<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/100-years-of-end-of-wwi-trump-cancels-trip-to-memorial-because-of-rain-176591">100 years of </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/100-years-of-end-of-wwi-trump-cancels-trip-to-memorial-because-of-rain-176591">end</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/100-years-of-end-of-wwi-trump-cancels-trip-to-memorial-because-of-rain-176591"> of WWI: Trump cancels memorial service for fallen US soldiers — because of rain</a>

President Donald Trump could not attend a commemoration in France for US soldiers and marines killed during World War One on Saturday because rain made it impossible to arrange transport, the White House said.

The last minute cancellation prompted widespread criticism on social media and from some officials in Britain and the United States that Trump had "dishonoured" US servicemen.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-army-soldier-killed-in-sniper-fire-along-line-of-control-176587">J&amp;K: In </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-army-soldier-killed-in-sniper-fire-along-line-of-control-176587">2nd</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-army-soldier-killed-in-sniper-fire-along-line-of-control-176587"> attack in 2 days, Indian Army soldier killed in sniper fire along Line of Control</a>

An Army soldier was killed Saturday in sniper fire by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

The spokesman identified the soldier as rifleman Varun Kattal (21), a resident of Mawa-Rajpura area of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his parents, father Anchal Singh and mother Pinki Rani.

This was the second sniper attack along the LoC in two days. An Army porter lost his life in a similar attack in Akhnoor sector of Jammu Friday.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-gubernatorial-candidate-andrew-gillum-recalls-concession-after-state-orders-vote-recount-176586">US midterms: After Florida orders recount, Democratic candidate recalls concession from Governor's race</a>

Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty.

Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday's vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided.

Florida's 67 counties had been given until midday (1700 GMT) on Saturday to submit unofficial totals.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-in-california-fire-rises-to-23-report-176596">California forest fires: Death toll rises to 23</a>

The death toll in California fire rose to 23 on Saturday after rescue workers recovered several bodies of people killed in the devastating fire; news agency AFP reported while quoting a sheriff.

"Today 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23," Sheriff Kory Honea said.

The bodies were recovered in and around Paradise, California, a mountain community some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento left devastated by the 'Camp Fire'.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-chokes-a-quality-remained-severe-on-sunday-construction-ban-extended-till-november-12-176593">Delhi: Air quality remains hazardous, construction ban extended to Nov 12</a>

Delhi air quality remained hazardous on Sunday, with Air Quality Index (AQI) at 633 at Mundka.&nbsp;

AQI remained well above 300 in most parts of the city which poses a major health risk.&nbsp;

On Saturday too, the air quality remained 'severe' and though the pollution level dipped marginally for a brief period in the morning, it turned severe again by evening. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

100 years of end of WWI: Trump cancels memorial service for fallen US soldiers — because of rain President Donald Trump could not attend a commemoration in France for US soldiers and marines killed during World War One on Saturday because rain made it impossible to arrange transport, the White House said.

100 years of end of WWI: Trump cancels memorial service for fallen US soldiers — because of rain President Donald Trump could not attend a commemoration in France for US soldiers and marines killed during World War One on Saturday because rain made it impossible to arrange transport, the White House said. The last minute cancellation prompted widespread criticism on social media and from some officials in Britain and the United States that Trump had "dishonoured" US servicemen. J&K: In 2nd attack in 2 days, Indian Army soldier killed in sniper fire along Line of Control An Army soldier was killed Saturday in sniper fire by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said. The spokesman identified the soldier as rifleman Varun Kattal (21), a resident of Mawa-Rajpura area of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his parents, father Anchal Singh and mother Pinki Rani. This was the second sniper attack along the LoC in two days. An Army porter lost his life in a similar attack in Akhnoor sector of Jammu Friday. US midterms: After Florida orders recount, Democratic candidate recalls concession from Governor's race Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty. Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday's vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided. Florida's 67 counties had been given until midday (1700 GMT) on Saturday to submit unofficial totals. California forest fires: Death toll rises to 23 The death toll in California fire rose to 23 on Saturday after rescue workers recovered several bodies of people killed in the devastating fire; news agency AFP reported while quoting a sheriff. "Today 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23," Sheriff Kory Honea said. The bodies were recovered in and around Paradise, California, a mountain community some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento left devastated by the 'Camp Fire'. Delhi: Air quality remains hazardous, construction ban extended to Nov 12 Delhi air quality remained hazardous on Sunday, with Air Quality Index (AQI) at 633 at Mundka. AQI remained well above 300 in most parts of the city which poses a major health risk. On Saturday too, the air quality remained 'severe' and though the pollution level dipped marginally for a brief period in the morning, it turned severe again by evening.

News brief: Big stories of the day

By Scott Lucas

America has voted, the results are in, but the country’s future remains uncertain – for now.

Tuesday’s Congressional midterm elections were billed – rightly – as among the most important in US history. Decades of widening division have been exacerbated by an aggressive Donald Trump willing to remake the American system (some might say overrun it) with his rhetoric and executive orders.

After 35 Senate races and verdicts on all 435 House seats, there is no clear resolution. Democrats did take the House of Representatives with a large swing; but Republicans not only clung to the Senate, they increased their majority.

In some races, the GOP pulled off upsets. The current governor, Rick Scott, grabbed the Florida Senate seat narrowly from incumbent Bill Nelson, a victory replicated in the governor’s race by Ron DeSantis over Andrew Gillum – who would have been the first African-American to head Florida. The Republicans regained the Indiana seat by a larger margin with Mike Braun defeating incumbent Joe Donnelly; they took North Dakota as expected and are narrowly ahead in three other key races — a combination which could produce a 55-45 GOP advantage in the Senate for the next four years.

But Democrats flipped more than 30 House seats, in some cases by double-digit majority, in all areas of the country. They regained Trump territory, notably in Pennsylvania and even the deep-red state of Texas.

Across the US, the Democrats held a 9 per cent margin over the GOP – the largest gap since 2008 and one of the biggest in midterm history.

So with no clarity, what’s American future from November 7, 2018?

1. City-Suburb vs Country 
 
This was an election that only widened the gulf between cities and their suburbs and rural areas. That split meant Democrats could pick up GOP House seats in areas such as northern Virginia, southern Florida, the suburbs from Pennsylvania to Colorado, and even the heartland of Kansas. But it also limited the advance in House seats that spanned urban and rural areas, such as the close-run race in central Kentucky.

And it was decisive in the vital state-wide victories in the Senate. The Democrats never had a chance in the deep red state of Tennessee. In Florida, the Democrats rolled up big margins in cities from Miami to Tallahassee but this was overtaken by the GOP tallies in the smaller but numerous rural districts from the Panhandle through the centre. Indiana went back to its deep Republican country roots to outnumber Democrat majorities in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Evansville. North Dakota, the fourth most Republican state in the US, went back to the GOP, and rural Montana may also go.

2. Health care not enough to redraw map… yet

Exit polls showed that healthcare, despite being down the list of headline issues in the campaign, was the number one priority for a plurality – about 40% – of voters. That portion topped the 20% each for the economy and immigration.

But that did not translate into a decisive rejection across the US of the GOP’s efforts to gut Obamacare. It remains to be seen whether this was an uneven priority, with voters in some states – and House districts within states – putting more emphasis on the issue than others. Or it could be that a “soft” attachment to healthcare for more voters was outweighed by a “hard” emphasis on the economy and immigration for others.

3. Nor is surge of youth and women

The extent of the surge in turnout is still to be calculated, but exit polls point to a sharp rise in involvement of 18 to 24-year-olds and women. Some conventional wisdom held that this shift would boost Democrats – and exit polls showed a 19 per cent advantage among women and 35 per cent among the 18-to-24 group. Again, on a statewide level, this did not necessarily translate into gains.

But there was a Blue wave in the overall vote – and more than 100 women, the large majority Democrats, will be seated in the Congress in January.

Is there still more to be done by Democrats to galvanise the under-25s and women? Or is this an issue of a surge among dedicated older voters that will continue to bolster the Republicans?

4. Trump a double-edged sword for GOP 
 
The spectre of an immigrant “invasion”, Trump’s primary theme, offers a paradox. The false drama may have helped Republicans in unaffected areas far from the border. But in the immigration frontline of Texas it may have cost the GOP. And, in pockets like Kansas, Trump declarations such as the ending of “birthright citizenship” may have upset Republican campaigns and led to unexpected losses because of a backlash against the anti-immigrant drive as well as its effects on local communities.

In addition to Beto O'Rourke’s near-upset of Ted Cruz, Democrats took a series of House seats, overcoming the urban-rural split in Texas and also flipping the GOP Senate seat in Nevada. Could Texans and Nevadans – the young, the suburban areas, Hispanic-Americans – have recoiled from Trump’s scorched-earth rhetoric and policies such as indefinite detention and the separation of children from parents?

And Trump had some reverse Midas touches where his patronage contributed to defeat. In Kansas, Kris Kobach – a loud Trump cheerleader who headed the ill-fated White House voter fraud commission – unexpectedly lost the governor’s race.

5. Trump didn’t win, but he tweeted ‘#Winning’

Donald Trump did not win these mid-terms. His party lost the House of Representatives. Some of his allies fell. And, if there was no Democrat Blue wave to retake the Senate, there are fast streams of opposition in many urban and suburban areas.

But Trump is never one to accept a reality offering less than victory. So he will seize upon the increase in the Republican majority in the Senate as not only a vindication, but an outcome due to his personal intervention. He will point from Florida to North Dakota as he persists with his anti-immigrant campaign. He will rail against a “fake news” media that does not grant him acclaim, and he will falsely claim voter fraud that prevented more “#Winning”, especially in the House.

6. More uncertainty – if Russia doesn’t get Trump first 
 
So it’s two more uncertain, possibly chaotic, years in the US. In “normal” times, a split Congress would be labelled as gridlock. But in the abnormal Trumpian years, the White House occupant is already beyond gridlock.

The Trump administration has not governed through legislation – it has only one bill, the December 2017 tax cuts, to its credit – but through executive orders and commands to agencies. These have ranged from immigration to tariffs to shredding of environmental protections and corporate regulations to ripping up international agreements.

Trump will press on. The language will be even more aggressive, the proposals more brash. He will be egged on by hardline advisers, including the xenophobic, anti-immigrant Stephen Miller, as well as some of the majority in the Senate, and Republicans who have held on in the House, including the “white nationalist” Steve King of Iowa and the indicted Duncan Hunter of California.

The 2018 midterm elections have not checked Trump. Democratic control of the House will not stop him, despite a possible attempt to subpoena Trump’s tax records amid questions over his finances, alleged fraud and tax manipulation, and conflict of interest.

Perhaps the only barrier until 2020 is the Trump-Russia investigation led by Robert Mueller: its announcements and indictments have been paused this autumn but will now resume and possibly close with a showdown with Trump.

Last week, I concluded an assessment, “The most important person in America on November 7 will be Robert Mueller.” This morning, amid the lack of clarity, I am doubling down on that evaluation. 
 
(Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/us-midterm-results-six-key-issues-and-what-they-mean-for-the-countrys-uncertain-future-106467">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Scott Lucas America has voted, the results are in, but the country’s future remains uncertain – for now. Tuesday’s Congressional midterm elections were billed – rightly – as among the most important in US history.

By Scott Lucas America has voted, the results are in, but the country’s future remains uncertain – for now. Tuesday’s Congressional midterm elections were billed – rightly – as among the most important in US history. Decades of widening division have been exacerbated by an aggressive Donald Trump willing to remake the American system (some might say overrun it) with his rhetoric and executive orders. After 35 Senate races and verdicts on all 435 House seats, there is no clear resolution. Democrats did take the House of Representatives with a large swing; but Republicans not only clung to the Senate, they increased their majority. In some races, the GOP pulled off upsets. The current governor, Rick Scott, grabbed the Florida Senate seat narrowly from incumbent Bill Nelson, a victory replicated in the governor’s race by Ron DeSantis over Andrew Gillum – who would have been the first African-American to head Florida. The Republicans regained the Indiana seat by a larger margin with Mike Braun defeating incumbent Joe Donnelly; they took North Dakota as expected and are narrowly ahead in three other key races — a combination which could produce a 55-45 GOP advantage in the Senate for the next four years. But Democrats flipped more than 30 House seats, in some cases by double-digit majority, in all areas of the country. They regained Trump territory, notably in Pennsylvania and even the deep-red state of Texas. Across the US, the Democrats held a 9 per cent margin over the GOP – the largest gap since 2008 and one of the biggest in midterm history. So with no clarity, what’s American future from November 7, 2018? 1. City-Suburb vs Country This was an election that only widened the gulf between cities and their suburbs and rural areas. That split meant Democrats could pick up GOP House seats in areas such as northern Virginia, southern Florida, the suburbs from Pennsylvania to Colorado, and even the heartland of Kansas. But it also limited the advance in House seats that spanned urban and rural areas, such as the close-run race in central Kentucky. And it was decisive in the vital state-wide victories in the Senate. The Democrats never had a chance in the deep red state of Tennessee. In Florida, the Democrats rolled up big margins in cities from Miami to Tallahassee but this was overtaken by the GOP tallies in the smaller but numerous rural districts from the Panhandle through the centre. Indiana went back to its deep Republican country roots to outnumber Democrat majorities in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Evansville. North Dakota, the fourth most Republican state in the US, went back to the GOP, and rural Montana may also go. 2. Health care not enough to redraw map… yet Exit polls showed that healthcare, despite being down the list of headline issues in the campaign, was the number one priority for a plurality – about 40% – of voters. That portion topped the 20% each for the economy and immigration. But that did not translate into a decisive rejection across the US of the GOP’s efforts to gut Obamacare. It remains to be seen whether this was an uneven priority, with voters in some states – and House districts within states – putting more emphasis on the issue than others. Or it could be that a “soft” attachment to healthcare for more voters was outweighed by a “hard” emphasis on the economy and immigration for others. 3. Nor is surge of youth and women The extent of the surge in turnout is still to be calculated, but exit polls point to a sharp rise in involvement of 18 to 24-year-olds and women. Some conventional wisdom held that this shift would boost Democrats – and exit polls showed a 19 per cent advantage among women and 35 per cent among the 18-to-24 group. Again, on a statewide level, this did not necessarily translate into gains. But there was a Blue wave in the overall vote – and more than 100 women, the large majority Democrats, will be seated in the Congress in January. Is there still more to be done by Democrats to galvanise the under-25s and women? Or is this an issue of a surge among dedicated older voters that will continue to bolster the Republicans? 4. Trump a double-edged sword for GOP The spectre of an immigrant “invasion”, Trump’s primary theme, offers a paradox. The false drama may have helped Republicans in unaffected areas far from the border. But in the immigration frontline of Texas it may have cost the GOP. And, in pockets like Kansas, Trump declarations such as the ending of “birthright citizenship” may have upset Republican campaigns and led to unexpected losses because of a backlash against the anti-immigrant drive as well as its effects on local communities. In addition to Beto O'Rourke’s near-upset of Ted Cruz, Democrats took a series of House seats, overcoming the urban-rural split in Texas and also flipping the GOP Senate seat in Nevada. Could Texans and Nevadans – the young, the suburban areas, Hispanic-Americans – have recoiled from Trump’s scorched-earth rhetoric and policies such as indefinite detention and the separation of children from parents? And Trump had some reverse Midas touches where his patronage contributed to defeat. In Kansas, Kris Kobach – a loud Trump cheerleader who headed the ill-fated White House voter fraud commission – unexpectedly lost the governor’s race. 5. Trump didn’t win, but he tweeted ‘#Winning’ Donald Trump did not win these mid-terms. His party lost the House of Representatives. Some of his allies fell. And, if there was no Democrat Blue wave to retake the Senate, there are fast streams of opposition in many urban and suburban areas. But Trump is never one to accept a reality offering less than victory. So he will seize upon the increase in the Republican majority in the Senate as not only a vindication, but an outcome due to his personal intervention. He will point from Florida to North Dakota as he persists with his anti-immigrant campaign. He will rail against a “fake news” media that does not grant him acclaim, and he will falsely claim voter fraud that prevented more “#Winning”, especially in the House. 6. More uncertainty – if Russia doesn’t get Trump first So it’s two more uncertain, possibly chaotic, years in the US. In “normal” times, a split Congress would be labelled as gridlock. But in the abnormal Trumpian years, the White House occupant is already beyond gridlock. The Trump administration has not governed through legislation – it has only one bill, the December 2017 tax cuts, to its credit – but through executive orders and commands to agencies. These have ranged from immigration to tariffs to shredding of environmental protections and corporate regulations to ripping up international agreements. Trump will press on. The language will be even more aggressive, the proposals more brash. He will be egged on by hardline advisers, including the xenophobic, anti-immigrant Stephen Miller, as well as some of the majority in the Senate, and Republicans who have held on in the House, including the “white nationalist” Steve King of Iowa and the indicted Duncan Hunter of California. The 2018 midterm elections have not checked Trump. Democratic control of the House will not stop him, despite a possible attempt to subpoena Trump’s tax records amid questions over his finances, alleged fraud and tax manipulation, and conflict of interest. Perhaps the only barrier until 2020 is the Trump-Russia investigation led by Robert Mueller: its announcements and indictments have been paused this autumn but will now resume and possibly close with a showdown with Trump. Last week, I concluded an assessment, “The most important person in America on November 7 will be Robert Mueller.” This morning, amid the lack of clarity, I am doubling down on that evaluation. (Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

US midterm elections: What do the results mean for the country’s uncertain future

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/for-trump-supporters-elections-a-battle-to-protect-a-leader-under-siege-175721">US midterms: For Trump supporters, elections a battle to protect leader under siege</a>

For many Americans, Tuesday's congressional midterm elections are a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump’s divisive persona, hard-line policies and pugnacious politics.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-blasphemy-lawyer-says-eu-un-made-him-leave-against-my-wishes-175720">Asia Bibi's lawyer says EU, UN made him leave Pakistan 'against my wishes'</a>

The Pakistani lawyer who saved a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy from death row said Monday that the UN and EU made him leave the country "against my wishes" because his life was at risk.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/want-to-go-slow-on-sanctions-on-irans-oil-keep-prices-down-trump-175735">Want to go slow on sanctions on Iran's oil, keep prices down: Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he wants to impose sanctions on Iran's oil gradually, citing concerns about shocking energy markets and causing global price spikes.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-us-channels-drop-trump-campaign-ad-deemed-to-be-racist-175725">Facebook, US networks drop Trump campaign </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-us-channels-drop-trump-campaign-ad-deemed-to-be-racist-175725">ad judged</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-us-channels-drop-trump-campaign-ad-deemed-to-be-racist-175725"> to be racist</a>

Fox News, NBC and Facebook have pulled a Trump campaign ad branded racist, which equates a convicted Mexican murderer with Central American migrants en route to the US border.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-build-first-nuclear-research-reactor-175718">Saudi Arabia to build </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-build-first-nuclear-research-reactor-175718">first</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-build-first-nuclear-research-reactor-175718"> nuclear reactor</a>

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday laid the foundation stone for the kingdom's first nuclear research reactor, state media said, as the kingdom seeks to diversify its energy mix.

US midterms: For Trump supporters, elections a battle to protect leader under siege For many Americans, Tuesday's congressional midterm elections are a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump’s divisive persona, hard-line policies and pugnacious politics.

US midterms: For Trump supporters, elections a battle to protect leader under siege For many Americans, Tuesday's congressional midterm elections are a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump’s divisive persona, hard-line policies and pugnacious politics. Asia Bibi's lawyer says EU, UN made him leave Pakistan 'against my wishes' The Pakistani lawyer who saved a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy from death row said Monday that the UN and EU made him leave the country "against my wishes" because his life was at risk. Want to go slow on sanctions on Iran's oil, keep prices down: Trump US President Donald Trump on Monday said he wants to impose sanctions on Iran's oil gradually, citing concerns about shocking energy markets and causing global price spikes. Facebook, US networks drop Trump campaign ad judged to be racist Fox News, NBC and Facebook have pulled a Trump campaign ad branded racist, which equates a convicted Mexican murderer with Central American migrants en route to the US border. Saudi Arabia to build first nuclear reactor Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday laid the foundation stone for the kingdom's first nuclear research reactor, state media said, as the kingdom seeks to diversify its energy mix.

By Brendon O'Connor and Dan Dixon

From afar, the US midterm elections might seem to be all about Donald Trump, and there is some truth to this. The man, as has been the case for some years now, is unavoidable.

More than 700 days after the host of The Apprentice was elected to lead the world’s largest military and economic power, this will be the first chance for Americans to express buyer’s remorse at the ballot box by potentially giving the Democrats control of the House (and less likely the Senate) in order to rein in the president.

Trump himself is not up for re-election, though. Voters will be making decisions about local and state representatives, so it would be a mistake to presume the outcome will be entirely dependent on questions of federal leadership.

However, Democrat Tip O’Neill’s famous claim that “all politics is local” is not entirely true here; this election has local, national and international implications.

This is why, once again, non-Americans are taking such an interest in an American election. Many believe that Trump and his Republican Party represent much of what endangers the world.

Who is up for election?

Members of the US House of Representatives serve two-year terms, and senators six-year terms. This means that all 435 members of the House and 35 out of 100 senators (33 plus two empty seats due to resignations) are up for re-election on November 6.

Due to the Democrats’ success in the 2012 election, just nine of those 35 Senate seats are Republican-controlled. So the Democrats’ chance of taking the Senate is slim – around 1-in-7, according to FiveThirtyEight.com – despite the fact Republicans currently hold only a narrow 51-49 majority.

For those outside the US, this may seem remarkable, given the profoundly unethical decisions enacted by the Trump administration, and the parade of misogyny that surrounded Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s recent Senate confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court.

And yet, there are a number of plausible scenarios in which the minority party could actually lose ground.

To forge a path to victory in the Senate, Democrats will need to retain seats in states that Trump won easily in 2016 – North Dakota, Montana and Missouri – as well as in Florida, where incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson faces a tough race against multimillionaire Republican Governor Rick Scott.

They’ll also need to pick up a seat or two in the traditionally Republican states of Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and Mississippi (listed in order of likelihood). The fact that Mississippi and Tennessee are even in play for the Democrats is noteworthy because Trump won both in 2016 by over 15 percentage points.

But given the circumstances, the Democrats remain unlikely to win a Senate majority.

A Democratic victory in the House is far more probable, with FiveThirtyEight.com giving the minority party a 6-in-7 chance to take back control.

Because all House seats are up for grabs, this is the contest that many will view as a national referendum on the Trump administration. And the results will be shaped by voter turnout.

Typically, turnout for midterm elections is older and whiter than it is for presidential elections, and this is a demographic that favours Republicans. The Republicans have maintained or taken control of the House in every midterm election since 1994, with the exception of 2006, when President George W. Bush’s popularity had plummeted to the mid-30s due to his mishandling of the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina.

According to recent polling averages, Trump’s approval rating has been hovering at just over 40 per cent.

Why is gerrymandering significant?

This election is consequential for far more than the future of the Trump administration. Republican victories in state legislatures and governors’ races, which occur alongside the national election, will provide another opportunity for the party to consolidate its power through gerrymandering.

Gerrymandering is the underhanded process whereby elected politicians redraw federal and state electorate boundaries to group voters by demographics and improve their chances of success at the ballot box.

These lines are redrawn every 10 years, following a nationwide census. The next census is in 2020, so the lines will next be redrawn in 2021. This year’s midterm election is therefore crucial in determining which party will control each state during the upcoming redistricting process.

Gerrymandering tends to be a tactic of Republicans, who currently hold the majority of seats in 32 of America’s 50 state houses. Furthermore, the task of gerrymandering is more straightforward for Republicans, as Democratic voters are typically packed together in urban centres, while Republicans are usually spread out across states.

In a number of states, Republicans have engineered things so Democrats are sure to win just a few seats with massive majorities, while Republicans are favoured to capture far more by closer margins, for instance, a 55 per cent to 45 per cent majority.

However, there is a catch. In a wave election, as this one may well be, those Republicans who would normally expect to get elected with 55 per cent of the vote could be vulnerable. This may occur in this year’s House races in North Carolina.

What is the effect of voter suppression?

Further impeding the Democrats’ chances is the systematic and widespread strategy of voter suppression, which is typically utilised by Republicans to prevent likely Democrat voters, such as African Americans, from voting.

One particularly alarming example has been happening in Georgia, where Democrat Stacey Abrams is attempting to become the country’s first female African American governor.

Her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, also happens to be Georgia’s secretary of state. His office had been strictly enforcing a new law known as “exact match”, under which voter-registration applications are dismissed for absurdly minor discrepancies, such as missing hyphens or slightly mismatched signatures.

A judge recently halted this practice, but over 53,000 registration applications have already been suspended. African Americans comprise 32 per cent of the state’s population and nearly 70 per cent of the rejected applications.

This kind of behaviour is not confined to a few rogue states. Other methods of voter suppression, such as felon disenfranchisement, voter ID laws and reductions in the number of polling booths in African American communities, are routinely used across the country to disproportionately target minority voters.

Even the fact that voting takes place on a Tuesday, rather than a weekend, &nbsp;marginalises people who cannot get off work. These people are likely to be poorer and less likely to be white.

Will Trump be impeached?

As was proven on the evening of November 8, 2016, while polls can show likelihoods, nothing is guaranteed. However, the polls currently suggest that the most likely outcome of these midterms is a Democratic-controlled House and a Republican-controlled Senate.

What this would mean for Trump is more frustration. The Democrats would be able to investigate the president’s questionable financial deals, potential fraud related to Trump University and possible links to Russian interference in the 2016 election. They could also push for the release of Trump’s much sought-after tax returns.

It seems likely the House will find grounds to impeach Trump. But, hold your breath – that would be only step one of a lengthy process.

Dismissal of a president requires 67 of 100 Senate votes, a threshold that makes such an event unlikely. Given the president’s propensity for mendacity, it will be intriguing to see whether he is able to avoid any perjury charges that might arise from Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russian election interference. But again, such charges are unlikely to lead to his removal from office.

Yet who can say? Whatever the outcome on November 6, there is much about the future of US politics – and the global ramifications – that remains entirely unpredictable. 
 
(Brendon O'Connor is Associate Professor in American Politics at the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney; &nbsp;Dan Dixon is PhD Student in English, University of Sydney)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-us-midterm-elections-are-being-billed-as-a-referendum-on-trump-but-its-not-that-simple-105133">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Brendon O'Connor and Dan Dixon From afar, the US midterm elections might seem to be all about Donald Trump, and there is some truth to this. The man, as has been the case for some years now, is unavoidable.

By Brendon O'Connor and Dan Dixon From afar, the US midterm elections might seem to be all about Donald Trump, and there is some truth to this. The man, as has been the case for some years now, is unavoidable. More than 700 days after the host of The Apprentice was elected to lead the world’s largest military and economic power, this will be the first chance for Americans to express buyer’s remorse at the ballot box by potentially giving the Democrats control of the House (and less likely the Senate) in order to rein in the president. Trump himself is not up for re-election, though. Voters will be making decisions about local and state representatives, so it would be a mistake to presume the outcome will be entirely dependent on questions of federal leadership. However, Democrat Tip O’Neill’s famous claim that “all politics is local” is not entirely true here; this election has local, national and international implications. This is why, once again, non-Americans are taking such an interest in an American election. Many believe that Trump and his Republican Party represent much of what endangers the world. Who is up for election? Members of the US House of Representatives serve two-year terms, and senators six-year terms. This means that all 435 members of the House and 35 out of 100 senators (33 plus two empty seats due to resignations) are up for re-election on November 6. Due to the Democrats’ success in the 2012 election, just nine of those 35 Senate seats are Republican-controlled. So the Democrats’ chance of taking the Senate is slim – around 1-in-7, according to FiveThirtyEight.com – despite the fact Republicans currently hold only a narrow 51-49 majority. For those outside the US, this may seem remarkable, given the profoundly unethical decisions enacted by the Trump administration, and the parade of misogyny that surrounded Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s recent Senate confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court. And yet, there are a number of plausible scenarios in which the minority party could actually lose ground. To forge a path to victory in the Senate, Democrats will need to retain seats in states that Trump won easily in 2016 – North Dakota, Montana and Missouri – as well as in Florida, where incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson faces a tough race against multimillionaire Republican Governor Rick Scott. They’ll also need to pick up a seat or two in the traditionally Republican states of Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and Mississippi (listed in order of likelihood). The fact that Mississippi and Tennessee are even in play for the Democrats is noteworthy because Trump won both in 2016 by over 15 percentage points. But given the circumstances, the Democrats remain unlikely to win a Senate majority. A Democratic victory in the House is far more probable, with FiveThirtyEight.com giving the minority party a 6-in-7 chance to take back control. Because all House seats are up for grabs, this is the contest that many will view as a national referendum on the Trump administration. And the results will be shaped by voter turnout. Typically, turnout for midterm elections is older and whiter than it is for presidential elections, and this is a demographic that favours Republicans. The Republicans have maintained or taken control of the House in every midterm election since 1994, with the exception of 2006, when President George W. Bush’s popularity had plummeted to the mid-30s due to his mishandling of the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina. According to recent polling averages, Trump’s approval rating has been hovering at just over 40 per cent. Why is gerrymandering significant? This election is consequential for far more than the future of the Trump administration. Republican victories in state legislatures and governors’ races, which occur alongside the national election, will provide another opportunity for the party to consolidate its power through gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the underhanded process whereby elected politicians redraw federal and state electorate boundaries to group voters by demographics and improve their chances of success at the ballot box. These lines are redrawn every 10 years, following a nationwide census. The next census is in 2020, so the lines will next be redrawn in 2021. This year’s midterm election is therefore crucial in determining which party will control each state during the upcoming redistricting process. Gerrymandering tends to be a tactic of Republicans, who currently hold the majority of seats in 32 of America’s 50 state houses. Furthermore, the task of gerrymandering is more straightforward for Republicans, as Democratic voters are typically packed together in urban centres, while Republicans are usually spread out across states. In a number of states, Republicans have engineered things so Democrats are sure to win just a few seats with massive majorities, while Republicans are favoured to capture far more by closer margins, for instance, a 55 per cent to 45 per cent majority. However, there is a catch. In a wave election, as this one may well be, those Republicans who would normally expect to get elected with 55 per cent of the vote could be vulnerable. This may occur in this year’s House races in North Carolina. What is the effect of voter suppression? Further impeding the Democrats’ chances is the systematic and widespread strategy of voter suppression, which is typically utilised by Republicans to prevent likely Democrat voters, such as African Americans, from voting. One particularly alarming example has been happening in Georgia, where Democrat Stacey Abrams is attempting to become the country’s first female African American governor. Her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, also happens to be Georgia’s secretary of state. His office had been strictly enforcing a new law known as “exact match”, under which voter-registration applications are dismissed for absurdly minor discrepancies, such as missing hyphens or slightly mismatched signatures. A judge recently halted this practice, but over 53,000 registration applications have already been suspended. African Americans comprise 32 per cent of the state’s population and nearly 70 per cent of the rejected applications. This kind of behaviour is not confined to a few rogue states. Other methods of voter suppression, such as felon disenfranchisement, voter ID laws and reductions in the number of polling booths in African American communities, are routinely used across the country to disproportionately target minority voters. Even the fact that voting takes place on a Tuesday, rather than a weekend, marginalises people who cannot get off work. These people are likely to be poorer and less likely to be white. Will Trump be impeached? As was proven on the evening of November 8, 2016, while polls can show likelihoods, nothing is guaranteed. However, the polls currently suggest that the most likely outcome of these midterms is a Democratic-controlled House and a Republican-controlled Senate. What this would mean for Trump is more frustration. The Democrats would be able to investigate the president’s questionable financial deals, potential fraud related to Trump University and possible links to Russian interference in the 2016 election. They could also push for the release of Trump’s much sought-after tax returns. It seems likely the House will find grounds to impeach Trump. But, hold your breath – that would be only step one of a lengthy process. Dismissal of a president requires 67 of 100 Senate votes, a threshold that makes such an event unlikely. Given the president’s propensity for mendacity, it will be intriguing to see whether he is able to avoid any perjury charges that might arise from Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russian election interference. But again, such charges are unlikely to lead to his removal from office. Yet who can say? Whatever the outcome on November 6, there is much about the future of US politics – and the global ramifications – that remains entirely unpredictable. (Brendon O'Connor is Associate Professor in American Politics at the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney; Dan Dixon is PhD Student in English, University of Sydney) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

US midterms are being billed as a referendum on Trump, but it’s not that simple

After boasting about the economy and raising fears over immigration, US President Donald Trump is facing pushback from his predecessor Barack Obama, who is taking on an increasingly prominent role in the final weekend of campaigning before midterm elections in which Republican control of Congress is threatened.

With rallies taking place in Montana and Florida, a state he had already visited on Wednesday, Trump is keeping up his relentless campaign schedule before Tuesday's ballot, which has become a referendum on his utterly unconventional presidency.

The campaigning comes one week after a gunman, who allegedly hated immigrants and Jews, killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and after a fanatical Trump supporter was arrested in Florida on charges of mailing homemade bombs to more than a dozen Trump opponents, including Obama.

At a moment of deep national division, with the political temperature soaring, the president's critics say he has helped create an atmosphere in which the two attackers felt comfortable to carry out their crimes.

"A Republican Congress means more jobs and less crime. A Democratic Congress means more crime and less jobs, very simple. I like that. Nothing like simplicity," Trump told supporters in Belgrade, Montana.

Trump says his Republicans are in a good position ahead of the midterm congressional elections, particularly with new employment figures out showing the economy booming.

But polls point to the Democrats capturing at least the House of Representatives, threatening the billionaire president with the spectre of an opposition finally able to block policies and dig into his highly opaque personal finances.

In the last stages of the campaign, Trump is dueling with Obama, who returned to the public eye at a Florida rally on Friday.&nbsp;

Obama is set to campaign again Sunday in his hometown of Chicago, as well as in Indiana, where the seat of Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly is in danger.

America at 'a crossroads' 
At a rally on Friday, Trump called America's first black president "Barack H. Obama," a reference to Obama's middle name of Hussein. Before his presidential run, Trump fanned conspiracy theories about the origins of Obama, who was born in Hawaii.

Obama explained his reemergence at a Georgia rally in support of Stacey Abrams, who is seeking to be the first black female governor of any US state.

"I'm here for one simple reason: to ask you to vote," Obama said. "The consequences of any of us staying home are profound because America is at a crossroads... The character of our country is on the ballot."

Trump has brought an unprecedented brand of confrontational politics to the White House, and clearly enjoys a fight.

The latest official jobs figures, which showed 250,000 net new positions in October -- ahead of forecasts -- gave him a golden opportunity to crow over what he almost daily claims to be the world's "hottest economy."

But if, on the one hand, the president has been touting the United States as a land of plenty with jobs for all, on the other he has stirred fear and loathing.

Even as illegal immigration has dipped to a quarter of what it was in 2000, Trump claims that the country faces an "invasion" of Central Americans.

He has ordered regular army troops to the US-Mexican border as a caravan of a few thousand impoverished migrants slowly marches toward the boundary. They are currently marching toward Isla, in Mexico's state of Veracruz.

He has also announced "tent cities" to detain people demanding political asylum, and claimed the power to scrap the right to citizenship for anyone born on US soil -- until now considered protected by the US Constitution.

A military spokesman said that more than 7,000 US soldiers will be positioned in states bordering Mexico by the end of the weekend.

Newsweek reported that it had obtained documents which showed intelligence officials did not anticipate high involvement of criminal gangs among the migrants, and that the administration expects only a minority of those in the caravan would actually reach the border.

"These are bad people, there's some bad hombres in that group," Trump told the Montana rally.

"They came out with a list of 300 really bad ones, really bad ones, they're in there," he added, without specifying a source.

Obama decried Trump's troop deployment as a "political stunt" serving to "get folks angry and ginned up."&nbsp;

"There's just constant fear-mongering to distract from the record," he added. 
&nbsp;

After boasting about the economy and raising fears over immigration, US President Donald Trump is facing pushback from his predecessor Barack Obama, who is taking on an increasingly prominent role in the final weekend of campaigning before midterm elections in which Republican control of Congress is threatened.

After boasting about the economy and raising fears over immigration, US President Donald Trump is facing pushback from his predecessor Barack Obama, who is taking on an increasingly prominent role in the final weekend of campaigning before midterm elections in which Republican control of Congress is threatened. With rallies taking place in Montana and Florida, a state he had already visited on Wednesday, Trump is keeping up his relentless campaign schedule before Tuesday's ballot, which has become a referendum on his utterly unconventional presidency. The campaigning comes one week after a gunman, who allegedly hated immigrants and Jews, killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and after a fanatical Trump supporter was arrested in Florida on charges of mailing homemade bombs to more than a dozen Trump opponents, including Obama. At a moment of deep national division, with the political temperature soaring, the president's critics say he has helped create an atmosphere in which the two attackers felt comfortable to carry out their crimes. "A Republican Congress means more jobs and less crime. A Democratic Congress means more crime and less jobs, very simple. I like that. Nothing like simplicity," Trump told supporters in Belgrade, Montana. Trump says his Republicans are in a good position ahead of the midterm congressional elections, particularly with new employment figures out showing the economy booming. But polls point to the Democrats capturing at least the House of Representatives, threatening the billionaire president with the spectre of an opposition finally able to block policies and dig into his highly opaque personal finances. In the last stages of the campaign, Trump is dueling with Obama, who returned to the public eye at a Florida rally on Friday. Obama is set to campaign again Sunday in his hometown of Chicago, as well as in Indiana, where the seat of Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly is in danger. America at 'a crossroads' At a rally on Friday, Trump called America's first black president "Barack H. Obama," a reference to Obama's middle name of Hussein. Before his presidential run, Trump fanned conspiracy theories about the origins of Obama, who was born in Hawaii. Obama explained his reemergence at a Georgia rally in support of Stacey Abrams, who is seeking to be the first black female governor of any US state. "I'm here for one simple reason: to ask you to vote," Obama said. "The consequences of any of us staying home are profound because America is at a crossroads... The character of our country is on the ballot." Trump has brought an unprecedented brand of confrontational politics to the White House, and clearly enjoys a fight. The latest official jobs figures, which showed 250,000 net new positions in October -- ahead of forecasts -- gave him a golden opportunity to crow over what he almost daily claims to be the world's "hottest economy." But if, on the one hand, the president has been touting the United States as a land of plenty with jobs for all, on the other he has stirred fear and loathing. Even as illegal immigration has dipped to a quarter of what it was in 2000, Trump claims that the country faces an "invasion" of Central Americans. He has ordered regular army troops to the US-Mexican border as a caravan of a few thousand impoverished migrants slowly marches toward the boundary. They are currently marching toward Isla, in Mexico's state of Veracruz. He has also announced "tent cities" to detain people demanding political asylum, and claimed the power to scrap the right to citizenship for anyone born on US soil -- until now considered protected by the US Constitution. A military spokesman said that more than 7,000 US soldiers will be positioned in states bordering Mexico by the end of the weekend. Newsweek reported that it had obtained documents which showed intelligence officials did not anticipate high involvement of criminal gangs among the migrants, and that the administration expects only a minority of those in the caravan would actually reach the border. "These are bad people, there's some bad hombres in that group," Trump told the Montana rally. "They came out with a list of 300 really bad ones, really bad ones, they're in there," he added, without specifying a source. Obama decried Trump's troop deployment as a "political stunt" serving to "get folks angry and ginned up." "There's just constant fear-mongering to distract from the record," he added.

US midterms: To fight Trump, Democrats increasingly lean on Obama

The information technology (IT) industry in India has come a long way from early beginnings to a $150-billion global leader. In this journey, many of us who have led companies in this industry have faced many hurdles in our key markets and have seen technology shifts that threatened our global delivery model. However, we have always come out stronger and given a strategic response that has benefited all our stakeholders at all times.

Today, there are three challenges facing the industry. The first is the inexorable shift to digital, leading to a completely different way global clients of the industry will deploy processes and technology to engage with customers and supply chain partners. The second is the hectic pace of automation, both by manufacturing and services clients as robots in the physical world and robotic process automation in the services arena consume jobs all over the world and also in the IT and business process management (BPM) industry itself, threatening jobs like infrastructure and applications support, applications development and testing, which become easy targets for automation. And last, but not the least, is the looming spectre of protectionism, with traditional markets like the US, Europe and even Africa looking out for local talent and creating barriers for free movement of professionals from India.

The hot topic of the day is US President Donald Trump's multiple pronouncements against the highly skilled visa programme and the issuance of H-1B visas, supported by top white house advisors and members of the US Congress and Senate. The moves stem from President Trump's "America First" agenda which welcomes and encourages investments in the US while denouncing any moves to shift work offshore or replace American jobs with visa holding professionals. It does not help that Indian nationals continue to account for the overwhelming majority of H-1B and L-1 visas issued (74 per cent in FY 2017).

With all the pressure on Indian firms, local employment is being increased and the number of visas sponsored by Indian firms continues to decline each year with Nasscom recording a 55 per cent decline in new H-1B petitions for initial employment from FY 2014 levels of 18,709 to 8,468 in FY2017.

The response of the Indian industry has always been in three dimensions. The first is the fact that India's IT sector is a "net creator" of jobs in the US, directly supporting over 4 lakh jobs in the US. In the last four years alone, American jobs supported by Indian companies grew by 10 per cent annually compared to annual US job growth of less than 2 per cent. The second is the help given to thousands of the US businesses to improve their operations, create new products and services and gain market share through superior global competitiveness. The participation of Indian H-1B and green card holders in cutting-edge research has made the US the dominant tech nation for decades, an edge that the US can ill afford to lose.

The third and possibly the most compelling argument is that the US Department of Labor estimates that there will be 2.4 million unfilled jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by 2018, with half of these in IT related roles, and while Indian companies have stepped in to fill the gap, the annual number of IT specialists from India working on temporary visas is about 0.009 per cent of the 158-million strong US workforce.

It would, of course, be unrealistic to expect any softening of the US stance for the immediate future. The industry needs to protect its revenues by embracing new models that are driven by IP creation, local hiring and more intense offshore capability building. With digital transformation becoming the need of the day for all clients, building multi-stakeholder platforms and re-skilling the existing workforce on all shores in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data sciences and user experience design will be the best way to protect and enhance both revenues and industry reputation globally. The industry will make it happen. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-h-1b-or-not-to-be-is-one-more-challenge-before-the-it-industry-2660094">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The information technology (IT) industry in India has come a long way from early beginnings to a $150-billion global leader. In this journey, many of us who have led companies in this industry have faced many hurdles in our key markets and have seen technology shifts that threatened our global delivery model.

The information technology (IT) industry in India has come a long way from early beginnings to a $150-billion global leader. In this journey, many of us who have led companies in this industry have faced many hurdles in our key markets and have seen technology shifts that threatened our global delivery model. However, we have always come out stronger and given a strategic response that has benefited all our stakeholders at all times. Today, there are three challenges facing the industry. The first is the inexorable shift to digital, leading to a completely different way global clients of the industry will deploy processes and technology to engage with customers and supply chain partners. The second is the hectic pace of automation, both by manufacturing and services clients as robots in the physical world and robotic process automation in the services arena consume jobs all over the world and also in the IT and business process management (BPM) industry itself, threatening jobs like infrastructure and applications support, applications development and testing, which become easy targets for automation. And last, but not the least, is the looming spectre of protectionism, with traditional markets like the US, Europe and even Africa looking out for local talent and creating barriers for free movement of professionals from India. The hot topic of the day is US President Donald Trump's multiple pronouncements against the highly skilled visa programme and the issuance of H-1B visas, supported by top white house advisors and members of the US Congress and Senate. The moves stem from President Trump's "America First" agenda which welcomes and encourages investments in the US while denouncing any moves to shift work offshore or replace American jobs with visa holding professionals. It does not help that Indian nationals continue to account for the overwhelming majority of H-1B and L-1 visas issued (74 per cent in FY 2017). With all the pressure on Indian firms, local employment is being increased and the number of visas sponsored by Indian firms continues to decline each year with Nasscom recording a 55 per cent decline in new H-1B petitions for initial employment from FY 2014 levels of 18,709 to 8,468 in FY2017. The response of the Indian industry has always been in three dimensions. The first is the fact that India's IT sector is a "net creator" of jobs in the US, directly supporting over 4 lakh jobs in the US. In the last four years alone, American jobs supported by Indian companies grew by 10 per cent annually compared to annual US job growth of less than 2 per cent. The second is the help given to thousands of the US businesses to improve their operations, create new products and services and gain market share through superior global competitiveness. The participation of Indian H-1B and green card holders in cutting-edge research has made the US the dominant tech nation for decades, an edge that the US can ill afford to lose. The third and possibly the most compelling argument is that the US Department of Labor estimates that there will be 2.4 million unfilled jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by 2018, with half of these in IT related roles, and while Indian companies have stepped in to fill the gap, the annual number of IT specialists from India working on temporary visas is about 0.009 per cent of the 158-million strong US workforce. It would, of course, be unrealistic to expect any softening of the US stance for the immediate future. The industry needs to protect its revenues by embracing new models that are driven by IP creation, local hiring and more intense offshore capability building. With digital transformation becoming the need of the day for all clients, building multi-stakeholder platforms and re-skilling the existing workforce on all shores in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data sciences and user experience design will be the best way to protect and enhance both revenues and industry reputation globally. The industry will make it happen. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Amid H-1B visa row, Indian IT industry faces many challenges

Early turnout by young voters has surged ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, powered by gains in states whose voters are pivotal to Democrats' chances of winning back control of the US Congress.

Young American activists, angry over President Donald Trump and a wave of deadly school shootings, had vowed to get their peers to the polls in unprecedented numbers. The initial turnout, along with the results of opinion polls, higher registration rates and increased absentee ballot requests, suggests their political enthusiasm has not waned.

"In fact, as we get closer, I think it’s only likely to increase," said John Della Volpe, polling director at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics.

That could be good news for Democrats, who need a younger, more diverse electorate to win some of their toughest races. Young voters are more likely to be Democratic, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found young Democrats are more likely than young Republicans to say they are certain to vote this year.

Initial estimates modeled from survey responses, voter registrations and other data show huge increases in early turnout of voters ages 18-29 compared with the last midterm elections in 2014.

In Republican-leaning Texas and Georgia, early and absentee voting by people under 30 has increased by more than 400 per cent, according to TargetSmart, a Democratic data firm tracking early voting nationwide.

In Florida and Arizona, ballots cast by young voters are up 131 per cent and 217 per cent, respectively, from 2014, TargetSmart's analysis shows.

In comparison, among voters ages 30-39, voting is up by 121 per cent in Florida and 172 per cent in Arizona, the analysis shows.

Those states feature some of this cycle's highest-profile races, including the progressive campaigns of Beto O'Rourke for a US&nbsp;Senate seat in Texas, and Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams for governor in Florida and Georgia, respectively.

Overall early voting in those four states has topped their 2014 levels, fueled by increased turnout across all ages. Young voters registered the biggest gains but still had the lowest turnout so far of any age group.

Early voting data does not reveal how someone voted and does not indicate what turnout will look like on Election Day.

Jesse Hunt, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Republicans should also benefit from the rising turnout of young voters due largely to the strong economy.

"Recent college graduates will see the best labour market in years thanks to the policies implemented by this Republican-led Congress, and those voters will be receptive to the Republican agenda," Hunt said.

Flummoxed by stamps

Beating the 2014 turnout is not that hard given how weak it was for young voters, said Daniel Smith, a political scientist at the University of Florida who is tracking voting data.

"Youth are energized, but so is everyone else this election," he said.

In the 2014 midterm election, only about 16 per cent of adults ages 18-24 voted, compared with about 39 per cent of Americans overall, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Midterm elections in 1986 and 1994 marked the highest turnout for voters under 30 in recent decades at 21 per cent, census data shows.

"Younger voters have gotten registered," Smith said. "But it’s not like an automatic that they’re going to start voting."

Voting rights groups say they have been especially creative this year to get young voters to the polls.

NextGen America, founded by billionaire liberal activist Tom Steyer, has targeted college campuses. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, the group made students “pinkie promise” to vote in exchange for ring pops and even helped carry boxes into residence halls on move-in day – while registering students to vote.

“Students aren’t apathetic,” said Rachel Clay, southeast regional coordinator for the Campus Vote Project. "They are often first-time voters, there are ID problems, they often don’t have a car, they have classes all day. Voting is treated as kind of a hassle, rather than being something to be excited about."

Enthusiasm high

There are signs this year could be different.

A Harvard poll released this week showed Americans under 30 are much more interested in voting than the past two midterm cycles.

Forty per cent of those polled said they would "definitely vote" in the upcoming elections, up from 27 per cent in 2010 and 26 per cent in 2014.

Della Volpe said actual turnout typically trails the polling data by the high-single digits, still putting this year's turnout on track to potentially surpass previous midterm cycles.

Both Democrats and Republicans indicated increased enthusiasm since the spring, with 54 per cent of Democrats intending to vote and 43 per cent of Republicans planning to do so.

"We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm we’re seeing across the country, but there’s a lot of work to be done," said Tyler Law, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Katelyn Dino, a junior at LaGrange College in Georgia, said Tuesday will mark the first time she votes in a non-presidential year. She plans to cast her ballot for Abrams.

"I am actually skipping school on November 6 to go vote," Dino said.

Early turnout by young voters has surged ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, powered by gains in states whose voters are pivotal to Democrats' chances of winning back control of the US Congress.

Early turnout by young voters has surged ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, powered by gains in states whose voters are pivotal to Democrats' chances of winning back control of the US Congress. Young American activists, angry over President Donald Trump and a wave of deadly school shootings, had vowed to get their peers to the polls in unprecedented numbers. The initial turnout, along with the results of opinion polls, higher registration rates and increased absentee ballot requests, suggests their political enthusiasm has not waned. "In fact, as we get closer, I think it’s only likely to increase," said John Della Volpe, polling director at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. That could be good news for Democrats, who need a younger, more diverse electorate to win some of their toughest races. Young voters are more likely to be Democratic, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found young Democrats are more likely than young Republicans to say they are certain to vote this year. Initial estimates modeled from survey responses, voter registrations and other data show huge increases in early turnout of voters ages 18-29 compared with the last midterm elections in 2014. In Republican-leaning Texas and Georgia, early and absentee voting by people under 30 has increased by more than 400 per cent, according to TargetSmart, a Democratic data firm tracking early voting nationwide. In Florida and Arizona, ballots cast by young voters are up 131 per cent and 217 per cent, respectively, from 2014, TargetSmart's analysis shows. In comparison, among voters ages 30-39, voting is up by 121 per cent in Florida and 172 per cent in Arizona, the analysis shows. Those states feature some of this cycle's highest-profile races, including the progressive campaigns of Beto O'Rourke for a US Senate seat in Texas, and Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams for governor in Florida and Georgia, respectively. Overall early voting in those four states has topped their 2014 levels, fueled by increased turnout across all ages. Young voters registered the biggest gains but still had the lowest turnout so far of any age group. Early voting data does not reveal how someone voted and does not indicate what turnout will look like on Election Day. Jesse Hunt, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Republicans should also benefit from the rising turnout of young voters due largely to the strong economy. "Recent college graduates will see the best labour market in years thanks to the policies implemented by this Republican-led Congress, and those voters will be receptive to the Republican agenda," Hunt said. Flummoxed by stamps Beating the 2014 turnout is not that hard given how weak it was for young voters, said Daniel Smith, a political scientist at the University of Florida who is tracking voting data. "Youth are energized, but so is everyone else this election," he said. In the 2014 midterm election, only about 16 per cent of adults ages 18-24 voted, compared with about 39 per cent of Americans overall, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Midterm elections in 1986 and 1994 marked the highest turnout for voters under 30 in recent decades at 21 per cent, census data shows. "Younger voters have gotten registered," Smith said. "But it’s not like an automatic that they’re going to start voting." Voting rights groups say they have been especially creative this year to get young voters to the polls. NextGen America, founded by billionaire liberal activist Tom Steyer, has targeted college campuses. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, the group made students “pinkie promise” to vote in exchange for ring pops and even helped carry boxes into residence halls on move-in day – while registering students to vote. “Students aren’t apathetic,” said Rachel Clay, southeast regional coordinator for the Campus Vote Project. "They are often first-time voters, there are ID problems, they often don’t have a car, they have classes all day. Voting is treated as kind of a hassle, rather than being something to be excited about." Enthusiasm high There are signs this year could be different. A Harvard poll released this week showed Americans under 30 are much more interested in voting than the past two midterm cycles. Forty per cent of those polled said they would "definitely vote" in the upcoming elections, up from 27 per cent in 2010 and 26 per cent in 2014. Della Volpe said actual turnout typically trails the polling data by the high-single digits, still putting this year's turnout on track to potentially surpass previous midterm cycles. Both Democrats and Republicans indicated increased enthusiasm since the spring, with 54 per cent of Democrats intending to vote and 43 per cent of Republicans planning to do so. "We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm we’re seeing across the country, but there’s a lot of work to be done," said Tyler Law, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Katelyn Dino, a junior at LaGrange College in Georgia, said Tuesday will mark the first time she votes in a non-presidential year. She plans to cast her ballot for Abrams. "I am actually skipping school on November 6 to go vote," Dino said.

Young US voter turnout surges, but challenges linger

The upcoming US midterm elections are important for various reasons, one of the main highlights of these elections is the increasing number of candidates running for the federal legislature or governor are persons of colour.

The battle for the governor's mansion in the US state of Georgia features a woman vying to become the first black woman governor to run a state.

"Voter suppression isn't only about blocking the vote.. It's also about creating an atmosphere of fear... making people worry that their votes will not count," said Democrat Stacey Abrams in the first debate with Republican candidate Brian Kemp in Atlanta. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

According to a report, more than 53 thousand voter applications were on hold in the state ahead of election day. Nearly 70 per cent of those were from black applicants.

The battle for Georgia's governor's seat is emblematic of a number of races across the US in which candidates of colour are making strides in record numbers and initiating a wave of 'firsts' across the country.&nbsp;

In Michigan, former provincial lawmaker Rashida Tlaib is poised to become the first Muslim woman ever and the first Palestinian-American ever in the house of representatives -- the lower house of US Legislature.&nbsp;

In fact, Rashida Tlaib will be elected unopposed because no one is running against her. She will represent Michigan's 13th congressional district.&nbsp;

"If we want to be able to have a seat at the table then we're going to have to run, but people like us with unique names and different backgrounds and children of immigrants and all those things that I think makes us uniquely different in our lens very different to finally run for office," said Rashida Tlaib.

Another Muslim woman, a thirty-five-year-old, Minnesota lawmaker Ilhan Omar, hopes to be the first Somali-American in the US legislature.

She is also a refugee. She came to the US when she was twelve-years-old.&nbsp;

In New Mexico, Democrat Debra Haaland is trying to become America's first Native-American woman elected to the lower house of US legislature.

"There's never been a Native-American woman. There's nobody that looks like me," says Debra Haaland.

Tallahassee's Democratic mayor Andrew Gillum is running for Florida's governor. If he wins he will become Florida's first black governor.

Gillum is well aware that his win would be groundbreaking and he is not afraid to comment on the way racism has permeated his run against his opponent - Republican and former federal lawmaker Ron Desantis.

"He's got neo-nazis helping him out in this state.. Now I'm not calling Mr Desantis a racist, I'm simply saying the racists believe he's a racist," said Andrew Gillum.

Recently, President Donald Trump had accused Gillum of being a "thief", without citing any evidence.

In southern California's most Republican congressional district, a young, Latino-Arab-American Democrat is gaining ground, but Ammar Campa-Najjar's opponent have raised concerns over his racial background.

The upcoming US midterm elections are important for various reasons, one of the main highlights of these elections is the increasing number of candidates running for the federal legislature or governor are persons of colour.

The upcoming US midterm elections are important for various reasons, one of the main highlights of these elections is the increasing number of candidates running for the federal legislature or governor are persons of colour. The battle for the governor's mansion in the US state of Georgia features a woman vying to become the first black woman governor to run a state. "Voter suppression isn't only about blocking the vote.. It's also about creating an atmosphere of fear... making people worry that their votes will not count," said Democrat Stacey Abrams in the first debate with Republican candidate Brian Kemp in Atlanta. According to a report, more than 53 thousand voter applications were on hold in the state ahead of election day. Nearly 70 per cent of those were from black applicants. The battle for Georgia's governor's seat is emblematic of a number of races across the US in which candidates of colour are making strides in record numbers and initiating a wave of 'firsts' across the country. In Michigan, former provincial lawmaker Rashida Tlaib is poised to become the first Muslim woman ever and the first Palestinian-American ever in the house of representatives -- the lower house of US Legislature. In fact, Rashida Tlaib will be elected unopposed because no one is running against her. She will represent Michigan's 13th congressional district. "If we want to be able to have a seat at the table then we're going to have to run, but people like us with unique names and different backgrounds and children of immigrants and all those things that I think makes us uniquely different in our lens very different to finally run for office," said Rashida Tlaib. Another Muslim woman, a thirty-five-year-old, Minnesota lawmaker Ilhan Omar, hopes to be the first Somali-American in the US legislature. She is also a refugee. She came to the US when she was twelve-years-old. In New Mexico, Democrat Debra Haaland is trying to become America's first Native-American woman elected to the lower house of US legislature. "There's never been a Native-American woman. There's nobody that looks like me," says Debra Haaland. Tallahassee's Democratic mayor Andrew Gillum is running for Florida's governor. If he wins he will become Florida's first black governor. Gillum is well aware that his win would be groundbreaking and he is not afraid to comment on the way racism has permeated his run against his opponent - Republican and former federal lawmaker Ron Desantis. "He's got neo-nazis helping him out in this state.. Now I'm not calling Mr Desantis a racist, I'm simply saying the racists believe he's a racist," said Andrew Gillum. Recently, President Donald Trump had accused Gillum of being a "thief", without citing any evidence. In southern California's most Republican congressional district, a young, Latino-Arab-American Democrat is gaining ground, but Ammar Campa-Najjar's opponent have raised concerns over his racial background.

US midterm elections: Women, immigrants eye big win

Pop star Taylor Swift is not really known for making political statements, but the "Bad Blood" singer is no longer holding back ahead of the midterm elections in November.

In a lengthy post on Instagram, where she has 112 million followers, the 28-year-old Swift says while she has been "reluctant" to share her political views in the past, she has changed her mind.

She endorsed the Democrat running for the US Senate in her home state of Tennessee, and unleashed a fierce attack on his opponent, Republican Marsha Blackburn, who currently serves in the House.

"As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me," Swift said.

"She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape."

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BopoXpYnCes/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! 🗳😃🌈</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Taylor Swift</a> (@taylorswift) on <time datetime="2018-10-07T23:33:38+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 7, 2018 at 4:33pm PDT</time>
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Last year, Swift won a lawsuit against a former radio DJ she accused of groping her.

Blackburn "believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry," Swift added.

"These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives."

She urged her fans to register to vote, saying: "Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values.

"For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway."

Pop star Taylor Swift is not really known for making political statements, but the "Bad Blood" singer is no longer holding back ahead of the midterm elections in November.

Pop star Taylor Swift is not really known for making political statements, but the "Bad Blood" singer is no longer holding back ahead of the midterm elections in November. In a lengthy post on Instagram, where she has 112 million followers, the 28-year-old Swift says while she has been "reluctant" to share her political views in the past, she has changed her mind. She endorsed the Democrat running for the US Senate in her home state of Tennessee, and unleashed a fierce attack on his opponent, Republican Marsha Blackburn, who currently serves in the House. "As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me," Swift said. "She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape." View this post on Instagram I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! 🗳😃🌈 A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Oct 7, 2018 at 4:33pm PDT × Last year, Swift won a lawsuit against a former radio DJ she accused of groping her. Blackburn "believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry," Swift added. "These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives." She urged her fans to register to vote, saying: "Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. "For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway."

Taylor Swift gets political, endorses Democrats in US midterms

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Taylor Swift gets political, endorses Democrats in US midterms