Kremlin critics and election observers question turnout figures that in some regions were as high as 90%; president says step needed to avoid distractions of leadership contest

Inconclusive first round of election gives incumbent 41.8% versus 30.4% for rival, who is expected to shore up support from other candidates ahead of July 12 second round

Center-right Ordinary People party captures 25% of vote and 53 of 150 seats in parliament, ending reign of country's long-dominant but scandal-tainted leftist party

The 'bagel belt' backs Boris as leading Jewish Labour MP ousted in Tory attack on opponents’ heartlands

'It’s nothing short of a revolution,' analyst says after official results are published; however, China still likely to resist demands by protesters

Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Elhayani edges out candidate who'd been backed by group of council chairmen seeking more aggressive approach in lobbying government

Candidates vying to chair Yesha council of West Bank mayors undeterred by likelihood of less gushing support from Jerusalem and potential changing of friendly guard in Washington

Nabil Karoui, who was recently freed from jail, and Kais Saied, who wants to criminalize homosexuality, are both newcomers to country's politics

Concerns about democracy have dominated the vote, with critics fearing Warsaw's illiberal turn could become irreversible if ruling Law and Justice party wins another four-year term

Turnout lowest in a general election since Portugal returned to democracy in 1974