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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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





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

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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.

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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.

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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.





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

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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. 

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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)

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“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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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

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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.



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REACTION: Malik Clark Chooses the Seminoles

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REACTION: Malik Clark Chooses the Seminoles


In a surprise commitment, Malik Clark chose the Florida State Seminoles over North Carolina and South Carolina. After today’s commitment, the Gamecocks will have to pivot as they look to put the finishing touches on the class.

Clark is a four-star receiver from South Carolina’s own back yard in Rock Hill. He combines size (6-foot-2.5 and 180 pounds) with great speed (4.39 in the 40). He can win on routes in multiple ways with the ability to refine his footwork and get bigger in a P4 strength and conditioning program, all to say he has room for improvement as well.

His commitment to Florida State was not expected by those in Columbia, South Carolina. The prevailing thought by many was that he would stay home and join the Gamecocks. While this still could happen, the staff has some work to do.

Currently South Carolina has three wide receivers committed to the class in four-star Lex Cyrus, four-star Brian Rowe, and three-star Jayden Sellers. The Gamecocks would like to add a fourth receiver in the class, but who could they add?

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Malik Clark is still going to be a big target for the team. Losing blue chip players in your own backyard isn’t something that’ll go over well in Columbia. Coach Beamer will continue to fight for Clark’s signature going forward. Four-star Winston Watkins Jr. and three-star Giyahni Kontosis, who is set to commit on Saturday, are two potential names to watch out for going forward.

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