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US opens criminal probe into New York mayoral candidate Cuomo

US opens criminal probe into New York mayoral candidate Cuomo

Cuomo resigned in disgrace in 2021 following accusations of sexual harassment. (AP pic)
WASHINGTON : The US department of justice has opened a criminal investigation into Andrew Cuomo, a Democratic frontrunner in the New York mayoral race, after Republicans accused him of lying to Congress about his actions as governor during the Covid-19 pandemic, US media reported.
The reported probe comes after the Trump administration dropped corruption charges last month against the current New York mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection and has been accused of cozying up to president Donald Trump for political gain.
Adams – a Democrat who had been accused of wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations and a bribery conspiracy – has vowed to assist Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, sparking criticisms of an alleged quid pro quo between the mayor and Trump's administration.
The US attorney's office in Washington began the inquiry against Cuomo about a month ago, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing two unnamed people familiar with the matter.
Republican members of Congress have pushed for the justice department to investigate Cuomo, alleging he lied while testifying during a congressional probe into Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes during the pandemic.
In 2021, Cuomo resigned in disgrace after 10 years as governor of New York following accusations of sexual harassment. A prosecutor dropped related charges against him in Jan 2022.
Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told CBS the former governor had not been contacted by law enforcement about the investigation related to the Covid deaths case, and questioned why it would be leaked now.
'The answer is obvious: This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple – something President Trump and his top department of justice officials say they are against,' Azzopardi said, according to CBS.
New York, the largest US city, is a bastion of the Democratic party, and the party's candidate – chosen in a June primary – will be the favorite to win November's mayoral election.
Adams, the Democratic incumbent, has said he will run as an independent.
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Still in turmoil a year after uprising
Still in turmoil a year after uprising

The Star

time27 minutes ago

  • The Star

Still in turmoil a year after uprising

The country was on the cusp of charting a new beginning last year after its former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in a student-­led uprising, ending her 15-year rule and forcing her to flee to India. As the head of a new interim government, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus promised to hold a credible election to return to democracy, initiate electoral and constitutional reforms and restore peace on the streets after hundreds were killed in weeks of violence that began on July 15, 2024. A year later, the Yunus-led administration has struggled to contain the fallout of the uprising. Bangladesh finds itself mired in a growing political uncertainty, religious polarisation and a challenging law-and-order situation. Here's what to know about Bangladesh a year after the protests that toppled Hasina. Uncertainty about the future of democracy looms large in Bangladesh. The student protesters who toppled Hasina formed a new political party, promising to break the overwhelming influence of two major dynastic political parties – the Bangladesh Nationalists Party, or BNP, and Hasina's Awami League. But the party's opponents have accused it of being close to the Yunus-led administration and creating chaos for political mileage by using state institutions. New leadership: Yunus taking the oath of office as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Aug 8, 2024. — AP Meanwhile, Bangladesh's political landscape has further fragmented after the country's largest Islamist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, returned to politics more than a decade after it was suppressed by Hasina's government. Aligned with the student-led party, it's trying to fill the vacuum left by the Awami League, which was banned in May. Its leader, Hasina, is facing trial for crimes against humanity. The strength of Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, is unknown. Both BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami party are now at loggerheads over establishing supremacy within the administration and judiciary, and even university campuses. They are also differing over the timing of a new parliamentary election. Yunus has announced that the polls would be held in April next year, but poor law and order situation and a lack of clear-cut political consensus over it have created confusion. The chief of Bangladesh's military also wanted an election in December this year – a stance Yunus didn't like. 'Post-revolution honeymoons often don't last long, and Bangladesh is no exception,' says Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst and senior fellow of Asia Pacific Foun­dation. 'The interim government faced massive expectations to restore democracy and prosperity. But this is especially difficult to do as an unelected government without a public mandate.' Yunus has delayed an election because he wants reforms – from changes to the constitution and elections to the judiciary and police. Discussions with political parties, except Hasina's Awami League, are ongoing. Some of the reforms include putting a limit on how many times a person can become the prime minister, introduction of a two-tier parliament, and appointment of a chief justice. Students clashing with police during a protest in Dhaka in this file photo. — AP There appears to be little consensus over some basic reforms. While both the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami parties have agreed to some of them with conditions, other proposals for basic constitutional reforms have become a sticking point. The Jamaat-e-Islami also wants to give the interim government more time to complete reforms before heading into polls, while BNP has been calling for an early election. The student-led party mostly follows the pattern of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. Kugelman says the issue of reforms was meant to unite the country, but has instead become a flashpoint. 'There's a divide between those that want to see through reforms and give them more time, and those that feel it's time to wrap things up and focus on elections,' he says. Human rights in Bangladesh have remained a serious concern under Yunus. Minority groups have blamed his administration for failing to protect them adequately. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council says minority Hindus and others have been targeted in hundreds of attacks over the last year. Hasina's party has also blamed the interim government for arresting tens of thousands of its supporters. The Yunus-led administration denies these allegations. Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, says while the interim government has stopped enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions that had occurred under the Hasina government, 'there has been little progress on lasting security sector reforms or to deliver on the pledge to create robust, independent institutions'. Meanwhile, Islamist factions – some of whom have proposed changes to women's rights and demanded introduction of Syariah law – are vying for power. Many of them are planning to build alliances with bigger parties like the BNP or the Jamaat-e-Islami. Such factions have historically struggled to gain significant electoral support despite Bangladesh being a Muslim majority, and their rise is expected to further fragment the country's political landscape. During Hasina's 15-year rule, Bangladesh was India's closest partner in South Asia. After her ouster, the Yunus-led administration has moved closer to China. Yunus' first state visit was to China in March, a trip that saw him secure investments, loans and grants. On the other hand, India is angered by the ousting of its old ally Hasina and hasn't responded to Dhaka's requests to extradite her. India stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis following Hasina's fall. Globally, Yunus seems to have strong backing from the West and the United Nations, and it appears Bangladesh will continue its foreign policy, which has long tried to find a balance between multiple foreign powers. But Kugelman says the country's biggest challenge may be the 'Trump factor'. In January, the Trump administration suspended USAID funds to Bangladesh, which had sought significant levels of US support during a critical rebuild period post Hasina's ouster. 'Dhaka must now reframe its relations with an unconventional US administration that will largely view Bangladesh through a commercial lens,' Kugelman says. — AP

Peru seizes 4 tons of black market mercury bound for illegal gold mines
Peru seizes 4 tons of black market mercury bound for illegal gold mines

The Star

time6 hours ago

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Peru seizes 4 tons of black market mercury bound for illegal gold mines

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US House Speaker Johnson says Epstein case 'not a hoax'
US House Speaker Johnson says Epstein case 'not a hoax'

The Star

time8 hours ago

  • The Star

US House Speaker Johnson says Epstein case 'not a hoax'

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