عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

World Leaders Welcome Macron's French Election Win

French President and La Republique en Marche (LREM) party candidate for re-election Emmanuel Macron (R) holds his fist in the air as he holds Brigitte Macron’s hand after his victory in France’s presidential election, at the Champ de Mars in Paris, on April 24, 2022. AFP
French President and La Republique en Marche (LREM) party candidate for re-election Emmanuel Macron (R) holds his fist in the air as he holds Brigitte Macron’s hand after his victory in France’s presidential election, at the Champ de Mars in Paris, on April 24, 2022. AFP
TT
TT

World Leaders Welcome Macron's French Election Win

French President and La Republique en Marche (LREM) party candidate for re-election Emmanuel Macron (R) holds his fist in the air as he holds Brigitte Macron’s hand after his victory in France’s presidential election, at the Champ de Mars in Paris, on April 24, 2022. AFP
French President and La Republique en Marche (LREM) party candidate for re-election Emmanuel Macron (R) holds his fist in the air as he holds Brigitte Macron’s hand after his victory in France’s presidential election, at the Champ de Mars in Paris, on April 24, 2022. AFP

World leaders rushed to congratulate France's centrist President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and defeat of far-right leader Marine Le Pen in elections Sunday.

Here are some of the main reactions according to AFP:

- European Union -"I am delighted to be able to continue our excellent cooperation," tweeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"We can count on France for five more years," European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.

- United States -"France is our oldest ally and a key partner in addressing global challenges," US President Joe Biden tweeted. "I look forward to our continued close cooperation -- including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also congratulated Macron.

"We look forward to continuing close cooperation with France on global challenges, underpinning our long and enduring Alliance and friendship," he wrote.

- Germany -Chancellor Olaf Scholz said French voters "have sent a strong vote of confidence in Europe today. I am happy that we will continue our good cooperation".

- Britain -Prime Minister Boris Johnson called France "one of our closest and most important allies" and said he looked forward "to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world".

- Ukraine -President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has spoken with Macron several times since Russia's invasion on February 24, called Macron a "true friend of Ukraine".

"I wish him further success for the sake of the (French) people. I appreciate his support and I am convinced that we are moving together towards new common victories," he wrote in both Ukrainian and French.

- Russia -Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote in a telegram: "I sincerely wish you success in your state activities, as well as good health and well-being," according to a statement from the Kremlin.

- Algeria -President Abdelmadjid Tebboune congratulated Macron on his "brilliant" victory and invited him to visit Algeria soon "to intensify and broaden" relations which have been fraught in recent times between France and its neighboring former colony.

- China -China President Xi Jinping said he would "like to continue working with President Macron to maintain diplomatic relations based on independence, mutual understanding, foresight and mutual benefit". according to a readout from state broadcaster CCTV.

- Australia -Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Macron's victory was a "great expression of liberal democracy in action in uncertain times".

"We wish you and France every success, in particular your leadership in Europe and as an important partner to Australia in the Indo-Pacific," he tweeted, using an alternative name for the Asia-Pacific region.

In November, Macron accused his Australian counterpart of lying over a multi-billion-dollar submarine contract that Canberra scrapped without warning.

- Canada -Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "looking forward to continuing our work together on the issues that matter most to people in Canada and France -- from defending democracy, to fighting climate change, to creating good jobs and economic growth for the middle class".

- India -Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his "friend" on being re-elected and said "I look forward to continue working together to deepen the India-France Strategic Partnership."

- Japan -Tweeting in French, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrote: "We will strengthen our close cooperation with President Macron in various areas, such as the Indo-Pacific region and the Russian aggression against Ukraine."

- Italy -Prime Minister Mario Draghi described Macron's victory as "great news for all of Europe".

- Spain -"The citizens have chosen a France committed to a free, strong and fair EU. Democracy wins. Europe wins," tweeted socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. "Congratulations Emmanuel Macron."

- Belgium -Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said French voters had made a "strong choice", opting for "certainty and Enlightenment values".

- UN bodies -UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi sent his "warm congratulations" and said his organization would continue to count on Macron's support on the European and world stage "as humanitarian challenges and refugee crises become more serious and complex every day".

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he looked forward to "continuing the important partnership" with France "for a healthier, safer, fairer world".

- Ireland -Prime Minister Micheal Martin hailed Macron's "principled and dynamic leadership" as "important not only for France, but for Europe".

- Switzerland -President Ignazio Cassis said he looked forward to "continuing our good collaboration," stressing the close ties between the two neighboring countries.

- Sweden -Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson sent her "warmest congratulations".

"Let's continue our close cooperation -- bilaterally and for a competitive, green and resilient European Union," she tweeted.

- African Union -African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat congratulated Macron over "his brilliant re-election", saying he hoped to continue building "mutually beneficial relations between Africa and France".

Most Viewed

 
 
World

Russian Strikes Kill 8 in Ukraine, Damage Maternity Clinic

A woman walks in front of a house destroyed in a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A woman walks in front of a house destroyed in a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
TT
TT

Russian Strikes Kill 8 in Ukraine, Damage Maternity Clinic

A woman walks in front of a house destroyed in a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A woman walks in front of a house destroyed in a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine's capital Kyiv and its northeast killed eight people on Thursday in attacks that included a maternity hospital and a farm, officials said.

Moscow has stepped up its air war in recent months, deploying more of its faster and harder-to-stop drones while Ukraine is short of interceptors to down ballistic missiles.

Two people died in the latest assault on Kyiv, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was in New York for the UN General Assembly.

"As people were sleeping, flashes from explosions ⁠lit up the sky," ⁠Zelenskiy said on Telegram.

"Once again, the main targets of their strike were Kyiv and civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, a maternity hospital, energy infrastructure, and logistics."

Police said nine homes, a post office, warehouses and dozens of cars were also damaged in Kyiv.

A separate Russian attack on a vegetable storage facility at a farm in a village of the northeastern Kharkiv region killed six people and injured a further ⁠12, prosecutors said.

The overnight barrage around Ukraine included an unspecified number of hypersonic and ballistic missiles, 282 drones and other weapons, Ukraine's air force said.

In Kyiv, eight people were injured as well as the two fatalities, one of whom was in the parking lot of the maternity hospital, Reuters quoted city mayor Vitali Klitschko as saying.

Part of the hospital's facade, windows and doors were damaged, officials said, adding that no patients or medics were injured.

A handout photo made available by the State Emergency Service (SES) shows Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of an overnight Russian attack on a residential area in Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 September 2026, amid the Russian invasion. EPA/STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE / HANDOUT

Authorities in the northwestern region of Rivne said infrastructure was damaged in overnight strikes that continued into Thursday morning, without providing further details. Volyn region bordering Poland also came under attack.

Insufficient pressure on Moscow ⁠was allowing ⁠it to launch repeated strikes, said Zelenskiy.

"Right now, the United States has the opportunity to respond strongly," he said. "We need ballistic interceptors to protect lives."

Russia's defense ministry said its forces hit Ukrainian defense facilities, logistics and telecoms centers, as well as vessels used by the military.

In the Black Sea port of Odesa, military administration head Serhiy Lysak said overnight Russian strikes damaged a medical facility and shattered windows in nearby houses and a school.

Moldova's President Maia Sandu said four Russian drones crossed into its airspace and at least one exploded, while Romania said a drone also crashed in its territory.

NATO alliance member Poland said it deployed aviation twice on Thursday due to Russian attacks on Ukraine.

World

Quake Rattles Southeastern Türkiye

Image of earthquake monitoring (Reuters)
Image of earthquake monitoring (Reuters)
TT
TT

Quake Rattles Southeastern Türkiye

Image of earthquake monitoring (Reuters)
Image of earthquake monitoring (Reuters)

An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude rattled cities in southeastern Türkiye on Thursday but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the disaster agency said.

The quake, which occurred at 10:40 am (0740 GMT) was centered just north of the city of Sanliurfa, Türkiye's AFAD disaster agency said, adding "there are currently no reports of adverse effects".

Hasan Silda, governor of Sanliurfa province, said the quake had been felt "intensely", AFP reported.

"According to initial reports, there are no casualties or injuries. There is no destruction. There may be some partial damage to buildings," he told NTV private television.

Türkiye is crisscrossed by several geological fault lines that have previously caused catastrophes in the country.

A massive quake in February 2023 killed at least 53,000 people in southeastern Türkiye and around 7,000 others in Syria, that also caused damage and more than 300 deaths in Sanliurfa.

World

For Pope Leo, the Risk of an AI Apocalypse is a Major Concern

Pope Leo XIV leads the weekly Angelus prayer from a window at the Vatican, August 9, 2026. Vatican Media/Mario Tomassetti/­Handout via REUTERS
Pope Leo XIV leads the weekly Angelus prayer from a window at the Vatican, August 9, 2026. Vatican Media/Mario Tomassetti/­Handout via REUTERS
TT
TT

For Pope Leo, the Risk of an AI Apocalypse is a Major Concern

Pope Leo XIV leads the weekly Angelus prayer from a window at the Vatican, August 9, 2026. Vatican Media/Mario Tomassetti/­Handout via REUTERS
Pope Leo XIV leads the weekly Angelus prayer from a window at the Vatican, August 9, 2026. Vatican Media/Mario Tomassetti/­Handout via REUTERS

The Vatican warned about the risk of an apocalypse spurred by artificial intelligence years before major American firms sounded the alarm at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday - a concern that Pope Leo is placing at the heart of his papacy.

Leo, who in May called on world leaders for global rules to oversee the industry, is expected to warn about AI again on Friday in a speech at the Paris headquarters of the UN's culture and education body, UNESCO.

"This is not happening on day zero for the Holy See," Rev. Paolo Benanti, a leading Vatican advisor on AI issues, told Reuters, referring to recent calls for a slowdown that has been endorsed by the CEOs of AI firms Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI, among others.

"The transformative power of AI ... ‌could produce a magnitude ‌of societal changes that are very hard to predict," said Benanti, an Italian academic ‌who ⁠recently took part ⁠in the AI summit hosted by Britain's King Charles.

The priest said he could not reveal details about the contents of the summit's confidential discussions.

CARDINAL: THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY IS AT STAKE

Leo, the first US-born pope, has raised the possible dangers of AI development frequently throughout his 16-month-old papacy and first discussed the issue publicly on his third day in office.

In his May appeal, released as his first major document, Leo warned that AI systems spread misinformation, prioritize conflict and could lead the world down a path of unending war.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomat, reiterated Leo's call for international regulation of ⁠the industry at an event in Rome last week, warning that countries cannot "go it alone" ‌on the technology.

"The future of humanity is really at stake here," ‌Parolin said. The world, he said, needs "everyone's involvement in establishing some common rules that can genuinely govern this phenomenon."

Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah ‌spoke at the Vatican's launch event for the pope's May document, known as an encyclical.

Asked if the Vatican is ‌in ongoing dialogue with any AI firms, Benanti stressed the decentralized nature of the global church and said some discussions are being led by local bishops.

On September 16, the US bishops' conference said it had created a new AI taskforce after several of its leaders met with executives that day.

"The dialogue focused on ways to keep any system of artificial intelligence at the service of ‌humanity and the urgent need to address the real and present dangers such technology presents," a statement said.

LEO WARNS ABOUT AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS

The Vatican began warning about the ⁠risks of AI in 2019, hosting ⁠two conferences that year on the possible dangers of the technology. The late Pope Francis warned attendees at one of the events that misinformation spread by AI could spark a world war.

The Vatican also teamed with Microsoft, IBM , the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the Italian government in 2020 to issue a call for AI development that "does not have as its sole goal greater profit or the gradual replacement of people in the workplace."

Leo has urged oversight especially for the development of weapons systems, such as those being used in the Russia-Ukraine war. He said in his encyclical that such weapons have advanced "practically beyond any human reach to govern them."

The Vatican's advocacy on the global stage against autonomous weaponry goes back decades, Benanti said, likening AI-powered drones to landmines that are indiscriminate with their targets.

The priest compared the Vatican's warnings about the risks of AI to how popes have long called for nuclear disarmament.

"If nuclear weapons can destroy humanity ... the manipulation of generative AI content in social spaces can destroy the capabilities of people to stay together as a society," he said.

"Nuclear weapons have to be stocked inside facilities and you can count and control them. AI is not this visible."