17:15

This is from Mark Warner, a Democratic senator in the US and vice chair of the senate intelligence committee.

Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) .@KimDarroch was an outstanding Ambassador who served his country with honesty and integrity. He was a true friend to the United States, and it’s a shame to see him go.

This counters President Trump’s claim (dismissed as absurd by diplomatic experts) that Kim Darroch was “not liked or well thought of within the US”.

That’s all from me for today.

My colleague Mattha Busby is taking over.