URUGUAY VOTING ENDS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND PENSION REFORM REFERENDUM

WORLD NEWS

28th October, 2024

By Oyenike

URUGUAY VOTING ENDS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND PENSION REFORM REFERENDUM

Polling places in Uruguay wrapped up on Sunday during a presidential election featuring centrist candidates, and predictions indicate a likely run-off in November once the final results are counted. The country, home to 3.4 million residents and noted for its beaches and legalised marijuana, participated in selecting a new president and lawmakers, with the centre-left opposition leading in pre-election surveys.

Additionally, voters faced a referendum regarding pension reform, proposing to reduce the retirement age to 60, and another measure aimed at enhancing police authority to combat drug-related offences. In contrast to the polarised political landscapes of Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, Uruguay’s political scene is relatively harmonious, with considerable overlap between major conservative and liberal groups.

The election featured Broad Front candidate Yamandu Orsi, favoured in pre-election predictions, competing against continuity candidate Alvaro Delgado. Young conservative Andres Ojeda, adept at using social media, also participated, engaging with reporters outside a gym on election day. As polling concluded smoothly, numerous Broad Front supporters gathered in Montevideo, historically a centre-left stronghold, to await election results.

Maria Gonzalez, 61, expressed her support for the Broad Front, citing urgent needs in housing, education, and healthcare that she felt the current government had neglected. Pre-election forecasts suggested that no candidate would secure over 50% of the votes, indicating a second-round run-off on November 24 between the top two candidates from Sunday’s election. Orsi stated that the Broad Front entered the election “with greater strength,” addressing the media at a polling site.

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UK LABOUR LAWMAKER SUSPENDED AFTER REPORTEDLY ASSAULTING PASSERBY DURING NIGHT OUT

A lawmaker from the ruling Labour Party was suspended on Sunday after he allegedly assaulted a passerby who he claimed had been threatening him following a night out with friends. Mike Amesbury, 55, faced suspension after CCTV footage captured him engaging with the individual, throwing the initial punch, and continuing to strike him after he was downed.

Another video depicted the aftermath, where Amesbury could be heard stating, “You won’t intimidate the MP ever again,” to someone off-screen. A spokesperson for the Labour Party confirmed that Amesbury, the Member of Parliament for Runcorn and Helsby in north-west England, is cooperating with police investigations.

“As these investigations are currently underway, the Labour Party has temporarily suspended Mr Amesbury’s membership pending further inquiry,” the spokesperson mentioned. In a statement released on Saturday, prior to the video surfacing, Amesbury expressed that he “felt threatened on the street after an outing with friends” and had reached out to the police to report the situation.

There was no immediate reply to a request for updated comments regarding his suspension on Sunday.

A Britain lawmaker from the ruling Labour Party, Mike Amesbury, was suspended on Sunday after he allegedly assaulted a passerby

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SOUTH KOREAN CHRISTIAN ORGANISATIONS HOLD HUGE PROTEST AGAINST RIGHTS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES

Thousands of members from Christian groups in South Korea gathered for a service in Seoul on Sunday to protest a significant court ruling that recognised the rights of same-sex partners to access state health insurance. The Supreme Court upheld a previous ruling in July, determining that a same-sex partner qualifies for spousal benefits from the National Health Insurance Service, a decision celebrated as a victory for LGBTQ rights in a nation that has been slow to progress in this area.

The large-scale service attracted hundreds of thousands of Christians from all over the country, causing traffic disruptions on several major roads in central Seoul. Reports from the Yonhap news agency indicated that around 230,000 individuals attended, while organisers claimed participation could have reached 1.1 million. Calls to the Seoul metropolitan police department went unanswered.

Kim Jeong-hee, a spokesperson for the organising committee, argued that the ruling was unconstitutional due to the lack of legalisation for same-sex marriage. “I believe this could only be the beginning for policies on same-sex marriage legalisation,” Kim remarked. “We view this not merely as a Christian concern but as a significant crisis that threatens our nation’s foundation.”

The court stated that the absence of clauses in the national health insurance act regarding same-sex unions means denying benefits to these individuals is discriminatory based on sexual orientation. Some protesters carried signs reading “Oppose the anti-discrimination law” and “Protect our children from gender pollution, confusion, and division destruction.” A coalition of LGBTQ activists alongside Catholic and Anglican organisations condemned the joint service, labelling it an act that undermines values of inclusiveness, diversity, and respect for human rights while attempting to infringe upon the rights of minorities in favour of the majority.

Thousands of members from Christian groups in South Korea gathered for a service in Seoul

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BUS ACCIDENT IN CENTRAL MEXICO CLAIMS 19 LIVES

Nineteen individuals lost their lives and six others sustained injuries following a bus accident on a highway in Zacatecas, Mexico, on Saturday, according to local officials. The incident took place in the early hours when the bus, transporting the victims, crashed into the rear of a loose tractor-trailer loaded with corn.

Initially, Zacatecas Governor David Monreal reported a higher death toll of 24, but the state attorney general’s office later corrected this figure. They announced they are investigating to apprehend the driver of the tractor-trailer involved in the collision.

Recovery efforts for some bodies that fell into a ravine were still underway on Saturday morning, as noted by a local government official who wished to remain anonymous.

Social media images depicted rescue teams and security personnel, including military units, securing the crash site while working to retrieve the bodies. The bus was en route to Ciudad Juarez, a city located on the U.S.-Mexico border in Chihuahua state, and the victims were confirmed not to be migrants by the attorney general’s office.

Nineteen individuals lost their lives and six others sustained injuries following a bus accident on a highway in Zacatecas, Mexico

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PRESIDENT CALLS ON GEORGIANS TO REVEAL THEIR STANCE ON RIGGED VOTE

Georgia’s pro-Western president has urged the global community to support her citizens following a contested election that she claims was “entirely falsified.” Salome Zourabichvili, aligned with the opposition, encouraged Georgians to protest peacefully, describing this as a “critical moment” for the country.

The ruling Georgian Dream party and the election commission insist that the results, which granted the government nearly 54% of the votes, were legitimate. However, Zourabichvili contends that the government’s success does not reflect the desires of the Georgian populace, who aspire to maintain their European trajectory.

Zourabichvili emphasised that the protests would remain “very peaceful” and expressed her belief that the authorities did not seek conflict. While the exact goals of the opposition groups are unclear, she stated that it was up to the citizens and political leaders to determine the next steps.

She mentioned potential actions, such as an international review of the election process or a call for new elections, although she could not specify a timeline. The EU, NATO, and the US have all demanded a thorough investigation into the allegations of electoral fraud surrounding the vote.

Georgia’s president addressed the thousands of supporters that gathered in front of the parliament in Tbilisi on Monday

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