David Cameron returns: how can a prime minister make someone who isn’t an MP foreign secretary? And what happens now?

Thomas Caygill, Nottingham Trent University

In a surprise move, Rishi Sunak, the UK’s prime minister, has appointed former prime minister David Cameron as foreign secretary. Cameron, who resigned immediately after losing the 2016 Brexit referendum, has been almost entirely absent from the political scene ever since.

It’s rare these days for a prime minister to appoint someone who is not a sitting member of the House of Commons as a cabinet level minister in their government but Sunak certainly can do it. The prime minister has what we call the power of patronage.

What we mean by this is that there are a number of public roles for which the prime minister gets to decide who gets the job. Those powers of patronage include appointing members of the cabinet as well as other junior ministers to serve in government.

It is only a constitutional convention, rather than a rule, that government ministers be a member of either house of parliament. However, it is a convention that has been strongly abided by.

This convention revolves around the constitutional principle of responsible government where the executive is accountable to parliament. That’s why Cameron has been granted a life peerage to sit in the House of Lords, the upper house of parliament.

Making Lord Cameron the new foreign secretary is, from a historical and constitutional position, not unusual or forbidden. Under the government of Gordon Brown, both Lord Mandelson and Lord Adonis served in the cabinet, for example.

How quickly does this all happen?

While there are often set times when prime ministers appoint peers to the House of Lords, such as resignation honours, they can appoint anyone at any time. That means Cameron is now already a peer.

He will sit on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords for life – regardless of how long he spends in the role as foreign secretary.

This conferring of a peerage does mean he will need to be formally introduced into the House of Lords but this doesn’t take long to arrange. There is nothing to prevent Cameron from taking up the role of foreign secretary immediately, which explains why he has already been photographed at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Is it OK to appoint a minister in this way?

There isn’t a problem with Cameron’s appointment from the perspective of the constitution. It is all above board.

However some people will (legitimately) question whether the British government should be continuing to appoint peers to cabinet level jobs in the 21st century, given that debates around its democratic legitimacy, as an appointed rather than elected chamber, have been going on for decades already.

It’s worth noting that Cameron had a preference for appointing his cabinet ministers from the House of Commons when he was in charge.

And while the government is accountable to parliament as a whole, generally speaking we are talking about being accountable to the House of Commons, which is the elected house. MPs are likely to be annoyed that a senior member of the cabinet is not a member of their house.

Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, has already expressed concern about how the foreign secretary will be held to account by the House of Commons. While there are mechanisms available to hold the new foreign secretary to account, MPs are likely to need pacifying.

Cameron’s arrival shocks Sky News.

As a member of the House of Lords, Cameron will not be able to take part in the monthly Foreign Office questions in the House of Commons. He will not be able to answer urgent questions in the House of Commons or take part in their debates either.

Nor will he be able to deliver major foreign policy statements in the House of Commons. Junior ministers in the department will have to face MPs instead.

He can answer questions and take part in debates in the House of Lords and will be held to account by his fellow peers but it is a different political arena to the House of Commons.

There is precedence for cabinet level ministers in the House of Lords to appear there regularly. In 2009, House of Lords procedures were changed to allow cabinet ministers to answer questions on their departmental brief once a month for 20 minutes, and I am sure Lord Cameron will deliver statements on foreign affairs.

But, again, MPs cannot take part in this scrutiny. This is likely to annoy many, given the major foreign policy issues the country is facing at the moment.

When was the last time a great office of state was held by a peer?

While the appointment of cabinet ministers from the House of Lords is not unusual in post-war history, it has been some time since such a senior member of the government (a holder of one of the great offices of state) has come from the House of Lords.

The last member of the House of Lords to serve in one of the great offices of state was Lord Carrington, who was Margaret Thatcher’s foreign secretary between 1979 and 1982.

It also isn’t unheard of for former prime ministers to return to cabinet. Alex Douglas Home, who was until recently the shortest serving prime minister in post-war history, was appointed as foreign secretary by prime minister Ted Heath, serving from 1970 to 1974.

Thomas Caygill, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Nottingham Trent University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........ → November 14, 2023

When it comes to Indigenous affairs, Australian voters’ opinions are complicated

Geoffrey Robinson, Deakin University The academic study of public opinion is a well-developed area. One foundational finding is that while the views of voters often seem contradictory and incoherent, these apparent inconsistencies have a pattern. The views that voters express in opinion polls reveal that many voters, especially those disengaged from politics, understand key concepts such as “equality” and “disadvantage” in a very different way from political elites of both left and right. The fact that public opinion does not align with traditional “left” and “right” viewpoints means that both progressives and conservatives have opportunities to gain majority support. The marriage equality plebiscite dashed conservatives’ dreams of a suburban “silent majority”. The Voice referendum seems likely to be disappointing for the left. The dynamics of both ballots are similar. One key finding from the study of popular ideology is that voters often express loyalty to general principles while also supporting policies that contradict those principles. Often these general principles are conservative. For example, Americans worry about government being too large, but when questioned about specific government programs, will support their extension. Australians have very high levels of patriotism, but most are not aggressive nationalists. There are some left-wing general principles that attract strong majority support, such as equal opportunity and that immigration contributes to cultural enrichment. However, voters’ interpretation of these principles is not a left-wing one: affirmative action for women is very unpopular, and although voters support multiculturalism as an aspiration, they are much more doubtful about immigrant communities receiving government assistance to maintain culture and traditions. Many aspects of the history of public opinion about Indigenous affairs, as chronicled in Murray Goot and Tim Rowse’s 2007 book Divided Nation, are consistent with this pattern. The political right is often more divided on policy than the left, but it has been successful in maintaining a coalition based on an appeal to abstract principles. The success of the “no” campaign is a case in point. In a liberal democracy, “equality” is a powerful idea, but its meaning is contested. From the 19th century, conservatives found to their surprise that formal political equality did not mean the disappearance of the social and economic inequalities they cherished. Conservatives have mostly championed formal political equality. The campaign against the Voice has centred themes of equality against the special treatment of Indigenous people. The theme is almost 50 years old, going back to mining industry campaigns against land rights in the 1970s. However, the idea of equality is also a tool against institutionalised racism. At the 1967 referendum, voters supported the idea of equality, even though the same voters rejected social closeness to Indigenous people and had a low opinion of their character and abilities. Supporters of “yes” have complained of the invocation of racist themes by some “no” campaigners. However, since the 1990s, public attitudes to Indigenous claims have shifted from hostility to mild support. But in an Australia less racist than it has ever been, the Voice now seems destined for defeat. The question is why were progressives unable to propose a convincing counter-narrative? The fact that initially the Voice attracted strong support suggests this was not inevitable. Although “equality” is a deeply popular idea, voters do not understand equality as simple sameness. In other words, they do not support a narrowly libertarian view that past history and current cultural differences have no bearing on the entitlements of contemporary Australians. Australian society is no longer, if it ever was, dominated by a culture of sameness. Voters recognise the claims of identity and difference, but only to a limited extent. As Goot and Rowse show, settlers have recognised the distinctiveness of Indigenous people, but they tend to understand it as applying only to some groups: those defined as “tribal”, remote, distinctive in appearance and so on. They show that public support for land rights was higher when beneficiaries were defined in this sense. Both left and right have cited the disadvantaged position of Indigenous people in arguments for and against the Voice. But voters’ support for Indigenous specific programs is based less of perceptions of disadvantage than Indigenous distinctiveness. Voters are sympathetic to identity claims when they are understood as something innate about individuals. However, they are less sympathetic when they are understood as the assertion of a collective political project. Scott Morrison’s personal religiosity initially contributed to an image of authenticity that voters found attractive. But his attempt to grant legal privileges to religious schools in the form of exemptions from anti-discrimination legislation were unpopular. The campaign for marriage equality appealed powerfully to ideas about the right to love. Conservatives deviate from a libertarian script when they argue that the high number of Indigenous MPs means that that First Nations peoples are already represented, but this expresses the view of Indigeneity as a personal attribute rather than a political force. The settler majority has come to accept Indigenous people as equal individual citizens of the nation-state. In some cases, they have supported special entitlements for some Indigenous people, rejecting a purely libertarian approach. Early support for the Voice reflected this, but the decline in support for the Voice demonstrates settlers are resistant to the idea of Indigenous peoples as a collective subject entitled to a unified Voice. Australian democracy is not colour-blind, but it defines difference within a limited framework. Geoffrey Robinson, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........ → October 12, 2023

Georgia grand jury indicts former US President Trump, alleging 'conspiracy to unlawfully change outcome' of 2020 presidential election

Trump at last month's Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. Image: Gage Skidmore.

Last Monday, a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury seated in Atlanta indicted nineteen people, including former United States President Donald Trump, on 41 counts overall, Trump himself facing thirteen. Referencing the Republican's election loss to President Joe Biden in 2020 in Georgia and nationally, it alleged they "refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump." The grand jury's indictment continued: "That conspiracy contained a common plan and purpose to commit two or more acts of racketeering activity in Fulton County, Georgia, elsewhere in the State of Georgia, and in other states." Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told press later the accused had eleven days to surrender. Trump faced a charge of violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) along with his co-defendants; three counts of soliciting a public officer to violate their oath; conspiracy to commit impersonation of a public officer; two each of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, and false statements and writings; conspiracy to commit filing false documents; and filing false documents. Trump said the day of the indictment: "I didn't tamper with the election!" Ahead of the announcement of the charges, his 2024 presidential campaign claimed the prosecution the Democratic Willis was leading was "election interference". In a statement the campaign said: "The timing of this latest coordinated strike by a biased prosecutor in an overwhelmingly Democrat jurisdiction not only betrays the trust of the American people, but also exposes true motivation driving their fabricated accusations." He previously repeatedly asked for her disqualification based on her public remarks on the case. On Tuesday, he wrote on his social media website, Truth Social: "A Large, Complex, Detailed but Irrefutable REPORT on the Presidential Election Fraud which took place in Georgia is almost complete & will be presented by me at a major News Conference at 11:00 A.M. on Monday of next week in Bedminster, New Jersey". On Thursday, he announced he would not stage the press conference, posting to Truth Social: "Rather than releasing the Report on the Rigged & Stolen Georgia 2020 Presidential Election on Monday, my lawyers would prefer putting this, I believe, Irrefutable & Overwhelming evidence of Election Fraud & Irregularities in formal Legal Filings as we fight to dismiss this disgraceful Indictment". This fourth case followed indictments of the former president in New York City, on state-level charges of falsification of business records to conceal hush money payments, the first indictment of a US president Miami, Florida, on federal charges of purposeful retention of classified documents; and Washington, D.C., on federal charges of "[pursuit] of unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting" the 2020 election. Unlike impeachment and conviction by the US Congress, a criminal conviction unrelated to insurrection would not have legal effects on Trump's campaign, but, as the charges were state-level, a US president could not pardon those, if any, found guilty or remove state prosecutors. In its 98 pages, the indictment mentioned 30 more involved in the conspiracy, but did not charge or name them. It said Trump and associates, including lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, both indicted alongside him Monday, unsuccessfully attempted to persuade state officials involved in the certification of the results. It described Trump asking Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, both Republicans, to interfere with the results — calling Raffensperger on January 2, 2021 to ask him to "find" votes so Trump could overcome Biden's victory and US Department of Justice employees to pronounce the results "corrupt". It said Trump made false claims of election fraud in, without success, petitioning courts to undo the results in lawsuits

Georgia.The indictment. Image: State of Georgia.

against  According to the indictment, Trump organized individuals to present themselves as legitimate electors, including state Republican Party chairman David Shafer and Cathleen Latham; some said the Trump campaign told them they would cast their presidential votes only if Trump's legal efforts to overturn Biden's victory were successful. The grand jury indicted Shafer and Mike Roman, another alleged participant in the scheme, who worked on Trump's 2020 campaign. The indictment continued Trump attorneys three times attempted to convince members of the Republican-majority Georgia legislature to present their election fraud allegations. It said the US Department of Justice's civil division's top official, Jeffrey Clark, prepared a never-sent letter asking legislators to "convene a special session" on the results and the electors it would certify to vote for president, charging Clark. The grand jury described how "several of the Defendants [...] falsely accused Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman of committing election crimes", then used these claims as basis for their argument the Georgia legislature and others in its government should alter the results. Mark Meadows was another facing charges. The grand jury accused the one-time Trump Executive Office Chief of Staff of trying to gain unauthorized entry to a Cobb County, Georgia civic center where state law enforcement was conducting audits of election-related signatures in December 2020. "Is there a way to speed up Fulton county signature verification in order to have results before Jan 6 if the trump campaign assist financially", he texted Raffensperger's Chief Investigator Frances Watson. The grand jury indicted him on violating RICO and soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, the latter stemming from scheduling the Trump–Raffensperger phone call. Latham, the grand jury charged, also participated in a pro-Trump scheme to compromise ballots and election machines in Coffee County, Georgia. In Georgia, prosecutors have had the option of convening special grand juries for investigations before a regular grand jury hears its findings and considers indictment, and Willis did so about a year into her investigation in 2022. Among those who testified to the special grand jury before it dissolved in January were Eastman, Giuliani, Meadows, and Ken Chesebro, all of whom the regular grand jury charged. Others who testified were Mike Flynn, a national security advisor to Trump, and legislators Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Representative Jody Hice of Georgia, both Republicans. Both Willis and Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the special grand jury's work, said Shafer was at the greatest risk of prosecution of the pro-Trump electors. Source: https://en.wikinews.org, available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License

Read More........ → August 21, 2023

US climate envoy John Kerry on 5-day visit to India, will attend G20 Climate Meeting in Chennai

US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry meets India’s Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh in New Delhi, India, September 13, 2021. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis 

United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry is slated arrives on a five-day visit to India beginning Tuesday, July 25, 2023, days after returning from China. During his visit Kerry is visiting Chennai and Delhi, the US State Department said. In India, Kerry will attend the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers (ECSM) Meeting in Chennai to be held on July 28, the US Department of State said in a statement. In Delhi, Kerry will meet with senior government officials to advance shared objectives on renewable and clean energy, and climate, the statement read. “Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to New Delhi and Chennai, India, July 25—29, to advance shared objectives on climate and clean energy, including mutual efforts to build a platform for investments in renewable energy and storage solutions, support the deployment of zero-emission buses, and diversify clean energy supply chains,” the US State Department said. The third Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting was also under India’s G20 Presidency on May 21. The three-day meeting witnessed the participation of 141 delegates from G20 countries and 10 invitee countries. The representatives of 14 international and regional organizations also attended deliberations.. Earlier, Kerry ended his four-day visit to China on July 19 without any new agreements. in fact, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, insisted in a speech that China would pursue its goals to phase out carbon dioxide pollution at its own pace and in its own way. Still, Kerry appeared buoyed that the world’s two biggest polluters had restarted discussions, which had been frozen for a year because of strained relations over Taiwan, trade and other issues. He insisted he was not disappointed in the outcome, noting that just talking marked progress, according to the Washington Post.“We had very frank conversations but we came here to break new ground,” Kerry said, adding, “It is clear that we are going to need a little more work.” Source: https://www.newsindiatimes.com/

Read More........ → August 02, 2023

Biden's meeting with Bucharest Nine is signal of political attention – Lithuanian PM

Photo: Office of the President of the United States

VILNIUS - US President Joe Biden's meeting with representatives of the Bucharest Nine, also attended by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, is an important signal of political and practical attention to NATO's eastern flank, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte says.

"The meeting with the leaders of NATO's eastern flank countries is a very important signal. It has been mentioned many times over the years that the Article 5 guarantees are ironclad, they are very solid, but they have to be reinforced with a political dimension, with such political attention, and with a practical dimension, with the physical reinforcement of the eastern flank," Simonyte told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Thursday. "This invasion (…) has given NATO second wind."

As Russia's war in Ukraine continues, many of the Bucharest Nine countries are worried that if Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeds in Ukraine, his next target could be any of these countries.

The Bucharest Nine includes Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The US president concluded his four-day visit to NATO's eastern flank allies Ukraine and Poland on Wednesday. On Monday, several days before the 1st anniversary of Russia's invasion of pro-Western Ukraine, Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and vowed a new arms package and strong American support.

"I think it's extremely symbolic that President Biden visited Kyiv at this particular time because there was a very clear message here," the Lithuanian prime minister noted.

Putin delivered his annual speech on Tuesday and accused Western countries of causing and supporting the war in Ukraine. He also rejected Moscow's any responsibility."Clearly, the real event was President Biden in Kyiv, not Putin's speech," Simonyte said. Source: https://media.baltictimes.com/

Read More........ → February 24, 2023

Modi congratulates Mamata

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee this evening and assured that the Centre will "continue to extend all possible support to the West Bengal Government to fulfil people's aspirations and also to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic". Counting the BJP's gains in a state where it only had a marginal presence, he thanked the people of Bengal for their "blessing" to the party.

"From a negligible presence earlier, BJP's presence has significantly increased," PM Modi tweeted as his party -- which aspired to 200 of Bengal's 294 seats -- looks set to win only 70-plus seats. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is likely to win more than the 211 seats it won in 2016.

PM Modi's congratulations came hours after several of his party leaders, including Union Minister Rajnath Singh, extended their good wishes to the Chief Minister.

In another tweet, the Prime Minister -- who addressed more than 50 meetings as part of the BJP's Mission Bengal – said: "I would like to thank my sisters and brothers of West Bengal who have blessed our party. From a negligible presence earlier, BJP’s presence has significantly increased. BJP will keep serving the people. I applaud each and every Karyakarta for their spirited effort in the polls."

The BJP has been aiming to expand their footprint in the eastern India since coming to power at the Centre in 2014. In 2015, then BJP chief Amit Shah had laid down a 200-seat goal to the state unit of the party. But over the years, while the BJP has managed to bring the states of the northeast under its control, Bengal has proved elusive yet again.

For many in the party, the disappointment has been sharp, especially after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls where the BJP managed to win 18 of the state's 42 Lok Sabha seats – a long way up from two seats.

But Babul Supriyo was the only leader who refused to congratulate her.

In a short, angry Facebook post, Mr Supriyo – whose Asansol seat was a BJP stronghold long before 2019 -- said Bengal's voters had made a "historic mistake"."Neither will I congratulate Mamata Banerjee... nor do I wish to say I 'respect' the people's verdict... sincerely think people of Bengal made a historic mistake by not giving BJP a chance... by electing this corrupt, incapable, dishonest government and a cruel lady back to power," his message read. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........ → May 08, 2021

Mamata Banerjee wins in Nandigram

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee today won a white-knuckled fight in Bengal's Nandigram, beating the BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, her former right-hand man.

The West Bengal Chief Minister trailed Suvendu Adhikari in the early rounds of counting, which dimmed her party's euphoria at a spectacular election victory in Bengal. But finally, she scraped past him and managed a 1,200-vote lead to clinch a victory.

Nandigram is the town that catapulted Mamata Banerjee to power for the first time in 2011 and winning here serves as a big message to aides - mainly Mr. Adhikari -- who ditched her this time to cross over to the BJP.

In 2011, Suvendu Adhikari was by Mamata Banerjee's side as she campaigned for farmers' land rights. He became an MLA in the constituency and for years, the Adhikari family had a firm grip over Nandigram. But in this election, he was weaponized by the BJP against the Chief Minister, who was pitched as an "outsider" in Nandigram.DailyBangladesh/SA Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........ → May 03, 2021

US House delivers Trump impeachment article to Senate

The House impeachment case against Donald Trump has been delivered to the Senate for his upcoming trial, CNN reported on Tuesday.

Walking from one side of the US Capitol to the other, nine House managers appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi hand-delivered the impeachment document to the Senate on Monday evening.

Under the US Constitution, impeachment hearings must begin the day after the documents placed in the Senate. But senators could take another two weeks to begin the hearing, as new President Joe Biden's cabinet is not yet complete.

All the members of Congress who took the impeachment motion are from the Democratic Party. The other eight members are Diana Degette, David Sicilini, Joaquin Castro, Eric Salwell, Ted Liu, Stacey Plasket, Joe Negus, and Madeleine Dean. They will argue in the Senate why Trump should be indicted.

The House impeached Trump on January 13 on the same charge – making him the first president in US history to be impeached twice.

According to CNN, Trump is making legal preparations to address the impeachment hearing in the Senate.It is learned that the former president is staying in Florida after leaving the White House. He spends most of his time there playing golf. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........ → January 28, 2021

Biden to block Trump`s Covid rule change

US President-elect Joe Biden is to undo one of Donald Trump's last actions in office by blocking his decree lifting Covid travel bans on visitors from much of Europe and Brazil.

Mr Biden's spokeswoman said now was not the time to be easing travel measures.

Joe Biden will take office at 12:00 (17:00 GMT) on Wednesday. However, much of the spotlight is on Mr Trump's final moves, including presidential pardons.

Security is intense in Washington DC ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

Thousands of National Guard reserve soldiers have been deployed in the wake of the storming of the Capitol building by a pro-Trump mob on 6 January that left five people dead.The FBI had earlier warned of possible protests across the nation by right-wing extremists emboldened by the invasion. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com 

Read More........ → January 20, 2021

Political dynasts weakening democracy: PM

Without taking names of political rivals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday said that political dynasts posed the biggest threat to democracy and appealed to the youth to enter politics to redress the situation.

"There are still people who want to do politics only to save their family's name in politics. This sort of politics keeps 'nation first' at second place and 'my family and my benefits' as first priority.

"The youth need to enter politics to end this practice of family-based politics. It is important to save our democratic practices," he said at a valedictory function of the second Youth Parliament here.

"Dynasts are the biggest threat to democracy and this leads to social corruption; more youths should come forward to curb this problem."

Modi maintained that people nowadays supported those who worked with honesty and sincerity.

He said that politics of nepotism was nearing its end, adding that it hadn't ended completely though.

"Those who have corruption as part of their legacy now are not able to come out of that burden."

Invoking Swami Vivekananda, Modi advised the youth to believe in themselves and take the nation forward. The new National Education Policy 2020 will take the youth towards modern education and learning, he added. Source: : https://southasiamonitor.org

Read More........ → January 13, 2021

Now Republicans to vote for Trump impeachment

Incumbent United States President Donald Trump will be succeeded by new US President-elect Joe Biden on 20 January

The move by Democrats to impeach United States Incumbent President Donald Trump from office is turning into momentum as some of his fellow Republicans begin to turn against him. 

Liz Cheney, the most senior Republican in the House of Representatives, said she would vote to impeach Trump over the US Capitol turmoil last week.

Donald Trump, however, took no responsibility for the breach of Congress by supporters of his.

He will be succeeded by new US President-elect Joe Biden on 20 January.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is planning to vote on Wednesday to charge Trump for provoking his supporters which also makes him the first US President ever to be impeached twice.

Cheney, who is also the daughter of former Vice-President Dick Cheney, said in a statement: “There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.” – BBC.

She added that Trump “summoned the mob, assembled the mob, lit the flame of this attack.”

John Katko and Adam Kinzinger, another two Republicans, said they would also vote for Trump’s impeachment.

Democrats have already been pressuring Vice-President Mike Pence to invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment which help to oust Trump, however, he rejected their resolution on Tuesday.

“Under our Constitution, the 25th Amendment is not a means of punishment,” Pence said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, adding: “Invoking the 25th Amendment in such a manner would set a terrible precedent.” 

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that as many as 20 Senate Republicans were open to convict the president.

A two-thirds majority of the upper chamber would be needed to convict Donald Trump which means at least 17 Republicans would have to vote for conviction.

After all of this commotion, however, Donald Trump showed no remorse for remarks he made to supporters at a rally before a mob stormed the halls of Congress in his first public appearance since last Wednesday.

“The impeachment is causing tremendous anger, and you’re doing it, and it’s really a terrible thing that they’re doing,” he told reporters.

He also said the “real problem” was rhetoric used by Democrats during Black Lives Matter protests and violence last year.Source: BBC, Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com 

Read More........ → January 13, 2021

Russia receives US invitation to attend Biden inauguration

The United States has sent an invitation to Russia to attend the inauguration of President Elect Joe Biden scheduled for January 20 in the capital, the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. told TASS.

"We have received the invitation. Ambassador [of Russia in the US Anatoly Antonov] is expected to take part [in the inauguration ceremony]," the diplomatic mission said.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted in late November last year that Ambassador Antonov could attend the inauguration ceremony of the new US president. However, the participation of foreign countries’ representatives at this event is not stipulated, he noted.The US presidential election was held on November 3. On December 14, the US Electoral College convened and confirmed Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s election victory. Biden’s inauguration ceremony is due on January 20, 2021. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........ → January 12, 2021

Trump concedes defeat for 1st time, admits he won’t serve again

Incumbent US President Donald Trump has conceded defeat publicly for the first time and said that he will not serve a second term and acknowledging that the transfer of power is currently underway.

“My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power,” he said in a video speech shared on his Twitter account which was reactivated on Thursday after being suspended following the Capitol turmoil, ‍according to CNN.

“A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20.”

“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20,” Trump said in a statement after Congress certified his loss. 

“I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again.”

The statement was meant as a signal that the Trump administration will end its office for the next 13 days without incident.

A White House adviser said Trump recorded the video because his presidency is threatened by resignations of his officials and potential impeachment.

“That message and tone should have been relayed on election night ... not after people died,” the adviser added.

Earlier, The Democrats lawmakers on Thursday have called for the removal of incumbent US President Donald Trump from office after his supporters invaded Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

“Trump should be removed immediately,” remarked Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, saying if he is not, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be “impeached” him. 

Donald Trump, who has repeatedly refused to concede the election, provoked his supporters on Wednesday to breach the US Capitol in an attempt to stop the lawmakers from certifying the victory of Joe Biden in the November presidential election.

During the unrest, four people died and at least 68 have been arrested. Besdies, the police action came under question with criticisms for failing to stop the breaching.

The Sergeant at Arms, an official responsible for security in the House of Representatives, has resigned. US Capitol Police (USCP) chief Steven Sund is also resigning. 

Transport Secretary Elaine Chao is the latest member of the Trump administration who is set to quit over the incident. Several lower-level officials have also resigned.Source: CNN, BBC, Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........ → January 08, 2021

Congress certifies Biden-Kamala’s victory in election

The US Congress has recognized the victory of Democratic candidate Joe Biden, who received the highest number of electoral votes in the US presidential election. As a result, there is no longer any obstacle for Biden to becoming the next president of the United States.

Besides, the US Congress also recognized the victory of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

The announcement came hours after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday.

Joe Biden was cleared to be sworn in as US President on January 20 when Vice President Mike Pence declared that Congress has confirmed the Electoral College results that showed Biden the winner of the November 3 election against Donald Trump.

Biden won the election last November with 307 electoral votes where his rival Republican candidate Donald Trump got 232 votes. At least 270 electoral votes were needed to win.

The results of the electoral vote were approved after the Senate and House of Representatives, both houses of Congress, rejected the Republicans’ objections to the Pennsylvania and Arizona state votes.The attack on Capitol Hill disrupted this congressional session. However, the session resumed after police removed the assailants from the building, and members of Congress ended their duties under the US Constitution. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........ → January 07, 2021

World leaders condemn Trump’s mob attack on Congress building

World leaders have condemned an unprecedented attack on supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington. They reacted by being surprised and stunned by the incident.

According to the BBC, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson called the incident a “shameful scene”. He also called for a “peaceful and orderly transfer of power”.

“Trump and his supporters must ultimately accept the decisions of American voters and not trample on democracy,” said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

In a statement, former US President George W. Bush said, “This is a very sick and heartbreaking scene. In a politically unstable country, the outcome of elections is disputed through such incidents, it has no place in our democratic republic.”

In a statement, former US President Barack Obama said, “History will rightly remember this attack on the Capitol. This is a moment of great disgrace and shame for this nation.”

“Canadians are outraged by this blow to democracy,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Argentine President Alberto Fernández has expressed support for Joe Biden and condemned the violence.

Colombian President Iván Duque has called on members of Congress to renounce violence.Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has condemned the move to “disrupt the democratic process.” Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........ → January 07, 2021

Today is the black day in US history: Mike Pence

“Today is the black day in the US history,” ‍said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence when the Session begins after the violence in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Earlier, a spokesman for the vice president said Pence had not left Capitol Hill even during the attack.

Pence, who presided over the Senate session, has always been in contact with the congressional leadership, the police, and the Department of Justice and Defense to bring the Capitol under control so that Congress can restart.

Later, Vice President Mike Pence said that those who caused the disaster in the Capitol today could see the victory.

According to BBC, Mike Pence says violence never wins. Independence is victorious and it is still the House of the People. “As we begin this chamber again, the world will see once again how strong the strength and power of our democracy is amidst unprecedented violence and vandalism,” he added.

The elected representatives of the United States have reunited.

Thousands of Trump supporters, including members of various extremist groups, gathered in Washington on Wednesday to oppose the congressional hearing. Speaking at the rally, Trump announced that he “would not accept defeat” in the November election. Shortly afterward, hundreds of Trump supporters broke through security barricades and clashed with police. At one stage, they broke through the police barricade and entered the Capitol building during the Congress session.DailyBangladesh/AS, Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

Read More........ → January 07, 2021

Nancy Pelosi narrowly re-elected as US House speaker

Nancy Pelosi has been narrowly re-elected speaker of the United States House of Representatives as a new Congress took office amid the surging coronavirus pandemic and a plot by some Republicans to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over President Donald Trump.

The House voted 216-209 to reinstate Pelosi on Sunday after Democrats lost 11 seats in the November elections to command a narrower 222-212 majority.

Five Democrats chose not to support her – two voted for Democratic legislators who were not running while three others simply voted “present”.

Pelosi, the only woman to have ever served as speaker, has led the House Democrats for 17 years.

“As we are sworn in today, we accept a responsibility as daunting and demanding as any that previous generations of leadership have faced. We begin the new Congress during a time of extraordinary difficulty,” Pelosi said in a floor speech that noted the deaths of more than 350,000 Americans from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now is a time for our nation to heal. Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating the coronavirus. And defeat it, we will,” the 80-year-old California Democrat added, pledging that further aid would follow the latest $892bn package that Congress passed in December.

The vote took hours, as legislators were required to vote in groups of several dozen due to social-distancing rules imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.

There are normally 435 members of the House, but just 427 votes were cast on Sunday as a few congressmen-elect are in quarantine due to COVID-19 and a tight House race in New York has yet to be formally decided.One congressman-elect from Louisiana, Luke Letlow, died of complications from COVID-19 last week, days before he was due to be sworn in.- Al Jazeera. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

Read More........ → January 05, 2021

Kashmir grassroots elections seen as a 'victory for democracy'

The counting of votes for the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday has given a clear lead to the People's Alliance For Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of Kashmiri political parties that was floated on October 7 for the reversal of constitutional changes made to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last year.

Of the 280 seats that went to polls for the DDC elections - grassroots election in Jammu and Kashmir - the leads on 258 seats have indicated that the the PAGD, has either won or is leading on 107 segments, the BJP leading on 65 segments, the Congress on 22, Apni Party which was launched after the abrogation of Article 370 on 10 and others on 54 segments.

On expected lines, the PAGD has bagged most of the seats from the Kashmir valley while BJP has fared well in its traditional bastion of Jammu.

The BJP has though been successful to break into Kashmir valley by winning three seats.

Engineer Aijaz Hussain, the BJP candidate from Khanmoh-II in Srinagar, and Aejaz Ahmad Khan won a seat from the Bandipora district while Minha Lateef won from Kakpora in Pulwama.

"BJP wins 1st DDC seat in Kashmir, I Congratulate Er. Aijaz Hussain (@IAmErAijaz) on being elected from Khonmoh-II DDC Constituency of Srinagar District, it is the first win of BJP from Kashmir, I also Congratulate BJP Workers and especially Voters for their support," J&K BJP General Secretary Ashok Kaul tweeted.

BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain also took to Twitter and announced BJP's win in Kashmir.

"The first lotus has bloomed in Kashmir! Engineer Aijaz Hussain wins from Khanmoh II, Srinagar, Kashmir by a good margin."

After winning his seat Aejaz Hussain told reporters that the PAGD must revisit its policies.

"People have shown faith in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and made BJP victorious," he said.

The DDC elections were held in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the revocation of Article 370 of the Constituion and bifurcation of the erstwhile state. The newly created DDCs went to polls in eight phases from November 28 to December 22 in eight phases.

The 280 DDC seats, 14 each in 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, were created after the Centre amended the J&K Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 in October this year. But what made DDC polls significant is the decision of PAGD to jointly contest for preventing the BJP from making inroads into Jammu and Kashmir.

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah was appointed president of the alliance and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti its vice president. The two former chief ministers were among mainstream leaders detained after the abrogation of Article 370 with Public Safety Act (PSA) slapped on them. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah was also detained and had a PSA slapped on him.

People's Conference leader Sajad Lone was made the spokesperson and CPIM leader Yousuf Taragami its convenor. The flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was adopted as the symbol of the alliance.

More than a fight for local issues, the DDC election turned into a direct contest between the BJP and its allies and the PAGD. But even before the counting took place, the PDP alleged that three of its senior leaders including senior leader Naeem Akhtar, were detained.

"Total lawlessness as PDPs Sartaj Madni and Mansoor Hussain have been arbitrarily detained today on the eve of DDC election results," Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. "Every senior police officer here is clueless as it is 'upar say order'. No rule of law in J&K anymore. It is out and out Gunda Raj."

What's also significant is the victory of PAGD candidate and PDP leader Waheed Parra from Pulwama 1 constituency defeating his nearest rival Sajad Ahmad Raina of the BJP. Parra was arrested by the NIA on November 25 in connection with ex-Deputy Superintendent of J&K Police Davinder Singh case for supporting Hizbul Mujahideen activities. Singh and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu were arrested while travelling from Srinagar to Jammu in January this year.

Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter and wrote that Parra's victory indicated the love and trust people have shown for him.

"Couldn't be prouder of PDPs @parawahid who won his maiden election by a huge margin of votes. Despite being arrested on baseless charges right after filing his nomination people have shown their love & trust for Waheed. Hope justice prevails," Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

A clear victory for the PAGD is a shot in its arm and a show of its representational character to take on the BJP in its fight for the reversal of the constitutional changes made to J&K on August 5 last year. For the BJP though the challenge will be to turn the tide in its favour before the assembly elections.

According to The HIndu, this is the first democratic exercise in the region since the Modi government revoked the erstwhile border state's special status and is a crucial opportunity to open a new political dialogue in the Union Territory. In the absence of an assembly, the DDCs will be the link between the people and the government in Jammu and Kashmir and each council chairperson will enjoy the status of a junior minister. The larger context also is that though these are local body polls the result will be seen as a sort of referendum on the changes in J&K.

For the BJP, aside from a strong showing in Jammu, for the first time, the party won three seats from the Valley’s Srinagar, Pulwama and Bandipora districts. "Where earlier in the valley, we wouldn’t get a single person to hold the BJP flag, we managed to win three seats (at the time of writing),” a BJP leader told The Hindu on the condition of anonymity 

"The editorial, peaceful, participatory election in a troubled region can be the most forceful demonstration of the resilience of Indian democracy. The fact that the results of the election are not being contested on either side and that the process itself, conducted over eight phases, was not marred by controversy or violence and saw high participation are all signs that portend well for the future," the respected newspaper said. (IANS) Source: y

Read More........ → December 24, 2020

Trump pardons 15 including 2 former aides

Before stepping down, incumbent United States President Donald Trump pardoned 15 people, including two of his former aides, in the executive power of the presidency.

Among those who received special pardons are the two former Republican lawmakers, including George Papadopoulos, a former adviser to his campaign camp, and attorney Alex van der Zwaan, the BBC reported.

The Republican president also pardoned four security guards involved in the 2007 Iraq genocide.

Trump is expected to pardon many more before leaving the White House on January 20. Outgoing presidents in the United States usually pardon many who have been convicted of less serious crimes before leaving office.

George Papadopoulos and Alex van der Zwaan have already served most of their sentences.

Papadopoulos was convicted of lying to the FBI about meeting two people with ties to Russia during the 2016 election campaign. He told investigators he met the two men “before” working for Trump. In fact, he met “shortly after” he started working for Trump’s team.

Papadopoulos was the first of Trump’s former aides to be arrested during Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.

Trump has repeatedly called Mueller’s investigation a “hoax” during his tenure. US Justice Department officials said in a statement after Mueller’s investigation that “there was no evidence” that Trump’s camp was colluding with Russia.

The White House said in a statement that Trump’s apology would help correct the mistakes made by Mueller’s investigation team.The Republican president also pardoned two former lawmakers, Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter, who were convicted that day. Last month, Trump also pardoned former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in his power of the presidency. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

Read More........ → December 23, 2020

Nepal PM Oli recommends dissolution of Parliament amidst power tussle

DEC 20, 2020 KATHMANDU: Nepal's beleaguered Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Sunday recommended the dissolution of Parliament, amidst a prolonged tussle for power between him and former premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda". An emergency Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Oli decided to recommend President Bidya Devi Bhandari for the dissolution of Parliament's House of Representatives, the senior Standing Committee member of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) told PTI. The House of Representatives, elected in 2017, has 275 members. Prime Minister Oli reached Rashtrapati Bhawan with the decision of the council of ministers. The move comes as the intra-party feud reached climax in the ruling NCP which has been witnessing months long tussle between two factions, one led by Prime Minister and Party's chairman Oli and another led by "Prachanda", also the executive chair of the party and former premier. Senior leader of the ruling NCP and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has termed the move as unconstitutional. Prachanda and Madhav Nepal faction has been urging Oli to quit the post of Prime Minister amidst growing accusation and counter-accusation between the two factions in the ruling NCP. In June, Oli, 68, claimed that efforts were being made to oust him after his government redrew the country''s political map by incorporating three strategically key Indian territories. Meanwhile, Constitutional experts termed the move to dissolve Parliament as unconstitutional. As per the provision of Nepal's Constitution, there is no provision of dissolving Parliament by the Prime Minister of a majority government. As long as there is a possibility of forming a government from Parliament, there is no provision to dissolve the House, said constitutional expert Dinesh Tripathi. Meanwhile, the main Opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has called an emergency meeting of the party on Sunday. The move comes a day after the NC and the Rastriya Janata Party decided to ask the President for summoning a Special Session of Parliament. Copyright © Jammu Links News, Source: Jammu Links News

Read More........ → December 20, 2020