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- Riding a wave of public fury over corruption, liberal lawyer Zuzana Caputova won Slovakia's presidential election, bucking a trend that has seen populist, anti-European Union politicians make gains across the continent.
- Caputova, a pro-EU political novice who will be the euro zone country's first female president, had 58.3 percent of the votes after results from 98.1 percent of voting districts were counted, ahead of European commissioner Maros Sefcovic who took 41.7 percent.
- Caputova, who was the front runner having won the first round more than 20 percentage points ahead of Sefcovic, campaigned to end what she calls the capture of the state "by people pulling strings from behind," a message that opinion polls show resonates with younger, educated voters.
- The 45-year old member of a liberal non-parliamentary Progressive Slovakia party which she pledged to leave if elected has been endorsed by opposition parties and a junior party in the ruling coalition that represents the ethnic Hungarian minority, as well as outgoing President Andrej Kiska.
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- The RBI has directed banks dealing with government business to keep their branches open today, as it is the last day of the current financial year.
- The Government of India has advised that all Pay and Account Offices will remain open 31st march to facilitate government receipt and payment transactions.
- Accordingly, all Agency Banks are advised to keep all their branches dealing with government business open.
- In a separate notification, the RBI said all electronic transactions, including RTGS and NEFT, will continue for the extended time 31st march.
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- Afghanistan's Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum has escaped unhurt from a Taliban attack.
- The attack occurred on 30th march in the northern province of Balkh, where Dostum had held a rally earlier in the day.
- Dostum escaped unhurt in the attack however his bodyguard was killed in the attack.
- This is the second attack on Dostum in last one year.
- Dostum had a close shave in Kabul airport's suicide bombing attack in July in which 23 people were killed.
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- U.S. President Donald Trump said Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop thousands of people trying to get into the United States.
- Threatening drastic action against Mexico, Trump declared he is likely to shut down America's southern border next week unless Mexican authorities immediately halt all illegal immigration.
- The President also cut U.S. aid to three Central American nations whose citizens are fleeing North America.
- The State Department said in a statement that it will suspend 2017 and 2018 payments to the trio of nations that have been home to some of the migrant caravans that have marched through Mexico to the U.S. border.
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- The first woman to win the Afghan version of American Idol says she will fight the Taliban with her music, embracing a victory rich in symbolism as her country faces an uncertain future
- Zahra Elham won the 14th edition of Afghan Star last week, after male contestants took the prize in the hugely popular televised singing competition 13 years in a row.
- Elham, from Afghanistan’s ethnic Hazara minority, enchanted audiences with her high-pitched, raspy voice, performing Hazara and Persian folk music in traditional loose, colourful Afghan dresses and heels.
- The result made international headlines at a time when many women in the deeply patriarchal country fear their hard-won rights may come under threat as Washington, seeking a way out of the war, holds talks with the Taliban.
- Elham, who spoke to AFP in an interview at private television channel Tolo, which produces Afghan Star, appeared taken aback by her new fame more than a week on but determined to use it to inspire other girls.
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