Skip to main content

US midterms: Polls show Democrats ahead in battle for Congress

Democrats lead Republicans in national polling ahead of Tuesday's United States midterm elections, with new surveys showing the party gaining ground in several closely contested Senate races as voters express dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy. With all 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot, the elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump's second term. A RealClearPolling average of surveys conducted through October 30 shows Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 43.1% on the generic congressional ballot, an 8.9-percentage-point advantage. An NBC News survey conducted October 28-30 found Democrats ahead 52% to 45%, while an Emerson College poll conducted October 24-26 put the gap at 10 points. The generic ballot measures nationwide preferences for congressional candidates rather than support in individual districts, meaning a nati...

Sri Lanka's inflation turns negative at -1.7% for November

Sri Lanka's inflation rate dropped to minus 1.7% year-on-year in November, following a decrease to minus 0.7% in October, according to official data released on Monday. The drop marks a significant recovery for the country after enduring its worst financial crisis in decades. The National Consumer Price Index (LKNCPI), which tracks broad retail price inflation, showed food prices remained stable at 0.0% in November, down from 1.3% in October. Prices in the non-food category fell to minus 3.1%, an improvement from minus 2.3% in the previous month. Analysts attribute the decline in inflation to various factors, including reductions in power tariffs, fuel prices, and the appreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee. This marks the lowest inflation rate Sri Lanka has seen in nine years, signaling the stabilization of its economy. Shehan Cooray, head of research at Acuity Stockbrokers, noted that inflation is expected to remain at these levels for the first two months of 2025. However, he also cautioned that if foreign exchange pressures arise, particularly from resumed vehicle imports, inflation could gradually rise, though it is unlikely to exceed 4%. Sri Lanka experienced record inflation in 2022, largely due to a financial crisis triggered by a sharp decline in dollar reserves. The country began to stabilize after securing a $2.9-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March 2023. Following the low inflation rate, Sri Lanka’s central bank set a new policy rate of 8% last month, easing monetary settings to support further economic recovery. Sri Lanka's economy is projected to grow by 4.5-5% in 2024, slightly surpassing the World Bank’s estimate of 4.4%, according to central bank data.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/T8YVJ6O

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...

New Jersey student achieves highest SAT score ever, earns Presidential Scholar nod

Sahli Negassi, a 17-year-old student from West Orange High School in New Jersey, has accomplished an extraordinary achievement: a perfect SAT score. This accomplishment places him among a rare group of fewer than 1,000 students across the United States who reach this milestone each year. Throughout his time at West Orange High, Negassi managed to balance his academic responsibilities with leadership roles in two clubs and active participation in two sports. His path to a perfect SAT score began with a near-perfect 1590, but after reflecting on his performance, he retook the test and achieved a flawless 1600. “I walked into class and thought, ‘I can do better,’” Negassi said. Despite already having an impressive score, he decided to challenge himself further and succeeded. His drive and determination earned him a place as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, a prestigious recognition for the nation's most outstanding high school seniors. The SAT is a standardised ...