International
642 million voters participated in India’s general elections
The Electoral Commission of India revealed on Monday that 642 million of the almost 970 million voters went to the polls in the general elections, which ended last Saturday after 44 days and whose results are expected this Tuesday.
“We recorded a world record of 642 million proud Indian voters. This is a historic moment for us,” the head of the Indian Electoral Commission, Rajiv Kumar, said at a press conference.
The official, in charge of ensuring the good development of the gigantic elections, said that 312 of the 642 million voters were women. This is “more than in 2019, both in total and percentage terms,” Kumar said.
The chief commissioner said that these elections recorded fewer violent incidents.
“There were only 39 repetitions of the elections” in the districts, he said, “this had never happened and in 2019 this number was 540.”
The officials of the Electoral Commission will start counting the votes of the electronic voting machines next Tuesday from 8:00 local time (2:30 GMT), counting district by district simultaneously and without a time limit.
“The counting process is absolutely robust,” he said.
However, the results are expected to be known on the same day, or at least a count that shows a clear majority in the Lower House of Parliament or Lok Sabha that allows one of the parties to declare itself the winner.
The general elections in the subcontinent began on April 19 and ended on Saturday, spaced in seven phases due to the logistical challenge of making a country of about 1.4 billion inhabitants vote and guaranteeing security.
In the absence of official results, most of the polls published last weekend by private media give Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the winner.
However, the parties of an opposition coalition called the National Inclusive Alliance for the Development of India or simply INDIA have been skeptical about these polls.
International
U.S. reinforces southern border with additional military personnel
The U.S. military has announced the deployment of more than 600 additional troops to the Mexico border, reinforcing President Donald Trump’s efforts against illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
According to the U.S. Northern Command (Northcom), the new deployment includes 40 Air Force intelligence analysts and 590 Army engineers. This move will increase the total number of troops currently stationed or scheduled for deployment at the southern border to approximately 9,600.
The decision aligns with the administration’s broader border security strategy, emphasizing intelligence gathering, infrastructure development, and operational support for law enforcement agencies.
International
New ‘Bitcoin Bonds’ could save U.S. government $554 Billion, says investor Andrew Hohns
Andrew Hohns, renowned investor and founder of Newmarket Capital, recently introduced his ‘Bitcoin Bonds’ at the Bitcoin for America event. This innovative mechanism combines traditional U.S. Treasury bonds with investments in Bitcoin, aiming to lower federal debt costs while building a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the government.
Hohns’ plan proposes issuing $2 trillion in bonds, allocating 10% to Bitcoin purchases and 90% to other government expenditures. These bonds would offer a significantly lower interest rate of 1%, compared to the current 4.5% on 10-year bonds—potentially saving the federal government $554 billion over a decade.
A unique feature of these bonds is that investors would not only receive the standard 4.5% annual interest but also share profits from Bitcoin’s value appreciation with the government. Additionally, Hohns advocates for tax exemptions on capital gains and interest earnings from these bonds, making them an attractive option for American families looking to hedge against inflation.
“This plan doesn’t just cut debt costs—it provides American families with a new savings tool,” said Hohns.
International
Pedro Castillo suffers health crisis, rushed to hospital
Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, who has been on a hunger strike since Monday, was hospitalized after suffering a health crisis, the court handling his trial announced on Thursday.
The 55-year-old was rushed to the Vitarte Hospital, the nearest facility to the presidential prison where he has been detained since December 2022. Judge Norma Carbajal stated that Castillo experienced a decompensation just hours before his trial resumed. However, medical reports confirm that he is now stable and out of danger.
Despite a request from Castillo’s public defender to suspend the hearing, the court decided to continue with the proceedings.
U.S. reinforces southern border with additional military personnel
New ‘Bitcoin Bonds’ could save U.S. government $554 Billion, says investor Andrew Hohns
Pedro Castillo suffers health crisis, rushed to hospital
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
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