After announcing a surprise martial law order, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces pushback from MPs who quickly gathered at the National Assembly and voted to block his move. Demonstrators also gathered outside parliament to protest the sudden military rule. Less than two hours after his declaration, President Yoon reverses course, with some attributing the decision to his controversial and weakened position as a lame duck president. In response, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has called for nationwide strikes until Yoon resigns, labeling his actions as a "crime of insurrection."
In response to the sudden declaration of emergency martial law in South Korea and the subsequent control near the president's office, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has announced an indefinite general strike. The strike, which will begin at 9 a.m. at Gwanghwamun, is a massive show of defiance against the government's actions. The White House has also stated that they were not notified in advance of the martial law declaration, adding further tension to the already volatile situation. Meanwhile, singer Park Hyo-shin has announced his highly anticipated return with a new album after a hiatus of 5 years.
The West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution urging the withdrawal of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in Parliament. BJP legislators staged a walkout during the discussion on the resolution, opposing it. Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, who moved the resolution, stated that the bill, if passed, will have a negative impact on Waqf administration in the country. However, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari argued that the resolution was a waste of time as a Joint Parliamentary Committee had been formed to examine the bill, and its term has been extended till 2025.
With the Jhunjhunu bypoll results set to be announced on November 23, 2024, the race is on to see who will be elected as the next Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from this important Assembly constituency in Rajasthan. With a total of 11 candidates in the fray, including big names from major political parties like the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the stakes are high. In the previous election, INC's Brijendra Singh Ola emerged victorious, but with many new candidates vying for the seat, it remains to be seen who will come out on top in 2024. Stay updated with live result updates on the day of the bypoll to find out who will win and who will lose.
Investors and market enthusiasts in India will have to take note of the stock market holiday list for 2024, as the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will be observing a holiday today in observance of the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024. This public holiday applies to all divisions of the NSE and BSE, including the equity, derivative, and SLB segments. To stay informed and avoid any confusion, individuals can refer to the BSE website for the full list of stock market holidays in 2024. This sudden holiday was added to the schedule due to the announcement of the Maharashtra Election on November 20, 2024. The Indian stock market will resume trading on December 25, 2024, after the Christmas holiday.
Indian stock markets will shut down on November 20, 2024, due to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. This announcement by the Election Commission of India has led to a one-day market closure, with trading and settlements not taking place on the National Stock Exchange and the BSE. The next market holiday will be on December 25 for Christmas, followed by the final market holiday for the year. However, the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) and National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) will also be closed for the day, with contracts expiring on November 20 settling a day earlier. As for the market recap on November 18, 2024, both benchmark indices ended in the red due to weak global cues and cautious investor sentiment ahead of the state elections.
The political turmoil in Manipur continues as the National People's Party, the second-largest ally of the ruling BJP-led NDA state government, withdraws its support citing failure to restore normalcy. While the BJP still holds a comfortable majority in the Assembly, this pullout represents a setback for the administration and signals further erosion of support. Amidst this, the Opposition Congress has also ramped up pressure on the government, with some even offering to resign from their MLA positions for a new mandate. All eyes are now on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has cancelled political programmes in Maharashtra to monitor the security situation in Manipur and has instructed for steps to restore peace.
As Maharashtra gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, national leaders take a backseat as state leaders become the focal point of the political landscape. With marquee leaders like Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena and Devendra Fadnavis of BJP fighting for their own dominance, the role of regional leaders becomes crucial. Amidst this, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar faces the heat while Uddhav Thackeray struggles to establish himself as the real Shiv Sena leader. The Congress also adopts a localised strategy, leaving the NCP camp to rely on the master strategist, Sharad Pawar. With multiple factors at play, the Maharashtra elections have become a highly contested battle with each of the 288 constituencies being influenced by distinct issues.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani called out the Congress-led INDIA Alliance for their attempts to strangle the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. She questioned whether the leaders of the alliance would stand in the way of the rights granted to tribal communities after the removal of Article 370. Accusing them of working for their own self-interest, Irani asserted that Article 370 would not be restored and their attempts to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India would not be successful.
Tensions escalated into physical altercations during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session when a banner demanding the reinstatement of Article 370 was unfurled by the brother of jailed MP Engineer Rashid. The session, the first in six years, has been marked by disputes, including the passing of resolutions opposing the revocation of Article 370 and calling for the state's unique position to be restored. The special provision, which granted Jammu and Kashmir considerable autonomy, was repealed by the Central Government in 2019, leading to ongoing conflicts within the state's government.