THE United States president’s administration has barred the US European Union ambassador from appearing before a House panel conducting the impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump.
A statement from Gordon Sondland’s lawyer said: “Ambassador Sondland is profoundly disappointed that he will not be able to testify.
“Ambassador Sondland travelled to Washington from Brussels in order to prepare for his testimony and to be available to answer the committee’s questions.”
Trump gave his version of why the envoy was blocked, tweeting he “would love to send Ambassador Sondland” to testify, “but unfortunately he would be testifying before a totally compromised kangaroo court”.
Intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff (pictured) said the barring was “additional strong evidence” of obstruction of Congress, which could become an article of impeachment.
A whistleblower’s complaint and text messages released by another envoy portray Sondland as a potentially important witness to allegations that the Republican president sought to dig up dirt on a Democratic rival in the name of foreign policy.
HONG Kong leader Carrie Lam has warned that the Chinese military could step in if an uprising for democratic reforms that has rocked the city for months “becomes so bad” but reiterated the government “should find the solution ourselves”.
Lam (pictured) urged foreign critics to accept that the four months of protests marked by escalating violence were no longer “a peaceful movement for democracy”.
She said seeking Chinese intervention was provided for under Hong Kong’s constitution but that she cannot reveal under what circumstances she will do so.
IN France, president Emmanuel Macron (pictured) led a national tribute to the police employees killed in last week’s Paris knife attack, calling them “victims of Islamic terrorism”.
At the police headquarters where they were killed, he paid homage to the three officers and one administrator killed by their colleague.
French prosecutors are investigating the killings as a potential act of terrorism as it transpired the knifeman likely had links with members of an ultra-conservative Islamic movement.
AND finally, three scientists have won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for their contribution to the understanding of the evolution of the universe and “Earth’s place in the cosmos”.
James Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz will receive their nine-million kronor cash award (£742,864), gold medal and diploma in Sweden in December.
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