By FLORIAN EDERwith ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY GOOGLE Send tips here | Tweet @florianeder | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser MERKEL FOR PRESIDENT: The EU needs someone at its helm who can speak with Donald Trump “on an equal footing,” according to former Italian PM Enrico Letta, now the dean of the School of International Affairs at Sciences Po. “I’m among those who think that Angela Merkel would be perfect in the role of the European Council president,” Letta told an intimate audience in Paris for a summit organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of France, Germany and Switzerland. GOOD MORNING. Playbook comes to you from the French capital today (and Wednesday too, when our Paris correspondent Rym Momtaz takes the wheel). I’m in town for the conference. The question asked of attendees: What is, or could be, a European common good? GET OUT OF THE BUBBLE: A German constitutional lawyer by … [Read more...] about POLITICO Brussels Playbook, presented by Google: Merkel for prez — Macron bests Trump on China — MPs in charge
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Donald Trump claims 100% of land held by ISIS fanatics has been recaptured – but ‘surprised’ battle commanders say final fight is still raging
DONALD Trump has claimed that ISIS has lost “100 percent” of its land in Syria – despite army chiefs insisting the battle is still raging. The US President, who was speaking to troops in Alaska, said the extremist group had lost its so-called caliphate and boasted about the speed of the supposed victory. He said: “Now it's 100 percent we just took over, 100 percent. "The area, the land, we just have 100 percent. We did that in a much shorter period of time than it was supposed to be." However, according to a US military assessment, ISIS fighters are still hunkered down in a small sliver of land in north-east Syria near the Euphrates River along with civilian residents. Officials say military operations have paused in order to separate the non-extremist locals from the militants in the area. It is not the first time Trump has jumped the gun over the battle to wipe out ISIS. He said on February 15 that "the eradication" of the caliphate would be announced within … [Read more...] about Donald Trump claims 100% of land held by ISIS fanatics has been recaptured – but ‘surprised’ battle commanders say final fight is still raging
Donald Trump claims 100% of land held by ISIS fanatics has been recaptured – but ‘surprised’ battle commanders claim final battle is still raging
DONALD Trump has claimed that ISIS has lost “100 percent” of its land in Syria – despite army chiefs insisting the battle is still raging. The US President, who was speaking to troops in Alaska, said the extremist group had lost its so-called caliphate and boasted about the speed of the supposed victory. He said: “Now it's 100 percent we just took over, 100 percent. "The area, the land, we just have 100 percent. We did that in a much shorter period of time than it was supposed to be." However, according to a US military assessment, ISIS fighters are still bunkered down in a small sliver of land along the Euphrates River along with civilian residents. Officials say military operations have paused in order to separate the non-extremist locals from the militants in that area. Trump has jumped the gun on ISIS before. He said on February 15 that "the eradication" of the caliphate would be announced within 24 hours. The area, the land, we just have 100 percent. We did … [Read more...] about Donald Trump claims 100% of land held by ISIS fanatics has been recaptured – but ‘surprised’ battle commanders claim final battle is still raging
Air Force One with President Donald Trump on board photographed flying over Sheffield on top secret trip
This photograph captures the moment the jumbo jet of the President of the United States flew over Sheffield yesterday. Alan Meloy took the photo of Air Force One from outside his home in Chapeltown on Boxing Day.After Mr Meloy posted the image on social media it sparked a frenzy among aviation buffs about where the President’s plane could be heading.It was later revealed that President Trump and his wife Melania were on a unannounced visit to Iraq to meet American troops stationed in the country.The trip had been cloaked in secrecy for security reasons. The visit was President Trump’s first to an active conflict zone. READ MORE: ‘Seeing how people are looked after at Weston Park Hospital is just amazing. It is so humbling’READ MORE: Do That Thing and buy Liberty Ship single for Weston Park Cancer Charity ‘This chaos is not inevitable – on Brexit, the country deserves better than May’s deal … [Read more...] about Air Force One with President Donald Trump on board photographed flying over Sheffield on top secret trip
Girl, 7, in Christmas call to Donald Trump says she still believes in Santa
A little girl who spoke to Donald Trump on Christmas Eve says she still believes in Santa. The President set off a social media storm after he asked seven-year-old Collman Lloyd if she still believed in Father Christmas. Youngsters anxious to find out the whereabouts of Santa on his journey around the world got to speak to the President and First Lady on Christmas Eve. In one chat, Trump asked Collman, "Are you still a believer in Santa?" After listening for a moment, he added: "Because at seven, it's marginal, right?" Trump listened again and chuckled before saying, "Well, you just enjoy yourself." Collman said yes althought later admitted she didn't know what the word marginal meant. Collman, from Lexington in South Carolina, also told the newspaper that she was glad to be able to talk with the US president. "I was like, 'wow'. I was shocked. "It wasn't really (nerve-wracking), I just had to think of what the truth was." The president is spending the festive season at the White House … [Read more...] about Girl, 7, in Christmas call to Donald Trump says she still believes in Santa