BJP candidate and Bengali film actor Joy Banerjee found himself in the eye of a storm Friday after a television channel broadcast a footage claiming he was distributing money during his poll campaign. The candidate and his party denied the allegation.


BJP candidate in Bengal faces allegations of handing out money


IANS Automatic

One and a half months before elections, politics in Andhra Pradesh took a new turn Friday with Telugu film actor Pawan Kalyan floating a new political party, the Jana Sena.


Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan launches new political party


Targeting the media again, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal alleged large sections of it were indulging in "paid publicity" favouring BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and threatening to jail them if his party won. He retracted Friday after his comments led to an uproar from media and political parties.


Kejriwal threatens media in Nagpur, retracts after uproar


Crimea is seeking to join Russia rather than win independence like in the case of Abkhazia, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksenov said Friday even as it was announced that some 50 foreigners from 21 countries will be present as international observers during Sunday's referendum.


Crimea seeks to join Russia, not independence: PM (Roundup)


A UN envoy said here Friday that he has not seen any evidence of human rights violations in Ukraine that requires military intervention.


No reason for military intervention in Ukraine: UN envoy


In a unique venture, the Election Commission has tied up with West Bengal's higher education department to identify specific schools where polling stations will be beautified with the help of students, an official said Friday.


Bengal students to beautify polling stations


Activist Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on a fast-unto-death since the last 10 years against alleged rights violations by security forces, Friday continued her agitation even as she indicated supporting the AAP while rejecting Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's offer to join the Congress.


Irom Sharmila rejects Congress for AAP, continues fast


The Election Commission Friday here said the excise department officials have seized around 1,000 litres of hooch in West Bengal's Hooghly district.


1,000 litres hooch seized in Bengal: poll panel


Some 50 foreigners from 21 countries will be present during Sunday' s referendum as international observers, the chief of the autonomous republic of Crimea's commission on preparing and holding the all-Crimean referendum said Friday.


Observers from 21 countries for Crimea referendum: Official


Telugu film actor Pawan Kalyan Friday floated a new political party, the Jana Sena.


Telugu actor Kalyan launches new party


Moscow is disappointed with the statement of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) over the upcoming referendum in Ukraine's Crimea, the Russian foreign ministry said Friday.


European organisation's statement on Crimea disappoints Russia


Ukrainian parliament Speaker Alexandr Turchynov, who is also the acting president, Friday ordered an investigation into the death of a protestor during clashes in the eastern city of Donetsk.


Probe ordered into Ukraine protest death


Three Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists, including central committee member Bimal Dorjee, were arrested from West Bengal's Darjeeling district in pursuance of pending warrants against them, police said Friday.


GJM leader among three held in Darjeeling


Moscow has sent humanitarian aid to the Crimean city of Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea fleet is based, a senior official said Friday.


Russia sends humanitarian aid to Crimean city


Aamir Khan is guarded about sharing his views on any political party and when it comes to the new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) the actor-filmmaker prefers to wait and watch. Meanwhile, he has urged the youth to step out and vote intelligently in the polls.


Vote intelligently, says apolitical Aamir Khan


BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's controversial political journey and secretive personal life has provided literary fodder to many authors to write on his "charismatic" personality and "controversial" past and books on him have been hot sellers in the past year.


Modi's life dominates publishing space (Election Special)


Telangana filmmaker N. Shankar, known for films such as "Jai Bolo Telangana", is likely to contest on behalf of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the Lok Sabha elections from Nalgonda constituency.


Filmmaker N. Shankar keen to join politics


The Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday advised its departments not to approach the Election Commission directly for any clarification on the model code of conduct.


Don't approach EC directly, Kashmir departments told


Thai caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra got some relief Thursday after the country's National Anti- Corruption Commission (NACC) gave her 15 more days to prepare testimony over the alleged negligence of duty in the rice subsidy scheme.


Thai PM gets 15-day breather before testifying


The Ukrainian parliament Thursday called on the UN to consider without any delay the situation in its crisis-hit southern autonomous republic of Crimea even as it reiterated the country's commitment to European integration.


Ukraine seeks UN intervention in Crimea (Roundup)


The Ukrainian parliament Thursday supported the creation of a new military force, the National Guard, to bolster the country's defence capability amid tensions in the southern autonomous republic of Crimea.

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