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Election Commission of India's opposition to a plea for public disclosure of Form 17C, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday questioned the hesitation of the apex poll body in releasing vote-related data on its website. «The ECI has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating it has no legal mandate to upload Form 17 which is a record of votes polled at a polling station. Form 17 is signed by Presiding Officer and given to Polling Agent at the end of polling. The information is also directly sent to ECI. Now why does the ECI not put that data on website? What is their hesitation or problem?» Sibal said while addressing a press conference. «What can happen in the process is the number of votes that are counted would in fact be more than the number of votes that are polled. We don't know what's correct? But what is the hesitation of the ECI to put that data on record, on its website. Nobody can morph it,» he added.

Former Republican presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has purchased a minority stake in BuzzFeed

Britannia Industries and a local bakery to pay ₹60,000 as compensation for selling biscuit packets that weighed significantly less than the declared weight, Bar and Bench reported.A consumer, George Thattil, had purchased two packets of "Britannia Nutri Choice Thin Arrow Root Biscuits" each claimed to weigh 300 grams, from Chukkiri Royal bakery. However, upon weighing, the packets were found to be 268 grams and 248 grams, respectively, much lower than the stated weight, the report added.George lodged a complaint with the Flying Squad of Legal Metrology's Assistant Controller in Thrissur, who subsequently verified and confirmed the shortage in weight.He then filed a complaint with the District Commission in Thrissur, seeking to stop illegal practices and claim compensation for financial, physical, and mental losses due to exploitation and deception.The Commission, led by President C T Sabu and members Sreeja S and Ram Mohan R, noted that there was a significant deficit in the biscuit's net weight in the MO1 package.

Chinese military drills in the straits of Taiwan in 2023 practiced manoeuvres key to an invasion of the island, although an actual attack was not imminent or inevitable, a senior US general in the region said on Thursday. In the exercises, the People's Liberation Army simulated a maritime and air blockade of Taiwan, amphibious assaults and counter-intervention operations, Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, said in a speech in Canberra. Sklenka's comments come as Taiwan's military mobilised its forces on Thursday after China started two days of «punishment» drills around Taiwan in what it said was a response to «separatist acts».

Lai Ching-te took over as the island’s new president.The drills on Thursday were intended to “serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces," the official Xinhua News Agency reported, citing a military spokesman.The “external references" line is likely a reference to the US, which is Taiwan’s main military backer. President Joe Biden has repeatedly said the US would defend the democracy of 23 million people if attacked, while China has pledged to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary.The exercises ramp up pressure on Lai, who took office in the island that makes the bulk of the world’s most advanced chips on Monday.

monetary easing amid sticky inflation. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 0.57%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was one of the biggest decliners, slumping 0.8%, also hurt by a pullback in some commodity prices.

Republican Party presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Wednesday she will vote for former US President Donald Trump over US President Joe Biden in November, The Hill reported. In her remarks at the Hudson Institute, Haley stated she prioritises a president who will hold enemies to account, secures the border and back"capitalism and freedom." She noted that while «Trump has not been perfect on these policies», however, «Biden has been a catastrophe.»

China is sending «lethal aid» to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine, Britain's defence minister Grant Shapps said on Wednesday. «Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine,» he said in a speech at a London conference. Shapps warned that NATO needed to «wake up» and bolster defence spending across the alliance.

US Elections 2024: Donald Trump pledges to roll back Joe Biden's gun regulations“Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech," Haley added. "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they're just going to be with him.

Agniveer scheme in poll season.Chidambaram's remark come a day after the poll panel asked the Congress party to ensure that its leaders don't indulge in ‘political propaganda’ involving activities of the defence forces.“ECI is wrong in directing the Congress party not to 'politicise' the Agniveer scheme. What does 'politicize' mean? Does the ECI mean 'criticise'?" Chidambaram, the former Union Home Minister, said in a post on X on May 23.The poll panel had also asked the party president Malikarjun Kharge to ensure that the leaders do not make statements which give ‘false impression’ that the Constitution "may be abolished or sold".

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washinton was concerned about China providing inputs to Russia's defence industrial base, adding that the Biden administration has taken action to deal with that in a «concerted way» with its allies and partners. He made the remarks while responding to a query about the UK Defence Minister's statement that the US and the UK have evidence that China could be providing lethal aid to Russia. In response to the question at the press briefing, Sullivan said, «Well, going back to 2022, I've actually stood at this podium and warned about my concern that China might provide weapons — direct lethal assistance to Russia. We didn't see that in 2022. We didn't see that in 2023. We have not seen that to date. I look forward to speaking with the UK to make sure that we have a common operating picture. We have had one; we've been on the same page.

China's military started two days of «punishment» drills around Taiwan on Thursday in what it said was a response to "separatist acts", just days after new Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office and called on Beijing to cease its threats. China detests Lai, saying he is a «separatist», and it has denounced his inauguration speech on Monday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this week called Lai «disgraceful». Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

retail trader participation in stock futures and options overblown? Exchanges and stock brokers may have a reason to believe so. According to NSE data, the value of trades by retail investors who traded less than ₹10 lakh in a month as a percentage of total equity F&O turnover of ₹46.25 lakh crore in March was 0.6%. Options turnover in the total F&O turnover has been calculated on the basis of the premium and not the strike value (which is used by NSE and BSE to calculate their turnover officially).

The U.S. stock market has been swooning. But there are risks that threaten to put a lid on the euphoria.

Bolvin Wealth Management Group President Gina Bolvin discusses the move in commodities, expected inflation data, the housing industry and her outlook for consumers.

China has sanctioned 12 defense-related U.S. companies and 10 executives over arms sales to Taiwan and to retaliate for earlier American sanctions on Chinese companies tied to Russia

On May 22, Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, unleashed a scathing rebuke on Gary Gensler, the Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), for his mishandling of crypto asset regulation.

President Joe Biden’s election campaign team is calling for financial aid to keep up with his Republican, competition, who he says is backed by the wealthy crypto industry.

Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist discusses President Biden's 2025 budget proposal on 'The Bottom Line.'

dollar rose against the euro on Wednesday as investors awaited Federal Reserve meeting minutes for insight into the central bank's interest rate path, while the pound strengthened on data showing UK inflation fell in April. Investors have been shoring up U.S. rate cut bets after a milder inflation reading last week, even as Fed officials have continued to sound a cautious note.

Top news of the day: On 22 May, a series of events are set to take place right from politics to business. A bomb threat was received by the Union Home Ministry’s office at Delhi’s North Block. China's top internet authority has introduced a language model rooted in President Xi Jinping's political philosophy.