A bitterly divided America went to the polls on Tuesday for a high-stakes midterm election seen as a referendum on the first two years of the mercurial presidency of Donald Trump. Supporters of Harley Rouda, a Democratic candidate for the House in California's 48th District, hold signs and cheer at a get-out-the-vote rally in Laguna Beach, California on Election Day With control of Congress and Trump's agenda at stake, early voting hit record levels and turnout appeared high across the country. All eyes are on the several dozen razor-thin races that will decide if Republicans retain control of the House of Representatives and Senate or if one or both chambers flip Democratic. All 435 seats in the House, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate and 36 governorships are up for grabs as Americans cast their ballots. Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to win the House for the first time since the Tea Party wave of 2010, and the latest polls give them a good chance to do so. "I … [Read more...] about Election Day test for Trump as America votes
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Legislators cast confidence votes on October 25
Legislators cast confidence votes during the NA's sixth session on October 25. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The 14th National Assembly conducted a vote of confidence on 48 officials holding positions elected and approved by the legislature during its sixth session in Hanoi on October 25. According to results announced the same day, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh earned “high confidence” rating in 66.5 percent of votes and “confidence” by 30.1 percent of votes. The rate of “high confidence” for National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan was 90.1 percent of votes and that for “confidence” - 7.01 percent. Meanwhile, 81.03 percent of deputies gave Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc high confidence votes and 14.2 percent cast their confidence votes on him. Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha scored the lowest confidence, with 28.87 percent of high confidence votes, 40 percent of confidence votes … [Read more...] about Legislators cast confidence votes on October 25
Legislators vote to elect State President
Deputies of the 14th National Assembly cast secret ballots on October 23 morning to elect a new State President during its ongoing 6th session in Hanoi Deputies of the 14th National Assembly cast secret ballots on October 23 morning to elect a new State President . (Photo: VNA) The result of the vote is scheduled to be released in the afternoon. After that, the new President will take the oath of office and deliver a speech at the swearing-in ceremony, which will be broadcast live by Vietnam Television and Radio The Voice of Vietnam. On October 22, the first day of the session, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivered a speech on the candidate for the post of the State President. The NA’s Standing Committee recommended General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also a deputy of the 14th legislature, for the position of the State President for the 2016-2021 tenure, she said. Also on October 23, deputies will vote on … [Read more...] about Legislators vote to elect State President
Colombians vote on tightening anti-corruption rules
BOGOTA — Colombians voted on Sunday in a referendum on hardening punishments for corrupt officials and business figures, after the congress proved reluctant to implement stricter anti-graft measures. Some 36 million voters were called to the polls amid an ongoing bribery scandal involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht that has engulfed the region. To be approved, the referendum requires one-third of voters to take part, potentially a problem in a country with historically low election turnout. The measure includes seven proposals, from cutting high-ranking officials’ salaries to imposing term limits to eliminating house arrest as a punishment. While mostly aimed at cracking down on abuses by public officials, the initiative would also make private contracts with the state more transparent and prohibit companies convicted of corrupt practices from dealing with the public sector. "This is a very important day, where we have voted to express our rejection against … [Read more...] about Colombians vote on tightening anti-corruption rules
Islamic party aims to hold the key in Malaysia’s election
The outcome of next month’s election in Malaysia may hinge on the performance of a party that has strived for decades to turn the country into an Islamic state and enforce harsher penalties on Muslims for adultery, theft and drinking alcohol. Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) is hopeful that it can win 40 of parliament’s 222 seats, enough to place it in the position of kingmaker. With the balance of power, it would be able to make policy demands as its price for supporting either Prime Minister Najib Razak, or the opposition alliance trying to oust him. Even if PAS falls short of its ambitions, it is still likely to play a decisive role by dividing the opposition vote, handing a massive advantage to Najib’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. If PAS does hold sway over the next government, some political analysts say it could stoke divisions in multi-ethnic, Muslim-majority Malaysia. The government could come under pressure to further entrench affirmative-action policies … [Read more...] about Islamic party aims to hold the key in Malaysia’s election