US President Donald Trump on Friday said the Asia-Pacific region was being held hostage by the &quot;twisted fantasies&quot; of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, as he called on countries to stand united against Pyongyang.

Trump has embarked on a tour of Asia this week trying to rally regional support for curbing North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons programme, warning that time is running out over the crisis.

&quot;The future of this region and its beautiful people must not be held hostage to a dictator&#39;s twisted fantasies of violent conquest and nuclear blackmail,&quot; he said during a speech in Vietnam to the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The region, he added, must &quot;stand united in declaring that every single step the North Korean regime takes toward more weapons is a step it takes into greater and greater danger&quot;.

The US administration thinks China&#39;s economic leverage over North Korea is the key to strong-arming Pyongyang into halting its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.

On Thursday, Trump was in Beijing meeting President Xi Jinping, where he called on China to &quot;act fast&quot; over North Korea.&nbsp;&quot;China can fix this problem easily and quickly, and I am calling on China and your great president to hopefully work on it very hard,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Washington has also worked in recent months to convince allies across Asia to oppose Pyongyang, an issue that will remain prominent during his two day trip to Vietnam, which is currently hosting a major regional summit. Alongside Trump, the leaders of Japan, Russia, China and South Korea are also attending the APEC summit.

'The future of this region and its beautiful people must not be held hostage to a dictator's twisted fantasies of violent conquest and nuclear blackmail,' he said

US President Donald Trump on Friday said the Asia-Pacific region was being held hostage by the "twisted fantasies" of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, as he called on countries to stand united against Pyongyang. Trump has embarked on a tour of Asia this week trying to rally regional support for curbing North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, warning that time is running out over the crisis. "The future of this region and its beautiful people must not be held hostage to a dictator's twisted fantasies of violent conquest and nuclear blackmail," he said during a speech in Vietnam to the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The region, he added, must "stand united in declaring that every single step the North Korean regime takes toward more weapons is a step it takes into greater and greater danger". The US administration thinks China's economic leverage over North Korea is the key to strong-arming Pyongyang into halting its nuclear weapons and missile programmes. On Thursday, Trump was in Beijing meeting President Xi Jinping, where he called on China to "act fast" over North Korea. "China can fix this problem easily and quickly, and I am calling on China and your great president to hopefully work on it very hard," he said. Washington has also worked in recent months to convince allies across Asia to oppose Pyongyang, an issue that will remain prominent during his two day trip to Vietnam, which is currently hosting a major regional summit. Alongside Trump, the leaders of Japan, Russia, China and South Korea are also attending the APEC summit.

Trump says Asia held hostage by North Korea's 'twisted fantasies'

&nbsp;

US President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea&#39;s nuclear threats.

After warning North Korea&#39;s &quot;cruel dictatorship&quot; against testing the United States during a speech in Seoul,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and First Lady Melania&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;were met by Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for tea at the former imperial palace.

But the genial gathering will be followed on Thursday by a full day of thorny talks, with&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;looking to prod Xi into doing more to squeeze North Korea economically and to address China&#39;s massive trade surplus with the United States.

The&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration sees Beijing as the key to controlling Pyongyang, which depends on China for its economic survival and for 90 percent of its trade.

Earlier,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;congratulated Xi on his reappointment as China&#39;s Communist Party chief, tweeting: &quot;I very much look forward to meeting with President Xi who is just off his great political victory.&quot;

Trump&#39;s use of the term &quot;political victory&quot; for the outcome of last month&#39;s Communist Party congress was seen by analysts as an attempt to conciliate Xi before tough talks on trade and North Korea.

&quot;He&#39;s laying it on thick to put Xi in a good mood because he will have unpleasant things to tell him,&quot; said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, China politics specialist at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Xi has prepared an extravagant &quot;state visit-plus&quot; for&nbsp;Trump, with opera and a lavish banquet, and the US leader has brought a business delegation along for the ride. Deals are expected to be signed, though they may not be enough to allay US concerns about China&#39;s massive trade surplus, which narrowed in October but remained high at a monthly $26.6 billion.

US President Donald?Trump?toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea's nuclear threats.

US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea's nuclear threats. After warning North Korea's "cruel dictatorship" against testing the United States during a speech in Seoul, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were met by Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for tea at the former imperial palace. But the genial gathering will be followed on Thursday by a full day of thorny talks, with Trump looking to prod Xi into doing more to squeeze North Korea economically and to address China's massive trade surplus with the United States. The Trump administration sees Beijing as the key to controlling Pyongyang, which depends on China for its economic survival and for 90 percent of its trade. Earlier, Trump congratulated Xi on his reappointment as China's Communist Party chief, tweeting: "I very much look forward to meeting with President Xi who is just off his great political victory." Trump's use of the term "political victory" for the outcome of last month's Communist Party congress was seen by analysts as an attempt to conciliate Xi before tough talks on trade and North Korea. "He's laying it on thick to put Xi in a good mood because he will have unpleasant things to tell him," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, China politics specialist at Hong Kong Baptist University. Xi has prepared an extravagant "state visit-plus" for Trump, with opera and a lavish banquet, and the US leader has brought a business delegation along for the ride. Deals are expected to be signed, though they may not be enough to allay US concerns about China's massive trade surplus, which narrowed in October but remained high at a monthly $26.6 billion.

Watch: Trump arrives in China amid North Korea tensions

US President Donald Trump, who pulled his country out of the 2015 Paris climate change deal, is &quot;for the time being&quot; not invited to a climate change summit due to be held in the French capital in December, an official in President Emmanuel Macron&#39;s office said.

Over a hundred countries, as well as non-governmental organisations, have been invited for the December 12 summit.

&quot;The United States has a bit of a special status for that summit,&quot; the official said, adding that guests there will be committed to implementing the 2015 deal.

The United States would still be invited to the summit but at a lower level than the president, added the official.

Over a hundred countries, as well as non governmental organisations, have been invited for the December 12 summit.

US President Donald Trump, who pulled his country out of the 2015 Paris climate change deal, is "for the time being" not invited to a climate change summit due to be held in the French capital in December, an official in President Emmanuel Macron's office said. Over a hundred countries, as well as non-governmental organisations, have been invited for the December 12 summit. "The United States has a bit of a special status for that summit," the official said, adding that guests there will be committed to implementing the 2015 deal. The United States would still be invited to the summit but at a lower level than the president, added the official.

Trump not invited to Paris December climate change summit for now, says France

President Donald Trump would reaffirm the American leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region during his maiden trip to Asia next month, the White House has said.

Ten months into the world&#39;s most powerful executive office, the US president would embark on a two-week-long trip to Asia.

&quot;The president&#39;s travel is going to underscore his commitment to longstanding United States alliances and partnerships and reaffirm the United States leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific,&quot; a senior administration official told reporters in a preview of the trip.

Trump himself told reporters in a joint media appearance with the visiting Prime Minister of Singapore that he is looking forward to his trip to Asia from November 3 to 14.

&quot;This trip will be the president&#39;s longest to date, underscoring the importance that he places on the Indo-Pacific region,&quot; the senior administration official said.

While his visits to Japan, South Korea, and China, are bilateral one, during his stops in Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump will be participating in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and the US ASEAN Summit. 
In Vietnam and Philippines, Trump also plans to hold bilateral and tri-lateral meetings with other world leaders, details of which are still being worked out.

Trump would embark on his Indo-Pacific sojourn on November 3 via Hawaii wherein he will receive a briefing from the US Pacific Command. He will also visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial.

The president will officially commence his visit to Asia beginning with Japan on November 5.

In Japan, &quot;he is going to affirm the US-Japan Alliance as the cornerstone for regional peace and security,&quot; the official said adding that he will focus on ways for the US and Japan to work together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.

During his state visit to South Korea on November 7, Trump will participate in bilateral meetings with President Moon Jae-in and also visit American and South Korean service members.

The next day, he will speak at the National Assembly in Korea, where he will celebrate the enduring alliance and friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea and call on the international community to join together in maximising pressure on North Korea.

Trump is likely to highlight the enduring strength of the US-South Korea alliance, which is stronger than ever in the face of North Korean aggression, the official said.

Trump would fly to Beijing the next day for a series of bilateral, commercial and cultural events including meetings with President Xi Jinping.

&quot;I anticipate that the president will seek to secure China&#39;s commitments to exert more pressure on North Korea and to rebalance our economic relations.The visit will send a clear message that for bilateral economic relations to be sustainable over the long term, China must provide fair and reciprocal treatment to US firms and cease predatory trade and investment practices,&quot; the official said.

The president will then travel to Da Nang in Vietnam on November 10, where he will participate in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC, economic leaders meeting and deliver a speech at the APEC CEO Summit.

&quot;In the speech, Trump will present the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and underscore the important role the region plays in advancing America&#39;s economic prosperity,&quot; the official said adding that Trump&#39;s engagements at APEC will reinforce the US commitment to an equitable, sustainable and rules-based international economic system based on market principles.

On November 11, Trump will travel to Hanoi, where he&#39;s going to have an official visit and bilateral engagements with President Tran Dai Quang and other senior Vietnamese leaders.

President Trump will arrive in Manila in the Philippines on November 12, to participate in special gala celebration dinner for the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The next day on November 13, the president will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the US-ASEAN relations at the US-ASEAN Summit and will participate in bilateral meetings with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.

&quot;The president&#39;s participation in ASEAN events will advance US leadership, promoting Indo-Pacific trade and security architecture that&#39;s based on freedom and openness and adherence to the rule of law,&quot; the official said.

President Donald Trump will embark on two-week-long trip to Japan, South Korea, China next month.

President Donald Trump would reaffirm the American leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region during his maiden trip to Asia next month, the White House has said. Ten months into the world's most powerful executive office, the US president would embark on a two-week-long trip to Asia. "The president's travel is going to underscore his commitment to longstanding United States alliances and partnerships and reaffirm the United States leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific," a senior administration official told reporters in a preview of the trip. Trump himself told reporters in a joint media appearance with the visiting Prime Minister of Singapore that he is looking forward to his trip to Asia from November 3 to 14. "This trip will be the president's longest to date, underscoring the importance that he places on the Indo-Pacific region," the senior administration official said. While his visits to Japan, South Korea, and China, are bilateral one, during his stops in Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump will be participating in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and the US ASEAN Summit. In Vietnam and Philippines, Trump also plans to hold bilateral and tri-lateral meetings with other world leaders, details of which are still being worked out. Trump would embark on his Indo-Pacific sojourn on November 3 via Hawaii wherein he will receive a briefing from the US Pacific Command. He will also visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. The president will officially commence his visit to Asia beginning with Japan on November 5. In Japan, "he is going to affirm the US-Japan Alliance as the cornerstone for regional peace and security," the official said adding that he will focus on ways for the US and Japan to work together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific Region. During his state visit to South Korea on November 7, Trump will participate in bilateral meetings with President Moon Jae-in and also visit American and South Korean service members. The next day, he will speak at the National Assembly in Korea, where he will celebrate the enduring alliance and friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea and call on the international community to join together in maximising pressure on North Korea. Trump is likely to highlight the enduring strength of the US-South Korea alliance, which is stronger than ever in the face of North Korean aggression, the official said. Trump would fly to Beijing the next day for a series of bilateral, commercial and cultural events including meetings with President Xi Jinping. "I anticipate that the president will seek to secure China's commitments to exert more pressure on North Korea and to rebalance our economic relations.The visit will send a clear message that for bilateral economic relations to be sustainable over the long term, China must provide fair and reciprocal treatment to US firms and cease predatory trade and investment practices," the official said. The president will then travel to Da Nang in Vietnam on November 10, where he will participate in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC, economic leaders meeting and deliver a speech at the APEC CEO Summit. "In the speech, Trump will present the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and underscore the important role the region plays in advancing America's economic prosperity," the official said adding that Trump's engagements at APEC will reinforce the US commitment to an equitable, sustainable and rules-based international economic system based on market principles. On November 11, Trump will travel to Hanoi, where he's going to have an official visit and bilateral engagements with President Tran Dai Quang and other senior Vietnamese leaders. President Trump will arrive in Manila in the Philippines on November 12, to participate in special gala celebration dinner for the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The next day on November 13, the president will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the US-ASEAN relations at the US-ASEAN Summit and will participate in bilateral meetings with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. "The president's participation in ASEAN events will advance US leadership, promoting Indo-Pacific trade and security architecture that's based on freedom and openness and adherence to the rule of law," the official said.

Trump to promote free and open Indo-Pacific region during Asia trip: White House

US President Donald Trump, known for his prolific and sometimes incendiary tweeting, defended his use of the social media platform in an interview aired Sunday, saying without it he might not be president.

&quot;I have friends that say &#39;Oh, don&rsquo;t use social media,&quot; the Republican leader - who boasts 40.9 million Twitter followers and tweets everything from policy announcements to personal attacks to threats against foreign nations - told the Fox News program Sunday Morning Futures.

&quot;But I doubt I would be here if it weren&#39;t for social media, to be honest with you.&quot;

&quot;Tweeting is like a typewriter,&quot; he said. &quot;When I put it out, you put it immediately on your show.&quot;

&quot;I mean, the other day I put something out. Two seconds later I`m watching your show - it is up.&quot;

Leaders from across the political spectrum have repeatedly urged Trump to rein in his frequent and controversial tweeting, which sometimes contains factual inaccuracies and has provoked ire among adversaries and allies on both the domestic and international levels.

On Thursday, former secretary of state John Kerry slammed the president&#39;s Twitter use for creating a destructive atmosphere of &quot;chaos politics.&quot;

But Trump emphasised that by using Twitter, as well as the platforms Facebook and Instagram, he can bypass media outlets that he says treat him &quot;unfairly.&quot;

&quot;When somebody says something about me, I&rsquo;m able to take care of it,&quot; he said. &quot;The other way I wouldn`t be able to get the word out.&quot;

The president also gave himself a pat on the back for the art of his posts, which often contain grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and misused punctuation.

&quot;They&rsquo;re well-crafted,&quot; he said of his tweets. &quot;I was always a good student.&quot;

"Tweeting is like a typewriter," he said. "When I put it out, you put it immediately on your show."

US President Donald Trump, known for his prolific and sometimes incendiary tweeting, defended his use of the social media platform in an interview aired Sunday, saying without it he might not be president. "I have friends that say 'Oh, don’t use social media," the Republican leader - who boasts 40.9 million Twitter followers and tweets everything from policy announcements to personal attacks to threats against foreign nations - told the Fox News program Sunday Morning Futures. "But I doubt I would be here if it weren't for social media, to be honest with you." "Tweeting is like a typewriter," he said. "When I put it out, you put it immediately on your show." "I mean, the other day I put something out. Two seconds later I`m watching your show - it is up." Leaders from across the political spectrum have repeatedly urged Trump to rein in his frequent and controversial tweeting, which sometimes contains factual inaccuracies and has provoked ire among adversaries and allies on both the domestic and international levels. On Thursday, former secretary of state John Kerry slammed the president's Twitter use for creating a destructive atmosphere of "chaos politics." But Trump emphasised that by using Twitter, as well as the platforms Facebook and Instagram, he can bypass media outlets that he says treat him "unfairly." "When somebody says something about me, I’m able to take care of it," he said. "The other way I wouldn`t be able to get the word out." The president also gave himself a pat on the back for the art of his posts, which often contain grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and misused punctuation. "They’re well-crafted," he said of his tweets. "I was always a good student."

Donald Trump touts Twitter use as key to White House win

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said &quot;only one thing will work&quot; in dealing with North Korea after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results.

&quot;Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid,&quot; Trump said in a tweet. &quot;...Hasn&#39;t worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!&quot;

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind.

The president has previously said the United States would &quot;totally destroy&quot; North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear threats.

Earlier this week, during a meeting with top U.S. military leaders and their spouses, Trump told reporters it was the &quot;calm before the storm.&quot; Asked for clarification then on what he meant, Trump said: &quot;You&#39;ll find out.&quot;

Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of a trip to North Carolina, Trump said he had nothing more to clarify.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders referred to Iran and North Korea the following day when asked about Trump&#39;s &quot;calm before the storm&quot; comments.

Asked on Saturday about Trump&#39;s tweet, Sanders said she had nothing to add to the president&#39;s comments.

The Pentagon referred a question for clarification to the White House and said the Defense Department&#39;s job was to &quot;present the president military options and carry out orders.&quot;

Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. On Sunday he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s government.

Trump said on Saturday that he had a good relationship with his secretary of state despite some disagreements.

&quot;We have a very good relationship. We disagree on a couple of things. Sometimes I&rsquo;d like him to be a little bit tougher, but other than that we have a very good relationship,&rdquo; he said.

A Russian lawmaker on Friday was quoted saying North Korea was preparing to test a long-range missile that it believes can reach the west coast of the United States. Anton Morozov, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament&#39;s international affairs committee, was part of a Russian delegation that visited Pyongyang from Oct. 2-6, according to Russian RIA news agency.

North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons and missile programs have driven up tensions in the region and around the world in recent months, particularly after it conducted a test explosion of what it said was a hydrogen bomb.

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said "only one thing will work" in dealing with North Korea after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results. "Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump said in a tweet. "...Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!" Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind. The president has previously said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang's nuclear threats. Earlier this week, during a meeting with top U.S. military leaders and their spouses, Trump told reporters it was the "calm before the storm." Asked for clarification then on what he meant, Trump said: "You'll find out." Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of a trip to North Carolina, Trump said he had nothing more to clarify. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders referred to Iran and North Korea the following day when asked about Trump's "calm before the storm" comments. Asked on Saturday about Trump's tweet, Sanders said she had nothing to add to the president's comments. The Pentagon referred a question for clarification to the White House and said the Defense Department's job was to "present the president military options and carry out orders." Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. On Sunday he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's government. Trump said on Saturday that he had a good relationship with his secretary of state despite some disagreements. "We have a very good relationship. We disagree on a couple of things. Sometimes I’d like him to be a little bit tougher, but other than that we have a very good relationship,” he said. A Russian lawmaker on Friday was quoted saying North Korea was preparing to test a long-range missile that it believes can reach the west coast of the United States. Anton Morozov, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament's international affairs committee, was part of a Russian delegation that visited Pyongyang from Oct. 2-6, according to Russian RIA news agency. North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs have driven up tensions in the region and around the world in recent months, particularly after it conducted a test explosion of what it said was a hydrogen bomb.

Trump says 'only one thing will work' with North Korea

The White House has launched an internal probe of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-advisers-used-private-email-accounts-to-discuss-government-related-issues-nyt-20672" target="_blank">use of private email for official business </a>by senior aides to President Donald Trump, news outlet Politico reported Thursday.

The administration is scouring the White House server for emails to and from private email accounts of these aides, Politico said, quoting four people familiar with the probe.

Politico said at least five current and former White House officials used private email to conduct government business, Trump&#39;s son in law and adviser Jared Kushner, daughter Ivanka, economic adviser Gary Cohn, former strategic adviser Steve Bannon and former chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Politico said the probe began this week after it reported<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kushner-used-personal-email-for-wh-business-20613" target="_blank"> private email use by Kushner</a>.

The internal probe could take weeks or even months, it said.

Trump&#39;s White House legal staff is reviewing the accounts to see if any of the messages sent relate to the Russia probes being carried out by two congressional panels and special counsel Robert Mueller, Politico quoted one of its sources as saying.

As a candidate, Trump routinely attacked his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, telling supporters &quot;she has to go to jail&quot; over the affair.

Politico reported Monday that Kushner used a personal account to send messages to senior White House officials and outside advisers about media coverage, planning events, and other issues.

There is no suggestion the emails contained highly sensitive information or were classified, it added, but they could fall foul of the Presidential Records Act, which requires all documents related to the president&#39;s personal and political activities to be archived.

Kushner&#39;s numerous responsibilities within the Trump administration include trying to broker peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In addition to the email controversy, Kushner is facing scrutiny over the Trump campaign&#39;s alleged collusion with Russia to interfere in the 2016 US election, which is the subject of the probes in Congress and by Mueller.

The White House has launched an internal probe of the use of private email for official business by senior aides to President Donald Trump, news outlet Politico reported

The White House has launched an internal probe of the use of private email for official business by senior aides to President Donald Trump, news outlet Politico reported Thursday. The administration is scouring the White House server for emails to and from private email accounts of these aides, Politico said, quoting four people familiar with the probe. Politico said at least five current and former White House officials used private email to conduct government business, Trump's son in law and adviser Jared Kushner, daughter Ivanka, economic adviser Gary Cohn, former strategic adviser Steve Bannon and former chief of staff Reince Priebus. Politico said the probe began this week after it reported private email use by Kushner. The internal probe could take weeks or even months, it said. Trump's White House legal staff is reviewing the accounts to see if any of the messages sent relate to the Russia probes being carried out by two congressional panels and special counsel Robert Mueller, Politico quoted one of its sources as saying. As a candidate, Trump routinely attacked his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, telling supporters "she has to go to jail" over the affair. Politico reported Monday that Kushner used a personal account to send messages to senior White House officials and outside advisers about media coverage, planning events, and other issues. There is no suggestion the emails contained highly sensitive information or were classified, it added, but they could fall foul of the Presidential Records Act, which requires all documents related to the president's personal and political activities to be archived. Kushner's numerous responsibilities within the Trump administration include trying to broker peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to the email controversy, Kushner is facing scrutiny over the Trump campaign's alleged collusion with Russia to interfere in the 2016 US election, which is the subject of the probes in Congress and by Mueller.

White House probing use of private email by Trump aides: Report

He said the US, should it be threatened, would have no choice but to destroy North Korea

READ: Full text of Donald Trump's UN speech

Most Asian markets on Thursday brushed off a Wall Street retreat, with analysts saying a threatened government shut-down by Donald Trump was unlikely, while focus turns to a key central bankers&#39; meeting.

In a firebrand speech to supporters the embattled US president warned he would bring an end to Federal business in a bid to push through his controversial Mexican border wall, while also threatening to tear up a trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

The outburst fuelled concerns that the nascent administration is struggling to find consensus on Capitol Hill, even with his own Republican party, raising questions about his ability to push through promised tax cuts, deregulation and infrastructure spending.&nbsp;

It also led to a warning from Fitch that it would review its US sovereign rating if the government was shut down.

All three main indexes in New York ended in the red.

However, House Speaker Paul Ryan said there would not be any closure of government, while analysts also pointed out that such a crisis was unlikely and Trump was probably bluffing.

&quot;It&#39;s Congress which will decide on the debt ceiling limit and avoid the shutdown -- not the president,&rdquo; said AxiTrader chief market strategist Greg McKenna.

He was also confident Trump&#39;s economic agenda could be pushed through, adding: &quot;It&#39;s likely the Congress will need to work out what it wants to do on tax cuts. I&#39;m still expecting some progress there in the months ahead.&quot;

Asian markets mostly started in positive territory. Hong Kong rose 0.5 per cent, a third-successive gain as traders returned to work after a typhoon hit the city Wednesday.

Sydney rose 0.2 per cent, Singapore was 0.3 per cent higher and Seoul put on 0.5 per cent, while there were also gains in Taipei and Manila.

However, Tokyo eased 0.1 per cent by the break on the back of a stronger yen, while Shanghai dipped 0.2 per cent.

Attention is now on the Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming, where the world&#39;s top bankers are gathering, with US Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on the list of priorities to watch.

With the US and eurozone economies both picking up, dealers are hoping for some pointers about the future of monetary policy.

The euro has rallied in recent weeks, hitting a near eight-year low against sterling, with the ECB expected at some point to start winding in its massive stimulus, while another round of upbeat economic data Wednesday ramped up those expectations.

&nbsp;Key figures around 0240 GMT&nbsp;

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 19,408.80 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.5 per cent at 27,530.65

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 per cent at 3,281.70

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1806 from $1.1813 at 2030 GMT

Pound/euro: DOWN at 1.0835 euros from 1.0869 euros

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2788 from $1.2801

Dollar/yen: UP at 109.20 yen from 108.98 yen

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN eight cents at $48.33 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: DOWN eight cents at $52.49

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 21,812.09 (close)

London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 7,382.65 (close)

In a firebrand speech to supporters the embattled US president warned he would bring an end to Federal business in a bid to push through his controversial Mexican border wall

Most Asian markets on Thursday brushed off a Wall Street retreat, with analysts saying a threatened government shut-down by Donald Trump was unlikely, while focus turns to a key central bankers' meeting. In a firebrand speech to supporters the embattled US president warned he would bring an end to Federal business in a bid to push through his controversial Mexican border wall, while also threatening to tear up a trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. The outburst fuelled concerns that the nascent administration is struggling to find consensus on Capitol Hill, even with his own Republican party, raising questions about his ability to push through promised tax cuts, deregulation and infrastructure spending. It also led to a warning from Fitch that it would review its US sovereign rating if the government was shut down. All three main indexes in New York ended in the red. However, House Speaker Paul Ryan said there would not be any closure of government, while analysts also pointed out that such a crisis was unlikely and Trump was probably bluffing. "It's Congress which will decide on the debt ceiling limit and avoid the shutdown -- not the president,” said AxiTrader chief market strategist Greg McKenna. He was also confident Trump's economic agenda could be pushed through, adding: "It's likely the Congress will need to work out what it wants to do on tax cuts. I'm still expecting some progress there in the months ahead." Asian markets mostly started in positive territory. Hong Kong rose 0.5 per cent, a third-successive gain as traders returned to work after a typhoon hit the city Wednesday. Sydney rose 0.2 per cent, Singapore was 0.3 per cent higher and Seoul put on 0.5 per cent, while there were also gains in Taipei and Manila. However, Tokyo eased 0.1 per cent by the break on the back of a stronger yen, while Shanghai dipped 0.2 per cent. Attention is now on the Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming, where the world's top bankers are gathering, with US Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on the list of priorities to watch. With the US and eurozone economies both picking up, dealers are hoping for some pointers about the future of monetary policy. The euro has rallied in recent weeks, hitting a near eight-year low against sterling, with the ECB expected at some point to start winding in its massive stimulus, while another round of upbeat economic data Wednesday ramped up those expectations. Key figures around 0240 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 19,408.80 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.5 per cent at 27,530.65 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 per cent at 3,281.70 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1806 from $1.1813 at 2030 GMT Pound/euro: DOWN at 1.0835 euros from 1.0869 euros Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2788 from $1.2801 Dollar/yen: UP at 109.20 yen from 108.98 yen Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN eight cents at $48.33 per barrel Oil - Brent North Sea: DOWN eight cents at $52.49 New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 21,812.09 (close) London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 7,382.65 (close)

Asian markets brush off Trump threat of Mexico shutdown

The federal probe into the Russian meddling in the US elections led by special counsel &nbsp;Robert Mueller is gathering pace with the naming of a grand jury to examine the veracity of the evidence against the Trump campaign officials being in touch with Russia to favour a Trump victory.

According to US media reports, the grand jury has issued subpoenas related to a meeting that Donald Trump&#39;s son Trump Jr and son-in-law <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jared-kushner-sought-secret-communications-line-with-russia-report-16095">Jared Kushner held last year with a Russian attorney</a> who had promised incriminating material&nbsp;against Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump has lashed out at the move saying that the 2016 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-probe-greatest-witch-hunt-in-american-political-history-trump-15753">Russian interference story is a &quot;total fabrication&quot;</a>.

&quot;We didn&#39;t win because of Russia. We won because of you,&quot; Trump said at a campaign-style rally in West Virginia.

The setting up of a grand jury is a significant development in the probe as it could lead to criminal indictments.

&quot;It&#39;s a significant escalation of the process,&quot; national security attorney Bradley Moss told AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;You don&#39;t impanel a grand jury unless your investigation has discovered enough evidence that you feel reflects a violation of at least one, if not more, criminal provisions,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was not likely the subject of the investigation, AFP reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump has lashed out at the move saying that the 2016 Russian interference story is a 'total fabrication'

The federal probe into the Russian meddling in the US elections led by special counsel Robert Mueller is gathering pace with the naming of a grand jury to examine the veracity of the evidence against the Trump campaign officials being in touch with Russia to favour a Trump victory. According to US media reports, the grand jury has issued subpoenas related to a meeting that Donald Trump's son Trump Jr and son-in-law Jared Kushner held last year with a Russian attorney who had promised incriminating material against Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump has lashed out at the move saying that the 2016 Russian interference story is a "total fabrication". "We didn't win because of Russia. We won because of you," Trump said at a campaign-style rally in West Virginia. The setting up of a grand jury is a significant development in the probe as it could lead to criminal indictments. "It's a significant escalation of the process," national security attorney Bradley Moss told AFP. "You don't impanel a grand jury unless your investigation has discovered enough evidence that you feel reflects a violation of at least one, if not more, criminal provisions," he said. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was not likely the subject of the investigation, AFP reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump-Russia probe: Grand jury set up, subpoenas issued

A Democratic congressman on Wednesday became the first US lawmaker to formally file an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump, but the effort is likely to stall in the Republican-controlled Congress.

Democrat Brad Sherman of California followed through on a threat he made last month to seek to remove the president from office, filing a four-page resolution aimed at &quot;impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanours.&quot;

Sherman in a statement said Trump&#39;s apparent effort to quash a probe into his campaign&#39;s ties to Russia and an investigation of a senior aide amounted to obstruction of justice.

&quot;Recent disclosures by Donald Trump Jr. indicate that Trump&#39;s campaign was eager to receive assistance from Russia,&quot; Sherman said.&nbsp;

&quot;It now seems likely that the president had something to hide when he tried to curtail the investigation of (now-fired) National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and the wider Russian probe,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

&quot;I believe his conversations with, and subsequent firing of, FBI Director James Comey constitute obstruction of justice.&quot;

The White House reacted with disdain when a reporter asked for reaction to Sherman&#39;s move.

&quot;I think that is utterly and completely ridiculous and a political game at its worst,&quot; White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

Sherman said his effort used language similar to that of the first article of impeachment issued against Richard Nixon, which passed the House Judiciary Committee on July 27, 1974. Nixon resigned from office 13 days later.

So far a single lawmaker, Democrat Al Green, has signed on to the resolution.

While a number of Republicans have rebuked Trump or expressed concern for various stumbles, there is no signal from either the House of Representatives or the Senate that their Republican leaders are prepared to begin impeachment proceedings.

Democrat Brad Sherman of California filed the resolution that aims to ?'impeach' Donald Trump for 'high crimes and misdemeanours'?

A Democratic congressman on Wednesday became the first US lawmaker to formally file an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump, but the effort is likely to stall in the Republican-controlled Congress. Democrat Brad Sherman of California followed through on a threat he made last month to seek to remove the president from office, filing a four-page resolution aimed at "impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanours." Sherman in a statement said Trump's apparent effort to quash a probe into his campaign's ties to Russia and an investigation of a senior aide amounted to obstruction of justice. "Recent disclosures by Donald Trump Jr. indicate that Trump's campaign was eager to receive assistance from Russia," Sherman said. "It now seems likely that the president had something to hide when he tried to curtail the investigation of (now-fired) National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and the wider Russian probe," he added. "I believe his conversations with, and subsequent firing of, FBI Director James Comey constitute obstruction of justice." The White House reacted with disdain when a reporter asked for reaction to Sherman's move. "I think that is utterly and completely ridiculous and a political game at its worst," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. Sherman said his effort used language similar to that of the first article of impeachment issued against Richard Nixon, which passed the House Judiciary Committee on July 27, 1974. Nixon resigned from office 13 days later. So far a single lawmaker, Democrat Al Green, has signed on to the resolution. While a number of Republicans have rebuked Trump or expressed concern for various stumbles, there is no signal from either the House of Representatives or the Senate that their Republican leaders are prepared to begin impeachment proceedings.

Democrat files first impeachment article against US President Donald Trump

In a break from tradition, US President Donald Trump did not host&nbsp;Eid celebrations at the White House this year.

The White House has traditionally hosted an Eid al-Fitr feast every year since Bill Clinton&#39;s presidency.

President Trump said in a statement, &quot;On behalf of the American people, Melania and I send our warm greetings to Muslims as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Muslims in the United States joined those around the world during the holy month of Ramzan to focus on acts of faith and charity. During this holiday, we are reminded of the importance of mercy, compassion, and goodwill. With Muslims around the world, the United States renews our commitment to honor these values. Eid Mubarak.&quot;

In a brief statement, Rex Tillerson sent his &quot;best wishes to all Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr&quot;.

In May, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson turned down a request from the State Department&#39;s Office of Religion and Global Affairs to host an Eid al-Fitr reception, Reuters reported quoting two US officials.

An April 6 memo seen by Reuters, the state department recommended that Tillerson hold an Eid al-Fitr reception.

Republican and Democratic secretaries of state have almost always hosted either an iftar dinner to break the day&#39;s fast during Ramzan or a reception marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the month, at the State Department. The event is usually attended by members of Congress, Muslim civil society and community leaders, diplomats from Muslim countries and senior US officials usually attend the State Department Ramzan&nbsp;event.

The first presidential Iftar dinner was hosted by Thomas Jefferson in 1805 for a Tunisian envoy.

It became an annual tradition ever since then first lady Hillary Clinton revived the idea of hosting the dinner in 1996.

President Donald Trump&#39;s administration is accused of having an unfriendly attitude toward Islam, especially after his travel ban on citizens of six Muslim-majority countries forbidding Muslim citizens from entering the country. The ban has been stayed by US courts.

The Trump administration maintains that while it strongly opposes Islamist militants, it has no quarrel with Islam. As evidence, his aides have drawn attention to Trump&#39;s May visit to Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam where he addressed the leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries.

The White House has traditionally hosted an Eid al-Fitr feast every year since Bill Clinton's presidency.

In a break from tradition, US President Donald Trump did not host Eid celebrations at the White House this year. The White House has traditionally hosted an Eid al-Fitr feast every year since Bill Clinton's presidency. President Trump said in a statement, "On behalf of the American people, Melania and I send our warm greetings to Muslims as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Muslims in the United States joined those around the world during the holy month of Ramzan to focus on acts of faith and charity. During this holiday, we are reminded of the importance of mercy, compassion, and goodwill. With Muslims around the world, the United States renews our commitment to honor these values. Eid Mubarak." In a brief statement, Rex Tillerson sent his "best wishes to all Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr". In May, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson turned down a request from the State Department's Office of Religion and Global Affairs to host an Eid al-Fitr reception, Reuters reported quoting two US officials. An April 6 memo seen by Reuters, the state department recommended that Tillerson hold an Eid al-Fitr reception. Republican and Democratic secretaries of state have almost always hosted either an iftar dinner to break the day's fast during Ramzan or a reception marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the month, at the State Department. The event is usually attended by members of Congress, Muslim civil society and community leaders, diplomats from Muslim countries and senior US officials usually attend the State Department Ramzan event. The first presidential Iftar dinner was hosted by Thomas Jefferson in 1805 for a Tunisian envoy. It became an annual tradition ever since then first lady Hillary Clinton revived the idea of hosting the dinner in 1996. President Donald Trump's administration is accused of having an unfriendly attitude toward Islam, especially after his travel ban on citizens of six Muslim-majority countries forbidding Muslim citizens from entering the country. The ban has been stayed by US courts. The Trump administration maintains that while it strongly opposes Islamist militants, it has no quarrel with Islam. As evidence, his aides have drawn attention to Trump's May visit to Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam where he addressed the leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries.

Donald Trump breaks tradition, skips Eid celebrations at White House

US President Donald Trump has denied that there are any tapes of his conversations with sacked FBI director James Comey just days after suggesting the possibility of such tapes existing.

In a tweet, Trump said, &quot;With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea whether there are &#39;tapes&#39; or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.&quot;

In an earlier Twitter post just after he sacked Comey from the position of FBI director on May 9, Trump had said: &quot;James Comey better hope that there are no &#39;tapes&#39; of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!&quot;

US lawmakers who are investigating Russia&#39;s role in the 2016 Presidential elections had asked the White House to provide recordings of conversations between Comey and Trump.

Comey had appeared before a Senate hearing testifying that Trump had asked him to drop a probe against former Nationsla Security Adviser Michael Flynn for his alleged links to the Russian ambassador.

Trump and his administration is under fire for the alleged meddling by Russians in the 2016 US Presidential elections.&nbsp;

Kremlin has denied the US intelligence agencies&#39; probe that Russia tried to influence the elections in Trump&#39;s favour by hacking into Demoratic Party&#39;s emails.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Trump had earlier posted on Twitter that there could be a possibility of recordings of conversations between Comey and him

US President Donald Trump has denied that there are any tapes of his conversations with sacked FBI director James Comey just days after suggesting the possibility of such tapes existing. In a tweet, Trump said, "With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea whether there are 'tapes' or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings." In an earlier Twitter post just after he sacked Comey from the position of FBI director on May 9, Trump had said: "James Comey better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!" US lawmakers who are investigating Russia's role in the 2016 Presidential elections had asked the White House to provide recordings of conversations between Comey and Trump. Comey had appeared before a Senate hearing testifying that Trump had asked him to drop a probe against former Nationsla Security Adviser Michael Flynn for his alleged links to the Russian ambassador. Trump and his administration is under fire for the alleged meddling by Russians in the 2016 US Presidential elections. Kremlin has denied the US intelligence agencies' probe that Russia tried to influence the elections in Trump's favour by hacking into Demoratic Party's emails.

Trump says no recordings of conversations between him and former FBI director Comey

Masked gunmen attacked a group of Coptic Christians in southern Egypt on Friday, killing 26 people and wounding 26 others as they were driving to a monastery, medical sources and eyewitnesses said.

The group was travelling in two buses and a small truck in Minya province, which is home to a sizeable Christian minority, the sources said.

Provincial governor Essam al-Bedaiwy said earlier that 23 peoople had been killed and 25 wounded.

Eyewitnesses said the Copts were attacked as they were going to pray at the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor in the western part of the province.

They said masked men stopped the vehicles on a road leading to the monastery and opened fire.

Coptic Christians, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt&#39;s population of 92 million, have been the subject of a series of deadly attacks in recent months.

About 70 have been killed in bomb attacks on churches in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta since December.

Those attacks were claimed by Islamic State. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday&#39;s attack. 
 
(Reuters)

President Trump can't feel 'vindicated' after Comey's testimony all but accused him of obstruction of justice. Why put out that message then?

Masked gunmen attacked a group of Coptic Christians in southern Egypt on Friday, killing 26 people and wounding 26 others as they were driving to a monastery, medical sources and eyewitnesses said. The group was travelling in two buses and a small truck in Minya province, which is home to a sizeable Christian minority, the sources said. Provincial governor Essam al-Bedaiwy said earlier that 23 peoople had been killed and 25 wounded. Eyewitnesses said the Copts were attacked as they were going to pray at the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor in the western part of the province. They said masked men stopped the vehicles on a road leading to the monastery and opened fire. Coptic Christians, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's population of 92 million, have been the subject of a series of deadly attacks in recent months. About 70 have been killed in bomb attacks on churches in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta since December. Those attacks were claimed by Islamic State. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday's attack. (Reuters)

Comey hearing: Whenever reality makes Trump look guilty, the president changes reality

President Donald Trump&#39;s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, made a pre-inauguration proposal to the Russian ambassador to set up a secret, bug-proof communications line with the Kremlin, the Washington Post reported Friday evening.

Kushner, then and now a close adviser to Trump, went so far as to suggest using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States to protect such a channel from being monitored, the Post said, quoting US officials briefed on intelligence reports.

The Post story is yet another sensational detail in the deluge of allegations raising questions about team Trump&#39;s relationship with the Russians, whom US intelligence agencies say tried to sway the November election in Trump&#39;s favour and thus deny Hillary Clinton the presidency.

And it ensures that Trump will be thrust right back into the din of the Russia scandal upon his return to Washington this weekend, following his first foreign trip, a tour of the Middle East and Europe.

The Washington Post said the secret comms proposal was made December 1 or 2 at Trump Tower in New York, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by US officials.&nbsp;

Michael Flynn, who would become Trump&#39;s national security adviser before being fired 24 days into the job for not telling the truth about meetings he held with the Russian ambassador, was also at the meeting, the Post said.

The Russian ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, was surprised by Kushner&#39;s idea of the secret channel and passed it on to the Kremlin, the Post said. It did not specify what came of Kushner&#39;s alleged pitch if anything.

The White House did not immediately comment on the Post report.&nbsp;

Besides the Kushner developments, which strikes at Trump&#39;s core by drawing his family into the crisis, the White House also faces a cascade of other worries in the coming week.

Fired former FBI director James Comey has promised to testify at a yet-unscheduled open session before the Senate Intelligence Committee, sometime after Monday&#39;s Memorial Day holiday.

And the White House staff itself could be facing upheaval. CBS News reported that Trump is expected to consider plans for a shakeup of his communications operation upon his return.

Kushner at centre stage

But Kushner, the 36-year-old real estate developer who is married to Trump&#39;s daughter Ivanka, is likely to take centre stage in the coming days.

Reserved in public, he was on prominent view during Trump&#39;s first presidential trip, as befits a trusted behind-the-scenes adviser involved in everything from Middle East peace to an initiative to streamline the US bureaucracy.

The Post reported earlier that investigators are focusing on meetings he held in December with Moscow&#39;s ambassador and the head of a Russian bank that has been under US sanctions since 2014.

Kushner has offered to talk to Congress about these meetings, according to his lawyer Jamie Gorelick.

The Post and other media have been careful to note that their sources did not say Kushner was a &quot;target&quot; of the investigation, nor that he was accused of any wrongdoing.

If he were a &quot;target,&quot; it would suggest Kushner was a main suspect in the investigation.

The Post reported last week that the Russia investigation had been extended to a top White House official as a &quot;significant person of interest.&quot;

Kushner is the only person currently in the White House known to be under investigation.

Russia contacts

At least four other former campaign aides or advisers have been reported to be under FBI scrutiny as well -- Flynn, former campaign manager Paul Manafort, sometime Trump adviser Roger Stone, and ex-campaign adviser Carter Page.

The FBI investigation is now being overseen by Robert Mueller, a respected former FBI director who was given broad powers to pursue the case as a special counsel after Trump abruptly fired Comey on May 9.

The key question before the FBI is whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in its effort to tilt the 2016 US election in the Republican&#39;s favour, which included a damaging hack of Democratic campaign emails.

Trump has denied any collusion, calling the probe &quot;the greatest witch hunt&quot; in American political history.&nbsp;

Former CIA director John Brennan revealed this week that intelligence chiefs had been looking into suspicious contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials since mid-2016.

The Senate and House Intelligence Committees also are investigating, but not with an eye to bringing criminal charges.

In early December, after Trump had won the elections, Kushner and Flynn met in New York with Kislyak.

Kushner also met that month with Sergei Gorkov, chairman of VneshEconomBank, the state bank under US sanctions since July 2014.

Both those meetings have since been publicly acknowledged by the White House, but Kushner initially failed to declare them on forms submitted to obtain a security clearance.

His lawyer later said it was a mistake, telling the FBI that he would amend the forms.

(AFP)

He went so far as to suggest using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States to protect such a channel from being monitored

President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, made a pre-inauguration proposal to the Russian ambassador to set up a secret, bug-proof communications line with the Kremlin, the Washington Post reported Friday evening. Kushner, then and now a close adviser to Trump, went so far as to suggest using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States to protect such a channel from being monitored, the Post said, quoting US officials briefed on intelligence reports. The Post story is yet another sensational detail in the deluge of allegations raising questions about team Trump's relationship with the Russians, whom US intelligence agencies say tried to sway the November election in Trump's favour and thus deny Hillary Clinton the presidency. And it ensures that Trump will be thrust right back into the din of the Russia scandal upon his return to Washington this weekend, following his first foreign trip, a tour of the Middle East and Europe. The Washington Post said the secret comms proposal was made December 1 or 2 at Trump Tower in New York, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by US officials. Michael Flynn, who would become Trump's national security adviser before being fired 24 days into the job for not telling the truth about meetings he held with the Russian ambassador, was also at the meeting, the Post said. The Russian ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, was surprised by Kushner's idea of the secret channel and passed it on to the Kremlin, the Post said. It did not specify what came of Kushner's alleged pitch if anything. The White House did not immediately comment on the Post report. Besides the Kushner developments, which strikes at Trump's core by drawing his family into the crisis, the White House also faces a cascade of other worries in the coming week. Fired former FBI director James Comey has promised to testify at a yet-unscheduled open session before the Senate Intelligence Committee, sometime after Monday's Memorial Day holiday. And the White House staff itself could be facing upheaval. CBS News reported that Trump is expected to consider plans for a shakeup of his communications operation upon his return. Kushner at centre stage But Kushner, the 36-year-old real estate developer who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, is likely to take centre stage in the coming days. Reserved in public, he was on prominent view during Trump's first presidential trip, as befits a trusted behind-the-scenes adviser involved in everything from Middle East peace to an initiative to streamline the US bureaucracy. The Post reported earlier that investigators are focusing on meetings he held in December with Moscow's ambassador and the head of a Russian bank that has been under US sanctions since 2014. Kushner has offered to talk to Congress about these meetings, according to his lawyer Jamie Gorelick. The Post and other media have been careful to note that their sources did not say Kushner was a "target" of the investigation, nor that he was accused of any wrongdoing. If he were a "target," it would suggest Kushner was a main suspect in the investigation. The Post reported last week that the Russia investigation had been extended to a top White House official as a "significant person of interest." Kushner is the only person currently in the White House known to be under investigation. Russia contacts At least four other former campaign aides or advisers have been reported to be under FBI scrutiny as well -- Flynn, former campaign manager Paul Manafort, sometime Trump adviser Roger Stone, and ex-campaign adviser Carter Page. The FBI investigation is now being overseen by Robert Mueller, a respected former FBI director who was given broad powers to pursue the case as a special counsel after Trump abruptly fired Comey on May 9. The key question before the FBI is whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in its effort to tilt the 2016 US election in the Republican's favour, which included a damaging hack of Democratic campaign emails. Trump has denied any collusion, calling the probe "the greatest witch hunt" in American political history. Former CIA director John Brennan revealed this week that intelligence chiefs had been looking into suspicious contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials since mid-2016. The Senate and House Intelligence Committees also are investigating, but not with an eye to bringing criminal charges. In early December, after Trump had won the elections, Kushner and Flynn met in New York with Kislyak. Kushner also met that month with Sergei Gorkov, chairman of VneshEconomBank, the state bank under US sanctions since July 2014. Both those meetings have since been publicly acknowledged by the White House, but Kushner initially failed to declare them on forms submitted to obtain a security clearance. His lawyer later said it was a mistake, telling the FBI that he would amend the forms. (AFP)

Jared Kushner sought secret communications line with Russia: Report

He misses driving, feels as if he is in a cocoon, and is surprised how hard his new job is.

President Donald Trump on Thursday reflected on his first 100 days in office with a wistful look at his life before the White House.

&quot;I loved my previous life. I had so many things going,&quot; Trump told Reuters in an interview. &quot;This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.&quot;

A wealthy businessman from New York, Trump assumed public office for the first time when he entered the White House on Jan. 20 after he defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an upset.

More than five months after his victory and two days shy of the 100-day mark of his presidency, the election is still on Trump&#39;s mind. Midway through a discussion about Chinese President Xi Jinping, the president paused to hand out copies of what he said were the latest figures from the 2016 electoral map.

&quot;Here, you can take that, that&#39;s the final map of the numbers,&quot; the Republican president said from his desk in the Oval Office, handing out maps of the United States with areas he won marked in red. &quot;It&rsquo;s pretty good, right? The red is obviously us.&quot;

He had copies for each of the three Reuters reporters in the room.

Trump, who said he was accustomed to not having privacy in his &quot;old life,&quot; expressed surprise at how little he had now. And he made clear he was still getting used to having 24-hour Secret Service protection and its accompanying constraints.

&quot;You&#39;re really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can&#39;t go anywhere,&quot; he said.

When the president leaves the White House, it is usually in a limousine or an SUV.

He said he missed being behind the wheel himself.

&quot;I like to drive,&quot; he said. &quot;I can&#39;t drive any more.&quot;

Many things about Trump have not changed from the wheeler-dealer executive and former celebrity reality show host who ran his empire from the 26th floor of Trump Tower in New York and worked the phones incessantly.

He frequently turns to outside friends and former business colleagues for advice and positive reinforcement. Senior aides say they are resigned to it.

The president has been at loggerheads with many news organizations since his election campaign and decided not to attend the White House Correspondents&#39; Dinner in Washington on Saturday because he felt he had been treated unfairly by the media.

&quot;I would come next year, absolutely,&quot; Trump said when asked whether he would attend in the future.

The dinner is organized by the White House Correspondents&#39; Association. Reuters correspondent Jeff Mason is its president.&nbsp;

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

'This is more work than in my previous life,' he said

He misses driving, feels as if he is in a cocoon, and is surprised how hard his new job is. President Donald Trump on Thursday reflected on his first 100 days in office with a wistful look at his life before the White House. "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going," Trump told Reuters in an interview. "This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." A wealthy businessman from New York, Trump assumed public office for the first time when he entered the White House on Jan. 20 after he defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an upset. More than five months after his victory and two days shy of the 100-day mark of his presidency, the election is still on Trump's mind. Midway through a discussion about Chinese President Xi Jinping, the president paused to hand out copies of what he said were the latest figures from the 2016 electoral map. "Here, you can take that, that's the final map of the numbers," the Republican president said from his desk in the Oval Office, handing out maps of the United States with areas he won marked in red. "It’s pretty good, right? The red is obviously us." He had copies for each of the three Reuters reporters in the room. Trump, who said he was accustomed to not having privacy in his "old life," expressed surprise at how little he had now. And he made clear he was still getting used to having 24-hour Secret Service protection and its accompanying constraints. "You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere," he said. When the president leaves the White House, it is usually in a limousine or an SUV. He said he missed being behind the wheel himself. "I like to drive," he said. "I can't drive any more." Many things about Trump have not changed from the wheeler-dealer executive and former celebrity reality show host who ran his empire from the 26th floor of Trump Tower in New York and worked the phones incessantly. He frequently turns to outside friends and former business colleagues for advice and positive reinforcement. Senior aides say they are resigned to it. The president has been at loggerheads with many news organizations since his election campaign and decided not to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday because he felt he had been treated unfairly by the media. "I would come next year, absolutely," Trump said when asked whether he would attend in the future. The dinner is organized by the White House Correspondents' Association. Reuters correspondent Jeff Mason is its president. (Reuters)

Trump says he thought being president would be easier

After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly indicated a shift in&nbsp;his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US&nbsp;relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance.

Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a &quot;grand champion&quot; of currency manipulation. Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia.

But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats.

&quot;I said it was obsolete. It&#39;s no longer obsolete,&quot; Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The apparent reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure US&nbsp;allies in Europe who were rattled by Trump&#39;s overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the president&#39;s talk of &quot;bonding&quot; with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where US&nbsp;allies are fearful of a rising China.

&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;claims US-Russia relations are at&nbsp;&quot;all time low&quot;&nbsp;

Trump&#39;s U-turn&nbsp;in&nbsp;foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, whose former publication <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/21/fbi-probing-breitbart-infowars-in-russian-influence-investigation/">Breitbart News</a> is&nbsp;under FBI investigation for links to Russia.

Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

&quot;If he says great things about me, I&#39;m going to say great things about him,&quot; Trump said last September.

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U.S. President Donald Trump voiced caution on his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he would wait and see about future ties with Moscow (Reuters)
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On Wednesday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia&#39;s support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

&quot;We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia,&quot; said Trump, who ordered the firing of US&nbsp;cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week after Putin-backed Assad was&nbsp;suspected of using&nbsp;poison gas against civilians in Syria&#39;s civil war.

While many are focused on Trump&#39;s claim that US-Russia relations are at a low, he also said in the very same press conference, &quot;It would be wonderful...if Nato and our country could get along with Russia.&quot;

The Trump administration itself is currently under FBI investigation for its links to Russia, and for its possible role in working with Moscow&#39;s effort to interfere in the 2016 US election to benefit Trump.

&nbsp;

China reversal

While criticising Russia on Wednesday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese president&#39;s visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks.

Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted &quot;difficult&quot; discussions on trade.

The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office.

Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra was a vow to keep America safe and build up the US&nbsp;military.

&nbsp;

Another reversal: Distancing himself from his own administration, again

In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump offered only lukewarm support for Bannon.

&ldquo;I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late. I had already beaten all the senators and governors, and I didn&#39;t know Steve. I&#39;m my own strategist, and it&#39;s not like I was going to change strategies because I was facing&nbsp;crooked Hillary,&rdquo; Trump said.

The claim that he didn&#39;t know Steve Bannon until the 2016 is false, the same <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/us/politics/trump-steven-bannon-fox-business-news-interview.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reports.

&nbsp;

Critics have pointed out that the Trump administration&nbsp;made similar distancing statements with&nbsp;former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and former National Security adviser Michael Flynn.&nbsp;

White House S<a href="http://fortune.com/2017/03/22/paul-manafort-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/" target="_blank">pokesman </a>Sean Spicer said that Flynn was only a &quot;campaign volunteer&quot;.&nbsp;Michael Flynn&nbsp;was forced to resign on February&nbsp;13 for contacts with Russia&#39;s ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, contacts which he misled the Vice President about.

In another&nbsp;example, a few weeks ago Spicer said&nbsp;that in the 2016 election campaign Manafort only played &quot;a very limited role for a very limited time&quot;. Manafort worked on the campaign for five months, during a crucial time, and was the campaign manager for three of those months, <a href="http://fortune.com/2017/03/22/paul-manafort-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/" target="_blank">Fortune </a>reports.&nbsp;

He only resigned after a barrage of negative press after it came to light that he received millions of dollars in undisclosed payments from the party of the Russia-backed Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovich.

Hours ago Manafort&#39;s&nbsp;spokesman said he is planning to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent,<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/12/paul-manafort-foreign-agent-trump-russia" target="_blank"> The Guardian</a> reports. He denies any impropriety.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

These drastic reversals come as the Trump administration faces more pressure under the ongoing investigation for their links to Russia

After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly indicated a shift in his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance. Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a "grand champion" of currency manipulation. Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia. But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats. "I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room on Wednesday. The apparent reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure US allies in Europe who were rattled by Trump's overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the president's talk of "bonding" with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where US allies are fearful of a rising China. Trump claims US-Russia relations are at "all time low" Trump's U-turn in foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, whose former publication Breitbart News is under FBI investigation for links to Russia. Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him," Trump said last September. U.S. President Donald Trump voiced caution on his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he would wait and see about future ties with Moscow (Reuters) × On Wednesday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia," said Trump, who ordered the firing of US cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week after Putin-backed Assad was suspected of using poison gas against civilians in Syria's civil war. While many are focused on Trump's claim that US-Russia relations are at a low, he also said in the very same press conference, "It would be wonderful...if Nato and our country could get along with Russia." The Trump administration itself is currently under FBI investigation for its links to Russia, and for its possible role in working with Moscow's effort to interfere in the 2016 US election to benefit Trump. China reversal While criticising Russia on Wednesday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese president's visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks. Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted "difficult" discussions on trade. The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office. Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra was a vow to keep America safe and build up the US military. Another reversal: Distancing himself from his own administration, again In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump offered only lukewarm support for Bannon. “I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late. I had already beaten all the senators and governors, and I didn't know Steve. I'm my own strategist, and it's not like I was going to change strategies because I was facing crooked Hillary,” Trump said. The claim that he didn't know Steve Bannon until the 2016 is false, the same New York Times reports. Critics have pointed out that the Trump administration made similar distancing statements with former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and former National Security adviser Michael Flynn. White House Spokesman Sean Spicer said that Flynn was only a "campaign volunteer". Michael Flynn was forced to resign on February 13 for contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, contacts which he misled the Vice President about. In another example, a few weeks ago Spicer said that in the 2016 election campaign Manafort only played "a very limited role for a very limited time". Manafort worked on the campaign for five months, during a crucial time, and was the campaign manager for three of those months, Fortune reports. He only resigned after a barrage of negative press after it came to light that he received millions of dollars in undisclosed payments from the party of the Russia-backed Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovich. Hours ago Manafort's spokesman said he is planning to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent, The Guardian reports. He denies any impropriety. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

In abrupt shift, Trump appears to sour on Russia but warm to China and NATO

After a turbulent start to his presidency, Donald Trump goes before the US&nbsp;Congress on Tuesday night to give a speech that will be closely watched for details of his plans for the economy and whether he can strike a more conciliatory tone.

World financial markets will be scrutinising the 9 pm&nbsp;(0200 GMT Wednesday) address in the House of Representatives for specifics of how the Republican president aims to make good on promises to tackle tax reform, boost infrastructure spending and simplify regulations he says are harming business.

White House officials say the speech will include some gestures toward unifying a country polarised by a bitterly fought election and divided in the early days of his presidency.

An average of recent polls by Real Clear Politics put his approval rating at about 44 per cent, low for a new president.

Trump, whose inauguration speech on Jan&nbsp;20 painted a dark picture of the United States and referred to &ldquo;American carnage&rdquo;, told Reuters last week that his address would be a speech of optimism.

In a rare show of self-criticism, Trump told the &quot;Fox &amp; Friends&quot; television program in an interview broadcast on Tuesday that &quot;maybe it&#39;s my fault&quot; the administration&#39;s goals on immigration may not have been communicated effectively.

He was referring to the troubled rollout of his Jan&nbsp;27 order to temporarily ban people from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country.

Overall, Trump said he had performed well in the Oval Office so far. &quot;I think I get an A in terms of what I&#39;ve actually done, but in terms of messaging, I&#39;d give myself a C or a C+.&quot;

Invited to say how he would change the messaging, the businessman and former reality TV star said, &quot;Maybe I change it during the speech.&quot;

Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders, pulled the United States out of a Pacific trade deal and nominated a conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch, to fill a vacant position on the Supreme Court. But his first month has been characterised by missteps, internal dramas and acrimonious disputes with the news media, and he has yet to score any legislative accomplishments.

The president&#39;s party controls both the House and Senate, giving him a chance to reshape the economy with lawmakers. He faces a host of questions going into his first speech before a joint session of Congress.

Details needed

Specifics of his plan to overhaul former President Barack Obama&#39;s signature healthcare law have not been released. Republican efforts to find a way to repeal and replace Obamacare have encountered resistance from party conservatives who say draft legislation emerging in the House will not reduce the cost of healthcare.

Trump has yet to describe how to pay for a sharp increase in planned spending on rebuilding US&nbsp;roads and bridges.

His proposals to cut taxes for millions of people and corporations have not been sketched out. His strategy for renegotiating international trade deals remains unclear. He took delivery on Monday of a Pentagon proposal for fighting Islamic State militants and must decide on it in the days ahead.

Trump seeks a big increase in defence spending but that plan includes a demand that non-defence federal agencies cut funds to offset the cost, painful reductions likely to face opposition in Congress. US&nbsp;Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday he would not back slashing State Department funding as the administration is expected to propose.

Trump is considering introducing legislation to provide a pathway to legal status, but not immediately to citizenship, for illegal immigrants, CNN reported, citing a senior White House official. It said Trump may refer to the idea in his speech.

Trump&#39;s lack of legislative success so far contrasts with most of his recent predecessors, though not all of them.

With the country facing a financial crisis, Obama laid out an economic stimulus plan days after his January 2009 swearing-in and it was approved in mid-February. In early February Obama signed two other bills into law: one providing federally funded healthcare to children and another making it easier for employees to sue employers for wage-based discrimination.

George W. Bush sent a sweeping tax cut proposal to Congress less than three weeks after taking office in January 2001. It was enacted four months later. Bill Clinton fulfilled a central campaign promise in his first weeks in office when he enacted a family-leave bill on Feb&nbsp;5, 1993.

Ronald Reagan sent dozens of detailed budget cut plans to Congress less than a month after his 1981 swearing in but George H.W. Bush accomplished little of note in his first 100 days.

Democratic displeasure

Trump&#39;s travel ban, which he says was needed for national security reasons, caused wide disruption at airports, sparked protests and was blocked by a federal court. He is expected to sign a replacement order on Wednesday.

Only three weeks into his term, Trump fired his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after disclosures surfaced that Flynn had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and then misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

Stocks on major markets dipped along with the US&nbsp;dollar and US Treasury yields on Tuesday as investors waited for clues in Trump&#39;s address on how he aims to implement his economic agenda.&nbsp;

&quot;If he gives minimal detail this evening, then perhaps we might get a little bit wind out of the sails on this recent equity move,&quot; said Erik Wytenus, global investment specialist at JP&nbsp;Morgan Private Bank.

Tim Albrecht, a Republican strategist in Iowa, said the speech was Trump&#39;s best opportunity to date to explain where he wants to take the country. Albrecht doubted there would be much in the way of conciliatory language.

&quot;Despite those at home or in the audience, he&rsquo;s going to put forward what he believes needs to be done just as he did in the two years he ran for president,&quot; he said. &quot;As with everything in Trump land, conventional wisdom is thrown out the window.&quot;

Democratic lawmakers plan to attend the speech. But at least one, Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, has said he will protest Trump by refusing to applaud or give him a standing ovation, as is a custom at presidential speeches.

(Reuters)

White House officials say the speech will include some gestures toward unifying a country polarised by a bitterly fought election

After a turbulent start to his presidency, Donald Trump goes before the US Congress on Tuesday night to give a speech that will be closely watched for details of his plans for the economy and whether he can strike a more conciliatory tone. World financial markets will be scrutinising the 9 pm (0200 GMT Wednesday) address in the House of Representatives for specifics of how the Republican president aims to make good on promises to tackle tax reform, boost infrastructure spending and simplify regulations he says are harming business. White House officials say the speech will include some gestures toward unifying a country polarised by a bitterly fought election and divided in the early days of his presidency. An average of recent polls by Real Clear Politics put his approval rating at about 44 per cent, low for a new president. Trump, whose inauguration speech on Jan 20 painted a dark picture of the United States and referred to “American carnage”, told Reuters last week that his address would be a speech of optimism. In a rare show of self-criticism, Trump told the "Fox & Friends" television program in an interview broadcast on Tuesday that "maybe it's my fault" the administration's goals on immigration may not have been communicated effectively. He was referring to the troubled rollout of his Jan 27 order to temporarily ban people from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country. Overall, Trump said he had performed well in the Oval Office so far. "I think I get an A in terms of what I've actually done, but in terms of messaging, I'd give myself a C or a C+." Invited to say how he would change the messaging, the businessman and former reality TV star said, "Maybe I change it during the speech." Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders, pulled the United States out of a Pacific trade deal and nominated a conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch, to fill a vacant position on the Supreme Court. But his first month has been characterised by missteps, internal dramas and acrimonious disputes with the news media, and he has yet to score any legislative accomplishments. The president's party controls both the House and Senate, giving him a chance to reshape the economy with lawmakers. He faces a host of questions going into his first speech before a joint session of Congress. Details needed Specifics of his plan to overhaul former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law have not been released. Republican efforts to find a way to repeal and replace Obamacare have encountered resistance from party conservatives who say draft legislation emerging in the House will not reduce the cost of healthcare. Trump has yet to describe how to pay for a sharp increase in planned spending on rebuilding US roads and bridges. His proposals to cut taxes for millions of people and corporations have not been sketched out. His strategy for renegotiating international trade deals remains unclear. He took delivery on Monday of a Pentagon proposal for fighting Islamic State militants and must decide on it in the days ahead. Trump seeks a big increase in defence spending but that plan includes a demand that non-defence federal agencies cut funds to offset the cost, painful reductions likely to face opposition in Congress. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday he would not back slashing State Department funding as the administration is expected to propose. Trump is considering introducing legislation to provide a pathway to legal status, but not immediately to citizenship, for illegal immigrants, CNN reported, citing a senior White House official. It said Trump may refer to the idea in his speech. Trump's lack of legislative success so far contrasts with most of his recent predecessors, though not all of them. With the country facing a financial crisis, Obama laid out an economic stimulus plan days after his January 2009 swearing-in and it was approved in mid-February. In early February Obama signed two other bills into law: one providing federally funded healthcare to children and another making it easier for employees to sue employers for wage-based discrimination. George W. Bush sent a sweeping tax cut proposal to Congress less than three weeks after taking office in January 2001. It was enacted four months later. Bill Clinton fulfilled a central campaign promise in his first weeks in office when he enacted a family-leave bill on Feb 5, 1993. Ronald Reagan sent dozens of detailed budget cut plans to Congress less than a month after his 1981 swearing in but George H.W. Bush accomplished little of note in his first 100 days. Democratic displeasure Trump's travel ban, which he says was needed for national security reasons, caused wide disruption at airports, sparked protests and was blocked by a federal court. He is expected to sign a replacement order on Wednesday. Only three weeks into his term, Trump fired his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after disclosures surfaced that Flynn had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and then misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Stocks on major markets dipped along with the US dollar and US Treasury yields on Tuesday as investors waited for clues in Trump's address on how he aims to implement his economic agenda. "If he gives minimal detail this evening, then perhaps we might get a little bit wind out of the sails on this recent equity move," said Erik Wytenus, global investment specialist at JP Morgan Private Bank. Tim Albrecht, a Republican strategist in Iowa, said the speech was Trump's best opportunity to date to explain where he wants to take the country. Albrecht doubted there would be much in the way of conciliatory language. "Despite those at home or in the audience, he’s going to put forward what he believes needs to be done just as he did in the two years he ran for president," he said. "As with everything in Trump land, conventional wisdom is thrown out the window." Democratic lawmakers plan to attend the speech. But at least one, Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, has said he will protest Trump by refusing to applaud or give him a standing ovation, as is a custom at presidential speeches. (Reuters)

Policy details and tone will be key in Trump speech to Congress

US President Donald Trump claimed there is a&nbsp;&quot;new national pride&quot; in his maiden speech to Congress on Tuesday, pushing for tough immigration enforcement as the key to delivering jobs and security at home.

During a turbulent first 40 days in office, the new US president has doubled down on his vow to put &quot;America First&quot; -- but has yet to translate his populist vision into legislative reality.

But he came to Capitol Hill on Tuesday hailing a &quot;new national pride&quot; and daring lawmakers to rally behind his plans to dramatically slash government spending, industrial regulation and tax.

&quot;A new chapter of American greatness is now beginning,&quot; he declared, after arriving to cheers and wild acclaim from members of the Republican-led House of Representatives and Senate.

&quot;A new national pride is sweeping across our Nation. And a new surge of optimism is placing impossible dreams firmly within our grasp,&quot; he said, promising to save billions of dollars by enforcing immigration law.&nbsp;

&quot;We must restore integrity and the rule of law at our borders,&quot; Trump declared, promising to build a &quot;great, great wall&quot; on America&#39;s southern border with Mexico.

Trump touted tougher immigration enforcement as the keystone of a drive to boost American employment and wages, and slash crime.

But he also vowed to introduce a new merit-based immigration system to regulate new arrivals in the United States and reduce the flow of unskilled workers.

Trump said an Australian-style immigration system would &quot;save countless dollars, raise workers&#39; wages, and help struggling families -- including immigrant families -- enter the middle class. &quot;In Trump&#39;s longest speech to date as president he remained on message, reading his planned address almost verbatim.

Pressing his domestic agenda, Trump promised to provide &quot;massive&quot; tax relief for the American middle class and to repeal his predecessor&#39;s landmark Obamacare health reform, which expanded coverage to 20 million people.

The billionaire&#39;s populist message on the economy was equally crucial in his November victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton -- helping him sway voters in crucial Rust Belt states Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Now his challenge is translating that into tangible policy steps and legislative achievements.

&nbsp;

But his White House honeymoon was short-lived, with infighting and inexperience dogging the new administration and confusing signals being sent from the president himself.

Around 44 per cent of Americans think Trump is doing a good job, according to the RealClearPolitics poll average, a historic low for modern presidents after a month in office.

Trump hoped to use the pomp and tradition-filled occasion to reconnect with blue collar voters, including touting his willingness to tear up trade deals that he says are bad for American workers.

Many were looking beyond the rhetoric to Trump&#39;s plans for rebuilding America`s creaking infrastructure and for high-stakes tax and healthcare reform.

On all three issues, Trump faces a difficult balancing act with fellow Republicans, who control both the Senate and House of Representatives.

To succeed, Trump -- the consummate political outsider -- may have to embrace Washington deal-making.Repealing and replacing Obamacare has been a Republican rallying cry for years, but there is still no clear plan in place to proceed.

In a blunt admission Tuesday, the Senate&#39;s top Republican acknowledged that the White House and Congress remained at odds over healthcare.

&quot;We&#39;re not there yet,&quot; Mitch McConnell told reporters.

Conservatives are desperate to pull Obamacare out by its roots, but party pragmatists are wary of dismantling a system that helped some 20 million Americans obtain health insurance.

Tensions between the executive branch and the Republican-led Congress are also simmering over Trump&#39;s 2018 budget proposal.

Trump wants to hike defense spending by $54 billion, offsetting with cuts in foreign assistance and other non-military spending.

Some Republicans including McConnell have already bristled at reports that Trump wants to slash State Department funding by more than a third.

Trump may also struggle to balance his defense surge with a pledge to protect Social Security without worsening the country&#39;s $20 trillion national debt.

(AFP) 
 
 
&nbsp;

Trump has doubled down on his vow to put 'America First', but is yet to translate his populist vision into legislative reality

US President Donald Trump claimed there is a "new national pride" in his maiden speech to Congress on Tuesday, pushing for tough immigration enforcement as the key to delivering jobs and security at home. During a turbulent first 40 days in office, the new US president has doubled down on his vow to put "America First" -- but has yet to translate his populist vision into legislative reality. But he came to Capitol Hill on Tuesday hailing a "new national pride" and daring lawmakers to rally behind his plans to dramatically slash government spending, industrial regulation and tax. "A new chapter of American greatness is now beginning," he declared, after arriving to cheers and wild acclaim from members of the Republican-led House of Representatives and Senate. "A new national pride is sweeping across our Nation. And a new surge of optimism is placing impossible dreams firmly within our grasp," he said, promising to save billions of dollars by enforcing immigration law. "We must restore integrity and the rule of law at our borders," Trump declared, promising to build a "great, great wall" on America's southern border with Mexico. Trump touted tougher immigration enforcement as the keystone of a drive to boost American employment and wages, and slash crime. But he also vowed to introduce a new merit-based immigration system to regulate new arrivals in the United States and reduce the flow of unskilled workers. Trump said an Australian-style immigration system would "save countless dollars, raise workers' wages, and help struggling families -- including immigrant families -- enter the middle class. "In Trump's longest speech to date as president he remained on message, reading his planned address almost verbatim. Pressing his domestic agenda, Trump promised to provide "massive" tax relief for the American middle class and to repeal his predecessor's landmark Obamacare health reform, which expanded coverage to 20 million people. The billionaire's populist message on the economy was equally crucial in his November victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton -- helping him sway voters in crucial Rust Belt states Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Now his challenge is translating that into tangible policy steps and legislative achievements. But his White House honeymoon was short-lived, with infighting and inexperience dogging the new administration and confusing signals being sent from the president himself. Around 44 per cent of Americans think Trump is doing a good job, according to the RealClearPolitics poll average, a historic low for modern presidents after a month in office. Trump hoped to use the pomp and tradition-filled occasion to reconnect with blue collar voters, including touting his willingness to tear up trade deals that he says are bad for American workers. Many were looking beyond the rhetoric to Trump's plans for rebuilding America`s creaking infrastructure and for high-stakes tax and healthcare reform. On all three issues, Trump faces a difficult balancing act with fellow Republicans, who control both the Senate and House of Representatives. To succeed, Trump -- the consummate political outsider -- may have to embrace Washington deal-making.Repealing and replacing Obamacare has been a Republican rallying cry for years, but there is still no clear plan in place to proceed. In a blunt admission Tuesday, the Senate's top Republican acknowledged that the White House and Congress remained at odds over healthcare. "We're not there yet," Mitch McConnell told reporters. Conservatives are desperate to pull Obamacare out by its roots, but party pragmatists are wary of dismantling a system that helped some 20 million Americans obtain health insurance. Tensions between the executive branch and the Republican-led Congress are also simmering over Trump's 2018 budget proposal. Trump wants to hike defense spending by $54 billion, offsetting with cuts in foreign assistance and other non-military spending. Some Republicans including McConnell have already bristled at reports that Trump wants to slash State Department funding by more than a third. Trump may also struggle to balance his defense surge with a pledge to protect Social Security without worsening the country's $20 trillion national debt. (AFP)

Trump speaks about 'new national pride' in his first Congress address

Fashion talked politics at Missoni&#39;s Milan show with models strutting down the runway wearing pink knitted cat-eared hats, in a sign of support by creative director Angela Missoni for the recent mass protests against US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

In January, hundreds of thousands of women filled the streets of cities across the United States and Europe, in an unprecedented wave of rallies against Trump.

Many of the protesters wore pink &quot;pussy hats&quot;, in reference to Trump&#39;s boast in a 2005 video - made public during his presidential campaign - about grabbing women&#39;s genitals.

&quot;I wanted to have a regular show, but at the same time I thought that when I have a show my voice is louder, so I can use it for a good cause...to support the women march and movement, and for everybody who believes that we need to raise a voice for human rights,&quot; Angela Missoni told Reuters after the show.

The enormous industrial space used by Missoni for the show was dotted with the pink hats sitting on the audience&#39;s benches, as a gift to guests.

&quot;I feel the need to recognise that in a time of uncertainty there is a bond that can keep us strong and safe, that unites those that respect all human rights. Let&#39;s show the world that the fashion world is united and fearless,&quot; Missoni said at the end of her show, on the fourth day of Milan&#39;s fashion week.

A huge photo of Italy&#39;s Monte Rosa - the pink mountain - dominated the hangar space used to showcase the autumn and winter 2017/18 collection.

The designer told Reuters that the mountain, which she sees every day from the windows of her home and the family-owned company, were an inspiration for the clothes, and represented both femininity and solidity.

A note from the group said that Angela Missoni, at the helm of the fashion house for almost two decades, &quot;communicates the femininity of our times, prepared to confront the conflicts and dilemmas of our contemporary society: the conditions, needs and rights of all women and all minorities.&quot;

On Thursday Italian fashion house Prada brought to the catwalk designs that dwelled on the role of women in society but creative director Miuccia Prada said she did not want to talk politics and let clothes speak for her.

Milan fashion week runs until Feb. 27, with Marni, Dolce&amp;Gabbana and Giorgio Armani set to showcase their collections in the next days.

(Reuters)

The hats were a sign of support by creative director Angela Missoni for the recent mass protests against US?President Donald Trump

Fashion talked politics at Missoni's Milan show with models strutting down the runway wearing pink knitted cat-eared hats, in a sign of support by creative director Angela Missoni for the recent mass protests against US President Donald Trump. In January, hundreds of thousands of women filled the streets of cities across the United States and Europe, in an unprecedented wave of rallies against Trump. Many of the protesters wore pink "pussy hats", in reference to Trump's boast in a 2005 video - made public during his presidential campaign - about grabbing women's genitals. "I wanted to have a regular show, but at the same time I thought that when I have a show my voice is louder, so I can use it for a good cause...to support the women march and movement, and for everybody who believes that we need to raise a voice for human rights," Angela Missoni told Reuters after the show. The enormous industrial space used by Missoni for the show was dotted with the pink hats sitting on the audience's benches, as a gift to guests. "I feel the need to recognise that in a time of uncertainty there is a bond that can keep us strong and safe, that unites those that respect all human rights. Let's show the world that the fashion world is united and fearless," Missoni said at the end of her show, on the fourth day of Milan's fashion week. A huge photo of Italy's Monte Rosa - the pink mountain - dominated the hangar space used to showcase the autumn and winter 2017/18 collection. The designer told Reuters that the mountain, which she sees every day from the windows of her home and the family-owned company, were an inspiration for the clothes, and represented both femininity and solidity. A note from the group said that Angela Missoni, at the helm of the fashion house for almost two decades, "communicates the femininity of our times, prepared to confront the conflicts and dilemmas of our contemporary society: the conditions, needs and rights of all women and all minorities." On Thursday Italian fashion house Prada brought to the catwalk designs that dwelled on the role of women in society but creative director Miuccia Prada said she did not want to talk politics and let clothes speak for her. Milan fashion week runs until Feb. 27, with Marni, Dolce&Gabbana and Giorgio Armani set to showcase their collections in the next days. (Reuters)

Missoni talks politics with pink cat-eared hats at Milan show

US President Donald Trump, addressing the Conservative Political Action Congress (CPAC), said on Friday he would make a massive budget request for one of the &quot;greatest military buildups in American history&quot;.

He said he would aim to substantially upgrade the military in both offensive and defensive capabilities, with a massive spending request that would make the country&#39;s defense &quot;bigger and better and stronger than ever before.&quot;

&quot;And, hopefully, we&rsquo;ll never have to use it, but nobody is going to mess with us. Nobody. It will be one of the greatest military buildups in American history,&quot; Trump said.

He also vowed to build the border wall with Mexico &quot;soon, way ahead of schedule&quot;.

&quot;We&#39;re building the wall,&quot; Trump said in his keynote address. &quot;In fact it&#39;s going to start very soon. Way ahead of schedule. It&#39;s way, way, way ahead of schedule.&quot;

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<h5>And, hopefully, we&rsquo;ll never have to use it, but nobody is going to mess with us. Nobody. It will be one of the greatest military buildups in American history,&#39; Trump said</h5>
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With appeals to people on welfare to go to work and pledges to follow through on his vow to build a wall on the US-Mexican border, Trump drew rounds of applause from the large gathering of conservatives, many of them wearing hats emblazoned with the president&#39;s campaign slogan, &quot;Make America Great Again.&quot;

He vowed to keep &quot;radical Islamic terrorists... the hell out of our country,&quot; again citing the examples of Sweden, Germany and France as places where immigration has led to crime, including the terror attacks in Paris and Nice.

He was met by euphoric chants of &quot;USA, USA.&quot;

His speech was heavy on the nationalist overtones from his campaign last year, focusing heavily on promises to boost US&nbsp;economic growth by retooling international trade deals, rolling back regulations and boosting energy production,

Trump is looking to put behind him a rocky first month in office. An executive order he signed aimed at banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries became embroiled in the courts and he had to fire his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, for Russian contacts before Trump took office.

With the federal budget still running a deficit, Trump will have to square his request for a military buildup with his plans to cut taxes for most Americans and for corporations. During his speech, he complained about spending caps that were put in place on the defense budget dating back to 2011.

Trump also heaped criticism on what he called purveyors of &quot;fake news,&quot; seeking to clarify a recent tweet in which he said some in the US&nbsp;news media should be considered an &quot;enemy of the people.&quot;

&quot;I&#39;m against the people that make up stories and make up sources. They shouldn&#39;t be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody&#39;s name. Let their name be out there,&quot; Trump said. &quot;Let there be no more sources.&quot;

Trump has repeatedly chosen to make news media criticism a focus of his public remarks since taking office on Jan&nbsp;20.

The speech allowed Trump to put his stamp firmly on the conservative political movement, even as some activists fretted that his immigration and trade policies go too far.

Trump addressed the third day of the CPAC gathering, which has addressed how to fulfill long-held Republican goals to revamp the tax code, roll back regulations on business and repeal former Democratic President Barack Obama&#39;s healthcare law.

With Trump in the White House and Republicans holding majorities in both houses of Congress, CPAC and the thousands of conservative activists who flock to the event each year from across the country are seeing their political influence rising.

In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Trump talked about imposing some form of a border tax to encourage more US&nbsp;manufacturing. He called the Chinese &quot;grand champions&quot; of currency manipulation that hurts US&nbsp;exports and he talked of expanding the US&nbsp;nuclear arsenal.

Several CPAC attendees voiced concerns about some of Trump&#39;s actions in his first month in office, and worried he might take the US&nbsp;economy in the wrong direction in months ahead.

Abby Oliver, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who interns for a local Republican Party organization, said that while she wanted to see the United States better control its borders, she had concerns about the &quot;controversial&quot; travel ban executive order.

Oliver said the order, which caused protests and chaos at airports the weekend after its enactment, was &quot;rolled out a little bit haphazardly&quot; and she worried that Trump could go too far on immigration policy.

&quot;I don&#39;t want it to become people are being ripped apart from their families,&quot; Oliver said.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Addressing a conservative summit, he also vows to keep 'radical Islamic terrorists... the hell out of our country'

US President Donald Trump, addressing the Conservative Political Action Congress (CPAC), said on Friday he would make a massive budget request for one of the "greatest military buildups in American history". He said he would aim to substantially upgrade the military in both offensive and defensive capabilities, with a massive spending request that would make the country's defense "bigger and better and stronger than ever before." "And, hopefully, we’ll never have to use it, but nobody is going to mess with us. Nobody. It will be one of the greatest military buildups in American history," Trump said. He also vowed to build the border wall with Mexico "soon, way ahead of schedule". "We're building the wall," Trump said in his keynote address. "In fact it's going to start very soon. Way ahead of schedule. It's way, way, way ahead of schedule." And, hopefully, we’ll never have to use it, but nobody is going to mess with us. Nobody. It will be one of the greatest military buildups in American history,' Trump said × With appeals to people on welfare to go to work and pledges to follow through on his vow to build a wall on the US-Mexican border, Trump drew rounds of applause from the large gathering of conservatives, many of them wearing hats emblazoned with the president's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again." He vowed to keep "radical Islamic terrorists... the hell out of our country," again citing the examples of Sweden, Germany and France as places where immigration has led to crime, including the terror attacks in Paris and Nice. He was met by euphoric chants of "USA, USA." His speech was heavy on the nationalist overtones from his campaign last year, focusing heavily on promises to boost US economic growth by retooling international trade deals, rolling back regulations and boosting energy production, Trump is looking to put behind him a rocky first month in office. An executive order he signed aimed at banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries became embroiled in the courts and he had to fire his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, for Russian contacts before Trump took office. With the federal budget still running a deficit, Trump will have to square his request for a military buildup with his plans to cut taxes for most Americans and for corporations. During his speech, he complained about spending caps that were put in place on the defense budget dating back to 2011. Trump also heaped criticism on what he called purveyors of "fake news," seeking to clarify a recent tweet in which he said some in the US news media should be considered an "enemy of the people." "I'm against the people that make up stories and make up sources. They shouldn't be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody's name. Let their name be out there," Trump said. "Let there be no more sources." Trump has repeatedly chosen to make news media criticism a focus of his public remarks since taking office on Jan 20. The speech allowed Trump to put his stamp firmly on the conservative political movement, even as some activists fretted that his immigration and trade policies go too far. Trump addressed the third day of the CPAC gathering, which has addressed how to fulfill long-held Republican goals to revamp the tax code, roll back regulations on business and repeal former Democratic President Barack Obama's healthcare law. With Trump in the White House and Republicans holding majorities in both houses of Congress, CPAC and the thousands of conservative activists who flock to the event each year from across the country are seeing their political influence rising. In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Trump talked about imposing some form of a border tax to encourage more US manufacturing. He called the Chinese "grand champions" of currency manipulation that hurts US exports and he talked of expanding the US nuclear arsenal. Several CPAC attendees voiced concerns about some of Trump's actions in his first month in office, and worried he might take the US economy in the wrong direction in months ahead. Abby Oliver, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who interns for a local Republican Party organization, said that while she wanted to see the United States better control its borders, she had concerns about the "controversial" travel ban executive order. Oliver said the order, which caused protests and chaos at airports the weekend after its enactment, was "rolled out a little bit haphazardly" and she worried that Trump could go too far on immigration policy. "I don't want it to become people are being ripped apart from their families," Oliver said. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Trump promises wall 'way ahead of schedule'

The unusually elaborate lifestyle of America&rsquo;s new first family is straining the US Secret Service and security officials, stirring financial and logistical concerns in several local communities, and costing far more than past presidents, with only a month into the Trump presidency.

On Monday, President Donald Trump returned to Washington from his private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where he spent his last three weekends for a working getaway.

These three trips to Mar-a-Lago have cost the federal treasury approximately $10 million, based on figures used in an October government report analysing White House travel, including money for coast guard units to patrol the exposed shoreline and other military, security and staffing expenses associated with moving the apparatus of the presidency, the Washington Post reported.

As a result, the bills have racked up outside the club. Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric Bradshaw said Trump&rsquo;s 25 days in the county since the election have cost local taxpayers about $60,000 a day in overtime police payments.

According to The Hill, Trump&rsquo;s decision to spend three consecutive weekends at his &ldquo;southern White House&rdquo; stands in contrast to what he promised during the election campaign -- that he would rarely leave the White House because there would be a lot of work to be done.

The three Mar-a-Lago getaways, combined with his adult sons&rsquo; two international trips with their Secret Service protection to promote their father&rsquo;s business cost taxpayers about $11.3 million over the first month of Trump&rsquo;s presidency. President Obama, by contrast, spent an average of $12.1 million on travel each year, the Washington Post reported.

Trump&rsquo;s frequent travel opposes his criticism of Obama as a &ldquo;habitual vacationer&rdquo; enjoying taxpayer-funded golf getaways.

As the First Lady Melania Trump has decided to continue living in New York City, the New York police estimate the annual cost of guarding Trump Tower could be as high as $183 million.

The Defense Department and Secret Service is forced to rent space in Trump Tower at a taxpayer cost estimated to be $1.5 million annually to have constant access to the commander-in-chief.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Trump, who repeatedly criticised Obama for playing golf while president, enjoyed his sixth golf outing in Florida during his first month as president.

This month, Secret Service and US Embassy staffers paid nearly $100,000 in hotel room bills to support Eric Trump&rsquo;s trip to promote a Trump-brand condo tower in Uruguay, The Post reported.

Agents are now tasked with guarding multiple homes and protecting Trump&rsquo;s four adult children, including the globe-trotting sons running the family business and daughter Ivanka, whose family recently moved into a Northwest Washington neighbourhood, the Washington Post reported.

In advance of Trump&rsquo;s Super Bowl weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago, the Secret Service paid for a bevvy of security costs, including more than $12,000 for tents, portable toilets, light towers and golf carts, purchase orders show.

A report by Washington Post states that the overseas travel by Trump&rsquo;s adult sons is adding to the burden on taxpayers.

While Trump spent millions of taxpayer dollars on travel during his first month in office, his team put together a budget proposal that would cut cultural institutions and important services for poor people.

The proposal would eliminate &ldquo;longstanding conservative targets like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Legal Services Corporation, AmeriCorps and the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities,&rdquo; the New York Times reported.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Most of the programs cost under $500 million annually, a pittance for a government that is projected to spend about $4 trillion this year,&rdquo; it adds.&nbsp;

(WION)

While Obama spent an average of $12.1 mn on travel each year, Trump's travels cost taxpayers $11.3 mn over the first month of his presidency

The unusually elaborate lifestyle of America’s new first family is straining the US Secret Service and security officials, stirring financial and logistical concerns in several local communities, and costing far more than past presidents, with only a month into the Trump presidency. On Monday, President Donald Trump returned to Washington from his private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where he spent his last three weekends for a working getaway. These three trips to Mar-a-Lago have cost the federal treasury approximately $10 million, based on figures used in an October government report analysing White House travel, including money for coast guard units to patrol the exposed shoreline and other military, security and staffing expenses associated with moving the apparatus of the presidency, the Washington Post reported. As a result, the bills have racked up outside the club. Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric Bradshaw said Trump’s 25 days in the county since the election have cost local taxpayers about $60,000 a day in overtime police payments. According to The Hill, Trump’s decision to spend three consecutive weekends at his “southern White House” stands in contrast to what he promised during the election campaign -- that he would rarely leave the White House because there would be a lot of work to be done. The three Mar-a-Lago getaways, combined with his adult sons’ two international trips with their Secret Service protection to promote their father’s business cost taxpayers about $11.3 million over the first month of Trump’s presidency. President Obama, by contrast, spent an average of $12.1 million on travel each year, the Washington Post reported. Trump’s frequent travel opposes his criticism of Obama as a “habitual vacationer” enjoying taxpayer-funded golf getaways. As the First Lady Melania Trump has decided to continue living in New York City, the New York police estimate the annual cost of guarding Trump Tower could be as high as $183 million. The Defense Department and Secret Service is forced to rent space in Trump Tower at a taxpayer cost estimated to be $1.5 million annually to have constant access to the commander-in-chief. Meanwhile on Sunday, Trump, who repeatedly criticised Obama for playing golf while president, enjoyed his sixth golf outing in Florida during his first month as president. This month, Secret Service and US Embassy staffers paid nearly $100,000 in hotel room bills to support Eric Trump’s trip to promote a Trump-brand condo tower in Uruguay, The Post reported. Agents are now tasked with guarding multiple homes and protecting Trump’s four adult children, including the globe-trotting sons running the family business and daughter Ivanka, whose family recently moved into a Northwest Washington neighbourhood, the Washington Post reported. In advance of Trump’s Super Bowl weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago, the Secret Service paid for a bevvy of security costs, including more than $12,000 for tents, portable toilets, light towers and golf carts, purchase orders show. A report by Washington Post states that the overseas travel by Trump’s adult sons is adding to the burden on taxpayers. While Trump spent millions of taxpayer dollars on travel during his first month in office, his team put together a budget proposal that would cut cultural institutions and important services for poor people. The proposal would eliminate “longstanding conservative targets like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Legal Services Corporation, AmeriCorps and the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities,” the New York Times reported. “Most of the programs cost under $500 million annually, a pittance for a government that is projected to spend about $4 trillion this year,” it adds. (WION)

Trump family's elaborate lifestyle burdens US taxpayers

Donald Trump&#39;s every order, move, and lie has been (rightly) scrutinised&nbsp;ever since he took office. He is after all the &quot;most powerful man in the world&quot;.&nbsp;

Now, they&#39;ve also begun paying attention to his handshake.

That scrutiny began after a very strange 19-second &quot;tug-of-war&quot; with the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. As Trump holds onto Abe&#39;s hand -- watch video below -- he, every few seconds, &quot;pulls&quot;&nbsp;the prime minister towards himself, making Abe looking more and more uncomfortable in the process. &nbsp;

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Shinzo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Abe?src=hash">#Abe</a>&acute;s face after this extremely awkward 19 seconds handshake with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash">#Trump</a> says it all: <a href="https://t.co/oGSe6Ve8z8">pic.twitter.com/oGSe6Ve8z8</a>
&mdash; Benjamin Alvarez (@BenjAlvarez1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjAlvarez1/status/830142500941750274">February 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had better luck, and seemed to have done his homework. His handshake with Trump was short and sweet (watch video below).&nbsp;

A photo (above) from their press meet captured Trudeau&#39;s moment of reflection before his quick and firm handshake with Trump, a far cry from grab-and-pull that Abe had to go through.

Twitter was quick to read into the 5-second moment between the two heads of state.

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nice smooth shake .. no jerks .. appropriately brief .. professional <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrudeauMeetsTrump?src=hash">#TrudeauMeetsTrump</a> <a href="https://t.co/ACBd7r5WV1">pic.twitter.com/ACBd7r5WV1</a>
&mdash; Robbi MacDougall (@yomydj) <a href="https://twitter.com/yomydj/status/831182996308897793">February 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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When House of Cards becomes reality. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/handshake?src=hash">#handshake</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/trump?src=hash">#trump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/trudeau?src=hash">#trudeau</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uspoli?src=hash">#uspoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canpoli?src=hash">#canpoli</a> (photo not mine) <a href="https://t.co/cqblJk9lWR">pic.twitter.com/cqblJk9lWR</a>
&mdash; Partsinevelos (@KristinaParts) <a href="https://twitter.com/KristinaParts/status/831285024951500801">February 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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I&#39;ve spent an embarrassing amount of time searching &quot;Trump-Trudeau handshake&quot; this morning.
&mdash; Clare Malone (@ClareMalone) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClareMalone/status/831194872199708673">February 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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How awkward was that Trump,Trudeau handshake? <a href="https://t.co/BBfqYIYfiB">pic.twitter.com/BBfqYIYfiB</a>
&mdash; Anthony Creed (@creed1992) <a href="https://twitter.com/creed1992/status/831174543049949184">February 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Sorry Trump Trudeau wins round one of crazy handshake. Handshake interruptus. <a href="https://t.co/tSCmjTtEFf">https://t.co/tSCmjTtEFf</a>
&mdash; MikeFarb (@mikefarb1) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikefarb1/status/831239839576125440">February 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Trudeau&#39;s first meeting with the new US president was looked at with interest as the PM had a strong rapport with former Democratic president Barack Obama, prompting pundits to describe their relationship as a &quot;bromance&quot;.

With Trump, soon after he put a hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily banned travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries in an executive order on January 27, citing the need to head off attacks by Islamist militants, the Canadian prime minister took to Twitter to say refugees were welcome in Canada.

Trump says the United States will be &quot;tweaking&quot; its trade relationship with Canada, stopping short of calling for a major realignment in a development likely to please visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trump has pledged to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) linking the economies of the United States, Mexico and Canada to make the terms more favourable to Americans.

At a joint news conference with Trudeau after White House talks, Trump said his biggest concern with NAFTA was the US trade relationship with Mexico, which he has frequently accused of stealing American jobs. &quot;We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada. We&#39;ll be tweaking it,&quot; Trump said. &quot;It&#39;s a much less severe situation than what&#39;s taking place on the southern border. On the southern border, for many, many years the transaction was not fair to the United States,&quot; he said.

Trump said the United States and Canada were stronger when they joined forces in matters of international commerce, and both countries benefited from having more jobs and trade in North America. &quot;We should coordinate closely - and we will coordinate closely - to protect jobs in our hemisphere and keep wealth on our continent, and to keep everyone safe,&quot; Trump said.

Trudeau carefully steered around questions about the Canadian trade relationship with the United States. He said he expected each country to always remain each other&#39;s most essential partner. &quot;There have been times where we have differed in our approaches and that&rsquo;s always been done firmly and respectfully. The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves,&quot; Trudeau said.

(WION)

The Canadian PM Justin Trudeau got it right, his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe did not

Donald Trump's every order, move, and lie has been (rightly) scrutinised ever since he took office. He is after all the "most powerful man in the world". Now, they've also begun paying attention to his handshake. That scrutiny began after a very strange 19-second "tug-of-war" with the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. As Trump holds onto Abe's hand -- watch video below -- he, every few seconds, "pulls" the prime minister towards himself, making Abe looking more and more uncomfortable in the process. Shinzo #Abe´s face after this extremely awkward 19 seconds handshake with #Trump says it all: pic.twitter.com/oGSe6Ve8z8 — Benjamin Alvarez (@BenjAlvarez1) February 10, 2017 × Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had better luck, and seemed to have done his homework. His handshake with Trump was short and sweet (watch video below). A photo (above) from their press meet captured Trudeau's moment of reflection before his quick and firm handshake with Trump, a far cry from grab-and-pull that Abe had to go through. Twitter was quick to read into the 5-second moment between the two heads of state. nice smooth shake .. no jerks .. appropriately brief .. professional #TrudeauMeetsTrump pic.twitter.com/ACBd7r5WV1 — Robbi MacDougall (@yomydj) February 13, 2017 × When House of Cards becomes reality. #handshake #trump #trudeau #uspoli #canpoli (photo not mine) pic.twitter.com/cqblJk9lWR — Partsinevelos (@KristinaParts) February 13, 2017 × I've spent an embarrassing amount of time searching "Trump-Trudeau handshake" this morning. — Clare Malone (@ClareMalone) February 13, 2017 × How awkward was that Trump,Trudeau handshake? pic.twitter.com/BBfqYIYfiB — Anthony Creed (@creed1992) February 13, 2017 × Sorry Trump Trudeau wins round one of crazy handshake. Handshake interruptus. https://t.co/tSCmjTtEFf — MikeFarb (@mikefarb1) February 13, 2017 × Trudeau's first meeting with the new US president was looked at with interest as the PM had a strong rapport with former Democratic president Barack Obama, prompting pundits to describe their relationship as a "bromance". With Trump, soon after he put a hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily banned travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries in an executive order on January 27, citing the need to head off attacks by Islamist militants, the Canadian prime minister took to Twitter to say refugees were welcome in Canada. Trump says the United States will be "tweaking" its trade relationship with Canada, stopping short of calling for a major realignment in a development likely to please visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump has pledged to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) linking the economies of the United States, Mexico and Canada to make the terms more favourable to Americans. At a joint news conference with Trudeau after White House talks, Trump said his biggest concern with NAFTA was the US trade relationship with Mexico, which he has frequently accused of stealing American jobs. "We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada. We'll be tweaking it," Trump said. "It's a much less severe situation than what's taking place on the southern border. On the southern border, for many, many years the transaction was not fair to the United States," he said. Trump said the United States and Canada were stronger when they joined forces in matters of international commerce, and both countries benefited from having more jobs and trade in North America. "We should coordinate closely - and we will coordinate closely - to protect jobs in our hemisphere and keep wealth on our continent, and to keep everyone safe," Trump said. Trudeau carefully steered around questions about the Canadian trade relationship with the United States. He said he expected each country to always remain each other's most essential partner. "There have been times where we have differed in our approaches and that’s always been done firmly and respectfully. The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves," Trudeau said. (WION)

Watch & learn: How to shake hands with Donald Trump

The US&nbsp;Senate voted to confirm former banker and Hollywood financier Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary on Monday, installing the Trump administration&#39;s point-man on tax reform, financial deregulation and economic diplomacy efforts.

The Senate voted 53-47 to confirm the Goldman Sachs veteran&#39;s nomination on a mostly party-line vote, with only one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, voting in favour.

Mnuchin was expected to be sworn into office on Monday night in a brief White House ceremony, putting a Wall Street veteran in charge of the Treasury for the first time in eight years, after the financial crisis pushed top US&nbsp;bankers out of favour.

Lawmakers, lobbyists and business groups have been waiting for Mnuchin to fill in the many blanks on how he will pursue tax reform and handle delicate economic cooperation efforts with China, Mexico and other trading partners worried about President Donald Trump&#39;s &quot;America First&quot; trade strategy.

Mnuchin faces immediate challenges with the March 15 expiration of a US&nbsp;debt ceiling suspension, ushering in the threat of a new default showdown, and a March 17 meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 20 major economies, where he will face tough questions about Trump&#39;s plans to increase trade protections.

&quot;There is a real open question as to whether this administration is going to cut itself off from international monetary cooperation, whether it&#39;s exchange rate policies or attitudes towards multilateral institutions or international regulatory policy,&quot; said Edwin Truman, a former Treasury and Federal Reserve official now with the Peterson Institute for International Economics

Truman said Mnuchin&#39;s hardest job would be managing a sprawling tax reform effort with Congress that seeks to slash business tax rates and enact a new border tax adjustment system aimed at boosting US&nbsp;exports. He noted that was a longer-term project.

Mnuchin, 54, will quickly need to build a core management team to handle such challenges.

Treasury and White House representatives did not respond to requests for comment on Monday on reports that Trump would soon nominate David Malpass, a former economist at failed Wall Street bank Bear Stearns, as Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, the agency&#39;s top economic diplomacy job.

Malpass, a Trump campaign adviser who had been leading Treasury transition efforts, was seen as a leading candidate for the job, with experience from international economic posts in the Ronald Reagan and George HW&nbsp;Bush administrations.

Other names that have been floated for senior posts include Goldman Sachs banker Jim Donovan for deputy Treasury secretary and Justin Muzinich, a former Morgan Stanley banker, for undersecretary of domestic finance.

The Senate on Monday also unanimously confirmed David Shulkin as secretary of veterans affairs, putting the only holdover from the Obama administration in charge of the second largest federal agency. Shulkin had been in charge of the VA&#39;s sprawling health system for the past 18 months.

Mnuchin, a second-generation Goldman Sachs banker who led the firm&#39;s mortgage-bond trading but left the bank in 2002, has come under fire over his investor group&#39;s 2009 acquisition of another failed lender, IndyMac Bank, in a deal in which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp agreed to absorb most of the losses on IndyMac foreclosures.

The bank&nbsp;rebranded as OneWest, subsequently foreclosed on more than 36,000 homeowners, drawing charges from Democrats and housing advocates that it was a &quot;foreclosure machine&quot;.

Mnuchin grew OneWest into Southern California&#39;s largest lender and sold it for $3.4 billion in 2015. He has also helped finance Hollywood blockbusters such as &quot;Avatar&quot;, &quot;American Sniper&quot; and this past weekend&#39;s box office champion, &quot;The Lego Batman Movie&quot;, which took in $55.6 million.

(Reuters)

The Senate voted 53-47 to confirm his nomination on a mostly party-line vote, with only one Democrat voting in favour

The US Senate voted to confirm former banker and Hollywood financier Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary on Monday, installing the Trump administration's point-man on tax reform, financial deregulation and economic diplomacy efforts. The Senate voted 53-47 to confirm the Goldman Sachs veteran's nomination on a mostly party-line vote, with only one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, voting in favour. Mnuchin was expected to be sworn into office on Monday night in a brief White House ceremony, putting a Wall Street veteran in charge of the Treasury for the first time in eight years, after the financial crisis pushed top US bankers out of favour. Lawmakers, lobbyists and business groups have been waiting for Mnuchin to fill in the many blanks on how he will pursue tax reform and handle delicate economic cooperation efforts with China, Mexico and other trading partners worried about President Donald Trump's "America First" trade strategy. Mnuchin faces immediate challenges with the March 15 expiration of a US debt ceiling suspension, ushering in the threat of a new default showdown, and a March 17 meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 20 major economies, where he will face tough questions about Trump's plans to increase trade protections. "There is a real open question as to whether this administration is going to cut itself off from international monetary cooperation, whether it's exchange rate policies or attitudes towards multilateral institutions or international regulatory policy," said Edwin Truman, a former Treasury and Federal Reserve official now with the Peterson Institute for International Economics Truman said Mnuchin's hardest job would be managing a sprawling tax reform effort with Congress that seeks to slash business tax rates and enact a new border tax adjustment system aimed at boosting US exports. He noted that was a longer-term project. Mnuchin, 54, will quickly need to build a core management team to handle such challenges. Treasury and White House representatives did not respond to requests for comment on Monday on reports that Trump would soon nominate David Malpass, a former economist at failed Wall Street bank Bear Stearns, as Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, the agency's top economic diplomacy job. Malpass, a Trump campaign adviser who had been leading Treasury transition efforts, was seen as a leading candidate for the job, with experience from international economic posts in the Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush administrations. Other names that have been floated for senior posts include Goldman Sachs banker Jim Donovan for deputy Treasury secretary and Justin Muzinich, a former Morgan Stanley banker, for undersecretary of domestic finance. The Senate on Monday also unanimously confirmed David Shulkin as secretary of veterans affairs, putting the only holdover from the Obama administration in charge of the second largest federal agency. Shulkin had been in charge of the VA's sprawling health system for the past 18 months. Mnuchin, a second-generation Goldman Sachs banker who led the firm's mortgage-bond trading but left the bank in 2002, has come under fire over his investor group's 2009 acquisition of another failed lender, IndyMac Bank, in a deal in which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp agreed to absorb most of the losses on IndyMac foreclosures. The bank rebranded as OneWest, subsequently foreclosed on more than 36,000 homeowners, drawing charges from Democrats and housing advocates that it was a "foreclosure machine". Mnuchin grew OneWest into Southern California's largest lender and sold it for $3.4 billion in 2015. He has also helped finance Hollywood blockbusters such as "Avatar", "American Sniper" and this past weekend's box office champion, "The Lego Batman Movie", which took in $55.6 million. (Reuters)

US Senate narrowly confirms Mnuchin for treasury secretary

US authorities said on Tuesday they will approve a permit to complete the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline.

The decision comes after months of protests by Native Americans and their supporters led the Obama administration to nix plans to build the pipeline close to native grounds.&nbsp;

But President Donald Trump supported the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometre) oil pipeline, which would snake through four US states, and ordered officials to reconsider. &nbsp;

The Army Corps of Engineers, which has approval authority, said on Tuesday that it had &quot;completed a presidential-directed review&quot; and planned to grant permission for the pipeline to cross government land at the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe reservoir -- the final sticking point, which will effectively allow the last stretch of the pipeline to be completed. &nbsp;

The reservoir is the drinking water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which objects to the pipeline&#39;s routes. The tribe vowed to challenge The Army&#39;s decision in court, and called on supporters to head to Washington on March 10 for &quot;a Native Nations march&quot;. &nbsp;

&quot;We ask that our allies join us in demanding that Congress demand a fair and accurate process,&quot; tribe chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement. &quot;Our fight is no longer at the North Dakota site itself. Our fight is with Congress and the Trump administration.&quot; &nbsp;

The Dakota Access pipeline would connect the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to an existing crude oil terminal near Patoka, Illinois.

In addition to the risk to its water, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had also claimed the project endangered areas with sacred historic sites and artefacts.&nbsp;Additionally, it claimed that it was not appropriately consulted during the process&nbsp;and that a proper environmental review was required.

Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline&#39;s operator, has denied the tribe&#39;s claims, saying the pipeline is safer than the current transport methods of rail and truck, and that archaeological experts it hired had failed to find sacred artefacts along the pipeline route.

&nbsp;

Opponents vow to fight on

North Dakota leaders who have supported the project promptly backed the Army&#39;s decision. &quot;This is a key step toward the completion of this important infrastructure project, which has faced months of politically-driven delays,&quot; North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in a statement. &nbsp;

North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, who also praised The Army&#39;s decision, said the acrimonious process had nevertheless raised some questions.

&quot;Going forward, we need to review the permitting process to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard and that a fair, certain and legal process has been followed,&quot; Hoeven said. &nbsp;

The pipeline has been the subject of intense protests in North Dakota and around the country, galvanising hundreds of Native American tribes, environmental groups and their supporters.

Protesters had also camped on land near the pipeline&#39;s path just north of the tribe&#39;s reservation in order to physically block its completion -- at times clashing violently with authorities.

Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network -- a group that had a strong presence at the North Dakota protest, charged that The Army&#39;s decision on Tuesday went against protocol and the established legal process.

&quot;It disregards more than 100,000 comments already submitted as part of the not-yet-completed environmental review process,&quot; Goldtooth said.

(AFP)

Obama cancelled it after months of fierce protesting by Native Americans and their allies. But Donald Trump supports the pipline

US authorities said on Tuesday they will approve a permit to complete the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline. The decision comes after months of protests by Native Americans and their supporters led the Obama administration to nix plans to build the pipeline close to native grounds. But President Donald Trump supported the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometre) oil pipeline, which would snake through four US states, and ordered officials to reconsider. The Army Corps of Engineers, which has approval authority, said on Tuesday that it had "completed a presidential-directed review" and planned to grant permission for the pipeline to cross government land at the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe reservoir -- the final sticking point, which will effectively allow the last stretch of the pipeline to be completed. The reservoir is the drinking water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which objects to the pipeline's routes. The tribe vowed to challenge The Army's decision in court, and called on supporters to head to Washington on March 10 for "a Native Nations march". "We ask that our allies join us in demanding that Congress demand a fair and accurate process," tribe chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement. "Our fight is no longer at the North Dakota site itself. Our fight is with Congress and the Trump administration." The Dakota Access pipeline would connect the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to an existing crude oil terminal near Patoka, Illinois. In addition to the risk to its water, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had also claimed the project endangered areas with sacred historic sites and artefacts. Additionally, it claimed that it was not appropriately consulted during the process and that a proper environmental review was required. Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline's operator, has denied the tribe's claims, saying the pipeline is safer than the current transport methods of rail and truck, and that archaeological experts it hired had failed to find sacred artefacts along the pipeline route. Opponents vow to fight on North Dakota leaders who have supported the project promptly backed the Army's decision. "This is a key step toward the completion of this important infrastructure project, which has faced months of politically-driven delays," North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in a statement. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, who also praised The Army's decision, said the acrimonious process had nevertheless raised some questions. "Going forward, we need to review the permitting process to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard and that a fair, certain and legal process has been followed," Hoeven said. The pipeline has been the subject of intense protests in North Dakota and around the country, galvanising hundreds of Native American tribes, environmental groups and their supporters. Protesters had also camped on land near the pipeline's path just north of the tribe's reservation in order to physically block its completion -- at times clashing violently with authorities. Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network -- a group that had a strong presence at the North Dakota protest, charged that The Army's decision on Tuesday went against protocol and the established legal process. "It disregards more than 100,000 comments already submitted as part of the not-yet-completed environmental review process," Goldtooth said. (AFP)

US authorities to approve Dakota Access Pipeline permit

The speaker of Britain&#39;s lower house of parliament said on Monday he would not support any plans for US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to address parliament during a state visit planned for later this year, citing Trump&#39;s&nbsp;immigration ban as a factor.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hOKPhRxVkeQ" width="560"></iframe>

More than 1.8 million people in Britain have signed a petition calling for Trump&#39;s planned visit to be cancelled or downgraded to avoid embarrassing Queen Elizabeth, part of a grassroots backlash against his immigration policies.

Prime Minister Theresa May has defended the decision to offer a state visit, but more than 150 lawmakers have signed a symbolic motion calling for Trump not to be given the honour of speaking in parliament.

Asked by an opposition Labour lawmaker about the possibility of a parliamentary address, House of Commons speaker John Bercow said he shared the concerns.

&quot;As far as this place (parliament) is concerned, I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations,&quot; Bercow said, earning a round of applause from lawmakers.

Trump&#39;s executive order barring entry to the United States for refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries has prompted worldwide protests, including by thousands of demonstrators in London.

The temporary immigration ban faced a legal hurdle on Monday that could determine whether he can push through the most controversial and far-reaching policy of his first two weeks in office.

As one of the key figures whose approval would be needed for a parliamentary address, Bercow said he would oppose any possible move to invite Trump to speak in either of the two locations which host foreign leaders during state visits.

In 2011, Trump&#39;s predecessor Barack Obama became the first US president to address both houses of parliament in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in the parliamentary palace, which has also hosted South Africa&#39;s Nelson Mandela and France&#39;s Charles de Gaulle.

&quot;Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall,&quot; Bercow said.

&quot;An address by a foreign leader to both houses of parliament is not an automatic right; it is an earned honour.&quot;

(Reuters)

John Bercow said Parliament opposed 'racism and sexism', and a spontaneous and rousing applause broke out

The speaker of Britain's lower house of parliament said on Monday he would not support any plans for US President Donald Trump to address parliament during a state visit planned for later this year, citing Trump's immigration ban as a factor. More than 1.8 million people in Britain have signed a petition calling for Trump's planned visit to be cancelled or downgraded to avoid embarrassing Queen Elizabeth, part of a grassroots backlash against his immigration policies. Prime Minister Theresa May has defended the decision to offer a state visit, but more than 150 lawmakers have signed a symbolic motion calling for Trump not to be given the honour of speaking in parliament. Asked by an opposition Labour lawmaker about the possibility of a parliamentary address, House of Commons speaker John Bercow said he shared the concerns. "As far as this place (parliament) is concerned, I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations," Bercow said, earning a round of applause from lawmakers. Trump's executive order barring entry to the United States for refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries has prompted worldwide protests, including by thousands of demonstrators in London. The temporary immigration ban faced a legal hurdle on Monday that could determine whether he can push through the most controversial and far-reaching policy of his first two weeks in office. As one of the key figures whose approval would be needed for a parliamentary address, Bercow said he would oppose any possible move to invite Trump to speak in either of the two locations which host foreign leaders during state visits. In 2011, Trump's predecessor Barack Obama became the first US president to address both houses of parliament in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in the parliamentary palace, which has also hosted South Africa's Nelson Mandela and France's Charles de Gaulle. "Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall," Bercow said. "An address by a foreign leader to both houses of parliament is not an automatic right; it is an earned honour." (Reuters)

British Speaker opposes letting Trump address parliament

US President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order to restrict work visas, H1B and L1 issued to professionals working in the US for a short period of time, as part of a larger immigration reform.&nbsp;

The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ skilled foreign workers and are mostly used by Indian Information-Technology (IT) professionals.&nbsp;

This comes in after Trump issued a sweeping&nbsp;executive order banning foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.&nbsp;

The new order will not just block the visas but end employment permit cards to spouses on work visas, which was introduced by the previous Obama administration.&nbsp;

The move will also increase what some Indians informally&nbsp;call&nbsp;&quot;inspector raj&quot;, where&nbsp;Homeland Security will have to carry out &quot;site visits&quot; where workers with L-1 visas are employed.&nbsp;

During the daily news briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters,&quot;I think with respect to H1Bs and other visa is part of a larger immigration reform effort that the President will continue to talk about through executive order and through working with Congress&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;You&#39;ve already seen a lot of action on immigration and I think whether it&#39;s that or the spousal visas or other types of visas, I think there&#39;s an overall need to look at all of these programmes. You&#39;ll see both through executive action and through comprehensive measures a way to address immigration as a whole and the visa programme,&quot; Spicer added.

The proposed order was leaked and then published by a few news websites on Monday.&nbsp;

According to the leaked document, Trump would reverse former president Obama&#39;s order of extending foreign students stay in the US for a period of time after completing their course.&nbsp;

The draft order seeks the administration to &quot;consider ways to make the process of allocating visas more efficient and ensure that beneficiaries of the programmes are the best and the brightest&quot;.

The order also proposes to set up a commission to analyse US&#39;s current immigration policies and their impact on the American society, economy, workforce, and the foreign policy and national security interest of the United States.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

&nbsp;

Employment permit cards to spouses on work visas, introduced by the Obama government, are also expected to end

US President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order to restrict work visas, H1B and L1 issued to professionals working in the US for a short period of time, as part of a larger immigration reform. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ skilled foreign workers and are mostly used by Indian Information-Technology (IT) professionals. This comes in after Trump issued a sweeping executive order banning foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US. The new order will not just block the visas but end employment permit cards to spouses on work visas, which was introduced by the previous Obama administration. The move will also increase what some Indians informally call "inspector raj", where Homeland Security will have to carry out "site visits" where workers with L-1 visas are employed. During the daily news briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters,"I think with respect to H1Bs and other visa is part of a larger immigration reform effort that the President will continue to talk about through executive order and through working with Congress". "You've already seen a lot of action on immigration and I think whether it's that or the spousal visas or other types of visas, I think there's an overall need to look at all of these programmes. You'll see both through executive action and through comprehensive measures a way to address immigration as a whole and the visa programme," Spicer added. The proposed order was leaked and then published by a few news websites on Monday. According to the leaked document, Trump would reverse former president Obama's order of extending foreign students stay in the US for a period of time after completing their course. The draft order seeks the administration to "consider ways to make the process of allocating visas more efficient and ensure that beneficiaries of the programmes are the best and the brightest". The order also proposes to set up a commission to analyse US's current immigration policies and their impact on the American society, economy, workforce, and the foreign policy and national security interest of the United States. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Trump expected to order clamp down on H1B, L1 visas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for US President Donald Trump to make good on his campaign pledge to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Departing from a long-standing US position, Trump promised he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital and relocate the American mission there, a pledge that drew a fierce rebuke from Palestinian officials and concern from the European Union.

&quot;The US embassy must move here to Jerusalem,&quot; Netanyahu said after his weekly cabinet meeting.

&quot;Jerusalem is Israel&#39;s capital and it would be good if the American embassy wasn&#39;t the only one to move here... I think that with time the majority of embassies will move to Jerusalem,&quot; he was quoted as saying by his office.

The Palestinians regard east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, while Israel proclaims the entire city as its capital.

The city&#39;s status is one of the thorniest issues of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967. It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.

(AFP)

'The US embassy must move here to Jerusalem,' Netanyahu said after his weekly cabinet meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for US President Donald Trump to make good on his campaign pledge to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Departing from a long-standing US position, Trump promised he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocate the American mission there, a pledge that drew a fierce rebuke from Palestinian officials and concern from the European Union. "The US embassy must move here to Jerusalem," Netanyahu said after his weekly cabinet meeting. "Jerusalem is Israel's capital and it would be good if the American embassy wasn't the only one to move here... I think that with time the majority of embassies will move to Jerusalem," he was quoted as saying by his office. The Palestinians regard east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, while Israel proclaims the entire city as its capital. The city's status is one of the thorniest issues of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967. It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community. (AFP)

Israeli PM Netanyahu presses Trump on US embassy move

US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will on Saturday hold their first phone conversation since the American leader&#39;s inauguration, the Kremlin said. &nbsp;

&quot;I can confirm that a telephone conversation is planned. It will be Saturday evening Moscow time,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday.&nbsp;

Peskov said Putin would congratulate Trump on officially becoming president and the two would likely discuss the &quot;state of bilateral ties&quot;.

But Putin&#39;s spokesman refused to comment on rumours that Trump might already be gearing up to roll back sanctions against Moscow that have helped drive ties to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. &nbsp;

&quot;This is the first contact by phone since President Trump assumed office so it is hardly likely there will be substantive contact on all issues. Let&#39;s be patient,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The two leaders already spoke by phone in November following Trump&#39;s election&nbsp;and agreed to &quot;normalise&quot; US-Russia relations, which have suffered notably since the crisis in Ukraine.

Throughout the election campaign, Trump praised Putin and was accused by his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of being Putin&#39;s &quot;puppet&quot;.

Less than one month before leaving the White House, former president Barack Obama took action against Moscow over what he said was Russian meddling in the US presidential election.

The measures by Obama, who accused Moscow of &quot;efforts to harm US interests&quot;, included the expulsion of 35 alleged intelligence agents and financial sanctions on Russia&#39;s top intelligence agencies.

Trump has pledged to mend ties with Putin&#39;s government&nbsp;and is angered by suggestions that his victory was aided by illegal Russian interference.

(AFP)

'I can confirm that a telephone conversation is planned. It will be Saturday evening Moscow time,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will on Saturday hold their first phone conversation since the American leader's inauguration, the Kremlin said. "I can confirm that a telephone conversation is planned. It will be Saturday evening Moscow time," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday. Peskov said Putin would congratulate Trump on officially becoming president and the two would likely discuss the "state of bilateral ties". But Putin's spokesman refused to comment on rumours that Trump might already be gearing up to roll back sanctions against Moscow that have helped drive ties to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. "This is the first contact by phone since President Trump assumed office so it is hardly likely there will be substantive contact on all issues. Let's be patient," he said. The two leaders already spoke by phone in November following Trump's election and agreed to "normalise" US-Russia relations, which have suffered notably since the crisis in Ukraine. Throughout the election campaign, Trump praised Putin and was accused by his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of being Putin's "puppet". Less than one month before leaving the White House, former president Barack Obama took action against Moscow over what he said was Russian meddling in the US presidential election. The measures by Obama, who accused Moscow of "efforts to harm US interests", included the expulsion of 35 alleged intelligence agents and financial sanctions on Russia's top intelligence agencies. Trump has pledged to mend ties with Putin's government and is angered by suggestions that his victory was aided by illegal Russian interference. (AFP)

Putin and Trump to speak by phone on Saturday: Kremlin

World stocks hit a 19-month high on Wednesday, lifted by strong Japanese trade data, stellar European company earnings and hope that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump will press ahead with a large fiscal spending package.

Spanish bank Santander was among the big gainers in Europe, its 4 per cent rise in 2016 net profit giving its share price a similar boost and leading the continent-wide rally in bank stocks.

MSCI&#39;s global share index rose 0.2 per cent to 433.59 points, its highest since June 2015, after two of Wall Street&#39;s main indices reached fresh peaks overnight.

Europe&#39;s index of 300 leading shares and Germany&#39;s DAX both rose 1 per cent and Britain&#39;s FTSE 100 was up 0.7 per cent.

Japan&#39;s Nikkei advanced 1.4 per cent, buoyed by data showing the country&#39;s exports rose for the first time in 15 months in December, a positive sign for the economy even as talk of US&nbsp;protectionism looms over the outlook.

US&nbsp;futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street. On Tuesday the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq both rose to fresh record highs and the Dow Jones Industrials came within 51 points of the elusive 20,000 mark.

&quot;US&nbsp;stocks have shown renewed signs of life this week, as the market toyed with the idea of reigniting the &#39;Trump rally&#39; that we saw in the aftermath of the presidential election,&quot; said Kathleen Brooks, research director at City Index.

Trump signed two executive orders on Tuesday to move forward with construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, rolling back key Obama administration environmental actions in favour of expanding energy infrastructure.

He also met chief executives of the Big Three US&nbsp;automakers to push for more cars to be built in the United States.

&quot;Wednesday&#39;s key theme is the return of the &#39;Trump trade&#39;,&quot; Brooks said.

Bond yields up

The dollar snapped its recent losing streak and Treasury yields firmed overnight as Trump shifted his focus back to growth initiatives including promising corporate tax breaks to fuel US&nbsp;investment, after focusing on protectionism in his first few days in office.

The 10-year yield inched up to 2.48 per cent, recovering from its dip below 2.40 per cent earlier in the week, while the two-year yield held firm at 1.23 per cent. It was as low as 1.14 per cent on Monday.

While the greenback moved in tandem with the snap back in US&nbsp;Treasury yields overnight, it struggled to make much headway in Asian and European trading.

Lingering concerns about growing protectionism from the Trump administration&nbsp;and the potential negative effects on global trade and growth remained close to the surface.

&quot;It has kept dollar/yen flat despite the S&amp;P 500 hitting new highs and Treasury yields edging up,&quot; Kit Juckes, head of FX research at Societe Generale in London, wrote in a note on Wednesday.

&quot;There&#39;s no doubt that a major bout of protectionism-induced risk aversion would be yen-supportive, as well as negative for a bunch of currencies that depend on US&nbsp;trade,&quot; he said.

The dollar slipped 0.1 per cent to 113.65 Yen, and 0.1 per cent against a basket of currencies. The Euro was unchanged at $1.0725, little moved by a surprise fall in German business morale this month.

Germany&#39;s 10-year Bund yield rose to a six-week high of 0.38 per cent and France&#39;s benchmark 10-year yield hit a one-year high of 0.95 per cent, with bond prices weighed down by the rally in stocks and new debt supply.

Sterling was steady at $1.2524 after Britain&#39;s Supreme Court ruled that the government would need approval from parliament before formally triggering the country&#39;s departure from the European Union.

The decision overall was seen as clearing the way for Prime Minister Theresa May to get on with launching Brexit talks. Sterling has bounced 4 per cent over the last week.

Oil prices gave back much of their overnight gains. Brent futures dipped 0.5 per cent to $55.13 per barrel, after rising 0.4 per cent overnight.

Renewed optimism over Trump&#39;s growth policies took the wind out of a recent rally in safe-haven gold, which fell 0.6 per cent to $1,201 per ounce.

(Reuters)

Europe's index of 300 leading shares and Germany's DAX both rose 1 per cent and Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.7 per cent

World stocks hit a 19-month high on Wednesday, lifted by strong Japanese trade data, stellar European company earnings and hope that US President Donald Trump will press ahead with a large fiscal spending package. Spanish bank Santander was among the big gainers in Europe, its 4 per cent rise in 2016 net profit giving its share price a similar boost and leading the continent-wide rally in bank stocks. MSCI's global share index rose 0.2 per cent to 433.59 points, its highest since June 2015, after two of Wall Street's main indices reached fresh peaks overnight. Europe's index of 300 leading shares and Germany's DAX both rose 1 per cent and Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.7 per cent. Japan's Nikkei advanced 1.4 per cent, buoyed by data showing the country's exports rose for the first time in 15 months in December, a positive sign for the economy even as talk of US protectionism looms over the outlook. US futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street. On Tuesday the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both rose to fresh record highs and the Dow Jones Industrials came within 51 points of the elusive 20,000 mark. "US stocks have shown renewed signs of life this week, as the market toyed with the idea of reigniting the 'Trump rally' that we saw in the aftermath of the presidential election," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at City Index. Trump signed two executive orders on Tuesday to move forward with construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, rolling back key Obama administration environmental actions in favour of expanding energy infrastructure. He also met chief executives of the Big Three US automakers to push for more cars to be built in the United States. "Wednesday's key theme is the return of the 'Trump trade'," Brooks said. Bond yields up The dollar snapped its recent losing streak and Treasury yields firmed overnight as Trump shifted his focus back to growth initiatives including promising corporate tax breaks to fuel US investment, after focusing on protectionism in his first few days in office. The 10-year yield inched up to 2.48 per cent, recovering from its dip below 2.40 per cent earlier in the week, while the two-year yield held firm at 1.23 per cent. It was as low as 1.14 per cent on Monday. While the greenback moved in tandem with the snap back in US Treasury yields overnight, it struggled to make much headway in Asian and European trading. Lingering concerns about growing protectionism from the Trump administration and the potential negative effects on global trade and growth remained close to the surface. "It has kept dollar/yen flat despite the S&P 500 hitting new highs and Treasury yields edging up," Kit Juckes, head of FX research at Societe Generale in London, wrote in a note on Wednesday. "There's no doubt that a major bout of protectionism-induced risk aversion would be yen-supportive, as well as negative for a bunch of currencies that depend on US trade," he said. The dollar slipped 0.1 per cent to 113.65 Yen, and 0.1 per cent against a basket of currencies. The Euro was unchanged at $1.0725, little moved by a surprise fall in German business morale this month. Germany's 10-year Bund yield rose to a six-week high of 0.38 per cent and France's benchmark 10-year yield hit a one-year high of 0.95 per cent, with bond prices weighed down by the rally in stocks and new debt supply. Sterling was steady at $1.2524 after Britain's Supreme Court ruled that the government would need approval from parliament before formally triggering the country's departure from the European Union. The decision overall was seen as clearing the way for Prime Minister Theresa May to get on with launching Brexit talks. Sterling has bounced 4 per cent over the last week. Oil prices gave back much of their overnight gains. Brent futures dipped 0.5 per cent to $55.13 per barrel, after rising 0.4 per cent overnight. Renewed optimism over Trump's growth policies took the wind out of a recent rally in safe-haven gold, which fell 0.6 per cent to $1,201 per ounce. (Reuters)

Reignited 'Trump trades' help world stocks hit 19-month high

United States President Donald Trump will speak to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone late on Tuesday.

The White House released Trump&#39;s schedule for Tuesday and said, &quot;President speaks with Indian Prime Minister at 1:00&nbsp;pm Washington time.&quot;

The scheduled time for the talks between the two leaders according to Indian standard time is 11:30 pm.

Prime Minister Modi would be the fifth foreign leader to hold talks with Trump after he was sworn in as the 45th US President on Friday.

Trump will afterwards meet the CIA director Mike Pompeo at 1:30 pm and with key Senate leaders at 3:00 pm.&nbsp;

(ANI)&nbsp;

Modi would be the fifth foreign leader to hold talks with Trump after he was sworn in as the 45th US President on Friday

United States President Donald Trump will speak to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone late on Tuesday. The White House released Trump's schedule for Tuesday and said, "President speaks with Indian Prime Minister at 1:00 pm Washington time." The scheduled time for the talks between the two leaders according to Indian standard time is 11:30 pm. Prime Minister Modi would be the fifth foreign leader to hold talks with Trump after he was sworn in as the 45th US President on Friday. Trump will afterwards meet the CIA director Mike Pompeo at 1:30 pm and with key Senate leaders at 3:00 pm. (ANI)

Trump to hold talks with PM Modi over phone tonight

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