In a landmark case on the separation of powers between India's Union (Federal) and State governments, the Supreme Court ruled that state Governors - who are appointed by the Union Government - must assent to a bill if it is placed before them a second time by the State Legislature. The SC also ruled that the ten bills that had been pending with Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for months could be deemed to have received his assent.

The Governor's assent was historically seen as a mere formality in the passage of a bill. But over the last few years, state governments not led by the BJP - which leads India's Union Government - have complained that Governors reject or delay assent for bills passed by them. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, whose government brought this case to the Supreme Court, hailed the verdict as a victory for federalism and all state governments.

The National People's Power alliance of Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won a majority of seats in the Sri Lankan Parliament, and is on course to a two-thirds majority with about 62% of the vote (up from 4% in 2020). Led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People's Liberation Front), they campaigned on a platform of punishing corruption, renegotiating austerity policies imposed by the IMF, and uniting the country's various ethnic groups. They have also become the first Sinhala-majority party to win a district (Jaffna) in the Tamil-majority north, also making gains in the Muslim-majority east and Malaiyaha-dominated centre. The traditional poles of Sri Lankan politics - the centre-left, Sinhala nationalist SLFP / SJB and the centre-right, socially liberal UNP / NDF, as well as Tamil nationalist parties that often supported the UNP, lost seats.

Elections to the territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the state of Haryana gave mixed results for political parties. A coalition led by the J&K National Conference won 49 (JKNC 42, Congress 6, Communist 1) of 90 elected seats in the territory. This puts JKNC leader Omar Abdullah in a comfortable position to form the next government, even with the addition of five members nominated by the federal government. The BJP, which leads India's federal government and controversially removed J&K's special status, won 29 seats.

In Haryana, the BJP overcame anti-incumbancy and farmer protests to win 48 out of a total 90 seats, thanks to a strong local campaign and a popular leader in Nayab Singh Saini. The opposition Congress improved its vote and seat-share, but failed to dislodge the BJP. Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat - who had accused Wrestling Federation President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual assualt - was elected from Julana constituency representing the Congress Party.

While the JKNC and the BJP have cause to celebrate, these results weaken the Congress, challenging its demand for the leading position within the opposition. In the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand state elections, it may have to concede seats - or even coalition leadership - to its allies.

Context: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Sri_Lankan_presidential_election

I'll just post this here and get some popcorn.

Across the world, the biggest smartphone manufacturers are Apple (28%), Samsung (24%), Xiaomi (12%), Oppo (6%) and Vivo (5%). However, there are geographic patterns in popularity, with Apple dominating North America and East Asia, while Samsung leads in South America, Europe, Africa and West Asia in addition to its home turf of South Korea. Xiaomi is the most popular phone brand across South Asia, Spain, Venezuela, Ukraine, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Palestine, while Tecno is popular in West and Central Africa. Oppo, Vivo and Huawei lead in Indonesia, Bhutan and Togo respectively.

Across the world, the biggest smartphone manufacturers are Apple (28%), Samsung (24%), Xiaomi (12%), Oppo (6%) and Vivo (5%). However, there are geographic patterns in popularity, with Apple dominating North America and East Asia, while Samsung leads in South America, Europe, Africa and West Asia in addition to its home turf of South Korea. Xiaomi is the most popular phone brand across South Asia, Spain, Venezuela, Ukraine, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Palestine, while Tecno is popular in West and Central Africa. Oppo, Vivo and Huawei lead in Indonesia, Bhutan and Togo respectively.

Across the world, the biggest smartphone manufacturers are Apple (28%), Samsung (24%), Xiaomi (12%), Oppo (6%) and Vivo (5%). However, there are geographic patterns in popularity, with Apple dominating North America and East Asia, while Samsung leads in South America, Europe, Africa and West Asia in addition to its home turf of South Korea. Xiaomi is the most popular phone brand across South Asia, Spain, Venezuela, Ukraine, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Palestine, while Tecno is popular in West and Central Africa. Oppo, Vivo and Huawei lead in Indonesia, Bhutan and Togo respectively.

Low hanging fruit, but whatever. It is what it is.

Cheung Ka-long's 15-14 victory in an Olympic fencing final against Filippo Macchi has resulted in a war of words between their fans. Italy supporters have attacked Cheung's social media accounts, arguing that the referees - from South Korea and Taiwan - may have been biased towards him. In response, Hongkongers have posted their love of 'pineapple on pizza' and 'pasta with soy sauce'. Pizza hut Hong Kong has announced free pineapple toppings on pizza orders.

South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that the state health insurance agency should provide the same benefits to spouses in same-gender relationships as it does to those in heterosexual marriages. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.

South Korea, like most of East Asia, neither prohibits nor recognises same-sex relationships. As of now, only three places in Asia - Nepal, Thailand and Taiwan - have full marriage equality.