Election news round-up

In India's Bihar State monkeys have emerged as a major election issue in two constituencies. The BBC reports more than 50,000 people in two assembly constituencies of the Saharsha area are affected by marauding monkeys stealing grain from stores and meals off kitchen tables. The villagers are frustrated because the Wildlife Act prohibits them from killing monkeys, while state government officials are unable or unwilling to shoo them away. They are now chanting the slogan "Shoo away monkeys and get our vote… Only he who scares away monkeys gets our vote."

In Brazil presidential candidate Jose Serra was hit on the head by an object while out campaigning in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the 31 October run-off vote. He blamed activists supporting Dilma Rousseff for the attack but officials from her Workers' Party denied any involvement.

A report to the UN General Assembly on elections planned for Myanmar on 7 November has described the election process as remaining "deeply flawed." There has been no release of political prisoners, and the high costs and limited time for registration have hampered political parties that are not backed by the government to organise themselves for the elections.

Power to the Greens - and it is not just in Australia. In Germany the party has a sporting chance, says Der Spiegel, of having the governor in two states after next year's state elections. The opinion polls have the party doing well in the city-state of Berlin and in Baden-Württemberg.