<p>At least 12 people were dead and several were left injured on Wednesday after a group of suicide bombers stormed into the head offices of Libya's electoral commission in Tripoli on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The three attackers set the building on fire before two of them blew themselves up and one was killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces. Several offices were set ablaze in the attack.</p>

<p>Eyewitnesses said they heard two loud explosions followed by heavy gunfire. As per reports, three people were severely wounded in the attack. The identity of the attackers is yet to be known.</p>

<p>There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but it appeared aimed at derailing efforts to organise elections in Libya by the end of this year, part of a UN-led attempt to unify and stabilise the country after years of conflict and political division.</p>

<p>Wednesday's attack was the first of its kind in Tripoli for several years. Though security across Libya remains volatile, violence in the capital has recently been limited to localised clashes between armed groups.</p>

<p>Pictures posted on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from the site of the attack, in the Ghout al-Shaal district west of central Tripoli.</p>

<p>"I saw two suicide bombers myself... they were shouting Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)," said Omar, adding that he had seen bombers' body parts strewn on the ground.</p>

<p>"A suicide bomber blew up himself inside the commission and the others set a part of the building on fire."</p>

<p>The victims included three employees of the commission and four members of local security forces, Omar said. The health ministry put the toll at 12 dead and seven wounded.</p>


The three attackers set the building on fire before two of them blew themselves up and one was killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces. Several offices were set ablaze in the attack

At least 12 people were dead and several were left injured on Wednesday after a group of suicide bombers stormed into the head offices of Libya's electoral commission in Tripoli on Wednesday. The three attackers set the building on fire before two of them blew themselves up and one was killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces. Several offices were set ablaze in the attack. Eyewitnesses said they heard two loud explosions followed by heavy gunfire. As per reports, three people were severely wounded in the attack. The identity of the attackers is yet to be known. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but it appeared aimed at derailing efforts to organise elections in Libya by the end of this year, part of a UN-led attempt to unify and stabilise the country after years of conflict and political division. Wednesday's attack was the first of its kind in Tripoli for several years. Though security across Libya remains volatile, violence in the capital has recently been limited to localised clashes between armed groups. Pictures posted on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from the site of the attack, in the Ghout al-Shaal district west of central Tripoli. "I saw two suicide bombers myself... they were shouting Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)," said Omar, adding that he had seen bombers' body parts strewn on the ground. "A suicide bomber blew up himself inside the commission and the others set a part of the building on fire." The victims included three employees of the commission and four members of local security forces, Omar said. The health ministry put the toll at 12 dead and seven wounded.

At least 12 dead after suicide bombers storm Libya election commission headquarters

<p>Voting for Rajya Sabha seats has begun across six states.</p>

<p>For the 58 Rajya Sabha seats to be filled, 33 candidates from 10 states have been unanimously elected. Voting for the remaining 25 seats is being held in six states: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.</p>

<p>The Rajya Sabha vacancies next month include 17 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 12 from the Congress.</p>

<p>Three nominated members - actress Rekha, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, and social worker Anu Aga - will retire in April.</p>

<p>The BJP has filed 18 candidates for the biennial polls. They include Anil Baluni, the national head of the BJP&#39;s media wing, from Uttarakhand and Saroj Pandey, BJP general secretary, from Chhattisgarh.</p>

<p>Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has filed nomination papers as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will contest from Uttar Pradesh and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Bihar.</p>

<p>The BJP has also fielded Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot from Madhya Pradesh for another Rajya Sabha term.</p>

<p>Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh L. Mandaviya and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala will contest from Gujarat.</p>

<p>In Congress, Naranbhai Rathwa and Amee Yajnik will contest from Gujarat and Dhiraj Prasad will contest from Jharkhand.</p>

<p>Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Lekhram Sahu will contest from Bihar and Chhattisgarh respectively, while Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, Porika Bairam Naik and Abhishek Manu Singhvi are contesting from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and West Bengal, respectively.</p>

<p>West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier said the Trinamool Congress would back Singhvi.</p>

<p>Mahendra Prasad Singh and Bashistha Narain Singh are the Janata Dal (United) candidates for the polls.</p>

<p>Counting of votes will begin from 5 pm onwards on Friday. Results are expected to will be announced the same evening.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lucknow: Visuals from Uttar Pradesh Assembly; CM Yogi Adityanath meets party MLAs, Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma also present. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajyaSabhaElections</a> <a href="https://t.co/DwSfe53Aqj">pic.twitter.com/DwSfe53Aqj</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977033352443322368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=&lt;blockquote class=twitter-tweet data-lang=en&gt;&lt;p lang=en dir=ltr&gt;Lucknow: Visuals from Uttar Pradesh Assembly; CM Yogi Adityanath meets party MLAs, Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma also present.  &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;#RajyaSabhaElections&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://t.co/DwSfe53Aqj href=https://t.co/DwSfe53Aqj&gt;pic.twitter.com/DwSfe53Aqj&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977033352443322368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977033352443322368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;March 23, 2018&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">All the 9 candidates of BJP will win. SP insulted their worker &amp; people will answer them for choosing a candidate that entertains the society rather than one who serves the society: Nitin Agrawal, BJP (son of Naresh Agrawal) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajyaSabhaElections</a> <a href="https://t.co/UGCRm6hciZ">pic.twitter.com/UGCRm6hciZ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977058659887976448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=&lt;blockquote class=twitter-tweet data-lang=en&gt;&lt;p lang=en dir=ltr&gt;All the 9 candidates of BJP will win. SP insulted their worker &amp; people will answer them for choosing a candidate that entertains the society rather than one who serves the society: Nitin Agrawal, BJP (son of Naresh Agrawal) &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;#RajyaSabhaElections&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://t.co/UGCRm6hciZ href=https://t.co/UGCRm6hciZ&gt;pic.twitter.com/UGCRm6hciZ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977058659887976448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977058659887976448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;March 23, 2018&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I have voted for BJP, I don&#39;t know about the rest: Anil Singh, BSP MLA <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajyaSabhaElections</a> <a href="https://t.co/28R7njmfnP">pic.twitter.com/28R7njmfnP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977047651286908928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=&lt;blockquote class=twitter-tweet data-lang=en&gt;&lt;p lang=en dir=ltr&gt;I have voted for BJP, I don't know about the rest: Anil Singh, BSP MLA &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabhaElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;#RajyaSabhaElections&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://t.co/28R7njmfnP href=https://t.co/28R7njmfnP&gt;pic.twitter.com/28R7njmfnP&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977047651286908928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977047651286908928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;March 23, 2018&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP will win all the nine Rajya Sabha seats where we have fielded our candidates. Nine more BJP candidates will make entry to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajyaSabha</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UttarPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UttarPradesh</a> this time: Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya <a href="https://t.co/7w4IWoWFRW">pic.twitter.com/7w4IWoWFRW</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977038525731426304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=&lt;blockquote class=twitter-tweet data-lang=en&gt;&lt;p lang=en dir=ltr&gt;BJP will win all the nine Rajya Sabha seats where we have fielded our candidates. Nine more BJP candidates will make entry to &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;#RajyaSabha&lt;/a&gt; from &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/UttarPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/UttarPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;#UttarPradesh&lt;/a&gt; this time: Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://t.co/7w4IWoWFRW href=https://t.co/7w4IWoWFRW&gt;pic.twitter.com/7w4IWoWFRW&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) &lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977038525731426304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw href=https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977038525731426304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&gt;March 23, 2018&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
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The Rajya Sabha vacancies next month include 17 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 12 from the Congress

Voting for Rajya Sabha seats has begun across six states. For the 58 Rajya Sabha seats to be filled, 33 candidates from 10 states have been unanimously elected. Voting for the remaining 25 seats is being held in six states: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. The Rajya Sabha vacancies next month include 17 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 12 from the Congress. Three nominated members - actress Rekha, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, and social worker Anu Aga - will retire in April. The BJP has filed 18 candidates for the biennial polls. They include Anil Baluni, the national head of the BJP's media wing, from Uttarakhand and Saroj Pandey, BJP general secretary, from Chhattisgarh. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has filed nomination papers as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will contest from Uttar Pradesh and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Bihar. The BJP has also fielded Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot from Madhya Pradesh for another Rajya Sabha term. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh L. Mandaviya and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala will contest from Gujarat. In Congress, Naranbhai Rathwa and Amee Yajnik will contest from Gujarat and Dhiraj Prasad will contest from Jharkhand. Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Lekhram Sahu will contest from Bihar and Chhattisgarh respectively, while Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, Porika Bairam Naik and Abhishek Manu Singhvi are contesting from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and West Bengal, respectively. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier said the Trinamool Congress would back Singhvi. Mahendra Prasad Singh and Bashistha Narain Singh are the Janata Dal (United) candidates for the polls. Counting of votes will begin from 5 pm onwards on Friday. Results are expected to will be announced the same evening. Lucknow: Visuals from Uttar Pradesh Assembly; CM Yogi Adityanath meets party MLAs, Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma also present. #RajyaSabhaElections pic.twitter.com/DwSfe53Aqj — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 23, 2018 × All the 9 candidates of BJP will win. SP insulted their worker & people will answer them for choosing a candidate that entertains the society rather than one who serves the society: Nitin Agrawal, BJP (son of Naresh Agrawal) #RajyaSabhaElections pic.twitter.com/UGCRm6hciZ — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 23, 2018 × I have voted for BJP, I don't know about the rest: Anil Singh, BSP MLA #RajyaSabhaElections pic.twitter.com/28R7njmfnP — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 23, 2018 × BJP will win all the nine Rajya Sabha seats where we have fielded our candidates. Nine more BJP candidates will make entry to #RajyaSabha from #UttarPradesh this time: Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya pic.twitter.com/7w4IWoWFRW — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 23, 2018 ×

Voting for Rajya Sabha polls begins across six states

<p>As polling for Rajya Sabha continued on Friday afternoon, speculations on which lawmaker voted for which party started floating around with open declaration of few leaders of cross-voting many assumed, that Bharatiya Janata Party may end up with big gains, thanks to the cross-voting.</p>

<p>Counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections begins after clearance from the Election Commission.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UttarPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UttarPradesh</a> Counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections begins after clearance from the Election Commission.</p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/977176394940764161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, Election Commission had not given permission to begin the counting of votes for Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh due to some objections in ballot papers, reports ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Counting will begin only after EC gives clearance. In a complaint to Election Commission, BSP and SP have expressed fear of rigging during the polling and also alleged that Ballot paper was torn by BJP leader.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BSP MLA Anil Singh indicated that he had cross-voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls, saying &quot;I am with Maharaj-ji&quot;, referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I have voted for BJP, I don&#39;t know about the rest,&rdquo; proclaimed Singh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>OP Rajbha, a minister in Yogi Adityanath&#39;s UP Cabinet, also confirmed the floating allegations of cross-voting. According to him, Nishad Party MLA Vijay Mishra and Singh were present in BJP&#39;s meeting with it&#39;s allies on Thursday.</p>

<p>Reports of cross-voting also emerged from Karnataka Rajya Sabha polls.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Two senior Congress leaders cross-voted in the first ballot paper. Returning officer allowed them to vote again in fresh ballot paper. Illegal voting is going on, requested EC Observer to counter mandate the process,&rdquo; said Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports of Congress MLA Naresh Saini voting for a rival party has also emerged, though he thoroughly denied all allegations.</p>

<p>Samajwadi Party leader Rajendra Chaudhary, on the other hand, claimed that BJP MLAs are annoyed with their own high command.</p>

<p>After the Election Commission of India or ECI received a complaint by the All India Congress Committee over Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Prakash Ram, who cross- voted, the Commission said &quot;further view will be taken after receiving Returning Officer&#39;s report&quot;.&nbsp;</p>


The Election Commission has not given permission to begin the counting of votes for Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh due to some objections in ballot papers

As polling for Rajya Sabha continued on Friday afternoon, speculations on which lawmaker voted for which party started floating around with open declaration of few leaders of cross-voting many assumed, that Bharatiya Janata Party may end up with big gains, thanks to the cross-voting. Counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections begins after clearance from the Election Commission. #UttarPradesh Counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections begins after clearance from the Election Commission. — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 23, 2018 × Earlier, Election Commission had not given permission to begin the counting of votes for Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh due to some objections in ballot papers, reports ANI. Counting will begin only after EC gives clearance. In a complaint to Election Commission, BSP and SP have expressed fear of rigging during the polling and also alleged that Ballot paper was torn by BJP leader. BSP MLA Anil Singh indicated that he had cross-voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls, saying "I am with Maharaj-ji", referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. “I have voted for BJP, I don't know about the rest,” proclaimed Singh. OP Rajbha, a minister in Yogi Adityanath's UP Cabinet, also confirmed the floating allegations of cross-voting. According to him, Nishad Party MLA Vijay Mishra and Singh were present in BJP's meeting with it's allies on Thursday. Reports of cross-voting also emerged from Karnataka Rajya Sabha polls. “Two senior Congress leaders cross-voted in the first ballot paper. Returning officer allowed them to vote again in fresh ballot paper. Illegal voting is going on, requested EC Observer to counter mandate the process,” said Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy. Reports of Congress MLA Naresh Saini voting for a rival party has also emerged, though he thoroughly denied all allegations. Samajwadi Party leader Rajendra Chaudhary, on the other hand, claimed that BJP MLAs are annoyed with their own high command. After the Election Commission of India or ECI received a complaint by the All India Congress Committee over Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Prakash Ram, who cross- voted, the Commission said "further view will be taken after receiving Returning Officer's report".

Cross-voting reported in Rajya Sabha elections

<p>Russian lawmakers will vote next week on measures banning all US media from the lower house of parliament, a deputy said Friday, in response to the US Congress stripping state channel RT of its credentials.</p>

<p>A senior United Russia party lawmaker Olga Savastyanova said the Russian Duma will vote on the ban on December 6. It is unlikely that the proposal would be rejected by the overwhelmingly pro-Kremlin assembly.</p>

<p>&quot;The ban will impact all American media,&quot; she said, according to the Duma&#39;s official website.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are 21 American media outlets accredited to work in Russia, according to the website of the foreign ministry which keeps the register and issues documents to journalists.</p>

<p>&quot;After the decree regarding closing access for American journalists to the Duma building is passed, we will work out all organisational and technical issues with the foreign ministry,&quot; Savastyanova said.</p>

<p>The ban would apply to US media rather than journalists from other foreign countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Such outrageous attacks on foreign media, in particular Russian media, go against the international practice of freedom of speech and unfortunately flourish in full Technicolor in the US,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ban would be the latest development in tit-for-tat fallout from Washington&#39;s forced registration of RT as a &quot;foreign agent&quot; in the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Washington views the channel as a propaganda arm of the Kremlin, which is accused of interfering in the presidential elections last year.</p>

<p>The congressional committee of journalists which regulates who is accredited to cover the legislature said Thursday they voted unanimously to withdraw RT&#39;s press pass.</p>


The ban would be the latest development in tit-for-tat fallout from Washington's forced registration of RT as a 'foreign agent' in the US

Russian lawmakers will vote next week on measures banning all US media from the lower house of parliament, a deputy said Friday, in response to the US Congress stripping state channel RT of its credentials. A senior United Russia party lawmaker Olga Savastyanova said the Russian Duma will vote on the ban on December 6. It is unlikely that the proposal would be rejected by the overwhelmingly pro-Kremlin assembly. "The ban will impact all American media," she said, according to the Duma's official website. There are 21 American media outlets accredited to work in Russia, according to the website of the foreign ministry which keeps the register and issues documents to journalists. "After the decree regarding closing access for American journalists to the Duma building is passed, we will work out all organisational and technical issues with the foreign ministry," Savastyanova said. The ban would apply to US media rather than journalists from other foreign countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Such outrageous attacks on foreign media, in particular Russian media, go against the international practice of freedom of speech and unfortunately flourish in full Technicolor in the US," he said. The ban would be the latest development in tit-for-tat fallout from Washington's forced registration of RT as a "foreign agent" in the US. Washington views the channel as a propaganda arm of the Kremlin, which is accused of interfering in the presidential elections last year. The congressional committee of journalists which regulates who is accredited to cover the legislature said Thursday they voted unanimously to withdraw RT's press pass.

Russian MPs to vote on banning US media from parliament on December 6

<p>Nepalis began voting for a new parliament on Sunday with the army on alert as a series of small blasts blamed on a rogue Maoist group reminded the Himalayan nation of the violence and instability it is hoping to leave behind.</p>

<p data-reactid="43">More than a decade after the end of a civil war between Maoist peasant guerrillas, Nepal is hoping this election - the first parliamentary polls since 1999 - will complete its long journey from a monarchy to becoming a federal republic.</p>

<p data-reactid="45">A second phase of the election will take place on Dec. 7, and the election commission has said that the final results probably won&rsquo;t be known for several days because of the cumbersome counting procedures.</p>

<p>A Maoist splinter group was behind a series of small blasts in the run-up to the polls, and security forces have defused around 30 improvised explosive devices since Friday, army spokesman Nain Raj Dahal said.</p>

<p><iframe data-integralas-id-128ab688-e09b-5f06-9686-dfb5bc89e79e="" frameborder="0" height="2" id="google_ads_iframe_/4735792/us.reuters/world/article_2" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/4735792/us.reuters/world/article_2" scrolling="no" srcdoc="" title="3rd party ad content" width="2"></iframe>Suresh Balsami was the first voter at Kagatigaun polling center near the capital Kathmandu.</p>

<p data-reactid="48">&rdquo;I voted for peace, development and prosperity of the country,&rdquo; said the 32-year-old bus driver as other voters began to trickle in.</p>

<p>Nepal voted in 2008 and 2013 for a Constituent Assembly, which doubled as parliament, to write a post-monarchy charter that plotted the course of becoming a federal republic.</p>

<p data-reactid="56">More than 15 million eligible voters will pick a 275-member legislature, the first under a new constitution agreed after years of wrangling.</p>

<p>Simultaneously, voters will choose representatives to seven provincial assemblies for the first time since Nepal abolished the monarchy in 2008.</p>

<p data-reactid="69">The centrist Nepali Congress party, considered a pro-India group, has formed a loose electoral alliance with the Madhesi parties from the country&rsquo;s southern plains bordering India and former royalists.</p>

<p data-reactid="70">Facing the alliance is a tight-knit left coalition between the former Maoist rebels and the main opposition Communist UML party, perceived to be closer to China.</p>

<p>Wedged between India and China, Nepal needs to balance ties, but the outcome of the election could determine which of the Asian giants gets the upper hand in the battle for influence in the buffer state.</p>

<p>Both are looking to benefit from Nepal&rsquo;s potential as a source of hydropower.</p>

<p>Home to Mount Everest, and one of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal depends on tourism and aid. More than one-fifth of its 28 million people survive on less than $1.90 a day, and parts of the country are still recovering from a devastating earthquake that killed 9,000 people in 2015.</p>


More than 15 million eligible voters will pick a 275-member legislature, the first under a new constitution agreed after years of wrangling.

Nepalis began voting for a new parliament on Sunday with the army on alert as a series of small blasts blamed on a rogue Maoist group reminded the Himalayan nation of the violence and instability it is hoping to leave behind. More than a decade after the end of a civil war between Maoist peasant guerrillas, Nepal is hoping this election - the first parliamentary polls since 1999 - will complete its long journey from a monarchy to becoming a federal republic. A second phase of the election will take place on Dec. 7, and the election commission has said that the final results probably won’t be known for several days because of the cumbersome counting procedures. A Maoist splinter group was behind a series of small blasts in the run-up to the polls, and security forces have defused around 30 improvised explosive devices since Friday, army spokesman Nain Raj Dahal said. Suresh Balsami was the first voter at Kagatigaun polling center near the capital Kathmandu. ”I voted for peace, development and prosperity of the country,” said the 32-year-old bus driver as other voters began to trickle in. Nepal voted in 2008 and 2013 for a Constituent Assembly, which doubled as parliament, to write a post-monarchy charter that plotted the course of becoming a federal republic. More than 15 million eligible voters will pick a 275-member legislature, the first under a new constitution agreed after years of wrangling. Simultaneously, voters will choose representatives to seven provincial assemblies for the first time since Nepal abolished the monarchy in 2008. The centrist Nepali Congress party, considered a pro-India group, has formed a loose electoral alliance with the Madhesi parties from the country’s southern plains bordering India and former royalists. Facing the alliance is a tight-knit left coalition between the former Maoist rebels and the main opposition Communist UML party, perceived to be closer to China. Wedged between India and China, Nepal needs to balance ties, but the outcome of the election could determine which of the Asian giants gets the upper hand in the battle for influence in the buffer state. Both are looking to benefit from Nepal’s potential as a source of hydropower. Home to Mount Everest, and one of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal depends on tourism and aid. More than one-fifth of its 28 million people survive on less than $1.90 a day, and parts of the country are still recovering from a devastating earthquake that killed 9,000 people in 2015.

Nepal begins historic vote, army says 'rogue' Maoists behind blasts

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


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

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

Polls open for first round of Presidential elections in Chile

<p>Polling started on a dull note for 68 Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh today with 13.72 per cent voters exercising their franchise in the first two hours.</p>

<p>The polling started across the state at 8 am and at several places in Chamba and tribal areas five to ten per cent polling was recorded.</p>

<p>Shimla district recorded 18 per cent polling, Hamirpur 17 per cent, Chamba 12 per cent, Kangra 14 per cent, Mandi 16 per cent, Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur 15 to 20 per cent and Solan and Sirmaur 18 to 20 per cent.</p>

<p>Reports of fault in VVPAT machines were received in Sirmaur district while polling started late by 15-20 minutes in some polling booths.</p>

<p>Kusumpti constituency in Shimla recorded 22 per cent polling, Shimla(rural) 20 per cent, Theog 19 per cent, Rampur 18 per cent and Shimla (Urban) and Rohroo 16 per cent, Election Department.</p>

<p>Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh exercised his franchise at Rampur while former chief minister P K Dhumal cast his vote at Samirpur along with family members.</p>

<p>A total of 50,25,941 voters are eligible to cast their vote.</p>

<p>As many as 7,525 polling booths have been set up in the state and 37,605 polling personnel have been deputed for poll duty.</p>

<p>Besides 17,850 personnel of police and Home Guards and 65 companies of central paramilitary force have been deployed.</p>

<p>Chief Minister Singh, 10 ministers, eight Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and over a dozen former ministers are among those contesting the polls.</p>

<p>The ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while the BSP is contesting 42 seats, followed by the CPI(M) 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3.</p>

<p>There is a straight contest only in one constituency (Jhanduta) while the maximum number of 12 candidates is in fray in Dharamsala.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh exercised his franchise at Rampur while former chief minister P K Dhumal cast his vote at Samirpur along with family members

Polling started on a dull note for 68 Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh today with 13.72 per cent voters exercising their franchise in the first two hours. The polling started across the state at 8 am and at several places in Chamba and tribal areas five to ten per cent polling was recorded. Shimla district recorded 18 per cent polling, Hamirpur 17 per cent, Chamba 12 per cent, Kangra 14 per cent, Mandi 16 per cent, Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur 15 to 20 per cent and Solan and Sirmaur 18 to 20 per cent. Reports of fault in VVPAT machines were received in Sirmaur district while polling started late by 15-20 minutes in some polling booths. Kusumpti constituency in Shimla recorded 22 per cent polling, Shimla(rural) 20 per cent, Theog 19 per cent, Rampur 18 per cent and Shimla (Urban) and Rohroo 16 per cent, Election Department. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh exercised his franchise at Rampur while former chief minister P K Dhumal cast his vote at Samirpur along with family members. A total of 50,25,941 voters are eligible to cast their vote. As many as 7,525 polling booths have been set up in the state and 37,605 polling personnel have been deputed for poll duty. Besides 17,850 personnel of police and Home Guards and 65 companies of central paramilitary force have been deployed. Chief Minister Singh, 10 ministers, eight Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and over a dozen former ministers are among those contesting the polls. The ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while the BSP is contesting 42 seats, followed by the CPI(M) 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3. There is a straight contest only in one constituency (Jhanduta) while the maximum number of 12 candidates is in fray in Dharamsala.

Himachal Pradesh: 13.72% polling recorded in first two hours

<p>Polls opened in Nepal Monday for the final phase of local polls, the first in nearly two decades and a key step in the country&#39;s post-war transition to a federal democracy.</p>

<p>Most of the country has already voted in the landmark polls but the vote was repeatedly delayed in one province of Nepal&#39;s southern plains, which was the epicentre of deadly ethnic protests two years ago.</p>

<p>Protests kicked off after a new constitution was passed in 2015 -- nearly a decade after the end of the brutal Maoist insurgency -- with ethnic minority groups saying the charter left them politically marginalised.</p>

<p>Simmering tensions have remained and a political party representing the Madhesi ethnic minority, who live in the lowlands that border India, had refused to take part in polls unless an amendment to the constitution was passed.</p>

<p>They later softened their stance and Monday&#39;s vote is being held with their participation and without any changes to the charter.</p>

<p>&quot;The big parties have always pushed our agendas away and now the Madhesi party has also betrayed us by going to elections without amending the constitution,&quot; said resident of the southern city of Janakpur, Saroj Mishra.</p>

<p>Mishra took part in the 2015 anti-charter protests and said he would not vote Monday.</p>

<p>The government has deployed troops and sealed the border with India, fearing violence in Monday&#39;s third phase of voting, which covers around 5.5 million people.</p>

<p>The local polls are part of the final step in the peace deal that ended a 10-year civil war in 2006, and pave the way for provincial and general elections later this year.</p>

<p>Since the end of the decade-long war, the country has suffered persistent instability, cycling through nine governments in a decade.</p>

<p>The last local representatives were elected in 1997 and their mandates lapsed when their five-year terms expired at the height of the brutal Maoist insurgency.</p>

<p>Observers are split on whether the large national parties or local ethnically-affiliated parties will perform strongest in the final round of the local polls.</p>

<p>The nationalistic Communist Party Nepal-Union Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) -- currently the second largest bloc in parliament -- largely swept the first two rounds of voting.</p>

<p>But anger over the marginalisation of ethnic minorities continues to rally some voters in Nepal&#39;s south.</p>

<p>The province voting Monday was hardest hit by deadly monsoon flooding last month -- the worst in 15 years, according to the United Nations -- which killed over 150 in Nepal and more than 1,200 across South Asia.</p>


The polls are the first in nearly two decades and a key step in the country's post-war transition to a federal democracy

Polls opened in Nepal Monday for the final phase of local polls, the first in nearly two decades and a key step in the country's post-war transition to a federal democracy. Most of the country has already voted in the landmark polls but the vote was repeatedly delayed in one province of Nepal's southern plains, which was the epicentre of deadly ethnic protests two years ago. Protests kicked off after a new constitution was passed in 2015 -- nearly a decade after the end of the brutal Maoist insurgency -- with ethnic minority groups saying the charter left them politically marginalised. Simmering tensions have remained and a political party representing the Madhesi ethnic minority, who live in the lowlands that border India, had refused to take part in polls unless an amendment to the constitution was passed. They later softened their stance and Monday's vote is being held with their participation and without any changes to the charter. "The big parties have always pushed our agendas away and now the Madhesi party has also betrayed us by going to elections without amending the constitution," said resident of the southern city of Janakpur, Saroj Mishra. Mishra took part in the 2015 anti-charter protests and said he would not vote Monday. The government has deployed troops and sealed the border with India, fearing violence in Monday's third phase of voting, which covers around 5.5 million people. The local polls are part of the final step in the peace deal that ended a 10-year civil war in 2006, and pave the way for provincial and general elections later this year. Since the end of the decade-long war, the country has suffered persistent instability, cycling through nine governments in a decade. The last local representatives were elected in 1997 and their mandates lapsed when their five-year terms expired at the height of the brutal Maoist insurgency. Observers are split on whether the large national parties or local ethnically-affiliated parties will perform strongest in the final round of the local polls. The nationalistic Communist Party Nepal-Union Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) -- currently the second largest bloc in parliament -- largely swept the first two rounds of voting. But anger over the marginalisation of ethnic minorities continues to rally some voters in Nepal's south. The province voting Monday was hardest hit by deadly monsoon flooding last month -- the worst in 15 years, according to the United Nations -- which killed over 150 in Nepal and more than 1,200 across South Asia.

Nepal holds final phase of landmark local polls

<p>The new movie titled Newton is a black comedy, a new genre being explored by Bollywood filmmakers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The film stars&nbsp;Rajkummar Rao in the main lead with the plotline following his story towards making a free and fair election possible in a Naxal-controlled town in the&nbsp;conflict-ridden jungles of Chhattisgarh, India.</p>

<p>Rao plays the role of a&nbsp;rookie government clerk sent on election duty to this town.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The film is produced by&nbsp;Drishyam Films and is directed by&nbsp;&lrm;Amit V Masurkar, making it his second feature after his debut film.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Newton had its world premiere in the&nbsp;Forum section of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival and won the&nbsp;CICAE Award for best film in the section.&nbsp;</p>

<p>CICAE stands for The International Confederation of Art Cinemas (French Conf&eacute;d&eacute;ration Internationale des Cin&eacute;mas d&rsquo;Art et d&rsquo;Essai) and is an international non-profit association with the address of record in Paris which supports and promotes art cinema. It is the only international art cinema organisation of its kind.</p>

<h2>Watch the official trailer here:</h2>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdrishyamfilms%2Fvideos%2F10155428311798382%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Bollywood underdog Rajkummar Rao as and in Newton brings focus on how voting is important and that 'change happens when there is an intention behind change'

The new movie titled Newton is a black comedy, a new genre being explored by Bollywood filmmakers. The film stars Rajkummar Rao in the main lead with the plotline following his story towards making a free and fair election possible in a Naxal-controlled town in the conflict-ridden jungles of Chhattisgarh, India. Rao plays the role of a rookie government clerk sent on election duty to this town. The film is produced by Drishyam Films and is directed by ‎Amit V Masurkar, making it his second feature after his debut film. Newton had its world premiere in the Forum section of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival and won the CICAE Award for best film in the section. CICAE stands for The International Confederation of Art Cinemas (French Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d’Art et d’Essai) and is an international non-profit association with the address of record in Paris which supports and promotes art cinema. It is the only international art cinema organisation of its kind. Watch the official trailer here: (WION)

Watch: Trailer of Bollywood movie 'Newton' is out

<p>Ecuadorean transgender people on Sunday voted for the first time according to their chosen gender, in what activists say are signs of progress in the socially conservative and Catholic Andean nation.</p>

<p>In Ecuador, men and women wait in separate lines to cast their ballots, which for years created uncomfortable moments for transgender voters who had to queue up according to their biological sex.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The rumors would start, and the looks,&quot; said LGBT activist Mariasol Mite, 32, who changed her ID description from &quot;sex: male&quot; to &quot;gender: female&quot; last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fears of harassment were such that voters would sometimes send their brothers or husbands to wait in line until they got close to the booth, according to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;This year, everything was different,&quot; said Mite, adding that public officials and fellow voters were much more aware of the issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After years of lobbying by the LGBT community and despite opposition by Catholic and increasingly powerful evangelical groups, Ecuador passed a law last year allowing people to choose a gender on their identity card.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;This is very important because our rights are being recognized. It hasn&#39;t been easy,&quot; said activist and National Assembly candidate Diane Rodriguez, after voting in the city of Guayaquil close to the Pacific coast.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An estimated 200 people in the country of 16 million have changed their gender on their ID card since the law changed last year, she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Ecuador&#39;s first transgender lawmaker?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Rodriguez, a 34-year-old psychologist who was born biologically male, is vying to become Ecuador&#39;s first transgender lawmaker as the country renews its Congress as well as chooses a president for a four-year term.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If elected, the leftist ruling party candidate would push for legislation to counter bullying against transgender students, combat discrimination in the workplace, and eventually work towards legalizing gay marriage and adoption.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rodriguez&#39;&nbsp;potential election in Ecuador would come on the heels of Venezuela electing its first transgender lawmaker, lawyer and activist Tamara Adrian, in 2015.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Adrian is staunchly opposed to Venezuela&#39;s Socialist government, which is an ally of Ecuador&#39;s own leftist government, but Rodriguez says the two are close despite being politically opposed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;She&#39;s a partner in this fight,&quot; said Rodriguez. &quot;Beyond the fact that she&#39;s in a right-wing movement... we&#39;re united by the progress of rights.&quot;</p>

<p>(Reuters)</p>


Rodriguez, a 34-year-old psychologist who was born biologically male, is vying to become Ecuador's first transgender lawmaker

Ecuadorean transgender people on Sunday voted for the first time according to their chosen gender, in what activists say are signs of progress in the socially conservative and Catholic Andean nation. In Ecuador, men and women wait in separate lines to cast their ballots, which for years created uncomfortable moments for transgender voters who had to queue up according to their biological sex. "The rumors would start, and the looks," said LGBT activist Mariasol Mite, 32, who changed her ID description from "sex: male" to "gender: female" last year. Fears of harassment were such that voters would sometimes send their brothers or husbands to wait in line until they got close to the booth, according to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists. "This year, everything was different," said Mite, adding that public officials and fellow voters were much more aware of the issue. After years of lobbying by the LGBT community and despite opposition by Catholic and increasingly powerful evangelical groups, Ecuador passed a law last year allowing people to choose a gender on their identity card. "This is very important because our rights are being recognized. It hasn't been easy," said activist and National Assembly candidate Diane Rodriguez, after voting in the city of Guayaquil close to the Pacific coast. An estimated 200 people in the country of 16 million have changed their gender on their ID card since the law changed last year, she added. Ecuador's first transgender lawmaker? Rodriguez, a 34-year-old psychologist who was born biologically male, is vying to become Ecuador's first transgender lawmaker as the country renews its Congress as well as chooses a president for a four-year term. If elected, the leftist ruling party candidate would push for legislation to counter bullying against transgender students, combat discrimination in the workplace, and eventually work towards legalizing gay marriage and adoption. Rodriguez' potential election in Ecuador would come on the heels of Venezuela electing its first transgender lawmaker, lawyer and activist Tamara Adrian, in 2015. Adrian is staunchly opposed to Venezuela's Socialist government, which is an ally of Ecuador's own leftist government, but Rodriguez says the two are close despite being politically opposed. "She's a partner in this fight," said Rodriguez. "Beyond the fact that she's in a right-wing movement... we're united by the progress of rights." (Reuters)

Ecuador election: Transgender people vote for first time according to chosen gender

Democrats demanding action on gun control turned to Twitter&#39;s Periscope and Facebook&#39;s live video platform to broadcast their &quot;sit-in&quot; on the floor of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday after the chamber&#39;s cameras shut down.<br />
<br />
Representative Scott Peters of California told Reuters he downloaded the online video platform Periscope from the House floor after it became clear that chamber cameras were not operating.<br />
<br />
The protest was the latest move by Democrats to persuade the Republican majority in Congress to take up votes on gun control measures in response to last week&#39;s mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the deadliest in modern US history.<br />
<br />
In video streamed on Facebook Live by Congressman Beto O&#39;Rourke, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi can be seen speaking into a microphone that was turned off. She could be heard asking the House Speaker to turn the microphones back on.<br />
<br />
At about noon EDT (1600 GMT), presiding House officer and Republican Representative Ted Poe declared the House not in order, as Democratic protesters sat at the front of the chamber.<br />
<br />
Cable news channel C-SPAN, which typically uses the House cameras to broadcast live footage of Congress, broadcast Peters&#39; Periscope feed instead.<br />
<br />
The hashtag #NoBillNoBreak became a rallying cry for gun control supporters on Twitter and quickly became the top-trending hashtag in the United States on the social media platform.<br />
<br />
Politicians and average social media users alike used the hashtag as a sign of solidarity with the sit-in.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

After Orlando shooting, Republicans face more pressure to stop voting against gun control measures

Democrats demanding action on gun control turned to Twitter's Periscope and Facebook's live video platform to broadcast their "sit-in" on the floor of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday after the chamber's cameras shut down. Representative Scott Peters of California told Reuters he downloaded the online video platform Periscope from the House floor after it became clear that chamber cameras were not operating. The protest was the latest move by Democrats to persuade the Republican majority in Congress to take up votes on gun control measures in response to last week's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the deadliest in modern US history. In video streamed on Facebook Live by Congressman Beto O'Rourke, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi can be seen speaking into a microphone that was turned off. She could be heard asking the House Speaker to turn the microphones back on. At about noon EDT (1600 GMT), presiding House officer and Republican Representative Ted Poe declared the House not in order, as Democratic protesters sat at the front of the chamber. Cable news channel C-SPAN, which typically uses the House cameras to broadcast live footage of Congress, broadcast Peters' Periscope feed instead. The hashtag #NoBillNoBreak became a rallying cry for gun control supporters on Twitter and quickly became the top-trending hashtag in the United States on the social media platform. Politicians and average social media users alike used the hashtag as a sign of solidarity with the sit-in. (Reuters)

Democrats broadcast House sit-in on social media to protest gun control impasse

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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
The results were far worse for the centrist party than most polls had forecast.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
&quot;It&#39;s time for a necessary pause,&quot; Beltrones told a news conference at the PRI&#39;s Mexico City headquarters.<br />
<br />
&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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
(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

<p><strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">THIS IMAGE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.</span></span></strong><br />
<br />
Sumner Redstone&#39;s National Amusements Inc is consulting investment bankers about strategic options for Viacom Inc&#39;s Paramount Pictures, including a possible stake sale, sources&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>National Amusements, which controls 80 per cent of the voting shares of Viacom, is also keen to extract more value from the film studio&#39;s real estate holdings in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>It is unclear what other scenarios National Amusements is considering. The fact that it is entertaining options for Paramount is significant because it could mean that a deal for the movie studio could happen even without Viacom chief executive Philippe Dauman leading the process.</p>

<p>Redstone&nbsp;is considering removing Dauman and members of the board. Representatives for National Amusement and Viacom declined to comment.</p>

<p>The sale of&nbsp;interest in Paramount has been an issue of contention in the battle for control of 93-year-old Redstone&#39;s $40 billion media empire, which includes Viacom and CBS Corporation.</p>

<p>Redstone said in a statement last month he believes keeping 100 per cent of the film unit is in the best interest of Viacom but could be swayed by a plan that convinces him otherwise.</p>

<p>National Amusements said&nbsp;it &quot;is not opposed to a transaction that would unlock value at Paramount&quot;. But it amended Viacom&#39;s bylaws to create hurdles for Dauman to sell a stake in the studio unless he obtained the approval of the entire board of the media company.<br />
<br />
Dauman is&nbsp;pushing ahead with plans to sell a 49 per cent stake in Paramount, and he is&nbsp;also looking to unlock the value of the film studio&#39;s real estate holdings, he said at an investor meeting.</p>

<p>Last month, Redstone removed Dauman and Viacom board member George Abrams from the seven-person trust that will determine the fate of Viacom and CBS after Redstone dies or is incapacitated. Part of the reason that he made the move was over concerns about the Paramount sale, a representative for Redstone has said.</p>

<p>Dauman and Abrams have filed a lawsuit opposing Redstone&#39;s removal of them from the trust and the National Amusement Inc&#39;s&nbsp;board. A Massachusetts judge is deciding whether to move up that trial from October.</p>


National Amusements, which controls 80 per cent of the voting shares of Viacom, is interested in the film studio's real estate holdings

THIS IMAGE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. Sumner Redstone's National Amusements Inc is consulting investment bankers about strategic options for Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures, including a possible stake sale, sources said. National Amusements, which controls 80 per cent of the voting shares of Viacom, is also keen to extract more value from the film studio's real estate holdings in Los Angeles. It is unclear what other scenarios National Amusements is considering. The fact that it is entertaining options for Paramount is significant because it could mean that a deal for the movie studio could happen even without Viacom chief executive Philippe Dauman leading the process. Redstone is considering removing Dauman and members of the board. Representatives for National Amusement and Viacom declined to comment. The sale of interest in Paramount has been an issue of contention in the battle for control of 93-year-old Redstone's $40 billion media empire, which includes Viacom and CBS Corporation. Redstone said in a statement last month he believes keeping 100 per cent of the film unit is in the best interest of Viacom but could be swayed by a plan that convinces him otherwise. National Amusements said it "is not opposed to a transaction that would unlock value at Paramount". But it amended Viacom's bylaws to create hurdles for Dauman to sell a stake in the studio unless he obtained the approval of the entire board of the media company. Dauman is pushing ahead with plans to sell a 49 per cent stake in Paramount, and he is also looking to unlock the value of the film studio's real estate holdings, he said at an investor meeting. Last month, Redstone removed Dauman and Viacom board member George Abrams from the seven-person trust that will determine the fate of Viacom and CBS after Redstone dies or is incapacitated. Part of the reason that he made the move was over concerns about the Paramount sale, a representative for Redstone has said. Dauman and Abrams have filed a lawsuit opposing Redstone's removal of them from the trust and the National Amusement Inc's board. A Massachusetts judge is deciding whether to move up that trial from October.

National Amusements in talks to buy Paramount Pictures

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