Refuting the news of the resignation of Pakistan's Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, the National Assembly Secretariat on Sunday clarified that Suri did not resign from his office, reported local media adding that he will chair the crucial National Assembly on Monday for the election of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Moreover, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar resigned from his office on Saturday ahead of voting on a no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

While showing the threatening letter in the National Assembly Qaiser offered," I have the letter if anyone wants to see it?," reported ARY News.

"It is my constitutional duty to protect the state of Pakistan, it might be my last session of the house to the chair," he said. "I am bound on oath for the constitution of Pakistan". "We have to stand for our sovereignty", he said.

As Qaiser stepped down, the speaker's seat was held by the member of the panel of chair Ayaz Sadiq, who conducted voting on the no-confidence motion.

The voting on the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government began in the country's National Assembly late on Saturday night where 174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution that ousted Imran Khan.

Refuting the news of the resignation of Pakistan's Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, the National Assembly Secretariat on Sunday clarified that Suri did not resign from his office, reported local media adding that he will chair the crucial National Assembly on Monday for the election of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Refuting the news of the resignation of Pakistan's Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, the National Assembly Secretariat on Sunday clarified that Suri did not resign from his office, reported local media adding that he will chair the crucial National Assembly on Monday for the election of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. Moreover, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar resigned from his office on Saturday ahead of voting on a no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. While showing the threatening letter in the National Assembly Qaiser offered," I have the letter if anyone wants to see it?," reported ARY News. "It is my constitutional duty to protect the state of Pakistan, it might be my last session of the house to the chair," he said. "I am bound on oath for the constitution of Pakistan". "We have to stand for our sovereignty", he said. As Qaiser stepped down, the speaker's seat was held by the member of the panel of chair Ayaz Sadiq, who conducted voting on the no-confidence motion. The voting on the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government began in the country's National Assembly late on Saturday night where 174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution that ousted Imran Khan.

Pak Deputy Speaker did not resign, to chair crucial session on Monday

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives of the United States has tested positive for coronavirus. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The 82-year-old leader does not seem to have any symptoms of the disease, her office said on Thursday. &nbsp;

This comes a day after the Democrat leader from California was standing next to US President Joe Biden at an event at the White House. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ketanji-brown-jackson-the-first-black-woman-to-be-us-supreme-court-judge-469180" hreflang="en">Ketanji Brown Jackson: The first Black woman to be US Supreme Court judge</a>

The development is the latest in a series of Covid diagnoses for US government officials in Washington. &nbsp;

In a Twitter post, her deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill said, “After testing negative this week, Speaker Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided. The Speaker will quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly,” Hammill added.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;US : North Korea could hold its nuclear weapons test next week&nbsp;

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If Biden dies or is incapacitated, Pelosi will be second in line in the order of presidential succession after Vice President Kamala Harris. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had also tested positive for the COVID-19 on Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives of the United States has tested positive for coronavirus. The 82-year-old leader does not seem to have any symptoms of the disease, her office said on Thursday.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives of the United States has tested positive for coronavirus. The 82-year-old leader does not seem to have any symptoms of the disease, her office said on Thursday. This comes a day after the Democrat leader from California was standing next to US President Joe Biden at an event at the White House. Also Read | Ketanji Brown Jackson: The first Black woman to be US Supreme Court judge The development is the latest in a series of Covid diagnoses for US government officials in Washington. In a Twitter post, her deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill said, “After testing negative this week, Speaker Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic.” “The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided. The Speaker will quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly,” Hammill added. Watch | US : North Korea could hold its nuclear weapons test next week × If Biden dies or is incapacitated, Pelosi will be second in line in the order of presidential succession after Vice President Kamala Harris. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had also tested positive for the COVID-19 on Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies)

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi tests positive for COVID-19

This is a three-legged side table that packs a punch. This multi-functional unit combines many different products into one stylish package. Wion's Johan Castell tries this latest gadget.

Powerful multifunctional bluetooth speaker

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely&nbsp;a&nbsp;clickbait but is&nbsp;actually&nbsp;accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life. Trust me, if you&nbsp;are a working parent trying to navigate through the many monotonous yet imperative chores of the daily grind, you may forget about which app is tracking what as long as you can book you a cab, schedule an appointment, track a shopping order or even entertain your toddler while you try and squeeze in a workout to meet that lockdown goal. You can slot this under unpopular opinion.&nbsp;

And the new Amazon Echo Show 10 can do all of it. Though priced high, it helps me get through the day, entertains my son and even helps me meet my daily calorie burn goal.&nbsp;

Time to meet&nbsp;the latest Amazon Echo smart speaker,&nbsp;the Echo Show 10,&nbsp;which is priced at a jaw-dropping Rs 24,999. So,&nbsp;the question is, is it worth it?&nbsp;

I say yes because if you're building a smart home and relying on technology to help make&nbsp;your&nbsp;life easier, this is an investment.&nbsp;

Design&nbsp;

Say hello to the biggest model in the product family. This one is heavy and&nbsp;takes&nbsp;pride&nbsp;in&nbsp;itself&nbsp;as it has&nbsp;smart display and&nbsp;speaker. Why do I say heavy? Because you'll need to mount it in a clutter-free space to accommodate its three-driver system that acts as a backbone but also provides booming sound.&nbsp;

And here's the party trick,&nbsp;the motion sensor allows the screen to turn towards the voice command. So,&nbsp;if you're belting out orders from another corner of the kitchen to follow the recipe of a recent cooking experiment, the screen will follow you and a helpful Alexa will tell you what to do.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;third&nbsp;gen smart display comes with a brilliant 1,280 X 800 pixels&nbsp;screen with a separate speaker attached at the back. And if you don't have enough space for the massive display to swivel around, simply turn off the motion sensor from the swipe down tab at the top. Remember, this heavy body needs to be connected to a power source at all times. I wouldn't let kids lift it up as it's bound to fall from nimble hands. If you're putting it on a counter top, get rid of all decorative items since this bad boy needs some space to move. For those with privacy concerns, you can turn off the camera from the buttons on the top.&nbsp;

Display&nbsp;

I loved watching content on the Echo Show 10's display. Only those with extremely high-end televisions will disagree. The sound quality and viewing experience leaves little room for&nbsp;any&nbsp;complaint. Alexa's know-how gets better with every upgrade and she knows what you want and therein lies the conundrum about voice assistants and their indelible footprint in our lives. Use the drop-in feature to make your home truly&nbsp;smart.&nbsp;

Great for kids&nbsp;

Are we still advocating zero screen time for kids when online classes have become an intrinsic part of our lives, even for children as young as three years old? Like I always say, these gadgets are built for children and are intuitive at best. My son knows what to play, when to play, how to play. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching him some fundamentals from across the room with a simple, "Alexa, tell us about the planets in the Solar System!" Just make sure your child isn't too close to the screen because we need to be prudent while being creative.&nbsp;

Pro Tips&nbsp;

Try using the Toy Doctor skill on Alexa. The Kids' skills are more creative, fun to indulge in, and are more engaging for different age groups. If you have other smart gadgets, connect your smart bulbs, air purifiers and regulate your electricity bill.&nbsp;

How I used Echo Show 10?&nbsp;

I can regale you all with fancy specifications, tech jargon and even some gasp-worthy features in a review. Let us cut through the noise and talk about how you would use an expensive smart display such as this one in your daily life.&nbsp;

Exercise: Given the compact space it&nbsp;occupies,&nbsp;you can plug it in any corner. The sound and display will push you to do those extra burpees, push-ups or squats depending on your punishment of choice.&nbsp;

Cook up a storm: For cooks, this is a best friend. Alexa will follow your visual and audio cues and show you what needs to be done so you can be a MasterChef in your own right.&nbsp;

Bedtime for kids: Say goodnight and the Echo Show 10 transforms from an overeager employee to a calming best friend.&nbsp;Colours&nbsp;and lights are dimmed, lullabies are played and it's time to call it a night.&nbsp;

Should you buy it?&nbsp;

We've been here before. We've been wooed with a smart display and smart speaker all in one. But as someone who sees her son marvel at technology each day, I was sold when Alexa followed him around while he jumped to&nbsp;'Wheels on the&nbsp;Bus'&nbsp;and I got to catch a breath. At nearly Rs 25,000, it is an investment. Lockdowns have taught us that technology cannot just simplify our lives but also keep us engaged. So,&nbsp;go for this smart display and speaker if you have the budget. Be prepared for Alexa to follow you around.&nbsp;

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely a clickbait but is actually accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life.

Yup, you heard me right. The headline of this review isn't merely a clickbait but is actually accurate. Despite the debate around privacy, I have been a fan of smart home devices simply because of how they simplify my daily life. Trust me, if you are a working parent trying to navigate through the many monotonous yet imperative chores of the daily grind, you may forget about which app is tracking what as long as you can book you a cab, schedule an appointment, track a shopping order or even entertain your toddler while you try and squeeze in a workout to meet that lockdown goal. You can slot this under unpopular opinion. And the new Amazon Echo Show 10 can do all of it. Though priced high, it helps me get through the day, entertains my son and even helps me meet my daily calorie burn goal. Time to meet the latest Amazon Echo smart speaker, the Echo Show 10, which is priced at a jaw-dropping Rs 24,999. So, the question is, is it worth it? I say yes because if you're building a smart home and relying on technology to help make your life easier, this is an investment. Design Say hello to the biggest model in the product family. This one is heavy and takes pride in itself as it has smart display and speaker. Why do I say heavy? Because you'll need to mount it in a clutter-free space to accommodate its three-driver system that acts as a backbone but also provides booming sound. And here's the party trick, the motion sensor allows the screen to turn towards the voice command. So, if you're belting out orders from another corner of the kitchen to follow the recipe of a recent cooking experiment, the screen will follow you and a helpful Alexa will tell you what to do. The third gen smart display comes with a brilliant 1,280 X 800 pixels screen with a separate speaker attached at the back. And if you don't have enough space for the massive display to swivel around, simply turn off the motion sensor from the swipe down tab at the top. Remember, this heavy body needs to be connected to a power source at all times. I wouldn't let kids lift it up as it's bound to fall from nimble hands. If you're putting it on a counter top, get rid of all decorative items since this bad boy needs some space to move. For those with privacy concerns, you can turn off the camera from the buttons on the top. Display I loved watching content on the Echo Show 10's display. Only those with extremely high-end televisions will disagree. The sound quality and viewing experience leaves little room for any complaint. Alexa's know-how gets better with every upgrade and she knows what you want and therein lies the conundrum about voice assistants and their indelible footprint in our lives. Use the drop-in feature to make your home truly smart. Great for kids Are we still advocating zero screen time for kids when online classes have become an intrinsic part of our lives, even for children as young as three years old? Like I always say, these gadgets are built for children and are intuitive at best. My son knows what to play, when to play, how to play. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching him some fundamentals from across the room with a simple, "Alexa, tell us about the planets in the Solar System!" Just make sure your child isn't too close to the screen because we need to be prudent while being creative. Pro Tips Try using the Toy Doctor skill on Alexa. The Kids' skills are more creative, fun to indulge in, and are more engaging for different age groups. If you have other smart gadgets, connect your smart bulbs, air purifiers and regulate your electricity bill. How I used Echo Show 10? I can regale you all with fancy specifications, tech jargon and even some gasp-worthy features in a review. Let us cut through the noise and talk about how you would use an expensive smart display such as this one in your daily life. Exercise: Given the compact space it occupies, you can plug it in any corner. The sound and display will push you to do those extra burpees, push-ups or squats depending on your punishment of choice. Cook up a storm: For cooks, this is a best friend. Alexa will follow your visual and audio cues and show you what needs to be done so you can be a MasterChef in your own right. Bedtime for kids: Say goodnight and the Echo Show 10 transforms from an overeager employee to a calming best friend. Colours and lights are dimmed, lullabies are played and it's time to call it a night. Should you buy it? We've been here before. We've been wooed with a smart display and smart speaker all in one. But as someone who sees her son marvel at technology each day, I was sold when Alexa followed him around while he jumped to 'Wheels on the Bus' and I got to catch a breath. At nearly Rs 25,000, it is an investment. Lockdowns have taught us that technology cannot just simplify our lives but also keep us engaged. So, go for this smart display and speaker if you have the budget. Be prepared for Alexa to follow you around.

Alexa can now follow you around  

Influential parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that Lebanon would sink like the Titanic if it could not form a government as he opened a session to approve emergency funds to literally keep the lights on for two more months.&nbsp;

"The whole country is in danger, the whole country is the Titanic," Berri said. "It's time we all woke up because in the end, if the ship sinks, there'll be no one left."&nbsp;

Lebanon is in the throes of a financial crisis that poses the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-1990 civil war. Without a new government, it cannot implement the reforms required to unlock desperately needed foreign aid.&nbsp;

But prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri and President Michel Aoun have been at loggerheads for months over the makeup of a new cabinet.&nbsp;

Parliament approved a loan of $200 million to pay for fuel for Lebanon's electricity company after a warning by the energy ministry that cash had run out for electricity generation beyond the end of the month.&nbsp;

"This should be enough for electricity for around two months or two-and-a-half," Cesar Abi Khalil, a member of parliament and former energy minister, said.&nbsp;

The Zahrani power plant, one of Lebanon's four main electricity producers, has already had to shut down for lack of fuel.&nbsp;

"Any shutdown in one of these big plants affects power generation negatively," Abi Khalil said. "This means Lebanese make up for it with generators that run on diesel that's 30% more expensive than the fuel that's bought by the electricity company."&nbsp;

Lebanon already lacks power generation capacity and homes and businesses have to cope with power cuts for several hours a day, forcing many to turn to private generators.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Influential parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that Lebanon would sink like the Titanic if it could not form a government as he opened a session to approve emergency funds to literally keep the lights on for two more months.

Influential parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that Lebanon would sink like the Titanic if it could not form a government as he opened a session to approve emergency funds to literally keep the lights on for two more months. "The whole country is in danger, the whole country is the Titanic," Berri said. "It's time we all woke up because in the end, if the ship sinks, there'll be no one left." Lebanon is in the throes of a financial crisis that poses the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-1990 civil war. Without a new government, it cannot implement the reforms required to unlock desperately needed foreign aid. But prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri and President Michel Aoun have been at loggerheads for months over the makeup of a new cabinet. Parliament approved a loan of $200 million to pay for fuel for Lebanon's electricity company after a warning by the energy ministry that cash had run out for electricity generation beyond the end of the month. "This should be enough for electricity for around two months or two-and-a-half," Cesar Abi Khalil, a member of parliament and former energy minister, said. The Zahrani power plant, one of Lebanon's four main electricity producers, has already had to shut down for lack of fuel. "Any shutdown in one of these big plants affects power generation negatively," Abi Khalil said. "This means Lebanese make up for it with generators that run on diesel that's 30% more expensive than the fuel that's bought by the electricity company." Lebanon already lacks power generation capacity and homes and businesses have to cope with power cuts for several hours a day, forcing many to turn to private generators. (With inputs from agencies)

Lebanon could sink like Titanic: Parliament speaker  

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah on Monday said that while it is up to the Assembly Speaker to take a call on a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-missing-two-deadlines-karnataka-gears-up-for-trust-vote-again-237561">confidence motion</a> they have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

"The Speaker will take a call on a confidence motion. We have already said that we will prove the confidence in Vidhana Soudha. The case is pending in Supreme Court. We have also filed the petition, most probably tomorrow Supreme Court will hear our plea," Siddaramaiah told&nbsp;reporters.

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Siddaramaiah, Congress: Speaker will take a call on confidence motion. We have already told that we will prove the confidence in Vidhana Soudha. Case is pending in Supreme Court. We have also filed the petition, most probably tomorrow Supreme Court will hear our plea. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karnataka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karnataka</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qb5iiWAatW">pic.twitter.com/Qb5iiWAatW</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1153245751012659201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In an attempt to again reach out to rebel legislators, Siddaramaiah said, "If the rebel MLAs come back then they will be with us. Rebels have said that they are not living comfortably. They could have stayed back here itself."

The Congress-JDS government fell into a minority earlier this month following the resignation of several dissident MLAs. Sixteen MLAs from the ruling coalition including thirteen Congress and three JD(S) MLAs have resigned.

Earlier, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-decision-on-confidence-motion-has-to-be-taken-today-k-r-ramesh-kumar-237649">Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar</a> on Monday said a decision on the confidence motion has to be taken today.&nbsp;

"Don't repeat what I already said on Friday. I have already said that the decision is to be taken today," K R Ramesh Kumar said when BJP MLA Madhuswamy told the Speaker that floor test should be completed today.

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah on Monday said that while it is up to the Assembly Speaker to take a call on a confidence motion they have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah on Monday said that while it is up to the Assembly Speaker to take a call on a confidence motion they have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court. "The Speaker will take a call on a confidence motion. We have already said that we will prove the confidence in Vidhana Soudha. The case is pending in Supreme Court. We have also filed the petition, most probably tomorrow Supreme Court will hear our plea," Siddaramaiah told reporters. Siddaramaiah, Congress: Speaker will take a call on confidence motion. We have already told that we will prove the confidence in Vidhana Soudha. Case is pending in Supreme Court. We have also filed the petition, most probably tomorrow Supreme Court will hear our plea. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/Qb5iiWAatW — ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2019 × In an attempt to again reach out to rebel legislators, Siddaramaiah said, "If the rebel MLAs come back then they will be with us. Rebels have said that they are not living comfortably. They could have stayed back here itself." The Congress-JDS government fell into a minority earlier this month following the resignation of several dissident MLAs. Sixteen MLAs from the ruling coalition including thirteen Congress and three JD(S) MLAs have resigned. Earlier, Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar on Monday said a decision on the confidence motion has to be taken today. "Don't repeat what I already said on Friday. I have already said that the decision is to be taken today," K R Ramesh Kumar said when BJP MLA Madhuswamy told the Speaker that floor test should be completed today.

Speaker will take call on confidence motion: Congress leader Siddaramaiah

Speaker Nancy Pelosi wanted clause on Child Protection

U.S Congress approves border funding

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/om-birla-from-grassroots-politician-to-lok-sabha-speaker-228583">NDA candidate Om Birla</a> on Wednesday becomes the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha after PM Narendra Modi moves the motion for his election in Parliament.

Birla's candidature was backed by all NDA allies as also by the YSR Congress Party, the Biju Janata Dal and key opposition parties, including the Congress.&nbsp;

Birla, 57, is a two-term Lok Sabha Member of Parliament. He won from Rajasthan’s Kota-Bundi seat in the just concluded general election&nbsp;where he defeated Congress' Ramnarain Meena by over 2.5 lakh votes.

<img alt="Om Birla" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15871be6-2ddc-4d45-a26f-e97212842de1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Om-Sumitra.jpg" />

Former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan garlands BJP MP from Kota Lok Sabha constituency Om Birla during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Birla was also a Member of Assembly in Rajasthan for three terms and was a parliamentary secretary in the government of Vasundhara Raje between 2003-08.

Birla had the support of 10 parties including BJD and YSRCP which are not part of the NDA. The BJP on its own has 303 MPs and the NDA has 352.

NDA candidate Om Birla on Wednesday becomes the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha after PM Narendra Modi moves the motion for his election in Parliament. Birla's candidature was backed by all NDA allies as also by the YSR Congress Party, the Biju Janata Dal and key opposition parties, including the Congress.

NDA candidate Om Birla on Wednesday becomes the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha after PM Narendra Modi moves the motion for his election in Parliament. Birla's candidature was backed by all NDA allies as also by the YSR Congress Party, the Biju Janata Dal and key opposition parties, including the Congress. Birla, 57, is a two-term Lok Sabha Member of Parliament. He won from Rajasthan’s Kota-Bundi seat in the just concluded general election where he defeated Congress' Ramnarain Meena by over 2.5 lakh votes. Former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan garlands BJP MP from Kota Lok Sabha constituency Om Birla during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) Birla was also a Member of Assembly in Rajasthan for three terms and was a parliamentary secretary in the government of Vasundhara Raje between 2003-08. Birla had the support of 10 parties including BJD and YSRCP which are not part of the NDA. The BJP on its own has 303 MPs and the NDA has 352.

Om Birla, two-time BJP MP from Rajasthan, becomes Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha

The ZAAP Boombox Joins The Crowded Speaker Market. But Can It Take On The Competition?

ZAAP Boombox Review: Hit Or Miss?

Is This 2-In-1 Gadget A Gimmick Or An Innovation? Let’S Check Out.

Xech Flask: A Bottle That Doubles Up As A Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Wednesday asked the members to introspect whether they lived up to the expectations of people whom they represented in the House in the last five years. In her address on the final day of the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha, Mahajan expressed satisfaction that 205 legislations were approved by the House. However, she said that 422 hours and 19 minutes were lost due to disruptions in the five years since June 2014. The House conducted business for 1,612 hours spread over 331 sittings, she noted.

Mahajan was elected as Speaker on June 6, 2014, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government came to power. Giving details about the business conducted by the outgoing Lok Sabha, she said 205 important legislations were passed. These include a law to curb black money as well as those related to juvenile justice, GST, Aadhaar and 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker section of people. “In the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha, it is time that we introspect whether we have lived up to the expectation of the people during the last five years.

“What we have achieved and what still needs to be done. We should do an impartial analysis,” Mahajan said and wished luck to the members for the ensuing general elections. Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai said he became the Deputy Speaker after 30 years. Earlier, he was elected to the post when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister and there was no principal opposition party. This time too the situation is the same as there is no principal opposition party and he was elected as Deputy Speaker, the senior AIADMK leader said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Wednesday asked the members to introspect whether they lived up to the expectations of people whom they represented in the House in the last five years.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Wednesday asked the members to introspect whether they lived up to the expectations of people whom they represented in the House in the last five years. In her address on the final day of the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha, Mahajan expressed satisfaction that 205 legislations were approved by the House. However, she said that 422 hours and 19 minutes were lost due to disruptions in the five years since June 2014. The House conducted business for 1,612 hours spread over 331 sittings, she noted. Mahajan was elected as Speaker on June 6, 2014, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government came to power. Giving details about the business conducted by the outgoing Lok Sabha, she said 205 important legislations were passed. These include a law to curb black money as well as those related to juvenile justice, GST, Aadhaar and 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker section of people. “In the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha, it is time that we introspect whether we have lived up to the expectation of the people during the last five years. “What we have achieved and what still needs to be done. We should do an impartial analysis,” Mahajan said and wished luck to the members for the ensuing general elections. Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai said he became the Deputy Speaker after 30 years. Earlier, he was elected to the post when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister and there was no principal opposition party. This time too the situation is the same as there is no principal opposition party and he was elected as Deputy Speaker, the senior AIADMK leader said.

Introspect if you lived up to expectations of people: Lok Sabha Speaker tells members

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi on Sunday described BR Ambedkar and PM Modi as ‘Brahmin’, contending that there was nothing wrong in calling a learned person a Brahmin.

In his address at the ‘Mega Brahmin Business Summit’ in Gandhinagar, Trivedi said, “I have no hesitation in saying that BR Ambedkar is a Brahmin. There is nothing wrong with calling a learned person a Brahmin. In that context, I will say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a Brahmin.” The Father of Indian Constitution, BR Ambedkar, was born into a Dalit family and grew up to be the torchbearer for the community’s cause.&nbsp

The man behind the Dalit Buddhist movement, Ambedkar, campaigned against untouchability that the Dalits were subjected to. He also fought for the rights of women and labourers.

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi also described Lord Krishna as an “OBC” who was “made God” by Rishi Sandipani. Trivedi was addressing a “Mega Brahmin Business Summit” in Gandhinagar.

(With inputs from ANI)

There is nothing wrong with calling a learned person a Brahmin. In that context, I will say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a Brahmin.

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi on Sunday described BR Ambedkar and PM Modi as ‘Brahmin’, contending that there was nothing wrong in calling a learned person a Brahmin. In his address at the ‘Mega Brahmin Business Summit’ in Gandhinagar, Trivedi said, “I have no hesitation in saying that BR Ambedkar is a Brahmin. There is nothing wrong with calling a learned person a Brahmin. In that context, I will say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a Brahmin.” The Father of Indian Constitution, BR Ambedkar, was born into a Dalit family and grew up to be the torchbearer for the community’s cause. The man behind the Dalit Buddhist movement, Ambedkar, campaigned against untouchability that the Dalits were subjected to. He also fought for the rights of women and labourers. Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi also described Lord Krishna as an “OBC” who was “made God” by Rishi Sandipani. Trivedi was addressing a “Mega Brahmin Business Summit” in Gandhinagar. (With inputs from ANI)

A learned person is a Brahmin. BR Ambedkar was a Brahmin and so is PM Modi: Gujarat Assembly speaker

In a major Cabinet reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir, Assembly speaker Kavinder Gupta and seven others were today sworn in as ministers in the state's PDP-BJP government led by Mehbooba Mufti.

Gupta will be the new deputy chief minister in place of Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night, officials said.

The new BJP faces sworn in as ministers were the party's state unit chief Satpal Sharma and the MLAs from Kathua and adjoining Sambha, Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder Kumar Manyal, respectively.&nbsp;

The BJP also upgraded Sunil Sharma, at present minister of state for transport, to the rank of a cabinet minister. BJP MLA from Doda Shakti Raj took oath as a minister of state.&nbsp;

The PDP members included in the cabinet were Mohd Khalil Band, MLA from Pulwama, and Mohd Ashraf Mir, MLA from Sonwar.

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh attended the event.

The function was held at the convention centre instead of Raj Bhavan as the Jammu and Kashmir government has already shifted its base to summer capital Srinagar, part of the bi-annual darbar move under which the government functions for six months in Jammu and six months in Srinagar.&nbsp;

Earlier BJP's Ram Madhav said that cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with the Kathua incident.

''The cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with the Kathua incident. Our government has completed three years and we decided to give a chance to new faces. 5 members of the party will be sworn-in as ministers today,'' Madhav said.

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The cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with the Kathua incident. Our government has completed three years and we decided to give a chance to new faces. 5 members of the party will be sworn-in as ministers today: Ram Madhav, BJP on cabinet reshuffle in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/hKsIq40zhv">pic.twitter.com/hKsIq40zhv</a>
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(With PTI inputs)&nbsp;

Gupta will be the new deputy chief minister in place of Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night, officials said.

In a major Cabinet reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir, Assembly speaker Kavinder Gupta and seven others were today sworn in as ministers in the state's PDP-BJP government led by Mehbooba Mufti. Gupta will be the new deputy chief minister in place of Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night, officials said. The new BJP faces sworn in as ministers were the party's state unit chief Satpal Sharma and the MLAs from Kathua and adjoining Sambha, Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder Kumar Manyal, respectively. The BJP also upgraded Sunil Sharma, at present minister of state for transport, to the rank of a cabinet minister. BJP MLA from Doda Shakti Raj took oath as a minister of state. The PDP members included in the cabinet were Mohd Khalil Band, MLA from Pulwama, and Mohd Ashraf Mir, MLA from Sonwar. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh attended the event. The function was held at the convention centre instead of Raj Bhavan as the Jammu and Kashmir government has already shifted its base to summer capital Srinagar, part of the bi-annual darbar move under which the government functions for six months in Jammu and six months in Srinagar. Earlier BJP's Ram Madhav said that cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with the Kathua incident. ''The cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with the Kathua incident. Our government has completed three years and we decided to give a chance to new faces. 5 members of the party will be sworn-in as ministers today,'' Madhav said. The cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with the Kathua incident. Our government has completed three years and we decided to give a chance to new faces. 5 members of the party will be sworn-in as ministers today: Ram Madhav, BJP on cabinet reshuffle in #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/hKsIq40zhv — ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2018 × (With PTI inputs)

J&K cabinet reshuffle: Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta, seven others take oath

The Lok Sabha was on Friday adjourned sine die, bringing to an end the short Winter Session during which the House passed 12 bills, including the &#39;triple talaq&#39; legislation that seeks to criminalise instant divorce in the Muslim community.

Announcing the adjournment, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the session, which commenced on December 15, had 13 sittings spread over 61 hours and 48 minutes. The House lost about 15 hours due to disruptions and adjournments.

Important bills passed during the session included the central road fund (amendment) bill, the requisitioning and acquisition of immovable property bill, the national capital territory of Delhi laws (special provisions) second (amendment) bill and the goods and services tax (compensation to states) amendment bill.

A bill to hike the salary of high court and Supreme Court judges was also passed.

The Speaker said 16 bills were introduced by the government in the session.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House as she announced its adjournment after briefing members on the proceedings during the winter session. 
The discussion on supplementary demands for grants, second and third batch for 2017-18, lasted for more than six hours before the demands were voted and the related appropriation bills passed, she said.

&quot;In this session, while we lost over 14 hours and 51 minutes of time due to interruptions followed by forced adjournments, the House also sat late for 8 hours and 10 minutes to discuss various important issues,&quot; she said.

During the session, 280 starred questions were listed, of which 45 questions were answered orally. Written replies to the remaining starred questions along with 3220 unstarred questions were tabled, she said.

About 198 matters of urgent public importance were raised by the members and by sitting late in the evening, while the members also raised 226 matters under rule 377, she said.

Standing committees presented 41 reports to the House.

The Lok Sabha held a short duration discussion under rule 193 regarding natural calamities in various part of the country, with special reference to cyclone Ockhi in South India. The discussion was concluded with the reply by Home Minister, she said.

During the session, as many as 2255 papers were tabled by the ministers concerned, she said, adding that 98 Private Members&#39; bills on different subjects were also introduced.

The Speaker said 16 bills were introduced by the government in the session.

The Lok Sabha was on Friday adjourned sine die, bringing to an end the short Winter Session during which the House passed 12 bills, including the 'triple talaq' legislation that seeks to criminalise instant divorce in the Muslim community. Announcing the adjournment, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the session, which commenced on December 15, had 13 sittings spread over 61 hours and 48 minutes. The House lost about 15 hours due to disruptions and adjournments. Important bills passed during the session included the central road fund (amendment) bill, the requisitioning and acquisition of immovable property bill, the national capital territory of Delhi laws (special provisions) second (amendment) bill and the goods and services tax (compensation to states) amendment bill. A bill to hike the salary of high court and Supreme Court judges was also passed. The Speaker said 16 bills were introduced by the government in the session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House as she announced its adjournment after briefing members on the proceedings during the winter session. The discussion on supplementary demands for grants, second and third batch for 2017-18, lasted for more than six hours before the demands were voted and the related appropriation bills passed, she said. "In this session, while we lost over 14 hours and 51 minutes of time due to interruptions followed by forced adjournments, the House also sat late for 8 hours and 10 minutes to discuss various important issues," she said. During the session, 280 starred questions were listed, of which 45 questions were answered orally. Written replies to the remaining starred questions along with 3220 unstarred questions were tabled, she said. About 198 matters of urgent public importance were raised by the members and by sitting late in the evening, while the members also raised 226 matters under rule 377, she said. Standing committees presented 41 reports to the House. The Lok Sabha held a short duration discussion under rule 193 regarding natural calamities in various part of the country, with special reference to cyclone Ockhi in South India. The discussion was concluded with the reply by Home Minister, she said. During the session, as many as 2255 papers were tabled by the ministers concerned, she said, adding that 98 Private Members' bills on different subjects were also introduced.

Lok Sabha adjourned sine die; 12 bills passed in Winter Session

Republican Donald Trump took steps to steer his White House campaign back into favour with his party establishment yesterday by endorsing US house of representatives speaker Paul Ryan and two Republican senators seeking re-election, after expressing coolness towards them earlier this week. 
 
&quot;I need a Republican senate and a house to accomplish all of the changes that we have to make,&quot; Trump said during a rally in Green Bay, in northern Wisconsin, Ryan&#39;s home state. He also endorsed senators John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, whom he called a &quot;rising star&quot;. 
 
&quot;We will have disagreements, but we will disagree as friends,&quot; Trump said. 
 
Ryan, the top US elected Republican, had no plans to attend the event, in a sign of lingering frictions between the pair. His Republican primary challenger, businessman Paul Nehlen, did attend, according to a spokesman. 
 
Trump earlier this week refused to endorse Ryan when he told The Washington Post he was &quot;not quite there yet&quot;, using the same phrase Ryan had used about Trump before finally endorsing him. He said in the same interview that McCain had not done enough for veterans and criticised Ayotte for distancing herself from him during the campaign. 
 
Ryan, who was earlier endorsed by Trump&#39;s vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, is viewed by establishment Republicans as a possible presidential candidate in the future. He is expected to win a challenge for his House seat in next week&#39;s Republican primary. 
 
Trump&#39;s endorsement emerged as he took other steps to get his campaign back on track after days of controversy and falling poll numbers that have given Democrat Hillary Clinton the advantage in the race to the November 8 election. 
 
In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday, Clinton&#39;s lead over Trump narrowed to less than three percentage points, down from nearly eight points on Monday. 
 
Trump yesterday announced he was setting up an advisory team to help guide him on economic policy. The group relies heavily on hedge fund managers and investment bankers, a group Trump has railed against in the past, and includes no women. 
 
In addition, Trump plans to release his framework for boosting the US economy in a speech in Detroit on Monday, an event that will offer him a chance to avoid theatrics and detail how he would handle economic issues if elected. 
 
Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore told Reuters that the candidate&#39;s plan would focus on four areas: tax, deregulation, energy policy and trade. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be an all-encompassing look at how we reform the economy,&rdquo; Moore said. 
 
At a rally in Des Moines, Trump showed newfound discipline, mostly sticking to his central charge that Clinton is the &quot;queen of corruption&quot;. He defended himself against her charge that he is temperamentally unfit for the White House. 
 
&quot;All my life I&#39;ve been told, &#39;You have the greatest temperament,&#39;&quot; he said.&nbsp;He urged voters to also consider his vice presidential running mate, who appeared with him at the event.&nbsp;&quot;If you don&#39;t like me, that&#39;s okay, vote for Pence, because it&#39;s the same thing,&quot; he said. 
 
Trump also defended himself against what he called the news media&#39;s claim that he kicked a baby out of an event earlier this week in Virginia. &quot;I love babies,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;Short-circuited&quot; 
 
Clinton sought to take advantage of Trump&#39;s dip in the polls at a conference of minority journalists in Washington, where she pledged an all-out fight for comprehensive immigration reform if she wins the November 8 election. 
 
At the event, Clinton did what she has rarely done during the presidential campaign: take questions from reporters. 
 
She addressed two of the largest issues that continue to dog her campaign: the controversy over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state during the Obama administration, and continuing scepticism among voters about her trustworthiness. 
 
Clinton conceded that she had &ldquo;short-circuited&rdquo; earlier in the week in interviews when she had asserted that FBI director James Comey had concluded that she had been truthful in her statements about the&nbsp;use of the private server. 
 
Clinton had repeatedly said publicly that she never sent emails containing classified material, a finding that Comey contradicted at the conclusion of the FBI&rsquo;s probe in July, when he rebuked her for &quot;extremely careless&quot; handling of classified information while recommending that no criminal charges be filed. 
 
Yesterday, Clinton maintained that &ldquo;I never sent or received anything marked classified&rdquo;, while acknowledging that some material she sent may retroactively have been considered classified by other government agencies.&nbsp;Republicans have repeatedly charged that Clinton endangered national security with her handling of classified material. 
 
The email controversy has fuelled a perception among a majority of voters that Clinton is untrustworthy. &ldquo;I take it seriously,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t make me feel good when people say those things. And I recognise that I have work to do.&rdquo; 
 
Still, as she has often done during her career, Clinton attributed much of her low standing on this issue to attacks from Republicans. &ldquo;Maybe just maybe when I&rsquo;m actually running for a job, there is a real benefit to those on the other side to try and stir up as much concern as possible,&rdquo; she said. 
 
Finance and industry leaders 
 
Trump&#39;s campaign said his economic advisory panel included former steel executive Dan DiMicco, Howard Lorber, CEO of tobacco company Vector Group Ltd, and Trump campaign finance chairman and investment manager Steven Mnuchin. 
 
Hedge fund managers John Paulson and Steve Feinberg, anti-tax advocacy group Club for Growth&#39;s Stephen Moore, and David Malpass, who has served under previous Republican administrations in the Treasury and State Departments, were also named. 
 
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn turned down an invitation to join the group because he is considering funding a Super PAC focussed on regulatory reform, Icahn&#39;s general counsel told Reuters yesterday. 
 
Trump&#39;s moves came after many Republicans urged the candidate to correct course following a tumultuous week. 
 
The real estate mogul and former reality television star was caught up for days in a public spat with the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq. The parents had spoken out against Trump at last week&#39;s Democratic National Convention. Many Republicans, including Ryan, McCain and Ayotte, were critical of Trump&#39;s insistent attacks on the parents. 
 
(Reuters)

Paul Ryan, the top US elected Republican who the establishment sees as a possible future presidential candidate, skipped the rally

Republican Donald Trump took steps to steer his White House campaign back into favour with his party establishment yesterday by endorsing US house of representatives speaker Paul Ryan and two Republican senators seeking re-election, after expressing coolness towards them earlier this week. "I need a Republican senate and a house to accomplish all of the changes that we have to make," Trump said during a rally in Green Bay, in northern Wisconsin, Ryan's home state. He also endorsed senators John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, whom he called a "rising star". "We will have disagreements, but we will disagree as friends," Trump said. Ryan, the top US elected Republican, had no plans to attend the event, in a sign of lingering frictions between the pair. His Republican primary challenger, businessman Paul Nehlen, did attend, according to a spokesman. Trump earlier this week refused to endorse Ryan when he told The Washington Post he was "not quite there yet", using the same phrase Ryan had used about Trump before finally endorsing him. He said in the same interview that McCain had not done enough for veterans and criticised Ayotte for distancing herself from him during the campaign. Ryan, who was earlier endorsed by Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, is viewed by establishment Republicans as a possible presidential candidate in the future. He is expected to win a challenge for his House seat in next week's Republican primary. Trump's endorsement emerged as he took other steps to get his campaign back on track after days of controversy and falling poll numbers that have given Democrat Hillary Clinton the advantage in the race to the November 8 election. In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday, Clinton's lead over Trump narrowed to less than three percentage points, down from nearly eight points on Monday. Trump yesterday announced he was setting up an advisory team to help guide him on economic policy. The group relies heavily on hedge fund managers and investment bankers, a group Trump has railed against in the past, and includes no women. In addition, Trump plans to release his framework for boosting the US economy in a speech in Detroit on Monday, an event that will offer him a chance to avoid theatrics and detail how he would handle economic issues if elected. Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore told Reuters that the candidate's plan would focus on four areas: tax, deregulation, energy policy and trade. “It’s going to be an all-encompassing look at how we reform the economy,” Moore said. At a rally in Des Moines, Trump showed newfound discipline, mostly sticking to his central charge that Clinton is the "queen of corruption". He defended himself against her charge that he is temperamentally unfit for the White House. "All my life I've been told, 'You have the greatest temperament,'" he said. He urged voters to also consider his vice presidential running mate, who appeared with him at the event. "If you don't like me, that's okay, vote for Pence, because it's the same thing," he said. Trump also defended himself against what he called the news media's claim that he kicked a baby out of an event earlier this week in Virginia. "I love babies," he said. "Short-circuited" Clinton sought to take advantage of Trump's dip in the polls at a conference of minority journalists in Washington, where she pledged an all-out fight for comprehensive immigration reform if she wins the November 8 election. At the event, Clinton did what she has rarely done during the presidential campaign: take questions from reporters. She addressed two of the largest issues that continue to dog her campaign: the controversy over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state during the Obama administration, and continuing scepticism among voters about her trustworthiness. Clinton conceded that she had “short-circuited” earlier in the week in interviews when she had asserted that FBI director James Comey had concluded that she had been truthful in her statements about the use of the private server. Clinton had repeatedly said publicly that she never sent emails containing classified material, a finding that Comey contradicted at the conclusion of the FBI’s probe in July, when he rebuked her for "extremely careless" handling of classified information while recommending that no criminal charges be filed. Yesterday, Clinton maintained that “I never sent or received anything marked classified”, while acknowledging that some material she sent may retroactively have been considered classified by other government agencies. Republicans have repeatedly charged that Clinton endangered national security with her handling of classified material. The email controversy has fuelled a perception among a majority of voters that Clinton is untrustworthy. “I take it seriously,” she said. “It doesn’t make me feel good when people say those things. And I recognise that I have work to do.” Still, as she has often done during her career, Clinton attributed much of her low standing on this issue to attacks from Republicans. “Maybe just maybe when I’m actually running for a job, there is a real benefit to those on the other side to try and stir up as much concern as possible,” she said. Finance and industry leaders Trump's campaign said his economic advisory panel included former steel executive Dan DiMicco, Howard Lorber, CEO of tobacco company Vector Group Ltd, and Trump campaign finance chairman and investment manager Steven Mnuchin. Hedge fund managers John Paulson and Steve Feinberg, anti-tax advocacy group Club for Growth's Stephen Moore, and David Malpass, who has served under previous Republican administrations in the Treasury and State Departments, were also named. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn turned down an invitation to join the group because he is considering funding a Super PAC focussed on regulatory reform, Icahn's general counsel told Reuters yesterday. Trump's moves came after many Republicans urged the candidate to correct course following a tumultuous week. The real estate mogul and former reality television star was caught up for days in a public spat with the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq. The parents had spoken out against Trump at last week's Democratic National Convention. Many Republicans, including Ryan, McCain and Ayotte, were critical of Trump's insistent attacks on the parents. (Reuters)

Trump, looking to right campaign ship, endorses house speaker, senators

The top elected US Republican formally asked the country&#39;s intelligence chief not to give Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton any classified information during the election campaign, according to a letter released today. 
 
House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan said in the letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper that denying Clinton classified briefings during her run for the presidency would be an appropriate sanction for her improper handling of classified emails while secretary of state. 
 
Presidential candidates normally get access to classified information once they are formally nominated. 
 
The issue of Clinton&#39;s use of private email servers during her tenure as secretary of state has cast a cloud over her presidential campaign for the Nov. 8 election, raised questions among voters about her trustworthiness and given presidential rival Donald Trump an avenue of attack. 
 
Ryan&#39;s letter comes as congressional Republicans will get their first chance to grill FBI Director James Comey when he goes to Capitol Hill today to explain his decision not to recommend criminal charges against Clinton after a year-long investigation of her handling of classified emails while at state. 
 
Comey&#39;s testimony before the House Oversight Committee at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) will be the first time he has taken questions publicly since his announcement this week that the FBI was not recommending charges against Clinton. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch has accepted the FBI recommendation and will appear at a separate hearing next Tuesday. 
 
Comey said on Tuesday that 110 classified emails passed through Clinton&#39;s servers, which were not kept on a secure government server. He rebuked the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee for &quot;extremely careless&quot; handling of classified information but said no reasonable prosecutor would charge her or her staff criminally. 
 
The Clinton campaign said it was pleased at the FBI&#39;s announcement and called the Republican-led call for Comey&#39;s hearing a &quot;taxpayer-funded sham of an inquiry&quot; intended to hurt Clinton politically. 
 
The Oversight Committee is chaired by Republican U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz, known for his persistent questioning of Obama administration officials. 
 
Reputation for Independence 
 
Comey, a Republican who was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama and also served in the administration of former Republican President George W. Bush, has built a reputation as a straight shooter who does not bend to pressure from either party. 
 
He has differed sharply with the Obama administration, most recently over gun control and whether high-profile police brutality cases had inhibited law enforcement from stopping crime. 
 
Questions about the propriety of Clinton&#39;s use of unauthorized email servers in her Chappaqua, New York, home during her time as secretary of state from January 2009 until February 2013 have raised questions about her judgment from all sides of the political spectrum. 
 
Despite clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, Clinton can expect a further onslaught of attacks from Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who has accused her of playing by a different set of rules from the American public. 
 
&quot;Hillary Clinton can&#39;t keep her emails safe, and you know what, folks, she sure as hell can&#39;t keep our country safe,&quot; Trump told a recent rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, charging that the investigation was &quot;rigged&quot; in Clinton&#39;s favor. 
 
Comey left the door open for other actions in the case, including downgrading security clearances for anyone who mishandles classified information as Clinton and her staff did. 
 
(Reuters)

Ryan said denying Hillary Clinton classified briefings would be an appropriate sanction for her improper handling of classified email

The top elected US Republican formally asked the country's intelligence chief not to give Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton any classified information during the election campaign, according to a letter released today. House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan said in the letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper that denying Clinton classified briefings during her run for the presidency would be an appropriate sanction for her improper handling of classified emails while secretary of state. Presidential candidates normally get access to classified information once they are formally nominated. The issue of Clinton's use of private email servers during her tenure as secretary of state has cast a cloud over her presidential campaign for the Nov. 8 election, raised questions among voters about her trustworthiness and given presidential rival Donald Trump an avenue of attack. Ryan's letter comes as congressional Republicans will get their first chance to grill FBI Director James Comey when he goes to Capitol Hill today to explain his decision not to recommend criminal charges against Clinton after a year-long investigation of her handling of classified emails while at state. Comey's testimony before the House Oversight Committee at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) will be the first time he has taken questions publicly since his announcement this week that the FBI was not recommending charges against Clinton. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch has accepted the FBI recommendation and will appear at a separate hearing next Tuesday. Comey said on Tuesday that 110 classified emails passed through Clinton's servers, which were not kept on a secure government server. He rebuked the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee for "extremely careless" handling of classified information but said no reasonable prosecutor would charge her or her staff criminally. The Clinton campaign said it was pleased at the FBI's announcement and called the Republican-led call for Comey's hearing a "taxpayer-funded sham of an inquiry" intended to hurt Clinton politically. The Oversight Committee is chaired by Republican U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz, known for his persistent questioning of Obama administration officials. Reputation for Independence Comey, a Republican who was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama and also served in the administration of former Republican President George W. Bush, has built a reputation as a straight shooter who does not bend to pressure from either party. He has differed sharply with the Obama administration, most recently over gun control and whether high-profile police brutality cases had inhibited law enforcement from stopping crime. Questions about the propriety of Clinton's use of unauthorized email servers in her Chappaqua, New York, home during her time as secretary of state from January 2009 until February 2013 have raised questions about her judgment from all sides of the political spectrum. Despite clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, Clinton can expect a further onslaught of attacks from Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who has accused her of playing by a different set of rules from the American public. "Hillary Clinton can't keep her emails safe, and you know what, folks, she sure as hell can't keep our country safe," Trump told a recent rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, charging that the investigation was "rigged" in Clinton's favor. Comey left the door open for other actions in the case, including downgrading security clearances for anyone who mishandles classified information as Clinton and her staff did. (Reuters)

Speaker Paul Ryan formally asks that Clinton be denied classified data

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