Sputnik
Moscow, Nov 4: The outcome of the US presidential race is still much undecided, as the close race in some states makes vote recounts and legal battles very likely, John Zogby, a public opinion pollster and the founder of political consulting firm John Zogby Strategies, told Sputnik.
Despite some states still counting votes, President Donald Trump has earlier declared that he won the November 3 election, adding that this year’s vote was a fraud.
“It is premature for him to declare victory. There are still millions of votes to be counted, especially in battleground states and the races are still undecided. Yes, it is still possible for Biden to win,” Zogby said when asked whether the results are obvious.
The expert suggested that “if we are lucky,” the United States will know the outcome by Thursday, but warned that “some of these states are very close so there will be recounts and court challenges.”
He also expressed confidence that Trump would deliver on his promise to challenge mail-in voting.
“Postal voting will be challenged in court. The President promised that last night. And the very legitimacy of the vote will be challenged by a vocal minority of whichever side loses,” he added.
When asked to assess Trump’s performance in key states, Zogby said that he “did well” among those who see the economy and its reopening as top issues and those who want a strong leader, law and order. He also noted that Trump had “spoken to the forgotten and in a language that is irreverent toward the establishment.”

Washington, Nov 4: From Ford Model T cars that popped off the assembly line in just 90 minutes to 60-second service for burgers, the United States has had a major hand in making the world a frenetic and impatient place, primed and hungry for instant gratification.
So waking up to the news Wednesday that the winner of the US election might not be known for hours, days or weeks — pundits filled global airwaves with their best guesses — came as a shock to a planet weaned on that most American of exports: speed.
’’We have to have a little patience, almost certainly a lot of patience,” said the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, as the nail-biting contest for the White House increasingly focused on three states — Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — that could prove crucial in determining whether President Donald Trump or challenger Joe Biden wins.
“In the American system, the last vote counts, and maybe the last vote changes the result,” Borrell told Spanish National Television.
But as world leaders generally refrained from commenting on the outcome until it was clear, the particularly fractious and contested nature of the vote was already sparking concerns overseas that the superpower’s sharp divisions and internal conflicts exposed by the election might endure long after the winner is declared.
“The battle over the legitimacy of the result — whatever it will look like — has now begun,” said the German defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.
“This is a very explosive situation. It is a situation of which experts rightly say it could lead to a constitutional crisis in the US,” she said on ZDF television. “That is something that must certainly worry us very much.”
In financial markets, investors struggled to make sense of it all, sending some indexes up and others down.
Overall, uncertainty ruled. In the vacuum of no immediate winner, there was some gloating from Russia, Africa and other parts of the world that have repeatedly been on the receiving end of US criticism, with claims that the election and the vote count were exposing the imperfections of American democracy.
“Africa used to learn American democracy, America is now learning African democracy,” tweeted Nigerian Sen. Shehu Sani, reflecting a common view from some on a continent long used to troubled elections and US criticism of them.
Traditional US allies clung to the belief that regardless of whether Trump or Biden emerged as the winner, the fundamentals that have long underpinned some of America’s key relationships would survive the uncertainty and the US electoral process.
“Whatever the result of the election, they will remain our allies for many years and decades, that is certain,” said Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for the internal market.
That idea was echoed by the prime minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, who told a parliamentary session that “the Japan-US alliance is the foundation of Japanese diplomacy, and on that premise I will develop solid relationship with a new president.”

Jammu, Nov 4: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday accorded sanction for the construction of transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrant employees at six places in the valley at a cost of Rs 201.60 crore under Prime Minister’s development package.
A four-member committee headed by Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, has been set up to resolve all matters pertaining to the identification and transfer of land to the Department of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction by November 15, the Government said.

New Delhi, Nov 4: In a landmark judgment delivered on Wednesday, Supreme Court laid down guidelines for determining quantum of interim maintenance to be awarded during pendency of matrimonial matters from the day, it had been filed.
A bench comprising Justices Indu Malhotra and Subash Reddy pronounced the verdict, which could have a large impact on maintenance and alimony, those who need and seek from the courts.
The Supreme Court also issued extensive guidelines on payment of maintenance in matrimonial disputes.
Now, both sides must disclose their income, maintained from date of filing application, alimony to be enforced as a money decree, the Supreme Court ruled and asked all the state high courts to comply with its judgement.

1st-7th from second week of Nov: DSEK

Bhat Imran

Srinagar, Nov 4 : Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Wednesday said that the examinations of 8th and 9th standard will commence from November-15.

DSEK officials said this in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Director School Education Kashmir wherein Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for conduct of T2 examination for classes 1st to 9th and annual Board examination for Class 10th and 12th session November 2020 were announced.

Joint Director (JD) of DSEK, Aabid Hussain told KNO that the examination process for Class 8th and 9th shall start from 15th of November and conclude by November-21and timing shall be 11.00 Am to 1.00 PM

Hussain said DSEK has also decided to start the examination process of Classes 1st to 7th from the second week of November.

He said, “Private Schools who have already conducted the examination for Class 9th need not to conduct the examination afresh.”

In the meeting, all the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) were instructed that the term second examination for Class 1st to 9th shall be conducted at school level for the current academic session by adhering to the guidelines issued in this regard.

“School based assessment shall be conducted from 2nd week of November-2020 to assess the learners of Class 1st to 7th on the following parameters by following all necessary precautions and SOP’s,” the officials said.

The concerned schools were asked to set the test papers as per the assessment scheme in vogue with a 40 per cent concession or relaxation.

“The ERSA wing of SCERT shall provide model papers through the concerned DIET’s to the schools and the students are required to attempt only 60 percent marks (24 marks out of 40 marks) which shall be proportionately raised to 100 percent (40 marks),” officials said.

Officials in a meeting further said that the final result compilation shall be done at DIET level in respect of Class 8th only in order to keep the proper record of the students.

They said that for class 9th, as there is no detention policy in vogue, the concerned school shall identify the learning gaps and bridge the gaps if any, during the ensuing academic year, adding “The examination for the class shall be conducted as per assessment process adopted for class 1st to 7th.”

Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Nov 4: Kashmir may face shortage of mutton as mutton dealers have refused to adhere to the recently fixed rate list for mutton by the administration.
Two days back, administration fixed rates of mutton at Rs 480 (retail) and Rs 450 (wholesale) in Kashmir.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole chaired a meeting of Rate Fixation Committee and fixed rates of mutton at Rs 480 (retail) and Rs 450 as (wholesale) rates in Kashmir.
However, the mutton dealers have resisted the recently fixed rate list.
“Who will sell mutton at Rs 480 when we get more than Rs 520 from outside dealers? We have instead decided to close our shops if we are forced to sell mutton at Rs 480 per kilogram,” Mohammad Subhan, a mutton dealer said.
General Secretary, All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association (KWMD), Mehraj-ud-Din Ganai said it was not possible for them to sell mutton at Rs 480.
“The rates have been fixed without consulting us. These rates are not genuine. How can we sell mutton at these rates when we purchase it for more than Rs 480,” Ganai said.
He said the government had a proposal from Sheep Husbandry where they have claimed expenditure of Rs 476 on the production of one kilogram mutton.
“But Kashmir is a meat consuming region and most of the mutton is imported from outside. Then how can they fix rates on the proposal of Sheep Husbandry,” he asked. “This has created confusion and can lead to shortage of mutton in markets,” he said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said the rates were fixed after taking all factors into consideration.
“Law enforcing agencies will take action against those who sell meat at higher rates,” he said.
The main supply of mutton in Kashmir is imported from Rajasthan. (KINS)