The US&nbsp;government recorded a $134 billion budget deficit in October, the first month of the new fiscal year, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday.

That compared to a budget deficit of $100 billion in the same month last year, according to the Treasury's monthly budget statement.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a $133 billion deficit for the month.

Unadjusted receipts last month totalled $246 billion, down 3 per cent&nbsp;from October 2018, while unadjusted outlays were $380 billion, a rise of 8 per cent&nbsp;from the same month a year earlier.

The US&nbsp;government's fiscal year ends in September each year. Fiscal year 2019 saw a widening in the deficit to $984 billion, the largest budget deficit in seven years, a result of the Trump administration's decision to cut taxes and increase government spending.

Those figures reflected the second full budget year under US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, a Republican, and a time when the country had an expanding tax base with moderate economic growth and an unemployment rate near a 50-year low.

When adjusted for calendar effects, the deficit for October remained at $134 billion compared with an adjusted deficit of $113 billion in October 2018.

The US government recorded a $134 billion budget deficit in October, the first month of the new fiscal year, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday. That compared to a budget deficit of $100 billion in the same month last year, according to the Treasury's monthly budget statement.

The US government recorded a $134 billion budget deficit in October, the first month of the new fiscal year, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday. That compared to a budget deficit of $100 billion in the same month last year, according to the Treasury's monthly budget statement. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a $133 billion deficit for the month. Unadjusted receipts last month totalled $246 billion, down 3 per cent from October 2018, while unadjusted outlays were $380 billion, a rise of 8 per cent from the same month a year earlier. The US government's fiscal year ends in September each year. Fiscal year 2019 saw a widening in the deficit to $984 billion, the largest budget deficit in seven years, a result of the Trump administration's decision to cut taxes and increase government spending. Those figures reflected the second full budget year under US President Donald Trump, a Republican, and a time when the country had an expanding tax base with moderate economic growth and an unemployment rate near a 50-year low. When adjusted for calendar effects, the deficit for October remained at $134 billion compared with an adjusted deficit of $113 billion in October 2018.

US government posts $134 billion deficit in October

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Wednesday pushed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to walk away from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-should-scrap-russian-missile-system-or-face-us-sanctions-white-house-official-261262">purchase of a Russian missile</a> defence system, calling it a "very serious challenge" to bilateral ties, even though he described a meeting between the two leaders as "wonderful."

After the much anticipated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/behind-trump-erdogan-bromance-a-white-house-meeting-to-repair-us-turkey-ties-261682">meeting at the White House</a> to address a crisis in relations, Trump said he was "a great fan" of the Turkish leader and that they had a "productive" encounter.

But both leaders fell short of explaining in concrete terms how they would overcome the mounting differences they have on numerous issues, from Erdogan's incursion in Syria against America's Kurdish allies to Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system.

"Turkey's acquisition of sophisticated Russian military equipment, such as the S-400, creates some very serious challenges for us and we are talking about it constantly," Trump told a joint news conference.

"We talked about it today, we're talking about it in the future, hopefully we'll be able to resolve that situation."

Minutes after their news conference, the White House released a statement using firmer language than the two leaders, who boast of having a warm personal relationship while their governments are largely on icy terms.

"In order to achieve progress on other fronts, it is vital that we resolve the issues involving Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, strengthening our defence partnership," it said.

Washington says Ankara's purchase of the Russian system is not compatible with NATO defences and also poses a threat to the F-35 'stealth' fighter jet Lockheed Martin&nbsp;is developing. It is concerned that Turkey, a bulwark against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, is deepening ties with Moscow at the expense of its partnership with the United States.

Turkey had shrugged off threats of US&nbsp;sanctions and began receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July. To punish Turkey, the United States has banned sales of F-35s to the country and removed it from a multinational programme to produce the warplane.

On Wednesday, both leaders said they will work to resolve the issue, without saying how. "We've asked our secretary of state and minister of foreign affairs and our respective national security advisers to immediately work on resolving the S-400 issue," Trump said.

Erdogan said the two countries could only overcome the dispute through dialogue. "We are in agreement to further Turkish-American ties on a healthy ground. We have agreed to open a new page in our relationship," he said.

Despite the tensions on policy issues, Trump gave a warm welcome to Erdogan. It was in sharp contrast to anger in the US&nbsp;Congress over Ankara's offensive into Syria to drive out a Kurdish militia that has been Washington's main partner in the fight against Islamic State.

"We've been friends for a long time, almost from Day 1. We understand each others' country. We understand where we are coming from," Trump told Erdogan as they sat next to each other in the Oval Office. "They're highly respected in their country and in the region," Trump said of Erdogan and his wife, Emine.

Bilateral relations hit a fresh low last month when Erdogan began his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/key-developments-in-turkeys-offensive-in-syria-256638">cross-border incursion</a> against the Kurds.

Trump has come under intense pressure from his fellow Republicans for withdrawing US&nbsp;troops from the area and clearing the way for Turkey's incursion. On Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was the best partner for the United States to help fight Islamic State.

"Turkey and the United States can work together to finish Islamic State and bring peace to Syria. The most reliable US&nbsp;partner in the region to do this is Turkey," Erdogan said.

At a speech later in Washington, Erdogan said he asked Trump to cease support for the Kurdish YPG militia, who are seen as hostile by Ankara but form the backbone of the SDF, the main US&nbsp;partner in Syria fighting against Islamic State. He did not say how Trump responded.

A day ago, both senior administration officials and a State Department official in separate briefings told reporters that Washington had no intention of ending its partnership with the SDF.

Trump brought in five Republican senators to the White House to speak with Erdogan about the Syrian Kurds and the delivery of S-400s. Following the meeting, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator close to Trump and who advocated imposing sanctions on Turkey over its incursion, said the discussion at the White House with Erdogan was "candid and frank."

"I'm hoping to salvage this relationship, but only time will tell if that is possible," Graham said in a statement.

Erdogan was critical of the US&nbsp;Congress, particularly of a House of Representatives vote last month in favour of a non-binding resolution recognising the killings of 1.5 million Armenians a century ago as a genocide, a symbolic but historic vote denounced by Turkey.

At his speech later, he called the House resolution as "shameful" and "against historical realities."

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday pushed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to walk away from the purchase of a Russian missile defence system, calling it a "very serious challenge" to bilateral ties, even though he described a meeting between the two leaders as "wonderful.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday pushed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to walk away from the purchase of a Russian missile defence system, calling it a "very serious challenge" to bilateral ties, even though he described a meeting between the two leaders as "wonderful." After the much anticipated meeting at the White House to address a crisis in relations, Trump said he was "a great fan" of the Turkish leader and that they had a "productive" encounter. But both leaders fell short of explaining in concrete terms how they would overcome the mounting differences they have on numerous issues, from Erdogan's incursion in Syria against America's Kurdish allies to Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system. "Turkey's acquisition of sophisticated Russian military equipment, such as the S-400, creates some very serious challenges for us and we are talking about it constantly," Trump told a joint news conference. "We talked about it today, we're talking about it in the future, hopefully we'll be able to resolve that situation." Minutes after their news conference, the White House released a statement using firmer language than the two leaders, who boast of having a warm personal relationship while their governments are largely on icy terms. "In order to achieve progress on other fronts, it is vital that we resolve the issues involving Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, strengthening our defence partnership," it said. Washington says Ankara's purchase of the Russian system is not compatible with NATO defences and also poses a threat to the F-35 'stealth' fighter jet Lockheed Martin is developing. It is concerned that Turkey, a bulwark against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, is deepening ties with Moscow at the expense of its partnership with the United States. Turkey had shrugged off threats of US sanctions and began receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July. To punish Turkey, the United States has banned sales of F-35s to the country and removed it from a multinational programme to produce the warplane. On Wednesday, both leaders said they will work to resolve the issue, without saying how. "We've asked our secretary of state and minister of foreign affairs and our respective national security advisers to immediately work on resolving the S-400 issue," Trump said. Erdogan said the two countries could only overcome the dispute through dialogue. "We are in agreement to further Turkish-American ties on a healthy ground. We have agreed to open a new page in our relationship," he said. Despite the tensions on policy issues, Trump gave a warm welcome to Erdogan. It was in sharp contrast to anger in the US Congress over Ankara's offensive into Syria to drive out a Kurdish militia that has been Washington's main partner in the fight against Islamic State. "We've been friends for a long time, almost from Day 1. We understand each others' country. We understand where we are coming from," Trump told Erdogan as they sat next to each other in the Oval Office. "They're highly respected in their country and in the region," Trump said of Erdogan and his wife, Emine. Bilateral relations hit a fresh low last month when Erdogan began his cross-border incursion against the Kurds. Trump has come under intense pressure from his fellow Republicans for withdrawing US troops from the area and clearing the way for Turkey's incursion. On Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was the best partner for the United States to help fight Islamic State. "Turkey and the United States can work together to finish Islamic State and bring peace to Syria. The most reliable US partner in the region to do this is Turkey," Erdogan said. At a speech later in Washington, Erdogan said he asked Trump to cease support for the Kurdish YPG militia, who are seen as hostile by Ankara but form the backbone of the SDF, the main US partner in Syria fighting against Islamic State. He did not say how Trump responded. A day ago, both senior administration officials and a State Department official in separate briefings told reporters that Washington had no intention of ending its partnership with the SDF. Trump brought in five Republican senators to the White House to speak with Erdogan about the Syrian Kurds and the delivery of S-400s. Following the meeting, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator close to Trump and who advocated imposing sanctions on Turkey over its incursion, said the discussion at the White House with Erdogan was "candid and frank." "I'm hoping to salvage this relationship, but only time will tell if that is possible," Graham said in a statement. Erdogan was critical of the US Congress, particularly of a House of Representatives vote last month in favour of a non-binding resolution recognising the killings of 1.5 million Armenians a century ago as a genocide, a symbolic but historic vote denounced by Turkey. At his speech later, he called the House resolution as "shameful" and "against historical realities."

Despite 'wonderful' meeting, Trump and Erdogan fail to resolve conflicts

President Donald Trump is skipping the first televised hearings in his impeachment investigation, preferring instead to keep working, according to the White House spokeswoman Wednesday.

"He's in the Oval (office) in meetings. Not watching. He's working," Stephanie Grisham said more than an hour into the public hearing in Congress.

Senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers presented duelling narratives on Wednesday as a US congressional impeachment enquiry that threatens Donald Trump's tumultuous presidency entered a crucial new phase with the first public hearing.

Democrats leading the US House of Representatives probe have summoned three US diplomats - all of whom have previously expressed alarm in closed-door testimony about Trump's dealings with US ally Ukraine - to detail their concerns under the glare of wall-to-wall news coverage this week. The public hearings are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday.

With a potential television audience of tens of millions looking on, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, opened the historic session - the first impeachment spectacle in two decades - in an ornate hearing room packed with journalists, lawmakers and members of the public.

Schiff's accusations that Trump abused his power was met by a staunch denial by the panel's senior Republican, Devin Nunes, of the Republican president's complicity in a saga that revolves around whether Trump and his aides improperly pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on a political rival for his political benefit.

The day's two witnesses - William Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs - followed with opening statements echoing their earlier closed-door testimony about their alarm over efforts to get Ukraine to open an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for the 2020 election.

"The questions presented by this impeachment enquiry are whether President Trump sought to exploit that ally's vulnerability and invite Ukraine's interference in our elections," Schiff said in his opening statement.

"Our answer to these questions will affect not only the future of this presidency, but the future of the presidency itself, and what kind of conduct or misconduct the American people may come to expect from their commander-in-chief," Schiff said.

Schiff added, "If this is not impeachable conduct, what is?"

This week's hearings, where Americans are hearing directly for the first time from people involved in events that sparked the congressional inquiry, may pave the way for the Democratic-led House to approve articles of impeachment - formal charges - against Trump.

That would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to convict Trump of those charges and remove him from office. Republicans control the Senate and have shown little support for Trump's removal.

Nunes accused the Democrats of conducting a "carefully orchestrated smear campaign" and of using the hearings as a "televised theatrical performance."

He hewed to the Republican strategy of arguing that Trump did nothing wrong or impeachable when he asked Ukraine's new president to investigate prominent Democrat Joe Biden, a former US vice president and key 2020 re-election rival.

"It's nothing more than an impeachment process in search of a crime," Nunes said.

Schiff said the inquiry looks at whether Trump sought to condition official acts such as a White House meeting or U.S. military assistance on Ukraine's willingness to carry out two political investigations that would help his re-election campaign.

"And if President Trump did either, whether such an abuse of his power is compatible with the office of the presidency?" Schiff asked.

The focus of the inquiry is on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open a corruption investigation into Biden and his son Hunter Biden and into a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 US election. Hunter Biden had worked for a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma.

Democrats are looking into whether Trump abused his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US ally facing Russian aggression - as leverage to pressure Kiev into conducting investigations politically beneficial to Trump. The money - approved by the US Congress to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country - was later provided to Ukraine.

President Donald Trump is skipping the first televised hearings in his impeachment investigation, preferring instead to keep working, according to the White House spokeswoman Wednesday.

President Donald Trump is skipping the first televised hearings in his impeachment investigation, preferring instead to keep working, according to the White House spokeswoman Wednesday. "He's in the Oval (office) in meetings. Not watching. He's working," Stephanie Grisham said more than an hour into the public hearing in Congress. Senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers presented duelling narratives on Wednesday as a US congressional impeachment enquiry that threatens Donald Trump's tumultuous presidency entered a crucial new phase with the first public hearing. Democrats leading the US House of Representatives probe have summoned three US diplomats - all of whom have previously expressed alarm in closed-door testimony about Trump's dealings with US ally Ukraine - to detail their concerns under the glare of wall-to-wall news coverage this week. The public hearings are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday. With a potential television audience of tens of millions looking on, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, opened the historic session - the first impeachment spectacle in two decades - in an ornate hearing room packed with journalists, lawmakers and members of the public. Schiff's accusations that Trump abused his power was met by a staunch denial by the panel's senior Republican, Devin Nunes, of the Republican president's complicity in a saga that revolves around whether Trump and his aides improperly pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on a political rival for his political benefit. The day's two witnesses - William Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs - followed with opening statements echoing their earlier closed-door testimony about their alarm over efforts to get Ukraine to open an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for the 2020 election. "The questions presented by this impeachment enquiry are whether President Trump sought to exploit that ally's vulnerability and invite Ukraine's interference in our elections," Schiff said in his opening statement. "Our answer to these questions will affect not only the future of this presidency, but the future of the presidency itself, and what kind of conduct or misconduct the American people may come to expect from their commander-in-chief," Schiff said. Schiff added, "If this is not impeachable conduct, what is?" This week's hearings, where Americans are hearing directly for the first time from people involved in events that sparked the congressional inquiry, may pave the way for the Democratic-led House to approve articles of impeachment - formal charges - against Trump. That would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to convict Trump of those charges and remove him from office. Republicans control the Senate and have shown little support for Trump's removal. Nunes accused the Democrats of conducting a "carefully orchestrated smear campaign" and of using the hearings as a "televised theatrical performance." He hewed to the Republican strategy of arguing that Trump did nothing wrong or impeachable when he asked Ukraine's new president to investigate prominent Democrat Joe Biden, a former US vice president and key 2020 re-election rival. "It's nothing more than an impeachment process in search of a crime," Nunes said. Schiff said the inquiry looks at whether Trump sought to condition official acts such as a White House meeting or U.S. military assistance on Ukraine's willingness to carry out two political investigations that would help his re-election campaign. "And if President Trump did either, whether such an abuse of his power is compatible with the office of the presidency?" Schiff asked. The focus of the inquiry is on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open a corruption investigation into Biden and his son Hunter Biden and into a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 US election. Hunter Biden had worked for a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma. Democrats are looking into whether Trump abused his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US ally facing Russian aggression - as leverage to pressure Kiev into conducting investigations politically beneficial to Trump. The money - approved by the US Congress to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country - was later provided to Ukraine.

Trump 'not watching' impeachment hearing: White House spokeswoman

At the 2012 opening of Trump Towers in Istanbul, real estate mogul Donald Trump sang the praises of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tayyip-erdogan-says-united-states-not-fulfilling-syria-deal-ahead-of-doanld-trump-talks-260531">Tayyip Erdogan</a>, telling a mostly Turkish audience that their leader, prime minister at the time, was "highly respected" around the world.

"He's a good man. He's just representing you very well," Trump said at the ceremony.

Since becoming the US&nbsp;president, Trump has openly complimented Erdogan and his combative ruling style, calling him "a friend" and "hell of a leader."

Such fondness from Trump for the Turkish president, who is due to meet with him at the White House on Wednesday, is seen by many as the only reason why relations between Turkey and the United States have not completely collapsed, having soured severely over their disagreements on a host of issues.

"The two leaders have an affinity for each other as strongman presidents," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, while warning of the deep animosity within the bureaucracies of the two NATO allies.

"The Erdogan-Trump part of the US-Turkey relationship is really the only component of it that is currently working right now," Cagaptay said. "Confidence between government agencies of both countries has eroded and there is considerable anger towards the US&nbsp;in Turkey and vice versa."

Washington and Ankara hit a new crisis point last month over Syria after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-says-kurdish-fighters-have-not-left-syria-safe-zone-despite-us-russia-deals-260109">Erdogan began a cross-border incursion</a> against America's Kurdish allies and upended the US&nbsp;presence there. Months earlier, the United States was livid over Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defence systems.

Turkey shrugged off threats of US&nbsp;sanctions and began receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July. In response, Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, in which Ankara was a manufacturer and buyer. But so far, it has not imposed any sanctions.

The move infuriated the US&nbsp;Congress, whose anger toward Turkey deepened following Ankara's offensive into Syria to drive out the Kurdish militia, Washington's main partner in the fight against Islamic State.

The US&nbsp;House of Representatives last month passed a sanctions package to punish Turkey over its Syria operation while key members of the Senate, including Trump ally Lindsey Graham, have vowed to advance it if Ankara endangers Kurds.

The House has also voted in favour of a non-binding resolution recognizing as genocide the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians 100 years ago, for the first time, angering Ankara. Some lawmakers on Monday asked Trump in a letter to rescind the invitation to Erdogan.

Erdogan has managed to avoid sanctions so far, but on Sunday, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the threat was real. "If Turkey doesn't get rid of the S-400, I mean, there will likely be sanctions. ... Turkey will feel the impact of those sanctions," he told CBS News.

Washington wants S-400S abandoned

The issues straining the NATO allies stretch well beyond Syria and Russia. While <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-speaks-with-trump-to-visit-washington-next-week-260443">Washington has largely stayed quiet</a> in the face of an increasingly authoritarian Erdogan, it wants Ankara to drop charges against US&nbsp;consular workers prosecuted in Turkey.

For Ankara, its long-standing extradition request for US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who it blames for orchestrating the 2016 failed coup, and US&nbsp;charges on Turkey's state-owned Halkbank for Iran sanctions-busting are also contentious.

"We are of the same opinion with President Trump to solve problems and to improve our relations despite clouds in our bilateral ties," Erdogan told reporters before his flight to Washington. "We have made significant progress on several issues despite bureaucratic and political sabotage attempts by some remnants of the previous administration."

For Wednesday, the Trump administration's main goals are to get Erdogan to drop plans to use the S-400s and to agree to a permanent ceasefire in Syria, a senior administration official said. "We want to lock that in," the official said, referring to both issues.

If Turkey agrees, Washington could eventually allow Ankara back on the F-35 fighter jet program and offer to sign a $100 billion trade agreement, two US&nbsp;officials said. But Ankara has yet to signal a reversal.

"Something like Turkey taking a step back from its purchase of S-400s is not on the agenda," a senior Turkish official said.

Since his announcement last December to pull out all troops from Syria, Trump has softened plans and agreed to keep a residual force in the northeastern part of the country. As part of that plan, Washington wants to continue working with SDF fighters in the region to press on Islamic State, a move Ankara dislikes.

"US&nbsp;soldiers remaining at oil fields in Syria are also against the spirit of what is being done in Syria," the Turkish official said. "The support the United States provides the YPG is one of the biggest threats to ties between the two countries in the coming period. This will be underlined very seriously during the visit," he said.

Despite the disagreements, Ankara remains hopeful, citing a warm telephone conversation between the two leaders last week. "With Trump's personal support, I believe the visit will contribute to overcoming problems. The phone call gave serious indications of this," the official added.

At the 2012 opening of Trump Towers in Istanbul, real estate mogul Donald Trump sang the praises of Tayyip Erdogan, telling a mostly Turkish audience that their leader, prime minister at the time, was "highly respected" around the world.

At the 2012 opening of Trump Towers in Istanbul, real estate mogul Donald Trump sang the praises of Tayyip Erdogan, telling a mostly Turkish audience that their leader, prime minister at the time, was "highly respected" around the world. "He's a good man. He's just representing you very well," Trump said at the ceremony. Since becoming the US president, Trump has openly complimented Erdogan and his combative ruling style, calling him "a friend" and "hell of a leader." Such fondness from Trump for the Turkish president, who is due to meet with him at the White House on Wednesday, is seen by many as the only reason why relations between Turkey and the United States have not completely collapsed, having soured severely over their disagreements on a host of issues. "The two leaders have an affinity for each other as strongman presidents," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, while warning of the deep animosity within the bureaucracies of the two NATO allies. "The Erdogan-Trump part of the US-Turkey relationship is really the only component of it that is currently working right now," Cagaptay said. "Confidence between government agencies of both countries has eroded and there is considerable anger towards the US in Turkey and vice versa." Washington and Ankara hit a new crisis point last month over Syria after Erdogan began a cross-border incursion against America's Kurdish allies and upended the US presence there. Months earlier, the United States was livid over Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defence systems. Turkey shrugged off threats of US sanctions and began receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July. In response, Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, in which Ankara was a manufacturer and buyer. But so far, it has not imposed any sanctions. The move infuriated the US Congress, whose anger toward Turkey deepened following Ankara's offensive into Syria to drive out the Kurdish militia, Washington's main partner in the fight against Islamic State. The US House of Representatives last month passed a sanctions package to punish Turkey over its Syria operation while key members of the Senate, including Trump ally Lindsey Graham, have vowed to advance it if Ankara endangers Kurds. The House has also voted in favour of a non-binding resolution recognizing as genocide the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians 100 years ago, for the first time, angering Ankara. Some lawmakers on Monday asked Trump in a letter to rescind the invitation to Erdogan. Erdogan has managed to avoid sanctions so far, but on Sunday, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the threat was real. "If Turkey doesn't get rid of the S-400, I mean, there will likely be sanctions. ... Turkey will feel the impact of those sanctions," he told CBS News. Washington wants S-400S abandoned The issues straining the NATO allies stretch well beyond Syria and Russia. While Washington has largely stayed quiet in the face of an increasingly authoritarian Erdogan, it wants Ankara to drop charges against US consular workers prosecuted in Turkey. For Ankara, its long-standing extradition request for US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who it blames for orchestrating the 2016 failed coup, and US charges on Turkey's state-owned Halkbank for Iran sanctions-busting are also contentious. "We are of the same opinion with President Trump to solve problems and to improve our relations despite clouds in our bilateral ties," Erdogan told reporters before his flight to Washington. "We have made significant progress on several issues despite bureaucratic and political sabotage attempts by some remnants of the previous administration." For Wednesday, the Trump administration's main goals are to get Erdogan to drop plans to use the S-400s and to agree to a permanent ceasefire in Syria, a senior administration official said. "We want to lock that in," the official said, referring to both issues. If Turkey agrees, Washington could eventually allow Ankara back on the F-35 fighter jet program and offer to sign a $100 billion trade agreement, two US officials said. But Ankara has yet to signal a reversal. "Something like Turkey taking a step back from its purchase of S-400s is not on the agenda," a senior Turkish official said. Since his announcement last December to pull out all troops from Syria, Trump has softened plans and agreed to keep a residual force in the northeastern part of the country. As part of that plan, Washington wants to continue working with SDF fighters in the region to press on Islamic State, a move Ankara dislikes. "US soldiers remaining at oil fields in Syria are also against the spirit of what is being done in Syria," the Turkish official said. "The support the United States provides the YPG is one of the biggest threats to ties between the two countries in the coming period. This will be underlined very seriously during the visit," he said. Despite the disagreements, Ankara remains hopeful, citing a warm telephone conversation between the two leaders last week. "With Trump's personal support, I believe the visit will contribute to overcoming problems. The phone call gave serious indications of this," the official added.

Behind Trump-Erdogan 'bromance,' a White House meeting to repair US-Turkey ties

A senior Pentagon official detailed confusion and concern in the US&nbsp;national security apparatus after the White House blocked aid to Ukraine without explanation, according to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-faces-perilous-test-as-impeachment-hearings-open-261230">testimony released on Monday</a> by the congressional impeachment panel into US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

Testimony by Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defence, was the latest to be made public that showed the internal machinations of the administration as Trump insisted that nearly $400 million in aid slated for Ukraine be withheld until its president publicly launch an investigation into one of Trump's top political rivals.

Also on Monday, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney withdrew a motion to join a lawsuit seeking to have a judge settle whether he can be compelled by Congress to testify in the inquiry. Instead, Mulvaney will file his own lawsuit.

The congressional panel also released testimony on Monday from Catherine Croft and Christopher Anderson, both advisers to Ambassador Kurt Volker on Ukraine policy, who described their concerns about the Trump administration's Ukraine policy. Volker was Trump's special representative for Ukraine negotiations until he resigned in September.

The new transcripts come two days before the impeachment inquiry by Democratic-led US&nbsp;House of Representatives committees enters a crucial new public phase.

The first on-camera hearings in the investigation are set for later this week and focused on accusations that Trump improperly withheld security money as leverage to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-trump-ally-admits-tying-ukraine-aid-to-biden-investigation-260217">pressure Ukraine</a> to investigate political rival Joe Biden.

On Wednesday and Friday, US&nbsp;diplomats William Taylor, George Kent and Marie Yovanovitch are due to detail in public their concerns, previously expressed in testimony behind closed doors, that Trump and his administration sought to tie the security aid to investigations that might benefit his 2020 re-election bid.

The public testimony before the House Intelligence Committee will be carried by major broadcast and cable television networks and is expected to be viewed by millions of people, as Democrats seek to make the case for Trump's removal from office.

Trump took to Twitter on Monday to fume again about the investigation. He said he would release this week a transcript of an earlier call he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Cooper's October&nbsp;23 closed-door testimony became the scene of one of the most explosive moments of the inquiry so far, when about two dozen Republican lawmakers and allies of Trump stormed the secure room where she was speaking. Critics denounced the lawmakers' actions, saying they had compromised US&nbsp;security by taking phones into the secure room.

In her testimony, Cooper described at some length the approval process for the $391 million in aid to Ukraine, including that the Pentagon had determined that Kiev had met anti-corruption requirements for the release of the funds.

Trump and some of his supporters have argued that the funds - approved by the US&nbsp;Congress to help combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine - were blocked by Trump to press Zelenskiy's government to fight corruption, not to seek an investigation of Biden and his son.

"All of the senior leaders of the US&nbsp;national security departments and agencies were all unified in their - in their view that this assistance was essential," Cooper said, according to the transcript.

Cooper said the US&nbsp;military was concerned that denying US&nbsp;assistance would make it harder for Kiev to negotiate with Moscow.

"They are trying to negotiate a peace with Russia, and if they are seen as weak, and if they are seen to lack the backing of the United States for their armed forces, it makes it much more difficult for them to negotiate a peace on terms that are good for Ukraine."

The impeachment investigation began in September after a whistleblower within the US&nbsp;intelligence community brought a complaint against Trump over his July 25 call with Zelenskiy.

Democrats, who control the House, have argued that Trump abused his power in pressing a vulnerable US&nbsp;ally to carry out investigations that would benefit Trump politically. Biden is a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the Republican president in the 2020 election. His son Hunter Biden served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma.

Trump has denied there was a quid pro quo - or exchanging a favour for a favour - in his dealings with Ukraine. He defended his call with Zelenskiy as "perfect" and branded the probe a politically motivated hoax. Trump wrote on Twitter on Monday that the inquiry should be ended and the unnamed whistleblower, the whistleblower's lawyer and "Corrupt politician" Schiff should be investigated for fraud.

Democrats consider the open hearings to be crucial to building public support for a vote on articles of impeachment - formal charges - against Trump. If that occurs, the 100-seat Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial on the charges.

Republicans have so far shown little support for removing Trump from office, which would require two-thirds of senators present to vote to convict him.

A senior Pentagon official detailed confusion and concern in the US national security apparatus after the White House blocked aid to Ukraine without explanation, according to testimony released on Monday by the congressional impeachment panel into US President Donald Trump.

A senior Pentagon official detailed confusion and concern in the US national security apparatus after the White House blocked aid to Ukraine without explanation, according to testimony released on Monday by the congressional impeachment panel into US President Donald Trump. Testimony by Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defence, was the latest to be made public that showed the internal machinations of the administration as Trump insisted that nearly $400 million in aid slated for Ukraine be withheld until its president publicly launch an investigation into one of Trump's top political rivals. Also on Monday, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney withdrew a motion to join a lawsuit seeking to have a judge settle whether he can be compelled by Congress to testify in the inquiry. Instead, Mulvaney will file his own lawsuit. The congressional panel also released testimony on Monday from Catherine Croft and Christopher Anderson, both advisers to Ambassador Kurt Volker on Ukraine policy, who described their concerns about the Trump administration's Ukraine policy. Volker was Trump's special representative for Ukraine negotiations until he resigned in September. The new transcripts come two days before the impeachment inquiry by Democratic-led US House of Representatives committees enters a crucial new public phase. The first on-camera hearings in the investigation are set for later this week and focused on accusations that Trump improperly withheld security money as leverage to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden. On Wednesday and Friday, US diplomats William Taylor, George Kent and Marie Yovanovitch are due to detail in public their concerns, previously expressed in testimony behind closed doors, that Trump and his administration sought to tie the security aid to investigations that might benefit his 2020 re-election bid. The public testimony before the House Intelligence Committee will be carried by major broadcast and cable television networks and is expected to be viewed by millions of people, as Democrats seek to make the case for Trump's removal from office. Trump took to Twitter on Monday to fume again about the investigation. He said he would release this week a transcript of an earlier call he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Cooper's October 23 closed-door testimony became the scene of one of the most explosive moments of the inquiry so far, when about two dozen Republican lawmakers and allies of Trump stormed the secure room where she was speaking. Critics denounced the lawmakers' actions, saying they had compromised US security by taking phones into the secure room. In her testimony, Cooper described at some length the approval process for the $391 million in aid to Ukraine, including that the Pentagon had determined that Kiev had met anti-corruption requirements for the release of the funds. Trump and some of his supporters have argued that the funds - approved by the US Congress to help combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine - were blocked by Trump to press Zelenskiy's government to fight corruption, not to seek an investigation of Biden and his son. "All of the senior leaders of the US national security departments and agencies were all unified in their - in their view that this assistance was essential," Cooper said, according to the transcript. Cooper said the US military was concerned that denying US assistance would make it harder for Kiev to negotiate with Moscow. "They are trying to negotiate a peace with Russia, and if they are seen as weak, and if they are seen to lack the backing of the United States for their armed forces, it makes it much more difficult for them to negotiate a peace on terms that are good for Ukraine." The impeachment investigation began in September after a whistleblower within the US intelligence community brought a complaint against Trump over his July 25 call with Zelenskiy. Democrats, who control the House, have argued that Trump abused his power in pressing a vulnerable US ally to carry out investigations that would benefit Trump politically. Biden is a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the Republican president in the 2020 election. His son Hunter Biden served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma. Trump has denied there was a quid pro quo - or exchanging a favour for a favour - in his dealings with Ukraine. He defended his call with Zelenskiy as "perfect" and branded the probe a politically motivated hoax. Trump wrote on Twitter on Monday that the inquiry should be ended and the unnamed whistleblower, the whistleblower's lawyer and "Corrupt politician" Schiff should be investigated for fraud. Democrats consider the open hearings to be crucial to building public support for a vote on articles of impeachment - formal charges - against Trump. If that occurs, the 100-seat Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial on the charges. Republicans have so far shown little support for removing Trump from office, which would require two-thirds of senators present to vote to convict him.

Democrats release new batch of testimony from Trump impeachment inquiry

As <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqis-struggle-to-continue-protests-after-deadly-crackdown-by-authorities-261169">bloodshed continued in Iraq</a>, the White House on Monday urged the Iraqi government to halt the violence and hold early elections.

"The Iraqi government to halt the violence against protesters and fulfil President (Barham) Saleh's promise to pass electoral reform and hold early elections," the White House said in a statement.

In fresh clashes on Sunday, three people were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-forces-clear-protest-sites-as-leaders-reach-deal-to-end-rallies-261074">killed and several injured</a> as mass demonstrations against the government continued.&nbsp;

The protests which began on October 1 has left several people dead. On Sunday, demonstrators gathered at Baghdad's Tahrir Square as others gathered at Khallani square.

The White House expressed concern over the continued violence and alleged restrictions on the media and internet access.

"The United States is seriously concerned by continued attacks against protestors, civic activists, and the media, as well as restrictions on internet access, in Iraq," the White House asserted.

Protesters on the street have been demanding overhaul of the political system with Iraq's economy on the downhill as revenues from oil sales have plunged.

Last week, Iraqi forces fired tear gas shells at protesters in central Baghdad in main bridges - Ahrar, Shuhada&nbsp;and Bab al-Muadham.

Protesters had also blocked roads leading to Gulf port Umm Qasr near Basra even as operations at Iraq's ports remained suspended for over a week due to the demonstrations.

The authorities used stun grenades and blocked paths with armoured vehicles as several people sustained injuries.

According to reports at least 260 Iraqis have been killed since early October when protests first started, the largest since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003.

The US embassy in Baghdad had earlier condemned the violence against demonstrators and had urged Iraq's leaders to engage with the protesters.

As bloodshed continued in Iraq, the White House on Monday urged the Iraqi government to halt the violence and hold early elections. "The Iraqi government to halt the violence against protesters and fulfil President (Barham) Saleh's promise to pass electoral reform and hold early elections," the White House said in a statement.

As bloodshed continued in Iraq, the White House on Monday urged the Iraqi government to halt the violence and hold early elections. "The Iraqi government to halt the violence against protesters and fulfil President (Barham) Saleh's promise to pass electoral reform and hold early elections," the White House said in a statement. In fresh clashes on Sunday, three people were killed and several injured as mass demonstrations against the government continued. The protests which began on October 1 has left several people dead. On Sunday, demonstrators gathered at Baghdad's Tahrir Square as others gathered at Khallani square. The White House expressed concern over the continued violence and alleged restrictions on the media and internet access. "The United States is seriously concerned by continued attacks against protestors, civic activists, and the media, as well as restrictions on internet access, in Iraq," the White House asserted. Protesters on the street have been demanding overhaul of the political system with Iraq's economy on the downhill as revenues from oil sales have plunged. Last week, Iraqi forces fired tear gas shells at protesters in central Baghdad in main bridges - Ahrar, Shuhada and Bab al-Muadham. Protesters had also blocked roads leading to Gulf port Umm Qasr near Basra even as operations at Iraq's ports remained suspended for over a week due to the demonstrations. The authorities used stun grenades and blocked paths with armoured vehicles as several people sustained injuries. According to reports at least 260 Iraqis have been killed since early October when protests first started, the largest since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003. The US embassy in Baghdad had earlier condemned the violence against demonstrators and had urged Iraq's leaders to engage with the protesters.

Halt violence against protesters, pass electoral reform and hold early elections: US to Iraq government

The United States is very upset about Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defence systems and could impose sanctions on Ankara if it does not "get rid" of them, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said on Sunday.

"Turkey will feel the impact of those sanctions," O'Brien told CBS's "Face the Nation" in an interview, referring to penalties under the US&nbsp;law known as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which he said would pass Congress with "overwhelming" bipartisan support.

His comments came ahead of a visit by Turkish President Tayyip <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-speaks-with-trump-to-visit-washington-next-week-260443">Erdogan to Washington</a> on November&nbsp;13 to meet US&nbsp;President Donald Trump for likely crucial talks as the two NATO allies have been at loggerheads over a range of issues.

One key disagreement is Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, which Washington says is incompatible with NATO defences and threatens its Lockheed Martin&nbsp;F-35 fighter jets.

Despite threats of US&nbsp;sanctions, Turkey started receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July.

In response, Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 programme, in which Ankara was a manufacturer and buyer. But so far, it has not slapped any sanctions on Ankara.

Turkey has not yet activated the S-400 batteries it received, and Washington still hopes to persuade its ally to "walk away" from the Russian systems.

"There's no place in NATO for the S-400. There's no place in NATO for significant Russian military purchases. That's a message that the president will deliver to him (Erdogan) very clearly when he's here," O'Brien said.

Earlier this month, the head of Turkey's Defence Industry Directorate said a second S-400 delivery to Turkey may be delayed beyond a planned 2020 timeline by talks on technology sharing and joint production.

The S-400 issue is part of a wider range of disagreements between Turkey and the United States.

Washington was incensed by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eight-killed-in-bombing-in-turkish-controlled-northeast-syria-261218">Turkey's offensive</a> into northern Syria against US-allied Kurdish YPG fighters last month. Turkey halted the incursion after the Kurds withdrew from a border region under a US- brokered truce.

The United States is very upset about Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defence systems and could impose sanctions on Ankara if it does not "get rid" of them, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said on Sunday.

The United States is very upset about Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defence systems and could impose sanctions on Ankara if it does not "get rid" of them, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said on Sunday. "Turkey will feel the impact of those sanctions," O'Brien told CBS's "Face the Nation" in an interview, referring to penalties under the US law known as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which he said would pass Congress with "overwhelming" bipartisan support. His comments came ahead of a visit by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to Washington on November 13 to meet US President Donald Trump for likely crucial talks as the two NATO allies have been at loggerheads over a range of issues. One key disagreement is Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, which Washington says is incompatible with NATO defences and threatens its Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets. Despite threats of US sanctions, Turkey started receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July. In response, Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 programme, in which Ankara was a manufacturer and buyer. But so far, it has not slapped any sanctions on Ankara. Turkey has not yet activated the S-400 batteries it received, and Washington still hopes to persuade its ally to "walk away" from the Russian systems. "There's no place in NATO for the S-400. There's no place in NATO for significant Russian military purchases. That's a message that the president will deliver to him (Erdogan) very clearly when he's here," O'Brien said. Earlier this month, the head of Turkey's Defence Industry Directorate said a second S-400 delivery to Turkey may be delayed beyond a planned 2020 timeline by talks on technology sharing and joint production. The S-400 issue is part of a wider range of disagreements between Turkey and the United States. Washington was incensed by Turkey's offensive into northern Syria against US-allied Kurdish YPG fighters last month. Turkey halted the incursion after the Kurds withdrew from a border region under a US- brokered truce.

Turkey will feel impact of sanctions over Russian S-400 missile deal, warns US

US President Donald Trump will host NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in Washington at a time of severe strain within the Atlantic alliance, the White House announced Saturday.&nbsp;

The two leaders will discuss NATO allies' "progress on increasing defence spending and ensuring more equitable burden-sharing," the White House statement said.

Trump has been a frequent critic of alliance members, notably Germany, complaining that many have not met their goal of devoting two per cent of economic output to defence spending.

Trump and Stoltenberg, who is Norwegian, will also discuss counterterrorism, cyber-security and protecting critical infrastructure.

The Thursday meeting will come a week after NATO came in for cutting criticism from French President Emmanuel Macron, who told The Economist magazine that "what we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO."

Macron cited a general lack of coordination between the US and Europe and the recent unilateral incursion by Turkey, a key member of the 70-year-old military alliance, into northern Syria.

"Strategically and politically," Macron said, "we need to recognize that we have a problem."&nbsp;

Macron was speaking ahead of a NATO summit meeting scheduled for December 3 and 4 in London.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking alongside Stoltenberg in Berlin after the Macron interview came out, defended NATO as "indispensable."&nbsp;

Macron "used drastic words," she said, adding, "that is not my view of cooperation in NATO."

In Washington, the NATO chief will also confer Thursday with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and members of Congress, the alliance said.

That same day, he will attend a ministerial-level meeting of a broad international coalition against the Islamic State group.

This session was requested urgently by France after Trump announced he was pulling US troops out of northern Syria, raising fears that the jihadist organization could stage a comeback.

US President Donald Trump will host NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in Washington at a time of severe strain within the Atlantic alliance, the White House announced Saturday.

US President Donald Trump will host NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in Washington at a time of severe strain within the Atlantic alliance, the White House announced Saturday. The two leaders will discuss NATO allies' "progress on increasing defence spending and ensuring more equitable burden-sharing," the White House statement said. Trump has been a frequent critic of alliance members, notably Germany, complaining that many have not met their goal of devoting two per cent of economic output to defence spending. Trump and Stoltenberg, who is Norwegian, will also discuss counterterrorism, cyber-security and protecting critical infrastructure. The Thursday meeting will come a week after NATO came in for cutting criticism from French President Emmanuel Macron, who told The Economist magazine that "what we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO." Macron cited a general lack of coordination between the US and Europe and the recent unilateral incursion by Turkey, a key member of the 70-year-old military alliance, into northern Syria. "Strategically and politically," Macron said, "we need to recognize that we have a problem." Macron was speaking ahead of a NATO summit meeting scheduled for December 3 and 4 in London. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking alongside Stoltenberg in Berlin after the Macron interview came out, defended NATO as "indispensable." Macron "used drastic words," she said, adding, "that is not my view of cooperation in NATO." In Washington, the NATO chief will also confer Thursday with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and members of Congress, the alliance said. That same day, he will attend a ministerial-level meeting of a broad international coalition against the Islamic State group. This session was requested urgently by France after Trump announced he was pulling US troops out of northern Syria, raising fears that the jihadist organization could stage a comeback.

Donald Trump to host NATO chief as alliance faces strains

Two White House national security officials sounded alarms about improper pressure on Ukraine in early July, well before President Donald Trump's bombshell phone call with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky, according to impeachment testimony released Friday.

Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman told House investigators that on July 10, they reported concerns to White House attorney John Eisenberg over top Trump allies pressuring Kiev for political help for the US leader. That was two weeks before Trump spoke to Zelensky.

Hill said she did so at the instruction of then-national security advisor John Bolton, who was adamantly opposed to the efforts to seek dirt from Ukraine on Trump's Democratic rivals.

She and Vindman both said acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Trump-appointed Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland were behind the pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden.

They said Sondland specifically pushed Ukrainian officials in July 10 meetings for a Biden-focused investigation in exchange for a high-profile meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

Bolton was furious over the effort and halted the initial meeting that day, Hill said.

But Sondland continued in a second meeting, saying it was policy stipulated by Mulvaney, Trump's top aide in the Oval Office.

"You go and tell Eisenberg that I am not part of whatever drug deal Sondland and Mulvaney are cooking up on this," Hill said Bolton told her.

"You go and tell him what you've heard and what I've said."

Nevertheless, on July 25 Trump delivered the same message to Zelensky -- that cooperation, including a meeting and military aid, could be contingent on Ukraine opening the investigations the White House sought.

That phone call, after it was exposed by an intelligence community whistleblower, sparked the Congressional investigation that now has Trump facing impeachment for abuse of office. &nbsp;

Sondland drove 'Burisma' probe

Hill, who was the National Security Council's senior director for Europe and Russia at the time, and Vindman, a Ukraine expert who worked under her, said they took part in a July 10 meeting with Ukraine officials in Bolton's office in the White House.&nbsp;

Sondland and US Energy Secretary Rick Perry were also in the meeting.

"The meeting proceeded well until the Ukrainians broached the subject of a meeting between the two presidents," Vindman recounted.

Sondland "said that he had had a conversation with Mr Mulvaney, and this is what was required in order to get a meeting," Vindman said.

At that point, Bolton curtly ended the meeting, both Hill and Vindman said.

But minutes later in another White House room, Sondland continued to press the investigations requirement with the Ukrainians, further alarming the two officials.

Hill said Sondland specifically mentioned Burisma, the Ukraine energy company where Biden's son Hunter had been a director.&nbsp;

Trump has repeatedly accused the Bidens of unspecified "corruption" due to that relationship.

Separately, Hill and Vindman went to Eisenberg, the White House attorney in charge of national security matters, with their concerns.

Their reports made clear that senior officials in the White House were aware of the impropriety and possible illegality of the Ukraine machinations well before Trump and Zelensky spoke on July 25.

In the period in between, other witnesses have said, Mulvaney abruptly froze $391 million in military aid already approved for Ukraine.

After the July 25 call, Vindman again reported his concerns to Eisenberg.

Vindman had listened to the call and said "there was no doubt" Trump was pressuring Ukraine for investigations that could help his 2020 reelection campaign.

But Eisenberg, according to Vindman and other witnesses, hid an abbreviated official transcript of the call in a highly classified computer filing system not normally used for such records, as if to prevent others from ever seeing it.

Two White House national security officials sounded alarms about improper pressure on Ukraine in early July, well before President Donald Trump's bombshell phone call with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky, according to impeachment testimony released Friday.

Two White House national security officials sounded alarms about improper pressure on Ukraine in early July, well before President Donald Trump's bombshell phone call with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky, according to impeachment testimony released Friday. Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman told House investigators that on July 10, they reported concerns to White House attorney John Eisenberg over top Trump allies pressuring Kiev for political help for the US leader. That was two weeks before Trump spoke to Zelensky. Hill said she did so at the instruction of then-national security advisor John Bolton, who was adamantly opposed to the efforts to seek dirt from Ukraine on Trump's Democratic rivals. She and Vindman both said acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Trump-appointed Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland were behind the pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden. They said Sondland specifically pushed Ukrainian officials in July 10 meetings for a Biden-focused investigation in exchange for a high-profile meeting between Trump and Zelensky. Bolton was furious over the effort and halted the initial meeting that day, Hill said. But Sondland continued in a second meeting, saying it was policy stipulated by Mulvaney, Trump's top aide in the Oval Office. "You go and tell Eisenberg that I am not part of whatever drug deal Sondland and Mulvaney are cooking up on this," Hill said Bolton told her. "You go and tell him what you've heard and what I've said." Nevertheless, on July 25 Trump delivered the same message to Zelensky -- that cooperation, including a meeting and military aid, could be contingent on Ukraine opening the investigations the White House sought. That phone call, after it was exposed by an intelligence community whistleblower, sparked the Congressional investigation that now has Trump facing impeachment for abuse of office. Sondland drove 'Burisma' probe Hill, who was the National Security Council's senior director for Europe and Russia at the time, and Vindman, a Ukraine expert who worked under her, said they took part in a July 10 meeting with Ukraine officials in Bolton's office in the White House. Sondland and US Energy Secretary Rick Perry were also in the meeting. "The meeting proceeded well until the Ukrainians broached the subject of a meeting between the two presidents," Vindman recounted. Sondland "said that he had had a conversation with Mr Mulvaney, and this is what was required in order to get a meeting," Vindman said. At that point, Bolton curtly ended the meeting, both Hill and Vindman said. But minutes later in another White House room, Sondland continued to press the investigations requirement with the Ukrainians, further alarming the two officials. Hill said Sondland specifically mentioned Burisma, the Ukraine energy company where Biden's son Hunter had been a director. Trump has repeatedly accused the Bidens of unspecified "corruption" due to that relationship. Separately, Hill and Vindman went to Eisenberg, the White House attorney in charge of national security matters, with their concerns. Their reports made clear that senior officials in the White House were aware of the impropriety and possible illegality of the Ukraine machinations well before Trump and Zelensky spoke on July 25. In the period in between, other witnesses have said, Mulvaney abruptly froze $391 million in military aid already approved for Ukraine. After the July 25 call, Vindman again reported his concerns to Eisenberg. Vindman had listened to the call and said "there was no doubt" Trump was pressuring Ukraine for investigations that could help his 2020 reelection campaign. But Eisenberg, according to Vindman and other witnesses, hid an abbreviated official transcript of the call in a highly classified computer filing system not normally used for such records, as if to prevent others from ever seeing it.

Officials raised alarm over White House Ukraine talks in early July: Testimony

United States President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-judge-orders-trump-to-pay-2-million-for-misusing-namesake-charity-260638">Donald Trump</a> mocked "little" billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday, saying his potential opponent for the 2020 election would fail if he joined the race.

"He doesn't have the magic to do well... Little Michael will fail," Trump told reporters at the White House as he headed to the southern state of Georgia to rally support.

Bloomberg, 77, is expected to enter the race Friday to become the Democratic nominee for US president, setting up a showdown with fellow septuagenarian Joe Biden as the leading centrist candidate.&nbsp;

He is expected to file paperwork in at least one state declaring himself a candidate, according to multiple outlets including The New York Times.

Bloomberg had said back in March he wouldn't run, but more recently has been toying with the idea of throwing his hat in the ring, according to an advisor.

He sent members of staff to Alabama to gather the signatures required&nbsp;to register for its primary ahead of the deadline Friday in anticipation of a bid, the reports said.

Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement that the billionaire wanted to ensure that the job of defeating Trump was seen through in 2020.

"He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defiant-at-louisiana-rally-after-democrat-wins-260535">Trump</a> added.

"There's nobody I'd rather run against than Little Michael."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-michael-bloomberg-a-profile-of-expected-democratic-contender-for-us-presidential-race-260806">In pictures:&nbsp;Who is Michael Bloomberg? A profile of expected Democratic contender for US presidential race</a>

United States President Donald Trump mocked "little" billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday, saying his potential opponent for the 2020 election would fail if he joined the race.

United States President Donald Trump mocked "little" billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday, saying his potential opponent for the 2020 election would fail if he joined the race. "He doesn't have the magic to do well... Little Michael will fail," Trump told reporters at the White House as he headed to the southern state of Georgia to rally support. Bloomberg, 77, is expected to enter the race Friday to become the Democratic nominee for US president, setting up a showdown with fellow septuagenarian Joe Biden as the leading centrist candidate. He is expected to file paperwork in at least one state declaring himself a candidate, according to multiple outlets including The New York Times. Bloomberg had said back in March he wouldn't run, but more recently has been toying with the idea of throwing his hat in the ring, according to an advisor. He sent members of staff to Alabama to gather the signatures required to register for its primary ahead of the deadline Friday in anticipation of a bid, the reports said. Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement that the billionaire wanted to ensure that the job of defeating Trump was seen through in 2020. "He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually," Trump added. "There's nobody I'd rather run against than Little Michael." In pictures: Who is Michael Bloomberg? A profile of expected Democratic contender for US presidential race

Trump dismisses 'little' Michael Bloomberg's likely White House run

The White House blockade of the Democratic-led <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-impeachment-hearings-trump-may-expand-communications-team-to-bolster-defense-260440">impeachment enquiry</a> of President Donald Trump seemed likely to hold firm on Friday, as congressional officials said they expected two administration officials to rebuff a request to testify.

The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee late on Thursday subpoenaed acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to appear for a closed-door deposition on Friday, an official working on the impeachment enquiry said.

The panel, along with the House Foreign Relations and Oversight committees, has also called Mark Sandy, associate director for national security programs at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for interviews behind closed doors on Friday.

Lawmakers want to ask Mulvaney and Sandy about OMB's decision last summer to block, without explanation to Congress, nearly $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine that had been approved by lawmakers.

Mulvaney, a former Republican House member, started his tenure at the Trump White House as director of the budget office. Due to his role at OMB, Sandy likely would have been involved in the decision.

Congressional investigators are trying to determine whether Trump told the Kiev government it would not get the aid unless it agreed to launch an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/public-hearings-in-trump-impeachment-probe-start-next-week-us-lawmaker-260398">investigation of Hunter Biden</a>, the son of former US&nbsp;Vice President Joe Biden, one of Trump's main Democratic rivals as he runs for re-election in 2020.

Mulvaney acknowledged at an October&nbsp;17 news conference that the White House had withheld the assistance. "I have news for everybody: Get over it. There is going to be political influence in foreign policy," Mulvaney said, although he later contradicted himself, saying in a White House statement: "There was absolutely no quid pro quo."

'Witch Hunt'

Trump has denied wrongdoing and disparaged the investigation as a politically motivated "witch hunt." A White House spokesman said earlier this week that Mulvaney did not intend to comply with the request to appear.

Officials did not immediately respond on Thursday to a request for comment on whether that still held, and on Sandy's intentions.

Mulvaney has also ignored an October&nbsp;4 subpoena from the House committees to provide <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-chief-of-staff-summoned-to-testify-in-impeachment-probe-260220">documents for the investigation</a>.

Mulvaney is now Trump's top aide, and the White House, claiming executive privilege, has argued that any official close to Trump should not have to provide depositions to congressional investigators.

So far, most officials who work in the executive branch have declined to cooperate with the investigation, although an adviser to Vice President Mike Pence appeared as requested on Thursday.

The House committees dispute the privilege argument. "As Mulvaney knows from his previous service in the House of Representatives, both Republican and Democratic-led committees have conducted depositions for decades with high-level White House aides,&nbsp;include White House Chiefs of Staff," they said in an emailed statement.

The three House committees are wrapping up the closed-door phase of their investigation before open hearings start next Wednesday with testimony from two diplomats who have been interviewed behind closed doors, William Taylor, the top US&nbsp;diplomat in Ukraine, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent.

This week, the committees have been releasing transcripts of the closed-door interviews, including with Taylor, Kent and former US&nbsp;Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who appears at a public hearing on November&nbsp;15.

Trump abruptly recalled Yovanovitch as ambassador in May.

Another transcript release is expected on Friday, although the committees declined to say which it would be.

The White House blockade of the Democratic-led impeachment enquiry of President Donald Trump seemed likely to hold firm on Friday, as congressional officials said they expected two administration officials to rebuff a request to testify.

The White House blockade of the Democratic-led impeachment enquiry of President Donald Trump seemed likely to hold firm on Friday, as congressional officials said they expected two administration officials to rebuff a request to testify. The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee late on Thursday subpoenaed acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to appear for a closed-door deposition on Friday, an official working on the impeachment enquiry said. The panel, along with the House Foreign Relations and Oversight committees, has also called Mark Sandy, associate director for national security programs at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for interviews behind closed doors on Friday. Lawmakers want to ask Mulvaney and Sandy about OMB's decision last summer to block, without explanation to Congress, nearly $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine that had been approved by lawmakers. Mulvaney, a former Republican House member, started his tenure at the Trump White House as director of the budget office. Due to his role at OMB, Sandy likely would have been involved in the decision. Congressional investigators are trying to determine whether Trump told the Kiev government it would not get the aid unless it agreed to launch an investigation of Hunter Biden, the son of former US Vice President Joe Biden, one of Trump's main Democratic rivals as he runs for re-election in 2020. Mulvaney acknowledged at an October 17 news conference that the White House had withheld the assistance. "I have news for everybody: Get over it. There is going to be political influence in foreign policy," Mulvaney said, although he later contradicted himself, saying in a White House statement: "There was absolutely no quid pro quo." 'Witch Hunt' Trump has denied wrongdoing and disparaged the investigation as a politically motivated "witch hunt." A White House spokesman said earlier this week that Mulvaney did not intend to comply with the request to appear. Officials did not immediately respond on Thursday to a request for comment on whether that still held, and on Sandy's intentions. Mulvaney has also ignored an October 4 subpoena from the House committees to provide documents for the investigation. Mulvaney is now Trump's top aide, and the White House, claiming executive privilege, has argued that any official close to Trump should not have to provide depositions to congressional investigators. So far, most officials who work in the executive branch have declined to cooperate with the investigation, although an adviser to Vice President Mike Pence appeared as requested on Thursday. The House committees dispute the privilege argument. "As Mulvaney knows from his previous service in the House of Representatives, both Republican and Democratic-led committees have conducted depositions for decades with high-level White House aides, include White House Chiefs of Staff," they said in an emailed statement. The three House committees are wrapping up the closed-door phase of their investigation before open hearings start next Wednesday with testimony from two diplomats who have been interviewed behind closed doors, William Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent. This week, the committees have been releasing transcripts of the closed-door interviews, including with Taylor, Kent and former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who appears at a public hearing on November 15. Trump abruptly recalled Yovanovitch as ambassador in May. Another transcript release is expected on Friday, although the committees declined to say which it would be.

White House's blockade of impeachment probe likely to hold firm before open hearings

US <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-impeachment-transcripts-go-public-as-whouse-stonewalls-260028">House&nbsp;impeachment</a>&nbsp;investigators on Tuesday&nbsp;summoned&nbsp;President Donald&nbsp;Trump's acting&nbsp;chief&nbsp;of&nbsp;staff&nbsp;Mick Mulvaney for a deposition, saying he has "substantial first-hand knowledge" of&nbsp;Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine.

Mulvaney is the latest administration official to be ordered to&nbsp;testify&nbsp;with the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;probe&nbsp;closing in around those nearest the president as it proceeds into a new public phase, in which transcripts of closed-door testimony are being released.

Mulvaney is the highest-ranking White House official to be&nbsp;summoned&nbsp;in the&nbsp;probe, although he is unlikely to comply given the White House's opposition to administration officials cooperating with investigators.

The chairs of the three House committees leading the investigation wrote Mulvaney requesting he appear before the panels on Friday at 9:00 am.

"The investigation has revealed that you may have been directly involved in an effort orchestrated by President&nbsp;Trump, his personal agent, Rudolph Giuliani and others to withhold a coveted White House meeting and nearly $400 million in security assistance in order to pressure (Ukraine) to pursue investigations that would benefit President&nbsp;Trump's personal political interests," they wrote.

"Your failure or refusal to appear at the deposition, including at the direction or behest of the president, shall constitute further evidence of obstruction of the House's&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry and may be used as an adverse inference against you and the President."

Last month, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-houses-mick-mulvaney-did-not-mull-quitting-over-quid-pro-quo-flap-257178">Mulvaney</a> publicly stated that the decision to freeze aid was tied to the demand for investigations. He later walked back those comments.

Several current and former officials have defied House subpoenas or voluntary requests to&nbsp;testify.

John Eisenberg, a White House lawyer suspected of involvement in the Ukraine scandal, and Robert Blair, assistant to the president and senior advisor to Mulvaney, were among four officials who ignored calls to&nbsp;testify&nbsp;Monday.

The no-shows continued Tuesday when Wells Griffith, a White House adviser on energy, failed to appear.

US House impeachment investigators on Tuesday summoned President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney for a deposition, saying he has "substantial first-hand knowledge" of Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine.

US House impeachment investigators on Tuesday summoned President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney for a deposition, saying he has "substantial first-hand knowledge" of Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine. Mulvaney is the latest administration official to be ordered to testify with the impeachment probe closing in around those nearest the president as it proceeds into a new public phase, in which transcripts of closed-door testimony are being released. Mulvaney is the highest-ranking White House official to be summoned in the probe, although he is unlikely to comply given the White House's opposition to administration officials cooperating with investigators. The chairs of the three House committees leading the investigation wrote Mulvaney requesting he appear before the panels on Friday at 9:00 am. "The investigation has revealed that you may have been directly involved in an effort orchestrated by President Trump, his personal agent, Rudolph Giuliani and others to withhold a coveted White House meeting and nearly $400 million in security assistance in order to pressure (Ukraine) to pursue investigations that would benefit President Trump's personal political interests," they wrote. "Your failure or refusal to appear at the deposition, including at the direction or behest of the president, shall constitute further evidence of obstruction of the House's impeachment inquiry and may be used as an adverse inference against you and the President." Last month, Mulvaney publicly stated that the decision to freeze aid was tied to the demand for investigations. He later walked back those comments. Several current and former officials have defied House subpoenas or voluntary requests to testify. John Eisenberg, a White House lawyer suspected of involvement in the Ukraine scandal, and Robert Blair, assistant to the president and senior advisor to Mulvaney, were among four officials who ignored calls to testify Monday. The no-shows continued Tuesday when Wells Griffith, a White House adviser on energy, failed to appear.

Trump chief of staff summoned to testify in impeachment probe

A&nbsp;top&nbsp;ally&nbsp;of President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;admitted he told a&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;official that US military&nbsp;aid&nbsp;was contingent on Kyiv investigating&nbsp;Trump's Democratic rival Joe&nbsp;Biden, testimony released Tuesday showed.

In some of the most damning evidence yet to the House impeachment inquiry of&nbsp;Trump, Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, said he told a senior&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;official that military&nbsp;aid&nbsp;would likely not be released until Kyiv made clear it would investigate&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and his son's ties to&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;energy firm Burisma.

Sondland, in amended testimony that reversed his earlier denial, admitted he laid out the allegedly illegal quid pro quo in a September 1 discussion with Andriy&nbsp;Yermak, a&nbsp;top&nbsp;advisor to&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Sondland said it was the culmination of months of pressure placed on Kyiv, primarily via&nbsp;Trump's personal lawyer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rudy-giulianis-associate-lev-parnas-will-comply-with-trump-impeachment-inquiry-260111">Rudy Giuliani</a>, to open "anti-corruption" investigations into the Bidens and into&nbsp;Trump's unfounded belief that&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;assisted the Democrats in the 2016 election.

Sondland told Yermak "that resumption of US&nbsp;aid&nbsp;would not likely occur until&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;provided the anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for weeks," he told investigators.

The White House has repeatedly denied there was any link between the&nbsp;aid&nbsp;and any demands by&nbsp;Trump, despite the evidence from the summary of a July 25 phone call,&nbsp;just one week after&nbsp;aid&nbsp;was frozen,&nbsp;in which&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;sought a "favor" from Zelensky and referred directly to&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and the 2016 issue.

Sondland, appointed ambassador by&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;after donating $1 million to his inauguration, said he was fully aware of the linkage made between the $391 million in US military&nbsp;aid&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;helping&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;prepare to fight for reelection next year.

"I presumed that the&nbsp;aid&nbsp;suspension had become linked to the proposed anti-corruption statement" Zelensky was told to make regarding&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and 2016 probes.

Sondland admitted to impeachment investigators that he understood the linkage was "improper."

Asked if it was illegal, Sondland responded: "I'm not a lawyer, but I assume so."Sondland's testimony, and that of Kurt Volker, the former US Special Representative to&nbsp;Ukraine, appeared to strengthen Democrats' charges that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;abused his office by seeking foreign help for his 2020 election campaign and should be impeached and removed from office.

The testimony, taken in private last month, was released as the House prepares for the second phase of the impeachment inquiry, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/committee-releases-first-transcripts-in-trump-impeachment-inquiry-259964">open hearings</a> that could within several weeks lead to articles of impeachment being passed by the House.

The White House, in a statement, said their testimony offered no new evidence for "this illegitimate impeachment sham."

The White House continued to block senior officials from testifying, and was expected to do the same in response to a Democrats' Tuesday request to&nbsp;Trump's chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and be interviewed by investigators.

Other witnesses have said that Mulvaney was responsible for freezing the&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;aid&nbsp;in mid-July, and that he told others it was done at&nbsp;Trump's command.

"No amount of salacious media-biased headlines, which are clearly designed to influence the narrative, change the fact that the president has done nothing wrong," said White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham in a statement.

Yet, according to the transcripts, both Sondland and Volker described&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;as being transfixed by the wholly unsubstantiated idea, popular in Republican circles, that&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;assisted Democrats in their efforts to defeat&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;in the 2016 presidential election.

They also describe Giuliani as being&nbsp;Trump's point man for pushing Zelensky's government into finding dirt on&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and the Democrats.

"He just kept saying: talk to Rudy, talk to Rudy," Sondland said of a May meeting with&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ukraine.

A top ally of President Donald Trump admitted he told a Ukraine official that US military aid was contingent on Kyiv investigating Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden, testimony released Tuesday showed.

A top ally of President Donald Trump admitted he told a Ukraine official that US military aid was contingent on Kyiv investigating Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden, testimony released Tuesday showed. In some of the most damning evidence yet to the House impeachment inquiry of Trump, Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, said he told a senior Ukraine official that military aid would likely not be released until Kyiv made clear it would investigate Biden and his son's ties to Ukraine energy firm Burisma. Sondland, in amended testimony that reversed his earlier denial, admitted he laid out the allegedly illegal quid pro quo in a September 1 discussion with Andriy Yermak, a top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Sondland said it was the culmination of months of pressure placed on Kyiv, primarily via Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, to open "anti-corruption" investigations into the Bidens and into Trump's unfounded belief that Ukraine assisted the Democrats in the 2016 election. Sondland told Yermak "that resumption of US aid would not likely occur until Ukraine provided the anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for weeks," he told investigators. The White House has repeatedly denied there was any link between the aid and any demands by Trump, despite the evidence from the summary of a July 25 phone call, just one week after aid was frozen, in which Trump sought a "favor" from Zelensky and referred directly to Biden and the 2016 issue. Sondland, appointed ambassador by Trump after donating $1 million to his inauguration, said he was fully aware of the linkage made between the $391 million in US military aid and Ukraine helping Trump prepare to fight for reelection next year. "I presumed that the aid suspension had become linked to the proposed anti-corruption statement" Zelensky was told to make regarding Biden and 2016 probes. Sondland admitted to impeachment investigators that he understood the linkage was "improper." Asked if it was illegal, Sondland responded: "I'm not a lawyer, but I assume so."Sondland's testimony, and that of Kurt Volker, the former US Special Representative to Ukraine, appeared to strengthen Democrats' charges that Trump abused his office by seeking foreign help for his 2020 election campaign and should be impeached and removed from office. The testimony, taken in private last month, was released as the House prepares for the second phase of the impeachment inquiry, open hearings that could within several weeks lead to articles of impeachment being passed by the House. The White House, in a statement, said their testimony offered no new evidence for "this illegitimate impeachment sham." The White House continued to block senior officials from testifying, and was expected to do the same in response to a Democrats' Tuesday request to Trump's chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and be interviewed by investigators. Other witnesses have said that Mulvaney was responsible for freezing the Ukraine aid in mid-July, and that he told others it was done at Trump's command. "No amount of salacious media-biased headlines, which are clearly designed to influence the narrative, change the fact that the president has done nothing wrong," said White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham in a statement. Yet, according to the transcripts, both Sondland and Volker described Trump as being transfixed by the wholly unsubstantiated idea, popular in Republican circles, that Ukraine assisted Democrats in their efforts to defeat Trump in the 2016 presidential election. They also describe Giuliani as being Trump's point man for pushing Zelensky's government into finding dirt on Biden and the Democrats. "He just kept saying: talk to Rudy, talk to Rudy," Sondland said of a May meeting with Trump on Ukraine.

Top Trump ally admits tying Ukraine aid to Biden investigation

A White House lawyer suspected of involvement in the Ukraine scandal refused to testify Monday in the congressional <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-expects-trump-impeachment-hearings-in-november-259545">impeachment investigation</a> of President Donald Trump, as three other witnesses were also expected&nbsp;no-shows.

John Eisenberg, Trump's deputy counsel for National Security Affairs, defied a summons to appear before the three House panels conducting the investigation, a sign of renewed stonewalling by the White House as Democrats press to take the inquiry into a new public phase.

Trump said early Monday he felt there was "no reason" for witnesses to answer questions by investigators, in particular about his call with his Ukrainian counterpart that is at the heart of the probe.

"What I said on the phone call with the Ukrainian President is 'perfectly' stated," Trump said on Twitter.

"There is no reason to call witnesses to analyze my words and meaning. This is just another Democrat Hoax that I have had to live with from the day I got elected."&nbsp;

Eisenberg, who by mid-morning had yet to appear for a scheduled 9:00 am closed-door deposition,&nbsp;is reported to have been on the July 25 call.

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What I said on the phone call with the Ukrainian President is “perfectly” stated. There is no reason to call witnesses to analyze my words and meaning. This is just another Democrat Hoax that I have had to live with from the day I got elected (and before!). Disgraceful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1191325883774189568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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At least four national security officials raised concerns with Eisenberg about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-angry-majority-supports-him-against-impeachment-drive-259362">Trump's dealings with Ukraine</a> before his call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and immediately after it, the Washington Post reported last month.

Investigators are seeking greater access to officials with knowledge of Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating one of his chief political opponents, Democrat Joe Biden, who is running for president in 2020.&nbsp;

Robert Blair, an assistant to the president and senior advisor to the acting chief of staff, was also due to appear before investigators at 9:00 am but did not arrive.

Trump senior associate counsel Michael Ellis and White House budget office associate director for energy Brian McCormack were due for afternoon depositions but gave no indication they would appear.

The Trump-Ukraine scandal came to light when a complaint by an anonymous whistleblower who works in the US intelligence community was made public in September.

Trump and his Republican loyalists have repeatedly pressed for the whistleblower's identity to be revealed, despite laws protecting government officials who raise the alarm about alleged wrongdoing, and for him or her to testify.

Several current and former diplomats and officials have corroborated the essence of the whistleblower complaint,&nbsp;that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Democrats.&nbsp;

A White House lawyer suspected of involvement in the Ukraine scandal refused to testify Monday in the congressional impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump, as three other witnesses were also expected no-shows.

A White House lawyer suspected of involvement in the Ukraine scandal refused to testify Monday in the congressional impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump, as three other witnesses were also expected no-shows. John Eisenberg, Trump's deputy counsel for National Security Affairs, defied a summons to appear before the three House panels conducting the investigation, a sign of renewed stonewalling by the White House as Democrats press to take the inquiry into a new public phase. Trump said early Monday he felt there was "no reason" for witnesses to answer questions by investigators, in particular about his call with his Ukrainian counterpart that is at the heart of the probe. "What I said on the phone call with the Ukrainian President is 'perfectly' stated," Trump said on Twitter. "There is no reason to call witnesses to analyze my words and meaning. This is just another Democrat Hoax that I have had to live with from the day I got elected." Eisenberg, who by mid-morning had yet to appear for a scheduled 9:00 am closed-door deposition, is reported to have been on the July 25 call. What I said on the phone call with the Ukrainian President is “perfectly” stated. There is no reason to call witnesses to analyze my words and meaning. This is just another Democrat Hoax that I have had to live with from the day I got elected (and before!). Disgraceful! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2019 × At least four national security officials raised concerns with Eisenberg about Trump's dealings with Ukraine before his call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and immediately after it, the Washington Post reported last month. Investigators are seeking greater access to officials with knowledge of Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating one of his chief political opponents, Democrat Joe Biden, who is running for president in 2020. Robert Blair, an assistant to the president and senior advisor to the acting chief of staff, was also due to appear before investigators at 9:00 am but did not arrive. Trump senior associate counsel Michael Ellis and White House budget office associate director for energy Brian McCormack were due for afternoon depositions but gave no indication they would appear. The Trump-Ukraine scandal came to light when a complaint by an anonymous whistleblower who works in the US intelligence community was made public in September. Trump and his Republican loyalists have repeatedly pressed for the whistleblower's identity to be revealed, despite laws protecting government officials who raise the alarm about alleged wrongdoing, and for him or her to testify. Several current and former diplomats and officials have corroborated the essence of the whistleblower complaint, that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Democrats.

White House lawyer and three other witnesses are 'no-show' at impeachment probe

United States Secretary of State Mike&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;on Wednesday stepped up recent&nbsp;US&nbsp;rhetoric targeting&nbsp;China's&nbsp;ruling&nbsp;Communist&nbsp;Party, saying Beijing was focused on international domination and needed to be&nbsp;confronted.

Pompeo&nbsp;made the remarks even as the Trump administration said it still expected to sign the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/more-twists-and-turns-in-us-china-trade-war-170668">first phase of a deal</a> to end a damaging trade war with China next month, despite <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crisis-wracked-chile-pulls-out-as-apec-climate-meet-host-259009">Chile's withdrawal</a> on Wednesday as the host of an APEC summit where&nbsp;US&nbsp;officials had hoped this would happen.

Pompeo&nbsp;said the United States had long cherished its friendship with the Chinese people, adding the&nbsp;Communist&nbsp;government was not the same thing as the people of China.

"They are reaching for and using methods that have created challenges for the United States and for the world and we collectively, all of us, need to&nbsp;confront&nbsp;these challenges ... head on,"&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;said in an address to a gala dinner in New York of the conservative Hudson Institute think tank.

"It is no longer realistic to ignore the fundamental differences between our two systems, and the impact that … the differences in those systems have on American national security."

Last week in a major policy speech,&nbsp;US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence attacked&nbsp;China's&nbsp;record on human rights, trade and methods used to expand its global influence.&nbsp;

Pompeo&nbsp;said President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election next year, had sounded the alarm about China from his very first day in office.

"Today, we're finally realising the degree to which the&nbsp;Communist&nbsp;Party&nbsp;is truly hostile to the United States and our values&nbsp;... and we are able to do this because of the leadership of President Trump."

China has been consistently irritated by&nbsp;Pompeo, whether over his remarks on&nbsp;China's&nbsp;Belt and Road project or allegations of Chinese rights abuses in the far western region of Xinjiang, and in many other areas.

In a speech in Houston on Monday,&nbsp;China's&nbsp;ambassador in Washington signalled his country would not take any criticism of the&nbsp;party, which he said was "deeply trusted and widely supported by the Chinese people".

"To draw a line between the&nbsp;Party&nbsp;and the people is to challenge the entire Chinese nation," Cui Tiankai said, according to a copy of his remarks on the Chinese embassy's website.

"Claiming to welcome a successful China on one hand, and defaming and working to overthrow the very force that leads the Chinese people towards success on the other, have you ever seen anything more hypocritical and outrageous than this?"

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday that&nbsp;Pompeo's comments expose the "political bias and dark anti-Communist&nbsp;mindset of some&nbsp;US&nbsp;politicians."

"Pompeo's remarks were a vicious attack on the Chinese&nbsp;Communist&nbsp;Party&nbsp;and the Chinese government. It drives a wedge between the&nbsp;Party&nbsp;and our people and it smears our domestic and foreign policy," said Geng.

Pompeo&nbsp;said he would deliver a series of speeches in coming months on the competing ideologies and values, including on global influence campaigns by the Chinese&nbsp;Communist&nbsp;Party's intelligence agencies and "unfair and predatory" economic practices by Beijing.

"The Chinese&nbsp;Communist&nbsp;Party&nbsp;is a Marxist-Leninist&nbsp;Party&nbsp;focused on a 'struggle' and international domination - we need only listen to the words of their leaders," he said.

Pompeo&nbsp;said he would also address the build-up of&nbsp;China's&nbsp;military capabilities "that far exceed what they would need for self-defence."

Pompeo&nbsp;said the United States was not seeking&nbsp;confrontation with China and wanted to see a transparent, competitive market-driven system there that was mutually beneficial. He said the first steps towards that could be seen in phase one of the trade deal, which was close to being signed.

"I am optimistic that we will get there. It's a good thing, a place that we can work together," he said. "I think this will show that there is common ground to be had."

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday stepped up recent US rhetoric targeting China's ruling Communist Party, saying Beijing was focused on international domination and needed to be confronted.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday stepped up recent US rhetoric targeting China's ruling Communist Party, saying Beijing was focused on international domination and needed to be confronted. Pompeo made the remarks even as the Trump administration said it still expected to sign the first phase of a deal to end a damaging trade war with China next month, despite Chile's withdrawal on Wednesday as the host of an APEC summit where US officials had hoped this would happen. Pompeo said the United States had long cherished its friendship with the Chinese people, adding the Communist government was not the same thing as the people of China. "They are reaching for and using methods that have created challenges for the United States and for the world and we collectively, all of us, need to confront these challenges ... head on," Pompeo said in an address to a gala dinner in New York of the conservative Hudson Institute think tank. "It is no longer realistic to ignore the fundamental differences between our two systems, and the impact that … the differences in those systems have on American national security." Last week in a major policy speech, US Vice President Mike Pence attacked China's record on human rights, trade and methods used to expand its global influence. Pompeo said President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election next year, had sounded the alarm about China from his very first day in office. "Today, we're finally realising the degree to which the Communist Party is truly hostile to the United States and our values ... and we are able to do this because of the leadership of President Trump." China has been consistently irritated by Pompeo, whether over his remarks on China's Belt and Road project or allegations of Chinese rights abuses in the far western region of Xinjiang, and in many other areas. In a speech in Houston on Monday, China's ambassador in Washington signalled his country would not take any criticism of the party, which he said was "deeply trusted and widely supported by the Chinese people". "To draw a line between the Party and the people is to challenge the entire Chinese nation," Cui Tiankai said, according to a copy of his remarks on the Chinese embassy's website. "Claiming to welcome a successful China on one hand, and defaming and working to overthrow the very force that leads the Chinese people towards success on the other, have you ever seen anything more hypocritical and outrageous than this?" Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday that Pompeo's comments expose the "political bias and dark anti-Communist mindset of some US politicians." "Pompeo's remarks were a vicious attack on the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government. It drives a wedge between the Party and our people and it smears our domestic and foreign policy," said Geng. Pompeo said he would deliver a series of speeches in coming months on the competing ideologies and values, including on global influence campaigns by the Chinese Communist Party's intelligence agencies and "unfair and predatory" economic practices by Beijing. "The Chinese Communist Party is a Marxist-Leninist Party focused on a 'struggle' and international domination - we need only listen to the words of their leaders," he said. Pompeo said he would also address the build-up of China's military capabilities "that far exceed what they would need for self-defence." Pompeo said the United States was not seeking confrontation with China and wanted to see a transparent, competitive market-driven system there that was mutually beneficial. He said the first steps towards that could be seen in phase one of the trade deal, which was close to being signed. "I am optimistic that we will get there. It's a good thing, a place that we can work together," he said. "I think this will show that there is common ground to be had."

Pompeo says US must confront China's Communist Party

A senior White House official testified on Tuesday he was so alarmed by hearing US&nbsp;President Donald Trump ask Ukraine's president to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, that he reported the matter to a White House lawyer.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman became the first current White House staff member to testify in the Democratic-led House of Representatives inquiry into whether to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-begins-trump-impeachment-inquiry-over-call-to-ukraine-leader-251866">impeach the Republican</a> president.

The Ukraine specialist gave a closed-door deposition for more than 10 hours as Democrats unveiled legislation calling for public hearings and a public report in the impeachment inquiry to blunt Republican criticism the probe has been conducted with too much secrecy.

While the Democrats met Republican demands for a full House vote on impeachment inquiry procedures, holding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-to-vote-on-thursday-on-how-to-make-trump-impeachment-probe-public-258587">public hearings</a> and releasing transcripts taken in secret, senior Republicans rejected the legislation before it was even introduced.

Appearing on Capitol Hill in his military dress uniform, Vindman, a Ukraine-born US&nbsp;citizen and decorated Iraq war combat veteran, became the first person to testify who listened in on the July 25 call at the heart of the Ukraine scandal.

The inquiry has focused on Trump's request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&nbsp;on the call that he investigate Biden, a former vice president, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company.

Trump also asked Zelenskiy to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US&nbsp;election.

Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by Congress to help Ukraine fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky&nbsp;agreed to Trump's requests. The aid was later provided.

"I was concerned by the call," Vindman said in his prepared opening statement to the three House committees conducting the inquiry. "I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US&nbsp;citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US&nbsp;government's support of Ukraine."

"I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine US&nbsp;national security," Vindman added.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Ukraine and has called the impeachment probe politically motivated.

Vindman's testimony was some of the most damaging to date for Trump, who faces the possibility of impeachment as he prepares to run for re-election. Biden is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to face him.

Federal law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election.

Vindman, appearing after receiving a subpoena from lawmakers despite the Trump administration policy of not cooperating with the impeachment inquiry, recounted listening in on the call in the White House Situation Room with colleagues from the National Security Council and Vice President Mike Pence's office.

After the call, Vindman said he reported his concerns to the National Security Council's lead counsel.

Vindman said earlier in July he had also reported concerns about previous pressure by the administration on Ukraine to carry out politically motivated investigations to the lawyer.

Vindman called into question the truthfulness of earlier testimony by another administration official, US&nbsp;Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.

At a July 10 meeting in Washington, Vindman said Sondland, a former Trump donor, told visiting Ukrainian officials they needed to "deliver specific investigations in order to secure a meeting with the president." At that point, Vindman said, then-national security adviser John Bolton cut the meeting short.

According to Vindman's opening statement, Sondland told other US&nbsp;officials in a debriefing after the meeting that it was important that the Ukrainian investigations center on the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma.

"I stated to Ambassador&nbsp;Sondland that his statements were inappropriate, that the request to investigate Biden and his son had nothing to do with national security," Vindman said.

Sondland gave a different account of the July 10 events in his own testimony, saying that "if Ambassador Bolton, Dr. Hill or others harboured any misgivings about the propriety of what we were doing, they never shared those misgivings with me, then or later."

Before his testimony, some Trump allies, including Fox News host Laura Ingraham, sought to attack Vindman's integrity and questioned his loyalty to the United States.

Biden, however, described Vindman as a hero, calling attacks on the Army officer's character and loyalty "despicable."

"He's a hell of a patriot," Biden told MSNBC.

After Vindman's testimony, the Democratic Intelligence Committee chairman, Representative Adam Schiff, said he was "appalled" by the critical comments. "He deserves better than that scandalous attack," Schiff told reporters.

Seeking to blunt Republican criticism that the inquiry does not give Trump due process, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laid out legislation that could be voted on this week setting up a two-stage process for the inquiry.

In the first, the House Intelligence Committee would continue its probe, including via public hearings, with the right to make public transcripts of depositions taken in private.

The intelligence panel would then send a public report on its findings to the House Judiciary Committee, which would conduct its own proceedings and report on "such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper."

A lawyer for Trump would be allowed to participate in proceedings in the Judiciary Committee, which eventually could vote on formal charges against the Republican president. House passage of articles of impeachment would trigger a trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to remove Trump from office.

At a news conference before the measure was unveiled, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said the entire process remained a "sham."

Referring to closed meetings and depositions held by the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs panels over the past few weeks, McCarthy said: "You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Due process starts at the beginning."

The White House adopted a similar stance.

"The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats’ impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorization by a House vote," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Impeachment is much different from a judicial process, however, and is not governed by the same rules. The US&nbsp;Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations.

A senior White House official testified on Tuesday he was so alarmed by hearing US President Donald Trump ask Ukraine's president to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, that he reported the matter to a White House lawyer.

A senior White House official testified on Tuesday he was so alarmed by hearing US President Donald Trump ask Ukraine's president to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, that he reported the matter to a White House lawyer. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman became the first current White House staff member to testify in the Democratic-led House of Representatives inquiry into whether to impeach the Republican president. The Ukraine specialist gave a closed-door deposition for more than 10 hours as Democrats unveiled legislation calling for public hearings and a public report in the impeachment inquiry to blunt Republican criticism the probe has been conducted with too much secrecy. While the Democrats met Republican demands for a full House vote on impeachment inquiry procedures, holding public hearings and releasing transcripts taken in secret, senior Republicans rejected the legislation before it was even introduced. Appearing on Capitol Hill in his military dress uniform, Vindman, a Ukraine-born US citizen and decorated Iraq war combat veteran, became the first person to testify who listened in on the July 25 call at the heart of the Ukraine scandal. The inquiry has focused on Trump's request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the call that he investigate Biden, a former vice president, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company. Trump also asked Zelenskiy to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election. Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by Congress to help Ukraine fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky agreed to Trump's requests. The aid was later provided. "I was concerned by the call," Vindman said in his prepared opening statement to the three House committees conducting the inquiry. "I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US government's support of Ukraine." "I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine US national security," Vindman added. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Ukraine and has called the impeachment probe politically motivated. Vindman's testimony was some of the most damaging to date for Trump, who faces the possibility of impeachment as he prepares to run for re-election. Biden is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to face him. Federal law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election. Vindman, appearing after receiving a subpoena from lawmakers despite the Trump administration policy of not cooperating with the impeachment inquiry, recounted listening in on the call in the White House Situation Room with colleagues from the National Security Council and Vice President Mike Pence's office. After the call, Vindman said he reported his concerns to the National Security Council's lead counsel. Vindman said earlier in July he had also reported concerns about previous pressure by the administration on Ukraine to carry out politically motivated investigations to the lawyer. Vindman called into question the truthfulness of earlier testimony by another administration official, US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. At a July 10 meeting in Washington, Vindman said Sondland, a former Trump donor, told visiting Ukrainian officials they needed to "deliver specific investigations in order to secure a meeting with the president." At that point, Vindman said, then-national security adviser John Bolton cut the meeting short. According to Vindman's opening statement, Sondland told other US officials in a debriefing after the meeting that it was important that the Ukrainian investigations center on the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma. "I stated to Ambassador Sondland that his statements were inappropriate, that the request to investigate Biden and his son had nothing to do with national security," Vindman said. Sondland gave a different account of the July 10 events in his own testimony, saying that "if Ambassador Bolton, Dr. Hill or others harboured any misgivings about the propriety of what we were doing, they never shared those misgivings with me, then or later." Before his testimony, some Trump allies, including Fox News host Laura Ingraham, sought to attack Vindman's integrity and questioned his loyalty to the United States. Biden, however, described Vindman as a hero, calling attacks on the Army officer's character and loyalty "despicable." "He's a hell of a patriot," Biden told MSNBC. After Vindman's testimony, the Democratic Intelligence Committee chairman, Representative Adam Schiff, said he was "appalled" by the critical comments. "He deserves better than that scandalous attack," Schiff told reporters. Seeking to blunt Republican criticism that the inquiry does not give Trump due process, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laid out legislation that could be voted on this week setting up a two-stage process for the inquiry. In the first, the House Intelligence Committee would continue its probe, including via public hearings, with the right to make public transcripts of depositions taken in private. The intelligence panel would then send a public report on its findings to the House Judiciary Committee, which would conduct its own proceedings and report on "such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper." A lawyer for Trump would be allowed to participate in proceedings in the Judiciary Committee, which eventually could vote on formal charges against the Republican president. House passage of articles of impeachment would trigger a trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. At a news conference before the measure was unveiled, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said the entire process remained a "sham." Referring to closed meetings and depositions held by the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs panels over the past few weeks, McCarthy said: "You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Due process starts at the beginning." The White House adopted a similar stance. "The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats’ impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorization by a House vote," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said. Impeachment is much different from a judicial process, however, and is not governed by the same rules. The US Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations.

White House official Vindman raises US national security concern over Trump's call to Zelensky

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-lawmakers-hear-from-corroborating-witness-in-trump-impeachment-probe-258323">impeachment investigation</a> of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe.

Trump and his fellow Republicans have for weeks branded the work of committees probing Trump's overtures to Ukraine as illegitimate, arguing the full Democratic-led House of Representatives had failed to authorise their investigations in a public vote.

Meeting behind closed doors, the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees have been looking into the possibility that Trump violated federal law by seeking foreign help for his November 2020 re-election efforts.

House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern said on Monday: "I will be introducing a resolution to ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward."

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a statement the legislation would establish a format for open hearings.The US&nbsp;Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations.

Several administration officials, including a former deputy national security adviser on Monday, have failed to testify to House committees engaged in the probe.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her fellow House Democrats the House will vote this week - on Thursday, according to a senior Democratic aide - on a resolution that spells out how future public hearings will be held.

Pelosi promised to provide legal protections for Trump.

A source familiar with the probe said the public hearings will be held by the Intelligence Committee and that the transcripts from closed depositions with witnesses will be made public. A senior House Democratic aide said the hearings could begin within the next month.

The measure will set the stage for House investigating committees to forward evidence they have collected to the House Judiciary Committee, which would then decide whether to advance articles of impeachment against Trump.

Even if the House impeaches Trump, he would face a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which for the moment seems unlikely to convict the president and force his ouster.

Impeachment requires a simple majority in the 435-member House but conviction demands the support of a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate.

Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to ousted national security adviser John Bolton, failed to appear earlier on Monday before the three House panels conducting the Ukraine phase of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, lawmakers said.

Other panels are probing separate issues, including Trump's finances and abuses of White House security clearances.

Kupperman put off testifying while asking a court to rule on whether he should comply with a congressional subpoena or honour the Trump administration's order not to testify, his lawyers said last week.

Democrats in turn said they would not let further legal manoeuvrings delay their work.

At least nine others have testified despite being instructed by the White House not to do so, Schiff said.

Kupperman was expected to provide testimony about Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-lawmakers-hear-from-corroborating-witness-in-trump-impeachment-probe-258323">dealings with Ukraine</a> brought to Congress' attention by a report from a whistleblower about a July 25 telephone call between the US&nbsp;president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Trump's request to Zelenskiy that he investigate former US&nbsp;Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, is the focus of the inquiry being conducted by the three panels.

Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by the US&nbsp;Congress to help fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

A separate White House official, Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who sits on the National Security Council and who listened in on the call, is expected to tell lawmakers in a closed-door hearing on Tuesday that the conversation alarmed him so much that he raised concerns with an NSC lawyer.

But Trump again dismissed the inquiry in comments to reporters.

"I had a great conversation with the Ukrainian president. I had another with him also, I think before that, which was the same thing, it was nothing. They tried to take that conversation and make it into a big scandal," Trump said on Monday.

Schiff noted that a federal judge had validated the legality of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry in a decision about releasing information regarding a separate investigation, into Russian election interference in 2016, to Congress and that all witnesses need to come forward when called.

The Trump administration appealed that ruling on Monday.

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe.

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe. Trump and his fellow Republicans have for weeks branded the work of committees probing Trump's overtures to Ukraine as illegitimate, arguing the full Democratic-led House of Representatives had failed to authorise their investigations in a public vote. Meeting behind closed doors, the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees have been looking into the possibility that Trump violated federal law by seeking foreign help for his November 2020 re-election efforts. House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern said on Monday: "I will be introducing a resolution to ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward." House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a statement the legislation would establish a format for open hearings.The US Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations. Several administration officials, including a former deputy national security adviser on Monday, have failed to testify to House committees engaged in the probe. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her fellow House Democrats the House will vote this week - on Thursday, according to a senior Democratic aide - on a resolution that spells out how future public hearings will be held. Pelosi promised to provide legal protections for Trump. A source familiar with the probe said the public hearings will be held by the Intelligence Committee and that the transcripts from closed depositions with witnesses will be made public. A senior House Democratic aide said the hearings could begin within the next month. The measure will set the stage for House investigating committees to forward evidence they have collected to the House Judiciary Committee, which would then decide whether to advance articles of impeachment against Trump. Even if the House impeaches Trump, he would face a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which for the moment seems unlikely to convict the president and force his ouster. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the 435-member House but conviction demands the support of a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate. Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to ousted national security adviser John Bolton, failed to appear earlier on Monday before the three House panels conducting the Ukraine phase of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, lawmakers said. Other panels are probing separate issues, including Trump's finances and abuses of White House security clearances. Kupperman put off testifying while asking a court to rule on whether he should comply with a congressional subpoena or honour the Trump administration's order not to testify, his lawyers said last week. Democrats in turn said they would not let further legal manoeuvrings delay their work. At least nine others have testified despite being instructed by the White House not to do so, Schiff said. Kupperman was expected to provide testimony about Trump's dealings with Ukraine brought to Congress' attention by a report from a whistleblower about a July 25 telephone call between the US president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump's request to Zelenskiy that he investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, is the focus of the inquiry being conducted by the three panels. Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by the US Congress to help fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. A separate White House official, Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who sits on the National Security Council and who listened in on the call, is expected to tell lawmakers in a closed-door hearing on Tuesday that the conversation alarmed him so much that he raised concerns with an NSC lawyer. But Trump again dismissed the inquiry in comments to reporters. "I had a great conversation with the Ukrainian president. I had another with him also, I think before that, which was the same thing, it was nothing. They tried to take that conversation and make it into a big scandal," Trump said on Monday. Schiff noted that a federal judge had validated the legality of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry in a decision about releasing information regarding a separate investigation, into Russian election interference in 2016, to Congress and that all witnesses need to come forward when called. The Trump administration appealed that ruling on Monday.

Democrats set to vote on on how to make Trump impeachment probe public

US&nbsp;Representative Katie Hill, who is under investigation by the House ethics committee over an alleged relationship with a congressional staffer, said on Sunday that she was resigning from Congress.

Hill, a 32-year-old California Democrat who was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018, posted her resignation letter to Twitter, saying she believed it best for her constituents, community and the country.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It is with a broken heart that today I announce my resignation from Congress. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I believe it is the best thing for my constituents, my community, and our country. 
 
See my official statement below. <a href="https://t.co/RO8B0znc6C">https://t.co/RO8B0znc6C</a>
— Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieHill4CA/status/1188592008274669569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Hill has admitted to an "inappropriate" relationship with a campaign staffer when she was running for Congress but denied she had a sexual relationship with a staffer in her office, according to media reports.

The ethics committee said on Wednesday it was "aware of public allegations... (that Hill) may have engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual on her congressional staff," and said it was investigating.

Hill, who is going through a divorce, apologized in her resignation letter for "mistakes made along the way" but also lamented a "smear campaign".

Hill blamed her husband and said she was pursuing legal options after media outlets published intimate photos that purported to be of the lawmaker.

"Having private photos of personal moments weaponised against me has been an appalling invasion of my privacy," said Hill. "It's also illegal."

Hill serves on the House Armed Services and Oversight and Reform Committees, where she is also vice-chair.

She defeated incumbent Republican Steve Knight in a district north of Los Angeles, helping the Democrats win control of the House. Her district is seen by election analysts at the Cook Political Report as one of the most competitive in the country.

Although Hill’s departure could help Republicans win back her seat in November 2020, they still face an uphill climb in their effort to regain control of the House.

US Representative Katie Hill, who is under investigation by the House ethics committee over an alleged relationship with a congressional staffer, said on Sunday that she was resigning from Congress.

US Representative Katie Hill, who is under investigation by the House ethics committee over an alleged relationship with a congressional staffer, said on Sunday that she was resigning from Congress. Hill, a 32-year-old California Democrat who was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018, posted her resignation letter to Twitter, saying she believed it best for her constituents, community and the country. It is with a broken heart that today I announce my resignation from Congress. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I believe it is the best thing for my constituents, my community, and our country. See my official statement below. https://t.co/RO8B0znc6C — Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) October 27, 2019 × Hill has admitted to an "inappropriate" relationship with a campaign staffer when she was running for Congress but denied she had a sexual relationship with a staffer in her office, according to media reports. The ethics committee said on Wednesday it was "aware of public allegations... (that Hill) may have engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual on her congressional staff," and said it was investigating. Hill, who is going through a divorce, apologized in her resignation letter for "mistakes made along the way" but also lamented a "smear campaign". Hill blamed her husband and said she was pursuing legal options after media outlets published intimate photos that purported to be of the lawmaker. "Having private photos of personal moments weaponised against me has been an appalling invasion of my privacy," said Hill. "It's also illegal." Hill serves on the House Armed Services and Oversight and Reform Committees, where she is also vice-chair. She defeated incumbent Republican Steve Knight in a district north of Los Angeles, helping the Democrats win control of the House. Her district is seen by election analysts at the Cook Political Report as one of the most competitive in the country. Although Hill’s departure could help Republicans win back her seat in November 2020, they still face an uphill climb in their effort to regain control of the House.

US Representative Katie Hill, facing ethics probe, resigns from Congress

According to reports, the U.S. military has conducted an operation in which ISIS chief or leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dead. U.S. President Donald Trump to make a major announcement from the White House today.

Is ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dead?

President Donald Trump doesn't like what he reads in two of America's biggest newspapers, The New York Times and Washington Post, so he won't be getting them any longer.

"We did not renew our subscription, that is correct. This will be a significant cost savings to taxpayers," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham told AFP.

Trump on Monday had told Fox News, the television network that he watches daily and relies on for largely friendly coverage,&nbsp;that he didn't want to get the papers because they are "fake."

Grisham also told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that the White House plans to require all federal agencies to cancel their subscriptions to the two newspapers.

"I have no doubt the hardworking reporters of The New York Times and Washington Post will continue to do quality journalism regardless of whether the president acknowledges he reads them," White House Correspondents' Association president Jonathan Karl told the WSJ.

"Pretending to ignore the work of a free press won't make the news go away, or stop reporters from informing the public and holding those in power accountable," he added.

The Times and particularly the Post are not the biggest newspapers by circulation, but they have an outsized influence in national politics and especially in coverage of the White House.

President Donald Trump doesn't like what he reads in two of America's biggest newspapers, The New York Times and Washington Post, so he won't be getting them any longer.

President Donald Trump doesn't like what he reads in two of America's biggest newspapers, The New York Times and Washington Post, so he won't be getting them any longer. "We did not renew our subscription, that is correct. This will be a significant cost savings to taxpayers," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham told AFP. Trump on Monday had told Fox News, the television network that he watches daily and relies on for largely friendly coverage, that he didn't want to get the papers because they are "fake." Grisham also told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that the White House plans to require all federal agencies to cancel their subscriptions to the two newspapers. "I have no doubt the hardworking reporters of The New York Times and Washington Post will continue to do quality journalism regardless of whether the president acknowledges he reads them," White House Correspondents' Association president Jonathan Karl told the WSJ. "Pretending to ignore the work of a free press won't make the news go away, or stop reporters from informing the public and holding those in power accountable," he added. The Times and particularly the Post are not the biggest newspapers by circulation, but they have an outsized influence in national politics and especially in coverage of the White House.

Didn't renew our subscription! Trump cancels America's biggest newspapers

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said on Sunday he had not offered to resign for indicating last week that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump had sought a political favor&nbsp;from Ukraine in exchange for military aid, comments he has since retracted.

"I never said there was a quid pro quo because there isn't," Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday," using a Latin phrase meaning favour for a favor.

Mulvaney told reporters on Thursday that Trump's decision to withhold $391 million in aid to Ukraine was linked in part to his desire for an investigation by Kyiv into a debunked theory that a Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer server was held in Ukraine.

When told by a reporter that what he had just described was a quid pro quo, Mulvaney responded: “We do that all the time with foreign policy.”

His remarks at a White House news conference created turmoil in Washington and left the president's Republican allies flummoxed and frustrated.

Mulvaney walked back the comments in a statement the same day. But after weeks in which the president argued that he had done nothing wrong, Mulvaney's remarks undermined the core arguments that Trump and his advisers have made against the effort to oust him from office in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-begins-trump-impeachment-inquiry-over-call-to-ukraine-leader-251866">House of Representatives impeachment inquiry.</a>

"This Scam going on right now by the Democrats against the Republican Party, and me was all about a perfect phone call I had with the Ukrainian President. He's already stated, NO PRESSURE!" Trump said as part of a series of tweets later on Sunday.

Mulvaney said on Sunday he did not offer to resign over the episode, nor was his possible resignation discussed at the White House.

"Absolutely, positively not," he told Fox News Sunday. "I'm very happy working there. Did I have the perfect press conference, no, but again the facts are on our side. ... I still think I'm doing a pretty good job as the chief of staff and I think the president agrees."

Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in 2020, has said the aid to Kyiv was frozen because he believed European countries should also contribute. Mulvaney said on Sunday the European aid had been a concern along with corruption in Ukraine and noted that the "aid flowed" eventually.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday supported Mulvaney's walk-back of his remarks, saying he had not seen evidence of a connection between withholding Ukraine aid and Kyiv pursuing a political investigation.

"I never saw that in the decision-making process that I was a part of .... the conversation was always around what were the strategic implications, would that money get to the right place or would there be corruption in Ukraine and the money wouldn't flow to the mission that it was intended for," Pompeo said on ABC's "This Week."

The original Mulvaney remarks produced anxiety among some Republicans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, who told reporters foreign aid should not be held up for a political initiative.

Mitt Romney, a US&nbsp;senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, criticized Trump's actions in a recent interview, calling it "shocking" that Trump publicly said China and Ukraine should investigate political rival and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son.

"It was shocking, in my opinion ... and a mistake," he said on "Axios on HBO." "I can't imagine coming to a different point of view."

Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday" it was "just absurd" to think that the episode, as well as Republican resistance to Trump's plan to pull US&nbsp;troops from Syria, made it more likely the Republican-led Senate would vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges if they are filed by the Democratic-led House.

Mulvaney said Trump was still "extraordinarily popular back home" and Republican lawmakers would respond to that.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who frequently allies himself with Trump, told Axios he would need to see more evidence before considering impeachment.

"If you could show me that, you know, Trump actually was engaging in a quid pro quo, outside the phone call, that would be very disturbing," he said.

Democrats continued to focus on the Ukraine quid pro quo issue.

"Republicans face a simple question: is the president allowed to pressure a foreign country into interfering in our elections? History will remember their answer, or their silence," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said on Sunday he had not offered to resign for indicating last week that US President Donald Trump had sought a political favor from Ukraine in exchange for military aid, comments he has since retracted.

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said on Sunday he had not offered to resign for indicating last week that US President Donald Trump had sought a political favor from Ukraine in exchange for military aid, comments he has since retracted. "I never said there was a quid pro quo because there isn't," Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday," using a Latin phrase meaning favour for a favor. Mulvaney told reporters on Thursday that Trump's decision to withhold $391 million in aid to Ukraine was linked in part to his desire for an investigation by Kyiv into a debunked theory that a Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer server was held in Ukraine. When told by a reporter that what he had just described was a quid pro quo, Mulvaney responded: “We do that all the time with foreign policy.” His remarks at a White House news conference created turmoil in Washington and left the president's Republican allies flummoxed and frustrated. Mulvaney walked back the comments in a statement the same day. But after weeks in which the president argued that he had done nothing wrong, Mulvaney's remarks undermined the core arguments that Trump and his advisers have made against the effort to oust him from office in a House of Representatives impeachment inquiry. "This Scam going on right now by the Democrats against the Republican Party, and me was all about a perfect phone call I had with the Ukrainian President. He's already stated, NO PRESSURE!" Trump said as part of a series of tweets later on Sunday. Mulvaney said on Sunday he did not offer to resign over the episode, nor was his possible resignation discussed at the White House. "Absolutely, positively not," he told Fox News Sunday. "I'm very happy working there. Did I have the perfect press conference, no, but again the facts are on our side. ... I still think I'm doing a pretty good job as the chief of staff and I think the president agrees." Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in 2020, has said the aid to Kyiv was frozen because he believed European countries should also contribute. Mulvaney said on Sunday the European aid had been a concern along with corruption in Ukraine and noted that the "aid flowed" eventually. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday supported Mulvaney's walk-back of his remarks, saying he had not seen evidence of a connection between withholding Ukraine aid and Kyiv pursuing a political investigation. "I never saw that in the decision-making process that I was a part of .... the conversation was always around what were the strategic implications, would that money get to the right place or would there be corruption in Ukraine and the money wouldn't flow to the mission that it was intended for," Pompeo said on ABC's "This Week." The original Mulvaney remarks produced anxiety among some Republicans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, who told reporters foreign aid should not be held up for a political initiative. Mitt Romney, a US senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, criticized Trump's actions in a recent interview, calling it "shocking" that Trump publicly said China and Ukraine should investigate political rival and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. "It was shocking, in my opinion ... and a mistake," he said on "Axios on HBO." "I can't imagine coming to a different point of view." Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday" it was "just absurd" to think that the episode, as well as Republican resistance to Trump's plan to pull US troops from Syria, made it more likely the Republican-led Senate would vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges if they are filed by the Democratic-led House. Mulvaney said Trump was still "extraordinarily popular back home" and Republican lawmakers would respond to that. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who frequently allies himself with Trump, told Axios he would need to see more evidence before considering impeachment. "If you could show me that, you know, Trump actually was engaging in a quid pro quo, outside the phone call, that would be very disturbing," he said. Democrats continued to focus on the Ukraine quid pro quo issue. "Republicans face a simple question: is the president allowed to pressure a foreign country into interfering in our elections? History will remember their answer, or their silence," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter

White House's Mick Mulvaney did not mull quitting over 'quid pro quo' flap

U.S. President Donald Trump will host next year's Group of Seven economic summit of developed world leaders at one of his own properties, the Trump National Doral golf resort near Miami, a White House official said on Thursday.

U.S. to host 2020 G7 summit at Trump's own luxurious resort near Miami

A top White House official admitted Thursday that President Donald Trump had tied military aid for Ukraine to Kiev undertaking an<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pushed-for-ukraine-probe-of-firm-linked-to-biden-son-us-diplomat-256547"> investigation that would help Trump politically</a>, adding ammunition to Democrats' impeachment probe.

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney's stunning admission supports a key allegation in the House impeachment effort, that the president illicitly sought foreign political help as he seeks re-election next year.

Mulvaney said it was true that Trump used the aid to prod Kiev in July to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-wont-interfere-in-trump-impeachment-probe-president-zelensky-256330">investigate the allegation</a> -- widely viewed as groundless -- that the Democratic National Committee had hidden a computer server in Ukraine that would undermine claims that Trump's 2016 election victory was helped by Russian meddling.

Trump did not want to send nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine because the country was deeply corrupt, Mulvaney said.

"Did he also mention to me in passing the corruption related to the DNC server? Absolutely. No question about that," Mulvaney told reporters.

"That's it, and that's why we held up the money."

'From bad to worse'

Hours later, Mulvaney abruptly recanted.

"Let me be clear, there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election," he said in a statement.

"The president never told me to withhold any money until the Ukrainians did anything related to the server."

Nevertheless, his initial admission appeared to support Democrats' charges that Trump abused his power and violated election laws.

"Mulvaney just said that US military aid for Ukraine was held up pending Ukraine's investigation of Democrats," tweeted Adam Schiff, the House Intelligence Committee chairman who is leading the impeachment inquiry.

"Things just went from very, very bad to much, much worse," he said.

But Mulvaney argued that Trump had done nothing wrong, because he acted in support of a Justice Department probe into the origins of 2016 Russian meddling allegations.

And Mulvaney denied that Trump also tied the aid to Ukraine investigating a top Democratic rival, Joe Biden, ahead of the 2020 vote.

That Biden allegation is the other key leg of Democrats' charges against Trump.

"The money held up had absolutely nothing to do with Biden," he said.

Dramatic revelations

Mulvaney's comments added to a dramatic day in which a senior diplomat told Congressional investigators that Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani sought political help from Ukraine. Trump also announced that US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who was deeply involved in Ukraine talks, was stepping down.

Word of Perry's departure came a day after the publication of an interview in which Perry said that -- on Trump's orders -- he had communicated with Giuliani over alleged corruption in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Trump said Perry had told him of his plans to resign months ago.

Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, said in written testimony that Trump ordered diplomats in May to involve Giuliani in talks with new Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Giuliani, he said, sought to pressure Zelensky to investigate Biden and Biden's son over ties to a Ukraine energy company, Burisma, as well as to find evidence for the 2016 Democratic server theory. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma for five years until April this year.

"Mr Giuliani specifically mentioned the 2016 election (including the DNC server) and Burisma as two anti-corruption investigatory topics of importance for the president," Sondland said.

"I did not understand, until much later, that Mr Giuliani's agenda might have also included an effort to prompt the Ukrainians to investigate Vice President Biden or his son or to involve Ukrainians, directly or indirectly, in the president's 2020 re-election campaign," he said.

Evidence Trump abused powers

Sondland, a businessman who was appointed ambassador after donating $1 million to Trump's inauguration festivities, sought to distance himself from the political storm enveloping the White House.

Sondland said Giuliani was the principal messenger, and that he had few communications with the president's lawyer.

"My understanding was that the president directed Mr. Giuliani's participation, that Mr. Giuliani was expressing the concerns of the president," Sondland stated.

"Our view was that the men and women of the State Department, not the president's personal lawyer, should take responsibility for all aspects of US foreign policy towards Ukraine."

Eight witnesses

Sondland was the eighth witness to testify to the three House committees leading the impeachment investigation, all defying White House efforts to block them from appearing.

Democrats appear increasingly likely to unveil articles of impeachment -- formal charges -- before the end of the year.&nbsp;

If approved by the Democrat-dominated House of Representatives, Trump would then go on trial for removal in the Senate, where Republicans have the majority.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied Thursday that the investigation was politically driven, and said there was no timeline.

"None of us came to Congress to impeach a president," she told reporters. "Any such actions are to be taken very solemnly, seriously and in my view prayerfully."

A top White House official admitted Thursday that President Donald Trump had tied military aid for Ukraine to Kiev undertaking an investigation that would help Trump politically, adding ammunition to Democrats' impeachment probe.

A top White House official admitted Thursday that President Donald Trump had tied military aid for Ukraine to Kiev undertaking an investigation that would help Trump politically, adding ammunition to Democrats' impeachment probe. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney's stunning admission supports a key allegation in the House impeachment effort, that the president illicitly sought foreign political help as he seeks re-election next year. Mulvaney said it was true that Trump used the aid to prod Kiev in July to investigate the allegation -- widely viewed as groundless -- that the Democratic National Committee had hidden a computer server in Ukraine that would undermine claims that Trump's 2016 election victory was helped by Russian meddling. Trump did not want to send nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine because the country was deeply corrupt, Mulvaney said. "Did he also mention to me in passing the corruption related to the DNC server? Absolutely. No question about that," Mulvaney told reporters. "That's it, and that's why we held up the money." 'From bad to worse' Hours later, Mulvaney abruptly recanted. "Let me be clear, there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election," he said in a statement. "The president never told me to withhold any money until the Ukrainians did anything related to the server." Nevertheless, his initial admission appeared to support Democrats' charges that Trump abused his power and violated election laws. "Mulvaney just said that US military aid for Ukraine was held up pending Ukraine's investigation of Democrats," tweeted Adam Schiff, the House Intelligence Committee chairman who is leading the impeachment inquiry. "Things just went from very, very bad to much, much worse," he said. But Mulvaney argued that Trump had done nothing wrong, because he acted in support of a Justice Department probe into the origins of 2016 Russian meddling allegations. And Mulvaney denied that Trump also tied the aid to Ukraine investigating a top Democratic rival, Joe Biden, ahead of the 2020 vote. That Biden allegation is the other key leg of Democrats' charges against Trump. "The money held up had absolutely nothing to do with Biden," he said. Dramatic revelations Mulvaney's comments added to a dramatic day in which a senior diplomat told Congressional investigators that Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani sought political help from Ukraine. Trump also announced that US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who was deeply involved in Ukraine talks, was stepping down. Word of Perry's departure came a day after the publication of an interview in which Perry said that -- on Trump's orders -- he had communicated with Giuliani over alleged corruption in Ukraine. Trump said Perry had told him of his plans to resign months ago. Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, said in written testimony that Trump ordered diplomats in May to involve Giuliani in talks with new Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Giuliani, he said, sought to pressure Zelensky to investigate Biden and Biden's son over ties to a Ukraine energy company, Burisma, as well as to find evidence for the 2016 Democratic server theory. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma for five years until April this year. "Mr Giuliani specifically mentioned the 2016 election (including the DNC server) and Burisma as two anti-corruption investigatory topics of importance for the president," Sondland said. "I did not understand, until much later, that Mr Giuliani's agenda might have also included an effort to prompt the Ukrainians to investigate Vice President Biden or his son or to involve Ukrainians, directly or indirectly, in the president's 2020 re-election campaign," he said. Evidence Trump abused powers Sondland, a businessman who was appointed ambassador after donating $1 million to Trump's inauguration festivities, sought to distance himself from the political storm enveloping the White House. Sondland said Giuliani was the principal messenger, and that he had few communications with the president's lawyer. "My understanding was that the president directed Mr. Giuliani's participation, that Mr. Giuliani was expressing the concerns of the president," Sondland stated. "Our view was that the men and women of the State Department, not the president's personal lawyer, should take responsibility for all aspects of US foreign policy towards Ukraine." Eight witnesses Sondland was the eighth witness to testify to the three House committees leading the impeachment investigation, all defying White House efforts to block them from appearing. Democrats appear increasingly likely to unveil articles of impeachment -- formal charges -- before the end of the year. If approved by the Democrat-dominated House of Representatives, Trump would then go on trial for removal in the Senate, where Republicans have the majority. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied Thursday that the investigation was politically driven, and said there was no timeline. "None of us came to Congress to impeach a president," she told reporters. "Any such actions are to be taken very solemnly, seriously and in my view prayerfully."

White House admits Donald Trump tied Ukraine aid to political effort

President Donald Trump's Twitter attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following an acrimonious White House meeting appears to have backfired spectacularly.

Trump tweeted a picture of the encounter Wednesday showing a standing Pelosi pointing at the president while he and everyone else in the room were seated, with the caption "Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown!"

However, far from being upset at the picture, Pelosi posted it as her Twitter banner, and her supporters said it showed her literally standing up to Trump.

"Can a woman beat Donald Trump? Yes. Speaker Pelosi does it every day," Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said as she retweeted the picture.

"Thanks for the new cover photo @realDonaldTrump!," tweeted Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill.

Others pointed out that several members of Trump's cabinet looked as if they would rather be somewhere else.

"The men on your right reflect the embarrassment we all feel," tweeted actress Mia Farrow.

Pelosi has previously gone viral with her apparent trolling of Trump, with her slow clapping of his last State of the Union speech becoming an instant meme.

After leaving the White House meeting, she told the press she prayed for the president and his family "all the time."

"Now we have to pray for his health because this was a very serious meltdown on the part of the President," she said.

Hours later, Trump suggested Pelosi had mental problems of her own.

"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. I was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person!" Trump tweeted.

One of the Democrats who attended the meeting, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said Trump launched into a "nasty diatribe" against them, while Pelosi said the president experienced a "meltdown."

Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham rejected the Democratic version of events, saying the president had been "measured and decisive," and that Pelosi walking out was "baffling but not surprising."

The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Pelosi since her explosive September 24 statement announcing a formal impeachment inquiry.

President Donald Trump's Twitter attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following an acrimonious White House meeting appears to have backfired spectacularly. Trump tweeted a picture of the encounter Wednesday showing a standing Pelosi pointing at the president while he and everyone else in the room were seated, with the caption "Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown!

President Donald Trump's Twitter attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following an acrimonious White House meeting appears to have backfired spectacularly. Trump tweeted a picture of the encounter Wednesday showing a standing Pelosi pointing at the president while he and everyone else in the room were seated, with the caption "Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown!" However, far from being upset at the picture, Pelosi posted it as her Twitter banner, and her supporters said it showed her literally standing up to Trump. "Can a woman beat Donald Trump? Yes. Speaker Pelosi does it every day," Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said as she retweeted the picture. "Thanks for the new cover photo @realDonaldTrump!," tweeted Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill. Others pointed out that several members of Trump's cabinet looked as if they would rather be somewhere else. "The men on your right reflect the embarrassment we all feel," tweeted actress Mia Farrow. Pelosi has previously gone viral with her apparent trolling of Trump, with her slow clapping of his last State of the Union speech becoming an instant meme. After leaving the White House meeting, she told the press she prayed for the president and his family "all the time." "Now we have to pray for his health because this was a very serious meltdown on the part of the President," she said. Hours later, Trump suggested Pelosi had mental problems of her own. "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. I was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person!" Trump tweeted. One of the Democrats who attended the meeting, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said Trump launched into a "nasty diatribe" against them, while Pelosi said the president experienced a "meltdown." Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham rejected the Democratic version of events, saying the president had been "measured and decisive," and that Pelosi walking out was "baffling but not surprising." The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Pelosi since her explosive September 24 statement announcing a formal impeachment inquiry.

Donald Trump's Twitter photo attack backfires as Nancy Pelosi owns it

Asian markets rose Thursday but investors moved cautiously as they sifted through conflicting reports about the outlook for upcoming China-US trade talks.

Global investors have been broadly upbeat in recent weeks that the meeting in Washington between top-level representatives would see at least some progress.

But with the much-anticipated gathering due to start within hours, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported pre-meeting discussions had not made any progress on key areas such as forced technology transfers and would be cut in half to just one day.

That came after Wall Street's three main indexes had ended with healthy gains on reports that a pared-down deal was still possible, with Beijing boosting agricultural purchases and the US delaying the imposition of new tariffs next week.

Tensions were already showing this week after the US unveiled restrictions on 28 Chinese entities over human rights violations in Xinjiang province and imposed visa restrictions on some officials, while a report said the White House was considering curtailing US investment in the country.

For its part, sources were reported to have said China had narrowed the issues it was willing to discuss as it felt in a stronger position owing to Donald Trump facing an impeachment inquiry at home and a weakening economy.

The SCMP report "reverses the trade optimism that was dominating overnight flow as investors were hoping that at minimum, some type of a deal could be forged", said Stephen Innes, Asia-Pacific market strategist at AxiTrader.

'Petals from a flower'

"So instead of debating how encompassing the deal might be, investors are now back to plucking petals from a flower guessing if there will be a deal at all."

On regional markets Shanghai and Hong Kong each rose 0.4 per cent while Tokyo went into the break 0.5 per cent higher. Sydney and Singapore each added 0.1 per cent, with Manila and Jakarta also higher.

Wellington was flat and Seoul sank 0.8 per cent.

In foreign exchanges, the dollar was lower against most other currencies after minutes from the Federal Reserve's September policy meeting showed it was growing concerned about the impact of Trump's trade war.

The central bank is expected to cut interest rates for the third time when the board meets again later this month.

The minutes "revealed greater concerns over downside risk from slowing global growth and trade tensions with subdued inflation also seen as a reason to cut", said Rodrigo Catril at National Australia Bank.

But he pointed out that "a few officials saw the need to push back against market Fed rate cut expectations".

Oil prices extended Wednesday's losses following data showing a bigger-than-forecast pick-up in US inventories that reinforced worries about the impact on demand from a global slowdown and trade frictions.

The data reversed a rally of more than one per cent in the commodity that came after Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Syria.

Asian markets rose Thursday but investors moved cautiously as they sifted through conflicting reports about the outlook for upcoming China-US trade talks. Global investors have been broadly upbeat in recent weeks that the meeting in Washington between top-level representatives would see at least some progress.

Asian markets rose Thursday but investors moved cautiously as they sifted through conflicting reports about the outlook for upcoming China-US trade talks. Global investors have been broadly upbeat in recent weeks that the meeting in Washington between top-level representatives would see at least some progress. But with the much-anticipated gathering due to start within hours, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported pre-meeting discussions had not made any progress on key areas such as forced technology transfers and would be cut in half to just one day. That came after Wall Street's three main indexes had ended with healthy gains on reports that a pared-down deal was still possible, with Beijing boosting agricultural purchases and the US delaying the imposition of new tariffs next week. Tensions were already showing this week after the US unveiled restrictions on 28 Chinese entities over human rights violations in Xinjiang province and imposed visa restrictions on some officials, while a report said the White House was considering curtailing US investment in the country. For its part, sources were reported to have said China had narrowed the issues it was willing to discuss as it felt in a stronger position owing to Donald Trump facing an impeachment inquiry at home and a weakening economy. The SCMP report "reverses the trade optimism that was dominating overnight flow as investors were hoping that at minimum, some type of a deal could be forged", said Stephen Innes, Asia-Pacific market strategist at AxiTrader. 'Petals from a flower' "So instead of debating how encompassing the deal might be, investors are now back to plucking petals from a flower guessing if there will be a deal at all." On regional markets Shanghai and Hong Kong each rose 0.4 per cent while Tokyo went into the break 0.5 per cent higher. Sydney and Singapore each added 0.1 per cent, with Manila and Jakarta also higher. Wellington was flat and Seoul sank 0.8 per cent. In foreign exchanges, the dollar was lower against most other currencies after minutes from the Federal Reserve's September policy meeting showed it was growing concerned about the impact of Trump's trade war. The central bank is expected to cut interest rates for the third time when the board meets again later this month. The minutes "revealed greater concerns over downside risk from slowing global growth and trade tensions with subdued inflation also seen as a reason to cut", said Rodrigo Catril at National Australia Bank. But he pointed out that "a few officials saw the need to push back against market Fed rate cut expectations". Oil prices extended Wednesday's losses following data showing a bigger-than-forecast pick-up in US inventories that reinforced worries about the impact on demand from a global slowdown and trade frictions. The data reversed a rally of more than one per cent in the commodity that came after Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Syria.

Asia markets rise as dealers nervously await start of trade talks

Rihanna is all pepped up for her upcoming 'visual autobiography'&nbsp;to hit markets soon, but before that happens, the singer got candid about her views on the US President Donald Trump calling him an "ill human". 
 
Criticizing Trump's responses to the El Paso and Dayton mass shootings earlier this year, the singer said, "It is devastating". 
 
"People are being murdered by war weapons that they legally purchase. This is just not normal. That should never, ever be normal. And the fact that it's classified as something different because of the color of their skin? It's a slap in the face," Variety quoted the singer as opening up on the cover story of Vogue magazine. 
 
Terming this as 'racist', and saying that "the most ill human being in America right now seems to be the president," Rihanna added, "Put an Arab man with that same weapon in that same Walmart and there is no way that Trump would sit there and address it publicly as a mental health problem". 
 
The pop icon even went on to explain why she would never headline the Super Bowl show despite the fact that her mentor Jay-Z has made a pact with NFL to produce the show, the 'Diamonds'&nbsp;singer added, "I couldn't dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. 
 
"Admitting that there are certain things "within that organisation" which she doesn't agree with, the singer added, "I just couldn't be a sellout. I couldn't be an enabler." 
 
On the work front, the pop star is looking forward to her 504-page picture autobiography which is set to hit bookstands on October 24. 
 
Exuding her joy and excitement over releasing a book on her, Rihanna in a statement said, "I am so excited to share this collection of incredible images. I'm very grateful to the talented photographers and artists who contributed."&nbsp;

Rihanna is all pepped up for her upcoming 'visual autobiography' to hit markets soon, but before that happens, the singer got candid about her views on the US President Donald Trump calling him an "ill human".

Rihanna is all pepped up for her upcoming 'visual autobiography' to hit markets soon, but before that happens, the singer got candid about her views on the US President Donald Trump calling him an "ill human". Criticizing Trump's responses to the El Paso and Dayton mass shootings earlier this year, the singer said, "It is devastating". "People are being murdered by war weapons that they legally purchase. This is just not normal. That should never, ever be normal. And the fact that it's classified as something different because of the color of their skin? It's a slap in the face," Variety quoted the singer as opening up on the cover story of Vogue magazine. Terming this as 'racist', and saying that "the most ill human being in America right now seems to be the president," Rihanna added, "Put an Arab man with that same weapon in that same Walmart and there is no way that Trump would sit there and address it publicly as a mental health problem". The pop icon even went on to explain why she would never headline the Super Bowl show despite the fact that her mentor Jay-Z has made a pact with NFL to produce the show, the 'Diamonds' singer added, "I couldn't dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. "Admitting that there are certain things "within that organisation" which she doesn't agree with, the singer added, "I just couldn't be a sellout. I couldn't be an enabler." On the work front, the pop star is looking forward to her 504-page picture autobiography which is set to hit bookstands on October 24. Exuding her joy and excitement over releasing a book on her, Rihanna in a statement said, "I am so excited to share this collection of incredible images. I'm very grateful to the talented photographers and artists who contributed."

Donald Trump is the most mentally-ill human being in America: Rihanna

A defiant White House declared war Tuesday against the impeachment <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-democrats-subpoena-pentagon-docs-in-impeachment-inquiry-254451">investigation of Donald Trump</a>, blasting the process as partisan, illegitimate and unconstitutional and saying neither the president nor his administration will cooperate.

In a fiery letter, the White House threw down the gauntlet to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of three congressional panels leading the inquiry, challenging them to proceed with their effort to oust <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-diplomats-to-testify-about-trump-ukraine-efforts-as-democrats-build-impeachment-case-254216">Trump despite zero future cooperation</a>.

"Put simply, you seek to overturn the results of the 2016 election and deprive the American people of the president they have freely chosen," White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in an eight-page letter.

"Your inquiry lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation, any pretense of fairness, or even the most elementary due process protections," he said of the probe, which is weighing whether Trump abused his office by seeking a corruption probe in Ukraine of his rival Joe Biden.

"President Trump cannot permit his administration to participate in this partisan inquiry under these circumstances."

Pelosi fired back, terming the letter "manifestly wrong" and describing it as "another unlawful attempt to hide the facts."

"Mr President, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable," she said, warning that "continued efforts to hide the truth of the president's abuse of power from the American people will be regarded as further evidence of obstruction."

The stand-off set Washington on a path toward a constitutional crisis and into unknown territory, with the potential for a court showdown just as the nation gears up for the 2020 election.

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell expressed support for Trump's strategy, tweeting that the House had failed "to follow the same basic procedures that it has followed for every other President in our history."

The White House &nbsp;letter capped a day of explosive developments that included Trump barring a key witness, Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, from speaking to Congress -- calling it a "totally compromised kangaroo court."

In response, Democrats slapped Sondland with a subpoena that "compels" him to appear on October 16.

Pelosi formally launched the impeachment inquiry last month after revelations Trump pressured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 phone call.

Biden, the former vice president who is seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination, joined the chorus of condemnation, tweeting that Trump "must stop stonewalling Congress."

Sondland, a major donor to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, was one of a handful of US diplomats on a text message chain between July and September that goes to the heart of the investigation.

The messages involving Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani show them coordinating to pressure Kiev into investigating Biden, as Ukraine sought US military aid and access.

House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff said investigators have learned that Sondland has text messages or emails on a personal device that are "deeply relevant" to the probe, but that State is withholding them.

A defiant White House declared war Tuesday against the impeachment investigation of Donald Trump, blasting the process as partisan, illegitimate and unconstitutional and saying neither the president nor his administration will cooperate.

A defiant White House declared war Tuesday against the impeachment investigation of Donald Trump, blasting the process as partisan, illegitimate and unconstitutional and saying neither the president nor his administration will cooperate. In a fiery letter, the White House threw down the gauntlet to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of three congressional panels leading the inquiry, challenging them to proceed with their effort to oust Trump despite zero future cooperation. "Put simply, you seek to overturn the results of the 2016 election and deprive the American people of the president they have freely chosen," White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in an eight-page letter. "Your inquiry lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation, any pretense of fairness, or even the most elementary due process protections," he said of the probe, which is weighing whether Trump abused his office by seeking a corruption probe in Ukraine of his rival Joe Biden. "President Trump cannot permit his administration to participate in this partisan inquiry under these circumstances." Pelosi fired back, terming the letter "manifestly wrong" and describing it as "another unlawful attempt to hide the facts." "Mr President, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable," she said, warning that "continued efforts to hide the truth of the president's abuse of power from the American people will be regarded as further evidence of obstruction." The stand-off set Washington on a path toward a constitutional crisis and into unknown territory, with the potential for a court showdown just as the nation gears up for the 2020 election. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell expressed support for Trump's strategy, tweeting that the House had failed "to follow the same basic procedures that it has followed for every other President in our history." The White House letter capped a day of explosive developments that included Trump barring a key witness, Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, from speaking to Congress -- calling it a "totally compromised kangaroo court." In response, Democrats slapped Sondland with a subpoena that "compels" him to appear on October 16. Pelosi formally launched the impeachment inquiry last month after revelations Trump pressured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 phone call. Biden, the former vice president who is seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination, joined the chorus of condemnation, tweeting that Trump "must stop stonewalling Congress." Sondland, a major donor to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, was one of a handful of US diplomats on a text message chain between July and September that goes to the heart of the investigation. The messages involving Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani show them coordinating to pressure Kiev into investigating Biden, as Ukraine sought US military aid and access. House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff said investigators have learned that Sondland has text messages or emails on a personal device that are "deeply relevant" to the probe, but that State is withholding them.

Trump impeachment enquiry lacks legitimate constitutional foundation: White House

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-trade-war-to-knock-05-points-off-global-growth-french-finance-minister-247859">High-level US-China trade negotiations</a> will resume this week in Washington, the White House announced Monday, a hopeful sign after a summer of deteriorating relations.

With eight days to go before the next round of punitive tariffs is due to hit, Beijing's top trade envoy Liu He will meet with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin beginning Thursday, the White House said in a statement.

Lower-level talks have been underway since last month.

The discussions will focus on areas where Washington has made far-reaching demands since last year: intellectual property rights, the forced transfer of proprietary technologies, agriculture and enforcement, the statement said.

US President Donald Trump said Friday there was a "very good chance" the two sides will strike a deal.

"We have had good moments with China and bad moments with China," he said. "What we're doing is we're negotiating a very tough deal. If the deal is not going to be 100 per cent for us we aren't going to make it."

However, Washington and Beijing are continuing to raise tariffs, with the next round of increases set to take effect October 15, as US tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods rise to 30 per cent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trade-talks-seen-as-unlikely-to-mend-us-china-divide-250119">Trump has claimed China's weakening economy puts Beijing under pressure to make a deal</a>.&nbsp;

But he also has said Chinese officials are dragging their feet in hopes of continuing negotiations with another administration should Trump fail to win reelection in 2020.

White House economic aide Larry Kudlow Monday denied that recent economic data showed the lingering trade war has damaged the US economy, saying the effect had been "minimum," a position most economists dispute.

Unemployment in September fell to its lowest level in 50 years but US manufacturing has fallen into recession, and GDP growth is forecast to slow considerably.

Trump is now the subject of an impeachment inquiry by congressional Democrats after pressuring Ukrainian authorities earlier this year to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden and son Hunter, whom Trump accuses of financial wrongdoing.

Trump last week raised the stakes openly calling on Beijing to do likewise.

But Kudlow&nbsp;told reporters there was no connection between the trade talks and Trump's call for China to investigate Biden.

"There'll be no linkage," he said. "I guarantee it."

High-level US-China trade negotiations will resume this week in Washington, the White House announced Monday, a hopeful sign after a summer of deteriorating relations.

High-level US-China trade negotiations will resume this week in Washington, the White House announced Monday, a hopeful sign after a summer of deteriorating relations. With eight days to go before the next round of punitive tariffs is due to hit, Beijing's top trade envoy Liu He will meet with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin beginning Thursday, the White House said in a statement. Lower-level talks have been underway since last month. The discussions will focus on areas where Washington has made far-reaching demands since last year: intellectual property rights, the forced transfer of proprietary technologies, agriculture and enforcement, the statement said. US President Donald Trump said Friday there was a "very good chance" the two sides will strike a deal. "We have had good moments with China and bad moments with China," he said. "What we're doing is we're negotiating a very tough deal. If the deal is not going to be 100 per cent for us we aren't going to make it." However, Washington and Beijing are continuing to raise tariffs, with the next round of increases set to take effect October 15, as US tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods rise to 30 per cent. Trump has claimed China's weakening economy puts Beijing under pressure to make a deal. But he also has said Chinese officials are dragging their feet in hopes of continuing negotiations with another administration should Trump fail to win reelection in 2020. White House economic aide Larry Kudlow Monday denied that recent economic data showed the lingering trade war has damaged the US economy, saying the effect had been "minimum," a position most economists dispute. Unemployment in September fell to its lowest level in 50 years but US manufacturing has fallen into recession, and GDP growth is forecast to slow considerably. Trump is now the subject of an impeachment inquiry by congressional Democrats after pressuring Ukrainian authorities earlier this year to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden and son Hunter, whom Trump accuses of financial wrongdoing. Trump last week raised the stakes openly calling on Beijing to do likewise. But Kudlow told reporters there was no connection between the trade talks and Trump's call for China to investigate Biden. "There'll be no linkage," he said. "I guarantee it."

US-China trade talks to resume Thursday: White House

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-erdogan-discuss-proposed-safe-zone-in-northeastern-syria-over-phone-call-254137">US troops in northern Syria</a> will no longer be near the border with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-to-launch-military-operation-in-northeast-syria-254000">Turkey</a>, nor will they support Ankara's "long-planned operation" into the country, the White House said on Sunday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pictures-children-become-victims-of-chemical-attack-in-syria-220">In pictures: Children become victims of 'chemical attack' in Syria</a>

"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria. The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial 'Caliphate,' will no longer be in the immediate area," the White House said, using another acronym for the Islamic State (IS) group.

The statement, which followed US President Donald Trump's phone call with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, also criticized "France, Germany, and other European nations" for not repatriating their citizens detained in northern Syria who had joined IS.

"Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years in the wake of the defeat of the territorial 'Caliphate' by the United States," the statement said.

Earlier on Sunday, Erdogan and Trump agreed during a phone call to meet in Washington next month to discuss creating a "safe zone" in northern Syria, the Turkish presidency said.

Erdogan also expressed his "frustration over the US military and security bureaucracy's failure" to implement an August deal establishing a buffer zone on the Turkish border.

The day before, the Turkish leader warned that Ankara could launch a cross-border offensive "as soon as today, tomorrow."

Washington had previously sought to stop any Turkish operation against a US-backed Syrian Kurdish militia viewed by Ankara as a "terrorist" offshoot of Kurdish militants in Turkey.

The US worked closely with the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to recapture swathes of territory from the IS jihadists.

US troops in northern Syria will no longer be near the border with Turkey, nor will they support Ankara's "long-planned operation" into the country, the White House said on Sunday.

US troops in northern Syria will no longer be near the border with Turkey, nor will they support Ankara's "long-planned operation" into the country, the White House said on Sunday. In pictures: Children become victims of 'chemical attack' in Syria "Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria. The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial 'Caliphate,' will no longer be in the immediate area," the White House said, using another acronym for the Islamic State (IS) group. The statement, which followed US President Donald Trump's phone call with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, also criticized "France, Germany, and other European nations" for not repatriating their citizens detained in northern Syria who had joined IS. "Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years in the wake of the defeat of the territorial 'Caliphate' by the United States," the statement said. Earlier on Sunday, Erdogan and Trump agreed during a phone call to meet in Washington next month to discuss creating a "safe zone" in northern Syria, the Turkish presidency said. Erdogan also expressed his "frustration over the US military and security bureaucracy's failure" to implement an August deal establishing a buffer zone on the Turkish border. The day before, the Turkish leader warned that Ankara could launch a cross-border offensive "as soon as today, tomorrow." Washington had previously sought to stop any Turkish operation against a US-backed Syrian Kurdish militia viewed by Ankara as a "terrorist" offshoot of Kurdish militants in Turkey. The US worked closely with the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to recapture swathes of territory from the IS jihadists.

American troops to withdraw as Turkey launches Syria operation: White House

After a brief surge during his first years in office, and despite his lofty promises, the American manufacturing rebound has begun to crumble under President Donald Trump.

Auto plants and steel mills are shutting down. Companies are announcing layoffs and furloughs. Factory output is in the red.

The year-end outlook is grim, whipping up fears that as the global economy slows, Trump's trade wars with China and Europe -- with tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods -- could push the world's largest economy over the edge and into recession.

Most worrisome for the president, as he prepares to fight for a second term next year, the picture is darkest in regions of the country that gave him his paper-thin margin of victory in 2016, despite losing the popular vote nationwide.

The White House, for its part, is having none of this talk.

Throughout September -- as job creation slowed, key indicators fell, consumer confidence waned and factories spun down -- Trump attacked Democrats and the Federal Reserve, anything but his trade policy, while accusing the news media of "begging" for a recession.

"The PMI manufacturers' index has gone substantially up," Trump said during a September 25 news conference.&nbsp;

"Our country is the strongest it's ever been economically."

Not so. In fact, the most closely watched gauge of American factories' health -- the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index -- had just fallen into the red in August for the first time in three years.&nbsp;

And a week after Trump spoke, it fell to the lowest level since the Great Recession.

Tim Fiore, chair of the ISM manufacturing survey, told AFP the dropoff this year was the steepest in this century.

"It's like a nosedive," he said, warning that recession risks were mounting. "I think if we stay below 50 for a couple more months, it's not going to feel very good."

Pain in Mercer County, PA

As of August, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Michigan had fewer people working in manufacturing than they did at the end of 2018, according to Labor Department data.&nbsp;

Trump's 2016 margin of victory in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan -- crucial battleground states -- was fewer than 78,000 votes out of nearly 14 million cast.

But in an irate television appearance, Trump's senior trade advisor Peter Navarro accused the news media of "singing some song" about a weakening economy.

"This Trump economy is strong as a rock. Manufacturing is strong as a rock," he said in a tirade on CNBC.

He said highlighting Pennsylvania's job losses was merely "cherry-picking the data."

But there are quite a few cherries to pick.

Louisiana's Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards on September 30 blamed Trump's trade wars for the bankruptcy of Bayou Steel, which put nearly 400 people out of work.

In Michigan's Oceana County, where Republican support surged in the 2016 elections, a steel foundry operated by train manufacturer Wabtec announced last month it would close by the end of the year and lay off 61 workers due to "declining business conditions."

Earlier in the summer, Russian-operated NLMK USA steel mill laid off almost 100 employees in bellwether Mercer County, Pennsylvania, blaming Trump's tariffs on the imported steel slabs it processes.&nbsp;

Congressman Mike Kelly, a Trump supporter, pleaded with the White House for help to no avail.

Mercer County gave Trump a major boost in 2016, with a surging Republican vote tally helping put him over the top statewide.

Red areas in the red

Across the nation, the manufacturing slump is hitting Republican counties hardest, according to data from the Brookings Institution. &nbsp;And in battleground states, the picture is even more stark.

In the Wisconsin and Michigan counties that Trump won, manufacturing accounts for about one in every five jobs. In the Democratic areas, it only accounts for about one in 10.

"To the extent that the economy shapes political behaviour -- which it may not at this stage because we're so deep into the tribal stalemate -- this slowing maybe inconvenient" for Trump, said Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings.

Olive McKeithan, Democratic mayor of Farrell, Pennsylvania, home of the NLMK steel mill, told AFP the layoffs were a major blow to her city's voters and tax base.

She blamed Trump and his tariffs.

"Everyone who voted for No. 45, I hope they are happy," she said.

But Matthew McConnell, the Republican chairman of the Mercer County board of commissioners who is himself a former steel worker, said support for Trump was undiminished.

"If you had the election today, you would have even larger support for Trump," he told AFP.

Challenging China's unfair trade practices was a necessity, he added.

"He had no ill will toward NLMK employees but, being a business guy, you sometimes have to make decisions for the betterment of the majority."

After a brief surge during his first years in office, and despite his lofty promises, the American manufacturing rebound has begun to crumble under President Donald Trump.

After a brief surge during his first years in office, and despite his lofty promises, the American manufacturing rebound has begun to crumble under President Donald Trump. Auto plants and steel mills are shutting down. Companies are announcing layoffs and furloughs. Factory output is in the red. The year-end outlook is grim, whipping up fears that as the global economy slows, Trump's trade wars with China and Europe -- with tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods -- could push the world's largest economy over the edge and into recession. Most worrisome for the president, as he prepares to fight for a second term next year, the picture is darkest in regions of the country that gave him his paper-thin margin of victory in 2016, despite losing the popular vote nationwide. The White House, for its part, is having none of this talk. Throughout September -- as job creation slowed, key indicators fell, consumer confidence waned and factories spun down -- Trump attacked Democrats and the Federal Reserve, anything but his trade policy, while accusing the news media of "begging" for a recession. "The PMI manufacturers' index has gone substantially up," Trump said during a September 25 news conference. "Our country is the strongest it's ever been economically." Not so. In fact, the most closely watched gauge of American factories' health -- the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index -- had just fallen into the red in August for the first time in three years. And a week after Trump spoke, it fell to the lowest level since the Great Recession. Tim Fiore, chair of the ISM manufacturing survey, told AFP the dropoff this year was the steepest in this century. "It's like a nosedive," he said, warning that recession risks were mounting. "I think if we stay below 50 for a couple more months, it's not going to feel very good." Pain in Mercer County, PA As of August, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Michigan had fewer people working in manufacturing than they did at the end of 2018, according to Labor Department data. Trump's 2016 margin of victory in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan -- crucial battleground states -- was fewer than 78,000 votes out of nearly 14 million cast. But in an irate television appearance, Trump's senior trade advisor Peter Navarro accused the news media of "singing some song" about a weakening economy. "This Trump economy is strong as a rock. Manufacturing is strong as a rock," he said in a tirade on CNBC. He said highlighting Pennsylvania's job losses was merely "cherry-picking the data." But there are quite a few cherries to pick. Louisiana's Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards on September 30 blamed Trump's trade wars for the bankruptcy of Bayou Steel, which put nearly 400 people out of work. In Michigan's Oceana County, where Republican support surged in the 2016 elections, a steel foundry operated by train manufacturer Wabtec announced last month it would close by the end of the year and lay off 61 workers due to "declining business conditions." Earlier in the summer, Russian-operated NLMK USA steel mill laid off almost 100 employees in bellwether Mercer County, Pennsylvania, blaming Trump's tariffs on the imported steel slabs it processes. Congressman Mike Kelly, a Trump supporter, pleaded with the White House for help to no avail. Mercer County gave Trump a major boost in 2016, with a surging Republican vote tally helping put him over the top statewide. Red areas in the red Across the nation, the manufacturing slump is hitting Republican counties hardest, according to data from the Brookings Institution. And in battleground states, the picture is even more stark. In the Wisconsin and Michigan counties that Trump won, manufacturing accounts for about one in every five jobs. In the Democratic areas, it only accounts for about one in 10. "To the extent that the economy shapes political behaviour -- which it may not at this stage because we're so deep into the tribal stalemate -- this slowing maybe inconvenient" for Trump, said Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings. Olive McKeithan, Democratic mayor of Farrell, Pennsylvania, home of the NLMK steel mill, told AFP the layoffs were a major blow to her city's voters and tax base. She blamed Trump and his tariffs. "Everyone who voted for No. 45, I hope they are happy," she said. But Matthew McConnell, the Republican chairman of the Mercer County board of commissioners who is himself a former steel worker, said support for Trump was undiminished. "If you had the election today, you would have even larger support for Trump," he told AFP. Challenging China's unfair trade practices was a necessity, he added. "He had no ill will toward NLMK employees but, being a business guy, you sometimes have to make decisions for the betterment of the majority."

As US factories falter, White House insists economy like 'a rock'

America's jobless rate tumbled in September to its lowest level in 50 years, according to government data released Friday, delighting the White House even though it may not assuage recession fears as President Donald Trump's trade wars persist.

Meanwhile, with a strong dollar and slowing global economy, the US trade deficit widened in August, as the trade conflicts ate into export growth.

Trump immediately cheered the good jobs data, claiming his economic record should shield him from efforts to impeach him, and shortly after said a trade deal with China was possible soon.

But there was less-than-stellar news as well, The pace of job creation was the slowest in four months and wages fell, while the manufacturing workforce also shrank for the second time this year.

Wall Street was reassured by the news, with the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average ending the day with a gain of 1.4 per cent.

Unemployment fell two-tenths of a point to 3.5 per cent, matching the rate last recorded in December 1969, and well below what analysts had forecast, according to the Labor Department.

Employers added a total of 136,000 net new positions, which was below expectations, with notable slowdowns in education, government, finance and business services.

The August job gain was revised up sharply to 168,000, nearly 40,000 more than originally reported.

But signs of the slowdown were unambiguous: At 157,000, the average for the last three months is now well below the 223,000 a month recorded during 2018.

"Breaking News: Unemployment Rate, at 3.5%, drops to a 50 YEAR LOW. Wow America, lets impeach your President (even though he did nothing wrong!)," Trump tweeted.

The hotly anticipated jobs report also landed amid a raft of worrisome economic data showing Trump's trade wars have put a dent in the business environment and suggesting hiring should slow in the coming months.

But Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said Friday that although the economy "faces some risks, overall it is... in a good place."

The Fed's job "is to keep it there as long as possible," he said.

Average hourly wages fell by a penny to $28.09 last month, well below economists' expectations, putting an end to a year-long string of steady gains and limiting consumers' spending power in the coming months.

As good as it gets?

Despite the slight drop in the month, Trump hailed the increase in wages over the past 12 months.

"Wages are up by almost 3 per cent. That's a fantastic increase for everybody out there working. We're very happy about those numbers," Trump told reporters at the White House.

But meanwhile the mining sector added no workers after three straight months of layoffs, and the auto sector shed workers for the fourth month in a row.&nbsp;

"Job growth is set to slow much further," Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note to clients.

"This is as good as it's likely to get until the trade war is resolved."

But given the dwindling supply of workers in the US economy, some groups continue to benefit: Unemployment among Hispanics fell to its lowest level since records began in 1973.&nbsp;

And for workers without a high school diploma, the jobless rate fell to the lowest since records began in 1992.

The latest data did not reflect the nationwide strike launched last month by General Motors employees, who walked off the job the week after the survey for the September jobs report was conducted.

Exports slow

In a separate report also released Friday, the Commerce Department said the yawning US trade deficit rose by nearly $1 billion in August as weakening foreign demand and the churning trade conflict ate into US export growth.

However, Trump said there is a "very good chance" to reach a trade deal with China soon.

"Right now we're in a very important stage in terms of possibly making a deal. If we make it, it will be the biggest trade deal ever made," Trump said.

But the unexpected trade deficit increase could weigh on GDP calculations for the third quarter, with a global economic slowdown expected to weaken US exports while the strong US dollar has fueled imports.

As a result, the US trade balance crept 1.6 per cent higher to $54.9 billion for the month, surpassing economists' expectations.

Imports increased by 0.5 per cent, while exports rose 0.2 per cent, rising more slowly than in July. 
&nbsp;

America's jobless rate tumbled in September to its lowest level in 50 years, according to government data released Friday, delighting the White House even though it may not assuage recession fears as President Donald Trump's trade wars persist.

America's jobless rate tumbled in September to its lowest level in 50 years, according to government data released Friday, delighting the White House even though it may not assuage recession fears as President Donald Trump's trade wars persist. Meanwhile, with a strong dollar and slowing global economy, the US trade deficit widened in August, as the trade conflicts ate into export growth. Trump immediately cheered the good jobs data, claiming his economic record should shield him from efforts to impeach him, and shortly after said a trade deal with China was possible soon. But there was less-than-stellar news as well, The pace of job creation was the slowest in four months and wages fell, while the manufacturing workforce also shrank for the second time this year. Wall Street was reassured by the news, with the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average ending the day with a gain of 1.4 per cent. Unemployment fell two-tenths of a point to 3.5 per cent, matching the rate last recorded in December 1969, and well below what analysts had forecast, according to the Labor Department. Employers added a total of 136,000 net new positions, which was below expectations, with notable slowdowns in education, government, finance and business services. The August job gain was revised up sharply to 168,000, nearly 40,000 more than originally reported. But signs of the slowdown were unambiguous: At 157,000, the average for the last three months is now well below the 223,000 a month recorded during 2018. "Breaking News: Unemployment Rate, at 3.5%, drops to a 50 YEAR LOW. Wow America, lets impeach your President (even though he did nothing wrong!)," Trump tweeted. The hotly anticipated jobs report also landed amid a raft of worrisome economic data showing Trump's trade wars have put a dent in the business environment and suggesting hiring should slow in the coming months. But Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said Friday that although the economy "faces some risks, overall it is... in a good place." The Fed's job "is to keep it there as long as possible," he said. Average hourly wages fell by a penny to $28.09 last month, well below economists' expectations, putting an end to a year-long string of steady gains and limiting consumers' spending power in the coming months. As good as it gets? Despite the slight drop in the month, Trump hailed the increase in wages over the past 12 months. "Wages are up by almost 3 per cent. That's a fantastic increase for everybody out there working. We're very happy about those numbers," Trump told reporters at the White House. But meanwhile the mining sector added no workers after three straight months of layoffs, and the auto sector shed workers for the fourth month in a row. "Job growth is set to slow much further," Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note to clients. "This is as good as it's likely to get until the trade war is resolved." But given the dwindling supply of workers in the US economy, some groups continue to benefit: Unemployment among Hispanics fell to its lowest level since records began in 1973. And for workers without a high school diploma, the jobless rate fell to the lowest since records began in 1992. The latest data did not reflect the nationwide strike launched last month by General Motors employees, who walked off the job the week after the survey for the September jobs report was conducted. Exports slow In a separate report also released Friday, the Commerce Department said the yawning US trade deficit rose by nearly $1 billion in August as weakening foreign demand and the churning trade conflict ate into US export growth. However, Trump said there is a "very good chance" to reach a trade deal with China soon. "Right now we're in a very important stage in terms of possibly making a deal. If we make it, it will be the biggest trade deal ever made," Trump said. But the unexpected trade deficit increase could weigh on GDP calculations for the third quarter, with a global economic slowdown expected to weaken US exports while the strong US dollar has fueled imports. As a result, the US trade balance crept 1.6 per cent higher to $54.9 billion for the month, surpassing economists' expectations. Imports increased by 0.5 per cent, while exports rose 0.2 per cent, rising more slowly than in July.

US unemployment falls to 50-year low of 3.5% in September

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