Opposition leader Nicola Zingaretti told Italy's president on Wednesday that his Democratic Party (PD) was ready to try to form a government with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement.

Opposition leader Nicola Zingaretti told Italy's president on Wednesday that his Democratic Party (PD) was ready to try to form a government with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement. Speaking after talks with President Sergio Mattarella, Zingaretti told reporters his party was also ready to accept the 5-Star candidate for prime minister -- the current premier Giuseppe Conte. "We love Italy and we consider it worthwhile to try this experience," said Zingaretti. "In difficult times like these, shunning our responsibility to have the courage to try this is something we cannot afford." The two parties have been inching towards forming a coalition despite years of mutual hostility, as they sought to avoid snap elections that could favour the hard-right League party. Its leader Matteo Salvini collapsed the previous coalition alliance with 5-Star earlier this month after prolonged infighting. The prospect of a new government led by Conte, an academic who has no political affiliation but is considered close to the 5-Star, has buoyed markets, which are betting that Italy will avoid snap elections. Italy's 10-year bond yield fell to a record low below 1%, two-year bond yields fell to their lowest since May 2018 at -0.22% and Italy's 50-year bond yield fell to a record low around 2.266%. Investors fear early elections would be won by Salvini's hard-right League party, which could put Rome on a collision course with the European Union over expansionary government spending.

Italy opposition says it is ready for cabinet deal with 5-Star

Hong Kong braced for strikes, transport go-slows and another <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-businesses-pledge-closures-as-extradition-anger-builds-226173">mass demonstration</a> in protest against a proposed extradition law that would allow people to be sent to China for trial, as the Chinese-ruled city's leader vowed defiance.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would push ahead with the bill despite deep concerns across vast swaths of the Asian financial hub that triggered its biggest political demonstration since its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.

In a rare move, prominent business leaders warned that pushing through the extradition law<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/changes-in-fugitive-offenders-ordinance-could-undermine-hong-kongs-autonomy-us-226098"> could undermine investor confidence</a> in Hong Kong and erode its competitive advantages.

The extradition bill, which has generated unusually broad opposition at home and abroad, is due for a second round of debate on Wednesday in the city's 70-seat Legislative Council. The legislature is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority.

An online petition has called for 50,000 people to surround the legislature building at 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday and remain until Wednesday.

Britain handed Hong Kong back to China under a "one-country, two-systems" formula, with guarantees that its autonomy and freedoms, including an independent justice system, would be protected.

But many accuse China of extensive meddling, denying democratic reforms, interfering with local elections and the disappearance of five Hong Kong-based booksellers, starting in 2015, who specialised in works critical of Chinese leaders.

Sunday's protests plunged Hong Kong into political crisis, just as months of pro-democracy "Occupy" demonstrations did in 2014, heaping pressure on Lam's administration and her official backers in Beijing.

She warned against any "radical actions", following clashes in the early hours of Monday between some protesters and police after Sunday's otherwise peaceful march.

Police erected metal barriers to secure the council building as a small number of protesters started to gather on Tuesday evening despite torrential rain and thunderstorm warnings. Police conducted random ID checks at train stations.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo urged people to join the rally and encouraged businesses to strike "for a day, or two, or probably for one whole week".

Nearly 2,000 mostly small retail shops, including restaurants, grocery, book and coffee shops, have announced plans to strike, according to an online survey, a rare move in the staunchly capitalist economy.

Eaton HK Hotel, which is owned by Langham Hospitality Investments and operated by Great Eagle Holdings, said it respected workers' "political stances" and would allow them to rally.

The student union of several higher education institutions and the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union urged people to strike on Wednesday. Nearly 4,000 teachers said they would rally.

Human rights groups have repeatedly cited the alleged use of torture, arbitrary detentions, forced confessions and problems accessing lawyers in China, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party, as reasons why the Hong Kong bill should not proceed.

"When the fugitive extradition bill is passed, Hong Kong will become a 'useless Hong Kong'" said Jimmy Sham, convenor of Civil Human Rights Front. "We will be deep in a place where foreign investors are afraid to invest and tourists are afraid to go. Once the 'Pearl of the Orient' (it) will become nothing."

The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong called on the government not to pass the bill "hurriedly" and urged all Christians to pray for the former colony.

A staff union affiliated to a pro-democracy labour group under the New World First Bus Company called on its members to drive at the speed of 20-25 kmh (12-15 mph) to show their opposition to the proposed law.

A Facebook post called on people to enjoy a picnic next to government offices on Wednesday, describing the area as "among the best picnic sites". The post has attracted close to 10,000 responses from people promising to attend.

Beijing-based consultancy Gavecal said some bankers in Hong Kong were reporting that many mainland clients were shifting their accounts to Singapore, fearing they could come under scrutiny in the financial hub.

'Missteps could be costly'

Many residents of the financial centre, both expatriate and local, are increasingly unnerved by Beijing's tightening grip over the city.

China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Hong Kong matters are purely a Chinese internal affair and China demands the United States stops interfering in Hong Kong's affairs.

The comments came after Washington said on Monday it was gravely concerned about the proposed law and warned that such a move could jeopardise the special status Washington affords Hong Kong.

Prominent business figures urged the government to tread cautiously to protect Hong Kong's competitiveness.

"The integrity and independence of (Hong Kong's) legal system are absolutely central to Hong Kong's future," said Fred Hu, founder and chairman of China-based private equity firm, Primavera Capital Group.

Activist investor David Webb, in a post on Lam's Facebook page, urged her to send the bill to the Law Reform Commission for further study.

"If you press ahead and bulldoze the bill through LegCo, then you will probably get the legislation passed, but at huge political cost and damage to the international credibility of HK for due process when reforming its legislation," Webb said.

Hong Kong braced for strikes, transport go-slows and another mass demonstration in protest against a proposed extradition law that would allow people to be sent to China for trial, as the Chinese-ruled city's leader vowed defiance.

Hong Kong braced for strikes, transport go-slows and another mass demonstration in protest against a proposed extradition law that would allow people to be sent to China for trial, as the Chinese-ruled city's leader vowed defiance. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would push ahead with the bill despite deep concerns across vast swaths of the Asian financial hub that triggered its biggest political demonstration since its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997. In a rare move, prominent business leaders warned that pushing through the extradition law could undermine investor confidence in Hong Kong and erode its competitive advantages. The extradition bill, which has generated unusually broad opposition at home and abroad, is due for a second round of debate on Wednesday in the city's 70-seat Legislative Council. The legislature is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority. An online petition has called for 50,000 people to surround the legislature building at 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday and remain until Wednesday. Britain handed Hong Kong back to China under a "one-country, two-systems" formula, with guarantees that its autonomy and freedoms, including an independent justice system, would be protected. But many accuse China of extensive meddling, denying democratic reforms, interfering with local elections and the disappearance of five Hong Kong-based booksellers, starting in 2015, who specialised in works critical of Chinese leaders. Sunday's protests plunged Hong Kong into political crisis, just as months of pro-democracy "Occupy" demonstrations did in 2014, heaping pressure on Lam's administration and her official backers in Beijing. She warned against any "radical actions", following clashes in the early hours of Monday between some protesters and police after Sunday's otherwise peaceful march. Police erected metal barriers to secure the council building as a small number of protesters started to gather on Tuesday evening despite torrential rain and thunderstorm warnings. Police conducted random ID checks at train stations. Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo urged people to join the rally and encouraged businesses to strike "for a day, or two, or probably for one whole week". Nearly 2,000 mostly small retail shops, including restaurants, grocery, book and coffee shops, have announced plans to strike, according to an online survey, a rare move in the staunchly capitalist economy. Eaton HK Hotel, which is owned by Langham Hospitality Investments and operated by Great Eagle Holdings, said it respected workers' "political stances" and would allow them to rally. The student union of several higher education institutions and the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union urged people to strike on Wednesday. Nearly 4,000 teachers said they would rally. Human rights groups have repeatedly cited the alleged use of torture, arbitrary detentions, forced confessions and problems accessing lawyers in China, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party, as reasons why the Hong Kong bill should not proceed. "When the fugitive extradition bill is passed, Hong Kong will become a 'useless Hong Kong'" said Jimmy Sham, convenor of Civil Human Rights Front. "We will be deep in a place where foreign investors are afraid to invest and tourists are afraid to go. Once the 'Pearl of the Orient' (it) will become nothing." The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong called on the government not to pass the bill "hurriedly" and urged all Christians to pray for the former colony. A staff union affiliated to a pro-democracy labour group under the New World First Bus Company called on its members to drive at the speed of 20-25 kmh (12-15 mph) to show their opposition to the proposed law. A Facebook post called on people to enjoy a picnic next to government offices on Wednesday, describing the area as "among the best picnic sites". The post has attracted close to 10,000 responses from people promising to attend. Beijing-based consultancy Gavecal said some bankers in Hong Kong were reporting that many mainland clients were shifting their accounts to Singapore, fearing they could come under scrutiny in the financial hub. 'Missteps could be costly' Many residents of the financial centre, both expatriate and local, are increasingly unnerved by Beijing's tightening grip over the city. China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Hong Kong matters are purely a Chinese internal affair and China demands the United States stops interfering in Hong Kong's affairs. The comments came after Washington said on Monday it was gravely concerned about the proposed law and warned that such a move could jeopardise the special status Washington affords Hong Kong. Prominent business figures urged the government to tread cautiously to protect Hong Kong's competitiveness. "The integrity and independence of (Hong Kong's) legal system are absolutely central to Hong Kong's future," said Fred Hu, founder and chairman of China-based private equity firm, Primavera Capital Group. Activist investor David Webb, in a post on Lam's Facebook page, urged her to send the bill to the Law Reform Commission for further study. "If you press ahead and bulldoze the bill through LegCo, then you will probably get the legislation passed, but at huge political cost and damage to the international credibility of HK for due process when reforming its legislation," Webb said.

Hong Kong braces for new mass protests against planned extraditions to China

As the one true known quantity in the Democratic nomination race, former vice president Joe Biden sits atop the pack of 2020 presidential contenders, relishing the prime position as he hosts a kickoff rally Saturday.

No one knows whether the man who served as number two to popular Democratic president Barack Obama for eight years will run away with this contest -- his third White House bid in as many decades -- or fade out in the months-long test of political skill and stamina to come.

But the former longtime senator and lion of the Democratic Party are gearing up for what is certain to be a titanic battle against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-proposes-new-us-immigration-plan-favouring-skills-over-family-ties-219269">President Donald Trump</a>.

After a month of modest events at union halls and pizza joints in early-voting states like Iowa, Biden is counting on making a splash at a rally in Philadelphia, the largest city in must-win Pennsylvania, a state Trump snatched from Democrats in 2016.

He has made Philadelphia his campaign headquarters, in a further sign of the importance, he is placing on winning back the state for his party in 2020.

His kickoff will be held near the Philadelphia art museum steps immortalized by the scrappy boxer's run in the movie "Rocky."

Biden was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and the rally is a nod to his modest roots.

But far from being the underdog, Biden is looking to cement his status as the man to beat, the blue-collar voter whisperer who is best positioned to take on and defeat Trump.

And while his delayed entry into the race drew criticism that he might not be ready to mount a thoroughly energized campaign, the slow-and-steady strategy appears to be paying off.

By setting his own terms, limiting media engagements and minimizing chances for going off-script, the gaffe-prone Biden is emphasizing his status as preeminent party dignitary.

Polls give Biden, 76, a comfortable lead over the 22 other hopefuls.

The latest RealClearPolitics aggregate puts him at 39.1 per cent support, more than double the 16.4 per cent of his nearest rival, liberal Senator Bernie Sanders.

No one else is in double digits.

After a deeply divisive 2016 race, Democratic voters may be looking for an antidote to Trump, the brash politically inexperienced billionaire.

"What matters to them at the moment is a safe choice, a known entity, and somebody who they believe could beat President Trump at his own game," Lara Brown, director of George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, told AFP.

Nearly nine months before the first nomination votes are cast, Biden is the lone Democrat, aside from perhaps Sanders, with the celebrity status that comes close to Trump's.

But as voters start paying more attention, Biden -- who to date has campaigned mostly in broad strokes -- will be under pressure to flesh out positions on everything from health care and wages to immigration.

"Biden is the right man for the moment," Brown said. "Whether he will be the right Democrat eight months from now is still really up in the air."

BLUE COLLAR APPEAL

Biden's dominance has already changed the race's dynamic, with its early stars like senators Sanders, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren forced to play catch up and levelling criticism at the frontrunner.

Warren and Sanders, each of whom is highlighting the need to narrow the nation's economic inequalities, are expected to ramp up criticism of Biden as the embodiment of the Washington establishment.

Several rivals are from a newer generation, putting them at odds with the old-school Biden, whose major challenge may well be appealing to younger voters.

And while candidates like ex-congressman Beto O'Rourke are keeping up relentless schedules, honing their messages at town halls and meet-and-greets, Biden has opted for more protected environments.

"Let's see what happens when he's taking questions that haven't been vetted," Brown said.

Doing so will require fleshing out his policies, something that has already sparked controversy.

Biden caught flak from liberal groups and candidates for failing to embrace more progressive positions on climate change. He says he will lay out a climate policy in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

He has aligned himself closely with Obama, drawing major support from African American voters, a crucial constituency.

But he will also need to be prepared to lean leftward to acknowledge the party's more progressive tilt.

At the same time, he styles himself, like Trump, as an ardent defender of working-class Americans, someone who can win back the Midwestern white, male blue-collar voters who went for the Republican in 2016.

"If you're appealing to older, more mainstream voters, I think the story that's emerging from his campaign is not that he's the agent of radical change, but that he's going to be a more stable leader," said political science professor Robert Boatright of Clark University.

As the one true known quantity in the Democratic nomination race, former vice president Joe Biden sits atop the pack of 2020 presidential contenders, relishing the prime position as he hosts a kickoff rally Saturday.

As the one true known quantity in the Democratic nomination race, former vice president Joe Biden sits atop the pack of 2020 presidential contenders, relishing the prime position as he hosts a kickoff rally Saturday. No one knows whether the man who served as number two to popular Democratic president Barack Obama for eight years will run away with this contest -- his third White House bid in as many decades -- or fade out in the months-long test of political skill and stamina to come. But the former longtime senator and lion of the Democratic Party are gearing up for what is certain to be a titanic battle against President Donald Trump. After a month of modest events at union halls and pizza joints in early-voting states like Iowa, Biden is counting on making a splash at a rally in Philadelphia, the largest city in must-win Pennsylvania, a state Trump snatched from Democrats in 2016. He has made Philadelphia his campaign headquarters, in a further sign of the importance, he is placing on winning back the state for his party in 2020. His kickoff will be held near the Philadelphia art museum steps immortalized by the scrappy boxer's run in the movie "Rocky." Biden was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and the rally is a nod to his modest roots. But far from being the underdog, Biden is looking to cement his status as the man to beat, the blue-collar voter whisperer who is best positioned to take on and defeat Trump. And while his delayed entry into the race drew criticism that he might not be ready to mount a thoroughly energized campaign, the slow-and-steady strategy appears to be paying off. By setting his own terms, limiting media engagements and minimizing chances for going off-script, the gaffe-prone Biden is emphasizing his status as preeminent party dignitary. Polls give Biden, 76, a comfortable lead over the 22 other hopefuls. The latest RealClearPolitics aggregate puts him at 39.1 per cent support, more than double the 16.4 per cent of his nearest rival, liberal Senator Bernie Sanders. No one else is in double digits. After a deeply divisive 2016 race, Democratic voters may be looking for an antidote to Trump, the brash politically inexperienced billionaire. "What matters to them at the moment is a safe choice, a known entity, and somebody who they believe could beat President Trump at his own game," Lara Brown, director of George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, told AFP. Nearly nine months before the first nomination votes are cast, Biden is the lone Democrat, aside from perhaps Sanders, with the celebrity status that comes close to Trump's. But as voters start paying more attention, Biden -- who to date has campaigned mostly in broad strokes -- will be under pressure to flesh out positions on everything from health care and wages to immigration. "Biden is the right man for the moment," Brown said. "Whether he will be the right Democrat eight months from now is still really up in the air." BLUE COLLAR APPEAL Biden's dominance has already changed the race's dynamic, with its early stars like senators Sanders, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren forced to play catch up and levelling criticism at the frontrunner. Warren and Sanders, each of whom is highlighting the need to narrow the nation's economic inequalities, are expected to ramp up criticism of Biden as the embodiment of the Washington establishment. Several rivals are from a newer generation, putting them at odds with the old-school Biden, whose major challenge may well be appealing to younger voters. And while candidates like ex-congressman Beto O'Rourke are keeping up relentless schedules, honing their messages at town halls and meet-and-greets, Biden has opted for more protected environments. "Let's see what happens when he's taking questions that haven't been vetted," Brown said. Doing so will require fleshing out his policies, something that has already sparked controversy. Biden caught flak from liberal groups and candidates for failing to embrace more progressive positions on climate change. He says he will lay out a climate policy in the coming weeks. He has aligned himself closely with Obama, drawing major support from African American voters, a crucial constituency. But he will also need to be prepared to lean leftward to acknowledge the party's more progressive tilt. At the same time, he styles himself, like Trump, as an ardent defender of working-class Americans, someone who can win back the Midwestern white, male blue-collar voters who went for the Republican in 2016. "If you're appealing to older, more mainstream voters, I think the story that's emerging from his campaign is not that he's the agent of radical change, but that he's going to be a more stable leader," said political science professor Robert Boatright of Clark University.

Joementum: Biden ramps up 2020 bid with wind at his back

Thousands of opposition supporters protested outside the Albanian parliament Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, and clashed with police who used tear gas and water cannons.

The socialist prime minister has been in power since 2013. His critics accuse him of corruption.

Two police officers were hospitalised and four demonstrators had to be treated for breathing problems after the clashes, the health ministry said. Protesters tried repeatedly to break through police lines.

Several windows were broken as some demonstrators threw smoke grenades and stones towards the parliament building.&nbsp;

Around 10 protesters also tried to force their into the building with an attempt to break down the entrance door, before being pushed back by police inside.

"The situation is out of control," Lulzim Basha, leader of the main opposition centre-right Democratic Party. He blamed the police for having let the demonstrators get too close to the building so as to "incite violence" and allow Rama to denounce the opposition.

Thousands of demonstrators were still massed outside parliament by the early afternoon, an AFP journalist said.

"The 16th of February will be the last day in power for Rama," Basha told a meeting of his supporters on Wednesday. "This regime must be overturned at all costs."

Saturday's demonstration in the capital is the latest in a series that Basha has organised.

An opposition coalition made up of five parties, ranging from the centre right to the centre left, has accused Rama of "collusion with organised crime" and having "plunged the country into corruption and poverty".

They want him to stand aside in favour of a government of technocrats who would prepare early parliamentary elections.

One of the characteristics of political life in Albania is the violence of its rhetoric. Both the left and the right have accused their opponents of corruption and of being linked to organised crime.

Thousands of opposition supporters protested outside the Albanian parliament Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, and clashed with police who used tear gas and water cannons.

Thousands of opposition supporters protested outside the Albanian parliament Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, and clashed with police who used tear gas and water cannons. The socialist prime minister has been in power since 2013. His critics accuse him of corruption. Two police officers were hospitalised and four demonstrators had to be treated for breathing problems after the clashes, the health ministry said. Protesters tried repeatedly to break through police lines. Several windows were broken as some demonstrators threw smoke grenades and stones towards the parliament building. Around 10 protesters also tried to force their into the building with an attempt to break down the entrance door, before being pushed back by police inside. "The situation is out of control," Lulzim Basha, leader of the main opposition centre-right Democratic Party. He blamed the police for having let the demonstrators get too close to the building so as to "incite violence" and allow Rama to denounce the opposition. Thousands of demonstrators were still massed outside parliament by the early afternoon, an AFP journalist said. "The 16th of February will be the last day in power for Rama," Basha told a meeting of his supporters on Wednesday. "This regime must be overturned at all costs." Saturday's demonstration in the capital is the latest in a series that Basha has organised. An opposition coalition made up of five parties, ranging from the centre right to the centre left, has accused Rama of "collusion with organised crime" and having "plunged the country into corruption and poverty". They want him to stand aside in favour of a government of technocrats who would prepare early parliamentary elections. One of the characteristics of political life in Albania is the violence of its rhetoric. Both the left and the right have accused their opponents of corruption and of being linked to organised crime.

Thousands of protesters clash with police outside Albanian parliament

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/midterm-elections-us-senate-poll-in-new-jersey-crucial-for-democrats-175675">midterm elections in the United States</a>, scheduled for November 6, will decide the future powers of president Donald Trump and the possible impact of his policies on the world.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/whats-at-stake-on-november-6-in-us-midterm-elections-175532">The referendum</a> will give an idea of the general perception that the people have developed for Trump over the period of his presidency giving a real picture of Trump's popularity.

The change of power in the legislature will have a further impact on how Trump administrative functions in the remaining tenure.

If they make major strides, the Democrats will have the right to launch new policies, though a presidential approval is required on the bills for them to become a law.

The victory of the rival Democratic party in either the House of Representatives or the Senate might put a halt on the various projects launched by the Republicans.

For instance, the revamp of the tax system and the rollback of Obamacare will not be possible if the Democrats come back to power after the midterm polls.

The Democratic Party may even open an investigation into various policies of the Trump administration.

A report in CNN cited sources as familiar with the President as saying that Trump is "genuinely concerned" about the outcome of elections.

In an extreme situation, the Democrats may also initiate impeachment against Trump.

The elections also play an important role for countries that have engaged with Trump during the recent development.

Earlier, the elections did hold much importance for China, however, Trump's recent trade policies have made Beijing curious about the result of the congressional elections.

A media report cited an expert on US studies in China as saying that the people of the country were expecting a change in the US-China relations after the elections.

China hopes that the US may liberalise some of its policies against China after Trump faces a political setback. US and China have been launching escalating import tariffs at each other since March.

The victory of Democrats may also influence Trump's policies with North Korea. The leader of the nuclear-armed North Kim Jong Un held an unprecedented summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June where the two leaders aimed at denuclearizing the North Korea region.

The midterm elections in the United States, scheduled for November 6, will decide the future powers of president Donald Trump and the possible impact of his policies on the world.

The midterm elections in the United States, scheduled for November 6, will decide the future powers of president Donald Trump and the possible impact of his policies on the world. The referendum will give an idea of the general perception that the people have developed for Trump over the period of his presidency giving a real picture of Trump's popularity. The change of power in the legislature will have a further impact on how Trump administrative functions in the remaining tenure. If they make major strides, the Democrats will have the right to launch new policies, though a presidential approval is required on the bills for them to become a law. The victory of the rival Democratic party in either the House of Representatives or the Senate might put a halt on the various projects launched by the Republicans. For instance, the revamp of the tax system and the rollback of Obamacare will not be possible if the Democrats come back to power after the midterm polls. The Democratic Party may even open an investigation into various policies of the Trump administration. A report in CNN cited sources as familiar with the President as saying that Trump is "genuinely concerned" about the outcome of elections. In an extreme situation, the Democrats may also initiate impeachment against Trump. The elections also play an important role for countries that have engaged with Trump during the recent development. Earlier, the elections did hold much importance for China, however, Trump's recent trade policies have made Beijing curious about the result of the congressional elections. A media report cited an expert on US studies in China as saying that the people of the country were expecting a change in the US-China relations after the elections. China hopes that the US may liberalise some of its policies against China after Trump faces a political setback. US and China have been launching escalating import tariffs at each other since March. The victory of Democrats may also influence Trump's policies with North Korea. The leader of the nuclear-armed North Kim Jong Un held an unprecedented summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June where the two leaders aimed at denuclearizing the North Korea region.

Why US midterm polls are crucial for both Republicans and Democrats

Michael Cohen, United States President Donald Trump's former attorney, has returned to Democratic Party after he switched to Republican Party one and a half years ago.

Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis said that he took the decision after "putting his family and country first" and "distanced himself from the values of the Trump administration."

In March 2017, Cohen registered himself as a Republican. He had also served as the deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee` Finance Committee, before stepping down amid a federal investigation into his business deals, Fox News reported.

The move comes amid the souring ties between Trump and Cohen over adult actress Stormy Daniels` legal action against the duo over a USD 130,000 non-disclosure agreement, in which the porn star had agreed to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump.

The contract, which was signed days before the 2016 presidential poll, also led to the violation of Trump campaign`s finance laws, which Cohen had agreed later.

In August, the former lawyer had pleaded guilty to the charges in Manhattan federal court for orchestrating the payments at "Trump`s direction".

The announcement of Cohen`s sentence is scheduled for December 12 by Judge William H. Pauley and is expected to include jail time and a monetary fine.

Michael Cohen, United States President Donald Trump's former attorney, has returned to Democratic Party after he switched to Republican Party one and a half years ago.

Michael Cohen, United States President Donald Trump's former attorney, has returned to Democratic Party after he switched to Republican Party one and a half years ago. Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis said that he took the decision after "putting his family and country first" and "distanced himself from the values of the Trump administration." In March 2017, Cohen registered himself as a Republican. He had also served as the deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee` Finance Committee, before stepping down amid a federal investigation into his business deals, Fox News reported. The move comes amid the souring ties between Trump and Cohen over adult actress Stormy Daniels` legal action against the duo over a USD 130,000 non-disclosure agreement, in which the porn star had agreed to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. The contract, which was signed days before the 2016 presidential poll, also led to the violation of Trump campaign`s finance laws, which Cohen had agreed later. In August, the former lawyer had pleaded guilty to the charges in Manhattan federal court for orchestrating the payments at "Trump`s direction". The announcement of Cohen`s sentence is scheduled for December 12 by Judge William H. Pauley and is expected to include jail time and a monetary fine.

Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen returns to Democratic Party

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday downplayed the protest among party workers over its decision to forgo a Rajya Sabha seat in favour of the Kerala Congress (M), which returned to the UDF coalition after a gap of two years.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, KPCC president MM Hassan said the protest over the decision was natural in a democratic party but cautioned that it should not cross limits.

He said the party leadership also understood the workers' sentiments and their pain over the decision.

"We are also pained by the decision... But it was taken with a view to strengthen the party-led UDF and democratic forces to take on the BJP and the LDF in the state," Hassan said.

The Congress party would issue a whip asking its MLAs to vote for Jose K Mani, the RS candidate of the KM Mani-led KC(M).

However, the KPCC chief admitted that the KC(M) insisted on the seat as a condition for its re-entry into the UDF fold.

Meanwhile, rumblings in the party over the RS seat issue continued with former KPCC president V M Sudheeran saying that party workers felt that they were being cheated.

The senior leader also alleged that the decision lacked transparency.

The seat is currently held by Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurian of the Congress, who is set to retire on&nbsp;July 1.

Two young Congress MLAs, V T Balaram and K S Sabarinathan, who were among those who asked AICC chief Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the decision, expressed their displeasure again.

Balaram, in a Facebook post, called for a leadership change in the party and said people with vision and those who understood the pulse of the grassroot-level workers were the need of the hour.

The decision to field Jose Mani, son of K M Mani, as the candidate was taken at a KC(M) meeting held last night in Pala, near Kottayam, hours after the party rejoined the UDF.

Jose K Mani is currently the party's lone member in the Lok Sabha from the Kottayam parliamentary constituency.

MM Hassan said the protest over the decision was natural in a democratic party but cautioned that it should not cross limits

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday downplayed the protest among party workers over its decision to forgo a Rajya Sabha seat in favour of the Kerala Congress (M), which returned to the UDF coalition after a gap of two years. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, KPCC president MM Hassan said the protest over the decision was natural in a democratic party but cautioned that it should not cross limits. He said the party leadership also understood the workers' sentiments and their pain over the decision. "We are also pained by the decision... But it was taken with a view to strengthen the party-led UDF and democratic forces to take on the BJP and the LDF in the state," Hassan said. The Congress party would issue a whip asking its MLAs to vote for Jose K Mani, the RS candidate of the KM Mani-led KC(M). However, the KPCC chief admitted that the KC(M) insisted on the seat as a condition for its re-entry into the UDF fold. Meanwhile, rumblings in the party over the RS seat issue continued with former KPCC president V M Sudheeran saying that party workers felt that they were being cheated. The senior leader also alleged that the decision lacked transparency. The seat is currently held by Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurian of the Congress, who is set to retire on July 1. Two young Congress MLAs, V T Balaram and K S Sabarinathan, who were among those who asked AICC chief Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the decision, expressed their displeasure again. Balaram, in a Facebook post, called for a leadership change in the party and said people with vision and those who understood the pulse of the grassroot-level workers were the need of the hour. The decision to field Jose Mani, son of K M Mani, as the candidate was taken at a KC(M) meeting held last night in Pala, near Kottayam, hours after the party rejoined the UDF. Jose K Mani is currently the party's lone member in the Lok Sabha from the Kottayam parliamentary constituency.

Kerala Congress downplays protest over Rajya Sabha seat

A former South Korean presidential contender stepped down as a provincial governor today and announced his retirement from politics after a secretary accused him of multiple rapes.

The resignation of Ahn Hee-jung -- who came second to Moon Jae-in in the contest to select the Democratic Party&#39;s presidential candidate last year -- makes him the latest and most prominent figure in a swirling #MeToo movement in what is still a male-dominated society.

One of his secretaries told a television interviewer on Monday that he had raped her four times since hiring her in June.

Kim Ji-eun told JTBC that the last straw came when Ahn called her into his office on the night of February 25 and apologised for having hurt her, talking about the country&#39;s ongoing #MeToo movement.

&quot;And then he raped me again,&quot; she said, sighing and holding back tears.

She also accused Ahn of sexually assaulting others and said she would file a criminal complaint against him today.

Following the TV interview, the ruling Democratic Party held an emergency meeting and expelled Ahn with immediate effect.

Hours later, Ahn, 52, announced his resignation as governor of South Chungcheong Province and retirement from public life.

&quot;I apologise to everyone, especially to Miss Kim Ji-eun,&quot; he said in a Facebook post.

In the Democratic Party&#39;s process to select its presidential candidate last year, Ahn was runner-up to Moon, who went on to win the election in May.

Ahn had been tipped as a front-runner among liberal presidential hopefuls to succeed Moon -- who can only serve one term -- with South Korean conservatives reeling from the massive corruption scandal that led to the ouster of former president Park Geun-hye.

Moon last month threw his support behind the #MeToo campaign spreading across the country, urging measures to combat the widespread abuse of women and punish offenders.

A growing number of South Korean women have accused prominent figures of sexual abuse, making headlines in a country that remains deeply conservative despite economic and technological advances.

One of his secretaries told a television interviewer on Monday that he had raped her four times since hiring her in June

A former South Korean presidential contender stepped down as a provincial governor today and announced his retirement from politics after a secretary accused him of multiple rapes. The resignation of Ahn Hee-jung -- who came second to Moon Jae-in in the contest to select the Democratic Party's presidential candidate last year -- makes him the latest and most prominent figure in a swirling #MeToo movement in what is still a male-dominated society. One of his secretaries told a television interviewer on Monday that he had raped her four times since hiring her in June. Kim Ji-eun told JTBC that the last straw came when Ahn called her into his office on the night of February 25 and apologised for having hurt her, talking about the country's ongoing #MeToo movement. "And then he raped me again," she said, sighing and holding back tears. She also accused Ahn of sexually assaulting others and said she would file a criminal complaint against him today. Following the TV interview, the ruling Democratic Party held an emergency meeting and expelled Ahn with immediate effect. Hours later, Ahn, 52, announced his resignation as governor of South Chungcheong Province and retirement from public life. "I apologise to everyone, especially to Miss Kim Ji-eun," he said in a Facebook post. In the Democratic Party's process to select its presidential candidate last year, Ahn was runner-up to Moon, who went on to win the election in May. Ahn had been tipped as a front-runner among liberal presidential hopefuls to succeed Moon -- who can only serve one term -- with South Korean conservatives reeling from the massive corruption scandal that led to the ouster of former president Park Geun-hye. Moon last month threw his support behind the #MeToo campaign spreading across the country, urging measures to combat the widespread abuse of women and punish offenders. A growing number of South Korean women have accused prominent figures of sexual abuse, making headlines in a country that remains deeply conservative despite economic and technological advances.

South Korean presidential hopeful quits after rape accusation

Italy went to the polls Sunday in one of the country&#39;s most uncertain elections ever with far-right and populist parties expected to make major gains and Silvio Berlusconi set to play a leading role as voter turnout heads towards a new low.

Polls opened at 0600 GMT and will close at 2200 GMT, and early figures from the Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 19.4 percent, above the 14.9 percent from the same point in 2013, when however the country voted over two days.&nbsp;

The numbers are in line with those from the same point of the constitutional reform referendum in December 2016, when overall 65.5 percent of the nation voted. That would put turnout at the lowest levels for a general election since the Second World War.

Confusion and delays blighted voting at some polling stations, with new anti-electoral fraud procedures being blamed for huge queues, while in one polling station in Rome voting had to be suspended due to the discovery of voting cards with the wrong candidates&#39; names printed on them.

Tensions between far-right and anti-fascist activists have marred a gloomy campaign dominated by fears about immigration and economic malaise.

&quot;This election campaign has been pretty squalid, including from the Democratic Party (PD), who I voted for,&quot; 24-year-old barber Mirko Canali told AFP after casting his vote in Rome.

He said he knew many other young people who, fed up with high youth unemployment, had decided to support the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S).

&quot;They&#39;re pissed off, can&#39;t bear (PD leader Matteo) Renzi anymore and maybe they&#39;re right,&quot; Canali said.

Many Italians are cynical about promises made by the many squabbling parties and confused about what the outcome might be.

&quot;I voted for the right and Berlusconi in the past ... but this time I&#39;m voting M5S to be against the parties that have always stolen,&quot; said 24-year-old pastry chef Francesco Tagliavini at a polling station in Rome&#39;s Tor Marancia neighbourhood.

The result could be a stalemate between the M5S, three-time former prime minister Berlusconi&#39;s right-wing coalition and the ruling centre-left PD.

The final opinion polls put the coalition in the lead with 37 percent, followed by the M5S on 28 percent and the centre-left 27 percent.

But under a new electoral law being tried out for the first time, any grouping would need at least 40 percent of the vote to command an overall majority of seats in both chambers of parliament.

Berlusconi&#39;s back

A remarkable feature of the election has been the return to the limelight of 81-year-old Berlusconi, despite a political career overshadowed by sex scandals and legal woes.

The billionaire tycoon, who can&#39;t hold office because of a tax fraud conviction and has put forward European Parliament President Antonio Tajani as his prime ministerial nominee, was ambushed as he cast his vote in Milan by a topless woman from the Femen activists group who had &quot;Berlusconi, you have expired&quot; scrawled across her body.

Berlusconi isn&#39;t just being challenged by the public, however, as his plans face opposition from his ambitious coalition partner, League leader Matteo Salvini, whose anti-immigration and euro-sceptic rhetoric has fired up the campaign.

Salvini has said he should be nominated prime minister if his party comes ahead of Berlusconi&#39;s and their coalition as a whole wins a majority.

Berlusconi and Salvini have promised to expel 600,000 illegal migrants if they win -- a proposal dismissed by the centre-left as logistically impossible.

Pure populism

The election has drawn international attention, including from former White House adviser Steve Bannon -- the man who harnessed the populist insurgency that propelled Donald Trump to power.

Bannon, who is visiting Italy as part of a European tour, told the paper: &quot;The Italian people have gone farther, in a shorter period of time, than the British did for Brexit and the Americans did for Trump&quot;.

He called a potential alliance between the Five Star Movement and the League -- a scenario that has spooked financial markets and European capitals -- the &quot;ultimate dream&quot;.

PD leader Renzi told a final campaign event in his native Florence on Friday that only a vote for his party would prevent Salvini from taking power.

&quot;The PD is the only serious political force that can bring concrete results,&quot; Chiara Serdone, a 70-year-old retired railway company employee, told AFP at the rally.

Scenarios 

If no party wins an overall majority, one scenario outlined by analysts could be a grand coalition between the PD and Forza Italia -- a prospect that would reassure investors but risks spreading more cynicism and emboldening populists and the far-right.

Another possibility could be a temporary government and eventually a new election.

The M5S may end up as the single biggest party but has ruled out any post-election deals with the others.

Five Star&#39;s leader Luigi Di Maio broke with tradition by announcing a full list of ministerial nominees ahead of the vote, including many academics with no political experience.

The 31-year-old Di Maio told supporters: &quot;Some people have mocked this decision but we will be the ones laughing on Monday.&quot;

Early voting figures from the Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 19.4 percent, above the 14.9 percent from the same point in 2013

Italy went to the polls Sunday in one of the country's most uncertain elections ever with far-right and populist parties expected to make major gains and Silvio Berlusconi set to play a leading role as voter turnout heads towards a new low. Polls opened at 0600 GMT and will close at 2200 GMT, and early figures from the Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 19.4 percent, above the 14.9 percent from the same point in 2013, when however the country voted over two days. The numbers are in line with those from the same point of the constitutional reform referendum in December 2016, when overall 65.5 percent of the nation voted. That would put turnout at the lowest levels for a general election since the Second World War. Confusion and delays blighted voting at some polling stations, with new anti-electoral fraud procedures being blamed for huge queues, while in one polling station in Rome voting had to be suspended due to the discovery of voting cards with the wrong candidates' names printed on them. Tensions between far-right and anti-fascist activists have marred a gloomy campaign dominated by fears about immigration and economic malaise. "This election campaign has been pretty squalid, including from the Democratic Party (PD), who I voted for," 24-year-old barber Mirko Canali told AFP after casting his vote in Rome. He said he knew many other young people who, fed up with high youth unemployment, had decided to support the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S). "They're pissed off, can't bear (PD leader Matteo) Renzi anymore and maybe they're right," Canali said. Many Italians are cynical about promises made by the many squabbling parties and confused about what the outcome might be. "I voted for the right and Berlusconi in the past ... but this time I'm voting M5S to be against the parties that have always stolen," said 24-year-old pastry chef Francesco Tagliavini at a polling station in Rome's Tor Marancia neighbourhood. The result could be a stalemate between the M5S, three-time former prime minister Berlusconi's right-wing coalition and the ruling centre-left PD. The final opinion polls put the coalition in the lead with 37 percent, followed by the M5S on 28 percent and the centre-left 27 percent. But under a new electoral law being tried out for the first time, any grouping would need at least 40 percent of the vote to command an overall majority of seats in both chambers of parliament. Berlusconi's back A remarkable feature of the election has been the return to the limelight of 81-year-old Berlusconi, despite a political career overshadowed by sex scandals and legal woes. The billionaire tycoon, who can't hold office because of a tax fraud conviction and has put forward European Parliament President Antonio Tajani as his prime ministerial nominee, was ambushed as he cast his vote in Milan by a topless woman from the Femen activists group who had "Berlusconi, you have expired" scrawled across her body. Berlusconi isn't just being challenged by the public, however, as his plans face opposition from his ambitious coalition partner, League leader Matteo Salvini, whose anti-immigration and euro-sceptic rhetoric has fired up the campaign. Salvini has said he should be nominated prime minister if his party comes ahead of Berlusconi's and their coalition as a whole wins a majority. Berlusconi and Salvini have promised to expel 600,000 illegal migrants if they win -- a proposal dismissed by the centre-left as logistically impossible. Pure populism The election has drawn international attention, including from former White House adviser Steve Bannon -- the man who harnessed the populist insurgency that propelled Donald Trump to power. Bannon, who is visiting Italy as part of a European tour, told the paper: "The Italian people have gone farther, in a shorter period of time, than the British did for Brexit and the Americans did for Trump". He called a potential alliance between the Five Star Movement and the League -- a scenario that has spooked financial markets and European capitals -- the "ultimate dream". PD leader Renzi told a final campaign event in his native Florence on Friday that only a vote for his party would prevent Salvini from taking power. "The PD is the only serious political force that can bring concrete results," Chiara Serdone, a 70-year-old retired railway company employee, told AFP at the rally. Scenarios If no party wins an overall majority, one scenario outlined by analysts could be a grand coalition between the PD and Forza Italia -- a prospect that would reassure investors but risks spreading more cynicism and emboldening populists and the far-right. Another possibility could be a temporary government and eventually a new election. The M5S may end up as the single biggest party but has ruled out any post-election deals with the others. Five Star's leader Luigi Di Maio broke with tradition by announcing a full list of ministerial nominees ahead of the vote, including many academics with no political experience. The 31-year-old Di Maio told supporters: "Some people have mocked this decision but we will be the ones laughing on Monday."

Italy votes in uncertain election stalked by populism

Indian-American California senator&nbsp;Kamala Harris has topped the prestigious Foreign Policy magazine&#39;s 2017 list of &#39;50 Leading Global Thinkers&#39; which also features US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley.

Besides Harris and Haley, Indian-origin stand-up comedian&nbsp;Hasan Minhaj has also made it to the list which recognises a remarkable range of individuals who have found ways to exert enormous influence on a wide range of issues, often in unexpected ways.

&quot;They are the doers who defined 2017,&quot; said the Foreign Policy while releasing its annual list of global thinkers, which has 50 numbers this year instead of 100 as was mostly seen in previous years.

Topping the list is Harris, 53, for giving the Democratic Party hope in the era of President Donald Trump, the magazine said. Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, is the first-ever Indian-American to be elected to the US Senate.

Seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, Harris is the only black woman in the Senate. &quot;Her professional bona fides and two decades as a prosecutor, her commitment to social justice (she has made immigrants&#39; rights and bail reform the focus of her first year in office), and her personal &#39;firsts&#39; make her appealing to voters still smarting from (Hillary) Clinton&#39;s loss and hungry for a charismatic non-white, non-male presidential candidate,&quot; the magazine said.

South Korean President, Moon Jae-in is ranked second on the list for trying to rebuild decent democratic leadership in South Korea.

Popular comedian Minhaj, 32, is placed third in the ranking for defining the narrative of a &quot;New Brown America&quot;, it said. Early this year he was the first Indian-American to have been chosen to host the White House Correspondents&#39; Dinner. &quot;The final comedian to be hired by The Daily Show during Jon Stewart&#39;s tenure as host, Minhaj has since joined an elite cadre of popular news satirists including Stewart, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, and John Oliver - whose joyful embrace of &#39;fake news&#39; often gets at fundamental truths at which the mainstream media can only gesture,&quot; it said.

Former South Carolina governor Haley, 45, the first Indian-American to be a member of any presidential cabinet, files in the list of global thinkers for trying to preserve America&#39;s traditional vision of international affairs, said the magazine.&nbsp;

&quot;The US foreign policy that Haley has spent just over 10 months defending smacks more of traditional Republican (and, arguably, traditional US) policies more closely in line with Ronald Reagan than with the current president,&quot; it said.

Among others in the list are the&nbsp;presidential candidate for the FARC, the Colombian rebel group that has traded its weapons for party politics, the female director of Afghanistan&#39;s foreign-language film contender for the Oscars, the venture capitalist who is using tech companies to bridge the gap between Israel and Palestine, and an Iraqi member of parliament who is demanding her country recognise the genocide of the minority Yazidis.

&quot;This year&#39;s list showcases a remarkable range of individuals who have found ways to exert enormous influence, often in unexpected ways, on a wide range of issues from North Korea policy, to the rise of populism, to how we combat fake news, to cementing a new narrative in American culture... to comedy,&quot; said Jonathan Tepperman, editor-in-chief of the magazine.

&quot;These amazing people are not only rethinking our world, but also reshaping it. They defined 2017, and we&#39;re thrilled by the chance to recognise their accomplishments for good, at least in most cases,&quot; he said.

The list also includes Chelsea Manning, ex-Trump aide Stephen Bannon, and French President Emmanuel Macron.&nbsp;

First-ever Indian-American US Senator, Kamala Harris, aged 53 tops Foreign Policy magazine's list of '50 Global Thinkers 2017'. US Ambassador - Nikki Haley, French President - Emmanuel Macron, ex-Trump aide, Stephen Bannon, and South Korean President - Moon Jae-in also make it to the list.

Indian-American California senator Kamala Harris has topped the prestigious Foreign Policy magazine's 2017 list of '50 Leading Global Thinkers' which also features US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley. Besides Harris and Haley, Indian-origin stand-up comedian Hasan Minhaj has also made it to the list which recognises a remarkable range of individuals who have found ways to exert enormous influence on a wide range of issues, often in unexpected ways. "They are the doers who defined 2017," said the Foreign Policy while releasing its annual list of global thinkers, which has 50 numbers this year instead of 100 as was mostly seen in previous years. Topping the list is Harris, 53, for giving the Democratic Party hope in the era of President Donald Trump, the magazine said. Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, is the first-ever Indian-American to be elected to the US Senate. Seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, Harris is the only black woman in the Senate. "Her professional bona fides and two decades as a prosecutor, her commitment to social justice (she has made immigrants' rights and bail reform the focus of her first year in office), and her personal 'firsts' make her appealing to voters still smarting from (Hillary) Clinton's loss and hungry for a charismatic non-white, non-male presidential candidate," the magazine said. South Korean President, Moon Jae-in is ranked second on the list for trying to rebuild decent democratic leadership in South Korea. Popular comedian Minhaj, 32, is placed third in the ranking for defining the narrative of a "New Brown America", it said. Early this year he was the first Indian-American to have been chosen to host the White House Correspondents' Dinner. "The final comedian to be hired by The Daily Show during Jon Stewart's tenure as host, Minhaj has since joined an elite cadre of popular news satirists including Stewart, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, and John Oliver - whose joyful embrace of 'fake news' often gets at fundamental truths at which the mainstream media can only gesture," it said. Former South Carolina governor Haley, 45, the first Indian-American to be a member of any presidential cabinet, files in the list of global thinkers for trying to preserve America's traditional vision of international affairs, said the magazine. "The US foreign policy that Haley has spent just over 10 months defending smacks more of traditional Republican (and, arguably, traditional US) policies more closely in line with Ronald Reagan than with the current president," it said. Among others in the list are the presidential candidate for the FARC, the Colombian rebel group that has traded its weapons for party politics, the female director of Afghanistan's foreign-language film contender for the Oscars, the venture capitalist who is using tech companies to bridge the gap between Israel and Palestine, and an Iraqi member of parliament who is demanding her country recognise the genocide of the minority Yazidis. "This year's list showcases a remarkable range of individuals who have found ways to exert enormous influence, often in unexpected ways, on a wide range of issues from North Korea policy, to the rise of populism, to how we combat fake news, to cementing a new narrative in American culture... to comedy," said Jonathan Tepperman, editor-in-chief of the magazine. "These amazing people are not only rethinking our world, but also reshaping it. They defined 2017, and we're thrilled by the chance to recognise their accomplishments for good, at least in most cases," he said. The list also includes Chelsea Manning, ex-Trump aide Stephen Bannon, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Indian-American senator Kamala Harris tops Foreign Policy magazine's Global Thinkers list

A WikiLeaks release from this past weekend suggests that&nbsp;Bernie Sanders was&nbsp;blackmailed by the Clinton campaign when they competed during&nbsp;the primaries to see who would be the Democratic presidential nominee.

After being asked about the topic, Sanders made some pointed remarks about the potential impact of Clinton&#39;s wealth on her policy making decisions, discussing the possible isolating effect of extreme wealth. He told CNBC in May:

&quot;Theoretically you can be a multibillionaire and in fact be very concerned about the issues of working people. Theoretically that&#39;s true.&quot;

Then he added, &quot;When you hustle money like that, you don&#39;t sit in restaurants like this. You sit in restaurants where you spend, I don&#39;t know what they spend, hundreds of dollars for dinner and so forth. That&#39;s the world you are accustomed to. And that&#39;s the worldview that you adopt. I&#39;m not going to condemn Hillary and Bill Clinton because they&#39;ve made a lot of money. That type of wealth has the potential to isolate you from the reality of the world,&quot; he said.

The WikiLeaks dump shows that not only did a campaign manager&nbsp;object to this comment, particularly Sanders&#39; use of the word &quot;hustle&quot;, or highlight it as something negative in need of counter-messaging, he seemed to believe that he had control of Sanders, who&nbsp;crossed a line by speaking this way&nbsp;despite explicitly saying&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m not going to condemn Hillary or Bill Clinton&quot;.

Here is Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook&#39;s&nbsp;response to this remark after&nbsp;the campaign brought it to his attention,&nbsp;as released by&nbsp;<a href="https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/47397">WikiLeaks</a>: &quot;This isn&#39;t in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage, would be good to flag this for him. I could send a signal via Welch--or did you establish a direct line w him?&quot;

What did Clinton&#39;s campaign have &quot;over&quot; him? What else did this prevent him from saying or doing? Exactly how profound an impact did this have on the US election? None of this is currently evident, but Sanders&#39; supporters are livid, and it seems they have reason to be.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/wikileaks-releases-20000-emails-of-democratic-party-officials-working-against-bernie-sanders-3076">Also read: WikiLeaks releases 20,000 emails of Democratic party officials working against Bernie Sanders</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2016-bernie-sanders-responds-to-a-donald-trump-presidency-8625">Also read: Bernie Sanders responds to a Donald Trump presidency</a>

WikiLeaks, months earlier, also released emails showing that the Democratic National Committee favoured Clinton over Sanders, and, as the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wikileaks-emails-show-dnc-favored-hillary-clinton-over_us_57930be0e4b0e002a3134b05">Huffington Post</a> reports,&nbsp;considered whether it would be advantageous to highlight his Jewish heritage or his identification as an&nbsp;atheist -- whatever would make a &quot;several points difference with my peeps [voters]&quot;.

While Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, even still, her campaign has a lot of explaining to do.

(WION)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

'This isn't in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage...' Clinton's campaign manager said in what seems like silencing

A WikiLeaks release from this past weekend suggests that Bernie Sanders was blackmailed by the Clinton campaign when they competed during the primaries to see who would be the Democratic presidential nominee. After being asked about the topic, Sanders made some pointed remarks about the potential impact of Clinton's wealth on her policy making decisions, discussing the possible isolating effect of extreme wealth. He told CNBC in May: "Theoretically you can be a multibillionaire and in fact be very concerned about the issues of working people. Theoretically that's true." Then he added, "When you hustle money like that, you don't sit in restaurants like this. You sit in restaurants where you spend, I don't know what they spend, hundreds of dollars for dinner and so forth. That's the world you are accustomed to. And that's the worldview that you adopt. I'm not going to condemn Hillary and Bill Clinton because they've made a lot of money. That type of wealth has the potential to isolate you from the reality of the world," he said. The WikiLeaks dump shows that not only did a campaign manager object to this comment, particularly Sanders' use of the word "hustle", or highlight it as something negative in need of counter-messaging, he seemed to believe that he had control of Sanders, who crossed a line by speaking this way despite explicitly saying "I'm not going to condemn Hillary or Bill Clinton". Here is Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook's response to this remark after the campaign brought it to his attention, as released by WikiLeaks: "This isn't in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage, would be good to flag this for him. I could send a signal via Welch--or did you establish a direct line w him?" What did Clinton's campaign have "over" him? What else did this prevent him from saying or doing? Exactly how profound an impact did this have on the US election? None of this is currently evident, but Sanders' supporters are livid, and it seems they have reason to be. Also read: WikiLeaks releases 20,000 emails of Democratic party officials working against Bernie Sanders Also read: Bernie Sanders responds to a Donald Trump presidency WikiLeaks, months earlier, also released emails showing that the Democratic National Committee favoured Clinton over Sanders, and, as the Huffington Post reports, considered whether it would be advantageous to highlight his Jewish heritage or his identification as an atheist -- whatever would make a "several points difference with my peeps [voters]". While Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, even still, her campaign has a lot of explaining to do. (WION)

WikiLeaks suggests Bernie Sanders was blackmailed during Democratic Primary

Democratic Party bosses on Monday apologised to Bernie Sanders for &quot;inexcusable&quot; emails aimed at undermining his White House bid, as they tried to patch up an embarrassing party feud. 
 
&quot;We want to offer a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic Party for the inexcusable remarks made over email,&quot; the Democratic National Committee said in a statement on the opening day of the party&#39;s convention set to nominate Hillary Clinton for the presidency. 
 
&quot;These comments do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

'The DNC does not, and will not tolerate disrespectful language exhibited towards our candidates'

Democratic Party bosses on Monday apologised to Bernie Sanders for "inexcusable" emails aimed at undermining his White House bid, as they tried to patch up an embarrassing party feud. "We want to offer a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic Party for the inexcusable remarks made over email," the Democratic National Committee said in a statement on the opening day of the party's convention set to nominate Hillary Clinton for the presidency. "These comments do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process." (AFP)

Democratic Party apologises to Bernie Sanders for 'inexcusable remarks' in leaked emails

Along with the like-minded allies, Japan&rsquo;s ruling bloc might be able to claim a hefty win in a July 10 upper house election, surveys claimed Friday. This may also allow it to open the path to revising the postwar, pacifist constitution for the first time.&nbsp; 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also has a shot at the 57 seats needed to obtain a majority on its own for the first time since losing control of the chamber in 1989, the Nikkei business daily and other newspapers said. 
 
In the 242-member chamber, Abe is casting the election for half the seats as a referendum on his decision to delay a planned hike in an unpopular sales tax and his &quot;Abenomics&quot; recipe of hyper-easy monetary policy, spending and reform, amid growing doubts whether the strategy is working. 
 
Abe&rsquo;s coalition might be in no danger of losing power in the election but it needs a solid victory to keep his party`s lawmakers in line and perhaps stay on another three years after his tenure as LDP president ends in 2018. 
 
While the premier has played down his goal of revising the constitution, conservatives see it as a humiliating symbol of Japan&rsquo;s World War Two defeat. Admirers, however, consider it the source of the country`s peace and democracy. 
 
The opposition Democratic Party and three small parties, backed by grassroots groups, are trying to keep the ruling camp and its allies from winning the two-thirds needed to begin the process of revising the constitution. Revision requires a two-thirds majority in the upper house and the lower chamber, where the ruling bloc already has such a &quot;super majority&quot;, and a majority in a public referendum. 
 
Meanwhile, the Nikkei has said that the LDP and its junior partner, the Komeito party, were on track to exceed their target of 61 seats, or a majority of those up for grabs. The Democrats, who have struggled to regain trust after a rocky 2009-2012 rule, looked likely to win around 30 seats, the surveys have further suggested. 
 
A Mainichi newspaper poll showed 45 percent opposed revision versus 36 percent in favour.&nbsp;Other newspapers` polls showed similar results, although up to 35 percent of voters were undecided. &quot;If the opposition is going to do well, it will have to depend on those voters whom the polls cannot count - the undecided, the unaffiliated, etc.,&quot; said Chuo University political scientist Steven Reed. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Abe?s coalition might be in no danger of losing power in the election but it needs a solid victory to keep his party's lawmakers in line

Along with the like-minded allies, Japan’s ruling bloc might be able to claim a hefty win in a July 10 upper house election, surveys claimed Friday. This may also allow it to open the path to revising the postwar, pacifist constitution for the first time. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also has a shot at the 57 seats needed to obtain a majority on its own for the first time since losing control of the chamber in 1989, the Nikkei business daily and other newspapers said. In the 242-member chamber, Abe is casting the election for half the seats as a referendum on his decision to delay a planned hike in an unpopular sales tax and his "Abenomics" recipe of hyper-easy monetary policy, spending and reform, amid growing doubts whether the strategy is working. Abe’s coalition might be in no danger of losing power in the election but it needs a solid victory to keep his party`s lawmakers in line and perhaps stay on another three years after his tenure as LDP president ends in 2018. While the premier has played down his goal of revising the constitution, conservatives see it as a humiliating symbol of Japan’s World War Two defeat. Admirers, however, consider it the source of the country`s peace and democracy. The opposition Democratic Party and three small parties, backed by grassroots groups, are trying to keep the ruling camp and its allies from winning the two-thirds needed to begin the process of revising the constitution. Revision requires a two-thirds majority in the upper house and the lower chamber, where the ruling bloc already has such a "super majority", and a majority in a public referendum. Meanwhile, the Nikkei has said that the LDP and its junior partner, the Komeito party, were on track to exceed their target of 61 seats, or a majority of those up for grabs. The Democrats, who have struggled to regain trust after a rocky 2009-2012 rule, looked likely to win around 30 seats, the surveys have further suggested. A Mainichi newspaper poll showed 45 percent opposed revision versus 36 percent in favour. Other newspapers` polls showed similar results, although up to 35 percent of voters were undecided. "If the opposition is going to do well, it will have to depend on those voters whom the polls cannot count - the undecided, the unaffiliated, etc.," said Chuo University political scientist Steven Reed. (Reuters)

Japan's ruling bloc to claim hefty win in upper house elections: Surveys

Donald Trump offered a message of ethnic harmony yesterday at a Christian evangelical conference. He was trying to calm concern about his criticism of a Mexican-American judge. 
 
In a departure from his usual freewheeling style, Trump read a carefully scripted speech from a teleprompter as part of a new push by his campaign to tone down the outspoken New Yorker&#39;s harsh rhetoric. 
 
Trump&#39;s remarks included a wide-ranging attack on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. The 69-year-old said that money aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States should instead be spent on tackling poverty in US cities. 
 
Speaking to the annual conference of the conservative Faith &amp; Freedom Coalition, Trump did not mention the controversy over his charge that US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot treat him fairly because of his Mexican heritage. However, he did make a point of saying that he would represent all Americans if elected president on November 8. 
 
&quot;Freedom of any kind means no one should be judged by their race or their colour and the tone of his hue,&quot; Trump said. &quot;Right now, we have a very divided nation. We&#39;re going to bring our nation together.&quot; 
 
Paul Ryan, the top elected US Republican, had criticised Trump for what he called a &quot;textbook definition of a racist comment&quot; for his remarks about the judge. Other Republican leaders warned Trump to change his tone or risk losing their support. 
 
Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee who led a movement to derail Trump&#39;s nomination, told CNN he would not consider running for the White House. 
 
Romney blasted Trump for comments that he said denigrated Mexicans, women and religion. 
 
&quot;Presidents have an impact on the nature of our nation and trickle-down racism, trickle-down bigotry and trickle-down misogyny - all these things are extraordinarily dangerous to the heart and character of America,&quot; he said. 
 
Romney said he expects Trump to get the Republican nomination but added that he will not vote for either Trump or Clinton. He left open the possibility of casting a ballot for the Libertarian Party candidate, former New Mexico Governor, Gary Johnson. 
 
As Trump sought to rally more Republicans behind him, Clinton met with US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to try and shore up support from the left wing of the Democratic Party. 
 
Clinton later addressed the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the non-partisan arm of the women&#39;s health group, and had Trump trained in her sights. 
 
&ldquo;This is a man who has called women pigs, dogs and disgusting animals, it&rsquo;s kind of hard to imagine counting on him to respect our fundamental rights,&rdquo; said Clinton, the first woman to become the presumptive presidential nominee of a major party. 
 
Clinton leads Trump by 11 percentage points, nearly the same as a week ago, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday. 
 
The real estate mogul&#39;s struggle to unify Republicans behind his insurgent candidacy was apparent at the evangelical Faith &amp; Freedom conference where several speakers studiously avoided speaking his name. 
 
Former campaign rival Carly Fiorina steered clear of Trump, speaking instead of the need to prevent liberal policies taking hold. 
 
US Representative Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, said a Republican president is needed, without mentioning Trump. 
 
&quot;We don&#39;t want this contest this fall to just be a contest of personalities,&quot; she said. 
 
But conference organiser Ralph Reed was adamant in his support for Trump, saying the New Yorker has energised the evangelical vote in a way that past Republican presidential nominees failed to do. 
 
&quot;We understand that perfection is not the measure that should be applied,&quot; Reed told the crowd. 
 
 
SYRIAN REFUGEES 
 
Trump yesterday criticised Clinton&#39;s willingness to accept thousands of Syrian refugees into the United States and challenged her to &quot;replace her support for increased refugee admission&quot; in favour of a new jobs program for inner cities. 
 
He stopped short of repeating his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, a proposal that has drawn heavy fire from Republicans and Democrats. 
 
&quot;We have to temporarily stop this whole thing with what&rsquo;s going on with refugees where we don&rsquo;t know where they&rsquo;re coming from,&quot; Trump said. &quot;We have to use the money to take care of our poorest Americans so they can come out of this horrible situation that they&#39;re in.&quot; 
 
Yesterday at the funeral of boxing champion Muhammad Ali, a convert to Islam, one speaker, a rabbi, inveighed against politicians promoting intolerance of Muslims. 
 
&quot;We will not tolerate politicians or anyone else putting down Muslims and blaming Muslims for a few people,&quot; said Rabbi Michael Lerner, the editor of Tikkun magazine, who said he attended the ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, as a representative of American Jews. 
 
Trump said Clinton&#39;s refusal to use the phrase &quot;radical Islamic terrorism&quot;, favoured by Republicans to describe violent Islamist militants, makes her unfit to be president.

The US Republican presidential candidate says freedom means nobody should be judged based on their race or skin colour

Donald Trump offered a message of ethnic harmony yesterday at a Christian evangelical conference. He was trying to calm concern about his criticism of a Mexican-American judge. In a departure from his usual freewheeling style, Trump read a carefully scripted speech from a teleprompter as part of a new push by his campaign to tone down the outspoken New Yorker's harsh rhetoric. Trump's remarks included a wide-ranging attack on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. The 69-year-old said that money aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States should instead be spent on tackling poverty in US cities. Speaking to the annual conference of the conservative Faith & Freedom Coalition, Trump did not mention the controversy over his charge that US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot treat him fairly because of his Mexican heritage. However, he did make a point of saying that he would represent all Americans if elected president on November 8. "Freedom of any kind means no one should be judged by their race or their colour and the tone of his hue," Trump said. "Right now, we have a very divided nation. We're going to bring our nation together." Paul Ryan, the top elected US Republican, had criticised Trump for what he called a "textbook definition of a racist comment" for his remarks about the judge. Other Republican leaders warned Trump to change his tone or risk losing their support. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee who led a movement to derail Trump's nomination, told CNN he would not consider running for the White House. Romney blasted Trump for comments that he said denigrated Mexicans, women and religion. "Presidents have an impact on the nature of our nation and trickle-down racism, trickle-down bigotry and trickle-down misogyny - all these things are extraordinarily dangerous to the heart and character of America," he said. Romney said he expects Trump to get the Republican nomination but added that he will not vote for either Trump or Clinton. He left open the possibility of casting a ballot for the Libertarian Party candidate, former New Mexico Governor, Gary Johnson. As Trump sought to rally more Republicans behind him, Clinton met with US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to try and shore up support from the left wing of the Democratic Party. Clinton later addressed the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the non-partisan arm of the women's health group, and had Trump trained in her sights. “This is a man who has called women pigs, dogs and disgusting animals, it’s kind of hard to imagine counting on him to respect our fundamental rights,” said Clinton, the first woman to become the presumptive presidential nominee of a major party. Clinton leads Trump by 11 percentage points, nearly the same as a week ago, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday. The real estate mogul's struggle to unify Republicans behind his insurgent candidacy was apparent at the evangelical Faith & Freedom conference where several speakers studiously avoided speaking his name. Former campaign rival Carly Fiorina steered clear of Trump, speaking instead of the need to prevent liberal policies taking hold. US Representative Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, said a Republican president is needed, without mentioning Trump. "We don't want this contest this fall to just be a contest of personalities," she said. But conference organiser Ralph Reed was adamant in his support for Trump, saying the New Yorker has energised the evangelical vote in a way that past Republican presidential nominees failed to do. "We understand that perfection is not the measure that should be applied," Reed told the crowd. SYRIAN REFUGEES Trump yesterday criticised Clinton's willingness to accept thousands of Syrian refugees into the United States and challenged her to "replace her support for increased refugee admission" in favour of a new jobs program for inner cities. He stopped short of repeating his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, a proposal that has drawn heavy fire from Republicans and Democrats. "We have to temporarily stop this whole thing with what’s going on with refugees where we don’t know where they’re coming from," Trump said. "We have to use the money to take care of our poorest Americans so they can come out of this horrible situation that they're in." Yesterday at the funeral of boxing champion Muhammad Ali, a convert to Islam, one speaker, a rabbi, inveighed against politicians promoting intolerance of Muslims. "We will not tolerate politicians or anyone else putting down Muslims and blaming Muslims for a few people," said Rabbi Michael Lerner, the editor of Tikkun magazine, who said he attended the ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, as a representative of American Jews. Trump said Clinton's refusal to use the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism", favoured by Republicans to describe violent Islamist militants, makes her unfit to be president.

Stung by criticism, Donald Trump vows to work for ethnic harmony

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