USA: Trump’s Fierce Criticism of Stimulus Bill Leaves Republicans Torn

His four-minute video on Tuesday night demanding significant changes to the bill and larger direct stimulus checks also threw a wrench into his party’s push to hold the Senate with victories in two runoff races in Georgia next month. The Republican candidates he pledged to support went from campaigning on their triumphant votes for the relief bill to facing questions on Mr. Trump’s view that the measure was a “disgrace.”

Read more at:a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/23/us/joe-biden-trump">Transition Highlights: Trump’s Fierce Criticism of Stimulus Bill Leaves Republicans Torn - The New York Times

Middle East - Syria: US opposes Western reconstruction of Syria, blames Russia - by Nikolaj Nielsen

The United States has said it will ensure no one contributes to reconstructing war-torn Syria - aside from those who helped destroy it.

"We are not going to put it back together and we are going to do everything we can, and believe me that is a lot, to ensure nobody else does," US state department official on Syria, James F Jeffrey, told reporters in Brussels and on Tuesday (30 October).

Note EU-Digest: What a ridiculous inhumane declaration by the US. State Department, since they and all their NATO partners, in addition to Russia, Israel and Iran,  have participated in ground and air-force operations on and above Syrian territory. This has caused not only enormous damage to the Syrian infrastructure, but also caused close to half a million civilian death.

Read More: US opposes Western reconstruction of Syria, blames Russia