Usa Democracy

Post-election power struggles spark concerns over democracy across US

While the election was over a month ago, voters in some parts of the country are discovering that having their say at the ballot box is not necessarily the final word. Lawmakers in several states have already initiated or indicated plans to alter or nullify certain results. Republican lawmakers in North Carolina are moving to undercut the authority of the incoming Democratic governor, Republicans in Missouri are taking initial steps to reverse voter-approved abortion protections, and Democrats in Massachusetts are watering down an attempt by voters to hold the Legislature more accountable. The actions following the Nov. 5 election continue a pattern that has accelerated in recent years and has been characterized by critics as undemocratic. I think certainly when you're a voter and you're voting on the issue, you're not thinking about whether someone's then going to overturn or just ignore the things that you voted on, said Anne Whitesell, an assistant professor of political science

India remains key partner for us in Indo-Pacific region: US State Dept

Patel noted that the Biden administration had worked to deepen this partnership over the past four years and that Biden and outgoing US Secretary of State Blinken continue to view India as a vital

Japan PM Ishiba survives parliament vote as protectionist Trump looms large

Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the head of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, the biggest party after the LDP, is also expected to be among the candidates put forward as premier

Pentagon allows US contractors to repair weapons in Ukraine during war

The Pentagon is easing restrictions to allow a small number of private American defense contractors to work inside Ukraine, helping repair and maintain equipment, U.S. officials said Friday. The contractors will be far away from the front lines during Russia's invasion and will not be taking part in combat, the officials said. The department is soliciting bids now, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal decisions. Ukraine has been receiving billions of dollars worth of American weapons and equipment over the past two years, including a number of sophisticated systems. For much of that time, U.S. and allied troops have been providing real-time maintenance advice using phones and tablets to communicate in encrypted chatrooms with Ukrainian forces. Officials said the Pentagon is allowing the contractors to go because some equipment including F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems requires high-tech expertise to repair. Using the contractors, th

Investors lean toward 'Trump trade' but say race too close to call yet

But the battleground states that will decide the race may not report results until late Tuesday night or Wednesday

US will be more isolationist whoever wins election: EAM Jaishankar

'We all have an interest today in creating some kind of collaborative consensual arrangement.' Jaishankar said

US states worried about election unrest take security precautions

The group says it is ready to tap into a broad network, including faith leaders, who can help spread factual information to counter misinformation-fueled unrest

Federal agencies claim Russia, Iran influencing voters ahead election day

The nation's federal law enforcement and election security agencies are debunking two new examples of Russian election disinformation on the eve of Election Day, highlighting attempts by foreign actors to sow doubt in the U.S. voting process and warning that the efforts run the risk of inciting violence against election officials. In a joint statement late Monday, federal officials pointed to a recent article posted by Russian actors falsely claiming that U.S. officials across presidential swing states were orchestrating a plan to commit fraud, as well as a video that falsely depicted an interview with an individual claiming election fraud in Arizona. U.S. intelligence reveals that Russia-linked influence actors are manufacturing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear in voters regarding the election process, and suggest Americans are using violence against each other due to political preferences, read the statement issued by the .

US and South Korea condemn China's military exercises around Taiwan

The report further indicates that sources from the U.S. and Japan indicate that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and may collaborate with Russian forces in actions aga

Sikhs pilgrims of UK, US, Canada to get free online visas in Pak: Minister

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Sikh pilgrims from the US, UK and Canada will receive free online visas within 30 minutes upon arrival in the country to pay respect to their religious sites. Naqvi's remarks came as he met with a 44-member foreign delegation of Sikh pilgrims in Lahore on Thursday. The minister warmly welcomed the Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan. He acknowledged that the Sikh pilgrims faced difficulties while visiting Pakistan in the past, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior. Naqvi announced that the government has made the visa process easier for Sikhs by making it online. He added that holders of American, Canadian, and UK passports can apply online and receive their visas within 30 minutes without any fees. He noted that this facility extends also to Sikhs of Indian origin residing in these countries. He stated that providing more facilities to the Sikh community is his government's priority. He encouraged Sikhs pilgrims to visi

Daylight saving time ends Sunday in US, time to 'fall back' an hour

The good news: You will get a glorious extra hour of sleep. The bad: It'll be dark as a pocket by late afternoon for the next few months in the US. Daylight saving time ends at 2 am local time Sunday, which means you should set your clock back an hour before you go to bed. Standard time will last until March 9 when we will again spring forward with the return of daylight saving time. That spring time change can be tougher on your body. Darker mornings and lighter evenings can knock your internal body clock out of whack, making it harder to fall asleep on time for weeks or longer. Studies have even found an uptick in heart attacks and strokes right after the March time change. Fall back should be easier. But it still may take a while to adjust your sleep habits, not to mention the downsides of leaving work in the dark or trying to exercise while there's still enough light. Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less .

S Carolina executes Richard Moore despite plea to cut sentence to life

South Carolina put Richard Moore to death by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk, despite a broad appeal for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors and the his family. Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. Moore was convicted of killing the Spartanburg convenience store clerk in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore went into the store unarmed, took a gun from the victim when it was pointed at him and fatally shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm. Moore's lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates. They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair that Moore, who is Black, was the only inmate on the state's dea

Doval, Sullivan speak over phone; discuss defence, regional issues

Amidst tension between India and the US over the alleged targeting of Sikh separatists by India, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke over the phone with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval during which they discussed regional security developments, bilateral issues including defence cooperation. The two leaders also discussed the need for further efforts to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region and globally, the White House said on Wednesday in a readout of the call. "They welcomed progress in the bilateral partnership, including through the upcoming Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) Intersessional and Indian Ocean Dialogue. They also discussed further opportunities for closer collaboration in key domains, including clean energy supply chains and defence cooperation, it said. The two leaders spoke over the phone on Wednesday. They also discussed further opportunities for closer collaboration in key domains, including clean energy supply chains and

Diwali celebrations go big across US, Houston leads with legal fireworks

Diwali has officially gone big in Harris County in the US state of Texas, as for the first time, residents can legally buy fireworks ahead of the festival on October 31. The Harris County Commissioners Court approved this change in September, following a 2023 state law recognising Diwali as a fireworks-eligible holiday. Though it is still not a public holiday here, communities across the United States are embracing and celebrating Diwali with enthusiasm, and Houston stands out for its vibrant celebrations. Last weekend, the Shri Sita Ram Foundation hosted the 13th International Diwali-Dussehra Festival at the Fort Bend Epicentre in Rosenberg, Texas, attracting an estimated 12,000 attendees. This lively event showcased Indian culture through captivating dance performances, live music, and an array of traditional foods, along with booths selling handicrafts and festive items that created a true Diwali Mela atmosphere. The festival culminated in a dazzling fireworks display, symbolis

US election uncertainty, rate cut bets pin gold near record high levels

U.S. gold futures gained 0.2% to $2,760.80

Senior US diplomat arrives in Taiwan as officials downplay Trump's comments

Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei told reporters he respected the remarks of "international friends"

China's stimulus measures not enough, says Yellen and IMF chief economist

Gourinchas told a news conference on the IMF's latest forecasts that China's fiscal stimulus measures so far lacked detail and therefore were not included in the IMF's China growth outlook

Judges punishing Jan 6 rioters but fear violence as US election approaches

Over the past four years, judges at Washington's federal courthouse have punished hundreds of rioters who stormed the US Capitol in an unprecedented assault on the nation's democracy. On the cusp of the next presidential election, some of those judges fear another burst of political violence could be coming. Before recently sentencing a rioter to prison, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said he prays Americans accept the outcome of next month's election. But the veteran judge expressed concern that Donald Trump and his allies are spreading the same sort of conspiracy theories that fuelled the mob's Jan. 6, 2021, riot. That sore loser is saying the same things he said before, Walton said earlier this month without mentioning the Republican presidential nominee by name. He's riling up the troops again, so if he doesn't get what he wants, it's not inconceivable that we will experience that same situation again. And who knows? It could be worse." Walton, a nominee of President George W

US lawmakers ask for briefing from telecom giants amid cyber attack reports

US Representative John Moolenaar and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi have called for a briefing from telecom giants Verizon, AT & T, and LumenTech after reports of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-sponsored cyber attack against the firms.In a post on X, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party stated, "Chairman Rep Moolenaar and Ranking Member Congressman Raja requested that Verizon, ATT, & lumentechco brief the committee following reports of a CCP-sponsored cyber attack against the companies. "In response to alarming reports of a cyber attack allegedly linked to the CCP, US House Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi have formally requested a closed-door briefing from representatives of Verizon, AT & T, and LumenTech.This follows an October 5 report by the Wall Street Journal indicating that the attack penetrated the networks of several U.S. broadband providers, potentially compromising systems used for court-authorized ..

India, world lost a giant: Garcetti as he condoles Ratan Tata's demise

He was not only among India's most respected and loved industrialists, who took Tata Group to new heights, but also a great visionary, entrepreneur, and philanthropist