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President Donald Trump moved aggressively to tighten the nation's immigration policies Wednesday, signing executive actions to jumpstart construction of a US-Mexico border wall and block federal grants from immigrant-protecting "sanctuary cities."

"We've been talking about this right from the beginning," Trump said during a brief signing ceremony at the Department of Homeland Security.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the White House had not circulated copies of the documents or briefed reporters on the details, as has been typical practice in past administrations. But Trump cast his actions as fulfillment of his campaign pledge to enact hard-line immigration measures, including construction of a wall paid for by Mexico. US taxpayers are expected to pay for the upfront costs, though Trump continues to assert that Mexico will reimburse the money through unspecified means.

In an interview with ABC News earlier Wednesday, Trump said, "There will be a payment; it will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form."

While Trump has repeatedly said the border structure will be a wall, his spokesman Sean Spicer said more generally Wednesday the president was ordering construction of a "large physical barrier."

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has insisted his country will not pay for a wall, is to meet with Trump at the White House next week.

The orders Trump signed Wednesday also increase the number of border patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to be hired. And the president ordered the end of what Republicans have labeled a catch-and-release system at the border. Currently, some immigrants caught crossing the border illegally are released and given notices to report back to immigration officials at a later date.

Later in the week, Trump is expected to sign orders restricting the flow of refugees into the United States. His current proposal includes at least a four-month halt on all refugee admissions, as well as a temporary ban on people coming from some Muslim-majority countries, according to a source from a public policy organization that monitors refugee issues. The person was briefed on the details of that proposed action by a government official and outlined the plan to The Associated Press.

The public policy organization source insisted on anonymity in order to outline the plans ahead of the president's official announcements.

Trump campaigned on pledges to tighten US immigration policies, including strengthening border security and stemming the flow of refugees. His call for a border wall was among his most popular proposals with supporters, who often broke out in chants of "build that wall" during rallies.

In response to terrorism concerns, Trump controversially called for halting entry to the US from Muslim countries. He later turned to a focus on "extreme vetting" for those coming from countries with terrorism ties.

To build the wall, the president may rely on a 2006 law that authorized several hundred miles of fencing along the 2,000-mile frontier. That bill led to the construction of about 700 miles of various kinds of fencing designed to block both vehicles and pedestrians.

The Secure Fence Act was signed by then-President George W. Bush, and the majority of that fencing in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California was built before he left office. The last remnants were completed after President Barack Obama took office in 2009.

The Trump administration also must adhere to a decades-old border treaty with Mexico that limits where and how structures can be buil. The 1970 treaty requires that structures cannot disrupt the flow of the rivers, which define the US-Mexico border along Texas and 24 miles in Arizona, according to The International Boundary and Water Commission, a joint US-Mexican agency that administers the treaty.

Trump's order to crack down on sanctuary cities - locales that don't cooperate with immigration authorities - could cost individual jurisdictions millions of dollars. But the administration may face legal challenges, given that some federal courts have found that local jurisdictions cannot hold immigrants beyond their jail term or deny them bond based only a request from immigration authorities.

It appeared as though the refugee restrictions were still being finalized. The person briefed on the proposals said they included a ban on entry to the US for at least 30 days from countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, though the person cautioned the details could still change.

There is also likely to be an exception for those fleeing religious persecution if their religion is a minority in their country. That exception could cover Christians fleeing Muslim-majority nations.

As president, Trump can use an executive order to halt refugee processing. Bush used that same power in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Refugee security vetting was reviewed and the process was restarted several months later.

The Israeli government hasn’t wasted any time, since Donald trump has been in the White House for less than a week, and they have already announced two installments to its expansion of new housing settlements.

Indian soldier Chandu Chavan, who inadvertently strayed across the Line of Control hours after the cross border firing on terror camps in September last year, was handed over to the Indian authorities by Pakistan at Wagah border.

Earlier today, as a ‘gesture of goodwill’, Pakistan Army announced that it would return Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chavan who had accidentally strayed across the border last year. Chavan, posted with 37 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, had “inadvertently crossed over” from his post on the LoC on September 29, hours after the cross border firing by Indian forces on terror launch pads across LoC. The Army maintains that Chavan’s battalion was not part of the cross border firing and the 22-year-old crossed over from the LoC in Mendhar sector after a tiff with his superior at the post.

In a tweet however, Pakistan claimed the soldier had ‘willfully crossed LOC’ on September 29, 2016. The Pakistani statement also claimed the soldier had surrendered himself to the Pakistani army after deserting his post at LoC due to grievances of maltreatment against his commanders.

Although Indian Army officials informed their Pakistani counterparts about Chavan’s crossing over on September 29, Pakistan army formally acknowledged him being in its custody on October 13. Beyond established norms for individuals crossing the LoC, the two countries are also bound by Geneva Conventions on dealing with enemy soldiers in their custody.

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre had said in November last year, “He hails from my constituency. We are in constant touch with his family. Talks are on at the level of the Director General of Military Operations, and also through the Ministry of External Affairs and diplomatic channels. One positive thing is that they have accepted that Chandu Chavan is with them. They will have to send back Chavan some day… the question is when.” He added, “The neighbour is hostile. We are sure that Chavan will be back when the situation comes back to normal. The efforts are on at all levels.”

Chavan, 22, hails from Borvihir village in Dhule district that falls under Bhamre’s Lok Sabha constituency.

In September, Pakistani newspaper Dawn had quoted security sources saying that Pakistan military had said it had captured an Indian soldier and he had been shifted to an undisclosed location. It had also said the soldier was caught after the Indian military fired across the Line of Control (LoC). Dawn later withdrew the story.

According to the Daily Pakistan Global, Pakistan Army on Saturday handed over Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chohan, an Indian Army Soldier who willfully crossed Line of Control (LOC), to Indian authorities at Wagah Border on humanitarian grounds.

According to the ISPR, Chohan, who deputed at Indian Occupied Kashmir, deserted his post at LOC due to his grievances of maltreatment against his commanders. He willfully crossed the LOC on September 29, 2016 and surrendered himself to Pakistan Army.

As a gesture of goodwill and in continuation of efforts to maintain peace and tranquility along LOC and Working Boundry, Sepoy Chohan has been convinced to return to his own country.

Congressman Mike Pompeo who is Donald Trump’s pick to run the CIA, has listed out Russia, Syria, Iran and the Islamic State terror group as major threats to the United States.

Describing Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terror”, he alleged that Tehran has become an emboldened, disruptive player in the Middle East, fuelling tension “with our Sunni allies”. On the Iranian nuclear deal, Pompeo said the US must be rigorously fair and objective in assessing the Joint comprehensive Plan of Action. “As the President-elect has made clear, one of my top priorities, if confirmed, is to assist in defeating ISIS,” Pompeo told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing.

“Radical Islamic terrorism is both a symptom and a catalyst of the terrible conflicts raging in the Middle East that have created both a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe,” he added.

Pompeo said it is a policy decision as to what to do with Russia, adding “It will be essential that the Agency provide policymakers with accurate intelligence and clear-eyed analysis of Russian activities”.

“Russia has reasserted itself aggressively, invading and occupying Ukraine, threatening Europe, and doing nearly nothing to aid in the destruction of ISIS,” he said.

Testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Pompeo said this is the most complicated threat environment the US has faced in recent time.

The Congressman described Syria “as a failed state” that has become one of the “worst humanitarian catastrophes of the 21st century”.

“This conflict has led to the rise of extremism, sectarianism, instability in the region and Europe, and the worst refugee crisis the world has faced in recent memory,” he said.

“ISIS remains a resilient movement, has metastasised, and shockingly has controlled major urban centres in the Middle East for well over two years,” he said.

“Whereas a few years ago, we focused on stemming the flow of foreign fighters going to Syria and Iraq, today, the concern is making sure they, and those they inspire, are prevented from expanding their reach, returning home, or slaughtering more innocent people,” he added.

Attacking China for its activities in the South and East China Seas and in cyberspace, he said it is pushing new boundaries and creating tension.

He also targeted North Korea for dangerously accelerating its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, with little regard for international pressure.

Pompeo said while the NSA and Cyber Command play leading roles, cyber activities have become critical to virtually every intelligence operation, adding that the CIA must continue to operate at the forefront on this issue.

In his first media conference as President-elect, Donald Trump, without naming any country in particular, laid bare his views on the US pharmaceutical sector, as well as on the loss of American jobs in manufacturing, both of which are issues with potential to hit Indian business interests.
 
Nine days before he is to be sworn as the 45th US President, Trump spoke of his plans to stem the flow of manufacturing from America and took aim at the pharmaceutical sector.
 
"We've got to get our drug industry back," he said.
 
"Our drug industry has been disastrous. They're leaving left and right. They supply our drugs, but they don't make them here, to a large extent," he said at the chaotic news conference on Wednesday in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, attended by some 250 journalists from the world over.
 
The US is the largest market for Indian drug makers. In 2015, India exported $6 billion worth of drugs to the US and could feel the impact of the Trump announcement to change drug pricing policy.
 
Trump's strong remarks on "overcharging" by pharma companies indicates a future tougher operating environment for foreign companies, including Indian, in the US.
 
However, India could also gain from his plans to cut the cost of pharmaceuticals because of its leadership in generics.
 
Declaring pharma companies as "getting away with murder" in overcharging and sending capacity abroad, Trump said: "We are the largest buyer of drugs in the world, and yet, we don't bid properly."
 
He promised to start such "bidding" and save billions of dollars for the US over a period of time.
 
Just hours after the press conference, Indian pharma companies were trading in red. The S&P BSE healthcare index receded by 110.99 points.
 
Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical, Dr. Reddy's, Lupin, Cipla, Cadila and Glenmark were down on the BSE. The scrip price of Cadila went down by 1.89 per cent to close at Rs 350.45 per share.
 
Lupin was down 2.03 per cent at Rs 1,489.45 and Dr. Reddy's 1.19 per cent at Rs 3,011.20. Sun closed at Rs 643.90 down 0.59 per cent. Wockhardt lost 11.30 points and closed at Rs 687.45, down 1.62 per cent.
 
Glenmark closed at Rs 889.95 per share, down 1.57 per cent. IPCA Labs closed at Rs 548.85, losing down 7.50 points. NATCO at the closing traded at Rs 640.40 down 0.09 per cent.
 
He also threatened to impose a "border tax" on companies that move manufacturing outside.
 
Trump spoke about Fiat Chrysler and Ford setting up factories in the US Midwest where the core of his supporters scarred by de-industrialisation live, with more such plants to be announced in the coming weeks. They were all because of his efforts, he declared.
 
A mega Indo-US defence venture could take a potential hit following Trump's announcement.
 
According to US media reports, both Lockheed-Martin and Boeing have been in talks with the Indian government to set up production facilities in India for building latest design fighter jets.
 
Lockheed-Martin is reportedly planning to move the entire F-16 assembly line to India, making it the sole producer of the iconic fighter airplane. The Lockheed production agreement alone is estimated to create 1,000 jobs in India.

The Pakistan Armed Forces conducted on Monday the first successful launch of the Babur-3 cruise missile from a submarine in the Indian Ocean, the press service of Pakistan's Armed Forces said in a statement.

It was added in the statement that Babur-3 was able to deliver a wide range of payloads and would provide Islamabad with the capability to respond to a potential nuclear attack against Pakistan.

"Pakistan conducted its first successful test fire of Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) Babur-3 having a range of 450 kilometers (some 280 miles), from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean. The missile was fired from an underwater, mobile platform and hit its target with precise accuracy," the statement said.

According to the statement, the missile can evade radars and air defense systems and is equipped with several stealth technologies.

The truck smashed into the Armon Hanatziv promenade in the Israeli capital, Jerusalem, this morning.

ZAKA, a voluntary emergency response team, said sources on the ground had confirmed four people's deaths.

It added that there were 15 victims, several of them in serious condition, and that the perpetrator had been killed.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, said the driver - a Palestinian - was likely an ISIS supporter.

Various sources are also reporting that the suspect's father and brother were arrested in the aftermath of the attack.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz said there were people stuck underneath the truck, and that three women and a man were dead.

The Times of Israel said one seriously-injured female victim was sent unconscious, in an unstable condition, to Shaare Zedek hospital.

Of the others sent to Shaare Zedek, four were lightly injured and one was in a moderate condition, MDA said.

Seven more victims were sent to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem - three in a moderate condition and four were lightly wounded.

The Times of Israel said the police are treating the incident as a potential terror attack, though the cops claim an investigation is ongoing.

Initially a second terror attack was feared in the southern neighbourhood of Har Homa, but the claim was ruled out by the authorities.

Israel’s renowned spy agency, the Mossad, has started its first recruitment campaign specifically designed to attract women.

An advertisement, published Tuesday in the Israeli press, shows a portrait of a young women with white lettering stating ''wanted - powerful women.''

“We don’t care what you did; we care about who you are!" the ad reads.

The agency is looking for women to join their mostly male group of case officers, who are in charge of recruiting, training and handling agents. Inside the agency, 40 percent of employees are women with 24 percent holding high-ranking positions.

The ad refers the potential candidates to their website.

Pakistan former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif has been appointed as head of a 39-nation Islamic military coalition formed to combat terrorism, confirmed Pakistan Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday.

Khawaja Asif made the revelation during a TV talk show.

He said that a formal agreement in this regard was finalised a few days back, but he refused to divulge on details.

The federal minister further said that the government was also taken into confidence prior to the appointment as per the rules.

The defence minister said that any such assignment or posting requires proper clearance from the government and General Headquarters (GHQ) both and confirmed that the due process was followed before finalising the agreement. He was, however, unaware of the exact details.

“As you are aware that this thing was in the pipeline for quite some time and the prime minister was also part of the deliberations,” Asif said.

He was of the opinion that formation of such an alliance is a good step, as the “Muslim Ummah is in a spot of bother right now and needs unity among its ranks”.

The headquarters of the new Saudi-led coalition would be based in Riyadh.

After initial reluctance, Pakistani government confirmed its participation in the newly formed military alliance of Muslim countries.

The scope of Pakistan’s role in the alliance would be defined after Riyadh shared the details of the coalition, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi had told media persons.

Iran, Saudi Arabia’s archrival, is absent from the states named as participants.