Page 5 - Election

CEO urges electors in J&K to leverage ECI apps for better voting experience

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole has urged voters to leverage the technological features introduced by the Election Commission for enhanced elector awareness and polling experience in the upcoming assembly elections in the union territory. The three-phased elections in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for September 18, 25 and October 1 and the results will be declared on October 4. "The ECI has launched several mobile apps, including cVIGIL, Know Your Candidate, Suvidha, Voter Helpline App, among others to ensure that the voting experience for the electors all across the country is easy and smooth. In Jammu and Kashmir, over 88.03 lakhs voters will be able to make the best use of these apps," Pole said in a statement on Friday. Exhorting the voters to use the voter-friendly mobile applications, he said these apps are available on both Android and iOS platforms. To prevent any violations during the assembly election, voters are encouraged to use 'cVIGIL,' a mobile ap

Ministries set to miss deadline? Govt's 100-day programme faces uncertainty

The government's 100-day timetable is set to conclude by mid-September, yet very few departments are publicly updating their progress toward meeting their targets

Outgoing Indonesian president names Prabowo Subian aides to cabinet

Most of the new appointments are close to Prabowo

Interim govt committed to hold fair elections in Bangladesh: Yunus

The caretaker government in Bangladesh is committed to ensuring a transition to inclusive and pluralistic democracy and creating an environment for holding "free, fair and participatory elections," its head Mohammad Yunus assured the international community on Saturday. Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government, gave this assurance while addressing the third Voice of Global South Summit which was hosted by India in a virtual format. "You all are aware that Bangladesh witnessed a Second Revolution' on 5th August 2024, through a mass uprising spearheaded by our valiant students and joined by the masses," the 84-year-old Nobel laureate said, referring to the political turmoil in his country, the resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her fleeing to India on August 5. Noting that the current interim government led by him was sworn in on August 8, Yunus said, "Our government is committed to ensuring a transition to inclusive and pluralistic democracy and creating an ...

Sri Lankan police to remove propaganda material ahead of prez election

The Sri Lankan police have deployed 1,500 workers to remove any illegal election posters and cutouts from public places ahead of next month's presidential election. The police have begun an operation to crack down on all election propaganda material which violates election laws leading to the September 21 presidential election. The police election secretariat said workers have been recruited at provincial police stations to pull down material displayed by candidates in violation of propaganda rules. Senior Deputy Inspector of Police (SDIG) in Charge of Elections Asanka Karawita, said each worker would be paid Rs 1,500 a day and given police protection to carry out the task of removing unlawful election-related materials, the Island Online reported. All posters, cutouts and banners which are unlawful would be removed. The election laws do not permit propaganda material to be displayed in public places. The candidates can only display them at their propaganda offices. The Human Rig

Daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra to be nominated as new PM

Thailand's populist Pheu Thai party on Thursday said it will nominate its party leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in a Parliament vote for the country's new leader after former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was removed by a court order over an ethical violation. Paetongtarn is the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is seen as force behind Pheu Thai. He was the first Thai politician ever to win an overall majority of seats. The residual popularity of Thaksin is a factor in the support for Paetongtarn. If Paetongtarn is approved by Parliament's vote, which is scheduled for Friday, she will become Thailand's second female prime minister, and the country's third leader from the Shinwatra family after her father and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.

Top contenders for Japan's leadership after PM Kishida announces exit

Here's a look at some of the potential contenders to replace Kishida

Committed to conducting polls in J&K at the earliest: CEC Rajiv Kumar

Rajiv Kumar says elections won't be postponed on account of terror attacks

'Sebi did not get specific info on unfair trading on LS poll results day'

Capital markets regulator Sebi has not received any specific information on any 'unfair trading' in the stock market crash on the Lok Sabha poll results day on June 4, which wiped out billions of investors wealth, Parliament was informed on Monday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said stock market movements are a function of investor perceptions along with other factors. He was replying to question whether it is a fact that there is an unprecedented fall of stock prices and points amounting to a loss of Rs 30 lakh crores to investors immediately after the general elections-2024 results. The minister was also asked if it is a fact there was a demand to investigate the matter by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. "Though SEBI has received representations on the above stock market movements, no specific information on any unfair trading has been provided," Chaudhary said in his reply. Benchmark BSE Sensex had shot up 3.4 pe

European Commission President Leyen faces vote for second 5-year term bid

Ursula von der Leyen pledged to be a strong leader for Europe in a time of crisis and polarization as she made her final leadership pitch Thursday in a speech to lawmakers at the European Parliament ahead of a vote on whether to grant her a second five-year term as president of the European Union's executive commission. The secret ballot at the 720-seat parliament comes hot on the heels of strong gains by the far right in last month's election for the European Parliament. I will never let the extreme polarization of our societies become accepted. I will never accept that demagogues and extremists destroy our European way of life. And I stand here today ready to lead the fight with all the Democratic forces in this house, von der Leyen said. If a majority of the lawmakers reject her candidacy, it would leave leaders of the 27-nation bloc scrambling to find a replacement as Europe grapples with crises ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change. In her speech to the parliament,

Allowing Gaikwad to vote in council polls is misuse of power, alleges Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said allowing BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, who is in judicial custody in a shooting case, to vote in the Maharashtra legislative council polls would amount to misuse of power. The Congress had also urged the returning officer of the biennial elections not to allow Gaikwad, accused of opening fire at a Shiv Sena leader inside a police station, to cast his vote. Talking to reporters, Raut cited that in the last legislative council polls, the then NCP MLAs Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik were not allowed to vote. "Gaikwad can come out from jail to vote, but Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik were also in jail (during the 2022 council polls) and were not allowed to vote. This is use or misuse of power," he said. He further alleged that the results of the recent Lok Sabha election have shown that people have backed the opposition parties. "Even their (the ruling parties) MLAs can break or take a different stand. No one should be under the impression tha

Hope & scepticism in Iran

A reformist becoming President will test the nation

Le Pen faces investigation for 2022 French election campaign funding

The Paris prosecutor opened the case after it was alerted by the country's campaign-funding watchdog in 2023, an official said in an email

Can BJP, allies overcome caste arithmetic challenge in Maharashtra polls

In the 2024 LS polls, caste played its part with mutating combinations across the state, writes SHREYAS UBGADE

UK election: FTA with India on manifesto agenda for both Tory, Labour

As the UK enters the final phase of campaigning ahead of the general election on Thursday, a free trade agreement (FTA) with India is seen as high on the agenda no matter whether the verdict is in favour of the incumbent Tories or the Opposition Labour. Both sides have been working towards clinching a pact to enhance the GBP 38.1 billion bilateral trading partnership but with India's phased general election followed by Britain's, the negotiations remain stalled in the fourteenth round of negotiations. The FTA talks formally kicked off in January 2022 when Boris Johnson was the British prime minister and have since had to contend with political turmoil that first led to a short-lived Liz Truss premiership followed by Rishi Sunak as Britain's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage. We will finalise a free trade agreement with India, alongside a deeper strategic partnership on technology and defence, reads the Conservative Party manifesto, spelling out the British Indian leader's ...

France election: Macron on the defensive as National Rally gains ground

If no clear majority is established, France could face prolonged political deadlock and weaken the government's ability to implement policies effectively

Election for new president of Mumbai Cricket Association on July 23

Election for a new president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will be held on July 23 after the incumbent Amol Kale died earlier this month, said the association on Monday. Kale, 47, died of a cardiac arrest in New York after attending the T20 World Cup match between arch rivals India and Pakistan on the intervening of June 9 and 10. Kale was elected as the president of the powerful association after defeating former India cricketer Sandeep Patil in October 2022. To fill the vacant post, the MCA on Monday announced the election programme, according to which the period between June 25 and July 2 has been kept for inviting names of representatives from 'member clubs and from former international players'. Nominations can be filed from July 4 to 10 at the electoral officer's office at the MCA Lounge in the Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai between 11 am and 5 pm, a release from electoral officer JS Saharia stated. A scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 11 which has to

Sparks fly after Elon Musk's EVM post, Chandrasekhar offers 'tutorial'

BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar termed Musk's post a "sweeping generalisation" and offered to "run a tutorial" for the Tesla chief on how India ensures its indigenously manufactured EVMs are hacking proof

UK economy flatlines in April in blow to Conservatives ahead of elections

The British economy failed to grow in April, official figures showed Wednesday, in a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who has made the return of growth and a generally calmer economic backdrop a central pillar of the Conservative Party's election campaign. The Office for National Statistics said wet weather dampened consumer spending and construction during the month. The flat monthly reading came after a 0.6 per cent increase during the first quarter of the year, which Sunak has made much of on the campaign trail following a period of muted growth. Though monthly figures are vulnerable to short-term factors, the flat reading is likely to be used by opponents of the Conservatives in the run-up to the election on July 4. While Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt insisted the economy is turning a corner, his opposite number in the Labour Party Rachel Reeves said the economy has stalled. The latest growth figures come a week before the next round of inflation data and the Bank of England mak

Major fights, issues in the ongoing European Parliament election

Despite a series of recent setbacks, far-right parties are aiming for electoral gains that could bring migration to the top of the political agenda and complicate progress on the EU's climate goals