Brexit referendum :Voters 46.5 Million
Britain’s European Union (EU) membership referendum tomorrow with around 46.5 million people signed up to cast their ballots. UK Electoral Commission in a statement said, the provisional size of the electorate indicates a UK record of 46.49 million. The previous record was from last year’s general election at 46.35 million.
As with British parliamentary elections, Irish citizens living in Britain are allowed to vote. Commonwealth citizens, including nationals of European Union member states Cyprus and Malta, can also vote. The commission said 24,117 people have also registered in Gibraltar. Opinion polls have shown a clear generational divide, with younger voters more in favour of staying in the EU while older voters tend to favour a Brexit.
Venezuela in economy crisis
Venezuela is unravelling as shortages of almost everything push people to their limits. Almost 90 percent of Venezuelans say they do not have money to buy enough food and many are forced to make do with a single meal a day.
Riots and mass lootings are on the rise and calls for President Nicolas Maduro to resign are growing louder. The opposition in Venezuela is intent on removing the President as the economic crisis bites everyone. The opposition has begun checking signatures on a petition to start a recall referendum against him.
India to become permanent SCO member
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit beginning in Tashkent tomorrow. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said this today. The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of India’s attempts to get the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
India will become the permanent member of Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) during the organisation’s 2-day summit meeting beginning in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent tomorrow. For the membership, India will sign a memorandum of obligation. Talking to media, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anvar Nasirov said, Uzbekistan, within the framework of its presidency at SCO, has paid great attention to India’s admission to the organisation. He said, at a meeting in Ufa last year, heads of member states took the decision to include India as a full member. Mr Nasirov said, the process will be completed in the forthcoming meeting.
At present Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are permanent members of SCO. The organisation aims at strengthening friendly relations amongst member states and maintaining peace, stability and security in the region. It promotes co-operation in combating terrorism and the menace of narcotic substances. AIR correspondent, covering the summit, reports that on so many occasions, the organisation has seen friction and distrust among the member states, but India’s inclusion in the group is likely to lift its influence in the international arena.
India’s inclusion in the group will expand the territory of the organization and it will nearly account for 80% of the Eurasian continent and will have a population of 2.7 billion, more than one third of world’s population. While expansion may hinder the organisation’s ability to act decisively, it will give SCO the opportunity to transform into a more comprehensive institution capable of converting and integrating a broad swath of Asia.
The expansion of SCO would infuse fresh vigour into the group’s future development and boost its influence and appeal in the international arena. Addition of India will increase block’s political and economic potential and improve its ability to counter pressing regional challenges. Meanwhile, smaller SCO members concerned of being squeezed by two dominant partners in the group, the interest of two superpowers, see the inclusion of India as an opportunity to diversify and build new partnerships.
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