Tokyo, July 30 (IANS) Japan on Tuesday called for making public all information necessary to verify the credibility of the voting results in Venezuela, citing that “doubts have been raised both domestically and internationally” about the transparency of the entire election process.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced on Monday that Nicolas Maduro has won the presidential election for the third time and will govern the country from 2025 to 2031.

“Doubts have been raised both domestically and internationally about the transparency of the election process, including the counting of votes,” Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Japan calls for all information necessary to verify the credibility of the voting results to be made public and for the transparency of the presidential election process to be ensured, so that the will of all Venezuelans who voted is respected,” it added.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced preliminary results showing that with 80 per cent of votes counted, President Maduro received approximately 5.15 million votes, while unified opposition candidate Gonzalez received approximately 4.44 million votes.

“According to local reports, issues have been pointed out, such as opposition witnesses not being allowed access to the CNE headquarters during the vote count, and the opposition only being shown partial certificates showing the voting results on each voting machine, raising doubts about the transparency of the electoral process and the election results,” stated the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Several countries, including the United States, have also raised “serious concerns” about Maduro winning the presidential election once again.

“We’ve seen the announcement just a short while ago by the Venezuelan electoral commission. We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Tokyo on Monday.

“It’s critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently, that election officials immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay, and that the electoral authorities publish the detailed tabulation of votes. The international community is watching this very closely and will respond accordingly,” he added.

–IANS

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London, July 30 (IANS) A third child, a nine-year-old girl, has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in Monday’s knife attack in northwest England’s Southport, the local police announced on Tuesday.

“We can confirm that the children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years. Eight other children suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack, and five of them are in a critical condition,” a statement released by Merseyside Police on the horrific incident detailed.

Two adults also remain in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.

A 17-year-old male from Banks in Lancashire, who was born in Cardiff, was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and remains in police custody.

The children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack those inside.

The police said that the shocking incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and they are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.

“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport. This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing,” said the police statement.

It also mentioned that its specialist Family Liaison Officers are providing support to the families at this terrible time.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to visit Southport later on Tuesday.

Ahead of Starmer’s visit, British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Southport MP Patrick Hurley laid flowers at the scene of the attack on Tuesday morning. A vigil is also being planned in the evening in memory of the victims.

–IANS

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Singapore, July 30 (IANS) Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has arrested a 64-year-old Singaporean suspect and seized a large amount of drugs, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

CNB officers made the arrest and seized 6.25 kilograms of cannabis, 4.66 kilograms of heroin, and 437 grams of Ice, among other drugs, from his hideout on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The seized drugs, with an estimated value of 696,000 Singapore dollars ($518,000), can feed the addiction of 3,340 abusers for a week, the CNB said.

The narcotics bureau is currently investigating the case.

Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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Tehran, July 30 (IANS) Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, and other senior leaders of various countries have reached Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday evening.

According to Iran, 10 delegations headed by the Presidents and Prime Ministers, 15 delegations headed by the presiding officers of Parliaments, 16 delegations headed by Vice Presidents, Deputy Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents of Parliaments and Ministers, 17 delegations headed by special envoys, as well as Secretary Generals and Ambassadors and 12 delegations, headed by resident or non-resident ambassadors of the countries, will participate in the inauguration ceremony in the hall of the Islamic Council.

Among the dignitaries that arrived were Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, and Prime Ministers Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgia, Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, Hussein Arnous of Syria, and Manuel Marrero Cruz of Cuba.

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdel Ati, Saudi Arabian Minister of Interior Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and European Union’s deputy foreign policy chief Enrique Mora have also reached the country to attend the ceremony.

India is being represented by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will lead his country’s delegation.

Among other foreign leaders that are participating are Qatar’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi, Kazakhstan Senate Chairman Ashimbayev Maulen Sagathanuly, Malaysia’s House of Representatives Speaker Tan Sri Dato Johari bin Abdul, and Senegal National Assembly’s President Amadou Mame Diop,

Hamas’ Head of the Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhalah, and Yemen’s Ansarullah spokesman Mohammad Abdul Salam are also in Tehran to participate in the ceremony.

Most of the visiting foreign leaders have held meetings with Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei, President Pezeshkian, and Majles Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

–IANS

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Athens, July 30 (IANS) Greece has culled approximately 9,000 animals following an outbreak of the small-ruminants plague (PPR).

The action was taken to contain the spread of the contagious and deadly viral disease after inspections of over 2,30,000 goats and sheep over the past week, Greek Agricultural Development and Food Minister Kostas Tsiaras said on Tuesday.

“We are taking all necessary measures to address the issue,” he told Greek broadcaster ERT, adding that there was no risk to public health.

The agriculture ministry has announced a nationwide ban on the transport of goats and sheep for any reason as a preventive step, as experts were trying to locate the origin of the disease, Xinhua news agency reported.

The first cases were identified in the region of Thessaly in central Greece last week, where units were placed under quarantine.

On Monday, a few cases were reported also near Athens and on the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece. Breeders said that some animals tested positive were imported from Romania.

Greek authorities also proceeded to ban imports of goats and sheep from Romania until this Friday.

Tsiaras said that the state will support affected animal breeders. According to the ministry, breeders are refunded 150 euros ($162.5) for each animal killed.

The amount is small compared to the losses, Greek goat and sheep breeder Nikos Guvas told Xinhua.

Despite the assurances by officials and experts that PPR has no consequences on human health, a few customers of butcher Antonis Blamis in Athens were hesitant to purchase meat products this week.

–IANS

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