Public tours of the White House will begin again from March 7

As per tradition, the White House tours had been temporarily suspended because there was a new president - and this is not new. However, the length of the suspension had become a matter of worry and First lady Melania Trump has now announced that the popular tours will begin again from March 7.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 15 February 2017.

While releasing the information, First lady Melania Trump has said that hundreds of thousands of visitors come each year because the White House is a remarkable and historic site. It is beautiful and has a history and is the nation's most recognizable landmark.
Tours of public areas of the White House are self-guided and necessary requests for a ticket must be submitted through a member of Congress. The tour route covers the Blue, Red and Green Rooms, the State Dining Room and the East Room. THe timing of the tours are from 7.30am. to 11.30am Tuesday through Thursday, 7.30am to 1.30pm Fridays and Saturdays, excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

New luxury cruise liner Seabourn Encore is labeled as 'sexiest ship at sea'

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Theresa May to gift Donald Trump a quaich when she meets him in the Oval Office

British Prime Minister Theresa May is going to the White House with gifts for her hosts. The gifts include a hamper full of produce from Chequers, the PM's country retreat in Buckinghamshire for First Lady Melania Trump.
Theresa May will also carry an engraved 'quaich' which is a traditional two-handled Scottish drinking cup or bowl for Donald Trump, the President, when she meets him in the Oval Office as announced by 10 Downing Street.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 26 January 2017.

The 'quaich' should be a delight for the President, whose mother was from Scotland and who is proud of his tartan roots. But, the 45th President of the US doesn't drink alcohol. He never has. Of course, he is not the first teetotal US president. George W Bush gave up alcohol having been a heavy drinker in his youth.
The reason for Donald Trump to become a teetotaler is because his brother Fred had died at 42 from alcoholism. Brief information on the gifts have been furnished by Downing Street - the hamper for Melania would contain "a range of produce including Chequers apple juice, damson jam and marmalade, as well as Bakewell tarts and cranberry and white chocolate shorties".
Incidentally, the Quaich is described as an ancient Scottish artefact and its form has not changed for centuries. The term "Quaich" originated in the mid-16th century from the Scottish Gaelic word "cuach" which means cup.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Shah Rukh Khan's movie Raees to release in Dubai on January 25

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ISIS destroys portions of Roman amphitheatre in the ancient city of Palmyra

Kim Jong-Un plans to send a message to Donald Trump by launching a missile

Bomb blast in a vegetable market in Parachinar kills at least 20

Russia grants two year extension of visa to ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden

Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden is once again in the news - he has been granted permission to remain in Russia for another couple of years. He has been living in exile in Russia since 2013, where he ended up after spending weeks in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
He was initially granted permission to stay in Russia for one year amid the rapid deterioration in Moscow's relations with Washington. With the extension granted now, Snowden can apply for a Russian passport next year. As indicated by his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, the resident permit of Snowden is now valid until 2020.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 18 January 2017.

It may be recalled that Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, had released details of the extent of the US spying operation, including details of operations against friendly governments. Then, fearing reprisal, he left the US and sought asylum in Russia in 2013 which he got.
He had not applied for a pardon from President Barack Obama, who has taken a decision to commute the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning - he was jailed for 35 years for leaking classified material to Wikileaks. Manning was in prison and had expressed remorse. Hence, his pardon.
But, Snowden did not apply for clemency himself. In the opinion of his supporters, he should be treated as a whistleblower and not as a criminal. The White House, however, feels that his case was totally different as compared to Manning's because Snowden has not apologized for his crimes while Manning did.


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CISF prevents students of Manipur from entering the Taj Mahal

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President-elect Donald Trump and Mitt Romney meet for dinner

President-elect Donald Trump met with Mitt Romney and Reince Priebus for dinner in New York City. Mitt Romney was a strong critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 Presidential campaign and is now set to become the next Secretary of State.
Reince Priebus is tipped to become the incoming commander-in-chief.
The three of them enjoyed a lavish meal at Jean-Georges, a French eatery near Central Park. It started with young garlic soup with thyme and sautéed frog legs.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 30 November 2016.

This was the second meeting between Romney and Trump since the election. Even though the former Massachusetts governor was one of Trump’s biggest critics in the GOP, Trump had been considering Romney for the prominent spot in his cabinet.
After the meal, Romney indicated that he had an 'interesting and engaging' conversation with Trump and praised the president-elect for his transition into the White House. They had discussed 'affairs around the world' and that he was impressed with Trump's speech on the night he won the election.
Obviously, there is no friend or foe in politics.


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President-elect Donald Trump may not move into the White House

It is rumored that President-elect Donald Trump plans to spend as little time in the White House as possible. He prefers to commute from his $100 million New York penthouse by helicopter - the question is 'who will pay for the 90-minute commute to the capital.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 14 November 2016.

It may be recalled that during the campaign trail, he would often fly back late at night to his gold-bedecked luxury home in Trump Tower so that he could wake up in his own bed. It seems he is already checking out with advisers about how many days of the week he is required to spend in the White House because he would like to spend time in New York whenever he can.
It is natural that the president-elect is reluctant to leave his 30,000 sq ft Manhattan apartment. It is spread over three floors and boasts of breathtaking views of Central Park. The luxurious penthouse has been inspired by the Palace of Versailles and has floor to ceiling marble and walls garnished in 24-carat gold.
In addition, the over-the-top decor begins with the gold and diamond front door that greets visitors and continues throughout, with ceilings painted with scenes from classical Greek myths. Moreover, golden cherubs, crown molding, lamps and ornate vases help to complete the posh modern-day palace.


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Viewership of first US presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump could cross 100 million

At long last the time has come when the two White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump would come face to face for the first debate. The 90-minute event is expected to be one of the most watched events in television history. In the opinion of experts, the audience could exceed 100 million persons.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 24 September 2016.

Analysts feel the viewership could beat the record set in 1980, when 80 million Americans watched Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's only presidential debate. The audience for Clinton-Trump debate could even come close to the 115 million Americans who had watched the 2015 Super Bowl, the most-watched sporting event in US history.
A strong showing from Republican candidate Trump in Round 1 of the three-debate showdown with Clinton could give rise to a lot of uncertainty. In case, any post-debate analysis indicates that Trump could be the the winner, it could force a rethinking that Clinton was the odds-on favorite to win the November 8 election.
Incidentally, the Commission on Presidential Debates has said that moderator Lester Holt will follow a format that calls for six 15-minute time segments in which each topic will get two segments. Such lengthy 90-minute debates can be a physically exhausting exercise and, while Donald Trump has never participated in such a lengthy debate against just one other candidate, Hillary Clinton was recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Hillary Clinton has pneumonia - she fell ill at September 11 memorial

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic candidate for the race to the White House but she is suffering from pneumonia and had to cancel her proposed trip to California. Her personal doctor has clarified that she fell ill at a September 11 memorial and, this episode with renewed focus on her health comes less than two months before the election.
Hilary Clinton (68) canceled a trip she was scheduled to take to California for fundraising and other campaign events and further details of her itinerary have not been disclosed.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 12 September 2016.

It seems she suddenly fell ill during the memorial service on the occasion of 15 years of 9/11. She appeared to sway and her knees buckled before she was assisted into a motorcade and she left the memorial early. Once back home, she underwent a medical examination. Her doctor said in a statement that she has been experiencing a cough related to allergies and that an examination on Friday showed it was pneumonia.
She was, therefore, put on antibiotics and advised to rest and modify her schedule.
Incidentally, Clinton's pneumonia diagnosis is at a crucial time in the White House race against Republican rival Donald Trump because the first of three presidential debates is on September 26 and the election is on November 8.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Donald Trump lashes out at Hillary Clinton - feels she is unfit to lead the country

The race to the White House is hotting up and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump came down heavily on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton - he said that she is unfit to lead the country. He was reacting to Hillary Clinton's fiery speech at the Democratic Convention and said - “Our way of life is under threat by Radical Islam and Hillary Clinton cannot even bring herself to say the words.”
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 29 July 2016.

Trump came down heavily on Clinton and tweeted: “Hillary's refusal to mention Radical Islam, as she pushes a 550% increase in refugees, is more proof that she is unfit to lead the country.” He went on to say that on the economic front, “She will never reform Wall Street. She is owned by Wall Street.”
Other strong words and statements used by Trump are - “Hillary's vision is a border less world where working people have no power, no jobs, no safety” ...... “Hillary's wars in the Middle East have unleashed destruction, terrorism and ISIS across the world.”
Continuing in the same vein, he lashed out at the Democratic presidential nominee saying - "wherever Hillary goes corruption and devastation follows her. ... “No one has worse judgement than Hillary Clinton.”
Both the contenders have bared their fangs and one will have to wait and watch developments.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Donald Trump wins 1238 delegates to get the Republican nomination

Donald Trump has won 1238 delegates and the number to win the Republican nomination for US president is 1237 - hence, he is confident of becoming the official nominee of the Republicans. With another 303 delegates at stake in five state primaries on June 7, he will easily avoid a contested convention in Cleveland in July.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 27 May 2016.

However, whether he finally enters the White House or not is a matter of debate because many foreign leaders are apparently worried about the future of the United States with the reins in his hands. President Barack Obama, while speaking on the sidelines of the Group of Seven advanced economies summit in Japan has commented that Donald Trump was ignorant of world affairs.
In the words of President Obama, many foreign leaders at the conference were "surprised by the Republican nominee" and were not too sure of how seriously to take his pronouncements. This is attributed to several of his proposals tend to display either ignorance of world affairs, or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines. He has suggested that what is required is to keep the US safe and prosperous and, also, the world on an even keel.


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It will be a race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the White House

It is now more or less certain that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for the race to the White House - he will be pitched against Hillary Clinton, the Democrat nominee. While Trump is a novice in politics, Clinton is a seasoned politician and it remains to be seen whether she can become the first woman President of the USA.
This has been reported in news18.com dated 5 May 2016.

Donald Trump, the 69-year-old New York billionaire became the automatic choice in the race for the Republican US presidential nomination when his sole remaining rival. He has plans to set up a vice presidential selection committee and work towards seeking unity among a wider group of Republicans ahead of the November 8 election.
Ever since he launched his White House bid last summer as a long shot in a crowded field of governors, former governors and US senators, Donald Trump repeatedly defied predictions that his campaign would implode. In fact, his party loyalists have been appalled by his bombastic, bullying style. He was a former reality-television star, and his denigrating comments about women and proposals to build a wall on the border with Mexico and also deport 11 million illegal immigrants have been widely criticized.


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Donald Trump says he alone can put an end to Islamist terrorism

Donald Trump is the Republican hopeful who is in the race to the White House but he keeps on making statements that one would not expect from one who aspires to be the President of the United States. In one of his latest such utterances is his claim that he alone can solve the worldwide problem of IsIamist extremism. He made this remark after the Easter Sunday suicide bombing in Pakistan.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 29 March 2016.

On the subject of the Brussels airport attack, he has claimed that he "knew more about Brussels than Brussels knew" and went on to add that he had predicted last week's terror attack in the Belgian capital.
Incidentally, Donald Trump is the Republican presidential front-runner and another of his latest comments on foreign policy is when he labeled President Barack Obama as "insane" for his desire to welcome Syrian refugees. In the opinion of Donald Trump, such an action by Barack Obama would mean the "downfall" of the United States.
John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, has revealed that world leaders he talked to had been "shocked" by the comments coming out in the Republican presidential race. In the course of his campaign, Donald Trump had made a series of foreign policy statements that targeted immigrants and Muslims. In fact, he has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US, would bar new Syrian refugees, and "send back" those who have already arrived. As John Kerry has said - what is happening is an embarrassment to the country.


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US President Election - Bernie Sanders giving Hillary Clinton a run for her money

#HillaryClinton #BernieSanders #WhiteHouse #IowaCaucus Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are both Democrat hopefuls for the race to the White House but, Hillary Clinton is locked in a dead heat with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the Iowa presidential nominating contest. While Hillary Clinton is a former Secretary of State and First Lady her lead is wafer-thin - it is 49.9% over 49.5% for her opponent Bernie Sanders who is a US Senator from Vermont - this result is based on 99% of precincts reporting.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 2 February 2016.

Of course, her campaign has issued a statement saying that she had won the Democratic Iowa caucus. But, the outcome in three precincts in the state - Davenport, Des Moines and Ames - was decided by a coin flip.
On the present situation, Mr Sanders feels that it would be a tight contest had it has given his campaign a "kick-start" - it showed that "this is a campaign that can win".
There is a third Democrat candidate in the fray - he is Martin O'Malley and he has suspended his campaign after trailing badly - he could manage to get just 0.6% of Iowa's votes.
The Hillary for America campaign was depending on its vaunted get-out-the-vote operation to deliver a clear victory and avoid a stinging rerun of her 2008 defeat to now-President Barack Obama. For Hillary Clinton, she has been dogged by an inquiry into her emails while she was the top US diplomat - she put up a brave face after the inconclusive result.
As for Bernie Sanders who is a self-described democratic socialist, he summed up the situation as 'what Iowa has begun tonight is a political revolution.' He talked about creating an economy that works for working families, not just the billionaire class.
Hillary Clinton is the party establishment favorite but Bernie Sanders has electrified youthful crowds with his impassioned rallying cry to reform an economy he says is rigged in favor of the super-rich.


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Will Hillary Clinton become the first woman President of the USA

#hillaryclinton #donaldtrump #WhiteHouse #BernieSanders The battle for White House is hotting up and Hillary Clinton is believed to be the favorite of the Democratic party. She was ahead till recently but, the popularity of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders is on the rise and he has surged ahead of Hillary Clinton.
THis has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 22 January 2016.

Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, former New York senator and former secretary of state enjoys a worldwide following and had started as a Democratic favorite when she had announced her candidature last spring. She was holding a substantially commanding lead over her nearest Democratic rival Sanders in Iowa until December. At that time, as per the CNN/ORC poll, she led Sanders by 18 points.
However, as per the latest opinion poll carried out and released by the same agency, Sanders is now leading Clinton by eight points. This is her second presidential bid and, a defeat in Iowa could become a major setback for her campaign because this traditionally sets the pace and tone of the rest of the presidential season.
Of course, she can always bounce back by winning in other States. Nationally, she still has a 13-point lead over Sanders, the Senator from Vermont.
The Iowa Caucus is on February 1 and that would formally kick off the 2016 presidential elections. It will be followed by New Hampshire primary a week later and, candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties have virtually stormed the two crucial states. They have fanned out to small villages and cities in their last-minute efforts to convince voters and garner support from them.

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Retirement blues for Barack Obama

US President Barack Obama is a worried man - he would be completing his second term as President of the US but since there is no scope for a third term, he would have to leave the White House and become an ordinary American. Therefore, it is a question on everyone's lips on what he will do one year hence when he will have to vacate 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 21 January 2016.

Former presidents did not remain in Washington after living and working in the US capital's oldest public building. Jimmy Carter had gone to home to Georgia, and Ronald Reagan went back to California while Bill Clinton built a new life in New York. Once there, he created his foundation. His wife Hillary, the Democratic front-runner vying to succeed Obama, launched her political career as a senator.
There is no news on where the Obama family would go to on January 20, 2017, when the next president gets sworn in on Capitol Hill.
Would it be Chicago? Barack Obama had launched his political career there as a community organizer and celebrated his landmark 2008 election win. His presidential library and foundation will also be based in the Windy City. In fact, he had said last year that that he really became a man when he moved to Chicago. That is where he met Michelle, his wife, and Chicago was where his children were born.
But - the fact remains that there is no clear sign that Chicago would be their next destination.

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Pope Francis in the White House - talks on climate change and religious liberty

#popefrancis #WhiteHouse #barackobama #ClimateChange While speaking from the White House lawn with President Obama beside him and in front of thousands, Pope Francis dwelt on the controversial topics of climate change and religious freedom.
In his first message to the United States, he said that being the son of an immigrant family he was looking forward "to these days of encounter and dialogue" and he hoped to listen to, and share, many of the hopes and dreams of the American people.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 23 September 2015.

Pope Francis was all praises for President Obama for his work in combating climate change and trying to reduce air pollution. He went on to add that climate change is a problem which cannot be passed on to future generations.
As per officials, there was 11,000 ticketed guests present on the occasion excluding the press, staff, military or volunteers.
Pope Francis had arrived in Washington, the first stop on his six-day, three-city tour of the U.S. and was greeted at Andrews Air Force Base by Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, their wives, and Obama's daughters. He was then driven to the diplomatic mission where he will spend his time in the nation's capital.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Mt McKinley, highest peak in America, to be renamed Mt Denali

#mtmckinley #denali #WhiteHouse #barackobama Mt McKinley is the highest mountain in America ad US President Barack Obama would be naming it to Mt Denali – this is an Athabascan name that has been in use by generations of Alaska Natives that means "the great one".
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 1 September 2015.

The White House has indicated that this renaming of the continent's tallest peak is basically to improve relations with Native Americans. Denali carries cultural importance to many Alaska Natives. In the opinion of Julie Kitka, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, the announcement of the new policy would have a concrete as well as psychological effect on Alaska Natives. Henceforth, all the maps and all the descriptions will have the traditional name.
The mountain is named after William McKinley, an Ohio politician who was elected in 1896 and assassinated just six months into his second term – he had never set foot in Alaska.
As far as history goes, in 1896, a gold prospector who was exploring the mountains of central Alaska had received news that McKinley had been nominated as a candidate for president. Therefore, in a show of support, the prospector declared the tallest peak of the Alaska Range as 'Mt McKinley' - and the name had stuck. This has been revealed by the White House.
The purpose of the renaming is to reflect the desire of most Alaskans - have an authentically Alaskan name for an iconic Alaskan feature.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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#4thofjuly #putin #Obama #WhiteHouse #Ukraine Only the other day the two Presidents had talked over the phone – President Putin had rung u student Obama in the White House and had a one-to-one talk on various issues. Since the relation between the two super powers was not so cordial, observers had seen signs of a thaw in the relationship.
Therefore, the latest contact between Putin and Obama on the occasion of 4th of July can be said to be quite significant.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 5 July 2015.

The Russian President has sent a congratulatory Fourth of July message to President Obama and expressed confidence that their respective countries can work together on global issues including terror threats, according to news agencies.
It may be noted that the two countries are not just world powers but frequent rivals as well and have been at particular odds since the uprising in Ukraine that resulted in Russia last year annexing the country’s eastern Crimea region. Moreover, Russia is continuing to provide military support to government-opposition forces.
The conversation of June 25 had laid focus on the Ukraine situation and included discussions about the Iran nuclear negotiations, the need to stop the Islamic State terror group and developments in the Middle East that included the “increasingly dangerous situation in Syria.”
(Image courtesy wikmediacommons.org)

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Man flying drone in Lafayette Park near White House – man arrested, drone seized

It was a man and a machine that sent the Secret Service staff climbing up a wall because the man was flying a drone at an altitude of around 100-ft in Lafayette Park in the vicinity of the White House, say US officials. This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 15 May 2015.
The Secret Service first asked the individual to land the small, remote-controlled aircraft. Then the park was evacuated and the White House was placed on temporary lockdown as the Secret Service investigated.
The man was handed over to the US Park Police.

The drone is a Parrot BeBop drone, which is equipped with a camera and costs up to $900. Washington DC's Metropolitan Police Department have checked the drone and declared it safe.
At the time of the incident, President Barack Obama was meeting Gulf leaders at his rural Camp David retreat in Maryland. Because of security concerns, the airspace around the capital is more restricted than any other part of the country and it is illegal to fly drones in the area without specific approval. The no-drone policy applies to a 15-mile radius of Ronald Reagan National Airport.
(Image curtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen, President Hadi of Yemen flees the country

#saudiarabia #whitehouse #yemen #iran #aden #airstrikes Reports have emerged about airstrikes launched by Saudi Arabia on Yemen targeting military installations that are under control of Shiite rebels who have swept into the country's south and have driven President Hadi to flee by sea and seek refuge in neighboring state of Oman.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 26 March 2015.

At least 17 civilians have died in the military offensive. As intimated by Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya News, the kingdom has deployed 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and other navy units to participate in the attack.
Saudi Arabia explained the reasons for leading a military offensive in Yemen because the Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, had moved on to Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's last refuge in the southern city of Aden, captured the city's airport and put a $100,000 bounty on the head of the President.
President Hadi is believed to be a close U.S. ally, and the imminent fall of the southern port of Aden pushed Yemen further toward a violent collapse.
The White House has clarified that the U.S. was coordinating military and intelligence support with the Saudis but not taking part directly in the strikes. Iran, on its part, has demanded an immediate halt to the air strikes and cautioned that it might further complicate the crisis in the country.

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Soon there could be a second White House, a fake one to train the Secret Service

#whitehouse #presidentobama #ussecretservice #josephclancy In view of a number of security lapses in the White House, Joseph Clancy, the director of US Secret Service feels another White House, a fake one, is needed to train the Secret Service staff. At preset they train in a car park that does not replicate the environments of the White House.
Joseph Clancy, therefore, wants a sanction of $8m to build a replica White House to train agents. It would be located in Beltsville, Maryland, 20-miles from the president's real home in Washington.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 18 March 2015.
The director has explained that they train in a car park that does not have the bushes and fountains that the White House grounds do, hence the need to have a replica mansion which would provide agents and officers a training experience that would be more realistic.
His request is against the backdrop of several embarrassing security lapses including one in which a knife-wielding man managed to sprint across the White House lawn and make his way into the mansion before he was restrained.
Incidentally, he is a 30-year veteran and was appointed by President Obama to take over the troubled agency on a permanent basis when the earlier incumbent was forced to resign.

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