New president

Hardliner Raisi will be Iran's new president

He thanked Iranians for their support, after securing 62 percent of the votes.

Raisi is Iran's top judge and holds ultra-conservative views. He is under US sanctions and has been linked to past executions of political prisoners.

Iran's president is the second-highest ranking official in the country, after the supreme leader.

Surangel Whipps Jr to be Palau's new president

Whipps's opponent in this week's election, outgoing Vice President Raynold Oilouch, has conceded the presidential race

The Pacific Island Times reported the concession came although there are still at least 2,000 absentee ballots still to be tabulated next week.

All votes cast in Palau had been tabulated by Wednesday night.

Preliminary results showed Whipps with a lead of 1,202 votes over Oilouch, who said Palauans had clearly chosen their new president.

New president for Marshall Islands

Mr Kabua, a veteran politician and former cabinet minister who is the second son of founding president Amata Kabua, won the vote by 20-12 with one abstention.

Mr Kabua has previously held the health and internal affairs ministerial portfolios.

Mr Kabua was seen as a presidential candidate who could bring rival candidates together as a leader acceptable to most factions, said RNZ Pacific correspondent Giff Johnson.

He described Mr Kabua as a likeable man, with a "low-key personality".