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The Supreme Court observed humans can manipulate electronic voting machines but is averse to the return of ballot papers. Also, trust in the Election Commission is not 100 percent. The word used was “manipulate”. But ballot papers are a strict “no-no” as "India is not Germany". Final apex thought: The EVM, while accurate by all means, can be tampered with by “human beings”, but will rule the roost. So, wait for new trustworthy technology? Perhaps Artificial Intelligence intervenes and the EVM learns to become “self-aware”.

The Friday Times in Islamabad reports that recent changes in the political dynamics of the Middle East could lead to more extensive conflicts. This situation points out a crucial lesson for Pakistan's military and strategic decision-makers: nations must emphasize their own security. Given the uncertainties in international relations, it is evident that countries cannot rely on external assistance for their defense.

KOLKATA: Campaigning in Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Alipurduar Lok Sabha constituencies in north Bengal were not at all warming up exercises for either Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. Apart from going by the saying that well begun is half done, both the leaders have sweated it out in these north Bengal seats seeking to "draw the first blood”. All three presently with the BJP, will go to the polls on April 19 in the first phase.

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the elite Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and his deputy General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi were killed in an airstrike attributed to Israel on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: He came. He saw. But he failed to conquer. That broadly sumps up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest visit to Kerala. The PM’s Mission Kerala has failed to serve the purpose of boosting the sagging fortunes of the BJP in the elections.

BHOPAL: BJP is leaving no stone unturned to snatch Chhindwara from Congress – the only seat which it won in 2019.LokSabha polls in Madhya Pradesh. Besides all possible powers, it is also using police to demoralise the Congress candidate Nakul Nath as also his father Kamal Nath, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Home Minister Amit Shah not only spent night in Chhindwara but also put up a mega road show to impress voters.

Speaking in an election rally in Pipariya town in Hoshangabad Parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh on April 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a mockery of nuclear disarmament. In his speech he said ‘those who talk of nuclear disarmament cannot protect the country;’ some constituents of INDIA group talk of nuclear disarmament he warned. There can be only two inferences from his statement. One, that he is using it for petty electoral gains by projecting himself as the saviour of the country who talks on the position of military strength. The other inference could be that he is naïve about the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.

As Lok Sabha election campaigns nearing to its close in Tamil Nadu, INDIA bloc allies seem to have established their political dominance in all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state. NDA is trailing far behind in all seats and therefore likely to not winning any of them. Elections to all the 39 seats are scheduled in the first phase of election on April 19. Three political alliances are in the electoral battlefield – INDIA bloc, AIADMK led alliance, and NDA.

LONDON: The risk of catastrophic war in the Middle East is real. Western governments, including Britain’s, calling on Israel not to spark such a war have the means to force it to comply and must be made to use them.

Talk polls and Andhra Pradesh is lacklustre. Telangana hogs all the publicity and sucks dry any left for Andhra Pradesh. Part of the reason is Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y Jagan Mohan Reddy’s glamour quotient. Last Saturday, a flying stone found his forehead and there was no hue or cry. The stone left a discoloured signature. Thankfully, no concussion.