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Hofer narrowly leading Austria’s presidential runoff

Monday, 23 May 2016 2:12 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 23 May 2016 2:13 AM ]

Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) presidential candidate Norbert Hofer (R) greets his supporters at the Prater Alm Bar, during the Austrian presidential elections run-off in Vienna, Austria, on May 22, 2016. AFP

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

Preliminary results from Austria’s presidential runoff show Norbert Hofer is narrowly leading the Greens’ Van Der Bellen. Hofer has won 51-point-nine percent of the vote so far. Final results are not expected until Monday. A win would see Hofer become the European Union's first far-right head of state.
Greek lawmakers approve fresh tax hikes and spending cuts in return for bailout loans. Athens hopes the move can satisfy E-U finance ministers to free up the funds it needs to pay I-M-F loans. Meanwhile, Over 10 thousand people protested outside the parliament against new austerity measures.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given Binali Yildirim a mandate to form a new government as prime minister following the resignation of Ahmet Davutoglu. The ruling Justice and Development Party elected Yildirim as its new chairman at an extraordinary congress.
Afghanistan’s intelligence agency as well as militant sources have confirmed the death of the Taliban leader in a U-S drone strike. Mulla Akhtar Mansour was killed when his vehicle got hit in southwestern province of Baluchistan, near Afghanistan's border. An assembly is allegedly underway to decide his successor.
Iranian actor Shahab Hosseini wins the best actor prize at the 69th Cannes Film Festival for the movie Salesman. Director of the drama Asghar Farhadi also won the best screenplay prize at the prestigious festival in southern France. I, Daniel Blake directed by Ken Loach won Palme d'Or.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Tehran on a 2-day visit aimed at deepening bilateral ties. Modi will meet with President Hassan Rouhani and other top officials. India will sign a trilateral contract with Iran and Afghanistan to develop Iran's southern Chabahar port.
Foreign-backed militants have set a 48-hour deadline for the U-S and Russia to halt the Syrian government’s offensive in the Damascus area. Reports say 29 militant groups have criticized the offensive in a joint statement. Meanwhile, clashes continue between army troops and militants near Aleppo.
Brazilians have taken to the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia to protest against the acting government. They demanded that President Michel Temer step down, and let suspended President Dilma Rousseff come back to power. Rousseff was suspended by senate in mid May for allegedly breaking fiscal laws.

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