President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday approved a recommendation by the Election Commission (EC) to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs for allegedly holding offices of profit.

Election Commission on Friday asked President Kovind to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs&nbsp;for being parliamentary secretaries.

The disqualification will not endanger the Arvind Kejriwal government but its numbers will come down to 45 in the 70-seat Delhi Assembly. The party would still enjoy a comfortable majority in the assembly.

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Unfortunate that the President took the decision in such haste, without giving us chance to speak. It&#39;s an act of Centre using constitutional institutions. We&#39;ve trust on judiciary. Doors of HC &amp; SC is open for us.: Alka Lamba, one of the 20 disqualified AAP MLAs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OfficeOfProfit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OfficeOfProfit</a> <a href="https://t.co/BckXd6C11U">pic.twitter.com/BckXd6C11U</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955029166868451329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, the&nbsp;case of disqualification of AAP MLAs is up for hearing at the Delhi High Court on Monday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with the 20 MLAs at his residence on Saturday, 20 January.

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A Government of India notification on Sunday, 21 January, said that President Kovind has approved EC recommendation to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs from Delhi Assembly <a href="https://t.co/UhCJEj9eKl">pic.twitter.com/UhCJEj9eKl</a>
&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/955029437271199744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

A Government of India notification on 21 January, said that President has approved EC recommendation to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs from Delhi Assembly

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday approved a recommendation by the Election Commission (EC) to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs for allegedly holding offices of profit. Election Commission on Friday asked President Kovind to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs for being parliamentary secretaries. The disqualification will not endanger the Arvind Kejriwal government but its numbers will come down to 45 in the 70-seat Delhi Assembly. The party would still enjoy a comfortable majority in the assembly. Unfortunate that the President took the decision in such haste, without giving us chance to speak. It's an act of Centre using constitutional institutions. We've trust on judiciary. Doors of HC & SC is open for us.: Alka Lamba, one of the 20 disqualified AAP MLAs #OfficeOfProfit pic.twitter.com/BckXd6C11U — ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2018 × Meanwhile, the case of disqualification of AAP MLAs is up for hearing at the Delhi High Court on Monday. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with the 20 MLAs at his residence on Saturday, 20 January. A Government of India notification on Sunday, 21 January, said that President Kovind has approved EC recommendation to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs from Delhi Assembly pic.twitter.com/UhCJEj9eKl — WION (@WIONews) January 21, 2018 ×

Office of profit case: President Kovind approves EC's recommendation to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs

President Donald Trump would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change, he said in comments published today.

Trump was met with global condemnation when he announced in June 2017 that the United States was pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, painting it a &quot;bad deal&quot; for the US economy.

While the president remains firm in his criticism of the historic accord, which was signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, he said he would be willing to sign up to a revamped deal.

&quot;The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster,&quot; he told Britain&#39;s ITV channel in an interviewed to be aired late Sunday.

&quot;If they made a good deal... there&#39;s always a chance we&#39;d get back,&quot; Trump added, describing the current agreement as &quot;terrible&quot; and &quot;unfair&quot; to the US.

The landmark treaty was agreed by 197 nations in 2015 after intense negotiations in Paris, where all countries made voluntary carbon-cutting pledges running to 2030.

&quot;If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal,&quot; Trump said, according to extracts of the interview.

&quot;Would I go back in? Yeah, I&#39;d go back in... I would love to.&quot;

Earlier this month Trump said the US could &quot;conceivably&quot; return to the deal under more favourable terms, raising questions about whether he was bluffing about pulling out of the Paris deal in a bid for easier emissions targets.

The landmark treaty was agreed by 197 nations in 2015 after intense negotiations in Paris, where all countries made voluntary carbon-cutting pledges running to 2030

President Donald Trump would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change, he said in comments published today. Trump was met with global condemnation when he announced in June 2017 that the United States was pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, painting it a "bad deal" for the US economy. While the president remains firm in his criticism of the historic accord, which was signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, he said he would be willing to sign up to a revamped deal. "The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster," he told Britain's ITV channel in an interviewed to be aired late Sunday. "If they made a good deal... there's always a chance we'd get back," Trump added, describing the current agreement as "terrible" and "unfair" to the US. The landmark treaty was agreed by 197 nations in 2015 after intense negotiations in Paris, where all countries made voluntary carbon-cutting pledges running to 2030. "If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal," Trump said, according to extracts of the interview. "Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in... I would love to." Earlier this month Trump said the US could "conceivably" return to the deal under more favourable terms, raising questions about whether he was bluffing about pulling out of the Paris deal in a bid for easier emissions targets.

Donald Trump willing to sign a revamped Paris climate deal

My Dear Fellow Citizens,

Greetings to all of you on the eve of our 69th Republic Day. This is a day for all of us to celebrate and honour our nation and our sovereignty. This is a day to remember with gratitude the enormous efforts and sacrifices of millions of freedom fighters whose blood and sweat gave us Independence and created our Republic. Above all, this is a day to cherish our republican values.

A Republic is its people. Citizens do not just make up and preserve a Republic; they are its ultimate stakeholders and in fact pillars. Each one of us is a pillar &ndash; the soldier who defends our Republic; the farmer who feeds our Republic; the forces that keep our Republic safe; the mother who nurtures our Republic; the doctor who heals our Republic; the nurse who tends to our Republic; the sanitation worker who makes our Republic cleaner and hygienic; the teacher who educates our Republic; the scientist who innovates for our Republic; the missile technologist who puts our Republic on a new trajectory; the wise tribal who conserves the ecology of our Republic; the engineer who re-imagines our Republic; the construction worker who builds our Republic; senior citizens who can look back with pride at how far they have brought our Republic; the youth in whom lie the energy, hopes and future of our Republic; and our dear children, who dream for our Republic.

There are so many more who contribute to our Republic in diverse ways and whom I may have missed mentioning. Happy Republic Day to all of you.

India became a Republic on January 26, 1950. This was the second major milestone in our nation building process. Independence had come a little over two years earlier. But it was with the framing and adoption of the Constitution &ndash; and the birth of the Republic of India &ndash; that we truly achieved the ethic of equality among all citizens, irrespective of religion, region or community. This ethic of equality complemented the liberty that had come at Independence. And a third principle also defined both the cooperative efforts at creating our Republic as well as the India that we wished to be. This was the principle of fraternity.

Independence had come after a great struggle in which millions had participated. They gave their all; many gave their lives. Inspired and led by Mahatma Gandhi, the men and women who took us to freedom could have rested on the gaining of Independence. They could have let down their guard, and remained satisfied with political freedom. But they did not rest. Instead, they re-doubled their efforts. They immersed themselves in the process of writing a Constitution. They saw the Constitution not just as a basic law for a new nation, but as a scripture for social transformation.

Our Constitution framers were men and women with great foresight. They understood the majesty of the rule of law, and of rule by laws. They represented an important phase in our national life. We are fortunate to have inherited its legacy in the form of the Constitution and the Republic.

The lessons from that formative period, the period that gave shape to our Republic, serve us well to this day. They serve us well in whatever we do, wherever we work, whichever goal we aim for. These lessons continue to spur our nation-building project. Nation building is a grand project. But it is also the compilation of a million &ndash; rather, a billion &ndash; smaller projects, each as sacred as the other. Nation building is also about building a family, building a neighbourhood, building a community, building an enterprise, building an institution. And building society.

A happy and equal-opportunity nation is built by happy and equal-opportunity families and communities. Families where girls have the same rights and the same access to education and healthcare as boys. Governments can bring in policies and laws to ensure justice to women &ndash; but these policies and laws can only be made effective by families and communities that must hear the voices of our daughters. We cannot shut our ears to their urgings for change.

A confident and forward-looking nation is built by confident and forward-looking young people. Over 60 per cent of our fellow citizens are below the age of 35. It is in them that our hopes lie. We have made strides in spreading literacy; now we must expand the frontiers of education and of knowledge. Our aspiration must be to reform, upgrade and enlarge our education system &ndash; and to make it relevant to 21st century realities of the digital economy, genomics, robotics and automation.

Many programmes and initiatives have been launched to equip our youth with the education and skills to compete in a globalised world. Sizeable resources have been set aside for these programmes. It is for our talented young people to make the most of these opportunities.

An innovative nation is built by innovative children. This must be our obsessive goal. Our schooling system has to encourage our children to think and to tinker, not just to memorise and reproduce. We have made strides in tackling hunger, but the challenge of malnutrition and of bringing the right micronutrients to the plate of every child is still there. This is important for both physical and cognitive development of our children &ndash; and for the future of our country. We simply have to invest in our human capital.

A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages. Where we respect the next-door person&rsquo;s space, privacy and rights. Where we do not inconvenience our neighbours &ndash; while celebrating a festival or while resorting to a protest or on any other occasion. Where one can disagree with another viewpoint &ndash; or even with a historical context &ndash; without mocking a fellow citizen&rsquo;s dignity and personal space. This is fraternity in action.

A nation with a sense of selflessness is built by citizens and by a society that embraces selflessness. Where voluntary groups clean public places such as beaches and rivers. And care for orphaned children and homeless people, and even for homeless animals. Where we donate blood or a body organ to help a fellow citizen who may be a stranger to us. Where idealistic individuals travel to remote places to teach children, and change their lives with the magic of education. They do so not because anybody has asked them to, but because of a call from within.

Where a better-off family voluntarily gives up an entitlement &ndash; it could be subsidised LPG today and some other entitlement tomorrow &ndash; so that another family, which has a greater need, can avail it. Let us all collate our privileges and entitlements. And then look at less-privileged members of a similar background, those who are starting off from where we once started off. And let each of us introspect and ask: Is his need or her need greater than mine? The spirit of philanthropy and of giving is part of our age-old culture. Let us renew it.

A culturally vibrant nation is built by a collective will that cherishes and preserves cultural traditions, art forms and handicrafts. Whether these be folk theatre artistes, traditional musicians, weavers and handloom workers, or those whose families have been hand-making marvellous wooden toys for centuries. Or day-to-day articles made of bamboo.

A disciplined and morally upright nation is built by disciplined and morally upright institutions. Institutions that respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions. Institutions that maintain the integrity, discipline and limits of their functioning, without compromising on excellence. Institutions that are always more important than the individuals located there. And institutions where the holders and members make every attempt to live up to the office they occupy as trustees of the people.

And of course, the highest stage of India&rsquo;s nation-building project is to contribute to building a better world &ndash; a composite and cohesive world, a world at peace with itself and at peace with nature. This is the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam &ndash; of the World being One Family. It is an idea that may sound impractical in today&rsquo;s times of tensions and of terrorism. But it is an ideal that has inspired India for thousands of years &ndash; and that ideal can be felt in the very texture of our constitutional values. The principles of compassion, of assisting those in need, of building capacities of our neighbours, or even of those further away, underpin our society. These are the very principles that we bring to the international community.

Such principles are also meant for our global Indian family. When Indians living abroad face humanitarian or similar challenges, it is natural for us as a country to reach out to them. We have, and we will continue to do so.

Fellow citizens&nbsp;

I referred earlier to that glorious period between Independence and our first Republic Day. This was a period of constant striving &ndash; of dedication, determination and commitment to improving our country. And setting right the aberrations of our society. Today, we are at a similar juncture. We have achieved a lot as a nation, but much remains to be done. We need to work on this in the spirit of the generation that gave us our Republic.

In 2020, our Republic will turn 70. In 2022, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our Independence. These are special occasions and we must strive, in the manner of the leaders of our national movement and the framers of our Constitution, to build the edifice of a better India &ndash; an India where each and every citizen will be able to realise his or her full potential. An India that will reach its deserved pedestal in the 21st century.

We need to further improve the lives of our hardworking farmers. Like mothers, they toil to feed us &ndash; more than a billion of us. We need to continue to modernise and strengthen our strategic manufacturing sector so as to provide the valiant personnel of our Armed Forces, and our police and paramilitary forces, the equipment that they need. We need to move ahead rapidly on the Sustainable Development Goals &ndash; Goals that commit us to eliminating poverty and hunger, to universal access to quality education and healthcare, and to giving our daughters equal opportunity in every field. We need to make clean, green, efficient and affordable energy reach our people. We need to ensure that housing for all becomes a living reality for the millions of families who await their own home. We need to craft a modern India that is both a land of talent &ndash; and a land of unlimited opportunities for that talent.

Above all, our Republic cannot rest and cannot be satisfied without meeting the basic needs and essential dignity of our less well-off brothers and sisters. I refer to those from a less privileged socio-economic background, from the weaker communities and from families that still live at the edge of poverty. It is our sacred obligation to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time. This is non-negotiable for the Republic.

Fellow citizens

The promise of a developed India beckons us. This is the new stage of our nation-building project on which we have embarked. This is the Republic that our young people need to take forward and enhance &ndash; in keeping with their vision, their ambition and their ideals. And their vision, ambition and ideas, I am confident, will always draw inspiration from both our republican values &ndash; as well as from our ancient Indian ethos.

With those words, I once again wish all of you a very happy Republic Day. And wish all of you a very bright and fulfilling future.

Thank you

JAI HIND!

President Kovind said it is our “sacred obligation” to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time

My Dear Fellow Citizens, Greetings to all of you on the eve of our 69th Republic Day. This is a day for all of us to celebrate and honour our nation and our sovereignty. This is a day to remember with gratitude the enormous efforts and sacrifices of millions of freedom fighters whose blood and sweat gave us Independence and created our Republic. Above all, this is a day to cherish our republican values. A Republic is its people. Citizens do not just make up and preserve a Republic; they are its ultimate stakeholders and in fact pillars. Each one of us is a pillar – the soldier who defends our Republic; the farmer who feeds our Republic; the forces that keep our Republic safe; the mother who nurtures our Republic; the doctor who heals our Republic; the nurse who tends to our Republic; the sanitation worker who makes our Republic cleaner and hygienic; the teacher who educates our Republic; the scientist who innovates for our Republic; the missile technologist who puts our Republic on a new trajectory; the wise tribal who conserves the ecology of our Republic; the engineer who re-imagines our Republic; the construction worker who builds our Republic; senior citizens who can look back with pride at how far they have brought our Republic; the youth in whom lie the energy, hopes and future of our Republic; and our dear children, who dream for our Republic. There are so many more who contribute to our Republic in diverse ways and whom I may have missed mentioning. Happy Republic Day to all of you. India became a Republic on January 26, 1950. This was the second major milestone in our nation building process. Independence had come a little over two years earlier. But it was with the framing and adoption of the Constitution – and the birth of the Republic of India – that we truly achieved the ethic of equality among all citizens, irrespective of religion, region or community. This ethic of equality complemented the liberty that had come at Independence. And a third principle also defined both the cooperative efforts at creating our Republic as well as the India that we wished to be. This was the principle of fraternity. Independence had come after a great struggle in which millions had participated. They gave their all; many gave their lives. Inspired and led by Mahatma Gandhi, the men and women who took us to freedom could have rested on the gaining of Independence. They could have let down their guard, and remained satisfied with political freedom. But they did not rest. Instead, they re-doubled their efforts. They immersed themselves in the process of writing a Constitution. They saw the Constitution not just as a basic law for a new nation, but as a scripture for social transformation. Our Constitution framers were men and women with great foresight. They understood the majesty of the rule of law, and of rule by laws. They represented an important phase in our national life. We are fortunate to have inherited its legacy in the form of the Constitution and the Republic. The lessons from that formative period, the period that gave shape to our Republic, serve us well to this day. They serve us well in whatever we do, wherever we work, whichever goal we aim for. These lessons continue to spur our nation-building project. Nation building is a grand project. But it is also the compilation of a million – rather, a billion – smaller projects, each as sacred as the other. Nation building is also about building a family, building a neighbourhood, building a community, building an enterprise, building an institution. And building society. A happy and equal-opportunity nation is built by happy and equal-opportunity families and communities. Families where girls have the same rights and the same access to education and healthcare as boys. Governments can bring in policies and laws to ensure justice to women – but these policies and laws can only be made effective by families and communities that must hear the voices of our daughters. We cannot shut our ears to their urgings for change. A confident and forward-looking nation is built by confident and forward-looking young people. Over 60 per cent of our fellow citizens are below the age of 35. It is in them that our hopes lie. We have made strides in spreading literacy; now we must expand the frontiers of education and of knowledge. Our aspiration must be to reform, upgrade and enlarge our education system – and to make it relevant to 21st century realities of the digital economy, genomics, robotics and automation. Many programmes and initiatives have been launched to equip our youth with the education and skills to compete in a globalised world. Sizeable resources have been set aside for these programmes. It is for our talented young people to make the most of these opportunities. An innovative nation is built by innovative children. This must be our obsessive goal. Our schooling system has to encourage our children to think and to tinker, not just to memorise and reproduce. We have made strides in tackling hunger, but the challenge of malnutrition and of bringing the right micronutrients to the plate of every child is still there. This is important for both physical and cognitive development of our children – and for the future of our country. We simply have to invest in our human capital. A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages. Where we respect the next-door person’s space, privacy and rights. Where we do not inconvenience our neighbours – while celebrating a festival or while resorting to a protest or on any other occasion. Where one can disagree with another viewpoint – or even with a historical context – without mocking a fellow citizen’s dignity and personal space. This is fraternity in action. A nation with a sense of selflessness is built by citizens and by a society that embraces selflessness. Where voluntary groups clean public places such as beaches and rivers. And care for orphaned children and homeless people, and even for homeless animals. Where we donate blood or a body organ to help a fellow citizen who may be a stranger to us. Where idealistic individuals travel to remote places to teach children, and change their lives with the magic of education. They do so not because anybody has asked them to, but because of a call from within. Where a better-off family voluntarily gives up an entitlement – it could be subsidised LPG today and some other entitlement tomorrow – so that another family, which has a greater need, can avail it. Let us all collate our privileges and entitlements. And then look at less-privileged members of a similar background, those who are starting off from where we once started off. And let each of us introspect and ask: Is his need or her need greater than mine? The spirit of philanthropy and of giving is part of our age-old culture. Let us renew it. A culturally vibrant nation is built by a collective will that cherishes and preserves cultural traditions, art forms and handicrafts. Whether these be folk theatre artistes, traditional musicians, weavers and handloom workers, or those whose families have been hand-making marvellous wooden toys for centuries. Or day-to-day articles made of bamboo. A disciplined and morally upright nation is built by disciplined and morally upright institutions. Institutions that respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions. Institutions that maintain the integrity, discipline and limits of their functioning, without compromising on excellence. Institutions that are always more important than the individuals located there. And institutions where the holders and members make every attempt to live up to the office they occupy as trustees of the people. And of course, the highest stage of India’s nation-building project is to contribute to building a better world – a composite and cohesive world, a world at peace with itself and at peace with nature. This is the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – of the World being One Family. It is an idea that may sound impractical in today’s times of tensions and of terrorism. But it is an ideal that has inspired India for thousands of years – and that ideal can be felt in the very texture of our constitutional values. The principles of compassion, of assisting those in need, of building capacities of our neighbours, or even of those further away, underpin our society. These are the very principles that we bring to the international community. Such principles are also meant for our global Indian family. When Indians living abroad face humanitarian or similar challenges, it is natural for us as a country to reach out to them. We have, and we will continue to do so. Fellow citizens I referred earlier to that glorious period between Independence and our first Republic Day. This was a period of constant striving – of dedication, determination and commitment to improving our country. And setting right the aberrations of our society. Today, we are at a similar juncture. We have achieved a lot as a nation, but much remains to be done. We need to work on this in the spirit of the generation that gave us our Republic. In 2020, our Republic will turn 70. In 2022, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our Independence. These are special occasions and we must strive, in the manner of the leaders of our national movement and the framers of our Constitution, to build the edifice of a better India – an India where each and every citizen will be able to realise his or her full potential. An India that will reach its deserved pedestal in the 21st century. We need to further improve the lives of our hardworking farmers. Like mothers, they toil to feed us – more than a billion of us. We need to continue to modernise and strengthen our strategic manufacturing sector so as to provide the valiant personnel of our Armed Forces, and our police and paramilitary forces, the equipment that they need. We need to move ahead rapidly on the Sustainable Development Goals – Goals that commit us to eliminating poverty and hunger, to universal access to quality education and healthcare, and to giving our daughters equal opportunity in every field. We need to make clean, green, efficient and affordable energy reach our people. We need to ensure that housing for all becomes a living reality for the millions of families who await their own home. We need to craft a modern India that is both a land of talent – and a land of unlimited opportunities for that talent. Above all, our Republic cannot rest and cannot be satisfied without meeting the basic needs and essential dignity of our less well-off brothers and sisters. I refer to those from a less privileged socio-economic background, from the weaker communities and from families that still live at the edge of poverty. It is our sacred obligation to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time. This is non-negotiable for the Republic. Fellow citizens The promise of a developed India beckons us. This is the new stage of our nation-building project on which we have embarked. This is the Republic that our young people need to take forward and enhance – in keeping with their vision, their ambition and their ideals. And their vision, ambition and ideas, I am confident, will always draw inspiration from both our republican values – as well as from our ancient Indian ethos. With those words, I once again wish all of you a very happy Republic Day. And wish all of you a very bright and fulfilling future. Thank you JAI HIND!

Full text of speech by President Ram Nath Kovind

At a press conference held on the sidelines of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday, two-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor indicated that there may be changes in the Congress party office bearers soon. &ldquo;Give the new President Rahul Gandhi some time to review the situation and make the changes he wants to make. There will be a reshuffling of the deck as it were,&rdquo; he said.

Rahul Gandhi took over as the Congress president last month (December 16, 2017) his mother Sonia, two days before the results to state elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were announced. While the Congress lost both states, their performance in Gujarat, a state which had not voted for the party in 22 years, was better than many had expected.

Tharoor says the Congress President is far being a &ldquo;reluctant politician&rdquo;, adding &ldquo;He&rsquo;s far from it. I don&rsquo;t think anyone would have put up with the gruelling schedule he had in Gujarat and everyone saw the results.&rdquo;

On the recent violent protests, especially on the release of the film &lsquo;Padmaavat&rsquo;, a penchant question on the media terrace at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Tharoor had this to say: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very concerned as a citizen about the failure of state authorities to maintain law and order. Are some people not motivated to stop certain groups? Are some kinds of misbehaviour more acceptable than others?&rdquo;

The former minister of state for HRD and External Affairs also shared his Wishlist for what would be the Narendra Modi government&rsquo;s &lsquo;last budget&rsquo; before elections to Parliament are held in 2019. &ldquo;This is their last budget and it will be a political one. The economy isn&rsquo;t doing very well. They&rsquo;ll want to incentivise investments, they&rsquo;ll have to address agricultural stagnation, make good on their promise to provide employment to youth. These are my expectations, let us see what the government does.&rdquo;

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Union Budget around noon in the Lok Sabha on February 1 (Thursday). The budget session of the Parliament will begin on January 29. The first phase of the Budget session will end on February 9 and then the session will commence after a recess on March 5. The recess is used by the standing committees of parliament to deliberate on the various budgetary proposals and amendments thereto.

Tharoor says the Congress President is far being a 'reluctant politician', adding 'He’s far from it. I don’t think anyone would have put up with the gruelling schedule he had in Gujarat and everyone saw the results'

At a press conference held on the sidelines of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday, two-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor indicated that there may be changes in the Congress party office bearers soon. “Give the new President Rahul Gandhi some time to review the situation and make the changes he wants to make. There will be a reshuffling of the deck as it were,” he said. Rahul Gandhi took over as the Congress president last month (December 16, 2017) his mother Sonia, two days before the results to state elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were announced. While the Congress lost both states, their performance in Gujarat, a state which had not voted for the party in 22 years, was better than many had expected. Tharoor says the Congress President is far being a “reluctant politician”, adding “He’s far from it. I don’t think anyone would have put up with the gruelling schedule he had in Gujarat and everyone saw the results.” On the recent violent protests, especially on the release of the film ‘Padmaavat’, a penchant question on the media terrace at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Tharoor had this to say: “I’m very concerned as a citizen about the failure of state authorities to maintain law and order. Are some people not motivated to stop certain groups? Are some kinds of misbehaviour more acceptable than others?” The former minister of state for HRD and External Affairs also shared his Wishlist for what would be the Narendra Modi government’s ‘last budget’ before elections to Parliament are held in 2019. “This is their last budget and it will be a political one. The economy isn’t doing very well. They’ll want to incentivise investments, they’ll have to address agricultural stagnation, make good on their promise to provide employment to youth. These are my expectations, let us see what the government does.” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Union Budget around noon in the Lok Sabha on February 1 (Thursday). The budget session of the Parliament will begin on January 29. The first phase of the Budget session will end on February 9 and then the session will commence after a recess on March 5. The recess is used by the standing committees of parliament to deliberate on the various budgetary proposals and amendments thereto.

Rahul Gandhi needs time, there will be reshuffling of the deck in the Congress party: Shashi Tharoor

United States president Donald Trump has been accused of a number of sexual allegations in the recent past. But, Trump was perhaps not the only leader under this loop.&nbsp;

In 1998, Bill Clinton was accused of having a continuous affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky from 1995 to 1997. However, two decades ago this week he declared that he &quot;did not have sexual relations with that woman,&quot; under oath.

He was later tried for perjury and obstruction of justice which is when he finally admitted to the allegations. The charges were dropped after a 21-day Senate trial, but only after he resigned from the presidency.

Earlier, a lawyer from president Donald Trumps office allegedly paid $130,000 dollars to a former adult-actress a month before the 2016 elections, for her to keep mum about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.&nbsp;

As per reports, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-lawyer-paid-130k-to-pornstar-for-silence-over-trump-encounter-reports-29385">Trump and Clifford</a> had the encounter in Lake Tahoe, California, in 2006, a year after he married his third wife, Melania.&nbsp;

Clifford was 27 at the time and had come to represent the adult film studio Wicked, which made her films. She also got a picture clicked with Trump which had surfaced the net.&nbsp;

He was, though, married at the time and his wife, Melania, had given birth to their son less than four months earlier.

The lack of criticism surrounding Trump&rsquo;s supposed affair with Daniels indicates an ambivalence toward him, and frankly, politicians in general when it comes to plain old sex scandals.

But Trump is no normal politician and in his tumultuous administration, &quot;it&#39;s not even the biggest story of the week,&quot; wrote Aaron Blake in The Washington Post.

Tobe Berkovitz, an associate professor of advertising at Boston University, said Trump displays an uncanny ability to sail past scandals.

&quot;Trump is an anomaly,&quot; said Berkovitz, who has served as a political consultant on numerous political campaigns in addition to teaching.

&quot;Look at the litany of other politicians, celebrities and journalists who have just had the trap door open out from under them for behavior that might not be as egregious or as bad as Trump&#39;s,&quot; Berkovitz said.&nbsp;

Trump and the rest of the men on Capitol Hill won&rsquo;t be hurt by the average sex scandal, and it&rsquo;s because the public expects much worse from them.

Meanwhile, Cohen also denied the reports, saying, &quot;These rumours have circulated time and again since 2011&quot;. &quot;President Trump once again vehemently denies any such occurrence as has Ms Daniels&quot;. 
&nbsp;

Trump and the rest of the men on Capitol Hill won’t be hurt by the average sex scandal, and it’s because the public expects much worse from them.

United States president Donald Trump has been accused of a number of sexual allegations in the recent past. But, Trump was perhaps not the only leader under this loop. In 1998, Bill Clinton was accused of having a continuous affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky from 1995 to 1997. However, two decades ago this week he declared that he "did not have sexual relations with that woman," under oath. He was later tried for perjury and obstruction of justice which is when he finally admitted to the allegations. The charges were dropped after a 21-day Senate trial, but only after he resigned from the presidency. Earlier, a lawyer from president Donald Trumps office allegedly paid $130,000 dollars to a former adult-actress a month before the 2016 elections, for her to keep mum about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. As per reports, Trump and Clifford had the encounter in Lake Tahoe, California, in 2006, a year after he married his third wife, Melania. Clifford was 27 at the time and had come to represent the adult film studio Wicked, which made her films. She also got a picture clicked with Trump which had surfaced the net. He was, though, married at the time and his wife, Melania, had given birth to their son less than four months earlier. The lack of criticism surrounding Trump’s supposed affair with Daniels indicates an ambivalence toward him, and frankly, politicians in general when it comes to plain old sex scandals. But Trump is no normal politician and in his tumultuous administration, "it's not even the biggest story of the week," wrote Aaron Blake in The Washington Post. Tobe Berkovitz, an associate professor of advertising at Boston University, said Trump displays an uncanny ability to sail past scandals. "Trump is an anomaly," said Berkovitz, who has served as a political consultant on numerous political campaigns in addition to teaching. "Look at the litany of other politicians, celebrities and journalists who have just had the trap door open out from under them for behavior that might not be as egregious or as bad as Trump's," Berkovitz said. Trump and the rest of the men on Capitol Hill won’t be hurt by the average sex scandal, and it’s because the public expects much worse from them. Meanwhile, Cohen also denied the reports, saying, "These rumours have circulated time and again since 2011". "President Trump once again vehemently denies any such occurrence as has Ms Daniels".

Unites States presidents and history of sex scandals

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned last week by the special counsel&rsquo;s office investigating potential collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump&rsquo;s 2016 presidential campaign, the US Justice Department said on Tuesday.

The interview marked the first time that Special Counsel Robert Mueller&rsquo;s office is known to have interviewed a member of Trump&rsquo;s Cabinet.

The interview with Sessions, who served as an advisor to Trump&rsquo;s campaign before the president appointed him as the top US law enforcement official, is another serious development in an investigation that has hung like a cloud over Trump&rsquo;s year-old presidency.

Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Russia probe last March after media outlets reported he had failed to disclose several 2016 meetings with Russia&rsquo;s ambassador. His recusal paved the way for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the No. 2 official in the Justice Department, to appoint Mueller as special counsel in May 2017.

Reuters could not immediately learn details about what kinds of questions Sessions faced during his interview, which was first reported by the New York Times.

But his involvement in Trump&rsquo;s firing of former FBI Director James Comey is likely to be one area of interest for Mueller&rsquo;s team as it looks at potential obstruction of justice by the Republican president.

Ian Prior, a Justice Department spokesman, confirmed that Sessions met with Mueller&rsquo;s team last week, but did not provide any additional details. An attorney representing Sessions could not immediately be reached for comment.

Trump fired Comey last May after both Sessions and Rosenstein penned a memo recommending his ouster over his prior handling of the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton&rsquo;s use of a private email server. Clinton was the Democratic presidential candidate who lost to Trump in 2016.

Trump later said he fired Comey over &ldquo;this Russia thing,&rdquo; a comment that raised questions about whether he was attempting to obstruct the FBI&rsquo;s investigation. Mueller took over the investigation after being appointed special counsel.

Sessions&rsquo; participation in a March 31, 2016, meeting of Trump&rsquo;s national security campaign advisers could also be of interest to Mueller.

At that meeting, which Sessions led, former campaign volunteer and adviser George Papadopoulos offered to help broker a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is now cooperating with Mueller&rsquo;s ongoing investigation.

Sessions had previously testified he was unaware of any contact between campaign associates and Russians.

However, after news of Mueller&rsquo;s criminal charges against Papadopoulos became public, he later testified before Congress that he did now recall the meeting. In that testimony, he said he pushed back against Papadopoulos&rsquo; suggestion of a Putin meeting.

Trump this month refused to commit to being interviewed by Mueller, saying &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll speak to attorneys&rdquo; about the matter and that &ldquo;there was absolutely no collusion.&rdquo;

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in favour of Trump. Russia has denied it.

Sessions had previously testified he was unaware of any contact between campaign associates and Russians

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned last week by the special counsel’s office investigating potential collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, the US Justice Department said on Tuesday. The interview marked the first time that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office is known to have interviewed a member of Trump’s Cabinet. The interview with Sessions, who served as an advisor to Trump’s campaign before the president appointed him as the top US law enforcement official, is another serious development in an investigation that has hung like a cloud over Trump’s year-old presidency. Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Russia probe last March after media outlets reported he had failed to disclose several 2016 meetings with Russia’s ambassador. His recusal paved the way for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the No. 2 official in the Justice Department, to appoint Mueller as special counsel in May 2017. Reuters could not immediately learn details about what kinds of questions Sessions faced during his interview, which was first reported by the New York Times. But his involvement in Trump’s firing of former FBI Director James Comey is likely to be one area of interest for Mueller’s team as it looks at potential obstruction of justice by the Republican president. Ian Prior, a Justice Department spokesman, confirmed that Sessions met with Mueller’s team last week, but did not provide any additional details. An attorney representing Sessions could not immediately be reached for comment. Trump fired Comey last May after both Sessions and Rosenstein penned a memo recommending his ouster over his prior handling of the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. Clinton was the Democratic presidential candidate who lost to Trump in 2016. Trump later said he fired Comey over “this Russia thing,” a comment that raised questions about whether he was attempting to obstruct the FBI’s investigation. Mueller took over the investigation after being appointed special counsel. Sessions’ participation in a March 31, 2016, meeting of Trump’s national security campaign advisers could also be of interest to Mueller. At that meeting, which Sessions led, former campaign volunteer and adviser George Papadopoulos offered to help broker a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is now cooperating with Mueller’s ongoing investigation. Sessions had previously testified he was unaware of any contact between campaign associates and Russians. However, after news of Mueller’s criminal charges against Papadopoulos became public, he later testified before Congress that he did now recall the meeting. In that testimony, he said he pushed back against Papadopoulos’ suggestion of a Putin meeting. Trump this month refused to commit to being interviewed by Mueller, saying “I’ll speak to attorneys” about the matter and that “there was absolutely no collusion.” US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in favour of Trump. Russia has denied it.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions questioned in Russia probe

President Ram Nath Kovind today appeared emotional after he awarded the Ashok Chakra, India&#39;s highest peacetime military decoration, posthumously to Air Force Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala here.

Corporal Nirala laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Bandipora district in November.

After presenting the award to Corporal Nirala&#39;s wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the Republic Day Parade, Kovind was seen wiping his face and eyes with his handkerchief.

Corporal Nirala was part of a Garud Special Forces Unit of the IAF, a detachment of which was attached to a Rashtriya Rifles battalion under the aegis of &#39;Op Rakshak&#39;.

On November 18 last year, an offensive was launched in Chanderger village of Bandipora based on specific intelligence. The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house where the terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush.

In the violent exchange of fire, Corporal Nirala was hit by a volley of small arms fire. Despite being critically injured, he continued the retaliatory fire.

He later succumbed to the fatal gunshot wounds.

President Ram Nath Kovind today appeared emotional after he awarded the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration, posthumously to Air Force Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala here

President Ram Nath Kovind today appeared emotional after he awarded the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration, posthumously to Air Force Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala here. Corporal Nirala laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district in November. After presenting the award to Corporal Nirala's wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the Republic Day Parade, Kovind was seen wiping his face and eyes with his handkerchief. Corporal Nirala was part of a Garud Special Forces Unit of the IAF, a detachment of which was attached to a Rashtriya Rifles battalion under the aegis of 'Op Rakshak'. On November 18 last year, an offensive was launched in Chanderger village of Bandipora based on specific intelligence. The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house where the terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush. In the violent exchange of fire, Corporal Nirala was hit by a volley of small arms fire. Despite being critically injured, he continued the retaliatory fire. He later succumbed to the fatal gunshot wounds.

R-Day: Prez turns emotional after honouring Garud commando

The beleaguered Maldives government Sunday ordered police and troops to reject any move by the Supreme Court to arrest or impeach President Abdulla Yameen over his refusal to release political prisoners.

The tiny tourist archipelago has been plunged into a political crisis pitting the country&#39;s top court against Yameen, whose crackdown on dissent has tarnished the nation&#39;s image as an upmarket holiday paradise.

On Thursday &mdash; in a move that surprised many &mdash; judges ordered authorities to release nine political dissidents and restore the seats of 12 legislators who had been sacked for defecting from Yameen&#39;s party, ruling the cases were politically motivated.

But the Yameen government has so far refused, shuttering parliament and resisting international calls to comply.

In a national television address on Sunday Attorney General Mohamed Anil said the government remained defiant.

&quot;Any Supreme Court order to arrest the president would be unconstitutional and illegal. So I have asked the police and the army not to implement any unconstitutional order,&quot; Anil said.

The reinstatement of the dozen legislators gave the opposition a majority in the 85-member assembly, and it can now potentially impeach Yameen.

However the authorities shut parliament indefinitely on Saturday to avert such a move. Yameen also sacked two police chiefs after the court&#39;s decision.

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party &mdash; led by the country&#39;s first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed &mdash; has urged the government to respect the top court&#39;s decision, fearing any refusal might trigger unrest in the nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims.

The Maldivian government said Friday it had concerns about releasing those convicted for &quot;terrorism, corruption, embezzlement, and treason&quot;.

The United Nations, Australia, Britain, Canada, India and the United States welcomed the court&#39;s decision as a move towards restoring democracy in the politically troubled Indian Ocean nation.

Nasheed was barred from contesting any election in the Maldives after a controversial 2015 terrorism conviction which was internationally criticised as politically motivated. He lives abroad after travelling out of the country in 2016 on prison leave for medical treatment.

In a national television address on Sunday Attorney General Mohamed Anil said the government remained defiant

The beleaguered Maldives government Sunday ordered police and troops to reject any move by the Supreme Court to arrest or impeach President Abdulla Yameen over his refusal to release political prisoners. The tiny tourist archipelago has been plunged into a political crisis pitting the country's top court against Yameen, whose crackdown on dissent has tarnished the nation's image as an upmarket holiday paradise. On Thursday — in a move that surprised many — judges ordered authorities to release nine political dissidents and restore the seats of 12 legislators who had been sacked for defecting from Yameen's party, ruling the cases were politically motivated. But the Yameen government has so far refused, shuttering parliament and resisting international calls to comply. In a national television address on Sunday Attorney General Mohamed Anil said the government remained defiant. "Any Supreme Court order to arrest the president would be unconstitutional and illegal. So I have asked the police and the army not to implement any unconstitutional order," Anil said. The reinstatement of the dozen legislators gave the opposition a majority in the 85-member assembly, and it can now potentially impeach Yameen. However the authorities shut parliament indefinitely on Saturday to avert such a move. Yameen also sacked two police chiefs after the court's decision. The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party — led by the country's first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed — has urged the government to respect the top court's decision, fearing any refusal might trigger unrest in the nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims. The Maldivian government said Friday it had concerns about releasing those convicted for "terrorism, corruption, embezzlement, and treason". The United Nations, Australia, Britain, Canada, India and the United States welcomed the court's decision as a move towards restoring democracy in the politically troubled Indian Ocean nation. Nasheed was barred from contesting any election in the Maldives after a controversial 2015 terrorism conviction which was internationally criticised as politically motivated. He lives abroad after travelling out of the country in 2016 on prison leave for medical treatment.

Maldives govt warns Supreme Court against impeachment move

The exiled former president of the Maldives said today he will run again for office, hours after a surprise Supreme Court decision to free a group of political prisoners led to unrest in the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Current President Yameen Abdul Gayoom had been set to run for re-election virtually unopposed, with all of his opponents either jailed or exiled. But ex-President Mohammed Nasheed, who is among the prisoners ordered freed, said he would challenge Yameen, who has rolled back many democratic reforms since coming to power five years ago.

&quot;I can contest and I will contest and hopefully we will win it again,&quot; Nasheed told the AP in Colombo, the capital of neighbouring Sri Lanka.

Nasheed was jailed in 2016 but received asylum in Britain later that year after travelling there on medical leave from prison. He has lived in exile ever since.

Nasheed also called for reforms in the country&#39;s security services, telling the AP that &quot;a small element within the military and police want to prop up the dictatorship&quot; of Yameen.

Male, the capital, was quiet today afternoon, although an opposition leader said Yameen&#39;s opponents were planning further protests.

The Supreme Court of Maldives ordered the release of former president Mohamed Nasheed and former vice president Ahmed Adeeb along with other politicians.

The court ordered the immediate release of high-profile prisoners and held that &quot;the prisoners were free until fair trials could be conducted without undue influence&quot;, a statement said.

The order given Thursday night could be a major blow to President Yameen Abdul Gayoom who has a tight grip on power, controlling institutions like the judiciary, police and the bureaucracy, Fox News reported.

The clashes lasted about three hours, with police dispersing rock-throwing crowds using pepper spray and batons. At least one injured police officer was taken to a hospital. It was not immediately clear if anyone was arrested, though some protesters were taken away by police.

Atul Keshap, the US ambassador to the Maldives, welcomed the Supreme Court order. &quot;I urge the government and security services to respect this ruling, which bolsters democracy and rule of law for all Maldivians,&quot; he wrote on Twitter.

India, on Friday, said it was imperative for &quot;all organs&quot; of the Maldivian government to abide by the country&#39;s Supreme Court order to release all political prisoners &quot;in the spirit of democracy&quot;.

In a statement, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/imperative-for-maldivian-govt-to-abide-by-sc-ruling-india-31617">Ministry of External Affairs</a> (MEA) said it was &quot;closely monitoring&quot; the evolving situation in the Maldives and also hoped that the safety and security of Indian expatriates in the island nation would be ensured by the Maldivian authorities under &quot;all circumstances&quot;.

In 2015 Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison, convicted of terrorism charges in a trial widely condemned by international rights groups.

Yameen&#39;s former deputy, Ahmed Adeeb, who had been jailed on accusations of plotting to kill the president, was also ordered released.

Adeeb was sentenced to 33 years in prison in 2016, charged with corruption, possession of illegal firearms and planning to kill Yameen by triggering an explosion on his speedboat. However, FBI investigators said they found no evidence of a bomb blast.&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)

Current President Yameen Abdul Gayoom had been set to run for re-election virtually unopposed, with all of his opponents either jailed or exiled

The exiled former president of the Maldives said today he will run again for office, hours after a surprise Supreme Court decision to free a group of political prisoners led to unrest in the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago. Current President Yameen Abdul Gayoom had been set to run for re-election virtually unopposed, with all of his opponents either jailed or exiled. But ex-President Mohammed Nasheed, who is among the prisoners ordered freed, said he would challenge Yameen, who has rolled back many democratic reforms since coming to power five years ago. "I can contest and I will contest and hopefully we will win it again," Nasheed told the AP in Colombo, the capital of neighbouring Sri Lanka. Nasheed was jailed in 2016 but received asylum in Britain later that year after travelling there on medical leave from prison. He has lived in exile ever since. Nasheed also called for reforms in the country's security services, telling the AP that "a small element within the military and police want to prop up the dictatorship" of Yameen. Male, the capital, was quiet today afternoon, although an opposition leader said Yameen's opponents were planning further protests. The Supreme Court of Maldives ordered the release of former president Mohamed Nasheed and former vice president Ahmed Adeeb along with other politicians. The court ordered the immediate release of high-profile prisoners and held that "the prisoners were free until fair trials could be conducted without undue influence", a statement said. The order given Thursday night could be a major blow to President Yameen Abdul Gayoom who has a tight grip on power, controlling institutions like the judiciary, police and the bureaucracy, Fox News reported. The clashes lasted about three hours, with police dispersing rock-throwing crowds using pepper spray and batons. At least one injured police officer was taken to a hospital. It was not immediately clear if anyone was arrested, though some protesters were taken away by police. Atul Keshap, the US ambassador to the Maldives, welcomed the Supreme Court order. "I urge the government and security services to respect this ruling, which bolsters democracy and rule of law for all Maldivians," he wrote on Twitter. India, on Friday, said it was imperative for "all organs" of the Maldivian government to abide by the country's Supreme Court order to release all political prisoners "in the spirit of democracy". In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was "closely monitoring" the evolving situation in the Maldives and also hoped that the safety and security of Indian expatriates in the island nation would be ensured by the Maldivian authorities under "all circumstances". In 2015 Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison, convicted of terrorism charges in a trial widely condemned by international rights groups. Yameen's former deputy, Ahmed Adeeb, who had been jailed on accusations of plotting to kill the president, was also ordered released. Adeeb was sentenced to 33 years in prison in 2016, charged with corruption, possession of illegal firearms and planning to kill Yameen by triggering an explosion on his speedboat. However, FBI investigators said they found no evidence of a bomb blast. (With PTI inputs)

Maldives: Exiled ex-president to run for office again

Budget 2018 saw a massive revision in the emoluments of top government officials, which include President, Vice-President and all state Governors.&nbsp;

While announcing the Budget, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposed to revise the salary of President Ram Nath Kovind to Rs 5 lakh per month, Rs 4 lakh for Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Rs 3.5 lakh for Governor.

&ldquo;These emoluments are proposed to be revised to Rs 5 lakh for the President, Rs 4 lakh for the vice president and to Rs 3.5 lakh per month for the governors,&rdquo; Jaitley said during his speech at Parliament.&nbsp;

As of now, the President gets Rs 1.50 lakh per month, the vice president Rs 1.25 lakh and a governor of a state Rs 1.10 lakh.

The scale of increase in the salary of the President is by a whopping 200 per cent.

After the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission&rsquo;s on 1 January 2016, the cabinet secretary, who is the top-most bureaucrat in the country, gets Rs 2.5 lakh per month and a secretary in the Union government draws Rs 2.25 lakh per month.

However, the proposal needs Parliament&#39;s approval which is expected in the current Budget session.&nbsp;

Once approved the salary will be made applicable from February, 2016.

The scale of increase in the salary of the President is by a whopping 200 per cent

Budget 2018 saw a massive revision in the emoluments of top government officials, which include President, Vice-President and all state Governors. While announcing the Budget, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposed to revise the salary of President Ram Nath Kovind to Rs 5 lakh per month, Rs 4 lakh for Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Rs 3.5 lakh for Governor. “These emoluments are proposed to be revised to Rs 5 lakh for the President, Rs 4 lakh for the vice president and to Rs 3.5 lakh per month for the governors,” Jaitley said during his speech at Parliament. As of now, the President gets Rs 1.50 lakh per month, the vice president Rs 1.25 lakh and a governor of a state Rs 1.10 lakh. The scale of increase in the salary of the President is by a whopping 200 per cent. After the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s on 1 January 2016, the cabinet secretary, who is the top-most bureaucrat in the country, gets Rs 2.5 lakh per month and a secretary in the Union government draws Rs 2.25 lakh per month. However, the proposal needs Parliament's approval which is expected in the current Budget session. Once approved the salary will be made applicable from February, 2016.

Budget 2018: President, Vice President and Governors to get salary hike

US Ambassador to Panama John Feeley has resigned, telling the State Department he no longer feels able to serve President Donald Trump.

&quot;As a junior foreign service officer, I signed an oath to serve faithfully the president and his administration in an apolitical fashion, even when I might not agree with certain policies,&quot; Feeley said, according to an excerpt of his resignation letter read to Reuters on Friday.

&quot;My instructors made clear that if I believed I could not do that, I would be honour bound to resign. That time has come.&quot;

Under Secretary of State, Steve Goldstein confirmed that he knew of Feeley&#39;s planned departure ahead of the president&#39;s alleged remarks on Thursday.

He said the ambassador, a career diplomat who spent most of his life working on Latin American issues, was resigning due to &quot;personal reasons&quot;.

Feeley was appointed to the diplomatic post by former US President Barack Obama in July 2015.

President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned why the United States would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/why-do-we-want-people-from-these-shithole-countries-trump-over-immigrants-from-africa-haiti-29278">shithole countries</a>&quot;, which created a lot of stir.&nbsp;

Speaking to reporters, Goldstein said that he was aware of Feeley&#39;s planned departure 24 months in advance, before Trump&#39;s alleged use of the term&nbsp;&quot;shithole countries.&quot;

&quot;Everyone has a line that they will not cross,&quot; Goldstein told reporters at the State Department. &quot;If the ambassador feels that he can no longer serve ... then he has made the right decision for himself and we respect that.&quot;

A State Department spokeswoman confirmed Feeley's departure, saying that he 'has informed the White House, the Department of State, and the Government of Panama of his decision to retire for personal reasons, as of March 9 of this year.'

US Ambassador to Panama John Feeley has resigned, telling the State Department he no longer feels able to serve President Donald Trump. "As a junior foreign service officer, I signed an oath to serve faithfully the president and his administration in an apolitical fashion, even when I might not agree with certain policies," Feeley said, according to an excerpt of his resignation letter read to Reuters on Friday. "My instructors made clear that if I believed I could not do that, I would be honour bound to resign. That time has come." Under Secretary of State, Steve Goldstein confirmed that he knew of Feeley's planned departure ahead of the president's alleged remarks on Thursday. He said the ambassador, a career diplomat who spent most of his life working on Latin American issues, was resigning due to "personal reasons". Feeley was appointed to the diplomatic post by former US President Barack Obama in July 2015. President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned why the United States would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as "shithole countries", which created a lot of stir. Speaking to reporters, Goldstein said that he was aware of Feeley's planned departure 24 months in advance, before Trump's alleged use of the term "shithole countries." "Everyone has a line that they will not cross," Goldstein told reporters at the State Department. "If the ambassador feels that he can no longer serve ... then he has made the right decision for himself and we respect that."

US ambassador to Panama resigns, says he cannot work with Trump anymore

US president Donald Trump once again termed the probe into the probable coordination between his administration and Russia the &quot;single greatest witch hunt&quot; on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Trump took to Twitter and wrote: &quot;The single greatest Witch Hunt in American history continues. There was no collusion, everybody including the Dems knows there was no collusion, &amp; yet on and on it goes. Russia &amp; the world is laughing at the stupidity they are witnessing. Republicans should finally take control!&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The single greatest Witch Hunt in American history continues. There was no collusion, everybody including the Dems knows there was no collusion, &amp; yet on and on it goes. Russia &amp; the world is laughing at the stupidity they are witnessing. Republicans should finally take control!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/951109942685126656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The president has a number of times stated that the investigation led by FBI Director Robert Mueller a &quot;witch hunt,&quot; which began after his victory in 2016.&nbsp;

In another tweet, the President censured Senator Dianne Feinstein for &#39;illegally&#39; releasing dossier on Trump and Russia.

Senator Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday ignored the objections of her Republican colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee and released the full transcript of Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson&#39;s extensive congressional testimony about Christopher Steele&#39;s famous dossier on Donald Trump and Russia.

&quot;The fact that Sneaky Dianne Feinstein, who has on numerous occasions stated that collusion between Trump/Russia has not been found, would release testimony in such an underhanded and possibly illegal way, totally without authorization, is a disgrace. Must have tough Primary!&quot;

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The fact that Sneaky Dianne Feinstein, who has on numerous occasions stated that collusion between Trump/Russia has not been found, would release testimony in such an underhanded and possibly illegal way, totally without authorization, is a disgrace. Must have tough Primary!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/951106475254059008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump also said on Wednesday that it seemed &quot;unlikely&quot; he would need to meet with special counsel Robert Mueller about Mueller&#39;s investigation into the allegations.

Mueller has reportedly indicated to Trump&#39;s attorneys that his team would like to interview the president as part of the investigation. Trump has called the investigation a &quot;Democratic hoax.&quot;

Mueller&#39;s team has interviewed a number of Trump aides, including Trump&#39;s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and former chief of staff Reince Priebus.

So far, the investigation has resulted in the indictment of former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a guilty plea from former national security adviser Mike Flynn.

Meanwhile, Michael Cohen, one of President Donald Trump&#39;s personal lawyers, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the research firm Fusion GPS for producing the infamous Steele dossier that alleged the Trump campaign had ties to Russia.

Cohen also filed a lawsuit against BuzzFeed News for publishing the entire dossier in January 2017.

So far, the investigation has resulted in the indictment of former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a guilty plea from former national security adviser Mike Flynn

US president Donald Trump once again termed the probe into the probable coordination between his administration and Russia the "single greatest witch hunt" on Wednesday. Trump took to Twitter and wrote: "The single greatest Witch Hunt in American history continues. There was no collusion, everybody including the Dems knows there was no collusion, & yet on and on it goes. Russia & the world is laughing at the stupidity they are witnessing. Republicans should finally take control!" The single greatest Witch Hunt in American history continues. There was no collusion, everybody including the Dems knows there was no collusion, & yet on and on it goes. Russia & the world is laughing at the stupidity they are witnessing. Republicans should finally take control! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 × The president has a number of times stated that the investigation led by FBI Director Robert Mueller a "witch hunt," which began after his victory in 2016. In another tweet, the President censured Senator Dianne Feinstein for 'illegally' releasing dossier on Trump and Russia. Senator Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday ignored the objections of her Republican colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee and released the full transcript of Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson's extensive congressional testimony about Christopher Steele's famous dossier on Donald Trump and Russia. "The fact that Sneaky Dianne Feinstein, who has on numerous occasions stated that collusion between Trump/Russia has not been found, would release testimony in such an underhanded and possibly illegal way, totally without authorization, is a disgrace. Must have tough Primary!" The fact that Sneaky Dianne Feinstein, who has on numerous occasions stated that collusion between Trump/Russia has not been found, would release testimony in such an underhanded and possibly illegal way, totally without authorization, is a disgrace. Must have tough Primary! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 × Trump also said on Wednesday that it seemed "unlikely" he would need to meet with special counsel Robert Mueller about Mueller's investigation into the allegations. Mueller has reportedly indicated to Trump's attorneys that his team would like to interview the president as part of the investigation. Trump has called the investigation a "Democratic hoax." Mueller's team has interviewed a number of Trump aides, including Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and former chief of staff Reince Priebus. So far, the investigation has resulted in the indictment of former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a guilty plea from former national security adviser Mike Flynn. Meanwhile, Michael Cohen, one of President Donald Trump's personal lawyers, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the research firm Fusion GPS for producing the infamous Steele dossier that alleged the Trump campaign had ties to Russia. Cohen also filed a lawsuit against BuzzFeed News for publishing the entire dossier in January 2017.

Trump calls Russia probe the 'greatest witch hunt', denies interview with Robert Mueller

US Special counsel Robert Mueller&#39;s team wants to question President Donald Trump as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, media reports said today.

Mueller is trying to determine if Trump&#39;s campaign advisers colluded with the Russian government to influence the election.

The investigation also reportedly involves a probe into whether the President obstructed justice when he allegedly asked ex-FBI director James Comey to drop an inquiry into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, becoming the first senior White House official to cut a cooperation deal in Mueller&#39;s inquiry.

 
Now Trump&#39;s legal team is pushing for a written question and answer, multiple media reports said.

There was no comment from Muller&#39;s office.

The White House and Trump has been saying that he is ready to cooperate as he has nothing to hide.

&quot;Mr Trump&#39;s lawyers are expected to try to set ground rules for any interview or provide answers to written questions. If Mr Trump were to refuse outright to cooperate, Mr Mueller could respond with a grand jury subpoena,&quot; The New York Times said.

The Wall Street Journal said some members of Trump&#39;s legal team believe a meeting between the president and Mueller would be &#39;gratuitous&#39;.

&quot;The White House does not comment on communications with the Office of the Special Counsel out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process. The White House is continuing its full cooperation with the Office of the Special Counsel in order to facilitate the earliest possible resolution,&quot; an attorney, who heads Trump&#39;s private legal team, said.

The possibility of Muller seeking to interview Trump, another media outlet said is an indication that the investigation is entering its final phase.

&quot;This is moving faster than anyone really realises,&quot; a source told The Washington Post.

Trump is comfortable participating in an interview and believes it would put to rest the questions about whether his campaign coordinated with Russia in the 2016 election, the person added.

So far, Mueller has interviewed several top present and former White House officials. Prominent among them include Trump&#39;s son-in-law Jarred Kushner.

The White House and Trump has been saying that he is ready to cooperate as he has nothing to hide.

US Special counsel Robert Mueller's team wants to question President Donald Trump as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, media reports said today. Mueller is trying to determine if Trump's campaign advisers colluded with the Russian government to influence the election. The investigation also reportedly involves a probe into whether the President obstructed justice when he allegedly asked ex-FBI director James Comey to drop an inquiry into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Flynn pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, becoming the first senior White House official to cut a cooperation deal in Mueller's inquiry. Now Trump's legal team is pushing for a written question and answer, multiple media reports said. There was no comment from Muller's office. The White House and Trump has been saying that he is ready to cooperate as he has nothing to hide. "Mr Trump's lawyers are expected to try to set ground rules for any interview or provide answers to written questions. If Mr Trump were to refuse outright to cooperate, Mr Mueller could respond with a grand jury subpoena," The New York Times said. The Wall Street Journal said some members of Trump's legal team believe a meeting between the president and Mueller would be 'gratuitous'. "The White House does not comment on communications with the Office of the Special Counsel out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process. The White House is continuing its full cooperation with the Office of the Special Counsel in order to facilitate the earliest possible resolution," an attorney, who heads Trump's private legal team, said. The possibility of Muller seeking to interview Trump, another media outlet said is an indication that the investigation is entering its final phase. "This is moving faster than anyone really realises," a source told The Washington Post. Trump is comfortable participating in an interview and believes it would put to rest the questions about whether his campaign coordinated with Russia in the 2016 election, the person added. So far, Mueller has interviewed several top present and former White House officials. Prominent among them include Trump's son-in-law Jarred Kushner.

US Special counsel may question Trump on Russia probe

Egypt hanged 15 men convicted of attacks that killed security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, security sources said on Tuesday, in what appears to be the largest number of executions on a single day since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took office in 2014.

The hangings took place at two prisons in the north of the country early on Tuesday, the sources said.

A military court issued the sentences and interior ministry officials carried out the executions simultaneously at Borj al-Arab and Wadi al-Natroun prisons, the sources said.

Most of the militants were from Sinai region and were accused of &quot;joining militant groups and taking part in carrying out, planning and assisting in killing a number of army and police personnel in Sinai,&quot; the sources said.

Islamic State&#39;s Sinai branch has waged attacks against security forces in a years-long insurgency in North Sinai, and in the past year expanded targets to include Christians and other civilians.

An attack on a mosque last month which killed more than 300 people, the deadliest in Egypt&#39;s modern history, was widely attributed to Islamic State, but the group did not claim responsibility for it.

In 2015, six people were executed for killing two soldiers during a raid in Qalyubiah province, north of Cairo.

The sources said the hangings took place at two prisons in the north of the country early on Tuesday

Egypt hanged 15 men convicted of attacks that killed security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, security sources said on Tuesday, in what appears to be the largest number of executions on a single day since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took office in 2014. The hangings took place at two prisons in the north of the country early on Tuesday, the sources said. A military court issued the sentences and interior ministry officials carried out the executions simultaneously at Borj al-Arab and Wadi al-Natroun prisons, the sources said. Most of the militants were from Sinai region and were accused of "joining militant groups and taking part in carrying out, planning and assisting in killing a number of army and police personnel in Sinai," the sources said. Islamic State's Sinai branch has waged attacks against security forces in a years-long insurgency in North Sinai, and in the past year expanded targets to include Christians and other civilians. An attack on a mosque last month which killed more than 300 people, the deadliest in Egypt's modern history, was widely attributed to Islamic State, but the group did not claim responsibility for it. In 2015, six people were executed for killing two soldiers during a raid in Qalyubiah province, north of Cairo.

Egypt hangs 15 militants for killing security forces in Sinai: Security sources

In a video making rounds on the internet, Prince Harry of Wales can be seen interviewing former US President Barack Obama.&nbsp;

Prince Harry interviewed Obama for a BBC Radio 4 show as part of a guest editor gig for the station.&nbsp;According to Kensington Palace, the interview&nbsp;focuses on Obama&rsquo;s final day in office and his post-presidential plans, which include his initiatives through the Obama Foundation.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/prince-harry-and-meghan-markles-wedding-date-has-been-officially-announced-26857" target="_blank">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle&#39;s wedding date has been officially announced</a>

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Prince Harry&#39;s guest editorship of <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCRadio4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCRadio4</a> Today programme on the 27th December will feature an interview with former US President <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BarackObama</a>. The interview focuses on their shared interest in building platforms for the next generation of young leaders. <a href="https://t.co/HaBaW0F5pM">pic.twitter.com/HaBaW0F5pM</a>
&mdash; Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/942349496725499904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Kensington Palace posted a preview of the interaction on its official Twitter page while the full interview will air on BBC Radio 4 on December 27.

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Here is a sneak preview of when <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BarackObama</a> met Prince Harry for the interview. Listen to the full interview on 27th December on <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCr4today?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCr4today</a>. <a href="https://t.co/p5I1dUdyhx">pic.twitter.com/p5I1dUdyhx</a>
&mdash; Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/942353717101318144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The interview was conducted when the two&nbsp;were at the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/prince-harry-with-actress-girlfriend-meghan-markle-launch-the-third-invictus-games-20572" target="_blank"> Invictus Games</a> in Toronto in September.

The duo&#39;s friendship dates to the month of May when Obama visited Prince Harry at Kensington Palace, where they discussed &ldquo;a range of shared interests,&rdquo; including empowering young people and the goals of their foundations, according to the palace.

Obama had even congratulated Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-barack-obama-congratulates-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-on-their-engagement-25297" target="_blank">Twitter</a> after the couple announced their engagement last month.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It is said that the interview happened when the two met during Invictus Games in September

In a video making rounds on the internet, Prince Harry of Wales can be seen interviewing former US President Barack Obama. Prince Harry interviewed Obama for a BBC Radio 4 show as part of a guest editor gig for the station. According to Kensington Palace, the interview focuses on Obama’s final day in office and his post-presidential plans, which include his initiatives through the Obama Foundation. Also Read: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date has been officially announced Prince Harry's guest editorship of @BBCRadio4 Today programme on the 27th December will feature an interview with former US President @BarackObama. The interview focuses on their shared interest in building platforms for the next generation of young leaders. pic.twitter.com/HaBaW0F5pM — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 17, 2017 × Kensington Palace posted a preview of the interaction on its official Twitter page while the full interview will air on BBC Radio 4 on December 27. Here is a sneak preview of when @BarackObama met Prince Harry for the interview. Listen to the full interview on 27th December on @BBCr4today. pic.twitter.com/p5I1dUdyhx — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 17, 2017 × The interview was conducted when the two were at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September. The duo's friendship dates to the month of May when Obama visited Prince Harry at Kensington Palace, where they discussed “a range of shared interests,” including empowering young people and the goals of their foundations, according to the palace. Obama had even congratulated Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Twitter after the couple announced their engagement last month.

Watch: Prince Harry interviews Barack Obama for radio show

Congress party headquarters in Delhi wore a festive look ahead of Rahul Gandhi&#39;s take over as party<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-swear-in-as-congress-president-today-26869"> president today</a>&nbsp;with several&nbsp;supporters and party workers thronging 24, Akbar Road, early morning to celebrate the &#39;coronation&#39; of party&#39;s new Chief.

The party workers were seen carrying Rahul Gandhi&#39;s posters and chanting slogans.&nbsp;

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Posters &amp; hoardings put up in area around AICC HQ in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi will take charge as Congress President, today. <a href="https://t.co/Mdp7zQOZl7">pic.twitter.com/Mdp7zQOZl7</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/941853471686344704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The headquarters of the Indian National Congress for four decades has seen the party through the glorious Indira Gandhi years, Rajiv Gandhi&#39;s experiments, Sonia Gandhi&#39;s reluctant introduction&nbsp;into politics in the past.&nbsp;

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Supporters &amp; party workers burst crackers &amp; raise slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi outside Congress HQ at Delhi&#39;s Akbar Road, ahead of him taking over as the party president. <a href="https://t.co/gM4ZXhrI2c">pic.twitter.com/gM4ZXhrI2c</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/941862459396067329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Gandhi&#39;s elevation comes at a tumultuous time. Rahul Gandhi led his party&#39;s campaign from the front in just concluded Gujarat election. Though his party billed it as a sign of an overhauled public image, nearly all exit polls have predicted the Congress losing to the BJP by a huge margin. The Congress is also widely expected to lose Himachal Pradesh. Results for both the state elections will be declared on Monday.

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Visuals from outside Congress HQ in Delhi; sweets brought in, supporters continue to celebrate &amp; raise slogans ahead of Rahul Gandhi&#39;s takeover as party President. <a href="https://t.co/e62Fgumr7t">pic.twitter.com/e62Fgumr7t</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/941871726484271105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Congress headquarters in Delhi is swarmed with hundreds of supporters carrying Rahul Gandhi's posters and chanting slogans in his name.?

Congress party headquarters in Delhi wore a festive look ahead of Rahul Gandhi's take over as party president today with several supporters and party workers thronging 24, Akbar Road, early morning to celebrate the 'coronation' of party's new Chief. The party workers were seen carrying Rahul Gandhi's posters and chanting slogans. Posters & hoardings put up in area around AICC HQ in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi will take charge as Congress President, today. pic.twitter.com/Mdp7zQOZl7 — ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017 × The headquarters of the Indian National Congress for four decades has seen the party through the glorious Indira Gandhi years, Rajiv Gandhi's experiments, Sonia Gandhi's reluctant introduction into politics in the past. Supporters & party workers burst crackers & raise slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi outside Congress HQ at Delhi's Akbar Road, ahead of him taking over as the party president. pic.twitter.com/gM4ZXhrI2c — ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017 × Gandhi's elevation comes at a tumultuous time. Rahul Gandhi led his party's campaign from the front in just concluded Gujarat election. Though his party billed it as a sign of an overhauled public image, nearly all exit polls have predicted the Congress losing to the BJP by a huge margin. The Congress is also widely expected to lose Himachal Pradesh. Results for both the state elections will be declared on Monday. Visuals from outside Congress HQ in Delhi; sweets brought in, supporters continue to celebrate & raise slogans ahead of Rahul Gandhi's takeover as party President. pic.twitter.com/e62Fgumr7t — ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017 ×

Celebrations at Congress headquarters ahead of Rahul Gandhi's take over as party president

Rahul Gandhi is all set to be sworn-in&nbsp;as the party chief today after he was elected unopposed as president of the Indian National Congress on Monday.

It was only four years ago Rahul Gandhi was handed over the baton to lead the party as its vice-president.

Rahul was&nbsp;appointed as party&#39;s vice-president in January 2013.

Rahul&#39;s mother <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sonia-gandhi-to-retire-from-politics-after-rahuls-coronation-as-party-chief-report-26809">Sonia Gandhi has stepped down</a> as the president after serving for nearly two decades. She assumed office in 1998.

Rahul has led the campaign for the 14th Gujarat assembly elections on behalf of the Congress party. He had also recently shown the door to&nbsp;Mani Shankar Aiyar after the latter refused to follow Rahul&#39;s directive to apologise to the PM for his &#39;neech aadmi&#39; remark. &nbsp;

Recently, an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-posts-an-erroneous-tweet-deletes-later-25910">erroneous Tweet from the official handle of Rahul Gandhi </a>associated with price rise during PM Modi&#39;s regime proved to be a major embarrassment for Gandhi and Congress. Gandhi later&nbsp;deleted the Tweet and apologised. &nbsp;

The Gandhi scion&#39;s first test would be Gujarat Assembly elections, how he&nbsp;carries forward his mother&#39;s legacy will be crucial.&nbsp;

As of now, nearly all exit polls and political analysis point toward BJP&#39;s win in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh; results for both the states are due on Monday.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It was four years ago Rahul Gandhi was handed over the baton to lead the party as its vice-president

Rahul Gandhi is all set to be sworn-in as the party chief today after he was elected unopposed as president of the Indian National Congress on Monday. It was only four years ago Rahul Gandhi was handed over the baton to lead the party as its vice-president. Rahul was appointed as party's vice-president in January 2013. Rahul's mother Sonia Gandhi has stepped down as the president after serving for nearly two decades. She assumed office in 1998. Rahul has led the campaign for the 14th Gujarat assembly elections on behalf of the Congress party. He had also recently shown the door to Mani Shankar Aiyar after the latter refused to follow Rahul's directive to apologise to the PM for his 'neech aadmi' remark. Recently, an erroneous Tweet from the official handle of Rahul Gandhi associated with price rise during PM Modi's regime proved to be a major embarrassment for Gandhi and Congress. Gandhi later deleted the Tweet and apologised. The Gandhi scion's first test would be Gujarat Assembly elections, how he carries forward his mother's legacy will be crucial. As of now, nearly all exit polls and political analysis point toward BJP's win in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh; results for both the states are due on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi to be sworn-in as Congress president today

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he would decide very soon whether to run for re-election next year, something he is widely expected to do and comfortably win.

Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000.

If, as expected, he contests and wins what would be a fourth presidential term in March, he would be eligible to serve another six years until 2024.

In a glitzy event in Moscow attended by young people, a host asked Putin if he would be running for re-election in March.

The Russian leader, who polls regularly show enjoys a popularity rating of around 80 percent, asked the audience if they supported him running in the elections. &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; the audience shouted back, applauding him loudly.

&ldquo;I understand that this decision must be taken in the near future and it will be taken in the near future,&rdquo; Putin told the audience.

&ldquo;And when taking it I will, of course, take into account our conversation today and your reaction.&rdquo;

Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he would decide very soon whether to run for re-election next year, something he is widely expected to do and comfortably win. Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000. If, as expected, he contests and wins what would be a fourth presidential term in March, he would be eligible to serve another six years until 2024. In a glitzy event in Moscow attended by young people, a host asked Putin if he would be running for re-election in March. The Russian leader, who polls regularly show enjoys a popularity rating of around 80 percent, asked the audience if they supported him running in the elections. “Yes,” the audience shouted back, applauding him loudly. “I understand that this decision must be taken in the near future and it will be taken in the near future,” Putin told the audience. “And when taking it I will, of course, take into account our conversation today and your reaction.”

Will take decision to run for re-election in near future: Putin

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn-in for a second five-year term in front of a rapturous crowd on Tuesday as riot police sealed off an area where the opposition planned a rival gathering and teargassed people trying to reach it.&nbsp;

Kenyatta won a repeat presidential election on October 26 that was boycotted by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who said it would not be free and fair.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court nullified the first presidential election, in August, over irregularities.&nbsp;

The extended election season has divided Kenya, a Western ally in a volatile region, and blunted growth in East Africa&#39;s richest economy.&nbsp;

Odinga&#39;s supporters, many drawn from poorer parts of the country, feel locked out of power and the patronage it brings.

Political arguments often have ethnic undercurrents, with Odinga&#39;s supporters pointing out that three of the country&#39;s four presidents have come from one ethnic group, although the country has 44 recognized groups.&nbsp;

But such arguments seemed far from the happy crowds at the celebration, who cheered wildly as Kenyatta was sworn into office and as he received a 21-gun salute.&nbsp;

&quot;I ... do swear ... that I will always truly and diligently serve the people of the Republic of Kenya,&quot; Kenyatta said, his hand resting on a Bible.&nbsp;

Before he arrived, a military band in gold and blue uniforms serenaded heads of state from Somalia, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Zambia and other nations as they arrived at the stadium where the ceremony took place.&nbsp;

More than 60,000 Kenyatta supporters, many clad in the red and yellow Jubilee party colours and carrying Kenyan flags, filled the stadium benches.&nbsp;

Thousands of others waited outside. Some, chafing at the restrictions, overwhelmed police and streamed in. Officers were forced to fire teargas to control them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Burning Tyres

Supporters of Kenyatta - who won with 98 percent of the vote after Odinga&#39;s boycott - was the opposition to engage in talks and move on.

&quot;I&#39;m sure Uhuru will be able to bring people together and unite them so we can all work for the country,&quot; said Eunice Jerobon, a trader who travelled overnight from the Rift Valley town of Kapsabet for the inauguration, before the disturbance.

But Odinga supporters say such talk of unity is tantamount to surrender. They accuse the ruling party of stealing the election, rampant corruption, directing abuse by the security forces and neglecting vast swathes of the country, including Odinga&#39;s heartland in the west.&nbsp;

&quot;A return to the political backwardness of our past is more than unacceptable. It is intolerable ... This divide cannot be bridged by dialogue and compromise,&quot; Odinga`s National Super Alliance opposition alliance said in a statement.&nbsp;

The opposition planned to hold a prayer meeting in the capital on Tuesday, saying it wanted to commemorate the lives of Odinga supporters killed during confrontations with the security forces over the election period.&nbsp;

More than 70 people have been killed in political violence this election season, mostly by the police. Such killings are rarely investigated.

A Reuters team at the scene of the planned rally said the area had been sealed off by seven truckloads of police in riot gear. Two water cannons were standing by and a helicopter hovered overhead.

Police began firing teargas in nearby residential areas two hours before the rally was due to start, apparently attempting to prevent opposition supporters from gathering.

Several roads were blocked by burning tyres, rocks, glass and uprooted billboards. Police shot into the air to disperse anyone trying to gather.

But Dennis Onyango, a spokesman for Odinga, told Reuters on Tuesday morning they were still planning to hold the rally.&nbsp;

Kenyatta won a repeat presidential election on October 26 that was boycotted by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who said it would not be free and fair

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn-in for a second five-year term in front of a rapturous crowd on Tuesday as riot police sealed off an area where the opposition planned a rival gathering and teargassed people trying to reach it. Kenyatta won a repeat presidential election on October 26 that was boycotted by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who said it would not be free and fair. The Supreme Court nullified the first presidential election, in August, over irregularities. The extended election season has divided Kenya, a Western ally in a volatile region, and blunted growth in East Africa's richest economy. Odinga's supporters, many drawn from poorer parts of the country, feel locked out of power and the patronage it brings. Political arguments often have ethnic undercurrents, with Odinga's supporters pointing out that three of the country's four presidents have come from one ethnic group, although the country has 44 recognized groups. But such arguments seemed far from the happy crowds at the celebration, who cheered wildly as Kenyatta was sworn into office and as he received a 21-gun salute. "I ... do swear ... that I will always truly and diligently serve the people of the Republic of Kenya," Kenyatta said, his hand resting on a Bible. Before he arrived, a military band in gold and blue uniforms serenaded heads of state from Somalia, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Zambia and other nations as they arrived at the stadium where the ceremony took place. More than 60,000 Kenyatta supporters, many clad in the red and yellow Jubilee party colours and carrying Kenyan flags, filled the stadium benches. Thousands of others waited outside. Some, chafing at the restrictions, overwhelmed police and streamed in. Officers were forced to fire teargas to control them. Burning Tyres Supporters of Kenyatta - who won with 98 percent of the vote after Odinga's boycott - was the opposition to engage in talks and move on. "I'm sure Uhuru will be able to bring people together and unite them so we can all work for the country," said Eunice Jerobon, a trader who travelled overnight from the Rift Valley town of Kapsabet for the inauguration, before the disturbance. But Odinga supporters say such talk of unity is tantamount to surrender. They accuse the ruling party of stealing the election, rampant corruption, directing abuse by the security forces and neglecting vast swathes of the country, including Odinga's heartland in the west. "A return to the political backwardness of our past is more than unacceptable. It is intolerable ... This divide cannot be bridged by dialogue and compromise," Odinga`s National Super Alliance opposition alliance said in a statement. The opposition planned to hold a prayer meeting in the capital on Tuesday, saying it wanted to commemorate the lives of Odinga supporters killed during confrontations with the security forces over the election period. More than 70 people have been killed in political violence this election season, mostly by the police. Such killings are rarely investigated. A Reuters team at the scene of the planned rally said the area had been sealed off by seven truckloads of police in riot gear. Two water cannons were standing by and a helicopter hovered overhead. Police began firing teargas in nearby residential areas two hours before the rally was due to start, apparently attempting to prevent opposition supporters from gathering. Several roads were blocked by burning tyres, rocks, glass and uprooted billboards. Police shot into the air to disperse anyone trying to gather. But Dennis Onyango, a spokesman for Odinga, told Reuters on Tuesday morning they were still planning to hold the rally.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta sworn-in for a second five-year term in front of a rapturous crowd

President Donald Trump&rsquo;s &nbsp;first official trip to Asia covering Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines concluded on a note that sent mixed messages to his allies and partners. During the trip, he participated in several meetings including the APEC, ASEAN &ndash; US summit and the East Asia Summit.

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Carefully avoiding to touch on controversial issues, like Senkaku Islands and the&nbsp;South China Sea, Trump reiterated American preference for bilateralism and made a public declaration on his &lsquo;America first&rsquo; policies as against globalisation. His first so-called vision statement on Asia did not adequately reassure the Asian allies and partners on Washington&rsquo;s commitment to the security of the region. It fell far short of their expectations.

For instance, in his summit meeting with the ASEAN countries, there was a great expectation that he would make a categorical commitment to his allies and partners against China&rsquo;s constructing and militarising artificial islands in the disputed region. As widely reported in the media, in his summit meeting with the ASEAN countries, there was no specific reference either to the UN arbitral court&rsquo;s verdict or to China&rsquo;s illegal construction of artificial islands. During his visit to Vietnam, Trump&rsquo;s offer to &ldquo;mediate&rdquo; in the South China Sea dispute deeply disappointed the Vietnamese hosts.

The ASEAN-China summit held in Manila also witnessed a similar scene. China is reported to have dominated the discussions which were centered on the drawing up of a code of conduct in the disputed waters. Though there was a provisional agreement to start the negotiations sometime during early 2018, participants could not come to an agreement on whether to make the code of conduct binding legally as claimed by countries like Vietnam.

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On the other hand, the Philippines and Malaysia were inclined to pursue a more pro-China stance. China&rsquo;s increasing economic clout due to its bulging trade and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has sharply divided the ASEAN and brought about a basic change in the attitudes of countries like the Philippines. The Philippines, the present ASEAN chair, took a soft position on the South China Sea issue and thereby weakened the ASEAN cause. President Rodrigo Duterte showed great inclination to build &ldquo;friendship&rdquo; with China and &ldquo;toned down&rdquo; the South China Sea issue.

It is against this backdrop, one has to examine the meeting that took place between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the top two Chinese leaders in quick succession. The meeting between Abe and Chinese President Xi Jing pin on the sidelines of the APEC conference surprisingly generated a great deal of hope for better relations between the two.

Similar such meetings on the sidelines of international gatherings in the past were marked by a lack of warmth on the part of President Xi. But this time, the bilateral dynamics had somewhat changed. Both Abe and Xi had emerged stronger politically in their respective countries - the former having won the lower house election with a massive majority and the latter having emerged more powerful following the 19th Party Congress. When Xi expressed a desire to make &ldquo; a new start&rdquo; in the bilateral relations, it came as a pleasant surprise to Abe.

Abe&rsquo;s next meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Manila on 13 November, within a couple of days after the Abe-Xi meeting, reinforced the optimism for improved relations. Li told Abe that both countries &ldquo;must work together to make the momentum of improvement of bilateral relations into something solid.&rdquo; Both Li and Abe agreed to make arrangements for holding a trilateral summit with South Korean President in Tokyo soon. Since the advent of Abe as prime minister, neither Li nor Xi has made an official visit to Japan. In 2018 both countries are set to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the bilateral peace treaty, and Abe would look forward to Xi &lsquo;s visit to Japan on the occasion.

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As many analysts point out, the unpredictable style of President Trump has also created some new space for possible cooperation between Japan and China. The need to keep North Korea under control is a strong binding factor between the US, China and Japan. In his talks with Abe, Trump did not seriously discuss Japan&rsquo;s post-election constitutional and defence policies. His insistence that Tokyo purchases &ldquo;massive amounts of military equipment&rdquo; from the US to reduce its trade surplus dismayed the Japanese leaders.

From the Japanese side, it was pointed out that Japan was already spending a great deal on purchasing US weapons and equipment. But what disappointed Tokyo most was that at a time when Abe is trying to create a favourable climate for constitutional amendments, it was hardly the time for Trump even to appear to be forcing huge military expenditures on Japan.

Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;toned down&rdquo; stance on the South China Sea issue, his emphasis on &ldquo;America first&rdquo; policy and his soft attitude towards China have made many Japanese leaders suspect that the US is retreating from Asia. They are also worried that given the warmth that Trump showed to Xi during his visit, both the US and China could develop a stronger rapport to the exclusion of Japan. From the Chinese viewpoint, if the US retreats, it would be an advantage for Beijing to exert its influence with Japan as less of the hostile power.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Japanese leaders are worried because of the warmth that Trump showed to Xi during his visit. It is suspected that US and China could develop a stronger bond that may harm Japan

President Donald Trump’s first official trip to Asia covering Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines concluded on a note that sent mixed messages to his allies and partners. During the trip, he participated in several meetings including the APEC, ASEAN – US summit and the East Asia Summit. In his summit meeting with the ASEAN countries, there was a great expectation that he would make a categorical commitment to his allies and partners against China’s constructing and militarising artificial islands in the disputed region. × Carefully avoiding to touch on controversial issues, like Senkaku Islands and the South China Sea, Trump reiterated American preference for bilateralism and made a public declaration on his ‘America first’ policies as against globalisation. His first so-called vision statement on Asia did not adequately reassure the Asian allies and partners on Washington’s commitment to the security of the region. It fell far short of their expectations. For instance, in his summit meeting with the ASEAN countries, there was a great expectation that he would make a categorical commitment to his allies and partners against China’s constructing and militarising artificial islands in the disputed region. As widely reported in the media, in his summit meeting with the ASEAN countries, there was no specific reference either to the UN arbitral court’s verdict or to China’s illegal construction of artificial islands. During his visit to Vietnam, Trump’s offer to “mediate” in the South China Sea dispute deeply disappointed the Vietnamese hosts. The ASEAN-China summit held in Manila also witnessed a similar scene. China is reported to have dominated the discussions which were centered on the drawing up of a code of conduct in the disputed waters. Though there was a provisional agreement to start the negotiations sometime during early 2018, participants could not come to an agreement on whether to make the code of conduct binding legally as claimed by countries like Vietnam. China’s increasing economic clout due to its bulging trade and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has sharply divided the ASEAN and brought about a basic change in the attitudes of countries like the Philippines. × On the other hand, the Philippines and Malaysia were inclined to pursue a more pro-China stance. China’s increasing economic clout due to its bulging trade and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has sharply divided the ASEAN and brought about a basic change in the attitudes of countries like the Philippines. The Philippines, the present ASEAN chair, took a soft position on the South China Sea issue and thereby weakened the ASEAN cause. President Rodrigo Duterte showed great inclination to build “friendship” with China and “toned down” the South China Sea issue. It is against this backdrop, one has to examine the meeting that took place between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the top two Chinese leaders in quick succession. The meeting between Abe and Chinese President Xi Jing pin on the sidelines of the APEC conference surprisingly generated a great deal of hope for better relations between the two. Similar such meetings on the sidelines of international gatherings in the past were marked by a lack of warmth on the part of President Xi. But this time, the bilateral dynamics had somewhat changed. Both Abe and Xi had emerged stronger politically in their respective countries - the former having won the lower house election with a massive majority and the latter having emerged more powerful following the 19th Party Congress. When Xi expressed a desire to make “ a new start” in the bilateral relations, it came as a pleasant surprise to Abe. Abe’s next meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Manila on 13 November, within a couple of days after the Abe-Xi meeting, reinforced the optimism for improved relations. Li told Abe that both countries “must work together to make the momentum of improvement of bilateral relations into something solid.” Both Li and Abe agreed to make arrangements for holding a trilateral summit with South Korean President in Tokyo soon. Since the advent of Abe as prime minister, neither Li nor Xi has made an official visit to Japan. In 2018 both countries are set to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the bilateral peace treaty, and Abe would look forward to Xi ‘s visit to Japan on the occasion. Trump's insistence that Tokyo purchases “massive amounts of military equipment” from the US to reduce its trade surplus dismayed the Japanese leaders. × As many analysts point out, the unpredictable style of President Trump has also created some new space for possible cooperation between Japan and China. The need to keep North Korea under control is a strong binding factor between the US, China and Japan. In his talks with Abe, Trump did not seriously discuss Japan’s post-election constitutional and defence policies. His insistence that Tokyo purchases “massive amounts of military equipment” from the US to reduce its trade surplus dismayed the Japanese leaders. From the Japanese side, it was pointed out that Japan was already spending a great deal on purchasing US weapons and equipment. But what disappointed Tokyo most was that at a time when Abe is trying to create a favourable climate for constitutional amendments, it was hardly the time for Trump even to appear to be forcing huge military expenditures on Japan. Trump’s “toned down” stance on the South China Sea issue, his emphasis on “America first” policy and his soft attitude towards China have made many Japanese leaders suspect that the US is retreating from Asia. They are also worried that given the warmth that Trump showed to Xi during his visit, both the US and China could develop a stronger rapport to the exclusion of Japan. From the Chinese viewpoint, if the US retreats, it would be an advantage for Beijing to exert its influence with Japan as less of the hostile power. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Is the US retreating from Asia, giving way to China?

Kenyan police fired teargas and clashed with both ruling party and opposition supporters Tuesday ahead of the swearing-in as president of Uhuru Kenyatta after two disputed polls that have left the nation deeply divided.

As foreign and local dignitaries poured into the 60,000-seat Kasarani stadium in Nairobi where the ceremony is to be held, the opposition attempted to gather for a &quot;memorial rally&quot; honouring the more than 50 people killed, mostly by police, in four months of political upheaval.

However, police fired volleys of teargas and beat opposition supporters, prompting running battles in the area, an AFP reporter said.

Meanwhile at the Kasarani stadium chaos erupted as a crowd attempted to force its way into the venue, prompting police to fire teargas at Kenyatta supporters who tried to fight their way in.

&quot;I just want to see President Uhuru Kenyatta because I voted for him, why are we being beaten like NASA (opposition),&quot; said Janet Wambua, who was among the angry crowd.

Joseph Irungu of the interior ministry planning committee had said there was space for 40,000 people who did not get in to watch the event on big screens outside the stadium. However, no such screens were provided, further angering the crowd.

Around 13 mostly African heads of state are expected to attend the ceremony where Kenyatta, 56, will be sworn in for his second and final five-year term.

These include the presidents of South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, and Somalia - among others - while prime ministers, foreign ministers, and special envoys will represent other African nations, as well as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and Serbia.

Two elections and a historic court case&nbsp;

Kenyatta&#39;s inauguration comes after the Supreme Court validated his victory in last month&#39;s rerun poll.&nbsp;

However, the swearing-in may not draw a line under the country&#39;s political crisis with Odinga vowing to fight on.

The electoral strife goes back to an August 8 poll that was annulled in September by the Supreme Court, citing &quot;irregularities and illegalities&quot;.&nbsp;

The court ordered a rerun in October that was boycotted by the opposition, handing Kenyatta a landslide of 98 percent of votes cast by just 39 percent of the electorate.

The disputed election season has split the country along ethnic and regional lines, although political violence has not reached the scale of that which followed a 2007 poll when 1,100 were killed.

Odinga, denied the presidency for a fourth time this year, believes that he was cheated and the 72-year-old has refused to recognise the result.&nbsp;

He has promised to found a &quot;third republic&quot; - following independence from Britain in 1963 and a new constitution adopted in 2010 - as well as to continue a programme of protests and economic boycotts aimed at undermining Kenyatta&#39;s &quot;dictatorship&quot;.

The current political crisis draws on a deep well of social, ethnic and geographic grievances in the country of around 48 million people.

In areas loyal to Odinga, an ethnic Luo, there is a sense of having been ground down and discriminated against since independence, not least by Kenyatta&#39;s Kikuyu group, which has given Kenya three of its four presidents.

The months of disruption and unrest, plus the holding of two separate elections, have badly affected the economy, hitting the poorest hardest while leaving the wealthy political elites relatively unharmed.

Chaos erupted as a crowd attempted to force its way into the venue, prompting police to fire teargas at Kenyatta supporters who tried to fight their way in

Kenyan police fired teargas and clashed with both ruling party and opposition supporters Tuesday ahead of the swearing-in as president of Uhuru Kenyatta after two disputed polls that have left the nation deeply divided. As foreign and local dignitaries poured into the 60,000-seat Kasarani stadium in Nairobi where the ceremony is to be held, the opposition attempted to gather for a "memorial rally" honouring the more than 50 people killed, mostly by police, in four months of political upheaval. However, police fired volleys of teargas and beat opposition supporters, prompting running battles in the area, an AFP reporter said. Meanwhile at the Kasarani stadium chaos erupted as a crowd attempted to force its way into the venue, prompting police to fire teargas at Kenyatta supporters who tried to fight their way in. "I just want to see President Uhuru Kenyatta because I voted for him, why are we being beaten like NASA (opposition)," said Janet Wambua, who was among the angry crowd. Joseph Irungu of the interior ministry planning committee had said there was space for 40,000 people who did not get in to watch the event on big screens outside the stadium. However, no such screens were provided, further angering the crowd. Around 13 mostly African heads of state are expected to attend the ceremony where Kenyatta, 56, will be sworn in for his second and final five-year term. These include the presidents of South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, and Somalia - among others - while prime ministers, foreign ministers, and special envoys will represent other African nations, as well as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and Serbia. Two elections and a historic court case Kenyatta's inauguration comes after the Supreme Court validated his victory in last month's rerun poll. However, the swearing-in may not draw a line under the country's political crisis with Odinga vowing to fight on. The electoral strife goes back to an August 8 poll that was annulled in September by the Supreme Court, citing "irregularities and illegalities". The court ordered a rerun in October that was boycotted by the opposition, handing Kenyatta a landslide of 98 percent of votes cast by just 39 percent of the electorate. The disputed election season has split the country along ethnic and regional lines, although political violence has not reached the scale of that which followed a 2007 poll when 1,100 were killed. Odinga, denied the presidency for a fourth time this year, believes that he was cheated and the 72-year-old has refused to recognise the result. He has promised to found a "third republic" - following independence from Britain in 1963 and a new constitution adopted in 2010 - as well as to continue a programme of protests and economic boycotts aimed at undermining Kenyatta's "dictatorship". The current political crisis draws on a deep well of social, ethnic and geographic grievances in the country of around 48 million people. In areas loyal to Odinga, an ethnic Luo, there is a sense of having been ground down and discriminated against since independence, not least by Kenyatta's Kikuyu group, which has given Kenya three of its four presidents. The months of disruption and unrest, plus the holding of two separate elections, have badly affected the economy, hitting the poorest hardest while leaving the wealthy political elites relatively unharmed.

Teargas, chaos as Kenyatta to be sworn in for disputed second term

United States president on Sunday boasted about his 10-month administration, citing progress in the economy, reports said.&nbsp;

Trump tweeted on Sunday, in light of investigations into ties between his campaign and Russia meddling in the&nbsp;2016 US elections.&nbsp;

&quot;Since the first day I took office, all you hear is the phony Democrat excuse for losing the election, Russia, Russia, Russia. Despite this I have the economy booming and have possibly done more than any 10 months President. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!&quot; Trump tweeted.

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Since the first day I took office, all you hear is the phony Democrat excuse for losing the election, Russia, Russia,Russia. Despite this I have the economy booming and have possibly done more than any 10 month President. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/934896989539586054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Trump has spent the weekend golfing and tweeting, with a number of them being of the self-congratulatory nature.&nbsp;

The president has proposed an idea of campaigning for Roy Moore, who faces off against Democrat Jones in the December 12 Alabama special election to fill the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, media reports said. The president said he will make a decision about it sometime this week. &nbsp;

Trump will also be visiting Capitol Hill on Tuesday, ahead of a possible vote on tax reform this week.&nbsp;

Donald Trump also said he had 'the economy booming'

United States president on Sunday boasted about his 10-month administration, citing progress in the economy, reports said. Trump tweeted on Sunday, in light of investigations into ties between his campaign and Russia meddling in the 2016 US elections. "Since the first day I took office, all you hear is the phony Democrat excuse for losing the election, Russia, Russia, Russia. Despite this I have the economy booming and have possibly done more than any 10 months President. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump tweeted. Since the first day I took office, all you hear is the phony Democrat excuse for losing the election, Russia, Russia,Russia. Despite this I have the economy booming and have possibly done more than any 10 month President. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2017 × Trump has spent the weekend golfing and tweeting, with a number of them being of the self-congratulatory nature. The president has proposed an idea of campaigning for Roy Moore, who faces off against Democrat Jones in the December 12 Alabama special election to fill the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, media reports said. The president said he will make a decision about it sometime this week. Trump will also be visiting Capitol Hill on Tuesday, ahead of a possible vote on tax reform this week.

Possibly done more than any 10-month President: Trump

President Ram Nath Kovind said today that it was critical not to disturb the fraternity of separation of powers and maintain a &quot;delicate balance&quot; while exploring the relationship between the judiciary, the executive, and the legislature as they are all equal. The three organs of the state should be conscious of their liberty and strive to protect their autonomy, he said.

However, they should be careful about not disturbing the fraternity of separation of powers &quot;by even unknowingly intruding into the domain of either of the two other branches&quot;, the president said.

&quot;It is critical to keep this intricate and delicate balance in mind when exploring the relationship between the three branches of the state - that is, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive. They are all equal,&quot; Kovind said while inaugurating the function organised by the Supreme Court here to celebrate the Constitution Day.

He said the Constitution is &quot;not static but is a living document&quot; and the sobriety and discretion in communication between these three branches of the state is extremely advisable.

&quot;This will promote and enhance fraternity between three equal branches of the state, all of which have a certain responsibility to the Constitution. It will also reassure the ordinary citizen that the Constitution is safe - and in mature hands,&quot; the president said.

He also emphasised that high courts across the country need to take up the task of quickly providing certified translated copies of judgements to the litigants in local and regional languages.

&quot;Even the hearings in court, if possible, have to be in a language that is understandable to the ordinary litigant. The process of case disposal too has to be made faster,&quot; he said.

The president also said that it was upon the higher judiciary to mentor and encourage the lower judiciary and in this process, the cooperation of state governments was very much necessary.

He said it was for the state governments to ensure that the judges of the district and subordinate courts were not denied their due perquisites and facilities and high courts should urge the subordinate courts to be more efficient and conclude cases faster.

&quot;I am glad to note, some high courts are taking steps in these directions. As of June 30, 2017, there were about 76,000 old cases, pending for five years or more, in sessions and district courts under the High Court of Jharkhand. The High Court has set a target of March 31, 2018, to dispose off almost half these cases,&quot; he said.

He also referred to the initiative of the Chhattisgarh High Court in setting a deadline of April 30, 2018, for the subordinate courts to dispose off cases pending for over 10 years and September 30 next year deadline for disposing cases pending for between five and 10 years.

&quot;The High Court of Chhattisgarh has also started to make provision for availability of Hindi versions of judgements and orders. I commend these initiatives. I am sure other high courts are also moving ahead with a similar sense of public service,&quot; Kovind said.

He said that Constitution is not just an abstract ideal and it has to be made meaningful to the lives of ordinary people in every street, every village and every &#39;mohalla&#39; of the country.

Delivering a lecture on &#39;constitutional value&#39; at the function, former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti referred to the historical events related to framing of the Constitution.

He said that the Constitution is the &quot;religion of all the religions&quot;.

Referring to the judiciary, the ex-CJI said that while other organs of the state may afford to fail and falter, the judiciary cannot &quot;afford to fail&quot;.

However, he also had a word of caution for the judiciary and said that it should not take upon the role of the executive and the legislature while discharging judicial functions as a &quot;judge is always on trial&quot;.

President Ram Nath Kovind said that the Constitution was the 'religion of all religions', while inaugurating the function organized by the Supreme Court

President Ram Nath Kovind said today that it was critical not to disturb the fraternity of separation of powers and maintain a "delicate balance" while exploring the relationship between the judiciary, the executive, and the legislature as they are all equal. The three organs of the state should be conscious of their liberty and strive to protect their autonomy, he said. However, they should be careful about not disturbing the fraternity of separation of powers "by even unknowingly intruding into the domain of either of the two other branches", the president said. "It is critical to keep this intricate and delicate balance in mind when exploring the relationship between the three branches of the state - that is, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive. They are all equal," Kovind said while inaugurating the function organised by the Supreme Court here to celebrate the Constitution Day. He said the Constitution is "not static but is a living document" and the sobriety and discretion in communication between these three branches of the state is extremely advisable. "This will promote and enhance fraternity between three equal branches of the state, all of which have a certain responsibility to the Constitution. It will also reassure the ordinary citizen that the Constitution is safe - and in mature hands," the president said. He also emphasised that high courts across the country need to take up the task of quickly providing certified translated copies of judgements to the litigants in local and regional languages. "Even the hearings in court, if possible, have to be in a language that is understandable to the ordinary litigant. The process of case disposal too has to be made faster," he said. The president also said that it was upon the higher judiciary to mentor and encourage the lower judiciary and in this process, the cooperation of state governments was very much necessary. He said it was for the state governments to ensure that the judges of the district and subordinate courts were not denied their due perquisites and facilities and high courts should urge the subordinate courts to be more efficient and conclude cases faster. "I am glad to note, some high courts are taking steps in these directions. As of June 30, 2017, there were about 76,000 old cases, pending for five years or more, in sessions and district courts under the High Court of Jharkhand. The High Court has set a target of March 31, 2018, to dispose off almost half these cases," he said. He also referred to the initiative of the Chhattisgarh High Court in setting a deadline of April 30, 2018, for the subordinate courts to dispose off cases pending for over 10 years and September 30 next year deadline for disposing cases pending for between five and 10 years. "The High Court of Chhattisgarh has also started to make provision for availability of Hindi versions of judgements and orders. I commend these initiatives. I am sure other high courts are also moving ahead with a similar sense of public service," Kovind said. He said that Constitution is not just an abstract ideal and it has to be made meaningful to the lives of ordinary people in every street, every village and every 'mohalla' of the country. Delivering a lecture on 'constitutional value' at the function, former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti referred to the historical events related to framing of the Constitution. He said that the Constitution is the "religion of all the religions". Referring to the judiciary, the ex-CJI said that while other organs of the state may afford to fail and falter, the judiciary cannot "afford to fail". However, he also had a word of caution for the judiciary and said that it should not take upon the role of the executive and the legislature while discharging judicial functions as a "judge is always on trial".

Critical not to disturb the fraternity of separation of powers: Ram Nath Kovind on Constitution Day

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mnangagwa-zimbabwes-crocodile-to-snap-up-the-top-job-24852">Emmerson&nbsp;Mnangagwa&nbsp;will cap a stunning political comeback on Friday when he is&nbsp;sworn&nbsp;in as&nbsp;Zimbabwe&#39;s&nbsp;president</a>, bringing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/mugabe-era-ends-focus-now-shifts-to-ousted-vp-emmerson-mnangagwa-6882">the final curtain down on the 37-year rule of Robert Mugabe.</a>

Even though most&nbsp;Zimbabweans are jubilant at the exit of 93-year-old Mugabe, who had led Zimbabwe&nbsp;from independence in 1980, the army&#39;s detention and rough treatment of pro-Mugabe ministers is worrying human rights groups.

Mugabe, the world&#39;s oldest serving head of state, resigned on Tuesday as parliament began a process to impeach him, a week after the army stepped in to seize power.

Mnangagwa&nbsp;assured Mugabe he and his family would be safe in&nbsp;Zimbabwe&nbsp;when the two men spoke for the first time since&nbsp;Mnangagwa&nbsp;returned home this week, the state-owned The Herald newspaper reported on Friday.

They agreed that Mugabe may not attend&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mnangagwa-to-swear-in-as-zimbabwean-new-president-on-friday-25007">Mnangagwa&#39;s swearing-in ceremony </a>because of fatigue, the paper added.

Mugabe&#39;s sudden fall had been triggered by a battle to succeed him that pitted&nbsp;Mnangagwaagainst Mugabe&#39;s much younger wife Grace.

Just two weeks ago, she seemed to have the upper hand after Mugabe fired&nbsp;Mnangagwa&nbsp;on Nov. 6 as vice&nbsp;president&nbsp;for showing &quot;traits of disloyalty&quot;.

That prompted&nbsp;Mnangagwa, 75, long one of Mugabe&#39;s most trusted lieutenants, to flee the country in fear for his life. It also brought tanks into the streets.

&quot;Vengeful Retribution&quot;

Addressing a cheering crowd in Harare on Wednesday night after his return,&nbsp;Mnangagwa&nbsp;saidZimbabwe&nbsp;was entering a new stage of democracy after what analysts are terming a &quot;soft coup&quot; against Mugabe.

&quot;The people have spoken. The voice of the people is the voice of God,&quot; he told thousands of supporters.

However, there are growing signs that the military&#39;s intervention on the side of&nbsp;Mnangagwa&nbsp;is far from soft, with reports of harrassment of politicians loyal to Grace&#39;s G40 political faction.

Former finance minister Ignatius Chombo was admitted to hospital on Friday with injuries sustained from beatings he received during a week in military custody, his lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, said. Chombo was blindfolded throughout, he added.

&quot;It was a very brutal and draconian way of dealing with opponents,&quot; Madhuku told Reuters.

In the last 24 hours, rights groups said relatives of former pro-Mugabe ministers had also been harassed.

Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution as part of a deal that led to his resignation, sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday.

Some&nbsp;Mnangagwa&nbsp;supporters have called for unspecified action against G40 and Grace, who was known as &quot;Gucci Grace&quot; for her reputed dedication to shopping, an affront to many in a country with an unemployment rate of 90 percent.

On Thursday,&nbsp;Mnangagwa&nbsp;urged&nbsp;Zimbabweans not to undertake &quot;vengeful retribution&quot;.

Bloodshed of&nbsp;1980S

Rebuilding a shattered economy and restoring investor confidence will be at the top of the agenda for&nbsp;Mnangagwa, who carries his own baggage after decades of service to Mugabe, who was widely accused of resorting to human rights abuses and election-rigging.

Mnangagwa&nbsp;earned the nickname &quot;Ngwena&quot;, Shona for crocodile, an animal famed and feared in Zimbabwean lore for stealth and ruthlessness.

Mnangagwa&nbsp;backed Mugabe&#39;s economic nationalism, especially a drive to force foreign firms to hand majority stakes to local blacks, suggesting he may not be the pro-market pragmatist many investors have been hoping for.

Most controversially, he was in charge of internal security in the mid-1980s when Mugabe deployed a crack North Korean-trained brigade against rebels loyal to his rival Joshua Nkomo.

Rights groups say 20,000 civilians, mostly from the Ndebele tribe, were killed. Mugabe denies genocide or crimes against humanity but has admitted it was a &quot;moment of madness&quot;.

Mnangagwa&#39;s role remains shrouded in mystery.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said it was cautiously optimistic a&nbsp;Mnangagwapresidency would not &quot;mimic and replicate the evil, corrupt, decadent and incompetent Mugabe regime&quot;.

The Southern African Development Community said it was ready to work closely with Mnangagwa.

Zimbabwe&#39;s bourse, which had been on a rapid rise, lost $6 billion during this month&#39;s military intervention as its main index fell by 40 percent. Analysts say it will fall even further before recovering.

Emmerson?Mnangagwa?will cap a stunning political comeback on Friday when he is?sworn?in as?Zimbabwe's?president, bringing the final curtain down on the 37-year rule of Robert Mugabe

Emmerson Mnangagwa will cap a stunning political comeback on Friday when he is sworn in as Zimbabwe's president, bringing the final curtain down on the 37-year rule of Robert Mugabe. Even though most Zimbabweans are jubilant at the exit of 93-year-old Mugabe, who had led Zimbabwe from independence in 1980, the army's detention and rough treatment of pro-Mugabe ministers is worrying human rights groups. Mugabe, the world's oldest serving head of state, resigned on Tuesday as parliament began a process to impeach him, a week after the army stepped in to seize power. Mnangagwa assured Mugabe he and his family would be safe in Zimbabwe when the two men spoke for the first time since Mnangagwa returned home this week, the state-owned The Herald newspaper reported on Friday. They agreed that Mugabe may not attend Mnangagwa's swearing-in ceremony because of fatigue, the paper added. Mugabe's sudden fall had been triggered by a battle to succeed him that pitted Mnangagwaagainst Mugabe's much younger wife Grace. Just two weeks ago, she seemed to have the upper hand after Mugabe fired Mnangagwa on Nov. 6 as vice president for showing "traits of disloyalty". That prompted Mnangagwa, 75, long one of Mugabe's most trusted lieutenants, to flee the country in fear for his life. It also brought tanks into the streets. "Vengeful Retribution" Addressing a cheering crowd in Harare on Wednesday night after his return, Mnangagwa saidZimbabwe was entering a new stage of democracy after what analysts are terming a "soft coup" against Mugabe. "The people have spoken. The voice of the people is the voice of God," he told thousands of supporters. However, there are growing signs that the military's intervention on the side of Mnangagwa is far from soft, with reports of harrassment of politicians loyal to Grace's G40 political faction. Former finance minister Ignatius Chombo was admitted to hospital on Friday with injuries sustained from beatings he received during a week in military custody, his lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, said. Chombo was blindfolded throughout, he added. "It was a very brutal and draconian way of dealing with opponents," Madhuku told Reuters. In the last 24 hours, rights groups said relatives of former pro-Mugabe ministers had also been harassed. Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution as part of a deal that led to his resignation, sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday. Some Mnangagwa supporters have called for unspecified action against G40 and Grace, who was known as "Gucci Grace" for her reputed dedication to shopping, an affront to many in a country with an unemployment rate of 90 percent. On Thursday, Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans not to undertake "vengeful retribution". Bloodshed of 1980S Rebuilding a shattered economy and restoring investor confidence will be at the top of the agenda for Mnangagwa, who carries his own baggage after decades of service to Mugabe, who was widely accused of resorting to human rights abuses and election-rigging. Mnangagwa earned the nickname "Ngwena", Shona for crocodile, an animal famed and feared in Zimbabwean lore for stealth and ruthlessness. Mnangagwa backed Mugabe's economic nationalism, especially a drive to force foreign firms to hand majority stakes to local blacks, suggesting he may not be the pro-market pragmatist many investors have been hoping for. Most controversially, he was in charge of internal security in the mid-1980s when Mugabe deployed a crack North Korean-trained brigade against rebels loyal to his rival Joshua Nkomo. Rights groups say 20,000 civilians, mostly from the Ndebele tribe, were killed. Mugabe denies genocide or crimes against humanity but has admitted it was a "moment of madness". Mnangagwa's role remains shrouded in mystery. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said it was cautiously optimistic a Mnangagwapresidency would not "mimic and replicate the evil, corrupt, decadent and incompetent Mugabe regime". The Southern African Development Community said it was ready to work closely with Mnangagwa. Zimbabwe's bourse, which had been on a rapid rise, lost $6 billion during this month's military intervention as its main index fell by 40 percent. Analysts say it will fall even further before recovering.

Mnangagwa set to be sworn in as Zimbabwe president

Zimbabwe&#39;s incoming president Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as the new president on Friday in the capital city of Harare.

He will finish off the remainder of the term of office of former president Robert Mugabe till next election in 2018.

Mnangagwa, who had been out of the country since he was fired by Mugabe on Nov. 6, returned to the country Wednesday evening after Mugabe resigned Tuesday following military and public pressure.

The swearing in of Mnangagwa comes after the ruling ZANU-PF party on Wednesday nominated him as president of the country.

In his first public address to supporters on Wednesday, Mnangagwa pledged to serve the people, saying all&nbsp;Zimbabweans need to unite and grow the economy for employment creation.

Many&nbsp;Zimbabwean people expect that the new president could lead the country in developing the economy and creating more jobs.

Thousands of&nbsp;Zimbabweans living in neighboring South Africa are also waiting for guidance from the new leadership.

&quot;You know, if all the things are settled down, I think there&#39;s no need for us to stay here in South Africa. Because as you see, most&nbsp;Zimbabweans here in South Africa are not feeling comfort, you see. So if things are already good that side, there&#39;s no need for us to stay here,&quot; said Rowan KG Kome,&nbsp;Zimbabwean living in Beitbridge, Limpopo province of South Africa.

But they have not forgotten how Robert Mugabe once served their country.

&quot;I would like to thank him for what he did. He, first of all, is an old man. He worked very hard, when he was ruling that country. The only problem is that he was a tribalist. No one is one hundred percent (right). Everyone makes mistakes usually. The only wrong thing is that he was refusing to step down. He was sick and he&#39;s old,&quot; said Keifas Moyo, another&nbsp;Zimbabwean in South Africa.

Zimbabwe's incoming president Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as the new president on Friday in the capital city of Harare

Zimbabwe's incoming president Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as the new president on Friday in the capital city of Harare. He will finish off the remainder of the term of office of former president Robert Mugabe till next election in 2018. Mnangagwa, who had been out of the country since he was fired by Mugabe on Nov. 6, returned to the country Wednesday evening after Mugabe resigned Tuesday following military and public pressure. The swearing in of Mnangagwa comes after the ruling ZANU-PF party on Wednesday nominated him as president of the country. In his first public address to supporters on Wednesday, Mnangagwa pledged to serve the people, saying all Zimbabweans need to unite and grow the economy for employment creation. Many Zimbabwean people expect that the new president could lead the country in developing the economy and creating more jobs. Thousands of Zimbabweans living in neighboring South Africa are also waiting for guidance from the new leadership. "You know, if all the things are settled down, I think there's no need for us to stay here in South Africa. Because as you see, most Zimbabweans here in South Africa are not feeling comfort, you see. So if things are already good that side, there's no need for us to stay here," said Rowan KG Kome, Zimbabwean living in Beitbridge, Limpopo province of South Africa. But they have not forgotten how Robert Mugabe once served their country. "I would like to thank him for what he did. He, first of all, is an old man. He worked very hard, when he was ruling that country. The only problem is that he was a tribalist. No one is one hundred percent (right). Everyone makes mistakes usually. The only wrong thing is that he was refusing to step down. He was sick and he's old," said Keifas Moyo, another Zimbabwean in South Africa.

Mnangagwa poised to swear in as Zimbabwean new president today

Zimbabwe&#39;s ousted deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa today asked President Robert Mugabe to respect public opinion and step down and said he would only return home when his security was assured.

&quot;The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy,&quot; Mnangagwa said in a statement.

Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe shortly being sacked by Mugabe early this month.

The crisis followed a factional squabble in the ruling ZANU-PF party over the 93-year-old Mugabe&#39;s successor.

Mnangagwa said he had rejected an invitation by Mugabe to return home to discuss the current political situation.

&quot;I told the president that I would not return home now until I am satisfied with my personal security, because of the manner and treatment were given to me by being fired.&quot; Mnangagwa was initially believed to be in South Africa.

'The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy,' Mnangagwa

Zimbabwe's ousted deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa today asked President Robert Mugabe to respect public opinion and step down and said he would only return home when his security was assured. "The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy," Mnangagwa said in a statement. Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe shortly being sacked by Mugabe early this month. The crisis followed a factional squabble in the ruling ZANU-PF party over the 93-year-old Mugabe's successor. Mnangagwa said he had rejected an invitation by Mugabe to return home to discuss the current political situation. "I told the president that I would not return home now until I am satisfied with my personal security, because of the manner and treatment were given to me by being fired." Mnangagwa was initially believed to be in South Africa.

Ousted Zimbabwe deputy president asks Mugabe to resign

Israeli police announced on Monday an investigation after a photoshopped picture of President Reuven Rivlin wearing a Palestinian scarf emerged amid anger over his decision to reject a soldier&#39;s pardon request.

Rivlin had on Sunday refused to pardon Elor Azaria, the soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian assailant as he lay on the ground in March 2016.

Right-wing politicians criticised Rivlin&#39;s decision, and Culture Minister Miri Regev went as far as saying that he had &quot;abandoned Elor Azaria and harmed the pardoning institution&quot;.

Rivlin&#39;s Facebook page quickly filled with messages of support but also scathing criticism, with responders telling him he was &quot;no longer my president,&quot; as one wrote, or accusing him of &quot;fawning to appease your Arab and Leftwing friends,&quot; as another said.&nbsp;

Populist lawmaker Oren Hazan of the ruling Likud party -- the same Rivlin was a member of in parliament and later as a minister -- called on Rivlin to resign and said pardoning authority should move from the presidency to the parliament.

Police said they had launched the probe after an image of Rivlin wearing a keffiyah scarf was distributed on social media.

The badly photoshopped picture features a smiling Rivlin on the backdrop of books, with a Palestinian symbol and the words &quot;Reuven Rivlin a traitorous Jew-boy may his name and memory be accursed&quot; in Hebrew.

The statement did not elaborate on those being investigated nor the possible crime committed.

Posters of Israeli slain premier Yitzhak Rabin in a keffiyah had appeared before his assassination by a Jewish extremist in 1995.

The image was meant to equate Rabin to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who wore a keffiyah regularly, and imply he was betraying Israel&#39;s interests.

Opposition head Isaac Herzog of the Labour party published Rivlin&#39;s doctored image next to Rabin&#39;s.

&quot;We all know how it starts, we all know how it ends,&quot; he wrote on Twitter.

Rivlin&#39;s office meanwhile postponed an olive harvesting event at the presidential residence in Jerusalem set for Monday morning, citing &quot;inclement weather,&quot; despite clear skies.

Azaria is due to remain in prison until October 2018.

Police said they had launched the probe after an image of Rivlin wearing a keffiyah scarf was distributed on social media

Israeli police announced on Monday an investigation after a photoshopped picture of President Reuven Rivlin wearing a Palestinian scarf emerged amid anger over his decision to reject a soldier's pardon request. Rivlin had on Sunday refused to pardon Elor Azaria, the soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian assailant as he lay on the ground in March 2016. Right-wing politicians criticised Rivlin's decision, and Culture Minister Miri Regev went as far as saying that he had "abandoned Elor Azaria and harmed the pardoning institution". Rivlin's Facebook page quickly filled with messages of support but also scathing criticism, with responders telling him he was "no longer my president," as one wrote, or accusing him of "fawning to appease your Arab and Leftwing friends," as another said. Populist lawmaker Oren Hazan of the ruling Likud party -- the same Rivlin was a member of in parliament and later as a minister -- called on Rivlin to resign and said pardoning authority should move from the presidency to the parliament. Police said they had launched the probe after an image of Rivlin wearing a keffiyah scarf was distributed on social media. The badly photoshopped picture features a smiling Rivlin on the backdrop of books, with a Palestinian symbol and the words "Reuven Rivlin a traitorous Jew-boy may his name and memory be accursed" in Hebrew. The statement did not elaborate on those being investigated nor the possible crime committed. Posters of Israeli slain premier Yitzhak Rabin in a keffiyah had appeared before his assassination by a Jewish extremist in 1995. The image was meant to equate Rabin to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who wore a keffiyah regularly, and imply he was betraying Israel's interests. Opposition head Isaac Herzog of the Labour party published Rivlin's doctored image next to Rabin's. "We all know how it starts, we all know how it ends," he wrote on Twitter. Rivlin's office meanwhile postponed an olive harvesting event at the presidential residence in Jerusalem set for Monday morning, citing "inclement weather," despite clear skies. Azaria is due to remain in prison until October 2018.

Photoshopped image of Israel President in Palestinian scarf sparks probe

President Robert Mugabe faced the imminent collapse of his 37-year regime Sunday, with the once-loyal ZANU-PF party set to sack him as its leader and army generals piling pressure on him to resign.

Mugabe&#39;s grip on power was broken last week when the military took over after his wife Grace emerged as the leading candidate to succeed the 93-year-old president, who is the world&#39;s oldest head of state.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of overjoyed protesters flooded the streets of Zimbabwe in peaceful celebrations marking the apparent end of his long and authoritarian rule.

&quot;We meet here today with a heavy heart,&quot; party official Obert Mpofu told the ZANU-PF meeting in Harare on Sunday, referring to Mugabe as &quot;the outgoing president&quot;.

&quot;(Mugabe&#39;s) wife and close associates have taken advantage of his frail condition to usurp power and loot state resources,&quot; he said.

&quot;Our people are demanding... the recall of the president and first secretary of ZANU-PF from his position in the party.&quot;

Mugabe remains in office but now faces overwhelming opposition from the generals, much of the Zimbabwean public and from his own party.

The influential ZANU-PF Youth League on Sunday reversed its previous devotion to Mugabe, saying that he must resign and Grace must be expelled from the party.

Army chiefs who led the takeover were due to hold further talks with the president later Sunday.

Historic week

The two sides first met on Thursday, smiling in photographs that attempted to present a dignified image of the tense process of negotiating Mugabe&#39;s departure.

Veterans of the independence war -- who were also formerly key Mugabe allies -- added their voice in support of him resigning, demanding that he leave office on Sunday.&nbsp;

Zimbabweans have experienced a historic week in which the military seized power and put Mugabe under house arrest in response to his sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, chief rival of Mugabe&#39;s powerful 52-year-old wife Grace.

On Saturday, in scenes of public euphoria not seen since Zimbabwe&#39;s independence in 1980, huge crowds marched and sang their way through Harare and other cities.

The demonstrations included citizens of all ages, jubilant that Mugabe appeared to be on his way out.

In central Harare, a group of young men tore down a green metal street sign bearing Robert Mugabe&#39;s name and smashed it repeatedly on the road.

Such open dissent would have just a week ago would have been routinely crushed by security forces.

Peace, jobs, a normal life

&quot;What you saw yesterday, it shows that the people have spoken,&quot; Mordecai Makore, 71, a retired teacher told AFP after attending Sunday morning service at the Catholic cathedral in central Harare.

&quot;All we want is peace, a good life with a working economy that creates jobs for our people. We will continue praying for that. I want my children and grandchildren to live a normal good life.&quot;

The majority of Zimbabweans have only known life under Mugabe&#39;s rule, which has been defined by violent suppression, economic collapse and international isolation.

Sources suggest Mugabe has been battling to delay to his exit and to secure a deal guaranteeing future protection for him and his family.

He attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday, in a show of defiance at the talks with General Constantino Chiwenga, who led the military power grab.

The succession race that triggered Zimbabwe&#39;s sudden crisis was between party hardliner Mnangagwa -- known as the Crocodile -- and a group called &quot;Generation 40&quot; or &quot;G40&quot; because its members are generally younger, which campaigned for Grace&#39;s cause.

&quot;She is very acceptable. Very much accepted by the people,&quot; Mugabe said of Grace in a faltering interview to mark his 93rd birthday last February.

The president, who is feted in parts of Africa as the continent&#39;s last surviving liberation leader, is increasingly fragile health, but previously said he would stand in elections next year that could see him remain in power until aged nearly 100.

He became prime minister on Zimbabwe&#39;s independence from Britain in 1980 and then president in 1987.

Zimbabwe&#39;s economic output has halved since 2000 when many white-owned farms were seized, leaving the key agricultural sector in ruins.

 
&nbsp;

Nine of the 10 regional branches of the ZANU-PF party have called for the 93-year-old president to go

President Robert Mugabe faced the imminent collapse of his 37-year regime Sunday, with the once-loyal ZANU-PF party set to sack him as its leader and army generals piling pressure on him to resign. Mugabe's grip on power was broken last week when the military took over after his wife Grace emerged as the leading candidate to succeed the 93-year-old president, who is the world's oldest head of state. On Saturday, tens of thousands of overjoyed protesters flooded the streets of Zimbabwe in peaceful celebrations marking the apparent end of his long and authoritarian rule. "We meet here today with a heavy heart," party official Obert Mpofu told the ZANU-PF meeting in Harare on Sunday, referring to Mugabe as "the outgoing president". "(Mugabe's) wife and close associates have taken advantage of his frail condition to usurp power and loot state resources," he said. "Our people are demanding... the recall of the president and first secretary of ZANU-PF from his position in the party." Mugabe remains in office but now faces overwhelming opposition from the generals, much of the Zimbabwean public and from his own party. The influential ZANU-PF Youth League on Sunday reversed its previous devotion to Mugabe, saying that he must resign and Grace must be expelled from the party. Army chiefs who led the takeover were due to hold further talks with the president later Sunday. Historic week The two sides first met on Thursday, smiling in photographs that attempted to present a dignified image of the tense process of negotiating Mugabe's departure. Veterans of the independence war -- who were also formerly key Mugabe allies -- added their voice in support of him resigning, demanding that he leave office on Sunday. Zimbabweans have experienced a historic week in which the military seized power and put Mugabe under house arrest in response to his sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, chief rival of Mugabe's powerful 52-year-old wife Grace. On Saturday, in scenes of public euphoria not seen since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, huge crowds marched and sang their way through Harare and other cities. The demonstrations included citizens of all ages, jubilant that Mugabe appeared to be on his way out. In central Harare, a group of young men tore down a green metal street sign bearing Robert Mugabe's name and smashed it repeatedly on the road. Such open dissent would have just a week ago would have been routinely crushed by security forces. Peace, jobs, a normal life "What you saw yesterday, it shows that the people have spoken," Mordecai Makore, 71, a retired teacher told AFP after attending Sunday morning service at the Catholic cathedral in central Harare. "All we want is peace, a good life with a working economy that creates jobs for our people. We will continue praying for that. I want my children and grandchildren to live a normal good life." The majority of Zimbabweans have only known life under Mugabe's rule, which has been defined by violent suppression, economic collapse and international isolation. Sources suggest Mugabe has been battling to delay to his exit and to secure a deal guaranteeing future protection for him and his family. He attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday, in a show of defiance at the talks with General Constantino Chiwenga, who led the military power grab. The succession race that triggered Zimbabwe's sudden crisis was between party hardliner Mnangagwa -- known as the Crocodile -- and a group called "Generation 40" or "G40" because its members are generally younger, which campaigned for Grace's cause. "She is very acceptable. Very much accepted by the people," Mugabe said of Grace in a faltering interview to mark his 93rd birthday last February. The president, who is feted in parts of Africa as the continent's last surviving liberation leader, is increasingly fragile health, but previously said he would stand in elections next year that could see him remain in power until aged nearly 100. He became prime minister on Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980 and then president in 1987. Zimbabwe's economic output has halved since 2000 when many white-owned farms were seized, leaving the key agricultural sector in ruins.

End nears for Mugabe as ruling party turns against him

China&#39;s military on Sunday launched a website inviting the public to report leaks and fake news, as well as illegal online activities by military personnel, the latest step in a push to ensure Communist Party control over the internet.

Beijing has been ramping up measures to secure the internet and maintain strict censorship, a process that accelerated ahead of the party&#39;s five-yearly National Congress that took place in October.

The new website is an effort to implement the guiding spirit of the Congress and will help maintain a &quot;clear internet space&quot; surrounding the military, according to 81.cn, the military&#39;s official news portal.

Citizens are encouraged to use the platform to report online content that attacks the military&#39;s absolute leadership and distorts the history of the military and the Communist Party, the website said.

Cases of military personnel illegally opening online social accounts and publishing unauthorized information should also be reported, it said.

President Xi Jinping has made China&#39;s &quot;cyber sovereignty&quot; a top priority in his sweeping campaign to bolster security. He has also reasserted the ruling Communist Party&#39;s role in limiting and guiding the online discussion.

China's military on Sunday launched a website inviting the public to report leaks and fake news, as well as illegal online activities by military personnel

China's military on Sunday launched a website inviting the public to report leaks and fake news, as well as illegal online activities by military personnel, the latest step in a push to ensure Communist Party control over the internet. Beijing has been ramping up measures to secure the internet and maintain strict censorship, a process that accelerated ahead of the party's five-yearly National Congress that took place in October. The new website is an effort to implement the guiding spirit of the Congress and will help maintain a "clear internet space" surrounding the military, according to 81.cn, the military's official news portal. Citizens are encouraged to use the platform to report online content that attacks the military's absolute leadership and distorts the history of the military and the Communist Party, the website said. Cases of military personnel illegally opening online social accounts and publishing unauthorized information should also be reported, it said. President Xi Jinping has made China's "cyber sovereignty" a top priority in his sweeping campaign to bolster security. He has also reasserted the ruling Communist Party's role in limiting and guiding the online discussion.

China military sets up website to report leaks, fake news

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday, while attacking his former Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, has challenged her to run against him again in the 2020 US&nbsp;presidential election.

&quot;Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just can&#39;t stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!&quot; Trump said in a tweet.

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Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just can&rsquo;t stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!
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Last month, the U.S. President had said that he hoped his &quot;crooked&quot; political arch-rival Hillary Clinton would run for the 2020 presidential elections.

In a morning tweet, the President said: &quot;I was recently asked if Crooked Hillary Clinton is going to run in 2020? My answer was, &#39;I hope so!&#39;.

&quot;After losing the Presidential bid last year, Clinton has remained out of public life and hinted at not contesting election again.

However, she has expressed that she would remain active in national politics, telling CBS in September that she believed &quot;our country&#39;s future is at stake&quot;.

Clinton has expressed that she would remain active in national politics, telling CBS in September that she believed 'our country's future is at stake'.

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday, while attacking his former Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, has challenged her to run against him again in the 2020 US presidential election. "Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just can't stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!" Trump said in a tweet. Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just can’t stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2017 × Last month, the U.S. President had said that he hoped his "crooked" political arch-rival Hillary Clinton would run for the 2020 presidential elections. In a morning tweet, the President said: "I was recently asked if Crooked Hillary Clinton is going to run in 2020? My answer was, 'I hope so!'. "After losing the Presidential bid last year, Clinton has remained out of public life and hinted at not contesting election again. However, she has expressed that she would remain active in national politics, telling CBS in September that she believed "our country's future is at stake".

Trump invites 'loser' Hillary Clinton to run again in 2020

US&nbsp;soccer star Hope Solo accused ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter of grabbing her buttocks during an awards ceremony five years ago, an allegation that the former head of the international football&rsquo;s governing body denied.

Solo, 36, told a Portuguese newspaper that Blatter touched her inappropriately in January 2013 during the Ballon D&lsquo;or awards ceremony in Lisbon. A spokeswoman for Solo on Saturday confirmed her comments.

&quot;I had Sepp Blatter grab my ass,&rdquo; the former goalkeeper on the US&nbsp;national women&rsquo;s team said in an audio interview with Expresso, posted on Saturday.

&quot;It was at the Ballon D&lsquo;or one year, right before I went on stage,&rdquo; said Solo, who received FIFA&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s player of the year award in 2013. &quot;It&rsquo;s been normalized.&quot;

A spokesman for Blatter said in a phone interview on Saturday that Solo&rsquo;s allegation was &ldquo;absurd and ridiculous, and it is not true.&rdquo;

Solo is the latest celebrity to go public with accusations of sexual misconduct by powerful men in sports and entertainment, including movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and former Fox News host Bill O&lsquo;Reilly.

The high-profile allegations have inspired <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/metoo-say-sita-and-savitri-23112">an online campaign, tagged #MeToo</a>, that has encouraged men and women in all walks of life to reveal their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault, often years after they occurred.

Solo last month posted a statement on her Instagram page that commended women in the entertainment industry for having courage to reveal their experiences with sexual misconduct and suggested she had been a victim herself.

&ldquo;From inappropriate comments, unwanted advances and grabs of the ass to coaches and GMs and even press officers speaking about players &lsquo;tits&rsquo; and physical appearance, sexual harassment is rampant in the sports world,&rdquo; Solo wrote online.

&ldquo;I always felt I&rsquo;d &lsquo;handled it&rsquo; and stood up for myself in those situations, but there were never any consequences for the perpetrators,&rdquo; she added.

Solo, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, played on the U.S. women&rsquo;s soccer team from 2000 to 2016, when it won two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup.

Blatter is in the midst of a six-year ban from all soccer-related duties imposed by Zurich-based FIFA&rsquo;s ethics committee after a corruption scandal.

Solo, accused ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter that he touched her buttocks in January 2013 during the Ballon D?or awards ceremony in Lisbon, an allegation that the former head of international football?s governing body denied

US soccer star Hope Solo accused ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter of grabbing her buttocks during an awards ceremony five years ago, an allegation that the former head of the international football’s governing body denied. Solo, 36, told a Portuguese newspaper that Blatter touched her inappropriately in January 2013 during the Ballon D‘or awards ceremony in Lisbon. A spokeswoman for Solo on Saturday confirmed her comments. "I had Sepp Blatter grab my ass,” the former goalkeeper on the US national women’s team said in an audio interview with Expresso, posted on Saturday. "It was at the Ballon D‘or one year, right before I went on stage,” said Solo, who received FIFA’s women’s player of the year award in 2013. "It’s been normalized." A spokesman for Blatter said in a phone interview on Saturday that Solo’s allegation was “absurd and ridiculous, and it is not true.” Solo is the latest celebrity to go public with accusations of sexual misconduct by powerful men in sports and entertainment, including movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and former Fox News host Bill O‘Reilly. The high-profile allegations have inspired an online campaign, tagged #MeToo, that has encouraged men and women in all walks of life to reveal their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault, often years after they occurred. Solo last month posted a statement on her Instagram page that commended women in the entertainment industry for having courage to reveal their experiences with sexual misconduct and suggested she had been a victim herself. “From inappropriate comments, unwanted advances and grabs of the ass to coaches and GMs and even press officers speaking about players ‘tits’ and physical appearance, sexual harassment is rampant in the sports world,” Solo wrote online. “I always felt I’d ‘handled it’ and stood up for myself in those situations, but there were never any consequences for the perpetrators,” she added. Solo, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, played on the U.S. women’s soccer team from 2000 to 2016, when it won two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup. Blatter is in the midst of a six-year ban from all soccer-related duties imposed by Zurich-based FIFA’s ethics committee after a corruption scandal.

US soccer star Hope Solo says ex-FIFA president 'grabbed' her

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