Voters in japan are casting their ballots in an upper house election. Ruling coalition is looking to keep control of the house. Will Shinzo Abe's assassination affect Japan's elections?

Voters cast their ballots in Japan polls; LDP likely to get over 60 seats

Despite the gruesome assassination of Japan's former PM Shinzo Abe, Japan is still planning to hold elections on Sunday. Abe was campaigning when a man shot him.

Japan to still hold elections on Sunday: 'Japan will not succumb to violence'

Amid widespread concern that the nation’s disaffected youth will not bother turning out to vote, a major Japanese ramen chain is offering free noodles to young people ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections. Ippudo, which operates 50 ramen shops across the country, is offering endless free noodle refills for a fortnight from election day on Sunday until 24 June, the Mainichi Shimbun said, provided they can show proof that they have voted. Younger Japanese routinely complain that politicians are more interested in appealing to the country’s huge bloc of older voters and point to the low number of younger MPs in both houses of parliament. 
&nbsp; 
As reported by The Guardian, Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor of the economics of ageing at Tohoku University said, “Politicians view elderly people, whose turnout is high, like important customers from whom they can win votes. On the other hand, young people are like occasional customers, so are less important …. so policies favoured by the elderly inevitably get prioritised."

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&nbsp; 
Japan's ruling coalition is headed for victory in a July 10 upper house election, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling party likely to extend the number of seats it holds on its own, according to an opinion poll published on Monday. A total of 125 seats are being contested, making 63 a simple majority. 
&nbsp; 
Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is projected to win about 60 seats on its own, up from the 55 seats it currently holds, according to a Nikkei business daily poll which was conducted at the weekend. The Nikkei poll results run counter to recent public opinion surveys which have shown support for his government slipping due to surging prices and higher fuel costs in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
&nbsp; 
(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Amid widespread concern that the nation’s disaffected youth will not bother turning out to vote, a major Japanese ramen chain is offering free noodles to young people ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections.

Amid widespread concern that the nation’s disaffected youth will not bother turning out to vote, a major Japanese ramen chain is offering free noodles to young people ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections. Ippudo, which operates 50 ramen shops across the country, is offering endless free noodle refills for a fortnight from election day on Sunday until 24 June, the Mainichi Shimbun said, provided they can show proof that they have voted. Younger Japanese routinely complain that politicians are more interested in appealing to the country’s huge bloc of older voters and point to the low number of younger MPs in both houses of parliament. As reported by The Guardian, Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor of the economics of ageing at Tohoku University said, “Politicians view elderly people, whose turnout is high, like important customers from whom they can win votes. On the other hand, young people are like occasional customers, so are less important …. so policies favoured by the elderly inevitably get prioritised." Also Read: Udaipur terror attack: How my hometown turned into a curfew zone Japan's ruling coalition is headed for victory in a July 10 upper house election, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling party likely to extend the number of seats it holds on its own, according to an opinion poll published on Monday. A total of 125 seats are being contested, making 63 a simple majority. Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is projected to win about 60 seats on its own, up from the 55 seats it currently holds, according to a Nikkei business daily poll which was conducted at the weekend. The Nikkei poll results run counter to recent public opinion surveys which have shown support for his government slipping due to surging prices and higher fuel costs in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japanese youth will get free noodles- Here's what they need to avail the offer

A total of 115 nomination papers for the Presidential elections were filed out of which NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu and Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha were found to fulfil all the requirements of a valid nomination. The announcement was made in a press briefing addressed by Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Modi.

The process of filing nomination papers, which had commenced on June 15, concluded on June 29.

“During the period of filing of nomination papers, I had received 115 nomination papers. Out of these, 28 nomination papers pertaining to 26 candidates were rejected at the time of presentation itself, under section 5B(4) of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Act, 1952, as they were not accompanied by a certified copy of the electoral roll,” Modi said.

“The remaining 87 Nomination papers pertaining to 72 candidates were taken up for scrutiny today, the 30th June, at 11 am by me. Out of the 87 nomination papers taken up for scrutiny, 79 were rejected during the course of the scrutiny under section 5B(1)(a) for want of a requisite number of proposers and seconders; and under section 5C, not accompanied by the requisite deposit of rupees fifteen thousand; of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952,” he added.

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Upon conclusion of the entire scrutiny process held today, the Secretary-General further said, the nomination papers for the Presidential elections filed by Murmu and Sinha were found to fulfil all the requirements of a valid nomination.

After the last date for withdrawal of candidature on July 2, a ‘List of Contesting Candidates’ containing the names of the candidates in alphabetical order together with their addresses will be prepared and published in the Gazette of India and also in the State Gazettes, said Modi.

He also mentioned that the poll will be held on July 18 and the counting of votes will take place on July 21.

(with inputs from agencies)

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A total of 115 nomination papers for the Presidential elections were filed out of which NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu and Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha were found to fulfil all the requirements of a valid nomination.

A total of 115 nomination papers for the Presidential elections were filed out of which NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu and Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha were found to fulfil all the requirements of a valid nomination. The announcement was made in a press briefing addressed by Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Modi. The process of filing nomination papers, which had commenced on June 15, concluded on June 29. “During the period of filing of nomination papers, I had received 115 nomination papers. Out of these, 28 nomination papers pertaining to 26 candidates were rejected at the time of presentation itself, under section 5B(4) of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Act, 1952, as they were not accompanied by a certified copy of the electoral roll,” Modi said. “The remaining 87 Nomination papers pertaining to 72 candidates were taken up for scrutiny today, the 30th June, at 11 am by me. Out of the 87 nomination papers taken up for scrutiny, 79 were rejected during the course of the scrutiny under section 5B(1)(a) for want of a requisite number of proposers and seconders; and under section 5C, not accompanied by the requisite deposit of rupees fifteen thousand; of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952,” he added. Also Read: Every day I was praying ‘Please, god, don’t let anybody try to kill me': Boxer Oleksandr Usyk Upon conclusion of the entire scrutiny process held today, the Secretary-General further said, the nomination papers for the Presidential elections filed by Murmu and Sinha were found to fulfil all the requirements of a valid nomination. After the last date for withdrawal of candidature on July 2, a ‘List of Contesting Candidates’ containing the names of the candidates in alphabetical order together with their addresses will be prepared and published in the Gazette of India and also in the State Gazettes, said Modi. He also mentioned that the poll will be held on July 18 and the counting of votes will take place on July 21. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Presidential election in India: 115 nominations filed, but only two candidates will contest for the post

The counting of votes for three Lok Sabha and seven assembly seats started on Sunday morning at 8 am. The seats are spread across five states and Delhi. The by-poll election took place in Delhi, Punjab, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand on June 23.

In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Durgesh Pathak won the Rajinder Nagar election by a margin of around 11,555 votes.

In a major political development in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi on Sunday won the Lok Sabha by-poll in Rampur under the leadership of&nbsp;Chief Minister Yogi Adityanatah, the bastion of Samajwadi Party (SP) big shot Azam Khan.

In Rampur, BJP had fielded Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi who recently joined the party. Whereas, SP candidate Asim Raja was handpicked by Azam Khan.

"I dedicate my victory to the workers of the party. They have been working continuously day and night. I want to thank the people of Rampur. BJP has always been working for the development of the public," BJP's winning candidate Lodhi said.

As the counting of votes for the Azamgarh Lok Sabha by-poll is underway, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and Bhojpuri actor-singer Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirhua' is leading with a margin of 
over 11,000 votes, according to the Election Commission of India. This is the second stronghold of the Samajwadi party where the BJP is unfurling the lotus in UP under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath.

In Andhra Pradesh, the ruling YSR Congress Party’s Mekapati Vikram Reddy headed towards a big win in the Atmakur by-poll, leading by over 82888 votes at the end of the final counting.

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In Punjab, in a major setback to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader Simranjit Singh Mann on Sunday won the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-poll, the home turf of Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Mann won the by-poll with 2,53,154 votes thus defeating the ruling party's candidate on a Lok Sabha seat held last by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

"This is a great win for our party. We have defeated all national parties in this by-poll. My priority will be to raise the issue of the poor economic condition of Sangrur, including the condition of farmers under debt. We will work with the Punjab government," said winning candidate Mann.

Tripura Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manik Saha won the assembly poll from the Town Bardowali constituency by a margin of 6,104 votes, the Election Commission said. 
BJP has bagged victory on three out of four seats in the Tripura by-polls while Congress won one seat.

Congress candidate Sudip Roy Barman won from Agartala seat by 3,163 votes. The BJP won Town Bordowali, Jubarajnagar and Surma seats respectively. The by-polls in Tripura were crucial for Manik Saha who replaced Biplab Kumar Deb last month.

In Jharkhand, the BJP's Gangotri Kujur is leading by 112 votes while the Congress is trailing in the second position.

(with inputs from agencies)

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The counting of votes for three Lok Sabha and seven assembly seats started on Sunday morning at 8 am. The seats are spread across five states and Delhi. The by-poll election took place in Delhi, Punjab, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand on June 23.

The counting of votes for three Lok Sabha and seven assembly seats started on Sunday morning at 8 am. The seats are spread across five states and Delhi. The by-poll election took place in Delhi, Punjab, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand on June 23. In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Durgesh Pathak won the Rajinder Nagar election by a margin of around 11,555 votes. In a major political development in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi on Sunday won the Lok Sabha by-poll in Rampur under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanatah, the bastion of Samajwadi Party (SP) big shot Azam Khan. In Rampur, BJP had fielded Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi who recently joined the party. Whereas, SP candidate Asim Raja was handpicked by Azam Khan. "I dedicate my victory to the workers of the party. They have been working continuously day and night. I want to thank the people of Rampur. BJP has always been working for the development of the public," BJP's winning candidate Lodhi said. As the counting of votes for the Azamgarh Lok Sabha by-poll is underway, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and Bhojpuri actor-singer Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirhua' is leading with a margin of over 11,000 votes, according to the Election Commission of India. This is the second stronghold of the Samajwadi party where the BJP is unfurling the lotus in UP under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath. In Andhra Pradesh, the ruling YSR Congress Party’s Mekapati Vikram Reddy headed towards a big win in the Atmakur by-poll, leading by over 82888 votes at the end of the final counting. Also Read: ‘Diamond city’ of India loses its sheen, as Ukraine war disrupts supply chains In Punjab, in a major setback to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader Simranjit Singh Mann on Sunday won the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-poll, the home turf of Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Singh Mann. Mann won the by-poll with 2,53,154 votes thus defeating the ruling party's candidate on a Lok Sabha seat held last by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. "This is a great win for our party. We have defeated all national parties in this by-poll. My priority will be to raise the issue of the poor economic condition of Sangrur, including the condition of farmers under debt. We will work with the Punjab government," said winning candidate Mann. Tripura Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manik Saha won the assembly poll from the Town Bardowali constituency by a margin of 6,104 votes, the Election Commission said. BJP has bagged victory on three out of four seats in the Tripura by-polls while Congress won one seat. Congress candidate Sudip Roy Barman won from Agartala seat by 3,163 votes. The BJP won Town Bordowali, Jubarajnagar and Surma seats respectively. The by-polls in Tripura were crucial for Manik Saha who replaced Biplab Kumar Deb last month. In Jharkhand, the BJP's Gangotri Kujur is leading by 112 votes while the Congress is trailing in the second position. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India by-poll election updates: BJP wins SP’s bastion Rampur, and more

Sara Duterte-Carpio has been sworn in as the 15th Vice President of Philippines. She's the daughter of the outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and she's called for national unity following a very divisive election campaign.

Philippines Vice President sworn-in: Sara Duterte-Carpio calls for national unity

In pics: Former prime minister’s daughter takes Shinawatra brand to influence new Thai generation

Months have passed in Sri Lanka's political and economic instability still continues to this day. In the latest, the country's Election Commission chairman has now said that Sri Lanka cannot go for an election until the economic crisis is addressed.

'No polls in Sri Lanka until economic crisis are addressed,' says EC Chairma

France heads to the polls on June 12 and 19 for parliamentary elections. &nbsp;Support for President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble (Together) alliance is falling, raising questions over whether he will win an absolute majority in parliament.

Macron's 'Ensemble' bloc is seen winning 28% of votes in the first round, versus 27.5% for the left-wing 'Nupes' bloc.

It added that Macron's centrist camp was expected to win between 275 and 315 seats in the French parliament, where an absolute majority requires 289 seats. Macron needs a majority to help implement pro-business reforms.

Why winning the Presidential election is not enough?

Macron won a second mandate in April as France's centrist, pro-European president. But that is not enough. He also needs to win a majority in the lower house of parliament this month to maintain full control over his reform agenda.&nbsp;

What do the polls forecast?

Voter surveys had until recently shown Macron's party and its allies - collectively known as Ensemble - winning an absolutely majority in the 577 seat parliament. But that outcome has become less certain in recent days.&nbsp;

Momentum is on the side of a left-wing coalition led by hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon. Melenchon is unlikely to win the 289 seats required for an absolute majority but may win enough to deprive Macron of the same.&nbsp;

What if Macron falls short of the majority?

Falling short of an absolute majority would be a big setback for Macron. It would force him to broaden his alliance. The broader the alliance the more complicated deal-making, and dictating policy decisions become.

The left-wing coalition led by hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon is seen second in polls, but the conservative Les Republicains could end up being kingmakers if Macron's Ensemble alliance falls short of an absolute majority.

A minority cabinet or coalition government would be an unusual scenario for modern-day France. The Fifth Republic was designed to avoid unwieldy coalitions.&nbsp;

If an opposition grouping were to surprise and win a majority, Macron would have to name a prime minister from the winning camp, ushering in a period of so-called cohabitation.He would retain the lead on foreign policy but leave responsibility for most day-to-day policy matters to the government. 
&nbsp;

How does the polling take place?

Voting takes place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (0600-1800 GMT) on June 12. In constituencies where no candidate gets 50% of votes in the first round, a run-off vote is held on June 19, with every candidate who won the support of at least 12.5% of registered voters eligible to advance.&nbsp;

Polling for legislative elections is trickier than the presidential election as different dynamics on the ground make it harder to predict who will win nationwide.

What are the parties fighting for?

Macron's La Republique en Marche party single-handedly won 314 seats in the 2017 legislative elections but gradually lost lawmakers to stand at just under 270 now. It maintained control over parliament thanks to its allies, who have around 80 lawmakers.&nbsp;

France's two mainstream centre-left and centre-right parties dominated the French political landscape until Macron's election in 2017. Five years on both are still fighting for political relevance and the tectonic plates have shifted.

[with inputs from agencies]

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France heads to the polls on June 12 and 19 for parliamentary elections. Support for President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble (Together) alliance is falling, raising questions over whether he will win an absolute majority in parliament.

France heads to the polls on June 12 and 19 for parliamentary elections. Support for President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble (Together) alliance is falling, raising questions over whether he will win an absolute majority in parliament. Macron's 'Ensemble' bloc is seen winning 28% of votes in the first round, versus 27.5% for the left-wing 'Nupes' bloc. It added that Macron's centrist camp was expected to win between 275 and 315 seats in the French parliament, where an absolute majority requires 289 seats. Macron needs a majority to help implement pro-business reforms. Why winning the Presidential election is not enough? Macron won a second mandate in April as France's centrist, pro-European president. But that is not enough. He also needs to win a majority in the lower house of parliament this month to maintain full control over his reform agenda. What do the polls forecast? Voter surveys had until recently shown Macron's party and its allies - collectively known as Ensemble - winning an absolutely majority in the 577 seat parliament. But that outcome has become less certain in recent days. Momentum is on the side of a left-wing coalition led by hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon. Melenchon is unlikely to win the 289 seats required for an absolute majority but may win enough to deprive Macron of the same. What if Macron falls short of the majority? Falling short of an absolute majority would be a big setback for Macron. It would force him to broaden his alliance. The broader the alliance the more complicated deal-making, and dictating policy decisions become. The left-wing coalition led by hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon is seen second in polls, but the conservative Les Republicains could end up being kingmakers if Macron's Ensemble alliance falls short of an absolute majority. A minority cabinet or coalition government would be an unusual scenario for modern-day France. The Fifth Republic was designed to avoid unwieldy coalitions. If an opposition grouping were to surprise and win a majority, Macron would have to name a prime minister from the winning camp, ushering in a period of so-called cohabitation.He would retain the lead on foreign policy but leave responsibility for most day-to-day policy matters to the government. How does the polling take place? Voting takes place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (0600-1800 GMT) on June 12. In constituencies where no candidate gets 50% of votes in the first round, a run-off vote is held on June 19, with every candidate who won the support of at least 12.5% of registered voters eligible to advance. Polling for legislative elections is trickier than the presidential election as different dynamics on the ground make it harder to predict who will win nationwide. What are the parties fighting for? Macron's La Republique en Marche party single-handedly won 314 seats in the 2017 legislative elections but gradually lost lawmakers to stand at just under 270 now. It maintained control over parliament thanks to its allies, who have around 80 lawmakers. France's two mainstream centre-left and centre-right parties dominated the French political landscape until Macron's election in 2017. Five years on both are still fighting for political relevance and the tectonic plates have shifted. [with inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explainer: Why does France need another election? Can it dethrone Macron?

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will finish the remaining two years of his term despite months-long street protests calling for his ouster but won’t stand for re-election, he told Bloomberg.

Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis in decades.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sri-lanka-denies-detaining-russian-plane-after-moscow-lodges-diplomatic-protest-485097">Also Read |&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;PM proposes more cabinet accountability amid economic crisis</a>

"I have been given a mandate for five years. I will not contest again," Rajapaksa said on Monday in an interview at his official residence in Colombo.

Anti-government protestors blame Rajapaksa and his family for decisions that led to severe shortages of everything from fuel to medicine, stoking inflation of 40 per cent&nbsp;and forcing a historic debt default.

Watch |&nbsp;World At War: Will Gotabaya Rajapaksa resort to oppression to stay in power?

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Thousands of demonstrators have camped outside the president’s seaside office since mid-March, forcing him to retreat to his barricaded official residence about a Kilometre&nbsp;away.

The economic tailspin spiralled into political turmoil with the resignation of the president’s older brother -- Mahinda Rajapaksa -- as the nation’s prime minister after clashes between government supporters and the protesters turned bloody in May.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-mahinda-rajapaksas-residence-set-on-fire-nationwide-curfew-imposed-477738">Also Read |&nbsp;Sri Lanka economic crisis: Mahinda Rajapaksa's residence set on fire, nationwide curfew imposed</a>

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are now seeking about four billion dollars in aid this year from the International Monetary Fund and countries including&nbsp;India&nbsp;and China.

Sri Lanka’s rupee has lost about 82&nbsp;per cent over the past year and the central bank on Monday flagged the possibility of a further correction. The nation’s debt is trading in the deeply-distressed territory.

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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will finish the remaining two years of his term despite months-long street protests calling for his ouster but won’t stand for re-election, he told Bloomberg.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will finish the remaining two years of his term despite months-long street protests calling for his ouster but won’t stand for re-election, he told Bloomberg. Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis in decades. Also Read | Sri Lanka PM proposes more cabinet accountability amid economic crisis "I have been given a mandate for five years. I will not contest again," Rajapaksa said on Monday in an interview at his official residence in Colombo. Anti-government protestors blame Rajapaksa and his family for decisions that led to severe shortages of everything from fuel to medicine, stoking inflation of 40 per cent and forcing a historic debt default. Watch | World At War: Will Gotabaya Rajapaksa resort to oppression to stay in power? Thousands of demonstrators have camped outside the president’s seaside office since mid-March, forcing him to retreat to his barricaded official residence about a Kilometre away. The economic tailspin spiralled into political turmoil with the resignation of the president’s older brother -- Mahinda Rajapaksa -- as the nation’s prime minister after clashes between government supporters and the protesters turned bloody in May. Also Read | Sri Lanka economic crisis: Mahinda Rajapaksa's residence set on fire, nationwide curfew imposed Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are now seeking about four billion dollars in aid this year from the International Monetary Fund and countries including India and China. Sri Lanka’s rupee has lost about 82 per cent over the past year and the central bank on Monday flagged the possibility of a further correction. The nation’s debt is trading in the deeply-distressed territory. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lanka's president vows to finish term, but won't run for re-election

Polling started for Australian general elections on Saturday (May 21). Opinion polls are showing that opposition Labour Party is narrowly ahead of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Centre-left Labour has been in the opposition for nine years. Though it showed decent lead going into the campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Liberal-National government narrowed the gap in the final stretch of a tough, six-week campaign.

If climate-focused independents performed well, it may result in a hung parliament.

In-person voting at polling booths in suburban schools, beachside pavilions and outback halls opened at 8 a.m. (2200 GMT on Friday) and will close at 6 p.m. (0800 GMT).

Initial results should be known by Saturday evening. &nbsp;although the Australian Electoral Commission has flagged a clear winner may not immediately emerge if it is a close contest due to the time required to count about 3 million postal votes.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-reports-48-year-low-jobless-rate-before-election-480324">Australia reports 48-year-low jobless rate before election</a>

Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese (57) has called PM Scott Morrison "divisive" and has urged people to turn away from him. He has promised to end Australia's foot dragging on climate change, help people struggling with soaring prices, and to hold a referendum on giving indigenous people an institutional voice in national policy making.&nbsp;

"I feel a sense of momentum," Albanese said as he visited a polling station in Melbourne, posing for selfies with locals and their dogs.

"Give Labor a crack. We have plans for this country," Albanese said as election day began, describing the prime minister as "the most divisive I've ever seen".

"We have plans to embrace the opportunities that are there from acting on climate change," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Polling started for Australian general elections on Saturday (May 21). Opinion polls are showing that opposition Labour Party is narrowly ahead of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Polling started for Australian general elections on Saturday (May 21). Opinion polls are showing that opposition Labour Party is narrowly ahead of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Centre-left Labour has been in the opposition for nine years. Though it showed decent lead going into the campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Liberal-National government narrowed the gap in the final stretch of a tough, six-week campaign. If climate-focused independents performed well, it may result in a hung parliament. In-person voting at polling booths in suburban schools, beachside pavilions and outback halls opened at 8 a.m. (2200 GMT on Friday) and will close at 6 p.m. (0800 GMT). Initial results should be known by Saturday evening. although the Australian Electoral Commission has flagged a clear winner may not immediately emerge if it is a close contest due to the time required to count about 3 million postal votes. Also Read | Australia reports 48-year-low jobless rate before election Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese (57) has called PM Scott Morrison "divisive" and has urged people to turn away from him. He has promised to end Australia's foot dragging on climate change, help people struggling with soaring prices, and to hold a referendum on giving indigenous people an institutional voice in national policy making. "I feel a sense of momentum," Albanese said as he visited a polling station in Melbourne, posing for selfies with locals and their dogs. "Give Labor a crack. We have plans for this country," Albanese said as election day began, describing the prime minister as "the most divisive I've ever seen". "We have plans to embrace the opportunities that are there from acting on climate change," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Voting begins in Australian general election

Australia will elect its next Prime Minister this weekend. China is dominating the election discourse. The Australian Government claims that a Chinese ship with spying capabilities has been spotted near the country's western coast. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: China's shadow over Australia's Election

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) suffered a crushing defeat in a key German regional election on Sunday, exit polls showed. The likely loss for the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia would be a big blow for Scholz.

German Regional Election Exit Poll: Heavy defeat looms for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD

German Regional Election Exit Poll: SPD suffers a crushing defeat

The Philippines will elect a new president on May 9. President Rodrigo Duterte is leaving office with a reputation for brutality. Watch this report to know all about the presidential race.

Philippines election: Key things to know about the presidential race

Explainer-A guide to the Philippines election this year

Emmanuel Macron has been re-elected as President of France. What does Macron's victory mean for the voters, Europe, and India? Listen in.

Gravitas: France Presidential Election: Emmanuel Macron wins second term

The Philippines is all set to choose President Rodrigo Duterte's successor, the country will cast its vote on May 9. Ahead of elections, Ex-Dictator's son leads in opinion polls.

Ex-Dictator's son leads in opinion polls ahead of Philippines Presidential polls

After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1980s. In general, low turnout is attributed to multiple reasons but ultimately affecting the results. Let's have a look at what happened in France on election day.

What factors lead to a low voter turnout in France?

The Philippines is all set to choose President Rodrigo Duterte's successor, the country will cast its vote on May 9. Ahead of elections, Marcos junior leads in opinion polls.

The Philippines Presidential elections: Marcos junior leads in opinion polls

The French Presidential race has reached its climax. Emmanuel Macron & Marine Le Pen are about to face off in the Presidential debate. The 2017 debate cost Le Pen the top office. Will history repeat itself? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Macron & Le Pen to duel in Presidential Debate

France's far-right candidate Marine Le Pen has been accused of embezzling $148,000 in E.U. funds. EU's anti-fraud office OLAF claims Le Pen used the money for political purposes in France. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: France Elections: Marine Le Pen accused of embezzlement

Amazon.com Inc workers at a small facility in New Jersey have shown enough interest to hold a vote on unionizing, the US&nbsp;National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said on Monday.

At least 60 of 200 workers from Amazon`s DNK5 depot in Bayonne, New Jersey, have submitted cards seeking to organize as part of Local 713 International Brotherhood of the Trade Union, the NLRB said.

The news follows growing interest in organizing at Amazon, which for years had resisted unions in its US&nbsp;operations.

Just last month, thousands of employees at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island voted to organize under a different group known as the Amazon Labor Union, and workers at a second Staten Island warehouse are weighing later this month whether to unionize.

An election date and terms have yet to be agreed upon for the delivery station DNK5. Amazon could dispute the validity of this latest petition.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amazon.com Inc workers at a small facility in New Jersey have shown enough interest to hold a vote on unionizing, the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said on Monday.

Amazon.com Inc workers at a small facility in New Jersey have shown enough interest to hold a vote on unionizing, the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said on Monday. At least 60 of 200 workers from Amazon`s DNK5 depot in Bayonne, New Jersey, have submitted cards seeking to organize as part of Local 713 International Brotherhood of the Trade Union, the NLRB said. The news follows growing interest in organizing at Amazon, which for years had resisted unions in its US operations. Just last month, thousands of employees at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island voted to organize under a different group known as the Amazon Labor Union, and workers at a second Staten Island warehouse are weighing later this month whether to unionize. An election date and terms have yet to be agreed upon for the delivery station DNK5. Amazon could dispute the validity of this latest petition. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amazon workers in small New Jersey facility file for union election

After a brief easter pause in campaigning, the two final contenders in the French presidential race will return to the ground today. Ahead of the high-stakes televised debate president Emmanuel Macron and also the far-right challenger Marine Le Pen both have have scheduled low-key meetings for today.

Macron vs Marine Le Pen: Rivals group gear for final campaigning | French Presidential Elections

The Philippines is to choose President Rodrigo Duterte's successor three weeks from now. The citizens of the country will cast its votes on May 9th.

The Philippines Presidential polls: Political battle escalates 3 weeks ahead of polls

France's presidential fight is heating up incumbent president Emmanuel Macron will go head-to-head with Marine Le Pen on the 24th of April in their bid to woo voters. For the second round of the election both Macron and Marine Le Pen have sharpened their on ground campaign.

French Presidential Elections: Macron facing a tougher-than-expected-fight from Marine Le Pen

After winning the first round of the Presidential elections incumbent French president Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen have made an aggressive start to the next phase of the campaign ahead of the country's presidential runoff vote on the 24th of April.

French Presidential Elections: Macron, Marine Le Pen begin runoff campaigns

In France, the first round of voting for the presidential election concluded. Partial results after the first round are putting incumbent president Emmanuel Macron in first place ahead of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

French Presidential Elections: Macron, Le Pen emerge as top two competitors in round one of voting

Amazon.com Inc on Friday called for an election re-run after workers at a New York City warehouse voted to create the company's first US&nbsp;union, saying that the US&nbsp;labor board and worker-organizers suppressed turnout.

The&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;Labor Union (ALU) rejected the allegations made by the online retailer that is the second-largest US&nbsp;private employer.

Amazon&nbsp;made its demand a week after the landmark victory for organized labor, which for years has sought to offer protections to workers at the company. Some 55 per cent of employees who voted from&nbsp;Amazon's JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island opted to join the ALU, which has argued for higher pay and job security. Turnout was about 58 per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-workers-who-won-a-union-their-way-open-labour-leaders-eyes-469109">Amazon workers who won a union their way open labour leaders’ eyes</a>

Amazon&nbsp;spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement: "We want our employees to have their voices heard, and in this case, that didn't happen - fewer than a third of the employees at the site voted for the union."

Amazon&nbsp;also accused the ALU of intimidating workers and distributing marijuana to gain votes in its favor, according to a company filing on Friday.

Derrick Palmer, vice president of the ALU, said&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;is trying to "demean our character and undermine our efforts."

The US&nbsp;National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) now must process&nbsp;Amazon's objections before certifying the election result. The timing for this was not immediately clear.

Watch |&nbsp;Amazon: Workers threatened to unionise

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amazon-workers-threatened-to-unionise-469263/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In its filing,&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;said the NLRB improperly helped the ALU gain standing to hold an election and created the impression that it supported the union.&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;also accused the NLRB of hampering turnout through mismanagement in the polling area and by allowing camera crews on site that scared away voters.

An NLRB spokesperson declined to comment on these objections but the board has said previously that it is independent and that its enforcement actions against&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;have been consistent with its congressional mandate.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-workers-in-new-york-warehouse-vote-to-form-a-union-467526">Amazon's New York facility becomes its first in US to organise a union</a>

The ALU pushed back against&nbsp;Amazon's claims, saying the company did not contest low turnout in a prior union election in Alabama in which workers voted against organizing. The ALU said it was&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;that had intimidated workers, and the union has filed dozens of unfair labor practice charges against the company.

Amazon.com Inc on Friday called for an election re-run after workers at a New York City warehouse voted to create the company's first US union, saying that the US labor board and worker-organizers suppressed turnout.

Amazon.com Inc on Friday called for an election re-run after workers at a New York City warehouse voted to create the company's first US union, saying that the US labor board and worker-organizers suppressed turnout. The Amazon Labor Union (ALU) rejected the allegations made by the online retailer that is the second-largest US private employer. Amazon made its demand a week after the landmark victory for organized labor, which for years has sought to offer protections to workers at the company. Some 55 per cent of employees who voted from Amazon's JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island opted to join the ALU, which has argued for higher pay and job security. Turnout was about 58 per cent. Also read | Amazon workers who won a union their way open labour leaders’ eyes Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement: "We want our employees to have their voices heard, and in this case, that didn't happen - fewer than a third of the employees at the site voted for the union." Amazon also accused the ALU of intimidating workers and distributing marijuana to gain votes in its favor, according to a company filing on Friday. Derrick Palmer, vice president of the ALU, said Amazon is trying to "demean our character and undermine our efforts." The US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) now must process Amazon's objections before certifying the election result. The timing for this was not immediately clear. Watch | Amazon: Workers threatened to unionise In its filing, Amazon said the NLRB improperly helped the ALU gain standing to hold an election and created the impression that it supported the union. Amazon also accused the NLRB of hampering turnout through mismanagement in the polling area and by allowing camera crews on site that scared away voters. An NLRB spokesperson declined to comment on these objections but the board has said previously that it is independent and that its enforcement actions against Amazon have been consistent with its congressional mandate. Also read | Amazon's New York facility becomes its first in US to organise a union The ALU pushed back against Amazon's claims, saying the company did not contest low turnout in a prior union election in Alabama in which workers voted against organizing. The ALU said it was Amazon that had intimidated workers, and the union has filed dozens of unfair labor practice charges against the company.

Amazon calls for election re-run after workers voted for first US union

In France, the death of a Jewish man Jeremy Cohen has turned into a political battle. Macron's rivals Eric Zemmour & Marine Le Pen are accusing him of not doing enough on Anti Semitism. What's the reality? Palki Sharma Upadhyay reports.

Gravitas: France Election: Anti-semitism takes centrestage

France is all set to go to polls. French President Emmanuel Macron is aiming for a second term. There are 12 presidential candidates with six main contenders. But how does the electoral process work in France? Will Macron secure a second term? What are the big issues in the French Presidential poll?

France's electoral system explained: Will Emmanuel Macron win 2nd term?

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