president

Ms Metsola, 43, has a record of being anti-abortion, but has billed herself as pro-LGBT rights.

The Maltese national takes over the role from David Sassoli, 65, who died last week after a serious illness.

She is one of three women in the top EU jobs, along with the heads of the European Commission and Central Bank.

But taking questions from journalists on Tuesday, she was asked more than once about her views on women's reproductive rights.

The President is facing charges of assault and weapons charges in the District Court.

Papalii John Taimalelagi of the Ministry of Justice and Courts said the Chief Justice who is the chairman of the Judiciary Commission has accepted the President's application for leave.

Fepulea'i Attila Ropati, will appear in court on Tuesday.

The complainant in the case is the Ministry of Justice's night watchman.

The president is accused of actual bodily harm, assault and being armed with a dangerous weapon.

He made the announcement in a speech to workers at a car factory in the Volga city of Nizhny Novgorod.

"I will put forward my candidacy for the post of president of the Russian federation," he said.

Mr Putin has been in power since 2000, either as president or prime minister. If he wins the March election, he will be eligible to serve until 2024.

Russian TV journalist Ksenia Sobchak has already said she will stand in the election but opinion polls suggest Mr Putin will win easily.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany and the Netherlands of "Nazism" after officials blocked rallies there.

Dutch PM Mark Rutte called his comments "unacceptable", while Germany's foreign minister said he hoped Turkey would "return to its senses".

Denmark's leader has also postponed a planned meeting with Mr Erdogan.

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he was concerned that "democratic principles are under great pressure" in Turkey.

She secured 24 votes in the 33-member legislature.

Her election comes a day after a no confidence motion removed Casten Nemra, who had been sworn in last week.

Ms Heine has been the education minister and is the founder of Women United Together Marshall Islands.

Waqa visited an exhibition of award-winning student inventions at Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, where his daughter Carren-Tai Waqa is studying medical laboratory

As per requirement under the 2013 constitution, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has nominated former military officer and current cabinet minister Jioji Konrote for the position, where as the opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has nominated Taveuni chief and former military commander Ratu Epeli Ganilau.

The constitution requires the President has had a distinguished career in any aspect of national or international life, whether in the public or private sector.

Parliament will hold a special sitting on Monday to elect the new president.

The opposition's leader Ro Teimumu Kepa says it has tried to follow a process to depoliticise the nomination.

Ro Teimumu says her SODELPA Party chose him after discussions with chiefs as opposed to a process of numbers and voting by politicians.

Ratu Epeli was the defence minister in the post-coup regime of Frank Bainimarama following an unsuccessful bid as leader of the National Alliance to win a seat in the 2006 election.