 "The first phase of voting for Bihar Assembly election will take place today. File image/PTI")
It is set to be a busy Thursday with several events lined up for the day.
Firstly, polling in the first phase of the assembly elections in Bihar will take place today. In the first phase, 121 constituencies across 18 districts will head to polls. Meanwhile, Afghanistan and Pakistan will hold another round of peace talks in Istanbul today following a deadly flare-up in October.
Paul Biya will be inaugurated as president of Cameroon today in Yaoundé. French President Emmanuel Macron will be an official visit to Mexico City. Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas is set to meet Pope Leo in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
Here is all that is set to take place across today.
First phase of Bihar elections
The first phase of voting for the high-octane Bihar Assembly election will take place today, where 121 constituencies across 18 districts. Meanwhile, the second phase will occur on November 11 with the results scheduled to be announced on November 14.
A total of 243 assembly seats are at stake with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) facing a strong challenge from the opposition Mahagathbandhan, alongside active participation from the Jan Suraaj Party, led by political strategist Prashant Kishor.
Over 2,600 candidates are vying for power, while the mandate will ultimately be cast by an electorate of more than 7 crore voters, a decision that will dictate the state’s governance for the next half-decade.
Pakistan-Afghanistan talks resume
Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet in Istanbul today to resume peace talks today. The two nations will finalise the modalities of a monitoring and verification mechanism for their recently agreed-upon ceasefire.
This meeting aims to solidify a fragile truce that followed the deadliest border clashes between the two nations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The primary objective of these talks, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, is to move beyond a temporary cessation of hostilities and establish long-term stability along their volatile border.
Previous rounds of negotiations in Doha and Istanbul faced significant setbacks and collapsed due to deep mistrust, with Afghanistan accusing Pakistan of violating its sovereignty with airstrikes.
Paul Biya inauguration as president of Cameroon
Paul Biya will be inaugurated as President of Cameroon today in the capital city of Yaoundé. This ceremony follows his re-election for an eighth term in the general election held on October 12 while his victory was confirmed by the Constitutional Council on October 27.
The 92-year-old was declared the winner with 53.66 per cent of the vote while his main rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, received 35.19 per cent. Bakary has rejected the results, alleging widespread electoral fraud and calling for protests.
The post-election period has been marked by significant tension and deadly clashes between opposition supporters and security forces in major cities like Douala and Garoua.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to meet Pope Leo
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace today. The private audience will take place at 10:30 am, marking a significant diplomatic engagement amid the ongoing situation in the West Asia.
This meeting comes nearly a month after a truce agreement came into force in the Gaza Strip. Pope Leo XIV, who assumed the papacy on May 8, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and adherence to international laws. Earlier in July, President Abbas had a phone call with the Pope, during which the pontiff renewed his appeal for the protection of civilians, the rejection of forced displacement, and respect for international humanitarian law.
With inputs from agencies