US election: pledges of the two candidates to the voters



International Desk, Barta24.com
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In the final stages of the bitter battle for the White House, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden campaigned in the states marked as 'Battle Grounds'.

It is unknown at this time what Trump will do after leaving the post. However, China, Russia and Israel are keeping a close eye on the election for reasons of mutual interest.

On Monday, Trump campaigned in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. And Biden spoke in front of supporters in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Voting for the presidential election will be held across the United States on Tuesday, local time.

Before the election, the contestants lured the voters with various promises. Candidates from the country's two main parties have also made various promises this time.

They have made different promises on eight important issues-
However, it can be seen that there is a big difference in the promises of the two candidates. On some issues, the two candidates are in opposite positions. The BBC's analysis shows that:

Covid-19 pandemic:
The Corona pandemic has become the most important issue in this election in the United States. Trump formed a task force to control the pandemic in late January. But the task force did nothing to prove the total number of infections and deaths in the country.

In his election manifesto, he said that if elected, he would focus on the country's security and normalization of economic activities. He also called for speeding up research to find the Covid-19 vaccine and find ways to treat the disease.

Biden, on the other hand, said he would launch a nationwide "contact-tracing program" to control the corona if elected. It will also set up at least 10 sample testing centers in each state and give everyone the opportunity to test Covid-19 for free. He also said that the use of masks will be made compulsory across the country.

Climate change:
Soon after President Trump came to power, he expressed skepticism about the reality of climate change and global warming. He even withdrew the United States from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to prevent climate change and prevent the destruction of the earth. Want to increase the use of non-renewable fuels harmful to the environment. That is why he has focused on oil and gas exploration.

Biden is in stark contrast to Trump on the climate issue. He said if he wins the vote, he will again make the United States part of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Biden also said he wants the United States to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050. He wants a complete ban on new leases for oil and gas exploration on government land. At the same time, he said that two trillion US dollars would be invested in a good 'green energy' project for the environment.

Economy:
President Trump has promised to create 1 crore new jobs and 10 lakh new small entrepreneurs in the next 10 months. He spoke in support of the US Alliance for Democracy, but said that maintaining some independence was important for many companies.

In this regard, Biden said, he wants to raise taxes on the aristocracy further so that the surplus money can be invested in various government services. However, he made it clear that only those with an annual income of more than four lakh US dollars would be subject to the tax.
He also called for an increase in the minimum wage ( 15 dollar per hour). Currently, the minimum wage is 7.25 dollar per hour.

Healthcare:
Trump wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted under former President Barack Obama. The law was enacted to increase the central government's control over the private health insurance sector to ensure the health and safety of the general public. The law also ensures that private insurance companies do not refuse to provide services to people suffering from long-term complications.

Trump said he wants further development of the law and alternative measures. However, he never said in detail about what kind of development or what alternatives he wanted. He also expressed his desire to reduce the price of medicines in the country by importing cheap medicines from abroad.

On the other hand, Biden wants protection of the ACA and further expansion of the law. He wants to further expand the coverage of 'Medicare' for senior citizens in the country. Therefore, he wants to reduce the current age from 65 to 60 years. So that more people get this service.

Foreign policy:
Trump has again called for a reduction in the number of U.S. troops serving abroad. However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough. Trump has vowed to continue trade wars with China while continuing tariffs.

Biden said he would improve relations with US allies. On China, he said he would not impose unilateral tariffs on China. Through international alliances, he will force China to be "accountable" in a way that China cannot "avoid."

Racism:
Trump does not see racism as a "systematic" problem in the US police force.

Biden, on the other hand, sees apartheid as a "systemic problem" within the police force. Biden said he would adopt a policy to bring racism to justice. He said that he was contesting the presidential election to reduce the racist division. Biden, a 77-year-old white American, has been nominated by many black American lawmakers and party voters. Biden has rejected calls for police funding, saying he wants more funding for the police.

Firearms:
Biden has taken a tough stance on firearms control. He called for a complete ban on the sale of firearms (assault weapons) that could be used indiscriminately. Before buying a gun, you want to test the buyer's past very well and limit how many guns you can buy and carry at a time. He also wants to make it easier for people involved in the manufacture and sale of firearms to be brought under the law. Biden also wants to increase funding for research into how to reduce gun attacks.

Meanwhile, Trump has elaborated on the constitutional right of Americans to keep firearms in their own protection. However, after a series of indiscriminate shootings in 2019, Trump, like Biden, has proposed tougher gun checks on gun buyers. But nothing of that plan has been implemented and no law has come forward in this regard.

Political analysts said Joe Biden has become hugely popular because of his clean image. On the other hand, Donald Trump can show surprise again even with many failure allegations in his head.

Supreme Court:
Trump has described filling the vacancy in the Supreme Court as his constitutional right, and has already appointed a conservative new judge, Amy Connie Barrett.

Biden, on the other hand, thinks that the vacant seat of justice in the Supreme Court should have been filled after the new president took office and that is what he wanted. The Supreme Court is about to issue an order on the right of women to abortion in the United States. Biden said he would pass legislation to ensure women's abortion rights if the Supreme Court rules against abortion rights if he is elected.

Political analysts said Joe Biden has become hugely popular because of his clean image. On the other hand, Donald Trump can show surprise again even with many failure allegations in his head.

   

Lok Sabha elections are starting today in India



International Dek, Barta24.com
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Voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections in India, the world's largest democracy, begins today on Friday. In seven phases, about 97 crore voters of the country will vote and elect their preferred representatives in different parts of the country. In the first phase, polling will be held today in a total of 102 constituencies in 21 states and union territories of the country. Among them are three centers in West Bengal. The constituencies are Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.

Voting will start from 7 am on Friday (April 19) and will continue till 6 pm. Besides the central forces, the Election Commission has also trusted the state police for election security.

The main battle in the election is going to be between the ruling BJP-led NDA alliance and the Indian National Congress-led 'India' alliance. Bharatiya Janata Party, the main party of the ruling NDA alliance, is moving ahead with the target of 370 seats. And their target for alliance is 400 seats.

The Election Commission of India has completed all preparations for the polls on Friday. In the first phase, polling will be held in 102 constituencies on April 19. Security has been beefed up across the country ahead of polling.

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New sanctions on Iran



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Iran's drone program in response to retaliatory strikes against Israel.

The ban was announced simultaneously on Thursday (April 18) by two countries known to be close allies of the Jewish state.

According to the report of the British media BBC, the United States Ministry of Finance said in a statement that sanctions have been imposed on 16 individuals and 2 companies associated with the production of UAVs (drones) in Iran. They are associated with Iran's production of Shahed drones. The drone was used in the April 13 attack.

The UK is also imposing sanctions on a number of military-linked companies, individuals and institutions linked to Iran's development of drones and ballistic missiles.

Iran launched an expected and unexpected attack on Israel on Saturday night. On April 13, the attack was carried out in revenge for the killing of some senior army officers in the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, the capital of Syria.

Iran used more than three hundred drones and missiles in this major attack. Israel claimed to have destroyed most of them in the air. The United States, United Kingdom, France and Jordan helped Israel to prevent this attack.

Israel has announced a counter attack on Iran in response to this attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has the right to defend itself.

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Nine people including Kenyan army chief killed in a helicopter crash



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Kenya's Defense Chief General Francis Omondi Ogolla and 9 top military officers were killed in a helicopter crash.

Several media outlets including BBC and AFP reported this news around 11:00 PM Bangladesh time on Thursday (April 18) citing the country's police source.

A senior Kenyan police officer told AFP the helicopter caught fire shortly after takeoff, killing nine senior commanders, including General Ogolla.

According to the BBC report, Kenyan President William Ruto called an emergency meeting of the country's Security Council after the military helicopter crashed. His spokesperson confirmed the matter.

According to local media, all those on the helicopter were senior military officers. Among them was General Francis Ogolla, Chief Military Adviser to the President. However, the BBC could not verify the authenticity of these reports.

According to reports, the helicopter came down in Kenya's Rift Valley and burst into flames. Rescue teams have been sent to the accident site.

Kenyan President William Ruto said an investigation team has been sent to the scene to investigate the cause of the helicopter crash.

"Our motherland has lost one of its most valiant generals," he said. General Ogolla's death is an irreparable loss to us.

Ogolla joined the Kenya Defense Forces in 1984. He was trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force and as an instructor pilot with the Kenya Air Force (KAF). Ogolla was the Chief of the Kenyan Air Force before becoming the Deputy Military Chief. Last year, the country's president promoted him to become the army chief.

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Palestinian membership in the United Nations was blocked by the US veto



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The United States has blocked Palestine's path to full membership as a state in the United Nations.

On Thursday (April 18), the country vetoed the resolution in the Security Council.

The draft resolution recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly that Palestine be admitted as a full member of the United Nations. 12 of the 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution. The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained from voting. Israel's close ally, the United States, provided the veto.

Regarding the veto, US Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood said the US continues to strongly support the Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution. The vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood. We want them to come to a solution through direct negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the US veto as unjust, immoral and unreasonable. In a statement, he said, the US veto defies the will of the international community.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the United States for vetoing the proposal, saying it was a "shameful rejection". Terrorism will not be rewarded.

Although Palestine is not currently a member of the United Nations, in 2012 it gained observer status at the United Nations. Palestine has been trying for years to gain full membership of the United Nations.

However, their request must first be approved by the Security Council and then at least two-thirds of the UN General Assembly.

Palestine first applied for full membership in 2011. Palestine reapplied for membership earlier this month amid Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

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