US&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-row-us-senate-in-stalemate-over-how-to-proceed-272003">Joe&nbsp;Biden</a> on Sunday won the support of&nbsp;three&nbsp;politicians who helped&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;seize control of the House of Representatives in 2018, endorsements that could help bolster arguments he is best positioned to fend off Republicans this year.

The&nbsp;backing by Democratic US&nbsp;Representatives Elaine Luria of Virginia and Chrissy Houlahan and Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania is evidence of support for&nbsp;Biden among&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;in "swing"&nbsp;districts that were held by Republicans before the 2018 vote.

If&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;push the wrong message or candidate during the&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;race, those&nbsp;districts could flip to Republicans.

All&nbsp;three&nbsp;of the lawmakers served in the US&nbsp;military and could help draw attention to&nbsp;Biden's&nbsp;foreign policy experience as a longtime senator and one-time vice president.

Foreign policy has been thrust into the 2020 race by Republican President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/should-iran-strike-us-will-quickly-strike-back-says-trump-272374">Donald Trump's</a> decision to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani with an airstrike on Friday that sharply escalated tensions between the two countries.

Biden, 77, tells voters his experience would be a key asset as president, while his competitors often say voters are looking for something new and focus on aspects of his record they see falling short.

"Joe&nbsp;Biden is 'battle-tested' on the world stage, in Congress, and in the White House," Luria said in a statement released by&nbsp;Biden's&nbsp;campaign. "He will defeat Donald Trump and win in tough&nbsp;districts like mine."

Biden is the front-runner in national public opinion polls among&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;seeking to face Trump in November's&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;election. Voters will also be casting ballots for members of the House, as well as many Senate seats.

Before facing voters in the general election,&nbsp;Biden first needs to win his party's nomination in primaries taking place state-by-state starting next month, and he faces a tough race.

Opinion polls from the very first states that will weigh in, Iowa and New Hampshire, suggest&nbsp;Biden might lose both contests to Senators <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/from-joe-biden-to-donald-trump-music-choices-help-rally-supporters-269653">Bernie Sanders</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democratic-candidate-warren-discloses-details-of-past-legal-work-showing-2-million-in-compensation-267187">Elizabeth Warren</a> or former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Biden has increasingly been arguing that he is best positioned to help vulnerable&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;win tough elections.

He was recently endorsed by another 2018&nbsp;swing-district&nbsp;House Democrat, Abby Finkenauer of Iowa.

US presidential candidate Joe Biden on Sunday won the support of three politicians who helped Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives in 2018, endorsements that could help bolster arguments he is best positioned to fend off Republicans this year.

US presidential candidate Joe Biden on Sunday won the support of three politicians who helped Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives in 2018, endorsements that could help bolster arguments he is best positioned to fend off Republicans this year. The backing by Democratic US Representatives Elaine Luria of Virginia and Chrissy Houlahan and Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania is evidence of support for Biden among Democrats in "swing" districts that were held by Republicans before the 2018 vote. If Democrats push the wrong message or candidate during the presidential race, those districts could flip to Republicans. All three of the lawmakers served in the US military and could help draw attention to Biden's foreign policy experience as a longtime senator and one-time vice president. Foreign policy has been thrust into the 2020 race by Republican President Donald Trump's decision to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani with an airstrike on Friday that sharply escalated tensions between the two countries. Biden, 77, tells voters his experience would be a key asset as president, while his competitors often say voters are looking for something new and focus on aspects of his record they see falling short. "Joe Biden is 'battle-tested' on the world stage, in Congress, and in the White House," Luria said in a statement released by Biden's campaign. "He will defeat Donald Trump and win in tough districts like mine." Biden is the front-runner in national public opinion polls among Democrats seeking to face Trump in November's presidential election. Voters will also be casting ballots for members of the House, as well as many Senate seats. Before facing voters in the general election, Biden first needs to win his party's nomination in primaries taking place state-by-state starting next month, and he faces a tough race. Opinion polls from the very first states that will weigh in, Iowa and New Hampshire, suggest Biden might lose both contests to Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren or former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Biden has increasingly been arguing that he is best positioned to help vulnerable Democrats win tough elections. He was recently endorsed by another 2018 swing-district House Democrat, Abby Finkenauer of Iowa.

Three swing-state Democrats back for Joe Biden's presidential bid

Demonstrators chanting "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-ditches-iran-extends-tacit-support-to-us-over-airstrikes-for-resumption-in-military-cooperation-272236">no war on Iran</a>" rallied Saturday in Washington, New York and across the US to protest the assassination of a top Iranian military commander in a US drone strike.

Outside the White House, around 200 people gathered as part of a wave of rallies called by left-leaning organizations. They chanted slogans including "No Justice, No Peace, the US out of the Middle East."&nbsp;

Organizers said demonstrations were convened in some 70 US cities to denounce the killing of Major General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-media-challenges-vice-president-mike-pences-claims-of-soleimani-assisting-911-terrorists-272199">Qasem Soleimani</a> early Friday in Baghdad on orders from President Donald Trump. The attack has prompted fears of a major conflagration in the Middle East.

"We will not allow our country to be led into another reckless war," one speaker outside the White House said.

The protesters later headed toward the Trump International Hotel, which is just down the street from the presidential mansion.

"Need a distraction? Start of a war" read a sign held by Sam Crook, 66.

Trump faces a looming trial in the Senate following his impeachment by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-gives-lawmakers-formal-notice-of-iraq-strike-amid-complaints-from-democrats-272196">House of Representatives</a> in the Ukraine scandal.

Crook described himself as concerned.

"This country is in the grip of somebody who's mentally unstable, I mean Donald Trump, that is. He's not right in the head," Crook told media.

"He's crazy and has a childish reaction to everything. And I'm afraid he's going to inadvertently, he doesn't really want to, I think, but I think he could easily start some sort of a real conflagration in the Middle East," Crook added.

Shirin, a 31-year-old Iranian-American who would not give her last name, said she was worried about the possibility of war with Iran, which has vowed revenge for the death of Soleimani.

"We already spent trillions of dollars fighting unjust wars in Iraq and, you know, the longest war today in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-military-strikes-in-iraq-stir-regional-hornets-nest-271866">Afghanistan</a>. And what do we have to show for it?" she said.

She argued that the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq caused instability throughout the region and strengthened Iran, "which is now, you know, a major political, social and cultural force in Iraq."

At Times Square in New York, demonstrators marched with signs crying out against the prospect of war with Iran and calling for the withdrawal of the 5,000-odd US troops in Iraq.

"War is not a re-election strategy," read one sign-in that procession.

Demonstrators also marched in cities including Chicago and Los Angeles.&nbsp;

Demonstrators chanting "no war on Iran" rallied Saturday in Washington, New York and across the US to protest the assassination of a top Iranian military commander in a US drone strike.

Demonstrators chanting "no war on Iran" rallied Saturday in Washington, New York and across the US to protest the assassination of a top Iranian military commander in a US drone strike. Outside the White House, around 200 people gathered as part of a wave of rallies called by left-leaning organizations. They chanted slogans including "No Justice, No Peace, the US out of the Middle East." Organizers said demonstrations were convened in some 70 US cities to denounce the killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani early Friday in Baghdad on orders from President Donald Trump. The attack has prompted fears of a major conflagration in the Middle East. "We will not allow our country to be led into another reckless war," one speaker outside the White House said. The protesters later headed toward the Trump International Hotel, which is just down the street from the presidential mansion. "Need a distraction? Start of a war" read a sign held by Sam Crook, 66. Trump faces a looming trial in the Senate following his impeachment by the House of Representatives in the Ukraine scandal. Crook described himself as concerned. "This country is in the grip of somebody who's mentally unstable, I mean Donald Trump, that is. He's not right in the head," Crook told media. "He's crazy and has a childish reaction to everything. And I'm afraid he's going to inadvertently, he doesn't really want to, I think, but I think he could easily start some sort of a real conflagration in the Middle East," Crook added. Shirin, a 31-year-old Iranian-American who would not give her last name, said she was worried about the possibility of war with Iran, which has vowed revenge for the death of Soleimani. "We already spent trillions of dollars fighting unjust wars in Iraq and, you know, the longest war today in Afghanistan. And what do we have to show for it?" she said. She argued that the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq caused instability throughout the region and strengthened Iran, "which is now, you know, a major political, social and cultural force in Iraq." At Times Square in New York, demonstrators marched with signs crying out against the prospect of war with Iran and calling for the withdrawal of the 5,000-odd US troops in Iraq. "War is not a re-election strategy," read one sign-in that procession. Demonstrators also marched in cities including Chicago and Los Angeles.

Protesters in US march against prospect of war with Iran

Ukraine on Thursday brushed off the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-impeachment-what-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-the-vote-268855">impeachment</a> of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trumps-attitude-towards-india-unpredictable-unreliable-238560">Donald Trump</a> and a US "internal issue", despite the process being triggered by a telephone conversation between the American leader and his Ukrainian counterpart.

Trump was impeached on Wednesday by the House of Representatives for abuse of power over the July conversation with President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volodymyr-zelensky-says-ukraine-getting-tired-of-trump-scandal-263215">Volodymyr Zelensky</a>.

"Ukraine does not interfere in the internal affairs of any state," Zelensky's spokeswoman Yuliya Mendel told AFP.

"The United States remains a strategic partner for us, and we are pleased to strengthen our relations by expanding cooperation in various fields," she said.

In the conversation, Trump pressured Zelensky to investigate his potential White House challenger in 2020, the veteran Democrat Joe Biden.

Despite being embroiled in the controversy, Ukraine is seeking to preserve the bipartisan support from the United States which is crucial in its protracted conflict with Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country.

Earlier this month, Zelensky denied a quid pro quo with Trump when the US president held back promised military aid for Ukraine allegedly until the Biden case was investigated.

Trump will now stand trial in the Senate, where his Republican Party holds a solid majority and is expected to exonerate him.

Ukraine on Thursday brushed off the impeachment of Donald Trump and a US "internal issue", despite the process being triggered by a telephone conversation between the American leader and his Ukrainian counterpart.

Ukraine on Thursday brushed off the impeachment of Donald Trump and a US "internal issue", despite the process being triggered by a telephone conversation between the American leader and his Ukrainian counterpart. Trump was impeached on Wednesday by the House of Representatives for abuse of power over the July conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Ukraine does not interfere in the internal affairs of any state," Zelensky's spokeswoman Yuliya Mendel told AFP. "The United States remains a strategic partner for us, and we are pleased to strengthen our relations by expanding cooperation in various fields," she said. In the conversation, Trump pressured Zelensky to investigate his potential White House challenger in 2020, the veteran Democrat Joe Biden. Despite being embroiled in the controversy, Ukraine is seeking to preserve the bipartisan support from the United States which is crucial in its protracted conflict with Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country. Earlier this month, Zelensky denied a quid pro quo with Trump when the US president held back promised military aid for Ukraine allegedly until the Biden case was investigated. Trump will now stand trial in the Senate, where his Republican Party holds a solid majority and is expected to exonerate him.

Ukraine says Trump impeachment 'internal US issue'

US President Donald Trump's attorney said on Sunday that the White House will not participate in congressional hearings set for Wednesday that will consider passing impeachment articles against the president.

US President Donald Trump's attorney said on Sunday that the White House will not participate in congressional hearings set for Wednesday that will consider passing impeachment articles against the president. "We cannot fairly be expected to participate in a hearing while the witnesses are yet to be named and while it remains unclear whether the Judiciary Committee will afford the President a fair process through additional hearings," White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in a letter to Jerry Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives. "Accordingly, under the current circumstances, we do not intend to participate in your Wednesday hearing," Cipollone wrote. Trump is facing allegations in the House of Representatives investigation that he illegally sought help from Ukraine to obtain dirt on his domestic political rivals, including possible 2020 challenger Joe Biden. The House Judiciary Committee will begin meeting on Wednesday to determine whether the evidence compiled in the investigative phase of the process meets the constitutional impeachment standard of "treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours." The committee is expected to consider at least four counts, or articles of impeachment, including abuse of power, bribery, contempt of Congress and obstruction of justice. Cipollone, however, did not rule out White House participation in all of the hearings, instead requesting further details from Nadler on how the inquiry will be conducted and saying he will give him an answer by next Friday.

White House says it will refuse to take part in impeachment hearing

US President Donald Trump faced two deadlines in Congress on Sunday as Democrats prepared to shift the focus of their impeachment inquiry from fact-finding to the consideration of possible charges of misconduct over his dealings with Ukraine.

The Democratic-led House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, tasked with considering charges known as articles of impeachment, has given the president until 6 pm EST (2300 GMT) on Sunday to say whether he or his legal counsel will participate in an impeachment hearing on Wednesday.

The hearing, the first in a series of proceedings expected before the committee, will hear testimony on the impeachment process established under the US Constitution from a panel of legal experts that has yet to be named.

Hearings before the committee, which has responsibility for crafting any formal charges against Trump, are a major step toward possible charges. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will make the final decision, has not said yet whether the Republican president should be formally impeached. But in a letter to supporters last week, she called for him to be held accountable for his actions.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and called the impeachment inquiry a witch hunt aimed at unseating a democratically elected president. The White House has not yet indicated whether it will take part in the House Judiciary proceedings.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler has also set a 5 pm EST (2200 GMT) deadline on Friday for Trump to say whether he intends to mount a defence at further proceedings expected next week that would examine the evidence against him.

Three investigating panels, led by the House Intelligence Committee, are due to release a formal evidence report this week after lawmakers return to Congress on Tuesday from their Thanksgiving recess. The report will outline evidence gathered by lawmakers on the panel, along with those on the House Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees.

Congressional investigators have been looking into whether Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to launch investigations of former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, who is running to unseat him in the 2020 presidential election, and a discredited conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US presidential election.

The president and his Republican allies in Congress say the inquiry has been unfair because it did not allow the White House to have legal counsel present or call witnesses during weeks of closed-door testimony and open hearings before the House Intelligence Committee.

However, Republican lawmakers were able to question witnesses during the closed-door hearings and called three witnesses during the public hearings that wrapped up last week.

"The president may well look at this, or his counsel may well look at this, and say: Why would we want to get in here and legitimize this process when it was made illegitimate at the beginning by shutting us out?" said Republican Representative Tom Cole.

The House Judiciary Committee could vote on whether to recommend articles of impeachment within the next two weeks, setting the stage of a possible impeachment vote by the full House before Christmas, according to Democratic aides.

If the House impeaches Trump, the Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial to determine whether he should be convicted and removed from office.

US President Donald Trump faced two deadlines in Congress on Sunday as Democrats prepared to shift the focus of their impeachment inquiry from fact-finding to the consideration of possible charges of misconduct over his dealings with Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump faced two deadlines in Congress on Sunday as Democrats prepared to shift the focus of their impeachment inquiry from fact-finding to the consideration of possible charges of misconduct over his dealings with Ukraine. The Democratic-led House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, tasked with considering charges known as articles of impeachment, has given the president until 6 pm EST (2300 GMT) on Sunday to say whether he or his legal counsel will participate in an impeachment hearing on Wednesday. The hearing, the first in a series of proceedings expected before the committee, will hear testimony on the impeachment process established under the US Constitution from a panel of legal experts that has yet to be named. Hearings before the committee, which has responsibility for crafting any formal charges against Trump, are a major step toward possible charges. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will make the final decision, has not said yet whether the Republican president should be formally impeached. But in a letter to supporters last week, she called for him to be held accountable for his actions. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and called the impeachment inquiry a witch hunt aimed at unseating a democratically elected president. The White House has not yet indicated whether it will take part in the House Judiciary proceedings. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler has also set a 5 pm EST (2200 GMT) deadline on Friday for Trump to say whether he intends to mount a defence at further proceedings expected next week that would examine the evidence against him. Three investigating panels, led by the House Intelligence Committee, are due to release a formal evidence report this week after lawmakers return to Congress on Tuesday from their Thanksgiving recess. The report will outline evidence gathered by lawmakers on the panel, along with those on the House Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees. Congressional investigators have been looking into whether Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to launch investigations of former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, who is running to unseat him in the 2020 presidential election, and a discredited conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US presidential election. The president and his Republican allies in Congress say the inquiry has been unfair because it did not allow the White House to have legal counsel present or call witnesses during weeks of closed-door testimony and open hearings before the House Intelligence Committee. However, Republican lawmakers were able to question witnesses during the closed-door hearings and called three witnesses during the public hearings that wrapped up last week. "The president may well look at this, or his counsel may well look at this, and say: Why would we want to get in here and legitimize this process when it was made illegitimate at the beginning by shutting us out?" said Republican Representative Tom Cole. The House Judiciary Committee could vote on whether to recommend articles of impeachment within the next two weeks, setting the stage of a possible impeachment vote by the full House before Christmas, according to Democratic aides. If the House impeaches Trump, the Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial to determine whether he should be convicted and removed from office.

Trump faces two impeachment deadlines as inquiry shifts focus

Documents released by the US Department of Justice on Saturday indicated that a top advisor to then-candidate Donald Trump said as early as the summer of 2016 that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind a hack of Democratic party emails.

Trump and his surrogates have suggested that Kiev hacked Democratic National Committee servers and planted evidence to frame Russia, as a way of undermining the legitimacy of the US leader's election.&nbsp;

Trump has pressured Ukraine's president to investigate that debunked conspiracy theory as well as his election rival Joe Biden -- a move at the crux of an impeachment investigation against him in the House of Representatives.

The hundreds of pages of documents out Saturday were part of an initial tranche released to US media outlets Buzzfeed and CNN, which sued the government for access to notes from the investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Installments of the internal documents from the Mueller probe, which concluded in March, will be released every month for the next eight years, Buzzfeed said.

Campaign chairman Paul Manafort spread the theory among his aides that Ukraine -- not Russia -- had hacked the Democratic National Committee, deputy campaign manager Rick Gates told the FBI, according to a heavily redacted summary of an interview conducted by the agency.

In July 2016, WikiLeaks began publishing thousands of Democratic National Committee emails, embarrassing Trump's election rival Hillary Clinton. US intelligence later said that the emails were hacked by Russian spies and handed over to WikiLeaks.

The documents released Saturday also showed how Trump, his top aides and family members repeatedly discussed how to get the hacked Democratic emails that WikiLeaks had obtained.

Documents released by the US Department of Justice on Saturday indicated that a top advisor to then-candidate Donald Trump said as early as the summer of 2016 that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind a hack of Democratic party emails.

Documents released by the US Department of Justice on Saturday indicated that a top advisor to then-candidate Donald Trump said as early as the summer of 2016 that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind a hack of Democratic party emails. Trump and his surrogates have suggested that Kiev hacked Democratic National Committee servers and planted evidence to frame Russia, as a way of undermining the legitimacy of the US leader's election. Trump has pressured Ukraine's president to investigate that debunked conspiracy theory as well as his election rival Joe Biden -- a move at the crux of an impeachment investigation against him in the House of Representatives. The hundreds of pages of documents out Saturday were part of an initial tranche released to US media outlets Buzzfeed and CNN, which sued the government for access to notes from the investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Installments of the internal documents from the Mueller probe, which concluded in March, will be released every month for the next eight years, Buzzfeed said. Campaign chairman Paul Manafort spread the theory among his aides that Ukraine -- not Russia -- had hacked the Democratic National Committee, deputy campaign manager Rick Gates told the FBI, according to a heavily redacted summary of an interview conducted by the agency. In July 2016, WikiLeaks began publishing thousands of Democratic National Committee emails, embarrassing Trump's election rival Hillary Clinton. US intelligence later said that the emails were hacked by Russian spies and handed over to WikiLeaks. The documents released Saturday also showed how Trump, his top aides and family members repeatedly discussed how to get the hacked Democratic emails that WikiLeaks had obtained.

Trump aide said Ukraine behind Democratic party hack: Report

President Donald Trump said on Friday he believed an "angry majority" of American voters will support him against an impeachment inquiry as he sought to rally his supporters to voice their opposition to the Democratic attempt to oust him.

President Donald Trump said on Friday he believed an "angry majority" of American voters will support him against an impeachment inquiry as he sought to rally his supporters to voice their opposition to the Democratic attempt to oust him. At a packed arena in Tupelo, Mississippi, Trump aired his grievances at length a day after the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted formally to lay out the rules for the inquiry into Trump's attempt to get Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden. "The American people are fed up with Democrat lies, hoaxes and extremism," said Trump. The Democrats, he said, "have created an angry majority that will vote many do-nothing Democrats out of office in 2020." A Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Friday said Americans are sharply divided on impeachment, with 49 percent saying Trump should be impeached and removed from office, while 47 percent saying he should not. Trump also voiced confidence that he will be able to defeat any Democrat who he ends up opposing in the November 2020 election. "We're kicking their ass," he said. He ridiculed Beto O'Rourke hours after the former US representative abruptly dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination on Friday. "Beto, that poor bastard - poor, pathetic guy," said Trump. He repeatedly dismissed Biden as mentally deficient and said he is "dropping like a rock." Trump returned again and again to the Ukraine scandal swirling around him. He defended his July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that lies at the heart of the impeachment accusations against him. "Now I'm an honest person anyway, but do you think when I'm making a call to a newly elected president of a country that I would say something improper when I know so many people are listening on the line?" said Trump. Trump called on Republicans to rally around him. "Make no mistake, they are coming after the Republican Party and me because I’m fighting for you," he said. Trump was in Tupelo to campaign on behalf of the state's Republican candidate for governor, Tate Reeves, who is in a tight race against Democrat Jim Hood. Trump blasted Hood. "All I know is he fought very hard to elect 'crooked' Hillary Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama," said Trump, making sure to use the former president's middle name. "Not the kind of guy we need here - not here in Mississippi." The contest on Tuesday could be an indicator of the country's mood a year away from the election that will determine whether Trump gets a second term as US president.

Trump says 'angry majority' supports him against impeachment drive

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended as "strategically brilliant" his decision to pull <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-syria-envoy-calls-for-ceasefire-in-northeast-border-area-256288">US troops out of Syria</a> as the House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the move in a rare bipartisan rebuke.

A total of 129 members of Trump's Republican Party joined Democrats as the House denounced the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria in a 354-60 vote.

The joint resolution called on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/explained-turkeys-decision-to-opt-for-military-action-in-syria-256267">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a> to immediately halt military operations against Kurdish militants in Syria.

In a sign of Trump's deteriorating relationship with Congress, where the House is conducting an impeachment inquiry, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer walked out of what they said was an acrimonious White House meeting with Trump.

Schumer said Trump had called Pelosi a "third-rate politician" while the speaker said the president had experienced a "meltdown."

Trump then took to Twitter, accusing Pelosi of having her own "meltdown," while adding that the Democratic leader "needs help fast!"

"There is either something wrong with her 'upstairs,' or she just plain doesn't like our great Country," the president wrote.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Nancy Pelosi needs help fast! There is either something wrong with her “upstairs,” or she just plain doesn’t like our great Country. She had a total meltdown in the White House today. It was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1184620202480193537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Faced with mounting bipartisan criticism in Washington over the abrupt pullout of US forces from Syria, Trump denied he had given Erdogan a "green light" to launch operations against the Kurds.

"President Erdogan's decision didn't surprise me because he's wanted to do that for a long time," Trump told reporters earlier in the day at the White House. "He's been building up troops on the border with Syria for a long time."

The US president disparaged the Kurdish allies he abandoned in the face of the Turkish offensive, saying they were "not angels," as well as his Republican critics at home.

"I didn't give him a green light," Trump said of a telephone conversation he held with Erdogan prior to the Turkish incursion. "Just the opposite of a green light.

"I wrote a letter right after that conversation, a very powerful letter," he said.

In the letter dated October 9, Trump told Erdogan "you don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands" of people and urged him not to be a "tough guy" or a "fool."

"History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way," Trump wrote.

Trump emphasised to reporters that US troops were out of harm's way and that the fallout from the US withdrawal was for Syria, Turkey and Russia to work out among themselves.

"I view the situation on the Turkish border with Syria to be, for the United States, strategically brilliant," Trump said. "Our soldiers are out of there, our soldiers are totally safe. They've got to work it out.

"Turkey has gone into Syria. If Turkey goes into Syria, that's between Turkey and Syria -- it's not between Turkey and the United States, like a lot of stupid people would like you to believe," he said.

Trump spoke as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo head&nbsp;to Turkey to try to persuade Erdogan to halt the offensive.

PKK 'worse' than Islamic State

Trump expressed confidence that US nuclear weapons stored at Turkey's Incirlik airbase were secure, despite flaring tensions between Ankara and its NATO allies over the Syrian incursion.

And he minimised the escape of Islamic State fighters who had been held by the Kurds as an attempt to "make us look like, 'Oh, gee, we have to get right back in there.'"

Critics have warned their escape gives the jihadists an opportunity to regroup after having lost their caliphate in Syria to US forces and their Kurdish allies. The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a unanimous statement warning of the risk of a jihadist "dispersion" in the region.

As for the Kurds, Trump said they "know how to fight and as I said, they aren't angels. They are not angels if you take a look."

Trump said the Kurdish rebel PKK, who have waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara, were "probably" a bigger terror threat than the Islamic State group.

"The PKK, which is a part of the Kurds, as you know, is probably worse at terror and more of a terrorist threat in many ways than ISIS," he said.

Trump lashed out at critics of his withdrawal decision, particularly Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican who has been a staunch defender of the president.

"Lindsey Graham would like to stay in the Middle East for the next thousand years with thousands of soldiers fighting other people's wars," Trump said. "I want to get out of the Middle East."

"Let them fight their own wars," he said. "They've been fighting for a thousand years."

Graham shot right back, in comments to US reporters, that Trump was making "the biggest mistake of his presidency" in Syria.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended as "strategically brilliant" his decision to pull US troops out of Syria as the House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the move in a rare bipartisan rebuke.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended as "strategically brilliant" his decision to pull US troops out of Syria as the House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the move in a rare bipartisan rebuke. A total of 129 members of Trump's Republican Party joined Democrats as the House denounced the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria in a 354-60 vote. The joint resolution called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to immediately halt military operations against Kurdish militants in Syria. In a sign of Trump's deteriorating relationship with Congress, where the House is conducting an impeachment inquiry, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer walked out of what they said was an acrimonious White House meeting with Trump. Schumer said Trump had called Pelosi a "third-rate politician" while the speaker said the president had experienced a "meltdown." Trump then took to Twitter, accusing Pelosi of having her own "meltdown," while adding that the Democratic leader "needs help fast!" "There is either something wrong with her 'upstairs,' or she just plain doesn't like our great Country," the president wrote. Nancy Pelosi needs help fast! There is either something wrong with her “upstairs,” or she just plain doesn’t like our great Country. She had a total meltdown in the White House today. It was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2019 × Faced with mounting bipartisan criticism in Washington over the abrupt pullout of US forces from Syria, Trump denied he had given Erdogan a "green light" to launch operations against the Kurds. "President Erdogan's decision didn't surprise me because he's wanted to do that for a long time," Trump told reporters earlier in the day at the White House. "He's been building up troops on the border with Syria for a long time." The US president disparaged the Kurdish allies he abandoned in the face of the Turkish offensive, saying they were "not angels," as well as his Republican critics at home. "I didn't give him a green light," Trump said of a telephone conversation he held with Erdogan prior to the Turkish incursion. "Just the opposite of a green light. "I wrote a letter right after that conversation, a very powerful letter," he said. In the letter dated October 9, Trump told Erdogan "you don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands" of people and urged him not to be a "tough guy" or a "fool." "History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way," Trump wrote. Trump emphasised to reporters that US troops were out of harm's way and that the fallout from the US withdrawal was for Syria, Turkey and Russia to work out among themselves. "I view the situation on the Turkish border with Syria to be, for the United States, strategically brilliant," Trump said. "Our soldiers are out of there, our soldiers are totally safe. They've got to work it out. "Turkey has gone into Syria. If Turkey goes into Syria, that's between Turkey and Syria -- it's not between Turkey and the United States, like a lot of stupid people would like you to believe," he said. Trump spoke as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo head to Turkey to try to persuade Erdogan to halt the offensive. PKK 'worse' than Islamic State Trump expressed confidence that US nuclear weapons stored at Turkey's Incirlik airbase were secure, despite flaring tensions between Ankara and its NATO allies over the Syrian incursion. And he minimised the escape of Islamic State fighters who had been held by the Kurds as an attempt to "make us look like, 'Oh, gee, we have to get right back in there.'" Critics have warned their escape gives the jihadists an opportunity to regroup after having lost their caliphate in Syria to US forces and their Kurdish allies. The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a unanimous statement warning of the risk of a jihadist "dispersion" in the region. As for the Kurds, Trump said they "know how to fight and as I said, they aren't angels. They are not angels if you take a look." Trump said the Kurdish rebel PKK, who have waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara, were "probably" a bigger terror threat than the Islamic State group. "The PKK, which is a part of the Kurds, as you know, is probably worse at terror and more of a terrorist threat in many ways than ISIS," he said. Trump lashed out at critics of his withdrawal decision, particularly Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican who has been a staunch defender of the president. "Lindsey Graham would like to stay in the Middle East for the next thousand years with thousands of soldiers fighting other people's wars," Trump said. "I want to get out of the Middle East." "Let them fight their own wars," he said. "They've been fighting for a thousand years." Graham shot right back, in comments to US reporters, that Trump was making "the biggest mistake of his presidency" in Syria.

'Strategically brilliant': Trump defends Syria pullout, condemned by House in bipartisan vote

The Democratic-led United States&nbsp;House of Representatives' impeachment enquiry against President Donald Trump on Tuesday questioned George Kent, a US&nbsp;career diplomat who has spent much of his career fighting corruption in Ukraine and elsewhere.

The probe is focused on a July 25 phone call in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate unsubstantiated allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden, a top contender for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump in the 2020 presidential election, and Biden's son, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-biden-admits-error-in-judgment-but-insists-no-wrongdoing-256123">Hunter Biden</a>.

The younger Biden, 49, denied doing anything improper in past work for a Ukrainian energy company, in an interview with ABC News that aired on Tuesday.

But he expressed regret that his association with the Burisma Group gave "some very unethical people" an opening to "to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father. That's where I made the mistake."

Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of state responsible for US&nbsp;policy toward six former Soviet republics including Ukraine, arrived on Capitol Hill wearing a red bow tie and ignored shouted questions from reporters.

Kent appeared after receiving a congressional subpoena after the State Department directed him not to testify, an official involved in the impeachment inquiry said.

His appearance comes one day after Trump's former Russia adviser, Fiona Hill, gave three House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry details of a high-level meeting between US&nbsp;and Ukrainian officials that included her then-boss, former national security adviser John Bolton, and Gordon Sondland, the US&nbsp;ambassador to the European Union, according to a person familiar with the testimony.

Hill recounted that Sondland raised the issue of investigations and that she and Bolton became alarmed that he was referring to the investigation into the Bidens, the person said. The pair left the meeting and Bolton advised her to consult with John Eisenberg, the top NSC lawyer.

The New York Times reported that Bolton was similarly troubled by activities toward Ukraine being coordinated by the president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, along with other administration officials.

"Giuliani's a hand grenade who's going to blow everybody up," Hill quoted Bolton as saying, according to the newspaper.

A Bolton spokeswoman said he would have no comment on the testimony.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-lawyer-giuliani-was-paid-500000-to-work-for-company-run-by-arrested-ukrainian-american-businessman-256142">Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US</a>&nbsp;ally to dig up dirt on Biden after withholding $391 million in US&nbsp;security aid intended to help combat Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine. Zelenskiy agreed to investigate. Trump eventually allowed aid.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and defended his request to Zelenskiy. The elder Biden also denied wrongdoing.

Gordon Sondland, the US&nbsp;ambassador to the European Union, is due to testify later in the week, in response to a congressional subpoena.

Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, faces a Tuesday deadline to produce documents related to the Ukraine matter subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee. He has not said whether he will comply.

'Disinformation campaign'

On Friday, Marie Yovanovitch, the former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-claims-a-victory-in-china-trade-war-but-us-farmers-want-details-256006">US&nbsp;ambassador to Ukraine</a>, defied a State Department order to refuse to cooperate with the House probe, giving scathing testimony in which she accused the Trump administration of recalling her from Kiev-based on false claims.

According to State Department emails contained in a package of material shared with congressional staff last month and later seen by Reuters, Kent told colleagues that Yovanovitch had become the target of a "classic disinformation operation."

Yovanovitch in her Friday appearance denied Giuliani's allegations that she provided a "do not prosecute list" to Ukrainian officials to protect Biden and others.

"One key sign of it being fake is that most of the names are misspelt in English, we would never spell most that way," Kent said in the email to colleagues.

Kent suggested the department push back by "circling in red all the misspellings and grammar mistakes and reposting it," as the US&nbsp;Embassy in Moscow has done to counter propaganda.

Kent, who majored in Russian language and literature at Harvard, has held several jobs requiring him to grapple with corruption in Ukraine, which ranks 120th of 180 nations in a Transparency International corruption perceptions index.

Before taking up his current job, Kent served as the deputy chief of mission at the US&nbsp;Embassy in Kiev from 2015 to 2018 and as the senior anti-corruption coordinator in the State Department's European Bureau from 2014 to 2015.

One former US&nbsp;official said Kent had been among the most vigilant officials within the State Department in reporting on corruption in Ukraine and in seeking to combat it.

The Democratic-led United States House of Representatives' impeachment enquiry against President Donald Trump on Tuesday questioned George Kent, a US career diplomat who has spent much of his career fighting corruption in Ukraine and elsewhere.

The Democratic-led United States House of Representatives' impeachment enquiry against President Donald Trump on Tuesday questioned George Kent, a US career diplomat who has spent much of his career fighting corruption in Ukraine and elsewhere. The probe is focused on a July 25 phone call in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate unsubstantiated allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden, a top contender for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump in the 2020 presidential election, and Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The younger Biden, 49, denied doing anything improper in past work for a Ukrainian energy company, in an interview with ABC News that aired on Tuesday. But he expressed regret that his association with the Burisma Group gave "some very unethical people" an opening to "to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father. That's where I made the mistake." Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of state responsible for US policy toward six former Soviet republics including Ukraine, arrived on Capitol Hill wearing a red bow tie and ignored shouted questions from reporters. Kent appeared after receiving a congressional subpoena after the State Department directed him not to testify, an official involved in the impeachment inquiry said. His appearance comes one day after Trump's former Russia adviser, Fiona Hill, gave three House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry details of a high-level meeting between US and Ukrainian officials that included her then-boss, former national security adviser John Bolton, and Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, according to a person familiar with the testimony. Hill recounted that Sondland raised the issue of investigations and that she and Bolton became alarmed that he was referring to the investigation into the Bidens, the person said. The pair left the meeting and Bolton advised her to consult with John Eisenberg, the top NSC lawyer. The New York Times reported that Bolton was similarly troubled by activities toward Ukraine being coordinated by the president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, along with other administration officials. "Giuliani's a hand grenade who's going to blow everybody up," Hill quoted Bolton as saying, according to the newspaper. A Bolton spokeswoman said he would have no comment on the testimony. Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US ally to dig up dirt on Biden after withholding $391 million in US security aid intended to help combat Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine. Zelenskiy agreed to investigate. Trump eventually allowed aid. Trump has denied wrongdoing and defended his request to Zelenskiy. The elder Biden also denied wrongdoing. Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, is due to testify later in the week, in response to a congressional subpoena. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, faces a Tuesday deadline to produce documents related to the Ukraine matter subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee. He has not said whether he will comply. 'Disinformation campaign' On Friday, Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, defied a State Department order to refuse to cooperate with the House probe, giving scathing testimony in which she accused the Trump administration of recalling her from Kiev-based on false claims. According to State Department emails contained in a package of material shared with congressional staff last month and later seen by Reuters, Kent told colleagues that Yovanovitch had become the target of a "classic disinformation operation." Yovanovitch in her Friday appearance denied Giuliani's allegations that she provided a "do not prosecute list" to Ukrainian officials to protect Biden and others. "One key sign of it being fake is that most of the names are misspelt in English, we would never spell most that way," Kent said in the email to colleagues. Kent suggested the department push back by "circling in red all the misspellings and grammar mistakes and reposting it," as the US Embassy in Moscow has done to counter propaganda. Kent, who majored in Russian language and literature at Harvard, has held several jobs requiring him to grapple with corruption in Ukraine, which ranks 120th of 180 nations in a Transparency International corruption perceptions index. Before taking up his current job, Kent served as the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Kiev from 2015 to 2018 and as the senior anti-corruption coordinator in the State Department's European Bureau from 2014 to 2015. One former US official said Kent had been among the most vigilant officials within the State Department in reporting on corruption in Ukraine and in seeking to combat it.

United States diplomat testifies at House impeachment enquiry on Trump's Ukraine dealings

After consultations with political parties, Nepal's Election Commission has decided to hold by elections in the Himalayan nation on November 30.

At least 50 seats have remained vacant since the previous polls were held in 2017, according to Shankar Prasad Kharel, the Election Commission spokesperson.

"On the stipulated date, the elections would be held in 37 districts of the nation.&nbsp;

It would choose one Sub Metropolitan Chief, three Chief of Village Council, one Deputy Chief of Village Council, 41 Village Council and Metropolitan Ward Chiefs, three State Assembly members and one member of the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-of-representatives-speaker-nancy-pelosi-praises-pm-modis-oratory-skills-says-he-had-audience-in-the-palm-of-his-hands-235157"> House of Representatives</a>.

With this, the Commission would expedite the preparations for elections," Kharel said.

Around two years ago, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepalese-nationals-require-visa-to-enter-india-via-pakistan-china-229579">Nepal</a> witnessed local level elections after a gap of nearly two decades and federal assembly elections which gave an overwhelming two-third majority to the Left Alliance.

After consultations with political parties, Nepal's Election Commission has decided to hold by elections in the Himalayan nation on November 30. At least 50 seats have remained vacant since the previous polls were held in 2017, according to Shankar Prasad Kharel, the Election Commission spokesperson.

After consultations with political parties, Nepal's Election Commission has decided to hold by elections in the Himalayan nation on November 30. At least 50 seats have remained vacant since the previous polls were held in 2017, according to Shankar Prasad Kharel, the Election Commission spokesperson. "On the stipulated date, the elections would be held in 37 districts of the nation. It would choose one Sub Metropolitan Chief, three Chief of Village Council, one Deputy Chief of Village Council, 41 Village Council and Metropolitan Ward Chiefs, three State Assembly members and one member of the House of Representatives. With this, the Commission would expedite the preparations for elections," Kharel said. Around two years ago, Nepal witnessed local level elections after a gap of nearly two decades and federal assembly elections which gave an overwhelming two-third majority to the Left Alliance.

Nepal to hold by elections in November end

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merkels-health-is-a-private-matter-germans-say-after-shaking-bouts-235572">German Chancellor Angela Merkel</a> on Friday condemned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-navy-destroyed-iranian-drone-in-strait-of-hormuz-says-donald-trump-236999">President Donald Trump</a>'s xenophobic tweets against four minority Democratic congresswomen, saying the US leader's attacks "go against what makes America great."

"I firmly distance myself from (the attacks) and I feel solidarity towards" the women, she told journalists.

"In my view, the strength of America lies in that people from different (origins) contributed to what makes the country great."

Trump on Sunday urged a group of four progressive Democratic congresswomen of colour -- all American citizens and three of them US-born -- to "go back" to their countries of origin.

Despite a domestic uproar over the comments which were deemed "racist" by the House of Representatives, Trump repeatedly renewed his attack.

"If you're not happy here, you can leave ... This is about love for America, certain people hate our country," he tweeted on Tuesday, while repeating the same message to a rally on Wednesday.

International condemnation has rained down over the comments, with British Prime Minister Theresa May calling them "completely unacceptable" and New Zealand's leader Jacinda Ardern saying she "completely and utterly" disagrees with him.

While usually refraining from commenting on other countries' domestic politics, Merkel on Friday also had markedly sharp words about Trump's latest attacks.

Questions over racism are particularly sensitive in Germany given its Nazi past, and the government routinely speaks out forcefully in favour of tolerance and diversity.

While Merkel had shared a visibly warm relationship with former US president Barack Obama, her contact with Trump has been formal and firm.&nbsp;

Setting the tone from the start, Merkel in her first phone call with Trump after he took office offered cooperation, but also reminded him of democratic values.

That phone call led some commentators to suggest she had taken on the mantle of the "leader of the free world", a title usually reserved for US presidents.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday condemned President Donald Trump's xenophobic tweets against four minority Democratic congresswomen, saying the US leader's attacks "go against what makes America great.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday condemned President Donald Trump's xenophobic tweets against four minority Democratic congresswomen, saying the US leader's attacks "go against what makes America great." "I firmly distance myself from (the attacks) and I feel solidarity towards" the women, she told journalists. "In my view, the strength of America lies in that people from different (origins) contributed to what makes the country great." Trump on Sunday urged a group of four progressive Democratic congresswomen of colour -- all American citizens and three of them US-born -- to "go back" to their countries of origin. Despite a domestic uproar over the comments which were deemed "racist" by the House of Representatives, Trump repeatedly renewed his attack. "If you're not happy here, you can leave ... This is about love for America, certain people hate our country," he tweeted on Tuesday, while repeating the same message to a rally on Wednesday. International condemnation has rained down over the comments, with British Prime Minister Theresa May calling them "completely unacceptable" and New Zealand's leader Jacinda Ardern saying she "completely and utterly" disagrees with him. While usually refraining from commenting on other countries' domestic politics, Merkel on Friday also had markedly sharp words about Trump's latest attacks. Questions over racism are particularly sensitive in Germany given its Nazi past, and the government routinely speaks out forcefully in favour of tolerance and diversity. While Merkel had shared a visibly warm relationship with former US president Barack Obama, her contact with Trump has been formal and firm. Setting the tone from the start, Merkel in her first phone call with Trump after he took office offered cooperation, but also reminded him of democratic values. That phone call led some commentators to suggest she had taken on the mantle of the "leader of the free world", a title usually reserved for US presidents.

Trump tweets go against what makes America great: Angela Merkel

The House of Representatives passed an amendment on Wednesday calling for the Department of Defense to investigate its possible "bioweaponization" of Lyme disease in ticks from the years 1950-1975.

House passes amendment seeking investigation of 'bioweaponization' of ticks

Members of the US&nbsp;Senate and House of Representatives introduced bills on Tuesday to keep tight restrictions on <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-should-stop-incorrect-action-on-huawei-to-avoid-additional-harm-to-china-us-economic-and-trade-relations-china-219157&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwia7ZKK2rvjAhUvH7cAHX_sBzEQFjAFegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw04FHCJpiLwhfiKBr2OP77D">Huawei Technologies Co Ltd</a>, amid concern about President Donald Trump's easing of curbs on the Chinese firm.

The legislation would among other things bar the removal of the massive telecommunications equipment firm from a Commerce Department trade blacklist without House and Senate approval, and let Congress disallow waivers granted to US&nbsp;companies doing business with the company.

The United States has accused Huawei of stealing American intellectual property and violating Iran sanctions. The Republicans and Democrats backing the measures said they viewed the company as a security threat.

"American companies shouldn't be in the business of selling our enemies the tools they'll use to spy on Americans," Republican Senator Tom Cotton, one of the sponsors, said in a statement.

The United States placed Huawei on the Commerce Department's so-called Entity List in May over national security concerns. The US&nbsp;parts and components generally cannot be sold to those on the list without special licenses.

However, Trump, who is seeking to revive trade talks with China, announced late last month that US&nbsp;companies would be allowed to sell products to Huawei.

The "Defending America's 5G Future Act" was introduced in the Senate by Republicans Cotton, Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney and Democrats Chris Van Hollen, Mark Warner, and Richard Blumenthal.

A companion bill was introduced in the House by Democratic Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Ruben Gallego and Republicans Mark Gallagher and Liz Cheney.

Washington also has launched a lobbying effort to persuade US&nbsp;allies to keep Huawei out of next-generation 5G telecommunications infrastructure, citing concerns the company could spy on customers. Huawei has denied the allegations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday that the United States should immediately cease its "suppression" of Huawei.

Geng said that relevant U.S. legislators were "clinging to a Cold War mentality" in trying to contain China's development and that such actions "seriously damaged the United States' national image".

Members of the US Senate and House of Representatives introduced bills on Tuesday to keep tight restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, amid concern about President Donald Trump's easing of curbs on the Chinese firm.

Members of the US Senate and House of Representatives introduced bills on Tuesday to keep tight restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, amid concern about President Donald Trump's easing of curbs on the Chinese firm. The legislation would among other things bar the removal of the massive telecommunications equipment firm from a Commerce Department trade blacklist without House and Senate approval, and let Congress disallow waivers granted to US companies doing business with the company. The United States has accused Huawei of stealing American intellectual property and violating Iran sanctions. The Republicans and Democrats backing the measures said they viewed the company as a security threat. "American companies shouldn't be in the business of selling our enemies the tools they'll use to spy on Americans," Republican Senator Tom Cotton, one of the sponsors, said in a statement. The United States placed Huawei on the Commerce Department's so-called Entity List in May over national security concerns. The US parts and components generally cannot be sold to those on the list without special licenses. However, Trump, who is seeking to revive trade talks with China, announced late last month that US companies would be allowed to sell products to Huawei. The "Defending America's 5G Future Act" was introduced in the Senate by Republicans Cotton, Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney and Democrats Chris Van Hollen, Mark Warner, and Richard Blumenthal. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Democratic Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Ruben Gallego and Republicans Mark Gallagher and Liz Cheney. Washington also has launched a lobbying effort to persuade US allies to keep Huawei out of next-generation 5G telecommunications infrastructure, citing concerns the company could spy on customers. Huawei has denied the allegations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday that the United States should immediately cease its "suppression" of Huawei. Geng said that relevant U.S. legislators were "clinging to a Cold War mentality" in trying to contain China's development and that such actions "seriously damaged the United States' national image".

Bills targeting China's Huawei introduced in US Congress

United States's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Friday issued a warning to US government about risk of running out cash as early as September, reports said.

Mnuchin in a letter addressed to House of representative Nancy Pelosi, said, "there is a scenario in which we run out cash in early September before Congress reconvenes."

"As such, I request that Congress increase the debt ceiling before Congress leaves for summer recess," Mnuchin added in the letter.

Meanwhile, Pelosi and Mnuchin on Tuesday discussed ways to reach agreement on extending US borrowing authority and spending limits for the 2020 fiscal year that begins on October 1.

A Pelosi spokesman said the 20-minute telephone conversation was productive and the two plan to speak again on Wednesday.

According to a report, both will again speak on call over the weekend.

By September or October, the Treasury Department could exhaust its current borrowing authority, adding pressure on Congress and the Trump administration to reach a deal on a new extension.

Congress is scheduled to be in recess through almost all of August and the first week of September, raising questions about whether a debt limit and spending deal can be enacted before the break.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Friday issued a warning to US government about risk of running out cash as early as September, reports said.

United States's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Friday issued a warning to US government about risk of running out cash as early as September, reports said. Mnuchin in a letter addressed to House of representative Nancy Pelosi, said, "there is a scenario in which we run out cash in early September before Congress reconvenes." "As such, I request that Congress increase the debt ceiling before Congress leaves for summer recess," Mnuchin added in the letter. Meanwhile, Pelosi and Mnuchin on Tuesday discussed ways to reach agreement on extending US borrowing authority and spending limits for the 2020 fiscal year that begins on October 1. A Pelosi spokesman said the 20-minute telephone conversation was productive and the two plan to speak again on Wednesday. According to a report, both will again speak on call over the weekend. By September or October, the Treasury Department could exhaust its current borrowing authority, adding pressure on Congress and the Trump administration to reach a deal on a new extension. Congress is scheduled to be in recess through almost all of August and the first week of September, raising questions about whether a debt limit and spending deal can be enacted before the break. (With inputs from agencies)

US government to soon run out cash: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

A Guatemalan asylum seeker left some members of a US House panel visibly shaken on Wednesday with the story of her daughter's death, saying the toddler had contracted a deadly lung infection during 20-day detention near the US border with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-eyes-brazil-for-us-asylum-deal-trump-revives-tariff-threat-226124">Mexico</a>.

Yazmin Juarez told a House of Representatives subcommittee that it was "like they tore out a piece of my heart" when just weeks after they were released her daughter Mariee died at 19 months old.

She said she left a hospital with nothing but a piece of paper with two handprints in pink paint that staff had made for her, and described through a translator how she missed her daughter's hugs.

Juarez said it was hard to relive the experience, but wanted to shed light on the lack of medical care. "The world should know," she said.

"It can’t be so hard for a country like the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nation-rights-chief-shocked-by-conditions-at-us-migrant-detention-centres-234083">United States</a> to protect kids who are locked up.

Guatemalan migrant: Life is difficult without my child

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/guatemalan-migrant-life-is-difficult-without-my-child-234883/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Juarez testified at the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that was examining the treatment of refugees in US detention.

Apprehensions along the border have spiked to the highest in at least a decade, driven by families from Central America who say they are seeking asylum and fleeing violence in their home countries.

Images of filthy detention facilities jammed with refugees have sparked widespread criticism. On Monday UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she was "appalled" that migrant children were forced to sleep on floors.

President Donald Trump's tough stance on immigration has been one of his signature policies. "If Illegal Immigrants are unhappy with the conditions in the quickly built or refitted detentions centers, just tell them not to come," Trump wrote on Twitter last week.

Juarez told members of Congress, several of whom appeared shaken by her testimony, that her daughter was healthy when the pair were initially detained. They were held with 30 others, including sick children whom Juarez said could have infected her daughter.

Juarez said that she and her daughter fled violence in Guatemala for a better life.

“Unfortunately, that did not happen,” Juarez said.

Several members of the subcommittee including New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hugged Juarez after she spoke.

"No hay palabras, there are no words," said Chip Roy of Texas, the ranking Republican on the subcommittee.

He blamed Democrats for the border crowding.

"The blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to actually address this," he said.

The hearing came as a senior US Customs and Border Protection official told reporters that border agents were detaining only about 200 unaccompanied children at locations in the Southwest as of Wednesday, down from more than 2,500 in May. The reduction reflects funding increases that have enabled a federal health agency to expand its holding capacity.

A Guatemalan asylum seeker left some members of a US House panel visibly shaken on Wednesday with the story of her daughter's death, saying the toddler had contracted a deadly lung infection during 20-day detention near the US border with Mexico.

A Guatemalan asylum seeker left some members of a US House panel visibly shaken on Wednesday with the story of her daughter's death, saying the toddler had contracted a deadly lung infection during 20-day detention near the US border with Mexico. Yazmin Juarez told a House of Representatives subcommittee that it was "like they tore out a piece of my heart" when just weeks after they were released her daughter Mariee died at 19 months old. She said she left a hospital with nothing but a piece of paper with two handprints in pink paint that staff had made for her, and described through a translator how she missed her daughter's hugs. Juarez said it was hard to relive the experience, but wanted to shed light on the lack of medical care. "The world should know," she said. "It can’t be so hard for a country like the United States to protect kids who are locked up. Guatemalan migrant: Life is difficult without my child Juarez testified at the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that was examining the treatment of refugees in US detention. Apprehensions along the border have spiked to the highest in at least a decade, driven by families from Central America who say they are seeking asylum and fleeing violence in their home countries. Images of filthy detention facilities jammed with refugees have sparked widespread criticism. On Monday UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she was "appalled" that migrant children were forced to sleep on floors. President Donald Trump's tough stance on immigration has been one of his signature policies. "If Illegal Immigrants are unhappy with the conditions in the quickly built or refitted detentions centers, just tell them not to come," Trump wrote on Twitter last week. Juarez told members of Congress, several of whom appeared shaken by her testimony, that her daughter was healthy when the pair were initially detained. They were held with 30 others, including sick children whom Juarez said could have infected her daughter. Juarez said that she and her daughter fled violence in Guatemala for a better life. “Unfortunately, that did not happen,” Juarez said. Several members of the subcommittee including New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hugged Juarez after she spoke. "No hay palabras, there are no words," said Chip Roy of Texas, the ranking Republican on the subcommittee. He blamed Democrats for the border crowding. "The blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to actually address this," he said. The hearing came as a senior US Customs and Border Protection official told reporters that border agents were detaining only about 200 unaccompanied children at locations in the Southwest as of Wednesday, down from more than 2,500 in May. The reduction reflects funding increases that have enabled a federal health agency to expand its holding capacity.

'World should know,' migrant tells US Congress of toddler's death

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-stupid-guy-donald-trump-renews-attack-on-uk-ambassador-theresa-may-234370">US President Donald Trump</a>'s administration on Tuesday threatened he would veto a massive defence bill being considered by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-of-representatives-votes-to-repeal-obamacare-11249">House of Representatives</a>, saying it provides less money than he wants for the military and disagreeing with some of its policy provisions.

The version of the National Defence Authorization Act, or NDAA, up for a vote in the Democratic-led House sets $733 billion in military spending, $17 billion less than Trump's fiscal-year 2020 budget request.

The Republican-led Senate last month passed its version of the measure, authorizing $750 billion for the Pentagon. Once the House passes its bill, the two chambers must come up with a compromise bill, which must pass both before being sent to the White House for Trump to sign into law or veto.

The administration objected as well to provisions in the House bill seeking to stop Trump from spending billions of dollars to build a wall on the US border with Mexico after he declared a national emergency to go ahead with construction without Congress' approval.&nbsp;

It also opposed the bill's proposed imposition of stricter limits on the deployment of US troops to work along the border and the curtailing of Trump's ability to transfer money from one project to another without consulting Congress.

Trump's promise to build a border wall was a feature of his 2016 presidential campaign and has been a theme of his bid for re-election in 2020.

The administration also objected to a range of provisions including some related to nuclear weapons, Trump's plan for a "Space Force" and restrictions on detentions at the military prison at the Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, including a proposed ban on additional transfers to the prison in Cuba.

The House is expected to vote on the NDAA later this week.

It was not immediately clear that it would pass. Trump's fellow Republicans may vote no and could be joined by many of the more liberal House Democrats, who object among other things to increasing defence spending without doing more to avoid waste at the Pentagon.&nbsp;

One of the few pieces of major legislation passed every year, the NDAA becomes a vehicle for a broad range of policy measures, as well as determining everything from military pay levels to which ships or aircraft will be modernized, purchased or discontinued.

US President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday threatened he would veto a massive defence bill being considered by the House of Representatives, saying it provides less money than he wants for the military and disagreeing with some of its policy provisions.

US President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday threatened he would veto a massive defence bill being considered by the House of Representatives, saying it provides less money than he wants for the military and disagreeing with some of its policy provisions. The version of the National Defence Authorization Act, or NDAA, up for a vote in the Democratic-led House sets $733 billion in military spending, $17 billion less than Trump's fiscal-year 2020 budget request. The Republican-led Senate last month passed its version of the measure, authorizing $750 billion for the Pentagon. Once the House passes its bill, the two chambers must come up with a compromise bill, which must pass both before being sent to the White House for Trump to sign into law or veto. The administration objected as well to provisions in the House bill seeking to stop Trump from spending billions of dollars to build a wall on the US border with Mexico after he declared a national emergency to go ahead with construction without Congress' approval. It also opposed the bill's proposed imposition of stricter limits on the deployment of US troops to work along the border and the curtailing of Trump's ability to transfer money from one project to another without consulting Congress. Trump's promise to build a border wall was a feature of his 2016 presidential campaign and has been a theme of his bid for re-election in 2020. The administration also objected to a range of provisions including some related to nuclear weapons, Trump's plan for a "Space Force" and restrictions on detentions at the military prison at the Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, including a proposed ban on additional transfers to the prison in Cuba. The House is expected to vote on the NDAA later this week. It was not immediately clear that it would pass. Trump's fellow Republicans may vote no and could be joined by many of the more liberal House Democrats, who object among other things to increasing defence spending without doing more to avoid waste at the Pentagon. One of the few pieces of major legislation passed every year, the NDAA becomes a vehicle for a broad range of policy measures, as well as determining everything from military pay levels to which ships or aircraft will be modernized, purchased or discontinued.

Trump threatens veto of House defence bill over spending levels, Mexico wall

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/factbox-clash-between-trump-us-house-democrats-shifts-into-courts-228730">US House Democrats</a> said they plan to pass a $4.5 billion aid package aimed at addressing the migrant surge along the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-closure-of-us-mexico-border-next-week-to-stem-asylum-surge-206626">US-Mexico border</a> later on Tuesday, citing an urgency to act following reports of poor conditions facing young children at overcrowded facilities.

"This week we have to solve the humanitarian crisis," Hakeem Jeffries, the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus chairman, told reporters, predicting that the funding package would pass the House with a "strong Democratic vote."

Lawmakers were rushing to add language before the vote to mandate better health and nutrition standards at border facilities.&nbsp;

That came after some liberal Democrats expressed alarm that not enough was being done to improve conditions at the border, where the number of migrants apprehended surged in May to the highest level since 2006.

Last week, the Associated Press reported on squalid conditions facing migrant children being detained by US authorities, including a lack of access to food, beds and hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste.

Republican US President Donald Trump, despite having requested the $4.5 billion border aid package, on Monday night threatened to veto the House bill, saying the provisions added by Democrats - who control the chamber - would make the country "less safe."

But Jeffries said he expected Trump to sign the bill into law despite his threat, citing the president's recent reversals on other issues such as tariffs.

"There is no decency to having these children subjected to these horrific conditions," Jeffries said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seeking to galvanize her caucus, told them the House would need a strong vote to prevail.

"A vote against this bill is a vote for Donald Trump and his inhumane, outside-the-circle of civilized attitude toward the children," she said at a closed-door Tuesday morning meeting, according to a senior Democratic aide.

Democratic leaders said they would add language to protect the health of migrants in the custody of US Border Patrol agents, including standards for medical care and nutrition.&nbsp;

The bill's language would also set a three-month limit for any unaccompanied child migrant to spend at an intake shelter unless notice is given.

It was unclear whether the changes would be enough for some Democrats who fear the Trump administration could use some of the money for other purposes, such as deportations of migrants.

Representative Ilhan Omar said she objected to $155 million in the bill that would go to US marshals, a law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice.

"There's no good outcome here," said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has compared the detention centres for undocumented immigrants at the border to "concentration camps."&nbsp;

She said she is worried over whether the funding will "go to the places that we need it to go."

The House legislation would also reinstate hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that was cut off by the Trump administration.

The Republican-majority Senate was proceeding with its own, bipartisan, $4.6 billion versions of the legislation and was expected to vote soon.

US House Democrats said they plan to pass a $4.5 billion aid package aimed at addressing the migrant surge along the US-Mexico border later on Tuesday, citing an urgency to act following reports of poor conditions facing young children at overcrowded facilities.

US House Democrats said they plan to pass a $4.5 billion aid package aimed at addressing the migrant surge along the US-Mexico border later on Tuesday, citing an urgency to act following reports of poor conditions facing young children at overcrowded facilities. "This week we have to solve the humanitarian crisis," Hakeem Jeffries, the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus chairman, told reporters, predicting that the funding package would pass the House with a "strong Democratic vote." Lawmakers were rushing to add language before the vote to mandate better health and nutrition standards at border facilities. That came after some liberal Democrats expressed alarm that not enough was being done to improve conditions at the border, where the number of migrants apprehended surged in May to the highest level since 2006. Last week, the Associated Press reported on squalid conditions facing migrant children being detained by US authorities, including a lack of access to food, beds and hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste. Republican US President Donald Trump, despite having requested the $4.5 billion border aid package, on Monday night threatened to veto the House bill, saying the provisions added by Democrats - who control the chamber - would make the country "less safe." But Jeffries said he expected Trump to sign the bill into law despite his threat, citing the president's recent reversals on other issues such as tariffs. "There is no decency to having these children subjected to these horrific conditions," Jeffries said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seeking to galvanize her caucus, told them the House would need a strong vote to prevail. "A vote against this bill is a vote for Donald Trump and his inhumane, outside-the-circle of civilized attitude toward the children," she said at a closed-door Tuesday morning meeting, according to a senior Democratic aide. Democratic leaders said they would add language to protect the health of migrants in the custody of US Border Patrol agents, including standards for medical care and nutrition. The bill's language would also set a three-month limit for any unaccompanied child migrant to spend at an intake shelter unless notice is given. It was unclear whether the changes would be enough for some Democrats who fear the Trump administration could use some of the money for other purposes, such as deportations of migrants. Representative Ilhan Omar said she objected to $155 million in the bill that would go to US marshals, a law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice. "There's no good outcome here," said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has compared the detention centres for undocumented immigrants at the border to "concentration camps." She said she is worried over whether the funding will "go to the places that we need it to go." The House legislation would also reinstate hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that was cut off by the Trump administration. The Republican-majority Senate was proceeding with its own, bipartisan, $4.6 billion versions of the legislation and was expected to vote soon.

United States House Democrats rush to pass border aid bill before July 4, Trump vows veto

President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kellyanne-conways-husband-says-trump-suffers-from-narcissistic-personality-disorder-204200">senior adviser Kellyanne Conway</a> will not testify before the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-panel-launches-probe-into-possible-obstruction-by-trump-200941">House of Representatives</a> Oversight Committee this week on her alleged violations of the Hatch Act, the White House told the panel's chairman on Monday.

"In accordance with long-standing precedent, we respectfully decline the invitation to make Ms Conway available for testimony before the Committee," White House legal counsel Pat Cipollone told Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings in a letter.

The 1939 Hatch Act prohibits executive branch employees from engaging in some political activities.

The Oversight Committee has said it would vote on a potential subpoena if Conway does not testify before lawmakers on Wednesday.

The hearing was scheduled after the Office of Special Counsel, a US government watchdog agency, earlier this month recommended Conway be fired for repeatedly violating the Hatch Act by disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media.

Trump has said he would not fire Conway, 52, a former political pollster who became Trump's campaign manager in 2016 and the first woman to oversee a winning US presidential campaign.

If Conway does not testify at the hearing, the Oversight Committee plans to hold a business meeting to consider authorizing a subpoena for the White House adviser for "testimony in connection with her failure to comply with the Hatch Act and ethics laws," Cummings wrote in a letter to committee members dated Friday.

House Democrats have been frustrated by the Trump administration's stonewalling of their efforts to hold senior officials to account. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Attorney General William Barr and other officials have defied subpoena requests from Democratic-led House panels in recent months.

President Donald Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway will not testify before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee this week on her alleged violations of the Hatch Act, the White House told the panel's chairman on Monday.

President Donald Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway will not testify before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee this week on her alleged violations of the Hatch Act, the White House told the panel's chairman on Monday. "In accordance with long-standing precedent, we respectfully decline the invitation to make Ms Conway available for testimony before the Committee," White House legal counsel Pat Cipollone told Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings in a letter. The 1939 Hatch Act prohibits executive branch employees from engaging in some political activities. The Oversight Committee has said it would vote on a potential subpoena if Conway does not testify before lawmakers on Wednesday. The hearing was scheduled after the Office of Special Counsel, a US government watchdog agency, earlier this month recommended Conway be fired for repeatedly violating the Hatch Act by disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media. Trump has said he would not fire Conway, 52, a former political pollster who became Trump's campaign manager in 2016 and the first woman to oversee a winning US presidential campaign. If Conway does not testify at the hearing, the Oversight Committee plans to hold a business meeting to consider authorizing a subpoena for the White House adviser for "testimony in connection with her failure to comply with the Hatch Act and ethics laws," Cummings wrote in a letter to committee members dated Friday. House Democrats have been frustrated by the Trump administration's stonewalling of their efforts to hold senior officials to account. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Attorney General William Barr and other officials have defied subpoena requests from Democratic-led House panels in recent months.

Donald Trump aide Kellyanne Conway will not testify before Congress: White House

Thailand's Parliament has elected 2014 coup leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailands-parliament-elects-coup-leader-prayut-chan-ocha-as-prime-minister-224805">Prayuth Chan-Ocha as prime minister</a> in a vote that helps ensure the military's sustained dominance of politics since the country became a constitutional monarchy nearly nine decades ago.

The military-backed party that nominated Prayuth won the second-highest number of seats in the House of Representatives in a general election in March.

But his selection was virtually assured on Wednesday because the prime minister is chosen in a joint vote of the 500-seat House and the 250-seat Senate, whose members were appointed by the junta Prayuth leads. Two House seats were vacant due to a suspension and resignation.

Prayuth was elected to serve a second term by a vote of 500 to 244 for his opponent, Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.&nbsp;

Prayuth, a former army commander, was the candidate of the military-backed Palang Pracharath party, which holds 116 House seats, as well as lawmakers from smaller parties. Prayuth's appointment becomes official when it is endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

"The people are still calling for liberties. The people are still calling for justice," Thanathorn said after the vote. "This is not the time to lose hope. Hope is still on our side. Time is still on our side.&nbsp;

I want to thank all 244 people who love democracy for voting for me." Prayuth made no immediate public comment on the vote.

Prayuth did not run for office in the March election? the constitution enacted under the junta he headed does not require that the prime minister come from Parliament.

Laws passed under his government handicapped established political parties, raising concerns the election was not held on a level playing field.&nbsp;

Critics also questioned the fairness of the Election Commission, alleging that rules were bent after the election to benefit Palang Pracharath.

The new election laws were aimed especially at the Pheu Thai party, which headed the government ousted by the 2014 coup and won the most House seats in March.

Pheu Thai is associated with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed by a 2006 coup and lives in exile to avoid serving a prison term on a conflict of interest conviction he decries as politically motivated.

The populist policies of Thaksin won him enormous support at the polls but also threatened the influence of traditional power holders, including the military.

His following remained strong even after his ouster, and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, became prime minister in 2011, only to have her Pheu Thai government also toppled by the army in 2014.

Wednesday's vote indicates that Prayuth's coalition also has control? by a small margin ? of the House, necessary to pass laws and approve budgets.

But there are doubts that a government led by Prayuth, used to governing by fiat, can fare well in a parliamentary framework.

"General Prayuth's return to the premiership has gone according to the ... Junta's design. But managing a coalition government and a Parliament with a sizable opposition is very different from overseeing a military dictatorship," said Michael Montesano, coordinator of the Thailand Studies Program at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

"If observers are right and the new coalition proves too unstable to last more than a few months, the fear that another coup will pitch Thailand into an even bleaker situation is on the mind of many."

An open-ended parliamentary debate, with the two sides touting the merits of their candidate and the weaknesses of their opponent, pushed Wednesday's vote late into the night. The official result was announced just before midnight.

During the debate, Palang Pracharath lawmaker Koranis Ngamsukonrattana praised Prayuth for his character and his vision. 
"He's patient and sacrificed himself so much for the country," he said.&nbsp;

"He's the saviour who came in and saved the country when all hope was lost." Thanathorn's supporters attacked Prayuth as a destroyer of democracy.

"Coups are the ultimate crime against the rule of democracy with the monarch as head of state," said Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary general of Thanathorn's Future Forward party.

"It rips apart the entire constitution and takes power to rule over the country by establishing yourself as a 'sovereign' with the highest power." It was a novelty for Thais to see such parliamentary battling after five years of army rule in which there was only a tame rubberstamp assembly.

While the formation of a government will finally return Thailand officially to civilian rule, it will be done under a new political system enacted by the junta Prayuth has led and its appointees.

&nbsp;It is a system that critics say is meant to prolong rule by the military and its allies in the conservative establishment, rather than reflect the will of everyday Thais. The Palang Pracharath coalition was opposed by the "Democratic Front," comprising seven anti-military parties led by Pheu Thai.

They nominated the charismatic young Thanathorn as their candidate for prime minister. Future Forward, whose platform included strong opposition to military interference in politics, finished a strong third in the March election.

&nbsp;Its unexpected performance has drawn it a raft of legal challenges from the military's supporters, and Thanathorn himself has been suspended from Parliament until the Constitutional Court decides whether be violated election law by allegedly holding shares in a media company.

Neither candidate was present for Wednesday's debate. Prayuth attended to official government business, while Thanathorn was absent from the assembly hall due to a court-ordered suspension that his supporter's charge is politically motivated.

Thailand's Parliament has elected 2014 coup leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha as prime minister in a vote that helps ensure the military's sustained dominance of politics since the country became a constitutional monarchy nearly nine decades ago.

Thailand's Parliament has elected 2014 coup leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha as prime minister in a vote that helps ensure the military's sustained dominance of politics since the country became a constitutional monarchy nearly nine decades ago. The military-backed party that nominated Prayuth won the second-highest number of seats in the House of Representatives in a general election in March. But his selection was virtually assured on Wednesday because the prime minister is chosen in a joint vote of the 500-seat House and the 250-seat Senate, whose members were appointed by the junta Prayuth leads. Two House seats were vacant due to a suspension and resignation. Prayuth was elected to serve a second term by a vote of 500 to 244 for his opponent, Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Prayuth, a former army commander, was the candidate of the military-backed Palang Pracharath party, which holds 116 House seats, as well as lawmakers from smaller parties. Prayuth's appointment becomes official when it is endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. "The people are still calling for liberties. The people are still calling for justice," Thanathorn said after the vote. "This is not the time to lose hope. Hope is still on our side. Time is still on our side. I want to thank all 244 people who love democracy for voting for me." Prayuth made no immediate public comment on the vote. Prayuth did not run for office in the March election? the constitution enacted under the junta he headed does not require that the prime minister come from Parliament. Laws passed under his government handicapped established political parties, raising concerns the election was not held on a level playing field. Critics also questioned the fairness of the Election Commission, alleging that rules were bent after the election to benefit Palang Pracharath. The new election laws were aimed especially at the Pheu Thai party, which headed the government ousted by the 2014 coup and won the most House seats in March. Pheu Thai is associated with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed by a 2006 coup and lives in exile to avoid serving a prison term on a conflict of interest conviction he decries as politically motivated. The populist policies of Thaksin won him enormous support at the polls but also threatened the influence of traditional power holders, including the military. His following remained strong even after his ouster, and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, became prime minister in 2011, only to have her Pheu Thai government also toppled by the army in 2014. Wednesday's vote indicates that Prayuth's coalition also has control? by a small margin ? of the House, necessary to pass laws and approve budgets. But there are doubts that a government led by Prayuth, used to governing by fiat, can fare well in a parliamentary framework. "General Prayuth's return to the premiership has gone according to the ... Junta's design. But managing a coalition government and a Parliament with a sizable opposition is very different from overseeing a military dictatorship," said Michael Montesano, coordinator of the Thailand Studies Program at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. "If observers are right and the new coalition proves too unstable to last more than a few months, the fear that another coup will pitch Thailand into an even bleaker situation is on the mind of many." An open-ended parliamentary debate, with the two sides touting the merits of their candidate and the weaknesses of their opponent, pushed Wednesday's vote late into the night. The official result was announced just before midnight. During the debate, Palang Pracharath lawmaker Koranis Ngamsukonrattana praised Prayuth for his character and his vision. "He's patient and sacrificed himself so much for the country," he said. "He's the saviour who came in and saved the country when all hope was lost." Thanathorn's supporters attacked Prayuth as a destroyer of democracy. "Coups are the ultimate crime against the rule of democracy with the monarch as head of state," said Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary general of Thanathorn's Future Forward party. "It rips apart the entire constitution and takes power to rule over the country by establishing yourself as a 'sovereign' with the highest power." It was a novelty for Thais to see such parliamentary battling after five years of army rule in which there was only a tame rubberstamp assembly. While the formation of a government will finally return Thailand officially to civilian rule, it will be done under a new political system enacted by the junta Prayuth has led and its appointees. It is a system that critics say is meant to prolong rule by the military and its allies in the conservative establishment, rather than reflect the will of everyday Thais. The Palang Pracharath coalition was opposed by the "Democratic Front," comprising seven anti-military parties led by Pheu Thai. They nominated the charismatic young Thanathorn as their candidate for prime minister. Future Forward, whose platform included strong opposition to military interference in politics, finished a strong third in the March election. Its unexpected performance has drawn it a raft of legal challenges from the military's supporters, and Thanathorn himself has been suspended from Parliament until the Constitutional Court decides whether be violated election law by allegedly holding shares in a media company. Neither candidate was present for Wednesday's debate. Prayuth attended to official government business, while Thanathorn was absent from the assembly hall due to a court-ordered suspension that his supporter's charge is politically motivated.

Thai Parliament votes for coup leader to stay on as Prime Minister

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/us-will-respond-with-great-force-if-iran-attacks-interests-donald-trump-220247">US President Donald Trump</a> on Monday said he disagreed with a federal judge who ruled against his attempt to block a House of Representatives committee from seeking his financial records and told reporters he would appeal the decision.

Trump told reporters the decision was "crazy" and that it would be appealed.

Lawyers for Trump and his company had argued the House Oversight Committee's demand for financial records from his accounting firm exceeded Congress's constitutional limits.

A US judge on Sunday has told Trump's accounting firms Mazars it will need to turn over his accounting records from before he was President to the Democratic-controlled House Oversight Committee.

Trump said, ''It's totally the wrong decision by obviously an Obama-appointed judge.''&nbsp;

US District Judge Amit Mehta said Mazars has seven days to comply with the subpoena.

Meanwhile, Mazars has denied to choose a side and said it will "comply with all legal obligations."

Trump's lawyers have argued that Congress is on a quest to "turn up something that Democrats can use as a political tool against the president now and in the 2020 election."

(With inputs from Reuters)

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he disagreed with a federal judge who ruled against his attempt to block a House of Representatives committee from seeking his financial records and told reporters he would appeal the decision.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he disagreed with a federal judge who ruled against his attempt to block a House of Representatives committee from seeking his financial records and told reporters he would appeal the decision. Trump told reporters the decision was "crazy" and that it would be appealed. Lawyers for Trump and his company had argued the House Oversight Committee's demand for financial records from his accounting firm exceeded Congress's constitutional limits. A US judge on Sunday has told Trump's accounting firms Mazars it will need to turn over his accounting records from before he was President to the Democratic-controlled House Oversight Committee. Trump said, ''It's totally the wrong decision by obviously an Obama-appointed judge.'' US District Judge Amit Mehta said Mazars has seven days to comply with the subpoena. Meanwhile, Mazars has denied to choose a side and said it will "comply with all legal obligations." Trump's lawyers have argued that Congress is on a quest to "turn up something that Democrats can use as a political tool against the president now and in the 2020 election." (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump vows to appeal US judge's decision on sharing financial records with Congress

US Attorney General William Barr has said he will not meet with the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee to testify on his handling of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.Watch full video to know more.

US Attorney General William Barr cancels second day of testimony

A democrat senator mocked William Barr after attorney general refuses to appear at hearing on the Mueller report. Watch full video to know more.

Democrats mock William Barr after attorney general refuses to appear at Mueller report hearing

A bipartisan group of half a dozen influential American lawmakers has reintroduced important legislation in the House of Representatives which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship.

If enacted, the legislation would ensure that the US State Department treat India as a NATO ally for the purposes of the Arms Export Control Act.

It would send a powerful signal that defence sales to India should be prioritised according to US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, which had worked on this important legislation.

The bill HR 2123 was introduced this week by Congressman Joe Wilson, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"India is the world's largest democracy, a pillar of stability in the region, and has shown strong commitments to export control policies," said Mr Wilson.

"This adjustment to US law will further allow the US-India partnership to flourish in line with our security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. I am grateful for the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), led by Dr Mukesh Aghi, and their support for this legislation," he said.

The original co-sponsors of the legislation are Congressman Ami Bera - the longest-serving Indian-American in the US Congress - and the House India Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressmen George Holding, Brad Sherman and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Congressman Ted Yoho.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2017 included special language recognising the unique US-India defence relationship that designated India as a "Major Defence Partner" of the United States.

The language seeks unique consideration for trade and technology sharing with India and increased attention and support to advance this relationship in the areas of defence trade and technology sharing.

"The legislation bolsters national security and helps ensure full alignment between the Department of Defense and the Department of State."

"Such a change will institutionalise the gains made in the relationship and provide a more stable foundation upon which both countries can solidify this unique defence partnership," USISPF said.

Although powerful in its own right, the NDAA FY 2017 has no legal bearing on the State Department's body of legislation, nor does it compel the State Department to view defence with India more favourably, USISPF said in a statement.

To fulfil the spirit and intent of the NDAA 2017, the US-India Enhanced Cooperation Act would amend the Arms Export Control Act to put India on par with NATO allies and Israel, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

"We applaud Congressman Wilson's leadership in reintroducing this important bill. We are confident the US Congress will continue to enact legislation that bolsters the bilateral. The great power competition is not lost on Members of Congress, who understand the strategic imperative for a deeper relationship with India," said Mr Aghi, president and CEO of USISPF.

"This legislation would be a major breakthrough for the US-India defence relationship. As Chairman of USISPF, I support this move because it would ultimately further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. The future is bright for the US-India relationship and we hope this legislation is enacted soon," USISPF chairman John Chambers said.

A bipartisan group of half a dozen influential American lawmakers has reintroduced important legislation in the House of Representatives which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship.

A bipartisan group of half a dozen influential American lawmakers has reintroduced important legislation in the House of Representatives which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship. If enacted, the legislation would ensure that the US State Department treat India as a NATO ally for the purposes of the Arms Export Control Act. It would send a powerful signal that defence sales to India should be prioritised according to US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, which had worked on this important legislation. The bill HR 2123 was introduced this week by Congressman Joe Wilson, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "India is the world's largest democracy, a pillar of stability in the region, and has shown strong commitments to export control policies," said Mr Wilson. "This adjustment to US law will further allow the US-India partnership to flourish in line with our security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. I am grateful for the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), led by Dr Mukesh Aghi, and their support for this legislation," he said. The original co-sponsors of the legislation are Congressman Ami Bera - the longest-serving Indian-American in the US Congress - and the House India Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressmen George Holding, Brad Sherman and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Congressman Ted Yoho. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2017 included special language recognising the unique US-India defence relationship that designated India as a "Major Defence Partner" of the United States. The language seeks unique consideration for trade and technology sharing with India and increased attention and support to advance this relationship in the areas of defence trade and technology sharing. "The legislation bolsters national security and helps ensure full alignment between the Department of Defense and the Department of State." "Such a change will institutionalise the gains made in the relationship and provide a more stable foundation upon which both countries can solidify this unique defence partnership," USISPF said. Although powerful in its own right, the NDAA FY 2017 has no legal bearing on the State Department's body of legislation, nor does it compel the State Department to view defence with India more favourably, USISPF said in a statement. To fulfil the spirit and intent of the NDAA 2017, the US-India Enhanced Cooperation Act would amend the Arms Export Control Act to put India on par with NATO allies and Israel, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia and Japan. "We applaud Congressman Wilson's leadership in reintroducing this important bill. We are confident the US Congress will continue to enact legislation that bolsters the bilateral. The great power competition is not lost on Members of Congress, who understand the strategic imperative for a deeper relationship with India," said Mr Aghi, president and CEO of USISPF. "This legislation would be a major breakthrough for the US-India defence relationship. As Chairman of USISPF, I support this move because it would ultimately further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. The future is bright for the US-India relationship and we hope this legislation is enacted soon," USISPF chairman John Chambers said.

India could soon become a 'NATO ally'; bill introduced by US Congress

President Donald Trump's border wall with Mexico has yet to be built and, on Wednesday, US authorities began demolishing the prototypes constructed for it in California 16 months ago.

The eight models of concrete and steel were unveiled in October 2017, at a cost of more than $300,000 each, on the edge of San Diego at the border with Tijuana, Mexico.

Trump himself inspected the 30-feet (nine-meter) full-scale models erected side-by-side when he visited California in March last year and pushed his signature campaign promise of a wall along the Mexican border.

He says the barrier is needed to keep out illegal immigrants, criminal gangs and drug traffickers.

The prototypes were built for testing and evaluation, which has now been completed, a Customs and Border Protection official said.&nbsp;

"They have served their purpose and are now being removed" while a new "secondary bollard wall" will go up in the same location, the official said.

"Removing the prototypes would be less expensive than integrating the prototypes into the new Secondary Border Wall."

Construction workers used machinery to knock down seven of the prototypes but were unable to topple the last one.

"They woke us up early when they were drilling," said a Tijuana resident who lives a few meters from the border, where the prototypes had become an attraction for tourists in Tijuana.

Unable to obtain all the congressional funding he seeks for his wall, Trump declared a "national emergency" that would enable him to find billions of dollars from other sources, in particular, the Pentagon budget for military construction.

On Tuesday the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives struck down the emergency declaration, which will also be considered by the Senate, which is controlled by Trump's Republican party. 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump's border wall with Mexico has yet to be built and, on Wednesday, US authorities began demolishing the prototypes constructed for it in California 16 months ago.

President Donald Trump's border wall with Mexico has yet to be built and, on Wednesday, US authorities began demolishing the prototypes constructed for it in California 16 months ago. The eight models of concrete and steel were unveiled in October 2017, at a cost of more than $300,000 each, on the edge of San Diego at the border with Tijuana, Mexico. Trump himself inspected the 30-feet (nine-meter) full-scale models erected side-by-side when he visited California in March last year and pushed his signature campaign promise of a wall along the Mexican border. He says the barrier is needed to keep out illegal immigrants, criminal gangs and drug traffickers. The prototypes were built for testing and evaluation, which has now been completed, a Customs and Border Protection official said. "They have served their purpose and are now being removed" while a new "secondary bollard wall" will go up in the same location, the official said. "Removing the prototypes would be less expensive than integrating the prototypes into the new Secondary Border Wall." Construction workers used machinery to knock down seven of the prototypes but were unable to topple the last one. "They woke us up early when they were drilling," said a Tijuana resident who lives a few meters from the border, where the prototypes had become an attraction for tourists in Tijuana. Unable to obtain all the congressional funding he seeks for his wall, Trump declared a "national emergency" that would enable him to find billions of dollars from other sources, in particular, the Pentagon budget for military construction. On Tuesday the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives struck down the emergency declaration, which will also be considered by the Senate, which is controlled by Trump's Republican party.

US demolishes Trump's border wall prototypes

Democrats have launched a resolution to stop Trump's border emergency and, on Tuesday, the Democratically controlled House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the measure aimed at stopping it.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nancy-pelosi-urges-support-for-resolution-to-block-mexico-border-wall-emergency-198721">Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi</a> said, ''To defend our democracy the House will pass Congressman Castro's privileged resolution to terminate the emergency declaration tomorrow.''

The resolution's fate is less clear in the US Senate, which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, though some Republicans have expressed concern about his declaration.

In a separate letter on Monday, 23 former Republican US lawmakers also urged current members of Congress to pass the resolution, Politico reported.

Even if it passes, Trump has said he would veto it, and Congress would need to muster two-thirds of lawmakers to override a veto.

Trump on Monday continued to defend the declaration on Twitter and called on Republican senators to stand by him. "Be strong and smart, don't fall into the Democrats 'trap' of Open Borders and Crime!" he wrote.

The former security officials, in Monday's letter, cited US government statistics showing illegal border crossings at nearly 40-year lows. They also pointed to other government data on drug trafficking that showed most opioids enter the country via legal entry points -- something they said a border wall would not stop.

While the letter included both Republicans and Democrats, as well as career civil servants who served under presidents of both parties, the bulk of its most senior signatories rose to their top positions under Democratic presidents.

Among these former officials were CIA Director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, CIA Director John Brennan, White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy CIA Director David Cohen, all of whom held those posts under Democratic President Barack Obama.

However, the list also included lower-level former officials such as John Bellinger, a former State Department legal adviser, and Eliot Cohen, a former State Department counsellor, both of whom served under Republican President George W Bush.

Democrats have launched a resolution to stop Trump's border emergency and, on Tuesday, the Democratically controlled House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the measure aimed at stopping it.

Democrats have launched a resolution to stop Trump's border emergency and, on Tuesday, the Democratically controlled House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the measure aimed at stopping it. Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi said, ''To defend our democracy the House will pass Congressman Castro's privileged resolution to terminate the emergency declaration tomorrow.'' The resolution's fate is less clear in the US Senate, which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, though some Republicans have expressed concern about his declaration. In a separate letter on Monday, 23 former Republican US lawmakers also urged current members of Congress to pass the resolution, Politico reported. Even if it passes, Trump has said he would veto it, and Congress would need to muster two-thirds of lawmakers to override a veto. Trump on Monday continued to defend the declaration on Twitter and called on Republican senators to stand by him. "Be strong and smart, don't fall into the Democrats 'trap' of Open Borders and Crime!" he wrote. The former security officials, in Monday's letter, cited US government statistics showing illegal border crossings at nearly 40-year lows. They also pointed to other government data on drug trafficking that showed most opioids enter the country via legal entry points -- something they said a border wall would not stop. While the letter included both Republicans and Democrats, as well as career civil servants who served under presidents of both parties, the bulk of its most senior signatories rose to their top positions under Democratic presidents. Among these former officials were CIA Director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, CIA Director John Brennan, White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy CIA Director David Cohen, all of whom held those posts under Democratic President Barack Obama. However, the list also included lower-level former officials such as John Bellinger, a former State Department legal adviser, and Eliot Cohen, a former State Department counsellor, both of whom served under Republican President George W Bush.

The House will terminate the emergency declaration, says US Democrat Nancy Pelosi

Democrats will subpoena <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/robert-mueller-former-trump-campaign-manager-broke-law-repeatedly-and-brazenly-199293">Special Counsel Robert Mueller</a>'s final report on his investigation into links between US President Donald Trump's 2016 election team and Russia if it is not given to Congress, senior lawmaker Adam Schiff said on Sunday.

Schiff, a Democrat who chairs the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Democrats will also sue the government and call on Mueller to testify to Congress if necessary.

"We will obviously subpoena the report. We will bring Bob Mueller in to testify before Congress; we will take it to court if necessary. And in the end, I think the (Justice) Department understands they're going to have to make this public,” Schiff said in an appearance on ABC's "This Week."

Amid reports that Mueller could be near concluding a 21-month investigation into whether Trump's campaign team colluded with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, Democrats are pushing for it to be made public.

When Mueller completes his report, he will hand it into Trump's attorney general, William Barr.

But Barr indicated during his confirmation hearings that he could draft his own report to Congress and not turn Mueller's report over in its entirety.

Trump, a Republican, has denied any collusion took place between his campaign team and Moscow. Russia denies the claims of US intelligence agencies that it meddled in the 2016 elections.

Trump refers to the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt" and on Sunday wrote on Twitter that the only collusion with the Russians was committed by Hillary Clinton, his rival in the 2016 election, and the Democratic National Committee.

Democrats hope to use the Mueller report as the basis for any further investigations into Trump, including whether they would initiate impeachment proceedings.

Schiff said he would be willing to take the administration to court if it does not turn over the Mueller report.

"We are going to get to the bottom of this," Schiff said. "We are going to share this information with the public and if the president is serious about all of his claims of exoneration, then he should welcome the publication of this report."

Democrats will subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's final report on his investigation into links between US President Donald Trump's 2016 election team and Russia if it is not given to Congress, senior lawmaker Adam Schiff said on Sunday.

Democrats will subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's final report on his investigation into links between US President Donald Trump's 2016 election team and Russia if it is not given to Congress, senior lawmaker Adam Schiff said on Sunday. Schiff, a Democrat who chairs the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Democrats will also sue the government and call on Mueller to testify to Congress if necessary. "We will obviously subpoena the report. We will bring Bob Mueller in to testify before Congress; we will take it to court if necessary. And in the end, I think the (Justice) Department understands they're going to have to make this public,” Schiff said in an appearance on ABC's "This Week." Amid reports that Mueller could be near concluding a 21-month investigation into whether Trump's campaign team colluded with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, Democrats are pushing for it to be made public. When Mueller completes his report, he will hand it into Trump's attorney general, William Barr. But Barr indicated during his confirmation hearings that he could draft his own report to Congress and not turn Mueller's report over in its entirety. Trump, a Republican, has denied any collusion took place between his campaign team and Moscow. Russia denies the claims of US intelligence agencies that it meddled in the 2016 elections. Trump refers to the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt" and on Sunday wrote on Twitter that the only collusion with the Russians was committed by Hillary Clinton, his rival in the 2016 election, and the Democratic National Committee. Democrats hope to use the Mueller report as the basis for any further investigations into Trump, including whether they would initiate impeachment proceedings. Schiff said he would be willing to take the administration to court if it does not turn over the Mueller report. "We are going to get to the bottom of this," Schiff said. "We are going to share this information with the public and if the president is serious about all of his claims of exoneration, then he should welcome the publication of this report."

Democrats will subpoena Mueller's Russia report if needed: US lawmaker

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/democrats-capture-us-house-majority-in-rebuke-to-donald-trump-176019#us-midterm-polls-2018-176011">Democrats in Congress </a>raised questions on Thursday about the Internal Revenue Service's ability to effectively audit President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/presidential-harassment-screams-trump-as-democrats-investigate-him-195874">Donald Trump</a>'s tax returns, as they began hearings intended to result in obtaining the documents and making them public.

A tax oversight panel in the House of Representatives heard testimony from expert witnesses as it considered a Democratic measure that would require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, codifying a voluntary practice that existed for decades until Trump ran for president in 2016.

The legislation is unlikely to become law. But a separate Democratic plan to request Trump's tax returns from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin under federal law in coming months is fast becoming a political lightning rod for Democrats and Republicans.

Trump has cited IRS audits of his personal tax returns as a reason not to release them to the public. He has also retained ownership of extensive hotel interests and other business ventures as president, raising questions about potential ties with Russia and other possible conflicts of interest.

Democrats need to decide how to justify seeking Trump's returns, and some lawmaker comments on Thursday appeared to bolster an option being considered that would place such action within established congressional authority to oversee the IRS.

Republicans rejected the need to obtain Trump's tax returns, saying a required annual IRS audit of presidential tax records should provide adequate safeguards without threatening the privacy normally afforded to individual tax data.

"But I'm concerned that the IRS may not have the ability to accurately and fairly carry this out, free from political pressure," Democratic Representative Suzan DelBene said.

Representative John Lewis, Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee, drew a parallel with the Watergate era, citing an IRS audit of former President Richard Nixon that congressional investigators later discovered had missed nearly $480,000 in owed taxes and interest.

"Should the public know whether the person who is running for the office or who is currently leading our nation paid the correct amount of tax? In the case of Nixon, the answer was yes," Lewis said.

"Is it fair to expect the IRS to enforce federal tax law against the president?" he added. "In the case of Nixon, the answer was no."

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal is under growing pressure from Democratic liberal progressives to move quickly on Trump's taxes. Some committee Democrats said a request could be two to three months away.

Republicans say Democrats would overstep their authority and set a dangerous precedent.

"In reality, this is all about weaponizing our tax laws to target a political foe," said Republican Representative Jackie Walorski. "Privacy and civil liberties should still matter in this country."

Democrats in Congress raised questions on Thursday about the Internal Revenue Service's ability to effectively audit President Donald Trump's tax returns, as they began hearings intended to result in obtaining the documents and making them public.

Democrats in Congress raised questions on Thursday about the Internal Revenue Service's ability to effectively audit President Donald Trump's tax returns, as they began hearings intended to result in obtaining the documents and making them public. A tax oversight panel in the House of Representatives heard testimony from expert witnesses as it considered a Democratic measure that would require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, codifying a voluntary practice that existed for decades until Trump ran for president in 2016. The legislation is unlikely to become law. But a separate Democratic plan to request Trump's tax returns from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin under federal law in coming months is fast becoming a political lightning rod for Democrats and Republicans. Trump has cited IRS audits of his personal tax returns as a reason not to release them to the public. He has also retained ownership of extensive hotel interests and other business ventures as president, raising questions about potential ties with Russia and other possible conflicts of interest. Democrats need to decide how to justify seeking Trump's returns, and some lawmaker comments on Thursday appeared to bolster an option being considered that would place such action within established congressional authority to oversee the IRS. Republicans rejected the need to obtain Trump's tax returns, saying a required annual IRS audit of presidential tax records should provide adequate safeguards without threatening the privacy normally afforded to individual tax data. "But I'm concerned that the IRS may not have the ability to accurately and fairly carry this out, free from political pressure," Democratic Representative Suzan DelBene said. Representative John Lewis, Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee, drew a parallel with the Watergate era, citing an IRS audit of former President Richard Nixon that congressional investigators later discovered had missed nearly $480,000 in owed taxes and interest. "Should the public know whether the person who is running for the office or who is currently leading our nation paid the correct amount of tax? In the case of Nixon, the answer was yes," Lewis said. "Is it fair to expect the IRS to enforce federal tax law against the president?" he added. "In the case of Nixon, the answer was no." House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal is under growing pressure from Democratic liberal progressives to move quickly on Trump's taxes. Some committee Democrats said a request could be two to three months away. Republicans say Democrats would overstep their authority and set a dangerous precedent. "In reality, this is all about weaponizing our tax laws to target a political foe," said Republican Representative Jackie Walorski. "Privacy and civil liberties should still matter in this country."

US House Democrats question IRS audits of Trump taxes

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sworn in as youngest US Congresswoman

The US government began a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shuts-down-at-midnight-as-house-adjourns-with-no-deal-185738">Christmas shutdown </a>early Saturday after Congress adjourned without passing a federal spending bill or addressing President Donald Trump's demand for money to build a border wall.

Operations for several key <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/standoff-over-trump-wall-leaves-us-govt-5-days-away-from-shutdown-184833">agencies ceased at </a>12:01 am Saturday (5:01 GMT), despite last-ditch talks that continued on Capitol Hill between White House officials and congressional leaders in both parties.

Trump has dug in on his demand for $5 billion for construction of a wall on the US border with Mexico. Democrats are staunchly opposed, and the absence of an elusive deal means federal funds for dozens of agencies lapsed when the clock struck midnight on Friday.

The shutdown is the third this year and it remained unclear how long it would last. Trump expressed hope late Friday night that it "will not last long," after earlier saying he was ready for just that.

The optics are bad, as 800,000 federal employees will be either furloughed or forced to work without pay in the run-up to the Christmas holiday.

But the prospect of a large portion of government workers going without paychecks was not enough to spur lawmakers or the president to action.

The House of Representatives adjourned just before 7:00 pm &nbsp;Friday, with no moves taken to avert a shutdown, and the Senate closed up shop an hour later.&nbsp;

Both are due back in session at noon Saturday.

About three-quarters of the government, including the military and the Department of Health and Human Services, is fully funded until the end of September 2019, leaving 25 per cent unfunded as of Saturday.&nbsp;

Most NASA employees will be sent home, as will Commerce Department workers and many at the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Agriculture and State.

National parks will remain open, but most park staff will stay at home.&nbsp;

While most critical security functions will be operational, the effects of the budget wrangling and uncertainty have cast an air of chaos over the capital, which is also reeling from the resignation announcement Thursday by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Wall Street ended its worst week in a decade with more bruising losses Friday.

And the inability of Washington to accomplish one of its most basic tasks — keeping the government up and running— has caused deep embarrassment and anxiety.

'Prepared' for shutdown&nbsp;

"It's up to the Democrats whether or not we have a shutdown tonight," Trump said earlier Friday, blaming political opponents for the crisis.

"I hope we don't," the president added, but "we're totally prepared for a very long shutdown."

Senators told reporters that congressional leaders from both parties were negotiating behind the scenes with White House officials including Vice President Mike Pence, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and incoming chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

The power trio shuttled from one side of the Capitol to the other, seeking a breakthrough with Republicans and Democrats.&nbsp;

It did not come on Friday.

Should they eventually strike a deal, it could swiftly clear Congress and reach the president's desk, said Senate Republican Bob Corker.&nbsp;

"Now Republicans and Democrats both own the success or failure to fund government."

One focus of discussion was the $1.6 billion in border security funding that was a part of pending Senate legislation, number two Senate Republican John Cornyn told AFP.

But conservatives in the House would likely baulk at that figure.

"There's no agreement," Congressman Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus of ultra-conservatives, told reporters as he left a closed-door meeting on the Capitol's Senate side.

"There's a whole lot of numbers being thrown around," but a maximum $1.6 billion for border security "is not acceptable."

Cornyn suggested the art of the deal was less about grandstanding and more about a logical compromise to break the impasse.

"The House is at five (billion dollars for border security), the Democrats are at zero," he said. "It doesn't sound like that's rocket science to come up with a figure."

'Hostage'

Trump reversed course Thursday and rejected a measure that had unanimously passed the Senate and was under House consideration.

It would have extended government funding until February 8, but contained no money for a border wall, a pet project Trump has fought for since his presidential campaign.

Democrats painted Trump as the Grinch who stole the year-end deal.

"This #shutdown is brought to you by @POTUS &amp; @HouseGOP," Congresswoman Kathleen Rice tweeted. "Instead of passing the Senate's funding bill, they decided to hold this country hostage."

With lawmakers like Meadows and prominent conservative commentators demanding that the president sticks to his campaign promises, Trump doubled down on his wall.

The House swiftly passed a bill that fulfilled the president's demands. It included $5.7 billion in wall funding and $7.8 billion in disaster relief.

But it stalled at the first hurdle in the Senate.

Trump was scheduled to fly to Florida Friday for his Christmas break, but he postponed the trip to help salvage a deal.

The US government began a Christmas shutdown early Saturday after Congress adjourned without passing a federal spending bill or addressing President Donald Trump's demand for money to build a border wall.

The US government began a Christmas shutdown early Saturday after Congress adjourned without passing a federal spending bill or addressing President Donald Trump's demand for money to build a border wall. Operations for several key agencies ceased at 12:01 am Saturday (5:01 GMT), despite last-ditch talks that continued on Capitol Hill between White House officials and congressional leaders in both parties. Trump has dug in on his demand for $5 billion for construction of a wall on the US border with Mexico. Democrats are staunchly opposed, and the absence of an elusive deal means federal funds for dozens of agencies lapsed when the clock struck midnight on Friday. The shutdown is the third this year and it remained unclear how long it would last. Trump expressed hope late Friday night that it "will not last long," after earlier saying he was ready for just that. The optics are bad, as 800,000 federal employees will be either furloughed or forced to work without pay in the run-up to the Christmas holiday. But the prospect of a large portion of government workers going without paychecks was not enough to spur lawmakers or the president to action. The House of Representatives adjourned just before 7:00 pm Friday, with no moves taken to avert a shutdown, and the Senate closed up shop an hour later. Both are due back in session at noon Saturday. About three-quarters of the government, including the military and the Department of Health and Human Services, is fully funded until the end of September 2019, leaving 25 per cent unfunded as of Saturday. Most NASA employees will be sent home, as will Commerce Department workers and many at the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Agriculture and State. National parks will remain open, but most park staff will stay at home. While most critical security functions will be operational, the effects of the budget wrangling and uncertainty have cast an air of chaos over the capital, which is also reeling from the resignation announcement Thursday by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Wall Street ended its worst week in a decade with more bruising losses Friday. And the inability of Washington to accomplish one of its most basic tasks — keeping the government up and running— has caused deep embarrassment and anxiety. 'Prepared' for shutdown "It's up to the Democrats whether or not we have a shutdown tonight," Trump said earlier Friday, blaming political opponents for the crisis. "I hope we don't," the president added, but "we're totally prepared for a very long shutdown." Senators told reporters that congressional leaders from both parties were negotiating behind the scenes with White House officials including Vice President Mike Pence, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and incoming chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. The power trio shuttled from one side of the Capitol to the other, seeking a breakthrough with Republicans and Democrats. It did not come on Friday. Should they eventually strike a deal, it could swiftly clear Congress and reach the president's desk, said Senate Republican Bob Corker. "Now Republicans and Democrats both own the success or failure to fund government." One focus of discussion was the $1.6 billion in border security funding that was a part of pending Senate legislation, number two Senate Republican John Cornyn told AFP. But conservatives in the House would likely baulk at that figure. "There's no agreement," Congressman Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus of ultra-conservatives, told reporters as he left a closed-door meeting on the Capitol's Senate side. "There's a whole lot of numbers being thrown around," but a maximum $1.6 billion for border security "is not acceptable." Cornyn suggested the art of the deal was less about grandstanding and more about a logical compromise to break the impasse. "The House is at five (billion dollars for border security), the Democrats are at zero," he said. "It doesn't sound like that's rocket science to come up with a figure." 'Hostage' Trump reversed course Thursday and rejected a measure that had unanimously passed the Senate and was under House consideration. It would have extended government funding until February 8, but contained no money for a border wall, a pet project Trump has fought for since his presidential campaign. Democrats painted Trump as the Grinch who stole the year-end deal. "This #shutdown is brought to you by @POTUS & @HouseGOP," Congresswoman Kathleen Rice tweeted. "Instead of passing the Senate's funding bill, they decided to hold this country hostage." With lawmakers like Meadows and prominent conservative commentators demanding that the president sticks to his campaign promises, Trump doubled down on his wall. The House swiftly passed a bill that fulfilled the president's demands. It included $5.7 billion in wall funding and $7.8 billion in disaster relief. But it stalled at the first hurdle in the Senate. Trump was scheduled to fly to Florida Friday for his Christmas break, but he postponed the trip to help salvage a deal.

US government partially shuts as Congress, Trump fail to reach deal

The US&nbsp;government was headed for a partial shutdown unless <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-refuses-to-sign-us-government-shutdown-legislation-over-mexico-wall-funding-185571">President Donald Trump</a> and Congress cut a deal on Friday in their long-running battle over Trump's demand for a border wall with Mexico, with the president signalling he was prepared to close down the government "for a very long time."

Funding for a range of federal agencies is set to expire at midnight on Friday.

The Republican-led Senate had already approved a measure to fund the government through February 8 without the wall funds. But&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;pushed Republican allies in the House of Representatives on Thursday to use the short-term funding bill as leverage to force through $5 billion for the border wall despite Democratic objections.

In a series of early-morning tweets on Friday,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;called on Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell to take up the amended bill from the House to prevent the shutdown. But approving the spending legislation would require Democratic support to reach the 60 votes needed for passage in the Senate.

"Senator Mitch McConnell should fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he fought for anything,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;tweeted. "He will need Democrat votes, but as shown in the House, good things happen."

"If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!" he said.

The Senate is expected to reject that legislation&nbsp;leaving the government without funding for agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and Agriculture Department. The agencies would have to pare staff down to those deemed "essential" to public safety.

Three-quarters of government programs are fully funded through next September 30, including those in the Defense Department, Labor Department and Health and Human Services.

On Wednesday, there had appeared to be a bipartisan agreement to avoid the shutdown without providing&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;with his border wall money.

But on Thursday afternoon,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;summoned the House of Representatives' Republican leaders to the White House and insisted that deal be scuttled.

The House late Thursday did just that when it bowed to&nbsp;Trump's demand that any temporary funding bill includes wall funding.

If that measure is put to a vote in the Senate, Democrats there have pledged to prevent it from getting the votes it needs for passage.

"The bill that's on the floor of the House, everyone knows will not pass the Senate," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters late Thursday.

It was not yet clear what would happen in that case. The partial government shutdown could begin, or lawmakers could work to find a solution that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;finds acceptable.

Trump&nbsp;believes the border wall is a winning issue for his 2020 re-election campaign and said last week in a White House meeting with Democratic congressional leaders that he would be "proud to shut down the government for border security.

Democrats have used those words to blame any shutdown on the president, believing it would hurt him politically.

Republicans worry about that too and some tried on Thursday to shift the blame to Democrats.

"Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats now have to decide whether it is worth shutting down the government to keep us from securing our border," said Kevin McCarthy, leader of Republican lawmakers in the House.

Workers in the affected government departments will still perform their duties if deemed as essential.

The Department of Homeland Security would run out of funding on Friday if Congress and&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;do not act, but its border agents and those working in the interior of the country would still be on the job because their work is deemed essential.

A partial shutdown would force federal parks to close unless the government also declares them an essential service.

Workers classified as not essential to public safety would be put on temporary leave. Both they and essential employees would not get paychecks until the dispute is resolved.

Democrats take control of the House on January 3 following their victory in the midterm elections last month.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will almost certainly be the new speaker of the House and would likely push through a new temporary funding bill without any money forTrump's wall, hoping the Republican-controlled Senate would accept it.

The US government was headed for a partial shutdown unless President Donald Trump and Congress cut a deal on Friday in their long-running battle over Trump's demand for a border wall with Mexico, with the president signalling he was prepared to close down the government "for a very long time.

The US government was headed for a partial shutdown unless President Donald Trump and Congress cut a deal on Friday in their long-running battle over Trump's demand for a border wall with Mexico, with the president signalling he was prepared to close down the government "for a very long time." Funding for a range of federal agencies is set to expire at midnight on Friday. The Republican-led Senate had already approved a measure to fund the government through February 8 without the wall funds. But Trump pushed Republican allies in the House of Representatives on Thursday to use the short-term funding bill as leverage to force through $5 billion for the border wall despite Democratic objections. In a series of early-morning tweets on Friday, Trump called on Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell to take up the amended bill from the House to prevent the shutdown. But approving the spending legislation would require Democratic support to reach the 60 votes needed for passage in the Senate. "Senator Mitch McConnell should fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he fought for anything," Trump tweeted. "He will need Democrat votes, but as shown in the House, good things happen." "If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!" he said. The Senate is expected to reject that legislation leaving the government without funding for agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and Agriculture Department. The agencies would have to pare staff down to those deemed "essential" to public safety. Three-quarters of government programs are fully funded through next September 30, including those in the Defense Department, Labor Department and Health and Human Services. On Wednesday, there had appeared to be a bipartisan agreement to avoid the shutdown without providing Trump with his border wall money. But on Thursday afternoon, Trump summoned the House of Representatives' Republican leaders to the White House and insisted that deal be scuttled. The House late Thursday did just that when it bowed to Trump's demand that any temporary funding bill includes wall funding. If that measure is put to a vote in the Senate, Democrats there have pledged to prevent it from getting the votes it needs for passage. "The bill that's on the floor of the House, everyone knows will not pass the Senate," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters late Thursday. It was not yet clear what would happen in that case. The partial government shutdown could begin, or lawmakers could work to find a solution that Trump finds acceptable. Trump believes the border wall is a winning issue for his 2020 re-election campaign and said last week in a White House meeting with Democratic congressional leaders that he would be "proud to shut down the government for border security. Democrats have used those words to blame any shutdown on the president, believing it would hurt him politically. Republicans worry about that too and some tried on Thursday to shift the blame to Democrats. "Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats now have to decide whether it is worth shutting down the government to keep us from securing our border," said Kevin McCarthy, leader of Republican lawmakers in the House. Workers in the affected government departments will still perform their duties if deemed as essential. The Department of Homeland Security would run out of funding on Friday if Congress and Trump do not act, but its border agents and those working in the interior of the country would still be on the job because their work is deemed essential. A partial shutdown would force federal parks to close unless the government also declares them an essential service. Workers classified as not essential to public safety would be put on temporary leave. Both they and essential employees would not get paychecks until the dispute is resolved. Democrats take control of the House on January 3 following their victory in the midterm elections last month. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will almost certainly be the new speaker of the House and would likely push through a new temporary funding bill without any money forTrump's wall, hoping the Republican-controlled Senate would accept it.

Trump pressures Democrats, warns government may close 'for very long time'

President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a court decision against <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/outraged-democrats-vow-to-challenge-court-ruling-undercutting-obamacare-184387">Obamacare </a>as "a great ruling for our country," while a US&nbsp;government official said the decision by a Texas judge would have no immediate impact on health coverage.

US&nbsp;District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, said that Obamacare, known formally as the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), was unconstitutional based on its mandate requiring that people buy health insurance.

In a decision that could reach the US&nbsp;Supreme Court, O'Connor sided with a coalition of 20 states that argued requiring people to pay for insurance coverage is illegal because a change in tax law last year eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance.

"It's a great ruling for our country. We will be able to get great healthcare. We will sit down with the Democrats if the Supreme Court upholds," Trump told reporters during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on a rainy Saturday.

Trump offered no details on the potential for healthcare talks with the Democrats, who are poised to take majority control of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives in early January. The Senate will remain in Republican hands.

O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law.

The head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Affordable Care Act, said there were no changes and exchanges were open for business.

"We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court," CMS Administrator Seema Verma wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place.”

"There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan,” she said late on Friday.

High Political Stakes

Since the law's formative stages amid concern about millions of Americans lacking health insurance, Republicans have opposed Obamacare, calling it a costly and unneeded government intrusion into Americans' lives. Trump campaigned against it in 2016.

They have repeatedly tried but failed, to repeal the law, which was the signature domestic policy achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama. Even with control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2017, Republicans could not push through a repeal.

The O'Connor ruling underscored the high political stakes involved in the divide over healthcare, especially for Trump and his fellow Republicans ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

If the Supreme Court were to uphold O'Connor's ruling, it would go a long way toward dismantling Obamacare. That would be a political victory for Republicans, but it would also likely strip millions of Americans of their health coverage, a policy problem for which Republicans have offered no clear solution.

About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans.

The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in 2012

Two days after November&nbsp;6 The US&nbsp;congressional elections, a Reuters/Ipsos national opinion poll found that healthcare was the top issue Americans wanted the US&nbsp;Congress to address.

'Silly, Irresponible'

On Friday, O'Connor ruled that after the enactment last year by Trump of a landmark tax bill, the ACA's individual mandate requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a tax could no longer be considered constitutional.

He said because the individual mandate was an "essential" part of Obamacare, the entire law, rather than just the individual mandate, was unconstitutional.

Timothy Jost, a health law expert and emeritus professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, said it was “silly” and “irresponsible” for O’Connor to find that the individual mandate could not be separated from the rest of the ACA. He said judges who find that portions of laws are invalid are required “to do as little damage as possible” to the rest of the law, and O’Connor had ignored that principle.

Jost noted that the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear an appeal in the case, is considered the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. But, “O’Connor is so far off the reservation here that virtually any (appeals) panel will reverse him,” Jost said.

Jost noted that in the 2012 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, a lower appeals court had found the individual mandate unlawful, but ruled it could be severed from the rest of the law. That ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “is at least as persuasive and probably more persuasive than a decision by a single judge in Wichita Falls, Texas,” Jost said.

He said the US&nbsp;Supreme Court’s conservative wing has been sceptical in the past of striking down entire laws because of a single problematic provision, and at least a bare majority of five justices would likely agree that O’Connor was wrong.

President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a court decision against Obamacare as "a great ruling for our country," while a US government official said the decision by a Texas judge would have no immediate impact on health coverage.

President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a court decision against Obamacare as "a great ruling for our country," while a US government official said the decision by a Texas judge would have no immediate impact on health coverage. US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, said that Obamacare, known formally as the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), was unconstitutional based on its mandate requiring that people buy health insurance. In a decision that could reach the US Supreme Court, O'Connor sided with a coalition of 20 states that argued requiring people to pay for insurance coverage is illegal because a change in tax law last year eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance. "It's a great ruling for our country. We will be able to get great healthcare. We will sit down with the Democrats if the Supreme Court upholds," Trump told reporters during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on a rainy Saturday. Trump offered no details on the potential for healthcare talks with the Democrats, who are poised to take majority control of the US House of Representatives in early January. The Senate will remain in Republican hands. O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law. The head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Affordable Care Act, said there were no changes and exchanges were open for business. "We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court," CMS Administrator Seema Verma wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place.” "There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan,” she said late on Friday. High Political Stakes Since the law's formative stages amid concern about millions of Americans lacking health insurance, Republicans have opposed Obamacare, calling it a costly and unneeded government intrusion into Americans' lives. Trump campaigned against it in 2016. They have repeatedly tried but failed, to repeal the law, which was the signature domestic policy achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama. Even with control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2017, Republicans could not push through a repeal. The O'Connor ruling underscored the high political stakes involved in the divide over healthcare, especially for Trump and his fellow Republicans ahead of the 2020 presidential election. If the Supreme Court were to uphold O'Connor's ruling, it would go a long way toward dismantling Obamacare. That would be a political victory for Republicans, but it would also likely strip millions of Americans of their health coverage, a policy problem for which Republicans have offered no clear solution. About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in 2012 Two days after November 6 The US congressional elections, a Reuters/Ipsos national opinion poll found that healthcare was the top issue Americans wanted the US Congress to address. 'Silly, Irresponible' On Friday, O'Connor ruled that after the enactment last year by Trump of a landmark tax bill, the ACA's individual mandate requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a tax could no longer be considered constitutional. He said because the individual mandate was an "essential" part of Obamacare, the entire law, rather than just the individual mandate, was unconstitutional. Timothy Jost, a health law expert and emeritus professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, said it was “silly” and “irresponsible” for O’Connor to find that the individual mandate could not be separated from the rest of the ACA. He said judges who find that portions of laws are invalid are required “to do as little damage as possible” to the rest of the law, and O’Connor had ignored that principle. Jost noted that the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear an appeal in the case, is considered the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. But, “O’Connor is so far off the reservation here that virtually any (appeals) panel will reverse him,” Jost said. Jost noted that in the 2012 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, a lower appeals court had found the individual mandate unlawful, but ruled it could be severed from the rest of the law. That ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “is at least as persuasive and probably more persuasive than a decision by a single judge in Wichita Falls, Texas,” Jost said. He said the US Supreme Court’s conservative wing has been sceptical in the past of striking down entire laws because of a single problematic provision, and at least a bare majority of five justices would likely agree that O’Connor was wrong.

Trump hails judge's ruling against Obamacare as 'great'