Voting began Sunday in the first round of Chile&#39;s presidential election, with former president Sebastian Pinera hoping to capitalize on his front-runner status to succeed Socialist leader Michelle Bachelet.

But it was unclear whether Pinera, a conservative 67-year-old billionaire who was president from 2010 to 2014, would gain enough support to avoid a runoff against the runner-up -- likely to be Alejandro Guillier, an independent supported by Bachelet&#39;s Socialists.

Chile&#39;s constitution bans consecutive terms for presidents, but re-election after skipping a term is permissible. Bachelet herself was president from 2006 to 2010 and then re-elected for four more years in 2014.

Pre-vote surveys show the Harvard-educated Pinera with a comfortable lead, but not enough to win the presidency outright.

&quot;It&#39;s not very likely&quot; he will get the 50 per cent or more of ballots needed to avoid a run-off, said political analyst Mauricio Morales of Talca University.

In that case, a second-round showdown would be held between the top two candidates on December 17, and the winner would take over the presidency in March 2018.

- Voter apathy -

Guillier, a 64-year-old former state TV anchor turned senator who presents himself as an independent, has 25 percent of voter support against 44 percent for Pinera, according to opinion polls.

With the outcome weighted heavily in Pinera&#39;s favor, voter apathy could be an issue -- even though there are six other candidates in the race.

Compulsory voting was dropped in 2012, and since then a growing number of Chile&#39;s 14 million eligible voters have decided to stay away from voting booths.

&quot;People don&#39;t want to vote because, really, nobody believes there will be any significant change anywhere. Also, they see who will be president as a foregone conclusion,&quot; said Catalina Gascogne, a 19-year-old student.

Analysts predict that abstention could be as high as 40 per cent, and that Pinera has more motivated voters who will turn out.

About 40,000 Chileans living abroad have already begun casting their ballots, beginning with those living in New Zealand.

- No majority? -

Pinera&#39;s first presidential victory in 2009 elections signified a break from the center-left politics that had reigned in Chile since democracy was restored with the end of Augusto Pinochet&#39;s dictatorship in 1990.

But a Pinera comeback is not seen as a rejection of the overall economic and social model erected in the Bachelet years, during which Chile posted annual growth of 1.8 percent and passed tax and labor reforms, an introduction of free education, and the right to abortion.

&quot;Chileans don&#39;t want to tear down the model, just fix its structure,&quot; Morales said.

Pinera has promised modifications to Bachelet&#39;s reforms, as well as vowing to have Chile join the club of developed nations within eight years.

His effectiveness, though, could be hobbled by a shortfall in legislative support.

&quot;He is not going to have a majority in Congress,&quot; another analyst, Marta Lagos, founder of Latinobarometro and MORI Chile, predicted.

Sunday&#39;s balloting also includes legislative elections for many of the congressional seats. Electoral forecasts suggest the right will increase its representation, but will probably not have the majority in either chamber.

Polls opened at 8:00 am (1100 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 6:00 pm (2100 GMT).

'It's not very likely' Pinera will get the 50% or more of ballots needed to avoid a run-off, said political analyst Mauricio Morales

Voting began Sunday in the first round of Chile's presidential election, with former president Sebastian Pinera hoping to capitalize on his front-runner status to succeed Socialist leader Michelle Bachelet. But it was unclear whether Pinera, a conservative 67-year-old billionaire who was president from 2010 to 2014, would gain enough support to avoid a runoff against the runner-up -- likely to be Alejandro Guillier, an independent supported by Bachelet's Socialists. Chile's constitution bans consecutive terms for presidents, but re-election after skipping a term is permissible. Bachelet herself was president from 2006 to 2010 and then re-elected for four more years in 2014. Pre-vote surveys show the Harvard-educated Pinera with a comfortable lead, but not enough to win the presidency outright. "It's not very likely" he will get the 50 per cent or more of ballots needed to avoid a run-off, said political analyst Mauricio Morales of Talca University. In that case, a second-round showdown would be held between the top two candidates on December 17, and the winner would take over the presidency in March 2018. - Voter apathy - Guillier, a 64-year-old former state TV anchor turned senator who presents himself as an independent, has 25 percent of voter support against 44 percent for Pinera, according to opinion polls. With the outcome weighted heavily in Pinera's favor, voter apathy could be an issue -- even though there are six other candidates in the race. Compulsory voting was dropped in 2012, and since then a growing number of Chile's 14 million eligible voters have decided to stay away from voting booths. "People don't want to vote because, really, nobody believes there will be any significant change anywhere. Also, they see who will be president as a foregone conclusion," said Catalina Gascogne, a 19-year-old student. Analysts predict that abstention could be as high as 40 per cent, and that Pinera has more motivated voters who will turn out. About 40,000 Chileans living abroad have already begun casting their ballots, beginning with those living in New Zealand. - No majority? - Pinera's first presidential victory in 2009 elections signified a break from the center-left politics that had reigned in Chile since democracy was restored with the end of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship in 1990. But a Pinera comeback is not seen as a rejection of the overall economic and social model erected in the Bachelet years, during which Chile posted annual growth of 1.8 percent and passed tax and labor reforms, an introduction of free education, and the right to abortion. "Chileans don't want to tear down the model, just fix its structure," Morales said. Pinera has promised modifications to Bachelet's reforms, as well as vowing to have Chile join the club of developed nations within eight years. His effectiveness, though, could be hobbled by a shortfall in legislative support. "He is not going to have a majority in Congress," another analyst, Marta Lagos, founder of Latinobarometro and MORI Chile, predicted. Sunday's balloting also includes legislative elections for many of the congressional seats. Electoral forecasts suggest the right will increase its representation, but will probably not have the majority in either chamber. Polls opened at 8:00 am (1100 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 6:00 pm (2100 GMT).

Pinera poised for presidential comeback in Chile

With the vote turnout of 75%&nbsp;till Thursday, Himachal Pradesh could potentially break its highest polling record.&nbsp;

The Election Commission officials have&nbsp;said that it is highly likely that the final count could cross the 75%&nbsp;mark.&nbsp;

The voting&nbsp;began on Thursday at almost 500 polling stations which were open till late evening, encouraging every individual to cast their vote.

In the previous polls held in 2012, the total count came to 73.5%, Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was 64.45%.

Polling for all 68 constituencies in Himachal Pradesh commenced at 8 am on Thursday.

Over&nbsp;37,000 poll officials, 17,770 policemen, home-guards and 65 companies of the paramilitary have been deployed in the state for election duty, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.

The highest polling percentage was reported around 82% in Sirmour, while lowest 69.5% in&nbsp;Hamirpur.&nbsp;

The poll results will be announced on December 18.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The poll results will be announced on December 18.?

With the vote turnout of 75% till Thursday, Himachal Pradesh could potentially break its highest polling record. The Election Commission officials have said that it is highly likely that the final count could cross the 75% mark. The voting began on Thursday at almost 500 polling stations which were open till late evening, encouraging every individual to cast their vote. In the previous polls held in 2012, the total count came to 73.5%, Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was 64.45%. Polling for all 68 constituencies in Himachal Pradesh commenced at 8 am on Thursday. Over 37,000 poll officials, 17,770 policemen, home-guards and 65 companies of the paramilitary have been deployed in the state for election duty, the Election Commission said on Wednesday. The highest polling percentage was reported around 82% in Sirmour, while lowest 69.5% in Hamirpur. The poll results will be announced on December 18.

Himachal Pradesh to cross 75% polling record

Police&nbsp;deployed&nbsp;overnight in the northern&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;oil&nbsp;city&nbsp;of Kirkuk to prevent any outbreak of ethnic violence&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;of a referendum on Kurdish&nbsp;independence, local residents said.

The Kurdish region plans to go&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;with the Sept. 25&nbsp;vote&nbsp;despite Baghdad&#39;s warning it is &quot;playing with fire&quot; and U.S. declarations it could undermine the fight against Islamic State forces. The referendum, though, could raise particular&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;in Kirkuk, where Kurds vie with Turkmen and Arabs for power.

Kurdish security and the&nbsp;city&nbsp;police&nbsp;erected checkpoints across the&nbsp;city&nbsp;after a Kurd was killed in a clash with the guards of a Turkmen political party office in the&nbsp;city.

Two other Kurds and one Turkmen security guard were also wounded in the clash that broke out when a Kurdish convoy celebrating the referendum, carrying Kurdish flags, drove by the Turkmen party office, security sources said. The Kurdish dead and wounded were among those celebrating, they said.

Turkey, which has put troops and tanks on exercises close to the border with the Kurdish region, has long seen itself as the protector of the Turkmen minority. When&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;Kurds raised their flag over the&nbsp;city&nbsp;in April, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared that Kirkuk could not be a Kurdish&nbsp;city.

Turkish soldiers, scheduled for manoeuvres until the day after the referendum is due, could be seen digging in at a point about two km (a mile) from the frontier.

Turkey, however, has cultivated close political and business relations with the Kurdish regional government and would be reluctant to disrupt especially&nbsp;oil&nbsp;commerce by any intervention.

Tensions&nbsp;rose after the Kurdish-led provincial council&nbsp;voted this month to include the&nbsp;city&nbsp;in the referendum despite the fact that it lies outside the official boundaries of the Kurdistan region.

Kurdish peshmerga fighters seized Kirkuk and other disputed territories when the&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;army collapsed in the face of Islamic State in 2014, preventing its&nbsp;oilfields from falling into the militants&#39; hands. In recent months the militants have been driven back across Iraq, but remain dug in close to Kirkuk.

Iraqi&nbsp;armed forces announced on Tuesday the start of an attack to dislodge Islamic State from the town of Ana, as they push westward toward al-Qaim, the border post with Syria.

Iranian-backed&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;Shi&#39;ite militias, highlighting the broader perils emanating from the&nbsp;vote, have threatened to dislodge the Kurdish peshmerga forces from Kirkuk should the Kurds persist in holding the&nbsp;vote.

The Kurdish authorities are showing no sign of bowing despite intense international pressure and regional appeals to call off the&nbsp;vote&nbsp;which Baghdad says is unconstitutional and a prelude to breaking up the country.

Iran and Turkey fear contagion for their own Kurdish populations. Turkey has been fighting a Kurdish insurgency in its south-east since 1984

Iraqi&nbsp;Kurdish President Massoud Barzani said late on Monday he would proceed with the&nbsp;vote&nbsp;in the absence of any guarantee by the international community that Baghdad would hold talks on Kurdish&nbsp;independence,

&ldquo;Referendum and dialogue are means toward&nbsp;independence,&rdquo; Barzani told visiting defence minister Michael Fallon, during a meeting in Erbil, the seat of the Kurdish government.

The Kurdish region plans to go?ahead?with the Sept. 25?vote?despite Baghdad's warning it is "playing with fire" and U.S. declarations it could undermine the fight against Islamic State forces.

Police deployed overnight in the northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk to prevent any outbreak of ethnic violence ahead of a referendum on Kurdish independence, local residents said. The Kurdish region plans to go ahead with the Sept. 25 vote despite Baghdad's warning it is "playing with fire" and U.S. declarations it could undermine the fight against Islamic State forces. The referendum, though, could raise particular tensions in Kirkuk, where Kurds vie with Turkmen and Arabs for power. Kurdish security and the city police erected checkpoints across the city after a Kurd was killed in a clash with the guards of a Turkmen political party office in the city. Two other Kurds and one Turkmen security guard were also wounded in the clash that broke out when a Kurdish convoy celebrating the referendum, carrying Kurdish flags, drove by the Turkmen party office, security sources said. The Kurdish dead and wounded were among those celebrating, they said. Turkey, which has put troops and tanks on exercises close to the border with the Kurdish region, has long seen itself as the protector of the Turkmen minority. When Iraqi Kurds raised their flag over the city in April, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared that Kirkuk could not be a Kurdish city. Turkish soldiers, scheduled for manoeuvres until the day after the referendum is due, could be seen digging in at a point about two km (a mile) from the frontier. Turkey, however, has cultivated close political and business relations with the Kurdish regional government and would be reluctant to disrupt especially oil commerce by any intervention. Tensions rose after the Kurdish-led provincial council voted this month to include the city in the referendum despite the fact that it lies outside the official boundaries of the Kurdistan region. Kurdish peshmerga fighters seized Kirkuk and other disputed territories when the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of Islamic State in 2014, preventing its oilfields from falling into the militants' hands. In recent months the militants have been driven back across Iraq, but remain dug in close to Kirkuk. Iraqi armed forces announced on Tuesday the start of an attack to dislodge Islamic State from the town of Ana, as they push westward toward al-Qaim, the border post with Syria. Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi'ite militias, highlighting the broader perils emanating from the vote, have threatened to dislodge the Kurdish peshmerga forces from Kirkuk should the Kurds persist in holding the vote. The Kurdish authorities are showing no sign of bowing despite intense international pressure and regional appeals to call off the vote which Baghdad says is unconstitutional and a prelude to breaking up the country. Iran and Turkey fear contagion for their own Kurdish populations. Turkey has been fighting a Kurdish insurgency in its south-east since 1984 Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani said late on Monday he would proceed with the vote in the absence of any guarantee by the international community that Baghdad would hold talks on Kurdish independence, “Referendum and dialogue are means toward independence,” Barzani told visiting defence minister Michael Fallon, during a meeting in Erbil, the seat of the Kurdish government.

Police deployed in Iraq's Kirkuk as tensions rise ahead of independence vote

Sweden&#39;s anti-immigration Sweden Democrat&nbsp;party&nbsp;on Wednesday tabled a parliamentary&nbsp;vote&nbsp;of no confidence in Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, demanding his resignation in the aftermath of a scandal over leaks of sensitive material.

Lofven is almost certain to ride out the&nbsp;vote, which will take place on Sept. 15 at the earliest, as the main, centre-right&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;bloc has said it will not give its support.

But it will damage his standing just a year before the general election and ratchet up pressure on him to get rid of Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, who has also been targeted by the Sweden Democrats over the IT scandal.

&quot;The Prime Minister has talked about a breakdown, but he has not talked about the breakdown within his own government,&quot; Parliament member Paula Bieler said.

If the Sweden Democrats&#39; attempt to unseat Lofven fails, they will&nbsp;call&nbsp;for a no-confidence motion in Hultqvist. The centre-right Alliance bloc has also said it will table a motion of no-confidence in Hultqvist.

If Hultqvist is forced to resign, he would be the third minister to fall victim to the IT scandal.

No-confidence motions are rare in&nbsp;Swedish&nbsp;politics. Since 1980, only seven have taken place and none one has succeeded.

Lofven is almost certain to ride out the?vote, which will take place on Sept. 15 at the earliest, as the main, centre-right?opposition?bloc has said it will not give its support.

Sweden's anti-immigration Sweden Democrat party on Wednesday tabled a parliamentary vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, demanding his resignation in the aftermath of a scandal over leaks of sensitive material. Lofven is almost certain to ride out the vote, which will take place on Sept. 15 at the earliest, as the main, centre-right opposition bloc has said it will not give its support. But it will damage his standing just a year before the general election and ratchet up pressure on him to get rid of Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, who has also been targeted by the Sweden Democrats over the IT scandal. "The Prime Minister has talked about a breakdown, but he has not talked about the breakdown within his own government," Parliament member Paula Bieler said. If the Sweden Democrats' attempt to unseat Lofven fails, they will call for a no-confidence motion in Hultqvist. The centre-right Alliance bloc has also said it will table a motion of no-confidence in Hultqvist. If Hultqvist is forced to resign, he would be the third minister to fall victim to the IT scandal. No-confidence motions are rare in Swedish politics. Since 1980, only seven have taken place and none one has succeeded.

Swedish PM Stefan Lofven to face no-confidence vote

Susan Collins, US Senator from Maine, said on Monday that she will not vote for fellow Republican Donald Trump for president. 
 
&quot;This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country,&quot; Collins said in an opinion piece in the Washington Post. 
 
(Reuters)

Says Donald Trump 'does not reflect historical Republican values'

Susan Collins, US Senator from Maine, said on Monday that she will not vote for fellow Republican Donald Trump for president. "This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country," Collins said in an opinion piece in the Washington Post. (Reuters)

US Republican Senator Collins will not vote for Trump

Thai voters approved a junta-backed constitution in a referendum today, preliminary results showed, an outcome that paves the way for an election next year, but will also require future elected governments to rule on the military&#39;s terms. Final results are still awaited. 
 
Voters handed the junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha a convincing win in its first major popularity test at the ballot box since it seized power in a 2014 coup. 
 
With 94 per cent of the vote counted, early results from the election commission showed 61.4 per cent of Thais had voted for the charter, while 37.9 per cent rejected it. Full results are due on Wednesday. 
 
The junta says the constitution is designed to heal more than a decade of divisive politics in Thailand that has dented economic growth and left scores dead in civil unrest. 
 
But Thailand&#39;s major political parties and critics of the government say the charter will enshrine the military&#39;s political role for years to come. 
 
The win was a blow to the powerful Shinawatra clan and their allies, whose populist politics are reviled by Thailand&#39;s military-royalist establishment. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister in a coup in 2006 and his sister Yingluck&#39;s government was toppled by Prayuth in 2014. 
 
The acting head of the Peau Thai Party, which carried Yingluck to power, said Thais may have voted pragmatically for the charter as the fastest route to an election. 
 
&quot;The reason most Thais accepted the constitution is because they want to see a general election quickly,&quot; Wirot Pao-in told reporters at the Peau Thai&#39;s Bangkok headquarters on Sunday. &quot;All sides must now help move the country forward.&quot; 
 
Across town at the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship group, the tone was less conciliatory. 
 
&quot;What will we do next? Tell Prayuth that, although it seems he is winning, this is not a victory he can be proud of because his opponents have not been able to fight at their best due to threats and harassment,&quot; said Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the pro-Shinawatra UDD. 
 
Some people wept as the result became clear at the UDD headquarters in Bangkok. 
 
Intimidation 
 
The junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), banned debate about the constitution and campaigning ahead of the vote. The authorities have detained and charged dozens of people who have spoken against it, including politicians and student activists. 
 
&quot;(It was) a one-sided campaign in which the junta indirectly encouraged &#39;yes&#39; votes and arrested or intimidated referendum opponents,&quot; said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs in the city of Chiang Mai. 
 
&quot;As a result many voters did not show up while others felt compelled to vote &#39;yes&#39;.&quot; 
 
Turnout of around 55 per cent was below the 80 per cent targeted by the Election Commission. That likely favoured the government, said Thithinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok&#39;s Chulalongkorn University. 
 
&quot;This is a hands-down convincing margin of approval for the military government,&quot; he said. &quot;This is going to give the junta a signal to go full steam ahead for elections next year. They will feel confident from this vote about rolling out their plans for the transitional period.&quot; 
 
Around 200,000 police were deployed for the referendum and voting passed without major incident. 
 
The yes vote will likely be cheered by Thai financial markets. 
 
&quot;The outcome is our best case scenario and investors should react positively as it&#39;s clear that the election will happen next year,&quot; said Kasem Prunratanamala, head of research at CIMB Securities. 
 
&quot;Foreign investors had been waiting for the vote and may invest more now.&quot; 
 
Decade of turmoil 
 
The vote comes amid concerns about the health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88. The military has for decades invoked its duty as defender of the deeply revered monarch to justify its interventions in politics. 
 
Critics say the charter is the military&#39;s attempt to make good on their failure to banish Thaksin from Thai politics after the 2006 coup. 
 
Senior army officers have told Reuters the new charter aims to make future coups unnecessary by weakening political parties and ensuring the military a role in overseeing Thailand&#39;s economic and political development. 
 
Under the constitution, which would be Thailand&#39;s 20th since the military abolished an absolute monarchy in 1932, a junta-appointed Senate with seats reserved for military commanders would check the powers of elected lawmakers. 
 
Thaksin called the charter a &quot;folly&quot;, saying it would perpetuate the junta&#39;s power and make it impossible to govern Thailand. 
 
Thaksin retains strong influence despite living in self-imposed exile. His support base in the rural northeast bucked the trend and voted against the charter on Sunday. 
 
Decha Shangkamanee, a day labourer in Khon Kaen, said he had voted against it because he disliked the junta, but did not expect the referendum to make much difference. 
 
&quot;I know that nothing really changes today with the way the country is ruled,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

With 94 per cent of the vote counted, early results from the election commission showed 61.4 per cent of Thais had voted for the charter

Thai voters approved a junta-backed constitution in a referendum today, preliminary results showed, an outcome that paves the way for an election next year, but will also require future elected governments to rule on the military's terms. Final results are still awaited. Voters handed the junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha a convincing win in its first major popularity test at the ballot box since it seized power in a 2014 coup. With 94 per cent of the vote counted, early results from the election commission showed 61.4 per cent of Thais had voted for the charter, while 37.9 per cent rejected it. Full results are due on Wednesday. The junta says the constitution is designed to heal more than a decade of divisive politics in Thailand that has dented economic growth and left scores dead in civil unrest. But Thailand's major political parties and critics of the government say the charter will enshrine the military's political role for years to come. The win was a blow to the powerful Shinawatra clan and their allies, whose populist politics are reviled by Thailand's military-royalist establishment. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister in a coup in 2006 and his sister Yingluck's government was toppled by Prayuth in 2014. The acting head of the Peau Thai Party, which carried Yingluck to power, said Thais may have voted pragmatically for the charter as the fastest route to an election. "The reason most Thais accepted the constitution is because they want to see a general election quickly," Wirot Pao-in told reporters at the Peau Thai's Bangkok headquarters on Sunday. "All sides must now help move the country forward." Across town at the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship group, the tone was less conciliatory. "What will we do next? Tell Prayuth that, although it seems he is winning, this is not a victory he can be proud of because his opponents have not been able to fight at their best due to threats and harassment," said Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the pro-Shinawatra UDD. Some people wept as the result became clear at the UDD headquarters in Bangkok. Intimidation The junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), banned debate about the constitution and campaigning ahead of the vote. The authorities have detained and charged dozens of people who have spoken against it, including politicians and student activists. "(It was) a one-sided campaign in which the junta indirectly encouraged 'yes' votes and arrested or intimidated referendum opponents," said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs in the city of Chiang Mai. "As a result many voters did not show up while others felt compelled to vote 'yes'." Turnout of around 55 per cent was below the 80 per cent targeted by the Election Commission. That likely favoured the government, said Thithinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "This is a hands-down convincing margin of approval for the military government," he said. "This is going to give the junta a signal to go full steam ahead for elections next year. They will feel confident from this vote about rolling out their plans for the transitional period." Around 200,000 police were deployed for the referendum and voting passed without major incident. The yes vote will likely be cheered by Thai financial markets. "The outcome is our best case scenario and investors should react positively as it's clear that the election will happen next year," said Kasem Prunratanamala, head of research at CIMB Securities. "Foreign investors had been waiting for the vote and may invest more now." Decade of turmoil The vote comes amid concerns about the health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88. The military has for decades invoked its duty as defender of the deeply revered monarch to justify its interventions in politics. Critics say the charter is the military's attempt to make good on their failure to banish Thaksin from Thai politics after the 2006 coup. Senior army officers have told Reuters the new charter aims to make future coups unnecessary by weakening political parties and ensuring the military a role in overseeing Thailand's economic and political development. Under the constitution, which would be Thailand's 20th since the military abolished an absolute monarchy in 1932, a junta-appointed Senate with seats reserved for military commanders would check the powers of elected lawmakers. Thaksin called the charter a "folly", saying it would perpetuate the junta's power and make it impossible to govern Thailand. Thaksin retains strong influence despite living in self-imposed exile. His support base in the rural northeast bucked the trend and voted against the charter on Sunday. Decha Shangkamanee, a day labourer in Khon Kaen, said he had voted against it because he disliked the junta, but did not expect the referendum to make much difference. "I know that nothing really changes today with the way the country is ruled," he said. (Reuters)

Thai junta passes ballot box test with referendum win in preliminary results

South African President Jacob Zuma on Sunday urged supporters to vote for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) ahead of fiercely competitive municipal polls that could see the party lose control of several major cities. 
 
Zuma&#39;s ANC, which now controls the majority of the country&#39;s 278 municipalities, has been weakened by graft scandals and growing public discontent since it led the fight against white-minority rule. 
 
At a massive final rally, the party made a last push for votes, stressing its anti-apartheid history and past accomplishments. 
 
&quot;Millions of our people must vote ANC and enable their movement to continue improving the lives of our people,&quot; Zuma told a packed Ellis Park Stadium in the Johannesburg city centre. 
 
&quot;Every vote counts.&quot; 
 
An estimated 55,000 supporters decked in the ANC&#39;s green, yellow and black filled the stands for the extravagant rally in a campaign the party said had cost it R1 billion ($72 million). 
 
&quot;We have walked the streets of this country, we have visited every town, every city. We have been to thousands of homes,&quot; said Zuma. 
 
The latest Ipsos opinion polls suggest that the ANC, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994, could be under threat in three major cities -- Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth -- in Wednesday&#39;s election. 
 
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), which rules in Cape Town, is hoping for a breakthrough result, citing the country&#39;s poor economic performance and a series of corruption scandals plaguing Zuma. 
 
Last week, South Africa&#39;s highest court ruled that the president pay back $500,000 of public funds spent upgrading his private Nkandla residence with facilities including a chicken coop and a swimming pool. 
 
&quot;A lot of money was wasted there that should have been spent on the people,&quot; Frieda Motlatla, 24, told AFP at Sunday&#39;s rally. 
 
But with her hair wrapped in an ANC turban, she said Zuma&#39;s troubles would not affect her support: &quot;I don&#39;t vote for a person, I for a party.&quot; 
 
&quot;Nkandla is not our business,&quot; agreed Simon Machaka, 42. &quot;Some people will always be dissatisfied. They don&#39;t focus on the good things.&quot; 
 
The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party is also seeking to make a major impact in its first municipal elections. 
 
All three main parties held their final rallies this weekend. 
 
Zuma, 74, will have completed two terms in office in 2019 and is not eligible to run for president again, but the ANC could replace him ahead of the next general election if the party scores poorly in the local polls. 
 
(AFP)

President Jacob Zuma's ANC controls large parts of the country's municipalities, but graft scandals have made him unpopular

South African President Jacob Zuma on Sunday urged supporters to vote for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) ahead of fiercely competitive municipal polls that could see the party lose control of several major cities. Zuma's ANC, which now controls the majority of the country's 278 municipalities, has been weakened by graft scandals and growing public discontent since it led the fight against white-minority rule. At a massive final rally, the party made a last push for votes, stressing its anti-apartheid history and past accomplishments. "Millions of our people must vote ANC and enable their movement to continue improving the lives of our people," Zuma told a packed Ellis Park Stadium in the Johannesburg city centre. "Every vote counts." An estimated 55,000 supporters decked in the ANC's green, yellow and black filled the stands for the extravagant rally in a campaign the party said had cost it R1 billion ($72 million). "We have walked the streets of this country, we have visited every town, every city. We have been to thousands of homes," said Zuma. The latest Ipsos opinion polls suggest that the ANC, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994, could be under threat in three major cities -- Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth -- in Wednesday's election. The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), which rules in Cape Town, is hoping for a breakthrough result, citing the country's poor economic performance and a series of corruption scandals plaguing Zuma. Last week, South Africa's highest court ruled that the president pay back $500,000 of public funds spent upgrading his private Nkandla residence with facilities including a chicken coop and a swimming pool. "A lot of money was wasted there that should have been spent on the people," Frieda Motlatla, 24, told AFP at Sunday's rally. But with her hair wrapped in an ANC turban, she said Zuma's troubles would not affect her support: "I don't vote for a person, I for a party." "Nkandla is not our business," agreed Simon Machaka, 42. "Some people will always be dissatisfied. They don't focus on the good things." The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party is also seeking to make a major impact in its first municipal elections. All three main parties held their final rallies this weekend. Zuma, 74, will have completed two terms in office in 2019 and is not eligible to run for president again, but the ANC could replace him ahead of the next general election if the party scores poorly in the local polls. (AFP)

South African President urges citizens to vote for African National Congress

Toronto&#39;s Archbishop joined several other prominent clergymen who say they will bless same-sex marriages in defiance of a narrow vote by the Anglican Church of Canada not to authorise gay unions. 
 
More than 200 delegates attending the six-day General Synod 2016 narrowly rejected the resolution Monday night after hearing from more than 60 speakers, most of them in favour of gay marriage. 
 
Archbishop Colin Johnson yesterday said that he wanted his gay and lesbian colleagues &quot;to share the joy&quot;. 
 
Johnson said blessing same-sex marriages at the discretion of the bishop and with agreement of local clergy was a logical step in the evolution of the church that he said he would be considering in the coming weeks. 
 
&quot;I am advised that this option would not contravene the marriage canon,&quot; Johnson said. &quot;I am confident it would be supported by the majority, even if not all of our bishops, clergy, laity and the wider community.&quot; 
 
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Canada since 2005, and Monday&#39;s vote puts the Anglican Church, the third largest in Canada, out of step with most Canadians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently took part in a gay pride parade in Toronto.&nbsp;In order for the resolution to have passed, it required two-thirds support from each of three orders--the lay, clergy and bishops. 
 
Meghan Kilty, the director of communications for the Anglican Church of Canada, said yesterday that 155 delegates voted in favour of the resolution and 68 against it, with three members abstaining from the vote. The result was one vote short of what was needed to pass the measure. 
 
Bishop John Chapman in Ottawa, Ontario, said in a statement that he planned to proceed immediately with such unions in his diocese, although no one would be forced to officiate at such a ceremony. 
 
&quot;It is time my friends,&quot; Chapman said. &quot;It is past time.&quot; 
 
&quot;Take heart,&quot; said Rev. Melissa Skelton, bishop of New Westminster, British Columbia. &quot;This is not over.&quot; 
 
The General Synod is held every three years, and the vote was the culmination of work that began when the last General Synod, the church&#39;s legislative body, asked a panel to come up with a draft motion. 
 
About 1.6 million Canadians identify themselves as Anglican, according to Statistics Canada. 
 
The US Episcopal Church, the Anglican body in the United States, is alone among Anglican bodies in approving gay marriage and has faced a backlash for its support of same-sex unions. 
 
(PTI)

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Canada since 2005, and the Anglican Church's opposition to it is out of step with most Canadians

Toronto's Archbishop joined several other prominent clergymen who say they will bless same-sex marriages in defiance of a narrow vote by the Anglican Church of Canada not to authorise gay unions. More than 200 delegates attending the six-day General Synod 2016 narrowly rejected the resolution Monday night after hearing from more than 60 speakers, most of them in favour of gay marriage. Archbishop Colin Johnson yesterday said that he wanted his gay and lesbian colleagues "to share the joy". Johnson said blessing same-sex marriages at the discretion of the bishop and with agreement of local clergy was a logical step in the evolution of the church that he said he would be considering in the coming weeks. "I am advised that this option would not contravene the marriage canon," Johnson said. "I am confident it would be supported by the majority, even if not all of our bishops, clergy, laity and the wider community." Same-sex marriage has been legal in Canada since 2005, and Monday's vote puts the Anglican Church, the third largest in Canada, out of step with most Canadians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently took part in a gay pride parade in Toronto. In order for the resolution to have passed, it required two-thirds support from each of three orders--the lay, clergy and bishops. Meghan Kilty, the director of communications for the Anglican Church of Canada, said yesterday that 155 delegates voted in favour of the resolution and 68 against it, with three members abstaining from the vote. The result was one vote short of what was needed to pass the measure. Bishop John Chapman in Ottawa, Ontario, said in a statement that he planned to proceed immediately with such unions in his diocese, although no one would be forced to officiate at such a ceremony. "It is time my friends," Chapman said. "It is past time." "Take heart," said Rev. Melissa Skelton, bishop of New Westminster, British Columbia. "This is not over." The General Synod is held every three years, and the vote was the culmination of work that began when the last General Synod, the church's legislative body, asked a panel to come up with a draft motion. About 1.6 million Canadians identify themselves as Anglican, according to Statistics Canada. The US Episcopal Church, the Anglican body in the United States, is alone among Anglican bodies in approving gay marriage and has faced a backlash for its support of same-sex unions. (PTI)

Toronto Archbishop blesses same-sex marriage, despite Church's vote

Australians have elected a divided parliament stacked with fractious independents and minor parties but the nation&#39;s weary political leaders are united on at least one front: the need for electronic voting. 
 
Counting in Australia&#39;s July 2 election dragged into its 10th day on Tuesday, drawing unfavourable comparisons with Japan, Iceland and Spain, where recent elections were all decided in less than a day. 
 
Britons took just seven hours to calculate their contentious Brexit vote to leave the European Union last month. 
 
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten have backed e-voting as a solution to Australia&#39;s snail-paced count, although experts warn of security issues and others bemoan the potential loss of typically Australian election day quirks like the &quot;sausage sizzle&quot;. 
 
Shorten said on Sunday, after already more than a week of hand-counting of ballot papers, that it shouldn&#39;t take &quot;a grown-up democracy&quot; so long to figure out who has won. 
 
Counting in Australia, where voting is compulsory, is usually resolved on the same evening that Australia&#39;s 15 million voters cast their ballots. 
 
But a tight election this year and a close-run poll in 2010 demonstrate how polls can drag on for weeks before final results are declared, with electoral officials recounting by hand as they painstakingly pore over slender margins and wait for postal ballots to arrive. 
 
By comparison, more than 45 million votes were cast in Japan on Sunday and more than 33 million were cast in the Brexit referendum. Both polls produced results within hours. 
 
E-voting could solve Australia&#39;s quandary by delivering an instant, computer-counted result, but experts warn the risks might outweigh the benefits. 
 
Electronic voting is currently available to vision-impaired voters via an automated telephone system. It has also been trialled at state polls. In a 2015 trial in New South Wales, Australia&#39;s most populous state, internet security experts found the process vulnerable to hacking. 
 
&quot;Security issues around electronic voting are not solved. Software errors and security problems could potentially impact the election result,&quot; said Vanessa Teague, a lecturer in computer and information systems at University of Melbourne. 
 
(Reuters)

E-voting is available for vision-impaired voters, though in a 2015 trial in New South Wales, experts found the process vulnerable to hacking

Australians have elected a divided parliament stacked with fractious independents and minor parties but the nation's weary political leaders are united on at least one front: the need for electronic voting. Counting in Australia's July 2 election dragged into its 10th day on Tuesday, drawing unfavourable comparisons with Japan, Iceland and Spain, where recent elections were all decided in less than a day. Britons took just seven hours to calculate their contentious Brexit vote to leave the European Union last month. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten have backed e-voting as a solution to Australia's snail-paced count, although experts warn of security issues and others bemoan the potential loss of typically Australian election day quirks like the "sausage sizzle". Shorten said on Sunday, after already more than a week of hand-counting of ballot papers, that it shouldn't take "a grown-up democracy" so long to figure out who has won. Counting in Australia, where voting is compulsory, is usually resolved on the same evening that Australia's 15 million voters cast their ballots. But a tight election this year and a close-run poll in 2010 demonstrate how polls can drag on for weeks before final results are declared, with electoral officials recounting by hand as they painstakingly pore over slender margins and wait for postal ballots to arrive. By comparison, more than 45 million votes were cast in Japan on Sunday and more than 33 million were cast in the Brexit referendum. Both polls produced results within hours. E-voting could solve Australia's quandary by delivering an instant, computer-counted result, but experts warn the risks might outweigh the benefits. Electronic voting is currently available to vision-impaired voters via an automated telephone system. It has also been trialled at state polls. In a 2015 trial in New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, internet security experts found the process vulnerable to hacking. "Security issues around electronic voting are not solved. Software errors and security problems could potentially impact the election result," said Vanessa Teague, a lecturer in computer and information systems at University of Melbourne. (Reuters)

In rare consensus, Australian MPs call for e-voting as poll count drags into 10th day

British Labour Party lawmakers voted massively against their leader on Tuesday amid political turmoil in Britain after a vote to leave the European Union, as candidates to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron vied for power behind the scenes. 
 
Labour&#39;s Jeremy Corbyn lost a non-binding confidence motion, with 172 Labour MPs voting against him and only 40 in favour out of a total of 229 Labour lawmakers in the House of Commons lower house. But the veteran socialist insisted he would not stand down. 
 
&quot;I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60 per cent of Labour members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning. Todays vote by MPs has no constitutional legitimacy,&quot; he said in a statement. 
 
Five days after the shock referendum vote, the two parties that have dominated Westminster for nearly a century were in almost complete disarray. 
 
Pro-EU finance minister George Osborne, long tipped to succeed Cameron, ruled himself out on Tuesday while British media reported that Work and Pensions Minister Stephen Crabb, a virtual unknown to the British public, would put his name forward. 
 
Former London mayor and &quot;Leave&quot; figurehead Boris Johnson -- now a bogeyman for many in the &quot;Remain&quot; camp -- is tipped as one of the favourites. 
 
The other is interior minister Theresa May who is reportedly seeking support for a rival bid that British media tipped as the &quot;Stop Boris&quot; campaign. 
 
The Conservatives have set a Thursday deadline for nominations, and the party said the winner would be announced on September 9. 
 
Cameron has said he would leave it to his successor to invoke Article 50 -- the formal procedure for exiting the European Union.On the opposition side, over half of Corbyns shadow cabinet -- the leadership of his party -- have now resigned since Sunday in a coordinated series of resignations against the 67-year-old, who only became leader in September. 
 
Corbyn, a veteran socialist and eurosceptic who voted against EU membership in a 1975 referendum, has come under heavy criticism from pro-EU lawmakers for his lukewarm campaigning in favour of Britain staying in. Many experts have blamed the strong anti-EU vote in Labour heartlands in northern England on Corbyn. 
 
But Corbyn himself has blamed Conservative austerity measures for creating disenchantment in many working-class areas, and said the media had not covered Labours referendum campaign, focussing instead on rifts within the ruling Conservatives. 
 
The Conservatives are meanwhile scrambling to choose a successor to Cameron, who announced his resignation within hours of the Brexit result last Friday. 
 
A new poll Tuesday put May in the lead with 31 per cent, against 24 per cent for Johnson. 
 
Nominations for the party leadership open Wednesday, and close Thursday. 
 
If more than two candidates stand, Tory MPs will vote next week to whittle down the field to two nominees, before the new leader is chosen by a postal ballot of party members, who currently number around 150,000. 
 
The new Tory leader is expected to be announced on September 9, the party announced Tuesday. 
 
Critics have questioned whether the &quot;Leave&quot; camp -- and Johnson in particular -- has any idea how to manage the unprecedented situation left by last week&#39;s vote. 
 
&quot;He has still to offer anything like a concrete plan on how he would negotiate the post-Brexit future,&quot; wrote former BBC political editor Nick Robinson. 
 
He added: &quot;The fallout from the biggest exercise in popular democracy has already been dramatic... It has, though, only just begun.&nbsp;The old order has been smashed. It may be a very long time -- not weeks, not months but years -- before the shape of the new order and the answers to all those questions become clear.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Actually, both major British parties are in disarray after last week's decision to leave the EU

British Labour Party lawmakers voted massively against their leader on Tuesday amid political turmoil in Britain after a vote to leave the European Union, as candidates to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron vied for power behind the scenes. Labour's Jeremy Corbyn lost a non-binding confidence motion, with 172 Labour MPs voting against him and only 40 in favour out of a total of 229 Labour lawmakers in the House of Commons lower house. But the veteran socialist insisted he would not stand down. "I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60 per cent of Labour members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning. Todays vote by MPs has no constitutional legitimacy," he said in a statement. Five days after the shock referendum vote, the two parties that have dominated Westminster for nearly a century were in almost complete disarray. Pro-EU finance minister George Osborne, long tipped to succeed Cameron, ruled himself out on Tuesday while British media reported that Work and Pensions Minister Stephen Crabb, a virtual unknown to the British public, would put his name forward. Former London mayor and "Leave" figurehead Boris Johnson -- now a bogeyman for many in the "Remain" camp -- is tipped as one of the favourites. The other is interior minister Theresa May who is reportedly seeking support for a rival bid that British media tipped as the "Stop Boris" campaign. The Conservatives have set a Thursday deadline for nominations, and the party said the winner would be announced on September 9. Cameron has said he would leave it to his successor to invoke Article 50 -- the formal procedure for exiting the European Union.On the opposition side, over half of Corbyns shadow cabinet -- the leadership of his party -- have now resigned since Sunday in a coordinated series of resignations against the 67-year-old, who only became leader in September. Corbyn, a veteran socialist and eurosceptic who voted against EU membership in a 1975 referendum, has come under heavy criticism from pro-EU lawmakers for his lukewarm campaigning in favour of Britain staying in. Many experts have blamed the strong anti-EU vote in Labour heartlands in northern England on Corbyn. But Corbyn himself has blamed Conservative austerity measures for creating disenchantment in many working-class areas, and said the media had not covered Labours referendum campaign, focussing instead on rifts within the ruling Conservatives. The Conservatives are meanwhile scrambling to choose a successor to Cameron, who announced his resignation within hours of the Brexit result last Friday. A new poll Tuesday put May in the lead with 31 per cent, against 24 per cent for Johnson. Nominations for the party leadership open Wednesday, and close Thursday. If more than two candidates stand, Tory MPs will vote next week to whittle down the field to two nominees, before the new leader is chosen by a postal ballot of party members, who currently number around 150,000. The new Tory leader is expected to be announced on September 9, the party announced Tuesday. Critics have questioned whether the "Leave" camp -- and Johnson in particular -- has any idea how to manage the unprecedented situation left by last week's vote. "He has still to offer anything like a concrete plan on how he would negotiate the post-Brexit future," wrote former BBC political editor Nick Robinson. He added: "The fallout from the biggest exercise in popular democracy has already been dramatic... It has, though, only just begun. The old order has been smashed. It may be a very long time -- not weeks, not months but years -- before the shape of the new order and the answers to all those questions become clear." (AFP)

Corbyn fights to maintain grip on Labour party after Brexit vote

Seven members of Britain&#39;s opposition Labour Party said on Sunday they had withdrawn support for the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, plunging the party into crisis in the wake of Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union. 
 
Corbyn sacked Hilary Benn as Labour&#39;s foreign policy chief today after he said he had lost confidence in the leadership. Gloria de Piero, Heidi Alexander, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray all announced they were withdrawing support and stepping down from Corbyn&#39;s &#39;shadow cabinet&#39;. 
 
Sky News television reported that Lilian Greenwood and Kerry Mccarthy had also resigned. 
 
Several said in statements that they doubted Corbyn&#39;s ability to lead the party to victory in the country&#39;s next parliamentary election. 
 
A vote must take place within months after Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday he would step down by October after Britain voted to leave the European Union. 
 
(Reuters)

Gloria de Piero, Heidi Alexander, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray announced they were withdrawing support and resigning from shadow cabinet

Seven members of Britain's opposition Labour Party said on Sunday they had withdrawn support for the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, plunging the party into crisis in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Corbyn sacked Hilary Benn as Labour's foreign policy chief today after he said he had lost confidence in the leadership. Gloria de Piero, Heidi Alexander, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray all announced they were withdrawing support and stepping down from Corbyn's 'shadow cabinet'. Sky News television reported that Lilian Greenwood and Kerry Mccarthy had also resigned. Several said in statements that they doubted Corbyn's ability to lead the party to victory in the country's next parliamentary election. A vote must take place within months after Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday he would step down by October after Britain voted to leave the European Union. (Reuters)

Seven of Labour withdraw support from Corbyn

The President of Mexico&#39;s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, announced his resignation on Monday, two weeks after the party of President Enrique Pena Nieto suffered a humiliating defeat in regional elections. 
 
Manlio Fabio Beltrones, a former governor and veteran federal lawmaker, announced his decision to step down after the PRI won only five of the dozen governors races up for grabs in the June 5 vote. It previously held nine of them. 
 
The results were far worse for the centrist party than most polls had forecast. 
 
The PRI&#39;s losses included two oil-rich strongholds in the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz and neighboring Tamaulipas, both of which have been plagued by gang violence for years, as well as Quintana Roo, home to Mexico&#39;s top tourist destination Cancun. All three states have been run by the PRI for over eight decades. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s time for a necessary pause,&quot; Beltrones told a news conference at the PRI&#39;s Mexico City headquarters. 
 
&quot;This is a responsible decision that opens space for an internal debate and allows our party to freely decide the best path forward,&quot; he said. 
 
Beltrones, 63, is still seen as a possible presidential contender for the PRI in 2018. Pena Nieto is not allowed by law to seek a second six-year term. 
 
In a poll published Monday by daily newspaper El Financiero, Beltrones was tied for second with 10 per cent among PRI voters, trailing Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, who had 32 per cent support. 
(Reuters)

Manlio Fabio Beltrones announced his decision after the PRI won only five of the dozen governors races up for grabs in the June 5 vote

The President of Mexico's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, announced his resignation on Monday, two weeks after the party of President Enrique Pena Nieto suffered a humiliating defeat in regional elections. Manlio Fabio Beltrones, a former governor and veteran federal lawmaker, announced his decision to step down after the PRI won only five of the dozen governors races up for grabs in the June 5 vote. It previously held nine of them. The results were far worse for the centrist party than most polls had forecast. The PRI's losses included two oil-rich strongholds in the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz and neighboring Tamaulipas, both of which have been plagued by gang violence for years, as well as Quintana Roo, home to Mexico's top tourist destination Cancun. All three states have been run by the PRI for over eight decades. "It's time for a necessary pause," Beltrones told a news conference at the PRI's Mexico City headquarters. "This is a responsible decision that opens space for an internal debate and allows our party to freely decide the best path forward," he said. Beltrones, 63, is still seen as a possible presidential contender for the PRI in 2018. Pena Nieto is not allowed by law to seek a second six-year term. In a poll published Monday by daily newspaper El Financiero, Beltrones was tied for second with 10 per cent among PRI voters, trailing Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, who had 32 per cent support. (Reuters)

Head of Mexico's ruling party resigns after electoral drubbing

Asian shares rose after a tentative start on Tuesday, cautiously extending a rally triggered by growing expectations that British voters will opt to remain in the European Union (EU) in this week&#39;s referendum. 
 
Morgan Stanley Capital Investment&#39;s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up by 0.2 per cent. 
 
Investors remain wary ahead of Thursday&#39;s British vote, as well as Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen&#39;s two-day testimony before Congress starting later on Tuesday, as she might offer clues on the timing of the next US interest rate increase. 
 
&quot;With Yellen&#39;s congressional testimony and the UK referendum on our doorstep, markets all around are exercising caution,&quot; said Andrew Meredith, co-managing director at Tyton Capital Advisors in Tokyo. 
 
Bookmakers&#39; odds have also shown &quot;Remain&quot; gaining traction in Britain&#39;s referendum, with Betfair putting the implied probability of such an outcome at 72 per cent on Monday, up from 60-67 per cent on Friday. 
 
Two of the latest polls showed the &quot;Remain&quot; camp in the lead, reversing a recent rise in support for pulling out and prompting a rally in global equities and the pound. 
 
&quot;The polls were not supposed to influence as much as they have, but overnight we have seen a rampant position adjustment and an unwind of Brexit hedges,&quot; wrote Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG in Melbourne. 
 
Japan&#39;s Nikkei stock index reversed early losses and added 1 per cent. 
 
A Reuters poll showed that confidence at Japanese manufacturers inched up in June from the prior month&#39;s three-year low and is seen rising only slightly ahead, reflecting worries about the yen&#39;s rise as Britain decides whether or not to leave the EU. 
 
Minutes of the Bank of Japan&#39;s April meeting released on Tuesday showed policymakers believe overseas economies continue to pose downside risks to Japan&#39;s economy and prices. 
 
The Pound was steady on the day at $1.4660 after it rose as high as $1.4721 on Monday, extending a recovery from last Thursday&#39;s more than two-month trough of $1.4013. 
 
The Dollar added 0.2 percent to 104.13 Yen, moving away from Thursday&#39;s nearly two-year low of 103.55 that was hit after the Bank of Japan held policy steady, disappointing investors hoping for more stimulus. 
 
Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that Japan would respond to rapid currency moves, although he said the country would not intervene in the market so &quot;easily.&quot; 
 
The Euro gained 0.2 per cent to $1.1331. 
 
Later in the session, Germany&#39;s constitutional court will rule on the emergency bond-buying plan devised by the European Central Bank (ECB) during the financial crisis. An outright rejection of the programme is viewed as unlikely, but the ruling could potentially upset the ECB&#39;s current programme and roil markets. 
 
Crude oil futures gave back some of their gains after surging 3 per cent on Monday as Brexit fears waned. 
 
Brent crude shed 0.5 per cent to $50.41 a barrel, while US crude was down 0.4 per cent at $49.18. 
 
Spot gold also inched lower, down 0.2 per cent to $1,286.11 an ounce.

Two of the latest polls show the 'Remain' camp in the lead and prompting a rally in global equities and the Pound

Asian shares rose after a tentative start on Tuesday, cautiously extending a rally triggered by growing expectations that British voters will opt to remain in the European Union (EU) in this week's referendum. Morgan Stanley Capital Investment's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up by 0.2 per cent. Investors remain wary ahead of Thursday's British vote, as well as Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen's two-day testimony before Congress starting later on Tuesday, as she might offer clues on the timing of the next US interest rate increase. "With Yellen's congressional testimony and the UK referendum on our doorstep, markets all around are exercising caution," said Andrew Meredith, co-managing director at Tyton Capital Advisors in Tokyo. Bookmakers' odds have also shown "Remain" gaining traction in Britain's referendum, with Betfair putting the implied probability of such an outcome at 72 per cent on Monday, up from 60-67 per cent on Friday. Two of the latest polls showed the "Remain" camp in the lead, reversing a recent rise in support for pulling out and prompting a rally in global equities and the pound. "The polls were not supposed to influence as much as they have, but overnight we have seen a rampant position adjustment and an unwind of Brexit hedges," wrote Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG in Melbourne. Japan's Nikkei stock index reversed early losses and added 1 per cent. A Reuters poll showed that confidence at Japanese manufacturers inched up in June from the prior month's three-year low and is seen rising only slightly ahead, reflecting worries about the yen's rise as Britain decides whether or not to leave the EU. Minutes of the Bank of Japan's April meeting released on Tuesday showed policymakers believe overseas economies continue to pose downside risks to Japan's economy and prices. The Pound was steady on the day at $1.4660 after it rose as high as $1.4721 on Monday, extending a recovery from last Thursday's more than two-month trough of $1.4013. The Dollar added 0.2 percent to 104.13 Yen, moving away from Thursday's nearly two-year low of 103.55 that was hit after the Bank of Japan held policy steady, disappointing investors hoping for more stimulus. Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that Japan would respond to rapid currency moves, although he said the country would not intervene in the market so "easily." The Euro gained 0.2 per cent to $1.1331. Later in the session, Germany's constitutional court will rule on the emergency bond-buying plan devised by the European Central Bank (ECB) during the financial crisis. An outright rejection of the programme is viewed as unlikely, but the ruling could potentially upset the ECB's current programme and roil markets. Crude oil futures gave back some of their gains after surging 3 per cent on Monday as Brexit fears waned. Brent crude shed 0.5 per cent to $50.41 a barrel, while US crude was down 0.4 per cent at $49.18. Spot gold also inched lower, down 0.2 per cent to $1,286.11 an ounce.

Asian shares rise as Britain expected to stay in EU

Oil rallied on Monday, lifted by a wave of investor confidence and a weaker dollar after polls showed a diminishing chance that Britain may vote to leave the European Union later this week. 
 
August Brent crude futures were up 90 cents at $50.07 a barrel by 0843 GMT, set for a gain of 6 per cent in two trading days. New York Mercantile Exchange crude for July delivery, which expires on Tuesday, was up 80 cents at $48.78 a barrel. 
 
Campaigning for Britain&#39;s vote on EU membership resumed on Sunday after a three-day hiatus prompted by the killing of a pro-EU lawmaker. 
 
Three opinion polls ahead of Thursday&#39;s vote showed the &#39;Remain&#39; camp recovering some momentum, although the overall picture remained one of an evenly split electorate. 
 
Perceived safe havens such as gold, the US dollar, German bonds and the Swiss franc came under pressure, while oil looked set for its largest two-day rise in a month and the likes of copper and equities rallied. 
 
&quot;For oil as a risky asset, what we&#39;ve seen are intraday gyrations that are coming from the spillover effects of &#39;risk-on/risk-off&#39; moves that follow the poll numbers,&quot; BNP Paribas global head of commodity strategy Harry Tchilinguirian said. 
 
The pound climbed 1.6 per cent to $1.4589, extending a recovery from last Thursday&#39;s more than two-month trough of $1.4013. 
 
&quot;With Brexit dominating the market headlines, there might be moves in the US dollar that drive the oil market at least until we get that out of the way,&quot; said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s likely to be a nervous and skittish week&#39;s trading.&quot; 
 
Oil prices continued to recover despite data showing US energy firms adding oil rigs for a third week in a row, suggesting higher production to come. 
 
Oil services firm Baker Hughes reported nine rig additions in the week to June 17. 
 
Aside from Brexit concerns, the market is likely to be caught in a range as any gains would likely be limited by the return of more shale drillers in the United States, McCarthy said. 
 
&quot;Capping market gains at the moment is the potential for those very agile US producers to jump back into production should we see any further substantial rises,&quot; he said.

August Brent crude futures were up 90 cents at $50.07 a barrel

Oil rallied on Monday, lifted by a wave of investor confidence and a weaker dollar after polls showed a diminishing chance that Britain may vote to leave the European Union later this week. August Brent crude futures were up 90 cents at $50.07 a barrel by 0843 GMT, set for a gain of 6 per cent in two trading days. New York Mercantile Exchange crude for July delivery, which expires on Tuesday, was up 80 cents at $48.78 a barrel. Campaigning for Britain's vote on EU membership resumed on Sunday after a three-day hiatus prompted by the killing of a pro-EU lawmaker. Three opinion polls ahead of Thursday's vote showed the 'Remain' camp recovering some momentum, although the overall picture remained one of an evenly split electorate. Perceived safe havens such as gold, the US dollar, German bonds and the Swiss franc came under pressure, while oil looked set for its largest two-day rise in a month and the likes of copper and equities rallied. "For oil as a risky asset, what we've seen are intraday gyrations that are coming from the spillover effects of 'risk-on/risk-off' moves that follow the poll numbers," BNP Paribas global head of commodity strategy Harry Tchilinguirian said. The pound climbed 1.6 per cent to $1.4589, extending a recovery from last Thursday's more than two-month trough of $1.4013. "With Brexit dominating the market headlines, there might be moves in the US dollar that drive the oil market at least until we get that out of the way," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney. "It's likely to be a nervous and skittish week's trading." Oil prices continued to recover despite data showing US energy firms adding oil rigs for a third week in a row, suggesting higher production to come. Oil services firm Baker Hughes reported nine rig additions in the week to June 17. Aside from Brexit concerns, the market is likely to be caught in a range as any gains would likely be limited by the return of more shale drillers in the United States, McCarthy said. "Capping market gains at the moment is the potential for those very agile US producers to jump back into production should we see any further substantial rises," he said.

Oil rallies as polls show diminished chance that Britain will vote to leave the EU

Turkey&#39;s president warned Germany on Tuesday that its plans to declare the 1915 mass killing of Armenians a genocide would damage bilateral ties, raising new concerns about an EU-Turkey migrant deal championed by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

German lawmakers are expected to approve a symbolic resolution on Thursday that labels the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman forces &quot;genocide&quot;, a description that Turkey strongly rejects.

The vote had been scheduled to take place over a year ago, on the 100th anniversary of the massacre, but Merkel&#39;s allies in parliament pushed it back repeatedly out of concern that it could hurt relations with Ankara.

Now they have run out of time and may be wishing they had let the vote take place sooner.

The opposition Greens have pushed the resolution onto the agenda at an extremely awkward time for Merkel, the driving force behind an agreement between the EU and Ankara that has helped slash the number of illegal migrants entering Europe.

The deal has eased political pressure on Merkel at home. But it has been under a cloud since its strongest proponent in the Turkish government, Ahmet Davutoglu, was pushed out as prime minister this month. Since then, President Tayyip Erdogan has questioned aspects of the agreement and some of his allies have even threatened to unleash a new wave of refugees on Europe.

In comments to reporters before he left for an official visit to&nbsp;Africa, Erdogan lashed out at those who he said were trying to &quot;deceive&quot; Germany over the 1915 events, without accusing anyone in particular.

&quot;If Germany is to be deceived by this, then bilateral diplomatic, economic, trade, political, and military ties - we are both NATO countries - will be damaged,&quot; he said.

The comments came after he spoke to Merkel by telephone to express his concern about the resolution. Sources in both capitals said Erdogan had initiated the call.

&nbsp;

GERMAN HISTORY

The resolution, which is formally supported by Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc, the centre-left Social Democrats and the Greens, uses the word &quot;genocide&quot; in the headline and text.

&quot;The fate of the Armenians is exemplary in the history of mass exterminations, ethnic cleansing, deportations and yes, genocide, which marked the 20th century in such a terrible way,&quot; it reads.

The resolution also touches on the &quot;inglorious&quot; role of the German Empire, a military ally of the Ottomans, because it did nothing to stop the massacre.

Turkey argues that the there was no organised campaign to wipe out the Armenians, who are Christian, and no evidence of any such orders from the Ottoman authorities.

Cem Oezdemir, a leader of the Greens with Turkish roots, told Reuters he had experienced weeks of personal attacks from Turkish nationalists on social media and via email because of his role in championing the resolution.

&quot;It wasn&#39;t our goal to hold this vote now,&quot; Oezdemir said. &quot;But the timing is not that important. The Bundestag is doing this because this is also a part of German history. The Ottoman and German empires were essentially brothers in arms.&quot;

The vote coincides with deepening public scepticism in Germany towards Turkey and Erdogan in particular. Critics accuse Merkel of going soft on Ankara over human rights because of her desire to stem the flow of migrants.

Last month she drew fire for allowing German prosecutors to look into charges against a comedian who mocked Erdogan in a crude poem. The comedian, Jan Boehmermann, has accused Merkel of serving him &quot;up for tea to a highly strung despot&quot;.

Merkel and other top ministers are expected to vote for the resolution, although some, including Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have questioned the wisdom of it in public.

Some officials fear it could stir tensions with the roughly 3 million people of Turkish origin who live in Germany.

Last year, German President Joachim Gauck condemned the killings of Armenians as &quot;genocide&quot; in a speech to mark the 100th anniversary of the massacres. Germany had previously avoided using the term in connection with the massacre.

Turkey's president warned Germany on Tuesday that its plans to declare the 1915 mass killing of Armenians a genocide would damage bilateral ties, raising new concerns about an EU-Turkey migrant deal championed by Chancellor Angela Merkel

Turkey's president warned Germany on Tuesday that its plans to declare the 1915 mass killing of Armenians a genocide would damage bilateral ties, raising new concerns about an EU-Turkey migrant deal championed by Chancellor Angela Merkel. German lawmakers are expected to approve a symbolic resolution on Thursday that labels the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman forces "genocide", a description that Turkey strongly rejects. The vote had been scheduled to take place over a year ago, on the 100th anniversary of the massacre, but Merkel's allies in parliament pushed it back repeatedly out of concern that it could hurt relations with Ankara. Now they have run out of time and may be wishing they had let the vote take place sooner. The opposition Greens have pushed the resolution onto the agenda at an extremely awkward time for Merkel, the driving force behind an agreement between the EU and Ankara that has helped slash the number of illegal migrants entering Europe. The deal has eased political pressure on Merkel at home. But it has been under a cloud since its strongest proponent in the Turkish government, Ahmet Davutoglu, was pushed out as prime minister this month. Since then, President Tayyip Erdogan has questioned aspects of the agreement and some of his allies have even threatened to unleash a new wave of refugees on Europe. In comments to reporters before he left for an official visit to Africa, Erdogan lashed out at those who he said were trying to "deceive" Germany over the 1915 events, without accusing anyone in particular. "If Germany is to be deceived by this, then bilateral diplomatic, economic, trade, political, and military ties - we are both NATO countries - will be damaged," he said. The comments came after he spoke to Merkel by telephone to express his concern about the resolution. Sources in both capitals said Erdogan had initiated the call. GERMAN HISTORY The resolution, which is formally supported by Merkel's conservative bloc, the centre-left Social Democrats and the Greens, uses the word "genocide" in the headline and text. "The fate of the Armenians is exemplary in the history of mass exterminations, ethnic cleansing, deportations and yes, genocide, which marked the 20th century in such a terrible way," it reads. The resolution also touches on the "inglorious" role of the German Empire, a military ally of the Ottomans, because it did nothing to stop the massacre. Turkey argues that the there was no organised campaign to wipe out the Armenians, who are Christian, and no evidence of any such orders from the Ottoman authorities. Cem Oezdemir, a leader of the Greens with Turkish roots, told Reuters he had experienced weeks of personal attacks from Turkish nationalists on social media and via email because of his role in championing the resolution. "It wasn't our goal to hold this vote now," Oezdemir said. "But the timing is not that important. The Bundestag is doing this because this is also a part of German history. The Ottoman and German empires were essentially brothers in arms." The vote coincides with deepening public scepticism in Germany towards Turkey and Erdogan in particular. Critics accuse Merkel of going soft on Ankara over human rights because of her desire to stem the flow of migrants. Last month she drew fire for allowing German prosecutors to look into charges against a comedian who mocked Erdogan in a crude poem. The comedian, Jan Boehmermann, has accused Merkel of serving him "up for tea to a highly strung despot". Merkel and other top ministers are expected to vote for the resolution, although some, including Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have questioned the wisdom of it in public. Some officials fear it could stir tensions with the roughly 3 million people of Turkish origin who live in Germany. Last year, German President Joachim Gauck condemned the killings of Armenians as "genocide" in a speech to mark the 100th anniversary of the massacres. Germany had previously avoided using the term in connection with the massacre.

Erdogan warns Germany ahead of Armenian genocide vote

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