Voters in election role

People hang signs announcing the upcoming legislative elections in Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2023. (Photo by ALEXANDRE MENEGHINI / Reuters) HAVANA — Cubans began voting early on Sunday for the 470 lawmakers who will represent them in the country’s National Assembly in a closely watched election seen as a referendum on the communist-run government at a time of deep economic crisis. Voting centers in the capital Havana opened at 7 a.m. ET and bustled with activity as citizens arrived to cast ballots at the city’s share of more than 23,000 official ballot sites throughout the country. Cuba’s government, saddled by shortages, inflation, and growing social unrest, has encouraged unity in Sunday’s vote, calling on citizens to vote together in a broad show of support for the communist leadership. Ana Lydia Velazquez, a 78-year-old retired Havana resident, told Reuters that message resonated with her. “I believe all Cubans should go to vote, to help our country improve, and advance,” … [Read more...] about Cubans head to the polls, all eyes on voter turnout

“RISHI is doing brilliantly,” a senior Tory MP told me last night. “He’s knocking Keir Starmer all over the park. “Who knows, we might be heading for an October ­General Election. Why wait until we run out of time?” Considering the turmoil of recent months, this would be a remarkably upbeat assessment of Tory fortunes by any rent-a-quote Government lackey. But it is especially telling, coming from one of the 22 diehard Brexit rebels who defied the whips and voted against the PM last week. The overwhelming Commons backing for the PM’s EU deal on Northern Ireland was “a sensational victory”, added this ex-Cabinet minister. Tory tails may not be up, but they are wagging. read more on rishi sunak YOB JOBS Yobs to be made to wash police cars under PM's plan to tackle antisocial behaviour HAIL HARRY PM hails England record goal-scorer Harry Kane as 'all-time great' in video call For the first time in … [Read more...] about Rishi Sunak is whacking Keir Starmer all over the park and revived jaded Tory appetite for battle

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of a bill aimed at transgender health care puts the state in the middle of a national fight, but with more immediate consequences as the state's looming election offers an early test on the state-by-state assault on gender-affirming care for minors. The veto issued Friday set off competing messages likely to be repeated until the November election — when Bluegrass State voters will decide whether to reward the Democratic governor with a second term or hand over the governor's office to a Republican. No one seems to know yet how much weight voters will put on the transgender issue with the general election more than seven months away. The legislation in Kentucky is part of a widespread movement, with Republican state lawmakers in other states approving extensive measures that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people this year, from … [Read more...] about Veto puts Kentucky in thick of fight over transgender rights

Tenggara Strategics (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta   ● Mon, March 27, 2023 2023-03-27 07:00 0 91bd6e1d1220161ebde1a4c1fa01009b 4 Academia the-brief Free The competition ahead of the 2024 elections is heating up as Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the biggest party in the ruling coalition, and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met on March 18 at the State Palace to discuss food sovereignty, foreign policy and the 2024 elections. Speculations are rife that the PDI-P may consider pairing election frontrunners Ganjar Pranowo and Prabowo Subianto, which could lower the chances of a runoff election. Ganjar, the outgoing Central Java governor, and Prabowo, the defense minister and chairman of the Gerindra Party, were touted as a prospective presidential and vice-presidential candidate pair after both were seen accompanying Jokowi during his visit to Kebumen regency, Central Java, earlier this month. Although … [Read more...] about Analysis: PDI-P contemplates Ganjar-Prabowo pairing

State pension: Nigel Mills MP discusses rise in retirement age SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Currently, men and women have to wait until age 66 before claiming their state pension . That will rise to 67, between 2026 and 2028. Under the current timetable, it will rise again to 68 between 2044 and 2046. Ministers had considered bringing that timetable forward to 2037 or even 2034 , but were deterred by fears of a backlash from middle-aged voters with an election looming. Rishi Sunak's government is trailing Labour badly in the polls and making voters wait even longer to get their state pension wouldn't have helped. The decision, if confirmed when the government publishes the results of its state pension age … [Read more...] about State pension age can’t keep rising if we’re dying earlier

Juree Burgett smells marijuana buds for recreational use at the Proper Cannabis dispensary in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 17, 2023. AFP KANSAS CITY — Sisters Juree Burgett and Tanya Knight, both in their 60s, smell various marijuana buds, assessing their options at a trendy dispensary in Missouri. They drove three hours from Kansas — where recreational cannabis use is still illegal — to make their purchase. “They will not legalize it in Kansas. They won’t give us medical (usage),” says 64-year-old Burgett, clad in a denim jacket. The shop with a drive-through window is in a rundown part of Kansas City, just off the highway and over the border into Missouri, the largely conservative Midwestern state that is the latest to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. The new regulation, approved by voters in a referendum in November, has sparked an economic boom for the “Show Me” state, fueled by thousands of pot smokers from the eight states along its borders, most of which … [Read more...] about Missouri: the new haven for pot smokers in US Midwest

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for January 26 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Vice President Kamala Harris departed for Honduras on Thursday for the inauguration of President-Elect Xiomara Castro. The trip will be an extension of her duties as border czar with which she was tasked by President Biden to study the root causes of illegal immigration in the region and to deepen the bilateral partnership with the Central American country, senior administration officials said. Harris is also slated to meet with Castro after her inauguration – the first of Castro’s administration – in which they plan to discuss expanding economic opportunity, combating corruption and humanely managing migration. The vice president first spoke with Castro in a phone call last month. DHS SAYS MAYORKAS ‘WELCOMES CANDOR’ AFTER REPORTEDLY TENSE MEETING WITH BORDER PATROL AGENTS … [Read more...] about Harris heads to Honduras for inauguration of socialist president as US southern border crisis worsens

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives and the Senate should meet more often to discuss charter change (Cha-cha) proposals during the session break, Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte said on Monday. Villafuerte, in a statement,  said that there should be more talks especially now that Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said he remains open to any proposal that the Senate may have regarding the push to amend the 1987 Constitution. “Speaker Martin’s openness to any Senate proposal on how to pursue constitutional reform, despite the supermajority support in the House for a Con-Con (Constitutional Convention) to pursue the  makeover, augurs well for an early meeting between Charter Change proponents in both chambers to try finding a common ground on how to do it before the year is over,” Villafuerte said. “Hence, the timeliness of holding  the week-ago’s called-off meeting on Charter Change between Sen. Robin (Padilla) and a House delegation led by … [Read more...] about House-Senate meetings on Cha-cha during session break pushed

Reuters Taipei, Taiwan   ● Mon, March 27, 2023 2023-03-27 13:45 0 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc359cd0 2 Asia and Pacific US,China,geopolitics,Foxconn,Apple,Taiwan,democracy,iPhone Free Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of major Apple Inc supplier Foxconn, will visit the United States this week, his office said on Monday, as he considers another run for Taiwan's presidency. Gou will leave for the United States on Monday evening for a 12-day visit his office called a "journey of scientific and technological economic development" and will also speak at the Washington think-tank, the Brookings Institution. "Not only the United States, but also other major democratic allies have been gradually paying attention to security issues in the Asia-Pacific region," his office said in a statement. "The potential risks of regional conflicts highlight Taiwan's key role in the global cooperation system." Gou will also visit the University of Maryland to talk about … [Read more...] about Foxconn founder Gou, possible Taiwan presidential candidate, to visit US

UN: Russian Ambassador interrupts minute's silence for Ukraine SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Russia’s forthcoming presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) makes a "mockery" of the entire organisation, with Moscow certain to use the role to thwart the international community, a Ukrainian diplomat has warned. Oleh Ninchenko has even questioned why Russia was permitted to sit on the UNSC in the first place - urging the UK to make the point at every possible opportunity. Related articles King Charles's France trip risked ‘echoes of French revolution' Hancock and Kwarteng ask for £10,000-a-day to work for fake company The Security Council has primary responsibility for … [Read more...] about Russia tipped to use UN security council presidency to ‘paralyse’ Ukraine war opposition