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France's Macron wins new term after far-right battle

French President Emmanuel Macron won re-election on Sunday, convincingly defeating his rival Marine Le Pen and prompting a wave of relief in Europe that the far-right had been kept out of power.

Top US officials to visit Kyiv as war casts pall over Orthodox Easter

The United States' top diplomat and defence chief were set on Sunday to make their first wartime visits to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine two months ago, with fierce fighting casting a long shadow over Orthodox Easter.

Le Pen calls French election loss a 'brilliant victory'

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen hailed her score in presidential elections on Sunday as a "brilliant victory", despite her projected defeat to Emmanuel Macron.

Macron: abrasive reformer with chance to leave mark on France

Young, pro-European and unfailingly ambitious, Emmanuel Macron is the first French president to serve a second term in 20 years, giving him a historic opportunity to leave his mark.

Marine Le Pen, a fighter suffering another big defeat

Marine Le Pen, who on Sunday lost the second round of France's presidential election to Emmanuel Macron, had fought hard to make her far-right party electable but in the end failed by a wide margin to win over a majority of voters.

Macron defeats far-right Le Pen in French election: projections

French President Emmanuel Macron was on course Sunday to win a second term by defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen in presidential elections, projections showed.

Liberals surge ahead of Slovenian PM Jansa in divisive elections

A small liberal party led by political newcomer Robert Golob leads Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa's conservatives in parliamentary elections on Sunday, an exit poll showed, amid concerns over rule-of-law issues in the deeply polarised EU member.

In Lviv, Ukrainians pause near memorial wall of flowers

In western Ukraine, Tetiana Kasian stopped on the pavement to take in a wall of flowers that had gone up overnight in memory of those killed since Russia's invasion.

Ukraine's poorest sow seeds under the bombs

Standing in front of the home of his boss recently hit by a bomb in southern Ukraine, Vassili Kushch never wavers in his commitment to the land, picking up his shovel and getting to work.

Shaken by war, Ukrainian artists 'fight with images'

Ukrainian artist Vlodko Kaufman hopes one day he will be able to stop scribbling portraits of troops killed by Russia on utility bills and old tram tickets.

First commercial flight from rebel-held Yemen in years postponed

The first commercial flight out of Yemen's rebel-held capital in six years was indefinitely postponed Sunday, the national carrier said, stranding passengers who were travelling for medical care.

Israel says committed to status quo at Jerusalem holy site

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said Sunday that Israel was "committed" to the status quo that prevents Jews praying at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the epicentre of repeated clashes.

First commercial flight from rebel-held Yemen since 2016 postponed

The first commercial flight out of Yemen's rebel-held capital in six years was indefinitely postponed Sunday, after failing to obtain permits from the Saudi-led coalition, the national carrier said.

Almost 5.2 million Ukrainians flee war: UN

The number of Ukrainians who have fled the country since Russia's invasion two months ago is approaching 5.2 million, the UN refugee agency said Sunday.

France votes in showdown for Macron and Le Pen

French voters headed to the polls Sunday for the presidential run-off between centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron and his challenger Marine Le Pen, whose far-right party appears set to have its strongest election showing ever.

Biden again describes past Armenian massacres as genocide

US President Joe Biden used Sunday's occasion of Armenian remembrance day to describe past mass atrocities by Ottomans as genocide, repeating his controversial description from a year ago when he ended decades of American equivocation.

Iraqi Christians celebrate first Easter 'Holy Fire'

With joyous ululations, thousands of Iraqis have celebrated for the first time the arrival of the "Holy Fire" brought from Christianity's holiest site in Jerusalem to mark Orthodox Easter.

Dark humour still alive in frontline cellar in east Ukraine

Mikhailo, who has lost everything to the war, except perhaps his sense of humour, draws on a cigarette before only half-joking, "You cannot die twice."

Slovenians vote in divisive elections

Slovenians voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections expected to be a tight race between conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa and a political newcomer in the polarised EU country.

In Kharkiv's metro, families carve out a life away from the bombs

When Russian troops steamrolled through her east Ukrainian village in February, Elena Ivanovna's family packed their car before dawn and fled to Kharkiv, where they unwittingly found themselves on the front line.

N. Korea boasts of 'invincible power' ahead of key military anniversary

North Korea's state media boasted Sunday that its armed forces had "gained invincible power" under leader Kim Jong Un as it prepares for a major army holiday that analysts say could be marked with a military parade or major weapons test.

Top US officials to meet Zelensky on first wartime visit to Kyiv

The United States' top diplomat and defence chief were Sunday set to make their first wartime visits to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine two months ago, with fierce battles raging in the east of the country.

Macron battles far-right Le Pen for French presidency

France votes on Sunday in presidential elections facing a stark choice between centrist President Emmanuel Macron and challenger Marine Le Pen, after a fractious campaign that has seen the French far-right come its closest yet to winning power.

Retired longtime US senator Orrin Hatch dies at age 88

Former US senator Orrin Hatch, who retired in 2019 and is one of the longest-serving senators in US history, died on Saturday at age 88, his foundation announced.

How far will Russia go in new phase of Ukraine assault?

Two months after invading Ukraine, Russia says its aim is full control of the Donbas region in the east as well as the south of the country.

Is Russia as isolated as Ukraine's allies hope?

Two months into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US President Joe Biden's claim that Moscow is more isolated than ever looks more like wishful thinking.

New controversies arise over French language in Canada

Do French-speakers face discrimination in Canada, despite its status as an official language along with English?

Ex-Guantanamo prisoner sues Canada over alleged role in his detention

A former Guantanamo detainee who spent 14 years without trial and whose story was told in the hit film "The Mauritanian," is suing Canada over its alleged role in his detention.

Kyiv says top US officials to visit, Odessa attack kills eight

Kyiv prepared on Saturday for its first wartime visit from two top US officials, as Ukraine accused Russia of killing six people in a strike on Odessa that all but buried hopes of a truce for Orthodox Easter.

Ukraine says Mariupol evacuation thwarted, six killed in Odessa

Ukrainian officials Saturday accused Russia of thwarting a fresh attempt to evacuate civilians from Mariupol and killing six people in a strike on Odessa, all but burying hopes of a truce for Orthodox Easter.

French in North America queue for a vote 'too important' to miss

With the stakes high in France's second-round presidential election, many French citizens in the United States and Canada trooped to polling places Saturday to cast their ballots, a day before their fellow citizens back home.

France braces for Le Pen-Macron election showdown

France on Saturday prepared to choose between centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen to rule the country for the next five years after a bitterly contested and polarising election campaign.

'Fierce' fighting rages in eastern Ukraine as Russia presses campaign

"Fierce battles" raged in eastern Ukraine on Saturday all but killing hopes of an Easter truce as officials said they would make a fresh attempt to evacuate civilians from the war-torn city of Mariupol.

Nearly 5.2 million Ukrainians flee war: UN

The number of Ukrainians who have fled the country since Russia's invasion is approaching 5.2 million, the UN refugee agency said Saturday.

Routine Russian bombardment terrifies Kharkiv

"Close the window, smoke is getting in," a policeman yells. Vyacheslav Pavlov and his elderly mother live on the ninth floor in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv and the next-door flat is ablaze after a Russian rocket attack.

Israel closes crossing to Gazans after new rocket attacks

Israel said it will close its only crossing from the Gaza Strip for workers on Sunday in response to overnight rocket fire, stopping short of conducting retaliatory strikes in an apparent bid to ease tensions.

Hopes wane for Ukraine Easter truce as Russia presses campaign

Hopes for a weekend truce in Ukraine to celebrate the Orthodox Easter faded with talks between Moscow and Kyiv stalled as Russia said it aimed to take full control over the east and south of its neighbour.

Loyalists turn on Sri Lanka PM as protest pressure grows

Sri Lanka's beleaguered prime minister came under increased pressure to step down on Saturday, as a cabinet minister and other senior party members backed street protests calling for resignations over a worsening economic crisis.

'So much joy': Brazil holds first carnival since Covid

Rio de Janeiro's carnival, a glittering, sequin-studded festival of the flesh, exploded back to life Friday with the first famed samba school parades since Covid-19 started devastating Brazil.

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