By David Morgan and Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives moved closer on Wednesday to impeaching President Donald Trump as a key House committee began debating formal articles of impeachment that are expected to be brought to the House floor next week.
The House Judiciary Committee was meeting to consider the two articles, which accuse Trump of abusing his power by trying to force Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and of obstructing Congress when lawmakers tried to look into the matter.
Your afternoon headlines
Unique Bladed Missile Used by U.S. Forces for Precise Assassination in Syria
In Afrin, a city in the historic Aleppo region of northern Syria, a leader of the Ahrar al-Asham was killed last week by a modified Hellfire missile along with three associates while traveling in Hyundai sedan.
What makes the AGM-114R9X missile, which is launched from a drone aircraft typically guided by the United States Air Force under orders by the Central Intelligence Agency, so unusual is that it is not equipped with an explosive warhead; instead, it deploys long and sharp steel blades upon impact.
As the U.S. House marches toward impeachment, Senate questions next move
By Andy Sullivan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the U.S. House of Representatives moves closer to impeaching President Donald Trump, larger questions loom in the Senate, where Trump's Republican allies may not give him the extended trial he would like.
Democrats who control the House unveiled formal charges on Tuesday that accuse Trump of abusing his power by trying to force Ukraine to investigate a political rival and obstructing Congress when lawmakers tried to look into the matter.
Trump is fourth U.S. president to face impeachment as Democrats unveil charges
By Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives announced impeachment charges against President Donald Trump on Tuesday, making him the fourth president in U.S. history to face a formal effort to remove him from office.
The Democratic-controlled House is almost certain to vote to impeach the president as soon as next week, setting up a trial in the Republican-led Senate early next year, shortly before the presidential election kicks off with primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire.
U.S. slaps sanctions on Myanmar military chief over Rohingya atrocities
By Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four Myanmar military leaders, including the commander-in-chief, in the toughest action taken yet by Washington for alleged human rights abuses against the Rohingya and other minorities.
The sanctions targeted military chief Min Aung Hlaing on the same day that Myanmar's civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, attended the first day hearings at the U.
Islamists attack Somali hotel, police say two militants killed
By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamist Al Shabaab gunmen attacked a hotel in Somalia's capital near the presidential residence on Tuesday and police said they killed two attackers and rescued dozens of people from inside.
The two attackers were killed outside the hotel as they launched the attack, while two others stormed inside, deputy police commissioner General Zakia Hussen said, adding security forces had rescued 82 people, including several officials.
U.S. grounds Saudi pilots, halts military training after base shooting
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon announced on Tuesday it was halting operational training of all Saudi Arabian military personnel in the United States until further notice after a Saudi Air Force lieutenant shot and killed three people last week at a base in Florida.
The decision will have far-reaching impacts on visiting Saudi personnel, including grounding more than 300 Saudi Arabian military aviation students as part of a "safety stand-down," first reported by Reuters earlier on Tuesday.