<p>Much attention has been&nbspon Kim Jong Un at his historic summit Tuesday with President Donald Trump. The young leader was also accompanied by a group of trusted and loyal lieutenants to Singapore with at least four high-powered women including his sister.&nbsp</p>

<p>Kim's entourage includes Kim Jong Chol, 72, who is the North Korean leaders most trusted policy advisor and his "right-hand man" since the beginning of a peace offensive with the US and South Korea in January.&nbsp</p>

<p>He accompanied the young leader at all four of his recent summits, twice with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and twice with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Recently, Kim Jong Un sent him to the United States to hand-deliver a letter to Trump, making him North Korea’s most senior official to visit its wartime foe in 18 years.</p>

<p>Kim's younger sister Kim Yo Jung also accompanied the leader. She is the Workers’ Party official responsible for propaganda affairs. Many outside experts believe she has already become the No. 2 official in a country that has been ruled by the Kim family for seven decades. She acts as her older brother’s assistant at times, having hand-delivered a letter from him to South Korean President Moon Jae-in.</p>

<p>She reportedly traveled to Singapore separately from her brother amid media speculation that the North’s top two officials intentionally take different planes in case of an accident.</p>

<p>Kim's vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who was also present at the meeting, is the highest-level female diplomat in North Korea. She previously worked as an English-language interpreter for a North Korean delegation attending now-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.</p>

<p>She has reportedly acted as a lead negotiator in advance meetings with the American team ahead of the summit, possibly because of her experience as a nuclear negotiator in the past.</p>

<p>Last month, her threat to scuttle the summit and description of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as a “political dummy” prompted Trump to pull out of his meeting with Kim, although he quickly reversed his decision.&nbsp</p>

<p>Also present at the historic summit was Ri Su Yong, 78, is the top Workers’ Party official for international affairs. The former foreign minister was North Korea’s ambassador to Switzerland when Kim Jong Un studied there as a teenager.</p>

<p>Kim also had Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, 61, by his side. He is a career diplomat who served as the chief North Korean delegate to the six-party nuclear talks.</p>

<p>Hyon Song Wol also accompanied the leader at the Singapore summit. He is head of North Korea’s hugely popular Moranbong girl band, whose members were hand-picked by Kim Jong Un. She also led a large North Korean art troupe sent to South Korea during the February Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Her earlier trip to South Korea in January triggered a media frenzy.</p>

<p>Also present today was Kim Sung Hae who is a departmental director at North Korea’s United Front Department, the Workers’ Party organization that handles inter-Korean relations. She also attended Monday’s meeting at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.</p>

<p>No Kwang Chol, who accompanied the leader, is North Korea’s minister of the People’s Armed Forces. His appointment to one of the top military jobs was officially confirmed by a state media dispatch on Monday that included him in a list of officials traveling with Kim.<br />
&nbsp</p>


The young leader was also accompanied by a group of trusted and loyal lieutenants to Singapore with at least four high-powered women including his sister

Much attention has been&nbspon Kim Jong Un at his historic summit Tuesday with President Donald Trump. The young leader was also accompanied by a group of trusted and loyal lieutenants to Singapore with at least four high-powered women including his sister. Kim's entourage includes Kim Jong Chol, 72, who is the North Korean leaders most trusted policy advisor and his "right-hand man" since the beginning of a peace offensive with the US and South Korea in January. He accompanied the young leader at all four of his recent summits, twice with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and twice with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Recently, Kim Jong Un sent him to the United States to hand-deliver a letter to Trump, making him North Korea’s most senior official to visit its wartime foe in 18 years. Kim's younger sister Kim Yo Jung also accompanied the leader. She is the Workers’ Party official responsible for propaganda affairs. Many outside experts believe she has already become the No. 2 official in a country that has been ruled by the Kim family for seven decades. She acts as her older brother’s assistant at times, having hand-delivered a letter from him to South Korean President Moon Jae-in. She reportedly traveled to Singapore separately from her brother amid media speculation that the North’s top two officials intentionally take different planes in case of an accident. Kim's vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who was also present at the meeting, is the highest-level female diplomat in North Korea. She previously worked as an English-language interpreter for a North Korean delegation attending now-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. She has reportedly acted as a lead negotiator in advance meetings with the American team ahead of the summit, possibly because of her experience as a nuclear negotiator in the past. Last month, her threat to scuttle the summit and description of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as a “political dummy” prompted Trump to pull out of his meeting with Kim, although he quickly reversed his decision. Also present at the historic summit was Ri Su Yong, 78, is the top Workers’ Party official for international affairs. The former foreign minister was North Korea’s ambassador to Switzerland when Kim Jong Un studied there as a teenager. Kim also had Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, 61, by his side. He is a career diplomat who served as the chief North Korean delegate to the six-party nuclear talks. Hyon Song Wol also accompanied the leader at the Singapore summit. He is head of North Korea’s hugely popular Moranbong girl band, whose members were hand-picked by Kim Jong Un. She also led a large North Korean art troupe sent to South Korea during the February Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Her earlier trip to South Korea in January triggered a media frenzy. Also present today was Kim Sung Hae who is a departmental director at North Korea’s United Front Department, the Workers’ Party organization that handles inter-Korean relations. She also attended Monday’s meeting at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. No Kwang Chol, who accompanied the leader, is North Korea’s minister of the People’s Armed Forces. His appointment to one of the top military jobs was officially confirmed by a state media dispatch on Monday that included him in a list of officials traveling with Kim.

Kim Jong-Un was accompanied by trusted lieutenants to Singapore

<p>As US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un potential denuclearisation, this is what the leaders, as well as the media and journalists, will be eating during the historic summit in Singapore.&nbsp</p>

<p>Lavish and luxurious menu for Kim and Trump will include dishes from the country as well as dishes combines the flavors of East and West.&nbsp&nbsp</p>

<p><em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br />
1. Traditional prawn cocktail with avocado salad&nbsp<br />
2. Green mango kerabu with honey lime dressing and fresh octopus&nbsp<br />
3. "Oiseon" which is a Korean stuffed cucumber&nbsp</p>

<p><em><strong>Main Course</strong></em><br />
1. Beef short rib confit, with potato dauphinois and steam broccolini with red wine sauce on the side<br />
2. Combination of sweet and sour crispy pork and Yangzhou fried rice with homemade XO chili sauce&nbsp<br />
3. "Daegu jorim" which is a soy braised cod fish with radish and Asian vegetables&nbsp</p>

<p><em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br />
1. Dark chocolate tartlet ganache&nbsp<br />
2. Haagen-Dazs vanilla iced cream with cherry coulis&nbsp<br />
3. Tropezienne&nbsp</p>

<p>Meanwhile, popular Indian dishes including other varieties will be served to nearly 3,000 journalists from across the world who are here to cover the historic summit with a menu that will offer 45 dishes across 15 cuisines to suit all palates, the Strait Times reported.</p>

<p>On offer will be Indian, Singaporean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, French, American, Italian, English, Australian, Brazilian and Middle Eastern food.</p>

<p>Indian dishes like Pulao, Fish Curry, Chicken Curry and Papad will be served at the F1 Pit Building - the official media centre for the summit - in downtown Singapore.</p>

<p>There are quintessential Singaporean dishes, such as laksa and chicken rice which will be served hot at manned stations. Several caterers have been roped in to help feed the journalists meals from breakfast to lunch, tea to dinner, the report said. &nbsp&nbsp</p>

<p>About 25 chefs per shift - there will be two shifts per day except on Wednesday - will be stationed at the media centre, the firm said.</p>

<p>Also, from “El Trumpo” and “Rocket Man” tacos to the “Bromance” cocktail, restaurants and bars in food-crazy Singapore are rolling out weird and wonderful creations to mark the approaching US-North Korea summit.</p>


Lavish and luxurious menu for Kim and Trump will include dishes from the country as well as dishes combines the flavours of East and West

As US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un potential denuclearisation, this is what the leaders, as well as the media and journalists, will be eating during the historic summit in Singapore. Lavish and luxurious menu for Kim and Trump will include dishes from the country as well as dishes combines the flavors of East and West. Starters 1. Traditional prawn cocktail with avocado salad 2. Green mango kerabu with honey lime dressing and fresh octopus 3. "Oiseon" which is a Korean stuffed cucumber Main Course 1. Beef short rib confit, with potato dauphinois and steam broccolini with red wine sauce on the side 2. Combination of sweet and sour crispy pork and Yangzhou fried rice with homemade XO chili sauce 3. "Daegu jorim" which is a soy braised cod fish with radish and Asian vegetables Desserts 1. Dark chocolate tartlet ganache 2. Haagen-Dazs vanilla iced cream with cherry coulis 3. Tropezienne Meanwhile, popular Indian dishes including other varieties will be served to nearly 3,000 journalists from across the world who are here to cover the historic summit with a menu that will offer 45 dishes across 15 cuisines to suit all palates, the Strait Times reported. On offer will be Indian, Singaporean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, French, American, Italian, English, Australian, Brazilian and Middle Eastern food. Indian dishes like Pulao, Fish Curry, Chicken Curry and Papad will be served at the F1 Pit Building - the official media centre for the summit - in downtown Singapore. There are quintessential Singaporean dishes, such as laksa and chicken rice which will be served hot at manned stations. Several caterers have been roped in to help feed the journalists meals from breakfast to lunch, tea to dinner, the report said. About 25 chefs per shift - there will be two shifts per day except on Wednesday - will be stationed at the media centre, the firm said. Also, from “El Trumpo” and “Rocket Man” tacos to the “Bromance” cocktail, restaurants and bars in food-crazy Singapore are rolling out weird and wonderful creations to mark the approaching US-North Korea summit.

This is what Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump ate at the Singapore summit

<p>Embarking on a self-described "mission of peace," President&nbspDonald Trump's seat-of-the-pants foreign policy is facing its toughest test yet as he attempts this week to personally broker an end to North Korea's nuclear program with&nbspKim Jong Un.<br />
<br />
The impulsive American president, who just days earlier called into doubt a pillar of the Western alliance, is set to face his match on the global stage as he prepares to meet Kim in Singapore. In the historic first meeting between the leaders of the technically-still-warring nations, Trump is prioritizing instinct over planning. Unlike traditional summits between heads of state, where most of the work is completed in advance of a photo-op, US officials say the only thing certain ahead of these talks will be their unpredictability.<br />
<br />
Ever since Trump shocked allies, White House officials, and, by some accounts, the North Koreans themselves when he accepted Kim's March invitation for a meeting, the two leaders have lurched toward an uncertain encounter that may well determine the fate of millions.<br />
<br />
"It's unknown territory in the truest sense, but I really feel confident," Trump told reporters Saturday. "I feel that Kim Jong Un wants to do something great for his people and he has that opportunity and he won't have that opportunity again."<br />
<br />
Trump's engagement with Kim fulfills the North Korean ruling family's long-unrequited yearning for international legitimacy, itself a substantial concession that could weaken more than a generation of US efforts to isolate the country on the global stage.<br />
<br />
"It's never been done before," Trump said Saturday. "And obviously, what has been done before hasn't worked."<br />
<br />
A triumvirate of forces is bringing the meeting to fruition, said Scott Snyder, Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on US-Korea Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, describing the summit as "Produced by Kim, directed by (South Korean President&nbspMoon Jae-in), and inspired by Trump."<br />
<br />
The hard-hitting sanctions and desire for legitimacy brought the youthful Kim to the table. The South Korean leader's efforts to avert a potentially catastrophic US first strike pushed both leaders to take a risk. And Trump is the first US president willing to sit-down with the autocratic ruler with so few concessions, believing his self-professed negotiating prowess will guide him though uncharted diplomatic waters.<br />
<br />
Raising expectations in advance of the meeting, Trump said the outcome will rely heavily on his own instincts. The US president, who prides himself on his deal-making prowess, said he will know "within the first minute" of meeting Kim whether the North Korean leader is serious about the nuclear negotiations.<br />
<br />
"I think I'll know pretty quickly whether or not, in my opinion, something positive will happen. And if I think it won't happen, I'm not going to waste my time. I don't want to waste his time," Trump said.<br />
<br />
"This is a leader who really is an unknown personality," Trump added of Kim. "People don't know much about him. I think that he's going to surprise on the upside, very much on the upside."<br />
<br />
White House aides described Trump in the days after receiving the initial Kim invitation as being obsessed by visions of winning the Nobel Peace Prize and using `The Art of the Deal' to put his mark on the global order. In recent weeks Trump's enthusiasm has been tempered somewhat by the challenge of deal-making with such an unpredictable opponent. And there are worries from the White House to East Asian allies that Trump's desire for an agreement will lead him to accept any deal — even if it's a bad one.<br />
<br />
Trump is set to dangle before Kim visions of protection, economic investment, and even a White House visit, in return for a commitment to abandon his nuclear weapons program. Kim, US officials say, has agreed to put his stockpile of a half-hundred or more weapons on the table for negotiation, but the two countries have offered differing visions of what that would entail. Despite Kim's apparent eagerness for a summit with Trump, there are doubts that he would fully relinquish his nuclear arsenal, which he may see as his guarantor of his survival.<br />
<br />
US defense and intelligence officials have assessed the North to be on the threshold of having the capability to strike anywhere in the continental US with a nuclear-tipped missile _ a capacity that Trump and other US officials have said they would not tolerate.<br />
<br />
Trump reiterated his promise Saturday that the US "will watch over and we'll protect" Kim and his government in return for him giving up the nuclear program.<br />
<br />
Traveling to Singapore, Trump is looking to temporarily escape his flaring personal conflicts with key US allies over trade as well as domestic pressure like the swirling Russia probe. Acutely aware of his coverage in the media, Trump has enjoyed how North Korea has overshadowed some of the more negative coverage of his tumultuous White House.<br />
<br />
Still, Trump's team has not always been on the same page, with Secretary of State&nbspMike Pompeo&nbsp— who has been leading the administration's efforts — more supportive, while the hawkish National Security Adviser John Bolton has been more skeptical. Bolton has been far less visible in the planning process, after a comment he made about favoring the "Libya model" for denuclearization enraged the North Koreans.</p>


The impulsive American president, who just days earlier called into doubt a pillar of the Western alliance, is set to face his match on the global stage as he prepares to meet Kim in Singapore

Embarking on a self-described "mission of peace," President&nbspDonald Trump's seat-of-the-pants foreign policy is facing its toughest test yet as he attempts this week to personally broker an end to North Korea's nuclear program with&nbspKim Jong Un. The impulsive American president, who just days earlier called into doubt a pillar of the Western alliance, is set to face his match on the global stage as he prepares to meet Kim in Singapore. In the historic first meeting between the leaders of the technically-still-warring nations, Trump is prioritizing instinct over planning. Unlike traditional summits between heads of state, where most of the work is completed in advance of a photo-op, US officials say the only thing certain ahead of these talks will be their unpredictability. Ever since Trump shocked allies, White House officials, and, by some accounts, the North Koreans themselves when he accepted Kim's March invitation for a meeting, the two leaders have lurched toward an uncertain encounter that may well determine the fate of millions. "It's unknown territory in the truest sense, but I really feel confident," Trump told reporters Saturday. "I feel that Kim Jong Un wants to do something great for his people and he has that opportunity and he won't have that opportunity again." Trump's engagement with Kim fulfills the North Korean ruling family's long-unrequited yearning for international legitimacy, itself a substantial concession that could weaken more than a generation of US efforts to isolate the country on the global stage. "It's never been done before," Trump said Saturday. "And obviously, what has been done before hasn't worked." A triumvirate of forces is bringing the meeting to fruition, said Scott Snyder, Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on US-Korea Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, describing the summit as "Produced by Kim, directed by (South Korean President&nbspMoon Jae-in), and inspired by Trump." The hard-hitting sanctions and desire for legitimacy brought the youthful Kim to the table. The South Korean leader's efforts to avert a potentially catastrophic US first strike pushed both leaders to take a risk. And Trump is the first US president willing to sit-down with the autocratic ruler with so few concessions, believing his self-professed negotiating prowess will guide him though uncharted diplomatic waters. Raising expectations in advance of the meeting, Trump said the outcome will rely heavily on his own instincts. The US president, who prides himself on his deal-making prowess, said he will know "within the first minute" of meeting Kim whether the North Korean leader is serious about the nuclear negotiations. "I think I'll know pretty quickly whether or not, in my opinion, something positive will happen. And if I think it won't happen, I'm not going to waste my time. I don't want to waste his time," Trump said. "This is a leader who really is an unknown personality," Trump added of Kim. "People don't know much about him. I think that he's going to surprise on the upside, very much on the upside." White House aides described Trump in the days after receiving the initial Kim invitation as being obsessed by visions of winning the Nobel Peace Prize and using `The Art of the Deal' to put his mark on the global order. In recent weeks Trump's enthusiasm has been tempered somewhat by the challenge of deal-making with such an unpredictable opponent. And there are worries from the White House to East Asian allies that Trump's desire for an agreement will lead him to accept any deal — even if it's a bad one. Trump is set to dangle before Kim visions of protection, economic investment, and even a White House visit, in return for a commitment to abandon his nuclear weapons program. Kim, US officials say, has agreed to put his stockpile of a half-hundred or more weapons on the table for negotiation, but the two countries have offered differing visions of what that would entail. Despite Kim's apparent eagerness for a summit with Trump, there are doubts that he would fully relinquish his nuclear arsenal, which he may see as his guarantor of his survival. US defense and intelligence officials have assessed the North to be on the threshold of having the capability to strike anywhere in the continental US with a nuclear-tipped missile _ a capacity that Trump and other US officials have said they would not tolerate. Trump reiterated his promise Saturday that the US "will watch over and we'll protect" Kim and his government in return for him giving up the nuclear program. Traveling to Singapore, Trump is looking to temporarily escape his flaring personal conflicts with key US allies over trade as well as domestic pressure like the swirling Russia probe. Acutely aware of his coverage in the media, Trump has enjoyed how North Korea has overshadowed some of the more negative coverage of his tumultuous White House. Still, Trump's team has not always been on the same page, with Secretary of State&nbspMike Pompeo — who has been leading the administration's efforts — more supportive, while the hawkish National Security Adviser John Bolton has been more skeptical. Bolton has been far less visible in the planning process, after a comment he made about favoring the "Libya model" for denuclearization enraged the North Koreans.

Trump faces toughest test yet in North Korea summit

<p>Actress Priyanka Chopra on Saturday took to Twitter to issue an apology for the recent controversy over an episode in the American TV Quantico, in which she plays the lead, which showed Indians as terrorists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to her Twitter handle, the actress said that her intention was not to hurt the sentiment of the people and that she was a proud Indian.</p>

<p>"I'm extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of Quantico. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change. (sic)," Priyanka tweeted.</p>

<p>Previously, The Disney-owned network, ABC, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-priyanka-chopras-quantico-network-apologises-for-showing-indian-nationalists-as-terrorists-143167">apologised</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-priyanka-chopras-quantico-network-apologises-for-showing-indian-nationalists-as-terrorists-143167"> for a controversial scene </a>that invited criticism for their star actor as she was accused to be a party to a show that showed Indian nationalists as terrorists.</p>

<p>Priyanka Chopra has also been the subject of online attacks with calls to boycott her work and the brands she endorses.</p>

<p>In a recent episode of the show titled The Blood of Romeo, Priyanka who plays a CIA operative in the show -- is seen calling out a Hindu terrorist who pretended to be a Pakistani national who plots a nuclear attack in New York. The man is shown as a disgruntled MIT professor who plans this attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Soon after, ABC said it pulled the episode before it could air in India. The episode aired in the US on June 1.</p>

<p>The crime drama was recently cancelled by the ABC Studios.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’m extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of Quantico. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change.</p>
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyankachopra/status/1005521373756903425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/American?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#American</a> television show <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Quantico?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Quantico</a> features <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianTerrorists?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianTerrorists</a> who travel from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> to blow up an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/American?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#American</a> city and blame it on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a>.<br />
<a href="https://t.co/Qy34Dc8eJK">pic.twitter.com/Qy34Dc8eJK</a></p>
— Ahmed Quraishi - TV Team (@Office_AQPk) <a href="https://twitter.com/Office_AQPk/status/1004653677616001024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Moreover, a Hindutva group in Delhi&nbsp;protested against&nbsp;Priyanka Chopra&nbsp;on Saturday over the&nbsp;episode.</p>

<p>The agitators burned down the posters of Priyanka and sloganeered against the actress outside the Parliament Street Police station in the afternoon to&nbsp;protest&nbsp;against the Bollywood actress, who has also become an International star.</p>

<p>Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, who led the&nbsp;protest, told ANI, "Priyanka Chopra&nbsp;should apologise to the whole nation for this act."</p>

<p>"She got her identity as Miss World from India and now she is not doing good for the country," he added.</p>

<p>The 'Baywatch' star made her US&nbsp;television debut in Quantico in 2015.</p>


Taking to her Twitter handle, the actress said that her intention was not to hurt the sentiment of the people and that she was a proud Indian

Actress Priyanka Chopra on Saturday took to Twitter to issue an apology for the recent controversy over an episode in the American TV Quantico, in which she plays the lead, which showed Indians as terrorists. Taking to her Twitter handle, the actress said that her intention was not to hurt the sentiment of the people and that she was a proud Indian. "I'm extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of Quantico. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change. (sic)," Priyanka tweeted. Previously, The Disney-owned network, ABC, apologised for a controversial scene that invited criticism for their star actor as she was accused to be a party to a show that showed Indian nationalists as terrorists. Priyanka Chopra has also been the subject of online attacks with calls to boycott her work and the brands she endorses. In a recent episode of the show titled The Blood of Romeo, Priyanka who plays a CIA operative in the show -- is seen calling out a Hindu terrorist who pretended to be a Pakistani national who plots a nuclear attack in New York. The man is shown as a disgruntled MIT professor who plans this attack. Soon after, ABC said it pulled the episode before it could air in India. The episode aired in the US on June 1. The crime drama was recently cancelled by the ABC Studios. I’m extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of Quantico. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change. — PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) June 9, 2018 × #American television show #Quantico features #IndianTerrorists who travel from #India to #US to blow up an #American city and blame it on #Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/Qy34Dc8eJK — Ahmed Quraishi - TV Team (@Office_AQPk) June 7, 2018 × Moreover, a Hindutva group in Delhi protested against Priyanka Chopra on Saturday over the episode. The agitators burned down the posters of Priyanka and sloganeered against the actress outside the Parliament Street Police station in the afternoon to protest against the Bollywood actress, who has also become an International star. Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, who led the protest, told ANI, "Priyanka Chopra should apologise to the whole nation for this act." "She got her identity as Miss World from India and now she is not doing good for the country," he added. The 'Baywatch' star made her US television debut in Quantico in 2015.

Priyanka Chopra apologises for 'Quantico' episode, says she's proud to be Indian

<p>President Donald Trump, under pressure from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election, probably has the power to pardon himself but does not plan to do so, his attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Sunday.</p>

<p>Asked whether Trump has the power to give himself a pardon, Giuliani said, "He's not, but he probably does." Giuliani added that Trump "has no intention of pardoning himself," but that the U.S. Constitution, which gives a president the authority to issue pardons, "doesn't say he can't."</p>

<p>Speaking on ABC's "This Week" program, Giuliani added, "It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by, gosh, that's what the Constitution says."</p>

<p>Mueller is investigating whether Russia meddled in the presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow. Mueller, whose investigation already has led to criminal charges against Trump campaign aides including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, is also looking into whether Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the Russia investigation.</p>

<p>Both Russia and Trump deny collusion, and the president has denied obstructing the probe.</p>

<p>The possibility of Trump pardoning himself appeared to be raised in a Jan. 29 letter from his lawyers to Mueller, published by the New York Times on Saturday, arguing that the president could not have obstructed the probe given the powers granted to him by the Constitution.</p>

<p>"It remains our position that the President's actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired," Trump's lawyers wrote.</p>

<p>The letter did not explicitly describe the possibility of Trump pardoning himself.</p>

<p>A Trump decision to terminate the investigation "could lead to impeachment," Giuliani separately told the NBC News program "Meet the Press with Chuck Todd." Under the Constitution, a president can be impeached by the House of Representatives and then removed from office by the Senate.</p>

<p>House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, made clear that he did not think Trump or any other president should pardon himself. "I don't think a president should pardon themselves," he told CNN's "State of the Union."</p>

<p>Trump has not been shy about using his pardon power.</p>

<p>The president on Thursday pardoned conservative commentator and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to U.S. campaign finance law violations.</p>

<p>Trump also said he was considering pardoning lifestyle maven Martha Stewart and commuting the prison sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, convicted of corruption charges. Critics accused Trump of subverting the rule of law.</p>

<p>Giuliani told ABC it is an "open question" whether Trump would sit for an interview with Mueller but that the president's lawyers were leaning against having him testify.</p>

<p>Giuliani also said the president's legal team planned to challenge any potential subpoena from the special counsel's office as harassment or as unnecessary because the White House has turned over more than a million documents and several witnesses.</p>

<p>Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to again rage against the FBI and Justice Department, saying he would not have hired Manafort if the agencies had told him Manafort was already under investigation.</p>

<p>"As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldn't the FBI or Department of 'Justice' have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!" Trump tweeted.</p>

<p>"Paul Manafort came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time ... but we should have been told that Comey and the boys were doing a number on him, and he wouldn't have been hired!" Trump wrote, referring to former FBI Director James Comey.</p>

<p>Trump's May 2017 firing of Comey led to Mueller's appointment as special counsel to oversee the federal investigation of Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters.</p>


The possibility of Trump pardoning himself appeared to be raised in a January 29 letter from his lawyers to Mueller, arguing that the president could not have obstructed the probe given the powers granted to him by the Constitution

President Donald Trump, under pressure from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election, probably has the power to pardon himself but does not plan to do so, his attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Sunday. Asked whether Trump has the power to give himself a pardon, Giuliani said, "He's not, but he probably does." Giuliani added that Trump "has no intention of pardoning himself," but that the U.S. Constitution, which gives a president the authority to issue pardons, "doesn't say he can't." Speaking on ABC's "This Week" program, Giuliani added, "It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by, gosh, that's what the Constitution says." Mueller is investigating whether Russia meddled in the presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow. Mueller, whose investigation already has led to criminal charges against Trump campaign aides including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, is also looking into whether Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the Russia investigation. Both Russia and Trump deny collusion, and the president has denied obstructing the probe. The possibility of Trump pardoning himself appeared to be raised in a Jan. 29 letter from his lawyers to Mueller, published by the New York Times on Saturday, arguing that the president could not have obstructed the probe given the powers granted to him by the Constitution. "It remains our position that the President's actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired," Trump's lawyers wrote. The letter did not explicitly describe the possibility of Trump pardoning himself. A Trump decision to terminate the investigation "could lead to impeachment," Giuliani separately told the NBC News program "Meet the Press with Chuck Todd." Under the Constitution, a president can be impeached by the House of Representatives and then removed from office by the Senate. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, made clear that he did not think Trump or any other president should pardon himself. "I don't think a president should pardon themselves," he told CNN's "State of the Union." Trump has not been shy about using his pardon power. The president on Thursday pardoned conservative commentator and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to U.S. campaign finance law violations. Trump also said he was considering pardoning lifestyle maven Martha Stewart and commuting the prison sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, convicted of corruption charges. Critics accused Trump of subverting the rule of law. Giuliani told ABC it is an "open question" whether Trump would sit for an interview with Mueller but that the president's lawyers were leaning against having him testify. Giuliani also said the president's legal team planned to challenge any potential subpoena from the special counsel's office as harassment or as unnecessary because the White House has turned over more than a million documents and several witnesses. Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to again rage against the FBI and Justice Department, saying he would not have hired Manafort if the agencies had told him Manafort was already under investigation. "As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldn't the FBI or Department of 'Justice' have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!" Trump tweeted. "Paul Manafort came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time ... but we should have been told that Comey and the boys were doing a number on him, and he wouldn't have been hired!" Trump wrote, referring to former FBI Director James Comey. Trump's May 2017 firing of Comey led to Mueller's appointment as special counsel to oversee the federal investigation of Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters.

Trump can probably pardon himself, but has no plan to: Giuliani

<p>Poverty in the United States is extensive and is deepening under the Trump administration whose policies seem aimed at removing the safety net from millions of poor, while rewarding the rich, a UN&nbsphuman rights investigator has found.</p>

<p>Philip Alston, UN&nbspspecial rapporteur on extreme poverty, called on US&nbspauthorities to provide solid social protection and address underlying problems, rather than "punishing and imprisoning the poor".</p>

<p>While welfare benefits and access to health insurance are being slashed, President Donald Trump's tax reform has awarded "financial windfalls" to the mega-rich and large companies, further increasing inequality, he said in a report.</p>

<p>US&nbsppolicies since President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty in the 1960s have been "neglectful at best", he said.</p>

<p>"But the policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship," Alston said.</p>

<p>Almost 41 million people live in poverty, 18.5 million of them in extreme poverty, and children account for one in three poor, he said. The United States has the highest youth poverty rate among industrialised countries, he added.</p>

<p>"Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent and it has the world's highest incarceration rate...and the highest obesity levels in the developed world," Alston said.</p>

<p>However, the data from the U.S. Census Bureau he cited covers only the period through 2016, and he gave no comparative figures on the extent of poverty before and after Trump came into office in January 2017.</p>

<p>The Australian, a veteran U.N. rights expert and New York University law professor, will present his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council later this month.</p>

<p>It is based on his mission in December to several U.S. states, including rural Alabama, a slum in downtown Los Angeles, California, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.</p>

<p>US&nbspofficials in Geneva were not immediately available for comment.</p>

<p><strong>'SHAMEFUL STATISTICS'</strong></p>

<p>Citing "shameful statistics" linked to entrenched racial discrimination, Alston said that African Americans are 2.5 times more likely than whites to live in poverty and their unemployment rate is more than double. Women, Hispanics, immigrants, and indigenous people also suffer high rates.</p>

<p>At least 550,000 people are homeless in America, he said.</p>

<p>"The tax reform will worsen this situation and ensure that the United States remains the most unequal society in the developed world," Alston said. "The planned dramatic cuts in welfare will essentially shred crucial dimensions of a safety net that is already full of holes."</p>

<p>The tax overhaul, which sailed through the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress in December, permanently cut the top corporate rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. Tax cuts for individuals, however, are temporary and expire after 2025.</p>

<p>Trump has said they will lead to more take-home pay for workers and have touted bonuses some workers received from their employers as evidence the law is working.</p>

<p>Alston dismissed allegations of widespread fraud in the welfare system and criticised the U.S. criminal justice system. It sets large bail bonds for a defendant seeking to go free pending trial, meaning wealthy suspects can afford bail while the poor remain in custody, often losing their jobs, he said.</p>

<p>"There is no magic recipe for eliminating extreme poverty and each level of government must make its own good-faith decisions. At the end of the day, however, particularly in a rich country like the United States, the persistence of extreme poverty is a political choice made by those in power," he said.</p>


'The policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship,' said Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty

Poverty in the United States is extensive and is deepening under the Trump administration whose policies seem aimed at removing the safety net from millions of poor, while rewarding the rich, a UN&nbsphuman rights investigator has found. Philip Alston, UN&nbspspecial rapporteur on extreme poverty, called on US&nbspauthorities to provide solid social protection and address underlying problems, rather than "punishing and imprisoning the poor". While welfare benefits and access to health insurance are being slashed, President Donald Trump's tax reform has awarded "financial windfalls" to the mega-rich and large companies, further increasing inequality, he said in a report. US&nbsppolicies since President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty in the 1960s have been "neglectful at best", he said. "But the policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship," Alston said. Almost 41 million people live in poverty, 18.5 million of them in extreme poverty, and children account for one in three poor, he said. The United States has the highest youth poverty rate among industrialised countries, he added. "Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent and it has the world's highest incarceration rate...and the highest obesity levels in the developed world," Alston said. However, the data from the U.S. Census Bureau he cited covers only the period through 2016, and he gave no comparative figures on the extent of poverty before and after Trump came into office in January 2017. The Australian, a veteran U.N. rights expert and New York University law professor, will present his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council later this month. It is based on his mission in December to several U.S. states, including rural Alabama, a slum in downtown Los Angeles, California, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. US&nbspofficials in Geneva were not immediately available for comment. 'SHAMEFUL STATISTICS' Citing "shameful statistics" linked to entrenched racial discrimination, Alston said that African Americans are 2.5 times more likely than whites to live in poverty and their unemployment rate is more than double. Women, Hispanics, immigrants, and indigenous people also suffer high rates. At least 550,000 people are homeless in America, he said. "The tax reform will worsen this situation and ensure that the United States remains the most unequal society in the developed world," Alston said. "The planned dramatic cuts in welfare will essentially shred crucial dimensions of a safety net that is already full of holes." The tax overhaul, which sailed through the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress in December, permanently cut the top corporate rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. Tax cuts for individuals, however, are temporary and expire after 2025. Trump has said they will lead to more take-home pay for workers and have touted bonuses some workers received from their employers as evidence the law is working. Alston dismissed allegations of widespread fraud in the welfare system and criticised the U.S. criminal justice system. It sets large bail bonds for a defendant seeking to go free pending trial, meaning wealthy suspects can afford bail while the poor remain in custody, often losing their jobs, he said. "There is no magic recipe for eliminating extreme poverty and each level of government must make its own good-faith decisions. At the end of the day, however, particularly in a rich country like the United States, the persistence of extreme poverty is a political choice made by those in power," he said.

America's poor becoming poorer under Trump, rich becoming richer: UN expert

<p>A senior North Korean official is headed to New York to discuss an upcoming summit, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, the latest indication that an on-again-off-again meeting between Trump and North Korea's leader may go ahead next month.</p>

<p>"We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea," Trump said in a Twitter post. "Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young (sic) Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York. Solid response to my letter, thank you!"</p>

<p>Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee and formerly head of a top North Korean military intelligence agency, was scheduled to fly to the United States on Wednesday after speaking to Chinese officials in Beijing, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, citing an unidentified source.</p>

<p>The talks indicate that planning for the unprecedented summit, initially scheduled for June 12, is moving ahead after Trump called it off last week in a letter to the North's leader, Kim Jong Un.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/trump-says-meetings-taking-place-on-us-north-korea-summit-140683">Trump says meetings taking place on US-North Korea summit</a></p>

<p>A day later, Trump, who frequently exchanged insults with Kim Jong Un before they began talking about a summit, said he had reconsidered and officials from both countries were meeting to work out details.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea. Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York. Solid response to my letter, thank you!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1001410457092218880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Kim Yong Chol will be the most senior North Korean official to meet top officials for talks in the United States since Jo Myong Rok, a marshal, met then-President Bill Clinton at the White House in 2000.</p>

<p>Kim Yong Chol coordinated the North Korean president's two meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in April and May. He and Kim Jong Un's sister were the only North Korean officials to attend the first inter-Korean summit in April alongside the North Korean leader.</p>

<p>Analysts believe the United States is trying to determine whether North Korea is willing to agree to sufficient steps toward getting rid of its nuclear weapons to allow a summit to take place.</p>

<p>Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to Trump, told Fox News a summit might not take place on the date originally set but perhaps shortly after.</p>

<p><img alt="Untitled design (2)_3.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(2)_3.jpg" width="770" /></p>

<p>North Korean leader Kim's de facto chief of staff, Kim Chang Son, meanwhile, flew to Singapore, the scheduled site of the meeting, via Beijing late on Monday, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.</p>

<p>At the same time, a "pre-advance" U.S. team was in Singapore to meet North Koreans.</p>

<p>North Korea has faced years of isolation and economic sanctions over its nuclear and missile programmes since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006.</p>

<p>But events have moved quickly since Kim Jong Un made a conciliatory New Year’s address at the end of last year, following months of sharply rising tension and war-like rhetoric between Trump and Kim.</p>

<p>Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a surprise meeting on Saturday at the border village of Panmunjom, during which they agreed the North Korea-U.S. summit must be held.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/south-korean-president-moon-jae-in-may-attend-us-north-korea-summit-report-140328">South Korean president Moon Jae-in may attend US-North Korea summit: Report</a></p>

<p>On Sunday, the U.S. State Department said American and North Korean officials had met at Panmunjom. Sung Kim, the former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and current ambassador to the Philippines, led the U.S. delegation, an official told Reuters.</p>

<p>Sung Kim will meet North Korean Foreign Ministry official Choi Sun Hee again&nbsp;on Wednesday on the border, Yonhap reported, citing a diplomatic source, adding that the agenda for the Trump-Kim summit would be roughly worked out.</p>

<p>While likely substantive, those discussions could be upstaged by any talks between Kim Yong Chol and officials in the United States, said Evans Revere, a former senior diplomat who dealt with North Korea under U.S. President George W. Bush.</p>

<p>The future of North Korea's nuclear programme, which has been a source of international tension for decades, U.S. security guarantees and coordination for a Trump-Kim summit are likely to be at the top of the agenda, analysts said.</p>

<p>In Kim Jong Un and Moon's first meeting on April 27, they agreed to seek the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula but did not define what that meant or how that would proceed.</p>

<p>Since then, North Korea has rejected U.S. demands for it to unilaterally abandon its nuclear programme, which experts say could threaten the United States.</p>

<p>North Korea also demanded the United States stop military exercises with South Korea, the North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said.</p>

<p>South Korea's Defence Ministry said it did not have plans to change exercise schedules with the U.S. military.</p>

<p>North Korea defends its nuclear and missile programmes as a deterrent against what it sees as U.S. aggression. The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.</p>

<p>The United States and South Korea blacklisted Kim Yong Chol</p>

<p>for supporting the North's nuclear and missile programmes in 2010 and 2016, respectively, so a visit to the United States would indicate the U.S. government has granted him a waiver.</p>

<p>During his tenure as a senior intelligence official, Kim was accused by South Korea of masterminding deadly attacks on a South Korean navy ship and an island in 2010. He was linked by U.S intelligence to a cyber attack on Sony Pictures in 2014.</p>

<p>North Korea denied any involvement in both attacks.</p>


The talks indicate that planning for the unprecedented summit, initially scheduled for June 12, is moving ahead after Trump called it off last week in a letter to the North's leader, Kim Jong Un

A senior North Korean official is headed to New York to discuss an upcoming summit, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, the latest indication that an on-again-off-again meeting between Trump and North Korea's leader may go ahead next month. "We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea," Trump said in a Twitter post. "Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young (sic) Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York. Solid response to my letter, thank you!" Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee and formerly head of a top North Korean military intelligence agency, was scheduled to fly to the United States on Wednesday after speaking to Chinese officials in Beijing, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, citing an unidentified source. The talks indicate that planning for the unprecedented summit, initially scheduled for June 12, is moving ahead after Trump called it off last week in a letter to the North's leader, Kim Jong Un. Also read: Trump says meetings taking place on US-North Korea summit A day later, Trump, who frequently exchanged insults with Kim Jong Un before they began talking about a summit, said he had reconsidered and officials from both countries were meeting to work out details. We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea. Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York. Solid response to my letter, thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2018 × Kim Yong Chol will be the most senior North Korean official to meet top officials for talks in the United States since Jo Myong Rok, a marshal, met then-President Bill Clinton at the White House in 2000. Kim Yong Chol coordinated the North Korean president's two meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in April and May. He and Kim Jong Un's sister were the only North Korean officials to attend the first inter-Korean summit in April alongside the North Korean leader. Analysts believe the United States is trying to determine whether North Korea is willing to agree to sufficient steps toward getting rid of its nuclear weapons to allow a summit to take place. Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to Trump, told Fox News a summit might not take place on the date originally set but perhaps shortly after. North Korean leader Kim's de facto chief of staff, Kim Chang Son, meanwhile, flew to Singapore, the scheduled site of the meeting, via Beijing late on Monday, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. At the same time, a "pre-advance" U.S. team was in Singapore to meet North Koreans. North Korea has faced years of isolation and economic sanctions over its nuclear and missile programmes since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. But events have moved quickly since Kim Jong Un made a conciliatory New Year’s address at the end of last year, following months of sharply rising tension and war-like rhetoric between Trump and Kim. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a surprise meeting on Saturday at the border village of Panmunjom, during which they agreed the North Korea-U.S. summit must be held. Also read: South Korean president Moon Jae-in may attend US-North Korea summit: Report On Sunday, the U.S. State Department said American and North Korean officials had met at Panmunjom. Sung Kim, the former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and current ambassador to the Philippines, led the U.S. delegation, an official told Reuters. Sung Kim will meet North Korean Foreign Ministry official Choi Sun Hee again on Wednesday on the border, Yonhap reported, citing a diplomatic source, adding that the agenda for the Trump-Kim summit would be roughly worked out. While likely substantive, those discussions could be upstaged by any talks between Kim Yong Chol and officials in the United States, said Evans Revere, a former senior diplomat who dealt with North Korea under U.S. President George W. Bush. The future of North Korea's nuclear programme, which has been a source of international tension for decades, U.S. security guarantees and coordination for a Trump-Kim summit are likely to be at the top of the agenda, analysts said. In Kim Jong Un and Moon's first meeting on April 27, they agreed to seek the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula but did not define what that meant or how that would proceed. Since then, North Korea has rejected U.S. demands for it to unilaterally abandon its nuclear programme, which experts say could threaten the United States. North Korea also demanded the United States stop military exercises with South Korea, the North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said. South Korea's Defence Ministry said it did not have plans to change exercise schedules with the U.S. military. North Korea defends its nuclear and missile programmes as a deterrent against what it sees as U.S. aggression. The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. The United States and South Korea blacklisted Kim Yong Chol for supporting the North's nuclear and missile programmes in 2010 and 2016, respectively, so a visit to the United States would indicate the U.S. government has granted him a waiver. During his tenure as a senior intelligence official, Kim was accused by South Korea of masterminding deadly attacks on a South Korean navy ship and an island in 2010. He was linked by U.S intelligence to a cyber attack on Sony Pictures in 2014. North Korea denied any involvement in both attacks.

Most senior North Korean envoy to hold official talks in US in 18 years

<p>Storm Alberto lashed the western Cuban region of Artemisa on Sunday, swelling a nearby river and dumping up to 12 cm of rain in less than eight hours.</p>

<p>According to local media, some families were evacuated but the rain and flooding were quick to hit. Central regions of Cuba like Villa Clara were also affected.</p>

<p>Subtropical Storm Alberto is driving north through the Gulf of Mexico, threatening heavy rains and winds to the US&nbspsouthern coastal states.</p>

<p>Alberto, the first named Atlantic storm of 2018 which spun up days before the formal start of the 2018 hurricane season, is expected to intensify and bring wind speeds of up to 105 kph (65 mph) to the Gulf Coast when it approaches near the US&nbspon Monday, the National Weather Service said.</p>


According to local media, some families were evacuated but the rain and flooding were quick to hit

Storm Alberto lashed the western Cuban region of Artemisa on Sunday, swelling a nearby river and dumping up to 12 cm of rain in less than eight hours. According to local media, some families were evacuated but the rain and flooding were quick to hit. Central regions of Cuba like Villa Clara were also affected. Subtropical Storm Alberto is driving north through the Gulf of Mexico, threatening heavy rains and winds to the US&nbspsouthern coastal states. Alberto, the first named Atlantic storm of 2018 which spun up days before the formal start of the 2018 hurricane season, is expected to intensify and bring wind speeds of up to 105 kph (65 mph) to the Gulf Coast when it approaches near the US&nbspon Monday, the National Weather Service said.

Storm Alberto drenches Cuba on the way to the USA

<p>North Korea has now decided to set up stands for viewers to watch the dismantling of its nuclear test site through satellite imagery between Wednesday (May 23) and Friday (May 25).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Foreign media will be able to witness the process of taking down the nuclear site. On May 18, 38 North had said that additional steps had been taken towards closure of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, possibly including "preparations to build a safe reviewing stand for visitors" to observe the closure of all three Punggye-ri portal areas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports said that the planned site closure will reportedly involve the "collapsing all of its tunnels with explosions, blocking its entrances, and removing all observation facilities, research buildings, and security posts."</p>

<p>Further, it said that North has been trying to make preparations for the foreign journalists to arrive at the nuclear site at Mount Mantap through trains.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of meeting between North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump in June, North Korea vowed that it would close its nuclear test site and halt nuclear weapons and missile tests.</p>

<p>Quoting the article, Yonhap reported, "The unusual activity observed a week ago, on the hillside near the West Portal, could represent the stockpiling of tunnel timbers and or building materials reclaimed from the ongoing dismantlement effort, but given the exposed hillside location with an unobstructed viewshed, the most likely explanation is that it will form an observation platform to allow journalists to safely view the explosive closure of the North and West Portals."</p>

<p>North Korea, which is believed to have tested six nuclear bombs, has said it will dismantle the Punggye-ri complex - its only known nuclear test site - ahead of a planned meeting in Singapore on June 12 between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.</p>

<p>All six of the North's nuclear tests, the latest and by far the most powerful in September last year, which Pyongyang said was an H-bomb, were conducted at the Punggye-ri facility.</p>


The dismantling of the site is expected to take place between May 23 and 25

North Korea has now decided to set up stands for viewers to watch the dismantling of its nuclear test site through satellite imagery between Wednesday (May 23) and Friday (May 25). Foreign media will be able to witness the process of taking down the nuclear site. On May 18, 38 North had said that additional steps had been taken towards closure of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, possibly including "preparations to build a safe reviewing stand for visitors" to observe the closure of all three Punggye-ri portal areas. Reports said that the planned site closure will reportedly involve the "collapsing all of its tunnels with explosions, blocking its entrances, and removing all observation facilities, research buildings, and security posts." Further, it said that North has been trying to make preparations for the foreign journalists to arrive at the nuclear site at Mount Mantap through trains. Ahead of meeting between North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump in June, North Korea vowed that it would close its nuclear test site and halt nuclear weapons and missile tests. Quoting the article, Yonhap reported, "The unusual activity observed a week ago, on the hillside near the West Portal, could represent the stockpiling of tunnel timbers and or building materials reclaimed from the ongoing dismantlement effort, but given the exposed hillside location with an unobstructed viewshed, the most likely explanation is that it will form an observation platform to allow journalists to safely view the explosive closure of the North and West Portals." North Korea, which is believed to have tested six nuclear bombs, has said it will dismantle the Punggye-ri complex - its only known nuclear test site - ahead of a planned meeting in Singapore on June 12 between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. All six of the North's nuclear tests, the latest and by far the most powerful in September last year, which Pyongyang said was an H-bomb, were conducted at the Punggye-ri facility.

North Korea to install stands for audience to watch dismantling of nuclear test site

<div>Eight students and two teachers fell victim to gunfire at a high school outside Houston on Friday morning, becoming the latest casualties in a wave of deadly school shootings in the United States in recent years.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Among the fatalities at Santa Fe High School were a Pakistani exchange student and a substitute teacher trying to make ends meet for her family. Here are brief profiles of some of the victims:</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Sabika Sheikh</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>A 17-year-old Pakistani with a bright smile, Sheikh was proud to be studying in the United States as an exchange student. The experience was organized through YES, a program funded by the U.S. State Department which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in the United States.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Her father told reporters in her hometown of Karachi that she was the eldest of four children and due to return to Pakistan next month for Eid al-Fitr, a three day holiday that marks the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Cynthia Tisdale</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Tisdale was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School. She took on a second job as a server at a local restaurant after she became her family's sole income earner when her husband was diagnosed with an incurable lung disease, her brother-in-law John Tisdale posted on Facebook. The Tisdales have four children.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Ann Perkins</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Perkins was a substitute teacher known to students and other members of the Santa Fe community as "Grandma Perkins" for her love of spending time with her children, grandchildren and students, according to a local CBS affiliate.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Christian Riley Garcia</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Garcia was remembered on Facebook by the Crosby Church pastor who baptized him years earlier. A photograph of Garcia, 15, taken just days before the shooting, shows him wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap and a slight smile that reveals braces on his teeth.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>"Here is Riley about ten days ago writing scripture on the door frame of what was to be his new bedroom," Pastor Keenan Smith wrote. "Riley you are greatly loved and greatly missed."</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Kimberly Vaughan</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>After a desperate search for her missing daughter, U.S. Army veteran Rhonda Hart posted to Facebook that Vaughan had been shot dead in her first-period art class.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>"Folks - call your damn senators. Call your congressmen. We need GUN CONTROL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. #Kimberlyjessica," Hart wrote in a Facebook post.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Shana Fisher</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Just one week after she celebrated her 16th birthday, Fisher was killed when the gunman opened fire on the art class, her aunt wrote on Twitter. "She should be getting her first car, not a funeral," tweeted @candithurman.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Chris Stone</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Stone, 17, had a passion for adventure and football. The high school junior's Facebook page features photographs of such sports heroes as the Dallas Cowboys and scenic views of breathtaking wilderness.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Angelique Ramirez</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Ramirez's aunt Sylvia Pritchett, a nurse, frantically asked colleagues on Facebook if her niece was at an area hospital after she was told she had been shot in the leg. Later Pritchett announced that Ramirez was among the fatalities, saying that she had "a broken heart and a soul that can't process all this right now," and to "hug your children tightly."</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Jared Conard Black</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Black, who according to his Facebook page liked to draw anime pictures, celebrated his 17th birthday just two days before he was shot dead, his uncle told KTRK-TV.</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>According to a GoFundMe set up by a family friend to raise money for relatives to fly to the funeral from California, Jared's father "sat in misery for 13 hours not knowing if (his son) was one of the victims. Then he got the devastating news."</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>Kyle McLeod</div>

<div>&nbsp</div>

<div>ABC News reported that McLeod, 15, was among the students killed.</div>


The 17-year-old Pakistani with a bright smile, Sabika Sheikh was proud to be studying in the United States as an exchange student

Eight students and two teachers fell victim to gunfire at a high school outside Houston on Friday morning, becoming the latest casualties in a wave of deadly school shootings in the United States in recent years. Among the fatalities at Santa Fe High School were a Pakistani exchange student and a substitute teacher trying to make ends meet for her family. Here are brief profiles of some of the victims: Sabika Sheikh A 17-year-old Pakistani with a bright smile, Sheikh was proud to be studying in the United States as an exchange student. The experience was organized through YES, a program funded by the U.S. State Department which provides scholarships for students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in the United States. Her father told reporters in her hometown of Karachi that she was the eldest of four children and due to return to Pakistan next month for Eid al-Fitr, a three day holiday that marks the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Cynthia Tisdale Tisdale was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School. She took on a second job as a server at a local restaurant after she became her family's sole income earner when her husband was diagnosed with an incurable lung disease, her brother-in-law John Tisdale posted on Facebook. The Tisdales have four children. Ann Perkins Perkins was a substitute teacher known to students and other members of the Santa Fe community as "Grandma Perkins" for her love of spending time with her children, grandchildren and students, according to a local CBS affiliate. Christian Riley Garcia Garcia was remembered on Facebook by the Crosby Church pastor who baptized him years earlier. A photograph of Garcia, 15, taken just days before the shooting, shows him wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap and a slight smile that reveals braces on his teeth. "Here is Riley about ten days ago writing scripture on the door frame of what was to be his new bedroom," Pastor Keenan Smith wrote. "Riley you are greatly loved and greatly missed." Kimberly Vaughan After a desperate search for her missing daughter, U.S. Army veteran Rhonda Hart posted to Facebook that Vaughan had been shot dead in her first-period art class. "Folks - call your damn senators. Call your congressmen. We need GUN CONTROL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. #Kimberlyjessica," Hart wrote in a Facebook post. Shana Fisher Just one week after she celebrated her 16th birthday, Fisher was killed when the gunman opened fire on the art class, her aunt wrote on Twitter. "She should be getting her first car, not a funeral," tweeted @candithurman. Chris Stone Stone, 17, had a passion for adventure and football. The high school junior's Facebook page features photographs of such sports heroes as the Dallas Cowboys and scenic views of breathtaking wilderness. Angelique Ramirez Ramirez's aunt Sylvia Pritchett, a nurse, frantically asked colleagues on Facebook if her niece was at an area hospital after she was told she had been shot in the leg. Later Pritchett announced that Ramirez was among the fatalities, saying that she had "a broken heart and a soul that can't process all this right now," and to "hug your children tightly." Jared Conard Black Black, who according to his Facebook page liked to draw anime pictures, celebrated his 17th birthday just two days before he was shot dead, his uncle told KTRK-TV. According to a GoFundMe set up by a family friend to raise money for relatives to fly to the funeral from California, Jared's father "sat in misery for 13 hours not knowing if (his son) was one of the victims. Then he got the devastating news." Kyle McLeod ABC News reported that McLeod, 15, was among the students killed.

Texas school shooting victims included smiling Pakistani girl

<p>US&nbspPresident Donald&nbspTrump&nbspon Monday suggested his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un take place at the Peace House on the border between North and South Korea, as preparations for the summit advance.</p>

<p>"Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!"&nbspTrump&nbspsaid on Twitter.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/990928644100034561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Trump&nbspis expected to meet with Kim in weeks, and said in an interview on Thursday that he was considering five locations for his summit with the North Korean leader, although he has said multiple times that the talks may not happen.</p>

<p>The Peace House is in the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, on the border between the two countries. It is the same site as the one that hosted Kim's historic meeting last week with the South Korean president.</p>

<p>The choices of a venue for the&nbspTrump&nbspsummit also include neutral third countries like Singapore, but U.S. officials have been skeptical that Kim would be willing to travel far.</p>

<p>Last week the leaders of North and South Korea met and pledged to end hostilities and work toward the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, seeming to increase the likelihood of the&nbspTrump-Kim summit. A war between North and South ended in July 1953 in a truce rather than an official peace treaty.</p>

<p>On Friday, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, a goal that the United States also seeks as it tries to prevent North Korea developing a nuclear weapon that could reach the United States.</p>

<p>A senior adviser to Moon told Reuters last week that Seoul had a "comprehensive road map" that it was sharing with Washington before the summit between&nbspTrump&nbspand Kim.</p>

<p>If&nbspTrump&nbspmeets with Kim at the DMZ, it will not be the first time the White House had planned a trip to that border. On a 12-day trip to multiple Asian countries in November,&nbspTrump&nbspvisited South Korea, but a surprise visit to the DMZ was scrapped due to weather issues.</p>


Trump is expected to meet with Kim in weeks, and said in an interview on Thursday that he was considering five locations for his summit with the North Korean leader, although he has said multiple times that the talks may not happen

US&nbspPresident Donald&nbspTrump&nbspon Monday suggested his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un take place at the Peace House on the border between North and South Korea, as preparations for the summit advance. "Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!"&nbspTrump&nbspsaid on Twitter. Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018 × Trump&nbspis expected to meet with Kim in weeks, and said in an interview on Thursday that he was considering five locations for his summit with the North Korean leader, although he has said multiple times that the talks may not happen. The Peace House is in the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, on the border between the two countries. It is the same site as the one that hosted Kim's historic meeting last week with the South Korean president. The choices of a venue for the&nbspTrump&nbspsummit also include neutral third countries like Singapore, but U.S. officials have been skeptical that Kim would be willing to travel far. Last week the leaders of North and South Korea met and pledged to end hostilities and work toward the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, seeming to increase the likelihood of the&nbspTrump-Kim summit. A war between North and South ended in July 1953 in a truce rather than an official peace treaty. On Friday, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, a goal that the United States also seeks as it tries to prevent North Korea developing a nuclear weapon that could reach the United States. A senior adviser to Moon told Reuters last week that Seoul had a "comprehensive road map" that it was sharing with Washington before the summit between&nbspTrump&nbspand Kim. If&nbspTrump&nbspmeets with Kim at the DMZ, it will not be the first time the White House had planned a trip to that border. On a 12-day trip to multiple Asian countries in November,&nbspTrump&nbspvisited South Korea, but a surprise visit to the DMZ was scrapped due to weather issues.

Trump suggests meeting Kim Jong Un at Korea's Peace House

<p>German business leaders voiced disappointment on Saturday over the outcome of talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump, saying they feared he would impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.</p>

<p>The United States imposed import tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum in March, but it provided a temporary exemption until May 1 for the European Union. Trump will decide then whether to make the exemption permanent.</p>

<p>"I regret the fact that the chancellor's visit to Washington produced no palpable progress on the contentious issues between Germany and the United States," said Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry body.</p>

<p>Merkel and Trump aired differences over trade and NATO on Friday at a White House meeting where they tried to put on a show of warmth and friendship.</p>

<p>During a joint news conference, Trump lamented his country's trade deficit with the EU. Merkel said any decision on whether to exempt the bloc from tariffs permanently was now in the president's hand.</p>

<p>"The threatened tariffs remain a major burden on transatlantic relations," added Kempf.</p>

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron also pressed Trump on trade during a three-day state visit in the same week as Merkel's quick trip. Neither leader appeared to have made progress convincing Trump to make the exemptions permanent.</p>

<p>"Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the EU will be exempted from the unfair US tariffs," said Volker Treier of the DIHK industry and commerce chambers.</p>


The United States imposed import tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum in March, but it provided a temporary exemption until May 1 for the European Union

German business leaders voiced disappointment on Saturday over the outcome of talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump, saying they feared he would impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. The United States imposed import tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum in March, but it provided a temporary exemption until May 1 for the European Union. Trump will decide then whether to make the exemption permanent. "I regret the fact that the chancellor's visit to Washington produced no palpable progress on the contentious issues between Germany and the United States," said Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry body. Merkel and Trump aired differences over trade and NATO on Friday at a White House meeting where they tried to put on a show of warmth and friendship. During a joint news conference, Trump lamented his country's trade deficit with the EU. Merkel said any decision on whether to exempt the bloc from tariffs permanently was now in the president's hand. "The threatened tariffs remain a major burden on transatlantic relations," added Kempf. French President Emmanuel Macron also pressed Trump on trade during a three-day state visit in the same week as Merkel's quick trip. Neither leader appeared to have made progress convincing Trump to make the exemptions permanent. "Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the EU will be exempted from the unfair US tariffs," said Volker Treier of the DIHK industry and commerce chambers.

German business leaders fear US tariffs after Merkel-Trump talks

<p>A day after flaunting his friendship with Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron forcefully challenged many of the US&nbsp;president's policies on Wednesday, urging the United States to engage more with the world, step up the fight against climate change and stay in the Iran nuclear pact for now.</p>

<p>Capping a three-day visit, Macron repeatedly criticised the president's isolationist principles in a speech to a joint meeting of Congress, an honour given to a small number of visiting foreign leaders.</p>

<p>Macron said US&nbsp;involvement in the global community was vital and Trump's opposition to the Paris climate accord and international trade agreements was short-sighted.</p>

<p>The French president even took a dig at Trump's famous 2016 campaign slogan, calling for the United States to help "make our planet great again."</p>

<p>Macron has developed a strong relationship with Trump at a time when many European leaders are keeping a distance. During the visit, they repeatedly shook and grabbed hands, exchanged kisses on the cheek, and slapped each other's backs while praising their friendship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also watch:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-brushes-dandruff-off-perfect-macron-132660">Trump brushes 'dandruff' off Macron, wants to make him 'perfect'</a></p>

<p>But before Congress, Macron suggested he wanted more than just good optics.</p>

<p>Without mentioning Trump by name, he challenged the Republican president's protectionist and nationalist impulses and said modern economic and security challenges must be a shared global responsibility that is "based on a new breed of multilateralism."</p>

<p>"The United States is the one who invented this multilateralism. You are the one now who has to help preserve and reinvent it," Macron said.</p>

<p><strong>IRAN DEAL</strong></p>

<p>He said an international nuclear deal with Iran, which Trump has harshly criticized, was not perfect but must remain in place until a replacement is forged.</p>

<p>"It is true to say that this agreement may not address all concerns and very important concerns," Macron said. "But we should not abandon it without having something more substantial instead. That's my position."</p>

<p>Trump has often vowed to pull the United States out of the 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six major powers. He will decide by May 12 whether to restore US&nbsp;economic sanctions on Tehran, which could be a first step to ending the deal.</p>

<p>Macron, a centrist, also said he was confident the United States would eventually come back into the Paris climate accord aimed at combating global warming.</p>

<p>"Let us work together in order to make our planet great again," he said. "We are killing our planet - let us face it, there is no Planet B."</p>

<p>Macron's speech drew frequent cheers and applause, particularly from Democratic lawmakers when he took aim at Trump's views. Afterward, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said Macron's call for global engagement was timely.</p>

<p>"I hope that everyone at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue takes President Macron’s words to heart," Schumer said on the Senate floor.</p>

<p>Trump had tweeted earlier on Wednesday that he was, "Looking forward to watching President Macron of France address a Joint Session of Congress today. This is a great honour and seldom allowed to be done...he will be GREAT!"</p>

<p>There was no immediate reaction from the White House afterward to Macron's speech.</p>

<p>Macron's visit also included efforts to convince Trump to exempt Europe from steel tariffs and convince the United States to maintain its military presence in Syria. France joined the United States and Britain in launching air strikes this month in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.</p>

<p>But the Iran deal was the centerpiece of this week's talks.</p>

<p>The two leaders pledged to seek stronger measures to contain Iran but Trump made no commitments to stay in the nuclear deal, negotiated by former President Barack Obama. Trump also threatened Tehran with retaliation if it restarted its nuclear programme.</p>

<p>Macron has sought a new approach that would see the United States and Europe agree to address any Iranian nuclear activity after 2025, tackle Iran's ballistic missile programme and seek a political solution to contain Iran in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.</p>

<p>He said France remains committed to the bottom line goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.</p>

<p>"Iran shall never possess any nuclear weapon. Not now not in five years, not in 10 years, never," he told lawmakers.</p>

<p>If Trump reaches an agreement on Iran with France and other European powers, Congress is expected to pass legislation to tweak it.</p>

<p>Lawmakers are widely expected, for example, to change the frequency with which Trump has to report to Congress that Iran is complying with the pact. They could also change some of the expiration dates in the agreement.</p>

<p>Macron is the eighth French president to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan's office said. The last foreign leader to address a joint meeting was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.</p>

<p>German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces difficult talks with Trump on Friday during a visit at a time when Washington and Berlin are at odds over a range of issues from trade to Iran.</p>


Capping a three-day visit, Macron repeatedly criticised the president's isolationist principles in a speech to a joint meeting of Congress. The French president even took a dig at Trump's famous 2016 campaign slogan, calling for the United States to help 'make our planet great again'

A day after flaunting his friendship with Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron forcefully challenged many of the US president's policies on Wednesday, urging the United States to engage more with the world, step up the fight against climate change and stay in the Iran nuclear pact for now. Capping a three-day visit, Macron repeatedly criticised the president's isolationist principles in a speech to a joint meeting of Congress, an honour given to a small number of visiting foreign leaders. Macron said US involvement in the global community was vital and Trump's opposition to the Paris climate accord and international trade agreements was short-sighted. The French president even took a dig at Trump's famous 2016 campaign slogan, calling for the United States to help "make our planet great again." Macron has developed a strong relationship with Trump at a time when many European leaders are keeping a distance. During the visit, they repeatedly shook and grabbed hands, exchanged kisses on the cheek, and slapped each other's backs while praising their friendship. Also watch: Trump brushes 'dandruff' off Macron, wants to make him 'perfect' But before Congress, Macron suggested he wanted more than just good optics. Without mentioning Trump by name, he challenged the Republican president's protectionist and nationalist impulses and said modern economic and security challenges must be a shared global responsibility that is "based on a new breed of multilateralism." "The United States is the one who invented this multilateralism. You are the one now who has to help preserve and reinvent it," Macron said. IRAN DEAL He said an international nuclear deal with Iran, which Trump has harshly criticized, was not perfect but must remain in place until a replacement is forged. "It is true to say that this agreement may not address all concerns and very important concerns," Macron said. "But we should not abandon it without having something more substantial instead. That's my position." Trump has often vowed to pull the United States out of the 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six major powers. He will decide by May 12 whether to restore US economic sanctions on Tehran, which could be a first step to ending the deal. Macron, a centrist, also said he was confident the United States would eventually come back into the Paris climate accord aimed at combating global warming. "Let us work together in order to make our planet great again," he said. "We are killing our planet - let us face it, there is no Planet B." Macron's speech drew frequent cheers and applause, particularly from Democratic lawmakers when he took aim at Trump's views. Afterward, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said Macron's call for global engagement was timely. "I hope that everyone at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue takes President Macron’s words to heart," Schumer said on the Senate floor. Trump had tweeted earlier on Wednesday that he was, "Looking forward to watching President Macron of France address a Joint Session of Congress today. This is a great honour and seldom allowed to be done...he will be GREAT!" There was no immediate reaction from the White House afterward to Macron's speech. Macron's visit also included efforts to convince Trump to exempt Europe from steel tariffs and convince the United States to maintain its military presence in Syria. France joined the United States and Britain in launching air strikes this month in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But the Iran deal was the centerpiece of this week's talks. The two leaders pledged to seek stronger measures to contain Iran but Trump made no commitments to stay in the nuclear deal, negotiated by former President Barack Obama. Trump also threatened Tehran with retaliation if it restarted its nuclear programme. Macron has sought a new approach that would see the United States and Europe agree to address any Iranian nuclear activity after 2025, tackle Iran's ballistic missile programme and seek a political solution to contain Iran in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. He said France remains committed to the bottom line goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. "Iran shall never possess any nuclear weapon. Not now not in five years, not in 10 years, never," he told lawmakers. If Trump reaches an agreement on Iran with France and other European powers, Congress is expected to pass legislation to tweak it. Lawmakers are widely expected, for example, to change the frequency with which Trump has to report to Congress that Iran is complying with the pact. They could also change some of the expiration dates in the agreement. Macron is the eighth French president to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan's office said. The last foreign leader to address a joint meeting was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016. German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces difficult talks with Trump on Friday during a visit at a time when Washington and Berlin are at odds over a range of issues from trade to Iran.

After hugs and kisses, Macron tears into Trump. Says forget America First, 'make our planet great again'

<p>US&nbspPresident Donald Trump said on Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had been "very honourable" and that discussions ahead of a planned meeting between the two leaders were going well.</p>

<p>"We have been told directly that they would like to have the meeting as soon as possible, and we think that's a great thing for the world," Trump told reporters during a meeting with French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron at the White House.</p>

<p>"We're having ... very good discussions. Kim Jong Un, he really has been very open and I think very honourable from everything we're seeing," Trump added.</p>

<p>Trump has said he could meet with Kim in late May or June.</p>

<p>The United States is pressing North Korea to denuclearize and has said it would keep up a policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang to achieve that goal.</p>

<p>South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday North Korea had expressed a commitment to "complete denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula, and North Korea said on Saturday it would immediately suspend nuclear and missile test</p>


Trump has said he could meet with Kim in late May or June

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump said on Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had been "very honourable" and that discussions ahead of a planned meeting between the two leaders were going well. "We have been told directly that they would like to have the meeting as soon as possible, and we think that's a great thing for the world," Trump told reporters during a meeting with French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron at the White House. "We're having ... very good discussions. Kim Jong Un, he really has been very open and I think very honourable from everything we're seeing," Trump added. Trump has said he could meet with Kim in late May or June. The United States is pressing North Korea to denuclearize and has said it would keep up a policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang to achieve that goal. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday North Korea had expressed a commitment to "complete denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula, and North Korea said on Saturday it would immediately suspend nuclear and missile test

Trump says talks with North Korea going well ahead of summit

<p>U.S. Secretary of State nominee and CIA Director Mike Pompeo made a secret visit to North Korea over the Easter weekend and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Pompeo's trip made him the most senior U.S. official ever known to have met with Kim and provided the strongest sign yet to Trump's willingness to become the first serving U.S. president ever to meet a North Korean leader.</p>

<p>Pompeo's conversations fueled Trump’s belief that productive negotiations were possible with North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, but far from guaranteed, according to a U.S. senior official briefed on the trip.</p>

<p>The visit, a second U.S. official said, was arranged by South Korean intelligence chief Suh Hoon with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Chol, and was intended to assess whether Kim was prepared to hold serious talks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pompeo, one of Trump's most trusted advisers, returned to report that it was worth continuing to pursue the possibility of a summit, but added that no site had been selected from lists of options, and consequently no logistical arrangements had been made so far, the second official said. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>Trump said earlier on Tuesday the United States was engaged in direct talks at "extremely high levels" with North Korea to try to set up a summit between him and Kim.</p>

<p>He sowed some confusion by suggesting he had been speaking to Kim directly, but later clarified by saying: "Let's leave it a little bit short of the highest level."</p>

<p>Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders added: "The president said the administration has had talks at the highest levels and added that they were not with him directly.”</p>

<p>Asked about Pompeo, she said: “The administration does not comment on the CIA director’s travel.”</p>

<p>Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing for the post of secretary of state this week he was optimistic a course could be set at a Trump-Kim summit for a diplomatic outcome with North Korea, but added that no one was under any illusion that a comprehensive deal could be reached at that meeting.</p>

<p>Pompeo said the aim of the summit would be “an agreement ... such that the North Korean leadership will step away from its efforts to hold America at risk with nuclear weapons” and that Pyongyang should not expect rewards until it takes irreversible steps.</p>

<p>Pompeo's trip made him the most senior U.S. official to visit North Korea since then-intelligence chief James Clapper in 2014.</p>

<p>The news came after Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opened two days of talks at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida.</p>

<p>Trump said he believed there was a lot of goodwill in the diplomatic push with North Korea, but added it was possible the summit - first proposed in March and which the president said could take place in late May or early June - may not happen.</p>

<p>Efforts to arrange the unprecedented meeting have helped ease tensions over Pyongyang's development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States. Kim has agreed to discuss denuclearization, according to U.S. and South Korean officials.</p>

<p>"I really believe there’s a lot of goodwill a lot of good things are happening," Trump told reporters.</p>

<p>"As I always say, we’ll see what happens, because ultimately it’s the end result that matters, not the fact that we’re thinking about having a meeting or having a meeting."</p>

<p><strong>MEETING SITE?</strong></p>

<p>Trump, who has exchanged bellicose threats with Kim in the past year, said U.S. officials were looking at five locations for a meeting. Asked if any of those were in the United States, Trump replied: "No."</p>

<p>A U.S. official said sites in Southeast Asia and Europe were among those under discussion. Kim has rarely left North Korea.</p>

<p>Speculation has centered on a range of sites including Pyongyang, the demilitarized zone between the Koreas, Stockholm, Geneva and Mongolia.</p>

<p>Talks between Trump and Abe are largely focused on the prospective summit as Japan seeks a U.S. commitment that any denuclearization deal with Kim will include not just long-range missiles but those that could be aimed at Japan.</p>

<p>Reflecting the closeness of their ties, the Trump-Abe meetings included a walk around the carefully manicured grounds of the beachfront club and dinner on the patio with their wives. A round of golf was planned for Wednesday.</p>

<p>"For the North Korean issue, I’d like to underscore the importance of achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization, as well as the abandonment of missile programs of North Korea," Abe told Trump.</p>

<p>Abe also obtained an agreement from Trump to bring up the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, a highly emotive issue for the Japanese.</p>

<p><strong>'IT'S POSSIBLE THINGS WON'T GO WELL'</strong></p>

<p>Trump stressed that he and Abe were united.</p>

<p>"Japan and ourselves are locked, and we are very unified on the subject of North Korea," he said.</p>

<p>Trump said it was possible diplomatic efforts to arrange a Kim summit would fall short and if it did not happen, the United States and its allies would maintain pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions.</p>

<p>"It’s possible things won’t go well and we won’t have the meetings and we’ll just continue to go on this very strong path we have taken," he said.</p>

<p>Trump also backed efforts between South Korea and the North aimed at ending a state of war that has existed between the two countries since 1953.</p>

<p>"People don’t realize the Korean War has not ended. It’s going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war. Subject to a deal, they have my blessing and they do have my blessing to discuss that," he said.</p>

<p><strong>TRADE AGENDA</strong></p>

<p>Trump and Abe could use a successful summit to give themselves a political boost at home. Trump has been hounded by controversies linked to an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and Abe is struggling with declining popularity because of scandals over suspected cronyism.</p>

<p>Trump has forged close ties with Abe during his 15 months in power and the two have bonded over rounds of golf during Abe's last visit to Florida more than a year ago and Trump's visit to Tokyo last November.</p>

<p>Japan fears Trump will try to link vital security matters with touchy trade topics. Tokyo is eager to avoid being pushed into talks on a two-way free trade agreement aimed not only at market access but at currency policies, something South Korea recently accepted when it renegotiated a trade deal with the United States.</p>

<p>Another irritant on trade is that Japan has not been given an exemption to tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to the United States, unlike the European Union, Canada and Mexico.</p>


Pompeo travelled over the Easter weekend to discuss a planned summit with US President Donald Trump, who had said earlier that the US was talking to North Korea at 'extremely high levels'

U.S. Secretary of State nominee and CIA Director Mike Pompeo made a secret visit to North Korea over the Easter weekend and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. Pompeo's trip made him the most senior U.S. official ever known to have met with Kim and provided the strongest sign yet to Trump's willingness to become the first serving U.S. president ever to meet a North Korean leader. Pompeo's conversations fueled Trump’s belief that productive negotiations were possible with North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, but far from guaranteed, according to a U.S. senior official briefed on the trip. The visit, a second U.S. official said, was arranged by South Korean intelligence chief Suh Hoon with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Chol, and was intended to assess whether Kim was prepared to hold serious talks. Pompeo, one of Trump's most trusted advisers, returned to report that it was worth continuing to pursue the possibility of a summit, but added that no site had been selected from lists of options, and consequently no logistical arrangements had been made so far, the second official said. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump said earlier on Tuesday the United States was engaged in direct talks at "extremely high levels" with North Korea to try to set up a summit between him and Kim. He sowed some confusion by suggesting he had been speaking to Kim directly, but later clarified by saying: "Let's leave it a little bit short of the highest level." Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders added: "The president said the administration has had talks at the highest levels and added that they were not with him directly.” Asked about Pompeo, she said: “The administration does not comment on the CIA director’s travel.” Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing for the post of secretary of state this week he was optimistic a course could be set at a Trump-Kim summit for a diplomatic outcome with North Korea, but added that no one was under any illusion that a comprehensive deal could be reached at that meeting. Pompeo said the aim of the summit would be “an agreement ... such that the North Korean leadership will step away from its efforts to hold America at risk with nuclear weapons” and that Pyongyang should not expect rewards until it takes irreversible steps. Pompeo's trip made him the most senior U.S. official to visit North Korea since then-intelligence chief James Clapper in 2014. The news came after Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opened two days of talks at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump said he believed there was a lot of goodwill in the diplomatic push with North Korea, but added it was possible the summit - first proposed in March and which the president said could take place in late May or early June - may not happen. Efforts to arrange the unprecedented meeting have helped ease tensions over Pyongyang's development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States. Kim has agreed to discuss denuclearization, according to U.S. and South Korean officials. "I really believe there’s a lot of goodwill a lot of good things are happening," Trump told reporters. "As I always say, we’ll see what happens, because ultimately it’s the end result that matters, not the fact that we’re thinking about having a meeting or having a meeting." MEETING SITE? Trump, who has exchanged bellicose threats with Kim in the past year, said U.S. officials were looking at five locations for a meeting. Asked if any of those were in the United States, Trump replied: "No." A U.S. official said sites in Southeast Asia and Europe were among those under discussion. Kim has rarely left North Korea. Speculation has centered on a range of sites including Pyongyang, the demilitarized zone between the Koreas, Stockholm, Geneva and Mongolia. Talks between Trump and Abe are largely focused on the prospective summit as Japan seeks a U.S. commitment that any denuclearization deal with Kim will include not just long-range missiles but those that could be aimed at Japan. Reflecting the closeness of their ties, the Trump-Abe meetings included a walk around the carefully manicured grounds of the beachfront club and dinner on the patio with their wives. A round of golf was planned for Wednesday. "For the North Korean issue, I’d like to underscore the importance of achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization, as well as the abandonment of missile programs of North Korea," Abe told Trump. Abe also obtained an agreement from Trump to bring up the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, a highly emotive issue for the Japanese. 'IT'S POSSIBLE THINGS WON'T GO WELL' Trump stressed that he and Abe were united. "Japan and ourselves are locked, and we are very unified on the subject of North Korea," he said. Trump said it was possible diplomatic efforts to arrange a Kim summit would fall short and if it did not happen, the United States and its allies would maintain pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions. "It’s possible things won’t go well and we won’t have the meetings and we’ll just continue to go on this very strong path we have taken," he said. Trump also backed efforts between South Korea and the North aimed at ending a state of war that has existed between the two countries since 1953. "People don’t realize the Korean War has not ended. It’s going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war. Subject to a deal, they have my blessing and they do have my blessing to discuss that," he said. TRADE AGENDA Trump and Abe could use a successful summit to give themselves a political boost at home. Trump has been hounded by controversies linked to an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and Abe is struggling with declining popularity because of scandals over suspected cronyism. Trump has forged close ties with Abe during his 15 months in power and the two have bonded over rounds of golf during Abe's last visit to Florida more than a year ago and Trump's visit to Tokyo last November. Japan fears Trump will try to link vital security matters with touchy trade topics. Tokyo is eager to avoid being pushed into talks on a two-way free trade agreement aimed not only at market access but at currency policies, something South Korea recently accepted when it renegotiated a trade deal with the United States. Another irritant on trade is that Japan has not been given an exemption to tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to the United States, unlike the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

CIA chief made secret visit to North Korea and met Kim Jong-Un: US officials

<p>Starbucks Corp&nbsp;will close 8,000 company-owned US cafes for the afternoon on May 29 so 175,000 employees can undergo racial tolerance training in response to protests and calls for boycotts after the arrest of two black men waiting in a Philadelphia store.</p>

<p>Starbucks will be working with Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Heather McGhee, president of Demos former US&nbsp;Attorney General Eric Holder and Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League to create this program.</p>

<p>Once the company has completed this training at its company-owned locations it will make it available to its licensed partners.</p>

<p>The company said in the Tuesday announcement that it will also provide training materials for non-company workers at the roughly 6,000 licensed Starbucks cafes that will remain open in locations such as grocery stores and airports.</p>

<p>The announcement from world’s biggest coffee company comes as it tries to cool tensions after the Philadelphia incident last week sparked accusations of racial profiling at the chain, which is the subject of a boycott campaign on social media.</p>

<p>During the early demonstration that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/protests-over-arrest-of-two-afro-american-men-in-starbucks-heightens-shop-briefly-closed-130968">forced the store to close </a>in Philadelphia on Tuesday, protesters called the mammoth coffee chain "anti-black." The store reopened hours later.</p>

<p>Starbucks Corp Chief Executive Kevin Johnson hopes to meet with the two afro men arrested at one of its Philadelphia cafes last week to apologise for the incident, which has sparked accusations of racial profiling at the coffee chain.</p>

<p>The men, who had not made a purchase, were handcuffed and arrested for trespassing on Thursday after a store manager called 911 and reported them for refusing to leave. Witnesses said the men were calmly sitting in the cafe and in a widely viewed video, some patrons asked police whether they were targeted because they are black.</p>

<p>Police released the men, who were not charged.</p>


The outlets will shut down for the afternoon on May 29. The move comes after a Starbucks employee called the police on two black patrons in Philadelphia

Starbucks Corp will close 8,000 company-owned US cafes for the afternoon on May 29 so 175,000 employees can undergo racial tolerance training in response to protests and calls for boycotts after the arrest of two black men waiting in a Philadelphia store. Starbucks will be working with Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Heather McGhee, president of Demos former US Attorney General Eric Holder and Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League to create this program. Once the company has completed this training at its company-owned locations it will make it available to its licensed partners. The company said in the Tuesday announcement that it will also provide training materials for non-company workers at the roughly 6,000 licensed Starbucks cafes that will remain open in locations such as grocery stores and airports. The announcement from world’s biggest coffee company comes as it tries to cool tensions after the Philadelphia incident last week sparked accusations of racial profiling at the chain, which is the subject of a boycott campaign on social media. During the early demonstration that forced the store to close in Philadelphia on Tuesday, protesters called the mammoth coffee chain "anti-black." The store reopened hours later. Starbucks Corp Chief Executive Kevin Johnson hopes to meet with the two afro men arrested at one of its Philadelphia cafes last week to apologise for the incident, which has sparked accusations of racial profiling at the coffee chain. The men, who had not made a purchase, were handcuffed and arrested for trespassing on Thursday after a store manager called 911 and reported them for refusing to leave. Witnesses said the men were calmly sitting in the cafe and in a widely viewed video, some patrons asked police whether they were targeted because they are black. Police released the men, who were not charged.

US: 8,000 Starbucks outlets to shut for racial-tolerance training

<p>U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, an administration official told Reuters without elaborating.</p>

<p>The White House planned to release a statement on their conversation on Tuesday, the official said.</p>

<p>Putin was re-elected on Sunday as Russia's president, extending his tenure for another six years.</p>

<p>Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday he hoped Putin's win would lead to a thaw in U.S.-Russia relations, the RIA news agency reported.</p>

<p>Ryabkov was cited as saying he hoped the victory would persuade some American politicians to stop isolating Russia and said Moscow was open to dialogue with Washington.</p>

<p>The European Union's chief executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, published a letter of congratulations to Putin on Tuesday, saying Russia and Europe should "re-establish a cooperative pan-European security order."</p>

<p>With East-West ties at post-Cold War lows, Juncker's congratulatory letter followed the latest expression of concern about Russia from EU foreign ministers on Monday over the nerve</p>

<p>agent attack on a former Russian double agent on British soil. Russia denies involvement.</p>


The White House planned to release a statement on their conversation on Tuesday, the official said

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, an administration official told Reuters without elaborating. The White House planned to release a statement on their conversation on Tuesday, the official said. Putin was re-elected on Sunday as Russia's president, extending his tenure for another six years. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday he hoped Putin's win would lead to a thaw in U.S.-Russia relations, the RIA news agency reported. Ryabkov was cited as saying he hoped the victory would persuade some American politicians to stop isolating Russia and said Moscow was open to dialogue with Washington. The European Union's chief executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, published a letter of congratulations to Putin on Tuesday, saying Russia and Europe should "re-establish a cooperative pan-European security order." With East-West ties at post-Cold War lows, Juncker's congratulatory letter followed the latest expression of concern about Russia from EU foreign ministers on Monday over the nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent on British soil. Russia denies involvement.

Trump speaks with Putin after re-election victory in Russia

<p>A package bomb blew up at a FedEx Corp distribution center near San Antonio on Tuesday, officials said, and the FBI was investigating whether it was linked to a series of four homemade bombs that hit the Texas capital of Austin this month.</p>

<p>The bomb went off before 1 am local time at a FedEx facility in Schertz, Texas. It follows an explosion in Austin on Sunday night, the fourth there since early March in a series of incidents that police are blaming on a &ldquo;serial bomber.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Officials also said they couldn&#39;t confirm where the package was bound, but interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley reportedly told the Austin City Council on Tuesday that the &quot;working theory&quot; is that it was coming to their city.</p>

<p>US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday that authorities will get to the bottom of a series of bombings in Texas, saying whoever carried them out was &quot;very, very sick.&quot;<br />
<br />
&quot;It`s terrible,&quot; he said. &quot;This is obviously a very, very sick individual or maybe individuals. These are sick people, and we will get to the bottom of it.&quot;</p>

<p>The blast at the FedEx facility in Schertz was the fifth in the state in the last 18 days. If it is linked to the others, it would be the first outside the Austin area and the first that involves a commercial parcel service.</p>

<p>Police discovered another package at the same location that they believe is also loaded with an explosive device, San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus told reporters.</p>

<p>&quot;There was one other package that we believe was also loaded with an explosive device that they are looking at right now,&quot; McManus told reporters in Schertz, which is about 20 miles (30 km) northeast of San Antonio.</p>

<p>The blast knocked a female employee off her feet and may have caused a concussion, McManus said. Federal officials on the scene said she had ringing in her ears and was treated and released.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The package, filled with nails and metal shrapnel, exploded shortly after midnight local time (0500 GMT) at the facility, about 65 miles (105 km) south of Austin, the San Antonio Fire Department said on Twitter.</p>

<p>Meantime, police and fire departments in Austin said on Twitter Tuesday morning that they were responding to reports of a suspicious package at another FedEx facility in that city. The fire department said there was a hazardous-materials investigation under way.</p>

<p>The recent Austin blasts have killed two people and injured several more.</p>

<p>More than 500 federal agents from a variety of agencies are helping local police investigate the bombings.</p>


US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday that authorities will get to the bottom of a series of bombings in Texas, saying whoever carried them out was 'very, very sick'

A package bomb blew up at a FedEx Corp distribution center near San Antonio on Tuesday, officials said, and the FBI was investigating whether it was linked to a series of four homemade bombs that hit the Texas capital of Austin this month. The bomb went off before 1 am local time at a FedEx facility in Schertz, Texas. It follows an explosion in Austin on Sunday night, the fourth there since early March in a series of incidents that police are blaming on a “serial bomber.” Officials also said they couldn't confirm where the package was bound, but interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley reportedly told the Austin City Council on Tuesday that the "working theory" is that it was coming to their city. US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday that authorities will get to the bottom of a series of bombings in Texas, saying whoever carried them out was "very, very sick." "It`s terrible," he said. "This is obviously a very, very sick individual or maybe individuals. These are sick people, and we will get to the bottom of it." The blast at the FedEx facility in Schertz was the fifth in the state in the last 18 days. If it is linked to the others, it would be the first outside the Austin area and the first that involves a commercial parcel service. Police discovered another package at the same location that they believe is also loaded with an explosive device, San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus told reporters. "There was one other package that we believe was also loaded with an explosive device that they are looking at right now," McManus told reporters in Schertz, which is about 20 miles (30 km) northeast of San Antonio. The blast knocked a female employee off her feet and may have caused a concussion, McManus said. Federal officials on the scene said she had ringing in her ears and was treated and released. The package, filled with nails and metal shrapnel, exploded shortly after midnight local time (0500 GMT) at the facility, about 65 miles (105 km) south of Austin, the San Antonio Fire Department said on Twitter. Meantime, police and fire departments in Austin said on Twitter Tuesday morning that they were responding to reports of a suspicious package at another FedEx facility in that city. The fire department said there was a hazardous-materials investigation under way. The recent Austin blasts have killed two people and injured several more. More than 500 federal agents from a variety of agencies are helping local police investigate the bombings.

Police on hunt to find 'serial bomber' as fifth device blows up in Texas

<p>US&nbsp;House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday (March 20) said he has been assured that fellow Republican President Donald Trump is not considering firing U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller.</p>

<p>&quot;The special counsel should be free to follow through his investigation to completion without interference, absolutely,&quot; Ryan said at a news conference. &quot;I am confident that he&#39;ll be able to do that. I&#39;ve received assurances that his firing is not even under consideration.&quot;</p>

<p>Ryan, who has supported the special counsel probe of Russian election meddling, did not elaborate on the assurances.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>He did not answer if legislation to protect Mueller was something he would support.</p>

<p>Ryan&#39;s statement comes as Republicans face criticism for not taking a hard stance against the possibility that President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/donald-trump/">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;could fire the special counsel. The speaker&#39;s remarks largely line up with other GOP lawmakers&#39; statements on Mueller.</p>


Ryan, who has supported the special counsel probe of Russian election meddling, did not elaborate on the assurances

US House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday (March 20) said he has been assured that fellow Republican President Donald Trump is not considering firing U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller. "The special counsel should be free to follow through his investigation to completion without interference, absolutely," Ryan said at a news conference. "I am confident that he'll be able to do that. I've received assurances that his firing is not even under consideration." Ryan, who has supported the special counsel probe of Russian election meddling, did not elaborate on the assurances. He did not answer if legislation to protect Mueller was something he would support. Ryan's statement comes as Republicans face criticism for not taking a hard stance against the possibility that President Donald Trump could fire the special counsel. The speaker's remarks largely line up with other GOP lawmakers' statements on Mueller.

US House Speaker Ryan says assured Trump won't fire Mueller

<p>&nbsp;Four bombs that have gone off this month around Austin, Texas, with the latest inuring two men on Sunday, have similarities that lead investigators to believe they are the work of a serial bomber, police said on Monday.</p>

<p>Sunday&#39;s bomb may have been activated by a trip wire, a more advanced design that the previous explosions that were set off when victims handled packages that were left on doorsteps. Those packages killed two earlier this month.</p>

<p>&quot;We are clearly dealing with what we expect to be a serial bomber at this point,&quot; Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told a press conference. &quot;We have seen similarities in the devices that exploded here last night and the other three devices.&quot;</p>

<p>The men, one aged 22 and the other 23, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital on Sunday after they came upon a suspicious device on the side of a road in a residential neighborhood, officials said.</p>

<p>Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene, the FBI said on Twitter.</p>

<p>Investigators are trying to identify the person or people behind the three parcel bombs that exploded in three separate east side neighborhoods, killing two African-American males and leaving a 75-year-old Hispanic woman fighting for her life.</p>

<p>Austin police said whoever was responsible was trying to send a message and should contact authorities to explain any motive.</p>

<p>&quot;We are not going to understand that (message) until the suspect or suspects reach out to us to talk to us,&quot; Manley said.</p>

<p>Manley said police were also investigating the bombings as possible hate crimes.</p>

<p>The first bombing on March 2 killed Anthony Stephan House, a 39-year-old black man. It ripped a hole in a home entrance wall and damaged the front door.</p>

<p>A bomb last Monday morning killed Draylen Mason, a 17-year-old African-American teenager and budding musician, and injured his mother, who is in her 40s but was not further identified. A few hours later, a third bomb injured the 75-year-old Hispanic woman, who has not been identified.</p>

<p>The victims in Sunday&#39;s explosion were white, Manley told ABC News on Monday morning.</p>

<p>Police have received more than 700 calls about suspicious packages since the three parcel bombs, but authorities have not found any that posed a security risk, Manley said.</p>

<p>A reward of $115,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.</p>


Sunday's bomb may have been activated by a trip wire, a more advanced design that the previous explosions that were set off when victims handled packages that were left on doorsteps

Four bombs that have gone off this month around Austin, Texas, with the latest inuring two men on Sunday, have similarities that lead investigators to believe they are the work of a serial bomber, police said on Monday. Sunday's bomb may have been activated by a trip wire, a more advanced design that the previous explosions that were set off when victims handled packages that were left on doorsteps. Those packages killed two earlier this month. "We are clearly dealing with what we expect to be a serial bomber at this point," Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told a press conference. "We have seen similarities in the devices that exploded here last night and the other three devices." The men, one aged 22 and the other 23, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital on Sunday after they came upon a suspicious device on the side of a road in a residential neighborhood, officials said. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene, the FBI said on Twitter. Investigators are trying to identify the person or people behind the three parcel bombs that exploded in three separate east side neighborhoods, killing two African-American males and leaving a 75-year-old Hispanic woman fighting for her life. Austin police said whoever was responsible was trying to send a message and should contact authorities to explain any motive. "We are not going to understand that (message) until the suspect or suspects reach out to us to talk to us," Manley said. Manley said police were also investigating the bombings as possible hate crimes. The first bombing on March 2 killed Anthony Stephan House, a 39-year-old black man. It ripped a hole in a home entrance wall and damaged the front door. A bomb last Monday morning killed Draylen Mason, a 17-year-old African-American teenager and budding musician, and injured his mother, who is in her 40s but was not further identified. A few hours later, a third bomb injured the 75-year-old Hispanic woman, who has not been identified. The victims in Sunday's explosion were white, Manley told ABC News on Monday morning. Police have received more than 700 calls about suspicious packages since the three parcel bombs, but authorities have not found any that posed a security risk, Manley said. A reward of $115,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

Police suspect 'serial bomber' in deadly Austin attacks

<p>The US government has released a video showing an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) moving at high speed below a US Navy jet, in a brief encounter recorded with a high-tech military camera in 2015.</p>

<p>The footage was released Friday by To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science (TTSA), a private scientific research and media group. It is headed by Dr&nbsp;Hal Puthoff, a NASA and US&nbsp;Department of Defense adviser and James Semivan, a former US Central Intelligence Agency service member.</p>

<p>The clip is said to be &quot;an authentic DoD video that captures the high-speed flight of an unidentified aircraft at low altitude&quot; and &quot;reveals a previously undisclosed Navy encounter that occurred off the East Coast in 2015,&quot; according to a statement from TTSA.</p>

<p>The video shows an unknown object moving rapidly at a distance from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet, which is flying at 25,000 feet above sea level. Data imprinted in the footage shows the jet is moving at Mach 0.61, and that the UFO is keeping pace below it and to the left.</p>

<p>The unidentified vehicle appears as a white oval shape moving at high speed from top right to lower left of the screen flying very low over the water. The incident was captured through a high-tech camera pod called a Raytheon Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking, or ATFLIR, sensor.</p>

<p>The object does not appear to have obvious wings or a tail and there is no exhaust plume from the object, To The Stars researchers note in an analysis posted on their website.</p>

<p>This is the third declassified video which was released by To The Starts Academy of Arts and Science. In December, the Defense Department declassified two videos showing encounters between US Navy F-18 fighters and unidentified aircraft.</p>

<p>The first video viewed multiple pilots observing and discussing a strange, movement, egg-shaped object, apparently one of a &ldquo;fleet&rdquo; of such objects, according to cockpit audio. The second shows a similar incident involving an F-18 attached to the USS Nimitz carrier battle group in 2004.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


The footage was released Friday by To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science (TTSA), a private scientific research and media group

The US government has released a video showing an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) moving at high speed below a US Navy jet, in a brief encounter recorded with a high-tech military camera in 2015. The footage was released Friday by To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science (TTSA), a private scientific research and media group. It is headed by Dr Hal Puthoff, a NASA and US Department of Defense adviser and James Semivan, a former US Central Intelligence Agency service member. The clip is said to be "an authentic DoD video that captures the high-speed flight of an unidentified aircraft at low altitude" and "reveals a previously undisclosed Navy encounter that occurred off the East Coast in 2015," according to a statement from TTSA. The video shows an unknown object moving rapidly at a distance from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet, which is flying at 25,000 feet above sea level. Data imprinted in the footage shows the jet is moving at Mach 0.61, and that the UFO is keeping pace below it and to the left. The unidentified vehicle appears as a white oval shape moving at high speed from top right to lower left of the screen flying very low over the water. The incident was captured through a high-tech camera pod called a Raytheon Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking, or ATFLIR, sensor. The object does not appear to have obvious wings or a tail and there is no exhaust plume from the object, To The Stars researchers note in an analysis posted on their website. This is the third declassified video which was released by To The Starts Academy of Arts and Science. In December, the Defense Department declassified two videos showing encounters between US Navy F-18 fighters and unidentified aircraft. The first video viewed multiple pilots observing and discussing a strange, movement, egg-shaped object, apparently one of a “fleet” of such objects, according to cockpit audio. The second shows a similar incident involving an F-18 attached to the USS Nimitz carrier battle group in 2004.

Watch: UFO spotted? US Department of Defense video goes viral

<p>The unseeded Serena Williams defeated Zarina Diyas of Kazakh in her comeback match at the WTA Indian Wells event with a &nbsp;7-5, 6-3 victory.</p>

<p>She marked her determination by grabbing the first break of the match and shook off the rust from a 15-month layoff due to pregnancy following her victory at the 2017 Australian Open, where she was already expecting daughter Alexis Olympia.</p>

<p>She registered this very crucial victory with 34 winners and 27 unforced errors.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SerenaWilliams</a> grabs the first break of the match!<br />
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She will serve for the first set up 6-5! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BNPPO18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BNPPO18</a> <a href="https://t.co/5ZgmyvQvwh">pic.twitter.com/5ZgmyvQvwh</a></p>
&mdash; WTA (@WTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WTA/status/971972219894050817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Don&#39;t blink! You&#39;ll miss the return!<a href="https://twitter.com/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SerenaWilliams</a> nails the winner en route to a break! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BNPPO18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BNPPO18</a> <a href="https://t.co/hwHaqUA2P9">pic.twitter.com/hwHaqUA2P9</a></p>
&mdash; WTA (@WTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WTA/status/971979302169280513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Williams entered the court Thursday night to a loud ovation with many in the half-full stadium standing and applauding as she came out of the tunnel for just her third appearance in Indian Wells in the last 17 years.</p>

<p>After winning the match said thanked all her supporters and wished International Women&#39;s Day. She said, &quot;To all the ladies out there here, Happy #InternationalWomensDay. I&#39;m so excited to play on this night, it was meant to be!&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">&quot;To all the ladies out there here, Happy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalWomensDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalWomensDay</a>. I&#39;m so excited to play on this night, it was meant to be!&quot;<br />
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We agree, <a href="https://twitter.com/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SerenaWilliams</a>! <a href="https://t.co/7ver7nGr8j">pic.twitter.com/7ver7nGr8j</a></p>
&mdash; WTA (@WTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WTA/status/971985964397559809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SerenaWilliams?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SerenaWilliams</a> to return to professional tennis, makes announcement in an adorable manner <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlexisOlympia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlexisOlympia</a> <a href="https://t.co/AOVkODwRKZ">https://t.co/AOVkODwRKZ</a></p>
&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/971940055278288896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


The unseeded Serena Williams defeated Zarina Diyas of Kazakh in her comeback match at the WTA Indian Wells event with a 7-5, 6-3 victory

The unseeded Serena Williams defeated Zarina Diyas of Kazakh in her comeback match at the WTA Indian Wells event with a 7-5, 6-3 victory. She marked her determination by grabbing the first break of the match and shook off the rust from a 15-month layoff due to pregnancy following her victory at the 2017 Australian Open, where she was already expecting daughter Alexis Olympia. She registered this very crucial victory with 34 winners and 27 unforced errors. .@SerenaWilliams grabs the first break of the match! She will serve for the first set up 6-5! #BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/5ZgmyvQvwh — WTA (@WTA) March 9, 2018 × Don't blink! You'll miss the return!@SerenaWilliams nails the winner en route to a break! #BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/hwHaqUA2P9 — WTA (@WTA) March 9, 2018 × Williams entered the court Thursday night to a loud ovation with many in the half-full stadium standing and applauding as she came out of the tunnel for just her third appearance in Indian Wells in the last 17 years. After winning the match said thanked all her supporters and wished International Women's Day. She said, "To all the ladies out there here, Happy #InternationalWomensDay. I'm so excited to play on this night, it was meant to be!" "To all the ladies out there here, Happy #InternationalWomensDay. I'm so excited to play on this night, it was meant to be!" We agree, @SerenaWilliams! pic.twitter.com/7ver7nGr8j — WTA (@WTA) March 9, 2018 × #SerenaWilliams to return to professional tennis, makes announcement in an adorable manner #AlexisOlympia https://t.co/AOVkODwRKZ — WION (@WIONews) March 9, 2018 ×

Serena Williams marks winning comeback at WTA Indian Wells

<p>It&rsquo;s about propping up &ldquo;besieged majorities&rdquo; in multiethnic countries.</p>

<p>Washington and New Delhi are having a mutual lovefest these days. Donald Trump is popular in India &mdash; where only 17% of the population considers the president &ldquo;intolerant,&rdquo; compared to a global average of 65% &mdash; and he has warmly welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House. Both leaders are eager to bump up bilateral security cooperation to the next level.</p>

<p>Even Donald Trump Jr. is getting in on the act. He&rsquo;s visiting India this week as part of the Trump organization&rsquo;s myriad economic connections to the subcontinent. Indians, treating the president&rsquo;s son as a representative of the White House, are paying a lot of rupees to gain access to his ear.</p>

<p>Who can blame them? It&rsquo;s virtually impossible to disaggregate the different components of the Trump megaplex.</p>

<p>The US-India love connection, which predates Trump, is based on mutual economic interest and similar concerns about Pakistan and China. But Trump and Modi bring something else to the equation. Both leaders share a personalistic, business-friendly governing style best captured by Modi&rsquo;s phrase &ldquo;minimum government, maximum governance.&rdquo;</p>

<p>But there&rsquo;s another, underlying similarity. Trump is borrowing a page from Modi&rsquo;s book on how to advance majoritarian politics in a multiethnic country.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Majoritarianism insists on different tiers of citizenship,&rdquo; writes Mukul Kesavan in The New York Review of Books. &ldquo;Members of the majority faith and culture are viewed as the nation&rsquo;s true citizens. The rest are courtesy citizens, guests of the majority, expected to behave well and deferentially.&rdquo;</p>

<p>This kind of majoritarianism is most prominently on display these days in Myanmar &mdash; where the government considers the Rohingya minority to be foreigners, not citizens at all, and thus has no problem expelling them (or, in some cases, killing them). Majoritarianism has also been a major feature of political life in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>In India, meanwhile, Modi heads a right-wing nationalist party that believes the country is essentially Hindu with no particular obligation to guarantee minority rights. Indeed, several disturbing examples of mob rule have taken place during Modi&rsquo;s tenure, and the government has both explicitly and through various dog whistles appealed to Hindus over (and against) Muslims.</p>

<p>As Kesavan points out, majoritarianism is not simply Islamophobia &mdash; in India or Myanmar or anywhere else:</p>

<p>&ldquo;Majoritarian politics results from the patiently constructed self-image of an aggrieved, besieged majority that believes itself to be long-suffering and refuses to suffer in silence anymore. The cultivation of this sense of injury is the necessary precondition for the lynchings, pogroms, and ethnic cleansing that invariably follow.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The besieged majority: What better way of capturing the appeal of Trumpism in the United States? In the looking-glass world of 2018, Donald Trump, too, has a dream: to make white people, regardless of the contents of their character, once again supreme.</p>

<p>Of course, majoritarianism looks a little different in the United States than in South Asia. But this malign philosophy helps explain not only some political dynamics in America, but also the pattern of friendships that Trump has developed around the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Deplorables</strong><strong> vs. Dreamers? </strong></p>

<p>The underlying message of &ldquo;Make America Great Again&rdquo; is to return the country to an age of majoritarian politics, when white people controlled everything on behalf of white people and when everyone else was accorded second-class citizenship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the victories of the civil rights movement and other social movements, some white people have acquired the mentality of a besieged majority: They fear that they will lose their remaining privileges, like members of an elite frequent flyer program forced to sit back in economy class. Perhaps only a minority of white people &mdash; mostly white men &mdash; feel like a besieged majority. But for the next decade or so, before demographics decisively downgrade white status, this group will continue to flex its political muscle.</p>

<p>Trump&rsquo;s appeals to this group follow in a sordid American tradition of racist and anti-immigrant movements such as the Know-Nothings and the Ku Klux Klan. The conflicts that swept through the United States in the 19th and early 20th century resembled, avant la lettre, the communal strife that accompanied the consolidation of modern nations in South Asia. America narrowly avoided partition in the 1860s, but not the &ldquo;lynchings, pogroms, and ethnic cleansing&rdquo; of majoritarian politics that followed. Even the mass population transfers that took place between India and Pakistan could be detected in the Great Migration of African Americans to the North beginning in the Jim Crow period.</p>

<p>Today, Trump has cleverly given the &ldquo;besieged majority&rdquo; a platform on immigration, economic policy and the &ldquo;history&rdquo; question. On the economy, Trump promised to revive sunset industries that have traditionally been white bastions, such as coal in Appalachia and manufacturing in the Midwest. On history, Trump has argued that by removing the statues of Confederate heroes, &ldquo;they&rsquo;re trying to take away our culture.&rdquo; The &ldquo;our&rdquo; is a telling touch, since it could refer equally to the US or to white people.</p>

<p>The immigration question in particular continues to bedevil the administration and Congress. To get a deal that would allow the Dreamers &mdash; young people brought to the United States as children who remain undocumented &mdash; liberals have even been willing to approve funding for Trump&rsquo;s famous wall along the border with Mexico. Basically, the Democratic Party was poised to pay a ransom of almost $14,000 a head to save the Dreamers (that&rsquo;s $25 billion for the wall in exchange for 1.8 million Dreamers staying in the United States).</p>

<p>Trump, however, said no, despite all sorts of assurances that he cares very deeply about the Dreamers. You&rsquo;d think that the president would be concerned about the public opinion polls that show a large majority of Americans &mdash; around 70% &mdash; in favor of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.</p>

<p>But that&rsquo;s the problem with a president who has such low favorability ratings. He doesn&rsquo;t need to compromise to maintain his base of support because that base is so narrow in the first place. Only 18% of Americans support Trump unconditionally, according to a recent CBS poll, and another 23% do so only when he delivers what they want.</p>

<p>Here, then, is the most dangerous consequence of a president embracing majoritarian views held by only a minority of the majority. Trump sees no reason to reach beyond his base. As The Washington Post put it:</p>

<p>&ldquo;The president, along with Mr. McConnell, is intent on a blame game, not a solution. He suggested no compromises and engaged in no negotiations, preferring to stick with maximalist demands. Despite barely mentioning it as a candidate, Mr. Trump has not budged from insisting on a plan to reduce annual legal immigrants to the United States by hundreds of thousands, to the lowest level in decades.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The last line contains the kicker: the population transfer that Trump yearns to orchestrate. In addition to deporting the Dreamers, the undocumented, and those with temporary protected status like Salvadorans and Haitians, Trump wants to keep out as many folks from &ldquo;shithole&rdquo; countries as he can. If he gets his way, the administration is looking to &ldquo;transfer&rdquo; several million people out of the country, nearly comparable to the population transfer out of India at the time of partition in 1947. Going the other way in Trump&rsquo;s dream world would be a trickle of Norwegians and other racially acceptable immigrants.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Majoritarians of a feather </strong></p>

<p>Trump and Modi are only two of the new global leaders who have come to the forefront championing the interests of the &ldquo;besieged majority.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia by going after the Chechens, whom he blamed for a series of suspicious apartment building bombings. Putin has since taken aim at all manner of minorities, from the LGBTQ community to the liberals that oppose his concentration of power. He&rsquo;s emphasized that traditional values serve as a bulwark against what he&rsquo;s called &ldquo;aggressive minorities.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Benjamin Netanyahu has driven Israel into a corner by rejecting Palestinian (and international) demands for a two-state solution. The Jewish majority is fast on its way to becoming a minority within Israel. Once constituting 87 percent of the population in 1950, Jews are now close to parity with Arabs if you count everyone in the Occupied Territories and Gaza (6.1 million Jews and 5.8 million Arabs). Yet Netanyahu continues to advocate on behalf of the &ldquo;besieged majority&rdquo; by supporting illegal settlements, rejoicing in the Trump administration&rsquo;s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and kowtowing to the country&rsquo;s religious right.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-majority country, is also home to a large Shia minority of about 10% of the population. Riyadh has systematically discriminated against this minority &mdash; in part because of fears of its links to Iran. The Saudi government has imprisoned and executed leading members of the community and has even effectively waged war against Shias in the city of Awamiya.</p>

<p>I&rsquo;ve chosen these three countries because Donald Trump has formed strong bonds with Putin, Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. But there&rsquo;s no shortage of other leaders that fall into this category: Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Viktor Orban in Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey. They all aspire to follow the South Asian example.</p>

<p>Majoritarianism has morphed into one of the 21st century&rsquo;s greatest threats. The &ldquo;tyranny of the majority&rdquo; that America&rsquo;s founding fathers warned about has become a reality thanks to the failure of left liberalism to sell multiculturalism more effectively.</p>

<p>Majoritarianism has evolved into a knee-jerk response to what globalization offers, for better or worse &mdash; from increased trade and greater flows of immigrants and refugees to the freer exchange of information behind both rapid technological transformation and the demands of transnational human rights movements. Nationalism, a disguise that the majority dons to make their demands somehow more palatable, is a bunker that a country can crawl into to survive the high winds of change.</p>

<p>The institutions that stand against the majoritarians are old and in need of some serious overhaul.</p>

<p>The United Nations was formed in the aftermath of World War II. The European Union and other regional organizations were in part responses to the Cold War. The international financial institutions were likewise forged in a different era. Meanwhile, the institutions that form the nervous system of our brave new world, like Facebook and Twitter and Google and Amazon, view multiculturalism as a way to maximize profit, like those old &ldquo;United Colors of Benetton&rdquo; ads that featured a multicultural array of models that made the clothes seem chic and edgy. At least Benetton was willing to ruffle some feathers with its campaign.</p>

<p>Combating majoritarianism requires a new campaign and new institutions. That&rsquo;s my dream: a world that recognizes that multiculturalism isn&rsquo;t just cool but essential to democratic politics, strong economies and healthy societies that don&rsquo;t tear themselves apart from the inside.</p>

<p>Where, oh where has this internationalism gone?&nbsp;</p>

<p>This<a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/donald-trump-narendra-modi-latest-news-headlines-today-32320/" rel="nofollow" target="blank"> article</a> was originally published by <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Fair Observer</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Trump and Modi are only two of the new global leaders who have come to the forefront championing the interests of the “besieged majority.”

It’s about propping up “besieged majorities” in multiethnic countries. Washington and New Delhi are having a mutual lovefest these days. Donald Trump is popular in India — where only 17% of the population considers the president “intolerant,” compared to a global average of 65% — and he has warmly welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House. Both leaders are eager to bump up bilateral security cooperation to the next level. Even Donald Trump Jr. is getting in on the act. He’s visiting India this week as part of the Trump organization’s myriad economic connections to the subcontinent. Indians, treating the president’s son as a representative of the White House, are paying a lot of rupees to gain access to his ear. Who can blame them? It’s virtually impossible to disaggregate the different components of the Trump megaplex. The US-India love connection, which predates Trump, is based on mutual economic interest and similar concerns about Pakistan and China. But Trump and Modi bring something else to the equation. Both leaders share a personalistic, business-friendly governing style best captured by Modi’s phrase “minimum government, maximum governance.” But there’s another, underlying similarity. Trump is borrowing a page from Modi’s book on how to advance majoritarian politics in a multiethnic country. “Majoritarianism insists on different tiers of citizenship,” writes Mukul Kesavan in The New York Review of Books. “Members of the majority faith and culture are viewed as the nation’s true citizens. The rest are courtesy citizens, guests of the majority, expected to behave well and deferentially.” This kind of majoritarianism is most prominently on display these days in Myanmar — where the government considers the Rohingya minority to be foreigners, not citizens at all, and thus has no problem expelling them (or, in some cases, killing them). Majoritarianism has also been a major feature of political life in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In India, meanwhile, Modi heads a right-wing nationalist party that believes the country is essentially Hindu with no particular obligation to guarantee minority rights. Indeed, several disturbing examples of mob rule have taken place during Modi’s tenure, and the government has both explicitly and through various dog whistles appealed to Hindus over (and against) Muslims. As Kesavan points out, majoritarianism is not simply Islamophobia — in India or Myanmar or anywhere else: “Majoritarian politics results from the patiently constructed self-image of an aggrieved, besieged majority that believes itself to be long-suffering and refuses to suffer in silence anymore. The cultivation of this sense of injury is the necessary precondition for the lynchings, pogroms, and ethnic cleansing that invariably follow.” The besieged majority: What better way of capturing the appeal of Trumpism in the United States? In the looking-glass world of 2018, Donald Trump, too, has a dream: to make white people, regardless of the contents of their character, once again supreme. Of course, majoritarianism looks a little different in the United States than in South Asia. But this malign philosophy helps explain not only some political dynamics in America, but also the pattern of friendships that Trump has developed around the world. Deplorables vs. Dreamers? The underlying message of “Make America Great Again” is to return the country to an age of majoritarian politics, when white people controlled everything on behalf of white people and when everyone else was accorded second-class citizenship. After the victories of the civil rights movement and other social movements, some white people have acquired the mentality of a besieged majority: They fear that they will lose their remaining privileges, like members of an elite frequent flyer program forced to sit back in economy class. Perhaps only a minority of white people — mostly white men — feel like a besieged majority. But for the next decade or so, before demographics decisively downgrade white status, this group will continue to flex its political muscle. Trump’s appeals to this group follow in a sordid American tradition of racist and anti-immigrant movements such as the Know-Nothings and the Ku Klux Klan. The conflicts that swept through the United States in the 19th and early 20th century resembled, avant la lettre, the communal strife that accompanied the consolidation of modern nations in South Asia. America narrowly avoided partition in the 1860s, but not the “lynchings, pogroms, and ethnic cleansing” of majoritarian politics that followed. Even the mass population transfers that took place between India and Pakistan could be detected in the Great Migration of African Americans to the North beginning in the Jim Crow period. Today, Trump has cleverly given the “besieged majority” a platform on immigration, economic policy and the “history” question. On the economy, Trump promised to revive sunset industries that have traditionally been white bastions, such as coal in Appalachia and manufacturing in the Midwest. On history, Trump has argued that by removing the statues of Confederate heroes, “they’re trying to take away our culture.” The “our” is a telling touch, since it could refer equally to the US or to white people. The immigration question in particular continues to bedevil the administration and Congress. To get a deal that would allow the Dreamers — young people brought to the United States as children who remain undocumented — liberals have even been willing to approve funding for Trump’s famous wall along the border with Mexico. Basically, the Democratic Party was poised to pay a ransom of almost $14,000 a head to save the Dreamers (that’s $25 billion for the wall in exchange for 1.8 million Dreamers staying in the United States). Trump, however, said no, despite all sorts of assurances that he cares very deeply about the Dreamers. You’d think that the president would be concerned about the public opinion polls that show a large majority of Americans — around 70% — in favor of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. But that’s the problem with a president who has such low favorability ratings. He doesn’t need to compromise to maintain his base of support because that base is so narrow in the first place. Only 18% of Americans support Trump unconditionally, according to a recent CBS poll, and another 23% do so only when he delivers what they want. Here, then, is the most dangerous consequence of a president embracing majoritarian views held by only a minority of the majority. Trump sees no reason to reach beyond his base. As The Washington Post put it: “The president, along with Mr. McConnell, is intent on a blame game, not a solution. He suggested no compromises and engaged in no negotiations, preferring to stick with maximalist demands. Despite barely mentioning it as a candidate, Mr. Trump has not budged from insisting on a plan to reduce annual legal immigrants to the United States by hundreds of thousands, to the lowest level in decades.” The last line contains the kicker: the population transfer that Trump yearns to orchestrate. In addition to deporting the Dreamers, the undocumented, and those with temporary protected status like Salvadorans and Haitians, Trump wants to keep out as many folks from “shithole” countries as he can. If he gets his way, the administration is looking to “transfer” several million people out of the country, nearly comparable to the population transfer out of India at the time of partition in 1947. Going the other way in Trump’s dream world would be a trickle of Norwegians and other racially acceptable immigrants. Majoritarians of a feather Trump and Modi are only two of the new global leaders who have come to the forefront championing the interests of the “besieged majority.” Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia by going after the Chechens, whom he blamed for a series of suspicious apartment building bombings. Putin has since taken aim at all manner of minorities, from the LGBTQ community to the liberals that oppose his concentration of power. He’s emphasized that traditional values serve as a bulwark against what he’s called “aggressive minorities.” Benjamin Netanyahu has driven Israel into a corner by rejecting Palestinian (and international) demands for a two-state solution. The Jewish majority is fast on its way to becoming a minority within Israel. Once constituting 87 percent of the population in 1950, Jews are now close to parity with Arabs if you count everyone in the Occupied Territories and Gaza (6.1 million Jews and 5.8 million Arabs). Yet Netanyahu continues to advocate on behalf of the “besieged majority” by supporting illegal settlements, rejoicing in the Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and kowtowing to the country’s religious right. Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-majority country, is also home to a large Shia minority of about 10% of the population. Riyadh has systematically discriminated against this minority — in part because of fears of its links to Iran. The Saudi government has imprisoned and executed leading members of the community and has even effectively waged war against Shias in the city of Awamiya. I’ve chosen these three countries because Donald Trump has formed strong bonds with Putin, Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. But there’s no shortage of other leaders that fall into this category: Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Viktor Orban in Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey. They all aspire to follow the South Asian example. Majoritarianism has morphed into one of the 21st century’s greatest threats. The “tyranny of the majority” that America’s founding fathers warned about has become a reality thanks to the failure of left liberalism to sell multiculturalism more effectively. Majoritarianism has evolved into a knee-jerk response to what globalization offers, for better or worse — from increased trade and greater flows of immigrants and refugees to the freer exchange of information behind both rapid technological transformation and the demands of transnational human rights movements. Nationalism, a disguise that the majority dons to make their demands somehow more palatable, is a bunker that a country can crawl into to survive the high winds of change. The institutions that stand against the majoritarians are old and in need of some serious overhaul. The United Nations was formed in the aftermath of World War II. The European Union and other regional organizations were in part responses to the Cold War. The international financial institutions were likewise forged in a different era. Meanwhile, the institutions that form the nervous system of our brave new world, like Facebook and Twitter and Google and Amazon, view multiculturalism as a way to maximize profit, like those old “United Colors of Benetton” ads that featured a multicultural array of models that made the clothes seem chic and edgy. At least Benetton was willing to ruffle some feathers with its campaign. Combating majoritarianism requires a new campaign and new institutions. That’s my dream: a world that recognizes that multiculturalism isn’t just cool but essential to democratic politics, strong economies and healthy societies that don’t tear themselves apart from the inside. Where, oh where has this internationalism gone? This article was originally published by Fair Observer. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: The Modi-Trump love connection explained

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/kim-yo-jong-meet-the-ivanka-trump-of-north-korea-684#photo-37445">Ivanka Trump</a>&nbsp;has arrived in&nbsp;Seoul,&nbsp;South Korea to attend the closing ceremony of one of&nbsp;the biggest sporting events, Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.&nbsp;The concluding ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 25. US President Donald Trump&#39;s daughter and senior White House adviser&nbsp;Ivanka&nbsp;Trump arrived at the curling venue in Gangneung on Saturday (February 24) to cheer on the United States against Sweden in the men&#39;s final.</p>

<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/kim-yo-jong-meet-the-ivanka-trump-of-north-korea-684#photo-37445">In pics: Kim Yo Jong: Meet the &#39;Ivanka Trump&#39; of North Korea</a></strong></p>

<p>The event, whose theme revolves around promoting peace, started with the arrival of a&nbsp;northern guest, Kim Yo Jong,&nbsp;younger sister of North Korea&#39;s supreme leader Kim Jong Un. The team USA currently stands at rank fourth with 21 medals in total.</p>

<p>Earlier,&nbsp;Ivanka&nbsp;watched American Kyle Mack win a silver medal in the men&#39;s snowboarding jump final. She is also scheduled to attend the closing ceremony.</p>

<p>The United States announced on Friday (February 23) with&nbsp;Ivanka&nbsp;in South Korea that it was imposing its largest package of sanctions to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear missile program, and President Donald Trump warned of a &quot;phase two&quot; that could be &quot;very, very unfortunate for the world&quot; if the steps did not work.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Ivanka Trump has arrived in Seoul, South Korea to attend the closing ceremony of Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

Ivanka Trump has arrived in Seoul, South Korea to attend the closing ceremony of one of the biggest sporting events, Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The concluding ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 25. US President Donald Trump's daughter and senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump arrived at the curling venue in Gangneung on Saturday (February 24) to cheer on the United States against Sweden in the men's final. In pics: Kim Yo Jong: Meet the 'Ivanka Trump' of North Korea The event, whose theme revolves around promoting peace, started with the arrival of a northern guest, Kim Yo Jong, younger sister of North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un. The team USA currently stands at rank fourth with 21 medals in total. Earlier, Ivanka watched American Kyle Mack win a silver medal in the men's snowboarding jump final. She is also scheduled to attend the closing ceremony. The United States announced on Friday (February 23) with Ivanka in South Korea that it was imposing its largest package of sanctions to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear missile program, and President Donald Trump warned of a "phase two" that could be "very, very unfortunate for the world" if the steps did not work.

Watch: Ivanka Trump attends curling final to cheer team USA

<p>The 23rd edition of Winter Olympics is in its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/opinion-as-winter-olympics-bid-farewell-what-legacy-will-it-leave-33793">final phase</a>. Norway, the all-time favourites, is leading the medal tally at Pyeongchang.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Norway is also the most successful nation in the history of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/opinion-as-winter-olympics-bid-farewell-what-legacy-will-it-leave-33793">winter sports</a> till now.<br />
<br />
The ongoing Olympics is one of the most controversial Olympics ever, from doping scandal to nation&#39;s rivalry, everything was encompassed.<br />
<br />
Russia, a very strong competitor was banned by IOC&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);">from participating.&nbsp;</span>All thanks to Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistleblower, who revealed the conspiracy of &quot;state-sponsored&quot; <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/russia-again-suffers-doping-allegations-here-is-history-of-russian-doping-scandal-33344">doping in Russia</a> during 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.</p>

<div style="background:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:5px 10px;"><strong>What is IOC?<br />
International Olympic Committee is international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation which is the authority responsible for the Olympic Games</strong></div>

<div style="background:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:5px 10px;"><strong>What is state-sponsored doping?<br />
State-sponsored doping when the whole scandal is planned and operated under the supervision of the government</strong></div>

<p style="background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);"><br />
Initially barred from 2018 Olympics but laterwards some &#39;clean&#39; athletes were allowed to take part as a neutral, not representing Russia but participation under the Olympic flag as Olympic athletes from Russia (OAR).</p>

<p>Due to all <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/russia-again-suffers-doping-allegations-here-is-history-of-russian-doping-scandal-33344">the allegations</a> and continuous scrutiny, Russia&#39;s performance got hampered.<br />
<br />
Apart from Russia, even the USA and Germany is not performing up to the mark. Both of the countries failed to give tough competition to Norway.<br />
<br />
Norway entered at the Pyeongchang Olympics with 109 athletes and the team USA arrived with 242 athletes but Norway earned almost twice the number of medals and also tied with Germany for the most gold medals.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/norway%20(2)-20180224072922.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Norway (Others)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Sometimes, it is surprising that, how a country with a population of five million, is climbing past nations which has a comparatively high population, sound infrastructure and facilities.<br />
<br />
It is due to compilation of multiple&nbsp;reasons, first, in Norway sports facilities have formed part of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/winter-olympics-norway-leads-medal-tally-with-36-medals-33822">Norwegian public</a> health policies to increase physical activity among children and teenagers. In recent years, large sums of public money were spent on promoting sports facilities.<br />
<br />
Norway&#39;s sports philosophy is &quot;sport for all&quot; that helped the youth to get involved in all type of sports and flourish a future.<br />
<br />
Also, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/winter-olympics-norway-leads-medal-tally-with-36-medals-33822">Norway</a> provides free health care, which helps to keep young athletic talent in a good shape.<br />
<br />
Norwegian skier Ragnhild Mowinckel said, &quot;The culture and the environment we grow up in, it&rsquo;s great for us.&quot;<br />
<br />
Nearly half of population in Norway is the member of Norwegian Sports Federation. Three out of four Norwegian children regularly take part in sporting activities. Also, the government allocates 90 and 95 per cent of its revenues to the Sports Federation.<br />
<br />
The athletes excel majorly in winter sports. Some of the sports where Norway has been dominant for many years are speed-skaters, biathlon and ski jumpers and also in alpine skiers, curling and ice hockey Norway is slowly emerging as a champion.<br />
<br />
Though Norway is a small country, still it is sports enthusiast nations where sporting is considered as paramount.</p>

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<p>Skiing in Norway is considered as first love. (Others)</p>
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<p>Norway enjoys a pleasant weather throughout the year and the average coldest temperature ranges around - 3-degree Celsius which is quite comfortable to enjoy and pursue winter sports.<br />
<br />
Skiing in Norway is impossible to miss but naturally is not possible for a country to be covered with feet of snow for the whole year. Hence, to fulfil the nation&#39;s skiing obsession, the government is coming up with world&#39;s largest indoor winter sports facility in the Oslo region.</p>

<p>The project is under construction but is expected to finish by the year 2019. The centre is not just for Norway&#39;s elite athletes, but for the whole community.<br />
<br />
In the ongoing games, Norway leads the medal table with a maximum number of medals, currently sits at the top with 38 medals and there are chances that it might increase.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/opinion-as-winter-olympics-bid-farewell-what-legacy-will-it-leave-33793">Pyeongchang Olympics</a> is about to end and it seems, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/winter-olympics-norway-leads-medal-tally-with-36-medals-33822">Norway</a> will be the ultimate champions again, leaving behind the rest of the world.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Norway, a nation with population of five million leads the medal table with a maximum number of medals, currently sits at the top with 38 medals leaving behind rest of the other teams

The 23rd edition of Winter Olympics is in its final phase. Norway, the all-time favourites, is leading the medal tally at Pyeongchang. Norway is also the most successful nation in the history of winter sports till now. The ongoing Olympics is one of the most controversial Olympics ever, from doping scandal to nation's rivalry, everything was encompassed. Russia, a very strong competitor was banned by IOC from participating. All thanks to Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistleblower, who revealed the conspiracy of "state-sponsored" doping in Russia during 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. What is IOC? International Olympic Committee is international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation which is the authority responsible for the Olympic Games What is state-sponsored doping? State-sponsored doping when the whole scandal is planned and operated under the supervision of the government Initially barred from 2018 Olympics but laterwards some 'clean' athletes were allowed to take part as a neutral, not representing Russia but participation under the Olympic flag as Olympic athletes from Russia (OAR). Due to all the allegations and continuous scrutiny, Russia's performance got hampered. Apart from Russia, even the USA and Germany is not performing up to the mark. Both of the countries failed to give tough competition to Norway. Norway entered at the Pyeongchang Olympics with 109 athletes and the team USA arrived with 242 athletes but Norway earned almost twice the number of medals and also tied with Germany for the most gold medals. Norway (Others) × Sometimes, it is surprising that, how a country with a population of five million, is climbing past nations which has a comparatively high population, sound infrastructure and facilities. It is due to compilation of multiple reasons, first, in Norway sports facilities have formed part of Norwegian public health policies to increase physical activity among children and teenagers. In recent years, large sums of public money were spent on promoting sports facilities. Norway's sports philosophy is "sport for all" that helped the youth to get involved in all type of sports and flourish a future. Also, Norway provides free health care, which helps to keep young athletic talent in a good shape. Norwegian skier Ragnhild Mowinckel said, "The culture and the environment we grow up in, it’s great for us." Nearly half of population in Norway is the member of Norwegian Sports Federation. Three out of four Norwegian children regularly take part in sporting activities. Also, the government allocates 90 and 95 per cent of its revenues to the Sports Federation. The athletes excel majorly in winter sports. Some of the sports where Norway has been dominant for many years are speed-skaters, biathlon and ski jumpers and also in alpine skiers, curling and ice hockey Norway is slowly emerging as a champion. Though Norway is a small country, still it is sports enthusiast nations where sporting is considered as paramount. Skiing in Norway is considered as first love. (Others) × Norway enjoys a pleasant weather throughout the year and the average coldest temperature ranges around - 3-degree Celsius which is quite comfortable to enjoy and pursue winter sports. Skiing in Norway is impossible to miss but naturally is not possible for a country to be covered with feet of snow for the whole year. Hence, to fulfil the nation's skiing obsession, the government is coming up with world's largest indoor winter sports facility in the Oslo region. The project is under construction but is expected to finish by the year 2019. The centre is not just for Norway's elite athletes, but for the whole community. In the ongoing games, Norway leads the medal table with a maximum number of medals, currently sits at the top with 38 medals and there are chances that it might increase. The Pyeongchang Olympics is about to end and it seems, Norway will be the ultimate champions again, leaving behind the rest of the world. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Norway outplays US, Germany at Winter Olympics, here is why

<p>A 19-year-old gunman returning to a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-student-opens-fire-in-florida-school-at-least-17-killed-32906">Florida&nbsp;high school </a>where he had once been expelled opened fire with an assault rifle on Wednesday, killing 17 people and wounding more than a dozen others before he was arrested, authorities said.</p>

<p>The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland ranked as the second-deadliest act of gun violence ever on a US&nbsp;public school campus.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-shooting-suspect-was-a-troubled-former-student-who-loved-guns-32926">Florida shooting: Suspect was a &#39;troubled former student who loved guns&#39; </a></p>

<p>Several thousand took to Twitter shortly after the incident to express their shock.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This video footage from this kid&#39;s classroom in Parkland, Florida is so scary.. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Florida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Florida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForFlorida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForFlorida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Parkland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Parkland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForParkland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForParkland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FloridaSchoolShooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FloridaSchoolShooting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floridashooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floridashooting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayforDouglas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayforDouglas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StonemanShooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StonemanShooting</a> <a href="https://t.co/YaZr26gA2E">pic.twitter.com/YaZr26gA2E</a></p>
&mdash; OfficialWilly2.0 (@therealwill17) <a href="https://twitter.com/therealwill17/status/963993616082526208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">While hiding in a bathroom for two hours, this is the text Sarah Crescitelli sent her parents. Dad and Mom both crying re-reading it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stonemanshooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stonemanshooting</a> @ <a href="https://t.co/zN7RY8a4vE">pic.twitter.com/zN7RY8a4vE</a></p>
&mdash; Chabeli Herrera (@ChabeliH) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChabeliH/status/963960184723918849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Parent&#39;s conversation with -14-year-old son who is currently in lockdown. <a href="https://t.co/6M4f0FrbZJ">pic.twitter.com/6M4f0FrbZJ</a></p>
&mdash; Carli Teproff (@CTeproff) <a href="https://twitter.com/CTeproff/status/963886220928483328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My heart is heavy over the school shooting in Florida. Keeping all affected in my thoughts &amp; prayers.</p>
&mdash; Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/963882232179019781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When I was in the Army I used an M-4. It uses a 5.56 mm round. The M-4 and the AR -15 are the same weapon with some variations. The victims in the Parkland Florida shooting were fired on with the same weapon the military uses in combat.<br />
Why in the hell are they on our streets ?</p>
&mdash; Jacob Gil (@jacob4kids) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacob4kids/status/963983457226440704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Citizens United and the corrupt politicians that take obscene amounts of corporate blood money in exchange for our children&rsquo;s lives are responsible for today&rsquo;s tradgedy in Parkland, Florida.<br />
<br />
Hold them accountable then kick those soulless hypocrites to the curb.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EnoughIsEnough?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EnoughIsEnough</a></p>
&mdash; Take Ivanka to Work (@IvankaToWorkDay) <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaToWorkDay/status/963989818718920705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Terrorist deaths in America over the past 10 years: 92<br />
<br />
Gun homicides in America over the past 10 years: 120,000<br />
<br />
Good thing we are building walls, expanding the military, and spending billions to keep us safe from terrorists. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/florida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#florida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/parkland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#parkland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floridashooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floridashooting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/guncontrolnow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#guncontrolnow</a></p>
&mdash; Matty Ice (@MattyIceUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattyIceUS/status/963997352150253568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


The gunman was identified as Nikolaus Cruz, ex-student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland

A 19-year-old gunman returning to a Florida high school where he had once been expelled opened fire with an assault rifle on Wednesday, killing 17 people and wounding more than a dozen others before he was arrested, authorities said. The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland ranked as the second-deadliest act of gun violence ever on a US public school campus. Also read: Florida shooting: Suspect was a 'troubled former student who loved guns' Several thousand took to Twitter shortly after the incident to express their shock. This video footage from this kid's classroom in Parkland, Florida is so scary.. #Florida #PrayForFlorida #Parkland #PrayForParkland #FloridaSchoolShooting #floridashooting #PrayforDouglas #StonemanShooting pic.twitter.com/YaZr26gA2E — OfficialWilly2.0 (@therealwill17) February 15, 2018 × While hiding in a bathroom for two hours, this is the text Sarah Crescitelli sent her parents. Dad and Mom both crying re-reading it. #stonemanshooting @ pic.twitter.com/zN7RY8a4vE — Chabeli Herrera (@ChabeliH) February 15, 2018 × Parent's conversation with -14-year-old son who is currently in lockdown. pic.twitter.com/6M4f0FrbZJ — Carli Teproff (@CTeproff) February 14, 2018 × My heart is heavy over the school shooting in Florida. Keeping all affected in my thoughts & prayers. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) February 14, 2018 × When I was in the Army I used an M-4. It uses a 5.56 mm round. The M-4 and the AR -15 are the same weapon with some variations. The victims in the Parkland Florida shooting were fired on with the same weapon the military uses in combat. Why in the hell are they on our streets ? — Jacob Gil (@jacob4kids) February 15, 2018 × Citizens United and the corrupt politicians that take obscene amounts of corporate blood money in exchange for our children’s lives are responsible for today’s tradgedy in Parkland, Florida. Hold them accountable then kick those soulless hypocrites to the curb.#EnoughIsEnough — Take Ivanka to Work (@IvankaToWorkDay) February 15, 2018 × Terrorist deaths in America over the past 10 years: 92 Gun homicides in America over the past 10 years: 120,000 Good thing we are building walls, expanding the military, and spending billions to keep us safe from terrorists. #florida #parkland #floridashooting #guncontrolnow — Matty Ice (@MattyIceUS) February 15, 2018 ×

Twitter fills with outrage after Florida school shooting

<p>Leading consulting and business solutions company, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS), announced that it has been named as one of the top three employers in North America by the Top Employers Institute, an independent organisation that certifies employers around the world for excellence in creating a total work environment for their employees.</p>

<p>This is the fourth consecutive year that TCS has been certified as a top employer in the U.S. and the third consecutive year for TCS in Canada.</p>

<p>The annual, international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognises leading employers that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organisation and strive to continuously optimise employment practices.</p>

<p>The criteria in assessing TCS` strong employee offerings included talent strategy, workforce planning, onboarding, learning and development, performance management, leadership development, career and succession management, compensation and benefits, and company culture.</p>

<p>&quot;Our employees are TCS` strongest asset, and we are committed to enabling their growth and development through the best programs available to build digital skills, enable career advancement and retain the best talent,&quot; said North America, UK and Europe, TCS president, Sury Kant.</p>

<p>&quot;TCS is proud to be certified as one of the top three employers in North America in 2018,&quot; Kant added.</p>

<p>The company has been among the top two recruiters of U.S. and Canadian IT services talent over the past five years.</p>

<p>Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, TCS was recently listed as one of the top regarded companies and one of the world`s best employers in the Forbes 2017 Global 2000 list.</p>

<p>&quot;Optimal employee conditions ensure that people can develop themselves personally and professionally. Our comprehensive research concluded that?TCS provides an outstanding employment environment, and offers a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performance-management programs that are well thought out, and truly aligned with the culture of their company,&quot; said global business director for the Top Employers Institute, Dennis Utter. &nbsp;</p>


The certification — to Tata Consultancy Services — was handed out by Top Employers Institute, an independent organisation that certifies employers around the world

Leading consulting and business solutions company, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS), announced that it has been named as one of the top three employers in North America by the Top Employers Institute, an independent organisation that certifies employers around the world for excellence in creating a total work environment for their employees. This is the fourth consecutive year that TCS has been certified as a top employer in the U.S. and the third consecutive year for TCS in Canada. The annual, international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognises leading employers that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organisation and strive to continuously optimise employment practices. The criteria in assessing TCS` strong employee offerings included talent strategy, workforce planning, onboarding, learning and development, performance management, leadership development, career and succession management, compensation and benefits, and company culture. "Our employees are TCS` strongest asset, and we are committed to enabling their growth and development through the best programs available to build digital skills, enable career advancement and retain the best talent," said North America, UK and Europe, TCS president, Sury Kant. "TCS is proud to be certified as one of the top three employers in North America in 2018," Kant added. The company has been among the top two recruiters of U.S. and Canadian IT services talent over the past five years. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, TCS was recently listed as one of the top regarded companies and one of the world`s best employers in the Forbes 2017 Global 2000 list. "Optimal employee conditions ensure that people can develop themselves personally and professionally. Our comprehensive research concluded that?TCS provides an outstanding employment environment, and offers a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performance-management programs that are well thought out, and truly aligned with the culture of their company," said global business director for the Top Employers Institute, Dennis Utter.

Indian company among top 3 employers in North America

<p>The entire USA Gymnastics board of directors will resign in the wake of a sex abuse scandal, as part of the organization&#39;s decision Friday to comply with US Olympic Committee requirements to avoid decertification.</p>

<p>After former US Olympic team doctor, Larry Nassar was jailed for up to 175 years for sexual abuse of girls and young women under the guise of treatment, USA Gymnastics promised to meet six requirements outlined by the USOC to remain the sport&#39;s&nbsp;national governing body.</p>

<p>&quot;USA Gymnastics will comply with the USOC requirements,&quot; read the organization&#39;s statement.</p>

<p>Nassar&#39;s victims included Olympic champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney. More than 150 women spoke out over a sentencing hearing in Michigan that lasted more than a week.</p>

<p>A trio of USA Gymnastics board of directors top executives -- chairman Paul Parilla, vice chairman Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley -- already stepped down Monday following stinging criticism by victims of the organization&#39;s handling of the Nassar case.</p>

<p>USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun&nbsp;outlined Thursday what USA Gymnastics must do to remain a governing body, the first of those mandates being for the entire board to resign by the end of the month or face &quot;immediate termination proceedings.&quot;</p>

<p>An interim board including athlete representatives, and not including any ousted directors, would be appointed in its place, with a permanent board elected within 12 months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>USA Gymnastics must invite a USOC liaison to attend every board meeting.</p>

<p>The USOC is already conducting an independent inquiry into the scandal, although some of the victims have criticized the USOC as well for inaction that allowed Nassar to abuse girls and women unabated for so long.</p>

<p>&quot;Every athlete connected in any way with USAG must feel safe, supported and encouraged to speak freely about threats to their safety,&quot; Blackmun wrote. &quot;USAG&#39;s culture must foster this in all ways.&quot;</p>

<p>Other steps included full cooperation with the independent investigation into the Nassar scandal. All staff and board members of USA Gymnastics would also need to complete training courses at the US Center for Safe Sport.</p>

<p>Within six months, staff and board members would also need to complete a course in ethics training.</p>

<p>&quot;We do not base these requirements on any knowledge that any individual USAG staff or board members had a role in fostering or obscuring Nassar&#39;s actions,&quot; Blackmun wrote.</p>

<p>&quot;Our position comes from a clear sense that USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding.&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


An interim board including athlete representatives would be appointed with a permanent board elected within 12 months

The entire USA Gymnastics board of directors will resign in the wake of a sex abuse scandal, as part of the organization's decision Friday to comply with US Olympic Committee requirements to avoid decertification. After former US Olympic team doctor, Larry Nassar was jailed for up to 175 years for sexual abuse of girls and young women under the guise of treatment, USA Gymnastics promised to meet six requirements outlined by the USOC to remain the sport's national governing body. "USA Gymnastics will comply with the USOC requirements," read the organization's statement. Nassar's victims included Olympic champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney. More than 150 women spoke out over a sentencing hearing in Michigan that lasted more than a week. A trio of USA Gymnastics board of directors top executives -- chairman Paul Parilla, vice chairman Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley -- already stepped down Monday following stinging criticism by victims of the organization's handling of the Nassar case. USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun outlined Thursday what USA Gymnastics must do to remain a governing body, the first of those mandates being for the entire board to resign by the end of the month or face "immediate termination proceedings." An interim board including athlete representatives, and not including any ousted directors, would be appointed in its place, with a permanent board elected within 12 months. USA Gymnastics must invite a USOC liaison to attend every board meeting. The USOC is already conducting an independent inquiry into the scandal, although some of the victims have criticized the USOC as well for inaction that allowed Nassar to abuse girls and women unabated for so long. "Every athlete connected in any way with USAG must feel safe, supported and encouraged to speak freely about threats to their safety," Blackmun wrote. "USAG's culture must foster this in all ways." Other steps included full cooperation with the independent investigation into the Nassar scandal. All staff and board members of USA Gymnastics would also need to complete training courses at the US Center for Safe Sport. Within six months, staff and board members would also need to complete a course in ethics training. "We do not base these requirements on any knowledge that any individual USAG staff or board members had a role in fostering or obscuring Nassar's actions," Blackmun wrote. "Our position comes from a clear sense that USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding."

Entire USA Gymnastics directors board to quit over abuse scandal

<p>Four years ago, American figure skater Mirai Nagasu was heartbroken after being left off the U.S. team for the Sochi Olympics in favour of a woman who ranked lower than she had at a key qualifying event.</p>

<p>But on Monday, the woman whose Japanese immigrant parents run a sushi restaurant and mother hand-sewed her costumes, made skating history by becoming the first American woman - and only the third woman overall - to land the fiendishly difficult triple Axel jump at an Olympics.</p>

<p>Skating a stellar routine in the women&#39;s free skate portion of the team competition, Nagasu began with a clean triple Axel and then went on to nail eight other triple jumps, including a triple flip and triple Salchow combination as she helped America claim bronze.</p>

<p>Clearly overjoyed, the 24-year-old Nagasu, who was skating at her second Olympics, pumped her fists and grinned as she skated off the ice.</p>

<p>&quot;I feel really great,&quot; she said after her performance. &quot;Going into it, I was like a train, get on those tracks and get some speed. To nail it the way I did - and even out of the corner of my eye, I could see my team mates standing in excitement.&quot;</p>

<p>The only other women to land the jump in the Olympics were Japanese skaters Midori Ito and Mao Asada, and Nagasu joked that perhaps her ancestry had played a part.</p>

<p>&quot;Maybe it&#39;s the Japanese genetics - but lucky for me I&#39;m American, so I&#39;ll be the first U.S. lady,&quot; she said after her performance.</p>

<p>She was snubbed for Sochi in 2014 despite finishing third in the U.S. nationals as the selectors handed the Olympic berth to Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth.</p>

<p>&quot;Four years ago I was crying with Adam Rippon because we both didn&#39;t make the team,&quot; she said, referring to the men&#39;s singles skater. &quot;So for both of us to be on the team... is super exciting.&quot;</p>

<p>Nagasu was born to Japanese immigrant parents who run a sushi restaurant in California, where she grew up. Her first name means &#39;future&#39; in Japanese and she reportedly speaks a mixture of Japanese and English at home with her parents.</p>

<p>She began skating at the age of five and idolized two-time Olympic medalist and skater Michelle Kwan. As her career took off, she said it was sometimes difficult to keep going on the income from a restaurant.</p>

<p>HAND-SEWN COSTUMES</p>

<p>&quot;My mom also made a lot of my skating costumes,&quot; Nagasu said on a conference call in January. &quot;She also, like Michelle&#39;s mom, sewed sequins on one by one and I would complain that they were not as shiny as the rocky crystals because we got ours at Target and Michael&#39;s.&quot;</p>

<p>Nagasu says that while in general she turns to comedy and laughter to reduce pressure at big events like the Olympics, overcoming the heartbreak of missing the Sochi team was tough.</p>

<p>&quot;I was very upset for a very long time. But I changed myself and became a better skater,&quot; she told the conference call. &quot;I honestly don&#39;t think that I would have worked as hard on the triple Axel if I didn&#39;t have that time to really contemplate.&quot;</p>

<p>Unfortunately, her parents weren&#39;t there to see her make history. Nagasu has said that her sushi chef father rarely had the chance to see her skate because he almost never closed his restaurant, and now is no different.</p>

<p>&quot;Three weeks is a long time, especially to leave work,&quot; she said. &quot;They&#39;re only coming for the last week but I&#39;m sure they&#39;re home now watching it. I can&#39;t wait to see them.&quot;</p>


Nagasu made skating history by becoming the first American woman — and only the third overall — to land the fiendishly difficult triple Axel jump at an Olympics

Four years ago, American figure skater Mirai Nagasu was heartbroken after being left off the U.S. team for the Sochi Olympics in favour of a woman who ranked lower than she had at a key qualifying event. But on Monday, the woman whose Japanese immigrant parents run a sushi restaurant and mother hand-sewed her costumes, made skating history by becoming the first American woman - and only the third woman overall - to land the fiendishly difficult triple Axel jump at an Olympics. Skating a stellar routine in the women's free skate portion of the team competition, Nagasu began with a clean triple Axel and then went on to nail eight other triple jumps, including a triple flip and triple Salchow combination as she helped America claim bronze. Clearly overjoyed, the 24-year-old Nagasu, who was skating at her second Olympics, pumped her fists and grinned as she skated off the ice. "I feel really great," she said after her performance. "Going into it, I was like a train, get on those tracks and get some speed. To nail it the way I did - and even out of the corner of my eye, I could see my team mates standing in excitement." The only other women to land the jump in the Olympics were Japanese skaters Midori Ito and Mao Asada, and Nagasu joked that perhaps her ancestry had played a part. "Maybe it's the Japanese genetics - but lucky for me I'm American, so I'll be the first U.S. lady," she said after her performance. She was snubbed for Sochi in 2014 despite finishing third in the U.S. nationals as the selectors handed the Olympic berth to Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth. "Four years ago I was crying with Adam Rippon because we both didn't make the team," she said, referring to the men's singles skater. "So for both of us to be on the team... is super exciting." Nagasu was born to Japanese immigrant parents who run a sushi restaurant in California, where she grew up. Her first name means 'future' in Japanese and she reportedly speaks a mixture of Japanese and English at home with her parents. She began skating at the age of five and idolized two-time Olympic medalist and skater Michelle Kwan. As her career took off, she said it was sometimes difficult to keep going on the income from a restaurant. HAND-SEWN COSTUMES "My mom also made a lot of my skating costumes," Nagasu said on a conference call in January. "She also, like Michelle's mom, sewed sequins on one by one and I would complain that they were not as shiny as the rocky crystals because we got ours at Target and Michael's." Nagasu says that while in general she turns to comedy and laughter to reduce pressure at big events like the Olympics, overcoming the heartbreak of missing the Sochi team was tough. "I was very upset for a very long time. But I changed myself and became a better skater," she told the conference call. "I honestly don't think that I would have worked as hard on the triple Axel if I didn't have that time to really contemplate." Unfortunately, her parents weren't there to see her make history. Nagasu has said that her sushi chef father rarely had the chance to see her skate because he almost never closed his restaurant, and now is no different. "Three weeks is a long time, especially to leave work," she said. "They're only coming for the last week but I'm sure they're home now watching it. I can't wait to see them."

Pyeongchang 2018: Triumph after tears as America's Mirai Nagasu makes skating history

<p>The Free Karachi campaign has launched its second phase in Washington with around 100 taxis supporting the &quot;Free Karachi&quot; banners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As part of the campaign, &ldquo;#FreeKarachi and Urban Sindh from State Atrocities in Pakistan&rdquo; advertisements have appeared on several highway billboards in the US. West Coast city of Los Angeles, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness on state atrocities of Pakistan against Mohajirs and came into existence after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Hasan Zafar Arif was found dead in a car in Karachi&#39;s Ilyas Goth area last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The campaign was started on January 15 when a number of taxis and cars with #FreeKarachi banners participated in the city&rsquo;s annual Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade.</p>

<p>Digital Ads of &#39;Free Karachi&#39; ran on the Washington Times website, urging the US administration and world community to save Mohajirs in Pakistan.</p>

<p>Pakistani-American politician, who is also the incumbent Convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement had tweeted during its first phase, &quot;This is Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. Taxis are lining up with #FreeKarachi banners to participate in Dr Martin Luther Kind [King] Day parade in the capital. #FreeKarachi.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. Taxis are lining up with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeKarachi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeKarachi</a> banners to participate in Dr Martin Luther Kind Day parade in the capital. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeKarachi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeKarachi</a> <a href="https://t.co/OfqCLT3hik">pic.twitter.com/OfqCLT3hik</a></p>
&mdash; Nadeem Nusrat (@nadeem_nusrat) <a href="https://twitter.com/nadeem_nusrat/status/952930822570610689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary has said that Washington has assured that it will not support to any campaign against Pakistan.</p>

<p>The Dawn quoted Chaudhary, as saying, &quot;We took it up with the State Department, and they assured us that they continue to support Pakistan&#39;s sovereignty and territorial integrity as strongly as they always have.&quot;</p>

<p>The Ambassador Chaudhary further said anti-Pakistan posters and billboards have been removed from New York and Washington.</p>

<p>He also mentioned that US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells had given a similar assurance during her recent visit to Islamabad.</p>


The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness on state atrocities of Pakistan against Mohajirs and came into existence after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Hasan Zafar Arif was found dead in a car in Karachi's Ilyas Goth area last month

The Free Karachi campaign has launched its second phase in Washington with around 100 taxis supporting the "Free Karachi" banners. As part of the campaign, “#FreeKarachi and Urban Sindh from State Atrocities in Pakistan” advertisements have appeared on several highway billboards in the US. West Coast city of Los Angeles, reports said. The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness on state atrocities of Pakistan against Mohajirs and came into existence after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Hasan Zafar Arif was found dead in a car in Karachi's Ilyas Goth area last month. The campaign was started on January 15 when a number of taxis and cars with #FreeKarachi banners participated in the city’s annual Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. Digital Ads of 'Free Karachi' ran on the Washington Times website, urging the US administration and world community to save Mohajirs in Pakistan. Pakistani-American politician, who is also the incumbent Convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement had tweeted during its first phase, "This is Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. Taxis are lining up with #FreeKarachi banners to participate in Dr Martin Luther Kind [King] Day parade in the capital. #FreeKarachi." This is Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. Taxis are lining up with #FreeKarachi banners to participate in Dr Martin Luther Kind Day parade in the capital. #FreeKarachi pic.twitter.com/OfqCLT3hik — Nadeem Nusrat (@nadeem_nusrat) January 15, 2018 × However, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary has said that Washington has assured that it will not support to any campaign against Pakistan. The Dawn quoted Chaudhary, as saying, "We took it up with the State Department, and they assured us that they continue to support Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity as strongly as they always have." The Ambassador Chaudhary further said anti-Pakistan posters and billboards have been removed from New York and Washington. He also mentioned that US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells had given a similar assurance during her recent visit to Islamabad.

'Free Karachi' campaign launches its second phase in Washington

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


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

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

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

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