"I am all alone in WH", says Trump as partial govt shutdown enters third day
Washington, Dec 25 (PTI) Bored at the White House on Christmas Eve, a lone Donald Trump spent the day slamming his critics, as the government entered its third day of partial shutdown initiated by a rift with Democrats over the President's long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border.
President Trump, who has cancelled his trip to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, said he was "all alone" in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come to the negotiating table to end the partial government shutdown.
Through a series of tweets and pictures, Trump showed he was working hard while the opposition Democratic lawmakers were in their homes celebrating Christmas.
"I am all alone (poor me) in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security," Trump tweeted on Monday.
Trump wants the Democrats to fund for a border wall to stop illegal immigrants from entering the US. Democrats have refused his demands for USD 5 billion in funding for his border wall in a standoff that resulted in a partial government at midnight on Friday.
"At some point the Democrats not wanting to make a deal will cost our country more money than the border wall we are all talking about. Crazy!" Trump said.
Several hours later, Trump said in a tweet that he was in the Oval Office and working on border security.
"I am in the Oval Office and just gave out a 115-mile-long contract for another large section of the Wall in Texas. We are already building and renovating many miles of Wall, some complete. Democrats must end Shutdown and finish funding. Billions of dollars, and lives, will be saved!" he said.
He also tweeted a picture of him with senior administration officials for a briefing on North Korea.
"Christmas Eve briefing with my team working on North Korea Progress being made. Looking forward to my next summit with Chairman Kim!" Trump said.
Later in the evening, he and the First lady Melania helped children across the country to track Santa.
"Nothing new on the shutdown. We need more security," he told reporters during this phone call with children.
Santa Tracker is a 63-year tradition of tracking Santa's sleigh from the North Pole to children all over the world.
Despite the shutdown, military personnel were on the operation, as were reportedly some 1,500 people who volunteer each year.
Trump told a kid named Coleman, "Hello, is this Coleman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you?.... Are you doing well in school? Are you still a believer in Santa Claus?"
"How are you? Are you tracking Santa? ...I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. Thank you. Nice talking to you," Melania told an unidentified child.
"What's Santa going to get you for Christmas? Who's with you....Have a great Christmas., and I'll talk to you again, OK?" Trump told another kid, possibly from Indiana.
"Are you tracking Santa? Do you know where he is?... I hope your dreams come true," said Melania to another child.
Trump also could be heard asking kids where they were from and then thanking a general, possibly from NORAD or the North American Aerospace Command.
Trump and the First Lady attended a Christmas Service at Washington National Cathedral Monday night.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
