The world's biggest election ever has begun in India. Nearly a billion people are voting in select states in the first phase of a week-long general election. The results won't come until June 4.

Delhi

India has commenced what is being heralded as the largest election event in history, with the start of the voting process that is engaging nearly a billion eligible voters across the country. This monumental event is spread over select states in the initial phase of a week-long general election, whose outcomes will only be revealed on June 4.

In Uttar Pradesh, a significant northern state in India, there is a high voter turnout with individuals patiently waiting to cast their votes even under the challenging conditions of the hot midday sun. Measures such as tarps have been deployed to provide relief from the high temperatures, indicative of the intense heat that characterizes this time of the year in India. Voter enthusiasm is evident, with many expressing their eagerness and satisfaction in participating in this pivotal democratic exercise.

The scale of this election is unparalleled, with estimations of around one million polling stations, 15 million polling agents, and nearly a billion eligible voters. Uttar Pradesh, where substantial electoral activity is concentrated, stands as a crucial state due to its massive population and significant political influence. The state is so populous that, if considered independently, it would rank as the fifth most populous country globally. It is a key player in the Indian parliament composition, often dictating the outcomes of the general elections.

The current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, while enjoying widespread popularity, is facing a highly charged electoral contest. Modi's tenure has been marked by significant political shifts towards Hindu nationalism, raising concerns over the erosion of India's secular traditions. This election could potentially grant Modi a third term, amplifying fears regarding the further marginalization of minority communities, including the 200 million Muslims in India.

In response, numerous opposition parties have formed the India Alliance in a concerted effort to challenge Modi's incumbency. This alliance seems to be resonating particularly well in predominantly Muslim neighborhoods, capturing most of the votes in those areas as the country undergoes the first of seven voting phases, leading to the much-anticipated results on June 4.



A billion people begin voting in India elections

I'm at a polling booth in northern India, in Uttar Pradesh state, and there is a steady stream of voters here waiting to cast their ballot in this election, even under the hot midday sun. You can see, obviously, there are tarps here to keep people safe from that intense heat in one of the hottest times of the year in India. And I want to ask some people waiting in line here how they're feeling about voting here. Why is it important to vote for you? So eager and really happy to be here to cast their ballots and vote in this consequential election. Now, this is a country where voter turnout is generally quite high, but this is just day one in the biggest election the world has ever seen. And the numbers are really quite staggering. There's about one million polling stations, 15 million polling agents, and nearly a billion eligible voters. And a lot of them are actually right here in this state, Uttar Pradesh. It's in the northern part of India, and it has got a huge population. If it were a country, it would be the fifth largest country in the world, the fifth most populous country in the world. It has a population larger than some countries like Brazil, for example, like Pakistan. And so it is really important. It sends the most MPs and has the most seats that make up India's parliament. So it is said that whoever wins UP wins power. It is also right in the centre of what is called the Hindu heartland of this country, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hugely popular. And we've actually seen that popularity in rally after rally. Polls suggest Modi is in a strong position to secure a rare third term, but he is a highly polarizing figure. During his 10 years in power, India has seen an erosion of its history as a secular nation, with Hindu nationalism becoming the dominant political ideology. And critics fear if Modi wins a third term, the situation will worsen, especially for the country's 200 million Muslims. Dozens of India's opposition parties have banded together in what's called the India Alliance to try to beat the Prime Minister in this election. And in this one predominantly Muslim neighbourhood, they are getting most of the votes here. This is of course only day one of seven days and seven phases of voting. The results won't come until June 4th in this consequential election. Salimah Shifty, CBC News, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.

Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

Arizona

Arizona governor signs bill repealing 1864 abortion ban

U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

From suspensions to expulsions to criminal charges, college students across the U.S. involved in these pro-Palestinian protests could face life-changing consequences. Some are demanding amnesty for these protesters.

New York

More than 1,000 student protesters arrested across U.S.

English voters are heading to polling stations to pick mayors, councilors and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.

London

Voters head to polls in last test for U.K.'s Sunak

The US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow. In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the department said in a factsheet.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

There are grave concerns for Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson who are missing on a surf trip in Mexico's Baja region. The pair have failed to arrive at their accommodation and are not responding to contact from their families.

Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has kept open the prospect of tax incentives in the budget as business warned that changes to foreign investment laws. It comes amid criticism that budget spending could prompt further inflation and prompt rate rises.

Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, pushing to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a deal that would halt fighting and bring some hostages home from the enclave.

Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

Police in Georgia fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters demonstrating against a bill that would require organizations – including media and NGOs – that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The bill has been dubbed the "Russian law" by its detractors.

Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

A diplomatic push is underway to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. exerting pressure on Hamas to agree to Israel's terms. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to attack Rafah in southern Gaza, whether there's a ceasefire or not.

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

Qantas has apologised to customers after its app exposed personal passenger data. The airline blames a technical disruption and says the data breach was not a cyber security incident.

Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

The International Court of Justice has ruled against issuing emergency measures over German arms sales to Israel as requested by Nicaragua, which had argued that there was a serious risk of genocide in Gaza amid Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory.

The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

New York police have entered Columbia University and arrested protesters barricaded inside a building who have been calling on the New York school to divest itself from companies associated with Israel.

Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday (April 30) for the first time since he was diagnosed in February with cancer, paying a visit to a treatment center for the disease in London.

King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

A 14-year-old boy is dead and multiple people injured after a daylight sword attack in Hainault, in east London. The alleged attacker tasered and arrested by Police shortly afterwards.

Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

Brittany Higgins has failed in a bid to delay a defamation trial brought against her by Senator Linda Reynolds over social media posts made in July last year. Fiancé David Sharaz, also named in the case, calling for the Senator to drop the case.

Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

Since taking office four months ago, Argentina's new president Javier Milei has slashed public employment in an effort to cut the country's deficit. So far, 24,000 people have been let go, and Milei has said he wants that figure to hit 70,000, about 10 percent of overall government employees.

Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in a popular seafront park in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa killed at least five people and injured 32, local officials said. Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.

Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf resigned, further opening the door to the UK opposition Labour Party regaining ground in its former Scottish heartlands during a national election expected to be held later this year.

Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

A 17-year-old girl charged with the stabbing murder of her 10-year-old sister in a suburb of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales will remain in custody.

Lake Macquarie

Teenager faces court over murder of 10-year-old sister

Columbia University began suspending pro-Palestinian activists who refused to dismantle a tent encampment on its New York City campus after the Ivy League school declared a stalemate in talks seeking to end the polarizing protest.

Columbia University suspends pro-Palestinian protesters

The debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Jan. 2 was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, United Nations sanctions monitors told a Security Council committee in a report seen by Reuters on Monday (April 29).

Kharkiv

U.N. experts say North Korea missile landed in Kharkiv

Columbia University's president said that talks with pro-Palestinian activists over a protest encampment on the Ivy League campus in New York City had reached an impasse and urged demonstrators to voluntarily disperse or face suspension.

Protesters defy deadline to leave Columbia encampment

Spain's Prime Minister said he has decided to stay in office after days of publicly weighing his future, generating relief amongst leftist allies, exasperation among the public and ridicule from his opponents. Sanchez said last week that he was retreating from public duty to decide whether to quit.

Madrid

Pedro Sanchez stays on as Spain's prime minister

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he is hopeful Hamas will accept an “extraordinarily generous” offer, as U.K. Foreign Minister David Cameron says it will include a 40-day ceasefire. But the sticking points remain: Israelis want a truce while Hamas demands a cessation of all hostilities.

Riyadh

U.S., U.K. urge Hamas to accept Israeli truce proposal

G7 environment ministers have gathered in Turin for two days of talks, as hundreds of protesters demonstrated in the city, some burning photos of the G7 leaders who they accuse of failing future generations over the climate crisis.