Page 873 - Politics
After 23-year wait, US squeezes Cuba on confiscated property
President Donald Trump will open the way for lawsuits in US courts over property confiscated by Cuba, enforcing a controversial law that could rattle the island's economy and anger European allies after more than two decades of delay. Ever since Congress passed the Helms-Burton Act in 1996, US presidents starting with Bill Clinton have used their power to suspend the key provision every six months, mindful of the international consequences. Those once-routine waivers are now over. A senior administration official said national security advisor John Bolton will formally unveil the shift Wednesday in a speech in Miami to expatriates from Cuba as well as Venezuela and Nicaragua, two other countries in Latin America with leftist governments opposed by Trump. Bolton "will announce the enforcement of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act," the official said. Under the 1996 law, Cuban exiles will be allowed to head to US courts to sue both private companies and the Havana government for ...
ED Special Director transferred
In an unusual move, the tenure of Special Director in Enforcement Directorate Vineet Agarwal has been curtailed by the government with immediate effect.
High-voltage campaign ends for 14 seats in Karnataka
A high-voltage campaign by national and state leaders concluded on Tuesday for the first 14 Lok Sabha seats in the central and southern regions of Karnataka on April 18.
PM arrives in Pune; to address poll rally in Solapur district
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here late Tuesday night and will stay overnight before leaving for Akluj in Solapur district, where he will address an election rally Wednesday. Modi arrived at the Lohegaon airport were BJP leaders, including the party's Lok Sabha candidate from the city Girish Bapat, sitting MP Anil Shirole and Pune city BJP president Yogesh Gogawale received him. According to BJP leaders, the PM will stay overnight at Raj Bhavan here and leave for Akluj to address an election rally in the Madha Lok Sabha constituency of Solapur district Wednesday.
CRPF orders high-level inquiry into patient death during vehicular restriction in J-K
The CRPF has ordered a "high-level inquiry" into the death of a patient as his ambulance was stopped due to the latest restriction imposed on the movement of civilian traffic in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. The force issued a public statement saying it was "deeply anguished at the sad demise of Abdul Qayoom Banday of Doda". It said the man was suffering from terminal illness and his ambulance was "asked to halt" near Lower Munda area on April 10 while on way to Doda from Srinagar after being discharged by a hospital. It said the ambulance was stopped due to the "restrictions placed by the government on civilian traffic movement." "We express our sincere condolences and sympathise with the Banday family for their loss. We would like to assure the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir that strict instructions are in place to enable speedy passage to ambulances and ailing civilians." "A high-level enquiry has been ordered into the incident," it added. The ...
Vijay Jolly complains to EC against Muslim cleric
Senior BJP leader Vijay Jolly has complained to the Election Commission (CEC) against alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct by a Pune-based cleric, Abdur Rashid Miftahi, through a video uploaded in social media that "spreads false and communal propaganda" against the BJP and Hindus.
Sugreev, Dilip Kumar, Manager Chaurasiya among those fighting elections in Delhi
Dilip Kumar and Manager Chaurasiya are among the candidates who have filed their nominations for the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. According to the affidavit submitted, Kumar is the son of one Ram Iqbal and is the resident of Molerband Extension area near Badarpur Border. This 44-year-old namesake of the famed Bollywood actor has thrown his hat in the ring for the South Delhi constituency. Twelve candidates, 10 from "unrecognised parties" and two Independents, submitted their papers on Tuesday, the first day of nomination submission. Kumar has filed his nomination for Sanatan Sanskriti Raksha Dal, while another candidate Sugreev (50), is trying his luck as an Independent from the East Delhi constituency. The nominations also include another quirky name, one Manager Chaurasiya, who will fight North East constituency on a ticket from Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) party. Delhi, which has seven parliamentary constituencies, will vote on May 12. The seven constituencies are -- ...
Polling to Tripura East LS seat deferred
Polling to Tripura East parliamentary constituency, slated for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 18, has been deferred, a top official said late Tuesday night.
LS poll in TN's Vellore cancelled in wake of cash seizure (2nd Lead)
Polling in Tamil Nadu's Vellore Lok Sabha constituency was cancelled on Tuesday in wake of the seizure of a huge haul of cash by Income Tax officials from a cement warehouse belonging to a DMK functionary earlier this month.
Two BJP candidates file nominations for Ladakh LS seat
Two candidates from the BJP Tuesday filed their nomination papers for the Ladakh parliamentary constituency which goes to polls in the fifth phase on May 6, officials said. The candidates, Tsering Namgyal and Dorji Angchuk, filed their nomination papers from the seat before the Returning Officer, Avny Lavasa, they said. With this, a total of three candidates have so far filed their nominations from this seat. Congress candidate Rigzin Spalbar Monday filed his nomination papers from the seat. The last day for filing of nomination papers for Ladakh parliamentary constituency is April 18. The 31-year old Namgyal, who serving as the current chief executive councillor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), remained private secretary to the former BJP MP and renowned Buddhist spiritual leader, Thupstan Chhewang. A graduate from University of Jammu, Namgyal took over as CEC of the hill development council on November 10 last year. Congress candidate Spalbar, a prominent
CEO directs removal of objectionable content from daily soaps
Theoffice of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra has directed the producers of two daily soaps, accused of violating the model code of conduct, toexclude content which may prove beneficial to any political party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The office of the CEO has also asked them to ensure the episodes containing such objectionable content are not available on any electronic or social media platform. "They are also instructed to seek prior approval from the competent authority if any such content is existing in the nature of advertisement before telecasting such episodes of the soap opera," an official said Tuesday. The producers of the daily soaps should meticulously comply with the provisions in the model code of conduct, in force for the Lok Sabha polls, and other directives of the Election Commission of India (ECI), he said. The Congress had lodged acomplaint with the CEO's office, alleging the episodes of the daily soaps contained content ...
Congress approaches EC with plethora of complaints
The Congress on Tuesday filed several complaints with the Election Commission (EC) with regard to "surrogate advertising" with Prime Minister Narendra Modis picture, a "suspicious black box" transported in Modi's helicopter and "hateful speeches" made by top BJP leaders
EU foreign chief urges Libyans to re-start dialogue
Strasbourg (France), April 16 (IANS/AKI) Amid a deadly military escalation in Libya's capital this month, the European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday called for the country's warring factions to swiftly resume talks.
'Game of Thrones' frenzy reaches Indian politics
The 2019 election season in India got a 'Game of Thrones' twist with the Election Commission, Press Information Bureau and Congress picking popular references from the fantasy series to connect with the people and express their views.
Uganda says would 'consider' granting Bashir asylum
Uganda would consider granting asylum to ousted Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, a state minister said Tuesday. "If Uganda is approached to grant asylum to Bashir it is an issue that can be considered at the highest level of our leadership," state minister for foreign affairs Henry Okello Oryem told AFP. He said that as a result of Bashir's key role in mediating a peace deal in neighbouring South Sudan, "his asylum in Uganda is what the government of Uganda can consider." In the meantime, "Uganda is keenly following the developments in Sudan and we ask the new leadership there to respect the aspirations of the Sudanese people among them peaceful transfer of power to the civilian rule". Bashir's three-decade reign was toppled last week by top commanders after four months of nationwide demonstrations. Protest leaders say Bashir must face justice, however the transitional military council currently leading the country has said it will .
151 FIRs, DD entries for poll code violation; Rs 42 lakh seized in North East Delhi
Poll authorities Tuesday recovered Rs 42 lakh in cash from North East parliamentary constituency ahead of the elections here, officials said. The Delhi CEO Office also said over 150 FIRs and daily diary entries were filed against political parties and others here for violation of the model code of conduct. "The statistics surveillance team of Delhi's chief electoral office, constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of political parties, has seized Rs 42 lakh in cash in North East parliamentary constituency," a senior official said. A total of 1320.84 kg of narcotics and drugs have also been seized from across Delhi till date. "A total of 151 FIRs or DD (daily diary) entries have been lodged till date in connection with the violation of the model code of conduct," the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said in a statement. "Out of these, 16 are against the Aam Aadmi Party (nine FIRs and seven DD entries), 20 against the Bharatiya Janata Party (14 FIRs and six DD ...
Scams took place during Congress rules: Uddhav
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday slammed the Opposition over alleged scams that had taken place during the Congress rule, and said there should be an inquiry against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and NCP president Sharad Pawar. "The Congress has put up hoardings, asking us if we don't feel ashamed. But Adarsh scam, fodder scam, coal scam took place during the Congress rule. Let there be an inquiry against Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar too," he said at a rally here. Pawar should not drag a person who is no more into politics, Thackeray said, referring to the NCP chief's statements against former defence minister Manohar Parrikar. He reminded that Pawar had broken away from the Congress after raising the issue of (then Congress president) Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins. "Speak about all the scams that took place during the ten years (of UPA rule) and then ask us if we are ashamed of ourselves," he said. On Congress' promise to scrap the sedition law, he asked if .
Poll code breach: Case lodged against Sidhu in Bihar
A case was lodged against cricketer-turned-politician and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday for violating the Model Code of Conduct in Bihar's Katihar district, police said.
Sisi, Egypt's undisputed leader
Egypt's general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who could stay in power until 2030 is an autocrat for some and symbol of stability for others. The 596-member parliament stacked with Sisi's supporters on Tuesday approved amendments allowing the president to extend his current term by two years and stand for another six-year mandate. He could as a result remain president until 2030, and has also been granted greater control over the judiciary under the amendments. The amendments are expected to be put to a public referendum later this month. Critics have slammed the amendments as "unconstitutional". The sweeping constitutional changes in Egypt where demonstrations have effectively been banned under Sisi come as months-long protests in neighbouring Sudan brought down veteran ruler Omar al-Bashir. In Algeria, president Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced to resign earlier this month after mass protests. Sisi, as a champion of stability, commands the support of Western powers. US ...
Special observers for J&K submit report to EC
The three special observers appointed by the Election Commission to determine when assembly elections can be held in Jammu and Kashmir have submitted their report to the poll body, sources said Tuesday. Jammu and Kashmir has been under President's rule since December 19, 2018. It was necessitated at the end of the six-month period under Governor's rule imposed on June 19, 2018, after the BJP-PDP government fell in June last year. While announcing Lok Sabha polls on March 10, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had said that assembly elections in the state will not be held along with parliamentary elections. He had cited constraints in availability of central forces, other logistics and recent incidents of violence as reasons for the decision to hold only Lok Sabha polls in the state. The observers appointed by the EC included retired IAS officer Noor Mohammad, former deputy EC Vinod Zutshi and retired IPS officer A S Gill. They had met various stakeholders in the state and the ...