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...
Post a Comment

Former French president Sarkozy begins five-year prison term in Libya funds case

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began a five-year prison sentence on Tuesday for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya, arriving at La Santé prison in Paris in a stunning downfall for a man who led the country between 2007 and 2012. The 70-year-old former conservative leader left his home for the car journey to the prison, walking hand in hand with his wife Carla Bruni and cheered by supporters chanting “Nicolas, Nicolas” and singing La Marseillaise, the French national anthem. Sarkozy, who was convicted and sentenced last month, is the first former French leader to be jailed since Marshal Philippe Pétain, a Nazi collaborator, after World War Two. Also Read: Nakai shocks Sakamoto to win Grand Prix de France   Sarkozy says he is innocent Shortly after heading for La Santé, Sarkozy published a lengthy post on X claiming he was the victim of “revenge and hatred.” “It is not a former president of the Republic who is being imprisoned this morning — it is an innocent man,” he said. Sarkozy’s conviction capped years of legal battles over allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign received millions of euros in cash from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown and killed during the Arab Spring uprisings. While Sarkozy was found guilty of conspiring with aides to orchestrate the funding scheme, he was acquitted of personally receiving or using the money. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and called the case politically motivated. His lawyers said they had filed a request for early release pending appeal and expected a review within a month, hoping Sarkozy could be freed by Christmas. Sarkozy to be held in isolation unit Sarkozy will likely be held in La Santé’s isolation unit, where inmates occupy single cells and are separated during outdoor activities for security reasons. Read More: Louvre stays closed as France hunts thieves Cells measure between 9 and 12 square metres (100–130 sq ft) and, following renovations, include private showers. Sarkozy will have access to a television for a monthly fee of 14 euros ($16) and a landline telephone. He told Le Figaro he would bring three books for his first week behind bars, including Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo — the story of a man unjustly imprisoned who plots revenge against those who betrayed him. Political outcry The decision to jail a former president has sparked outrage among Sarkozy’s political allies and France’s far-right. “Nicolas Sarkozy is not a criminal,” said supporter Jacqueline Fraboulet, among the cheering crowd on Tuesday. “It feels like the justice system is taking power, and that’s not good for France.” A picture taken on April 12, 2019 shows corridors in the Sante prison in Paris renovated after four years of works. France's ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former head of an EU state to be jailed on October 21, 2025, proclaiming his innocence as he entered the Paris Sante prison. PHOTO: AFP Sarkozy’s children and brothers attended the gathering. The former president, looking sombre, waved at supporters before getting into his car for the journey to prison. France gets tougher on white-collar crime The sentencing marks a shift in France’s stance on white-collar crime. In the 1990s and 2000s, many convicted politicians avoided prison altogether. Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy’s political influence remains strong as French society has shifted to the right. President Emmanuel Macron, who has maintained cordial relations with Sarkozy and Bruni, said on Monday he had met the former president before his incarceration. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said he planned to visit Sarkozy in prison — a move that angered left-wing politicians, who accused Macron’s government of undermining judicial independence. The son of a Hungarian immigrant, Sarkozy was elected in 2007 on a promise to revive France’s economy through pro-business reforms. His efforts, however, were derailed by the 2008–09 financial crisis. Voters gave him little credit for raising the retirement age to 62 from 60 and easing France’s strict 35-hour work week, reforms that remain controversial today.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/cxlR9ub
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hajj scam alert: How to verify licensed service providers

As millions of Muslims prepare for their Hajj pilgrimage, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MOHU) has issued a critical warning against fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urging pilgrims to use only licensed service providers for a smooth and safe experience. To help ensure authenticity, the ministry recommends pilgrims use their official website, www.haj.gov.sa, to verify licensed Hajj operators. This applies to domestic pilgrims, including Saudi citizens and residents, who can access a simple online tool to check accredited companies. For UAE nationals, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) maintains a list of approved operators on awqaf.gov.ae. International pilgrims have two main options to ensure their chosen provider is licensed. Those from eligible countries can use the Nusuk platform at hajj.nusuk.sa, an online service that facilitates Hajj bookings with accredited providers. A full list of eligible countries is available on the platform’s website. For tho...
Post a Comment
Read more