Prince George and Princess Charlotte will go to school and nursery in London and Prince William will leave his job as an air ambulance pilot.
Kensington Palace has announced that the Prince will stop flying with the East Anglian Air Ambulance team this summer to become a full-time working Royal.
It means both William and Kate will be able to spend more time on their official duties supporting the Queen, as well as focusing on their own personal charitable interests.
Because that would mean more time spent in London, they have decided that Prince George will attend a school in the capital, starting this autumn, and that Princess Charlotte will attend nursery in London when the time comes.
Kensington Palace said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge "love their time in Norfolk" and Anmer Hall will "continue to be their home" - but added that "from this autumn, however, the Duke and Duchess will increasingly base their family at Kensington Palace".
Talking about giving up his work as a pilot Prince William says it "has been a huge privilege to fly with the East Anglia Air Ambulance".
He said: "Following on from my time in the military, I have had experiences in this job I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and that will add a valuable perspective to my royal work for decades to come."
Prince William took on the job in 2015 on a two-year contract. Referring to his colleagues he added: "I have loved being part of a team of professional, talented people that save lives every day.
"My admiration for our country's medical and emergency services community could not be any stronger."
It has not been confirmed which school and nursery his children will attend.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Suicide bombers blow themselves up in Saudi Arabia
Two suicide bombers have blown themselves up in a confrontation with security forces in Saudi Arabia's second city of Jeddah, local media reported.
Sabq, a news website affiliated with the kingdom's Interior Ministry, reported on Saturday that security officers surrounded a house in Jeddah and exchanged fire with two men, who then detonated explosives that images showed completely destroyed the home.
There was no immediate comment from the Saudi interior ministry.
Since 2014, Saudi security forces have grappled with sporadic attacks by followers of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is based in Syria and Iraq, and say they have arrested hundreds of its members.
Local ISIL affiliates have carried out several deadly shootings and bombings in the kingdom. Many of the attacks have targeted security personnel and Shia-Muslim mosques.
Last year a suicide bomber was killed and two people were wounded in a blast near the US consulate in Jeddah, the first bombing in years to target foreigners in the kingdom.
ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, which is a member of a US-led coalition bombing his fighters in Syria and Iraq.
Sabq, a news website affiliated with the kingdom's Interior Ministry, reported on Saturday that security officers surrounded a house in Jeddah and exchanged fire with two men, who then detonated explosives that images showed completely destroyed the home.
There was no immediate comment from the Saudi interior ministry.
Since 2014, Saudi security forces have grappled with sporadic attacks by followers of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is based in Syria and Iraq, and say they have arrested hundreds of its members.
Local ISIL affiliates have carried out several deadly shootings and bombings in the kingdom. Many of the attacks have targeted security personnel and Shia-Muslim mosques.
Last year a suicide bomber was killed and two people were wounded in a blast near the US consulate in Jeddah, the first bombing in years to target foreigners in the kingdom.
ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, which is a member of a US-led coalition bombing his fighters in Syria and Iraq.
President Donald Trump begins first full day as leader of the free world
Donald Trump will mark his first full day as President with a church service and possibly a visit to the headquarters of the CIA.
The new President mixed pageantry and celebrations with practical politics in the hours after being sworn into office.
Immediately after watching a parade outside the White House, photographers and cameramen were invited to see him sign papers confirming his first cabinet appointments.
The pictures show the President had kept his promise to return a bust of former British prime minister Winston Churchill to the Oval Office after Barack Obama moved it to make way for one of Martin Luther King.
Mr Trump's staff have found room for both.
The President also signed an executive order aimed at "minimising the economic burden" of Obamacare.
The order allows government agencies to delay the implementation of any parts of the Affordable Care Act - Barack Obama's signature healthcare law - which could put a "fiscal burden" on families, states or healthcare providers.
It is the first step in Mr Trump's plans to "promptly repeal" and replace Obamacare, a key promise made during his election campaign, but Republicans in Congress are yet to propose a replacement for the insurance programme.
During his election, Mr Trump campaigned on a detailed 18-point plan of the things he would do on his first day in office.
But since then, he seems to have distanced himself from taking such a rapid-fire approach to implementing policies, especially when it comes to complicated issues, which may involve negotiations with Congress or foreign leaders.
Within minutes of his inauguration as US President, Mr Trump's administration announced plans to develop a "state-of-the-art" missile defence system to protect the US against attacks from Iran and North Korea.
In further measures, Mr Trump's administration said it would reverse cutbacks to the defence budget and "submit a new budget to Congress outlining a plan to rebuild our military".
It added: "We will provide our military leaders with the means to plan for our future defence needs."
As Mr Trump's pledges were published on the newly revamped White House website, references to climate change were deleted and replaced with the President's "America First Energy Plan".
:: How will President Trump affect world affairs?
The policy outlines intentions to scrap the "harmful and unnecessary" Climate Action Plan and Waters of the US rule brought in by Barack Obama.
Also detailed are plans to cut tax rates for workers and businesses, as well as a withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
Later, Mr and Mrs Trump will attend a National Prayer Service at Washington Cathedral.
A visit to CIA headquarters at Langley in Virginia was also thought to be on his schedule, but may be postponed because his new CIA Director Mike Pompeo has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
The visit will receive even closer scrutiny than usual because of Mr Trump's disparaging comments about intelligence officials in relation to allegations that Russian hackers intervened in the election.
Mr Trump began his Presidency by outlining a bleak image of America's current state and promising to improve it by putting the country and its citizens first.
:: America's 45th President: The story so far
He said: "From this day forward, it is going to be only America first. America first. Every decision on trade, on taxes on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families.
"We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength."
He was surrounded by former presidents and congressional leaders but castigated their record.
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost," he said in his address.
"Washington flourished but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed."
His defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton listened impassively during the speech but applauded politely at the end.
Later, Mr Trump praised her for attending the inauguration ceremony despite their bitter election battle, saying he was "very, very honoured" that she and former president Bill Clinton attended the ceremony.
Demonstrators were kept away from the official events, but there were several skirmishes between protesters and police. Vehicles were damaged and set alight and more than 200 people were arrested.
Mr Trump ended the day by attending three inaugural balls, dancing with First Lady Melania at each one.
To no one's surprise, the song he chose to dance to was Frank Sinatra's My Way.
The new President mixed pageantry and celebrations with practical politics in the hours after being sworn into office.
Immediately after watching a parade outside the White House, photographers and cameramen were invited to see him sign papers confirming his first cabinet appointments.
The pictures show the President had kept his promise to return a bust of former British prime minister Winston Churchill to the Oval Office after Barack Obama moved it to make way for one of Martin Luther King.
Mr Trump's staff have found room for both.
The President also signed an executive order aimed at "minimising the economic burden" of Obamacare.
The order allows government agencies to delay the implementation of any parts of the Affordable Care Act - Barack Obama's signature healthcare law - which could put a "fiscal burden" on families, states or healthcare providers.
It is the first step in Mr Trump's plans to "promptly repeal" and replace Obamacare, a key promise made during his election campaign, but Republicans in Congress are yet to propose a replacement for the insurance programme.
During his election, Mr Trump campaigned on a detailed 18-point plan of the things he would do on his first day in office.
But since then, he seems to have distanced himself from taking such a rapid-fire approach to implementing policies, especially when it comes to complicated issues, which may involve negotiations with Congress or foreign leaders.
Within minutes of his inauguration as US President, Mr Trump's administration announced plans to develop a "state-of-the-art" missile defence system to protect the US against attacks from Iran and North Korea.
In further measures, Mr Trump's administration said it would reverse cutbacks to the defence budget and "submit a new budget to Congress outlining a plan to rebuild our military".
It added: "We will provide our military leaders with the means to plan for our future defence needs."
As Mr Trump's pledges were published on the newly revamped White House website, references to climate change were deleted and replaced with the President's "America First Energy Plan".
:: How will President Trump affect world affairs?
The policy outlines intentions to scrap the "harmful and unnecessary" Climate Action Plan and Waters of the US rule brought in by Barack Obama.
Also detailed are plans to cut tax rates for workers and businesses, as well as a withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
Later, Mr and Mrs Trump will attend a National Prayer Service at Washington Cathedral.
A visit to CIA headquarters at Langley in Virginia was also thought to be on his schedule, but may be postponed because his new CIA Director Mike Pompeo has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
The visit will receive even closer scrutiny than usual because of Mr Trump's disparaging comments about intelligence officials in relation to allegations that Russian hackers intervened in the election.
Mr Trump began his Presidency by outlining a bleak image of America's current state and promising to improve it by putting the country and its citizens first.
:: America's 45th President: The story so far
He said: "From this day forward, it is going to be only America first. America first. Every decision on trade, on taxes on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families.
"We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength."
He was surrounded by former presidents and congressional leaders but castigated their record.
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost," he said in his address.
"Washington flourished but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed."
His defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton listened impassively during the speech but applauded politely at the end.
Later, Mr Trump praised her for attending the inauguration ceremony despite their bitter election battle, saying he was "very, very honoured" that she and former president Bill Clinton attended the ceremony.
Demonstrators were kept away from the official events, but there were several skirmishes between protesters and police. Vehicles were damaged and set alight and more than 200 people were arrested.
Mr Trump ended the day by attending three inaugural balls, dancing with First Lady Melania at each one.
To no one's surprise, the song he chose to dance to was Frank Sinatra's My Way.
How will the Trump presidency affect world affairs?
Donald Trump has shown "a fine disregard for the rules of the game" in international affairs. But while William Webb Ellis turned football into rugby, Mr Trump's tear-it-up-and-start-again doctrine threatens to turn the planet into a gladiatorial free-for-all. A Darwinian and dark dystopia.
He has signalled contempt for international law when it comes to Israel's illegal Jewish settlements. He has signalled admiration for Vladimir Putin, who has illegally annexed the Crimea and continues to destabilise Ukraine and Georgia.
He has no truck with complex international trade deals with China, Mexico or Canada.
Britain's choice, and one it must make now, is whether to join in his dangerous adventure into chaos, or stick with the structures that have ensured peace for more than half a century.
Russia and NATO
By Dominic Waghorn, Diplomatic Correspondent
Americans have long been proud of the peaceful transition of power at the heart of their political system.
They believe their form of government is not only the best way of running their own country, but also an example to the world.
That belief has taken quite a knock this year, with an election tainted by scandal that has undermined the standing of western democracy.
Questions linger about the impact of Russian hacking on the electoral process, and the suspicion remains that Mr Trump has somehow been personally compromised by Russian intelligence.
Ethics experts and officials say his failure to produce tax returns is unacceptable and his attempts to remove himself from his businesses inadequate.
The Trump transition process is causing deep concerns because of differences between the President-elect and the people he wants in his cabinet, particularly on how to handle Russia.
While he talks of striking a bargain with Vladimir Putin, his nominees say the Russian leader is trying to break NATO and may need to be confronted.
Anthony Arend, professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University, told Sky News that this is unprecedented and potentially dangerous.
"It confuses the allies and I would say also emboldens our adversaries if there seems to be some kind of confusion about what's going on in the United States - the cabinet's saying one thing, the President is saying something else and Congress is moving in a different direction.
"That's a perfect opportunity for Putin to take advantage of that and undertake some kind of adventurous activity."
On the campaign trail and in recent interviews, Mr Trump has caused deep concern by calling NATO obsolete, writing off the EU and disparaging close allies.
Traditionally, incoming presidents reassure friends and unsettle potential enemies. Donald Trump has upended the foreign policy playbook by doing the opposite.
Professor Daniel Nexon, foreign relations scholar, says that is deeply worrying.
He said: "I don't think I've ever had so much personal anxiety about the fate of basic institutions that have served the United States and its allies extremely well since the end of the Second World War and certainly since the end of the Cold War."
The Middle East
By Alex Rossi, Middle East Correspondent
Donald Trump, the star of TV's the Apprentice and business guru extraordinaire - according to his own press - is now the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on Earth.
But a nation is only powerful if that power is expressed. So what will Mr Trump's foreign policy be in the Middle East?
Well, his policies (if you can call them that) are inchoate and he has no experience of foreign affairs, or indeed politics, so it is hard to predict. Overall he has suggested the US will no longer spend its taxpayers' cash on being the world's policeman.
So, in the Middle East and elsewhere, the US is likely, if he stays true to his word, to take a more isolationist approach.
I'm not sure if Mr Trump knows but there are a lot of Muslims in the Middle East. His comments about Muslims in the campaign period have not gone down well. In fact it is safe to say he has alienated millions of people before he has even started.
Mr Trump has suggested Islamic State will be a priority. Again, it is hard to know what he will do differently. US boots on the ground in large numbers would be a departure from Mr Obama's policy.
In all likelihood his approach will probably involve greater cooperation with Russia. This, in itself, will be fairly revolutionary.
Co-operation with the Kremlin against IS in Syria means the US will effectively be fighting on the same side as President Bashar al Assad - a man the Obama administration accused of war crimes and called on repeatedly to stand down.
On the Israel/Palestine question he says it's a deal he'd like to do. But he will not be viewed as an impartial negotiator. Most Palestinians see the US as biased towards Israel anyway but in Mr Trump they see a man who is openly partisan.
His pledge to move the US embassy to disputed Jerusalem is already proving to be incendiary. It's hard to think he will go through with it but you never know with a man who has unpredictability written through his DNA. The consequences of such a move could be huge and at the very least will exacerbate the tensions in this long-running conflict.
He has signalled contempt for international law when it comes to Israel's illegal Jewish settlements. He has signalled admiration for Vladimir Putin, who has illegally annexed the Crimea and continues to destabilise Ukraine and Georgia.
He has no truck with complex international trade deals with China, Mexico or Canada.
Britain's choice, and one it must make now, is whether to join in his dangerous adventure into chaos, or stick with the structures that have ensured peace for more than half a century.
Russia and NATO
By Dominic Waghorn, Diplomatic Correspondent
Americans have long been proud of the peaceful transition of power at the heart of their political system.
They believe their form of government is not only the best way of running their own country, but also an example to the world.
That belief has taken quite a knock this year, with an election tainted by scandal that has undermined the standing of western democracy.
Questions linger about the impact of Russian hacking on the electoral process, and the suspicion remains that Mr Trump has somehow been personally compromised by Russian intelligence.
Ethics experts and officials say his failure to produce tax returns is unacceptable and his attempts to remove himself from his businesses inadequate.
The Trump transition process is causing deep concerns because of differences between the President-elect and the people he wants in his cabinet, particularly on how to handle Russia.
While he talks of striking a bargain with Vladimir Putin, his nominees say the Russian leader is trying to break NATO and may need to be confronted.
Anthony Arend, professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University, told Sky News that this is unprecedented and potentially dangerous.
"It confuses the allies and I would say also emboldens our adversaries if there seems to be some kind of confusion about what's going on in the United States - the cabinet's saying one thing, the President is saying something else and Congress is moving in a different direction.
"That's a perfect opportunity for Putin to take advantage of that and undertake some kind of adventurous activity."
On the campaign trail and in recent interviews, Mr Trump has caused deep concern by calling NATO obsolete, writing off the EU and disparaging close allies.
Traditionally, incoming presidents reassure friends and unsettle potential enemies. Donald Trump has upended the foreign policy playbook by doing the opposite.
Professor Daniel Nexon, foreign relations scholar, says that is deeply worrying.
He said: "I don't think I've ever had so much personal anxiety about the fate of basic institutions that have served the United States and its allies extremely well since the end of the Second World War and certainly since the end of the Cold War."
The Middle East
By Alex Rossi, Middle East Correspondent
Donald Trump, the star of TV's the Apprentice and business guru extraordinaire - according to his own press - is now the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on Earth.
But a nation is only powerful if that power is expressed. So what will Mr Trump's foreign policy be in the Middle East?
Well, his policies (if you can call them that) are inchoate and he has no experience of foreign affairs, or indeed politics, so it is hard to predict. Overall he has suggested the US will no longer spend its taxpayers' cash on being the world's policeman.
So, in the Middle East and elsewhere, the US is likely, if he stays true to his word, to take a more isolationist approach.
I'm not sure if Mr Trump knows but there are a lot of Muslims in the Middle East. His comments about Muslims in the campaign period have not gone down well. In fact it is safe to say he has alienated millions of people before he has even started.
Mr Trump has suggested Islamic State will be a priority. Again, it is hard to know what he will do differently. US boots on the ground in large numbers would be a departure from Mr Obama's policy.
In all likelihood his approach will probably involve greater cooperation with Russia. This, in itself, will be fairly revolutionary.
Co-operation with the Kremlin against IS in Syria means the US will effectively be fighting on the same side as President Bashar al Assad - a man the Obama administration accused of war crimes and called on repeatedly to stand down.
On the Israel/Palestine question he says it's a deal he'd like to do. But he will not be viewed as an impartial negotiator. Most Palestinians see the US as biased towards Israel anyway but in Mr Trump they see a man who is openly partisan.
His pledge to move the US embassy to disputed Jerusalem is already proving to be incendiary. It's hard to think he will go through with it but you never know with a man who has unpredictability written through his DNA. The consequences of such a move could be huge and at the very least will exacerbate the tensions in this long-running conflict.
The Military
By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent
Donald Trump dismissed NATO as "obsolete" during the US presidential campaign. He warned that America wouldn't automatically come to the help of countries not spending at least 2% of GDP on their defence, as NATO guidelines stipulate. It certainly made Europe sit up and take notice.
His criticism of some members, for not spending enough on defence, has its supporters in the UK government and elsewhere. If the effect of this threat is that more alliance members boost defence spending that will only be a good thing.
It's Mr Trump's relationship with Russia that might characterise his use of the military.
Will he sustain the growing presence of US forces in Eastern Europe? Will he support Montenegro's accession to NATO membership against Russia's wishes? Will he turn a blind eye to Russian activity in eastern Ukraine? How will he react to further Russian bombing of civilians in Syria?
When Barack Obama came to office, al Qaeda, Afghanistan and Iraq were the three major interests for US forces. As he leaves the White House, the landscape has changed beyond any prediction, with the emergence of IS and re-emergence of an aggressive Russia.
Those are the two challenges Mr Trump inherits, but the only prediction I would confidently make, is that a threat will emerge that no one has yet identified.
Politics
By Faisal Islam, Political Editor
A Trump White House can change the game for Brexit. At first glance, Britain jumps straight to the front of the queue for a trade deal, ahead of the great trading Pacific and European trading block deals. It provides a tangible sign of progress outside the EU for the Brexiteers.
It also gives UK negotiators some leverage with the EU. Do Paris and Brussels really want a fast growing low-tax, low-regulation island off its coast, integrated with the world's largest economic superpower? And also gives the US some trade leverage with the EU too.
However, it also risks setting up a dangerous dynamic for a UK-EU negotiation. If European capitals see the EU as under attack from the Trump White House, aided and abetted by the UK, the exit negotiations will be conducted in survival mode rather than in a spirit of mutual economic benefit.
It increases the risk of an antagonistic, legalistic and painful divorce, rather than a friendly separation with the UK's largest trade partner. If the EU thinks the Trump White House predicts, desires and accepts the end of the European Union, as he has repeatedly implied, they will negotiate accordingly with Britain.
Europe
By Mark Stone, Europe Correspondent
Just days after the US election, a high-profile EU delegation hastily left Brussels for Washington. The fact-finding trip was a chance to establish contacts with the incoming administration.
Mr Trump's victory was a surprise for every European government. All but one (Hungary) bet on Hillary Clinton and their contacts with Team Trump were thin and his electioneering rhetoric concerning.
His broadside assault on Europe and NATO this week seems to reduce any hope among EU leaders that he didn't mean what he said during the election. Perhaps he did: "NATO is obsolete, the EU is doomed, Merkel made a catastrophic mistake."
These are huge statements which threaten to shatter the historic transatlantic relationship.
"Let's not fool ourselves," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last week in Brussels.
"From the viewpoint of some of our traditional partners, and I’m thinking of transatlantic ties, there is no guarantee of perpetuity for close cooperation with us Europeans."
For some weeks, the diplomatic whispers have suggested that Team Trump seems almost to relish the demise of the EU.
The outgoing US ambassador to the EU has said Mr Trump's advisers asked the EU leadership who would leave next after the UK.
"It's not a surprise, right," ambassador Anthony Gardner said. "That's what is the mentality of this [Trump] team: 'this thing is falling apart. Who's next?'"
The Trump effect has emboldened European nationalists and populists who count themselves among Mr Trump's friends: Britain's Nigel Farage; France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen, spotted in Trump Tower last week and a genuine prospect for the French presidency; Geert Wilders, leader of the Netherlands’ populist Freedom Party and candidate for Dutch prime minister.
Will Mr Trump offer the UK a generous trade deal to spite the EU in the Brexit negotiations? Great news for the UK, less good for the rest of the EU.
Will some in Europe see a silver lining? Perhaps a Trump presidency will strengthen European Union cohesion.
European federalists will be emboldened to push forward their political project; an EU Army? A bolder, more unified EU foreign policy? The establishment governments will double down on their fight against populism.
Asia
By Katie Stallard, China Correspondent
Perhaps there was an assumption here that Mr Trump's penchant for China-bashing would be left on the campaign trail, that it was just the price of riding his wave of populism into office.
I remember one Chinese academic explaining patiently that US presidential candidates behaved in one way when they were running for election, quite another once they got into power. But what if President Trump turns out to be as advertised? What if he actually means what he says? The consequences for this region could be explosive.
The indications from his Twitter feed, and his team so far are not encouraging. His comments on Taiwan, specifically on the nearly four decades-old 'one China' policy that recognises the island as a part of China, risk serious escalation.
Perhaps this was just the opening gambit from a man who prides himself on being a tough dealmaker, but for Beijing, which sailed its aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait last week to underline its point, this is not up for negotiation.
Then there is the South China Sea, where Rex Tillerson, Mr Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, says China's artificial island-building must stop, and its access to them be blocked. That would mean waging "a large-scale war", a Chinese state-controlled newspaper replied.
And that's before we get to North Korea, where Kim Jong-Un claims to be in the final phases of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile. "It won't happen," Donald Trump immediately tweeted. He will need more than a 140-character response.
By Tom Rayner, South East Asia Correspondent
It's no secret America's allies in the Asia-Pacific region are preparing for a Trump presidency with trepidation. And they've good reason. Early indications are that the Trump administration seems perfectly prepared to upend US foreign policy orthodoxy.
In Asia, that orthodoxy, whether articulated by Barack Obama's Asia Pivot, or by earlier policies of the Bush administration, means the US offering a diplomatic, economic and military alternative to Chinese influence. Anything else, it is reasoned, would result in a radical reordering of the regional balance of power that could only strengthen China.
When the-then President-elect Trump questioned US military aid to rock-solid allies like Japan during the campaign, the long-standing orthodoxy was immediately drawn into question.
That prime minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader to meet him after his election victory should be seen as clear indication of the nervousness.
But there is also the possibility the uneasiness felt from Hanoi to Tokyo, by those who fear the consequences of US withdrawal from the region, might be misplaced.
If Mr Trump's hawkish inclination to stare down China and call its bluff outweighs his apparently instinctual isolationism, new efforts to bolster ties with regional allies could - if only through pragmatism - be the result.
Africa
By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent
Donald Trump has expressed no interest whatsoever in Africa. In most of his campaign speeches, the continent was mostly disregarded. But based on what he has said, aid for African countries is likely to suffer.
There are likely to be restrictions on the numbers travelling to the US for further education or business.
His anti-Muslim sentiments have dismayed the continent's multi-million Muslim population.
His economic plans are a mystery but given his business ambitions, Africans are hoping he may want to take on Chinese expansion on the continent.
He has stated his desire to curb terrorism by 'bombing the s**t out of ISIS', and the spread of terrorism across a number of African nations may catch his attention with the terror group prevalent in Libya as well as the ISIS-aligned Boko Haram in Nigeria and al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab in Somalia.
With few hopes, the only way is up for a Trump presidency.
Technology
By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent
Don't worry: Donald Trump is "here to help". That's what he told technology executives at a meeting at Trump Tower - a group that included Apple chief executive Tim Cook, Elon Musk of Tesla and Google founder Larry Page.
Having spent much of the campaign attacking Mr Trump, Silicon Valley has been quick to come to heel - business being business. But trouble may be in store.
At a rally before the election, Mr Trump savaged Apple over its dispute with the FBI about the San Bernardino killer's iPhone, calling for a boycott of the company's products and saying about Tim Cook: "I would come down so hard on him - you have no idea - his head would be spinning all of the way back to Silicon Valley." (Mr Obama had been more equivocal on the subject.)
The wider picture, though, is that Mr Trump has barely a clue about technology. Apparently he doesn't use a computer himself. (If only the same were true of his mobile phone and the Twitter app installed there.)
In Mr Trump's own words: "The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what's going on." Right.
Celebrities
By Katie Spencer, Entertainment Correspondent
Given Hollywood's left-leaning tilt, presidential parties look set to be a far less interesting affair under Donald Trump's watch. Virtually no celebrities were willing to stand alongside him on the campaign trail, and little seems to have changed following his election victory.
Apart from a visit by rapper Kanye West, few stars have wanted to be seen with him. Mr Trump's team reportedly struggled to secure singers to perform at his inauguration and he made some high-profile enemies before he even entered office - see Meryl Streep's Golden Globes speech for reference.
Mr Trump has shown he can be a master of the one-liner comebacks but he's struggled at being the butt of jokes.
Alec Baldwin's Saturday Night Live impression - the orange hairpiece and pronunciation of the word "China" - has been laughed at the world over. And making fun of Mr Trump only seems to draw him out.
He tweeted: "Just tried watching Saturday Night Live - unwatchable! Totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just can't get any worse. Sad."
This is a man who understands the power of television. He became known for his blunt toughness on reality TV. His brand had been known for a time before, but the US version of The Apprentice allowed him to mould his image even further.
By the end of the first season, 27 million were tuning in to see him point his finger and deliver the classic "you're fired" line from inside Trump Tower. Not only was he promoting his business empire, his straight talking, no-nonsense approach helped him to build an army of fans who listen when he speaks.
That reality show is now over, but a new one begins. His lack of celebrity friends won't really matter - he has his family standing alongside him.
With his former model wife Melania, glamorous daughter Ivanka and the rest of Trump clan, The Donald's dynasty is every bit as fascinating as the Kardashians.
By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent
Donald Trump dismissed NATO as "obsolete" during the US presidential campaign. He warned that America wouldn't automatically come to the help of countries not spending at least 2% of GDP on their defence, as NATO guidelines stipulate. It certainly made Europe sit up and take notice.
His criticism of some members, for not spending enough on defence, has its supporters in the UK government and elsewhere. If the effect of this threat is that more alliance members boost defence spending that will only be a good thing.
It's Mr Trump's relationship with Russia that might characterise his use of the military.
Will he sustain the growing presence of US forces in Eastern Europe? Will he support Montenegro's accession to NATO membership against Russia's wishes? Will he turn a blind eye to Russian activity in eastern Ukraine? How will he react to further Russian bombing of civilians in Syria?
When Barack Obama came to office, al Qaeda, Afghanistan and Iraq were the three major interests for US forces. As he leaves the White House, the landscape has changed beyond any prediction, with the emergence of IS and re-emergence of an aggressive Russia.
Those are the two challenges Mr Trump inherits, but the only prediction I would confidently make, is that a threat will emerge that no one has yet identified.
Politics
By Faisal Islam, Political Editor
A Trump White House can change the game for Brexit. At first glance, Britain jumps straight to the front of the queue for a trade deal, ahead of the great trading Pacific and European trading block deals. It provides a tangible sign of progress outside the EU for the Brexiteers.
It also gives UK negotiators some leverage with the EU. Do Paris and Brussels really want a fast growing low-tax, low-regulation island off its coast, integrated with the world's largest economic superpower? And also gives the US some trade leverage with the EU too.
However, it also risks setting up a dangerous dynamic for a UK-EU negotiation. If European capitals see the EU as under attack from the Trump White House, aided and abetted by the UK, the exit negotiations will be conducted in survival mode rather than in a spirit of mutual economic benefit.
It increases the risk of an antagonistic, legalistic and painful divorce, rather than a friendly separation with the UK's largest trade partner. If the EU thinks the Trump White House predicts, desires and accepts the end of the European Union, as he has repeatedly implied, they will negotiate accordingly with Britain.
Europe
By Mark Stone, Europe Correspondent
Just days after the US election, a high-profile EU delegation hastily left Brussels for Washington. The fact-finding trip was a chance to establish contacts with the incoming administration.
Mr Trump's victory was a surprise for every European government. All but one (Hungary) bet on Hillary Clinton and their contacts with Team Trump were thin and his electioneering rhetoric concerning.
His broadside assault on Europe and NATO this week seems to reduce any hope among EU leaders that he didn't mean what he said during the election. Perhaps he did: "NATO is obsolete, the EU is doomed, Merkel made a catastrophic mistake."
These are huge statements which threaten to shatter the historic transatlantic relationship.
"Let's not fool ourselves," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last week in Brussels.
"From the viewpoint of some of our traditional partners, and I’m thinking of transatlantic ties, there is no guarantee of perpetuity for close cooperation with us Europeans."
For some weeks, the diplomatic whispers have suggested that Team Trump seems almost to relish the demise of the EU.
The outgoing US ambassador to the EU has said Mr Trump's advisers asked the EU leadership who would leave next after the UK.
"It's not a surprise, right," ambassador Anthony Gardner said. "That's what is the mentality of this [Trump] team: 'this thing is falling apart. Who's next?'"
The Trump effect has emboldened European nationalists and populists who count themselves among Mr Trump's friends: Britain's Nigel Farage; France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen, spotted in Trump Tower last week and a genuine prospect for the French presidency; Geert Wilders, leader of the Netherlands’ populist Freedom Party and candidate for Dutch prime minister.
Will Mr Trump offer the UK a generous trade deal to spite the EU in the Brexit negotiations? Great news for the UK, less good for the rest of the EU.
Will some in Europe see a silver lining? Perhaps a Trump presidency will strengthen European Union cohesion.
European federalists will be emboldened to push forward their political project; an EU Army? A bolder, more unified EU foreign policy? The establishment governments will double down on their fight against populism.
Asia
By Katie Stallard, China Correspondent
Perhaps there was an assumption here that Mr Trump's penchant for China-bashing would be left on the campaign trail, that it was just the price of riding his wave of populism into office.
I remember one Chinese academic explaining patiently that US presidential candidates behaved in one way when they were running for election, quite another once they got into power. But what if President Trump turns out to be as advertised? What if he actually means what he says? The consequences for this region could be explosive.
The indications from his Twitter feed, and his team so far are not encouraging. His comments on Taiwan, specifically on the nearly four decades-old 'one China' policy that recognises the island as a part of China, risk serious escalation.
Perhaps this was just the opening gambit from a man who prides himself on being a tough dealmaker, but for Beijing, which sailed its aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait last week to underline its point, this is not up for negotiation.
Then there is the South China Sea, where Rex Tillerson, Mr Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, says China's artificial island-building must stop, and its access to them be blocked. That would mean waging "a large-scale war", a Chinese state-controlled newspaper replied.
And that's before we get to North Korea, where Kim Jong-Un claims to be in the final phases of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile. "It won't happen," Donald Trump immediately tweeted. He will need more than a 140-character response.
By Tom Rayner, South East Asia Correspondent
It's no secret America's allies in the Asia-Pacific region are preparing for a Trump presidency with trepidation. And they've good reason. Early indications are that the Trump administration seems perfectly prepared to upend US foreign policy orthodoxy.
In Asia, that orthodoxy, whether articulated by Barack Obama's Asia Pivot, or by earlier policies of the Bush administration, means the US offering a diplomatic, economic and military alternative to Chinese influence. Anything else, it is reasoned, would result in a radical reordering of the regional balance of power that could only strengthen China.
When the-then President-elect Trump questioned US military aid to rock-solid allies like Japan during the campaign, the long-standing orthodoxy was immediately drawn into question.
That prime minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader to meet him after his election victory should be seen as clear indication of the nervousness.
But there is also the possibility the uneasiness felt from Hanoi to Tokyo, by those who fear the consequences of US withdrawal from the region, might be misplaced.
If Mr Trump's hawkish inclination to stare down China and call its bluff outweighs his apparently instinctual isolationism, new efforts to bolster ties with regional allies could - if only through pragmatism - be the result.
Africa
By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent
Donald Trump has expressed no interest whatsoever in Africa. In most of his campaign speeches, the continent was mostly disregarded. But based on what he has said, aid for African countries is likely to suffer.
There are likely to be restrictions on the numbers travelling to the US for further education or business.
His anti-Muslim sentiments have dismayed the continent's multi-million Muslim population.
His economic plans are a mystery but given his business ambitions, Africans are hoping he may want to take on Chinese expansion on the continent.
He has stated his desire to curb terrorism by 'bombing the s**t out of ISIS', and the spread of terrorism across a number of African nations may catch his attention with the terror group prevalent in Libya as well as the ISIS-aligned Boko Haram in Nigeria and al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab in Somalia.
With few hopes, the only way is up for a Trump presidency.
Technology
By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent
Don't worry: Donald Trump is "here to help". That's what he told technology executives at a meeting at Trump Tower - a group that included Apple chief executive Tim Cook, Elon Musk of Tesla and Google founder Larry Page.
Having spent much of the campaign attacking Mr Trump, Silicon Valley has been quick to come to heel - business being business. But trouble may be in store.
At a rally before the election, Mr Trump savaged Apple over its dispute with the FBI about the San Bernardino killer's iPhone, calling for a boycott of the company's products and saying about Tim Cook: "I would come down so hard on him - you have no idea - his head would be spinning all of the way back to Silicon Valley." (Mr Obama had been more equivocal on the subject.)
The wider picture, though, is that Mr Trump has barely a clue about technology. Apparently he doesn't use a computer himself. (If only the same were true of his mobile phone and the Twitter app installed there.)
In Mr Trump's own words: "The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what's going on." Right.
Celebrities
By Katie Spencer, Entertainment Correspondent
Given Hollywood's left-leaning tilt, presidential parties look set to be a far less interesting affair under Donald Trump's watch. Virtually no celebrities were willing to stand alongside him on the campaign trail, and little seems to have changed following his election victory.
Apart from a visit by rapper Kanye West, few stars have wanted to be seen with him. Mr Trump's team reportedly struggled to secure singers to perform at his inauguration and he made some high-profile enemies before he even entered office - see Meryl Streep's Golden Globes speech for reference.
Mr Trump has shown he can be a master of the one-liner comebacks but he's struggled at being the butt of jokes.
Alec Baldwin's Saturday Night Live impression - the orange hairpiece and pronunciation of the word "China" - has been laughed at the world over. And making fun of Mr Trump only seems to draw him out.
He tweeted: "Just tried watching Saturday Night Live - unwatchable! Totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just can't get any worse. Sad."
This is a man who understands the power of television. He became known for his blunt toughness on reality TV. His brand had been known for a time before, but the US version of The Apprentice allowed him to mould his image even further.
By the end of the first season, 27 million were tuning in to see him point his finger and deliver the classic "you're fired" line from inside Trump Tower. Not only was he promoting his business empire, his straight talking, no-nonsense approach helped him to build an army of fans who listen when he speaks.
That reality show is now over, but a new one begins. His lack of celebrity friends won't really matter - he has his family standing alongside him.
With his former model wife Melania, glamorous daughter Ivanka and the rest of Trump clan, The Donald's dynasty is every bit as fascinating as the Kardashians.
Bus crash in northern Italy kills 16 people
A bus carrying Hungarian teenagers crashed and caught fire on a motorway in northern Italy, killing 16 people.
The bus was returning to Budapest from France, where the students had been on a mountain holiday.
Some 36 injured people were taken to a hospital following the accident near Verona on Friday night.
Police commander Geralomo Lacquanita said the bus crashed and burst into flames just before midnight. No other vehicles were involved and it was not clear why the bus went off the road, crashing into the barriers.
The French bus driver, together with his family, could be among the victims, Italian news agency Agi said.
It was carrying about 50 passengers, most of whom were Hungarians aged between 16 and 18. Police say 16 badly burned bodies have been pulled from the wreckage.
The report said some students were thrown from the vehicle and others were trapped inside the bus when it caught fire.
Police were awaiting the go-ahead from the prosecutor to analyse the charred remains of the vehicle.
The bus was returning to Budapest from France, where the students had been on a mountain holiday.
Some 36 injured people were taken to a hospital following the accident near Verona on Friday night.
Police commander Geralomo Lacquanita said the bus crashed and burst into flames just before midnight. No other vehicles were involved and it was not clear why the bus went off the road, crashing into the barriers.
The French bus driver, together with his family, could be among the victims, Italian news agency Agi said.
It was carrying about 50 passengers, most of whom were Hungarians aged between 16 and 18. Police say 16 badly burned bodies have been pulled from the wreckage.
The report said some students were thrown from the vehicle and others were trapped inside the bus when it caught fire.
Police were awaiting the go-ahead from the prosecutor to analyse the charred remains of the vehicle.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Italy avalanche: 'Miracle' as children pulled from hotel rubble
Four children were among those pulled alive from under tonnes of snow and debris days after a hotel was crushed by an avalanche in Italy.
Dramatic images have emerged of the moment the youngsters and a woman were plucked to safety by rescue teams, who have been continuing their painstaking search of the shattered ruins for survivors following Wednesday's tragedy.
Overnight a further four people were found alive after careful digging amid fears buried air pockets could collapse.
The rescue of the two men and two women brings the total number of survivors to nine.
Fire service spokesman Luca Cari said the of two women were also recovered during the night, bringing the known number of dead to four.
Dramatic images have emerged of the moment the youngsters and a woman were plucked to safety by rescue teams, who have been continuing their painstaking search of the shattered ruins for survivors following Wednesday's tragedy.
Overnight a further four people were found alive after careful digging amid fears buried air pockets could collapse.
The rescue of the two men and two women brings the total number of survivors to nine.
Fire service spokesman Luca Cari said the of two women were also recovered during the night, bringing the known number of dead to four.
Deadly blast rocks market in Pakistan's northwest
A bomb blast ripped through a vegetable market in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area, killing at least 18 people and wounding about 50 others.
The explosion occurred Saturday morning at the Eidgah Market in Parachinar city, the capital of Kurram Agency, where a large number of people had gathered to buy fruit and vegetables, local media reported.
Local official Kurram Ikramullah told Al Jazeera that 18 people had been killed and nearly 50 were wounded.
"The bomb seems to have been planted in vegetable crate," Ikramullah said. "There is a high possibility that the vegetables were brought from outside the agency."
Security forces cordoned off the area and a search operation for the perpetrators was under way.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kurram is one of seven tribal areas of Pakistan governed by local laws and customs. It borders three Afghan provinces and is a key route for movement across the border.
Pakistan has battled armed groups since 2004, a campaign that has claimed the lives of tens-of-thousands of civilians and security forces.
The explosion occurred Saturday morning at the Eidgah Market in Parachinar city, the capital of Kurram Agency, where a large number of people had gathered to buy fruit and vegetables, local media reported.
Local official Kurram Ikramullah told Al Jazeera that 18 people had been killed and nearly 50 were wounded.
"The bomb seems to have been planted in vegetable crate," Ikramullah said. "There is a high possibility that the vegetables were brought from outside the agency."
Security forces cordoned off the area and a search operation for the perpetrators was under way.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kurram is one of seven tribal areas of Pakistan governed by local laws and customs. It borders three Afghan provinces and is a key route for movement across the border.
Pakistan has battled armed groups since 2004, a campaign that has claimed the lives of tens-of-thousands of civilians and security forces.
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