Page 5 - Election

Ahead of new election, many in Sri Lanka still waiting for change

Two years ago, tens of thousands of Sri Lankans rose up against their president and forced him to flee the country. As the country prepares for its first election since then, many say they're still waiting for change. As Sri Lanka sank into economic collapse in 2022, people from various walks of life rallied to change a long-entrenched government they saw as responsible. The unprecedented island-wide public uprising they led was a moment of hope for the country long been fatigued by war and economic instability. Days ahead of Saturday's presidential election, many still complain of corrupt leaders, economic mismanagement, and the entrenched power of the political old guard, but former protesters are having a hard time coming together behind a candidate. They agree on one thing: Sri Lanka needs a new political system that can take it out of economic and political turbulence. Days after Rajapaksa fled the country, Sri Lanka's parliament replaced him with then-prime minister Ranil ...

'One Nation, One Election': Find out how India plans to vote simultaneously

The initiative, based on recommendations from a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, requires constitutional amendments and political consensus

Capex conundrum: Did election-related curbs slow economy in first quarter?

Several renowned experts and agencies, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), have blamed the MCC for the 6.7 per cent growth in the first quarter - a five-quarter low

'Durbar Move' returns to spotlight as Jammu and Kashmir elections near

Although the Durbar Move has its proponents, it has faced increasing criticism since the late 1980s, mainly due to the significant costs and time it demands

J&K Elections 2024 Important dates, top parties & key candidates

On September 4, Rahul Gandhi kickstarted the party's election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, where the elections are scheduled to begin on September 18. Watch the video to know the details.

BJP announces revised list of 15 candidates for J&K Assembly elections

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, and counting of votes will take place on October 4

Don't field candidates against NC-Cong in J&K polls: Omar Abdullah to PDP

NC vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed the PDP has copied his party's manifesto and asked the Mehbooba Mufti-led party to not field candidates against NC-Congress nominees for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir as their agenda is the same. Abdullah's remarks came a day after Mehbooba said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would extend complete support to the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance and leave all seats in the elections for the coalition if it accepts her party's agenda. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was addressing NC workers in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, where activist Sayim Mustafa joined the party. Abdullah said the NC has prepared an extensive manifesto for the assembly polls which has been copied by other parties. "We have not left out anything in the manifesto. Today, everyone has copied our manifesto. They should have kept some differences," he said, referring to the PDP's manifesto which was released by Mehbooba on ...

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