Turkey's main opposition party embarked on an emotional rollercoaster on Sunday as a see-sawing vote count threatened to dash hopes of a first-round election victory over conservative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.. - 'I still believe' - Most of the early ballots appeared to have been counted in heavily pro-Erdogan districts of Turkey's north and east.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky headed to Paris Sunday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, after Germany pledged unwavering support for Kyiv ahead of a widely expected counter-offensive.. Macron would "reaffirm the unwavering support of France and Europe for restoring Ukraine's legitimate rights and defend its fundamental interests", the statement added.
European Council President Charles Michel spoke of progress in talks between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels on Sunday, adding that "momentum should be maintained" towards a final peace deal.. "Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on a peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Michel said afterwards.
Calm returned to Gaza Sunday as a fragile ceasefire largely held, leaving Palestinians and Israelis to count the cost of five days of cross-border fire that killed dozens.. - 'It will begin again' - Authorities on Sunday lifted movement restrictions imposed on Israelis living near the Gaza border.
Dozens of supporters of two French nationals detained last year in Iran demanded their release in Paris Sunday after Tehran freed two fellow citizens who had been on hunger strike.. Kohler and Paris are among four French citizens, described previously as "hostages" by the French foreign ministry, who are still in prison in Iran.
Flash flooding in central Somalia has killed 22 people and affected over 450,000, the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA said Sunday, after the Shabelle River burst its banks, forcing tens of thousands out of their homes.. "Initial estimates indicate that the flash and riverine floods across Somalia have affected at least 460,470 people, of whom nearly 219,000 have been displaced from their homes mainly in flood-prone areas, and 22 killed," the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
From Hmong hill people voting in the shadow of mist-cloaked jungle mountains to Spider-Man cosplayers on Bangkok's scorching streets, millions turned out to cast their ballots in Thailand's election on Sunday.. The scenes in the capital Bangkok were no less colourful as two men dressed as Spider-Man, one carrying a guitar, entertained people on the hot streets.
Banned from using popular Western apps, Iranians have been left with little choice but to take up state-backed alternatives, as the authorities tighten internet restrictions for security reasons following months of protests.. - Integration - At the height of the deadly Amini protests in October, the Iranian government cited security concerns as it moved to restrict internet access and added Instagram and WhatsApp to its long list of blocked applications.
French monarchist movement Action Francaise was cleared to hold a demonstration in Paris on Sunday after the courts reversed a police ban issued on orders from the interior ministry to curtail far-right protests.. Police had issued several ban orders on Friday, after Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin issued directives aimed at prohibiting any gatherings "of the ultraright or extreme right".
One embraces chaos and glorifies Turkey's Islamic past.. The group has been targeted by violent repressions because it follows a more spiritual Islamic tradition that separates it from Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
