this is bbc news 7 welcome if you re watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories. voters in france cast their ballot in the final round of the country s presidential election. emmanuel macron looks to extend his premiership. the challenger marine le pen seeks to replace the incumbent but voter turnout so far has been lower in comparison to the last election. as russia s war on ukraine enters its third month us secretary of state antony blinken is expected in kyiv the first top us offical to visit since the invasion. japan says 10 people have died off the northern island of hokkaido after a sightseeing boat went missing on saturday.
here. peeple if i can say that? why not? arriving here, people were if i can say that? why not? arriving here, people were chanting - if i can say that? why not? arriving| here, people were chanting marine, we love you. she wasn tjust kissing babies heads, she was telling them she would protect them. that is what the people in her heartland believe that marine le pen has the potential to protect them and their futures. but even here people are voting for emmanuel macron. some believe he needs more time to deliver. 0thers needs more time to deliver. others think marine le pen is simply too much of a risk. both politicians aware no election campaign is complete without posing for the cameras with a baby. in terms of their differing views on the future of france, what are the main distinction is? distinction is? the future of france, distinction is? the future of france. but distinction is? the future of france, but also distinction is? the future of france, but also on - distinc
in a dangerous place. downing street still insists that the prime minister is yet to receive a second fine, but with the police investigation farfrom over and local elections around the corner, this place s current occupant has a fight on his hands to stay here. peter saull, bbc news. more now on our top story: france choosing its next president, with incumbent, emmanuel macron challenged in the second round by the far right leader, marine le pen. turnout at midday was almost two percentage points lower than at the same stage in the last presidential election. concerns about turnout have been a key feature of this election with emmanuel macron s camp particularly worried about voter apathy. david eades can explain this phenomenon further from clichy, near paris. this election being described as a three d election in one or two circles. the three ds being
a second term in 20 years. meanwhile, his rival, far right candidate, marine le pen, is hoping to win herfirst. she was out earlier in henin beaumont where she voted. today s election will be like a deja vu for the electorate because the pair went head to head in the second round of the last election back in 2017. this is marine le pen s third attempt at the presidency and if she fails it could potentially be her last. 0ur europe correspondent nick beake has the latest on the presidential run off. emmanuel macron cast his ballot this morning, hoping to become the first french president to be re elected in 20 years. but many voters believe he has failed to deliver on big promises during his first term. marine le pen also wants to make history by becoming the first french woman to be president. she has tried to present a softer image, but is accused of holding onto racist policies, including banning muslim women from wearing a headscarf in public. the french aren t exactly thrilled with
in the morning the day after and realised it had happened, and it could go the same way in france. a le pen presidency would notjust have an impact on communities across this country, it would also change france s position in the world. that s because she wants to replace the european union with something else and to pull out french troops from the nato military command. these are radical ideas, particularly at a time when there is war in europe. both candidates have been trying desperately to sell themselves to the undecided millions, maybe not as their ideal choice, but as the best offer in front of them. and we will have a special programme bringing you the result, starting at 17:30 gmt. join us for that as france decides. the us secretary of state antony blinken is due to visit kyiv today.