Republican lawmakers,encouraged by Donald Trump to get tougher in fighting Democrats’ attempts to impeach him, disrupted the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry and prevented a Pentagon official from testifying. The Republicans stormed into a hearing room where Laura Cooper, the U.S. defense official who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters, was due to testify behind closed doors and began yelling, lawmakers and aides said.
Kurdish forces have begun withdrawing from areas near the Turkish frontier in Syria, Russia’s deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying, following a deal between Moscow and Ankara that ended Turkey’s cross-border military offensive.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that he was ready for dialogue with protesters to find the best solution for saving the country from financial collapse and said it was vital to review the current government.
Pakistan’s main opposition party said the health of its leader, jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was deteriorating and the government was victimising him by delaying treatment as part of a campaign against him and his family.
