As World's third largest democracy Indonesia is all set to go to the polls on 17th April, Presidential candidates Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto are ready to encounter each other yet again to win the tough battle of 2019 election.

Indonesia presidential election: Prabowo Subianto vs Joko Widodo

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-100-ready-to-shut-down-mexico-border-207612">US President Donald Trump</a> took a shot on Tuesday at former Vice President Joe Biden, a possible Democratic rival in the 2020 race for the White House, mocking him over allegations of unwanted physical contact with women.

In a speech to a fundraising dinner for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Trump twice alluded to the allegations from two women that are hanging over Biden as he weighs whether to enter the contest to become the Democratic candidate in November 2020 presidential elections.

A former Nevada state legislator last week accused Biden of kissing her on the back of the head at a 2014 event, and a Connecticut woman said Biden rubbed noses with her at a 2009 event. Biden has said he did not believe he ever acted inappropriately, and his defenders have said he is known for hugging and being physically affectionate.

In wide-ranging remarks that meandered for more than 80 minutes but often circled back to the 2020 race, Biden was the only potential rival Trump mentioned by name - a sign that he would view Biden as a strong challenger, was he to enter and win the Democratic race.

Biden was vice president under President Barack Obama and had a long career in the Senate before that. He had been expected to announce his bid for the Democratic primary race this month and has led the large field of Democratic hopefuls in opinion polls.

Trump told the dinner, which raised $23 million for Republicans running for the House of Representatives, a story about wanting to kiss a general he met in Iraq who had promised an expedient end to a campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria.

"I said, 'General: come here and give me a kiss.' I felt like Joe Biden," Trump said, drawing laughter and applause.

Earlier, he told the crowd - which was dotted with members of the House - that they would be "going into the war with some socialists" in the next election.

"It looks like the only non-, sort of, heavy socialist is being taken care of pretty well by the socialists," Trump said.

One of Biden's accusers has been a supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders, who has already entered the Democratic primary race, and whose views are to the left of Biden.

"I was going to call him - I don't know him well - I was going to say, 'Welcome to the world, Joe. You have a good time, Joe? You have a good time?" Trump said.

Trump struggled during his 2016 run for office with multiple accusations of unwanted sexual contact from women, particularly after videotaped remarks emerged of Trump bragging about groping women.

Biden, while campaigning for Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, had said he would like to take Trump "behind the gym" to beat him up for the comments.

US President Donald Trump took a shot on Tuesday at former Vice President Joe Biden, a possible Democratic rival in the 2020 race for the White House, mocking him over allegations of unwanted physical contact with women.

US President Donald Trump took a shot on Tuesday at former Vice President Joe Biden, a possible Democratic rival in the 2020 race for the White House, mocking him over allegations of unwanted physical contact with women. In a speech to a fundraising dinner for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Trump twice alluded to the allegations from two women that are hanging over Biden as he weighs whether to enter the contest to become the Democratic candidate in November 2020 presidential elections. A former Nevada state legislator last week accused Biden of kissing her on the back of the head at a 2014 event, and a Connecticut woman said Biden rubbed noses with her at a 2009 event. Biden has said he did not believe he ever acted inappropriately, and his defenders have said he is known for hugging and being physically affectionate. In wide-ranging remarks that meandered for more than 80 minutes but often circled back to the 2020 race, Biden was the only potential rival Trump mentioned by name - a sign that he would view Biden as a strong challenger, was he to enter and win the Democratic race. Biden was vice president under President Barack Obama and had a long career in the Senate before that. He had been expected to announce his bid for the Democratic primary race this month and has led the large field of Democratic hopefuls in opinion polls. Trump told the dinner, which raised $23 million for Republicans running for the House of Representatives, a story about wanting to kiss a general he met in Iraq who had promised an expedient end to a campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria. "I said, 'General: come here and give me a kiss.' I felt like Joe Biden," Trump said, drawing laughter and applause. Earlier, he told the crowd - which was dotted with members of the House - that they would be "going into the war with some socialists" in the next election. "It looks like the only non-, sort of, heavy socialist is being taken care of pretty well by the socialists," Trump said. One of Biden's accusers has been a supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders, who has already entered the Democratic primary race, and whose views are to the left of Biden. "I was going to call him - I don't know him well - I was going to say, 'Welcome to the world, Joe. You have a good time, Joe? You have a good time?" Trump said. Trump struggled during his 2016 run for office with multiple accusations of unwanted sexual contact from women, particularly after videotaped remarks emerged of Trump bragging about groping women. Biden, while campaigning for Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, had said he would like to take Trump "behind the gym" to beat him up for the comments.

Trump takes shot at former vice president Joe Biden over kiss complaint

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-governor-ralph-northam-now-denies-appearance-in-racist-photo-refuses-to-resign-194668">Virginia's embattled governor</a>, Ralph Northam, capped a week of political chaos ignited by racial scandals by vowing to stay in office on Friday, while the fellow Democrat in line to succeed him faced a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-governors-future-in-limbo-amid-outcry-over-racist-photo-195375">second accusation of sexual assault</a>.

Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax issued a statement denying both allegations as a "coordinated smear campaign." He said the latest accusation, that he had raped a fellow student at Duke University in 2000, was "demonstrably false" and declared he would not step down.

Fairfax, 39, insisted earlier this week that his encounter with a woman who has accused him of forcing himself on her sexually at a hotel in Boston 14 years ago was entirely consensual.

But Friday's accusation sparked a round of calls for the resignation - and even a threat of impeachment - of the once-promising young politician who seemed poised days ago to replace Northam and become the second African-American governor in Virginia history.

The second in line to succeed Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring, 57, came under fire with his own admission this week that he, like Northam, had once darkened his face to imitate a black performer - a practice widely considered to be racist.

The possibility of all three top-ranked leaders of Virginia's executive branch having to resign raised the prospect of Democrats losing the governorship to the Republican speaker of the state House of Delegates, who is next in the line of succession. And that possibility has tested Democrats' resolve to show zero tolerance for sexual misconduct and racial bigotry.

It also has stirred Democrats' concerns that political discord in Virginia, a key swing state in presidential elections, could flip it back into the Republican column in the 2020 White House race.

The upheaval began with the revelation last Friday that Northam's 1984 medical school yearbook page contained a racist photo, followed by his acknowledgement of, and apology for, masquerading in blackface that year as pop star Michael Jackson.

After a week hunkered down in virtual seclusion under mounting pressure to resign, Northam indicated in an email message on Friday to state employees that he planned to keep his post.

"You have placed your trust in me to lead Virginia forward - and I plan to do that," Northam said.

ESCALATING PRESSURE

In a separate statement responding to the latest allegation against him, Fairfax said he has "never forced myself on anyone ever" and demanded a "full investigation into these unsubstantiated and false allegations."

"I will clear my good name and I have nothing to hide," Fairfax wrote, and declared: "I will not resign."

But the latest allegation of rape brought a torrent of demands for Fairfax to quit, including from all of the state House and Senate Democrats, the Legislative Black Caucus, former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe and Virginia's two US&nbsp;senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats.

One state House member, Democrat Patrick Hope, said on Twitter that he planned to introduce articles of impeachment for Fairfax on Monday unless he resigned.

The woman who made the new accusation, identified as Meredith Watson, said she was "reluctantly coming forward out of a strong sense of civic duty and her belief that those seeking or serving in public office should be of the highest character," the law firm that is representing her said in a statement.

The firm, New Jersey-based Smith Mullin, said the alleged assault occurred in 2000. Watson is "not seeking any financial damages," and her attorneys had notified Fairfax through his lawyers "that Ms Watson hopes he will resign from public office," the firm said in its statement.

The Smith Mullin statement said the alleged attack on Watson "was premeditated and aggressive," while also saying Fairfax and Watson "were friends but never dated or had any romantic relationship."

The law firm said it possessed emails, Facebook messages and statements to corroborate that Watson had shared her account of events immediately after the alleged rape.

Fairfax's first accuser, Stanford University academic Vanessa Tyson, has alleged that Fairfax had forced her to perform oral sex in a hotel room during the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

She came forward days after the disclosure by a conservative website of a racist photo on Northam's 1984 yearbook page of one person with blackface and another dressed in white robes of the Ku Klux Klan. Northam had originally admitted he was one of the people in that photo but later said that he was not.

Seeking to mend fences with Virginia's African-American population, Northam on Friday met privately with the president and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, John Boyd Jr., in Richmond, the state capital. Boyd told Reuters the two men prayed together and "we asked for forgiveness."

Boyd, whose group says it represents 109,000 farmers across the country, said on Twitter that he urged the governor not to step down.

Virginia's embattled governor, Ralph Northam, capped a week of political chaos ignited by racial scandals by vowing to stay in office on Friday, while the fellow Democrat in line to succeed him faced a second accusation of sexual assault.

Virginia's embattled governor, Ralph Northam, capped a week of political chaos ignited by racial scandals by vowing to stay in office on Friday, while the fellow Democrat in line to succeed him faced a second accusation of sexual assault. Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax issued a statement denying both allegations as a "coordinated smear campaign." He said the latest accusation, that he had raped a fellow student at Duke University in 2000, was "demonstrably false" and declared he would not step down. Fairfax, 39, insisted earlier this week that his encounter with a woman who has accused him of forcing himself on her sexually at a hotel in Boston 14 years ago was entirely consensual. But Friday's accusation sparked a round of calls for the resignation - and even a threat of impeachment - of the once-promising young politician who seemed poised days ago to replace Northam and become the second African-American governor in Virginia history. The second in line to succeed Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring, 57, came under fire with his own admission this week that he, like Northam, had once darkened his face to imitate a black performer - a practice widely considered to be racist. The possibility of all three top-ranked leaders of Virginia's executive branch having to resign raised the prospect of Democrats losing the governorship to the Republican speaker of the state House of Delegates, who is next in the line of succession. And that possibility has tested Democrats' resolve to show zero tolerance for sexual misconduct and racial bigotry. It also has stirred Democrats' concerns that political discord in Virginia, a key swing state in presidential elections, could flip it back into the Republican column in the 2020 White House race. The upheaval began with the revelation last Friday that Northam's 1984 medical school yearbook page contained a racist photo, followed by his acknowledgement of, and apology for, masquerading in blackface that year as pop star Michael Jackson. After a week hunkered down in virtual seclusion under mounting pressure to resign, Northam indicated in an email message on Friday to state employees that he planned to keep his post. "You have placed your trust in me to lead Virginia forward - and I plan to do that," Northam said. ESCALATING PRESSURE In a separate statement responding to the latest allegation against him, Fairfax said he has "never forced myself on anyone ever" and demanded a "full investigation into these unsubstantiated and false allegations." "I will clear my good name and I have nothing to hide," Fairfax wrote, and declared: "I will not resign." But the latest allegation of rape brought a torrent of demands for Fairfax to quit, including from all of the state House and Senate Democrats, the Legislative Black Caucus, former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe and Virginia's two US senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats. One state House member, Democrat Patrick Hope, said on Twitter that he planned to introduce articles of impeachment for Fairfax on Monday unless he resigned. The woman who made the new accusation, identified as Meredith Watson, said she was "reluctantly coming forward out of a strong sense of civic duty and her belief that those seeking or serving in public office should be of the highest character," the law firm that is representing her said in a statement. The firm, New Jersey-based Smith Mullin, said the alleged assault occurred in 2000. Watson is "not seeking any financial damages," and her attorneys had notified Fairfax through his lawyers "that Ms Watson hopes he will resign from public office," the firm said in its statement. The Smith Mullin statement said the alleged attack on Watson "was premeditated and aggressive," while also saying Fairfax and Watson "were friends but never dated or had any romantic relationship." The law firm said it possessed emails, Facebook messages and statements to corroborate that Watson had shared her account of events immediately after the alleged rape. Fairfax's first accuser, Stanford University academic Vanessa Tyson, has alleged that Fairfax had forced her to perform oral sex in a hotel room during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. She came forward days after the disclosure by a conservative website of a racist photo on Northam's 1984 yearbook page of one person with blackface and another dressed in white robes of the Ku Klux Klan. Northam had originally admitted he was one of the people in that photo but later said that he was not. Seeking to mend fences with Virginia's African-American population, Northam on Friday met privately with the president and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, John Boyd Jr., in Richmond, the state capital. Boyd told Reuters the two men prayed together and "we asked for forgiveness." Boyd, whose group says it represents 109,000 farmers across the country, said on Twitter that he urged the governor not to step down.

Virginia governor denies sexual assault allegations as 'coordinated smear campaign'

India on Thursday expressed its "deep dismay" over a Maldivian court sentencing the island nation's former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice of its Supreme Court to long prison terms without a "fair trial".

The Ministry of External Affairs said the development casts a doubt on the Maldivian government's commitment to uphold the rule of law and will raise questions on the credibility of the presidential elections in that country, slated for September.

According to Maldivian media reports, Gayoom, 80, and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed were handed similar prison terms of one year, seven months and six days by a court which found them guilty of obstructing justice.

In a statement, the MEA said India reiterated its "advice" to the Maldivian government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by immediately releasing political prisoners, including Gayoom and the chief justice.

Since the beginning of the political crisis in the Maldives, the ministry said, India has repeatedly urged the Maldivian government to allow all institutions, including its Supreme Court and Parliament, to function in an independent manner and permit genuine political dialogue between all political parties.

"This has also been the demand of the international community at large. It is, therefore, with deep dismay that we learned that the former president of the Maldives, as well as the chief justice of the Supreme Court, are being sentenced to long prison terms without fair trial," it said in a statement.&nbsp

"This casts doubt on the commitment of the Government of the Maldives to uphold the rule of law and will also call into question the credibility of the entire process of Presidential elections in September this year," the MEA said.

It said India believes that a democratic, stable and prosperous Maldives is in the interests of all its neighbours in the Indian Ocean.

"It reiterates its advice to the Government of the Maldives to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by immediately releasing political prisoners including former President Gayoom and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and creating the necessary conditions for the participation of all political forces in the Presidential Elections," the ministry said.&nbsp

Ties between India and Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen declared emergency on February 5, following an order by the Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders who had been convicted in widely-criticised trials.

On February 21, India reacted strongly over the extension of emergency by a month. The emergency was lifted 45 days later.

In February, Maldives declined India's invitation to participate in the eight-day mega naval exercise - Milan - from March 6-13.&nbsp

The Ministry of External Affairs said the development casts a doubt on the Maldivian government's commitment to uphold the rule of law and will raise questions on the credibility of the presidential elections in that country, slated for September.

India on Thursday expressed its "deep dismay" over a Maldivian court sentencing the island nation's former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice of its Supreme Court to long prison terms without a "fair trial". The Ministry of External Affairs said the development casts a doubt on the Maldivian government's commitment to uphold the rule of law and will raise questions on the credibility of the presidential elections in that country, slated for September. According to Maldivian media reports, Gayoom, 80, and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed were handed similar prison terms of one year, seven months and six days by a court which found them guilty of obstructing justice. In a statement, the MEA said India reiterated its "advice" to the Maldivian government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by immediately releasing political prisoners, including Gayoom and the chief justice. Since the beginning of the political crisis in the Maldives, the ministry said, India has repeatedly urged the Maldivian government to allow all institutions, including its Supreme Court and Parliament, to function in an independent manner and permit genuine political dialogue between all political parties. "This has also been the demand of the international community at large. It is, therefore, with deep dismay that we learned that the former president of the Maldives, as well as the chief justice of the Supreme Court, are being sentenced to long prison terms without fair trial," it said in a statement. "This casts doubt on the commitment of the Government of the Maldives to uphold the rule of law and will also call into question the credibility of the entire process of Presidential elections in September this year," the MEA said. It said India believes that a democratic, stable and prosperous Maldives is in the interests of all its neighbours in the Indian Ocean. "It reiterates its advice to the Government of the Maldives to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by immediately releasing political prisoners including former President Gayoom and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and creating the necessary conditions for the participation of all political forces in the Presidential Elections," the ministry said. Ties between India and Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen declared emergency on February 5, following an order by the Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders who had been convicted in widely-criticised trials. On February 21, India reacted strongly over the extension of emergency by a month. The emergency was lifted 45 days later. In February, Maldives declined India's invitation to participate in the eight-day mega naval exercise - Milan - from March 6-13.

India dismayed over long prison terms to former Maldivian president, chief justice

Turkey&nbsp;may&nbsp;lift a&nbsp;state&nbsp;of&nbsp;emergency, imposed shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;a failed coup attempt in 2016,&nbsp;after&nbsp;the June 24 elections, President Tayyip&nbsp;Erdogan&nbsp;said on Thursday.

Speaking in an interview with CNN Turk,&nbsp;Erdogan&nbsp;said the issue of lifting the&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;rule would be discussed&nbsp;after&nbsp;the snap presidential and parliamentary elections later this month.

The issue of lifting the emergency rule would be discussed after the snap presidential and parliamentary elections

Turkey may lift a state of emergency, imposed shortly after a failed coup attempt in 2016, after the June 24 elections, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. Speaking in an interview with CNN Turk, Erdogan said the issue of lifting the emergency rule would be discussed after the snap presidential and parliamentary elections later this month.

State of emergency may be lifted after elections: Erdogan

Vladimir Putin, who is set to extend his long rule to 2024 in Russia&#39;s presidential election on Sunday, has stamped his total authority in Russia, silencing opposition and reasserting Moscow`s lost might abroad.&nbsp;

The 65-year-old former KGB officer has reimposed the Kremlin&#39;s grip over society since taking power 18 years ago after a lawless but relatively free decade following the demise of the USSR.

On the international stage, he has outlasted three US presidents to become one of the globe&#39;s undisputed strongmen, thrusting Moscow into a new rivalry with the West by snatching Crimea from Ukraine and launching a pivotal intervention in Syria.&nbsp;

Named the world&#39;s most powerful person by Forbes for the past four years running, the judo black belt has built a macho man image helped by publicity stunts that included riding topless on horseback through the Siberian wilderness and darting an endangered tiger.

Bolstered by a slavish state media, he is projected to take around 70 percent of the vote by official pollsters, despite producing no programme and refusing to take part in televised debates.

Supporters laud him as a saviour who restored pride and traditional values to a humiliated nation.

To foes, however, Putin has dragged his homeland further from democracy, has presided over a seizure of the state by a new elite of former secret police cronies and has stoked nationalism in a bid to restore Moscow&#39;s lost empire. Putin was born into a working-class family in Leningrad -- now Saint Petersburg -- on October 7, 1952 and cut his teeth in the city&#39;s rough-and-tumble neighbourhoods.

&quot;The Leningrad streets taught me one thing: if a fight is unavoidable, you have to hit first,&quot; Putin said in 2015.

He fulfilled a childhood dream by joining the KGB intelligence service, getting posted in 1985-1990 to Dresden in what was then East Germany when Soviet power was crumbling.

His political rise began after he returned to work at Saint Petersburg city hall under his mentor, liberal mayor Anatoly Sobchak.&nbsp;

Two decades later, Sobchak&#39;s daughter Ksenia is challenging Putin in the election -- a move that has divided Russia&#39;s already deeply split liberal opposition.

By 1996, he was called to Moscow to work in the Kremlin under Russia&#39;s first democratically elected president Boris Yeltsin, who in 1998 made little-known Putin head of the KGB&#39;s successor, the FSB.

Battling health and drinking problems, frail Yeltsin in August 1999 named Putin prime minister and his popularity shot up as he oversaw the launch of a second war to crush rebels in the Chechnya region.&nbsp;

When Yeltsin sensationally resigned on New Year&#39;s Eve 1999, Putin suddenly took over as president of the biggest country on earth. Buoyed by an influx of petrodollars that saw living standards soar, the Kremlin under Putin forged its own &quot;sovereign democracy&quot; in which the trappings of pluralism -- such as political opposition and civil society -- were subverted.

He has guarded his private life jealously and once famously told journalists to keep their &quot;snotty noses&quot; out of his business.&nbsp;

After three decades of marriage, he divorced his wife Lyudmila in 2013 but rumours of new romance -- including with a former Olympic gymnast -- have not been confirmed.

In line with the constitution, when Putin ended his second term in 2008, he handed power to protege Dmitry Medvedev and moved to become prime minister -- but few doubted who was really in charge.&nbsp;

In 2012, he returned as president in the face of huge street protests.

While the demonstrations petered out after a police crackdown, the spectre of unrest spurred tough new measures to eradicate dissent. Putin, who once decried the collapse of the USSR as the &quot;greatest geopolitical catastrophe&quot; of the 20th century, has ferociously defended Moscow&#39;s sphere of influence and also challenged perceived US hegemony.

When crowds in Ukraine ousted Russian-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014, the Kremlin faced losing its dominance over a key neighbour.

Within days, Putin ordered special forces to seize the strategic Crimea peninsula and -- after a hasty referendum rejected internationally -- in March 2014 signed off on the region&#39;s annexation.&nbsp;

The redrawing of Russia&#39;s border sparked the worst standoff with the West since the Cold War and unleashed a wave of nationalism at home that saw Putin&#39;s popularity soar.&nbsp;

Soon the Kremlin was accused of masterminding a rebellion in east Ukraine that turned into a festering conflict that has cost more than 10,000 lives.

Despite sanctions pushing his economy into recession, Putin also launched a bombing campaign in Syria to support leader Bashar al-Assad in 2015. It is widely seen as the key factor that tipped the war in Assad&#39;s favour.

Putin was then accused of spreading his tentacles much further and Moscow&#39;s old foe -- the United States -- found itself in the crosshairs.&nbsp;

After Donald Trump&#39;s shock election win, US intelligence accused Putin of ordering a hacking and influence campaign to get Trump to the White House. &quot;Those that lose always look to blame someone else,&quot; Putin retorted.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In 2012, Putin returned as president in the face of huge street protests.

Vladimir Putin, who is set to extend his long rule to 2024 in Russia's presidential election on Sunday, has stamped his total authority in Russia, silencing opposition and reasserting Moscow`s lost might abroad. The 65-year-old former KGB officer has reimposed the Kremlin's grip over society since taking power 18 years ago after a lawless but relatively free decade following the demise of the USSR. On the international stage, he has outlasted three US presidents to become one of the globe's undisputed strongmen, thrusting Moscow into a new rivalry with the West by snatching Crimea from Ukraine and launching a pivotal intervention in Syria. Named the world's most powerful person by Forbes for the past four years running, the judo black belt has built a macho man image helped by publicity stunts that included riding topless on horseback through the Siberian wilderness and darting an endangered tiger. Bolstered by a slavish state media, he is projected to take around 70 percent of the vote by official pollsters, despite producing no programme and refusing to take part in televised debates. Supporters laud him as a saviour who restored pride and traditional values to a humiliated nation. To foes, however, Putin has dragged his homeland further from democracy, has presided over a seizure of the state by a new elite of former secret police cronies and has stoked nationalism in a bid to restore Moscow's lost empire. Putin was born into a working-class family in Leningrad -- now Saint Petersburg -- on October 7, 1952 and cut his teeth in the city's rough-and-tumble neighbourhoods. "The Leningrad streets taught me one thing: if a fight is unavoidable, you have to hit first," Putin said in 2015. He fulfilled a childhood dream by joining the KGB intelligence service, getting posted in 1985-1990 to Dresden in what was then East Germany when Soviet power was crumbling. His political rise began after he returned to work at Saint Petersburg city hall under his mentor, liberal mayor Anatoly Sobchak. Two decades later, Sobchak's daughter Ksenia is challenging Putin in the election -- a move that has divided Russia's already deeply split liberal opposition. By 1996, he was called to Moscow to work in the Kremlin under Russia's first democratically elected president Boris Yeltsin, who in 1998 made little-known Putin head of the KGB's successor, the FSB. Battling health and drinking problems, frail Yeltsin in August 1999 named Putin prime minister and his popularity shot up as he oversaw the launch of a second war to crush rebels in the Chechnya region. When Yeltsin sensationally resigned on New Year's Eve 1999, Putin suddenly took over as president of the biggest country on earth. Buoyed by an influx of petrodollars that saw living standards soar, the Kremlin under Putin forged its own "sovereign democracy" in which the trappings of pluralism -- such as political opposition and civil society -- were subverted. He has guarded his private life jealously and once famously told journalists to keep their "snotty noses" out of his business. After three decades of marriage, he divorced his wife Lyudmila in 2013 but rumours of new romance -- including with a former Olympic gymnast -- have not been confirmed. In line with the constitution, when Putin ended his second term in 2008, he handed power to protege Dmitry Medvedev and moved to become prime minister -- but few doubted who was really in charge. In 2012, he returned as president in the face of huge street protests. While the demonstrations petered out after a police crackdown, the spectre of unrest spurred tough new measures to eradicate dissent. Putin, who once decried the collapse of the USSR as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe" of the 20th century, has ferociously defended Moscow's sphere of influence and also challenged perceived US hegemony. When crowds in Ukraine ousted Russian-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014, the Kremlin faced losing its dominance over a key neighbour. Within days, Putin ordered special forces to seize the strategic Crimea peninsula and -- after a hasty referendum rejected internationally -- in March 2014 signed off on the region's annexation. The redrawing of Russia's border sparked the worst standoff with the West since the Cold War and unleashed a wave of nationalism at home that saw Putin's popularity soar. Soon the Kremlin was accused of masterminding a rebellion in east Ukraine that turned into a festering conflict that has cost more than 10,000 lives. Despite sanctions pushing his economy into recession, Putin also launched a bombing campaign in Syria to support leader Bashar al-Assad in 2015. It is widely seen as the key factor that tipped the war in Assad's favour. Putin was then accused of spreading his tentacles much further and Moscow's old foe -- the United States -- found itself in the crosshairs. After Donald Trump's shock election win, US intelligence accused Putin of ordering a hacking and influence campaign to get Trump to the White House. "Those that lose always look to blame someone else," Putin retorted.

Putin: Russia's post-Soviet tsar

Russians living in Ukraine will be unable to vote in Russia&#39;s presidential election because access to Moscow&#39;s diplomatic missions will be blocked, Kiev said Friday.

&quot;On Sunday, March 18, 2018, security arrangements for Russia&#39;s Ukraine-based diplomatic missions in Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa and Lviv will not provide access to these facilities for Russian nationals voting in the election,&quot; Ukraine&#39;s interior minister Arsen Avakov said.

The ministry said that elections &quot;on the sovereign Ukrainian territory&quot; are inadmissible.&nbsp;

The announcement came in retaliation for Russia&#39;s annexation of Crimea, which votes in a presidential election for the first time since it was taken over in 2014.

&quot;Ukraine&#39;s interior ministry states that conducting illegal elections on Ukraine&#39;s sovereign territory in violation of all norms of international law is unacceptable,&quot; Avakov said on Facebook.

He also pointed to &quot;Russia&#39;s aggressive hybrid war against Ukraine&quot; and &quot;the occupation of parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions&quot; in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow&#39;s foreign ministry responded by criticising what it called Ukrainian &quot;overt interference in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation.&quot;&nbsp;

It accused Ukrainian authorities of displaying &quot;righteous indignation&quot; and &quot;taking their revenge on ordinary Russian citizens.

According to the Ukrainian interior minister, access to Russian diplomatic institutions will be granted only to people enjoying diplomatic status.

(WIth AFP inputs) 
&nbsp;

The announcement came in retaliation for Russia's annexation of Crimea, which votes in a presidential election for the first time since it was taken over in 2014

Russians living in Ukraine will be unable to vote in Russia's presidential election because access to Moscow's diplomatic missions will be blocked, Kiev said Friday. "On Sunday, March 18, 2018, security arrangements for Russia's Ukraine-based diplomatic missions in Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa and Lviv will not provide access to these facilities for Russian nationals voting in the election," Ukraine's interior minister Arsen Avakov said. The ministry said that elections "on the sovereign Ukrainian territory" are inadmissible. The announcement came in retaliation for Russia's annexation of Crimea, which votes in a presidential election for the first time since it was taken over in 2014. "Ukraine's interior ministry states that conducting illegal elections on Ukraine's sovereign territory in violation of all norms of international law is unacceptable," Avakov said on Facebook. He also pointed to "Russia's aggressive hybrid war against Ukraine" and "the occupation of parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions" in eastern Ukraine. Moscow's foreign ministry responded by criticising what it called Ukrainian "overt interference in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation." It accused Ukrainian authorities of displaying "righteous indignation" and "taking their revenge on ordinary Russian citizens. According to the Ukrainian interior minister, access to Russian diplomatic institutions will be granted only to people enjoying diplomatic status. (WIth AFP inputs)

Russian nationals barred from voting in Ukraine presidential elections

Nepal&#39;s re-elected President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will take an oath today at 4 pm. Bidhya, the first woman president of Nepal, was re-elected for the second term yesterday.&nbsp;

President Bhandari defeated Nepali Congress leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with an overwhelming majority of 27,545 votes.

She received 39,275 votes over 11,730 votes received by Nepali Congress&#39; Rai.&nbsp;

Each voter from the House of Representatives and National Assembly holds the power equivalent to 79 votes; the same for each Provincial Assembly member is equivalent to 48 votes.

As many as 862 votes were cast in the presidential election at the Federal Parliament Building IN New Baneshwor, Kathmandu.

President Bhandari defeated Nepali Congress leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with an overwhelming majority of 27,545 votes

Nepal's re-elected President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will take an oath today at 4 pm. Bidhya, the first woman president of Nepal, was re-elected for the second term yesterday. President Bhandari defeated Nepali Congress leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with an overwhelming majority of 27,545 votes. She received 39,275 votes over 11,730 votes received by Nepali Congress' Rai. Each voter from the House of Representatives and National Assembly holds the power equivalent to 79 votes; the same for each Provincial Assembly member is equivalent to 48 votes. As many as 862 votes were cast in the presidential election at the Federal Parliament Building IN New Baneshwor, Kathmandu.

Nepal: President Bidya Devi Bhandari to take oath today at 4pm

Nepal, which grappled with the horrific incident of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/plane-crashes-at-kathmandu-airport-several-feared-dead-35505">plane crash at the Kathmandu airport</a> yesterday, has gone to Presidential polls today.&nbsp;

The president and the vice president are elected through voting by the Electoral College (EC). The EC is made up of leaders from the Federal Parliament as well as the Provincial Assemblies.&nbsp;

The elections usually take place a month after the formation of the Federal Parliament.&nbsp;

Nepal carried out two-phased Federal Parliament and Provincial Assembly elections last year in November and December.&nbsp;

The presidential election comes over a couple of months after the Federal Parliament and Provincial Assembly elections were held.&nbsp;

Separate polls will be held after a week to elect the new vice president.&nbsp;

Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun were elected in October 2015.

The elections usually take place a month after the formation of the Federal Parliament

Nepal, which grappled with the horrific incident of a plane crash at the Kathmandu airport yesterday, has gone to Presidential polls today. The president and the vice president are elected through voting by the Electoral College (EC). The EC is made up of leaders from the Federal Parliament as well as the Provincial Assemblies. The elections usually take place a month after the formation of the Federal Parliament. Nepal carried out two-phased Federal Parliament and Provincial Assembly elections last year in November and December. The presidential election comes over a couple of months after the Federal Parliament and Provincial Assembly elections were held. Separate polls will be held after a week to elect the new vice president. Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun were elected in October 2015.

Nepal: Voting for Presidential election begins

Russia&#39;s Supreme Court on Saturday dismissed an appeal by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny against a decision by the country&#39;s central election commission to bar him from taking part in next year&#39;s presidential election.&nbsp;

The commission this week barred Navalny from taking part in the March 18 vote because of a suspended prison sentence he says was trumped up. 
&nbsp;

The commission, this week, barred Navalny from taking part in the March 18 vote

Russia's Supreme Court on Saturday dismissed an appeal by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny against a decision by the country's central election commission to bar him from taking part in next year's presidential election. The commission this week barred Navalny from taking part in the March 18 vote because of a suspended prison sentence he says was trumped up.

Russian supreme court approves ban against opposition leader Navalny

Voting began on&nbsp;Sunday in the first round of Chile&#39;s presidential election, with former president Sebastian Pinera likely to cement his frontrunner status to succeed Socialist leader Michelle Bachelet.

But it was unclear whether Pinera, a 67-year-old billionaire who was president from 2010-2014, would gain enough support to avoid a runoff against the runner-up -- likely to be Alejandro Guillier, an independent supported by Bachelet&#39;s Socialists.

It was unclear whether Pinera, who was president from 2010-2014, would gain enough support to avoid a runoff against the runner-up -- likely to be Alejandro Guillier, an independent supported by Bachelet's Socialists

Voting began on Sunday in the first round of Chile's presidential election, with former president Sebastian Pinera likely to cement his frontrunner status to succeed Socialist leader Michelle Bachelet. But it was unclear whether Pinera, a 67-year-old billionaire who was president from 2010-2014, would gain enough support to avoid a runoff against the runner-up -- likely to be Alejandro Guillier, an independent supported by Bachelet's Socialists.

Polls open for first round of Presidential elections in Chile

Speculation is rife that Vladimir Putin will not be run&nbsp;for President in an upcoming Presidential election in Russia.

Russia&#39;s President Vladimir Putin is reportedly reluctant to participate as he is tired and does not want to face another election and will likely&nbsp;retire to start spending his supposed &pound;160 billion of fortune.

Since first taking power in 2000, Putin has won three elections with a four-year break when he had to stand aside in 2008.

But in recent years Russia has seen the biggest protests since Soviet times against Putin and his allies.

Political opponents have also been accusing him of failing to tackle corruption and undermining democracy.

This year in June there was massive anti-Putin protests. Thousands of Russians were protesting against corruption.

According to a report by The Independent, that country is looking to the future of Russia without Putin at the helm.

&quot;Whichever way you play it, this campaign is about transitioning to a post-Putin Russia,&quot;&nbsp;Gleb Pavlovsky, a former Kremlin advisor and head of the Effective Politics Foundation told The Independent.&nbsp;

Most are expecting a resignation by mid-December but uncertainty remains as still no official announcement has been made yet.

&ldquo;There can be no second Putin. When the man goes, the system goes,&quot;&nbsp;Valery Solovei, a professor of the Moscow State Institute for International Relations told The Independent.

Rumours have that Vladimir Putin will not be running for President in an upcoming Presidential election in Russia

Speculation is rife that Vladimir Putin will not be run for President in an upcoming Presidential election in Russia. Russia's President Vladimir Putin is reportedly reluctant to participate as he is tired and does not want to face another election and will likely retire to start spending his supposed £160 billion of fortune. Since first taking power in 2000, Putin has won three elections with a four-year break when he had to stand aside in 2008. But in recent years Russia has seen the biggest protests since Soviet times against Putin and his allies. Political opponents have also been accusing him of failing to tackle corruption and undermining democracy. This year in June there was massive anti-Putin protests. Thousands of Russians were protesting against corruption. According to a report by The Independent, that country is looking to the future of Russia without Putin at the helm. "Whichever way you play it, this campaign is about transitioning to a post-Putin Russia," Gleb Pavlovsky, a former Kremlin advisor and head of the Effective Politics Foundation told The Independent. Most are expecting a resignation by mid-December but uncertainty remains as still no official announcement has been made yet. “There can be no second Putin. When the man goes, the system goes," Valery Solovei, a professor of the Moscow State Institute for International Relations told The Independent.

Russia's Putin may not run in upcoming Presidential election: Reports

The White House on Monday alleged that Democrats colluded with Ukraine during the 2016 election, turning the tables on its accusers amid an all-engulfing scandal over Trump&#39;s contacts with Russia.

White House spokesperson Sean Spicer repeated allegations that a Democratic operative had met with Ukrainian embassy officials during the campaign.

Spicer referred to several recent reports by conservative media outlets, alleging the Democratic operative sought dirt on then Trump campaign director Paul Manafort.

The allegations first came to light in a Politico story in January.

&quot;Obviously, there&#39;s been a lot more interest in recent days with respect to what the DNC (Democratic National Convention) did in coordination with the Ukrainian government to try to collude,&quot; Spicer said.

The White House spokesperson&nbsp;alleged that the Democratic National Committee collusion took place to &quot;achieve a goal of having someone removed, which ultimately did happen.&quot;

Manafort left his post in August 2016, as Trump&#39;s general election prospects looked dim and details of his own business dealings with pro-Kremlin leaders in Ukraine emerged.

Spicer was asked by a pro-Trump media representative whether the issue was raised when Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited the White House in June.

Spicer said he did not know, but claimed that &quot;the DNC&#39;s collusion with the Ukrainian government has definitely gotten a lot more attention since that meeting.&quot;

Adrienne Watson of the DNC accused the White House of deflecting.

&quot;The White House has been pushing this narrative to distract from the Trump campaign&#39;s willingness to work with a hostile foreign government to interfere in our election. No one is buying it.&quot;

The comments come as the White House reeled from Donald Trump Jr&#39;s confession that he and two other Trump senior aides knowingly met Kremlin-connected operatives to get incriminating information on rival presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

That admission, after months of denials, has prompted some Republicans to openly criticise the White House and venture that Donald Trump Jr may have broken the law.

US intelligence agencies believe that President Vladimir Putin ordered a vast influence operation to tilt the 2016 election in Trump&#39;s favor.

Trump himself has responded by describing his son&#39;s meeting as business as usual.

&quot;Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent. That&#39;s politics!&quot; he tweeted on Monday.

Spicer seemed to contradict his boss, by saying the meeting was actually about adoption.

In a statement, the Ukrainian embassy in Washington denied allegations it had &quot;colluded&quot; with Democrats against the Trump campaign.

The embassy &quot;neither coordinated with the DNC on opposition research nor taken any actions to undermine campaign efforts,&quot; the statement read.

&quot;While some politicians who are not part of the Ukrainian government might have taken sides or made comments during last year&#39;s election, the Embassy and the government of Ukraine did not.&quot;

&quot;We highly appreciate US administration support to Ukraine and the progress achieved in recent months in our bilateral relations.&quot;

White House spokesperson Sean Spicer repeated allegations that a Democratic operative had met with Ukrainian embassy officials during the 2016 campaign

The White House on Monday alleged that Democrats colluded with Ukraine during the 2016 election, turning the tables on its accusers amid an all-engulfing scandal over Trump's contacts with Russia. White House spokesperson Sean Spicer repeated allegations that a Democratic operative had met with Ukrainian embassy officials during the campaign. Spicer referred to several recent reports by conservative media outlets, alleging the Democratic operative sought dirt on then Trump campaign director Paul Manafort. The allegations first came to light in a Politico story in January. "Obviously, there's been a lot more interest in recent days with respect to what the DNC (Democratic National Convention) did in coordination with the Ukrainian government to try to collude," Spicer said. The White House spokesperson alleged that the Democratic National Committee collusion took place to "achieve a goal of having someone removed, which ultimately did happen." Manafort left his post in August 2016, as Trump's general election prospects looked dim and details of his own business dealings with pro-Kremlin leaders in Ukraine emerged. Spicer was asked by a pro-Trump media representative whether the issue was raised when Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited the White House in June. Spicer said he did not know, but claimed that "the DNC's collusion with the Ukrainian government has definitely gotten a lot more attention since that meeting." Adrienne Watson of the DNC accused the White House of deflecting. "The White House has been pushing this narrative to distract from the Trump campaign's willingness to work with a hostile foreign government to interfere in our election. No one is buying it." The comments come as the White House reeled from Donald Trump Jr's confession that he and two other Trump senior aides knowingly met Kremlin-connected operatives to get incriminating information on rival presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. That admission, after months of denials, has prompted some Republicans to openly criticise the White House and venture that Donald Trump Jr may have broken the law. US intelligence agencies believe that President Vladimir Putin ordered a vast influence operation to tilt the 2016 election in Trump's favor. Trump himself has responded by describing his son's meeting as business as usual. "Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent. That's politics!" he tweeted on Monday. Spicer seemed to contradict his boss, by saying the meeting was actually about adoption. In a statement, the Ukrainian embassy in Washington denied allegations it had "colluded" with Democrats against the Trump campaign. The embassy "neither coordinated with the DNC on opposition research nor taken any actions to undermine campaign efforts," the statement read. "While some politicians who are not part of the Ukrainian government might have taken sides or made comments during last year's election, the Embassy and the government of Ukraine did not." "We highly appreciate US administration support to Ukraine and the progress achieved in recent months in our bilateral relations."

White House accuses Democrats, Ukraine of 'collusion' during presidential elections

Describing the presidential elections as the opposition&#39;s fight against a &quot;narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision&quot;, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday said the polls election tomorrow demand a &quot;vote of conscience&quot;.

The Congress president was addressing a gathering of opposition parties in the Indian capital New Delhi where its presidential and vice presidential nominees, Meira Kumar and Gopal Krishna Gandhi were formally introduced.

&quot;We know Meira Kumar as the former speaker. But many had not met Gopal Gandhi. It was a sort of formal introduction with them,&quot; said CPI-M&#39;s Sitaram Yechury.

The vice presidential poll will be held on August 5.

&quot;We must have confidence in the values we believe in. This election represents a clash of ideas, a conflict of disparate values. The election demands a vote of conscience to preserve the India that the Mahatma and the illustrious generation of freedom fighters, joined by thousands upon the numbers of ordinary men and women, fought for,&quot; she said.

&quot;We cannot and must not let India be hostage to those who wish to impose upon it a narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision,&quot; Sonia Gandhi said.

The UPA chairperson said the numbers may be stacked against them, but &quot;the battle must be fought and fought hard&quot;.

She said that the presence of representatives from various political parties to support Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi&#39;s candidature showed that the fight for &quot;an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged&quot;.

&quot;We must stand more aware than ever of who we are, what we fought for in our Independence struggle and what future we want for ourselves.&quot; She said the presence of representatives from different parties to support Kumar and Gopal Gandhi confirms that &quot;the fight for an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged,&quot; said the Congress president.

Sonia Gandhi said Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi had distinguished themselves throughout their long careers with tremendous dignity and commitment.

&quot;Through their work and their lives they have also advocated those very values and principles that have defined and guided India for the last 70 years,&quot; she told the gathering.

Bihar&#39;s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which has broken ranks with its ally Congress and is supporting the BJP-led NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind, stayed away from the Opposition meeting.

&quot;I don&#39;t think it is correct for our party to attend the meeting. I myself met Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the Opposition&#39;s vice-Presidential candidate and conveyed to him that, in the wake of the current situation it won&#39;t be good for us to attend a meeting called by Opposition. Our relation with Meira Kumar is very old and she will also be there. It won`t look good on our part to go there,&quot; JD(U) leader Sharad Kumar said.

 
&nbsp;

Sonia Gandhi was addressing a gathering of opposition parties in New Delhi

Describing the presidential elections as the opposition's fight against a "narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision", Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday said the polls election tomorrow demand a "vote of conscience". The Congress president was addressing a gathering of opposition parties in the Indian capital New Delhi where its presidential and vice presidential nominees, Meira Kumar and Gopal Krishna Gandhi were formally introduced. "We know Meira Kumar as the former speaker. But many had not met Gopal Gandhi. It was a sort of formal introduction with them," said CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury. The vice presidential poll will be held on August 5. "We must have confidence in the values we believe in. This election represents a clash of ideas, a conflict of disparate values. The election demands a vote of conscience to preserve the India that the Mahatma and the illustrious generation of freedom fighters, joined by thousands upon the numbers of ordinary men and women, fought for," she said. "We cannot and must not let India be hostage to those who wish to impose upon it a narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision," Sonia Gandhi said. The UPA chairperson said the numbers may be stacked against them, but "the battle must be fought and fought hard". She said that the presence of representatives from various political parties to support Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi's candidature showed that the fight for "an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged". "We must stand more aware than ever of who we are, what we fought for in our Independence struggle and what future we want for ourselves." She said the presence of representatives from different parties to support Kumar and Gopal Gandhi confirms that "the fight for an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged," said the Congress president. Sonia Gandhi said Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi had distinguished themselves throughout their long careers with tremendous dignity and commitment. "Through their work and their lives they have also advocated those very values and principles that have defined and guided India for the last 70 years," she told the gathering. Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which has broken ranks with its ally Congress and is supporting the BJP-led NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind, stayed away from the Opposition meeting. "I don't think it is correct for our party to attend the meeting. I myself met Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the Opposition's vice-Presidential candidate and conveyed to him that, in the wake of the current situation it won't be good for us to attend a meeting called by Opposition. Our relation with Meira Kumar is very old and she will also be there. It won`t look good on our part to go there," JD(U) leader Sharad Kumar said.

Presidential polls fight against narrow minded, communal vision: Sonia Gandhi

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav on Monday dismissed questions about the growing chorus for his resignation as media speculation. 
 
The BJP maintained that he has only two options -&nbsp;resign or get sacked. 
 
Responding to a question on the demand for his resignation,&nbsp;Tejashwi told reporters outside the Assembly,&nbsp;&quot;It (resignation demand) is only in the media.&quot; 
 
Tejashwi had skipped an official function on July 15,&nbsp;where he was to share the dais with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, triggering speculation that the festering acrimony between the JD(U) and the RJD had reached a flash point in the wake of an FIR being registered by the CBI against the deputy chief minister in the land-for-hotels case. 
 
RJD president Lalu Prasad has also ruled out the resignation of his son Tejashwi. 
 
While Tejaswi appeared to have decided to dig in his heels, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said, &quot;He has only two options - either tender resignation or get sacked.&quot; 
 
Modi, who is the state BJP Parliamentary Party chief, urged Nitish Kumar to &quot;stand firm on his ground (in seeking Tejashwi&#39;s resignation)... The BJP will be standing with him on his decision on this issue&quot;. 
 
Though none of the JD(U) spokespersons&nbsp;made any statement on the issue today (Monday), party MLA Shyam Bahadur Singh said, &quot;It&#39;s better if the alliance breaks today... We love to work with the BJP.&quot; 
 
Congress MLA Shakil Ahmad Khan and MLC Dilip Chaudhary suggested senior leaders of the three coalition partners&nbsp;talk among themselves to hammer out a solution. 
 
Nitish Kumar heads a three-party coalition government which also includes the Congress. 
 
Amid reports of the BJP going soft on Nitish Kumar after the Tejashwi episode,&nbsp;Modi thanked the chief minister&nbsp;for his support to the NDA&#39;s presidential pick Ram Nath Kovind. 
 
&quot;Nitish Kumar&#39;s support to the NDA nominee holds a lot of significance for which we thank him,&quot; he said, claiming that along with NDA and JD(U) MLAs, four Independents also voted for Kovind. 
 
Tejashwi, who was accompanied by RJD chief whip in the Assembly Lalit Yadav, also claimed 100 per cent voting by the RJD and Congress MLAs in favour of the UPA&nbsp;presidential nominee&nbsp;Meira Kumar. 
 
Three CPI(ML) MLAs have also voted for Meira Kumar.

The BJP maintained that the Bihar deputy chief minister has only two options -?resign or get sacked

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav on Monday dismissed questions about the growing chorus for his resignation as media speculation. The BJP maintained that he has only two options - resign or get sacked. Responding to a question on the demand for his resignation, Tejashwi told reporters outside the Assembly, "It (resignation demand) is only in the media." Tejashwi had skipped an official function on July 15, where he was to share the dais with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, triggering speculation that the festering acrimony between the JD(U) and the RJD had reached a flash point in the wake of an FIR being registered by the CBI against the deputy chief minister in the land-for-hotels case. RJD president Lalu Prasad has also ruled out the resignation of his son Tejashwi. While Tejaswi appeared to have decided to dig in his heels, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said, "He has only two options - either tender resignation or get sacked." Modi, who is the state BJP Parliamentary Party chief, urged Nitish Kumar to "stand firm on his ground (in seeking Tejashwi's resignation)... The BJP will be standing with him on his decision on this issue". Though none of the JD(U) spokespersons made any statement on the issue today (Monday), party MLA Shyam Bahadur Singh said, "It's better if the alliance breaks today... We love to work with the BJP." Congress MLA Shakil Ahmad Khan and MLC Dilip Chaudhary suggested senior leaders of the three coalition partners talk among themselves to hammer out a solution. Nitish Kumar heads a three-party coalition government which also includes the Congress. Amid reports of the BJP going soft on Nitish Kumar after the Tejashwi episode, Modi thanked the chief minister for his support to the NDA's presidential pick Ram Nath Kovind. "Nitish Kumar's support to the NDA nominee holds a lot of significance for which we thank him," he said, claiming that along with NDA and JD(U) MLAs, four Independents also voted for Kovind. Tejashwi, who was accompanied by RJD chief whip in the Assembly Lalit Yadav, also claimed 100 per cent voting by the RJD and Congress MLAs in favour of the UPA presidential nominee Meira Kumar. Three CPI(ML) MLAs have also voted for Meira Kumar.

Tejashwi Yadav dismisses BJP's calls for resignation

The Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the BJP-led coalition, on Tuesday said it would back the BJP&#39;s presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind, saying he is a &quot;simple and decent human being.&quot;

&quot;After holding discussions with our party leaders, we have decided to back the NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. After our support, I do not think it will be difficult for the BJP to get him elected,&quot; Thackeray told reporters at his residence &#39;Matoshree&#39; in suburban Bandra this evening.

When asked what made him agree to back Kovind, the Sena chief said, &quot;We have studied his personality and found him to be a very simple and a decent human being. Thus, we decided to go ahead with his name.&quot;

Questioning the BJP&#39;s motive behind Kovind&#39;s nomination, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had yesterday said his party would not back the former Bihar Governor in case&nbsp;his candidature was aimed at garnering Dalit votes.

Uddhav Thackeray had said that &quot;there are attempts being made to play politics over a Dalit presidential candidate.&nbsp; 
 
If that is so, we are not interested in backing him.&quot;

The Sena&#39;s verbal support for Kovind is a departure from its previous practice of supported UPA nominees in presidential elections after ditching the BJP.

The party had supported the UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee in the 2012 presidential polls against the NDA&#39;s PA Sangma. In 2007, it backed Pratibha Patil instead of NDA candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

BJP president Amit Shah had visited Uddhav Thackeray at his residence on Sunday. The Shiv Sena president revealed that Amit Shah had sought the party&#39;s support for their candidate, though his name was not declared then.

&quot;In turn, I suggested him two names which he said the BJP will consider. After the BJP announced the presidential candidate, Shah once again called me and told me that the names which I had suggested were considered, but that they (BJP) had their reasons for not making them the BJP candidate,&quot; he said.

Sena had earlier proposed the names of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and veteran agriculturist M S Swaminathan.

Asked if the Shiv Sena would support the opposition parties if they fielded a Dalit candidate, Uddhav Thackeray said his stand will not change now.

&quot;It is not necessary that Sena will always oppose the BJP,&quot; he said.

When asked if Sena will back opposition parties if they announced the name of either Bhagwat or Swaminathan, Thackeray said, &quot;I had announced names of Mohan Bhagwat and Swaminathan a week back. Had they wanted my support, they would have declared one of the names till now. But time has passed now and I will not change my decision.&quot;

Uddhav Thackeray had said the Sena had proposed Bhagwat&#39;s name, keeping in mind the concept of &#39;Hindurashtra&#39; (Hindu nation).

Bhagwat, however, didn&#39;t show any interest whereas Swaminathan chose not to react.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the BJP has the support of 122 MLAs and claims to have the support of some more legislators.&nbsp;

The Shiv Sena has 63 MLAs. There are 67 members from Maharashtra in Parliament - 48 in the Lok Sabha and 19 in the Rajya Sabha.

The BJP-led NDA&nbsp;has a total of 52 MPs. The Shiv Sena has 21 MPs - 18 in the Lok Sabha and three&nbsp;in the Rajya Sabha.

The BJP has 23 members in the Lok Sabha and five&nbsp;members in Rajya Sabha from the state, that corresponds to a total value of 19,824 votes.

The Congress-led UPA has 15 MPs from the state in both the houses of Parliament. The total value of MP votes of the UPA is 10,620.

Shiv Sena had yesterday said that the party was ready to face the mid-term polls in Maharashtra.

&quot;Hold mid-term polls if you want, we are ready... Shivsainik is not just a burning ember, but will rise like a forest fire,&quot; he had said.

 
&nbsp;

The Shiv Sena said the former Bihar Governor was a 'simple and decent human being'

The Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the BJP-led coalition, on Tuesday said it would back the BJP's presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind, saying he is a "simple and decent human being." "After holding discussions with our party leaders, we have decided to back the NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. After our support, I do not think it will be difficult for the BJP to get him elected," Thackeray told reporters at his residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra this evening. When asked what made him agree to back Kovind, the Sena chief said, "We have studied his personality and found him to be a very simple and a decent human being. Thus, we decided to go ahead with his name." Questioning the BJP's motive behind Kovind's nomination, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had yesterday said his party would not back the former Bihar Governor in case his candidature was aimed at garnering Dalit votes. Uddhav Thackeray had said that "there are attempts being made to play politics over a Dalit presidential candidate. If that is so, we are not interested in backing him." The Sena's verbal support for Kovind is a departure from its previous practice of supported UPA nominees in presidential elections after ditching the BJP. The party had supported the UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee in the 2012 presidential polls against the NDA's PA Sangma. In 2007, it backed Pratibha Patil instead of NDA candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. BJP president Amit Shah had visited Uddhav Thackeray at his residence on Sunday. The Shiv Sena president revealed that Amit Shah had sought the party's support for their candidate, though his name was not declared then. "In turn, I suggested him two names which he said the BJP will consider. After the BJP announced the presidential candidate, Shah once again called me and told me that the names which I had suggested were considered, but that they (BJP) had their reasons for not making them the BJP candidate," he said. Sena had earlier proposed the names of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and veteran agriculturist M S Swaminathan. Asked if the Shiv Sena would support the opposition parties if they fielded a Dalit candidate, Uddhav Thackeray said his stand will not change now. "It is not necessary that Sena will always oppose the BJP," he said. When asked if Sena will back opposition parties if they announced the name of either Bhagwat or Swaminathan, Thackeray said, "I had announced names of Mohan Bhagwat and Swaminathan a week back. Had they wanted my support, they would have declared one of the names till now. But time has passed now and I will not change my decision." Uddhav Thackeray had said the Sena had proposed Bhagwat's name, keeping in mind the concept of 'Hindurashtra' (Hindu nation). Bhagwat, however, didn't show any interest whereas Swaminathan chose not to react. In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the BJP has the support of 122 MLAs and claims to have the support of some more legislators. The Shiv Sena has 63 MLAs. There are 67 members from Maharashtra in Parliament - 48 in the Lok Sabha and 19 in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP-led NDA has a total of 52 MPs. The Shiv Sena has 21 MPs - 18 in the Lok Sabha and three in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP has 23 members in the Lok Sabha and five members in Rajya Sabha from the state, that corresponds to a total value of 19,824 votes. The Congress-led UPA has 15 MPs from the state in both the houses of Parliament. The total value of MP votes of the UPA is 10,620. Shiv Sena had yesterday said that the party was ready to face the mid-term polls in Maharashtra. "Hold mid-term polls if you want, we are ready... Shivsainik is not just a burning ember, but will rise like a forest fire," he had said.

Shiv Sena backs Kovind as NDA's presidential pick

India&#39;s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday dismissed reports that she is a contender in the presidential election as &quot;rumours&quot;.

Asked whether she was in the fray, the external affairs minister said that the selection of candidates was an &quot;internal matter.&quot;

&quot;These are rumours. I am an external affairs minister and you are asking me something which is an internal matter,&quot; Sushma Swaraj told PTI.

Neither the government nor the opposition have declared their candidate presidential election to be held on July 17.

Several names, including that of Sushma Swaraj, have been doing the rounds.

While June 28 is the last day for nominations, a candidate can withdraw from the race till July 1.

Counting of votes will be held on July 20. 
 
&nbsp;

Asked whether she was in the fray, the external affairs minister said these are 'rumours'

India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday dismissed reports that she is a contender in the presidential election as "rumours". Asked whether she was in the fray, the external affairs minister said that the selection of candidates was an "internal matter." "These are rumours. I am an external affairs minister and you are asking me something which is an internal matter," Sushma Swaraj told PTI. Neither the government nor the opposition have declared their candidate presidential election to be held on July 17. Several names, including that of Sushma Swaraj, have been doing the rounds. While June 28 is the last day for nominations, a candidate can withdraw from the race till July 1. Counting of votes will be held on July 20.

Rumours, internal matter, says Sushma Swaraj on running for presidency

Two senior cabinet ministers of the Narendra Modi-led Indian government, Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu, met the Congress party president Sonia Gandhi in a move to generate consensus on the election of country&#39;s next president.

The two ministers are part of a three-member committee which includes defence minister Arun Jaitley also.

The committee has been formed by the BJP president Amit Shah to form a consensus on the election of country&#39;s next president.

Sources in the meeting told WION that BJP leaders instead of suggesting names asked Congress if they have someone in mind.&nbsp;

Sonia Gandhi told the BJP leaders that she expected them to come up with some names, sources added.

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Indian government reached out to the opposition on Friday to build consensus on a presidential candidate ahead of the elections next month (ANI)
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In response to this, BJP leaders told Sonia Gandhi that once they finalise the names, they would seek the support of the Congress party.&nbsp;

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told WION that in case the ruling party does not come up with a name, no proper discussion will take place.

Azad also added that when a consensus was being built for former President Abdul Kalam, then NDA had shared the name with the Congress who had supported BJP&rsquo;s candidate.&nbsp;

The meeting, which lasted over 20 minutes, was also attended by senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

The two ministers also met CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.&nbsp;

The two ministers also drove to the residence of BJP patriarch and member of &quot;Margdarshak&quot; committee Lal Krishna Advani. After that, the duo went and met Murli Manohar Joshi.&nbsp;

Political observers are saying that the meeting with Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi could be a courtesy visit to seek their opinion on the election of the next President.

Throughout the day, there were strong murmurs around Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and external affairs&nbsp;minister Sushma Swaraj&#39;s name being proposed for President but none came on record to speak about the issue.

BJP is expected to declare the name of the candidate before 24th of this month as Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be leaving for Washington on June 25.

The two ministers are part of a three-member committee which includes defence minister Arun Jaitley who is in Seoul.

The committee has been formed by the BJP president Amit Shah to form a consensus on the election of country&#39;s next president.

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The two ministers are part of a committee which has been formed by the BJP president Amit Shah to form a consensus on the election of country's next president

Two senior cabinet ministers of the Narendra Modi-led Indian government, Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu, met the Congress party president Sonia Gandhi in a move to generate consensus on the election of country's next president. The two ministers are part of a three-member committee which includes defence minister Arun Jaitley also. The committee has been formed by the BJP president Amit Shah to form a consensus on the election of country's next president. Sources in the meeting told WION that BJP leaders instead of suggesting names asked Congress if they have someone in mind. Sonia Gandhi told the BJP leaders that she expected them to come up with some names, sources added. Indian government reached out to the opposition on Friday to build consensus on a presidential candidate ahead of the elections next month (ANI) × In response to this, BJP leaders told Sonia Gandhi that once they finalise the names, they would seek the support of the Congress party. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told WION that in case the ruling party does not come up with a name, no proper discussion will take place. Azad also added that when a consensus was being built for former President Abdul Kalam, then NDA had shared the name with the Congress who had supported BJP’s candidate. The meeting, which lasted over 20 minutes, was also attended by senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. The two ministers also met CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. The two ministers also drove to the residence of BJP patriarch and member of "Margdarshak" committee Lal Krishna Advani. After that, the duo went and met Murli Manohar Joshi. Political observers are saying that the meeting with Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi could be a courtesy visit to seek their opinion on the election of the next President. Throughout the day, there were strong murmurs around Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj's name being proposed for President but none came on record to speak about the issue. BJP is expected to declare the name of the candidate before 24th of this month as Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be leaving for Washington on June 25. The two ministers are part of a three-member committee which includes defence minister Arun Jaitley who is in Seoul. The committee has been formed by the BJP president Amit Shah to form a consensus on the election of country's next president.

Presidential polls: Rajnath, Venkaiah call on Sonia Gandhi, L K Advani, M M Joshi to build consensus

As President Pranab Mukherjee&#39;s term is nearing its completion, one question that everybody is asking - who will make it to the Rashtrapati Bhavan?

WION takes a look at some of the names that could emerge as candidates in the Presidential elections slated for next month.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

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The former diplomat and Governor of West Bengal could become the consensus candidate for a united opposition. (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others)
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Gopalkrishna Gandhi&#39;s name came up&nbsp;after CPI (M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, confirmed that he had spoken to him. Gopalkrishna Gandhi who is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi has been a diplomat and served as the Governor of West Bengal. He is someone who could provide a strong pivot for an opposition unity. &nbsp;

Meira Kumar

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The former Speaker of the Lok Sabha is one of the many names that are doing the rounds as opposition&#39;s candidate for the presidential elections. (Image source Wikimedia Commons) (Others)
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The name of the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha is also doing the rounds as a possible opposition candidate. Meira Kumar is the daughter of Congress stalwart Jagjivan Ram. The opposition could make her a consensus candidate if Draupadi Murmu, who is the Jharkhand Governor and whose name is also doing the rounds as the ruling NDA&#39;s candidate, emerges as front-runner in the Presidential elections.

Sharad Yadav

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Socialist leader and former president of the JD(U) Sharad Yadav&#39;s name is also in contention for the top job. (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others)
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The socialist leader and former president of the Janta Dal (United) has emerged as one of the leaders the opposition could zero in as a consensus candidate. He is someone who comes with long experience as a parliamentarian. He is someone who has been vocal in his criticism of the BJP government at the Centre. But lack of support from his own party could hamper his chances as Nitish Kumar had proposed the name of the incumbent, Pranab Mukherjee, as opposition&#39;s choice for the President.&nbsp;

Draupadi Murmu

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The Jharkhand Governor comes from a tribal community in Odisha and is seen as a strong contender for the President&#39;s position. (Zee News Network)
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The Jharkhand governor&nbsp;has emerged as a strong candidate in the upcoming presidential election. She comes from the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha. She belongs to a tribal community. With the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) keen on winning the Odisha assembly elections, she is being seen as a front-runner at the moment. Moreover, she is someone who would be difficult to oppose for the opposition. She has also&nbsp;served as a legislator in the Odisha Assembly&nbsp;twice.&nbsp;

Lal Krishna Advani

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LK Advani&#39;s name is doing the rounds as the ruling NDA&#39;s presidential candidate. (Image source: Wikimedia) (Others)
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The BJP stalwart and a member of BJP&#39;s &#39;Margdarshak&#39;&nbsp;committee could figure as the NDA candidate for the presidential elections. But the Supreme Court&#39;s directive to the lower court to wrap up the proceedings against Advani and others in the Babri Masjid demolition in two years is hanging like a sword over his candidature. Moreover, the fact that he has been sidelined within the party as he and other senior BJP leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi have been accommodated in the &#39;Margdarshak&#39;&nbsp;committee, which was constituted to provide guidance to the party, effectively puts an end to his candidature.&nbsp; 
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As the date for Presidential elections comes closer, opposition parties are hunting for a candidate that could give a tough fight to the ruling party's candidate

As President Pranab Mukherjee's term is nearing its completion, one question that everybody is asking - who will make it to the Rashtrapati Bhavan? WION takes a look at some of the names that could emerge as candidates in the Presidential elections slated for next month. Gopalkrishna Gandhi The former diplomat and Governor of West Bengal could become the consensus candidate for a united opposition. (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others) × Gopalkrishna Gandhi's name came up after CPI (M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, confirmed that he had spoken to him. Gopalkrishna Gandhi who is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi has been a diplomat and served as the Governor of West Bengal. He is someone who could provide a strong pivot for an opposition unity. Meira Kumar The former Speaker of the Lok Sabha is one of the many names that are doing the rounds as opposition's candidate for the presidential elections. (Image source Wikimedia Commons) (Others) × The name of the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha is also doing the rounds as a possible opposition candidate. Meira Kumar is the daughter of Congress stalwart Jagjivan Ram. The opposition could make her a consensus candidate if Draupadi Murmu, who is the Jharkhand Governor and whose name is also doing the rounds as the ruling NDA's candidate, emerges as front-runner in the Presidential elections. Sharad Yadav Socialist leader and former president of the JD(U) Sharad Yadav's name is also in contention for the top job. (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others) × The socialist leader and former president of the Janta Dal (United) has emerged as one of the leaders the opposition could zero in as a consensus candidate. He is someone who comes with long experience as a parliamentarian. He is someone who has been vocal in his criticism of the BJP government at the Centre. But lack of support from his own party could hamper his chances as Nitish Kumar had proposed the name of the incumbent, Pranab Mukherjee, as opposition's choice for the President. Draupadi Murmu The Jharkhand Governor comes from a tribal community in Odisha and is seen as a strong contender for the President's position. (Zee News Network) × The Jharkhand governor has emerged as a strong candidate in the upcoming presidential election. She comes from the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha. She belongs to a tribal community. With the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) keen on winning the Odisha assembly elections, she is being seen as a front-runner at the moment. Moreover, she is someone who would be difficult to oppose for the opposition. She has also served as a legislator in the Odisha Assembly twice. Lal Krishna Advani LK Advani's name is doing the rounds as the ruling NDA's presidential candidate. (Image source: Wikimedia) (Others) × The BJP stalwart and a member of BJP's 'Margdarshak' committee could figure as the NDA candidate for the presidential elections. But the Supreme Court's directive to the lower court to wrap up the proceedings against Advani and others in the Babri Masjid demolition in two years is hanging like a sword over his candidature. Moreover, the fact that he has been sidelined within the party as he and other senior BJP leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi have been accommodated in the 'Margdarshak' committee, which was constituted to provide guidance to the party, effectively puts an end to his candidature.

Who will be India's next President? Here's a look at the contenders

In the fourteen Presidential elections India has seen so far, only once has a candidate been elected unopposed. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was elected unopposed as the first citizen of the country in 1977.

That, however, is unlikely to happen as India readies to elect its&nbsp;15th President in a few weeks from now with both the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the Opposition camp looking set to make a fight out of it.

While it will almost be a matter of prestige for the ruling BJP to get its candidate elected as the next President of India, the Opposition is sensing an opportunity here to embarrass the Narendra Modi government by getting its candidate to be the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan.&nbsp;That probably explains why both the camps are treading cautiously on naming their respective candidates. Despite the likelihood of its candidate sailing through, the BJP still&nbsp;wants to create a broader consensus for its candidate to sail through comfortably.

Wooing Opposition parties also makes sense for the BJP as political parties cannot issue any whip to their legislators for voting in Presidential Elections. Simply put, this means that even Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies belonging to the Opposition camp defy party loyalties and can vote for the candidate fielded by the ruling party.

While the names of senior BJP leaders like Lal Krishna&nbsp;Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were circulating up to a few weeks back, the restoration of conspiracy charges against them in the Babri Masjid demolition case appears to have thwarted their chances for now. India&#39;s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj could emerge as the dark horse from the NDA stable, sources indicate.

But given Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s ability to spring surprises (remember Yogi Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister?), a surprise candidate may well be fielded by the BJP.

The Opposition parties, led by Congress, are reportedly mulling fielding the likes of former West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar for the top job.

With the countdown to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee&#39;s exit from Rashtrapati Bhavan beginning formally today after the Election Commission of India issued&nbsp;the formal notification for the next presidential elections, the Narendra Modi government now has its task cut out. And that is getting a candidate of its choice elected as the President of India with minimum fuss.

(WION)

The countdown for presidential elections begins today with Election Commission's notification

In the fourteen Presidential elections India has seen so far, only once has a candidate been elected unopposed. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was elected unopposed as the first citizen of the country in 1977. That, however, is unlikely to happen as India readies to elect its 15th President in a few weeks from now with both the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the Opposition camp looking set to make a fight out of it. While it will almost be a matter of prestige for the ruling BJP to get its candidate elected as the next President of India, the Opposition is sensing an opportunity here to embarrass the Narendra Modi government by getting its candidate to be the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan. That probably explains why both the camps are treading cautiously on naming their respective candidates. Despite the likelihood of its candidate sailing through, the BJP still wants to create a broader consensus for its candidate to sail through comfortably. Wooing Opposition parties also makes sense for the BJP as political parties cannot issue any whip to their legislators for voting in Presidential Elections. Simply put, this means that even Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies belonging to the Opposition camp defy party loyalties and can vote for the candidate fielded by the ruling party. While the names of senior BJP leaders like Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were circulating up to a few weeks back, the restoration of conspiracy charges against them in the Babri Masjid demolition case appears to have thwarted their chances for now. India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj could emerge as the dark horse from the NDA stable, sources indicate. But given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ability to spring surprises (remember Yogi Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister?), a surprise candidate may well be fielded by the BJP. The Opposition parties, led by Congress, are reportedly mulling fielding the likes of former West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar for the top job. With the countdown to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's exit from Rashtrapati Bhavan beginning formally today after the Election Commission of India issued the formal notification for the next presidential elections, the Narendra Modi government now has its task cut out. And that is getting a candidate of its choice elected as the President of India with minimum fuss. (WION)

Next Indian President: Opposition wants to spoil BJP's gameplan

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday formed a three-member committee for consultations with the opposition over candidates for next month&#39;s presidential elections.

The committee comprises of federal ministers Rajnath Singh, M Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley.

President Pranab Mukherjee&#39;s term comes to an end on July 24. The presidential elections will be held on July 17.

On Sunday, the party postponed its national executive meet which was to take place on July 15-16 at Visakhapatnam in view of the elections.&nbsp;

The last date of nomination is June 28 while the counting of votes will take place on July 20, the election commission said.

The President is elected through an Electoral College which is formed by legislators from the Parliament and state assemblies.&nbsp;

Currently, there are 13 vacancies in the Electoral College.&nbsp;

Twenty one AAP MLAs are also eligible to vote.&nbsp;

(WION) 
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The committee comprises of federal ministers Rajnath Singh, M Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday formed a three-member committee for consultations with the opposition over candidates for next month's presidential elections. The committee comprises of federal ministers Rajnath Singh, M Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley. President Pranab Mukherjee's term comes to an end on July 24. The presidential elections will be held on July 17. On Sunday, the party postponed its national executive meet which was to take place on July 15-16 at Visakhapatnam in view of the elections. The last date of nomination is June 28 while the counting of votes will take place on July 20, the election commission said. The President is elected through an Electoral College which is formed by legislators from the Parliament and state assemblies. Currently, there are 13 vacancies in the Electoral College. Twenty one AAP MLAs are also eligible to vote. (WION)

Presidential elections: Amit Shah forms committee for talks with Opposition

Republican Donald Trump took steps to steer his White House campaign back into favour with his party establishment yesterday by endorsing US house of representatives speaker Paul Ryan and two Republican senators seeking re-election, after expressing coolness towards them earlier this week. 
 
&quot;I need a Republican senate and a house to accomplish all of the changes that we have to make,&quot; Trump said during a rally in Green Bay, in northern Wisconsin, Ryan&#39;s home state. He also endorsed senators John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, whom he called a &quot;rising star&quot;. 
 
&quot;We will have disagreements, but we will disagree as friends,&quot; Trump said. 
 
Ryan, the top US elected Republican, had no plans to attend the event, in a sign of lingering frictions between the pair. His Republican primary challenger, businessman Paul Nehlen, did attend, according to a spokesman. 
 
Trump earlier this week refused to endorse Ryan when he told The Washington Post he was &quot;not quite there yet&quot;, using the same phrase Ryan had used about Trump before finally endorsing him. He said in the same interview that McCain had not done enough for veterans and criticised Ayotte for distancing herself from him during the campaign. 
 
Ryan, who was earlier endorsed by Trump&#39;s vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, is viewed by establishment Republicans as a possible presidential candidate in the future. He is expected to win a challenge for his House seat in next week&#39;s Republican primary. 
 
Trump&#39;s endorsement emerged as he took other steps to get his campaign back on track after days of controversy and falling poll numbers that have given Democrat Hillary Clinton the advantage in the race to the November 8 election. 
 
In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday, Clinton&#39;s lead over Trump narrowed to less than three percentage points, down from nearly eight points on Monday. 
 
Trump yesterday announced he was setting up an advisory team to help guide him on economic policy. The group relies heavily on hedge fund managers and investment bankers, a group Trump has railed against in the past, and includes no women. 
 
In addition, Trump plans to release his framework for boosting the US economy in a speech in Detroit on Monday, an event that will offer him a chance to avoid theatrics and detail how he would handle economic issues if elected. 
 
Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore told Reuters that the candidate&#39;s plan would focus on four areas: tax, deregulation, energy policy and trade. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be an all-encompassing look at how we reform the economy,&rdquo; Moore said. 
 
At a rally in Des Moines, Trump showed newfound discipline, mostly sticking to his central charge that Clinton is the &quot;queen of corruption&quot;. He defended himself against her charge that he is temperamentally unfit for the White House. 
 
&quot;All my life I&#39;ve been told, &#39;You have the greatest temperament,&#39;&quot; he said.&nbsp;He urged voters to also consider his vice presidential running mate, who appeared with him at the event.&nbsp;&quot;If you don&#39;t like me, that&#39;s okay, vote for Pence, because it&#39;s the same thing,&quot; he said. 
 
Trump also defended himself against what he called the news media&#39;s claim that he kicked a baby out of an event earlier this week in Virginia. &quot;I love babies,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;Short-circuited&quot; 
 
Clinton sought to take advantage of Trump&#39;s dip in the polls at a conference of minority journalists in Washington, where she pledged an all-out fight for comprehensive immigration reform if she wins the November 8 election. 
 
At the event, Clinton did what she has rarely done during the presidential campaign: take questions from reporters. 
 
She addressed two of the largest issues that continue to dog her campaign: the controversy over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state during the Obama administration, and continuing scepticism among voters about her trustworthiness. 
 
Clinton conceded that she had &ldquo;short-circuited&rdquo; earlier in the week in interviews when she had asserted that FBI director James Comey had concluded that she had been truthful in her statements about the&nbsp;use of the private server. 
 
Clinton had repeatedly said publicly that she never sent emails containing classified material, a finding that Comey contradicted at the conclusion of the FBI&rsquo;s probe in July, when he rebuked her for &quot;extremely careless&quot; handling of classified information while recommending that no criminal charges be filed. 
 
Yesterday, Clinton maintained that &ldquo;I never sent or received anything marked classified&rdquo;, while acknowledging that some material she sent may retroactively have been considered classified by other government agencies.&nbsp;Republicans have repeatedly charged that Clinton endangered national security with her handling of classified material. 
 
The email controversy has fuelled a perception among a majority of voters that Clinton is untrustworthy. &ldquo;I take it seriously,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t make me feel good when people say those things. And I recognise that I have work to do.&rdquo; 
 
Still, as she has often done during her career, Clinton attributed much of her low standing on this issue to attacks from Republicans. &ldquo;Maybe just maybe when I&rsquo;m actually running for a job, there is a real benefit to those on the other side to try and stir up as much concern as possible,&rdquo; she said. 
 
Finance and industry leaders 
 
Trump&#39;s campaign said his economic advisory panel included former steel executive Dan DiMicco, Howard Lorber, CEO of tobacco company Vector Group Ltd, and Trump campaign finance chairman and investment manager Steven Mnuchin. 
 
Hedge fund managers John Paulson and Steve Feinberg, anti-tax advocacy group Club for Growth&#39;s Stephen Moore, and David Malpass, who has served under previous Republican administrations in the Treasury and State Departments, were also named. 
 
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn turned down an invitation to join the group because he is considering funding a Super PAC focussed on regulatory reform, Icahn&#39;s general counsel told Reuters yesterday. 
 
Trump&#39;s moves came after many Republicans urged the candidate to correct course following a tumultuous week. 
 
The real estate mogul and former reality television star was caught up for days in a public spat with the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq. The parents had spoken out against Trump at last week&#39;s Democratic National Convention. Many Republicans, including Ryan, McCain and Ayotte, were critical of Trump&#39;s insistent attacks on the parents. 
 
(Reuters)

Paul Ryan, the top US elected Republican who the establishment sees as a possible future presidential candidate, skipped the rally

Republican Donald Trump took steps to steer his White House campaign back into favour with his party establishment yesterday by endorsing US house of representatives speaker Paul Ryan and two Republican senators seeking re-election, after expressing coolness towards them earlier this week. "I need a Republican senate and a house to accomplish all of the changes that we have to make," Trump said during a rally in Green Bay, in northern Wisconsin, Ryan's home state. He also endorsed senators John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, whom he called a "rising star". "We will have disagreements, but we will disagree as friends," Trump said. Ryan, the top US elected Republican, had no plans to attend the event, in a sign of lingering frictions between the pair. His Republican primary challenger, businessman Paul Nehlen, did attend, according to a spokesman. Trump earlier this week refused to endorse Ryan when he told The Washington Post he was "not quite there yet", using the same phrase Ryan had used about Trump before finally endorsing him. He said in the same interview that McCain had not done enough for veterans and criticised Ayotte for distancing herself from him during the campaign. Ryan, who was earlier endorsed by Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, is viewed by establishment Republicans as a possible presidential candidate in the future. He is expected to win a challenge for his House seat in next week's Republican primary. Trump's endorsement emerged as he took other steps to get his campaign back on track after days of controversy and falling poll numbers that have given Democrat Hillary Clinton the advantage in the race to the November 8 election. In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday, Clinton's lead over Trump narrowed to less than three percentage points, down from nearly eight points on Monday. Trump yesterday announced he was setting up an advisory team to help guide him on economic policy. The group relies heavily on hedge fund managers and investment bankers, a group Trump has railed against in the past, and includes no women. In addition, Trump plans to release his framework for boosting the US economy in a speech in Detroit on Monday, an event that will offer him a chance to avoid theatrics and detail how he would handle economic issues if elected. Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore told Reuters that the candidate's plan would focus on four areas: tax, deregulation, energy policy and trade. “It’s going to be an all-encompassing look at how we reform the economy,” Moore said. At a rally in Des Moines, Trump showed newfound discipline, mostly sticking to his central charge that Clinton is the "queen of corruption". He defended himself against her charge that he is temperamentally unfit for the White House. "All my life I've been told, 'You have the greatest temperament,'" he said. He urged voters to also consider his vice presidential running mate, who appeared with him at the event. "If you don't like me, that's okay, vote for Pence, because it's the same thing," he said. Trump also defended himself against what he called the news media's claim that he kicked a baby out of an event earlier this week in Virginia. "I love babies," he said. "Short-circuited" Clinton sought to take advantage of Trump's dip in the polls at a conference of minority journalists in Washington, where she pledged an all-out fight for comprehensive immigration reform if she wins the November 8 election. At the event, Clinton did what she has rarely done during the presidential campaign: take questions from reporters. She addressed two of the largest issues that continue to dog her campaign: the controversy over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state during the Obama administration, and continuing scepticism among voters about her trustworthiness. Clinton conceded that she had “short-circuited” earlier in the week in interviews when she had asserted that FBI director James Comey had concluded that she had been truthful in her statements about the use of the private server. Clinton had repeatedly said publicly that she never sent emails containing classified material, a finding that Comey contradicted at the conclusion of the FBI’s probe in July, when he rebuked her for "extremely careless" handling of classified information while recommending that no criminal charges be filed. Yesterday, Clinton maintained that “I never sent or received anything marked classified”, while acknowledging that some material she sent may retroactively have been considered classified by other government agencies. Republicans have repeatedly charged that Clinton endangered national security with her handling of classified material. The email controversy has fuelled a perception among a majority of voters that Clinton is untrustworthy. “I take it seriously,” she said. “It doesn’t make me feel good when people say those things. And I recognise that I have work to do.” Still, as she has often done during her career, Clinton attributed much of her low standing on this issue to attacks from Republicans. “Maybe just maybe when I’m actually running for a job, there is a real benefit to those on the other side to try and stir up as much concern as possible,” she said. Finance and industry leaders Trump's campaign said his economic advisory panel included former steel executive Dan DiMicco, Howard Lorber, CEO of tobacco company Vector Group Ltd, and Trump campaign finance chairman and investment manager Steven Mnuchin. Hedge fund managers John Paulson and Steve Feinberg, anti-tax advocacy group Club for Growth's Stephen Moore, and David Malpass, who has served under previous Republican administrations in the Treasury and State Departments, were also named. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn turned down an invitation to join the group because he is considering funding a Super PAC focussed on regulatory reform, Icahn's general counsel told Reuters yesterday. Trump's moves came after many Republicans urged the candidate to correct course following a tumultuous week. The real estate mogul and former reality television star was caught up for days in a public spat with the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq. The parents had spoken out against Trump at last week's Democratic National Convention. Many Republicans, including Ryan, McCain and Ayotte, were critical of Trump's insistent attacks on the parents. (Reuters)

Trump, looking to right campaign ship, endorses house speaker, senators

Austria&#39;s highest court on Friday annulled May&#39;s presidential election result following a legal challgenge from the far-right leader who lost by a narrow margin.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The challenge brought by Freedom Party leader Heinz Christian Strache against the May 22 election has been upheld,&quot; said Gerhard Holzinger, head of Austria&#39;s Constitutional Court.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The challenge was brought by the far-right wing leader who only narrowly lost

Austria's highest court on Friday annulled May's presidential election result following a legal challgenge from the far-right leader who lost by a narrow margin. "The challenge brought by Freedom Party leader Heinz Christian Strache against the May 22 election has been upheld," said Gerhard Holzinger, head of Austria's Constitutional Court. (AFP)

Austria presidential election result anulled by court

Authoritarian firebrand Rodrigo Duterte takes office as Philippine president today, promising a ruthless and deeply controversial war on crime as the chief focus of his six-year term. 
 
His anti-crime programme includes plans to reintroduce the death penalty, issuing shoot-to-kill orders to the security services and offering them bounties for the bodies of drug dealers. He has also told ordinary Filipinos to kill suspected criminals. 
 
A lawyer who cut his teeth as long-time mayor of the major southern city of Davao, Duterte, 71, has said another central element of his law-and-order platform is to curb social freedoms by imposing night curfews for minors and ban alcohol sales after midnight. 
 
Defying convention, Duterte will take his oath at midday before a small and select guest list inside Malacanang palace, instead of in public before a large crowd and journalists like previous Filipino leaders. 
 
The foul-mouthed politician&#39;s style is a sharp departure from that of the laid-back Benigno Aquino, the outgoing leader of the Southeast Asian nation of 102 million people. 
 
Duterte won last month&#39;s presidential elections in a landslide after an inflammatory campaign in which he promised that tens of thousands of criminals would die, their bodies clogging up Manila Bay where he plans to dump them. 
 
His campaign also relentlessly highlighted the alleged failures of Aquino, who delivered the highest rates of economic growth in decades but failed to stem worsening traffic gridlocks, high crime and widespread poverty endured by many Filipinos. 
 
Even before his term began, Duterte picked fights with the envoys of key allies the United States and Australia over his joke about raping an Australian missionary who was sexually assaulted and shot dead in a prison riot. 
 
After being elected, his controversial comments that some of the scores of Filipino journalists murdered over the past 30 years had deserved to die earned a rare rebuke from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 
 
Duterte has been accused of links to vigilante death squads in Davao which rights groups say have killed more than 1,000 people. Such groups are concerned that extrajudicial killings could spread across the Philippines under Duterte. 
 
With Duterte&#39;s encouragement, police have already killed dozens of suspected criminals since the May 9 election. The incoming mayor of Cebu, the Philippines&#39; second-biggest city, has also paid out Duterte-style bounties to police for killing drug suspects. 
 
Behind the fireworks of his rhetoric and the war on crime, Duterte has promised a raft of other far-reaching reforms. 
 
Chief among those is to change the centralised government to a federal system in which newly created states would have a large degree of autonomy. Those states would also be able to keep most of their revenues. 
 
But doing so will require rewriting the constitution. 
 
Duterte has also said he can end decades-old Muslim and communist rebellions, which have claimed tens of thousands of lives. Peace talks with the communists are set to start this month. He expects federalism will appease Muslim rebels, who want autonomy. 
 
(AFP)

As president, Duterte plans to reintroduce death penalty, issue shoot-to-kill orders to security forces and curb social freedoms

Authoritarian firebrand Rodrigo Duterte takes office as Philippine president today, promising a ruthless and deeply controversial war on crime as the chief focus of his six-year term. His anti-crime programme includes plans to reintroduce the death penalty, issuing shoot-to-kill orders to the security services and offering them bounties for the bodies of drug dealers. He has also told ordinary Filipinos to kill suspected criminals. A lawyer who cut his teeth as long-time mayor of the major southern city of Davao, Duterte, 71, has said another central element of his law-and-order platform is to curb social freedoms by imposing night curfews for minors and ban alcohol sales after midnight. Defying convention, Duterte will take his oath at midday before a small and select guest list inside Malacanang palace, instead of in public before a large crowd and journalists like previous Filipino leaders. The foul-mouthed politician's style is a sharp departure from that of the laid-back Benigno Aquino, the outgoing leader of the Southeast Asian nation of 102 million people. Duterte won last month's presidential elections in a landslide after an inflammatory campaign in which he promised that tens of thousands of criminals would die, their bodies clogging up Manila Bay where he plans to dump them. His campaign also relentlessly highlighted the alleged failures of Aquino, who delivered the highest rates of economic growth in decades but failed to stem worsening traffic gridlocks, high crime and widespread poverty endured by many Filipinos. Even before his term began, Duterte picked fights with the envoys of key allies the United States and Australia over his joke about raping an Australian missionary who was sexually assaulted and shot dead in a prison riot. After being elected, his controversial comments that some of the scores of Filipino journalists murdered over the past 30 years had deserved to die earned a rare rebuke from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Duterte has been accused of links to vigilante death squads in Davao which rights groups say have killed more than 1,000 people. Such groups are concerned that extrajudicial killings could spread across the Philippines under Duterte. With Duterte's encouragement, police have already killed dozens of suspected criminals since the May 9 election. The incoming mayor of Cebu, the Philippines' second-biggest city, has also paid out Duterte-style bounties to police for killing drug suspects. Behind the fireworks of his rhetoric and the war on crime, Duterte has promised a raft of other far-reaching reforms. Chief among those is to change the centralised government to a federal system in which newly created states would have a large degree of autonomy. Those states would also be able to keep most of their revenues. But doing so will require rewriting the constitution. Duterte has also said he can end decades-old Muslim and communist rebellions, which have claimed tens of thousands of lives. Peace talks with the communists are set to start this month. He expects federalism will appease Muslim rebels, who want autonomy. (AFP)

Duterte to be sworn in as Philippine president, launch war on crime

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