o1BFmokO9W">https://t.co/o1BFmokO9W</a>
&mdash; CardsAgainstHumanity (@CAH) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAH/status/930484721909460992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

They have purchased a section of land the along the Mexican-American border in order to stop Donald Trump from building the border wall.?

Cards against humanity, a popular card game largely known for its inappropriate responses to questions, has purchased a section of land the along the Mexican-American border in order to stop Donald Trump from building the border wall. Cards Against Humanity is said to be a “party game for horrible people” where “one player asks a question from a black card” and other players choose amusing and inappropriate responses from the white cards. The founders of the game have launched a special website called 'Card Against Humanity Saves America' which gives all the details about a 'holiday promotion', asking people to spend 15 USD for which they will be given 'an illustrated map of the land, a certificate of our promise to fight the wall, some new cards, and a few other surprises'. Then it introduces this campaign saying - "It’s 2017, and the government is being run by a toilet. We have no choice: Cards Against Humanity is going to save America." Cards Against Humanity claims that the government is being run by a toilet. (Others) × "There’s no time for questions—now is the time to act. You give us $15, and we’ll send six America-saving surprises right to your doorstep. It will be fun, it will be weird, and if you voted for Trump, you might want to sit this one out." "Donald Trump is a preposterous golem who is afraid of Mexicans. He is so afraid that he wants to build a twenty-billion-dollar wall that everyone knows will accomplish nothing. So we’ve purchased a plot of vacant land on the border and retained a law firm specializing in eminent domain to make it as time-consuming and expensive as possible for the wall to get built." For just $15, the game promises an illustrated map of the land, a certificate of promise to fight the wall, some new cards, and a few other surprises, all of which will arrive during the month of December (Others) × The website mentions that 'if one had voted for trump, they must consider sitting this one out'. In their new anti-Trump antic, they have informed that they will only let 150,000 participate in saving the United States from “injustice, lies, racism, the whole enchilada”. They answered a number of questions, trying to mock the president. (Others) × Cards against humanity, a popular card game largely known for its inappropriate responses. (Others) × Trump had pledged to bill a 700-mile huge wall along the border which was estimated to cost $18billion, but internal DHS investigators estimate the cost to be nearly $21billion. The government is being run by a toilet. We have no choice... we are going to save America and attempt to keep our brand relevant in 2017 Join in and for $15 we’ll send you six America-saving surprises this December: https://t.co/o1BFmokO9W — CardsAgainstHumanity (@CAH) November 14, 2017 ×

Trump's border wall: 'Cards Against Humanity' buys land on Mexican border

It seems like United States President, Donald Trump has mixed his updates on California and Texas mass shootings and tweeted about the wrong incident.&nbsp;

A gunman opened fire on a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gunman-opens-fire-in-california-school-4-killed-24235">local elementary school</a> in rural Rancho Tehama near Sacramento in California killing at least four people, on Wednesday.

But, Trump wrote about the Texas shooting where an armed man opened fire inside a church, killing around 25 people and wounding about 20 in the deadliest shooting in history for Texas which happened on November 5.&nbsp;

Trump has offered condolences to the wrong shooting on Wednesday&nbsp;in a Tweet which read &ldquo;May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived&quot;&nbsp;

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May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived.
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/930655291569524736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Naturally, people on Twitter soon picked up the mistake and trolled the situation.&nbsp;

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Trump just tweeted about the wrong mass shooting... <a href="https://t.co/tfgXp1TTMh">pic.twitter.com/tfgXp1TTMh</a>
&mdash; Rantt News (@RanttNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/RanttNews/status/930656835606073344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Did u just copy &amp; paste this &amp; forget to change the city?
&mdash; Name cannot be blank (@cadillaccannon) <a href="https://twitter.com/cadillaccannon/status/930660154768535556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Just now? They&#39;re nine days late.
&mdash; Jason (@OMJason) <a href="https://twitter.com/OMJason/status/930655635779309568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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sigh...don&#39;t you get tired of being this dumb? Like I&#39;m exhausted for you.
&mdash; Youse A BIGLY Bum (@kelleent) <a href="https://twitter.com/kelleent/status/930667520285081600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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... a little late? <a href="https://t.co/3Am5gqHH3u">https://t.co/3Am5gqHH3u</a>
&mdash; Bryson (@Bryson_M) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bryson_M/status/930655535782694912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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getting your shootings mixed up, very presidential
&mdash; Bryson (@Bryson_M) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bryson_M/status/930657948228993025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Um. That was last week&#39;s tragedy. We had a new one today in Northern Califorina. 
You might want to ask your physician what &quot;sundowning&quot; means. Seriously.
&mdash; Peter Delacroix (@DocPeteyJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/DocPeteyJ/status/930662416404439041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Nobody is better at uniting the nation during a time of crisis than President Trump!
&mdash; Jacob Wohl (@JacobAWohl) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobAWohl/status/930655580439511040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Trump offered condolences to the wrong shooting on Wednesday.

It seems like United States President, Donald Trump has mixed his updates on California and Texas mass shootings and tweeted about the wrong incident. A gunman opened fire on a local elementary school in rural Rancho Tehama near Sacramento in California killing at least four people, on Wednesday. But, Trump wrote about the Texas shooting where an armed man opened fire inside a church, killing around 25 people and wounding about 20 in the deadliest shooting in history for Texas which happened on November 5. Trump has offered condolences to the wrong shooting on Wednesday in a Tweet which read “May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived" May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017 × Naturally, people on Twitter soon picked up the mistake and trolled the situation. Trump just tweeted about the wrong mass shooting... pic.twitter.com/tfgXp1TTMh — Rantt News (@RanttNews) November 15, 2017 × Did u just copy & paste this & forget to change the city? — Name cannot be blank (@cadillaccannon) November 15, 2017 × Just now? They're nine days late. — Jason (@OMJason) November 15, 2017 × sigh...don't you get tired of being this dumb? Like I'm exhausted for you. — Youse A BIGLY Bum (@kelleent) November 15, 2017 × ... a little late? https://t.co/3Am5gqHH3u — Bryson (@Bryson_M) November 15, 2017 × getting your shootings mixed up, very presidential — Bryson (@Bryson_M) November 15, 2017 × Um. That was last week's tragedy. We had a new one today in Northern Califorina. You might want to ask your physician what "sundowning" means. Seriously. — Peter Delacroix (@DocPeteyJ) November 15, 2017 × Nobody is better at uniting the nation during a time of crisis than President Trump! — Jacob Wohl (@JacobAWohl) November 15, 2017 ×

Trump tweets about the wrong mass shooting, gets trolled

Global warming is likely to be slightly less severe than previously expected thanks to stronger climate policies by China and India that will offset less US&nbsp;action under President Donald Trump, a study showed on Wednesday.

But average world temperatures are still on track to rise far above the key goal set in the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting warming to &quot;well below&quot; two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, it said.

The Carbon Action Tracker (CAT) report, by three independent European research groups, said current policies meant the world was headed for a warming of 3.4 degrees Celsius (6.1 Fahrenheit) by 2100, down from 3.6 degrees (6.5) it predicted a year ago.

&quot;This is the first time since the CAT began tracking action in 2009 that policies at a national level have visibly reduced its end of century temperature estimate,&quot; it said.

China was on track to over-achieve its pledge under the Paris Agreement to peak its carbon emissions by 2030, it said. And India was also making progress to limit a surge in emissions driven by more coal use.

A rise of 3 degrees Celsius (5.4F) in global average temperatures could cause loss of tropical coral reefs, Alpine glaciers, Arctic summer sea ice and perhaps an irreversible melt of Greenland&#39;s ice that would drive up world sea levels, a UN&nbsp;science panel says.

&quot;It is clear who the leaders are here: in the face of US&nbsp;inaction, China and India are stepping up,&quot; said Bill Hare of Climate Analytics, one of the research groups.

Trump, who doubts that climate change is primarily caused by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, said in June that he would instead focus on promoting jobs in the US&nbsp;fossil fuel industry. 
 
Hare told Reuters that it was too early to say that global emissions were peaking.

&quot;While China India&#39;s emissions growth has slowed, they are still growing,&quot; especially in India, he said. &quot;The most fundamental step to halt the global emissions growth now is for coal plants to be phased out in many countries.&quot;

On Monday, another report said that man-made carbon dioxide emissions were on target to rise by 2 percent in 2017, dashing hopes that they had peaked. The main driver was a 3.5 percent rise by China in 2017.

&nbsp;

Global warming is likely to be slightly less severe than previously expected

Global warming is likely to be slightly less severe than previously expected thanks to stronger climate policies by China and India that will offset less US action under President Donald Trump, a study showed on Wednesday. But average world temperatures are still on track to rise far above the key goal set in the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting warming to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, it said. The Carbon Action Tracker (CAT) report, by three independent European research groups, said current policies meant the world was headed for a warming of 3.4 degrees Celsius (6.1 Fahrenheit) by 2100, down from 3.6 degrees (6.5) it predicted a year ago. "This is the first time since the CAT began tracking action in 2009 that policies at a national level have visibly reduced its end of century temperature estimate," it said. China was on track to over-achieve its pledge under the Paris Agreement to peak its carbon emissions by 2030, it said. And India was also making progress to limit a surge in emissions driven by more coal use. A rise of 3 degrees Celsius (5.4F) in global average temperatures could cause loss of tropical coral reefs, Alpine glaciers, Arctic summer sea ice and perhaps an irreversible melt of Greenland's ice that would drive up world sea levels, a UN science panel says. "It is clear who the leaders are here: in the face of US inaction, China and India are stepping up," said Bill Hare of Climate Analytics, one of the research groups. Trump, who doubts that climate change is primarily caused by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, said in June that he would instead focus on promoting jobs in the US fossil fuel industry. Hare told Reuters that it was too early to say that global emissions were peaking. "While China India's emissions growth has slowed, they are still growing," especially in India, he said. "The most fundamental step to halt the global emissions growth now is for coal plants to be phased out in many countries." On Monday, another report said that man-made carbon dioxide emissions were on target to rise by 2 percent in 2017, dashing hopes that they had peaked. The main driver was a 3.5 percent rise by China in 2017.

Climate policies by India, China to offset less US action: Study

The US Justice Department says it has asked prosecutors to examine alleged misconduct at the Clinton Foundation and the controversial Obama-era sale of a uranium firm to Russia, and whether a special counsel might be needed to investigate.

The move, disclosed in a letter to lawmakers, came as Attorney General Jeff Sessions was poised to testify today about election year contacts between members of the Trump campaign and Russia.

As the former head of the Trump campaign&#39;s foreign policy advisory team, sessions can expect a tough grilling from Democrats about what he knew about the contacts.

Sessions have previously testified under oath that he had no knowledge of any collusion with the Russians, but a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller has uncovered contacts by lower level campaign advisers.

As the Russia election meddling probe has heated up, US President Donald Trump, as well as Republican lawmakers, have called for a probe into Hillary Clinton and the sale of a uranium company to Russia under former president Barack Obama.

Yesterday, the Justice Department responded to the Republican demands in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, who also will preside over Tuesday&#39;s hearing with sessions.

Sessions, it said, has directed senior federal prosecutors to evaluate Goodlatte&#39;s request for a special counsel to investigate the uranium sale and &quot;alleged unlawful dealings related to the Clinton Foundation and other matters.&quot;

The prosecutors &quot;will make recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, and whether any matters merit the appointment of a Special Counsel,&quot; it said.

The letter, first obtained by broadcaster NBC News, was signed by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd.

Republican lawmakers in late October announced they were investigating the 2013 sale of Canadian mining company Uranium One to Russian state-owned company Rosatom, which was approved by former president Barack Obama.

The move gave Rosatom control of 20 percent of US uranium stockpiles and was decided after Uranium One made several donations to the Clinton Foundation of former president Bill Clinton.

They are also demanding more clarity on how the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice decided during the height of last year&#39;s White House race to not pursue charges against Clinton over her misuse of a personal email server.

The Justice Department letter said the handling of the Clinton email case was under review by the department&#39;s inspector general, and an assessment would be made of what steps should be taken, if any, once it is completed.

The move was disclosed in a letter to lawmakers

The US Justice Department says it has asked prosecutors to examine alleged misconduct at the Clinton Foundation and the controversial Obama-era sale of a uranium firm to Russia, and whether a special counsel might be needed to investigate. The move, disclosed in a letter to lawmakers, came as Attorney General Jeff Sessions was poised to testify today about election year contacts between members of the Trump campaign and Russia. As the former head of the Trump campaign's foreign policy advisory team, sessions can expect a tough grilling from Democrats about what he knew about the contacts. Sessions have previously testified under oath that he had no knowledge of any collusion with the Russians, but a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller has uncovered contacts by lower level campaign advisers. As the Russia election meddling probe has heated up, US President Donald Trump, as well as Republican lawmakers, have called for a probe into Hillary Clinton and the sale of a uranium company to Russia under former president Barack Obama. Yesterday, the Justice Department responded to the Republican demands in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, who also will preside over Tuesday's hearing with sessions. Sessions, it said, has directed senior federal prosecutors to evaluate Goodlatte's request for a special counsel to investigate the uranium sale and "alleged unlawful dealings related to the Clinton Foundation and other matters." The prosecutors "will make recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, and whether any matters merit the appointment of a Special Counsel," it said. The letter, first obtained by broadcaster NBC News, was signed by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd. Republican lawmakers in late October announced they were investigating the 2013 sale of Canadian mining company Uranium One to Russian state-owned company Rosatom, which was approved by former president Barack Obama. The move gave Rosatom control of 20 percent of US uranium stockpiles and was decided after Uranium One made several donations to the Clinton Foundation of former president Bill Clinton. They are also demanding more clarity on how the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice decided during the height of last year's White House race to not pursue charges against Clinton over her misuse of a personal email server. The Justice Department letter said the handling of the Clinton email case was under review by the department's inspector general, and an assessment would be made of what steps should be taken, if any, once it is completed.

US Justice Department mulls special prosecutor to probe Clinton Foundation

Vietnam and China agreed on Monday to avoid conflicts in the hotly contested South China Sea, as a new pathway to dialogue on easing tensions was opened with other Southeast Asian nations.

The communist neighbours have long sparred over the sea, through which $5 trillion in shipping trade passes annually and which is believed to sit atop vast gas reserves.

Hanoi and Beijing agreed Monday to keep the peace in the sea, the countries said in a joint statement during a state visit to Hanoi by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

They agreed to &quot;well manage disputes at sea, make no moves that may complicate or expand disputes, (and) maintain peace and stability on the East Sea,&quot; the Vietnamese version of the statement said, using Hanoi&#39;s term for the waters.&nbsp;

China claims nearly all of the sea, even approaching the coasts of its neighbours. It is also partly claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan in addition to Vietnam.

China has in recent years built artificial islands and airstrips capable of hosting military installations in contested areas to cement its claims, inflaming tensions with its neighbours.

Relations between China and Vietnam hit a low in 2014 when Beijing moved an oil rig into waters claimed by Vietnam, sparking weeks of protests.&nbsp;

There have been two armed conflicts between China and Vietnam in the sea -- brief clashes in 1974 and 1988 that claimed the lives of dozens of Vietnamese troops.&nbsp;

On Sunday US President Donald Trump offered to help Vietnam resolve the long-simmering tensions.&nbsp;

&quot;If I can help mediate or arbitrate, please let me know... I am a very good mediator,&quot; Trump said on his own state visit to Hanoi at the tail end of his marathon tour of Asia.&nbsp;

Vietnam offered no response.

And China, which has long insisted the United States has no role to play in the dispute, spoke out against what it deemed foreign interference.

&quot;We hope non-regional countries can respect the regional countries&#39; efforts in maintaining the regional stability of the South China Sea and play a constructive role in this aspect,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

More talks agreed&nbsp;

Trump was in Manila on Monday for meetings with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and several other countries.

At that meeting, China and ASEAN, which includes Vietnam, announced on Monday night they had agreed to begin talks on a much-delayed code of conduct for the sea.&nbsp;

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sealed the accord with the ASEAN leaders in Manila, according to China&#39;s state-run Xinhua news agency.

However, no timeframe was announced for an actual code.

China initially agreed in 2002 to begin talks on a code but delayed doing so while carrying out its expansionist strategy. And at China&#39;s insistence, ASEAN also agreed in August that any future code would not be legally binding, despite a strong push from Vietnam.

After the Philippines backed China&#39;s position, ASEAN agreed it would not have legal force.

The Philippines had for many years stood alongside Vietnam as one of the region&#39;s strongest opponents to Chinese expansionism.

Following Manila&#39;s complaint to a United Nations-backed tribunal, the panel ruled last year that China&#39;s territorial claims in the sea were without legal basis.

But the Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte took office last year, decided not to use the ruling to pressure China.

He instead chose to build closer ties in return for billions of dollars in investments and aid.

Critics accused Duterte of giving in to Beijing. But he said his tactics had eased tensions and opened the door to dialogue.

China and ASEAN, which includes Vietnam, announced on Monday night they had agreed to begin talks on a much-delayed code of conduct for the sea

Vietnam and China agreed on Monday to avoid conflicts in the hotly contested South China Sea, as a new pathway to dialogue on easing tensions was opened with other Southeast Asian nations. The communist neighbours have long sparred over the sea, through which $5 trillion in shipping trade passes annually and which is believed to sit atop vast gas reserves. Hanoi and Beijing agreed Monday to keep the peace in the sea, the countries said in a joint statement during a state visit to Hanoi by Chinese President Xi Jinping. They agreed to "well manage disputes at sea, make no moves that may complicate or expand disputes, (and) maintain peace and stability on the East Sea," the Vietnamese version of the statement said, using Hanoi's term for the waters. China claims nearly all of the sea, even approaching the coasts of its neighbours. It is also partly claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan in addition to Vietnam. China has in recent years built artificial islands and airstrips capable of hosting military installations in contested areas to cement its claims, inflaming tensions with its neighbours. Relations between China and Vietnam hit a low in 2014 when Beijing moved an oil rig into waters claimed by Vietnam, sparking weeks of protests. There have been two armed conflicts between China and Vietnam in the sea -- brief clashes in 1974 and 1988 that claimed the lives of dozens of Vietnamese troops. On Sunday US President Donald Trump offered to help Vietnam resolve the long-simmering tensions. "If I can help mediate or arbitrate, please let me know... I am a very good mediator," Trump said on his own state visit to Hanoi at the tail end of his marathon tour of Asia. Vietnam offered no response. And China, which has long insisted the United States has no role to play in the dispute, spoke out against what it deemed foreign interference. "We hope non-regional countries can respect the regional countries' efforts in maintaining the regional stability of the South China Sea and play a constructive role in this aspect," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. More talks agreed Trump was in Manila on Monday for meetings with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and several other countries. At that meeting, China and ASEAN, which includes Vietnam, announced on Monday night they had agreed to begin talks on a much-delayed code of conduct for the sea. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sealed the accord with the ASEAN leaders in Manila, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. However, no timeframe was announced for an actual code. China initially agreed in 2002 to begin talks on a code but delayed doing so while carrying out its expansionist strategy. And at China's insistence, ASEAN also agreed in August that any future code would not be legally binding, despite a strong push from Vietnam. After the Philippines backed China's position, ASEAN agreed it would not have legal force. The Philippines had for many years stood alongside Vietnam as one of the region's strongest opponents to Chinese expansionism. Following Manila's complaint to a United Nations-backed tribunal, the panel ruled last year that China's territorial claims in the sea were without legal basis. But the Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte took office last year, decided not to use the ruling to pressure China. He instead chose to build closer ties in return for billions of dollars in investments and aid. Critics accused Duterte of giving in to Beijing. But he said his tactics had eased tensions and opened the door to dialogue.

Vietnam, China agree to avoid conflicts in South China Sea

China today said that regional cooperation should neither be politicised nor exclusionary, responding to US President Donald Trump&#39;s use of the term &quot;Indo-Pacific&quot; during his trip to Asia.

&quot;Indo-Pacific&quot; has grown in usage across diplomatic and security circles in Australia, India and Japan in recent years, shorthand for a broader and democratic-led region in place of the &quot;Asia-Pacific&quot;, which to some places an authoritarian China too firmly at the centre.

Trump and his team have given it fresh currency in recent days, starting during stops in Tokyo and Seoul, building on the rhetoric of his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who last month talked of the need to support a &quot;free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific&quot;.

Although Trump was addressing a meeting alongside the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in the Vietnamese city of Danang on Friday, he repeatedly referred to the Indo-Pacific region and mentioned the importance of India in his speech.

Asked about China&#39;s view of the Indo-Pacific concept, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that peaceful development and win-win cooperation were the trends of the times.

&quot;All sides can come up with their own plans and positions on how to promote regional cooperation,&quot; Geng told a daily news briefing in Beijing.

&quot;But we hope that plans and positions can accord with and conform to this trend, can suit the general trend of events in the world, and that the relevant plans and positions are open and inclusive, benefiting the promotion of win-win cooperation by all sides, and avoid politicised or exclusionary arrangements.&quot;

China has been busy promoting President Xi Jinping&#39;s Belt and Road initiative, an extensive infrastructure plan to recreate the ancient Silk Road, linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe, which critics say is more about spreading Chinese influence.

China says it is simply a development project for common prosperity that any country is welcome to join.

'Indo-Pacific' has grown in usage across diplomatic and security circles in Australia, India and Japan in recent years

China today said that regional cooperation should neither be politicised nor exclusionary, responding to US President Donald Trump's use of the term "Indo-Pacific" during his trip to Asia. "Indo-Pacific" has grown in usage across diplomatic and security circles in Australia, India and Japan in recent years, shorthand for a broader and democratic-led region in place of the "Asia-Pacific", which to some places an authoritarian China too firmly at the centre. Trump and his team have given it fresh currency in recent days, starting during stops in Tokyo and Seoul, building on the rhetoric of his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who last month talked of the need to support a "free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific". Although Trump was addressing a meeting alongside the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in the Vietnamese city of Danang on Friday, he repeatedly referred to the Indo-Pacific region and mentioned the importance of India in his speech. Asked about China's view of the Indo-Pacific concept, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that peaceful development and win-win cooperation were the trends of the times. "All sides can come up with their own plans and positions on how to promote regional cooperation," Geng told a daily news briefing in Beijing. "But we hope that plans and positions can accord with and conform to this trend, can suit the general trend of events in the world, and that the relevant plans and positions are open and inclusive, benefiting the promotion of win-win cooperation by all sides, and avoid politicised or exclusionary arrangements." China has been busy promoting President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative, an extensive infrastructure plan to recreate the ancient Silk Road, linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe, which critics say is more about spreading Chinese influence. China says it is simply a development project for common prosperity that any country is welcome to join.

Trump says 'Indo Pacific' & not 'Asia Pacific', China reacts

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015">PM Modi in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015">Philippines</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015">today for</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-arrive-in-philippines-today-for-asean-summit-24015"> ASEAN Summit</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his three-day visit to the Philippines today, key features of which will be his participation in the ASEAN Summit on November 13 and the the 12th East Asia summit and ASEAN business and investment summit on Tuesday. &nbsp;

The Prime Minister will also meet some of the other world leaders, who are participating in both summits including US President Donald Trump, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Brunei&#39;s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. 
 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lebanon-asks-saudi-arabia-for-explanation-on-pms-absence-24014">Lebanon asks Saudi Arabia for explanation on PM&#39;s absence</a>

Lebanon&#39;s president urged Saudi Arabia on Saturday to explain why Saad Hariri had not returned to Beirut since his surprise resignation as prime minister a week ago.

Hariri announced on November 4 in a televised statement from Riyadh that he would be stepping down from the post, sending shock waves through Lebanese politics.&nbsp;

The premier has yet to return to Lebanon and rumours have swirled that he is being held in Saudi Arabia against his will.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-doctors-strike-14-arrested-100-others-agree-to-resume-work-24016">Rajasthan doctors&#39; strike: 14 arrested, 100 others agree to resume work</a>

Fourteen doctors have been detained under the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenace Act (RESMA) for refusing to call off their strike.

The state police launched a search operation on Thursday evening for the rest while 100 other agitating doctors agreed to resume their work. 
 
The health services in four districts of Rajasthan have taken a plunge after over 8,000 government doctors in Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar districts went on strike on Monday over various demands that include the formation of a separate cadre of in-service doctors, Rs 10,000 grade pay benefit, and running government health centers in a single shift.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-putin-agree-no-military-solution-in-syria-24012">Trump, Putin agree &#39;no military solution&#39; in Syria</a>

The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was &quot;no military solution&quot; to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/woman-and-child-towed-away-in-car-by-police-24001">Mumbai cop tow car with sick woman breastfeeding baby</a> 
 
In a ghastly incident, a Mumbai Police constable towed away a car with a sick&nbsp;woman seated in the&nbsp;rear seat breastfeeding her&nbsp;seven-month-old child.

Reports say&nbsp;the policeman decided to tow away the car&nbsp;due to illegal parking. 
&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mXoU-pOCfqU" width="770"></iframe>

PM Modi in Philippines today for ASEAN Summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his three-day visit to the Philippines today, key features of which will be his participation in the ASEAN Summit on November 13 and the the 12th East Asia summit and ASEAN business and investment summit on Tuesday. The Prime Minister will also meet some of the other world leaders, who are participating in both summits including US President Donald Trump, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. Lebanon asks Saudi Arabia for explanation on PM's absence Lebanon's president urged Saudi Arabia on Saturday to explain why Saad Hariri had not returned to Beirut since his surprise resignation as prime minister a week ago. Hariri announced on November 4 in a televised statement from Riyadh that he would be stepping down from the post, sending shock waves through Lebanese politics. The premier has yet to return to Lebanon and rumours have swirled that he is being held in Saudi Arabia against his will. Rajasthan doctors' strike: 14 arrested, 100 others agree to resume work Fourteen doctors have been detained under the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenace Act (RESMA) for refusing to call off their strike. The state police launched a search operation on Thursday evening for the rest while 100 other agitating doctors agreed to resume their work. The health services in four districts of Rajasthan have taken a plunge after over 8,000 government doctors in Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar districts went on strike on Monday over various demands that include the formation of a separate cadre of in-service doctors, Rs 10,000 grade pay benefit, and running government health centers in a single shift. Trump, Putin agree 'no military solution' in Syria The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was "no military solution" to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam. The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war. Mumbai cop tow car with sick woman breastfeeding baby In a ghastly incident, a Mumbai Police constable towed away a car with a sick woman seated in the rear seat breastfeeding her seven-month-old child. Reports say the policeman decided to tow away the car due to illegal parking.

Morning news brief, November 12, 2017: Top 5 stories

The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was &quot;no military solution&quot; to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

There had been mixed messages for days from both Moscow and the White House on whether President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would hold face-to-face discussions during the APEC summit in Danang.

The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war.

The US and Russia have backed competing factions in the bloody conflict, and agreement on the next steps towards peace is rare.

&quot;The presidents agreed that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria,&quot; the statement said, adding that the two sides &quot;confirmed their determination to defeat ISIS&quot; -- an alternative name for the Islamic State jihadist group.

The statement added that the two sides had agreed to keep military channels open to avoid potential clashes over Syria and urged the warring sides to participate in UN-led peace talks in Geneva.

Russia has run a major bombing campaign in Syria since 2015, when it stepped in to support President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s fight against rebels -- some of them US-backed -- tipping the conflict in his favour.

The Russian military has recently accused the United States of merely &quot;pretending&quot; to fight IS in Iraq and of hindering the Russian-backed offensive in eastern Syria.

But Saturday&#39;s joint statement expressed satisfaction with efforts to prevent incidents between their respective forces in Syria.

&quot;The Presidents affirmed their commitment to Syria&#39;s sovereignty, unity, independence, territorial integrity, and non-sectarian character,&quot; it said.

According to senior State Department officials, the statement was the result of &quot;months of fairly intense discussions&quot; and was finalised on the margins of the APEC summit between diplomats.

It represents Russia&#39;s firm committment to the UN-backed peace process, one of the officials said.

&quot;We made very clear that there will not be any reconstruction aid in Syria until there is a meaningful political process moving along the timeline,&quot; he said.

&quot;I cannot speak to the Russians, but I think it might be one of the reasons why they clearly committed to the fact that the ultimate resolution to the civil war will be under the Geneva process,&quot; he added.

A new round of talks is scheduled to be held in Geneva from November 28, the UN special envoy for Syria announced Thursday.

There have been seven previous sessions between the Syrian regime and the opposition, which failed to overcome the main obstacle -- the fate of President Assad.

Haunted relationship 
 
Trump&#39;s relationship with Moscow has haunted the first year of his presidency, with key former aides under a US investigation for alleged collaboration with the Kremlin.

Putin and Trump last held face-to-face talks at a G20 summit earlier in the year, and there was intense speculation over whether they would so do again in Danang.&nbsp;

After the pair met on the sidelines of the APEC summit, Trump said he believes Putin was sincere when he denied meddling in the US election that propelled Trump to power, adding that the Russian leader felt &quot;very insulted&quot; by the allegations.

Overly amicable talks between Trump and Putin in Vietnam risked being an awkward sell for the White House, as it vigorously denies any undue links with the Kremlin. 
&nbsp;

The US and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was 'no military solution' to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam

The United States and Russia issued a presidential joint statement saying there was "no military solution" to the war in Syria after their leaders met briefly on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam. There had been mixed messages for days from both Moscow and the White House on whether President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would hold face-to-face discussions during the APEC summit in Danang. The statement, issued by officials from both sides, said the two presidents had made progress on Syria, which has been battered by six years of civil war. The US and Russia have backed competing factions in the bloody conflict, and agreement on the next steps towards peace is rare. "The presidents agreed that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria," the statement said, adding that the two sides "confirmed their determination to defeat ISIS" -- an alternative name for the Islamic State jihadist group. The statement added that the two sides had agreed to keep military channels open to avoid potential clashes over Syria and urged the warring sides to participate in UN-led peace talks in Geneva. Russia has run a major bombing campaign in Syria since 2015, when it stepped in to support President Bashar al-Assad's fight against rebels -- some of them US-backed -- tipping the conflict in his favour. The Russian military has recently accused the United States of merely "pretending" to fight IS in Iraq and of hindering the Russian-backed offensive in eastern Syria. But Saturday's joint statement expressed satisfaction with efforts to prevent incidents between their respective forces in Syria. "The Presidents affirmed their commitment to Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence, territorial integrity, and non-sectarian character," it said. According to senior State Department officials, the statement was the result of "months of fairly intense discussions" and was finalised on the margins of the APEC summit between diplomats. It represents Russia's firm committment to the UN-backed peace process, one of the officials said. "We made very clear that there will not be any reconstruction aid in Syria until there is a meaningful political process moving along the timeline," he said. "I cannot speak to the Russians, but I think it might be one of the reasons why they clearly committed to the fact that the ultimate resolution to the civil war will be under the Geneva process," he added. A new round of talks is scheduled to be held in Geneva from November 28, the UN special envoy for Syria announced Thursday. There have been seven previous sessions between the Syrian regime and the opposition, which failed to overcome the main obstacle -- the fate of President Assad. Haunted relationship Trump's relationship with Moscow has haunted the first year of his presidency, with key former aides under a US investigation for alleged collaboration with the Kremlin. Putin and Trump last held face-to-face talks at a G20 summit earlier in the year, and there was intense speculation over whether they would so do again in Danang. After the pair met on the sidelines of the APEC summit, Trump said he believes Putin was sincere when he denied meddling in the US election that propelled Trump to power, adding that the Russian leader felt "very insulted" by the allegations. Overly amicable talks between Trump and Putin in Vietnam risked being an awkward sell for the White House, as it vigorously denies any undue links with the Kremlin.

Trump, Putin agree 'no military solution' in Syria

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump will hold bilateral talks here on Monday.

The two will hold the meeting on the sidelines of the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) India summit and the 12th East Asia Summit in the Philippine capital.

The two leaders also met briefly on Sunday as they arrived for the event.

Later, PM Modi and Trump also posed for a family photograph with others leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, participating in the event.

Prime Minister Modi is on a three-day visit to Manila to attend the ASEAN India summit and East Asia Summit on November 14. Terror and Trade related issues will be on top of Modi&#39;s agenda during his visit.

Meanwhile, Philippines is the last leg of Trump&#39;s five-nation tour of Asia that also took him to Japan, China and South Korea.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will participate in special celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN.

The Prime Minister will also attend the ASEAN business and investment summit on November 13 and regional comprehensive economic partnership meeting on November 14 in Manila.

Prime Minister Modi will also meet the members of the Indian community at a reception to be hosted by the Indian envoy in Philippines.

He will also visit the international rice research institute and the Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

&nbsp;

The two will hold the meeting on the sidelines of the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) India summit and the 12th East Asia Summit in the Philippine capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump will hold bilateral talks here on Monday. The two will hold the meeting on the sidelines of the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) India summit and the 12th East Asia Summit in the Philippine capital. The two leaders also met briefly on Sunday as they arrived for the event. Later, PM Modi and Trump also posed for a family photograph with others leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, participating in the event. Prime Minister Modi is on a three-day visit to Manila to attend the ASEAN India summit and East Asia Summit on November 14. Terror and Trade related issues will be on top of Modi's agenda during his visit. Meanwhile, Philippines is the last leg of Trump's five-nation tour of Asia that also took him to Japan, China and South Korea. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will participate in special celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. The Prime Minister will also attend the ASEAN business and investment summit on November 13 and regional comprehensive economic partnership meeting on November 14 in Manila. Prime Minister Modi will also meet the members of the Indian community at a reception to be hosted by the Indian envoy in Philippines. He will also visit the international rice research institute and the Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

PM Modi, Trump to hold bilateral talks in Manila

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump landed in the Philippines on Sunday for a summit of Southeast and East Asian nations, hours after offering to mediate on competing claims to the South China Sea that have long stoked tensions in the region.

It will be the last leg of a marathon Asia tour that, despite Trump&#39;s &quot;America First&quot; policy, may reassure some that his administration remains committed to a region that Beijing sees as its strategic domain.

In Vietnam earlier on Sunday, Trump said he was prepared to mediate in the dispute over the South China Sea, where four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan contest China&#39;s sweeping claims to the busy waterway.

But Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, host of two days of summit meetings that will bring together Southeast Asian and East Asian nations, said the thorny issue was better left untouched. All the claimants will be at the summit, except for Taiwan.

&quot;We have to be friends, the other hotheads would like us to confront China and the rest of the world on so many issues,&quot; Duterte said at a pre-summit business conference in Manila.

&quot;The South China Sea is better left untouched, nobody can afford to go to war. It can ill-afford a violent confrontation.&quot;

The United States and its former colony, the Philippines, have been strategic allies since World War Two.

Trump is expected to try during the summit to shore up relations, which have been strained by the mercurial Duterte&#39;s notorious anti-US&nbsp;sentiment and his enthusiasm for better ties with Russia and China.

Police used water canon to prevent hundreds of protesters reaching the US&nbsp;embassy in Manila ahead of Trump&#39;s arrival.

Carrying placards declaring &quot;Dump Trump&quot; and &quot;Down with US&nbsp;Imperialism&quot;, the left-wing protesters were blocked by police in riot gear with shields and batons, and then showered with jets of water from a fire engine.

&quot;Trump is the CEO of the imperialist government of the US, said 18-year-old student Alexis Danday after the protesters were scattered. &quot;We know he is here to push for unfair treaties between the Philippines and the US&quot;

On a tour that has taken him to Japan, South Korea, China and Vietnam, Trump and his team have repeatedly used the term &quot;Indo-Pacific&quot; instead of &quot;Asia-Pacific&quot; for the region, which some see as an effort to depict it as more than China-dominated.

Pacific Rim nation leaders agreed in Vietnam on Saturday to address &quot;unfair trade practices&quot; and &quot;market distorting subsidies&quot;, a statement that bore the imprint of Trump&#39;s efforts to reshape the global trade landscape.

The summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Vietnam put on show the contrasting vision of the &quot;America First&quot; policy with the traditional consensus favouring multinational deals that China now seeks to champion.

Leaders at the Philippines summit will discuss the South China Sea, but mainly to agree on a procedural step to cool tensions.

In August, foreign ministers of Southeast Asia and China adopted a negotiating framework for a code of conduct in the resource-rich waterway, a move they hailed as progress but one seen by critics as a tactic to buy China time to consolidate its power.

The framework seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea. The DOC has mostly been ignored by claimant states, particularly China, which has built seven man-made islands in disputed waters, three of them equipped with runways, surface-to-air missiles and radars.

The framework will be endorsed by China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday, a diplomat from one of the regional bloc&#39;s countries said.

Others who will be in Manila for the summit meetings include Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and leaders from Japan, Canada, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

It will be the last leg of a marathon Asia tour that, despite Trump's "America First" policy, may reassure some that his administration remains committed to a region that Beijing sees as its strategic domain.

US President Donald Trump landed in the Philippines on Sunday for a summit of Southeast and East Asian nations, hours after offering to mediate on competing claims to the South China Sea that have long stoked tensions in the region. It will be the last leg of a marathon Asia tour that, despite Trump's "America First" policy, may reassure some that his administration remains committed to a region that Beijing sees as its strategic domain. In Vietnam earlier on Sunday, Trump said he was prepared to mediate in the dispute over the South China Sea, where four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan contest China's sweeping claims to the busy waterway. But Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, host of two days of summit meetings that will bring together Southeast Asian and East Asian nations, said the thorny issue was better left untouched. All the claimants will be at the summit, except for Taiwan. "We have to be friends, the other hotheads would like us to confront China and the rest of the world on so many issues," Duterte said at a pre-summit business conference in Manila. "The South China Sea is better left untouched, nobody can afford to go to war. It can ill-afford a violent confrontation." The United States and its former colony, the Philippines, have been strategic allies since World War Two. Trump is expected to try during the summit to shore up relations, which have been strained by the mercurial Duterte's notorious anti-US sentiment and his enthusiasm for better ties with Russia and China. Police used water canon to prevent hundreds of protesters reaching the US embassy in Manila ahead of Trump's arrival. Carrying placards declaring "Dump Trump" and "Down with US Imperialism", the left-wing protesters were blocked by police in riot gear with shields and batons, and then showered with jets of water from a fire engine. "Trump is the CEO of the imperialist government of the US, said 18-year-old student Alexis Danday after the protesters were scattered. "We know he is here to push for unfair treaties between the Philippines and the US" On a tour that has taken him to Japan, South Korea, China and Vietnam, Trump and his team have repeatedly used the term "Indo-Pacific" instead of "Asia-Pacific" for the region, which some see as an effort to depict it as more than China-dominated. Pacific Rim nation leaders agreed in Vietnam on Saturday to address "unfair trade practices" and "market distorting subsidies", a statement that bore the imprint of Trump's efforts to reshape the global trade landscape. The summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Vietnam put on show the contrasting vision of the "America First" policy with the traditional consensus favouring multinational deals that China now seeks to champion. Leaders at the Philippines summit will discuss the South China Sea, but mainly to agree on a procedural step to cool tensions. In August, foreign ministers of Southeast Asia and China adopted a negotiating framework for a code of conduct in the resource-rich waterway, a move they hailed as progress but one seen by critics as a tactic to buy China time to consolidate its power. The framework seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea. The DOC has mostly been ignored by claimant states, particularly China, which has built seven man-made islands in disputed waters, three of them equipped with runways, surface-to-air missiles and radars. The framework will be endorsed by China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday, a diplomat from one of the regional bloc's countries said. Others who will be in Manila for the summit meetings include Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and leaders from Japan, Canada, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Trump lands in Philippines, offers to mediate on South China Sea

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and several other world leaders will descend in Manila on Sunday for the ASEAN summit which is set to extensively deliberate on evolving security challenges facing South East Asia.

The annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), a grouping of 10 influential countries, is taking place amid China&#39;s aggressive behaviour in the disputed the South China Sea and North Korea&#39;s nuclear missile tests and both these issues are likely to figure prominently during discussions among the leaders, a senior diplomat said here.

Prime Minister Modi will attend the 15th ASEAN-India summit and 12th East Asia summit on November 14 during which he is likely to reassert India&#39;s call for crafting a coordinated global initiative in dealing with traditional and non-traditional threats facing the region.

The ties between India and ASEAN have been on an upswing in the last few years with the focus being on ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence.

&quot;Every single country in the ASEAN region wants India to be more engaged in the region in every possible way. That is the real synergy we have with ASEAN,&quot; Indian Ambassador to Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar told Press Trust of India.

The US, France and Japan have been pitching for a larger role by India in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region where China has been trying to increase its military presence.

Majumdar said terrorism is going to be one of the issues that will be discussed not only during the ASEAN summit but also at the East Asia summit.

He said several documents are going to be adopted with an aim to contain terrorism, including one on stopping money laundering for the purpose of terrorism.

Besides holding bilateral talks with Philippines&#39; President Rodrigo Duterte, Modi is expected to meet many leaders attending the two summits, including President Trump.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev are among other prominent leaders who are scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit.

While ASEAN summit is likely to focus more on trade and investment-related issues, leaders at the East Asia Summit are expected to delve deep into issues relating to maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation and migration.

Apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US.

In the ASEAN-India summit, both sides are expected to explore ways to further enhance trade and investment ties.

The ASEAN region along with India together comprises the combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one-fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated to be over $3.8 trillion.

Investment from ASEAN to India has been over $70 billion in the last 17 years, accounting for more than 17 per cent of India&#39;s total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

India&#39;s investment in ASEAN during the same period has been more than $40 billion.

India&#39;s proposal to host an international conference on countering radicalisation may also be discussed during the deliberations at Manila as New Delhi is now looking at finalising the dates for the conclave.

Prime minister Modi will also participate in the ASEAN business and investment summit as well as a meeting of leaders of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The RCEP, comprising 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries &mdash; India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand &mdash; is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact.

In his maiden visit to the Philippines as the prime minister, Modi will also attend a reception by the Indian community and visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Donald Trump and ther leaders to arrive in Manila tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and several other world leaders will descend in Manila on Sunday for the ASEAN summit which is set to extensively deliberate on evolving security challenges facing South East Asia. The annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), a grouping of 10 influential countries, is taking place amid China's aggressive behaviour in the disputed the South China Sea and North Korea's nuclear missile tests and both these issues are likely to figure prominently during discussions among the leaders, a senior diplomat said here. Prime Minister Modi will attend the 15th ASEAN-India summit and 12th East Asia summit on November 14 during which he is likely to reassert India's call for crafting a coordinated global initiative in dealing with traditional and non-traditional threats facing the region. The ties between India and ASEAN have been on an upswing in the last few years with the focus being on ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence. "Every single country in the ASEAN region wants India to be more engaged in the region in every possible way. That is the real synergy we have with ASEAN," Indian Ambassador to Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar told Press Trust of India. The US, France and Japan have been pitching for a larger role by India in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region where China has been trying to increase its military presence. Majumdar said terrorism is going to be one of the issues that will be discussed not only during the ASEAN summit but also at the East Asia summit. He said several documents are going to be adopted with an aim to contain terrorism, including one on stopping money laundering for the purpose of terrorism. Besides holding bilateral talks with Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte, Modi is expected to meet many leaders attending the two summits, including President Trump. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev are among other prominent leaders who are scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit. While ASEAN summit is likely to focus more on trade and investment-related issues, leaders at the East Asia Summit are expected to delve deep into issues relating to maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation and migration. Apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US. In the ASEAN-India summit, both sides are expected to explore ways to further enhance trade and investment ties. The ASEAN region along with India together comprises the combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one-fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated to be over $3.8 trillion. Investment from ASEAN to India has been over $70 billion in the last 17 years, accounting for more than 17 per cent of India's total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). India's investment in ASEAN during the same period has been more than $40 billion. India's proposal to host an international conference on countering radicalisation may also be discussed during the deliberations at Manila as New Delhi is now looking at finalising the dates for the conclave. Prime minister Modi will also participate in the ASEAN business and investment summit as well as a meeting of leaders of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP, comprising 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries — India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand — is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact. In his maiden visit to the Philippines as the prime minister, Modi will also attend a reception by the Indian community and visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Mahavir Philippines Foundation.

Modi likely to reassert call for crafting global initiative to deal with threats at ASEAN summit

&nbsp;Former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has accused the United States of colluding with ISIS&nbsp;in his country.

&quot;In my view under the full presence, surveillance, military, political, intelligence, Daesh&nbsp;(Arabic name of the IS)&nbsp;has emerged,&quot; Karzai said in an interview to Al Jazeera.

Karzai said that the US allowed Daeshto flourish inside Afghanistan.

&quot;The Trump administration made IS as an excuse to drop a massive bomb in Afghanistan on April 2017&quot;, he said.

&quot;And the next day, Daesh takes the next district in Afghanistan. That proves to us that there is a hand in it and that hand can be no one else but them in Afghanistan,&quot; the former Afghan leader added.

The US military had dropped a GBU-43, most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the Achin district of Afghanistan&#39;s Nangarhar province in April.

The explosive, also known as the &#39;mother of all bombs&#39;m(MOAB), was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area, the report said.

Meanwhile, in the interview, Karzai also said that he welcomed a recent call by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan, including those committed during his tenure in office.

The Trump administration made IS as an excuse to drop a massive bomb in Afghanistan on April 2017

Former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has accused the United States of colluding with ISIS in his country. "In my view under the full presence, surveillance, military, political, intelligence, Daesh (Arabic name of the IS) has emerged," Karzai said in an interview to Al Jazeera. Karzai said that the US allowed Daeshto flourish inside Afghanistan. "The Trump administration made IS as an excuse to drop a massive bomb in Afghanistan on April 2017", he said. "And the next day, Daesh takes the next district in Afghanistan. That proves to us that there is a hand in it and that hand can be no one else but them in Afghanistan," the former Afghan leader added. The US military had dropped a GBU-43, most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province in April. The explosive, also known as the 'mother of all bombs'm(MOAB), was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area, the report said. Meanwhile, in the interview, Karzai also said that he welcomed a recent call by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan, including those committed during his tenure in office.

US colluded with IS in Afghanistan: Karzai

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