 "FirstUp: Walz-Vance's vice presidential debate and the other big news today")
It’s going to be a busy Tuesday with several major events scheduled.
Tim Walz and JD Vance, the US vice-presidential candidates, will face off in a high-stakes 90-minute debate in New York City today.
The third and final phase of voting for 40 constituencies in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will take place today.
In Japan, Shigeru Ishiba is set to be sworn in as the country’s new Prime Minister after his victory in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race.
Mexico will witness a historic moment as Claudia Sheinbaum, the country’s first female president, will be officially sworn in today, four months after her electoral victory in June.
Australia will begin offering up to 1,000 work and holiday visas to Indian citizens today, as part of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)
Vance-Walz vice presidential debate
The only scheduled debate between the vice presidential candidates in the US will take place on Tuesday night, five weeks before Election Day. This event would be a big opportunity for Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s campaign to reach a wide national audience ahead of the election.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, 60, and Ohio Senator JD Vance have already planned their strategies in the lead-up to the debate. Walz, before being selected as Harris’ running mate, had referred to the Republican candidate as “weird,” showing an early peek into his approach. Vance, on the other hand, has been vocal in his criticism of Walz’s progressive policies, claiming that they are far left for an average voter.
This debate, hosted by CBS News in New York, might not carry the same weight as the September 10 presidential debate between Trump and Harris, but it is still crucial in the election cycle.
Scheduled to take place today at 9 pm ET, the 90-minute debate will be held in New York City, a Democratic stronghold and the former home of Donald Trump.
Following the debate, Walz and Harris will continue their campaign with a bus tour through central Pennsylvania starting Wednesday.
Third phase of J&K Assembly polls
The third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, covering 40 Assembly constituencies across seven districts, is set for today. The districts going to polls in this phase include Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, and Kathua from the Jammu region, along with Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara in northern Kashmir.
The intense campaigning for this phase concluded on Sunday evening. Major political parties, including the BJP, Congress, National Conference (NC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have been locked in heated debates over key issues such as Pakistan, the abrogation of Article 370, terrorism, and reservations.
The first two phases saw high voter turnout, with 61.38 per cent participation recorded in the first phase on September 18 and 57.31 per cent in the second phase on September 26. This is the first Assembly election since Article 370 was revoked in August 2019, and the final results will be declared on October 8.
In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP achieved its best-ever performance in Jammu and Kashmir, securing 18 seats from the four districts in the Jammu region and 25 seats overall. In northern Kashmir, the PDP won seven of the 15 seats, while the NC and Congress claimed three and two seats, respectively. Election officials have assured that all security measures are in place to ensure safe and smooth voting for this critical phase.
Shigeru Ishiba set to take oath as Japan’s PM
After winning the leadership race for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Shigeru Ishiba is set to become Japan’s next Prime Minister. The 67-year-old veteran conservative leader is expected to take the oath of office today.
On Monday, Ishiba announced that he plans to call for snap general elections on October 27, shortly after his leadership victory in one of the closest LDP races in recent history, according to NHK News and other Japanese media outlets.
Ishiba’s victory marks his fifth attempt at securing the party leadership, a race he won with strong support from LDP’s rank-and-file members.
However, the LDP faces several challenges. The party, which has governed Japan almost continuously for decades, is grappling with a decline in public support. Several senior leaders have been caught up in scandals, including allegations involving a slush fund, which have affected the party’s reputation and stirred controversy.
Mexico’s first female president to assume office
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s incoming president, is set to become one of the world’s most influential women when she takes office this week. The 62-year-old former mayor of Mexico City will be sworn in as president today, a little under four months after winning the June 2 presidential election in a decisive victory.
Representing the ruling Morena party, Sheinbaum will succeed President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who won the presidency in 2018 after three attempts. Her six-year term will run until 2030, during which she is expected to shape Mexico’s political landscape.
Sixteen international leaders, primarily from Latin American nations, have confirmed their attendance at the inauguration, she announced last week. Further, representatives from 105 countries and 22 international organizations will attend, with American First Lady Jill Biden leading the US delegation.
Australia to offer work visas to Indian citizens
Starting today, Australia will offer up to 1,000 work and holiday visas annually to Indian citizens. The move is expected to improve mobility and strengthen the people-to-people connection between the two countries, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced.
The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), which took effect in December 2022, includes the new visa offering as one of its core commitments. During his recent three-day visit to Australia, Goyal spoke about the impact of the initiative, which will allow Indian nationals aged 18 to 30 to apply for a one-year visa to work, study, and travel across Australia.
Under the program, Australia will grant up to 1,000 multiple-entry work and holiday visas annually to eligible Indian citizens for a 12-month temporary stay. Both countries are now working toward expanding this partnership into a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), further broadening the scope of economic ties.
With inputs from agencies
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