Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory over Covid-19 by making Israel a 'vaccination nation'. Even that may not be enough when voters wearing mandatory masks cast their ballots in an election on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Netanyahu, who turned Israel's world-leading rollout of vaccines into a showcase of his campaign in the country's fourth national poll in two years, gave a measured assessment of his chances after the latest opinion polls pointed to a close race.&nbsp;

"I'm still missing a (parliamentary) seat or two to achieve a stable government," he said on Army Radio on Sunday, in what could have been a strategic bid to rally supporters of his right-wing Likud party to turn out to vote.&nbsp;

Opinion polls showed an uptick for Likud in the campaign's home stretch, giving a Netanyahu-led coalition of conservative and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties around 60 seats, still short of a majority in the 120-member parliament.&nbsp;

But the surveys indicated that a potential, though perhaps unlikely alliance of left-wing, centre and rightist factions, possibly led by Netanyahu's strongest rival in the polls - centrist Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party - is also near 60.&nbsp;

No one party has ever won a parliamentary majority on its own in an Israeli election. In a close contest, election night results may only be a starting point, with backroom coalition talks determining whether 'King Bibi' will still rule.&nbsp;

Gone this time were Netanyahu's giant billboards featuring a handshake with ally Donald Trump, defeated in the US presidential election in November.&nbsp;

And with Democrat Joe Biden in the White House, there was little prospect of US diplomatic moves that could help Netanyahu's election chances.&nbsp;

Israel's longest-serving leader, 71, focused instead on highlighting his role in turning high-tech Israel into what he dubbed a 'vaccination nation'.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory over Covid-19 by making Israel a 'vaccination nation'. Even that may not be enough when voters wearing mandatory masks cast their ballots in an election on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory over Covid-19 by making Israel a 'vaccination nation'. Even that may not be enough when voters wearing mandatory masks cast their ballots in an election on Tuesday. Netanyahu, who turned Israel's world-leading rollout of vaccines into a showcase of his campaign in the country's fourth national poll in two years, gave a measured assessment of his chances after the latest opinion polls pointed to a close race. "I'm still missing a (parliamentary) seat or two to achieve a stable government," he said on Army Radio on Sunday, in what could have been a strategic bid to rally supporters of his right-wing Likud party to turn out to vote. Opinion polls showed an uptick for Likud in the campaign's home stretch, giving a Netanyahu-led coalition of conservative and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties around 60 seats, still short of a majority in the 120-member parliament. But the surveys indicated that a potential, though perhaps unlikely alliance of left-wing, centre and rightist factions, possibly led by Netanyahu's strongest rival in the polls - centrist Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party - is also near 60. No one party has ever won a parliamentary majority on its own in an Israeli election. In a close contest, election night results may only be a starting point, with backroom coalition talks determining whether 'King Bibi' will still rule. Gone this time were Netanyahu's giant billboards featuring a handshake with ally Donald Trump, defeated in the US presidential election in November. And with Democrat Joe Biden in the White House, there was little prospect of US diplomatic moves that could help Netanyahu's election chances. Israel's longest-serving leader, 71, focused instead on highlighting his role in turning high-tech Israel into what he dubbed a 'vaccination nation'. (With inputs from agencies)

Will 'vaccination nation' Israel vote for Prime Minister Netanyahu? 

Thousands of Israeli nationals rallied outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence to protest against his policies.

Protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensify

Israel Protests: Israelis demand Netanyahu's resignation

After an extraordinary election night that put the country’s democracy to the test, the presidential election Wednesday tilted toward Joe Biden, who claimed Wisconsin and Michigan and was leading in Nevada and Arizona, two states that will get him to 270 electoral votes if his advantage holds.

Top aides to both Biden, the Democratic nominee, and President Donald Trump argued that they were on a winning trajectory. But Biden was far better positioned because he had more routes to victory among the seven battleground states that were still counting votes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-democrat-bernie-sanders-predict-trumps-election-fraud-claim-video-goes-viral-340724" hreflang="en">Did Democrat Bernie Sanders predict Trump's election fraud claim? Video goes viral</a>

After a campaign finale that riveted the country and saw the highest level of turnout in more than a century, Biden sought to balance a tone of conciliation with an attitude of confidence. In an afternoon speech in Wilmington, Delaware, he said that he believed he was on track to secure the presidency and that it would soon be time to “put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us.”

While he did not claim outright victory the way Trump sought to do late on election night, Biden listed the states he had seized from the president and predicted that Pennsylvania would soon be among them.

“I’m not here to declare that we’ve won,” he said, “but I am here to report that when the count is finished, we believe we will be the winners.”

Biden also issued a warning to the Trump campaign, which was once again threatening to go to court to stop the counting of votes.

“Power can’t be taken or asserted,” he said. “It flows from the people. And it’s their will that determines who will be the president of the United States, and their will alone.”

“Every vote must be counted,” Biden said, adding: “No one’s going to take our democracy away from us. Not now, not ever.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-which-us-states-are-still-counting-votes-and-when-will-they-be-done-340699" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Which US states are still counting votes and when will they be done?</a>

The president had a weaker hand — and seemed to affirm as much throughout the day. First, Trump vented on Twitter that the tabulation of the mail-in ballots in Wisconsin and Michigan was “devastating in their percentage and power of destruction.” Then, his top aides simultaneously declared victory in Pennsylvania, even though the state had more than 1 million votes still to be counted. Later, supporters of the president as well as Republican operatives banged on the glass outside a vote-counting site in Detroit and, to no avail, chanted “Stop the count.”

Trump also took more serious steps toward contesting the election, deploying a legal team to mount a series of challenges against the counting of votes. In the hotly contested battleground of Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign asked the Supreme Court to be allowed to participate in a pending challenge to a three-day extension of the deadline for receiving absentee ballots in the state. The Supreme Court has not said whether it will hear the case.

The Trump campaign also announced it would request a recount in Wisconsin, and in Michigan it sought to halt the counting of votes so that it could arrange for better access for its election board observers.

But as one of the most unusual presidential elections in history stretched into its second, but not final, day of vote-counting, there was no indication that any state or locality would bow to the president’s demand that the process be halted. In an extraordinary interjection into the electoral process, Trump used an election-night speech from the White House to attack the integrity of the vote, and he kept up his barrage Wednesday, amplifying baseless conspiracy theories about the accumulating tally for Biden, the former vice president.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-breaks-obamas-record-amasses-most-votes-in-us-election-history-340693" hreflang="en">Joe Biden breaks Obama's record, amasses most votes in US election history</a>

Senior Democratic officials have been holding conversations with corporate executives and former Republican leaders about staging a sort of intervention if Trump refuses to accept the results of the election, according to a Democrat familiar with the planning.

But Republican leaders seemed to have little appetite for a protracted fight over the ballots, particularly as it became clear by the end of the day that Biden was well positioned to prevail.

“Every vote that was legally cast needs to be counted,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. “America will once again serve as an example to the world.”

The Democrats made significant gains overnight in part because Republican officials in some states had refused to accommodate the shift toward voting by mail and allow such ballots to be counted before Tuesday. So in states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Trump had established an early lead that began to erode once absentee votes were tallied.

By Wednesday night, though, the electoral map more fully reflected the entirety of the votes in those states. In Michigan, for example, Biden was several hundred thousand votes behind Tuesday night before absentee ballots closed the gap to 37,000 by Wednesday morning. The Associated Press declared him the winner of the state in the afternoon.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/win-or-lose-trump-will-remain-a-powerful-and-disruptive-force-340711" hreflang="en">Win or lose, Trump will remain a powerful and disruptive force</a>

Biden, who focused his campaign on Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, was on the brink of capturing at least three states that the president carried in 2016, and perhaps as many as five or six if the last waves of ballot-counting strongly favored him.

In some of those states, Biden’s leads were no more formidable than the wispy margins that carried Trump into office four years ago, suggesting that the former vice president had managed to improve incrementally on Hillary Clinton’s performance. It was also clear that Biden was not able to build a coalition capable of delivering an electoral landslide. But he achieved two crucial victories in states that shattered Democrats’ hopes in 2016: Wisconsin, where the AP declared Biden the victor after he amassed a lead of nearly 21,000 votes, and Michigan, where the race was called after he established a 67,000-vote advantage.

Should Biden hold on to two other unresolved states where he was leading Wednesday evening — Arizona and Nevada — it would be enough to give him exactly 270 Electoral College votes. That tally also includes one vote he won from Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, because that state does not have the winner-take-all system employed nearly everywhere else.

There was also the potential for Biden to flip one or more of the states where Trump was ahead, most prominently Pennsylvania; the president was leading by less than 200,000 votes with hundreds of thousands of ballots left to count. The uncounted ballots were cast predominantly by mail and were expected to heavily favor Biden.

In Georgia, too, Trump’s thin lead did not appear wholly secure against votes that were being tabulated slowly in Democratic-leaning areas. But the president still had one or two clear paths to an Electoral College majority, albeit far fewer than his Democratic opponent. If Trump held on to the three states where he was ahead — Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina — he would need to overtake Biden in only one of the states where the former vice president was favored.

Advisers to Trump argued throughout election night and into Wednesday morning that the AP and Fox News had prematurely placed Arizona in Biden’s column. The Democrat had a lead of about 79,000 votes there, and there were several hundred thousand votes yet to be counted. Many of them appeared to be coming from Maricopa County, which had so far tilted toward the former vice president.

In Nevada, Biden was clinging to a lead of just 7,600 votes, but additional mail-in ballots were expected to somewhat improve his position.

If Biden held only a modest upper hand over Trump, the Democratic Party as a whole posted unexpectedly weak results in contests besides the presidential race. Though Democratic and Republican pollsters had predicted a gain of several seats in the House for Democrats — and perhaps as many as a dozen or more — the chamber seemed headed for the opposite outcome, with Republicans retaking a few conservative-leaning districts they lost in the 2018 midterm elections.

There was significant ticket-splitting, especially in the sort of high-income precincts where Republican strategists had feared an electoral shellacking from voters exhausted by Trump’s erratic conduct.

“They weren’t a fan of the president’s personality,” said Liesl Hickey, a Republican strategist who spent months conducting weekly focus groups with suburbanites. “But taxes and the economy led the list of their concerns, and they were terrified of their taxes being increased.”

Perhaps most disappointing to Democrats was the narrowing path they had in their effort to capture a majority in the Senate, even though they had a favorable map this year. The party took over two Republican-held seats, in Arizona and Colorado, while losing a seat in Alabama.

But Republicans showed strong resilience in a number of races where Democrats had been hoping to make the gains required to take over the chamber, including in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate who declined to endorse Trump for reelection, turned back her Democratic challenger with unexpected ease.

There was still some possibility that Democrats could overtake Republicans in the Senate, because of uncalled races in North Carolina and Alaska — both seats are now held by Republicans — as well as the potential for two runoff elections for Senate seats in Georgia. Because of the Southern state’s distinctive electoral procedures, there is a possibility that the Senate may be split almost evenly, with 50 seats held by Republicans and 48 held by Democrats, until Georgia holds a second round of voting in January.

After an extraordinary election night that put the country’s democracy to the test, the presidential election Wednesday tilted toward Joe Biden, who claimed Wisconsin and Michigan and was leading in Nevada and Arizona, two states that will get him to 270 electoral votes if his advantage holds.

After an extraordinary election night that put the country’s democracy to the test, the presidential election Wednesday tilted toward Joe Biden, who claimed Wisconsin and Michigan and was leading in Nevada and Arizona, two states that will get him to 270 electoral votes if his advantage holds. Top aides to both Biden, the Democratic nominee, and President Donald Trump argued that they were on a winning trajectory. But Biden was far better positioned because he had more routes to victory among the seven battleground states that were still counting votes. Also read: Did Democrat Bernie Sanders predict Trump's election fraud claim? Video goes viral After a campaign finale that riveted the country and saw the highest level of turnout in more than a century, Biden sought to balance a tone of conciliation with an attitude of confidence. In an afternoon speech in Wilmington, Delaware, he said that he believed he was on track to secure the presidency and that it would soon be time to “put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us.” While he did not claim outright victory the way Trump sought to do late on election night, Biden listed the states he had seized from the president and predicted that Pennsylvania would soon be among them. “I’m not here to declare that we’ve won,” he said, “but I am here to report that when the count is finished, we believe we will be the winners.” Biden also issued a warning to the Trump campaign, which was once again threatening to go to court to stop the counting of votes. “Power can’t be taken or asserted,” he said. “It flows from the people. And it’s their will that determines who will be the president of the United States, and their will alone.” “Every vote must be counted,” Biden said, adding: “No one’s going to take our democracy away from us. Not now, not ever.” Also read: US election 2020: Which US states are still counting votes and when will they be done? The president had a weaker hand — and seemed to affirm as much throughout the day. First, Trump vented on Twitter that the tabulation of the mail-in ballots in Wisconsin and Michigan was “devastating in their percentage and power of destruction.” Then, his top aides simultaneously declared victory in Pennsylvania, even though the state had more than 1 million votes still to be counted. Later, supporters of the president as well as Republican operatives banged on the glass outside a vote-counting site in Detroit and, to no avail, chanted “Stop the count.” Trump also took more serious steps toward contesting the election, deploying a legal team to mount a series of challenges against the counting of votes. In the hotly contested battleground of Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign asked the Supreme Court to be allowed to participate in a pending challenge to a three-day extension of the deadline for receiving absentee ballots in the state. The Supreme Court has not said whether it will hear the case. The Trump campaign also announced it would request a recount in Wisconsin, and in Michigan it sought to halt the counting of votes so that it could arrange for better access for its election board observers. But as one of the most unusual presidential elections in history stretched into its second, but not final, day of vote-counting, there was no indication that any state or locality would bow to the president’s demand that the process be halted. In an extraordinary interjection into the electoral process, Trump used an election-night speech from the White House to attack the integrity of the vote, and he kept up his barrage Wednesday, amplifying baseless conspiracy theories about the accumulating tally for Biden, the former vice president. Also read: Joe Biden breaks Obama's record, amasses most votes in US election history Senior Democratic officials have been holding conversations with corporate executives and former Republican leaders about staging a sort of intervention if Trump refuses to accept the results of the election, according to a Democrat familiar with the planning. But Republican leaders seemed to have little appetite for a protracted fight over the ballots, particularly as it became clear by the end of the day that Biden was well positioned to prevail. “Every vote that was legally cast needs to be counted,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. “America will once again serve as an example to the world.” The Democrats made significant gains overnight in part because Republican officials in some states had refused to accommodate the shift toward voting by mail and allow such ballots to be counted before Tuesday. So in states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Trump had established an early lead that began to erode once absentee votes were tallied. By Wednesday night, though, the electoral map more fully reflected the entirety of the votes in those states. In Michigan, for example, Biden was several hundred thousand votes behind Tuesday night before absentee ballots closed the gap to 37,000 by Wednesday morning. The Associated Press declared him the winner of the state in the afternoon. Also read: Win or lose, Trump will remain a powerful and disruptive force Biden, who focused his campaign on Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, was on the brink of capturing at least three states that the president carried in 2016, and perhaps as many as five or six if the last waves of ballot-counting strongly favored him. In some of those states, Biden’s leads were no more formidable than the wispy margins that carried Trump into office four years ago, suggesting that the former vice president had managed to improve incrementally on Hillary Clinton’s performance. It was also clear that Biden was not able to build a coalition capable of delivering an electoral landslide. But he achieved two crucial victories in states that shattered Democrats’ hopes in 2016: Wisconsin, where the AP declared Biden the victor after he amassed a lead of nearly 21,000 votes, and Michigan, where the race was called after he established a 67,000-vote advantage. Should Biden hold on to two other unresolved states where he was leading Wednesday evening — Arizona and Nevada — it would be enough to give him exactly 270 Electoral College votes. That tally also includes one vote he won from Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, because that state does not have the winner-take-all system employed nearly everywhere else. There was also the potential for Biden to flip one or more of the states where Trump was ahead, most prominently Pennsylvania; the president was leading by less than 200,000 votes with hundreds of thousands of ballots left to count. The uncounted ballots were cast predominantly by mail and were expected to heavily favor Biden. In Georgia, too, Trump’s thin lead did not appear wholly secure against votes that were being tabulated slowly in Democratic-leaning areas. But the president still had one or two clear paths to an Electoral College majority, albeit far fewer than his Democratic opponent. If Trump held on to the three states where he was ahead — Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina — he would need to overtake Biden in only one of the states where the former vice president was favored. Advisers to Trump argued throughout election night and into Wednesday morning that the AP and Fox News had prematurely placed Arizona in Biden’s column. The Democrat had a lead of about 79,000 votes there, and there were several hundred thousand votes yet to be counted. Many of them appeared to be coming from Maricopa County, which had so far tilted toward the former vice president. In Nevada, Biden was clinging to a lead of just 7,600 votes, but additional mail-in ballots were expected to somewhat improve his position. If Biden held only a modest upper hand over Trump, the Democratic Party as a whole posted unexpectedly weak results in contests besides the presidential race. Though Democratic and Republican pollsters had predicted a gain of several seats in the House for Democrats — and perhaps as many as a dozen or more — the chamber seemed headed for the opposite outcome, with Republicans retaking a few conservative-leaning districts they lost in the 2018 midterm elections. There was significant ticket-splitting, especially in the sort of high-income precincts where Republican strategists had feared an electoral shellacking from voters exhausted by Trump’s erratic conduct. “They weren’t a fan of the president’s personality,” said Liesl Hickey, a Republican strategist who spent months conducting weekly focus groups with suburbanites. “But taxes and the economy led the list of their concerns, and they were terrified of their taxes being increased.” Perhaps most disappointing to Democrats was the narrowing path they had in their effort to capture a majority in the Senate, even though they had a favorable map this year. The party took over two Republican-held seats, in Arizona and Colorado, while losing a seat in Alabama. But Republicans showed strong resilience in a number of races where Democrats had been hoping to make the gains required to take over the chamber, including in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate who declined to endorse Trump for reelection, turned back her Democratic challenger with unexpected ease. There was still some possibility that Democrats could overtake Republicans in the Senate, because of uncalled races in North Carolina and Alaska — both seats are now held by Republicans — as well as the potential for two runoff elections for Senate seats in Georgia. Because of the Southern state’s distinctive electoral procedures, there is a possibility that the Senate may be split almost evenly, with 50 seats held by Republicans and 48 held by Democrats, until Georgia holds a second round of voting in January.

As states fall his way, Biden vows ‘every vote must be counted’

Swiss voters decide on Sunday whether to annul a pact with the European Union on the free movement of people, an important test of attitudes towards foreigners who make up a quarter of the population.

The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) - the biggest in parliament - has led the charge to take back control of immigration, echoing some of the arguments pro-Brexit politicians used in the run-up to Britain's exit from the EU.

But a gfs.bern poll found 63 per cent of respondents oppose the SVP proposal and 35&nbsp;per cent support it, suggesting voters want stability at a time of economic uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic.

The SVP paints a gloomy picture of young foreigners supplanting older Swiss, housing getting dearer, schools and transport getting overcrowded and construction running wild.

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Opponents say the plan would rob business of skilled workers and torpedo accords that enhance non-EU member Switzerland's access to the EU single market.

A "guillotine clause" means ending free movement would topple other bilateral pacts on land and air transport, procurement, technical barriers to trade, and research.

Citizens of the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, which with Switzerland are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), made up 68&nbsp;per cent of the 2.1 million resident foreigners in 2019. More than 450,000 Swiss live in the EU.

Should the referendum drive, as expected, fail, the government can turn to its biggest foreign policy headache: a stalled treaty that would cement ties with the EU but which critics say infringes too much on Swiss sovereign

Swiss voters decide on Sunday whether to annul a pact with the European Union on the free movement of people, an important test of attitudes towards foreigners who make up a quarter of the population.

Swiss voters decide on Sunday whether to annul a pact with the European Union on the free movement of people, an important test of attitudes towards foreigners who make up a quarter of the population. The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) - the biggest in parliament - has led the charge to take back control of immigration, echoing some of the arguments pro-Brexit politicians used in the run-up to Britain's exit from the EU. But a gfs.bern poll found 63 per cent of respondents oppose the SVP proposal and 35 per cent support it, suggesting voters want stability at a time of economic uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic. The SVP paints a gloomy picture of young foreigners supplanting older Swiss, housing getting dearer, schools and transport getting overcrowded and construction running wild. × Opponents say the plan would rob business of skilled workers and torpedo accords that enhance non-EU member Switzerland's access to the EU single market. A "guillotine clause" means ending free movement would topple other bilateral pacts on land and air transport, procurement, technical barriers to trade, and research. Citizens of the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, which with Switzerland are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), made up 68 per cent of the 2.1 million resident foreigners in 2019. More than 450,000 Swiss live in the EU. Should the referendum drive, as expected, fail, the government can turn to its biggest foreign policy headache: a stalled treaty that would cement ties with the EU but which critics say infringes too much on Swiss sovereign

Swiss voters to decide on EU immigration pact

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-in-gaza-after-rocket-attack-266911">Israel edged closer</a> to a third election within a year Monday as neither the embattled premier Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival appeared close to forming a government two days before a deadline.

Right-winger Netanyahu and former army general Benny Gantz, who leads the centrist Blue and White alliance, traded blame over the impasse ahead of Wednesday, the last opportunity to form a coalition and avoid fresh polls.

A new election would be a repeat of September's deadlocked vote, which in itself was a response to inconclusive April polls, and would further deepen the political turmoil in the Jewish state.

"We made offer after offer and got nothing. Nada," Netanyahu said Sunday at a conference organised by a conservative Israeli newspaper. "Blue and White did not budge a millimetre."

The two parties have been discussing forming a unity coalition but Gantz has rejected serving under Netanyahu, pointing to his indictment&nbsp;on a string of corruption charges.

"People think that acts of corruption can be forgiven because of one political circumstance or another," Gantz told the same conference. "The support of the people who want to protect the prime minister causes them to be blind."

Following the inconclusive elections in September, both Netanyahu and Gantz were given 28-day periods to try and negotiate a workable coalition in Israel's proportional political system.

Neither was able to get the support of more than half of the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament.

Down to the wire

President Reuven Rivlin then turned to parliament in the hope of avoiding an unpopular election.

But the 21-day period he granted parliament to find a suitable candidate expires at 11:59 pm&nbsp;on Wednesday.

If <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-foreign-minister-says-he-hopes-jeremy-corbyn-loses-british-election-266430">nothing changes by then</a>, new polls will be called for, most likely to be held in March.

Theoretically, any member of parliament could try and gain the necessary support, but Netanyahu and Gantz remain the only realistic contenders.

A last-minute deal could still be reached with the help of a kingmaker in a political system where such battles often go down to the wire.

Avigdor Lieberman, whose secular nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party has eight seats and holds the balance of power, could decide to throw his support behind either bloc.

He has so far refused to back either, accusing Gantz of being reliant on the support of Israel's Arab minority and Netanyahu of being at the whim of ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

He prefers a unity government, but weeks of talks have faltered.&nbsp;

Most Israeli media Monday reported little movement in the negotiations, setting the stage for new elections.

Watch: Israeli PM Netanyahu agrees to party elections

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-pm-netanyahu-agrees-for-party-election-264411/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Internal challenge

Netanyahu's political problems are intertwined with his legal woes,&nbsp;Israel's attorney general last month indicted him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

He strongly denies the allegations and accuses the country's&nbsp;media, police and prosecution of a witchhunt.

No date has yet been set for the beginning of the proceedings.

Under <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-occupation-costs-palestinian-economy-25-bn-a-year-un-265772">Israeli law Netanyahu</a>, the country's longest-serving prime minister can remain in office despite an indictment.

A new poll Monday by Israel's public broadcaster Kan found that Netanyahu's Likud and Blue and White would again be deadlocked if elections were held today.

But if they do take place, Netanyahu might face yet another battle,&nbsp;this time over the leadership of Likud.

Gideon Saar, a&nbsp;rival within the party, has called for a primary vote before any new election, though no decision has been taken yet on the idea.

On Sunday, both Saar and Netanyahu spoke at a closed-door meeting of Likud's central committee attended by around 800 people.

According to sources within the meeting cited by the Israeli press, Saar received a warm welcome from his supporters but shouts of "traitor" from Netanyahu backers.

Saar later posted a video on his Facebook page of supporters chanting his name at the event.

"The attempts to delegitimize and besmirch those who seek to run (against Netanyahu) are against the Likud's democratic spirit," he told the crowd.&nbsp;

"A democratic competition strengthens the movement."

Israel edged closer to a third election within a year Monday as neither the embattled premier Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival appeared close to forming a government two days before a deadline.

Israel edged closer to a third election within a year Monday as neither the embattled premier Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival appeared close to forming a government two days before a deadline. Right-winger Netanyahu and former army general Benny Gantz, who leads the centrist Blue and White alliance, traded blame over the impasse ahead of Wednesday, the last opportunity to form a coalition and avoid fresh polls. A new election would be a repeat of September's deadlocked vote, which in itself was a response to inconclusive April polls, and would further deepen the political turmoil in the Jewish state. "We made offer after offer and got nothing. Nada," Netanyahu said Sunday at a conference organised by a conservative Israeli newspaper. "Blue and White did not budge a millimetre." The two parties have been discussing forming a unity coalition but Gantz has rejected serving under Netanyahu, pointing to his indictment on a string of corruption charges. "People think that acts of corruption can be forgiven because of one political circumstance or another," Gantz told the same conference. "The support of the people who want to protect the prime minister causes them to be blind." Following the inconclusive elections in September, both Netanyahu and Gantz were given 28-day periods to try and negotiate a workable coalition in Israel's proportional political system. Neither was able to get the support of more than half of the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. Down to the wire President Reuven Rivlin then turned to parliament in the hope of avoiding an unpopular election. But the 21-day period he granted parliament to find a suitable candidate expires at 11:59 pm on Wednesday. If nothing changes by then, new polls will be called for, most likely to be held in March. Theoretically, any member of parliament could try and gain the necessary support, but Netanyahu and Gantz remain the only realistic contenders. A last-minute deal could still be reached with the help of a kingmaker in a political system where such battles often go down to the wire. Avigdor Lieberman, whose secular nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party has eight seats and holds the balance of power, could decide to throw his support behind either bloc. He has so far refused to back either, accusing Gantz of being reliant on the support of Israel's Arab minority and Netanyahu of being at the whim of ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. He prefers a unity government, but weeks of talks have faltered. Most Israeli media Monday reported little movement in the negotiations, setting the stage for new elections. Watch: Israeli PM Netanyahu agrees to party elections Internal challenge Netanyahu's political problems are intertwined with his legal woes, Israel's attorney general last month indicted him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He strongly denies the allegations and accuses the country's media, police and prosecution of a witchhunt. No date has yet been set for the beginning of the proceedings. Under Israeli law Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving prime minister can remain in office despite an indictment. A new poll Monday by Israel's public broadcaster Kan found that Netanyahu's Likud and Blue and White would again be deadlocked if elections were held today. But if they do take place, Netanyahu might face yet another battle, this time over the leadership of Likud. Gideon Saar, a rival within the party, has called for a primary vote before any new election, though no decision has been taken yet on the idea. On Sunday, both Saar and Netanyahu spoke at a closed-door meeting of Likud's central committee attended by around 800 people. According to sources within the meeting cited by the Israeli press, Saar received a warm welcome from his supporters but shouts of "traitor" from Netanyahu backers. Saar later posted a video on his Facebook page of supporters chanting his name at the event. "The attempts to delegitimize and besmirch those who seek to run (against Netanyahu) are against the Likud's democratic spirit," he told the crowd. "A democratic competition strengthens the movement."

Deadlocked Israel faces repeat vote with deadline nearing

A former World Bank economist, an ophthalmologist, a spy chief and a one-time warlord are among the 15 candidates vying for the presidency when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-commits-to-holding-presidential-polls-on-time-248549">Afghanistan</a> heads to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fraud-the-main-enemy-for-afghan-election-officials-250714">polls</a> this weekend.

Eighteen candidates are set to appear on the official ballot, although three have since dropped out and officials say there is not enough time to update the ballot papers.

The run-up to the poll has been chaotic, with little in the way of campaigning and large swathes of the country unable to vote due to Taliban threats.

Here is a rundown of the main candidates:

The incumbent

President Ashraf Ghani has variously been described as visionary, short-tempered, academic and overly demanding.

The former World Bank economist and finance minister have long nurtured dreams of rebuilding Afghanistan, and firmly believes he is one of the few people, perhaps the only one, capable of handling the responsibility.

Despite a lack of credible polling, he is widely perceived as the overall favourite, though he has made little headway against either the Taliban or deep-rooted government corruption.

And even though Ghani has made repeated overtures to the Taliban for peace, they continue to dismiss him as a US-controlled "puppet", while the Americans sidelined him from now-suspended talks with the militants.

If re-elected, Ghani will be given a mandate in any future Afghan-led peace process with the Taliban&nbsp;should they ever agree to such negotiations.

If talking fails, Ghani has vowed in the past to fight the militants "for generations" if necessary.

The doctor

Former ophthalmologist and resistance fighter Abdullah Abdullah is again on the cusp of becoming the president of Afghanistan after being defeated in two previous elections, both tarnished by widespread allegations of fraud.

Abdullah, once an eye doctor in Kabul, was a member of Burhanuddin Rabbani's government during Afghanistan's 1992-1996 civil war, and made a name for himself abroad for his fluent English and refined manner.

His formative political experience was as the right-hand man to Ahmad Shah Massoud, the celebrated Tajik commander who led resistance to the Soviet occupation in the 1980s and to the 1996-2001 Taliban regime, only to be assassinated by Al Qaeda two days before the 9/11 attacks.

Both Abdullah and Ghani ran in 2014, and both claimed they had won.

To avert a full-blown conflict, then US secretary of state John Kerry brokered a power-sharing deal between the two that left Abdullah as the country's chief executive.

Abdullah has been in an unending tug of war with Ghani ever since, with bitter infighting in their administration preventing major attempts at reforms and legislation, while the two avoid public appearances together due to deep-seated enmity.

If finally elected, Abdullah has pledged to prioritise peace along with vague promises to improve the economy.

The butcher of Kabul

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has lived many lives in a career forged in the crucible of Afghanistan's decades of war. Widely regarded as one of the most notorious warlords in Afghanistan's bloody history, he has also been an anti-Soviet commander, prime minister, and now a presidential contender.

He was accused of killing thousands during the 1992-1996 civil war and earned the nickname "the butcher of Kabul" for his brutal shelling of the capital.

After the 2001 US-led invasion, Washington designated him a terrorist, accusing him of colluding with Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

Hekmatyar made a surprising re-entry into the political mainstream in 2017 following a peace deal between his dormant Hezb-i-Islami militant group and Ghani.

If elected, Hekmatyar has vowed to oversee the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan once and for all.

The lion's brother

Ahmad Wali Massoud is hoping to cash in on the fame of his renowned elder brother Ahmad Shah Massoud, the so-called "Lion of Panjshir" who worked so closely with Abdullah.

Other than a stint as the Afghan ambassador to the United Kingdom, Massoud has little in the way of political experience and has largely spent the last two decades as his brother's keeper, running a foundation in his name.

But he remains popular with the country's Tajik ethnic group, especially powerbrokers from his native Panjshir province that has enjoyed an outsized role in the government since 2001. &nbsp;

Massoud, however, is believed to have little chance of winning and at best can hope for an appointment in any future government.

Hopefuls

The 12 other candidates encompass a wide range of personalities, including former communists and a spy chief. &nbsp;

Rahmatullah Nabil is hoping his security credentials will woo voters after twice serving as the head of the Afghan intelligence agency.

And former communist party member Nur ul-Haq Ulumi -- who also briefly served as an interior minister in 2015 -- is in the race but stands little chance of making waves.

A former World Bank economist, an ophthalmologist, a spy chief and a one-time warlord are among the 15 candidates vying for the presidency when Afghanistan heads to the polls this weekend.

A former World Bank economist, an ophthalmologist, a spy chief and a one-time warlord are among the 15 candidates vying for the presidency when Afghanistan heads to the polls this weekend. Eighteen candidates are set to appear on the official ballot, although three have since dropped out and officials say there is not enough time to update the ballot papers. The run-up to the poll has been chaotic, with little in the way of campaigning and large swathes of the country unable to vote due to Taliban threats. Here is a rundown of the main candidates: The incumbent President Ashraf Ghani has variously been described as visionary, short-tempered, academic and overly demanding. The former World Bank economist and finance minister have long nurtured dreams of rebuilding Afghanistan, and firmly believes he is one of the few people, perhaps the only one, capable of handling the responsibility. Despite a lack of credible polling, he is widely perceived as the overall favourite, though he has made little headway against either the Taliban or deep-rooted government corruption. And even though Ghani has made repeated overtures to the Taliban for peace, they continue to dismiss him as a US-controlled "puppet", while the Americans sidelined him from now-suspended talks with the militants. If re-elected, Ghani will be given a mandate in any future Afghan-led peace process with the Taliban should they ever agree to such negotiations. If talking fails, Ghani has vowed in the past to fight the militants "for generations" if necessary. The doctor Former ophthalmologist and resistance fighter Abdullah Abdullah is again on the cusp of becoming the president of Afghanistan after being defeated in two previous elections, both tarnished by widespread allegations of fraud. Abdullah, once an eye doctor in Kabul, was a member of Burhanuddin Rabbani's government during Afghanistan's 1992-1996 civil war, and made a name for himself abroad for his fluent English and refined manner. His formative political experience was as the right-hand man to Ahmad Shah Massoud, the celebrated Tajik commander who led resistance to the Soviet occupation in the 1980s and to the 1996-2001 Taliban regime, only to be assassinated by Al Qaeda two days before the 9/11 attacks. Both Abdullah and Ghani ran in 2014, and both claimed they had won. To avert a full-blown conflict, then US secretary of state John Kerry brokered a power-sharing deal between the two that left Abdullah as the country's chief executive. Abdullah has been in an unending tug of war with Ghani ever since, with bitter infighting in their administration preventing major attempts at reforms and legislation, while the two avoid public appearances together due to deep-seated enmity. If finally elected, Abdullah has pledged to prioritise peace along with vague promises to improve the economy. The butcher of Kabul Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has lived many lives in a career forged in the crucible of Afghanistan's decades of war. Widely regarded as one of the most notorious warlords in Afghanistan's bloody history, he has also been an anti-Soviet commander, prime minister, and now a presidential contender. He was accused of killing thousands during the 1992-1996 civil war and earned the nickname "the butcher of Kabul" for his brutal shelling of the capital. After the 2001 US-led invasion, Washington designated him a terrorist, accusing him of colluding with Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. Hekmatyar made a surprising re-entry into the political mainstream in 2017 following a peace deal between his dormant Hezb-i-Islami militant group and Ghani. If elected, Hekmatyar has vowed to oversee the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan once and for all. The lion's brother Ahmad Wali Massoud is hoping to cash in on the fame of his renowned elder brother Ahmad Shah Massoud, the so-called "Lion of Panjshir" who worked so closely with Abdullah. Other than a stint as the Afghan ambassador to the United Kingdom, Massoud has little in the way of political experience and has largely spent the last two decades as his brother's keeper, running a foundation in his name. But he remains popular with the country's Tajik ethnic group, especially powerbrokers from his native Panjshir province that has enjoyed an outsized role in the government since 2001. Massoud, however, is believed to have little chance of winning and at best can hope for an appointment in any future government. Hopefuls The 12 other candidates encompass a wide range of personalities, including former communists and a spy chief. Rahmatullah Nabil is hoping his security credentials will woo voters after twice serving as the head of the Afghan intelligence agency. And former communist party member Nur ul-Haq Ulumi -- who also briefly served as an interior minister in 2015 -- is in the race but stands little chance of making waves.

The economist and the eye doctor: The Afghan presidential hopefuls

Australia government promises to hold vote on aboriginal rights

Australia to vote landmark vote

Belgium was stunned on Monday by a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belgium-votes-with-expected-surge-by-greens-far-right-221668/amp">Flemish separatist surge</a> in national elections that will make forming a new federal&nbsp;government&nbsp;a tortuous task as the country's French-speaking region moved further to the left.

Belgium, long an awkward marriage between its Dutch- and French-speaking communities, now risks a political impasse as the results in Sunday's federal parliamentary&nbsp;vote&nbsp;deepened a split between its more Germanic north and Latin south.

French-speaking daily Le Soir splashed "Two&nbsp;Belgium" on its front page while Dutch-speaking De Morgen ran with "Flanders radicalises", saying it had been a "black Sunday"&nbsp;after&nbsp;the anti-immigrant Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) surged to become the second largest party in wealthy Flanders.

In Wallonia, the economically weaker southern region, the Greens and the hard left PTB party saw their support increase.

"I think it's going to be very difficult (to form a federal&nbsp;government)," said Bob Deleeck, a 43-year-old&nbsp;voter. "You see that this is&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries under&nbsp;one&nbsp;flag. They should make it a confederation," he said in central Brussels.

Including the more moderate N-VA, Flemish separatists won 43 seats in the 150-seat federal parliament as the Vlaams Belang rose to 18 from three, while more traditional centre-left and centre-right parties lost seats.

Polls have shown most Belgians do not want their country, a member of the eurozone, to split up. But pressure from separatists could embolden other regions in Europe that want to break away - such as Catalonia from Spain or Scotland from Britain, political commentators say.

541 DAYS - THE RECORD TO BREAK

Belgium effectively runs&nbsp;two&nbsp;separate elections in its Dutch and French-speaking regions, with no national parties,&nbsp;after&nbsp;which it somehow has to weld together a federal government from both sides of the linguistic divide.

The Vlaams Belang has always been excluded by mainstream parties at all levels of&nbsp;government&nbsp;- an arrangement dubbed the "cordon sanitaire".

N-VA leader Bart De Wever asked whether he was open to a possible coalition with Vlaams Belang in Flanders, declined to give a direct reply but said he would have to speak to the party, given its second place in the&nbsp;vote.

He also expressed caution about whether a national&nbsp;government&nbsp;could be formed.

"Wallonia has moved to the left, more to the left than ever before. The difference between Flanders and Wallonia has never been so great," he said, adding the country should look into a further devolution of powers to the regions.

Prime Minister Charles Michel, whose French-speaking liberal MR party lost seats on Sunday, met the Belgian king on Monday as part of consultations to allow the palace to designate a political leader with the best chance of forming a&nbsp;government.

The results suggest Michel, who has been running the country of 11 million people in a caretaker capacity since December when the N-VA quit his&nbsp;government, could face many more months in that role as party leaders try to form a new coalition.

In 2010, that task took a world record 541 days until a Socialist prime minister finally took office.

"We knew it would be difficult and indeed it is difficult and it is even more difficult as you see almost no (French-speaking) party wants to govern with the N-VA," said ING economist Philippe Ledent.

Belgium was stunned on Monday by a Flemish separatist surge in national elections that will make forming a new federal government a tortuous task as the country's French-speaking region moved further to the left.

Belgium was stunned on Monday by a Flemish separatist surge in national elections that will make forming a new federal government a tortuous task as the country's French-speaking region moved further to the left. Belgium, long an awkward marriage between its Dutch- and French-speaking communities, now risks a political impasse as the results in Sunday's federal parliamentary vote deepened a split between its more Germanic north and Latin south. French-speaking daily Le Soir splashed "Two Belgium" on its front page while Dutch-speaking De Morgen ran with "Flanders radicalises", saying it had been a "black Sunday" after the anti-immigrant Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) surged to become the second largest party in wealthy Flanders. In Wallonia, the economically weaker southern region, the Greens and the hard left PTB party saw their support increase. "I think it's going to be very difficult (to form a federal government)," said Bob Deleeck, a 43-year-old voter. "You see that this is two countries under one flag. They should make it a confederation," he said in central Brussels. Including the more moderate N-VA, Flemish separatists won 43 seats in the 150-seat federal parliament as the Vlaams Belang rose to 18 from three, while more traditional centre-left and centre-right parties lost seats. Polls have shown most Belgians do not want their country, a member of the eurozone, to split up. But pressure from separatists could embolden other regions in Europe that want to break away - such as Catalonia from Spain or Scotland from Britain, political commentators say. 541 DAYS - THE RECORD TO BREAK Belgium effectively runs two separate elections in its Dutch and French-speaking regions, with no national parties, after which it somehow has to weld together a federal government from both sides of the linguistic divide. The Vlaams Belang has always been excluded by mainstream parties at all levels of government - an arrangement dubbed the "cordon sanitaire". N-VA leader Bart De Wever asked whether he was open to a possible coalition with Vlaams Belang in Flanders, declined to give a direct reply but said he would have to speak to the party, given its second place in the vote. He also expressed caution about whether a national government could be formed. "Wallonia has moved to the left, more to the left than ever before. The difference between Flanders and Wallonia has never been so great," he said, adding the country should look into a further devolution of powers to the regions. Prime Minister Charles Michel, whose French-speaking liberal MR party lost seats on Sunday, met the Belgian king on Monday as part of consultations to allow the palace to designate a political leader with the best chance of forming a government. The results suggest Michel, who has been running the country of 11 million people in a caretaker capacity since December when the N-VA quit his government, could face many more months in that role as party leaders try to form a new coalition. In 2010, that task took a world record 541 days until a Socialist prime minister finally took office. "We knew it would be difficult and indeed it is difficult and it is even more difficult as you see almost no (French-speaking) party wants to govern with the N-VA," said ING economist Philippe Ledent.

'Under one flag': Two Belgiums seek one government after European Union vote

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar with his wife Anjali Tendulkar cast their votes at a booth in Mumbai. Their son Arjun Tendulkar, a budding left-arm pacer, and daughter Sara voted for the first time.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar with wife Anjali cast their votes in Mumbai

British MPs will try again <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-vote-against-all-alternative-brexit-options-206122">to chart a new Brexit path</a> on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for a third time, but the EU warned its patience was wearing thin.

Less than two weeks before Britain risks crashing out of the European Union, MPs will hold a second round of votes on various options to try to break the political deadlock.

But any attempt to force May to accept a closer relationship with the EU risks splitting the government, and there is widespread speculation she might try one last time to get her deal passed this week.

European Union leaders have called an emergency summit on April 10 and have warned that unless Britain sets out what it wants to do, it risks severing ties with its largest trading bloc two days later with no deal at all.

"With our British friends we have had a lot of patience, but even patience is running out," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Italian public TV channel Rai 1 on Sunday.

Softer type of Brexit 
Britain voted by 52 percent to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but the process has been mired in divisions over the terms of the divorce and what kind of future ties to seek.

May struck a divorce deal with the EU last November, but it has been repeatedly rejected by MPs, the last time on Friday — even after she promised to resign if her rebellious Conservative colleagues helped push the deal through.

The impasse has forced May to postpone Britain's original exit day from March 29, but she said it would be "unacceptable" for a further delay beyond European Parliament elections held from May 23 to May 26.

Frustrated with her approach, MPs in the House of Commons last week voted to give themselves powers to find an alternative strategy, by holding a series of "indicative votes" on various options.

No single plan won a majority in the first round but MPs hope to whittle down the proposals on Monday evening, with voting starting at 8.00 pm (1900 GMT), and another day of debate is scheduled for this Wednesday.

The two most popular options last week were a new EU-UK customs union or a public vote on any agreed deal. There were a large number of abstentions on another widely discussed option, based on Norway's membership of the single market.

In an interview with the BBC released Monday, Chief Whip Julian Smith — the man responsible for enforcing discipline among May's MPs and ministers — suggested that a closer relationship with the EU was "inevitable".

The 2017 election where May lost her parliamentary majority meant "this would be inevitably a kind of softer type of Brexit", he said.

He also denounced the behaviour of May's own ministers, who he said were trying to undermine her. "This is I think the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history," he said.

While some pro-European members of May's cabinet might support a customs union, she herself is opposed and it threatens mass rebellion among the rest of her ministers.

Brexit-supporting minister Andrea Leadsom has reportedly organised a letter signed by 170 Conservative MPs including 10 cabinet ministers, demanding a swift Brexit, with or without a deal.

General election threat 
The votes by MPs are not legally binding but carry political weight, and the government fears they may lead to legislation that would force May's hand.

"I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House," she said last week. Speculation is growing that the only way out may be a general election.

But many Conservative MPs oppose the idea, and polling on Sunday put Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party ahead.

Conservative deputy chairman James Cleverly told Sky News: "I don't think an election would solve anything.&nbsp;

"Time is of the essence, we have got Brexit to deliver. We don't want to add any more unnecessary delay."

British MPs will try again to chart a new Brexit path on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for a third time, but the EU warned its patience was wearing thin.

British MPs will try again to chart a new Brexit path on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for a third time, but the EU warned its patience was wearing thin. Less than two weeks before Britain risks crashing out of the European Union, MPs will hold a second round of votes on various options to try to break the political deadlock. But any attempt to force May to accept a closer relationship with the EU risks splitting the government, and there is widespread speculation she might try one last time to get her deal passed this week. European Union leaders have called an emergency summit on April 10 and have warned that unless Britain sets out what it wants to do, it risks severing ties with its largest trading bloc two days later with no deal at all. "With our British friends we have had a lot of patience, but even patience is running out," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Italian public TV channel Rai 1 on Sunday. Softer type of Brexit Britain voted by 52 percent to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but the process has been mired in divisions over the terms of the divorce and what kind of future ties to seek. May struck a divorce deal with the EU last November, but it has been repeatedly rejected by MPs, the last time on Friday — even after she promised to resign if her rebellious Conservative colleagues helped push the deal through. The impasse has forced May to postpone Britain's original exit day from March 29, but she said it would be "unacceptable" for a further delay beyond European Parliament elections held from May 23 to May 26. Frustrated with her approach, MPs in the House of Commons last week voted to give themselves powers to find an alternative strategy, by holding a series of "indicative votes" on various options. No single plan won a majority in the first round but MPs hope to whittle down the proposals on Monday evening, with voting starting at 8.00 pm (1900 GMT), and another day of debate is scheduled for this Wednesday. The two most popular options last week were a new EU-UK customs union or a public vote on any agreed deal. There were a large number of abstentions on another widely discussed option, based on Norway's membership of the single market. In an interview with the BBC released Monday, Chief Whip Julian Smith — the man responsible for enforcing discipline among May's MPs and ministers — suggested that a closer relationship with the EU was "inevitable". The 2017 election where May lost her parliamentary majority meant "this would be inevitably a kind of softer type of Brexit", he said. He also denounced the behaviour of May's own ministers, who he said were trying to undermine her. "This is I think the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history," he said. While some pro-European members of May's cabinet might support a customs union, she herself is opposed and it threatens mass rebellion among the rest of her ministers. Brexit-supporting minister Andrea Leadsom has reportedly organised a letter signed by 170 Conservative MPs including 10 cabinet ministers, demanding a swift Brexit, with or without a deal. General election threat The votes by MPs are not legally binding but carry political weight, and the government fears they may lead to legislation that would force May's hand. "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House," she said last week. Speculation is growing that the only way out may be a general election. But many Conservative MPs oppose the idea, and polling on Sunday put Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party ahead. Conservative deputy chairman James Cleverly told Sky News: "I don't think an election would solve anything. "Time is of the essence, we have got Brexit to deliver. We don't want to add any more unnecessary delay."

British MPs to vote yet again tonight on various Brexit options

UK Parliament votes on Brexit again

Another crucial week for Brexit, It's time for another vote

The British parliament was due to vote on Thursday on seeking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-leader-donald-tusk-backs-long-delay-if-britain-rethinks-brexit-203291">a last-minute Brexit delay</a>, while Prime Minister Theresa May piled renewed pressure on reluctant lawmakers to back her EU divorce deal at the third time of asking.

Two weeks before Britain is due to leave the European Union, May is using the threat of a long extension to the Brexit deadline to push eurosceptic rebels in her Conservative Party to finally back her deal. That vote could come next week.

May's authority hit an all-time low this week after a series of parliamentary defeats and rebellions, but finance minister Philip Hammond said her plan was back on the agenda.

That plan, struck by May after two-and-a-half years of negotiations with the EU, was defeated heavily in parliament in January and again on Tuesday.

"Quite a number of colleagues changed their mind on this issue between the January vote and the vote earlier this week," Hammond told Sky News.

"It's clear that the House of Commons has to find a consensus around something, and if it isn't the prime minister's deal I think it is likely to be something which is much less to the taste of those on the hard Brexit wing of my party."

Britons voted by 52-48 percent in a 2016 referendum to leave the EU, a decision that has divided the main political parties and exposed deep rifts in British society.

Although parliament on Wednesday voted against the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, the default position if nothing else is agreed remains that Britain will exit without a transition arrangement on March 29, a scenario business leaders warn would bring chaos to markets and supply chains. Brexit supporters say in the longer term it would allow Britain to thrive and forge trade deals across the world.

May will put her deal to another vote if the circumstances are right, her spokesman said.

"If it was felt that it were worthwhile to bring back a new vote, then that's what we would do. But that's a decision we would have to judge on circumstances at the time," he said.

European Union leaders meeting next week will consider pressing Britain to delay Brexit by at least a year to find a way through its domestic deadlock, an EU official said.

"I will appeal to the EU27 to be open to a long extension if the UK finds it necessary to rethink its Brexit strategy and build consensus around it," European Council President Donald Tusk said, referring to EU leaders who will meet May next Thursday and must agree to any extension.

But there was no sign the prospect of a long delay - which could lead to Britain having closer ties to the EU than planned by May or even a second Brexit referendum - was causing a major shift in the views of pro-Brexit lawmakers who have so far thwarted May.

Andrew Bridgen, a eurosceptic from May's Conservative Party accused her of pursuing a "scorched earth" policy of destroying all other Brexit options to leave lawmakers with a choice between her deal and a delay of a year or more.

Another eurosceptic Conservative lawmaker said he would not vote for her deal, even if there was a risk of a long Brexit delay. "If it's a rancid deal, why vote for it?" Mark Francois told BBC television.

BREXIT DAY

May also needs to win over the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) that props up her minority government in parliament and which has so far refused to back her plan.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said the party was working with the government to try to find a way of leaving the EU with a deal.

On Wednesday, parliament rejected leaving the EU without a deal, paving the way for Thursday's vote that could delay Brexit until at least the end of June.

While the motion approved by parliament has no legal force - March 29 remains the day enshrined in law that Britain will leave the EU - and ultimately may not prevent a no-deal exit, it carries considerable political force.

Sterling surged, hitting nine-month highs against the U.S. dollar and a nearly two-year high against the euro, as investors saw less chance of Britain leaving the EU without a transition deal to smooth its exit. It lost some of those gains on Thursday.

Although May supported the idea of ruling out a no-deal Brexit in the short term, she suffered another humiliation when - in an evening of parliamentary mayhem on Wednesday - four of her ministers disobeyed her by abstaining from a vote on an amendment which ruled out a no-deal Brexit in any circumstances. The amendment was passed by parliament.

Italy said it would support a delay if Britain asked for one, a view also backed by an influential member of the European Parliament. But the EU would not change the deal it has agreed with London during any extension or negotiate future ties, said Danuta Hubner, who sits on a panel dealing with Brexit in the European Parliament.

Lawmakers will vote on up to four amendments to May's proposed Brexit delay on Thursday, one of which calls for a second referendum on leaving the EU.

Another, proposed by the opposition Labour Party, calls for May to use a Brexit delay to give parliament time "to find a majority for a different approach".

A third would allow lawmakers to force a discussion of alternative Brexit plans. The fourth opposes the government bringing May's deal back unchanged for a third time.

The British parliament was due to vote on Thursday on seeking a last-minute Brexit delay, while Prime Minister Theresa May piled renewed pressure on reluctant lawmakers to back her EU divorce deal at the third time of asking.

The British parliament was due to vote on Thursday on seeking a last-minute Brexit delay, while Prime Minister Theresa May piled renewed pressure on reluctant lawmakers to back her EU divorce deal at the third time of asking. Two weeks before Britain is due to leave the European Union, May is using the threat of a long extension to the Brexit deadline to push eurosceptic rebels in her Conservative Party to finally back her deal. That vote could come next week. May's authority hit an all-time low this week after a series of parliamentary defeats and rebellions, but finance minister Philip Hammond said her plan was back on the agenda. That plan, struck by May after two-and-a-half years of negotiations with the EU, was defeated heavily in parliament in January and again on Tuesday. "Quite a number of colleagues changed their mind on this issue between the January vote and the vote earlier this week," Hammond told Sky News. "It's clear that the House of Commons has to find a consensus around something, and if it isn't the prime minister's deal I think it is likely to be something which is much less to the taste of those on the hard Brexit wing of my party." Britons voted by 52-48 percent in a 2016 referendum to leave the EU, a decision that has divided the main political parties and exposed deep rifts in British society. Although parliament on Wednesday voted against the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, the default position if nothing else is agreed remains that Britain will exit without a transition arrangement on March 29, a scenario business leaders warn would bring chaos to markets and supply chains. Brexit supporters say in the longer term it would allow Britain to thrive and forge trade deals across the world. May will put her deal to another vote if the circumstances are right, her spokesman said. "If it was felt that it were worthwhile to bring back a new vote, then that's what we would do. But that's a decision we would have to judge on circumstances at the time," he said. European Union leaders meeting next week will consider pressing Britain to delay Brexit by at least a year to find a way through its domestic deadlock, an EU official said. "I will appeal to the EU27 to be open to a long extension if the UK finds it necessary to rethink its Brexit strategy and build consensus around it," European Council President Donald Tusk said, referring to EU leaders who will meet May next Thursday and must agree to any extension. But there was no sign the prospect of a long delay - which could lead to Britain having closer ties to the EU than planned by May or even a second Brexit referendum - was causing a major shift in the views of pro-Brexit lawmakers who have so far thwarted May. Andrew Bridgen, a eurosceptic from May's Conservative Party accused her of pursuing a "scorched earth" policy of destroying all other Brexit options to leave lawmakers with a choice between her deal and a delay of a year or more. Another eurosceptic Conservative lawmaker said he would not vote for her deal, even if there was a risk of a long Brexit delay. "If it's a rancid deal, why vote for it?" Mark Francois told BBC television. BREXIT DAY May also needs to win over the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) that props up her minority government in parliament and which has so far refused to back her plan. DUP leader Arlene Foster said the party was working with the government to try to find a way of leaving the EU with a deal. On Wednesday, parliament rejected leaving the EU without a deal, paving the way for Thursday's vote that could delay Brexit until at least the end of June. While the motion approved by parliament has no legal force - March 29 remains the day enshrined in law that Britain will leave the EU - and ultimately may not prevent a no-deal exit, it carries considerable political force. Sterling surged, hitting nine-month highs against the U.S. dollar and a nearly two-year high against the euro, as investors saw less chance of Britain leaving the EU without a transition deal to smooth its exit. It lost some of those gains on Thursday. Although May supported the idea of ruling out a no-deal Brexit in the short term, she suffered another humiliation when - in an evening of parliamentary mayhem on Wednesday - four of her ministers disobeyed her by abstaining from a vote on an amendment which ruled out a no-deal Brexit in any circumstances. The amendment was passed by parliament. Italy said it would support a delay if Britain asked for one, a view also backed by an influential member of the European Parliament. But the EU would not change the deal it has agreed with London during any extension or negotiate future ties, said Danuta Hubner, who sits on a panel dealing with Brexit in the European Parliament. Lawmakers will vote on up to four amendments to May's proposed Brexit delay on Thursday, one of which calls for a second referendum on leaving the EU. Another, proposed by the opposition Labour Party, calls for May to use a Brexit delay to give parliament time "to find a majority for a different approach". A third would allow lawmakers to force a discussion of alternative Brexit plans. The fourth opposes the government bringing May's deal back unchanged for a third time.

Third vote in 3rd day: UK parliament to vote today on delaying Brexit

At a time when candidates shower booze and cash on voters in order to swing them in their&nbsp;favour, an&nbsp;independent candidate in Telangana has adopted a unique approach to woo the voters.

The 45-year-old Akula Hanmandloo, who is contesting as an independent candidate for Korutla assembly seat in Telangana, is giving a copy of a resignation letter and a slipper to voters even as he pleads with folded hands and says, ''This is copy of my resignation letter and a slipper. If you elect me I will do any work ( public work ) you wish. In case I don't do it you can send this letter to Telangana Assembly Speaker and along with that you can hit me with this slipper.''

Akula Hanmandloo has real estate business and has some agricultural land in and around Korutla town in Karimnagar district of Telangana.&nbsp;

A father of three children, Hanmandloo says he, like many voters, is vexed with empty and false promises of political leaders who, he says, say a lot before elections.&nbsp;

''Election after election people continue to suffer because the leaders who promise everything before elections are not to be seen or heard till the next elections. I want to set an example. I want to bring in change if I am elected,'' says Hanmandloo while speaking to Zee Media.

For Hanmandloo, this is not his first tryst with elections. Fifteen years back he unsuccessfully contested as corporator in local municipal elections in Korutla. His present campaigning is attracting a lot of attention in Korutla assembly constituency which has little more than two lakh voters. ''We have seen vote for note ( money ). But this is different. He is giving us a slipper and a resignation letter. What we expect from any candidate is honesty and sincerity and zeal to do development,'' opines Eligeti Krishna, a voter and resident of Korutla town.

Along with door to door campaign, Hanmandloo is also using social media to spread the message. He has a dedicated Facebook page wherein one can connect with him on this issue.

Hanmandloo is pitted against Congress' Narsing Rao and Telangana Rashtra Samithi's Vidyasagar Rao -- both heavyweights in the area.&nbsp;

''I dream of Rama Rajya wherein people are happy and prosperous and if I win I will live up to my promise,'' assures Hanmandloo.

The Assembly Elections for 119 seats for Telangana will be held on December 7.

At a time when candidates shower booze and cash on voters in order to swing them in their favour, an independent candidate in Telangana has adopted a unique approach to woo the voters.

At a time when candidates shower booze and cash on voters in order to swing them in their favour, an independent candidate in Telangana has adopted a unique approach to woo the voters. The 45-year-old Akula Hanmandloo, who is contesting as an independent candidate for Korutla assembly seat in Telangana, is giving a copy of a resignation letter and a slipper to voters even as he pleads with folded hands and says, ''This is copy of my resignation letter and a slipper. If you elect me I will do any work ( public work ) you wish. In case I don't do it you can send this letter to Telangana Assembly Speaker and along with that you can hit me with this slipper.'' Akula Hanmandloo has real estate business and has some agricultural land in and around Korutla town in Karimnagar district of Telangana. A father of three children, Hanmandloo says he, like many voters, is vexed with empty and false promises of political leaders who, he says, say a lot before elections. ''Election after election people continue to suffer because the leaders who promise everything before elections are not to be seen or heard till the next elections. I want to set an example. I want to bring in change if I am elected,'' says Hanmandloo while speaking to Zee Media. For Hanmandloo, this is not his first tryst with elections. Fifteen years back he unsuccessfully contested as corporator in local municipal elections in Korutla. His present campaigning is attracting a lot of attention in Korutla assembly constituency which has little more than two lakh voters. ''We have seen vote for note ( money ). But this is different. He is giving us a slipper and a resignation letter. What we expect from any candidate is honesty and sincerity and zeal to do development,'' opines Eligeti Krishna, a voter and resident of Korutla town. Along with door to door campaign, Hanmandloo is also using social media to spread the message. He has a dedicated Facebook page wherein one can connect with him on this issue. Hanmandloo is pitted against Congress' Narsing Rao and Telangana Rashtra Samithi's Vidyasagar Rao -- both heavyweights in the area. ''I dream of Rama Rajya wherein people are happy and prosperous and if I win I will live up to my promise,'' assures Hanmandloo. The Assembly Elections for 119 seats for Telangana will be held on December 7.

Meet the Telangana candidate who seeks votes with slipper and resignation letter

The French Pacific islands of New Caledonia began voting Sunday on whether to become an independent nation, in a closely-watched test of support for France in one of its many territories scattered around the globe.&nbsp;

Some 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) from the French mainland, New Caledonia is home to a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel -- a vital electronics component -- and is a strategic foothold for France in the Pacific.

Voting in New Caledonia's 284 polling stations opened at 8;00 am local time on Sunday (2100 GMT Saturday) and was to end at 6:00 pm, with results expected Sunday evening.

Some 175,000 people are eligible to vote in the remote islands fringed by spectacular beaches, with opinion polls predicting a large majority in favour of staying French.

But there are fears the referendum could inflame tensions between indigenous Kanak people, who tend to favour independence, and the white population, which boiled over into deadly violence in the 1980s.

The quasi-civil war claimed more than 70 lives. It led to the 1998 Noumea Accord which paved the way for the steady devolution of powers as well as Sunday's referendum.&nbsp;

On Friday, separatist activists drove along Noumea's waterfront in a convoy of around 20 cars, waving the Kanak flag to cries of "Kanaky" -- their name for New Caledonia.

Separatists have urged Kanak voters to choose self-determination, throwing off the shackles of "colonial" authorities in Paris.

But indigenous people make up less than 50 percent of the electorate and some Kanaks back staying part of France, not least due to the 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) the French state hands to the islands every year.

Going it alone, "I'm not sure we have all the assets we'd need to succeed," said Marc Gnipate, a 62-year-old pensioner.

Polls suggest 63 to 75 percent of voters will opt against breaking away from France, which claimed the islands in 1853 and once used them as a penal colony.

Under the 1998 deal, in the event of a "no" vote two further referendums on independence can still be held before 2022.

Balancing China in the Pacific?&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to give a televised address after the results at 1200 GMT (11.00 pm Noumea time) on Sunday.&nbsp;

He has largely stayed clear of the campaign, but declared during a visit to Noumea in May that "France would be less beautiful without New Caledonia".

Macron also raised concerns over increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific, where Beijing has invested heavily in Vanuatu, a territory which broke from France and Britain in 1980.

Accusing the US of "turning its back on the region in recent months", Macron said China was "building its hegemony step by step" in the Pacific -- suggesting an independent New Caledonia could provide Beijing's next foothold.

Australia has also expressed concerns about China's activities in neighbouring island states -- which the Lowy Institute think-tank estimates received US $1.78 billion in aid from Beijing from 2006-16 -- boosting its own spending in response.

While Australia officially remains neutral on New Caledonia's independence vote, Canberra's former consul-general in Noumea Denise Fisher said it appreciated the stability France's Pacific presence offered in the face of China's rise.

"It's been fortunate for Australia to have a well-resourced Western ally such as France engaged in the region, particularly at a time when there's a lot of geo-strategic change and new players like China coming into the region," she told the ABC.

"There are a few uncertainties arising now."

Home to 269,000 people, New Caledonia is one of a handful of French island outposts -- a legacy of the country's 19th-century empire -- which retain strategic importance.

The referendum will be a test of the appeal of remaining part of France for such far-flung territories, which are heavily dependent on state handouts but where many feel overlooked by Paris.

Both French Guiana in South America and the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte have been rocked since last year by major protests over living standards and perceived neglect.

In New Caledonia, there are fears that the vote could expose tensions over stark inequalities which persist despite government efforts to redress the economic balance in favour of Kanaks.&nbsp;

"In Noumea people earn a salary, but in the tribes no one earns a salary or any kind of monetary income," said veteran Kanak activist Elie Poigoune.

The Kanak community is plagued by high school dropout rates, chronic unemployment and poor housing conditions.

Gangs of delinquent youths have become increasingly common on the streets and both sides fear violence among them if the "no" vote prevails.

The French Pacific islands of New Caledonia began voting Sunday on whether to become an independent nation, in a closely-watched test of support for France in one of its many territories scattered around the globe.

The French Pacific islands of New Caledonia began voting Sunday on whether to become an independent nation, in a closely-watched test of support for France in one of its many territories scattered around the globe. Some 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) from the French mainland, New Caledonia is home to a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel -- a vital electronics component -- and is a strategic foothold for France in the Pacific. Voting in New Caledonia's 284 polling stations opened at 8;00 am local time on Sunday (2100 GMT Saturday) and was to end at 6:00 pm, with results expected Sunday evening. Some 175,000 people are eligible to vote in the remote islands fringed by spectacular beaches, with opinion polls predicting a large majority in favour of staying French. But there are fears the referendum could inflame tensions between indigenous Kanak people, who tend to favour independence, and the white population, which boiled over into deadly violence in the 1980s. The quasi-civil war claimed more than 70 lives. It led to the 1998 Noumea Accord which paved the way for the steady devolution of powers as well as Sunday's referendum. On Friday, separatist activists drove along Noumea's waterfront in a convoy of around 20 cars, waving the Kanak flag to cries of "Kanaky" -- their name for New Caledonia. Separatists have urged Kanak voters to choose self-determination, throwing off the shackles of "colonial" authorities in Paris. But indigenous people make up less than 50 percent of the electorate and some Kanaks back staying part of France, not least due to the 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) the French state hands to the islands every year. Going it alone, "I'm not sure we have all the assets we'd need to succeed," said Marc Gnipate, a 62-year-old pensioner. Polls suggest 63 to 75 percent of voters will opt against breaking away from France, which claimed the islands in 1853 and once used them as a penal colony. Under the 1998 deal, in the event of a "no" vote two further referendums on independence can still be held before 2022. Balancing China in the Pacific? French President Emmanuel Macron is set to give a televised address after the results at 1200 GMT (11.00 pm Noumea time) on Sunday. He has largely stayed clear of the campaign, but declared during a visit to Noumea in May that "France would be less beautiful without New Caledonia". Macron also raised concerns over increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific, where Beijing has invested heavily in Vanuatu, a territory which broke from France and Britain in 1980. Accusing the US of "turning its back on the region in recent months", Macron said China was "building its hegemony step by step" in the Pacific -- suggesting an independent New Caledonia could provide Beijing's next foothold. Australia has also expressed concerns about China's activities in neighbouring island states -- which the Lowy Institute think-tank estimates received US $1.78 billion in aid from Beijing from 2006-16 -- boosting its own spending in response. While Australia officially remains neutral on New Caledonia's independence vote, Canberra's former consul-general in Noumea Denise Fisher said it appreciated the stability France's Pacific presence offered in the face of China's rise. "It's been fortunate for Australia to have a well-resourced Western ally such as France engaged in the region, particularly at a time when there's a lot of geo-strategic change and new players like China coming into the region," she told the ABC. "There are a few uncertainties arising now." Home to 269,000 people, New Caledonia is one of a handful of French island outposts -- a legacy of the country's 19th-century empire -- which retain strategic importance. The referendum will be a test of the appeal of remaining part of France for such far-flung territories, which are heavily dependent on state handouts but where many feel overlooked by Paris. Both French Guiana in South America and the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte have been rocked since last year by major protests over living standards and perceived neglect. In New Caledonia, there are fears that the vote could expose tensions over stark inequalities which persist despite government efforts to redress the economic balance in favour of Kanaks. "In Noumea people earn a salary, but in the tribes no one earns a salary or any kind of monetary income," said veteran Kanak activist Elie Poigoune. The Kanak community is plagued by high school dropout rates, chronic unemployment and poor housing conditions. Gangs of delinquent youths have become increasingly common on the streets and both sides fear violence among them if the "no" vote prevails.

New Caledonia votes on independence from France

Drug dealers, sexual predators, "poisonous snakes" blamed for all the ills plaguing US society: President Donald Trump has cast Latino immigrants as public enemy numero uno in his rallies and tweets in the run-up to November 6.

But&nbsp;oddly enough, millions of Hispanic voters do not appear set on taking revenge at the polls: no surveys indicate a Latino wave to turf Republicans out of Congress come Tuesday.

What's going on? According to experts, Trump's repeated insults and bullying haven't had the effect of pushing Latinos toward the Democrat party -- rather they have driven them from voting at all.

"In 2016 many analysts had pointed to then-candidate Trump's comments on Mexican immigrants and Hispanics as perhaps being a motivator to get Latinos to the polls," said Mark Hugo Lopez, director of global migration and demography research at Pew Research Center.&nbsp; But in reality, he says, "the turnout fell."

And 30 per cent of all Hispanics ended up in fact voting for Trump.&nbsp;

There are 29 million Hispanics registered to vote in the midterm elections, where all 435 seats from the House of Representatives are up for grabs, one-third of the Senate, the governors of 36 states and numerous local officials including judges, sheriffs and attorneys general.

Burned by their failures to accurately predict the 2016 presidential vote, many analysts are striking a more cautious note.

"It remains to be seen what will happen this year. Latinos may be more interested in voting but there are many indications that perhaps the turnout rate may not rise much compared to 2014," said Lopez.&nbsp;

When midterms were held that year the turnout rate was only 27 percent for the demographic -- a history low, according to Pew Research.

Veterans and Evangelicals

It ends up being a vicious circle: the fewer Latinos are mobilized, the less the major political parties spend gearing their platforms to address the community's concerns.

And the less the major parties care, the more apathy spreads. To be sure, Latinos are generally more inclined toward the center-left Democrats,&nbsp;but the party "is not doing enough outreach" with the group, says Christine Marie Sierra, Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of New Mexico.&nbsp;

"We continue to hear about all they have to reach out to the white-working class voters or white women in some suburbs," she continued.&nbsp;

"Well that's fine. You can reach out to them but that's not where your base is. For the Democrats their base is in communities of color.

"They've got to invest a whole lot more to especially with Latinos to overcome the lack of participation."

According to the non-profit Latino Decisions, 63 percent of registered Hispanic voters say they plan to vote. But more than half of them were not contacted by any candidate in their constituency.

"Those voters that are contacted more are more likely to vote and those that are impacted less or not at all are less likely to vote," emphasized David Ayon of Latino Decisions.

Complicating matters further is the Latino vote is far from a monolithic bloc but instead a mosaic of diverse communities, with party affiliation not necessarily linked to country of origin, said Lopez.

Republicans, for example, can count on the overwhelming support of Cuban Americans, a community vehemently opposed to the Communist regime that rules the island. Military veterans and Evangelical migrants from Central America are likewise more likely to lean toward the Grand Old Party.

It sets the scene for some intriguing races. Will Mexican-born voters in Texas throw their weight behind Irish-American Beto O'Rourke over his Cuban-American rival and arch conservative Ted Cruz?&nbsp;

Will Puerto Ricans resettled in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria tip the scales for the Democrats in Florida? We will find out Tuesday.

Drug dealers, sexual predators, "poisonous snakes" blamed for all the ills plaguing US society: President Donald Trump has cast Latino immigrants as public enemy numero uno in his rallies and tweets in the run-up to November 6.

Drug dealers, sexual predators, "poisonous snakes" blamed for all the ills plaguing US society: President Donald Trump has cast Latino immigrants as public enemy numero uno in his rallies and tweets in the run-up to November 6. But oddly enough, millions of Hispanic voters do not appear set on taking revenge at the polls: no surveys indicate a Latino wave to turf Republicans out of Congress come Tuesday. What's going on? According to experts, Trump's repeated insults and bullying haven't had the effect of pushing Latinos toward the Democrat party -- rather they have driven them from voting at all. "In 2016 many analysts had pointed to then-candidate Trump's comments on Mexican immigrants and Hispanics as perhaps being a motivator to get Latinos to the polls," said Mark Hugo Lopez, director of global migration and demography research at Pew Research Center. But in reality, he says, "the turnout fell." And 30 per cent of all Hispanics ended up in fact voting for Trump. There are 29 million Hispanics registered to vote in the midterm elections, where all 435 seats from the House of Representatives are up for grabs, one-third of the Senate, the governors of 36 states and numerous local officials including judges, sheriffs and attorneys general. Burned by their failures to accurately predict the 2016 presidential vote, many analysts are striking a more cautious note. "It remains to be seen what will happen this year. Latinos may be more interested in voting but there are many indications that perhaps the turnout rate may not rise much compared to 2014," said Lopez. When midterms were held that year the turnout rate was only 27 percent for the demographic -- a history low, according to Pew Research. Veterans and Evangelicals It ends up being a vicious circle: the fewer Latinos are mobilized, the less the major political parties spend gearing their platforms to address the community's concerns. And the less the major parties care, the more apathy spreads. To be sure, Latinos are generally more inclined toward the center-left Democrats, but the party "is not doing enough outreach" with the group, says Christine Marie Sierra, Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of New Mexico. "We continue to hear about all they have to reach out to the white-working class voters or white women in some suburbs," she continued. "Well that's fine. You can reach out to them but that's not where your base is. For the Democrats their base is in communities of color. "They've got to invest a whole lot more to especially with Latinos to overcome the lack of participation." According to the non-profit Latino Decisions, 63 percent of registered Hispanic voters say they plan to vote. But more than half of them were not contacted by any candidate in their constituency. "Those voters that are contacted more are more likely to vote and those that are impacted less or not at all are less likely to vote," emphasized David Ayon of Latino Decisions. Complicating matters further is the Latino vote is far from a monolithic bloc but instead a mosaic of diverse communities, with party affiliation not necessarily linked to country of origin, said Lopez. Republicans, for example, can count on the overwhelming support of Cuban Americans, a community vehemently opposed to the Communist regime that rules the island. Military veterans and Evangelical migrants from Central America are likewise more likely to lean toward the Grand Old Party. It sets the scene for some intriguing races. Will Mexican-born voters in Texas throw their weight behind Irish-American Beto O'Rourke over his Cuban-American rival and arch conservative Ted Cruz? Will Puerto Ricans resettled in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria tip the scales for the Democrats in Florida? We will find out Tuesday.

US midterm polls 2018: Will Trump's America wake up Latino vote in midterms?

Afghanistan is set to hold parliamentary elections on October 20th to elect members of the House of the People after about three years of delay amid massive violence <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-election-candidate-killed-by-bomb-under-office-chair-171942">killing and wounding</a> several candidates.

The elections were scheduled to be held on October 15, 2016, but were postponed to&nbsp;July 7, 2018, and then to October 20. The previous parliamentary elections were held in 2010.

All the previous elections in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2014 were marred by violence and the results bitterly contested. The disagreement over the results of the presidential election in 2014 produced two heads of state—Ashraf Ghani&nbsp;as the president and Abdullah Abdullah (half Tazik) as the Chief Executive.&nbsp;

The Parliment of Afghanistan has two houses: 249-seat Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) and the 102-seat Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders).&nbsp;

The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) has already disqualified 35 candidates as they have links with armed groups.

More than 2,500 candidates are running for 249 seats in Afghanistan’s parliament in Saturday’s election.

This year's elections also include 400 women running for the seats, despite being threatened or attacked. The number include teachers, doctors as well as activists.

&nbsp;<img alt="Afghanistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d036b20-2b46-48da-bc50-9cfc6ea6f262" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29.jpg" />

Female Afghan parliamentary election candidate, Dewa Niazai

Nearly nine million people have registered to vote, but far fewer are expected to turn out on polling day due to threats of violence and expectations for massive fraud.

On October 20, Afghan voters will be able to cast ballots at more than 21,000 polling stations across the country except in Ghazni - which reportedly won’t be having polls at all. According to news reports, 54,000 members of Afghanistan’s security forces will be responsible for protecting polling centers on election day.

Elections marred by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-blast-kills-election-candidate-in-southern-province-171871">fraud and violence</a> could threaten to divide or even collapse the current government.

<img alt="Afghanistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5a060c06-706a-4359-aefc-c0ed8dd26468" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29.jpg" />

Afghan security forces members carry an injured policeman

Security officials predict that far worse attacks could come from the foreign-based Islamic State militia, which has killed scores of civilians in bombings in Kabul this year, including an attack on a voter ID center that resulted in the deaths of more than 60 people.&nbsp;

Another worry is the potential for massive fraud, especially the misuse of ballots and voter ID cards. Large quantities of false or extra ID cards have reportedly been distributed, and a costly last-minute effort to install biometric technology at polling stations may not succeed in catching problems.

At the same time, the Taliban and other groups have deliberately targeted previous rounds of voting. For opponents of the government, they see undermining elections as a useful means of proving the weakness of the government and its waning international support. There have been attacks on both individual candidates and campaign gatherings. 
&nbsp;

Afghanistan is set to hold parliamentary elections on October 20th to elect members of the House of the People after about three years of delay amid massive violence killing and wounding several candidates.

Afghanistan is set to hold parliamentary elections on October 20th to elect members of the House of the People after about three years of delay amid massive violence killing and wounding several candidates. The elections were scheduled to be held on October 15, 2016, but were postponed to July 7, 2018, and then to October 20. The previous parliamentary elections were held in 2010. All the previous elections in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2014 were marred by violence and the results bitterly contested. The disagreement over the results of the presidential election in 2014 produced two heads of state—Ashraf Ghani as the president and Abdullah Abdullah (half Tazik) as the Chief Executive. The Parliment of Afghanistan has two houses: 249-seat Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) and the 102-seat Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders). The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) has already disqualified 35 candidates as they have links with armed groups. More than 2,500 candidates are running for 249 seats in Afghanistan’s parliament in Saturday’s election. This year's elections also include 400 women running for the seats, despite being threatened or attacked. The number include teachers, doctors as well as activists. Female Afghan parliamentary election candidate, Dewa Niazai Nearly nine million people have registered to vote, but far fewer are expected to turn out on polling day due to threats of violence and expectations for massive fraud. On October 20, Afghan voters will be able to cast ballots at more than 21,000 polling stations across the country except in Ghazni - which reportedly won’t be having polls at all. According to news reports, 54,000 members of Afghanistan’s security forces will be responsible for protecting polling centers on election day. Elections marred by fraud and violence could threaten to divide or even collapse the current government. Afghan security forces members carry an injured policeman Security officials predict that far worse attacks could come from the foreign-based Islamic State militia, which has killed scores of civilians in bombings in Kabul this year, including an attack on a voter ID center that resulted in the deaths of more than 60 people. Another worry is the potential for massive fraud, especially the misuse of ballots and voter ID cards. Large quantities of false or extra ID cards have reportedly been distributed, and a costly last-minute effort to install biometric technology at polling stations may not succeed in catching problems. At the same time, the Taliban and other groups have deliberately targeted previous rounds of voting. For opponents of the government, they see undermining elections as a useful means of proving the weakness of the government and its waning international support. There have been attacks on both individual candidates and campaign gatherings.

Understanding the Afghanistan parliamentary elections

Nearly 190 names of suspected Rohingyas have appeared in the voters list and the process of verification and deletion is on, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said Tuesday.

"We have received the list from the Election Commission with nearly 190 names of Rohingyas living in Telangana to be verified. We have sent the list to Returning Officers (RO) and Assistant ROs to verify," the official told PTI.

The official said the deletion of such names from the voters list is underway.

"So far, we have deleted 25 names from the voters list. The process is going on. Balance will be done before the second supplement list of voters comes," the official said.

According to the official, some of the names figured in other constituencies near the city and the list was sent to the respective districts for verification and deletion of names if required.

There are as many as 39.60 lakh voters in GHMC limits as per the latest list.

There were about 3,600 Rohingyas, who are UNHCR card holders in the city and most of them are illiterates.

"Whoever lives in the camp were not willing to go back as they fear for their lives," sources related to the Rohingya camp in old city area had earlier said.

"The names of the Rohingyas have been deleted by obtaining Form 7, (related to the deletion of name from voters list) from them. After that they were given a seven-day notice for the removal of the name," the official added.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Electoral officer Rajat Kumar said there are Election Commission (EC) guidelines specially for them not to include in the voters list, once the immigrants are identified.

"The Home Secretary has come out with a list of Rohingyas to be verified," the CEO said.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, described by the United Nations as the most persecuted minority in the world, fled their homes in 2017 to escape an alleged crackdown by the Myanmar Army.

In 2017, the central government told Parliament that more than 14,000 Rohingyas, registered with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, stay in India.

However, aid agencies estimate there are about 40,000 Rohingya people in the country. 
&nbsp;

Nearly 190 names of suspected Rohingyas have appeared in the voters list and the process of verification and deletion is on, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said Tuesday.

Nearly 190 names of suspected Rohingyas have appeared in the voters list and the process of verification and deletion is on, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said Tuesday. "We have received the list from the Election Commission with nearly 190 names of Rohingyas living in Telangana to be verified. We have sent the list to Returning Officers (RO) and Assistant ROs to verify," the official told PTI. The official said the deletion of such names from the voters list is underway. "So far, we have deleted 25 names from the voters list. The process is going on. Balance will be done before the second supplement list of voters comes," the official said. According to the official, some of the names figured in other constituencies near the city and the list was sent to the respective districts for verification and deletion of names if required. There are as many as 39.60 lakh voters in GHMC limits as per the latest list. There were about 3,600 Rohingyas, who are UNHCR card holders in the city and most of them are illiterates. "Whoever lives in the camp were not willing to go back as they fear for their lives," sources related to the Rohingya camp in old city area had earlier said. "The names of the Rohingyas have been deleted by obtaining Form 7, (related to the deletion of name from voters list) from them. After that they were given a seven-day notice for the removal of the name," the official added. Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Electoral officer Rajat Kumar said there are Election Commission (EC) guidelines specially for them not to include in the voters list, once the immigrants are identified. "The Home Secretary has come out with a list of Rohingyas to be verified," the CEO said. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, described by the United Nations as the most persecuted minority in the world, fled their homes in 2017 to escape an alleged crackdown by the Myanmar Army. In 2017, the central government told Parliament that more than 14,000 Rohingyas, registered with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, stay in India. However, aid agencies estimate there are about 40,000 Rohingya people in the country.

Close to 200 suspected Rohingyas in Telangana voters' list; verification underway

Macedonians cast ballots &nbsp;Sunday on whether to re-name their country North Macedonia, a bid to settle a long-running row with Greece and unlock a path to NATO and EU membership.

It is an emotional moment for a country that has struggled for recognition of its name since its birth in 1991, when the former Yugoslav republic declared independence.

Athens protested immediately, accusing Skopje of stealing the name of its own northern province also called Macedonia.

The dispute dives deep into history, with both countries vying for claims to Alexander the Great's ancient empire of Macedon, which spanned their territories.

But in June Macedonia's new premier Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras reached a landmark compromise under which Athens would drop its objections to Macedonia joining the EU and NATO in return for the name change.

Zaev is billing the vote as a painful but historic opportunity to break the 27-year-old stalemate.

"Today is a beautiful day, a beautiful holiday for the country. Today the citizens are going out to decide on their future," Zaev told the press after casting his ballot in his hometown of Strumica, an eastern city where he was once mayor.

Voters began trickling into schools and other polling stations around the country after polls opened at 7am (0500 GMT).

"I hope that the result will be positive. This referendum will change something if it opens the door to Europe and NATO," Olivera &nbsp;Argirovska, a 74-year-old retired nurse, told AFP after casting her ballot in a high school in the capital Skopje.

"It will change things for the youth."&nbsp;

Few Macedonians are enthused about the new name, saying they have been unfairly bullied by Greece. &nbsp;

But a desire to anchor their future to the West -- and the economic prosperity that it could bring -- is a driving force behind the 'yes' vote in one of Europe's poorest nations.

"We cannot really say it is fair, but the EU and NATO matter more for all of us, so let's move forward," 28-year-old Abedin Memeti said ahead of the vote.

Boycott&nbsp;

The referendum is not binding, but a 'yes' majority would give parliament a political mandate to change the constitution.

If the deal is backed in the referendum and is ratified by two-thirds of MPs, the Greek parliament will be called on to give the final stamp of approval.

Sunday's vote is being watched closely across the border in Greece, where nationalists staged a protest against the deal earlier this month.

"We hope for a positive outcome for the proceedings to progress with the constitutional review," Greece's government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on the radio.

"Any other result would create a disturbance," he added.

While the Macedonian government plans to call any significant majority in favour of the deal a success, the right-wing opposition may question the vote's credibility if turnout is below 50 percent.

Some critics of the name deal have been calling for a boycott, including President Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition.

Massive emigration in recent decades could also affect turnout numbers, with nearly a quarter of the 2.1 million population estimated to live abroad.

Less than 3,000 of those overseas have signed up to vote.

Western Balkans foothold&nbsp;

Europe and the US have campaigned hard for the deal, with many leaders passing through Skopje this month to urge Macedonians to seize the "historic" opportunity.

NATO has already issued an invite -- on hold until the deal passes -- while EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next year.

The West is keen to have another foothold in the Western Balkans, a region where Russia, which is opposed to NATO expansion, has historically had influence.

At home, those in favour of the deal say a desire for an EU future is helping bind ethnic Macedonians with the Albanian minority, who are broadly pro-West.

While Macedonia avoided the full-scale inter-ethnic wars that rippled across the region during the collapse of Yugoslavia, it was roiled by an Albanian insurgency in 2001 that left more than 100 dead.

A peace deal was reached later that year granting Albanians more political rights, but tensions have remained.

"This is the first time I am seeing Macedonians and Albanians campaigning together for common goals," Besa Arifi, a law professor, told AFP.

"This will give us more opportunities to unite all citizens around shared values," he added.

Macedonians cast ballots Sunday on whether to re-name their country North Macedonia, a bid to settle a long-running row with Greece and unlock a path to NATO and EU membership.

Macedonians cast ballots Sunday on whether to re-name their country North Macedonia, a bid to settle a long-running row with Greece and unlock a path to NATO and EU membership. It is an emotional moment for a country that has struggled for recognition of its name since its birth in 1991, when the former Yugoslav republic declared independence. Athens protested immediately, accusing Skopje of stealing the name of its own northern province also called Macedonia. The dispute dives deep into history, with both countries vying for claims to Alexander the Great's ancient empire of Macedon, which spanned their territories. But in June Macedonia's new premier Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras reached a landmark compromise under which Athens would drop its objections to Macedonia joining the EU and NATO in return for the name change. Zaev is billing the vote as a painful but historic opportunity to break the 27-year-old stalemate. "Today is a beautiful day, a beautiful holiday for the country. Today the citizens are going out to decide on their future," Zaev told the press after casting his ballot in his hometown of Strumica, an eastern city where he was once mayor. Voters began trickling into schools and other polling stations around the country after polls opened at 7am (0500 GMT). "I hope that the result will be positive. This referendum will change something if it opens the door to Europe and NATO," Olivera Argirovska, a 74-year-old retired nurse, told AFP after casting her ballot in a high school in the capital Skopje. "It will change things for the youth." Few Macedonians are enthused about the new name, saying they have been unfairly bullied by Greece. But a desire to anchor their future to the West -- and the economic prosperity that it could bring -- is a driving force behind the 'yes' vote in one of Europe's poorest nations. "We cannot really say it is fair, but the EU and NATO matter more for all of us, so let's move forward," 28-year-old Abedin Memeti said ahead of the vote. Boycott The referendum is not binding, but a 'yes' majority would give parliament a political mandate to change the constitution. If the deal is backed in the referendum and is ratified by two-thirds of MPs, the Greek parliament will be called on to give the final stamp of approval. Sunday's vote is being watched closely across the border in Greece, where nationalists staged a protest against the deal earlier this month. "We hope for a positive outcome for the proceedings to progress with the constitutional review," Greece's government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on the radio. "Any other result would create a disturbance," he added. While the Macedonian government plans to call any significant majority in favour of the deal a success, the right-wing opposition may question the vote's credibility if turnout is below 50 percent. Some critics of the name deal have been calling for a boycott, including President Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition. Massive emigration in recent decades could also affect turnout numbers, with nearly a quarter of the 2.1 million population estimated to live abroad. Less than 3,000 of those overseas have signed up to vote. Western Balkans foothold Europe and the US have campaigned hard for the deal, with many leaders passing through Skopje this month to urge Macedonians to seize the "historic" opportunity. NATO has already issued an invite -- on hold until the deal passes -- while EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next year. The West is keen to have another foothold in the Western Balkans, a region where Russia, which is opposed to NATO expansion, has historically had influence. At home, those in favour of the deal say a desire for an EU future is helping bind ethnic Macedonians with the Albanian minority, who are broadly pro-West. While Macedonia avoided the full-scale inter-ethnic wars that rippled across the region during the collapse of Yugoslavia, it was roiled by an Albanian insurgency in 2001 that left more than 100 dead. A peace deal was reached later that year granting Albanians more political rights, but tensions have remained. "This is the first time I am seeing Macedonians and Albanians campaigning together for common goals," Besa Arifi, a law professor, told AFP. "This will give us more opportunities to unite all citizens around shared values," he added.

Macedonia votes on new name to end Greek row

Italy searched for a last-minute exit from almost three months of political turmoil on Wednesday, with its biggest party looking to make a renewed attempt to form a coalition government with the right-wing League, a source said.

The two anti-establishment parties, the 5-Star Movement and League, had abandoned plans to jointly take power at the weekend after the president blocked their proposed cabinet lineup.

President Sergio Mattarella's veto of 81-year-old eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister appeared to tip the country back towards repeat elections and triggered a dramatic speculative attack on Italian financial markets.

The parties are now trying to find "a point of compromise on another name" for the economy ministry, said the source close to 5-Star, the single-biggest party in the new parliament.

The sense that a resolution of the stalemate might be at hand came from Prime Minister-designate Carlo Cottarelli, who was tasked by the head of state this week to calm the turmoil and plan for repeat elections after the summer.

"New possibilities have emerged for the birth of a political government," Cottarelli was quoted as saying by ANSA news agency, implying that a government headed by politicians rather than technocrats like himself could be in the offing.

"These circumstances, also considering the market tensions, have caused me to wait for further developments."

However, League leader Matteo Salvini, who is surging in opinion polls, appeared to throw cold water on the notion that his party and 5-Star could try again to take power, saying Italy should return to an election as soon as possible.

"The earlier we vote the better because it's the best way to get out of this quagmire and confusion," Salvini told reporters.

He did, however, appear open to an interim administration to govern for a few months, saying an election at the end of July would be "disruptive" for Italian seasonal workers.

He invited Mattarella to make the first move, to "explain to us how we can get out of this situation". A League source said the party would not block any quick political solution that would enable Italy to deal with possible "emergencies".

Currently, Prime Minister-designate Cottarelli has no major parliamentary support for a stopgap government of technocrats.

Despite the softer tone from 5-Star and hopeful remarks from Cottarelli, a top adviser to Salvini said the League was not prepared to abandon Savona, the sole obstacle to the League and 5-Star winning the president's blessing for a coalition.

"If it wasn't possible three days ago, then it's hard to see why it would be now," Giancarlo Giorgetti was quoted as saying to online news site Il Fatto Quotidiano.

A surprise breakthrough between the president and 5-Star/League would ease uncertainty but still usher in a coalition planning to ramp up spending in the heavily indebted nation and push for changes to European Union and euro-zone fiscal rules.

In the event of continued stalemate, Italy will go back to elections, with most major parties calling for the president to dissolve parliament and hold a vote as soon as July 29.

A new opinion poll showed the League, which argues that fiscal rules governing the euro zone are "enslaving" Italians, would boost its share of the vote to a quarter, from around 17 percent on March 4.

The IPSOS poll, in the Corriere della Sera newspaper, showed support for the League's would-be coalition partner, the 5-Star Movement, steady at about 32.6 percent -- implying a much more comfortable majority if the pair were to try again to govern.

That prospect has rocked financial markets, with the euro sinking to multi-month lows on fears that snap elections would lead to a eurosceptic government in Rome.

Italian government bonds, which suffered one of its most dramatic speculative attacks in years on Tuesday, found some support from local investors on Wednesday.

The yield on 10-year bonds edged away from four-year highs and two-year yields, the focus of earlier attacks, also fell.

Shares in Italian banks also recovered a little ground after five straight days of losses.

The two anti-establishment parties, the 5-Star Movement and League, had abandoned plans to jointly take power at the weekend after the president blocked their proposed cabinet lineup

Italy searched for a last-minute exit from almost three months of political turmoil on Wednesday, with its biggest party looking to make a renewed attempt to form a coalition government with the right-wing League, a source said. The two anti-establishment parties, the 5-Star Movement and League, had abandoned plans to jointly take power at the weekend after the president blocked their proposed cabinet lineup. President Sergio Mattarella's veto of 81-year-old eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister appeared to tip the country back towards repeat elections and triggered a dramatic speculative attack on Italian financial markets. The parties are now trying to find "a point of compromise on another name" for the economy ministry, said the source close to 5-Star, the single-biggest party in the new parliament. The sense that a resolution of the stalemate might be at hand came from Prime Minister-designate Carlo Cottarelli, who was tasked by the head of state this week to calm the turmoil and plan for repeat elections after the summer. "New possibilities have emerged for the birth of a political government," Cottarelli was quoted as saying by ANSA news agency, implying that a government headed by politicians rather than technocrats like himself could be in the offing. "These circumstances, also considering the market tensions, have caused me to wait for further developments." However, League leader Matteo Salvini, who is surging in opinion polls, appeared to throw cold water on the notion that his party and 5-Star could try again to take power, saying Italy should return to an election as soon as possible. "The earlier we vote the better because it's the best way to get out of this quagmire and confusion," Salvini told reporters. He did, however, appear open to an interim administration to govern for a few months, saying an election at the end of July would be "disruptive" for Italian seasonal workers. He invited Mattarella to make the first move, to "explain to us how we can get out of this situation". A League source said the party would not block any quick political solution that would enable Italy to deal with possible "emergencies". Currently, Prime Minister-designate Cottarelli has no major parliamentary support for a stopgap government of technocrats. Despite the softer tone from 5-Star and hopeful remarks from Cottarelli, a top adviser to Salvini said the League was not prepared to abandon Savona, the sole obstacle to the League and 5-Star winning the president's blessing for a coalition. "If it wasn't possible three days ago, then it's hard to see why it would be now," Giancarlo Giorgetti was quoted as saying to online news site Il Fatto Quotidiano. A surprise breakthrough between the president and 5-Star/League would ease uncertainty but still usher in a coalition planning to ramp up spending in the heavily indebted nation and push for changes to European Union and euro-zone fiscal rules. In the event of continued stalemate, Italy will go back to elections, with most major parties calling for the president to dissolve parliament and hold a vote as soon as July 29. A new opinion poll showed the League, which argues that fiscal rules governing the euro zone are "enslaving" Italians, would boost its share of the vote to a quarter, from around 17 percent on March 4. The IPSOS poll, in the Corriere della Sera newspaper, showed support for the League's would-be coalition partner, the 5-Star Movement, steady at about 32.6 percent -- implying a much more comfortable majority if the pair were to try again to govern. That prospect has rocked financial markets, with the euro sinking to multi-month lows on fears that snap elections would lead to a eurosceptic government in Rome. Italian government bonds, which suffered one of its most dramatic speculative attacks in years on Tuesday, found some support from local investors on Wednesday. The yield on 10-year bonds edged away from four-year highs and two-year yields, the focus of earlier attacks, also fell. Shares in Italian banks also recovered a little ground after five straight days of losses.

Italy renews attempt to form a government and end turmoil

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah claimed victory on Monday after elections it said legitimised its military branch, leaving Saudi-backed Prime Minister Saad Hariri as the main loser.

The two main protagonists of the country's first legislative polls in almost a decade did not wait for final results to comment on the implications of a vote which was also marked by low turnout.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the vote "a great political and moral victory for the resistance option that protects the sovereignty of the country."

The Iran-backed Shiite movement and its allies look set to secure a parliament bloc large enough to thwart attempts for it to disarm, a longstanding demand of its political enemies.

"The make-up of the new legislative chamber represents a guarantee and a great strength to protect this strategic choice and to protect the golden equation -- the army, the people and the resistance," Nasrallah said.

The man who has led calls internally for Hezbollah to lay down its arms is Hariri, whose Sunni-dominated Future Movement -- less dominant since it lost Saudi Arabia's lavish support -- lost a third of its seats.

Hariri told reporters his party had won 21 seats, a drop from the 33 it controlled in the outgoing legislature.

"We were betting on a better result," the premier said.

Swing vote

Results announced late Monday by the interior ministry confirmed the trend, though vote counting had not yet ended in one electoral district.

The number of Hezbollah lawmakers in the 128-seat parliament may not increase from the current 13 but astute pre-electoral tactics have secured it enough allies to withstand challenges on strategic issues.

"Hariri's loss will be the distinguishing mark of these elections, which will have consequences on the battle to form a new government," the pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar daily wrote earlier on Monday.

Hezbollah, which was created in the 1980s to fight against Israel and currently battles in Syria alongside regime forces, is listed as a terror organisation by the United States.

The group, whose arsenal outguns the army's, does not derive its dominant status on the Lebanese scene from the ballot box but the new breakdown of parliament is set to increase its political legitimacy.

Lebanon's unique brand of sectarian-driven, power-sharing politics mean rival factions often end up in the same government, as is the case now where Hezbollah is represented in Hariri's cabinet.

The United Nations on Monday urged Lebanese politicians to act responsibly to protect Lebanon's stability.

"We hope that all Lebanese political stakeholders will continue to act responsibly in the days following polling to protect Lebanon's stability, which should include the swift formation of a government," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The constitution stipulates that parliament is equally split between Muslims and Christians, whose biggest party, led by President Michel Aoun has been a Hezbollah ally.

"The biggest swing vote will be President Aoun's group, which will move among the other blocs. Hezbollah will benefit from the lack of a broad coalition against it," political analyst Imad Salamey said.

Lawmakers had extended their own mandate three times since 2009, ostensibly over security concerns linked to the war in neighbouring Syria and political divisions that led to long and crippling institutional crises.

One civil society candidate

A higher turnout than the 49.2 percent announced overnight had been expected after the long electoral hiatus but the new pre-printed ballots used Sunday appeared to confuse some voters.

Some voters also said the sometimes absurd web of local alliances that saw some parties work together in one district and compete in others had put them off.

Senior political leaders, including Hariri himself and Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk whose task it was to supervise the vote, admitted that new voting rules tested for the first time had been perplexing for the electorate.

Lebanon has often been a scene where the rivalry between the region's two heavyweights Iran and Saudi Arabia has played out, but their political clients in this election seemed content to maintain the status quo.

In line with the "national pact" dating from independence in 1943, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shiite.

Nabih Berri, who heads the Shiite party Amal and was allied with Hezbollah, looks certain to keep the position of speaker he has held since 1992.

And the Lebanese Forces party of former warlord Samir Geagea were set to score significant gains, with a projected 15 seats.

Despite the disappointing turnout among an electorate, which included around 800,000 people who were too young to vote in the previous general polls, the new electoral law allowed one candidate from a civil society list to break into parliament.

Paula Yacoubian is a prominent journalist who long hosted a show on a television channel owned by Hariri, but has cast herself as an independent.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the vote 'a great political and moral victory for the resistance option that protects the sovereignty of the country'

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah claimed victory on Monday after elections it said legitimised its military branch, leaving Saudi-backed Prime Minister Saad Hariri as the main loser. The two main protagonists of the country's first legislative polls in almost a decade did not wait for final results to comment on the implications of a vote which was also marked by low turnout. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the vote "a great political and moral victory for the resistance option that protects the sovereignty of the country." The Iran-backed Shiite movement and its allies look set to secure a parliament bloc large enough to thwart attempts for it to disarm, a longstanding demand of its political enemies. "The make-up of the new legislative chamber represents a guarantee and a great strength to protect this strategic choice and to protect the golden equation -- the army, the people and the resistance," Nasrallah said. The man who has led calls internally for Hezbollah to lay down its arms is Hariri, whose Sunni-dominated Future Movement -- less dominant since it lost Saudi Arabia's lavish support -- lost a third of its seats. Hariri told reporters his party had won 21 seats, a drop from the 33 it controlled in the outgoing legislature. "We were betting on a better result," the premier said. Swing vote Results announced late Monday by the interior ministry confirmed the trend, though vote counting had not yet ended in one electoral district. The number of Hezbollah lawmakers in the 128-seat parliament may not increase from the current 13 but astute pre-electoral tactics have secured it enough allies to withstand challenges on strategic issues. "Hariri's loss will be the distinguishing mark of these elections, which will have consequences on the battle to form a new government," the pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar daily wrote earlier on Monday. Hezbollah, which was created in the 1980s to fight against Israel and currently battles in Syria alongside regime forces, is listed as a terror organisation by the United States. The group, whose arsenal outguns the army's, does not derive its dominant status on the Lebanese scene from the ballot box but the new breakdown of parliament is set to increase its political legitimacy. Lebanon's unique brand of sectarian-driven, power-sharing politics mean rival factions often end up in the same government, as is the case now where Hezbollah is represented in Hariri's cabinet. The United Nations on Monday urged Lebanese politicians to act responsibly to protect Lebanon's stability. "We hope that all Lebanese political stakeholders will continue to act responsibly in the days following polling to protect Lebanon's stability, which should include the swift formation of a government," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The constitution stipulates that parliament is equally split between Muslims and Christians, whose biggest party, led by President Michel Aoun has been a Hezbollah ally. "The biggest swing vote will be President Aoun's group, which will move among the other blocs. Hezbollah will benefit from the lack of a broad coalition against it," political analyst Imad Salamey said. Lawmakers had extended their own mandate three times since 2009, ostensibly over security concerns linked to the war in neighbouring Syria and political divisions that led to long and crippling institutional crises. One civil society candidate A higher turnout than the 49.2 percent announced overnight had been expected after the long electoral hiatus but the new pre-printed ballots used Sunday appeared to confuse some voters. Some voters also said the sometimes absurd web of local alliances that saw some parties work together in one district and compete in others had put them off. Senior political leaders, including Hariri himself and Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk whose task it was to supervise the vote, admitted that new voting rules tested for the first time had been perplexing for the electorate. Lebanon has often been a scene where the rivalry between the region's two heavyweights Iran and Saudi Arabia has played out, but their political clients in this election seemed content to maintain the status quo. In line with the "national pact" dating from independence in 1943, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shiite. Nabih Berri, who heads the Shiite party Amal and was allied with Hezbollah, looks certain to keep the position of speaker he has held since 1992. And the Lebanese Forces party of former warlord Samir Geagea were set to score significant gains, with a projected 15 seats. Despite the disappointing turnout among an electorate, which included around 800,000 people who were too young to vote in the previous general polls, the new electoral law allowed one candidate from a civil society list to break into parliament. Paula Yacoubian is a prominent journalist who long hosted a show on a television channel owned by Hariri, but has cast herself as an independent.

Lebanon's Hezbollah hails 'great victory' after vote

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashiyan told his supporters to stage protests on Tuesday in a bid to pressurize the parliament to elect him as Prime Minister and further warned of a "political tsunami" if top echelons of RPA and former presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan clings to power.&nbsp

While addressing the people at the National Assembly on Monday, Pashiyan said that &nbspSerzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan had been threatening all the Armenian MP's and preventing them to vote for people's candidate, claiming that the duo plan to return to power.&nbsp

Pashinyan led days of protests that forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister last week and is the sole nominee to take over the role. But he needs approval from a parliament dominated by Sarksyan supporters.

As tens of thousands of people gathered in central Yerevan, Pashinyan told lawmakers before a vote on his candidacy that Sarksyan's backers in the ruling Republican Party should not snub the Armenian people's demands for change.

<img alt="Untitled design1.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design1.jpg" width="770" />

"You would think that in the situation that has unfolded conclusions would have been drawn, but the Republican Party has started to play cat-and-mouse with the people," said Pashinyan, who had swapped his usual camouflage T-shirt for a suit and tie.

Addressing Republican Party officials, he said: "Your behaviour, treating the tolerance of the people as a weakness, could become the cause of a tsunami."

"I turn to the nation of the Republic of Armenia and every citizen of the Republic of Armenia," Pashinyan said in a speech broadcast live on two big screens to the crowd in the capital's central Republic Square.

"Don't stay at home, and right now, go out into the streets if you have not done it yet ... Flood out onto the streets and the squares of the capital and other towns in the republic."

People gathered at the venue waved the Armenian flag, blew horns and shouted "Nikol - prime minister!"

<img alt="Untitled 2_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%202_0.jpg" width="770" />

The deadline for parliamentary factions to nominate their candidates ran out at 18:00 on Monday.

According to the Article 149 of the Armenia's Constitution, "In case the Prime Minister submits a resignation or in other cases of the office of the Prime Minister becoming vacant, the factions of the National Assembly shall be entitled to nominate candidates for Prime Minister within a period of seven days after accepting the resignation of the Government. The National Assembly shall elect the Prime Minister by majority of votes of the total number of Deputies."

National Assembly (NA) of Armenia will convene a special session on May 1, and the topic of the agenda will be the election of a new Prime Minister.

Pashiyan stated that taking the current delicate situation into consideration “we have created all conditions for Serzh Sargsyan and RPA’s top echelons to leave in a dignified manner”.

Pashinyan led days of protests that forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister last week and is the sole nominee to take over the role

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashiyan told his supporters to stage protests on Tuesday in a bid to pressurize the parliament to elect him as Prime Minister and further warned of a "political tsunami" if top echelons of RPA and former presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan clings to power. While addressing the people at the National Assembly on Monday, Pashiyan said that &nbspSerzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan had been threatening all the Armenian MP's and preventing them to vote for people's candidate, claiming that the duo plan to return to power. Pashinyan led days of protests that forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister last week and is the sole nominee to take over the role. But he needs approval from a parliament dominated by Sarksyan supporters. As tens of thousands of people gathered in central Yerevan, Pashinyan told lawmakers before a vote on his candidacy that Sarksyan's backers in the ruling Republican Party should not snub the Armenian people's demands for change. "You would think that in the situation that has unfolded conclusions would have been drawn, but the Republican Party has started to play cat-and-mouse with the people," said Pashinyan, who had swapped his usual camouflage T-shirt for a suit and tie. Addressing Republican Party officials, he said: "Your behaviour, treating the tolerance of the people as a weakness, could become the cause of a tsunami." "I turn to the nation of the Republic of Armenia and every citizen of the Republic of Armenia," Pashinyan said in a speech broadcast live on two big screens to the crowd in the capital's central Republic Square. "Don't stay at home, and right now, go out into the streets if you have not done it yet ... Flood out onto the streets and the squares of the capital and other towns in the republic." People gathered at the venue waved the Armenian flag, blew horns and shouted "Nikol - prime minister!" The deadline for parliamentary factions to nominate their candidates ran out at 18:00 on Monday. According to the Article 149 of the Armenia's Constitution, "In case the Prime Minister submits a resignation or in other cases of the office of the Prime Minister becoming vacant, the factions of the National Assembly shall be entitled to nominate candidates for Prime Minister within a period of seven days after accepting the resignation of the Government. The National Assembly shall elect the Prime Minister by majority of votes of the total number of Deputies." National Assembly (NA) of Armenia will convene a special session on May 1, and the topic of the agenda will be the election of a new Prime Minister. Pashiyan stated that taking the current delicate situation into consideration “we have created all conditions for Serzh Sargsyan and RPA’s top echelons to leave in a dignified manner”.

Armenian leader warns of 'political turmoil' if not elected Prime Minister

Actor Prakash Raj on Saturday continued his stand on Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and urged people to not vote for the "communal party" adding that such a party is dangerous for the country.&nbsp;

Raj claimed that "BJP is like cancer and Congress and JD(S) are like cold and cough." However, he said that his remarks over the part were with an exception to A B Vajapayee, reports said.&nbsp;

Raj also refuted rumours about entering politics, saying that he had to clarify some problems with the JD(S) members - about their support to BJP after elections - but had no plans to enter politics adding that the #JustAsking Foundation will remain a non-political citizen-centric platform that will help citizens ask questions.

“My campaign is only against the BJP let the people decide whom to vote, based on their track record," Raj said. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

However, he said that his remarks over the part were with an exception to A B Vajapayee, reports said

Actor Prakash Raj on Saturday continued his stand on Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and urged people to not vote for the "communal party" adding that such a party is dangerous for the country. Raj claimed that "BJP is like cancer and Congress and JD(S) are like cold and cough." However, he said that his remarks over the part were with an exception to A B Vajapayee, reports said. Raj also refuted rumours about entering politics, saying that he had to clarify some problems with the JD(S) members - about their support to BJP after elections - but had no plans to enter politics adding that the #JustAsking Foundation will remain a non-political citizen-centric platform that will help citizens ask questions. “My campaign is only against the BJP let the people decide whom to vote, based on their track record," Raj said.

Actor Prakash Raj urges people to not vote for BJP, says it's like cancer

War-torn Afghanistan began registering voters this weekend. The country is expected to hold long-delayed legislative elections in October this year.

As many as 14 million adults at more than 7,000 polling centres will be registered in the next two months. Election Commission officials note insecurity, particularly in rural areas, as one of the major challenges in the face of the upcoming legislative election.

An Election Commission official here noted that adequate measures are being taken to increase the confidence in the public that is terrorised by militant groups like the Taliban and the Islamic State.

The polls will see candidates contesting 249 seats in the National Assembly for five-year terms. Regional elections will also be conducted in districts across the country.

Afghanistan's legislative polls were supposed to be held in 2015 after the presidential elections that took place in 2014. The elections were repeatedly stalled due to security fears among others issues that fraught the fragile government of the country.

An Aghan official noted that adequate measures are being taken to increase the confidence in the public that is terrorised by militant groups

War-torn Afghanistan began registering voters this weekend. The country is expected to hold long-delayed legislative elections in October this year. As many as 14 million adults at more than 7,000 polling centres will be registered in the next two months. Election Commission officials note insecurity, particularly in rural areas, as one of the major challenges in the face of the upcoming legislative election. An Election Commission official here noted that adequate measures are being taken to increase the confidence in the public that is terrorised by militant groups like the Taliban and the Islamic State. The polls will see candidates contesting 249 seats in the National Assembly for five-year terms. Regional elections will also be conducted in districts across the country. Afghanistan's legislative polls were supposed to be held in 2015 after the presidential elections that took place in 2014. The elections were repeatedly stalled due to security fears among others issues that fraught the fragile government of the country.

Amid violence, Afghans register to vote in long-delayed legislative elections

Congress leader Ahmed Patel told the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday that there was no merit in a plea challenging his election to the Rajya Sabha as MLAs are supposed to vote for their party candidates according to a Supreme Court judgement.&nbsp;

After the EC invalidated the votes of Congress rebels Raghavjee Patel and Bholabhai Gohel for showing their ballot papers to the BJP’s polling agent in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah, Patel was declared the winner along with Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani in the Rajya Sabha polls held in August last year.

BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput, who lost to Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections, had filed an election petition, challenging the decision of the Election Commission to invalidate two votes as demanded by the Congress.

According to him, if these two votes had been counted, he would have defeated Patel. He had argued that a whip issued by the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly asking all Congress MLAs to vote for Patel was “threatening” and amounted to exercise of “undue influence” on voters. “As per the SC’s 2006 judgement… All party members are obliged to vote for the party (in Rajya Sabha election)… So, there is no question of undue influence on MLAs,” Kapil Sibal argued before Justice Bela Trivedi, appearing for Patel.

Rajput’s lawyer Advocate Nirupam Nanavati told the court that there was no need to dismiss the petition — as demanded by Patel — only because the copy served on the respondent was not attested. This can be corrected easily, Rajput’s lawyer said, accusing Patel of adopting a “dilatory tactic”. Sibal had said the petition served on the respondent (Ahmed Patel) was not the way it should be under the law, as it was not attested as a “true copy”. Rajput’s petition also alleges that Patel offered “bribe” to MLAs after taking them to resorts in Bengaluru.

BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput, who lost to Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections, had filed an election petition, challenging the decision of the Election Commission to invalidate two votes as demanded by the Congress.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel told the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday that there was no merit in a plea challenging his election to the Rajya Sabha as MLAs are supposed to vote for their party candidates according to a Supreme Court judgement. After the EC invalidated the votes of Congress rebels Raghavjee Patel and Bholabhai Gohel for showing their ballot papers to the BJP’s polling agent in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah, Patel was declared the winner along with Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani in the Rajya Sabha polls held in August last year. BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput, who lost to Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections, had filed an election petition, challenging the decision of the Election Commission to invalidate two votes as demanded by the Congress. According to him, if these two votes had been counted, he would have defeated Patel. He had argued that a whip issued by the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly asking all Congress MLAs to vote for Patel was “threatening” and amounted to exercise of “undue influence” on voters. “As per the SC’s 2006 judgement… All party members are obliged to vote for the party (in Rajya Sabha election)… So, there is no question of undue influence on MLAs,” Kapil Sibal argued before Justice Bela Trivedi, appearing for Patel. Rajput’s lawyer Advocate Nirupam Nanavati told the court that there was no need to dismiss the petition — as demanded by Patel — only because the copy served on the respondent was not attested. This can be corrected easily, Rajput’s lawyer said, accusing Patel of adopting a “dilatory tactic”. Sibal had said the petition served on the respondent (Ahmed Patel) was not the way it should be under the law, as it was not attested as a “true copy”. Rajput’s petition also alleges that Patel offered “bribe” to MLAs after taking them to resorts in Bengaluru.

Rajya Sabha polls: MLAs obliged to vote for party, Ahmed Patel tells Gujarat HC

Russians were voting Sunday in an election set to hand President Vladimir Putin a fourth Kremlin term but slammed by the opposition as a sham as tensions with Britain escalated over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent.&nbsp;

With the vast country stretching across 11 time zones, polls opened in the Russian far east at 2000 GMT on Saturday and will close in Kaliningrad, the country&#39;s exclave on the EU border, at 1800 GMT on Sunday.&nbsp;

Putin&#39;s main challenger Alexei Navalny has been barred from taking part in the poll for legal reasons, and the result of the election is in little doubt, with overall turnout likely to provide the only element of surprise.

A total of 107 million Russians are eligible to cast their votes in Sunday&#39;s election in the world&#39;s biggest country, but some analysts say that after 18 years of leadership -- both as president and prime minister -- Putin fatigue may be spreading, with many Russians are expected to skip the polls.

The Kremlin needs a high turnout to give greater legitimacy to a new mandate for Putin, who is already Russia&#39;s longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin.

By 0700 GMT, turnout stood at 16.55 percent, compared with 6.53 percent at the same hour during the 2012 vote, said Central Electoral Commission head Ella Pamfilova.

Many of those who cast their ballots voted for Putin, praising him for lifting the country out of the post-Soviet quagmire.

&quot;Of course I&#39;m for Putin, he&#39;s a leader,&quot; said Olga Matyunina, a 65-year-old retired economist.

&quot;After he brought Crimea back, he became a hero to me. Last election I didn&#39;t vote for Putin, I don&#39;t even remember who I voted for.&quot;

At many polling stations the atmosphere was festive, with patriotic songs blasting out of speakers outside and cheap food available to voters.

Casting his ballot in Moscow, Putin said he would be pleased with &quot;any&quot; result that gave him the right to continue serving as president.

&quot;I am sure the programme I am offering is the right one,&quot; he said.

Navalny, 41, has denounced the election as a sham and urged Russians to boycott the vote.&nbsp;

He has deployed more than 30,000 observers to monitor the polls and on Sunday, his team -- which calls the vote &quot;a staged procedure to re-appoint Putin&quot; -- began publishing a rolling list of violations from polling stations.

&quot;Those who said that &#39;there would be fewer falsifications during these elections because Putin has already won over everyone&#39; have made a mistake,&quot; he said.

Navalny, who faces a 30-day jail sentence, had been expected to spend election day behind bars but remained free Sunday.

&quot;I will not go to vote. What for?&quot; said Boris Limarev, a 39-year-old manager, as he walked his dog near a polling station in southwest Saint Petersburg.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s clear to everyone who will be elected.&quot;

&quot;And the rest of the candidates are clowns,&quot; interjected his wife Anna, 35.

&quot;Another six years of slavery,&quot; said a piece of paper made up to look like a ballot which was attached to a porch on a central Moscow street -- in an apparent reference to Putin&#39;s next term in office.&nbsp;

Ahead of the poll, a new crisis broke out with the West as Britain implicated Putin in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal with a Soviet-designed nerve agent.

In response, London expelled 23 Russian diplomats, prompting Moscow to respond in kind. Also this week, Washington hit Russia with sanctions for trying to influence the 2016 US election.&nbsp;

Since first being elected president in 2000, Putin has stamped his total authority on Russia muzzling opposition, putting television under state control and reasserting Moscow&#39;s posture abroad.&nbsp;

He has sought to use the campaign to emphasise Russia&#39;s role as a major world power, boasting of its &quot;invincible&quot; new nuclear weapons in a key pre-election speech.

His previous Kremlin term has been marked by a crackdown on the opposition after huge protests, the annexation of Crimea, support for an insurgency in east Ukraine, a military intervention in Syria and the introduction of Western sanctions that contributed to a fall in living standards.

But the 65-year-old former KGB officer is certain to extend his term to 2024 despite a litany of domestic problems such as widespread poverty and poor healthcare following a lacklustre campaign.

In Saint Petersburg Antonina Kurchatova said she voted for Putin but was just hoping things would not get worse.

&quot;I very much like his foreign policy. He&#39;s doing everything right. But as far as the economy is concerned, everything is terrible,&quot; the 40-year-old told AFP.

State-run pollsters predict Putin will take just under 70 percent of the vote, with the independent Levada Centre -- branded a &quot;foreign agent&quot; -- barred from releasing any research related to the election.

Sunday marks four years since Putin signed a treaty declaring Crimea to be a part of Russia in a move that triggered the outbreak of a pro-Kremlin insurgency in east Ukraine, in a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

Kiev has said Russians living in Ukraine would not be able to vote as access to Moscow&#39;s diplomatic missions would be blocked.

Putin is standing against a motley crew of seven Kremlin-approved challengers, including millionaire communist Pavel Grudinin and former reality TV host Ksenia Sobchak, but none are polling more than eight percent.&nbsp;

Overall turnout is expected to be between 63 and 67 percent, according to state-controlled pollsters.

Authorities have pulled out all the stops to ensure a huge turnout, offering food discount vouchers and prizes for the best selfies taken at polling stations after a sexually-charged online campaign.

While the result of the vote was a foregone conclusion, the next six years would be anything but predictable, said Tatyana Stanovaya, an analyst with Moscow&#39;s Center for Political Technologies.&nbsp;

&quot;No one can tell now just how emotional and radical Putin&#39;s actions will be under increasing geopolitical pressure,&quot; she told AFP, adding the role of the military and the security service would increase.&nbsp;

&quot;The regime is inclined to become more closed and tough.&quot;

With the vast country stretching across 11 time zones, polls opened in the Russian far east at 2000 GMT on Saturday and will close in Kaliningrad, the country's exclave on the EU border, at 1800 GMT on Sunday

Russians were voting Sunday in an election set to hand President Vladimir Putin a fourth Kremlin term but slammed by the opposition as a sham as tensions with Britain escalated over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent. With the vast country stretching across 11 time zones, polls opened in the Russian far east at 2000 GMT on Saturday and will close in Kaliningrad, the country's exclave on the EU border, at 1800 GMT on Sunday. Putin's main challenger Alexei Navalny has been barred from taking part in the poll for legal reasons, and the result of the election is in little doubt, with overall turnout likely to provide the only element of surprise. A total of 107 million Russians are eligible to cast their votes in Sunday's election in the world's biggest country, but some analysts say that after 18 years of leadership -- both as president and prime minister -- Putin fatigue may be spreading, with many Russians are expected to skip the polls. The Kremlin needs a high turnout to give greater legitimacy to a new mandate for Putin, who is already Russia's longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin. By 0700 GMT, turnout stood at 16.55 percent, compared with 6.53 percent at the same hour during the 2012 vote, said Central Electoral Commission head Ella Pamfilova. Many of those who cast their ballots voted for Putin, praising him for lifting the country out of the post-Soviet quagmire. "Of course I'm for Putin, he's a leader," said Olga Matyunina, a 65-year-old retired economist. "After he brought Crimea back, he became a hero to me. Last election I didn't vote for Putin, I don't even remember who I voted for." At many polling stations the atmosphere was festive, with patriotic songs blasting out of speakers outside and cheap food available to voters. Casting his ballot in Moscow, Putin said he would be pleased with "any" result that gave him the right to continue serving as president. "I am sure the programme I am offering is the right one," he said. Navalny, 41, has denounced the election as a sham and urged Russians to boycott the vote. He has deployed more than 30,000 observers to monitor the polls and on Sunday, his team -- which calls the vote "a staged procedure to re-appoint Putin" -- began publishing a rolling list of violations from polling stations. "Those who said that 'there would be fewer falsifications during these elections because Putin has already won over everyone' have made a mistake," he said. Navalny, who faces a 30-day jail sentence, had been expected to spend election day behind bars but remained free Sunday. "I will not go to vote. What for?" said Boris Limarev, a 39-year-old manager, as he walked his dog near a polling station in southwest Saint Petersburg. "It's clear to everyone who will be elected." "And the rest of the candidates are clowns," interjected his wife Anna, 35. "Another six years of slavery," said a piece of paper made up to look like a ballot which was attached to a porch on a central Moscow street -- in an apparent reference to Putin's next term in office. Ahead of the poll, a new crisis broke out with the West as Britain implicated Putin in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal with a Soviet-designed nerve agent. In response, London expelled 23 Russian diplomats, prompting Moscow to respond in kind. Also this week, Washington hit Russia with sanctions for trying to influence the 2016 US election. Since first being elected president in 2000, Putin has stamped his total authority on Russia muzzling opposition, putting television under state control and reasserting Moscow's posture abroad. He has sought to use the campaign to emphasise Russia's role as a major world power, boasting of its "invincible" new nuclear weapons in a key pre-election speech. His previous Kremlin term has been marked by a crackdown on the opposition after huge protests, the annexation of Crimea, support for an insurgency in east Ukraine, a military intervention in Syria and the introduction of Western sanctions that contributed to a fall in living standards. But the 65-year-old former KGB officer is certain to extend his term to 2024 despite a litany of domestic problems such as widespread poverty and poor healthcare following a lacklustre campaign. In Saint Petersburg Antonina Kurchatova said she voted for Putin but was just hoping things would not get worse. "I very much like his foreign policy. He's doing everything right. But as far as the economy is concerned, everything is terrible," the 40-year-old told AFP. State-run pollsters predict Putin will take just under 70 percent of the vote, with the independent Levada Centre -- branded a "foreign agent" -- barred from releasing any research related to the election. Sunday marks four years since Putin signed a treaty declaring Crimea to be a part of Russia in a move that triggered the outbreak of a pro-Kremlin insurgency in east Ukraine, in a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives. Kiev has said Russians living in Ukraine would not be able to vote as access to Moscow's diplomatic missions would be blocked. Putin is standing against a motley crew of seven Kremlin-approved challengers, including millionaire communist Pavel Grudinin and former reality TV host Ksenia Sobchak, but none are polling more than eight percent. Overall turnout is expected to be between 63 and 67 percent, according to state-controlled pollsters. Authorities have pulled out all the stops to ensure a huge turnout, offering food discount vouchers and prizes for the best selfies taken at polling stations after a sexually-charged online campaign. While the result of the vote was a foregone conclusion, the next six years would be anything but predictable, said Tatyana Stanovaya, an analyst with Moscow's Center for Political Technologies. "No one can tell now just how emotional and radical Putin's actions will be under increasing geopolitical pressure," she told AFP, adding the role of the military and the security service would increase. "The regime is inclined to become more closed and tough."

Putin eyes fourth term in polls as opposition cries foul

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

Cubans go to the polls on Sunday in a one-party vote that marks the penultimate step in a political process that will culminate next month with the selection of the Communist-ruled island&#39;s first non-Castro leader since the 1959 revolution.

The government depicts the vote, which takes place every five years and in which Cubans are asked to endorse two official lists of candidates for the national and provincial assemblies, as a symbolic show of unity.

This year, though, the newly-seated national assembly will on April 19 select a new president to replace Raul Castro, 86, who together with his late older brother Fidel Castro ruled the Caribbean island for nearly six decades.

While Castro is expected to remain at the helm of the powerful Communist Party, First Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel, 57, is expected to become president.

Given he will not have the same moral authority as the &quot;historic generation&quot; of revolutionary leaders, Diaz-Canel will have to earn his legitimacy by addressing voters&#39; concerns and raising living standards, analysts say.

That task will be more challenging at a time when aid from ally Venezuela is falling, relations with the United States - which maintains a decades-old embargo on Cuba - are worsening and there is pushback against market reforms.

&quot;For many Cubans, elections have never represented change,&quot; said Rafael Padron, 37, a sports trainer in Havana. &quot;But this is a key moment.&quot;

More than eight million Cubans will vote to ratify two official lists of candidates - one to form the 605-member National Assembly and another to constitute the 14 provincial assemblies totaling 1,265 delegates.

While candidates are not required to belong to the Communist Party, the only legal party in Cuba, most do.

The parliamentary candidates, selected by party-controlled commissions, include Raul Castro and two men who fought with him in the mountains during the revolution, vice-presidents Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, 87, and Ramiro Valdes, 85.

However, Castro has said he will step down as president at the end of his second five-year term in April. Many analysts expect his fellow revolutionaries also to retire from the government, marking a generational shift.

A ceremony last month in the neoclassical Capitol at which Castro awarded them medals for being &quot;heroes of work&quot; has been interpreted as a symbolic farewell.

&quot;We don&#39;t know what will happen exactly,&quot; said Arnaldo Betancourt, 52, who sells handcrafts in Havana, &quot;but people want to see new things: a change for the better.&quot;

A VOTE WITHOUT ADVERSARIES

The electoral cycle began last year with the election of more than 12,515 ward delegates in the only vote in which ordinary Cubans get to choose between two or more candidates.

About 50 percent of candidates for the provincial and national assemblies must be ward delegates, to ensure they keep in touch with grassroots issues. The remainder are officials and personalities from the arts, sport and other sectors.

The candidate lists do not contain a single known opponent of Cuba&#39;s one-party system, one of the last left in the world.

The government says the party allows adequate space for discussion and most dissidents are mercenaries funded by foreign governments and exiles, out to topple the government.

The number of candidates traditionally equals the number of positions available: the only choice being not to vote for a certain candidate, leave blank or spoil one&#39;s ballot.

Election turnout in Cuba is nonetheless historically very high, with abstention frowned upon.

&quot;Here people participate in the elections really to fulfill an obligation because if not you set yourself apart in front of the Committees in Defense of the Revolution,&quot; said Rosario Vega, 38, referring to neighborhood block committees.

Other Cubans say they see the vote as an opportunity to show they support the system.

&quot;The vote is for our homeland, for boosting the economy,&quot; said Julio Cesar Garriga, 29, &quot;but united with our fists clenched when imperialism tries to confuse us.&quot;

The vote, on Sunday, marks the penultimate step in a political process that will culminate next month with the selection of the Communist-ruled island's first non-Castro leader since the 1959 revolution

Cubans go to the polls on Sunday in a one-party vote that marks the penultimate step in a political process that will culminate next month with the selection of the Communist-ruled island's first non-Castro leader since the 1959 revolution. The government depicts the vote, which takes place every five years and in which Cubans are asked to endorse two official lists of candidates for the national and provincial assemblies, as a symbolic show of unity. This year, though, the newly-seated national assembly will on April 19 select a new president to replace Raul Castro, 86, who together with his late older brother Fidel Castro ruled the Caribbean island for nearly six decades. While Castro is expected to remain at the helm of the powerful Communist Party, First Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel, 57, is expected to become president. Given he will not have the same moral authority as the "historic generation" of revolutionary leaders, Diaz-Canel will have to earn his legitimacy by addressing voters' concerns and raising living standards, analysts say. That task will be more challenging at a time when aid from ally Venezuela is falling, relations with the United States - which maintains a decades-old embargo on Cuba - are worsening and there is pushback against market reforms. "For many Cubans, elections have never represented change," said Rafael Padron, 37, a sports trainer in Havana. "But this is a key moment." More than eight million Cubans will vote to ratify two official lists of candidates - one to form the 605-member National Assembly and another to constitute the 14 provincial assemblies totaling 1,265 delegates. While candidates are not required to belong to the Communist Party, the only legal party in Cuba, most do. The parliamentary candidates, selected by party-controlled commissions, include Raul Castro and two men who fought with him in the mountains during the revolution, vice-presidents Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, 87, and Ramiro Valdes, 85. However, Castro has said he will step down as president at the end of his second five-year term in April. Many analysts expect his fellow revolutionaries also to retire from the government, marking a generational shift. A ceremony last month in the neoclassical Capitol at which Castro awarded them medals for being "heroes of work" has been interpreted as a symbolic farewell. "We don't know what will happen exactly," said Arnaldo Betancourt, 52, who sells handcrafts in Havana, "but people want to see new things: a change for the better." A VOTE WITHOUT ADVERSARIES The electoral cycle began last year with the election of more than 12,515 ward delegates in the only vote in which ordinary Cubans get to choose between two or more candidates. About 50 percent of candidates for the provincial and national assemblies must be ward delegates, to ensure they keep in touch with grassroots issues. The remainder are officials and personalities from the arts, sport and other sectors. The candidate lists do not contain a single known opponent of Cuba's one-party system, one of the last left in the world. The government says the party allows adequate space for discussion and most dissidents are mercenaries funded by foreign governments and exiles, out to topple the government. The number of candidates traditionally equals the number of positions available: the only choice being not to vote for a certain candidate, leave blank or spoil one's ballot. Election turnout in Cuba is nonetheless historically very high, with abstention frowned upon. "Here people participate in the elections really to fulfill an obligation because if not you set yourself apart in front of the Committees in Defense of the Revolution," said Rosario Vega, 38, referring to neighborhood block committees. Other Cubans say they see the vote as an opportunity to show they support the system. "The vote is for our homeland, for boosting the economy," said Julio Cesar Garriga, 29, "but united with our fists clenched when imperialism tries to confuse us."

Cuba holds one-party vote as post-Castro era looms

Five Egyptian public figures, including two former presidential hopefuls, called Sunday for voters to boycott the March presidential election after the withdrawal of all candidates but the incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Sisi, who has been in power since 2014, appears set to run unopposed after all other presidential hopefuls were either jailed or announced they would not take part in the election on March 26-28.

Nominations for candidates remain open until Monday.

The undersigned &quot;condemn all security and administrative practices that the current regime took to prevent any fair competition against it in the upcoming elections,&quot; they said in the statement.

The document was signed by a barred presidential hopeful`s top aides -- Hisham Geneina, a former anti-corruption chief, and Hazem Hosni, a political science professor at Cairo University.

They had been part of the team campaigning for General Sami Anan, a former armed forces chief of staff.

Anan was accused of illegally announcing, on January 20, his intention to run for president before getting the military`s approval.

Sunday`s call for voters to boycott the election was also signed by 2012 presidential candidate Mohamed Anwar Sadat, a dissident and nephew of the former president of the same name.

On January 15, Sadat said he would not throw his hat into the ring this time because the climate was not conducive to free and fair elections.

The boycott call was also signed by moderate Islamist and 2012 presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh, a former senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The fifth signatory was Essam Heggy, a NASA space scientist who worked as an adviser to former interim president Adly Mansour.

Mansour had served as acting president after Sisi led the 2013 military ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi prior to being elected president the next year.

The five signatories cited &quot;the vicious attack against Justice Hisham Geneina&quot;, who was stabbed and seriously wounded by assailants on Saturday.

Lawyer Ali Taha said three men stabbed Geneina in the face and beat him near his home in Cairo, breaking one of his legs. He was admitted to hospital for treatment.

Geneina was sacked by Sisi as head of the Central Auditing Authority in 2016 after he was accused of exaggerating the cost of corruption.

They said &quot;obstacles to the elections had started early with the spreading of a climate of fear over security and media and government bias.&quot;

The five also complained of a &quot;tight timetable which did not give competitors a real chance to present themselves.&quot;

The National Election Authority announced on January 8 that the deadline for applications would be January 29.

They requested the elections be halted, and for the authority`s work to cease, accusing it of covering up bias.

Sisi, who has been in power since 2014, appears set to run unopposed

Five Egyptian public figures, including two former presidential hopefuls, called Sunday for voters to boycott the March presidential election after the withdrawal of all candidates but the incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sisi, who has been in power since 2014, appears set to run unopposed after all other presidential hopefuls were either jailed or announced they would not take part in the election on March 26-28. Nominations for candidates remain open until Monday. The undersigned "condemn all security and administrative practices that the current regime took to prevent any fair competition against it in the upcoming elections," they said in the statement. The document was signed by a barred presidential hopeful`s top aides -- Hisham Geneina, a former anti-corruption chief, and Hazem Hosni, a political science professor at Cairo University. They had been part of the team campaigning for General Sami Anan, a former armed forces chief of staff. Anan was accused of illegally announcing, on January 20, his intention to run for president before getting the military`s approval. Sunday`s call for voters to boycott the election was also signed by 2012 presidential candidate Mohamed Anwar Sadat, a dissident and nephew of the former president of the same name. On January 15, Sadat said he would not throw his hat into the ring this time because the climate was not conducive to free and fair elections. The boycott call was also signed by moderate Islamist and 2012 presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh, a former senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. The fifth signatory was Essam Heggy, a NASA space scientist who worked as an adviser to former interim president Adly Mansour. Mansour had served as acting president after Sisi led the 2013 military ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi prior to being elected president the next year. The five signatories cited "the vicious attack against Justice Hisham Geneina", who was stabbed and seriously wounded by assailants on Saturday. Lawyer Ali Taha said three men stabbed Geneina in the face and beat him near his home in Cairo, breaking one of his legs. He was admitted to hospital for treatment. Geneina was sacked by Sisi as head of the Central Auditing Authority in 2016 after he was accused of exaggerating the cost of corruption. They said "obstacles to the elections had started early with the spreading of a climate of fear over security and media and government bias." The five also complained of a "tight timetable which did not give competitors a real chance to present themselves." The National Election Authority announced on January 8 that the deadline for applications would be January 29. They requested the elections be halted, and for the authority`s work to cease, accusing it of covering up bias.

Egyptians urged to boycott vote after withdrawals

BJP President Amit Shah told Rahul Gandhi on Sunday to &quot;please&nbsp;respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders&quot;.&nbsp;

Shah, who was campaigning in Mahuva, Gujarat, said the Congress vice-president had asked for proof after the surgical strike carried out by the army in Pakistan.&nbsp;

&quot;He (Rahul Gandhi) was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place?&quot; said Shah.&nbsp;

&quot;Rahul bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

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When Uri terror attack took place, anger was brewing in the entire nation. 
Everyone thought PM would give a statement&amp; things will get over but this time it wasn&#39;t the government of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh rather it was a govt chosen by you: Amit Shah in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a>&#39;s Mahuva <a href="https://t.co/6uco6zh7hb">pic.twitter.com/6uco6zh7hb</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937245797397098496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Within ten days Indian Army went to Pakistan, took revenge &amp; came back.Pak was left red faced&amp; Rahul Gandhi was demanding proof. He was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place? Rahul Bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders:Amit Shah <a href="https://t.co/bsIe0EqWAg">pic.twitter.com/bsIe0EqWAg</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937246142026301440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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This was not the first attack on Gandhi on Sunday.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had reacted to Rahul&#39;s &quot;development has gone mad&quot; comment by saying&nbsp;&quot;unke dimaag par taras aata hai&quot;.

&quot;Development can slow down, it can speed up, it can stop, but does it ever go mad?&quot; Singh had said. Adding,&nbsp;&quot;And what do you call someone who says that?&quot;&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">&#39;Unke </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">dimaag</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank"> par </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">taras</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">aata</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank"> hai&#39;: Rajnath Singh on Rahul Gandhi&#39;s &#39;development has gone mad&#39; remark</a>

Gandhi had himself on Sunday accused the BJP government of not providing the women of poll-bound Gujarat with security, education, or nutrition.

Gujarat goes to the polls on December 9 and 14.&nbsp;

Shah said Rahul Gandhi had asked for proof of the 'surgical strike'

BJP President Amit Shah told Rahul Gandhi on Sunday to "please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders". Shah, who was campaigning in Mahuva, Gujarat, said the Congress vice-president had asked for proof after the surgical strike carried out by the army in Pakistan. "He (Rahul Gandhi) was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place?" said Shah. "Rahul bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders," he added. When Uri terror attack took place, anger was brewing in the entire nation. Everyone thought PM would give a statement& things will get over but this time it wasn't the government of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh rather it was a govt chosen by you: Amit Shah in #Gujarat's Mahuva pic.twitter.com/6uco6zh7hb — ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2017 × Within ten days Indian Army went to Pakistan, took revenge & came back.Pak was left red faced& Rahul Gandhi was demanding proof. He was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place? Rahul Bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders:Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/bsIe0EqWAg — ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2017 × This was not the first attack on Gandhi on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had reacted to Rahul's "development has gone mad" comment by saying "unke dimaag par taras aata hai". "Development can slow down, it can speed up, it can stop, but does it ever go mad?" Singh had said. Adding, "And what do you call someone who says that?" 'Unke dimaag par taras aata hai': Rajnath Singh on Rahul Gandhi's 'development has gone mad' remark Gandhi had himself on Sunday accused the BJP government of not providing the women of poll-bound Gujarat with security, education, or nutrition. Gujarat goes to the polls on December 9 and 14.

Rahul bhai, please respect honour & valour of jawans guarding borders: Amit Shah

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