NEW DELHI, April 9 — Millions of voters across India began casting their ballots in key state elections, marking the start of four major contests this month amid tensions in West Asia that have disrupted fuel supplies.
NEW DELHI, April 9 — Millions of voters across India began casting their ballots in key state elections, marking the start of four major contests this month amid tensions in West Asia that have disrupted fuel supplies.
While the polls do not directly impact the stability of the federal government led by Narendra Modi, they are seen as an important gauge of public support for the ruling coalition.
Voting is currently under way in Assam, Kerala and the union territory of Puducherry, with West Bengal and Tamil Nadu set to follow later this month. Results for all contests are expected on May 4.
Opinion surveys suggest a comfortable win for the BJP-led alliance in Assam, close battles in several states, and a likely opposition hold in Kerala. West Bengal is expected to see a tight race, while Tamil Nadu may witness a strong challenge from a coalition that includes the BJP.
Despite rising global energy prices linked to conflict in the Middle East, voters have generally responded positively to the government’s handling of fuel supply and pricing, with domestic rates largely kept stable. — Reuters
JAKARTA, April 10 — Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia has set up a new state-owned entity to speed up investment in waste-to-energy projects, amid rising demand for more sustainable waste management solutions.
KEPALA BATAS, April 10 — A six-year-old boy drowned after falling into a canal in Sungai Dua along Jalan Bertam Perdana 2 here yesterday.
MOSCOW, April 10 — Russia has handed over the remains of 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine in a rare wartime exchange, according to a Russian source in Moscow’s negotiating team, while Kyiv returned the bodies of 41 Russian troops in return.