Polls closed in Sri Lanka's first election since the economic collapse, and the counting of votes is underway. Millions of voters cast their votes to select a leader who will face the task of bolstering the country's fragile economic recovery following its worst financial crisis in decades.

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Voting for Sri Lanka's presidential election has begun, with 17 million voters set to decide the country's next leader. As the nation votes, the election promises to be a turning point for Sri Lanka's future. Watch in for more details!

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Voters lined up to cast their ballots in Sri Lanka’s crucial presidential election today (Saturday), in the island country’s first major polling exercise since its economic collapse in 2022.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Srinagar today, rallying support for BJP candidates. His speech focused on development and progress for the region, as he urged voters to back the party in the upcoming elections.

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For the first time in a decade, seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir, situated on both sides of the Pir Panjal mountain range, will participate in an Assembly election. Phase 1 polling in the Union Territory is scheduled for September 18, 2024.

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Jammu & Kashmir Elections: Voting begins in phase one of Jammu and Kashmir polls

The countdown to Sri Lanka's presidential election has begun, with 17 million voters set to decide the country's next leader. As the nation prepares for this crucial vote, the election promises to be a turning point for Sri Lanka's future. Stay tuned for key updates and insights into the candidates, policies, and potential outcomes.

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Rwandan President Paul Kagame was gearing up Tuesday (July 16) for a fourth term in office after winning a thundering 99.15 percent of the vote in an election where only two challengers were allowed to run against him.&nbsp;

The outcome of Monday's poll was never in doubt, with Kagame ruling the small African nation with an iron fist as de facto leader then president for three decades.&nbsp;

Partial results issued by the election commission seven hours after polls closed showed that Kagame had won 99.15 percent of the vote -- even more than the 98.79 percent he got in the last poll seven years ago.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rwanda-polls-voting-comes-to-an-end-counting-underway-741134" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/rwanda-polls-voting-comes-to-an-end-counting-underway-741134&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjjhaCnm6uHAxXmXmwGHb4KBjEQFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3t9r-xZM-TOLkEMjslsKzC&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rwanda-polls-voting-comes-to-an-end-counting-underway-741134" target="_blank">Rwanda Polls: Voting comes to an end, counting underway</a>

Democratic Green Party candidate Frank Habineza could only muster 0.53 percent and independent Philippe Mpayimana 0.32 percent, according to the results issued with 79 percent of ballots counted.&nbsp;

In an address from the headquarters of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the 66-year-old thanked Rwandans for giving him another five years in office.

"The results that have been presented indicate a very high score, these are not just figures, even if it was 100 percent, these are not just numbers," he said.&nbsp;

"These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important," he added.&nbsp;

"I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems."

- 'Safe and transparent' -

Full provisional results are due by July 20 and definitive results by July 27.

"In general, the electoral process happened in a safe and transparent atmosphere for Rwandans living abroad and at home," the National Electoral Commission said in a statement.

With 65 percent of the population aged under 30, Kagame is the only leader most Rwandans have ever known.&nbsp;

The bespectacled 66-year-old leader is credited with rebuilding a traumatised nation after the 1994 genocide -- but he is also accused of ruling in a climate of fear at home, and fomenting instability in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Over nine million Rwandans -- about two million first-time voters -- &nbsp;were registered to cast their ballot, with the presidential race being held at the same time as legislative elections for the first time.

"(Kagame) gives us everything we ask him, such as health insurance. This is why he wins by a big margin," said 34-year-old mechanic Francois Rwabakina. &nbsp;

Kagame won with more than 93 percent of the vote in 2003, 2010 and in 2017, when he again easily defeated the same two challengers.

He has overseen controversial constitutional amendments that shortened presidential terms from seven to five years and reset the clock for the Rwandan leader, allowing him to potentially rule until 2034.

- 'Severe restrictions' -

Rwandan courts had rejected appeals from prominent opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire to remove previous convictions that effectively disqualified them from Monday's vote.

The election commission also barred high-profile Kagame critic Diane Rwigara, citing issues with her paperwork -- the second time she was excluded from running.

Ahead of the vote, Amnesty International said Rwanda's political opposition faced "severe restrictions... as well as threats, arbitrary detention, prosecution, trumped-up charges, killings and enforced disappearances".

The imbalance between the candidates was evident during the three-week campaign, as the well-oiled PR machine of the ruling RPF swung into high gear.

The party's red, white and blue colours and its slogans "Tora Kagame Paul" ("Vote Paul Kagame") and "PK24" ("Paul Kagame 2024") were everywhere.

His rivals struggled to make their voices heard, with barely 100 people showing up to some events.&nbsp;

Kagame's RPF militia is lauded for ending the 1994 genocide when it marched on Kigali -- ousting the Hutu extremists who had unleashed 100 days of bloodletting targeting the Tutsi minority.

The perpetrators killed around 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis but also Hutu moderates.

Kagame has overseen a remarkable economic recovery, with GDP growing by an average of 7.2 percent per year between 2012 and 2022, although the World Bank says almost half the population lives on less than $2.15 a day.

But abroad, Kigali is accused of meddling in the troubled eastern DRC, where a UN report says its troops are fighting alongside M23 rebels.

In the parliamentary election, 589 candidates were chasing 80 seats, including 53 elected by universal suffrage.&nbsp;

In the outgoing assembly, the RPF held 40 seats and its allies 11, while Habineza's party had two.

Another 27 spots are reserved for women, the youth and people with disabilities.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame was gearing up Tuesday (July 16) for a fourth term in office after winning a thundering 99.15 percent of the vote in an election where only two challengers were allowed to run against him.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame was gearing up Tuesday (July 16) for a fourth term in office after winning a thundering 99.15 percent of the vote in an election where only two challengers were allowed to run against him. The outcome of Monday's poll was never in doubt, with Kagame ruling the small African nation with an iron fist as de facto leader then president for three decades. Partial results issued by the election commission seven hours after polls closed showed that Kagame had won 99.15 percent of the vote -- even more than the 98.79 percent he got in the last poll seven years ago. Also read: Rwanda Polls: Voting comes to an end, counting underway Democratic Green Party candidate Frank Habineza could only muster 0.53 percent and independent Philippe Mpayimana 0.32 percent, according to the results issued with 79 percent of ballots counted. In an address from the headquarters of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the 66-year-old thanked Rwandans for giving him another five years in office. "The results that have been presented indicate a very high score, these are not just figures, even if it was 100 percent, these are not just numbers," he said. "These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important," he added. "I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems." - 'Safe and transparent' - Full provisional results are due by July 20 and definitive results by July 27. "In general, the electoral process happened in a safe and transparent atmosphere for Rwandans living abroad and at home," the National Electoral Commission said in a statement. With 65 percent of the population aged under 30, Kagame is the only leader most Rwandans have ever known. The bespectacled 66-year-old leader is credited with rebuilding a traumatised nation after the 1994 genocide -- but he is also accused of ruling in a climate of fear at home, and fomenting instability in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. × Over nine million Rwandans -- about two million first-time voters -- were registered to cast their ballot, with the presidential race being held at the same time as legislative elections for the first time. "(Kagame) gives us everything we ask him, such as health insurance. This is why he wins by a big margin," said 34-year-old mechanic Francois Rwabakina. Kagame won with more than 93 percent of the vote in 2003, 2010 and in 2017, when he again easily defeated the same two challengers. He has overseen controversial constitutional amendments that shortened presidential terms from seven to five years and reset the clock for the Rwandan leader, allowing him to potentially rule until 2034. - 'Severe restrictions' - Rwandan courts had rejected appeals from prominent opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire to remove previous convictions that effectively disqualified them from Monday's vote. The election commission also barred high-profile Kagame critic Diane Rwigara, citing issues with her paperwork -- the second time she was excluded from running. Ahead of the vote, Amnesty International said Rwanda's political opposition faced "severe restrictions... as well as threats, arbitrary detention, prosecution, trumped-up charges, killings and enforced disappearances". The imbalance between the candidates was evident during the three-week campaign, as the well-oiled PR machine of the ruling RPF swung into high gear. The party's red, white and blue colours and its slogans "Tora Kagame Paul" ("Vote Paul Kagame") and "PK24" ("Paul Kagame 2024") were everywhere. His rivals struggled to make their voices heard, with barely 100 people showing up to some events. Kagame's RPF militia is lauded for ending the 1994 genocide when it marched on Kigali -- ousting the Hutu extremists who had unleashed 100 days of bloodletting targeting the Tutsi minority. The perpetrators killed around 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis but also Hutu moderates. Kagame has overseen a remarkable economic recovery, with GDP growing by an average of 7.2 percent per year between 2012 and 2022, although the World Bank says almost half the population lives on less than $2.15 a day. But abroad, Kigali is accused of meddling in the troubled eastern DRC, where a UN report says its troops are fighting alongside M23 rebels. In the parliamentary election, 589 candidates were chasing 80 seats, including 53 elected by universal suffrage. In the outgoing assembly, the RPF held 40 seats and its allies 11, while Habineza's party had two. Another 27 spots are reserved for women, the youth and people with disabilities. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Kagame secures fourth term as Rwanda's president with 99% of the vote

In Rwanda where presidential elections are being held, voting began at 6:00 am local time and concluded just a short while ago as for procedures counting of the votes are already underway. Watch in for more details!

Rwanda polls: Voting comes to an end, counting underway

The vote counting is underway in Iran’s presidential election and pro-reform candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has been leading with 5,955,781 votes. Hard-liner Saeed Jalili has been following him with&nbsp;5,560,321 votes, as per the latest&nbsp;official figures released by the Interior Ministry.

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has received 1,891,385 votes, and Mostafa Pourmohammadi 111,967 votes in the&nbsp;14,070,462 ballots counted so far.

According to Iranian state television, the early results did not initially suggest that Jalili would clinch outright victory in Friday’s election as it set the stage for a runoff election to replace late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi.

The state television also did not report any turnout figures for the race yet, which is crucial to understand whether Iran’s electorate supports its Shiite theocracy after witnessing years of mass protests and economic turmoil.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-presidential-election-iranians-in-india-vote-in-polls-tehran-thanks-new-delhi-736025">Iran presidential election: Iranians in India vote in polls; Tehran thanks New Delhi</a>

According to the Associated Press, 10 million votes have been counted till now, in which Jaili has received 4.26 million votes and Pezeshkian&nbsp;4.24 million.&nbsp;

Another candidate fraying in the elections, hard-line speaker of the parliament Mohmmad Bagher Qalibaf received some 1.38 million votes. Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi got more than 80,000 votes.

<h2>Voters get little choice in polls</h2>

Three hard-line candidates and a heart surgeon and not-so-famous reformist&nbsp;Pezeshkian were the choices for the voters in this election.&nbsp;

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women and people demanding a radical change have been stopped from contesting the elections.&nbsp;

The voting took place at a time&nbsp;the Middle East is gripped in wider tensions over the&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip.

Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel in April over the Gaza war. Militia groups supported by Tehran in the region - Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels - have also&nbsp;been engaged in the war and their attacks have been escalated.

Watch:&nbsp;Iran election: Three-way contest between Pezeshkian, Jalili and Qalibaf

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Meanwhile, Iran has been enriching uranium at near weapons-grade levels&nbsp;and has maintained a stockpile which is big enough to build several nuclear weapons, if the country wants to, according to reports.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi along with others had made calls for a boycott of the elections.

One of the leaders of the 2009 Green Movement protests Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has been under house arrest, refused to vote with his wife, said his daughter.

Iran faced a major blow when in a May 19 helicopter crash, 63-year-old Raisi died along with the country’s foreign minister and others. He was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's protege and a potential successor.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The vote counting is underway in Iran’s presidential election and pro-reform candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has been leading with 5,955,781 votes. Hard-liner Saeed Jalili has been following him with 5,560,321 votes, as per the latest official figures released by the Interior Ministry.

The vote counting is underway in Iran’s presidential election and pro-reform candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has been leading with 5,955,781 votes. Hard-liner Saeed Jalili has been following him with 5,560,321 votes, as per the latest official figures released by the Interior Ministry. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has received 1,891,385 votes, and Mostafa Pourmohammadi 111,967 votes in the 14,070,462 ballots counted so far. According to Iranian state television, the early results did not initially suggest that Jalili would clinch outright victory in Friday’s election as it set the stage for a runoff election to replace late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi. The state television also did not report any turnout figures for the race yet, which is crucial to understand whether Iran’s electorate supports its Shiite theocracy after witnessing years of mass protests and economic turmoil. Also Read: Iran presidential election: Iranians in India vote in polls; Tehran thanks New Delhi According to the Associated Press, 10 million votes have been counted till now, in which Jaili has received 4.26 million votes and Pezeshkian 4.24 million. Another candidate fraying in the elections, hard-line speaker of the parliament Mohmmad Bagher Qalibaf received some 1.38 million votes. Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi got more than 80,000 votes. Voters get little choice in polls Three hard-line candidates and a heart surgeon and not-so-famous reformist Pezeshkian were the choices for the voters in this election. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women and people demanding a radical change have been stopped from contesting the elections. The voting took place at a time the Middle East is gripped in wider tensions over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel in April over the Gaza war. Militia groups supported by Tehran in the region - Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels - have also been engaged in the war and their attacks have been escalated. Watch: Iran election: Three-way contest between Pezeshkian, Jalili and Qalibaf Meanwhile, Iran has been enriching uranium at near weapons-grade levels and has maintained a stockpile which is big enough to build several nuclear weapons, if the country wants to, according to reports. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi along with others had made calls for a boycott of the elections. One of the leaders of the 2009 Green Movement protests Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has been under house arrest, refused to vote with his wife, said his daughter. Iran faced a major blow when in a May 19 helicopter crash, 63-year-old Raisi died along with the country’s foreign minister and others. He was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's protege and a potential successor. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran presidential elections: Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili in neck and neck battle, as counting underway

In less than 12 hours from now India will hold its sixth phase of Elections. Here is everything you need to know.

India General Elections 2024: Phase 6 what's up for grabs?

India voting for the fifth of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections occurred in 49 constituencies across eight states and union territories. Voters exercise their rights.

Indian general elections 2024: Voting held across eight states in Phase five

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