The Gambia's President Adama Barrow has easily won re-election and defeated former dictator Yahya Jammeh, who now fled into exile. However, massive protest now rocks Gambia as opposition supporters want Barrow to step down.

Massive protest rocks Gambia as opposition want Barrow to step down

The Gambia's President Adama Barrow has easily won re-election. Mr Barrow defeated former dictator Yahya Jammeh, who now fled into exile.

Gambia elections: Adama Barrow gets re-elected for second term

Dozens of protesters gathered near the venue of France's far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour's rally on December 5. The leader's rally took place in Villepinte, near Paris. Police made arrests as protests were undeclared. The demonstrations took place near Villepinte Expo Hall. It was Zemmour's first rally as an official candidate for presidential elections in 2022.

France presidential elections: Zemmour launches 2022 bid with rally

The Gambia is all set to vote today in the much-awaited presidential election. This is for the first time in the years that the country will not have former dictator Yahya Jammeh appearing on the ballot.

Gambia heads for presidential election

France is all set to go for presidential polls in 2022. The country will hold elections in April to elect a new president.

France: Emmanuel Macron announces his candidacy for a second term

Venezuela is all set to hold regional elections. Stakes are high as this is for the first time in four years that opposition parties are returning to ballots.

Regional elections to take place in Venezuela

The Imran Khan led-PTI government in Pakistan has managed to pass the contentious election reform bill in the parliament. Here we bring you all the latest on what the bill is about!

Pakistan parliament passes election reform bills, overseas Pakistanis to get voting rights

Libya is a failed state. A presidential election in December was supposed to change the country's fortunes. But the candidacy of Gaddafi's son and a controversial General raises serious questions. Palki Sharma tells you why the election is being called a farce.

Gravitas | Libya Presidential Election: A farce?

Rodrigo Duterte & his daughter Sara Duterte will both run for Vice-President in the Philippines general election. The Dutertes along with Marcos plan to maintain their grip on power. Palki Sharma tells you how prevalent political dynasties are in the Philippines.

Gravitas: Rodrigo Duterte & daughter to run for Vice Presidency | Dynasty Politics in the Philippines

In Bulgaria, a newly founded anti-corruption party's leading in parliamentary elections. At least, four exit polls suggest a narrow lead, the data suggests increased chances of an end to a political deadlock in the European Union states.

Bulgaria: Anti-corruption party leads in exit polls, gains edge with 26% voters

Argentine president Alberto Fernandez will face a litmus test today as the country is set for a mid-term poll. The results could see the center-left party lose its majority status.

Argentina: Rift brewing between moderate Peronists and Hardliners

South&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;entered new political territory on Thursday with the ruling African National Congress on the verge of losing its dominance and suffering its worst electoral setback in history.

With 99 percent of the results from Monday's municipal elections published by the electoral commission, the ANC had taken 45.64 percent of the total votes cast nationally.

It is the first time the party of Nelson Mandela has received less than half of ballots cast in any election in the continent's most industrialised nation.

But party officials &nbsp;put on a brave face.&nbsp;

"The worst could have happened," ANC elections chief Fikile Mbalula told reporters. "We fought very hard to get to this point".

He was adamant "we are not politically obliterated, we are not annihilated, that could have happened".

The immediate impact of Monday's voting is local, as parties set about horse-trading to build coalitions in towns and cities. Looking ahead to general elections in 2024, the results portend badly for the ANC.

The local polls also set the stage for the country's evolution into a richer multi-party democracy, moving past the dream of a "rainbow nation" and into the reality of balancing myriad competing interests.

"For some time, we've been trying to implement democracy in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Africa, but we have not really succeeded up to now to have a truly competitive multi-party democracy," said Sandile Swana, an independent political analyst.

Missing voters

Major cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria have had coalition governments since the last local polls five years ago. The trend continues.

Nationally, the ANC lost a majority in even more regions, including in eThekwini metro in former president Jacob Zuma's stronghold province&nbsp;of KwaZulu-Natal province.

Only two out of three potential voters registered. Of those, less than half actually cast ballots.

For the first time, the ANC was in trouble and they couldn't hide the fact that they were scared.

It's hard to remember now, but in the first democratic elections in 1994, the ANC's dominance was far from assured.

But after Mandela ascended to the presidency, the party expanded its electoral success over the next decade until it controlled almost all major cities, and held a super-majority in parliament.

However, over the last 15 years, the ANC's popularity has declined sharply.

Now dipping below the 50 percent mark for the first time, the ANC no longer appears invulnerable.

"It's a&nbsp;psychological barrier, and now it's same for national election," said William Gumede of the Democracy Works think tank.

After 27 years in power, the ANC has no one to blame for&nbsp;South&nbsp;Africa's woes. Unemployment, always stubbornly high, has hit a record 34.4 percent.

Mismanagement and corruption have left the country unable to guarantee a steady electricity supply. Water cuts and sewage leaks are common.

South Africa entered new political territory on Thursday with the ruling African National Congress on the verge of losing its dominance and suffering its worst electoral setback in history.

South Africa entered new political territory on Thursday with the ruling African National Congress on the verge of losing its dominance and suffering its worst electoral setback in history. With 99 percent of the results from Monday's municipal elections published by the electoral commission, the ANC had taken 45.64 percent of the total votes cast nationally. It is the first time the party of Nelson Mandela has received less than half of ballots cast in any election in the continent's most industrialised nation. But party officials put on a brave face. "The worst could have happened," ANC elections chief Fikile Mbalula told reporters. "We fought very hard to get to this point". He was adamant "we are not politically obliterated, we are not annihilated, that could have happened". The immediate impact of Monday's voting is local, as parties set about horse-trading to build coalitions in towns and cities. Looking ahead to general elections in 2024, the results portend badly for the ANC. The local polls also set the stage for the country's evolution into a richer multi-party democracy, moving past the dream of a "rainbow nation" and into the reality of balancing myriad competing interests. "For some time, we've been trying to implement democracy in South Africa, but we have not really succeeded up to now to have a truly competitive multi-party democracy," said Sandile Swana, an independent political analyst. Missing voters Major cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria have had coalition governments since the last local polls five years ago. The trend continues. Nationally, the ANC lost a majority in even more regions, including in eThekwini metro in former president Jacob Zuma's stronghold province of KwaZulu-Natal province. Only two out of three potential voters registered. Of those, less than half actually cast ballots. For the first time, the ANC was in trouble and they couldn't hide the fact that they were scared. It's hard to remember now, but in the first democratic elections in 1994, the ANC's dominance was far from assured. But after Mandela ascended to the presidency, the party expanded its electoral success over the next decade until it controlled almost all major cities, and held a super-majority in parliament. However, over the last 15 years, the ANC's popularity has declined sharply. Now dipping below the 50 percent mark for the first time, the ANC no longer appears invulnerable. "It's a psychological barrier, and now it's same for national election," said William Gumede of the Democracy Works think tank. After 27 years in power, the ANC has no one to blame for South Africa's woes. Unemployment, always stubbornly high, has hit a record 34.4 percent. Mismanagement and corruption have left the country unable to guarantee a steady electricity supply. Water cuts and sewage leaks are common.

South Africa's ANC on cusp of historic losses

South Africa’s ruling ANC party looked set to deliver its worst ever electoral performance since the end of apartheid. The party's support is expected to dip below 50%in local government polls, the counting is underway.

South Africa municipal elections: ANC set for worst-ever performance, counting underway

Pakistan is taking steps to allow Tehrik-e-Labaik, a banned Islamic group to contest elections. As per negotiators on both sides, Pakistan government will also free more than 2000 jailed activists of the group.

In return, the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan has agreed to shun the politics of violence and withdraw its longstanding demand to have France`s ambassador expelled over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad by a French satirical magazine, they told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

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The caricatures have triggered repeated demonstrations by the group to protest at what it considers blasphemy. 
Prime Minister Imran Khan`s government banned the TLP after its protests turned violent earlier this year, designated it a terrorist group and arrested its chief Saad Rizvi.

Although neither sides gave details, the government and TLP said that an agreement had been reached to help end clashes.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/pak-panellists-comparison-of-banana-growth-in-india-and-pakistan-leaves-anchor-in-splits-on-air-426172">Pak panellist's comparison of banana growth in India and Pakistan leaves anchor in splits on air</a>

Two members of the TLP`s negotiating team and one from the government side told Reuters the centrepiece of the deal was to lift the ban and allow the group to contest elections.

"The state has acknowledged that the TLP is neither a terrorist group nor a banned outfit," another member of the TLP negotiation team, Bashir Farooqi, separately told local Dunya News TV.

In addition, the government has agreed not to contest the release of the group`s jailed leader as well as nearly 2,300 activists and to remove their names from a terrorist watch list, the three negotiators told Reuters.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/first-target-is-to-destroy-pakistan-isis-k-blames-islamabad-for-afghanistan-chaos-426088">First target is to destroy Pakistan: ISIS-K blames Islamabad for Afghanistan chaos</a>

Punjab province Law Minister Raja Basharat said nearly 1,000 of the activists had already been released. 
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry did not respond to a request for comment.

The settlement came after seven police officers were killed and hundreds more were wounded as they confronted thousands of TLP demonstrators marching up Pakistan`s busiest highway from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital Islamabad.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan is taking steps to allow Tehrik-e-Labaik, a banned Islamic group to contest elections. As per negotiators on both sides, Pakistan government will also free more than 2000 jailed activists of the group.

Pakistan is taking steps to allow Tehrik-e-Labaik, a banned Islamic group to contest elections. As per negotiators on both sides, Pakistan government will also free more than 2000 jailed activists of the group. In return, the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan has agreed to shun the politics of violence and withdraw its longstanding demand to have France`s ambassador expelled over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad by a French satirical magazine, they told Reuters on condition of anonymity. × The caricatures have triggered repeated demonstrations by the group to protest at what it considers blasphemy. Prime Minister Imran Khan`s government banned the TLP after its protests turned violent earlier this year, designated it a terrorist group and arrested its chief Saad Rizvi. Although neither sides gave details, the government and TLP said that an agreement had been reached to help end clashes. Also Read | Pak panellist's comparison of banana growth in India and Pakistan leaves anchor in splits on air Two members of the TLP`s negotiating team and one from the government side told Reuters the centrepiece of the deal was to lift the ban and allow the group to contest elections. "The state has acknowledged that the TLP is neither a terrorist group nor a banned outfit," another member of the TLP negotiation team, Bashir Farooqi, separately told local Dunya News TV. In addition, the government has agreed not to contest the release of the group`s jailed leader as well as nearly 2,300 activists and to remove their names from a terrorist watch list, the three negotiators told Reuters. Also Read | First target is to destroy Pakistan: ISIS-K blames Islamabad for Afghanistan chaos Punjab province Law Minister Raja Basharat said nearly 1,000 of the activists had already been released. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry did not respond to a request for comment. The settlement came after seven police officers were killed and hundreds more were wounded as they confronted thousands of TLP demonstrators marching up Pakistan`s busiest highway from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital Islamabad. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan to allow banned Islamic group TLP to contest elections

Japan's ruling coalition is on track to retain power but lose seats in parliament, media predictions said after polls closed in Sunday's general election, the first major test for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The 64-year-old, who took office a month ago, said the forecasts based on exit polls showed the public has "trust" in his long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito.

But as the votes were counted, analysts warned that a poor showing could raise questions within the LDP over the prime minister's popularity and leadership ability.

Public broadcaster NHK predicted the coalition would win 239-288 of the 465 seats in parliament's lower house.

TV Asahi said the coalition was expected to win 280 seats, down from its previous total of 305, weakening the dominance of the LDP, which has held power almost continuously since the 1950s.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-election-looks-closer-than-usual-but-party-in-power-has-hit-snooze-425565">Also read |&nbsp;Japan’s election looks closer than usual, but party in power has hit snooze</a>

"If the ruling coalition is given a majority, the government is given trust. It is a big deal," Kishida said in televised comments.

He added that he hoped to issue a fresh stimulus package by the end of the year to counter the impact of the pandemic on the world's third-largest economy.

"As far as economic measures, upon receiving the results of this election, I would like to draft them as soon as possible." He had previously said the package would be worth tens of trillions of yen.

'Economy is suffering'

Kishida was voted LDP leader after Yoshihide Suga resigned just a year into the job, partly due to public discontent over his response to the Covid-19 crisis.

He has not enjoyed a political honeymoon, however, with approval ratings around 50 percent, the lowest in two decades for a new administration in&nbsp;Japan.

Cases have dropped precipitously since a record wave this summer that pushed the Tokyo Olympics behind closed doors, and voters in the capital said the pandemic was a major factor in their decision.

"The economy is suffering because of the coronavirus, so I compared the politicians' responses," said Chihiro Sato, 38, a housewife and mother of a toddler.

But engineer Hiroyasu Onishi, 79, said he was more concerned by "the military threat from China".

Kishida has outlined plans to tackle inequality heightened by the pro-business policies of Suga and his predecessor Shinzo Abe.

He has vowed to distribute wealth more fairly under a so-called new capitalism, although the details remain vague.

Kishida had set a comfortable target of winning 233 lower-house seats, a simple majority including LDP and Komeito lawmakers.

The LDP previously boasted a commanding majority of 276 seats on its own.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-votes-in-test-for-new-pm-kishida-political-stability-425504">Also read |&nbsp;Japan votes in test for new PM Kishida, political stability</a>

NHK predicted the party would hang on to between 212-253 seats on Sunday, while TV Asahi said it would win 243, still a simple majority without Komeito.

'Key test' to come&nbsp;

In recent decades, votes against the LDP have been split between multiple major opposition parties, but this time five rival parties boosted cooperation in a bid to dent its stranglehold.

"It's a defeat for Kishida as his party loses seats, but he is still able to secure his premiership for now," Shinichi Nishikawa, a professor of political science at Meiji University in Tokyo, told AFP.

"He avoided the worst scenario in the election but he may lose his influence," Nishikawa said, adding that an upper house vote next summer will be a "key test" of Kishida's longevity as leader.

Tobias Harris, senior fellow for Asia at the Center for American Progress, said that at the lower end of the exit poll predictions, "there will be debates within the LDP about the vision for the party going forward".

"There are going to be questions about his leadership ability, his popularity", he told AFP.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pumice-pebbles-from-undersea-volcano-are-causing-damage-in-japan-425054">Also read |&nbsp;Pumice pebbles from undersea volcano are causing damage in Japan</a>

As well as vowing to tackle the pandemic and working to boost the middle class, the LDP has said it will aim to increase defence spending to counter threats from China and North Korea.

But Kishida has so far distanced himself from social causes such as same-sex marriage and allowing married couples to have different surnames.

Kishida said that if his win was confirmed, he wanted to attend the COP26 summit in Glasgow as his first overseas engagement after the election.

Japan's ruling coalition is on track to retain power but lose seats in parliament, media predictions said after polls closed in Sunday's general election, the first major test for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Japan's ruling coalition is on track to retain power but lose seats in parliament, media predictions said after polls closed in Sunday's general election, the first major test for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The 64-year-old, who took office a month ago, said the forecasts based on exit polls showed the public has "trust" in his long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito. But as the votes were counted, analysts warned that a poor showing could raise questions within the LDP over the prime minister's popularity and leadership ability. Public broadcaster NHK predicted the coalition would win 239-288 of the 465 seats in parliament's lower house. TV Asahi said the coalition was expected to win 280 seats, down from its previous total of 305, weakening the dominance of the LDP, which has held power almost continuously since the 1950s. Also read | Japan’s election looks closer than usual, but party in power has hit snooze "If the ruling coalition is given a majority, the government is given trust. It is a big deal," Kishida said in televised comments. He added that he hoped to issue a fresh stimulus package by the end of the year to counter the impact of the pandemic on the world's third-largest economy. "As far as economic measures, upon receiving the results of this election, I would like to draft them as soon as possible." He had previously said the package would be worth tens of trillions of yen. 'Economy is suffering' Kishida was voted LDP leader after Yoshihide Suga resigned just a year into the job, partly due to public discontent over his response to the Covid-19 crisis. He has not enjoyed a political honeymoon, however, with approval ratings around 50 percent, the lowest in two decades for a new administration in Japan. Cases have dropped precipitously since a record wave this summer that pushed the Tokyo Olympics behind closed doors, and voters in the capital said the pandemic was a major factor in their decision. "The economy is suffering because of the coronavirus, so I compared the politicians' responses," said Chihiro Sato, 38, a housewife and mother of a toddler. But engineer Hiroyasu Onishi, 79, said he was more concerned by "the military threat from China". Kishida has outlined plans to tackle inequality heightened by the pro-business policies of Suga and his predecessor Shinzo Abe. He has vowed to distribute wealth more fairly under a so-called new capitalism, although the details remain vague. Kishida had set a comfortable target of winning 233 lower-house seats, a simple majority including LDP and Komeito lawmakers. The LDP previously boasted a commanding majority of 276 seats on its own. Also read | Japan votes in test for new PM Kishida, political stability NHK predicted the party would hang on to between 212-253 seats on Sunday, while TV Asahi said it would win 243, still a simple majority without Komeito. 'Key test' to come In recent decades, votes against the LDP have been split between multiple major opposition parties, but this time five rival parties boosted cooperation in a bid to dent its stranglehold. "It's a defeat for Kishida as his party loses seats, but he is still able to secure his premiership for now," Shinichi Nishikawa, a professor of political science at Meiji University in Tokyo, told AFP. "He avoided the worst scenario in the election but he may lose his influence," Nishikawa said, adding that an upper house vote next summer will be a "key test" of Kishida's longevity as leader. Tobias Harris, senior fellow for Asia at the Center for American Progress, said that at the lower end of the exit poll predictions, "there will be debates within the LDP about the vision for the party going forward". "There are going to be questions about his leadership ability, his popularity", he told AFP. Also read | Pumice pebbles from undersea volcano are causing damage in Japan As well as vowing to tackle the pandemic and working to boost the middle class, the LDP has said it will aim to increase defence spending to counter threats from China and North Korea. But Kishida has so far distanced himself from social causes such as same-sex marriage and allowing married couples to have different surnames. Kishida said that if his win was confirmed, he wanted to attend the COP26 summit in Glasgow as his first overseas engagement after the election.

Exit polls show Japan ruling coalition to retain power, lose seats

Speaking to a local news station in November, Donald Kirk Hartle described being “surprised” by the possibility that someone had stolen his dead wife’s mail-in ballot and used it to vote in the 2020 election. “That is pretty sickening to me, to be honest with you,” he told KLAS-TV in Las Vegas.

But this week, the Nevada attorney general filed two charges of voter fraud against Hartle, 55, claiming that he was the one who forged his wife’s signature to vote with her ballot.

“Voter fraud is rare, but when it happens, it undercuts trust in our election system and will not be tolerated by my office,” Aaron D. Ford, the attorney general, said in a statement Thursday. “I want to stress that our office will pursue any credible allegations of voter fraud and will work to bring any offenders to justice.”

The announcement from Ford’s office comes months after waves of Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, falsely asserted that the 2020 election had been tainted by widespread voter fraud, including in Nevada, a state that Trump lost.

Hartle, a registered Republican, was charged with voting using the name of another person and voting more than once in the same election, the attorney general’s office said in the statement. Each charge carries a prison sentence of up to four years and a fine of up to $5,000, prosecutors said.

The criminal complaint did not explain how prosecutors came to the conclusion that Hartle had committed voter fraud. Questions sent to the office of Ford, a Democrat elected to the position in 2018, were not immediately responded to Saturday.

David Chesnoff, a lawyer for Hartle, said in a statement that his client “looks forward to responding to the allegations in court.” Hartle is scheduled to appear Nov. 18 in the Las Vegas Township Justice Court.

The Nevada Republican Party had cited Hartle’s story as evidence of voting irregularities on Twitter last year, saying that Hartle “was surprised to find that his late wife Rosemarie, a Republican, cast a ballot in this year's election despite having passed away” in 2017.

Since the announcement of the charges against Hartle, the party has not corrected the record, said Callum Ingram, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“The state Republican Party has been pretty quiet certainly on this case since the narrative got flipped on its head,” Ingram said in an interview on Saturday.

Hartle is the chief financial officer and treasurer for Ahern Rentals, according to his LinkedIn profile. The business rents out construction equipment and is a part of the Ahern Family of Companies. One of its businesses, Xtreme Manufacturing, was fined $3,000 in 2020 for hosting a Trump rally that did not comply with the state’s COVID regulations at the time, said Kathleen Richards, a spokesperson for the city of Henderson, Nevada.

Nevada was among several states dealing with dubious claims of voter fraud after the presidential election last November.

Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske said in a document posted in December titled “Facts vs. Myths” that there was no evidence of large-scale voter fraud in the state.

Cegavske’s office led the investigation of Hartle’s case.

“Our office takes voter fraud very seriously,” Cegavske said in the statement released by Ford’s office. “Our securities division worked hard to bring this case to a close.”

Conservative news outlets spread Hartle’s story. After the state Republican Party highlighted the case on Twitter, conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza discussed the case on his show. Then Fox News host Tucker Carlson promoted Hartle’s account, saying, “We don’t know who did this. We wish we did, because it’s fraud.”

For many voters in the state, Ingram said, proving that widespread voter fraud did not occur “is something that no amount of counterevidence, no amount of effort to prove folks wrong with facts or reason, is ever going to touch because it’s an unquestionable article of faith.”

Speaking to a local news station in November, Donald Kirk Hartle described being “surprised” by the possibility that someone had stolen his dead wife’s mail-in ballot and used it to vote in the 2020 election.

Speaking to a local news station in November, Donald Kirk Hartle described being “surprised” by the possibility that someone had stolen his dead wife’s mail-in ballot and used it to vote in the 2020 election. “That is pretty sickening to me, to be honest with you,” he told KLAS-TV in Las Vegas. But this week, the Nevada attorney general filed two charges of voter fraud against Hartle, 55, claiming that he was the one who forged his wife’s signature to vote with her ballot. “Voter fraud is rare, but when it happens, it undercuts trust in our election system and will not be tolerated by my office,” Aaron D. Ford, the attorney general, said in a statement Thursday. “I want to stress that our office will pursue any credible allegations of voter fraud and will work to bring any offenders to justice.” The announcement from Ford’s office comes months after waves of Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, falsely asserted that the 2020 election had been tainted by widespread voter fraud, including in Nevada, a state that Trump lost. Hartle, a registered Republican, was charged with voting using the name of another person and voting more than once in the same election, the attorney general’s office said in the statement. Each charge carries a prison sentence of up to four years and a fine of up to $5,000, prosecutors said. The criminal complaint did not explain how prosecutors came to the conclusion that Hartle had committed voter fraud. Questions sent to the office of Ford, a Democrat elected to the position in 2018, were not immediately responded to Saturday. David Chesnoff, a lawyer for Hartle, said in a statement that his client “looks forward to responding to the allegations in court.” Hartle is scheduled to appear Nov. 18 in the Las Vegas Township Justice Court. The Nevada Republican Party had cited Hartle’s story as evidence of voting irregularities on Twitter last year, saying that Hartle “was surprised to find that his late wife Rosemarie, a Republican, cast a ballot in this year's election despite having passed away” in 2017. Since the announcement of the charges against Hartle, the party has not corrected the record, said Callum Ingram, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno. “The state Republican Party has been pretty quiet certainly on this case since the narrative got flipped on its head,” Ingram said in an interview on Saturday. Hartle is the chief financial officer and treasurer for Ahern Rentals, according to his LinkedIn profile. The business rents out construction equipment and is a part of the Ahern Family of Companies. One of its businesses, Xtreme Manufacturing, was fined $3,000 in 2020 for hosting a Trump rally that did not comply with the state’s COVID regulations at the time, said Kathleen Richards, a spokesperson for the city of Henderson, Nevada. Nevada was among several states dealing with dubious claims of voter fraud after the presidential election last November. Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske said in a document posted in December titled “Facts vs. Myths” that there was no evidence of large-scale voter fraud in the state. Cegavske’s office led the investigation of Hartle’s case. “Our office takes voter fraud very seriously,” Cegavske said in the statement released by Ford’s office. “Our securities division worked hard to bring this case to a close.” Conservative news outlets spread Hartle’s story. After the state Republican Party highlighted the case on Twitter, conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza discussed the case on his show. Then Fox News host Tucker Carlson promoted Hartle’s account, saying, “We don’t know who did this. We wish we did, because it’s fraud.” For many voters in the state, Ingram said, proving that widespread voter fraud did not occur “is something that no amount of counterevidence, no amount of effort to prove folks wrong with facts or reason, is ever going to touch because it’s an unquestionable article of faith.”

Nevada man is charged with voting using his dead wife’s ballot

Former US secretary Hillary Clinton states that she will never be out of the game of politics. Her comments come at a time amid speculations of 2024 presidential elections.

United States | Hillary Clinton: Will never be out of politics

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is set to meet the country's president on Sunday, with the populist billionaire hoping to hold on to power despite a narrow election defeat at the hands of a centre-right alliance.

Babis, a long-time political ally of President Milos Zeman, on Saturday lost the cliffhanger vote to the Together alliance which is ready to form a majority government with another grouping.

But Zeman made it clear earlier that he would appoint the head of a party, not an alliance, following the election, suggesting Babis would get the first attempt at negotiating a viable cabinet.

"I can't see many reasons why he would do something else," Tomas Lebeda, an analyst at Palacky University in the eastern Czech city of Olomouc, told AFP.

Zeman is due to receive Babis in his residence outside Prague for an informal meeting on Sunday morning, before a more formal encounter scheduled for October 13.

"We'll see what the president will say," Babis said as he conceded defeat.

The president cast his ballot in the residence because of poor health, with Czech media suggesting rather serious liver problems.

Zeman's office has been secretive about his illness, giving no details for weeks.

The Together alliance of the right-wing Civic Democrats, the centre-right TOP 09 and the centrist Christian Democrats won 27.79 per cent of the vote, while Babis's ANO party earned 27.13 per cent.

The alliance would have a majority of 108 seats in the 200-seat parliament together with another grouping comprising the anti-establishment Pirate Party and the centrist Mayors and Independents.

Together leader Petr Fiala said on Saturday that the two alliances would only talk about a government with each other and ask Zeman to tap him to form the government.

"It seems that both democratic coalitions will manage to get a parliamentary majority, which most likely means Babis will have to go," said Otto Eibl, head of the political science department at Masaryk University in Brno.

Named in Pandora Papers

But Lebeda was more cautious, saying that "we have known (Zeman) for some time, we know how he thinks, how he acts".

"Given his health, he may reconsider the situation and arrive at a different conclusion, but I wouldn't bet much on that as things are."

The two alliances and ANO will be joined in parliament by the far-right, anti-Muslim Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement led by Tokyo-born entrepreneur Tomio Okamura which scored almost 10 per cent.

Turnout in the vote reached over 65 per cent, up from 60.84 per cent in the previous general election in 2017.

Babis currently leads a minority government with the left-wing Social Democrats, which was until recently tacitly backed by the Communist Party that ruled the former totalitarian Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989.

But the Communists were ousted from parliament at the polls for the first time since World War II, failing to meet the five-per cent threshold for any party to enter parliament.

The 67-year-old Babis, a food, chemicals and media mogul, is facing police charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud and the bloc's dismay over his conflict of interest as a businessman and a politician.

Last weekend, the Pandora Papers investigation showed he had used money from his offshore firms to finance the purchase of property in southern France in 2009, including a chateau.

He has denied any wrongdoing and slammed the allegations as a smear campaign.

Babis won the previous general election in 2017, but it took him nine months to put together a minority government with Zeman giving him all the time he wanted.&nbsp;

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is set to meet the country's president on Sunday, with the populist billionaire hoping to hold on to power despite a narrow election defeat at the hands of a centre-right alliance.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is set to meet the country's president on Sunday, with the populist billionaire hoping to hold on to power despite a narrow election defeat at the hands of a centre-right alliance. Babis, a long-time political ally of President Milos Zeman, on Saturday lost the cliffhanger vote to the Together alliance which is ready to form a majority government with another grouping. But Zeman made it clear earlier that he would appoint the head of a party, not an alliance, following the election, suggesting Babis would get the first attempt at negotiating a viable cabinet. "I can't see many reasons why he would do something else," Tomas Lebeda, an analyst at Palacky University in the eastern Czech city of Olomouc, told AFP. Zeman is due to receive Babis in his residence outside Prague for an informal meeting on Sunday morning, before a more formal encounter scheduled for October 13. "We'll see what the president will say," Babis said as he conceded defeat. The president cast his ballot in the residence because of poor health, with Czech media suggesting rather serious liver problems. Zeman's office has been secretive about his illness, giving no details for weeks. The Together alliance of the right-wing Civic Democrats, the centre-right TOP 09 and the centrist Christian Democrats won 27.79 per cent of the vote, while Babis's ANO party earned 27.13 per cent. The alliance would have a majority of 108 seats in the 200-seat parliament together with another grouping comprising the anti-establishment Pirate Party and the centrist Mayors and Independents. Together leader Petr Fiala said on Saturday that the two alliances would only talk about a government with each other and ask Zeman to tap him to form the government. "It seems that both democratic coalitions will manage to get a parliamentary majority, which most likely means Babis will have to go," said Otto Eibl, head of the political science department at Masaryk University in Brno. Named in Pandora Papers But Lebeda was more cautious, saying that "we have known (Zeman) for some time, we know how he thinks, how he acts". "Given his health, he may reconsider the situation and arrive at a different conclusion, but I wouldn't bet much on that as things are." The two alliances and ANO will be joined in parliament by the far-right, anti-Muslim Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement led by Tokyo-born entrepreneur Tomio Okamura which scored almost 10 per cent. Turnout in the vote reached over 65 per cent, up from 60.84 per cent in the previous general election in 2017. Babis currently leads a minority government with the left-wing Social Democrats, which was until recently tacitly backed by the Communist Party that ruled the former totalitarian Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989. But the Communists were ousted from parliament at the polls for the first time since World War II, failing to meet the five-per cent threshold for any party to enter parliament. The 67-year-old Babis, a food, chemicals and media mogul, is facing police charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud and the bloc's dismay over his conflict of interest as a businessman and a politician. Last weekend, the Pandora Papers investigation showed he had used money from his offshore firms to finance the purchase of property in southern France in 2009, including a chateau. He has denied any wrongdoing and slammed the allegations as a smear campaign. Babis won the previous general election in 2017, but it took him nine months to put together a minority government with Zeman giving him all the time he wanted.

Czech PM to meet ailing president after election defeat

Partial results and projections of Czech Republic's parliamentary elections indicated that Prime Minister Andrej Babis' ANO party and allies were on the path to defeat. This gives massive boost to country's centre-right and liberal opposition.

Prime Minister Babis is seeking second term amid criticism that he mismanaged Covid pandemic stoked fast-rising debt with handouts and tended to his own business interests in office. Babis denies all accusations.

The two opposition groups were seen on track to win 104 seats in 200-member lower house, &nbsp;claiming a combined majority despite a narrow election lead held by ANO, Czech Television calculations based on 89% of voting districts showed on Saturday.

The two-day election had ended at midday.

The coalitions refuse to work with Babis over what they say are his unacceptable conflicts of interest related to the business empire he created before entering politics.

Babis, 67, has promised to continue raising public sector wages and pensions, hoping to shore up the basis of his popular support. He also stepped up his anti-migrant remarks and pledged to avoid ceding powers to the European Union.

ANO'S partners

President Milos Zeman has said he would give Babis the first try to form a government if ANO wins the most votes.

But if Together and Pirates/Mayors stick to their pledge not to work with ANO, he could have no mathematical chance to form a majority, based on the partial results.

Babis's big-spending policies, maintained despite a broad recovery from the pandemic, mark a break from traditional Czech fiscal prudence. Debt is set to be among the fastest growing in the EU, albeit from a low base.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Partial results and projections of Czech Republic's parliamentary elections indicated that Prime Minister Andrej Babis' ANO party and allies were on the path to defeat.

Partial results and projections of Czech Republic's parliamentary elections indicated that Prime Minister Andrej Babis' ANO party and allies were on the path to defeat. This gives massive boost to country's centre-right and liberal opposition. Prime Minister Babis is seeking second term amid criticism that he mismanaged Covid pandemic stoked fast-rising debt with handouts and tended to his own business interests in office. Babis denies all accusations. The two opposition groups were seen on track to win 104 seats in 200-member lower house, claiming a combined majority despite a narrow election lead held by ANO, Czech Television calculations based on 89% of voting districts showed on Saturday. The two-day election had ended at midday. The coalitions refuse to work with Babis over what they say are his unacceptable conflicts of interest related to the business empire he created before entering politics. Babis, 67, has promised to continue raising public sector wages and pensions, hoping to shore up the basis of his popular support. He also stepped up his anti-migrant remarks and pledged to avoid ceding powers to the European Union. ANO'S partners President Milos Zeman has said he would give Babis the first try to form a government if ANO wins the most votes. But if Together and Pirates/Mayors stick to their pledge not to work with ANO, he could have no mathematical chance to form a majority, based on the partial results. Babis's big-spending policies, maintained despite a broad recovery from the pandemic, mark a break from traditional Czech fiscal prudence. Debt is set to be among the fastest growing in the EU, albeit from a low base. (With inputs from agencies)

Czech Republic polls: PM Andrej Babis projected to lose office

Voting kicked off Monday in Canadian elections that are headed for a photo finish, with liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seeking a third term but threatened by a strong challenge from rookie conservative leader Erin O'Toole.

Trudeau called the snap election hoping to parlay a smooth COVID-19 vaccine rollout -- among the best in the world -- into a new mandate to steer the nation's pandemic exit, without having to rely on opposition party support to pass his agenda.

But the contest, after a bumpy five weeks of campaigning, appears set for a repeat of the close 2019 general election that resulted in the one-time golden boy of Canadian politics clinging to power, yet losing his majority in parliament.

A sudden surge in COVID-19 cases led by the Delta variant late in the campaign, after the lifting of most public health measures this summer, has also thrown a wrench into the works. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-elections-few-things-that-you-need-to-know-about-the-campaign-414449">Also read | Canada elections: Few things that you need to know about the campaign</a>

Voting across Canada's six time zones started in the Atlantic island province of Newfoundland at 8:30 am (1100 GMT) and was to wrap up in westernmost British Columbia at 7:00 pm (0200 GMT).

At 49, Trudeau has faced tougher bouts and come out unscathed.

But after six years in power, his administration is showing signs of fatigue, and it's been an uphill battle for him to convince Canadians to stick with his Liberals after falling short of high expectations set in his 2015 landslide win.

"The main ballot box question at the start of this campaign was whether the Liberals deserved to have a majority government," said Daniel Beland, a politics professor at McGill University in Montreal. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-justin-trudeau-sought-a-poll-he-risks-losing-with-only-a-week-to-go-413093">Also read |&nbsp;Canada's Justin Trudeau sought a poll he risks losing with only a week to go</a>

"But now the question is whether they deserve to stay in power."

Going into the final stretch, the two main political parties that ruled Canada since its 1867 confederation were neck and neck with about 31 percent of voting intentions each and four smaller factions nipping at their heels.

An estimated 27 million Canadians are eligible to cast a ballot to select 338 members of Parliament. To keep his job, Trudeau's Liberals must win a plurality of seats and take at least 170 for a majority.

Due to the pandemic, a significant number of mail-in ballots (1.2 million) are expected, which could mean the results may not be known Monday evening.

Pollster and former political strategist Tim Powers advised not counting Trudeau out.

"I still think Justin Trudeau will win a minority government," he told AFP.

"But is that a win for him?" he added, suggesting Trudeau may be turfed as leader if the Liberals fare poorly at the ballot box.

'Anti-vaxxer mobs,' China 'counterstrikes'

The 36-day campaign -- the shortest allowed under Canadian law -- saw the contenders spar over climate actions, indigenous reconciliation, affordable housing, the recent Afghanistan crisis, mandatory Covid-19 inoculations and vaccine passports.

Rivals criticized Trudeau for calling the election during a pandemic.

Meanwhile, the 48-year-old O'Toole was knocked for his backing of Alberta and two other Tory-led provinces' loosening of public health restrictions too soon, with Covid outbreaks now forcing their overwhelmed hospitals to fly patients across Canada for care.

At rallies, Trudeau was dogged by what he described as "anti-vaxxer mobs," including one that threw stones at him.

He also received endorsements from former US president Barack Obama and his former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

O'Toole, meanwhile, fumbled over gun control and was warned by Beijing, according to Chinese state media, that his proposed hard line on China -- Canada's second-largest trading partner, with whom relations have soured over its detention of two Canadian nationals -- would "invite counterstrikes."

Overall, commented Max Cameron, a professor at the University of British Columbia, "this hasn't been a polarizing election. There's actually a lot of clustering around the middle."

"This isn't Republicans versus Democrats south of the border," he said, referring to the United States.&nbsp;

"This has been very much a Canadian campaign in which there's a strong consensus around what are the issues and how they have to be tackled."

O'Toole, a relative unknown who became Tory leader only last year, tracked his party to the political center, forcing the Liberals to compete for votes on the left with the New Democrats and Greens, as well as the separatist Bloc Quebecois.

The Conservatives, however, also saw their support clawed in the final week by former foreign minister Maxime Bernier's far right People's Party.

When the final count is in, said University of Winnipeg professor Felix Mathieu, "it's unlikely anyone will have obtained a majority."

Voting kicked off Monday in Canadian elections that are headed for a photo finish, with liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seeking a third term but threatened by a strong challenge from rookie conservative leader Erin O'Toole.

Voting kicked off Monday in Canadian elections that are headed for a photo finish, with liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seeking a third term but threatened by a strong challenge from rookie conservative leader Erin O'Toole. Trudeau called the snap election hoping to parlay a smooth COVID-19 vaccine rollout -- among the best in the world -- into a new mandate to steer the nation's pandemic exit, without having to rely on opposition party support to pass his agenda. But the contest, after a bumpy five weeks of campaigning, appears set for a repeat of the close 2019 general election that resulted in the one-time golden boy of Canadian politics clinging to power, yet losing his majority in parliament. A sudden surge in COVID-19 cases led by the Delta variant late in the campaign, after the lifting of most public health measures this summer, has also thrown a wrench into the works. Also read | Canada elections: Few things that you need to know about the campaign Voting across Canada's six time zones started in the Atlantic island province of Newfoundland at 8:30 am (1100 GMT) and was to wrap up in westernmost British Columbia at 7:00 pm (0200 GMT). At 49, Trudeau has faced tougher bouts and come out unscathed. But after six years in power, his administration is showing signs of fatigue, and it's been an uphill battle for him to convince Canadians to stick with his Liberals after falling short of high expectations set in his 2015 landslide win. "The main ballot box question at the start of this campaign was whether the Liberals deserved to have a majority government," said Daniel Beland, a politics professor at McGill University in Montreal. Also read | Canada's Justin Trudeau sought a poll he risks losing with only a week to go "But now the question is whether they deserve to stay in power." Going into the final stretch, the two main political parties that ruled Canada since its 1867 confederation were neck and neck with about 31 percent of voting intentions each and four smaller factions nipping at their heels. An estimated 27 million Canadians are eligible to cast a ballot to select 338 members of Parliament. To keep his job, Trudeau's Liberals must win a plurality of seats and take at least 170 for a majority. Due to the pandemic, a significant number of mail-in ballots (1.2 million) are expected, which could mean the results may not be known Monday evening. Pollster and former political strategist Tim Powers advised not counting Trudeau out. "I still think Justin Trudeau will win a minority government," he told AFP. "But is that a win for him?" he added, suggesting Trudeau may be turfed as leader if the Liberals fare poorly at the ballot box. 'Anti-vaxxer mobs,' China 'counterstrikes' The 36-day campaign -- the shortest allowed under Canadian law -- saw the contenders spar over climate actions, indigenous reconciliation, affordable housing, the recent Afghanistan crisis, mandatory Covid-19 inoculations and vaccine passports. Rivals criticized Trudeau for calling the election during a pandemic. Meanwhile, the 48-year-old O'Toole was knocked for his backing of Alberta and two other Tory-led provinces' loosening of public health restrictions too soon, with Covid outbreaks now forcing their overwhelmed hospitals to fly patients across Canada for care. At rallies, Trudeau was dogged by what he described as "anti-vaxxer mobs," including one that threw stones at him. He also received endorsements from former US president Barack Obama and his former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. O'Toole, meanwhile, fumbled over gun control and was warned by Beijing, according to Chinese state media, that his proposed hard line on China -- Canada's second-largest trading partner, with whom relations have soured over its detention of two Canadian nationals -- would "invite counterstrikes." Overall, commented Max Cameron, a professor at the University of British Columbia, "this hasn't been a polarizing election. There's actually a lot of clustering around the middle." "This isn't Republicans versus Democrats south of the border," he said, referring to the United States. "This has been very much a Canadian campaign in which there's a strong consensus around what are the issues and how they have to be tackled." O'Toole, a relative unknown who became Tory leader only last year, tracked his party to the political center, forcing the Liberals to compete for votes on the left with the New Democrats and Greens, as well as the separatist Bloc Quebecois. The Conservatives, however, also saw their support clawed in the final week by former foreign minister Maxime Bernier's far right People's Party. When the final count is in, said University of Winnipeg professor Felix Mathieu, "it's unlikely anyone will have obtained a majority."

Justin Trudeau future on the line as Canadians vote in pandemic election

For the second time in two years, Canadians are voting in a federal election. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched the campaign in mid-August, two years ahead of schedule as he seeks a third term in office. The campaign was a five-week sprint as all the party leaders made their pitches to voters. 
Here are a few&nbsp;things you need to know about the campaign.

 
Why an election at this stage?&nbsp; 
During the short campaign, Mr. Trudeau argued that only a majority Liberal government can beat the coronavirus and set a path to recovery. However, the other parties have supported his pandemic response. The Liberals’ standing rose in the polls, and Mr. Trudeau’s personal approval ratings soared. 
As per the political analysts, he called the election to take advantage of that popularity. However, this idea seems to have backfired. Since he called the election, Mr. Trudeau’s poll numbers, and his party’s, have fallen.

Tough competition between two frontrunners 
New Conservative leader Erin O'Toole is running in his first federal campaign at the helm of the center-right party. He begins the race as an unknown to many Canadians. However, his pitch has helped him gain traction. 
From early September the two parties have been locked in a statistical tie for first place, each at about 30 percent in national polls. This indicates that another minority government is likely.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-justin-trudeau-sought-a-poll-he-risks-losing-with-only-a-week-to-go-413093">Also read |&nbsp;Canada's Justin Trudeau sought a poll he risks losing with only a week to go</a>

COVID-19 affecting the elections 
Canada has one of the world’s highest vaccination rates. However, in some areas, cases have surged due to the delta variant, making the hospitals close to their capacity.&nbsp; 
While Mr. Trudeau supports vaccine mandates for travel and for federal workers, as well as vaccine passports, Mr. O'Toole opposes them.

Various other issues that have surfaced 
Issues like climate change, gun control, economic impact due to the pandemic, also play a major part.&nbsp; 
Canada has recovered nearly all the jobs lost by the pandemic. However, &nbsp;Mr. Trudeau’s pandemic spending on vaccines and economic support has led to massive debts. After criticising this, Mr. O’Toole unveiled similar spending plans.&nbsp; 
Also, he promised to balance the budget within 10 years, a time frame that most economists say is too distant to be credible. 
&nbsp;

For the second time in two years, Canadians are voting in a federal election. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched the campaign in mid-August, two years ahead of schedule as he seeks a third term in office.

For the second time in two years, Canadians are voting in a federal election. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched the campaign in mid-August, two years ahead of schedule as he seeks a third term in office. The campaign was a five-week sprint as all the party leaders made their pitches to voters. Here are a few things you need to know about the campaign. Why an election at this stage? During the short campaign, Mr. Trudeau argued that only a majority Liberal government can beat the coronavirus and set a path to recovery. However, the other parties have supported his pandemic response. The Liberals’ standing rose in the polls, and Mr. Trudeau’s personal approval ratings soared. As per the political analysts, he called the election to take advantage of that popularity. However, this idea seems to have backfired. Since he called the election, Mr. Trudeau’s poll numbers, and his party’s, have fallen. Tough competition between two frontrunners New Conservative leader Erin O'Toole is running in his first federal campaign at the helm of the center-right party. He begins the race as an unknown to many Canadians. However, his pitch has helped him gain traction. From early September the two parties have been locked in a statistical tie for first place, each at about 30 percent in national polls. This indicates that another minority government is likely. Also read | Canada's Justin Trudeau sought a poll he risks losing with only a week to go COVID-19 affecting the elections Canada has one of the world’s highest vaccination rates. However, in some areas, cases have surged due to the delta variant, making the hospitals close to their capacity. While Mr. Trudeau supports vaccine mandates for travel and for federal workers, as well as vaccine passports, Mr. O'Toole opposes them. Various other issues that have surfaced Issues like climate change, gun control, economic impact due to the pandemic, also play a major part. Canada has recovered nearly all the jobs lost by the pandemic. However, Mr. Trudeau’s pandemic spending on vaccines and economic support has led to massive debts. After criticising this, Mr. O’Toole unveiled similar spending plans. Also, he promised to balance the budget within 10 years, a time frame that most economists say is too distant to be credible.

Canada elections: Few things that you need to know about the campaign

Russians have begun voting in a three-day parliamentary election in which most vocal Kremlin critics have been barred from running following a historic crackdown on the opposition. President Vladimir Putin has called on Russians to vote.

Russia: President Vladimir Putin calls on Russians to vote

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday named party lawmaker Bhupendra Patel as the next Chief Minister of western Gujarat state— the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

59-year-old Patel was unanimously elected BJP legislature party leader in Gandhinagar city.

His name was proposed by Vijay Rupani who had resigned from the CM post on Saturday, surprising many.

The new leader is expected to meet the state governor, Acharya Devvrat, to stake claim to form the government.

Patel won the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections from Ahmedabad`s Ghatlodia constituency.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/western-indian-state-of-gujarats-chief-minister-vijay-rupani-resigns-412357">Western Indian state of Gujarat’s Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigns</a>

He holds a diploma in civil engineering and is considered close to former CM Anandiben Patel, who won from the seat in 2012 polls.

Earlier, he served as a municipal councillor in Ahmedabad. He has been the chairman of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) and used to head the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation standing committee.&nbsp;Bhupendra Patel belongs to the influential Patel community.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/probe-report-on-crash-of-the-air-india-flight-in-keralas-kozhikode-out-412575/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The latest development comes as the elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly are due in December 2022.

Rupani, the fourth chief minister to demit office in BJP-ruled states during the coronavirus pandemic, was sworn in as chief minister, his second stint as CM in December 2017.

Rupani, who completed five years in office on August 7 this year, first became the chief minister on August 7, 2016, following the resignation of incumbent Anandiben Patel, and continued in the office after the BJP's victory in the 2017 Assembly elections.

(With inputs from agencies)

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday named party lawmaker Bhupendra Patel as the next Chief Minister of western Gujarat state— the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday named party lawmaker Bhupendra Patel as the next Chief Minister of western Gujarat state— the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 59-year-old Patel was unanimously elected BJP legislature party leader in Gandhinagar city. His name was proposed by Vijay Rupani who had resigned from the CM post on Saturday, surprising many. The new leader is expected to meet the state governor, Acharya Devvrat, to stake claim to form the government. Patel won the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections from Ahmedabad`s Ghatlodia constituency. Also read | Western Indian state of Gujarat’s Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigns He holds a diploma in civil engineering and is considered close to former CM Anandiben Patel, who won from the seat in 2012 polls. Earlier, he served as a municipal councillor in Ahmedabad. He has been the chairman of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) and used to head the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation standing committee. Bhupendra Patel belongs to the influential Patel community. Watch The latest development comes as the elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly are due in December 2022. Rupani, the fourth chief minister to demit office in BJP-ruled states during the coronavirus pandemic, was sworn in as chief minister, his second stint as CM in December 2017. Rupani, who completed five years in office on August 7 this year, first became the chief minister on August 7, 2016, following the resignation of incumbent Anandiben Patel, and continued in the office after the BJP's victory in the 2017 Assembly elections. (With inputs from agencies)

India’s Gujarat state gets new CM ahead of crucial elections next year

Germany's Left-wing Social Democratic Party is soaring ahead in opinion polls. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Conservative alliance is trailing behind. The country will go to polls on September 26. Who is going to win? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Germany's Left-Wing party soars in opinion polls

Angela Merkel has said she wanted to stay out of the election campaign for her replacement as Germany’s chancellor. But with her party polling at record lows, Merkel used a speech to Germany’s Parliament on Tuesday to plead with Germans to keep the Christian Democrats in power.

Since late July, the conservative Christian Democrats and their Bavaria-only partners, the Christian Social Union, have been dropping steadily in the polls, while their candidate to replace Merkel, Armin Laschet, has struggled to overcome a series of gaffes that sent his own popularity plunging.

The situation has become alarming enough that Merkel has dropped the pretense of being a bystander, and in recent weeks she has been using her voice and platform to try to drum up support for Laschet and distance herself from his main rival, Olaf Scholz.

Scholz, Germany’s finance minister and Merkel’s vice chancellor, has been seeing his popularity rise, along with that of his center-left Social Democratic Party — often by positioning himself as the true successor to the chancellor under whom he has governed since 2017.

In an effort to claw back support, Laschet has taken to warning that a government led by Scholz could shift the country away from its current centrist course, especially if he includes the Left Party in any governing coalition. The Left Party has repeatedly rejected Germany’s participation in NATO missions and questioned whether the alliance should exist.

Merkel, who is not seeking another term in office, echoed that warning on Tuesday in what was likely her last speech before Parliament as chancellor, urging voters to throw their support behind Laschet when they go to the polls on Sept. 26 to elect a new government. It is the first time since modern Germany was founded in 1949 that the incumbent chancellor is willingly ceding power.

“In a few days, our citizens have to make a choice: either between a government with the Social Democrats and the Greens, that accepts support from the Left Party, or at least does not exclude it,” Merkel said, “or a German government led by the Christian Democrats and Christian Social Union, with Armin Laschet as chancellor.”

Despite Merkel’s intentions to stay out of the campaign, Tuesday’s remarks were not the first time she has stepped up to help her party’s flagging fortunes. On Aug. 20, when Laschet sought to relaunch his election campaign heading into the final weeks, Merkel praised, among other things, his Christianity as his guiding moral compass. Still, his fortunes failed to turn around.

Last week, Laschet presented a team of expert advisers he hoped would shore up his numbers, but that appears to have had little impact.

Polls released this week have shown Laschet’s party struggling to retain 20% support — a previously unthinkable position for a party that has governed Germany for all but two of the past seven decades.

Merkel also went on the attack against Scholz, who during a campaign speech last week described the 50 million Germans who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 as “guinea pigs” who had proved the safety of the vaccines.

“We were the guinea pigs for those who have waited,” Scholz told a radio station in North Rhine-Westphalia. “As one of the 50 million, I can say, it went well! Please join us!”

In her speech on Tuesday, Merkel shot back: “Of course no one of us who has been vaccinated is in any way a guinea pig,” she said, adding that all vaccines had undergone the necessary testing to be granted approval.

Scholz defended his comment as a lighthearted attempt to persuade more people to get their inoculation against COVID-19. “If some people don’t want to laugh, but get upset, maybe it has something to do with their ratings in the polls that aren’t very funny,” he said.

Long the traditional rivals of the center-right conservatives, the Social Democrats spent 12 of Merkel’s nearly 16 years in government as the junior coalition partner in her government, influencing many of the policies passed, like a national minimum wage and billions in COVID relief.

Scholz, who was initially dismissed as a viable candidate for chancellor, has surprised the conservatives with his strong showing. Headed into the race, the Christian Democrats thought their biggest challenge would be the Green Party and its 40-year-old candidate, Annalena Baerbock, who has campaigned on a promise to usher in an era of change.

Scholz, 63, has understood that after four terms of prosperity and relative stability under Merkel, Germans still value a feeling of security. He has focused his campaign on pledging to ensure jobs and working to shore up social stability by fighting child poverty and keeping housing prices in check.

“A new beginning is needed,” Scholz told Parliament on Tuesday. “I hope, and I am sure, that it will succeed.”

Angela Merkel has said she wanted to stay out of the election campaign for her replacement as Germany’s chancellor. But with her party polling at record lows, Merkel used a speech to Germany’s Parliament on Tuesday to plead with Germans to keep the Christian Democrats in power.

Angela Merkel has said she wanted to stay out of the election campaign for her replacement as Germany’s chancellor. But with her party polling at record lows, Merkel used a speech to Germany’s Parliament on Tuesday to plead with Germans to keep the Christian Democrats in power. Since late July, the conservative Christian Democrats and their Bavaria-only partners, the Christian Social Union, have been dropping steadily in the polls, while their candidate to replace Merkel, Armin Laschet, has struggled to overcome a series of gaffes that sent his own popularity plunging. The situation has become alarming enough that Merkel has dropped the pretense of being a bystander, and in recent weeks she has been using her voice and platform to try to drum up support for Laschet and distance herself from his main rival, Olaf Scholz. Scholz, Germany’s finance minister and Merkel’s vice chancellor, has been seeing his popularity rise, along with that of his center-left Social Democratic Party — often by positioning himself as the true successor to the chancellor under whom he has governed since 2017. In an effort to claw back support, Laschet has taken to warning that a government led by Scholz could shift the country away from its current centrist course, especially if he includes the Left Party in any governing coalition. The Left Party has repeatedly rejected Germany’s participation in NATO missions and questioned whether the alliance should exist. Merkel, who is not seeking another term in office, echoed that warning on Tuesday in what was likely her last speech before Parliament as chancellor, urging voters to throw their support behind Laschet when they go to the polls on Sept. 26 to elect a new government. It is the first time since modern Germany was founded in 1949 that the incumbent chancellor is willingly ceding power. “In a few days, our citizens have to make a choice: either between a government with the Social Democrats and the Greens, that accepts support from the Left Party, or at least does not exclude it,” Merkel said, “or a German government led by the Christian Democrats and Christian Social Union, with Armin Laschet as chancellor.” Despite Merkel’s intentions to stay out of the campaign, Tuesday’s remarks were not the first time she has stepped up to help her party’s flagging fortunes. On Aug. 20, when Laschet sought to relaunch his election campaign heading into the final weeks, Merkel praised, among other things, his Christianity as his guiding moral compass. Still, his fortunes failed to turn around. Last week, Laschet presented a team of expert advisers he hoped would shore up his numbers, but that appears to have had little impact. Polls released this week have shown Laschet’s party struggling to retain 20% support — a previously unthinkable position for a party that has governed Germany for all but two of the past seven decades. Merkel also went on the attack against Scholz, who during a campaign speech last week described the 50 million Germans who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 as “guinea pigs” who had proved the safety of the vaccines. “We were the guinea pigs for those who have waited,” Scholz told a radio station in North Rhine-Westphalia. “As one of the 50 million, I can say, it went well! Please join us!” In her speech on Tuesday, Merkel shot back: “Of course no one of us who has been vaccinated is in any way a guinea pig,” she said, adding that all vaccines had undergone the necessary testing to be granted approval. Scholz defended his comment as a lighthearted attempt to persuade more people to get their inoculation against COVID-19. “If some people don’t want to laugh, but get upset, maybe it has something to do with their ratings in the polls that aren’t very funny,” he said. Long the traditional rivals of the center-right conservatives, the Social Democrats spent 12 of Merkel’s nearly 16 years in government as the junior coalition partner in her government, influencing many of the policies passed, like a national minimum wage and billions in COVID relief. Scholz, who was initially dismissed as a viable candidate for chancellor, has surprised the conservatives with his strong showing. Headed into the race, the Christian Democrats thought their biggest challenge would be the Green Party and its 40-year-old candidate, Annalena Baerbock, who has campaigned on a promise to usher in an era of change. Scholz, 63, has understood that after four terms of prosperity and relative stability under Merkel, Germans still value a feeling of security. He has focused his campaign on pledging to ensure jobs and working to shore up social stability by fighting child poverty and keeping housing prices in check. “A new beginning is needed,” Scholz told Parliament on Tuesday. “I hope, and I am sure, that it will succeed.”

With her party fading, Merkel dips into the campaign fray

A council member of a professional&nbsp;group&nbsp;of solicitors in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;on Saturday dropped his bid to seek re-election&nbsp;next week, citing&nbsp;fears&nbsp;for his&nbsp;safety&nbsp;and that of his family.

Tuesday's&nbsp;elections to the Law Society, a professional body and regulator for 12,000 solicitors, come as critics say the legal system in the global financial hub faces pressure from a China-imposed national security law.

Although officials in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;and Beijing have rejected these concerns, the normally low-key polls have drawn unusual levels of scrutiny from pro-Beijing media and senior city officials.

Beijing has been tightening its control&nbsp;over&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong, China's freest city since Britain returned the former colony in 1997.

A national security law last year sent a chill across the city, however, and led to the arrest of dozens of pro-democracy politicians and activists, as well as the disbandment of a teachers' union and some civil rights&nbsp;groups.

"For my&nbsp;safety&nbsp;and the&nbsp;safety&nbsp;of my family I am announcing my intention to withdraw my name as&nbsp;candidate," the lawyer, Jonathan Ross, said in a statement, without&nbsp;specifying the risks impelling what is seen as a rare step.

"It is a shameful and sad day for&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;that an&nbsp;election&nbsp;for the council of our honourable institution has sunk to this level."

Ross declined further comment to Reuters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-announces-picks-for-ambassador-to-china-japan-positions-407363">Also read |&nbsp;US President&nbsp;announces picks for&nbsp;ambassador to China, Japan&nbsp;positions</a>

A government spokesman told Reuters in response to emailed questions: "Anyone who has reasons to believe that his or her&nbsp;safety&nbsp;is threatened may approach the police for assistance."

The Law Society did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While the Law Society is seen as more conservative than the barristers' Bar Association, both bodies have traditionally had a watchdog role&nbsp;over&nbsp;legal changes, and are represented on a panel that recommends judges' appointments.

Four of the 11&nbsp;candidates vying for five council seats in Tuesday's&nbsp;election&nbsp;are considered relatively&nbsp;outspoken, which has raised&nbsp;fears&nbsp;among some government officials of an emerging political agenda.

The Law Society&nbsp;election&nbsp;has rarely made international news but has grabbed headlines in recent days, as pro-Beijing media and&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;officials have warned the&nbsp;group&nbsp;to stay&nbsp;out&nbsp;of politics.

Hong&nbsp;Kong's government would consider cutting ties with the Law Society if it were to be "trumped by politics",&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday.

Some lawyers said Ross' move was rare for a generally low-profile&nbsp;group&nbsp;drawn from solicitors in the commercial sector, calling it a sign of the tension in the city.

China's People Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, has said the Law Society should not become a "politicised&nbsp;group", and has called the Bar Association a "running rat".

When Beijing regained control of&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong, it guaranteed extensive social and commercial freedoms would remain under a "one country, two systems" model.&nbsp;Fears&nbsp;that those freedoms were under threat sparked months of sometimes violent protests in the city in 2019.

A council member of a professional group of solicitors in Hong Kong on Saturday dropped his bid to seek re-election next week, citing fears for his safety and that of his family.

A council member of a professional group of solicitors in Hong Kong on Saturday dropped his bid to seek re-election next week, citing fears for his safety and that of his family. Tuesday's elections to the Law Society, a professional body and regulator for 12,000 solicitors, come as critics say the legal system in the global financial hub faces pressure from a China-imposed national security law. Although officials in Hong Kong and Beijing have rejected these concerns, the normally low-key polls have drawn unusual levels of scrutiny from pro-Beijing media and senior city officials. Beijing has been tightening its control over Hong Kong, China's freest city since Britain returned the former colony in 1997. A national security law last year sent a chill across the city, however, and led to the arrest of dozens of pro-democracy politicians and activists, as well as the disbandment of a teachers' union and some civil rights groups. "For my safety and the safety of my family I am announcing my intention to withdraw my name as candidate," the lawyer, Jonathan Ross, said in a statement, without specifying the risks impelling what is seen as a rare step. "It is a shameful and sad day for Hong Kong that an election for the council of our honourable institution has sunk to this level." Ross declined further comment to Reuters. Also read | US President announces picks for ambassador to China, Japan positions A government spokesman told Reuters in response to emailed questions: "Anyone who has reasons to believe that his or her safety is threatened may approach the police for assistance." The Law Society did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the Law Society is seen as more conservative than the barristers' Bar Association, both bodies have traditionally had a watchdog role over legal changes, and are represented on a panel that recommends judges' appointments. Four of the 11 candidates vying for five council seats in Tuesday's election are considered relatively outspoken, which has raised fears among some government officials of an emerging political agenda. The Law Society election has rarely made international news but has grabbed headlines in recent days, as pro-Beijing media and Hong Kong officials have warned the group to stay out of politics. Hong Kong's government would consider cutting ties with the Law Society if it were to be "trumped by politics", Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday. Some lawyers said Ross' move was rare for a generally low-profile group drawn from solicitors in the commercial sector, calling it a sign of the tension in the city. China's People Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, has said the Law Society should not become a "politicised group", and has called the Bar Association a "running rat". When Beijing regained control of Hong Kong, it guaranteed extensive social and commercial freedoms would remain under a "one country, two systems" model. Fears that those freedoms were under threat sparked months of sometimes violent protests in the city in 2019.

Candidate pulls out of Hong Kong lawyers' group election over safety fears

Paw-erful: Some of the most famous cats who ran for elections

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has ordered the deployment of the military to quell electoral violence ahead of August 12 elections, the head of state said on Sunday.

Pockets of violence have been reported in the Zambian capital Lusaka as well as northern, southern and Muchinga provinces where supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) opposition have clashed using machetes, axes, slashers, catapults and other objects.

"In order to curb the political violence we have witnessed in the past two days, I have allowed the Zambia army, Zambia air force and Zambia national service to help the Zambia police in dealing with the security situation," Lungu said.

Even though the Electoral Commission has banned rallies because of the coronavirus, clashes between opposing political parties have overwhelmed the police.&nbsp;

"Maintaining law and order is a daily chore of the police but sometimes they need help from other security wings," Lungu said.

The government of the southern African nation has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent since Lungu replaced Michael Sata after his death in 2014, rights watchdog Amnesty International said in a report.&nbsp;

Lungu, 64, is running for a second term in the August 12 election as the copper-rich country battles economic woes.

Lungu's main rival Hakainde Hichilema has been detained several times since he started contesting the top job.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has ordered the deployment of the military to quell electoral violence ahead of August 12 elections, the head of state said on Sunday.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has ordered the deployment of the military to quell electoral violence ahead of August 12 elections, the head of state said on Sunday. Pockets of violence have been reported in the Zambian capital Lusaka as well as northern, southern and Muchinga provinces where supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) opposition have clashed using machetes, axes, slashers, catapults and other objects. "In order to curb the political violence we have witnessed in the past two days, I have allowed the Zambia army, Zambia air force and Zambia national service to help the Zambia police in dealing with the security situation," Lungu said. Even though the Electoral Commission has banned rallies because of the coronavirus, clashes between opposing political parties have overwhelmed the police. "Maintaining law and order is a daily chore of the police but sometimes they need help from other security wings," Lungu said. The government of the southern African nation has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent since Lungu replaced Michael Sata after his death in 2014, rights watchdog Amnesty International said in a report. Lungu, 64, is running for a second term in the August 12 election as the copper-rich country battles economic woes. Lungu's main rival Hakainde Hichilema has been detained several times since he started contesting the top job.

Zambia president deploys army to quell violence ahead of vote

Three of the Democratic state lawmakers, who fled Texas to stymie a Republican-backed effort to impose broad new voting restrictions, have tested positive for COVID-19, the Texas House's Democratic caucus has said.

One lawmaker tested positive on Friday and the other two did so on Saturday, the caucus said in a statement. It said all three were fully vaccinated against the disease.

It didn't release their names or conditions to 'respect the privacy of Members and their personal health'.&nbsp;"This is a sober reminder that Covid is still with us, and though vaccinations offer tremendous protection, we still must take necessary precautions," caucus Chairman Chris Turner said in the statement, adding that the caucus was conferring with health experts in Texas to get additional guidance. Turner didn't immediately reply to a message seeking further information about the outbreak.

More than 50 Texas lawmakers arrived in Washington on Monday after leaving their home state on a private charter flight.&nbsp;They received criticism from Republicans and others after a photo showed them mask-less on the plane, though federal pandemic guidelines don't require masks to be worn on private aircraft.

The Democrats left the state to deny the Republican-controlled Legislature the necessary quorum to pass a bill that would place new restrictions on voting in Texas.

Members of the caucus have met with Vice President Kamala Harris, but it was not immediately known whether the three, who contracted COVID-19 did so. Harris' office said it would issue a statement later on Saturday.

Texas House Speaker Dade McPhelan, a Republican, issued a statement saying he and his wife were praying for the health and safety of the sick lawmakers.

"My staff has reached out to Dr&nbsp;John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and his epidemiology team for any additional guidance on protocols for those exposed to COVID-19 post-vaccination," Phelan wrote.&nbsp;

Three of the Democratic state lawmakers, who fled Texas to stymie a Republican-backed effort to impose broad new voting restrictions, have tested positive for COVID-19, the Texas House's Democratic caucus has said.

Three of the Democratic state lawmakers, who fled Texas to stymie a Republican-backed effort to impose broad new voting restrictions, have tested positive for COVID-19, the Texas House's Democratic caucus has said. One lawmaker tested positive on Friday and the other two did so on Saturday, the caucus said in a statement. It said all three were fully vaccinated against the disease. It didn't release their names or conditions to 'respect the privacy of Members and their personal health'. "This is a sober reminder that Covid is still with us, and though vaccinations offer tremendous protection, we still must take necessary precautions," caucus Chairman Chris Turner said in the statement, adding that the caucus was conferring with health experts in Texas to get additional guidance. Turner didn't immediately reply to a message seeking further information about the outbreak. More than 50 Texas lawmakers arrived in Washington on Monday after leaving their home state on a private charter flight. They received criticism from Republicans and others after a photo showed them mask-less on the plane, though federal pandemic guidelines don't require masks to be worn on private aircraft. The Democrats left the state to deny the Republican-controlled Legislature the necessary quorum to pass a bill that would place new restrictions on voting in Texas. Members of the caucus have met with Vice President Kamala Harris, but it was not immediately known whether the three, who contracted COVID-19 did so. Harris' office said it would issue a statement later on Saturday. Texas House Speaker Dade McPhelan, a Republican, issued a statement saying he and his wife were praying for the health and safety of the sick lawmakers. "My staff has reached out to Dr John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and his epidemiology team for any additional guidance on protocols for those exposed to COVID-19 post-vaccination," Phelan wrote.

3 Texas Democrats who fled elections bill vote get Covid 

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies were unable to win outright in local election in Tokyo on Sunday. This election was seen as an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of national polls due later this year.

As per public broadcaster NHK, Suga's party managed to win only 33 seats in Tokyo's 123-member assembly. Suga's party is just ahead of Tokyo Citizens First, the party of Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, with 31 seats. Even with 23 won by its ally Komeito, LDP fell short of an outright majority -- a target that had been considered within reach.

The disappointing result could put pressure on Suga, whose term as LDP president expires at the end of September. The head of the LDP is virtually assured of being prime minister, given the party's dominance in parliament.

"It appears our seats are likely to be a little bit lower than what we have initially anticipated," NHK had earlier quoted Taimei Yamaguchi, chair of the LDP's election strategy committee, as saying.

Tokyo's election came as the capital is preparing to host the Olympic Games whilst dealing with a resurgence of COVID-19.

With a general election due by October, Suga has staked his political career on successfully holding the Games, postponed from last year due to the virus, and boosting vaccine rollouts.

He has said he will bar spectators if necessary. But exit polls by broadcaster TBS showed 57% of respondents were still opposed to the Olympics going ahead on July 23 as planned.

Koike's Tokyo Citizens First party wants the Olympics held without spectators while the opposition Constitutional Democrats and Communists have called for the Games to be cancelled or postponed.

Voters on Sunday said COVID-19 remained their chief concern. A resurgence of the pandemic in Japan has seen new COVID-19 infections in Tokyo rise to a more than five-week high, with 716 reported on Saturday.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies were unable to win outright in local election in Tokyo on Sunday. This election was seen as an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of national polls due later this year.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies were unable to win outright in local election in Tokyo on Sunday. This election was seen as an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of national polls due later this year. As per public broadcaster NHK, Suga's party managed to win only 33 seats in Tokyo's 123-member assembly. Suga's party is just ahead of Tokyo Citizens First, the party of Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, with 31 seats. Even with 23 won by its ally Komeito, LDP fell short of an outright majority -- a target that had been considered within reach. The disappointing result could put pressure on Suga, whose term as LDP president expires at the end of September. The head of the LDP is virtually assured of being prime minister, given the party's dominance in parliament. "It appears our seats are likely to be a little bit lower than what we have initially anticipated," NHK had earlier quoted Taimei Yamaguchi, chair of the LDP's election strategy committee, as saying. Tokyo's election came as the capital is preparing to host the Olympic Games whilst dealing with a resurgence of COVID-19. With a general election due by October, Suga has staked his political career on successfully holding the Games, postponed from last year due to the virus, and boosting vaccine rollouts. He has said he will bar spectators if necessary. But exit polls by broadcaster TBS showed 57% of respondents were still opposed to the Olympics going ahead on July 23 as planned. Koike's Tokyo Citizens First party wants the Olympics held without spectators while the opposition Constitutional Democrats and Communists have called for the Games to be cancelled or postponed. Voters on Sunday said COVID-19 remained their chief concern. A resurgence of the pandemic in Japan has seen new COVID-19 infections in Tokyo rise to a more than five-week high, with 716 reported on Saturday. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan PM's party falls short in Tokyo election

Vote counting is underway in Ethiopia following the delayed parliamentary elections. Africa’s second-most populous country went to the polls on Monday but an opposition boycott, a months-long war in Tigray, along with the logistical challenges overshadowed the votes in some regions.

Fresh clashes erupt in Tigray as vote count continues

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