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judge overseeing Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday urged prosecutors to tell the former U.S. president's estranged former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to stop making public statements about the case before his expected testimony next week. Todd Blanche, Trump's defense lawyer in the case stemming from hush money paid to a porn star, said Cohen, the star prosecution witness, had spoken on social media on Wednesday while wearing a T-shirt showing Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, behind bars.

Congress responded strongly to the Election Commission's sharp disapproval of the tone and tenor of party president Mallikarjun Kharge's recent letter to the INDIA bloc leaders. The AICC said the content and the intent of the letter will be a permanent blot on the reputation of the institution of EC. «The response of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to the issues raised by the Congress President in his letter to the INDIA parties is simply beyond description. The EC is a Constitutional body entrusted with the responsibility of being an impartial body that ensures, and is seen to ensure, a level-playing field to all political parties. Both the content and intent of the letter will be a permanent blot on the reputation of an institution that can boast of luminaries like Sukumar Sen, TN Seshan, JM Lyngdoh and others», said Jairam Ramesh, AICC in-charge of communications.

India sent a special envoy to Israel during its war with the Hamas terror group, to urge them to maintain peace rather than engage in combat during the month of Ramadan. In an interview with Republic TV, PM Modi stressed on Friday that Israel should not fight, at least during the auspicious month of Ramadan. «The time when Israel and Hamas were at war. I sent my special envoy to Israel to explain that Ramadan is going on. At least don't fight in Ramadan, don't attack anyone,» PM Modi said.

White House said on Friday. The Ukraine aid package includes artillery, munitions for NASAMS air defenses, anti-tank munitions, armored vehicles and small arms that can immediately be put to use on the battlefield, a U.S. official told Reuters earlier on condition of anonymity. The weapons aid will utilize Presidential Drawdown Authority, or PDA, which authorizes the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without specific congressional approval during an emergency. As a part of the $95 billion aid bills, Congress authorized $60.8 billion worth of various forms of aid to Ukraine, including $8 billion worth of PDA items.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party too has made mistakes and will have to change its politics in future. The remark came at an event in Lucknow where he accused Narendra Modi of being a monarch and not a prime minister, calling him a front for «two-three financiers.» Answering a question from a member of the audience at the event on the Constitution, the former Congress president said he was «100 per cent» prepared to take on Narendra Modi in a debate, but he knew that the prime minister will not agree. «The Congress party will also have to change its politics in the coming times. This will have to be done. I also want to say that the Congress party has also made mistakes and I am saying this while being from the Congress party,» he said in his speech.

[Indians] do that are better than us [Americans]." He said that during election times in India, there are people who check trucks to make sure that nobody has cash going around. "There's probably walk-in money, as they call it in some cities here in the United States, Philadelphia, that's like a tradition where cash kind of gets you votes and things like that. So, I've been impressed with certain things they do that are better than us," the US diplomat was quoted by PTI as saying.

Last week, Empower wrapped up its integration of the $314 billion retirement plan business it bought from Prudential, capping an acquisition tear that it’s been on since the company formed a decade ago.

Mallikarjun Kharge had raised valid points in his letter. ECI may refute them, but why take exception to the letter".

Khammam went from being just another constituency in Telangana to being one of the state's most prestigious seats. The seat attained a coveted status after the state Congress leadership passed a resolution urging Sonia Gandhi, later Rahul Gandhi and finally Priyanka Gandhi to contest therefrom, ToI reported on May 10. Although none of the abovementioned said yes, the seat went on to become the most sought-after in the state with three big-name ministers seeking the seats for their kin, and the Congress party high command saying no to all of them, ToI's report (by Roushan Ali) said. All attention will be focused on Khammam during the upcoming polling day on May 13, when Telangana's 17 Lok Sabha seats are up for grabs. Although the Congress hasn't clinched victory in this constituency for the last 15 years, it has shown strong performance in the assembly elections. The Congress party has put forward R Raghuram Reddy as its candidate, while the sitting MP Nama Nageswara Rao has been nominated by the BRS party. The BJP, aiming to broaden its influence in the region, has nominated Tandra Vinod Rao.

Congress on Friday submitted a memorandum addressed to Haryana Governor demanding that the «minority» BJP government in Haryana be dismissed. Senior Congress leader B B Batra, chief whip CLP, accompanied by Deputy CLP leader Aftab Ahmed, submitted a memorandum addressed to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on the political situation in the state. Earlier this week, three Independents had withdrawn their support to the Nayab Singh Saini government in Haryana. The Congress said that the ruling BJP was reduced to a minority in the assembly.

Amit Shah on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of maintaining silence on the issue of Sandeshkhali, where complaints of sexual abuse have emerged against TMC leaders, and said the BJP «will not spare single culprit and will hang them upside down». While addressing an election rally at Majdia in Ranaghat Lok Sabha seat in Nadia district, Shah alleged that Banerjee was «misleading» people on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and slammed the TMC dispensation over alleged corruption cases in the state. On the incidents in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have been made, Shah said it is a matter of shame that «Mamata Banerjee, despite being a woman chief minister, tried to protect the culprits».

religious minorities: A cross-country analysis' presents a "scary" picture and that society and governments must take it seriously. Stating that he has not received the report, he said he has only read about it in the media. «A report has come regarding demographic change. Society and government should take it seriously. This is the only expectation because it has figured prominently in all the media, be it newspapers or news channels,» Joshi told reporters here. «This report is scary. Governments must take this report seriously and think about alterative measures,» Joshi said.

Wipro on Friday announced the appointment of Vinay Firake as the chief executive officer, APMEA (Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa) strategic market Unit (SMU), effective immediately. “Vinay will report to Srini Pallia and will also join the Wipro Executive Board,” Wipro said in an exchange filing.

Stocks rallied on earnings optimism and US data that supported the case for interest-rate cuts. A raft of Federal Reserve speakers are slated for Friday as traders await a key US inflation print next week.  

NCP leader Praful Patel on Friday took oath as member of the Upper House of Parliament in presence of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Patel was declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on February 21. His fresh term as Rajya Sabha member began in April this year. «An immense honor to take the oath as a Rajya Sabha MP today, in the esteemed presence of the honorable Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji,» Patel said in a post on X. The NCP leader described the oath-taking ceremony as a «moment filled with solemnity and commitment to serve the nation.»

BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said Modi and his cabinet colleague Amit Shah are «worried» after the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections and they started abusing the Congress party. Addressing a press conference here, Kharge said to the BJP leaders, instead of seeking votes on their «development,» they are abusing the Congress leaders and distorting their (Congress) leaders' speeches, which according to him, is not required. Stepping up the attack on the saffron party, he asked «What is PM Modi doing if Congress is getting tempo loads of money from „Adani and Ambani?“ »After three phases of polls, Modi and Shah Saab got worried. They stopped talking about their manifesto, but only are abusing Congress," Kharge said.

Election Commission of India on Friday criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly 'obstructing' the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The commission has termed Kharge's views as 'aggression on vitals of live election operations.' "Baseless allegations regarding release of voter turnout data in middle of ongoing polls are designed to create confusion, misdirection and impediments in the conduct of free and fair polls. Utterances can have negative impact on voters’ participation and demoralize the large election machinery across states," news agency ANI quoted EC as saying. “The pattern in series of past, present irresponsible statements from the Congress party is disconcerting,” the commission said.

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday said the parliamentary democracy is under threat because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he won't ally with those who do not believe in it. Pawar's statement has come after the prime minister advised the NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) to join hands with Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde after the Lok Sabha poll results instead of «dying by merging» with the Congress. Speaking to reporters here, Pawar said it is his clear opinion that parliamentary democracy is under threat because of PM Modi. «Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren were arrested and put behind bars. This (the arrests) would not have been possible without the role of the Central government and Central leadership. This shows how much faith they have in the democratic system,» the party chief said.

Kedarnath Dham, opened for devotees after a gap of six months, the first puja was performed in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who presided over the puja after the ceremonial opening of the doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham temple, welcomed all devotees and prayed for a safe and fulfilling journey for all embarking on the Char Dham pilgrimage. Speaking to on Friday, CM Dhami said, «The devotees and pilgrims from across the country and beyond wait for this pilgrimage every year. That pious day is upon us today as the portals of Kedarnath Dham have been thrown open. The devotees and pilgrims have arrived here in large numbers and all necessary arrangements have been made for them. I extend my greetings to all of them. Upon its ceremonial opening, the first puja at the Kedarnath Dham was officiated and performed in the name of PM Modi. The darshan (sighting of the deity) began following all the rituals. Since Narendra Modi became PM, work on the redevelopment of Baba Kedar temple has been happening in three phases. We are working to ensure that the project is completed at the earliest.»

What election? In the midst of what many expect to be the most toxic presidential campaign in modern history, American businesses are going to extraordinary lengths to stay off the political radar. Some CEOs are privately drawing up plans to tell employees not to expect comments on political matters in all-hands sessions. Others are reconsidering common election initiatives, such as get-out-the-vote drives, fearing those could be viewed in the current moment as partisan.

UK on 10 March this year. In the UK, the day is also known as Mothering Day. The day is celebrated three weeks before Easter Sunday and falls during the time of Lent.