Ex-journalist elected Australia's new Deputy PM
Canberra: Michael McCormack, a former regional newspaper editor, was elected as Australia's new Deputy Prime Minister on Monday.
He replaces Barnaby Joyce as leader of the Nationals, the governing coalition's junior partner.
Joyce stepped down on Friday following questions over his relationship with media adviser Vikki Campion, and an allegation of sexual harassment by another woman. He called the latter's complaint "spurious and defamatory".
As leader of the Nationals, McCormack automatically becomes deputy to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull - who heads the Liberal Party.
McCormack said Joyce had been an "outstanding leader".
"His service to our party and to our nation will never be diminished. His legacy will endure," he told the media.
McCormack had attracted criticism over a controversial editorial he wrote 25 years ago as editor of the Daily Advertiser, a small newspaper based in the town of Wagga Wagga, in which he described homosexuality as "sordid".
"Unfortunately gays are here and, if the disease their unnatural acts helped spread doesn't wipe out humanity, they're here to stay," he wrote in 1993.
McCormack has since apologised for the piece and said his views have changed.
Although long opposed to same-sex marriage, he voted in line with the majority of his constituents to support its legalisation in Australia last year.
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Punjab Police cops withdrawn from Kejriwal's security
Chandigarh, Jan 23 (PTI): Punjab Police personnel deployed in the security of Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal have been withdrawn, the state police chief said on Thursday.
"Time to time, we get reports of threats to chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal and we share them with the concerned agencies.
"Following the directions of the Delhi police and the Election Commission today, we withdrew the component of the Punjab police in the security of Kejriwal ji," Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav told reporters in Patiala.
"We showed our concerns to them. We will remain in touch with them. We will share our inputs with the Delhi police," he said.
The development comes ahead of the elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly on February 5. The poll results are set to be declared on February 8.
