US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid a discreet visit to the new US embassy in London on Monday, after President Donald Trump cancelled plans to open it himself following a series of rows. Tillerson bucked tradition by not holding a formal meet-and-greet at the new embassy, which the State Department said was due to the current shutdown of the US government over a budget impasse in Congress. The president said he was unhappy at the cost and location of the new embassy, a futuristic cuboid building surrounded by a moat. “The purpose of the trip is to underscore our commitment to the transatlantic alliance,” a State Department spokesman said. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also said he “would not be welcome” in the city, suggesting there could be widespread protests.

Source: Hindustan Times January 22, 2018 19:41 UTC