After losing the Islamabad seat in the Senate polls, the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan took a vote of confidence in the parliament. He won the vote but remains on a sticky wicket as he is bracing for yet another electoral challenge on March 12 when Pakistan's Senate will vote to elect the chairperson.&nbsp;

The Opposition has united behind one nominee, Yousaf Raza Gilani and since it enjoys the majority in the Senate, it may very well elect him to the post. As for the vote of confidence on Saturday, Khan arrived in Pakistan's national assembly to test his clout to dispel suggestions that he had lost the support of the majority of his lawmakers. So, he took a trust vote and secured 178 votes, six more than what he needed.&nbsp;

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while announcing the results, said, "Now, I announce the result, 178 members recorded their vote in the favour of resolution, and resolution is passed. Consequently, Imran Khan has obtained the vote of confidence from the national assembly and the command the confidence of the majority of the members of the national assembly as prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan."&nbsp;

So, Khan has won but the fact that he's trying to sell it off as a hard-fought victory is a bit absurd. The result of this vote was a foregone conclusion. Out of the 340 lawmakers in Pakistan's National Assembly, 157 are from his own party PTI, 20 others are from allied parties and there are two independents that support the PTI. Khan had to win the trust vote. This was just a political stunt to divert attention away from the PTI's defeat in Islamabad and to show the control Imran Khan still maintains in the parliament.&nbsp;

Outside the parliament, his goons took care of the rest. Three short videos tell the tale about the dire state of affairs in Pakistani politics.&nbsp;

The first one shows Imran Khan's supporters heckling Opposition leaders. Some of them brought shoes to provoke them and some of them even got into a scuffle with Opposition leaders. In the second video, a shoe is getting tossed at PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal and the third video shows one PTI supporter involved in a physical altercation with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the man in the black waistcoat. He happens to be the former prime minister of Pakistan.&nbsp;

Now, former prime ministers are getting attacked in broad daylight. Forget a vote of confidence, Pakistan needs a vote of conscience and perhaps China feels it can fill that gap.&nbsp;

Chinese representatives in Pakistan are telling people what to do and this is a completely different story. &nbsp;

Zhang Heqing, Beijing's cultural counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, recently tweeted a video of a Chinese girl doing what he called the 'Xinjiang dance'. The caption read, 'Off your hijab, let me see your eyes'. An awful statement to make irrespective of how one views the hijab, it did not go down well with the people of Pakistan. There were a thousand tweets condemning his post. Zhang Heqing had to delete it but it does not change a thing.&nbsp;

Thousands of Uighur women are being subjected to such derogatory treatment on a daily basis as the prime minister of Pakistan feigns total ignorance about the issue. His silence may be keeping China happy but it's not helping Pakistan's economy. Pakistan's debt-GDP ratio has reached 87%, that is 10 per cent more than the ideal ratio. In 2013, this ratio was 63.8% and in 2019, it grew to 86% and now it stands at 87.&nbsp;

Islamabad is borrowing more than it can afford. It is sinking deeper into debt, with no prospects of a decent GDP growth in the coming years. So, Imran Khan may hold as many trust votes as he wants and target as many former prime ministers as he wants and remain silent on the persecution of Muslims elsewhere as he much he likes, it may help him fool the people of Pakistan but he cannot fool the rest of the world.&nbsp;

After losing the Islamabad seat in the Senate polls, the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan took a vote of confidence in the parliament. He won the vote but remains on a sticky wicket as he is bracing for yet another electoral challenge on March 12 when Pakistan's Senate will vote to elect the chairperson.

After losing the Islamabad seat in the Senate polls, the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan took a vote of confidence in the parliament. He won the vote but remains on a sticky wicket as he is bracing for yet another electoral challenge on March 12 when Pakistan's Senate will vote to elect the chairperson. The Opposition has united behind one nominee, Yousaf Raza Gilani and since it enjoys the majority in the Senate, it may very well elect him to the post. As for the vote of confidence on Saturday, Khan arrived in Pakistan's national assembly to test his clout to dispel suggestions that he had lost the support of the majority of his lawmakers. So, he took a trust vote and secured 178 votes, six more than what he needed. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while announcing the results, said, "Now, I announce the result, 178 members recorded their vote in the favour of resolution, and resolution is passed. Consequently, Imran Khan has obtained the vote of confidence from the national assembly and the command the confidence of the majority of the members of the national assembly as prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan." So, Khan has won but the fact that he's trying to sell it off as a hard-fought victory is a bit absurd. The result of this vote was a foregone conclusion. Out of the 340 lawmakers in Pakistan's National Assembly, 157 are from his own party PTI, 20 others are from allied parties and there are two independents that support the PTI. Khan had to win the trust vote. This was just a political stunt to divert attention away from the PTI's defeat in Islamabad and to show the control Imran Khan still maintains in the parliament. Outside the parliament, his goons took care of the rest. Three short videos tell the tale about the dire state of affairs in Pakistani politics. The first one shows Imran Khan's supporters heckling Opposition leaders. Some of them brought shoes to provoke them and some of them even got into a scuffle with Opposition leaders. In the second video, a shoe is getting tossed at PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal and the third video shows one PTI supporter involved in a physical altercation with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the man in the black waistcoat. He happens to be the former prime minister of Pakistan. Now, former prime ministers are getting attacked in broad daylight. Forget a vote of confidence, Pakistan needs a vote of conscience and perhaps China feels it can fill that gap. Chinese representatives in Pakistan are telling people what to do and this is a completely different story. Zhang Heqing, Beijing's cultural counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, recently tweeted a video of a Chinese girl doing what he called the 'Xinjiang dance'. The caption read, 'Off your hijab, let me see your eyes'. An awful statement to make irrespective of how one views the hijab, it did not go down well with the people of Pakistan. There were a thousand tweets condemning his post. Zhang Heqing had to delete it but it does not change a thing. Thousands of Uighur women are being subjected to such derogatory treatment on a daily basis as the prime minister of Pakistan feigns total ignorance about the issue. His silence may be keeping China happy but it's not helping Pakistan's economy. Pakistan's debt-GDP ratio has reached 87%, that is 10 per cent more than the ideal ratio. In 2013, this ratio was 63.8% and in 2019, it grew to 86% and now it stands at 87. Islamabad is borrowing more than it can afford. It is sinking deeper into debt, with no prospects of a decent GDP growth in the coming years. So, Imran Khan may hold as many trust votes as he wants and target as many former prime ministers as he wants and remain silent on the persecution of Muslims elsewhere as he much he likes, it may help him fool the people of Pakistan but he cannot fool the rest of the world.

Pakistani PM's electoral challenges reveal dire state of affairs

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he entered politics after suffering the “beginnings of a midlife crisis” in his mid thirties.

The Prime Minister, now aged 56, said he had chosen to pursue a career as an MP because he wanted to “contribute more”.

"When I was about 35-years-old - long away for you, you don't have to worry about this, it's a long time away - I had the beginnings of a midlife crisis and I knew I had to do something. I thought I had to sort of start to contribute more, and so I went into politics in the end, as well as writing, and it's just followed on from there. There are various things that I want... there were lots of things that I wanted to do and so the thing you want to do now is, I think that the UK is the greatest place in the world. I think it's the greatest place in the world. It's the greatest place to be, it's the greatest place place to grow up, greatest place to raise a family and have a job. But we don't think - I don't think - that opportunity is the same in the whole of the UK. I think that opportunity... I think that talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't, necessarily. So I think our job is to try to spread it. That what we'll do - that's the plan," said Boris Johnson.

Talking about the lockdown in UK, he said that his government would stick to its "cautious" yet "irreversible" plan to end England's coronavirus lockdown, but would not be drawn on whether it could end sooner than the current target of June 21.

Johnson unveiled a four stage plan to gradually ease lockdown on Monday (February 22), with the first part coming into effect on March 8 as children return to schools around the country.

During a visit to a school in northwest England, the 56-year-old was also coy on developments in Scotland, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon faces accusations of breaching the ministerial code.

While speaking to children in the school's cafeteria, Johnson mentioned how a "midlife crisis" in his mid-thirties spurred him to enter the political arena in order to "contribute more."

Before entering parliament in 2001 Johnson had worked as a fulltime journalist.

He has displayed a colourful, sometimes combative, speaking and writing style both as a journalist and as a politician, a trait which has fuelled many controversies during his three decades in the public eye.

(With inputs from agencies)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he entered politics after suffering the “beginnings of a midlife crisis” in his mid thirties. The Prime Minister, now aged 56, said he had chosen to pursue a career as an MP because he wanted to “contribute more”.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he entered politics after suffering the “beginnings of a midlife crisis” in his mid thirties. The Prime Minister, now aged 56, said he had chosen to pursue a career as an MP because he wanted to “contribute more”. "When I was about 35-years-old - long away for you, you don't have to worry about this, it's a long time away - I had the beginnings of a midlife crisis and I knew I had to do something. I thought I had to sort of start to contribute more, and so I went into politics in the end, as well as writing, and it's just followed on from there. There are various things that I want... there were lots of things that I wanted to do and so the thing you want to do now is, I think that the UK is the greatest place in the world. I think it's the greatest place in the world. It's the greatest place to be, it's the greatest place place to grow up, greatest place to raise a family and have a job. But we don't think - I don't think - that opportunity is the same in the whole of the UK. I think that opportunity... I think that talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't, necessarily. So I think our job is to try to spread it. That what we'll do - that's the plan," said Boris Johnson. Talking about the lockdown in UK, he said that his government would stick to its "cautious" yet "irreversible" plan to end England's coronavirus lockdown, but would not be drawn on whether it could end sooner than the current target of June 21. Johnson unveiled a four stage plan to gradually ease lockdown on Monday (February 22), with the first part coming into effect on March 8 as children return to schools around the country. During a visit to a school in northwest England, the 56-year-old was also coy on developments in Scotland, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon faces accusations of breaching the ministerial code. While speaking to children in the school's cafeteria, Johnson mentioned how a "midlife crisis" in his mid-thirties spurred him to enter the political arena in order to "contribute more." Before entering parliament in 2001 Johnson had worked as a fulltime journalist. He has displayed a colourful, sometimes combative, speaking and writing style both as a journalist and as a politician, a trait which has fuelled many controversies during his three decades in the public eye. (With inputs from agencies)

Boris Johnson says a 'midlife crisis' led him to a career politics

From a liberal icon to a leader, who doesn't fit a particular political definition, French President Emmanuel Macron has come a long way. His recent policies have gained him an equal amount of followers and haters. &nbsp;

His brand of politics has broken shackles of the classic left-right division but this brand is going to face a serious challenge in the days to come. France is going to polls and centrist Macron is up against a far-right rival, who promises to do everything the French President does, just two times better. &nbsp;

Where does this leave Macron? What can he do to stay in power?&nbsp;

He is the youngest French leader since Napoleon. He was the blue-eyed boy of liberal politicians in 2017. A former banker, who was going to reboot the French economy and society. Some also said he was France's answer to US President Barack Obama but four years later, the analogy seems wrong as Macron is no Obama. Actually, he has refused to be trapped by political definitions. He's tackling climate change, fighting Islamic extremism and more. &nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-emmanuel-macrons-brand-of-politics-364137/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In reality, Macron has thrown the traditional rule book of politics out of the window. So far, all has gone according to plan but 2021 poses a peculiar challenge to his brand of politics as it is an election year. &nbsp;

France will go to polls in 14 months from now and centrist Macron's main challenger is Marine Le Pen, the 52-year-old leader of the far-right National Rally. She is currently polling neck to neck with Emmanuel Macron. The most recent poll shows Macron might get 24 per cent of the votes in the first round, while Le Pen could secure more than 26 per cent.&nbsp;

The French Finance Minister says Le Pen could very well win the next presidential polls. This possibility can be explained by Le Pen's brand of politics. If Macron wants to align Islam with French values, Le Pen is not afraid to blame Muslims for all of France's ills. &nbsp;

If Macron wants to keep foreign influence on Muslims under check, Le Pen wants France to put an end to its multi-culturalism. The challenge is significant.&nbsp;

The race is unpredictable as there's a raging pandemic in France, growing resentment against Islam, the return of a political debate on immigration and a highly polarised electorate. &nbsp;

Macron's recent policies have been game-changing but they may have also cost him some of his traditional left-leaning support base. Macron is on politically tricky terrain and he will have to get the balance right and the anti-extremism bill will be his toughest political test.&nbsp;

From a liberal icon to a leader, who doesn't fit a particular political definition, French President Emmanuel Macron has come a long way. His recent policies have gained him an equal amount of followers and haters.

From a liberal icon to a leader, who doesn't fit a particular political definition, French President Emmanuel Macron has come a long way. His recent policies have gained him an equal amount of followers and haters. His brand of politics has broken shackles of the classic left-right division but this brand is going to face a serious challenge in the days to come. France is going to polls and centrist Macron is up against a far-right rival, who promises to do everything the French President does, just two times better. Where does this leave Macron? What can he do to stay in power? He is the youngest French leader since Napoleon. He was the blue-eyed boy of liberal politicians in 2017. A former banker, who was going to reboot the French economy and society. Some also said he was France's answer to US President Barack Obama but four years later, the analogy seems wrong as Macron is no Obama. Actually, he has refused to be trapped by political definitions. He's tackling climate change, fighting Islamic extremism and more. In reality, Macron has thrown the traditional rule book of politics out of the window. So far, all has gone according to plan but 2021 poses a peculiar challenge to his brand of politics as it is an election year. France will go to polls in 14 months from now and centrist Macron's main challenger is Marine Le Pen, the 52-year-old leader of the far-right National Rally. She is currently polling neck to neck with Emmanuel Macron. The most recent poll shows Macron might get 24 per cent of the votes in the first round, while Le Pen could secure more than 26 per cent. The French Finance Minister says Le Pen could very well win the next presidential polls. This possibility can be explained by Le Pen's brand of politics. If Macron wants to align Islam with French values, Le Pen is not afraid to blame Muslims for all of France's ills. If Macron wants to keep foreign influence on Muslims under check, Le Pen wants France to put an end to its multi-culturalism. The challenge is significant. The race is unpredictable as there's a raging pandemic in France, growing resentment against Islam, the return of a political debate on immigration and a highly polarised electorate. Macron's recent policies have been game-changing but they may have also cost him some of his traditional left-leaning support base. Macron is on politically tricky terrain and he will have to get the balance right and the anti-extremism bill will be his toughest political test.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has changed the DNA of French politics

As election misinformation continued to rage online, Facebook Inc said on Wednesday its post-election ban on political ads would likely last another month, raising concerns from campaigns and groups eager to reach voters for key Georgia Senate races in January.

Facebook, which had announced the ban as part of measures to combat misinformation and other abuses on its site, had previously said the ban would last at least a week but could be extended. Alphabet Inc's Google also appeared to be sticking with its post-election political ad ban.

"While multiple sources have projected a presidential winner, we still believe it's important to help prevent confusion or abuse on our platform," Facebook told advertisers in an email seen by Reuters, which told advertisers to expect the pause to last another month though there "may be an opportunity to resume these ads sooner."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/a-sikh-facebook-group-is-not-impressed-with-kamala-harris-heres-why-342137" hreflang="en">A Sikh Facebook group is not impressed with Kamala Harris. Here's why</a>

Baseless claims about the election reverberated around social media this week as President Donald Trump continued to challenge the validity of the outcome, even as state officials reported no significant irregularities and legal experts cautioned he had little chance to overturn Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Google declined to answer questions about the length of its ad pause. A Google spokeswoman previously said the company would lift the ban based on factors such as the time needed for votes to be counted and whether there was civil unrest.

The bans mean that the platforms are not currently accepting election ads ahead of the two U.S. Senate runoff races in Georgia that could decide control of that chamber.

"It is driving us absolutely bonkers," said Mark Jablonowski, managing partner of DSPolitical, a digital firm that works with Democratic causes.

"They're essentially holding the rest of the political process hostage," said Eric Wilson, a Republican digital strategist, who said he thought the companies' concerns about ads on the election outcome did not require a blanket ban. "This is something that deserves a scalpel and they're using a rusty ax," he added.

Social media companies declined to say when they would lift other "break-glass" measures introduced to curb election misinformation and calls for violence in unpaid posts, like Facebook's limits on the distribution of live videos and demotions on content that its systems predict may be misinformation.

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said those emergency measures would not be permanent, but added that rollback was "not imminent."

Also read: F<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/facebook-takes-down-group-stop-the-steal-alleging-voter-fraud-by-democrats-342138" hreflang="en">acebook takes down group 'Stop The Steal' alleging voter fraud by Democrats</a>

"The reality is right now that we are not through the danger zone," said Vanita Gupta, chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Democratic strategists, including members of the Biden campaign who tweeted criticism of Facebook, this week said social media companies still were not effectively combating the spread of viral lies.

In one Facebook group created on Sunday, which rapidly grew to more than 350,000 members by Tuesday, members calling for a nationwide recount swapped unfounded accusations about alleged election fraud and shifting state vote counts every few seconds.

Nina Jankowitz, a disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center, said the ad pauses were needed though not sufficient for tackling false information.

"Clearly President Trump does not think the election is over so I don't think the platforms should treat it as if it does," she said.

As election misinformation continued to rage online, Facebook Inc said on Wednesday its post-election ban on political ads would likely last another month, raising concerns from campaigns and groups eager to reach voters for key Georgia Senate races in January.

As election misinformation continued to rage online, Facebook Inc said on Wednesday its post-election ban on political ads would likely last another month, raising concerns from campaigns and groups eager to reach voters for key Georgia Senate races in January. Facebook, which had announced the ban as part of measures to combat misinformation and other abuses on its site, had previously said the ban would last at least a week but could be extended. Alphabet Inc's Google also appeared to be sticking with its post-election political ad ban. "While multiple sources have projected a presidential winner, we still believe it's important to help prevent confusion or abuse on our platform," Facebook told advertisers in an email seen by Reuters, which told advertisers to expect the pause to last another month though there "may be an opportunity to resume these ads sooner." Also read: A Sikh Facebook group is not impressed with Kamala Harris. Here's why Baseless claims about the election reverberated around social media this week as President Donald Trump continued to challenge the validity of the outcome, even as state officials reported no significant irregularities and legal experts cautioned he had little chance to overturn Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Google declined to answer questions about the length of its ad pause. A Google spokeswoman previously said the company would lift the ban based on factors such as the time needed for votes to be counted and whether there was civil unrest. The bans mean that the platforms are not currently accepting election ads ahead of the two U.S. Senate runoff races in Georgia that could decide control of that chamber. "It is driving us absolutely bonkers," said Mark Jablonowski, managing partner of DSPolitical, a digital firm that works with Democratic causes. "They're essentially holding the rest of the political process hostage," said Eric Wilson, a Republican digital strategist, who said he thought the companies' concerns about ads on the election outcome did not require a blanket ban. "This is something that deserves a scalpel and they're using a rusty ax," he added. Social media companies declined to say when they would lift other "break-glass" measures introduced to curb election misinformation and calls for violence in unpaid posts, like Facebook's limits on the distribution of live videos and demotions on content that its systems predict may be misinformation. Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said those emergency measures would not be permanent, but added that rollback was "not imminent." Also read: Facebook takes down group 'Stop The Steal' alleging voter fraud by Democrats "The reality is right now that we are not through the danger zone," said Vanita Gupta, chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Democratic strategists, including members of the Biden campaign who tweeted criticism of Facebook, this week said social media companies still were not effectively combating the spread of viral lies. In one Facebook group created on Sunday, which rapidly grew to more than 350,000 members by Tuesday, members calling for a nationwide recount swapped unfounded accusations about alleged election fraud and shifting state vote counts every few seconds. Nina Jankowitz, a disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center, said the ad pauses were needed though not sufficient for tackling false information. "Clearly President Trump does not think the election is over so I don't think the platforms should treat it as if it does," she said.

Facebook extends ban on US political ads for another month

Watch this week's West Asia Post as Ghadi Francis talks to Ali Hamdan, an adviser to the Lebanese Parliament Speaker for more on the Lebanon-Israel maritime talks. Also on the show, we explore how autocrats are hijacking mega sporting events to expand their soft power? For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM, only on WION.

The West Asia Post - Episode 3

Brass plaque emerges as rallying point in Thailand. Watch this report to get more in this.

Brass plaque emerges as rallying point in Thailand

Protesters took to the streets following the grand jury charges in the Breonna Taylor case on Saturday. Outrage and heartbreak has boiled over into demonstrations in cities across the US.

Breonna Taylor protests: 2 cops shot and wounded, at least 24 people have been arrested

A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong

Police officers not charged for killing Breonna Taylor

Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the police officers shot on Wednesday did not have life-threatening injuries

Breonna Taylor: Two officers shot during Louisville protests

Russia has denied producing or researching nerve agents known as Novichok. Russia was once believed to possess thousands of tonnes of weaponised Novichok varieties and their precursors. Watch report.

Russia denies producing Novichok: West spreading misinformation

Amid tensions in South China, a study has said that China has shown the "most interest" in emerging sea routes as climate change melts ice in the Arctic Ocean.

Ice melt aiding China's arctic designs? China aggressively eyeing new sea route

Facebook has said that it has helped 2.5 million people register so far this year across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger before the National Voter Registration Day that falls on September 22. However, Facebook aims of registering 4 million eligible voters in the US this year.

US Election 2020: Facebook aims to register 4 MN voters

Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he had secured a “strong majority” from lawmakers to form a new government, seven months after a power grab within the ruling coalition brought down the administration elected in May 2018.

Malaysia's opposition leader stakes claim over government

A Kentucky grand jury has brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying two officers who fired their weapons at the black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves.

Only 1 of the 3 involved officers indicted in Breonna Taylor's death | Black Lives Matter

Italians voted on reducing the size of parliament and in local elections in the government's first test amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Italians vote to reduce Parliament size: 70% people voted in favour of the change

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that the country will register its second COVID-19 vaccine very soon. Watch report.

Vladamir Putin | Russia will register second COVID-19 vaccine | Coronavirus Pandemic

Amidst nationwide protests against Belarus’ long-standing authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s beleaguered leader was sworn in for his sixth consecutive term in a sudden inauguration event on September 22.

Lukashenko sworn in at secret event: Lithuania, Germany condemn secret event | World News

In a rare challenge to President Abdelfattah Elsisi and his government, small protests broke out in several cities across Egypt. The Egyptian authorities sought to prevent the second round of protests on 27 September by shutting down large parts of downtown Cairo and carrying out mass arrests.

Second round of protests in Egypt against President Abdelfattah Elsisi

Before the coronavirus crisis hit, hotels in Geneva -- usually a hub for diplomatic and international business activity -- had been surfing on a wave of thriving growth, with some 3.2 million night stays annually for the past two years.

Geneva hotel industry in deep freeze: Hotels face catastrophic summer

Vladamir Putin: Russia will register second COVID-19 vaccine

Watch the exclusive interview with Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan.

Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan speaks to WION's Palki Sharma Upadhyay

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at a coronavirus briefing a “moonshot plan” for UK. Announcing the details the PM urged people to abide by new restrictions that outlaw gatherings of more than six people indoors and out, and said they were imperative if the country was to avoid further toughening of the rules.

WION Fineprint: What is UK PM's new 'Moonshot Plan'?

One of President Vladimir Putin's relatives has been elected leader of a small Russian political party which he hopes will win seats in the national parliament at an election next year, the party's website showed on Monday.

Roman Putin, son of Putin's cousin Igor, was elected head of the People Against Corruption party at a congress on Sunday after becoming a member last month, it said.

Like President Putin, who via a nationwide vote has just won the right to run for president again twice, Roman Putin is a former employee of Russia's FSB security service.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/russia-president-vladimir-putin-signs-order-to-allow-his-rule-till-2036-310728" hreflang="en">Russia President Vladimir Putin signs order to allow his rule till 2036</a>

The 42-year-old relative said the party he now leads, which was founded in 2014 and has 4,000 active members, will take part in regional elections in September, the RIA news agency reported.&nbsp;

He also said it would run for seats in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, at elections next year. The party is currently not represented in the federal legislature.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/russia-says-china-would-be-needed-in-expanded-g7-summit-310694" hreflang="en">Russia says China would be needed in expanded G7 summit</a>

The party describes Roman Putin as having broad civil service, political and business experience. The party says it wants to fight corruption but its agenda is not aimed at countering the Kremlin's policies.

In March, the Kommersant daily reported that he was in the process of founding another political movement, the People of Business, a right-wing conservative project aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.

At the time, he was quoted as saying he had not discussed his political plans with the Kremlin leader but did not anticipate any problems.

One of President Vladimir Putin's relatives has been elected leader of a small Russian political party which he hopes will win seats in the national parliament at an election next year, the party's website showed on Monday.

One of President Vladimir Putin's relatives has been elected leader of a small Russian political party which he hopes will win seats in the national parliament at an election next year, the party's website showed on Monday. Roman Putin, son of Putin's cousin Igor, was elected head of the People Against Corruption party at a congress on Sunday after becoming a member last month, it said. Like President Putin, who via a nationwide vote has just won the right to run for president again twice, Roman Putin is a former employee of Russia's FSB security service. Also read: Russia President Vladimir Putin signs order to allow his rule till 2036 The 42-year-old relative said the party he now leads, which was founded in 2014 and has 4,000 active members, will take part in regional elections in September, the RIA news agency reported. He also said it would run for seats in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, at elections next year. The party is currently not represented in the federal legislature. Also read: Russia says China would be needed in expanded G7 summit The party describes Roman Putin as having broad civil service, political and business experience. The party says it wants to fight corruption but its agenda is not aimed at countering the Kremlin's policies. In March, the Kommersant daily reported that he was in the process of founding another political movement, the People of Business, a right-wing conservative project aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses. At the time, he was quoted as saying he had not discussed his political plans with the Kremlin leader but did not anticipate any problems.

Putin's relative elected leader of Russian political party

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Lieutenant Governor's orders overruling his government's decisions on coronavirus will be implemented as "this is not the time for disagreements and politics".

He also said that Delhi will need 1.5 lakh beds by July 31 once people start coming from other states for COVID-19 treatment and declared that the Lieutenant Governor's orders overruling his government's decisions on coronavirus will be implemented as "this is not the time for disagreements and politics". 
&nbsp; 
Addressing an online media briefing, he said his government has "unprecedented challenges" ahead as data shows that COVID-19 cases will rapidly increase in Delhi, but asserted that around 1,900 patients got beds in hospitals in the last eight days and 4,200beds were still available, a claim that comes amidst reports of acute shortage of beds in healthcare facilities in the national capital. 
&nbsp; 
Kejriwal went into self-isolation on Sunday after he developed sore throat and fever. His COVID-19 test is negative.

(With inputs from PTI)

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Lieutenant Governor's orders overruling his government's decisions on coronavirus will be implemented as "this is not the time for disagreements and politics".

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Lieutenant Governor's orders overruling his government's decisions on coronavirus will be implemented as "this is not the time for disagreements and politics". He also said that Delhi will need 1.5 lakh beds by July 31 once people start coming from other states for COVID-19 treatment and declared that the Lieutenant Governor's orders overruling his government's decisions on coronavirus will be implemented as "this is not the time for disagreements and politics". Addressing an online media briefing, he said his government has "unprecedented challenges" ahead as data shows that COVID-19 cases will rapidly increase in Delhi, but asserted that around 1,900 patients got beds in hospitals in the last eight days and 4,200beds were still available, a claim that comes amidst reports of acute shortage of beds in healthcare facilities in the national capital. Kejriwal went into self-isolation on Sunday after he developed sore throat and fever. His COVID-19 test is negative. (With inputs from PTI)

This is not the time for politics, Delhi will need 1.5 lakh beds by July 31: Arvind Kejriwal

The decriminalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide is a step closer to becoming a reality in Portugal after lawmakers approved a set of bills on Thursday (February 20), a move applauded by many but opposed by religious groups and conservatives.

Pro-euthanasia bills get green light in Portugal, negotiations ahead

After months of back-and-forth, United States President Donald Trump was recently acquitted of all charges. Earlier, Trump was impeached in the House, but this trajectory failed to hold its ground in the Senate, where the majority is Republicans, who voted to protect him. All this happened in the backdrop of the US going to elections in nine months.

Trump, a former businessman, became the third president in US history to survive an impeachment trial.

<h6><img alt="ppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="440b4a8d-884b-4fe9-9bd3-7159f1145ec0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_19.jpg" /> 
The presidential limo waits for US&nbsp;President Donald Trump in front of the White House before the State of the Union address in Washington, US, February 4, 2020 | Reuters 
&nbsp;</h6>

On December 18, Donald Trump was charged with two articles of impeachment including abuse of power and the obstruction of Congress. The voting in the Senate happened mostly along party lines, as it earlier did in the Democratic majority House of Representatives.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-blasts-new-york-city-for-protecting-alien-who-killed-a-92-year-old-woman-278791" hreflang="en">Donald Trump blasts New York City for protecting 'alien' who killed a 92-year-old woman</a> 
 
"President Trump has been totally vindicated and it's now time to get back to the business of the American people," Trump's campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said.

To be impeached in the Senate, Donald Trump required two-thirds majority in the 100-seat Senate, as per the US Constitution.

In the Senate, the call was close, as 52 people chose to acquit him, while 48 people voted in favour of the impeachment charge of abusing power.&nbsp;

The Democrats had accused Trump of abusing power by requesting Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, Trump's Democratic rival. Mitt Romney was the only Republican Senator who voted to convict Trump on this charge, alongside the Democrats, none of whom voted to acquit.

<h6><img alt="hhhh" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="761d46d9-cdb9-466b-96a2-a76ac5140c79" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_19.jpg" /> 
This still image taken from a US Senate webcast shows House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) during the impeachment trial in the Senate Chamber at the US Capitol on February 3, 2020 in Washington, DC | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

On the other charge of obstruction of Congress, the Senate voted 53-47 to acquit him. He was suspected of blocking witnesses and documents that were sought by the House. All Republicans voted to acquit him, while no Democrats did.

The voting process was overseen by the United States Chief Justice John Roberts, as senators voted one by one.

The president was not physically present there, and Reuters reported that he watched the whole process from his White House dining room along with his aides.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/State-of-the-Union-address-us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-tears-up-text-as-trump-ends-state-of-the-union-address-278666">US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tears up text as Trump ends State of the Union address</a> 
 
At 10.30 PM IST (5 PM GMT) today, Donald Trump is expected to address the country, Trump said he would "to discuss our Country's VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!"

As always, the notorious president took to Twitter quickly and posted a video showing campaign signs 2024 onward upto eternity, dissolving into ''Trump 4EVA''. However, the US Constitution can easily prevent this, as no president is allowed to hold office for more than two elected four-year terms. 
 
According to the Democrats, the trial is a sham, for Republicans allowed no witnesses or new evidence.&nbsp;

Over the course of impeachment, Trump has repeatedly referred to it as an attempted coup and an attempt to reverse his 2016 victory.

<h6><img alt="ppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="83d01788-a99c-45f9-8ffb-51a3c6f78635" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%289%29_21.jpg" /> 
Protesters carry signs outside the Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2020, after the US Senate acquited the US president in his impeachment trial. The US Senate acquitted President Donald Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress following a historic two-week trial | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

Even though Trump was acquitted, Democrats intend to go forward with the investigations still. According to Reuters, the Democrats want access to Trump's financial records.

Many Democrats hope that as more facts are unearthed, people would vote to not bring him back to power.

"No doubt, the president will boast he received total exoneration. But we know better. We know this wasn't a trial by any stretch of the definition," said Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-donald-trump-update-news-our-borders-are-secure-our-values-are-renewed-%20Trump-in-State-of-the-Union-address" hreflang="en">Maduro an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people: Trump in State of the Union address</a>

Approval ratings, which are considered the holy grail of US presidential politics, have kept Trump safe, with consistent numbers throughout his term. That's mostly owing to his core conservative supporters: caucasian men, rural Americans, evangelical Christians, and conservative Catholics.

Based on the data of Reuters/Ipsos poll, which happened on Monday, claims that 42 per cent American adults are happy with his performance, which 54 per cent expressed dismay.

As it turns out, his approval ratings remain unaffected by the impeachment trial, which yielded similar figures in September, when the inquiry was launched. He received 43 per cent approval and 53 per cent disapproval back then.

As the race to presidential elections gets stronger, Trump is expected to claim the Republican Party's nomination at the party convention in August.&nbsp;

A glimpse of his presidential vision was on display during the State of the Union address yesterday, whereby the theme was renewal of Americanism, economic independence and growth, alongside immigration policies that are hardline.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-the-state-of-the-union-address-278582" hreflang="en">EXPLAINED: What is the State of the Union address</a>

After months of back-and-forth, United States President Donald Trump was recently acquitted of all charges. Earlier, Trump was impeached in the House, but this trajectory failed to hold its ground in the Senate, where the majority is Republicans, who voted to protect him.

After months of back-and-forth, United States President Donald Trump was recently acquitted of all charges. Earlier, Trump was impeached in the House, but this trajectory failed to hold its ground in the Senate, where the majority is Republicans, who voted to protect him. All this happened in the backdrop of the US going to elections in nine months. Trump, a former businessman, became the third president in US history to survive an impeachment trial. The presidential limo waits for US President Donald Trump in front of the White House before the State of the Union address in Washington, US, February 4, 2020 | Reuters On December 18, Donald Trump was charged with two articles of impeachment including abuse of power and the obstruction of Congress. The voting in the Senate happened mostly along party lines, as it earlier did in the Democratic majority House of Representatives. Also read: Donald Trump blasts New York City for protecting 'alien' who killed a 92-year-old woman "President Trump has been totally vindicated and it's now time to get back to the business of the American people," Trump's campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said. To be impeached in the Senate, Donald Trump required two-thirds majority in the 100-seat Senate, as per the US Constitution. In the Senate, the call was close, as 52 people chose to acquit him, while 48 people voted in favour of the impeachment charge of abusing power. The Democrats had accused Trump of abusing power by requesting Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, Trump's Democratic rival. Mitt Romney was the only Republican Senator who voted to convict Trump on this charge, alongside the Democrats, none of whom voted to acquit. This still image taken from a US Senate webcast shows House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) during the impeachment trial in the Senate Chamber at the US Capitol on February 3, 2020 in Washington, DC | AFP On the other charge of obstruction of Congress, the Senate voted 53-47 to acquit him. He was suspected of blocking witnesses and documents that were sought by the House. All Republicans voted to acquit him, while no Democrats did. The voting process was overseen by the United States Chief Justice John Roberts, as senators voted one by one. The president was not physically present there, and Reuters reported that he watched the whole process from his White House dining room along with his aides. Also read: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tears up text as Trump ends State of the Union address At 10.30 PM IST (5 PM GMT) today, Donald Trump is expected to address the country, Trump said he would "to discuss our Country's VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!" As always, the notorious president took to Twitter quickly and posted a video showing campaign signs 2024 onward upto eternity, dissolving into ''Trump 4EVA''. However, the US Constitution can easily prevent this, as no president is allowed to hold office for more than two elected four-year terms. According to the Democrats, the trial is a sham, for Republicans allowed no witnesses or new evidence. Over the course of impeachment, Trump has repeatedly referred to it as an attempted coup and an attempt to reverse his 2016 victory. Protesters carry signs outside the Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2020, after the US Senate acquited the US president in his impeachment trial. The US Senate acquitted President Donald Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress following a historic two-week trial | AFP Even though Trump was acquitted, Democrats intend to go forward with the investigations still. According to Reuters, the Democrats want access to Trump's financial records. Many Democrats hope that as more facts are unearthed, people would vote to not bring him back to power. "No doubt, the president will boast he received total exoneration. But we know better. We know this wasn't a trial by any stretch of the definition," said Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat. Also read: Maduro an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people: Trump in State of the Union address Approval ratings, which are considered the holy grail of US presidential politics, have kept Trump safe, with consistent numbers throughout his term. That's mostly owing to his core conservative supporters: caucasian men, rural Americans, evangelical Christians, and conservative Catholics. Based on the data of Reuters/Ipsos poll, which happened on Monday, claims that 42 per cent American adults are happy with his performance, which 54 per cent expressed dismay. As it turns out, his approval ratings remain unaffected by the impeachment trial, which yielded similar figures in September, when the inquiry was launched. He received 43 per cent approval and 53 per cent disapproval back then. As the race to presidential elections gets stronger, Trump is expected to claim the Republican Party's nomination at the party convention in August. A glimpse of his presidential vision was on display during the State of the Union address yesterday, whereby the theme was renewal of Americanism, economic independence and growth, alongside immigration policies that are hardline. EXPLAINED: What is the State of the Union address

US President Donald Trump acquitted of impeachment charges in Republican-majority Senate

Britain's Prince Charles will announce on Tuesday that US&nbsp;pop singer Katy Perry will become an ambassador for the British Asian Trust to help its fight against child-trafficking, the charity said.

Perry, 35, who is already a goodwill ambassador for United Nations children’s organisation UNICEF, met the British heir-to-throne at a meeting of the Trust's supporters and advisers in Mumbai last November while he was on a visit to India.

"I was impressed by their strong plan - from on-ground initiatives to fundraising - that will aim to cut child trafficking in half," Perry said in a statement.

<h6><img alt="ppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eec443e6-d8e4-4e50-bb72-ef914423d360" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_44.jpg" /> 
Singer Katy Perry attends a red carpet gala event honoring Dolly Parton as the MusiCares person of the year, ahead of the Grammy Awards | Reuters</h6>

"That is why I am especially honoured to be named an ambassador for the British Asian Trust’s Children’s Protection Fund, and to help shine my light&nbsp;on the work that the British Asian Trust will be doing in South Asia, and to be a part of finding solutions to child-trafficking."

Perry's appointment will be announced at the Trust's annual royal dinner at London's Banqueting House which will focus on anti-trafficking measures and plans to combat child labour. The event will also be attended by British ministers and philanthropists.

The charity, founded by the prince and British Asian business leaders in 2007 to fight poverty, inequality and injustice in South Asia, said there are believed to be 5.8 million children working in forced labour in India, with many having to work 15 hours a day.

Britain's Prince Charles will announce on Tuesday that US pop singer Katy Perry will become an ambassador for the British Asian Trust to help its fight against child-trafficking, the charity said.

Britain's Prince Charles will announce on Tuesday that US pop singer Katy Perry will become an ambassador for the British Asian Trust to help its fight against child-trafficking, the charity said. Perry, 35, who is already a goodwill ambassador for United Nations children’s organisation UNICEF, met the British heir-to-throne at a meeting of the Trust's supporters and advisers in Mumbai last November while he was on a visit to India. "I was impressed by their strong plan - from on-ground initiatives to fundraising - that will aim to cut child trafficking in half," Perry said in a statement. Singer Katy Perry attends a red carpet gala event honoring Dolly Parton as the MusiCares person of the year, ahead of the Grammy Awards | Reuters "That is why I am especially honoured to be named an ambassador for the British Asian Trust’s Children’s Protection Fund, and to help shine my light on the work that the British Asian Trust will be doing in South Asia, and to be a part of finding solutions to child-trafficking." Perry's appointment will be announced at the Trust's annual royal dinner at London's Banqueting House which will focus on anti-trafficking measures and plans to combat child labour. The event will also be attended by British ministers and philanthropists. The charity, founded by the prince and British Asian business leaders in 2007 to fight poverty, inequality and injustice in South Asia, said there are believed to be 5.8 million children working in forced labour in India, with many having to work 15 hours a day.

Prince Charles names Katy Perry as Asian charity ambassador

Actor Rajinikanth has come out in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act and said that it will not affect Indian Muslims who have chosen India as their motherland during partition, adding that there was a lot of misleading information that was being spread due to ulterior motives of political parties and religious groups.&nbsp;

Rajini added that he would be the first to step out and rise in protest if and when CAA affects Indian Muslims.&nbsp;

On the National Population Register(NPR), Rajini said that, it is very necessary for the country. "It is a must to conduct a census of the&nbsp;Indian population in 2021. Don't we need to know who are Indians and who are from outside? This is very important and I don't know what is the issue with this is."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajinikanth-issued-summons-over-anti-social-elements-remark-on-tuticorin-violence-firing-278579">Rajinikanth issued summons over ‘anti-social elements’ remark on Tuticorin violence, firing</a>

Regarding the NRC, Rajini said that the procedure for NRC hasn't started and that deliberations were still underway about it.&nbsp;

On the protests that have been taking place across major parts of the country over CAA-NRC, the actor cautioned students to not get misled by the false propaganda. He urged students to think well and make informed decisions after consulting with their elders, faculty before embarking on protests.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/celebrity-news-rajinikanth-is-fine-after-shooting-for-man-vs-wild-with-bear-grylls-tweets-thank-you-love-you-277301">Rajinikanth is fine after shooting for Man vs Wild with Bear Grylls, tweets 'Thank you, love you'</a>

When asked about CAA not having included Sri Lankan Tamils, Rajini stated that he was in favour of citizenship being granted to Tamil refugees who are living in camps across Tamil Nadu for several years. However, he also added that the Tamils living in Sri Lanka must not be considered as they have been living there since the time of the Chola empire.

Rajini’s comments come at a time when the DMK and their allies are involved in a state-wide signature campaign against the CAA. DMK and their allies have been collecting signatures of those opposed to the CAA, to hand it over to the president of India and demand that the CAA be withdrawn.&nbsp;

In an apparent response to Rajini(without stating him by name), who stated that students were being misled by political parties, DMK President MK Stalin tweeted, “It brings happiness to know that students themselves are voicing out against the CAA and taking part in the signature campaign. Voices of dominance which suggest that political parties are instigating students aren’t new, they are similar to those that spoke during anti-Hindi agitation. Just like during the anti-Hindi agitation our peaceful protests will be successful.”

Speaking to reporters, Stalin’s son and DMK Youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “nobody is forcing the students, across the country students are coming out and protesting on their own. As Rajini is still an actor, he hasn’t understood politics. After he floats a political party, I will respond to him.”

Actor Rajinikanth has come out in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act and said that it will not affect Indian Muslims who have chosen India as their motherland during partition, adding that there was a lot of misleading information that was being spread due to ulterior motives of political parties and religious groups.

Actor Rajinikanth has come out in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act and said that it will not affect Indian Muslims who have chosen India as their motherland during partition, adding that there was a lot of misleading information that was being spread due to ulterior motives of political parties and religious groups. Rajini added that he would be the first to step out and rise in protest if and when CAA affects Indian Muslims. On the National Population Register(NPR), Rajini said that, it is very necessary for the country. "It is a must to conduct a census of the Indian population in 2021. Don't we need to know who are Indians and who are from outside? This is very important and I don't know what is the issue with this is." Also read: Rajinikanth issued summons over ‘anti-social elements’ remark on Tuticorin violence, firing Regarding the NRC, Rajini said that the procedure for NRC hasn't started and that deliberations were still underway about it. On the protests that have been taking place across major parts of the country over CAA-NRC, the actor cautioned students to not get misled by the false propaganda. He urged students to think well and make informed decisions after consulting with their elders, faculty before embarking on protests. Also read: Rajinikanth is fine after shooting for Man vs Wild with Bear Grylls, tweets 'Thank you, love you' When asked about CAA not having included Sri Lankan Tamils, Rajini stated that he was in favour of citizenship being granted to Tamil refugees who are living in camps across Tamil Nadu for several years. However, he also added that the Tamils living in Sri Lanka must not be considered as they have been living there since the time of the Chola empire. Rajini’s comments come at a time when the DMK and their allies are involved in a state-wide signature campaign against the CAA. DMK and their allies have been collecting signatures of those opposed to the CAA, to hand it over to the president of India and demand that the CAA be withdrawn. In an apparent response to Rajini(without stating him by name), who stated that students were being misled by political parties, DMK President MK Stalin tweeted, “It brings happiness to know that students themselves are voicing out against the CAA and taking part in the signature campaign. Voices of dominance which suggest that political parties are instigating students aren’t new, they are similar to those that spoke during anti-Hindi agitation. Just like during the anti-Hindi agitation our peaceful protests will be successful.” Speaking to reporters, Stalin’s son and DMK Youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “nobody is forcing the students, across the country students are coming out and protesting on their own. As Rajini is still an actor, he hasn’t understood politics. After he floats a political party, I will respond to him.”

Rajinikanth comes out in support of CAA & NPR, says youth being misled into protests

Jagat Prakash Nadda from Himachal Pradesh, unfurled the national flag at BJP Headquarters on India’s 71st Republic Day, as the newly appointed BJP President. He has, with his elevation by the party top brass, added to the slim bench strength of heavyweights in the BJP. &nbsp;

With a shrinking saffron footprint in the states, Nadda must show real ingenuity to make his mark as early as possible. The problem he faces is that of late there seems to be a disconnect between national and local issues. The Shah led BJP in its last stretch when Amit Shah has also been the country’s Home Minister, has been emphasising national issues during state election campaigns.

States are understandably more concerned about their own problems. Also, there have been problems with ticket distribution vis a vis winnability, shown up most glaringly in Jharkhand, lost primarily to the&nbsp;tribal vote for lack of an alliance between JMD and the BJP. This can still be rectified by Nadda, with Prime Minister Modi being exceptionally warm to Soren already. Jharkhand was also where a rebel candidate trounced the misleading and complacent sitting chief minister.

Nadda has a couple of near-ready potential scalps to take in the near future. No.&nbsp;1 is the state of Delhi, in which the subversive, disappointingly corrupt, minority favouring and underperforming AAP, is due for a fall. The BJP could leverage its regularization of unauthorized colonies. The Purvanchal vote is some 30 per cent of the total, and BJP Delhi President Manoj Tiwari is not only a fresh face but also a popular Bhojpuri filmstar/singer. Can Nadda quietly orchestrate the coup from behind the scenes to install Tiwari as chief minister?

The other opportunity is to wrest Maharashtra away from the Aghadi. It was won by the BJP and the Shiv Sena in the first place before the Shiv Sena decided to betray its own long-standing positions (and the voters). It can be retaken in the same fashion perhaps as Karnataka, where Nadda played a winning hand, or via a fresh assembly election if necessary.

Bihar may also go to the polls near the end of 2020 and the retention of power there along with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) will be of the greatest importance.

The number of states in which BJP has won a near majority lately, but fell short, such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are all ripe for some transactional politics. West Bengal, which promises to be a tough election in 2021, might again see BJP within kissing distance of power and may need some TMC winners abandoning their party for the BJP to secure the&nbsp;42 parliamentary-seater state.

If Maharashtra, of the rich pickings, is indeed retaken without another election later in 2020 itself, Nadda will have established his mastery over his powerful job. In the process, Nadda would have also destroyed the credibility of the three-legged Aghadi, and ruined their dreams of a broader winning coalition in 2024.

But to do this, Nadda will have to move without being detected and apprehended in advance. Perhaps the emergence of the other Thackeray, Raj, complete with an eligible son of his own, and a newly minted saffron flag for his Party, MNS, is a ready step in the right direction.

And then there are three states going to the polls in 2021, including West Bengal.

Nadda, often credited with having won Uttar Pradesh for Amit Shah, is a seasoned player, trusted not only by the top brass in the BJP but also the RSS. He will have no problem in accessing the necessary human and other resources. What he will need in addition is originality and an element of surprise that outwits his opponents.

And here is inspiration. The mesmerizingly beautiful Jewish-Austrian Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr from the 1930s and forties had an unexpected touch of real genius. Lamarr, who fled Nazi persecution, invented a communication process she called “Frequency Hopping”. It used over 80 frequencies in rapid and seemingly random succession, which made its signals virtually impossible to jam. She originally intended it for the American Navy to securely guide its torpedoes at German U Boats. The Germans routinely jammed all the radio frequencies except their own. This was the answer.

Today, Frequency Hopping is the basis of modern-day WiFi, Bluetooth, secure satellite communications, much military communications technology including the coding that activates nuclear weapons. It is also the first bastion against cyber-hacking.

JP Nadda will have to prove that the BJP magic that came into play with the Modi-Shah duo can be sustained into 2024 and beyond. If he can do this, he will wreck the hypothesis that the BJP can be driven back into a 160 odd seats party again. A party that had to resemble the Congress in order to survive at the time. &nbsp;

Modi-Shah have already broken that mould and inserted a strong bid for a “New India” with very different drummers to follow. Much of the policy thinking that has been put forward is the excitement for the BJP voter. On the other hand, it is anathema to the old Nehruvian order.

A political party like the BJP at this juncture can determine the future destiny of India. JP Nadda must bear in mind that “realpolitik” will demand that he does not fight shy of winning tactics and strategy. He must fight lies with truth, and lies too, if necessary. Well begun, as they say, is half done.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Jagat Prakash Nadda from Himachal Pradesh, unfurled the national flag at BJP Headquarters on India’s 71st Republic Day, as the newly appointed BJP President. He has, with his elevation by the party top brass, added to the slim bench strength of heavyweights in the BJP.

Jagat Prakash Nadda from Himachal Pradesh, unfurled the national flag at BJP Headquarters on India’s 71st Republic Day, as the newly appointed BJP President. He has, with his elevation by the party top brass, added to the slim bench strength of heavyweights in the BJP. With a shrinking saffron footprint in the states, Nadda must show real ingenuity to make his mark as early as possible. The problem he faces is that of late there seems to be a disconnect between national and local issues. The Shah led BJP in its last stretch when Amit Shah has also been the country’s Home Minister, has been emphasising national issues during state election campaigns. States are understandably more concerned about their own problems. Also, there have been problems with ticket distribution vis a vis winnability, shown up most glaringly in Jharkhand, lost primarily to the tribal vote for lack of an alliance between JMD and the BJP. This can still be rectified by Nadda, with Prime Minister Modi being exceptionally warm to Soren already. Jharkhand was also where a rebel candidate trounced the misleading and complacent sitting chief minister. Nadda has a couple of near-ready potential scalps to take in the near future. No. 1 is the state of Delhi, in which the subversive, disappointingly corrupt, minority favouring and underperforming AAP, is due for a fall. The BJP could leverage its regularization of unauthorized colonies. The Purvanchal vote is some 30 per cent of the total, and BJP Delhi President Manoj Tiwari is not only a fresh face but also a popular Bhojpuri filmstar/singer. Can Nadda quietly orchestrate the coup from behind the scenes to install Tiwari as chief minister? The other opportunity is to wrest Maharashtra away from the Aghadi. It was won by the BJP and the Shiv Sena in the first place before the Shiv Sena decided to betray its own long-standing positions (and the voters). It can be retaken in the same fashion perhaps as Karnataka, where Nadda played a winning hand, or via a fresh assembly election if necessary. Bihar may also go to the polls near the end of 2020 and the retention of power there along with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) will be of the greatest importance. The number of states in which BJP has won a near majority lately, but fell short, such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are all ripe for some transactional politics. West Bengal, which promises to be a tough election in 2021, might again see BJP within kissing distance of power and may need some TMC winners abandoning their party for the BJP to secure the 42 parliamentary-seater state. If Maharashtra, of the rich pickings, is indeed retaken without another election later in 2020 itself, Nadda will have established his mastery over his powerful job. In the process, Nadda would have also destroyed the credibility of the three-legged Aghadi, and ruined their dreams of a broader winning coalition in 2024. But to do this, Nadda will have to move without being detected and apprehended in advance. Perhaps the emergence of the other Thackeray, Raj, complete with an eligible son of his own, and a newly minted saffron flag for his Party, MNS, is a ready step in the right direction. And then there are three states going to the polls in 2021, including West Bengal. Nadda, often credited with having won Uttar Pradesh for Amit Shah, is a seasoned player, trusted not only by the top brass in the BJP but also the RSS. He will have no problem in accessing the necessary human and other resources. What he will need in addition is originality and an element of surprise that outwits his opponents. And here is inspiration. The mesmerizingly beautiful Jewish-Austrian Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr from the 1930s and forties had an unexpected touch of real genius. Lamarr, who fled Nazi persecution, invented a communication process she called “Frequency Hopping”. It used over 80 frequencies in rapid and seemingly random succession, which made its signals virtually impossible to jam. She originally intended it for the American Navy to securely guide its torpedoes at German U Boats. The Germans routinely jammed all the radio frequencies except their own. This was the answer. Today, Frequency Hopping is the basis of modern-day WiFi, Bluetooth, secure satellite communications, much military communications technology including the coding that activates nuclear weapons. It is also the first bastion against cyber-hacking. JP Nadda will have to prove that the BJP magic that came into play with the Modi-Shah duo can be sustained into 2024 and beyond. If he can do this, he will wreck the hypothesis that the BJP can be driven back into a 160 odd seats party again. A party that had to resemble the Congress in order to survive at the time. Modi-Shah have already broken that mould and inserted a strong bid for a “New India” with very different drummers to follow. Much of the policy thinking that has been put forward is the excitement for the BJP voter. On the other hand, it is anathema to the old Nehruvian order. A political party like the BJP at this juncture can determine the future destiny of India. JP Nadda must bear in mind that “realpolitik” will demand that he does not fight shy of winning tactics and strategy. He must fight lies with truth, and lies too, if necessary. Well begun, as they say, is half done. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

BJP President JP Nadda must show ingenuity to make his mark

The legal team of United States President Donald Trump yesterday rejected the impeachment hearings against their client. In the six-page document, his lawyers refer to the House of Representatives' impeachment efforts as a ''dangerous attack'' on Americans and their intrinsic right to vote.

Trump was recently impeached on account of&nbsp;two articles: ''abuse of power'' and the ''obstruction of Congress'', which was approved by the Democratic-led House last year.

The trial against Trump will begin on Tuesday in the Senate, which is mostly under the control of Republicans.

<h6><img alt="trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16734523-9fc5-43a9-9b9d-11aa985d4ad9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_44.jpg" /> 
Image: Screenshot from the statement of Trump's legal team | Reuters 
&nbsp;</h6>

Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in the wrongdoings he's been accused of. He refers to the impeachment drive as an effort to undo his presidential victory.

In the Senate, Trump is expected not to get impeached, for no Republican senators yet have voiced support for the same.

The White House counsel is led by Pat Cipollone, who will get the support of Trump's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow. Ken Starr, the star-lawyer involved in Bill Clinton's impeachment in the 1990s has also joined the team. Celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz is also in Trump's dream-team.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impeachment-dream-team-meet-us-president-trumps-star-studded-legal-team-274978">Impeachment dream team: Meet US President Trump's star-studded legal team</a>

In their response, Cipollone and Sekulow referred to the articles of impeachment as ''a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president''.

Further, in the six-page document, the team called the impeachment hearings "a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election".

Watch:&nbsp;Senate begins trial on Donald Trump's impeachment

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/senate-begins-trial-on-donald-trumps-impeachment-274877/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump is facing impeachment on the charges of abusing office especially in relation to the Ukraine scandal. He was accused of coercing Ukrainian authorities into investigating Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate. He allegedly withheld aid worth $400 million to Ukraine. &nbsp;

Ukrainian counterpart President Volodymyr Zelensky has also denied the claims.

<h6><img alt="trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77351d0c-8a38-4cd5-a98b-c33b5031ddee" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_41.jpg" /> 
Image:&nbsp;US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump make their way to board Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on January 17, 2020 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

"The articles of impeachment are constitutionally invalid on their face. They fail to allege any crime or violation of law whatsoever," the defence team said.

On the other hand, the House managers, ie, the prosecutors called Trump's conduct ''the worst nightmare'' of those who framed the US constitution.

''President Trump abused the power of his office to solicit foreign interference in our elections for his own personal political gain, thereby jeopardizing our national security, the integrity of our elections, and our democracy'', the managers said in a statement.

(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

The legal team of United States President Donald Trump yesterday rejected the impeachment hearings against their client. In the six-page document, his lawyers refer to the House of Representatives' impeachment efforts as a ''dangerous attack'' on Americans and their intrinsic right to vote.

The legal team of United States President Donald Trump yesterday rejected the impeachment hearings against their client. In the six-page document, his lawyers refer to the House of Representatives' impeachment efforts as a ''dangerous attack'' on Americans and their intrinsic right to vote. Trump was recently impeached on account of two articles: ''abuse of power'' and the ''obstruction of Congress'', which was approved by the Democratic-led House last year. The trial against Trump will begin on Tuesday in the Senate, which is mostly under the control of Republicans. Image: Screenshot from the statement of Trump's legal team | Reuters Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in the wrongdoings he's been accused of. He refers to the impeachment drive as an effort to undo his presidential victory. In the Senate, Trump is expected not to get impeached, for no Republican senators yet have voiced support for the same. The White House counsel is led by Pat Cipollone, who will get the support of Trump's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow. Ken Starr, the star-lawyer involved in Bill Clinton's impeachment in the 1990s has also joined the team. Celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz is also in Trump's dream-team. Also read: Impeachment dream team: Meet US President Trump's star-studded legal team In their response, Cipollone and Sekulow referred to the articles of impeachment as ''a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president''. Further, in the six-page document, the team called the impeachment hearings "a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election". Watch: Senate begins trial on Donald Trump's impeachment Trump is facing impeachment on the charges of abusing office especially in relation to the Ukraine scandal. He was accused of coercing Ukrainian authorities into investigating Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate. He allegedly withheld aid worth $400 million to Ukraine. Ukrainian counterpart President Volodymyr Zelensky has also denied the claims. Image: US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump make their way to board Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on January 17, 2020 | AFP "The articles of impeachment are constitutionally invalid on their face. They fail to allege any crime or violation of law whatsoever," the defence team said. On the other hand, the House managers, ie, the prosecutors called Trump's conduct ''the worst nightmare'' of those who framed the US constitution. ''President Trump abused the power of his office to solicit foreign interference in our elections for his own personal political gain, thereby jeopardizing our national security, the integrity of our elections, and our democracy'', the managers said in a statement. (With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

'Brazen and unlawful': Donald Trump's legal team rejects impeachment charges

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