08:43 Customs and Border Protection told US airlines that it’s reinstating visas following a federal judge’s halt to Trump’s travel ban.
08:35 Blow for Trump as US judge blocks travel ban nationwide:
A US judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on travellers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries after Washington state and Minnesota urged a nationwide hold on the executive order that has launched legal battles across the country.
US District Judge James Robart in Seattle yesterday ruled that the states had standing to challenge Trump’s order, which government lawyers disputed, and said they showed their case was likely to succeed.
“The state has met its burden in demonstrating immediate and irreparable injury,” Robart said.
Trump’s order last week sparked protests nationwide and confusion at airports as some travellers were detained. The White House has argued that it will make the country safer. Washington became the first state to sue over the order that temporarily bans travel for people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen and suspends the US refugee programme.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said this week that the travel ban significantly harms residents and effectively mandates discrimination. Minnesota joined the suit two days later.
08:32 Parrikar among early voters in Goa, predicts BJP win:
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was among the early voters who voted at the polling booth located in the heart of Panaji city, Goa at around 7.20 am.
In characteristic fashion, Parrikar was seen standing among voters waiting for his turn to vote.
After casting his vote, Parrikar says Goa will see heavy voter turnout.
Initial reports suggest good turnout; Goa might cross last years turnout of 84% & BJP will win with 2/3rd majority; he said.
08:31
Gen JJ Singh (Retd) SAD candidate against Congress’ Amarinder Singh from Patiala Urban, casts his vote
01:05 BSF jawan commits suicide: A 27-year-old Border Security Force jawan posted along the international border in Meghalaya shot himself on Friday with his service weapon allegedly after going into depression, officials said.
Constable Kamlesh Kumar Gujar, hailing from Haryana, and posted at Kalaichar in South West Garo Hills, belonged to the 26 Battalion of the BSF based at Praharinagar, on the outskirts of Tura, they said.
According to BSF officials, Gujar shot himself this morning with his INSAS rifle while on camp duty at the Kalaichar BOP, allegedly due to family issues.
The body of the BSF jawan was later brought to the Tura Civil Hospital for post mortem with an official team reaching the spot to investigate the death. — PTI
00:43 EC notice to Congress for distributing ‘unemployment allowance’ cards: The Election Commission demanded an explanation from the ruling Congress in Uttarakhand within 48 hours for allegedly distributing unemployment allowance cards among jobless youths in violation of the model code of conduct.
Taking cognisance of media reports that the Congress was distributing ‘berozgari bhatta cards’ at public meetings, Additional Chief Election Officer V Shanmugham shot off a letter to state Congress president Kishore Upadhyay asking him to explain within 48 hours why distribution of these cards among the beneficiaries should not be treated as gross violation of the model code of conduct.
Referring to the Commissions January 23 letter by which it had refused to grant permission to the party for distribution of these cards, the Additional CEO asked the PCC chief why the party should not be acted against for violating the model code of conduct.
Source: Rediff