Connect with us

South-Carolina

India's prime minister, humbled by voters, is sworn in again

Published

on

India's prime minister, humbled by voters, is sworn in again


MUMBAI, India — The Indian leader Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister on Sunday for a rare third term after nearly two months of voting in the world’s largest democracy. But for the first time, Modi will lead a coalition after his party was humbled in its traditional stronghold of the Hindi-speaking belt of northern India.

Modi, 73, made history by being elected three consecutive times. The last person to do that was Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the founding fathers of modern India and its first prime minister.

But Modi’s vow that he’d win a supermajority, which would have allowed him to reshape the Indian state that Nehru created, was dashed.

The prime minister will lead a coalition government after voters defied the predictions of exit polls, India’s mainstream media, and the markets that Modi’s BJP party would win a supermajority of two-thirds of all parliamentary seats.

Advertisement

As tallying began on June 4, it quickly became clear that the BJP would not clear a simple majority of 272, although it won the largest number of seats. It won 240 seats, and with its allies, secured 293.

Modi’s coalition now relies on allies, including two kingmakers, to retain power: N. Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party in southern Andhra Pradesh state, and Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) in eastern Bihar state.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at India’s presidential palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in the capital New Delhi at twilight after a sweltering summer day. The audience included some of India’s biggest movie stars and its wealthiest businessmen, including India’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani.

The close mingling of business and power appeared to be one of the key reasons why fewer Indians cast their vote for Modi than in the past.

There was a widespread perception among voters that the prime minister had swelled the coffers of big business while ordinary Indians struggled with low wages, high unemployment and rising prices.

Advertisement

Analysts say there was also a swing against Modi’s BJP by Dalits, who form India’s most oppressed castes, particularly in the country’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

The results were also a cautious relief to many Muslims, who form India’s largest minority. They were often the target of hateful comments by the Hindu nationalist BJP. That includes Modi, who described them as “infiltrators” at a campaign rally.

“They’ve got breathing space, that’s what everyone is saying,” says author and activist Rana Ayyub.But nobody’s expecting an overnight change in their fortunes.” 

Some analysts say this coalition government might be the best possible outcome for India: Modi, an experienced leader at the helm, but his most authoritarian tendencies curbed by his coalition. “Ultimately, the outcome is the best of both worlds in that it offers a degree of stability and continuity while the weakened mandate restrains the BJP’s ability to pursue its more divisive identity-driven agenda,” wrote Chietigj Bajpaee, a South Asia senior research fellow at Chatham House, a U.K.-based think tank.

Critics say Modi undermined India’s democracy with attacks by Hindu nationalists against minorities, and shrinking space for dissent and free media. He was widely perceived as using state institutions to shore up his power, from security agencies, law enforcement, and India’s election commission.

Advertisement

But restoring the health of India’s democracy — that might take longer. “For 10 years, India has followed a trajectory of de-democratisation,” wrote Christophe Jaffrelot, one of the world’s preeminent experts on Indian politics. “And, nobody can anticipate the techniques that Mr. Modi may resort to, to save his post,” he wrote.

Copyright 2024 NPR





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

South-Carolina

Gamecocks Unveil Fresh Look with Minor Jersey Tweaks for the New Season

Published

on

Gamecocks Unveil Fresh Look with Minor Jersey Tweaks for the New Season


It’s almost that time of year again when 77,000 fans pack into Williams-Brice Stadium to watch the Gamecocks play under the Saturday night lights. Yes, football is just around the corner, and it’s officially 35 days until the Gamecocks face off against Old Dominion. This year, they’ll do so sporting a new look for the 2024 football season.

This past weekend, the Gamecocks held their team media days, where the creative team captured a slew of content from the players—photos, videos, and headshots for use in the stadium, on graphics, and by websites like ESPN. It’s common to see players filling your timeline with pictures from this event, but this year, something almost slipped by unnoticed due to its subtlety.

The Gamecocks have made a few tweaks to their uniforms by using a new template from Under Armour, a change that had been rumored earlier this offseason. The most noticeable updates include extended and enlarged side stripes on the jerseys, giving them a cleaner look. The numbers on the jerseys also appear slightly bigger and seem to reflect light more effectively—at least from the studio images compared to last year. Additionally, the stripes on the collar have been updated, now cut off at the top of the neckline, a nod to the old school uniforms from the 2010s, but with a modern twist.

Another detail is a new Under Armour logo. This logo has a sticker-like look on the garnet uniforms, featuring a white Under Armour logo atop what appears to be garnet plastic, giving it a bit of pop.

Advertisement

As for the helmets, it’s possible that the garnet on the facemasks is a slightly new shade, though this hasn’t been confirmed yet. It could be due to the studio lighting. The Gamecocks will sport a more modern look on Under Armour’s version of the 1980 uniforms, which Coach Shane Beamer kept around after they released the “Black Magic” uniforms just a year before he accepted the job.

The new side stripes on the jerseys

The new side stripes on the jerseys are showcased by freshman LB Wendell Gregory / the South Carolina creative media department.
The new collar stripes

The new collar stripes are showcased by redshirt freshman TE Reid Mikeska. / the South Carolina creative media department.
The new Under Armour emblem

The new Under Armour emblem / the South Carolina creative media department.

The tweaks may be minor, but they contribute to a refreshed and distinctive look for the Gamecocks. It’s a new season with new beginnings, and the Gamecocks are ready to take the field in style.

Sep 24, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Cam Smith (9) celebrates an interception

A reference image of former Gamecock CB Cam Smith in the old uniform template with the old side stripes, collar stripes, and Under Armour logo. / Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Join the community:

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking “Follow” on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

South-Carolina

SC grocery stores respond to Boars Head listeria outbreak, close delis

Published

on

SC grocery stores respond to Boars Head listeria outbreak, close delis


“We are cooperating fully with government authorities and conducting our own investigation into this incident,” the Sarasota-based meats company said in a statement.

The listeria outbreak was first reported last week.

Since late May, 34 people were sickened across 13 states, with all but one hospitalized. Two people died — in Illinois and New Jersey. It can take weeks for symptoms to develop, so there might be more cases, officials said.

Advertisement

People most commonly reported eating deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst and ham, officials said.

Listeria can contaminate food and sicken people who eat it. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. It can be treated with antibiotics, but it is especially dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Boar’s Head recall of over 200,000 pounds shipped nationwide applies to meats sliced at a deli counter, not prepackaged meats.

It includes a number of multi-pound packages stamped with an Aug. 10 sell-by date, including bologna, garlic bologna, beef bologna, beef salami, Italian Cappy-style ham and Extra Hot Italian Cappy-style ham. Also included is Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat and Eat, with a sell-by date of Aug. 15.

Advertisement

The company said customers should throw away the recalled products, or return them to the store for a refund. Health officials said refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent contamination of other foods.

Post and Courier Reporter David Ferrara in Greenville contributed to this report.





Source link

Continue Reading

South-Carolina

South Carolina couple $200,000 richer after lottery ticket plucked from trash

Published

on

South Carolina couple 0,000 richer after lottery ticket plucked from trash


An anonymous couple from South Carolina is thanking their lucky stars after one of them realized their “losing” lottery ticket was actually a big winner.

The couple, described by the South Carolina Education Lottery in a July 25 news release as being from the “upstate” region of South Carolina, recently purchased a $5 Double Sided Dollars Extra Play lottery scratch-off ticket from a convenience store in Spartanburg. 

Advertisement

Spartanburg is a city in northern South Carolina, about 75 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina. 

GUT FEELING LEADS TO $300,000 LOTTERY WIN FOR SOUTH CAROLINA MAN

After scratching it, the wife did not think she’d won — so she threw the ticket away.

But her eagle-eyed husband noticed the ticket in the trash and saw something his wife had missed.

The winning ticket was plucked from the trash can after it was inadvertently thrown away.  (South Carolina Education Lottery; iStock / Getty Images)

Advertisement

“You have a 12 on it,” the man recounted to the South Carolina Education Lottery, meaning that the ticket was not a loser after all. 

WASHINGTON EDUCATOR WINS $200,000 JACKPOT AFTER TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

He plucked the ticket from the trash and his wife kept scratching the card – discovering that she had won $200,000.

The couple told the South Carolina Education Lottery they’re “happy and thankful everything worked out.”

With their winnings, the two plan on buying a new house, they told lottery officials. 

Advertisement

VIRGINIA WOMAN WINS LOTTERY 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY: ‘A LITTLE EXTRA FUN’

The couple had a 1 in 750,000 chance of winning the $200,000 top prize in the Double Sided Dollars Extra Play, the South Carolina Education Lottery said. 

South Carolina Education Lottery logo

The South Carolina Education Lottery reported on the couple’s stroke of good luck in a July 25 article on its website.  (South Carolina Education Lottery / Fox News)

The Double Sided Dollars Extra Play game went on sale on March 19, 2024, the South Carolina Education Lottery’s website said.

Three of the four top prizes of $200,000 have been claimed. 

A total of 32 second-place prizes of $1,000 are still available. 

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Thousands of other prizes, ranging from $5 to $500, are also available. 

The South Carolina Education Lottery was created after a Nov. 7, 2000, referendum that saw residents of the state vote to approve the implementation of a state-run lottery, the lottery’s website said.

Double Sided Dollars Extra Play game ticket.

One $200,000 prize has yet to be claimed, lottery officials said. (South Carolina Education Lottery)

The South Carolina Education Lottery Act was ratified by the South Carolina General Assembly a little more than six months later, and the bill was signed into law. 

The first tickets for the South Carolina Education Lottery’s games were sold in March 2002, its website said. 

Advertisement

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

A quarter of the South Carolina Education Lottery’s proceeds go toward various educational programs in the state, according to the website. 

The rest go to prizes, retailer commissions and operating costs.

This amounts to more than $8 billion since 2002, according to the lottery. 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle

Advertisement

During the first 20 years of the lottery, more than 2.5 million scholarships have been distributed to South Carolina students, the website said.  

The South Carolina Education Lottery declined to provide additional details on the lucky couple’s big win.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending