Early results from Indonesia’s election on Wednesday showed President Joko Widodo securing a comfortable lead over ex-general Prabowo Subianto.
Official results are not expected until May, but the so-called "quick counts" showed that Subianto was more than 10 percentage points behind Widodo.
Prabowo's campaign spokesman said the numbers based on 50 per cent of votes was not enough.
Israel, Palestinians explore Gaza truce with US envoy
Israelis and Palestinians are signalling new efforts to forge a ceasefire deal, even a limited one, for the first time in a year that would pause the fighting in Gaza and return to Israel some of the hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave.
Biden pardons 39, commutes sentences of 1,500 others
Outgoing US President Joe Biden said on Thursday he was pardoning 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes and commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 others who were serving long prison terms.
Russia will respond to Ukraine's latest ATACMS strike, says Kremlin
Russia will definitely respond to Ukraine's latest use of US-made ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
South Korean President Yoon vows to 'fight to the end'
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would "fight to the end" on Thursday as his own political party shifted closer to voting with the opposition to impeach him over his short-lived martial law order that threw the US ally into turmoil.
Syrian rebel leader says will dissolve regime forces, close prisons
Syrian rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa - better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani - told Reuters in a written statement on Wednesday that he would dissolve the security forces of the toppled regime of Bashar al-Assad.
