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mariacallous · 2 months ago

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the only EU leader to openly back Donald Trump in his bid to reclaim the White House, was unsurprisingly among the first to congratulate the former president on Wednesday morning, even before the final results were in and rival Kamala Harris had conceded.

��The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!” Orban rejoiced on X (formerly Twitter).

Orban, who will be hosting European leaders in Budapest later this week, was swiftly joined by other illiberal leaders and fellow populists in Central and Southeast Europe, likewise unable to contain their glee at the return of Trump, who by midmorning Europe time had gained 266 electoral votes — just four shy from the 270 he needs to be elected the 47th US president.

Another close ally of Trump in Central Europe, Polish President Andrzej Duda, who met the former president in New York earlier this year, posted excitedly, complete with emojis: “Congratulations, Mr. President @realDonaldTrump! You made it happen! 👏👏👏🇵🇱🤝🇺🇸”.

In the Czech Republic, the former prime minister and Trump admirer Andrej Babis posted on X: “Sensational comeback @realDonaldTrump! He wasn’t stopped by an assassination attempt, nor by politically motivated lawsuits, nor by a systematic smear campaign in the media. American citizens have made it clear who they want as US President. I am confident that his victory will bring prosperity to the United States and peace to the world.”

More subdued comments came from Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who Babis is looking to oust in 2025, also on X: “Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. Our shared goal is to ensure that the relations between our countries remain at the highest level, despite changes in administration, and that we continue to develop them for the benefit of our citizens.”

Populist Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, is currently on a state visit to China, though his ally, President Peter Pellegrini, offered his congratulations to Donald Trump on X. “I wish you and the American people all the success. Slovakia remains to be a strong and reliable Ally on NATO’s tested Eastern Flank living up to our shared commitments. I sincerely wish for a continuation of our good cooperation. Let’s make the transatlantic bond great again.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who visited the White House during Trump’s first term in office that ended in 2020, welcomed Trump’s win on X. “Congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory. Together we face the serious challenges ahead. Serbia is committed to cooperation with the USA on stability, prosperity and peace,” Vucic wrote.

Turkey’s strongman leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he wanted to congratulate his “great friend” Trump on his victory.

“In this new period that will begin with the election of the American people, I hope that Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end; I believe that more efforts will be made for a more just world,” Erdogan wrote on X.

The first to hail Trump’s win from Bosnia and Herzegovina was, unsurprisingly, the president of the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik. “One of [the] most important electoral wins in recent history of the USA but the World as well! Congratulations, Donald Trump, 47th President of the United States of America!” Dodik wrote on his official X profile.

Late last year Dodik said that a victory for Trump would mean a “better geopolitical situation for Republika Srpska”, claiming that he regretted not declaring his entity’s independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina during Trump’s 2016-2020 presidency.

North Macedonia’s conservative prime minister, Hristijan Mickoski, sent his “heartfelt congratulations” to Trump on Wednesday morning. “This victory is a confirmation of the deep faith of the American people in the principles of freedom and democracy,” Mickoski, whose conservative, right-wing government came to power earlier this year, wrote on Facebook.

Mickoski and his cabinet are not among European leaders who fear a second Trump term could wreak havoc with transatlantic and international relations. His ruling VMRO-DPMNE party nurtures close ties with one of the biggest Trump endorsers on the continent, Hungary’s Orban, and over the summer Mickoski’s series of meetings with close Trump associates made his preference even more obvious.

“We look forward to further deepening our strong partnership and cooperation,” Mickoski added.

Warm words from the Balkans

The president of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic, congratulated Trump on his victory. “Montenegro and the USA are friends and steadfast partners, united by shared goals and values, focused on advancing democracy, security, stability, and freedom. As NATO allies, we look forward to working very closely with Your administration on strengthening our friendship and deepening cooperation,” Milatovic wrote on X.

Montenegro’s first congratulatory message came earlier from the president of the parliament and leader of the pro-Serbian NOVA party Andrija Mandic. “I am sure that together we will build bridges of cooperation and preserve peace and stability in the Western Balkans,” Mandic wrote on X.

From Kosovo, which has deep ties with the US since the 1998-99 war, President Vjosa Osmani also congratulated Trump on his White House comeback.

“The US remains Kosovo’s steadfast partner and indispensable ally. I look forward to working with the new administration to further deepen our unique bond and strategic alliance,” Osmani said on X.

A similar message came from Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. “Congratulations on a convincing victory and a second presidential term,” Plenkovic wrote on X. “I look forward to our cooperation and further progress in Croatian-American relations.”

Plenkovic’s domestic political rival, President Zoran Milanovic, hailed “the will of the majority of voters” in choosing Trump. He wrote on Facebook: “Since Croatian independence, the USA has been a partner and friend, I am convinced that this will remain the choice of the new president”.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was also effusive in his congratulations: “I look forward to the great privilege of working with the 47th President to further enhance our partnership for peace, prosperity and further progress,” Rama wrote on X.

In Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov, leader of recent election-winners GERB and former prime minister, posted a photo of himself with Trump on social media, saying: “I’m ready for us to work together, again!”

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev also congratulated the Republican victor: “I am confident that our effective dialogue at the highest level will continue in the interest of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the USA,” Radev said.

Opposition party We Continue the Change’s Kiril Petkov described Trump’s comeback as US president as “a serious achievement”, while noting: “Of course, Bulgaria’s fate depends first and foremost on the will of the Bulgarians, but good cooperation with the US is crucial in the positioning of our country amid the changing geopolitical reality.”

In Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis added his voice to the congratulatory messages from countries across the region. “Greece looks forward to further deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries and working together on important regional and global issues,” Mitsotakis wrote on X.

#god a real murderer's row of leaders

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darkmaga-returns · 8 days ago

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Most people have nuanced views on immigration. That includes President-elect Donald Trump, whose political resilience is in no small part a product of the American electorate’s rejection of open borders. Yet the man who led chants of “build the wall” and has spoken hyperbolically at times about Muslim immigration has been noticeably slow to rein in his tech bro pals on H-1B visas, though they have done some backtracking of their own.

The Trump phenomenon is at its best an attempt to push back against the excesses of proposition-nation talk, treating America as a real place that is the home of real people and not just an abstraction. You can, of course, push too far in the opposite direction, and some Trump allies do—particularism has excesses that are as ugly as universalism can be divorced from reality—but most Trump voters take the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty seriously, not literally.

In other words, you can simultaneously believe the immigration has enriched the American experience and been an important part of this country’s story without rejecting the need for an orderly border and strong mutual bonds of citizenship. As the founders of this magazine once put it, “We believe that America has gained and still does from new immigrants. But we also, after two decades of intense immigration, believe that the nation needs a slowdown to assimilate those already here.”

Except you can now revise that to more than four decades of intense immigration, much of it illegal, with the biggest surge in U.S. history taking place under President Joe Biden. The Biden border crisis was sparked in part by that wealthy, historically Western countries do not have the right to keep out migrants who outscore (some of) the native-born on various intersectionality tests. Similar cultural self-doubt has plagued our allies in Europe and elsewhere, often leading to political upheaval.

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demani-dusk · 2 months ago

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This is a post a friend made on a different platform, asking people to copy+paste. I'm keeping the censored words censored, frankly because I'm lazy, even though I know tumblr works differently. Anyway, I think it's important:

Hi friends (in the USA)! Please call your representatives, especially the ones listed in this post, and ask them to vote NO on HR 9495. As you know, I usually shy away from legislative and electoral politics. This one is really important, though, and has a huge impact on ALL kinds of organizing.

Q: What is HR 9495?

A: HR 9495 would grant the executive branch of the United States the power to universally revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations (such as nonprofits, universities, and news outlets) by designating them as supporting t-rrorists. For many tax-exempt organizations, this would lead to shutdown. It would also give the Executive Branch more leverage over universities.

Q: But isn't t-rrorism bad?

A: The bill allows the revoking of tax-exempt status without due process. In other words, any organization that the executive branch decides it doesn't like could be designated as t-rrorist.

Q: Why does my Democratic representative support this?

A: Many Democrats support this because they've been on the receiving end of protest campaigns around their position on Palestine, or because they are sympathetic to the suppression of pro-Palestine protesters. If passed, this bill would give more leverage to suppress student speech at universities. For example, a university that has an official student group calling for ceasefire could be threatened with having its tax-exempt status revoked unless it shuts the student group down.

Q: I'm an anarchist/communist/socialist. Why should I call my representative? Isn't this some Eduard Bernstein shit? What's next, are you gonna tell me to join the DSA?

A: State repression sucks, and this bill is aimed specifically at reducing the ability to organize outside of electoral politics. In Atlanta, we've seen targeted attacks on nonprofits that support protesters, including the state of Georgia passing legislation banning bail funds! In other words, nonprofits can no longer bail out protesters whose bond is set at $650,000 in retaliation for protesting! This stuff is really bad and sometimes "by any means necessary" includes *shudder* calling your congressional representative.

Democrat Reps who voted ‘Yes’ on HR 9495 during 2/3 vote and who need to be urged to vote NO:

Colin Allred (D-TX), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Ed Case (D-HI), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Valerie Foushee Davis (D-NC), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Jared Golden (D-ME), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Josh Harder (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin (D-CA), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Frank Mrvan (D-IN), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Norma Torres (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

#politics #american politics #call to action

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satoshi-mochida · 5 months ago

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Metaphor: ReFantazio ‘ATLUS Exclusive’ introduces election candidates, followers - Gematsu

Publisher ATLUS and developer Studio Zero have released the fourth “ATLUS Exclusive” showcase video for Metaphor: ReFantazio, which introduces the candidates vying for the throne and the followers that support the protagonist.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is due out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on October 11.

Watch the footage below, including a full transcript.

ATLUS Exclusive 4 Showcase

English

Japanese

youtube

Transcript:

■ Introduction

Hello, everyone. I am Katsura Hashino, the director of Metaphor. My representative works include Shin Megami Tensei III, Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5. In the previous showcases, we have introduced you to the story and the world in which the main characters will be competing in the royal tournament.

In this ATLUS Exclusive Metaphor: ReFantazio Character Edition Showcase, we’ll be looking at the campaign in its early stage, introduce the rival candidates and their believers, the fascinating supporters who help the protagonist win the election, and the bonds you will form with these characters. I will introduce them in more depth than what we have done in previous Exclusives

We will continue to introduce new information about Metaphor on the ATLUS YouTube channel, so please be sure to subscribe to our channel. Now, let’s begin the Character Edition Showcase.

■ Synopsis

First, here is a synopsis of the story. On a special mission to save the prince, the protagonist attends the king’s funeral to assassinate the mastermind, the great criminal Louis. Suddenly, the giant face of the supposedly dead king appears in the sky over the Royal Capital, and the “election magic” is triggered. “Whoever can win the most support from the people by the deadline will be the next king.” Thus began an unprecedented uprising for the throne, allowing the citizens to be a candidate to become the next king.

Gathering popular support is not an easy task for regular citizens who have no electoral experience. That is when Sanctifex Forden of the Sanctus Church, a leading figure in the country, declares the “Tournament for the Throne” as an opportunity for people to put their powers on display and gather support. In this “Tournament for the Throne,” those who have put themselves forward as candidates for king are tasked to visit the major cities in the kingdom, proving their worth to the public as they tackle tough challenges. The first destination, Port Brielhaven, will host the “Exhibition of the Brave,” in which candidates compete to see who can bring in the biggest monster head. Those who make it through will head to Altabury Heights to take on the next challenge.

It is Batlin, a Sanctus crier, who is responsible for informing the public about the Tournament for the Throne, which has become a truly national event. His lighthearted play-by-play keeps the public engaged in the tournament.

■ Candidates Vying for the Throne

Now, in this national election campaign, candidates with various agendas come forward. The two most powerful men leading the tournament from unassailable positions are Forden and the protagonist’s arch-nemesis, Louis.

Forden

Forden is the supreme authority of Sanctism, the state religion of the United Kingdom of Euchronia, and is also the head of the Crown Theocracy, the government ruled with Sanctism at its center. In the turmoil following the sudden death of the previous king, he has garnered wide support from the population, given his position as the leader of the moderate faction.

Louis

Louis, on the other hand, in contrast to the moderate Forden, is an army officer with military prowess who believes in true meritocracy, wielding overwhelming combat and magical skills that enable him to defeat the humans. His policy of valuing skill and rationality over birth or circumstance has garnered tremendous support, especially among radical youths.

Of course, these two are not the only ones who will be competing in the Royal Tournament campaign. Other candidates also put their names forward in the campaign, each with their own quirky platforms.

Gideaux

The first one I would like to introduce is Gideaux. He is Forden’s primary bodyguard, as well as the Captain of the Monk Army, the enforcement arm of the Crown Theocracy. He himself does not intend to be king, but he doesn’t seem to take kindly to the arrival of the “filthy” elda protagonist.

Godell

Next, Godell. Known as “Godell the Black Hound,” he is Louis’ subordinate, but is a rather ambitious man who is running for election on the platform of rising to power. He makes no effort to hide his open hostility, which may eventually become a thorny issue for you.

Milo

One of the oddballs is Milo of the ishkia tribe, who preaches an agenda where those of beauty will strip all the hideous of their titles. Wherever he goes, you’re bound to hear the high-pitched screams of his fans.

Loveless

Next, the third son of a tavern owner, with the slogan of “All you can drink all year round.” Without giving much thought to the future of the kingdom, some might be tempted to agree with Loveless’ pledge, which falls in line with his hedonistic paripus traits.

Rudolf

Rudolf, another bloodthirsty candidate .He pledges to establish a roussainte military dictatorship. His appeal for greater control of the roussainte tribe seems to have attracted the support of those who feel repressed by the rule of moderate clemars.

Lina

Lina, a eugief candidate and the only daughter of the family that runs the Kayden Workshop, is participating to promote the gauntlet runner family business.

Goddard

Goddard, a demolitionist of the rhoag tribe, is a representative of the elderly, with his pledge to give preferential treatment to the old and tax the young.

Roger

Roger, a young man of the clemar tribe, believes in his own righteousness and is pushing forward with his vision of a truly free country with no taxes, no laws, and no religion

Jin

Jin from the nidia tribe is intent on winning no matter what, changing his campaign pledge depending on where he goes and who he needs to please at the moment.

Julian

We also have Julian of the ishkia tribe who is very conscious about pro-animal rights even when it comes to monsters that threaten people.

Edeni

Edeni, an island chief of the mustari tribe, decides to participate in the tournament as a pagan advocate for religious freedom.

And others with various agendas and objectives will appear.

As you can see, the “Tournament for the Throne” has a festive aspect with a truly diverse field of rival candidates. But maybe Gallica is right. If one of these candidates become king, the country will face bigger problems.

The candidates we’ve introduced are all powerful people who have expensive gauntlet runners at their disposal. And I think you will find that there are many who want to represent the tribe they come from and increase their influence. However, some of these rivals are so impacted by the protagonist’s actions down the line that they later become his supporters. I won’t go into detail now, but I hope you will look forward to that as well. Posters highlighting the candidates’ pledges are posted in cities with influential power. You may want to listen to people’s opinions as you walk the streets to see what they think of the candidates’ promises and claims made in speeches.

During the election period, the protagonist’s popularity ranking in the race can be checked by pressing a specific button in the overworld. At the beginning, the protagonist’s support ranking starts in a rather low position, around 8,121st place as you see here. This is not a simulation game where the popularity ranking fluctuates in real time, so it is only a flavor element of the game. But these rankings will change significantly as the campaign progresses.

The protagonist is a nobody at the lowest level in the country. Of course, he is not the kind of person that anyone would expect to be king. You will feel the dynamics of this royal tournament campaign as you watch the ranking gradually change with the results of completing your missions and through your actions towards the people of the city!

■ Followers that Support the Protagonist

Now, while there are rivals in the tournament who stand in the protagonist’s way, there are also encouraging allies who will support your campaign. In the cities that the protagonist will stay at, there are many people with various kinds of problems. By listening to them and helping them, they will become strong supporters of the protagonist.

Of course, the allies who travel with him, such as Strohl and Hulkenberg, are also important supporters of the protagonist. But he will also meet unique supporters on his journey who do not directly participate in battle. The unique feature of interacting with supporters, or followers as we call them in this title, is that you can acquire powerful Archetypes that you can equip and use in battle.

Let us now introduce you to what kinds of followers we have.

Brigitta

First, there is a rhoag follower named Brigitta who owns an ignitor shop in the Royal Capital. She notices that the protagonist is an elda and asks him to take on a quest to test his strength. If you can complete said request and gain her trust, she will be a powerful follower. When she becomes a follower, the protagonist will not only be able to awaken to the Merchant Archetype, which offers more rewards in battle, but he will also be able to make purchases at the ignitor shop in the Royal Capital, which is usually not available to the elda.

Maria

Next is a girl named Maria who lives at the Hushed Honeybee Inn located in the Royal Capital. Separated from her parents and having no friends due to her rhoag and ishkia mixed background, she eagerly awaits the souvenir of stories that the protagonists bring back through encounters they have on their travels. If you can help her feel less lonely, she will also be a powerful follower. The bond with Maria awakens the Healer Archetype, which specializes in healing and purification.

Bardon

Next is Bardon, a roussainte who is the captain of the guard corps in Martira. He is a simple, clumsy, but likeable and earnest man who faces new problems after an incident that happens in his town is solved. By supporting him, he will become a strong follower. Your bond with him awakens the Commander Archetype, which can bend the flow of battles to your will.

Alonzo

Like Bardon, we meet Alonzo in Martira, an elusive and enigmatic young man of the nidia tribe. His smooth talk leads the protagonist to undertake a certain quest. Even though he swings the protagonist around with his words and actions that go back and forth, he ends up being a one-of-a-kind follower. If you can strengthen your bond with him, you will be able to awaken the Faker, that can be used as a trump card to tackle difficult enemies.

Catherina

Last but not least is Catherina, a bounty hunter. She is one of the protagonist’s followers, but she is also a candidate herself who stands up for her tribe—the paripus—which is often looked down upon, with the pledge to make them wealthier. From the bond you form with her, you can awaken the Brawler Archetype, which can deliver decisive blows. While they may be rivals in the campaign together, they do form a strong bond, allowing the protagonist and Catherina to create a unique relationship. We invite you to see for yourself how the competition between the candidates will play out.

Party Members

In addition to the followers introduced here, you can also bond with fellow party members such as Strohl and Hulkenberg, and build a follower relationship with them. Interacting with characters of all ages, tribes, and values, and from different perspectives, will give you a new experience unlike any you have had in previous titles.

Strengthening bonds with followers can lead to the evolution of Archetypes to higher levels and the unlocking of abilities that will give you a strategic advantage. So please be proactive and talk to your followers when you see them in town or in gauntlet runners. You can check the status of your interactions with your followers, as well as the Archetypes and abilities you have acquired through them, at any time in the main menu, which will help you strategize how to use your time during the operation periods.

In addition, the follower characters are also voiced by talented voice actors, which we believe will provide a deeper game experience.

■ Closing

How did you like it? We are pleased to announce that we have released new information on quite a few characters. Was there a character you liked among the unique candidates and followers? Let us know your favorite in the comments.

One of the most exciting aspects of this game system is the fact that the bonding process increases the number of very powerful Archetypes. Thinking about what battles you can fight with the Archetypes you acquire from the followers you meet will play a large role in your strategies. It is up to you, the player, to choose a follower in favor of strategy or choose a follower whose circumstances are of interest to you. It is well worth giving thought to, so I hope you look forward to it.

Up to this point, we have introduced the battle system, the dungeons, the story, and the characters. However, a new and different aspect of Metaphor is the element of enjoying daily activities on your journey. In the next Showcase, I will finally introduce the journey aspect in detail, so please stay tuned.

Once again, Metaphor is scheduled for release this fall on October 11, 2024. Both the physical and digital editions are available for pre-orders, so please pre-order your copy or add it to your wishlist. Along with the standard edition, a Digital Deluxe Edition commemorating the 35th anniversary of the ATLUS brand is also available. You can also get additional pre-order bonuses, so make sure to pre-order today. See you at the next ATLUS Exclusive Showcase! Thank you very much for your time today!

#Metaphor: ReFantazio #Atlus #Studio Zero #RPG #Gematsu #Youtube

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fundamentalrights · 10 months ago

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#Electoral Bond Case: Directs SBI To Disclose Electoral Bond Numbers #DYChandrachud #electoralbonds #SupremeCourt #ElectoralBonds #DYChandrachud Supreme Court LIVE: On Friday (March 15)#the Supreme Court explicitly stated that the State Bank of India (SBI) must disclose electoral bond numbers #in addition to the purchase and redemption details it has already revealed for the bonds. इलेक्टोरल बॉन्ड पर SBI की याचिका पर सुनवाई के दौर #SBI की तरफ से पैरवी कर रहे देश के नंबर वन वकील हरीश साल्वे पर बैकफुट पर नजर आए। 7 जजों की ��ेंच की अगु #sbi electoral bonds #sbi electoral bonds latest news cji dy chandrachud #harishsalve harish salve on sbi electoral bond sbi electoral bond news electoral bond update #sbinews electoral bonds supreme court electoral bonds scheme #DYChandrachud supreme court on electoral bondssupreme court electoral bonds electoral bonds explained supreme court verdict on electoral bo

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rightnewshindi · 10 months ago

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मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त की बड़ी घोषणा, कहा, समय से प्रकाशित करेंगे चुनावी बॉन्ड डाटा

CEC On Electoral Bonds: एसबीआई (SBI) की ओर से चुनावी बॉन्ड (इलेक्टोरल बॉन्ड) की डिटेल मिलने पर मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त राजीव कुमार का पहला रिएक्शन सामने आया है. सुप्रीम कोर्ट के आदेश पर भारतीय स्टेट बैंक (एसबीआई) ने मंगलवार शाम को निर्वाचन आयोग को उन संगठनों का विवरण सौंपा था, जिन्होंने अब समाप्त हो चुके चुनावी बॉन्ड खरीदे थे और राजनीतिक दलों ने उन्हें प्राप्त किया था. मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त ने कहा कि…

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nando161mando · 7 months ago

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Take that, Democrat voters!

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hjohn3 · 1 month ago

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The Sound And The Fury

Judge the Labour Government by its Enemies

Source: Money website

By Honest John

THE LABOUR government, elected less than five short months ago, often gives the impression it is under siege. Ministers and their spokespeople seem to be continually on the defensive, simultaneously accused of having a lack of ambition and being overly technocratic while at the same time being criticised for making policy and fiscal decisions that have actual consequences on society, sometimes by the same people. It is a strange world indeed when broadly sympathetic outlets such as the New Statesman, the Guardian and Novara Media unite in defence of the farming lobby against a social democratic government. It sometimes feels that for all the well-analysed desire for change on the part of the British electorate - which saw that electorate systematically dismantle the Conservatives at virtually every level of government over the last two years- when Labour actually attempt to introduce that change, liberal hands clutch pearls and the gates of the hellscape that is the right wing print and online media world are opened, and righteous fire is belched out at Keir Starmer and his beleaguered crew.

Take last month’s budget. Rachel Reeves, long accused of being a neoliberal drone (not least by me), showed remarkable dexterity in ditching aspects of her treasured fiscal rules, by borrowing over £28bn and raising tax revenues by over £40bn, all without increasing direct taxation on ordinary citizens, as Labour had promised in opposition. Was Reeves praised for this fiscal achievement? Not a bit of it. Labour were accused of everything from breaking manifesto promises to launching a new class war on the rich. The general view of the commentariat was that this was a terrible budget that would spook the bond markets, depress investment and force wealth-creators to leave the country. No matter that Reeves has almost fully met the destructive funding deficit which the NHS has endured, bequeathed the government by the Tories; it would appear to matter little that education, affordable housing (including council housing), bus transport, pensions, the minimum wage and public sector pay are all to receive increases in funding, and clearly matters not at all that, post-Budget, most voters surveyed approved of the direction of social policy and the finances found to support it. After all, what do they know?

To listen to Labour’s critics in the right wing press, GB News, and the Conservative Party, Labour have somehow broken some immutable rule that taxes must never increase for the wealthy, that public services must simply put up with continued underfunding until society can “afford” to right a decade or more of ruinous austerity, and that every privilege, loophole and perverse incentive that has allowed the rich to plunder the poor in this country in a malign process that has gone on for over forty years, must be left untouched - forever. It seems these critics do not appear to have noticed, or accepted, that there has been a change of government and that Starmer’s Labour Party represents a completely different set of values to the clapped out Thatcherism of Rishi Sunak and the whacky and destructive right wing political and economic experiments imposed on the country his hapless predecessors. Perhaps they bought into the assessment of the left that Starmer’s Labour simply represents reheated Blairism and the rich and privileged could therefore go on ripping off the British people indefinitely, with no price to pay. Instead what these critics - on left and right - have to accept, no matter how much in pains them, that Britain now has the most left wing government since 1974 and, unlike its ill-starred predecessor, it has the political space to change this country permanently for the better.

Make no mistake, there are real problems with this government. It has been characterised by chronic pre-election caution, nasty factionalism, bouts of dishonesty, bizarre episodes of ministerial entitlement, a paucity in original or curious thinking, particularly in health, clumsy and slow-on-the-uptake messaging and at times wilful stubbornness. But wherever you look, underneath the sound and the fury, there is genuine, potentially transformative, change underway - whether you are an elective patient waiting for a procedure; a gig economy worker; a public sector employee; a renter; a trade union member; someone on minimum wage; someone wanting to get on the housing ladder; a rail traveller, a teacher or a pupil - there is at last hope that things may improve and that governmental priorities are not ranged against you, or that your hopes and aspirations will be met by those in charge with simply a resigned shrug. There is so much more still to do: the Green Prosperity Plan has to be revived; wealth needs to be taxed to help fund the restitution of public services not yet in receipt of government largesse; the utilities need to be brought back into public ownership and meaningful regulation; the low wage migration-dependent economy has to be transformed and Britain’s towns and former industrial communities need to to be regenerated with the pace and imagination New Labour applied to the cities. But in five months Labour has done much to reset the UK’s direction and priorities to the benefit of the less well-off.

In addition, the government’s constitutional changes range from the symbolic removal of hereditary aristocratic privilege from the governance of the country, to the potential regeneration of local democracy through the devolution of power and resources to the English regions and their Mayoralties in a way that could shut out Toryism from effective local government for a generation. Furthermore its proposals for enhanced devolution to Scotland and Wales could finally deposit sectional nationalism into the political dustbin where it has always belonged. A combination of a better resourced activist state overseeing investment where it is needed, planning the economy and rebuilding trust in public services after the cynicism and waste of the Tory years could also, over the next four years, stymie the advance of Reform and prevent the blight of the far right spreading its influence as it has in much of Europe and in the USA.

And who is ranged against this effort to secure national renewal? The list is long and ignoble: the discredited Tory Party; the conman Nigel Farage and his latest vehicle; the disgrace that is the right wing press; the unfunny joke that is GB News; disingenuous pensioners; the CBI; the preposterous Jeremy Clarkson; the hyper-rich; the private schools; the racist far right; the absurdity that is Elon Musk (part incompetent tech bro and part incipient fascist) and last, but not least, the landowners pleading poverty that represent the pampered and uneconomic farming industry.

It is said that by their enemies shall you know them. Well, on the basis of the above collection of the malign, the corrupt and the misinformed, Labour must be doing something right.

26th November 2024

#british politics #keir starmer #tories #reform uk #nigel farage #rachel reeves #social democracy #labour government

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head-post · 2 months ago

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US election: Trump claims victory

Republican Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News Channel reported that he defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would complete his stunning political comeback four years after leaving the White House.

Trump said on Wednesday before a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre:

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

According to Edison Research, other news outlets have yet to call the results of the race in Trump’s favour, but he appears to be on the verge of victory, having captured the states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and holding a lead in the other four.

Trump gave a victory speech in Florida, thanking all those who voted for him. His wife Melania and son Barron were by his side at the time. He said:

Thank you Americans for your votes! Let’s make America great again! My result is a political victory that the history of the United States has never known before.

Harris did not address her supporters, who gathered at her alma mater, Howard University. Her campaign co-chairman Cedric Richmond briefly addressed the crowd after midnight, saying Harris would speak publicly Wednesday. He said:

We still have votes to count.

Harris needs more than 270 electoral votes to win the election. The former US president has crossed that threshold with 277 already. Now the counting of votes continues, but the necessary threshold for victory Trump has already overcome.

Trump showed strength in wide swathes of the country, improving his 2020 performance everywhere from rural areas to urban centres.

Republicans won a majority in the US Senate after picking up seats from Democrats in West Virginia and Ohio. In the battle for control of the House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority, neither side had an advantage.

On Election Day, Trump’s chances of regaining the White House were 50/50, a surprising turnaround from January 6, 2021, when many pundits declared his political career over. On that day, a mob of his supporters stormed Congress in a furious attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Exit polls data

According to Edison exit polls, Trump gained more support among Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and low-income households, who have felt the price hikes acutely since the last 2020 presidential election.

Trump received 45 percent of the Hispanic vote nationwide, behind Harris with 53 percent, but up 13 percentage points from 2020.

About 31 percent of voters cited the economy as their top issue, and they voted for Trump by a margin of 79 percent to 20 percent, according to exit polls. About 45 percent of voters nationwide said their family’s financial situation is worse today than it was four years ago, and they favoured Trump 80 percent to 17 percent.

On Tuesday, global investors were increasingly leaning towards Trump winning. US stock futures and the dollar rose, Treasury bond yields rose and bitcoin rose in price – all of which analysts and investors noted as trades favourable to a Trump victory.

By 12:30 p.m., officials had nearly finished counting ballots in more than 1,600 counties – about half the country – and Trump’s share was up about two percentage points from 2020, reflecting a broad, though not particularly deep, shift in Americans’ support for the president they ousted four years ago.

He improved in suburban counties, rural areas and even some big cities that have historically been bastions of Democratic support; in high- and low-income districts; in places where unemployment was relatively high and in places where it is now at record lows.

Harris was counting on a large margin among urban and suburban voters, but her support in those places is well behind President Joe Biden’s support in the 2020 election.

Trump’s campaign promises

The main point of Trump’s economic programme was to impose tariffs of 10-20% on all imported goods, and up to 60% if they are of Chinese origin. According to the new president, this step will contribute to the development of American industry and force manufacturers to move their factories to the US.

He also advocated lowering the tax rate for corporations that produce their goods in the US from 21% to 15%, abolishing taxes on tips and social security benefits, and doing away with double taxation for US citizens living abroad.

Trump intends to fight high housing prices. To this end, he proposes to expel immigrants who live in the country illegally.

In this election race, Trump also promised to end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours in case of victory. However, the former president later decided that he would need more time to resolve the situation. He stated that he would resolve the issue before his inauguration, which will take place on January 20, 2025.