[Vause:] Welcome back, everybody. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause with the headlines this hour. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he's making a final offer on Brexit. He proposed an alternative to the Irish backstop, keeping the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland open but so far, has plan for an all-Ireland regulatory zone has received a cool response from the E.U. Donald Trump plan lashing out at Democrats, the media, and a whole lot of other people over the growing threat of impeachment. But he's not offering much of a defense for asking Ukraine's president to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter. Aides say the president has not grasped the enormity of the situation. House Democrats plan to subpoena the White House for documents on Friday. So could this be a case of a friend in need is a friend, indeed? Vladimir Putin from Russia defending the U.S. president. Putin thinks that phone call between Trump and the Ukrainian leader was just fine, and Vladimir Putin has even offered a joke in all of this about interfering in next year's U.S. election. Our man in Moscow is Fred Pleitgen.
[Frederik Pleitgen, Cnn Senior International Correspondent:] Tonight, Russian President Vladimir Putin trolling the United States, joking about meddling in the presidential election and saying he'll do it again.
[Vladimir Putin, President Of Russia:] I'll tell you a secret. Yes, of course we'll do it to finally make you happier. Just don't tell anyone.
[Pleitgen:] Putin also backing the demands of some in Washington to see further transcripts of President Donald Trump's interactions with other world leaders, including the Putin summit in Helsinki last year.
[Putin:] When there were attempts to launch a scandal regarding my meeting with Trump in Helsinki, we directly told the administration to just publish it. If somebody wants to know something, just publish it. We don't mind.
[Pleitgen:] But Vladimir Putin also echoing President Trump's talking points on the now-infamous Ukrainian phone call.
[Putin:] They began this impeachment proceeding and always bring up Nixon. Nixon's team was wiretapping their rivals, but this is a completely different situation. Trump was wiretapped. Some anonymous special service staffer leaked this information and, based on what we know from the calls, there was nothing wrong there. Trump asked his colleague to investigate possible corruption schemes of previous administrations.
[Pleitgen:] With the congressional Democrats turning up the heat and polls showing a growing number of Americans supporting impeachment proceedings, the Kremlin has shown President Trump that he can count on Vladimir Putin to be in his corner. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
[Vause:] Another day of deadly violence in Iraq as thousands of demonstrators poured onto Baghdad's streets. Iraqis are protesting the lack of jobs, poor services, corruption. Officials say at least eight people are dead. More than 300 injured during this week's protest. Meanwhile, curfews have been imposed. The Internet has been restricted. Security sources have blocked roads leading into the capital, and the U.N. is calling for calm. The Iraqi government is promising to meet the legitimate demands of the demonstrators. Protestors, though, say that is not enough.
[Unidentified Male:] This is the people's protest. It is not being directed by anyone. These people are all revolting, and they will not stop until the government changes.
[Vause:] The Iraqi defense minister has ordered armed forces to be on high alert. The U.S. embassy in Iraq says it's monitoring these protests closely. North Korea claims to have test-fired a new type of ballistic missile capable of being launched from a submarine. U.S. officials say it has a medium-range. It was actually fired from a launcher on a floating barge early Wednesday, not from underwater, as had been reported. Still, analysts say it crosses the line. And while the U.S. president has downplayed recent short-range missile tests, this one cannot be ignored. Details from CNN's Brian Todd.
[Brian Todd, Cnn Correspondent:] It is the most brazen provocation from Kim Jong-U.N. in years. North Korea's supreme commander seemingly testing President Trump's backbone by test-firing a ballistic missile in the water that is designed to be launched from a submarine.
[Joseph Yun, Former U.s. Special Envoy For North Korea Policy:] I mean, this is way above and beyond, you know? And this is sending a message that we can do these tests any time we want.
[Todd:] It's above and beyond because this time, U.S. officials tell CNN, Kim tested a medium-range missile which can reach targets further away than any of the short-range missiles Kim has tested this year.
[Unidentified Male:] There are tens of thousands of Americans in South Korea, in Japan, military personnel, civilians that are threatened by these missiles. This is a big deal.
[Todd:] Specifically, about 80,000 American troops in South Korea and Japan are in the target range of the missiles Kim has tested this year, tests that violate U.N. resolutions, but that the president has consistently played down.
[Donald Trump , President Of The United States:] He has been doing some short-range missiles, but so does every other country do short- range missiles. Every country is doing it. They're pretty standard fare.
[Todd:] But missile analysts tell CNN, by testing short and now medium- range missiles in recent months, Kim is also advancing the technology for his long-range missiles that could potentially hit the United States. And experts are alarmed over the wrapping up of Kim's submarine- launched missile capability in recent weeks, and the North Koreans' attempts to hide those efforts. Satellite photos have showed new activity at a submarine shipyard, and there are pictures of Kim inspecting an enormous sub under construction, a vessel that experts say will likely carry multiple nuclear-tipped missiles and could give the North Korean dictator the element of surprise against his enemies.
[Unidentified Male:] A land-based missile, you can follow it around and maybe attack it before it can be launched, but not a submarine- launched ballistic missile. A submarine-launched ballistic missile only gives you a minute's warning.
[Todd:] This missile test comes just days before so-called working- level nuclear talks between officials just under Trump and Kim are set to begin. Analysts say that's no coincidence, that Kim is sending a message.
[Yun:] Very much, his message is, I am calling the shots now. You know? And I think he feels that President Trump is weakened, especially with the Ukraine whistleblower affair and they do believe that Trump meets a foreign affairs victory. [on camera]: The White House has expressed, quote, "strong concerns" over the latest North Korean missile test. The State Department is calling on North Korea to refrain from provocations. But will President Trump specifically call out Kim Jong-U.N. for the test the next time they meet or exchange letters? Will the State Department hold North Korean diplomats' feet to the fire over this during the new round of talks? We've pressed both the White House and the State Department on those questions. They haven't commented. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
[Vause:] Officially, it's autumn in the U.S., when temperatures are meant to cool, but here's a real shocker. Temperatures are at record highs, and a number of cities are enduring heat waves. More on this when we come back.