US President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-vote-on-healthcare-can-wait-until-after-2020-election-207350"> Donald&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;campaign</a>&nbsp;believes he can turn Republicans' biggest liability from last year's congressional elections - the debate about the future of&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;in America - into a winning issue for his reelection.

That would have appeared highly unlikely just months ago when Democrats seized upon the issue of coverage for pre-existing medical conditions to capture control of the US House of Representatives.

Since then, the&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Democratic presidential field has been locked in a debate about how far to go to transform the US healthcare&nbsp;system. Some candidates have suggested abolishing private insurance in favour of a single government-run plan, sometimes referred to as "Medicare for All," while others favour more modest reforms.

Trump's&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;is betting that whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination next year will have been forced to embrace a sweeping&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;reform proposal that may spook moderate voters.

"The president has taken the issue back," Tim Murtaugh,&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;communications director, told Reuters in an interview. "(Democrats are) taking the Blue Cross (private insurance) card out of your wallet and making it worthless."

About half of the dozen top-tier of Democratic hopefuls vying for the nomination have endorsed some form of Medicare for All, according to a Reuters analysis of&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;positions.

Democrats could end up ceding political ground if they nominate a candidate who advocates for universal&nbsp;healthcare, said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;advocacy group.

"The polls show very clearly that the Democrats have a very substantial advantage on health and all the health issues," Altman said. "If the Democrat is a candidate who is a big advocate for Medicare for All, it will play a little differently."

Some voters will be leery of losing their private insurance, but Democrats are still likely to win over those concerned about pre-existing conditions and abortion access, Altman said.

TOUTING REFORMS

Trump&nbsp;has yet to set forth his long-promised&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;reform plan.

But he is speaking about&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;more frequently. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;repeated his promise to keep protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

He also is likely to tout what the White House and his&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;say are meaningful changes the administration has made to help small businesses and to try to reduce the price of prescription drugs for US&nbsp;consumers. His administration recently mandated pharmaceutical companies include list prices of drugs in television ads in a bid to get them to lower prices.

His administration argued in a report released in February that it has made&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;markets more efficient by de-regulating some aspects of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Those included doing away with the law's mandate to purchase health insurance and expanding coverage options through association plans, which allow small businesses to band together to purchase insurance.

"The president can point to real results on&nbsp;healthcare," Murtaugh said.

But&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;also has provided Democrats with fodder they are likely to use to challenge his&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;claims, and they are sure to argue that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;will cost millions of Americans their coverage.

The president already backed a proposal in Congress that would have reduced protections for pre-existing conditions - despite his continued insistence that he does not want to eliminate those rules. And he has proposed reductions to Medicaid and Medicare funding.

His&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;will be forced to navigate those decisions as well as dispel voters' worry that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;wants to gut the existing Obamacare framework with no effective replacement.

Trump&nbsp;said in a local media interview in Pennsylvania this week he would roll out a new&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;plan soon. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the timing.

Providing such a plan will be critical to winning over voters next year, said Michael Steel, a former top aide to former Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

Steel said that while he thinks Democrats are "overreaching" on the issue, "we'll need our own conservative cost-containment plan to truly go on offence. And we don't have that yet."

WORRIED VOTERS

Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist and former chief of staff to Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia,&nbsp;

said&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;underestimates the depth of voter anxiety over&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;costs and coverage.

Branding Democratic proposals as "socialist" will not be persuasive, he said.

"They're wrong if they think they can win this as an ideological debate," Kofinis said, adding that his own work with voter groups has shown some appetite for a large-scale overhaul of the US&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;system.

Kofinis warned that Democrats risk losing their edge on the issue, however, if they fail to heed the lesson of the 2018 midterm elections and instead become preoccupied with investigations of&nbsp;Trump.

Last year, Democrats took 40 seats to regain the House, a victory largely fueled by voter concerns over losing coverage if Republicans dismantled Obamacare.

Murtaugh believes that Democrats did not act quickly enough to turn their electoral victories into action.

"The big conversation was about&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;and what are they talking about? Impeachment," Murtaugh said. "They won the election, but they haven't done a damn thing with it."

US President Donald Trump's campaign believes he can turn Republicans' biggest liability from last year's congressional elections - the debate about the future of healthcare in America - into a winning issue for his reelection.

US President Donald Trump's campaign believes he can turn Republicans' biggest liability from last year's congressional elections - the debate about the future of healthcare in America - into a winning issue for his reelection. That would have appeared highly unlikely just months ago when Democrats seized upon the issue of coverage for pre-existing medical conditions to capture control of the US House of Representatives. Since then, the 2020 Democratic presidential field has been locked in a debate about how far to go to transform the US healthcare system. Some candidates have suggested abolishing private insurance in favour of a single government-run plan, sometimes referred to as "Medicare for All," while others favour more modest reforms. Trump's campaign is betting that whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination next year will have been forced to embrace a sweeping healthcare reform proposal that may spook moderate voters. "The president has taken the issue back," Tim Murtaugh, Trump's campaign communications director, told Reuters in an interview. "(Democrats are) taking the Blue Cross (private insurance) card out of your wallet and making it worthless." About half of the dozen top-tier of Democratic hopefuls vying for the nomination have endorsed some form of Medicare for All, according to a Reuters analysis of campaign positions. Democrats could end up ceding political ground if they nominate a candidate who advocates for universal healthcare, said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan healthcare advocacy group. "The polls show very clearly that the Democrats have a very substantial advantage on health and all the health issues," Altman said. "If the Democrat is a candidate who is a big advocate for Medicare for All, it will play a little differently." Some voters will be leery of losing their private insurance, but Democrats are still likely to win over those concerned about pre-existing conditions and abortion access, Altman said. TOUTING REFORMS Trump has yet to set forth his long-promised healthcare reform plan. But he is speaking about healthcare more frequently. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday, Trump repeated his promise to keep protections for people with pre-existing conditions. He also is likely to tout what the White House and his campaign say are meaningful changes the administration has made to help small businesses and to try to reduce the price of prescription drugs for US consumers. His administration recently mandated pharmaceutical companies include list prices of drugs in television ads in a bid to get them to lower prices. His administration argued in a report released in February that it has made healthcare markets more efficient by de-regulating some aspects of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Those included doing away with the law's mandate to purchase health insurance and expanding coverage options through association plans, which allow small businesses to band together to purchase insurance. "The president can point to real results on healthcare," Murtaugh said. But Trump also has provided Democrats with fodder they are likely to use to challenge his healthcare claims, and they are sure to argue that Trump will cost millions of Americans their coverage. The president already backed a proposal in Congress that would have reduced protections for pre-existing conditions - despite his continued insistence that he does not want to eliminate those rules. And he has proposed reductions to Medicaid and Medicare funding. His campaign will be forced to navigate those decisions as well as dispel voters' worry that Trump wants to gut the existing Obamacare framework with no effective replacement. Trump said in a local media interview in Pennsylvania this week he would roll out a new healthcare plan soon. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the timing. Providing such a plan will be critical to winning over voters next year, said Michael Steel, a former top aide to former Republican House Speaker John Boehner. Steel said that while he thinks Democrats are "overreaching" on the issue, "we'll need our own conservative cost-containment plan to truly go on offence. And we don't have that yet." WORRIED VOTERS Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist and former chief of staff to Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia, said Trump's campaign underestimates the depth of voter anxiety over healthcare costs and coverage. Branding Democratic proposals as "socialist" will not be persuasive, he said. "They're wrong if they think they can win this as an ideological debate," Kofinis said, adding that his own work with voter groups has shown some appetite for a large-scale overhaul of the US healthcare system. Kofinis warned that Democrats risk losing their edge on the issue, however, if they fail to heed the lesson of the 2018 midterm elections and instead become preoccupied with investigations of Trump. Last year, Democrats took 40 seats to regain the House, a victory largely fueled by voter concerns over losing coverage if Republicans dismantled Obamacare. Murtaugh believes that Democrats did not act quickly enough to turn their electoral victories into action. "The big conversation was about healthcare and what are they talking about? Impeachment," Murtaugh said. "They won the election, but they haven't done a damn thing with it."

Trump campaign views healthcare as a 2020 campaign weapon

US President Donald Trump on Monday told former White House counsel Don McGahn to defy a subpoena to testify before Congress about the Russia investigation, deepening his fight with Democratic lawmakers.

McGahn would "respect the President's instruction" and not testify, his lawyer said later, in a letter sent to the head of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.

The committee is investigating whether Trump illegally obstructed the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. It wants to quiz McGahn after he figured prominently in a report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller about the Russia probe and whether Trump committed obstruction of justice.

But in a letter to the committee, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said McGahn should not appear due to both "constitutional immunity" and "in order to protect the prerogatives of the Office of the Presidency."

The committee's Democratic chairman, Jerrold Nadler, responded by saying Trump was trying to block damaging testimony about his obstruction of justice.

"The President acted again and again - perhaps criminally - to protect himself from federal law enforcement. Don McGahn personally witnessed the most egregious of these acts. President Trump knows this. He clearly does not want the American people to hear firsthand about his alleged misconduct," Nadler said in a statement.

He said his committee would meet on Tuesday morning and expected McGahn to show up and testify.

Another Democrat on the committee, David Cicilline, warned that if McGahn stays away on Tuesday, lawmakers might need to push ahead with an impeachment inquiry against Trump in order to compel his administration to produce witnesses and documents.

"There are a number of colleagues who have suggested that if Mr McGahn doesn't appear tomorrow and answer questions that it's an appropriate time to open an impeachment inquiry," Cicilline told reporters.

He said an inquiry would begin the process to determine whether or not articles of impeachment should be voted on.

In his report, Mueller cited McGahn as saying that Trump called him several times in June 2017 to tell him to direct the Justice Department to remove Mueller because of conflicts of interest.

McGahn did not carry out Trump's order. Later, when news articles about the incident surfaced, McGahn told Mueller's investigators that Trump tried to get him to dispute the accuracy of the reports. McGahn again refused.

Obstruction?

Many Democratic lawmakers, as well as many former prosecutors not involved in the investigation, have said the alleged order by the president to fire Mueller and attempt to coerce McGahn to lie about it could amount to committing the crime of obstruction.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and said he did not ask McGahn to have Mueller removed.

Mueller's report described numerous links between Trump's 2016 campaign and various Russians but did not find sufficient evidence to establish there was a criminal conspiracy with Moscow.

Mueller also described numerous attempts by Trump to impede the investigation, but stopped short of declaring the president had committed a crime.

Attorney General William Barr determined after reviewing Mueller's findings that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal obstruction charges against the president.

Nadler's committee has been locked in multiple battles with the Trump administration over access to information contained in the Mueller report.

Trump said following the release of the report in March that it showed he was exonerated of colluding with Russia and obstruction of justice.

He has hardened his administration's position of defying the legal demands of Democrats in Congress, who want more information on the Russia investigation and Trump's taxes and business dealings.

Earlier this month, the committee voted to hold Barr in contempt after he defied a subpoena seeking an unredacted copy of the Mueller report and its underlying investigative materials.

Nadler also issued a subpoena last month compelling McGahn to testify on Tuesday, and he has previously said he would hold the attorney in contempt if he did not show up.

The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion on Monday that gave legal cover to the decision to block McGahn from testifying.

"Congress may not constitutionally compel the President's senior advisers to testify about their official duties," Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Steven Engel wrote.

US President Donald Trump on Monday told former White House counsel Don McGahn to defy a subpoena to testify before Congress about the Russia investigation, deepening his fight with Democratic lawmakers.

US President Donald Trump on Monday told former White House counsel Don McGahn to defy a subpoena to testify before Congress about the Russia investigation, deepening his fight with Democratic lawmakers. McGahn would "respect the President's instruction" and not testify, his lawyer said later, in a letter sent to the head of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. The committee is investigating whether Trump illegally obstructed the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. It wants to quiz McGahn after he figured prominently in a report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller about the Russia probe and whether Trump committed obstruction of justice. But in a letter to the committee, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said McGahn should not appear due to both "constitutional immunity" and "in order to protect the prerogatives of the Office of the Presidency." The committee's Democratic chairman, Jerrold Nadler, responded by saying Trump was trying to block damaging testimony about his obstruction of justice. "The President acted again and again - perhaps criminally - to protect himself from federal law enforcement. Don McGahn personally witnessed the most egregious of these acts. President Trump knows this. He clearly does not want the American people to hear firsthand about his alleged misconduct," Nadler said in a statement. He said his committee would meet on Tuesday morning and expected McGahn to show up and testify. Another Democrat on the committee, David Cicilline, warned that if McGahn stays away on Tuesday, lawmakers might need to push ahead with an impeachment inquiry against Trump in order to compel his administration to produce witnesses and documents. "There are a number of colleagues who have suggested that if Mr McGahn doesn't appear tomorrow and answer questions that it's an appropriate time to open an impeachment inquiry," Cicilline told reporters. He said an inquiry would begin the process to determine whether or not articles of impeachment should be voted on. In his report, Mueller cited McGahn as saying that Trump called him several times in June 2017 to tell him to direct the Justice Department to remove Mueller because of conflicts of interest. McGahn did not carry out Trump's order. Later, when news articles about the incident surfaced, McGahn told Mueller's investigators that Trump tried to get him to dispute the accuracy of the reports. McGahn again refused. Obstruction? Many Democratic lawmakers, as well as many former prosecutors not involved in the investigation, have said the alleged order by the president to fire Mueller and attempt to coerce McGahn to lie about it could amount to committing the crime of obstruction. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and said he did not ask McGahn to have Mueller removed. Mueller's report described numerous links between Trump's 2016 campaign and various Russians but did not find sufficient evidence to establish there was a criminal conspiracy with Moscow. Mueller also described numerous attempts by Trump to impede the investigation, but stopped short of declaring the president had committed a crime. Attorney General William Barr determined after reviewing Mueller's findings that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal obstruction charges against the president. Nadler's committee has been locked in multiple battles with the Trump administration over access to information contained in the Mueller report. Trump said following the release of the report in March that it showed he was exonerated of colluding with Russia and obstruction of justice. He has hardened his administration's position of defying the legal demands of Democrats in Congress, who want more information on the Russia investigation and Trump's taxes and business dealings. Earlier this month, the committee voted to hold Barr in contempt after he defied a subpoena seeking an unredacted copy of the Mueller report and its underlying investigative materials. Nadler also issued a subpoena last month compelling McGahn to testify on Tuesday, and he has previously said he would hold the attorney in contempt if he did not show up. The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion on Monday that gave legal cover to the decision to block McGahn from testifying. "Congress may not constitutionally compel the President's senior advisers to testify about their official duties," Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Steven Engel wrote.

Trump tells ex-White House counsel McGahn not to appear before Congress

The White House will unveil the first part of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-iran-wants-to-fight-that-will-be-official-end-of-it-trump-warns-to-never-threaten-us-again-220000"> President Donald Trump</a>'s long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan when it holds an international conference in Bahrain in late June to encourage investment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, senior US officials said on Sunday.

The "economic workshop" will bring together government officials and business leaders in an effort to jump-start the economic portion of the peace initiative, which is also expected to include proposals for resolving thorny political issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the officials said.

Trump has touted the coming plan as the "deal of the century," but Palestinian officials have rebuked the US&nbsp;effort, which they believe will be heavily biased in favour of Israel.

Trump's Middle East team, led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and regional envoy Jason Greenblatt, appears intent on focusing initially on potential economic benefits, despite deep scepticism among experts that they can succeed where decades of US-backed efforts have failed.

"We think this is an opportunity to take the economic plan that we've worked on for a long time now and present it in the region," a senior Trump administration official said.

The participants in the June 25-26 conference in Manama, the first phase of the peace plan's rollout, are expected to include representatives and business executives from Europe, the Middle East and Asia, including some finance ministers, the administration official said.

A second US official declined to say whether Israeli and Palestinian officials were likely to take part.

"Our position is clear, we will neither participate in the economic segment nor in the political segment of this deal," said PLO senior official Wasel Abu Youssef.

The Palestinian Authority has boycotted the US&nbsp;peace effort since late 2017 when Trump decided to move the US&nbsp;embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing decades of US&nbsp;policy.

But the senior US&nbsp;official said several Palestinian business leaders "have shown a lot of interest" in the conference.

A spokesman for Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said: "We have not yet received an invitation."

Investment in Gaza

The US&nbsp;officials had said earlier the peace plan would be rolled out after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in early June. But the announcement of the investor's workshop appears to set the stage for a sequenced release of the plan, starting with the economic plan, and later, at some time not yet clear, the political proposals.

The senior US&nbsp;official said the conference would show the people of Gaza, which is controlled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, that "there are donor countries around the world willing to come in and make investments."

The Trump administration has sought to enlist support from Arab governments. The plan is likely to call for billions of dollars in financial backing for the Palestinians, mostly from oil-rich Gulf states, according to people informed about the discussions.

Saudi Arabia has assured Arab allies it would not endorse any US&nbsp;plan that fails to meet key Palestinian concerns.

Though the plan's authors insist the exact contents are known only to a handful of insiders, Trump's aides have disclosed it will address the major political issues such as the status of Jerusalem.

They have said they expect Israelis and Palestinians will both be critical of some of the proposals.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told a recent meeting at the United Nations attended by Greenblatt that the United States seemed to be crafting a plan for a Palestinian surrender to Israel and insisted "there's no amount of money that can make it acceptable."

Chief among the Palestinians' concerns is whether the plan will meet their core demand of calling for them to have an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip -- territory Israel captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Kushner has declined to say whether the plan includes a two-state solution, a central goal of other recent peace efforts that are widely endorsed internationally.

The White House will unveil the first part of President Donald Trump's long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan when it holds an international conference in Bahrain in late June to encourage investment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, senior US officials said on Sunday.

The White House will unveil the first part of President Donald Trump's long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan when it holds an international conference in Bahrain in late June to encourage investment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, senior US officials said on Sunday. The "economic workshop" will bring together government officials and business leaders in an effort to jump-start the economic portion of the peace initiative, which is also expected to include proposals for resolving thorny political issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the officials said. Trump has touted the coming plan as the "deal of the century," but Palestinian officials have rebuked the US effort, which they believe will be heavily biased in favour of Israel. Trump's Middle East team, led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and regional envoy Jason Greenblatt, appears intent on focusing initially on potential economic benefits, despite deep scepticism among experts that they can succeed where decades of US-backed efforts have failed. "We think this is an opportunity to take the economic plan that we've worked on for a long time now and present it in the region," a senior Trump administration official said. The participants in the June 25-26 conference in Manama, the first phase of the peace plan's rollout, are expected to include representatives and business executives from Europe, the Middle East and Asia, including some finance ministers, the administration official said. A second US official declined to say whether Israeli and Palestinian officials were likely to take part. "Our position is clear, we will neither participate in the economic segment nor in the political segment of this deal," said PLO senior official Wasel Abu Youssef. The Palestinian Authority has boycotted the US peace effort since late 2017 when Trump decided to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing decades of US policy. But the senior US official said several Palestinian business leaders "have shown a lot of interest" in the conference. A spokesman for Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said: "We have not yet received an invitation." Investment in Gaza The US officials had said earlier the peace plan would be rolled out after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in early June. But the announcement of the investor's workshop appears to set the stage for a sequenced release of the plan, starting with the economic plan, and later, at some time not yet clear, the political proposals. The senior US official said the conference would show the people of Gaza, which is controlled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, that "there are donor countries around the world willing to come in and make investments." The Trump administration has sought to enlist support from Arab governments. The plan is likely to call for billions of dollars in financial backing for the Palestinians, mostly from oil-rich Gulf states, according to people informed about the discussions. Saudi Arabia has assured Arab allies it would not endorse any US plan that fails to meet key Palestinian concerns. Though the plan's authors insist the exact contents are known only to a handful of insiders, Trump's aides have disclosed it will address the major political issues such as the status of Jerusalem. They have said they expect Israelis and Palestinians will both be critical of some of the proposals. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told a recent meeting at the United Nations attended by Greenblatt that the United States seemed to be crafting a plan for a Palestinian surrender to Israel and insisted "there's no amount of money that can make it acceptable." Chief among the Palestinians' concerns is whether the plan will meet their core demand of calling for them to have an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip -- territory Israel captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Kushner has declined to say whether the plan includes a two-state solution, a central goal of other recent peace efforts that are widely endorsed internationally.

US to encourage investment in Palestinians as first part of peace plan

Some Democrats vying for the party's 2020 presidential nomination shifted the focus of the race to foreign policy on Sunday, criticizing Republican President Donald Trump as a weak commander in chief who is escalating tensions with Iran.

The relationship between Washington and Tehran has become increasingly strained in recent weeks, raising concerns about a potential US-Iran conflict.

Trump and hawkish foreign policy advisers like national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo want Tehran to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Trump has tightened economic sanctions against Iran, aimed at forcing its leaders into negotiations. Pompeo last year outlined a list of demands on Iran that critics said showed he was pushing for regime change.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard, one of 24 Democrats vying for the White House nomination, said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" that Trump was "leading us down this dangerous path towards a war with Iran."

"He says he doesn't want it, but the actions of him and his administration, people like John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, tell us a very different story. They are setting the stage for a war with Iran that would prove to be far more costly, far more devastating and dangerous than anything that we saw in the Iraq war," Gabbard said.

Trump has said he is not pushing for war with Iran. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he promised to stay out of overseas conflicts, saying the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were too costly.

In May 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from a multinational deal with Iran negotiated by the Obama administration that reduced economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for scaling back its nuclear program. Trump criticized the deal as weak, saying he would negotiate a stronger one.

Gabbard, 38, enlisted in the US Army National Guard after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and was twice deployed to the Middle East. Gabbard has said she is running for president to end regime-change wars, though she currently trails most of her 2020 opponents in opinion polls.

Another White House hopeful, Representative Seth Moulton, a 40-year-old former US Marine Corps officer who did four tours in Iraq, told "This Week" that if the Trump administration sends additional troops to the Gulf it could "drag us into war."

"Make no mistake, this is exactly what John Bolton wants to have happen," said Moulton, who also trails in 2020 opinion polls. "The world is so dangerous when you have a weak commander in chief in the president of the United States."&nbsp;

Moulton counts as a mentor former Vice President Joe Biden, who currently leads the 2020 Democratic field in support. When asked why Democratic primary voters should back him over his mentor, Moulton said: "I think it's time for the generation that fought in Iraq and Afghanistan to take over for the generation that sent us there."

Gabbard resigned her post at the Democratic National Committee in 2016 when Hillary Clinton was the nominee because she said the former secretary of state's foreign policy positions were too hawkish. Gabbard was asked by ABC if that also applied to Biden, given both he and Clinton served in the Obama administration.

"We'll see what Vice President Biden's foreign policy vision is for this country. We may agree on some issues, disagree on others," Gabbard said.

Some Democrats vying for the party's 2020 presidential nomination shifted the focus of the race to foreign policy on Sunday, criticizing Republican President Donald Trump as a weak commander in chief who is escalating tensions with Iran.

Some Democrats vying for the party's 2020 presidential nomination shifted the focus of the race to foreign policy on Sunday, criticizing Republican President Donald Trump as a weak commander in chief who is escalating tensions with Iran. The relationship between Washington and Tehran has become increasingly strained in recent weeks, raising concerns about a potential US-Iran conflict. Trump and hawkish foreign policy advisers like national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo want Tehran to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Trump has tightened economic sanctions against Iran, aimed at forcing its leaders into negotiations. Pompeo last year outlined a list of demands on Iran that critics said showed he was pushing for regime change. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, one of 24 Democrats vying for the White House nomination, said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" that Trump was "leading us down this dangerous path towards a war with Iran." "He says he doesn't want it, but the actions of him and his administration, people like John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, tell us a very different story. They are setting the stage for a war with Iran that would prove to be far more costly, far more devastating and dangerous than anything that we saw in the Iraq war," Gabbard said. Trump has said he is not pushing for war with Iran. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he promised to stay out of overseas conflicts, saying the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were too costly. In May 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from a multinational deal with Iran negotiated by the Obama administration that reduced economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for scaling back its nuclear program. Trump criticized the deal as weak, saying he would negotiate a stronger one. Gabbard, 38, enlisted in the US Army National Guard after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and was twice deployed to the Middle East. Gabbard has said she is running for president to end regime-change wars, though she currently trails most of her 2020 opponents in opinion polls. Another White House hopeful, Representative Seth Moulton, a 40-year-old former US Marine Corps officer who did four tours in Iraq, told "This Week" that if the Trump administration sends additional troops to the Gulf it could "drag us into war." "Make no mistake, this is exactly what John Bolton wants to have happen," said Moulton, who also trails in 2020 opinion polls. "The world is so dangerous when you have a weak commander in chief in the president of the United States." Moulton counts as a mentor former Vice President Joe Biden, who currently leads the 2020 Democratic field in support. When asked why Democratic primary voters should back him over his mentor, Moulton said: "I think it's time for the generation that fought in Iraq and Afghanistan to take over for the generation that sent us there." Gabbard resigned her post at the Democratic National Committee in 2016 when Hillary Clinton was the nominee because she said the former secretary of state's foreign policy positions were too hawkish. Gabbard was asked by ABC if that also applied to Biden, given both he and Clinton served in the Obama administration. "We'll see what Vice President Biden's foreign policy vision is for this country. We may agree on some issues, disagree on others," Gabbard said.

2020 White House hopefuls turn to foreign policy, slam Trump on Iran

The US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence is the beneficiary of a legal defence fund set up to aid in expenses related to the 2016 election, according to disclosures the vice president made public on Thursday.

The fund has $25 in it, according to the disclosure.&nbsp;

To donate to the fund, supporters will have to complete a series of certifications, including that Pence himself did not solicit the contribution, according to a White House official.&nbsp;

Donors will also have to verify that they are American citizens, they are not a lobbyist and the money is from their personal wealth, not a corporation, the official said.&nbsp;

Additionally, federal employees, federal government contractors and registered agents for a foreign government will also be prohibited from donating.

Federal ethics laws that prohibit accepting excessive gifts have made it difficult for officials to raise money for defence funds. Past presidents, including President Bill Clinton, have formed legal defence funds, avoiding rules by disclosing individual donors and prohibiting contributions from lobbyists.

President Donald Trump`s 2016 campaign has been the subject of intense scrutiny after critics said those close to the president colluded with Russian operatives to influence the outcome of the election.&nbsp;

Special Counsel<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mueller-wont-testify-next-week-talks-ongoing-house-democrat-217694"> Robert Mueller</a> released a report in April that determined there was not enough evidence to charge Trump or those near him with criminal conspiracy related to collusion.

The investigation saw dozens of Trump campaign employees and associates called before investigators, a grand jury and congressional panels. Obtaining private attorneys to assist in the interviews has caused some to rack up large legal bills.&nbsp;

The vice president is required to file an annual personal financial disclosure that details income and liabilities.&nbsp;

New to the report this year was the defence fund, named the MRP Legal Expense Trust Fund.

According to a footnote, James D. Atterholt of Florida created the fund on Dec. 10, 2018, to make payments "in connection with the 2016 presidential election and related matters."&nbsp;

The $25 payment to the fund was made to establish the trust, the footnote said.

"The Trust had no other assets, received no other contributions, and produced no income during the reporting period," the footnote said.

The US Vice President Mike Pence is the beneficiary of a legal defence fund set up to aid in expenses related to the 2016 election, according to disclosures the vice president made public on Thursday.

The US Vice President Mike Pence is the beneficiary of a legal defence fund set up to aid in expenses related to the 2016 election, according to disclosures the vice president made public on Thursday. The fund has $25 in it, according to the disclosure. To donate to the fund, supporters will have to complete a series of certifications, including that Pence himself did not solicit the contribution, according to a White House official. Donors will also have to verify that they are American citizens, they are not a lobbyist and the money is from their personal wealth, not a corporation, the official said. Additionally, federal employees, federal government contractors and registered agents for a foreign government will also be prohibited from donating. Federal ethics laws that prohibit accepting excessive gifts have made it difficult for officials to raise money for defence funds. Past presidents, including President Bill Clinton, have formed legal defence funds, avoiding rules by disclosing individual donors and prohibiting contributions from lobbyists. President Donald Trump`s 2016 campaign has been the subject of intense scrutiny after critics said those close to the president colluded with Russian operatives to influence the outcome of the election. Special Counsel Robert Mueller released a report in April that determined there was not enough evidence to charge Trump or those near him with criminal conspiracy related to collusion. The investigation saw dozens of Trump campaign employees and associates called before investigators, a grand jury and congressional panels. Obtaining private attorneys to assist in the interviews has caused some to rack up large legal bills. The vice president is required to file an annual personal financial disclosure that details income and liabilities. New to the report this year was the defence fund, named the MRP Legal Expense Trust Fund. According to a footnote, James D. Atterholt of Florida created the fund on Dec. 10, 2018, to make payments "in connection with the 2016 presidential election and related matters." The $25 payment to the fund was made to establish the trust, the footnote said. "The Trust had no other assets, received no other contributions, and produced no income during the reporting period," the footnote said.

US Vice President Pence received legal defense fund from Florida lawyer

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 17th 2019

Donald Trump hosted an Iftaar dinner for Muslim members from his administration and top diplomats from various countries at the White House on Monday night. During the gathering, Donald Trump resolved to defeat the evils of terrorism and religious persecution so that all people can worship without fear, pray without danger and live by the faith that flows from their heart.

Donald Trump hosts iftar at White House to mark Ramadan

President Donald Trump said on Monday he was optimistic about resolving the US trade dispute with China.

Speaking at a White House dinner, Trump noted that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who was attending the event, returned from trade talks in China two weeks ago.

"He just got back from China. We'll let you know in about three or four weeks whether or not it was successful. ... But I have a feeling it's going to be very successful," Trump said.

Earlier, China&nbsp;imposed higher tariffs on a range of US&nbsp;goods, including frozen vegetables and liquefied natural gas, a move in retaliation to Washington's decision last week to hike its own levies on $200 billion in Chinese imports.

The prospect that the United States and China were spiralling into a no-holds-barred dispute that could derail the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-trade-setback-stokes-recession-fears-stocks-slide-218396">global economy has rattled investors</a> and led to a sharp selloff on equities markets in the past week.

A gauge of global stocks shed a further 1.9% on Monday, its biggest one-day drop in more than five months. China's yuan currency fell to its lowest level since December and oil futures slumped.

Trump, who has embraced protectionism as part of an "America First" agenda, said he would talk to Xi at a G20 summit in late June.

US farmers are among those most hurt by the trade war, with soybean sales to China plummeting and US soybean futures hitting their lowest level in a decade.&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said on Monday his administration was planning to provide about $15 billion to help farmers whose products might be targeted.

Steady drum beat

China said on Monday it planned to set import tariffs ranging from 5% to 25% on<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-may-provoke-us-lawmakers-to-impeach-him-by-obstructing-investigations-adam-schiff-218219"> 5,140 US products on a $60 billion target list</a>. It said the tariffs would take effect on June 1.

"China's adjustment on additional tariffs is a response to US unilateralism and protectionism," its finance ministry said. "China hopes the US will get back to the right track of bilateral trade and economic consultations and meet with China halfway."

In the middle of the negotiations last week, Trump hiked tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25% from 10%. The move affected 5,700 categories of Chinese products, including internet modems and routers.

Sources have said talks stalled after China tried to delete commitments from a draft agreement that its laws would be changed to enact new policies on issues from intellectual property protection to forced technology transfers.

Beijing said on Monday it would never surrender to external pressure. Its state media kept up a steady drum beat of strongly worded commentary, reiterating that the door to talks was always open but vowing that China would defend its national interests and dignity.

State television said in a commentary the effect of the US tariffs on the Chinese economy was "totally controllable."

Trump has said he is in no rush to finalise a deal with China. He again defended the move to hike US tariffs and said there was no reason why American consumers would pay the costs.

Economists and industry consultants, however, maintain that it is US businesses that will pay the costs and likely pass them on to consumers.

US tariffs last year triggered retaliation by China, which imposed 25% levies on $50 billion worth of US products including soybeans, beef and pork and lower tariffs on a list of $60 billion in goods.

Goldman Sachs economists said in a research note new evidence showed the costs of Washington's tariffs on China last year had fallen entirely on US businesses and households, with no clear reduction in prices charged by Chinese exporters.

They said the effects of the tariffs had spilled over noticeably to the prices charged by US producers competing with goods affected by the levies.

President Donald Trump said on Monday he was optimistic about resolving the US trade dispute with China. Speaking at a White House dinner, Trump noted that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who was attending the event, returned from trade talks in China two weeks ago.

President Donald Trump said on Monday he was optimistic about resolving the US trade dispute with China. Speaking at a White House dinner, Trump noted that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who was attending the event, returned from trade talks in China two weeks ago. "He just got back from China. We'll let you know in about three or four weeks whether or not it was successful. ... But I have a feeling it's going to be very successful," Trump said. Earlier, China imposed higher tariffs on a range of US goods, including frozen vegetables and liquefied natural gas, a move in retaliation to Washington's decision last week to hike its own levies on $200 billion in Chinese imports. The prospect that the United States and China were spiralling into a no-holds-barred dispute that could derail the global economy has rattled investors and led to a sharp selloff on equities markets in the past week. A gauge of global stocks shed a further 1.9% on Monday, its biggest one-day drop in more than five months. China's yuan currency fell to its lowest level since December and oil futures slumped. Trump, who has embraced protectionism as part of an "America First" agenda, said he would talk to Xi at a G20 summit in late June. US farmers are among those most hurt by the trade war, with soybean sales to China plummeting and US soybean futures hitting their lowest level in a decade. Trump said on Monday his administration was planning to provide about $15 billion to help farmers whose products might be targeted. Steady drum beat China said on Monday it planned to set import tariffs ranging from 5% to 25% on 5,140 US products on a $60 billion target list. It said the tariffs would take effect on June 1. "China's adjustment on additional tariffs is a response to US unilateralism and protectionism," its finance ministry said. "China hopes the US will get back to the right track of bilateral trade and economic consultations and meet with China halfway." In the middle of the negotiations last week, Trump hiked tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25% from 10%. The move affected 5,700 categories of Chinese products, including internet modems and routers. Sources have said talks stalled after China tried to delete commitments from a draft agreement that its laws would be changed to enact new policies on issues from intellectual property protection to forced technology transfers. Beijing said on Monday it would never surrender to external pressure. Its state media kept up a steady drum beat of strongly worded commentary, reiterating that the door to talks was always open but vowing that China would defend its national interests and dignity. State television said in a commentary the effect of the US tariffs on the Chinese economy was "totally controllable." Trump has said he is in no rush to finalise a deal with China. He again defended the move to hike US tariffs and said there was no reason why American consumers would pay the costs. Economists and industry consultants, however, maintain that it is US businesses that will pay the costs and likely pass them on to consumers. US tariffs last year triggered retaliation by China, which imposed 25% levies on $50 billion worth of US products including soybeans, beef and pork and lower tariffs on a list of $60 billion in goods. Goldman Sachs economists said in a research note new evidence showed the costs of Washington's tariffs on China last year had fallen entirely on US businesses and households, with no clear reduction in prices charged by Chinese exporters. They said the effects of the tariffs had spilled over noticeably to the prices charged by US producers competing with goods affected by the levies.

Trump says he feels US-China trade talks 'going to be very successful'

US House Democrats issued subpoenas Friday against top government officials demanding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tax-returns-from-1985-to-1994-show-1-billion-in-losses-report-216876">President Donald Trump's tax returns</a>, the latest twist in the sharpening battle between the White House and opponents in Congress.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Richard Neal said he subpoenaed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service commissioner Charles Rettig after they missed two congressional deadlines to turn over six years of the president's personal and business tax data.

Trump broke with decades of precedent by refusing to publish his tax returns as a candidate in 2016, or since he has been president, claiming he could not do so as he was under audit.

As the majority party in the House of Representatives, Democrats have broad investigative powers.&nbsp;

They have begun issuing subpoenas on multiple fronts as part of their investigations into Russia's interference in the US election and possible obstruction of justice by the president.

Neal said he requested the financial records as part of his responsibility for conducting oversight of the tax system, and as related to the wide-ranging investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US elections.&nbsp;

"While I do not take this step lightly, I believe this action gives us the best opportunity to succeed and obtain the requested material," Neal said in a statement.

Republicans have blasted the request as politically motivated, with Mnuchin expressing concern that Democrats' true purpose was to publish the president's tax returns.

The request is expected to be ignored after Trump said he was using his executive privilege to prevent the handover to Congress of any material connected to the Russia probe.

Lack of compliance would almost certainly trigger a court battle that could drag on for several months, as Trump and the Democrats gear up for a 2020 election fight.

US House Democrats issued subpoenas Friday against top government officials demanding President Donald Trump's tax returns, the latest twist in the sharpening battle between the White House and opponents in Congress.

US House Democrats issued subpoenas Friday against top government officials demanding President Donald Trump's tax returns, the latest twist in the sharpening battle between the White House and opponents in Congress. House Ways and Means Committee chairman Richard Neal said he subpoenaed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service commissioner Charles Rettig after they missed two congressional deadlines to turn over six years of the president's personal and business tax data. Trump broke with decades of precedent by refusing to publish his tax returns as a candidate in 2016, or since he has been president, claiming he could not do so as he was under audit. As the majority party in the House of Representatives, Democrats have broad investigative powers. They have begun issuing subpoenas on multiple fronts as part of their investigations into Russia's interference in the US election and possible obstruction of justice by the president. Neal said he requested the financial records as part of his responsibility for conducting oversight of the tax system, and as related to the wide-ranging investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US elections. "While I do not take this step lightly, I believe this action gives us the best opportunity to succeed and obtain the requested material," Neal said in a statement. Republicans have blasted the request as politically motivated, with Mnuchin expressing concern that Democrats' true purpose was to publish the president's tax returns. The request is expected to be ignored after Trump said he was using his executive privilege to prevent the handover to Congress of any material connected to the Russia probe. Lack of compliance would almost certainly trigger a court battle that could drag on for several months, as Trump and the Democrats gear up for a 2020 election fight.

Standoff intensifies as Democrats subpoena Trump tax returns

The White House on Wednesday took the aggressive step of invoking "executive privilege" to block the release of Special Counsel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/robert-mueller-should-not-testify-before-us-congress-trump-216223">Robert Mueller's full Russia report </a>as a Democratic-led US congressional panel moved toward holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt for refusing to hand over the document.

The move announced by the White House marked another intensification in a constitutional clash between the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Republican President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

Barr has refused to comply with a subpoena by the House Judiciary Committee to provide an unredacted version of the report and its underlying evidence.

Executive privilege is a right claimed by presidents to withhold information about internal executive branch deliberations from other branches of government.

Democrats condemned the White House action.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said the White House was "misapplying the doctrine of executive privilege" with a decision that "represents a clear escalation in the Trump administration`s blanket defiance of Congress`s constitutionally mandated duties."

"I can only conclude that the president now seeks to take a wrecking ball to the Constitution of the United States of America," said Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee.

The White House said the actions of Democrats forced the move.

"Faced with Chairman Nadler's blatant abuse of power, and at the Attorney General`s request, the President has no other option than to make a protective assertion of executive privilege," said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democratic in Congress, said Trump`s moves to thwart congressional subpoenas were obstructing lawmakers` oversight of his administration.

"Every single day the president is making the case" and "he`s becoming self-impeachable," Pelosi told the Washington Post shortly before Trump invoked executive privilege, referring to the impeachment process in Congress for removing a president from office.

Trump is stonewalling numerous investigations by the Democrats, who control the House, of his administration, family and business interests, with court action likely to follow.

The Judiciary Committee was slated to vote on a resolution recommending that the full House find Barr in contempt of Congress, even as committee staffers and Justice Department officials worked behind the scenes in the hopes of a deal to avert such action.

"The American people see through Chairman Nadler’s desperate ploy to distract from the President’s historically successful agenda and our booming economy. Neither the White House nor Attorney General Barr will comply with Chairman Nadler’s unlawful and reckless demands," Sanders said.

Judiciary Committee Republicans condemned the move toward holding Barr in contempt.

"What a cynical, mean-spirited, counterproductive and irresponsible step it is," said the panel's top Republican, Doug Collins.

Barr last month released a 448-page redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on his 22-month investigation into Russian election meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Nadler subpoenaed the full document and all underlying evidence, saying the material was necessary for lawmakers to determine whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to impede the Mueller probe. Barr missed two subpoena deadlines for turning over the material, the latest on Monday.

"We remain unanimously determined on our side of the aisle to get the unredacted report, as we've demanded," Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat on Nadler`s committee, told reporters.

Representative Doug Collins, the panel`s ranking Republican, criticized Nadler in a statement late on Tuesday for rejecting Justice officials' "accommodations," and praised "the department's endurance."

The House, then controlled by Republicans, voted in 2012 to hold Eric Holder, attorney general under Democratic President Barack Obama, in contempt for failing to turn over subpoenaed Justice Department documents about a gun-running investigation called Operation Fast and Furious. It was the first time that Congress had held the top U.S. law enforcement official or any Cabinet member in contempt.

The redacted Mueller report details extensive contacts between Trump's 2016 campaign and Moscow as well as the campaign's expectation of benefiting from Russia's actions. But Mueller said there was not sufficient evidence to show a criminal conspiracy between Moscow and the campaign. The report also describes a series of actions Trump took to try to impede Mueller's investigation.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration stymied a separate effort by House Judiciary Committee Democrats to subpoena records from former White House counsel Don McGahn, directing him not to provide the documents sought by the panel.

Mueller`s report said McGahn told investigators that Trump unsuccessfully pressured him to remove Mueller and then asked him to deny that Trump had done so. The accounts are based partly on the documents sought by House Democrats.

The Trump administration has refused to cooperate with congressional probes in at least a half-dozen instances, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's decision on Monday to deny a request for Trump's tax returns from the Democratic chairman of the House tax committee.

The White House on Wednesday took the aggressive step of invoking "executive privilege" to block the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full Russia report as a Democratic-led US congressional panel moved toward holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt for refusing to hand over the document.

The White House on Wednesday took the aggressive step of invoking "executive privilege" to block the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full Russia report as a Democratic-led US congressional panel moved toward holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt for refusing to hand over the document. The move announced by the White House marked another intensification in a constitutional clash between the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Republican President Donald Trump. Barr has refused to comply with a subpoena by the House Judiciary Committee to provide an unredacted version of the report and its underlying evidence. Executive privilege is a right claimed by presidents to withhold information about internal executive branch deliberations from other branches of government. Democrats condemned the White House action. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said the White House was "misapplying the doctrine of executive privilege" with a decision that "represents a clear escalation in the Trump administration`s blanket defiance of Congress`s constitutionally mandated duties." "I can only conclude that the president now seeks to take a wrecking ball to the Constitution of the United States of America," said Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee. The White House said the actions of Democrats forced the move. "Faced with Chairman Nadler's blatant abuse of power, and at the Attorney General`s request, the President has no other option than to make a protective assertion of executive privilege," said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democratic in Congress, said Trump`s moves to thwart congressional subpoenas were obstructing lawmakers` oversight of his administration. "Every single day the president is making the case" and "he`s becoming self-impeachable," Pelosi told the Washington Post shortly before Trump invoked executive privilege, referring to the impeachment process in Congress for removing a president from office. Trump is stonewalling numerous investigations by the Democrats, who control the House, of his administration, family and business interests, with court action likely to follow. The Judiciary Committee was slated to vote on a resolution recommending that the full House find Barr in contempt of Congress, even as committee staffers and Justice Department officials worked behind the scenes in the hopes of a deal to avert such action. "The American people see through Chairman Nadler’s desperate ploy to distract from the President’s historically successful agenda and our booming economy. Neither the White House nor Attorney General Barr will comply with Chairman Nadler’s unlawful and reckless demands," Sanders said. Judiciary Committee Republicans condemned the move toward holding Barr in contempt. "What a cynical, mean-spirited, counterproductive and irresponsible step it is," said the panel's top Republican, Doug Collins. Barr last month released a 448-page redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on his 22-month investigation into Russian election meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Nadler subpoenaed the full document and all underlying evidence, saying the material was necessary for lawmakers to determine whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to impede the Mueller probe. Barr missed two subpoena deadlines for turning over the material, the latest on Monday. "We remain unanimously determined on our side of the aisle to get the unredacted report, as we've demanded," Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat on Nadler`s committee, told reporters. Representative Doug Collins, the panel`s ranking Republican, criticized Nadler in a statement late on Tuesday for rejecting Justice officials' "accommodations," and praised "the department's endurance." The House, then controlled by Republicans, voted in 2012 to hold Eric Holder, attorney general under Democratic President Barack Obama, in contempt for failing to turn over subpoenaed Justice Department documents about a gun-running investigation called Operation Fast and Furious. It was the first time that Congress had held the top U.S. law enforcement official or any Cabinet member in contempt. The redacted Mueller report details extensive contacts between Trump's 2016 campaign and Moscow as well as the campaign's expectation of benefiting from Russia's actions. But Mueller said there was not sufficient evidence to show a criminal conspiracy between Moscow and the campaign. The report also describes a series of actions Trump took to try to impede Mueller's investigation. On Tuesday, the Trump administration stymied a separate effort by House Judiciary Committee Democrats to subpoena records from former White House counsel Don McGahn, directing him not to provide the documents sought by the panel. Mueller`s report said McGahn told investigators that Trump unsuccessfully pressured him to remove Mueller and then asked him to deny that Trump had done so. The accounts are based partly on the documents sought by House Democrats. The Trump administration has refused to cooperate with congressional probes in at least a half-dozen instances, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's decision on Monday to deny a request for Trump's tax returns from the Democratic chairman of the House tax committee.

White House invokes 'executive privilege' to stop release of Mueller report

The designation of Pakistan-based JeM chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-10-years-china-has-done-the-right-thing-white-house-official-on-un-listing-masood-azhar-as-global-terrorist-215194">Masood Azhar</a> as a global terrorist by the UN demonstrates the international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, the White House has said.

The UN sanctions committee on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda on Wednesday announced the designation of Azhar, leader of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/found-no-objection-to-list-azhar-after-studying-revised-materials-china-215122">Jaish-e-Mohammed</a> (JeM), over its ties to Al-Qaeda.

The JeM has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers and led to a spike in military tensions between India and Pakistan.

Reacting to the development, Garrett Marquis, spokesperson of the National Security Council, White House said,&nbsp;"Designating Azhar demonstrates an international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia".

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The US commends the United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee for the designation of Azhar, the leader of JeM, a UN-designated terrorist group that was responsible for the February 14 terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed over 40 Indian security personnel, Marquis said in a statement.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also welcomed the move and said that it is a victory for American diplomacy and the international community against terrorism.

Pompeo also congratulated the US mission in the UN which took the lead in America's diplomatic effort to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, after China finally lifted its nearly 10-year technical hold on such an effort by India, the United States and other permanent members of the Security Council including Britain and France.

"Congrats to our team @USUN for their work in negotiating JEM's Masood Azhar's #UN designation as a terrorist," Pompeo tweeted.

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Congrats to our team <a href="https://twitter.com/USUN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USUN</a> for their work in negotiating JEM's Masood Azhar's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UN</a> designation as a terrorist. This long-awaited action is a victory for American diplomacy and the international community against terrorism, and an important step towards peace in South Asia.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1123776110003617793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"This long-awaited action is a victory for American diplomacy and the international community against terrorism, and an important step towards peace in South Asia," Pompeo said.

Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said that the JeM has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a serious threat to regional stability and peace in South Asia.

"The JeM was designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2001 and has been listed by the UN since 2001," she said.

The US also designated Azhar as an SDGT in 2010.

"As JEM's founder and leader, Azhar clearly met the criteria for designation by the UN. This listing requires all the UN member states to implement an asset freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo against Azhar. We expect all countries to uphold these obligations," Ortagus said.

Today's designation is an important step in promoting a peaceful and stable South Asia, she said.

"In line with this vision, we appreciate Pakistani Prime Minister Khan's stated commitment that Pakistan, for the sake of its own future, will not allow militant and terrorist groups to operate from its territory," Ortagus said.

The spokesperson said that the US looks forward to further and sustained actions from Pakistan as outlined in its National Action Plan consistent with its international obligations.

The UK has also welcomed the development. A British high commission spokesperson said it is "positive development for the security and stability of the South Asia region."&nbsp;

France was the first country to react on the listing of Masood Azhar on Wednesday calling it "successful realisation" of its efforts.

Azhar was released from prison in exchange for 155 hostages held on an Indian Airlines flight that had been hijacked to Kandahar in 1999. Since then, he is&nbsp;responsible for many terror attacks in India including the 2001 Parliament attack and 2019 Pulwama attack.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The designation of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN demonstrates the international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, the White House has said.

The designation of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN demonstrates the international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, the White House has said. The UN sanctions committee on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda on Wednesday announced the designation of Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), over its ties to Al-Qaeda. The JeM has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers and led to a spike in military tensions between India and Pakistan. Reacting to the development, Garrett Marquis, spokesperson of the National Security Council, White House said, "Designating Azhar demonstrates an international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia". × The US commends the United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee for the designation of Azhar, the leader of JeM, a UN-designated terrorist group that was responsible for the February 14 terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed over 40 Indian security personnel, Marquis said in a statement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also welcomed the move and said that it is a victory for American diplomacy and the international community against terrorism. Pompeo also congratulated the US mission in the UN which took the lead in America's diplomatic effort to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, after China finally lifted its nearly 10-year technical hold on such an effort by India, the United States and other permanent members of the Security Council including Britain and France. "Congrats to our team @USUN for their work in negotiating JEM's Masood Azhar's #UN designation as a terrorist," Pompeo tweeted. Congrats to our team @USUN for their work in negotiating JEM's Masood Azhar's #UN designation as a terrorist. This long-awaited action is a victory for American diplomacy and the international community against terrorism, and an important step towards peace in South Asia. — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 2, 2019 × "This long-awaited action is a victory for American diplomacy and the international community against terrorism, and an important step towards peace in South Asia," Pompeo said. Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said that the JeM has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a serious threat to regional stability and peace in South Asia. "The JeM was designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2001 and has been listed by the UN since 2001," she said. The US also designated Azhar as an SDGT in 2010. "As JEM's founder and leader, Azhar clearly met the criteria for designation by the UN. This listing requires all the UN member states to implement an asset freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo against Azhar. We expect all countries to uphold these obligations," Ortagus said. Today's designation is an important step in promoting a peaceful and stable South Asia, she said. "In line with this vision, we appreciate Pakistani Prime Minister Khan's stated commitment that Pakistan, for the sake of its own future, will not allow militant and terrorist groups to operate from its territory," Ortagus said. The spokesperson said that the US looks forward to further and sustained actions from Pakistan as outlined in its National Action Plan consistent with its international obligations. The UK has also welcomed the development. A British high commission spokesperson said it is "positive development for the security and stability of the South Asia region." France was the first country to react on the listing of Masood Azhar on Wednesday calling it "successful realisation" of its efforts. Azhar was released from prison in exchange for 155 hostages held on an Indian Airlines flight that had been hijacked to Kandahar in 1999. Since then, he is responsible for many terror attacks in India including the 2001 Parliament attack and 2019 Pulwama attack. (With inputs from agencies)

Long awaited action victory for US diplomacy: Mike Pompeo on UNSC listing Azhar as terrorist

The UN declaring Jaish-e-Mohammed chief<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/masood-azhar-named-global-terrorist-how-it-will-affect-the-jem-chief-215077"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/jem-chief-masood-azhar-designated-as-a-global-terrorist-in-un-sanctions-list-215076">Masood Azhar a global terrorist</a> demonstrates an international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, the Trump administration said Wednesday, expressing hope that Islamabad will take sustained and irreversible action against terror groups operating from its soil.

Welcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/found-no-objection-to-list-azhar-after-studying-revised-materials-china-215122">China's decision to lift its hold on the proposal</a> to blacklist the Pakistan-based JeM chief, a senior Trump administration official during a conference call with reporters said after 10 years China has done the right thing by lifting its blockade.

"I think China seems to have understood that it was increasingly important that its actions on the international stage on terrorism matched its rhetoric," the White House official said on the condition of anonymity.

Pulwama attack, the official noted was just the latest in the terrorist attacks that this "deadly group"&nbsp;has conducted.

"Designating Azhar demonstrates an international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia," the official said, adding that this designation is critically important and it was a long time coming.

This designation, the official said, is in line with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's stated commitment to crack down on militancy inside Pakistan and his acknowledgement that prosperity and development in Pakistan are contingent on maintaining regional stability.

"So we acknowledged that this designation is a good step forward and we look forward to how Pakistan would use this international designation press forward on its own stated commitment,"&nbsp;the official said.

"The US will continue to monitor the situation in Pakistan to determine whether the recent positive statements from the prime minister will translate into irreversible steps"&nbsp;to end terrorist and militant safe haven inside Pakistan," the official said.

"All too often the world has seen a familiar pattern of Pakistan taking temporary steps against militants following immediately terrorist attacks, only to reverse those positive steps a few months later when the heat is off," the official said, adding that the history of the effort behind this listing demonstrates Pakistan has in the past been reluctant to divorce itself from terrorist proxy groups.

"China's willingness to shield Pakistan in these policies has been unhelpful to establishing regional stability. China acting on behalf of Pakistan has prevented the designation of Azhar on multiple occasions over the last decade,"&nbsp;the senior administration official alleged.

The official noted that this listing that will help to "avoid a re-escalation"&nbsp;of India-Pak tension, by holding Pakistan accountable on its international obligations.

"This designation serves as a forcing function for Pakistan, to implement their stated commitments to peace and stability and to rooting out terrorism from Pakistani soil."

"We have seen Pakistan taking some steps against Jaish-e-Mohammed following the Pulwama attack. However, there are additional steps that Pakistan could take to show an irreversible commitment and to permanently put these kinds of groups out of business,"&nbsp;the official said.

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Lashkar-e-Taiba and Haqqani networks are the other two groups among others, the official said.

"These steps could include things like arresting leaders and disrupting their ability to communicate and travel and shutting down affiliated businesses like their charity wings," the US official demanded.

"We remain hopeful that Pakistan will continue to move in this direction and that today's designation will assist in that effort,"&nbsp;said the senior administration official.

Responding to questions, the two senior officials who briefed reporters did not give any insight into why reference to Pulwama attack was taken off from the final resolution.

The officials said they would not go into the internal deliberations at the UN Security Council.

"China probably came to the conclusion that it needed to do the right thing, be on the right side. And that it can no longer afford for the sake of its international reputation to continue blocking what it was so obvious that down this was a deadly group and that leader is responsible for these deadly attacks,"&nbsp;the official said.

"China came to realise that it should match its action on international terrorism. This was the culmination of a 10 years process," the official said.&nbsp;

The UN declaring Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist demonstrates an international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, the Trump administration said Wednesday, expressing hope that Islamabad will take sustained and irreversible action against terror groups operating from its soil.

The UN declaring Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist demonstrates an international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, the Trump administration said Wednesday, expressing hope that Islamabad will take sustained and irreversible action against terror groups operating from its soil. Welcoming China's decision to lift its hold on the proposal to blacklist the Pakistan-based JeM chief, a senior Trump administration official during a conference call with reporters said after 10 years China has done the right thing by lifting its blockade. "I think China seems to have understood that it was increasingly important that its actions on the international stage on terrorism matched its rhetoric," the White House official said on the condition of anonymity. Pulwama attack, the official noted was just the latest in the terrorist attacks that this "deadly group" has conducted. "Designating Azhar demonstrates an international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia," the official said, adding that this designation is critically important and it was a long time coming. This designation, the official said, is in line with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's stated commitment to crack down on militancy inside Pakistan and his acknowledgement that prosperity and development in Pakistan are contingent on maintaining regional stability. "So we acknowledged that this designation is a good step forward and we look forward to how Pakistan would use this international designation press forward on its own stated commitment," the official said. "The US will continue to monitor the situation in Pakistan to determine whether the recent positive statements from the prime minister will translate into irreversible steps" to end terrorist and militant safe haven inside Pakistan," the official said. "All too often the world has seen a familiar pattern of Pakistan taking temporary steps against militants following immediately terrorist attacks, only to reverse those positive steps a few months later when the heat is off," the official said, adding that the history of the effort behind this listing demonstrates Pakistan has in the past been reluctant to divorce itself from terrorist proxy groups. "China's willingness to shield Pakistan in these policies has been unhelpful to establishing regional stability. China acting on behalf of Pakistan has prevented the designation of Azhar on multiple occasions over the last decade," the senior administration official alleged. The official noted that this listing that will help to "avoid a re-escalation" of India-Pak tension, by holding Pakistan accountable on its international obligations. "This designation serves as a forcing function for Pakistan, to implement their stated commitments to peace and stability and to rooting out terrorism from Pakistani soil." "We have seen Pakistan taking some steps against Jaish-e-Mohammed following the Pulwama attack. However, there are additional steps that Pakistan could take to show an irreversible commitment and to permanently put these kinds of groups out of business," the official said. × Lashkar-e-Taiba and Haqqani networks are the other two groups among others, the official said. "These steps could include things like arresting leaders and disrupting their ability to communicate and travel and shutting down affiliated businesses like their charity wings," the US official demanded. "We remain hopeful that Pakistan will continue to move in this direction and that today's designation will assist in that effort," said the senior administration official. Responding to questions, the two senior officials who briefed reporters did not give any insight into why reference to Pulwama attack was taken off from the final resolution. The officials said they would not go into the internal deliberations at the UN Security Council. "China probably came to the conclusion that it needed to do the right thing, be on the right side. And that it can no longer afford for the sake of its international reputation to continue blocking what it was so obvious that down this was a deadly group and that leader is responsible for these deadly attacks," the official said. "China came to realise that it should match its action on international terrorism. This was the culmination of a 10 years process," the official said.

After 10 years, China has done the right thing: White House official on UN listing Masood Azhar as global terrorist

The White House said Friday that it welcomes new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bid-to-restore-northern-ireland-government-after-killing-of-a-journalist-213771">talks between Britain and Ireland</a> over reviving Northern Ireland's troubled power-sharing arrangement.

"The United States welcomes the initiative today of the British and Irish governments to convene political talks in Northern Ireland," the White House said in a statement.

"We encourage Northern Ireland’s political leaders to return to the negotiating table to restore the region's local government."

The Trump administration said it was "shocked and saddened" by the slaying of 29-year-old Lyra McKee, shot dead on April 18 while reporting on riots in the second city of Londonderry.

Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, has been without its semi-autonomous government since January 2017 following a breakdown in trust between the main parties.

However, McKee's killing by republican paramilitaries has created new impetus for mending fences between the rival British unionist and Irish nationalist forces.

The White House said Friday that it welcomes new talks between Britain and Ireland over reviving Northern Ireland's troubled power-sharing arrangement. "The United States welcomes the initiative today of the British and Irish governments to convene political talks in Northern Ireland," the White House said in a statement.

The White House said Friday that it welcomes new talks between Britain and Ireland over reviving Northern Ireland's troubled power-sharing arrangement. "The United States welcomes the initiative today of the British and Irish governments to convene political talks in Northern Ireland," the White House said in a statement. "We encourage Northern Ireland’s political leaders to return to the negotiating table to restore the region's local government." The Trump administration said it was "shocked and saddened" by the slaying of 29-year-old Lyra McKee, shot dead on April 18 while reporting on riots in the second city of Londonderry. Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, has been without its semi-autonomous government since January 2017 following a breakdown in trust between the main parties. However, McKee's killing by republican paramilitaries has created new impetus for mending fences between the rival British unionist and Irish nationalist forces.

US welcomes British-Irish talks on Northern Ireland tensions

Former Vice President Joe Biden, a moderate Democrat who has made his appeal to the disaffected working-class voters who deserted the party in 2016 a key part of his political identity, is set to launch his third run for the White House on Thursday.

Biden will announce his bid by video, according to a source familiar with the plans. He then is expected to make his first public appearance as a candidate on Monday at an event in Pittsburgh featuring union members, a key constituency.

Biden, 76, had been wrestling for months over whether to run. His candidacy will face numerous questions, including whether he is too old and too centrist for a Democratic Party yearning for fresh faces and increasingly propelled by its more vocal liberal wing.

Still, he starts as the leader of the pack in opinion polls of a Democratic field that now will total 20 contenders seeking the chance to challenge President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee, in November 2020.

Critics say Biden's standing in polls is largely a function of name recognition for the former US&nbsp;senator from Delaware, whose more than four decades in public service includes eight years as President Barack Obama's No. 2 in the White House.

As speculation about his bid mounted, Biden faced new questions about his longtime propensity for touching and kissing strangers at political events, with several women coming forward to say he had made them feel uncomfortable.

Biden struggled in his response to the concerns, at times joking about his behaviour. But ultimately, he apologized and said he recognized standards for personal conduct had evolved in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

Trump and his allies seized on the flap, attempting to weaken perhaps his top rival before Biden entered the race.

Even so, Biden was determined to push forward, arguing his background, experience and resume best positioned him to take on Trump next year.

In a speech to union members in April, Biden called Trump a "tragedy in two acts."

"This country can’t afford more years of a president looking to settle personal scores," he said.

Biden's candidacy will offer early hints about whether Democrats are more interested in finding a centrist who can win over the white working-class voters who went for Trump in 2016, or someone who can fire up the party's diverse progressive wing, such as Senators Kamala Harris of California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont or Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Biden's long history in the Senate, where he was a leading voice on foreign policy, will give liberal activists plenty to criticize. As Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, he angered women's rights activists with his handling of sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas during the justice's 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

He also has been criticized for his ties to the financial industry, which is prominent in his home state of Delaware, and for his authorship of the 1994 crime act that led to increased incarceration rates.

Biden has been one of the party's more aggressive Trump critics. Last year, he said he would "beat the hell" out of Trump if the two were in high school because of the way the president has talked about women. That prompted Trump to call him "Crazy Joe Biden" and claim on Twitter that Biden would "go down fast and hard, crying all the way" if they fought.

Biden later lamented the exchange, saying "I shouldn't get down in the mosh pit with this guy."

Known for his verbal gaffes on the campaign trail, Biden failed to gain traction with voters during his previous runs in 1988 and 2008.

He dropped his 1988 bid amid allegations he plagiarized some of his stump oratory and early academic work. But his experience and strong debate performances in 2008 impressed Obama enough that he tapped Biden as his running mate.

Biden decided against a 2016 presidential bid after a lengthy public period of indecision as he wrestled with doubts about whether he and his family were ready for a gruelling campaign while mourning his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in May 2015. His son had urged him to run.

Biden faced some of the same family considerations this time around, as he is still coping with Beau's death while his other son, Hunter, has gone through a divorce amid a reported relationship with Beau's widow.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, a moderate Democrat who has made his appeal to the disaffected working-class voters who deserted the party in 2016 a key part of his political identity, is set to launch his third run for the White House on Thursday.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, a moderate Democrat who has made his appeal to the disaffected working-class voters who deserted the party in 2016 a key part of his political identity, is set to launch his third run for the White House on Thursday. Biden will announce his bid by video, according to a source familiar with the plans. He then is expected to make his first public appearance as a candidate on Monday at an event in Pittsburgh featuring union members, a key constituency. Biden, 76, had been wrestling for months over whether to run. His candidacy will face numerous questions, including whether he is too old and too centrist for a Democratic Party yearning for fresh faces and increasingly propelled by its more vocal liberal wing. Still, he starts as the leader of the pack in opinion polls of a Democratic field that now will total 20 contenders seeking the chance to challenge President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee, in November 2020. Critics say Biden's standing in polls is largely a function of name recognition for the former US senator from Delaware, whose more than four decades in public service includes eight years as President Barack Obama's No. 2 in the White House. As speculation about his bid mounted, Biden faced new questions about his longtime propensity for touching and kissing strangers at political events, with several women coming forward to say he had made them feel uncomfortable. Biden struggled in his response to the concerns, at times joking about his behaviour. But ultimately, he apologized and said he recognized standards for personal conduct had evolved in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Trump and his allies seized on the flap, attempting to weaken perhaps his top rival before Biden entered the race. Even so, Biden was determined to push forward, arguing his background, experience and resume best positioned him to take on Trump next year. In a speech to union members in April, Biden called Trump a "tragedy in two acts." "This country can’t afford more years of a president looking to settle personal scores," he said. Biden's candidacy will offer early hints about whether Democrats are more interested in finding a centrist who can win over the white working-class voters who went for Trump in 2016, or someone who can fire up the party's diverse progressive wing, such as Senators Kamala Harris of California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont or Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Biden's long history in the Senate, where he was a leading voice on foreign policy, will give liberal activists plenty to criticize. As Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, he angered women's rights activists with his handling of sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas during the justice's 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings. He also has been criticized for his ties to the financial industry, which is prominent in his home state of Delaware, and for his authorship of the 1994 crime act that led to increased incarceration rates. Biden has been one of the party's more aggressive Trump critics. Last year, he said he would "beat the hell" out of Trump if the two were in high school because of the way the president has talked about women. That prompted Trump to call him "Crazy Joe Biden" and claim on Twitter that Biden would "go down fast and hard, crying all the way" if they fought. Biden later lamented the exchange, saying "I shouldn't get down in the mosh pit with this guy." Known for his verbal gaffes on the campaign trail, Biden failed to gain traction with voters during his previous runs in 1988 and 2008. He dropped his 1988 bid amid allegations he plagiarized some of his stump oratory and early academic work. But his experience and strong debate performances in 2008 impressed Obama enough that he tapped Biden as his running mate. Biden decided against a 2016 presidential bid after a lengthy public period of indecision as he wrestled with doubts about whether he and his family were ready for a gruelling campaign while mourning his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in May 2015. His son had urged him to run. Biden faced some of the same family considerations this time around, as he is still coping with Beau's death while his other son, Hunter, has gone through a divorce amid a reported relationship with Beau's widow.

Former US Vice President Joe Biden to make third run for the White House

The White House has refused to meet a Tuesday deadline to deliver six years of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-complained-to-twitter-ceo-about-lost-followers-source-213104">President Donald Trump</a>'s tax returns to Congress, escalating a battle that is expected to head to court.

The House Ways and Means Committee's chairman, Richard Neal, had given the Internal Revenue Service until April 10 to turn over the president's personal tax returns, and those of several entities connected to Trump, for 2013 through 2018.

That deadline was extended to April 23. But Trump has signalled he does not want his financial information disclosed, repeating his oft-used excuse during the 2016 presidential campaign that he would not release his tax returns while under audit by the IRS.

Trump broke with a long-established norm during the 2016 elections by refusing to release the returns as most presidents have done since the 1970s even though it is not required by law.

"The president is pretty clear: Once he's out of the audit, he will think about doing it," White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told Fox News on Tuesday.

"He's not inclined to do so at this time."

The US Treasury Department said it was reviewing Neal's request and consulting with the Justice Department, and that there were "serious constitutional questions" related to the request.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in a letter to Neal, said the department would render a final decision by May 6 on whether or not to comply.&nbsp;

But Mnuchin also warned that congressional Democrats, through the Ways and Means demand, were seeking "to obtain and expose the president's tax returns."

Democrats have warned that legal action, such as a subpoena of financial data, could follow if the Trump administration does not comply, precipitating a lengthy battle in the courts.

In requesting the tax returns, Democrats have cited a little-known law that allows Congress to review anyone's returns to conduct an investigation.

The White House has refused to meet a Tuesday deadline to deliver six years of President Donald Trump's tax returns to Congress, escalating a battle that is expected to head to court.

The White House has refused to meet a Tuesday deadline to deliver six years of President Donald Trump's tax returns to Congress, escalating a battle that is expected to head to court. The House Ways and Means Committee's chairman, Richard Neal, had given the Internal Revenue Service until April 10 to turn over the president's personal tax returns, and those of several entities connected to Trump, for 2013 through 2018. That deadline was extended to April 23. But Trump has signalled he does not want his financial information disclosed, repeating his oft-used excuse during the 2016 presidential campaign that he would not release his tax returns while under audit by the IRS. Trump broke with a long-established norm during the 2016 elections by refusing to release the returns as most presidents have done since the 1970s even though it is not required by law. "The president is pretty clear: Once he's out of the audit, he will think about doing it," White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told Fox News on Tuesday. "He's not inclined to do so at this time." The US Treasury Department said it was reviewing Neal's request and consulting with the Justice Department, and that there were "serious constitutional questions" related to the request. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in a letter to Neal, said the department would render a final decision by May 6 on whether or not to comply. But Mnuchin also warned that congressional Democrats, through the Ways and Means demand, were seeking "to obtain and expose the president's tax returns." Democrats have warned that legal action, such as a subpoena of financial data, could follow if the Trump administration does not comply, precipitating a lengthy battle in the courts. In requesting the tax returns, Democrats have cited a little-known law that allows Congress to review anyone's returns to conduct an investigation.

Trump misses tax return deadline, legal battle likely

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/best-thing-ever-to-happen-to-twitter-is-trump-says-us-president-after-sites-profit-soars-212982">US President Donald Trump</a> met with Twitter Inc Chief Executive Jack Dorsey on Tuesday and spent a significant time questioning him about why he had lost some Twitter followers, a person briefed on the matter said.

The meeting, which was organised by the White House last week, came hours after Trump again attacked the social media company over his allegations it is biased against conservatives.

"Great meeting this afternoon at the @WhiteHouse with @Jack from @Twitter. Lots of subjects discussed regarding their platform, and the world of social media in general. Look forward to keeping an open dialogue!" Trump tweeted, posting a photo of Dorsey and others with him in the Oval Office.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Great meeting this afternoon at the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/jack?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jack</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/Twitter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Twitter</a>. Lots of subjects discussed regarding their platform, and the world of social media in general. Look forward to keeping an open dialogue! <a href="https://t.co/QnZi579eFb">pic.twitter.com/QnZi579eFb</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1120793199650463747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Dorsey, who had not previously met with Trump, replied in a tweet: "Thank you for the time. Twitter is here to serve the entire public conversation, and we intend to make it healthier and more civil. Thanks for the discussion about that."

The source, who was briefed on the meeting that included Twitter’s general counsel and public policy chief, said Dorsey explained in response to Trump’s concerns about losing followers that the company was working to remove fraudulent and spam accounts and that many famous people, including Dorsey himself, had lost followers as a result.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump suggested Twitter was biased against him, without providing evidence. He wrote on Twitter that the company does not "treat me well as a Republican. Very discriminatory."

Trump has been upset about losing followers. Trump lost 204,000, or 0.4 per cent, of his 53.4 million followers in July, according to social media data firm Keyhole, when Twitter started its purge of suspicious accounts after it and other social media services were used in misinformation campaigns attempting to influence voters in the 2016 US presidential race and other elections.

In October, Trump wrote that "Twitter has removed many people from my account and, more importantly, they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all. A few weeks ago it was a Rocket Ship, now it is a Blimp! Total Bias?"

Shares in Twitter jumped 13 per cent on Tuesday after it reported quarterly revenue above analyst estimates, which executives said was the result of weeding out spam and abusive posts and targeting ads better.

Trump has one of the most-followed accounts on Twitter. But the president and Republicans in Congress have repeatedly criticized the company and its social media competitors for what they have called bias against conservatives, something Twitter denies.

Democratic US Senator Mazie Hirono said earlier this month: "We cannot allow the Republican party to harass tech companies into weakening content moderation policies that already fail to remove hateful, dangerous and misleading content."

Carlos Monje, Twitter’s public policy director, said at a Senate hearing earlier this month the site "does not use political viewpoints, perspectives or party affiliation to make any decisions, whether related to automatically ranking content on our service or how we develop or enforce our rules."

US President Donald Trump met with Twitter Inc Chief Executive Jack Dorsey on Tuesday and spent a significant time questioning him about why he had lost some Twitter followers, a person briefed on the matter said.

US President Donald Trump met with Twitter Inc Chief Executive Jack Dorsey on Tuesday and spent a significant time questioning him about why he had lost some Twitter followers, a person briefed on the matter said. The meeting, which was organised by the White House last week, came hours after Trump again attacked the social media company over his allegations it is biased against conservatives. "Great meeting this afternoon at the @WhiteHouse with @Jack from @Twitter. Lots of subjects discussed regarding their platform, and the world of social media in general. Look forward to keeping an open dialogue!" Trump tweeted, posting a photo of Dorsey and others with him in the Oval Office. Great meeting this afternoon at the @WhiteHouse with @Jack from @Twitter. Lots of subjects discussed regarding their platform, and the world of social media in general. Look forward to keeping an open dialogue! pic.twitter.com/QnZi579eFb — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2019 × Dorsey, who had not previously met with Trump, replied in a tweet: "Thank you for the time. Twitter is here to serve the entire public conversation, and we intend to make it healthier and more civil. Thanks for the discussion about that." The source, who was briefed on the meeting that included Twitter’s general counsel and public policy chief, said Dorsey explained in response to Trump’s concerns about losing followers that the company was working to remove fraudulent and spam accounts and that many famous people, including Dorsey himself, had lost followers as a result. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump suggested Twitter was biased against him, without providing evidence. He wrote on Twitter that the company does not "treat me well as a Republican. Very discriminatory." Trump has been upset about losing followers. Trump lost 204,000, or 0.4 per cent, of his 53.4 million followers in July, according to social media data firm Keyhole, when Twitter started its purge of suspicious accounts after it and other social media services were used in misinformation campaigns attempting to influence voters in the 2016 US presidential race and other elections. In October, Trump wrote that "Twitter has removed many people from my account and, more importantly, they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all. A few weeks ago it was a Rocket Ship, now it is a Blimp! Total Bias?" Shares in Twitter jumped 13 per cent on Tuesday after it reported quarterly revenue above analyst estimates, which executives said was the result of weeding out spam and abusive posts and targeting ads better. Trump has one of the most-followed accounts on Twitter. But the president and Republicans in Congress have repeatedly criticized the company and its social media competitors for what they have called bias against conservatives, something Twitter denies. Democratic US Senator Mazie Hirono said earlier this month: "We cannot allow the Republican party to harass tech companies into weakening content moderation policies that already fail to remove hateful, dangerous and misleading content." Carlos Monje, Twitter’s public policy director, said at a Senate hearing earlier this month the site "does not use political viewpoints, perspectives or party affiliation to make any decisions, whether related to automatically ranking content on our service or how we develop or enforce our rules."

Trump complained to Twitter CEO about lost followers: Source

China warned Tuesday that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-hit-highest-since-november-as-us-to-tighten-iran-sanctions-212879">US decision to impose sanctions</a> on buyers of Iranian oil will "intensify turmoil" in the Middle East and in the international energy market.

The White House announced Monday it was calling an end to six-month waivers that had exempted several countries -- including major importer China -- from unilateral US sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

"China firmly opposes the US implementation of unilateral sanctions and its so-called long-armed jurisdiction," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing.

"The relevant move by the United States will intensify the turmoil in the Middle East and the turmoil in the international energy market."

In seeking to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero, the Trump administration is targeting the country's top revenue earner in its latest no-holds-barred move to crush the economy and scale back the clerical regime's influence.

Eight governments were initially given the six-month reprieve on oil sanctions that had been imposed last year by the United States. The exemption will now end on May 2.

Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan -- have already ended or heavily reduced their purchases from Iran.

The other three are China, India and Turkey, with Ankara vowing to defy the US demands.

For its part, China will "continue to work in order to safeguard the lawful and legitimate rights of Chinese companies," Geng said.

Japan's Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that Tokyo hopes to "exchange opinions with related Japanese firms and discuss necessary actions to avoid (negative) impact on energy supply in Japan."

India's Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan posted to Twitter that New Delhi would receive "additional supplies from other major oil producing countries," adding that refineries were "fully prepared to meet the national demand for petrol, diesel &amp; other Petroleum products."

Refiners in South Korea -- which has few natural resources of its own -- have relied heavily on Iranian petroleum, especially oil condensate used to produce petrochemical products.

The country imported 2.4 million tonnes of condensate from Iran in the first quarter of this year according to the Korea Petrochemical Industry Association (KPIA), an umbrella industry group, more than 30 per cent of its total purchases.

Iranian condensate is cheaper than others and has the "best quality", a spokesman for Hanwha Total, one of South Korea's major petrochemical firms, told AFP.

"We now have to look for the second-best instead," he said.

Different regions produce different mixes of hydrocarbons, added KPIA researcher Choi Hong-jun, so that users' factory equipment is "best suited to processing Iranian condensate. It will cost extra just to adjust it."

South Korean experts said the US withdrawal of waivers was long anticipated and companies had prepared back-up plans involving diversified import options including Qatar and Australia.

"There will be a limited impact," said a trade ministry official in Seoul.

But despite Washington's insistence that there will be no more exemptions South Korea's foreign ministry said it would continue its "utmost efforts" to have the waiver extended.

China warned Tuesday that the US decision to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil will "intensify turmoil" in the Middle East and in the international energy market.

China warned Tuesday that the US decision to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil will "intensify turmoil" in the Middle East and in the international energy market. The White House announced Monday it was calling an end to six-month waivers that had exempted several countries -- including major importer China -- from unilateral US sanctions on Iranian oil exports. "China firmly opposes the US implementation of unilateral sanctions and its so-called long-armed jurisdiction," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing. "The relevant move by the United States will intensify the turmoil in the Middle East and the turmoil in the international energy market." In seeking to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero, the Trump administration is targeting the country's top revenue earner in its latest no-holds-barred move to crush the economy and scale back the clerical regime's influence. Eight governments were initially given the six-month reprieve on oil sanctions that had been imposed last year by the United States. The exemption will now end on May 2. Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan -- have already ended or heavily reduced their purchases from Iran. The other three are China, India and Turkey, with Ankara vowing to defy the US demands. For its part, China will "continue to work in order to safeguard the lawful and legitimate rights of Chinese companies," Geng said. Japan's Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that Tokyo hopes to "exchange opinions with related Japanese firms and discuss necessary actions to avoid (negative) impact on energy supply in Japan." India's Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan posted to Twitter that New Delhi would receive "additional supplies from other major oil producing countries," adding that refineries were "fully prepared to meet the national demand for petrol, diesel & other Petroleum products." Refiners in South Korea -- which has few natural resources of its own -- have relied heavily on Iranian petroleum, especially oil condensate used to produce petrochemical products. The country imported 2.4 million tonnes of condensate from Iran in the first quarter of this year according to the Korea Petrochemical Industry Association (KPIA), an umbrella industry group, more than 30 per cent of its total purchases. Iranian condensate is cheaper than others and has the "best quality", a spokesman for Hanwha Total, one of South Korea's major petrochemical firms, told AFP. "We now have to look for the second-best instead," he said. Different regions produce different mixes of hydrocarbons, added KPIA researcher Choi Hong-jun, so that users' factory equipment is "best suited to processing Iranian condensate. It will cost extra just to adjust it." South Korean experts said the US withdrawal of waivers was long anticipated and companies had prepared back-up plans involving diversified import options including Qatar and Australia. "There will be a limited impact," said a trade ministry official in Seoul. But despite Washington's insistence that there will be no more exemptions South Korea's foreign ministry said it would continue its "utmost efforts" to have the waiver extended.

US sanctions over Iran oil will intensify Mideast turmoil: China

There are several aspects of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US election campaign that was not previously known until the release of his report on Thursday.

Trump's reaction to the appointment of special counsel

US President <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/mueller-report-inconclusive-on-trumps-obstruction-of-justice-charge-211626&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiVwv3dp9vhAhUSjuYKHf6LD4IQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw38GcVkJUl5IJjshefSm85n">Donald Trump </a>believed the appointment of a special counsel to take over an active federal investigation would spell the end of his presidency, according to Mueller's report.

When then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions told Trump of Mueller's appointment on May 17, 2017, the report said, Trump slumped back in his chair and said: "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I'm fucked."

Trump asked Sessions, whom he had berated for months for recusing himself from the investigation of Russian interference in the election: "How could you let this happen, Jeff?" and told Sessions he had let him down.

Trump told Sessions he should resign, and Sessions agreed to do so. When Sessions delivered his resignation letter to Trump the following day, Trump put the letter in his pocket but said he wanted Sessions to stay on the job.

That alarmed chief of staff Reince Priebus and senior advisor Steve Bannon, who worried Trump would use the letter to control the Department of Justice, and they tried to return it to Sessions.

Trump took the letter with him on a trip to the Middle East, where he showed it to several senior advisers and asked them what he should do about it. On May 30, he finally returned the letter to Sessions with a note saying: "Not accepted."

The Presidential interview that wasn't

Mueller tried for more than a year to interview Trump, but in the end, Trump refused. Trump provided written answers on some<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/timeline-big-moments-in-mueller-investigation-of-russian-meddling-in-2016-us-election-211303&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiVwv3dp9vhAhUSjuYKHf6LD4IQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mBeukO7iQiInlWalLhsF8"> Russia</a>-related topics but did not agree to answer questions about possible obstruction of justice or events that took place during the presidential transition.

Mueller said he thought he had the legal authority to order Trump to testify before a grand jury, but he decided not to take that course because of the "substantial delay that such an investigative step would likely produce at a late stage in our investigation."

Trump's efforts to fire Mueller

Trump tried to get Mueller fired in June 2017, shortly after he was appointed, according to the 448-page report. Trump called then-White House counsel Don McGahn twice and directed him to order Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire Mueller on the grounds that he had conflicts of interest.

McGahn felt "trapped," but did not carry out the order, deciding that he would rather resign, Mueller said.

Other White House advisers later talked McGahn out of resigning, and Trump did not follow up to ask whether McGahn had fulfilled his directive.

Trump pressured McGahn to deny that these events took place when they surfaced in news accounts in January 2018, but McGahn refused, according to Mueller's report, some of which was blacked out to protect some sensitive information.

Trump's efforts to limit the investigation

Trump also enlisted his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, to try to narrow the investigation's scope. The report said Trump asked Lewandowski in June 2017 to tell Sessions that he should publicly announce that the Russia probe was "very unfair" to the president, said Trump had done nothing wrong, and limit Mueller's probe into interference in future elections, not the one that had put him in the White House.

A month later, Trump asked Lewandowski about the status of his request and Lewandowski assured Trump he would deliver the message soon. Trump then publicly criticized Sessions in a New York Times interview and a series of Twitter messages.

Mueller says Lewandowski did not want to deliver the message to Sessions, so he asked senior White House official Rick Dearborn to speak to him. Dearborn also did not want to carry out the task. Ultimately, the message never reached Sessions.

Manafort's efforts to monetize the campaign

Mueller found that campaign chairman Paul Manafort's efforts to work with his former business partners in Ukraine were greater than previously known, as he tried to use his insider status on the campaign to collect on debts owed for his past work by Oleg Deripaska, an oligarch who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Shortly after he joined the campaign in the spring of 2016, Manafort directed his deputy Rick Gates to share internal polling data and other campaign materials with Konstantin Kilimnik, a former Ukrainian business partner, with the understanding that it would get passed on to Deripaska, the report said.

During an August 2016 meeting in New York, Manafort told Kilimnik about the campaign's efforts to win the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the report said. Trump ended up winning three of those states in the November election.

Manafort worked with his Ukrainian allies until the spring of 2018, after he had been indicted by Mueller, to promote a peace plan that would have split the country in two. These efforts did not constitute coordination between the campaign and Russian efforts to disrupt the election, Mueller found.

Manafort urged Gates not to plead guilty after they were both indicted by Mueller, apparently believing that they would be pardoned by the president if they did not cooperate with investigators. Trump's numerous sympathetic statements before and during Manafort's criminal trial could be interpreted as an effort to sway the outcome, but they also could be interpreted as a sign that he genuinely felt sorry for Manafort, Mueller said.

A plan for US - Russia reconciliation

Relations between Washington and Moscow had deteriorated under two previous administrations and the United States had imposed sanctions on Russia. Following Trump's election victory, Russian financier Kirill Dmitriev worked on a proposal to improve ties with Rick Gerson, a hedge fund manager who is friends with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. Dmitriev runs Russia's sovereign wealth fund and reports directly to Putin.

Gerson gave the plan to Kushner before Trump was sworn in, Mueller's report said, and Kushner gave copies to Bannon and then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

After Trump took office in January 2017, Dmitriev told Gerson that his "boss" - an apparent reference to Putin - wanted to know if there was a reaction to the proposal, which called for cooperation on terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and economic matters. When Putin and Trump spoke by phone, Dmitriev told Gerson that their plan had "played an important role."

Gerson told Mueller's team that he acted as an intermediary between Trump and Russia on his own initiative, not at the request of Trump's aides.

There are several aspects of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US election campaign that was not previously known until the release of his report on Thursday.

There are several aspects of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US election campaign that was not previously known until the release of his report on Thursday. Trump's reaction to the appointment of special counsel US President Donald Trump believed the appointment of a special counsel to take over an active federal investigation would spell the end of his presidency, according to Mueller's report. When then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions told Trump of Mueller's appointment on May 17, 2017, the report said, Trump slumped back in his chair and said: "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I'm fucked." Trump asked Sessions, whom he had berated for months for recusing himself from the investigation of Russian interference in the election: "How could you let this happen, Jeff?" and told Sessions he had let him down. Trump told Sessions he should resign, and Sessions agreed to do so. When Sessions delivered his resignation letter to Trump the following day, Trump put the letter in his pocket but said he wanted Sessions to stay on the job. That alarmed chief of staff Reince Priebus and senior advisor Steve Bannon, who worried Trump would use the letter to control the Department of Justice, and they tried to return it to Sessions. Trump took the letter with him on a trip to the Middle East, where he showed it to several senior advisers and asked them what he should do about it. On May 30, he finally returned the letter to Sessions with a note saying: "Not accepted." The Presidential interview that wasn't Mueller tried for more than a year to interview Trump, but in the end, Trump refused. Trump provided written answers on some Russia-related topics but did not agree to answer questions about possible obstruction of justice or events that took place during the presidential transition. Mueller said he thought he had the legal authority to order Trump to testify before a grand jury, but he decided not to take that course because of the "substantial delay that such an investigative step would likely produce at a late stage in our investigation." Trump's efforts to fire Mueller Trump tried to get Mueller fired in June 2017, shortly after he was appointed, according to the 448-page report. Trump called then-White House counsel Don McGahn twice and directed him to order Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire Mueller on the grounds that he had conflicts of interest. McGahn felt "trapped," but did not carry out the order, deciding that he would rather resign, Mueller said. Other White House advisers later talked McGahn out of resigning, and Trump did not follow up to ask whether McGahn had fulfilled his directive. Trump pressured McGahn to deny that these events took place when they surfaced in news accounts in January 2018, but McGahn refused, according to Mueller's report, some of which was blacked out to protect some sensitive information. Trump's efforts to limit the investigation Trump also enlisted his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, to try to narrow the investigation's scope. The report said Trump asked Lewandowski in June 2017 to tell Sessions that he should publicly announce that the Russia probe was "very unfair" to the president, said Trump had done nothing wrong, and limit Mueller's probe into interference in future elections, not the one that had put him in the White House. A month later, Trump asked Lewandowski about the status of his request and Lewandowski assured Trump he would deliver the message soon. Trump then publicly criticized Sessions in a New York Times interview and a series of Twitter messages. Mueller says Lewandowski did not want to deliver the message to Sessions, so he asked senior White House official Rick Dearborn to speak to him. Dearborn also did not want to carry out the task. Ultimately, the message never reached Sessions. Manafort's efforts to monetize the campaign Mueller found that campaign chairman Paul Manafort's efforts to work with his former business partners in Ukraine were greater than previously known, as he tried to use his insider status on the campaign to collect on debts owed for his past work by Oleg Deripaska, an oligarch who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shortly after he joined the campaign in the spring of 2016, Manafort directed his deputy Rick Gates to share internal polling data and other campaign materials with Konstantin Kilimnik, a former Ukrainian business partner, with the understanding that it would get passed on to Deripaska, the report said. During an August 2016 meeting in New York, Manafort told Kilimnik about the campaign's efforts to win the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the report said. Trump ended up winning three of those states in the November election. Manafort worked with his Ukrainian allies until the spring of 2018, after he had been indicted by Mueller, to promote a peace plan that would have split the country in two. These efforts did not constitute coordination between the campaign and Russian efforts to disrupt the election, Mueller found. Manafort urged Gates not to plead guilty after they were both indicted by Mueller, apparently believing that they would be pardoned by the president if they did not cooperate with investigators. Trump's numerous sympathetic statements before and during Manafort's criminal trial could be interpreted as an effort to sway the outcome, but they also could be interpreted as a sign that he genuinely felt sorry for Manafort, Mueller said. A plan for US - Russia reconciliation Relations between Washington and Moscow had deteriorated under two previous administrations and the United States had imposed sanctions on Russia. Following Trump's election victory, Russian financier Kirill Dmitriev worked on a proposal to improve ties with Rick Gerson, a hedge fund manager who is friends with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. Dmitriev runs Russia's sovereign wealth fund and reports directly to Putin. Gerson gave the plan to Kushner before Trump was sworn in, Mueller's report said, and Kushner gave copies to Bannon and then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. After Trump took office in January 2017, Dmitriev told Gerson that his "boss" - an apparent reference to Putin - wanted to know if there was a reaction to the proposal, which called for cooperation on terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and economic matters. When Putin and Trump spoke by phone, Dmitriev told Gerson that their plan had "played an important role." Gerson told Mueller's team that he acted as an intermediary between Trump and Russia on his own initiative, not at the request of Trump's aides.

Factbox: New revelations from the Mueller report

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, the White House said in a statement.

The two leaders discussed Washington`s "continued support for the United Arab Emirates` national defense, strengthening alliances in the region, and the impact of the Administration’s crippling sanctions on Iran," the statement said.

"They also spoke about UAE’s contributions to the global energy markets as a reliable supplier of oil," it said.

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, the White House said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, the White House said in a statement. The two leaders discussed Washington`s "continued support for the United Arab Emirates` national defense, strengthening alliances in the region, and the impact of the Administration’s crippling sanctions on Iran," the statement said. "They also spoke about UAE’s contributions to the global energy markets as a reliable supplier of oil," it said.

Trump spoke with Abu Dhabi crown prince on Thursday: White House

The White House said Sunday it is looking at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-could-send-migrants-to-sanctuary-cities-209995">ways to transfer undocumented migrants to US sanctuary cities</a> as Democrats accused President Donald Trump of creating "manufactured chaos" at the US-Mexico border.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced an "extensive review" of the potential plan on ABC's "This Week" after Trump confirmed press reports that his administration had proposed the controversial move.

So-called sanctuary cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are among hundreds of mainly Democrat-run jurisdictions across the US that limit cooperation in complying with requests from immigration officials.

"This is an option on the table," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said of the proposal in an interview on ABC's "This Week."

Trump "heard the idea, he likes it, so –- well, we're looking to see if there are options that make it possible and doing a full and thorough and extensive review," she said.

The president revived the idea on Twitter and in comments to reporters on Friday after the White House had said earlier in the week it was off the table.

Department of Homeland Security officials were reported to have pushed back against the transfers of detained migrants as illegal, impractical and counter-productive.

But in a tweet late Saturday, Trump insisted the US has "the absolute right to have apprehended illegal immigrants transferred to Sanctuary Cities."

"We hereby demand that they be taken care of at the highest level, especially by the State of California, which is well known (for) its poor management &amp; high taxes!" he posted.

Trump has staked his presidency on his insistence that the United States is being overrun by migrants and asylum seekers.

Political 'pawns'

But opponents, mostly in the Democratic Party, say his push for building more walls on the Mexican border and his almost daily denunciations of migrants as dangerous criminals incite racial hatred.

"This is again the manufactured chaos that he's created over the last two years on the border," Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told ABC.

Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, called Trump's push for transfers of migrants to sanctuary cities "another misuse of presidential power."

He said the president had no right to use funds appropriated by Congress for other purposes "to ship immigrants all over the country."

"Nor is it right for the president to use immigrants or people claiming political asylum as pawns in a fight against political opponents," he said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Critics warn migrant transfers would further burden already stretched immigration authorities while making it more difficult to track those that have been unloaded in sympathetic jurisdictions.

Sanders acknowledged that it was not "ideal" solution but argued that Democrats had "stated time and time again they support open borders, they support sanctuary cities." &nbsp;

"So, let's spread out some of that burden and let's put it in some of those other locations if that's what they want to see happen and are refusing to actually help fix the problem."

The White House said Sunday it is looking at ways to transfer undocumented migrants to US sanctuary cities as Democrats accused President Donald Trump of creating "manufactured chaos" at the US-Mexico border.

The White House said Sunday it is looking at ways to transfer undocumented migrants to US sanctuary cities as Democrats accused President Donald Trump of creating "manufactured chaos" at the US-Mexico border. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced an "extensive review" of the potential plan on ABC's "This Week" after Trump confirmed press reports that his administration had proposed the controversial move. So-called sanctuary cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are among hundreds of mainly Democrat-run jurisdictions across the US that limit cooperation in complying with requests from immigration officials. "This is an option on the table," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said of the proposal in an interview on ABC's "This Week." Trump "heard the idea, he likes it, so –- well, we're looking to see if there are options that make it possible and doing a full and thorough and extensive review," she said. The president revived the idea on Twitter and in comments to reporters on Friday after the White House had said earlier in the week it was off the table. Department of Homeland Security officials were reported to have pushed back against the transfers of detained migrants as illegal, impractical and counter-productive. But in a tweet late Saturday, Trump insisted the US has "the absolute right to have apprehended illegal immigrants transferred to Sanctuary Cities." "We hereby demand that they be taken care of at the highest level, especially by the State of California, which is well known (for) its poor management & high taxes!" he posted. Trump has staked his presidency on his insistence that the United States is being overrun by migrants and asylum seekers. Political 'pawns' But opponents, mostly in the Democratic Party, say his push for building more walls on the Mexican border and his almost daily denunciations of migrants as dangerous criminals incite racial hatred. "This is again the manufactured chaos that he's created over the last two years on the border," Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told ABC. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, called Trump's push for transfers of migrants to sanctuary cities "another misuse of presidential power." He said the president had no right to use funds appropriated by Congress for other purposes "to ship immigrants all over the country." "Nor is it right for the president to use immigrants or people claiming political asylum as pawns in a fight against political opponents," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." Critics warn migrant transfers would further burden already stretched immigration authorities while making it more difficult to track those that have been unloaded in sympathetic jurisdictions. Sanders acknowledged that it was not "ideal" solution but argued that Democrats had "stated time and time again they support open borders, they support sanctuary cities." "So, let's spread out some of that burden and let's put it in some of those other locations if that's what they want to see happen and are refusing to actually help fix the problem."

After Trump floats idea, White House studying plan to send migrants to sanctuary cities

The US Secret Service said Friday that agents intervened after a man in a wheelchair set fire to his jacket near one of the entrances to the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/grave-breaches-in-trump-white-house-security-clearances-whistleblower-to-congress-207305&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi8r-bniM3hAhWJMI8KHYmEB7YQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2FknSWGaVpkaqvPbsZTMtf">White House</a>.

The incident occurred at 2.45 pm outside the fence on the north side of the grounds.

"A male subject operating an electronic wheelchair-type scooter lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Ave. outside the North Fence Line," the Secret Service said on Twitter. "Uniformed Division Officers immediately responded, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid."

The responding officers carried the man into nearby Lafayette Park.

As a precaution, authorities barred pedestrians from the stretch of Pennsylvania Ave. in front of the White House and entirely blocked vehicular traffic on an adjacent street.

"The male subject has been transported to a local hospital with what appears to be non-life threatening injuries," the Secret Service.

Citing unnamed law enforcement sources,&nbsp;News agency reported that the man had mental health issues.

While President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident, he was never in any danger, authorities said.

A man fatally shot himself outside the White House in March 2018.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump were en route to the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on that occasion.

The shooting came about a week after a woman apparently suffering from mental disorders crashed her vehicle into one of the security barricades that protect the presidential residence.

In May 2017, the Secret Service detained a woman who jumped over a security barrier surrounding the White House.

She apparently intended to scale the north fence bordering the White House grounds, the Secret Service said then.

Two similar incidents took place in March 2017.

On March 10, a man identified as Jonathan T&nbsp;Tran climbed over the White House fence carrying pepper spray and moved around in the gardens and yard for almost 17 minutes before being arrested.

Eighteen days later, the Secret Service arrested a man carrying a package and making suspicious remarks near the White House.

The US Secret Service said Friday that agents intervened after a man in a wheelchair set fire to his jacket near one of the entrances to the White House. The incident occurred at 2.

The US Secret Service said Friday that agents intervened after a man in a wheelchair set fire to his jacket near one of the entrances to the White House. The incident occurred at 2.45 pm outside the fence on the north side of the grounds. "A male subject operating an electronic wheelchair-type scooter lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Ave. outside the North Fence Line," the Secret Service said on Twitter. "Uniformed Division Officers immediately responded, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid." The responding officers carried the man into nearby Lafayette Park. As a precaution, authorities barred pedestrians from the stretch of Pennsylvania Ave. in front of the White House and entirely blocked vehicular traffic on an adjacent street. "The male subject has been transported to a local hospital with what appears to be non-life threatening injuries," the Secret Service. Citing unnamed law enforcement sources, News agency reported that the man had mental health issues. While President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident, he was never in any danger, authorities said. A man fatally shot himself outside the White House in March 2018. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were en route to the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on that occasion. The shooting came about a week after a woman apparently suffering from mental disorders crashed her vehicle into one of the security barricades that protect the presidential residence. In May 2017, the Secret Service detained a woman who jumped over a security barrier surrounding the White House. She apparently intended to scale the north fence bordering the White House grounds, the Secret Service said then. Two similar incidents took place in March 2017. On March 10, a man identified as Jonathan T Tran climbed over the White House fence carrying pepper spray and moved around in the gardens and yard for almost 17 minutes before being arrested. Eighteen days later, the Secret Service arrested a man carrying a package and making suspicious remarks near the White House.

Man sets fire to jacket in front of White House

The head of the US Secret Service, which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-homeland-security-chief-kirstjen-nielsen-resigns-208661">guards President Donald Trump</a> and visiting heads of state, is stepping down, the White House said Monday in the administration's latest sign of turbulence.

"United States Secret Service director Randolph 'Tex' Alles... will be leaving shortly and President Trump has selected James M. Murray, a career member of the USSS, to take over as director beginning in May," Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

No reason was given for Alles' sudden departure. However, the former Marine general quickly denied that he had been pushed out.

"No doubt you have seen media reports regarding my 'firing,'" he said in a statement. "I assure you that this is not the case, and in fact was told weeks ago by the Administration that transitions in leadership should be expected across the Department of Homeland Security."

This appeared aimed at shooting down speculation in the US media that Alles may have been axed in connection to a security incident in March at Trump's Florida golf club and weekend retreat.

In the unusual episode, an unauthorized woman got past security carrying Chinese passports and numerous electronic devices, including phones and a thumb drive allegedly found to contain malware.

Other reports said Alles could have lost his job due to some twist in the reportedly often heated internal political battles over White House staffing.

On Sunday, Trump announced via tweet the departure of Homeland Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who has spearheaded his controversial policies on trying to stop illegal immigrants and asylum seekers from entering the United States.

Trump said that US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan will be acting secretary.

The Secret Service's main job is to provide security for the president and vice president and their families, as well as former presidents and visiting heads of state. It also coordinates the securing of buildings such as the White House and foreign embassies.

The head of the US Secret Service, which guards President Donald Trump and visiting heads of state, is stepping down, the White House said Monday in the administration's latest sign of turbulence.

The head of the US Secret Service, which guards President Donald Trump and visiting heads of state, is stepping down, the White House said Monday in the administration's latest sign of turbulence. "United States Secret Service director Randolph 'Tex' Alles... will be leaving shortly and President Trump has selected James M. Murray, a career member of the USSS, to take over as director beginning in May," Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. No reason was given for Alles' sudden departure. However, the former Marine general quickly denied that he had been pushed out. "No doubt you have seen media reports regarding my 'firing,'" he said in a statement. "I assure you that this is not the case, and in fact was told weeks ago by the Administration that transitions in leadership should be expected across the Department of Homeland Security." This appeared aimed at shooting down speculation in the US media that Alles may have been axed in connection to a security incident in March at Trump's Florida golf club and weekend retreat. In the unusual episode, an unauthorized woman got past security carrying Chinese passports and numerous electronic devices, including phones and a thumb drive allegedly found to contain malware. Other reports said Alles could have lost his job due to some twist in the reportedly often heated internal political battles over White House staffing. On Sunday, Trump announced via tweet the departure of Homeland Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who has spearheaded his controversial policies on trying to stop illegal immigrants and asylum seekers from entering the United States. Trump said that US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan will be acting secretary. The Secret Service's main job is to provide security for the president and vice president and their families, as well as former presidents and visiting heads of state. It also coordinates the securing of buildings such as the White House and foreign embassies.

US Secret Service director Randolph Alles to step down: White House

Hundreds of people took to streets outside the White House here on Sunday to protest against decades of atrocities inflicted by Pakistan on various religious minority groups.

Expressing anger overexploitation, several oppressed ethnic groups from the current geographical boundaries of Pakistan demanded absolute freedom from the clutches of the country.

The Mohajirs, Balochs, Gilgit-Baltistanis, Pashtuns and other religious minorities collectively demanded a separate land by exercising their Right to Self Determination.

Rehan Ibadat, the central organiser of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) USA told ANI, "The Pakistani military establishment has meted out a lot of injustice to its minorities. Every day there are reports of an indefinite number of cases related to killings and disappearances of our people. So, we are here to raise our voice in front of the White House and other human rights organisations. We want them to help the minorities and others oppressed in Pakistan.

We are asking for the right of self-determination. We need freedom from all such injustices in Pakistan."

The party leader accused that Pakistan is hell-bent on destroying their identity and has been propagating a narrative that suits its oppressive agenda in the region.

When asked whether the military establishment in Pakistan ever took any action against the jihadi groups, especially keeping in mind the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, Rehan said, "No, they won't take any action ever because jihadi groups are being created by them. They are the greatest assets of the Pakistani military. They have supported and enfolded them under their protection."

Rehan further noted that Pakistan and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has a long history of nurturing terrorist organisations, providing safe havens and training militants and banned religious outfits in the northern mountainous region, creating a situation of terror and unrest inside and outside of Pakistan, mainly in neighbouring countries like India, Afghanistan, and Iran.

The minorities of Pakistan believe that the establishment in Pakistan would never take any action against jihadi groups and will continue to mislead the international community.

"Pakistani establishment has been misleading the international community because of the money they receive. The aid provided to Pakistan from various international bodies and the United States is not being channelised for the right purpose. It is used solely for one purpose and that is terrorism. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the aid," the MQM leader said.

Nabibash Baloch, who is associated with the Baloch National Movement (BNM), told ANI: "Injustice is the reason behind the rally. People have been compelled to protest against injustice; we have been tired of it. We were not a part of Pakistan. We were a separate country. After Pakistan was created they forcefully occupied Balochistan."

Talking about the primacy of the army's role in Pakistan, Baloch said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s talk of bringing peace to the region is only an eye-wash to the international community: "Pakistani army has been controlling the country since the day it was born. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is another puppet. He has no power. He can't say anything. He can't do anything. The Pakistani army has written a script for them and Khan is only carrying out their instructions."

Baloch further asserted that the minorities in Pakistan have been deprived of basic human rights as well as constitutional rights by the government of Pakistan.

The protestors said that the minority groups in Pakistan continue to suffer the worst form of genocide. The voices of those demanding their rights are muzzled using brute force.

Hundreds of people took to streets outside the White House here on Sunday to protest against decades of atrocities inflicted by Pakistan on various religious minority groups.

Hundreds of people took to streets outside the White House here on Sunday to protest against decades of atrocities inflicted by Pakistan on various religious minority groups. Expressing anger overexploitation, several oppressed ethnic groups from the current geographical boundaries of Pakistan demanded absolute freedom from the clutches of the country. The Mohajirs, Balochs, Gilgit-Baltistanis, Pashtuns and other religious minorities collectively demanded a separate land by exercising their Right to Self Determination. Rehan Ibadat, the central organiser of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) USA told ANI, "The Pakistani military establishment has meted out a lot of injustice to its minorities. Every day there are reports of an indefinite number of cases related to killings and disappearances of our people. So, we are here to raise our voice in front of the White House and other human rights organisations. We want them to help the minorities and others oppressed in Pakistan. We are asking for the right of self-determination. We need freedom from all such injustices in Pakistan." The party leader accused that Pakistan is hell-bent on destroying their identity and has been propagating a narrative that suits its oppressive agenda in the region. When asked whether the military establishment in Pakistan ever took any action against the jihadi groups, especially keeping in mind the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, Rehan said, "No, they won't take any action ever because jihadi groups are being created by them. They are the greatest assets of the Pakistani military. They have supported and enfolded them under their protection." Rehan further noted that Pakistan and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has a long history of nurturing terrorist organisations, providing safe havens and training militants and banned religious outfits in the northern mountainous region, creating a situation of terror and unrest inside and outside of Pakistan, mainly in neighbouring countries like India, Afghanistan, and Iran. The minorities of Pakistan believe that the establishment in Pakistan would never take any action against jihadi groups and will continue to mislead the international community. "Pakistani establishment has been misleading the international community because of the money they receive. The aid provided to Pakistan from various international bodies and the United States is not being channelised for the right purpose. It is used solely for one purpose and that is terrorism. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the aid," the MQM leader said. Nabibash Baloch, who is associated with the Baloch National Movement (BNM), told ANI: "Injustice is the reason behind the rally. People have been compelled to protest against injustice; we have been tired of it. We were not a part of Pakistan. We were a separate country. After Pakistan was created they forcefully occupied Balochistan." Talking about the primacy of the army's role in Pakistan, Baloch said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s talk of bringing peace to the region is only an eye-wash to the international community: "Pakistani army has been controlling the country since the day it was born. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is another puppet. He has no power. He can't say anything. He can't do anything. The Pakistani army has written a script for them and Khan is only carrying out their instructions." Baloch further asserted that the minorities in Pakistan have been deprived of basic human rights as well as constitutional rights by the government of Pakistan. The protestors said that the minority groups in Pakistan continue to suffer the worst form of genocide. The voices of those demanding their rights are muzzled using brute force.

Mohajirs, Balochs, Pashtuns stage anti-Pakistan protests outside White House

Anti-Pakistan protests outside White House

The Democratic head of a powerful <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/congressional-committee-to-investigate-ivanka-trumps-private-email-use-for-work-178467&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiutsKs4LXhAhWb8HMBHV5VDLAQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1x1xCPrH9_fve1yZ8cbc-W">US House committee</a> asked the Internal Revenue Service for six years of President Donald Trump's<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-panel-seeks-to-depose-trump-tax-ethics-attorneys-200116&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjp0pfG4LXhAhWU7nMBHUkECh4QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw14Z3EL5Xu-e7spe1oEwshh"> personal and business tax returns</a> on Wednesday, in a long-awaited move widely expected to lead to a long court battle with the White House.

The request, in a letter from Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, is viewed by Democrats in the House of Representatives as a vital first step toward oversight of Trump's income taxes and business network, which some lawmakers believe could be rife with conflicts of interest and potential tax law violations.

"It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials. To maintain trust in our democracy, the American people must be assured that their government is operating properly, as laws intend," Neal said in a statement.

IRS and US Treasury officials were not immediately available for comment.

Trump defied decades of precedent as a presidential candidate by refusing to release the tax documents and has continued to keep them under wraps as president, saying his returns were "under audit" by the IRS.

Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen recently testified in Congress that he did not believe the president was being audited but may have used the audit claim to avoid the scrutiny that could lead to an audit and IRS<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-taxpayers-face-bitter-surprise-after-trumps-tax-cuts-197279&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiqlprl4LXhAhX98HMBHUXGDvsQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Tkt9L9VzMU6n_OXcUVmTy"> tax penalties</a>.

Trump was dismissive of the request but continued to make the audit argument in comments to reporters during a meeting with US military leaders on Wednesday.

"Is that all?" the president asked when told Democrats wanted to see six years of his returns.

"Usually it's 10, so I guess they're giving up," he said. "I've been under audit for many years because the numbers are big and I guess when you have a name, you're audited. But until such time as I'm not under audit, I would not be inclined to do that."

Neal based his request on his committee's oversight jurisdiction of the IRS, specifically its alleged audits of Trump and the extent to which the agency has enforced the tax laws against the president.

OVERSIGHT PRESSURE

Congressional Republicans oppose Neal's effort, saying such a move sets a dangerous precedent by turning the confidential tax documents of a US citizen into a political weapon.

"This particular request is an abuse of the tax-writing committees' statutory authority and violates the intent and safeguards of ... the Internal Revenue Code,” Representative <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/uspresident-donald-trump-says-he-will-propose-new-tax-cuts-prior-to-november-139008&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwig94v54LXhAhUDjuYKHcITBGgQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mdVmhJaOJy4aVnQa16r2u">Kevin Brady</a>, the committee's top Republican, said in a statement.

Independent analysts welcomed the move.

"The Ways and Means Committee's strongest oversight ability is making sure the IRS is operating properly," said Steve Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Centre think tank in Washington.

It was the third time this week a Democratic-led House committee exerted oversight pressure on Trump. Earlier on Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee authorized its chairman to subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full investigation report on Russia's role in the 2016 US election.

The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed a former White House security chief on Tuesday.

Neal's committee initially planned to request only Trump's personal tax returns. But some Democrats and independent analysts pressed for them to include business returns to better gauge the president's activity in the private sector.

The request includes returns for eight entities: Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, DJT Holdings LLC, DJT Holdings Managing Member LLC, DTTM Operations LLC, DTTM Operations Managing Member Corp, LFB Acquisition Member Corp, LFB Acquisition LLC and Trump National Golf Club.

A Democratic aide said the committee selected a manageable number of business entities that provide a vital window on Trump's business activity.

Although Trump has never released his returns, the New York Times last year cited a "vast trove" of returns and financial records saying it showed he engaged in tax schemes including cases of fraud in which he and his siblings helped their parents dodge millions of dollars in taxes. The White House called the report misleading.

The Democratic head of a powerful US House committee asked the Internal Revenue Service for six years of President Donald Trump's personal and business tax returns on Wednesday, in a long-awaited move widely expected to lead to a long court battle with the White House.

The Democratic head of a powerful US House committee asked the Internal Revenue Service for six years of President Donald Trump's personal and business tax returns on Wednesday, in a long-awaited move widely expected to lead to a long court battle with the White House. The request, in a letter from Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, is viewed by Democrats in the House of Representatives as a vital first step toward oversight of Trump's income taxes and business network, which some lawmakers believe could be rife with conflicts of interest and potential tax law violations. "It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials. To maintain trust in our democracy, the American people must be assured that their government is operating properly, as laws intend," Neal said in a statement. IRS and US Treasury officials were not immediately available for comment. Trump defied decades of precedent as a presidential candidate by refusing to release the tax documents and has continued to keep them under wraps as president, saying his returns were "under audit" by the IRS. Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen recently testified in Congress that he did not believe the president was being audited but may have used the audit claim to avoid the scrutiny that could lead to an audit and IRS tax penalties. Trump was dismissive of the request but continued to make the audit argument in comments to reporters during a meeting with US military leaders on Wednesday. "Is that all?" the president asked when told Democrats wanted to see six years of his returns. "Usually it's 10, so I guess they're giving up," he said. "I've been under audit for many years because the numbers are big and I guess when you have a name, you're audited. But until such time as I'm not under audit, I would not be inclined to do that." Neal based his request on his committee's oversight jurisdiction of the IRS, specifically its alleged audits of Trump and the extent to which the agency has enforced the tax laws against the president. OVERSIGHT PRESSURE Congressional Republicans oppose Neal's effort, saying such a move sets a dangerous precedent by turning the confidential tax documents of a US citizen into a political weapon. "This particular request is an abuse of the tax-writing committees' statutory authority and violates the intent and safeguards of ... the Internal Revenue Code,” Representative Kevin Brady, the committee's top Republican, said in a statement. Independent analysts welcomed the move. "The Ways and Means Committee's strongest oversight ability is making sure the IRS is operating properly," said Steve Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Centre think tank in Washington. It was the third time this week a Democratic-led House committee exerted oversight pressure on Trump. Earlier on Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee authorized its chairman to subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full investigation report on Russia's role in the 2016 US election. The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed a former White House security chief on Tuesday. Neal's committee initially planned to request only Trump's personal tax returns. But some Democrats and independent analysts pressed for them to include business returns to better gauge the president's activity in the private sector. The request includes returns for eight entities: Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, DJT Holdings LLC, DJT Holdings Managing Member LLC, DTTM Operations LLC, DTTM Operations Managing Member Corp, LFB Acquisition Member Corp, LFB Acquisition LLC and Trump National Golf Club. A Democratic aide said the committee selected a manageable number of business entities that provide a vital window on Trump's business activity. Although Trump has never released his returns, the New York Times last year cited a "vast trove" of returns and financial records saying it showed he engaged in tax schemes including cases of fraud in which he and his siblings helped their parents dodge millions of dollars in taxes. The White House called the report misleading.

US House committee seeks Trump tax returns from IRS

President <a href="https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&amp;ai=DChcSEwjr9vfW1bXhAhXFHCsKHdTOAysYABAAGgJzZg&amp;sig=AOD64_3iM9q50Huq9d4W92Y2X1Yd4qT8YQ&amp;adurl=&amp;q=&amp;nb=0&amp;res_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wionews.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DTrade%2Btalks%2Bbetween%2Bthe%2BUnited%2BStates%2Band%2BChina%2B&amp;rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wionews.com%2F&amp;nm=12&amp;nx=430&amp;ny=13&amp;is=1202x105&amp;clkt=20&amp;bg=!EhGlEQlEFGBdG9h9VrwCAAAALFIAAAARmQFtJ1BE-hTq7AQejpu8uUOsXzV7EqbgOGioj0lzBrI21i0JSvzA9hyaSxnaY9-DDlocsOM4BuVuJPYAvEml0LFGXwetJNMi5XMlZIaxLMJFx_feByFvCOFrZZxua_svpJYUDYehCRhO3WtVP_nHdw3LmlAwhk0XkRsCCMJAAzxkdsJUOvHJoQhm6kRGGZRbpSdhVNdy_O2zZdUKbo7fPWt5HYmrQSAKL5CTcp9ssCwSvhZtLEBojgmCjPrNG-cksEhHwopEnSWZ3444FvgJ6SoUobCqI2R17uJ9BgSYuTt_V06VkDxwM57mIipvL-NEd5mbjk83VpQ90j50wkMxo6velR_854KMAXbELPgrlnudETNBZj0MBVrdA_lIRPqm0MSnRnPMSz3uy4aRUHbOQfjmpkPGnzkEMQJwPNJtoY_pYUR9qw5bxpw32zaNRtCuYGI_oAAwAG2GKRjLT3jsk7ahju-rm8LJIj7X6MdiYTo">Donald Trump</a> is set to meet with Chinese Vice Premier <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-china-open-trade-talks-in-beijing-197284&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiw1Lfj1bXhAhU26XMBHZs2DRkQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2obpWY6kbNmqwi0SyUEZzI">Liu He</a> on Thursday, officials said, signalling that a deal to end a<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-team-has-no-plan-to-go-to-china-for-trade-talks-official-202115&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjByt_w1bXhAhUzg-YKHTdPAMUQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3AdFL3cS9Uk-sOMu8jIh7t"> tariff battle </a>between the two countries may be close.

Trump will meet Liu, who is also China's top trade negotiator, in the afternoon at the<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/white-houses-kudlow-says-us-china-talks-making-progress-could-extend-207811&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiMwoaR1rXhAhWB_XMBHW_SDlQQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Cl3Dj3QFPadw60YxYvAcC"> White House</a>, according to an official scheduling note from the president's office.

US and Chinese negotiators are working to find a binding agreement to address Trump's complaints about years of unfair treatment of US companies by China, which would allow a rollback of the tariffs hitting businesses in both countries.

US officials say that China has been using unfair trade practices for years by heavily subsidizing its companies while snatching the technological know-how of American firms.

On March 29, Trump said that negotiations to end the bruising tariffs battle with Beijing were going "very well," but reiterated that he will only accept a "great deal."

Trump said that US and Chinese negotiators were close to a deal, but US officials, however, played down expectations of an imminent agreement.

The research "provides evidence that healthy cells in mammals can also efficiently repopulate adult tissues, replacing unfit or damaged cells," wrote professors Ganna Bilousova and James DeGregori.

And they said the research offered "proof-of-principle" that the two chemical compounds could combat ageing.

"Future studies are needed to determine the mechanisms of cell competition in other tissues, and to identify compounds capable of reversing ageing in other organs," they said.

Nishimura told AFP that the work could eventually lead to products like creams or tablets that could stop skin deterioration and promote repair.

"We are going to collaborate with the pharmaceutical or cosmetic companies for the clinical use of the chemicals," she said.

She said additional research would investigate whether the same process might also be at work in other parts of the body that have so-called epithelial cells as skin does.

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Thursday, officials said, signalling that a deal to end a tariff battle between the two countries may be close.

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Thursday, officials said, signalling that a deal to end a tariff battle between the two countries may be close. Trump will meet Liu, who is also China's top trade negotiator, in the afternoon at the White House, according to an official scheduling note from the president's office. US and Chinese negotiators are working to find a binding agreement to address Trump's complaints about years of unfair treatment of US companies by China, which would allow a rollback of the tariffs hitting businesses in both countries. US officials say that China has been using unfair trade practices for years by heavily subsidizing its companies while snatching the technological know-how of American firms. On March 29, Trump said that negotiations to end the bruising tariffs battle with Beijing were going "very well," but reiterated that he will only accept a "great deal." Trump said that US and Chinese negotiators were close to a deal, but US officials, however, played down expectations of an imminent agreement. The research "provides evidence that healthy cells in mammals can also efficiently repopulate adult tissues, replacing unfit or damaged cells," wrote professors Ganna Bilousova and James DeGregori. And they said the research offered "proof-of-principle" that the two chemical compounds could combat ageing. "Future studies are needed to determine the mechanisms of cell competition in other tissues, and to identify compounds capable of reversing ageing in other organs," they said. Nishimura told AFP that the work could eventually lead to products like creams or tablets that could stop skin deterioration and promote repair. "We are going to collaborate with the pharmaceutical or cosmetic companies for the clinical use of the chemicals," she said. She said additional research would investigate whether the same process might also be at work in other parts of the body that have so-called epithelial cells as skin does.

Trump to meet China's top trade negotiator in White House

Some 25 White House officials including top advisors of President Donald Trump were given security clearances despite staff recommendations against it, a whistleblower has told Congress.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a letter Monday that White House security official Tricia Newbold detailed to his panel "grave breaches of national security at the highest levels of the Trump Administration."

None of the 25 were named, but in his letter, addressed to White House counsel Pat Cipollone, Cummings requested information relating to clearances for National Security Advisor John Bolton, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-seeks-top-security-clearances-for-his-kids-8815">Trump daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner</a>, and several other top security officials.

He also said he would subpoena Carl Kline, Newbold's former superior at the White House Personnel Security Office, to testify to the committee on the clearances, along with other officials.

Newbold told the committee that the Personnel Security Office recommended against security clearances — which allow access to top secret materials — for the 25, Cummings said.

Two of them were top-level officials in national security.

Newbold told the committee that the recommendations for denial were for serious questions involving foreign influence, conflicts of interest, personal conduct issues, financial problems, drug use, and criminal acts.

But the 18-year veteran of the White House said they were pressured to change their recommendations and overruled by Kline and higher-ups.

And when she pressed the issues, Kline and others retaliated against her, she said, including suspending her without pay for two weeks in early February.

"I would not be doing a service to myself, my country, or my children if I sat back knowing that the issues that we have could impact national security," Newbold told the committee.

"I want it known that this is a systematic... issue," she said.

Interim clearances questioned 
Questions about security clearances have been raised ever since Trump took office on January 20, 2017.

Flynn was forced out of the White House within weeks after questions were raised about his private discussions with Russia's US ambassador, as well as other foreign business dealings.

Kushner, who with his wife were made top presidential advisors, also raised warning lights due to his overseas business ties and a looming debt problem that was a potential conflict of interest.

Last year the White House was also questioned about the security clearance granted to Trump aide Rob Porter despite domestic abuse allegations from two ex-wives.

In testimony to the committee, Newbold described the Trump White House as far more lax on security issues that previous presidents she had worked for.

An abnormally large number of staffers had interim security clearances for long periods, including several for the highest level of secrecy classification that granted them access to "sensitive compartmented information," or SCI.

Other government agencies, she said, questioned why the White House had so many individuals with interim SCI clearances.

A number of those individuals, she told the committee, eventually were denied permanent clearances, including two high-level officials. But in the meantime they had gained access to some of the most restricted intelligence the government has.

Some 25 White House officials including top advisors of President Donald Trump were given security clearances despite staff recommendations against it, a whistleblower has told Congress.

Some 25 White House officials including top advisors of President Donald Trump were given security clearances despite staff recommendations against it, a whistleblower has told Congress. House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a letter Monday that White House security official Tricia Newbold detailed to his panel "grave breaches of national security at the highest levels of the Trump Administration." None of the 25 were named, but in his letter, addressed to White House counsel Pat Cipollone, Cummings requested information relating to clearances for National Security Advisor John Bolton, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Trump daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and several other top security officials. He also said he would subpoena Carl Kline, Newbold's former superior at the White House Personnel Security Office, to testify to the committee on the clearances, along with other officials. Newbold told the committee that the Personnel Security Office recommended against security clearances — which allow access to top secret materials — for the 25, Cummings said. Two of them were top-level officials in national security. Newbold told the committee that the recommendations for denial were for serious questions involving foreign influence, conflicts of interest, personal conduct issues, financial problems, drug use, and criminal acts. But the 18-year veteran of the White House said they were pressured to change their recommendations and overruled by Kline and higher-ups. And when she pressed the issues, Kline and others retaliated against her, she said, including suspending her without pay for two weeks in early February. "I would not be doing a service to myself, my country, or my children if I sat back knowing that the issues that we have could impact national security," Newbold told the committee. "I want it known that this is a systematic... issue," she said. Interim clearances questioned Questions about security clearances have been raised ever since Trump took office on January 20, 2017. Flynn was forced out of the White House within weeks after questions were raised about his private discussions with Russia's US ambassador, as well as other foreign business dealings. Kushner, who with his wife were made top presidential advisors, also raised warning lights due to his overseas business ties and a looming debt problem that was a potential conflict of interest. Last year the White House was also questioned about the security clearance granted to Trump aide Rob Porter despite domestic abuse allegations from two ex-wives. In testimony to the committee, Newbold described the Trump White House as far more lax on security issues that previous presidents she had worked for. An abnormally large number of staffers had interim security clearances for long periods, including several for the highest level of secrecy classification that granted them access to "sensitive compartmented information," or SCI. Other government agencies, she said, questioned why the White House had so many individuals with interim SCI clearances. A number of those individuals, she told the committee, eventually were denied permanent clearances, including two high-level officials. But in the meantime they had gained access to some of the most restricted intelligence the government has.

'Grave breaches' in Trump White House security clearances: Whistleblower to Congress

President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday took a step back from its threat to close the southern US border, saying Mexico had been taking a greater responsibility for dealing with the immigration problem.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the Trump administration had seen Mexico "stepping up and taking a greater sense of responsibility" for dealing with the immigration flows that US&nbsp;officials say are overwhelming ports of entry along the border.

"They have started to do a significant amount more. We’ve seen them take a larger number of individuals" and hold those who have asylum claims in Mexico while they are being processed in the United States, Sanders told reporters at the White House.

"We’ve also seen them stop more people from coming across the border so that they aren’t even entering into the United States. So those two things are certainly helpful and we’d like to see them continue," Sanders said.

Trump threatened on Friday to close the border with this week unless Mexico took steps to stop immigrants from reaching the United States illegally. Closing the border with Mexico could potentially disrupt millions of legal border crossings and billions of dollars in trade.

Sanders said the administration was "looking at all options when it comes to closing the different ports of entry, what that looks like and what the impacts would be."

She told Fox News the administration wanted Mexico to continue working to address the issue so "we aren't forced to take drastic action like closing the ports of entry at our border." 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday took a step back from its threat to close the southern US border, saying Mexico had been taking a greater responsibility for dealing with the immigration problem.

President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday took a step back from its threat to close the southern US border, saying Mexico had been taking a greater responsibility for dealing with the immigration problem. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the Trump administration had seen Mexico "stepping up and taking a greater sense of responsibility" for dealing with the immigration flows that US officials say are overwhelming ports of entry along the border. "They have started to do a significant amount more. We’ve seen them take a larger number of individuals" and hold those who have asylum claims in Mexico while they are being processed in the United States, Sanders told reporters at the White House. "We’ve also seen them stop more people from coming across the border so that they aren’t even entering into the United States. So those two things are certainly helpful and we’d like to see them continue," Sanders said. Trump threatened on Friday to close the border with this week unless Mexico took steps to stop immigrants from reaching the United States illegally. Closing the border with Mexico could potentially disrupt millions of legal border crossings and billions of dollars in trade. Sanders said the administration was "looking at all options when it comes to closing the different ports of entry, what that looks like and what the impacts would be." She told Fox News the administration wanted Mexico to continue working to address the issue so "we aren't forced to take drastic action like closing the ports of entry at our border."

White House backs down after threatening to close border with Mexico

The White House on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cuts-aid-for-some-central-american-countries-over-migrants-206859">decision to cut off aid to three small Central American countries</a>, insisting they weren't doing enough to stop the flow of migrants to the United States.

Trump announced the aid cut-off to El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala last week and threatened once again to close the US border with Mexico in response to the migrant surge.

"If we're going to give these countries hundreds of millions of dollars, we would like them to do more," White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on CNN's "State of the Union."

The aid has gone to fund programs to combat gangs and foster development in the three countries, with the aim of addressing the root causes of the mass migration.

"If it's working so well, why are the people still coming? &nbsp;Why are these historic numbers -- again, 100,000 people will cross the border this month alone," Mulvaney said.

"It's not working well enough to help us solve our border crisis. &nbsp;And that's what the president's focused on," he said.

Critics warned, however, that US funding cuts are likely to worsen conditions, possibly adding to the migrant flow. And they said Trump's threat to close the border with Mexico if carried out, would hurt the US economy.

Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, dismissed the threat to close the border as "a totally unrealistic boast" by Trump.

"We need to focus on what's happening in Central America where three countries are disassembling before our eyes and people are desperately coming to the United States. The president cutting off aid to these countries will not solve this problem," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway, speaking on "Fox News Sunday," insisted Trump's threat to close the border "certainly isn't a bluff."

On Saturday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that, at the president's direction, the State Department was ending its foreign assistance programs for the three Central American countries for 2017 and 2018.

The State Department did not say how much unspent money was involved in the step, which could be largely symbolic.

In comments to reporters Friday, Trump suggested as much as $500 million is at stake.

"We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and we're not paying them anymore because they haven't done a thing."

In response to the aid cuts, Honduras proposed Sunday that it, Guatemala and El Salvador consider undertaking joint initiatives "to ensure the sovereignty and dignity of each nation" in light of "the contradictory policies of the United States."

The White House on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's decision to cut off aid to three small Central American countries, insisting they weren't doing enough to stop the flow of migrants to the United States.

The White House on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's decision to cut off aid to three small Central American countries, insisting they weren't doing enough to stop the flow of migrants to the United States. Trump announced the aid cut-off to El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala last week and threatened once again to close the US border with Mexico in response to the migrant surge. "If we're going to give these countries hundreds of millions of dollars, we would like them to do more," White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on CNN's "State of the Union." The aid has gone to fund programs to combat gangs and foster development in the three countries, with the aim of addressing the root causes of the mass migration. "If it's working so well, why are the people still coming? Why are these historic numbers -- again, 100,000 people will cross the border this month alone," Mulvaney said. "It's not working well enough to help us solve our border crisis. And that's what the president's focused on," he said. Critics warned, however, that US funding cuts are likely to worsen conditions, possibly adding to the migrant flow. And they said Trump's threat to close the border with Mexico if carried out, would hurt the US economy. Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, dismissed the threat to close the border as "a totally unrealistic boast" by Trump. "We need to focus on what's happening in Central America where three countries are disassembling before our eyes and people are desperately coming to the United States. The president cutting off aid to these countries will not solve this problem," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press." White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway, speaking on "Fox News Sunday," insisted Trump's threat to close the border "certainly isn't a bluff." On Saturday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that, at the president's direction, the State Department was ending its foreign assistance programs for the three Central American countries for 2017 and 2018. The State Department did not say how much unspent money was involved in the step, which could be largely symbolic. In comments to reporters Friday, Trump suggested as much as $500 million is at stake. "We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and we're not paying them anymore because they haven't done a thing." In response to the aid cuts, Honduras proposed Sunday that it, Guatemala and El Salvador consider undertaking joint initiatives "to ensure the sovereignty and dignity of each nation" in light of "the contradictory policies of the United States."

White House defends aid cuts to Central America

President Donald Trump will host Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the White House on April 9 for talks on strengthening their strategic partnership and working on shared priorities in the Middle East, the White House said on Friday.

The White House said in a statement the two leaders would discuss "building on our robust military, economic and counterterrorism cooperation" as well as regional economic integration and "Egypt’s longstanding role as a lynchpin of regional stability."

The visit by al Sisi comes at a time of renewed tensions between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza after a rocket fired from the coastal enclave wounded seven Israelis near Tel Aviv.

Israel responded with air strikes and warnings from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was prepared to wage a broad military campaign in Gaza if needed.

Trump on Monday signed a decree recognizing Israel`s annexation of the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 war. The decision, which was criticised by Arab states, came as Israel gears up for elections on April 9.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Golan decision would help resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians by removing uncertainty. White House advisers Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt have been working to put together a peace proposal to address the conflict.

President Donald Trump will host Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the White House on April 9 for talks on strengthening their strategic partnership and working on shared priorities in the Middle East, the White House said on Friday.

President Donald Trump will host Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the White House on April 9 for talks on strengthening their strategic partnership and working on shared priorities in the Middle East, the White House said on Friday. The White House said in a statement the two leaders would discuss "building on our robust military, economic and counterterrorism cooperation" as well as regional economic integration and "Egypt’s longstanding role as a lynchpin of regional stability." The visit by al Sisi comes at a time of renewed tensions between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza after a rocket fired from the coastal enclave wounded seven Israelis near Tel Aviv. Israel responded with air strikes and warnings from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was prepared to wage a broad military campaign in Gaza if needed. Trump on Monday signed a decree recognizing Israel`s annexation of the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 war. The decision, which was criticised by Arab states, came as Israel gears up for elections on April 9. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Golan decision would help resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians by removing uncertainty. White House advisers Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt have been working to put together a peace proposal to address the conflict.

Trump to host Egypt's Sisi on April 9: White House

President Donald Trump said Monday that Robert Mueller, head of the two-year probe into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, acted honourably, but he also threatened retaliation against his foes.

"Yes he did," Trump said after Mueller -- whom he often bitterly criticised during the investigation -- declared there was no evidence of collusion by Trump or his campaign.

Trump, who feels vindicated by the dropping of collusion allegations, said he would favour publication of the wider Mueller report. So far, only a short summary has been released.

"Up to the attorney general. Wouldn't bother me at all," he said at the White House.

But Trump blasted the investigation as "a false narrative, it was a terrible thing."

"We can never let this happen to another president again," he said. "Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never, ever let this happen to another president again."

Adding to suggestions that the White House would like to retaliate now that the damaging investigation is over, Trump said, "there are people out there who have done very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country."

"We've gone through a period of really bad things happening -- those people will certainly be looked at," he said.

President Donald Trump said Monday that Robert Mueller, head of the two-year probe into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, acted honourably, but he also threatened retaliation against his foes.

President Donald Trump said Monday that Robert Mueller, head of the two-year probe into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, acted honourably, but he also threatened retaliation against his foes. "Yes he did," Trump said after Mueller -- whom he often bitterly criticised during the investigation -- declared there was no evidence of collusion by Trump or his campaign. Trump, who feels vindicated by the dropping of collusion allegations, said he would favour publication of the wider Mueller report. So far, only a short summary has been released. "Up to the attorney general. Wouldn't bother me at all," he said at the White House. But Trump blasted the investigation as "a false narrative, it was a terrible thing." "We can never let this happen to another president again," he said. "Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never, ever let this happen to another president again." Adding to suggestions that the White House would like to retaliate now that the damaging investigation is over, Trump said, "there are people out there who have done very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country." "We've gone through a period of really bad things happening -- those people will certainly be looked at," he said.

Trump says Russia probe head Robert Mueller acted honourably, but warns of retaliation

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