Barbados Prime Minister to Nation: “Please Bunker Water”
In the Caribbean island nations where the storm Beryl is expected to hit hardest on Monday morning, feverish preparations are underway. People queue at gas stations and grocery stores and nail their windows, writes the BBC.
Addressing the nation on Saturday evening, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley urged residents to protect themselves, their families and neighbors and to stay indoors after 8pm local time.
- Please remember to store water, because if we have damage to the water lines, you will need it in the next few days, she said, according to the Barbados Times, and reminded to tie down or bring in garbage cans that can become life-threatening projectiles.
Hurricane Beryl is expected to pass half a mile south of Barbados and reach level four on the five-degree hurricane scale, AP writes. This means that it can make "most of the area uninhabitable for weeks or months". .......................................
Storm Beryl is expected to wreak havoc in the Caribbean
Storm Beryl is increasing in strength as it approaches the southeastern Caribbean, and is expected to reach level four on the five-point hurricane scale. This is reported by AP. That means it could cause "catastrophic damage" and make "much of the area uninhabitable for weeks or months," according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
- Beryl is an extremely dangerous and unusual hurricane for this time of year in this area, says hurricane specialist Michael Lowry.
Unusually high sea temperatures have caused the storm to increase in strength faster and earlier in the year than at any time since systematic measurements began in 1851, writes the Washington Post.
Beryl is expected to pass south of Barbados on Monday morning. Warnings have been issued there and on Saint Lucia, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It then continues towards Jamaica and weakens slightly before reaching Mexico.
Switzerland and France hit by storms - several dead
At least seven people have been killed over the weekend after storms hit both France and Switzerland, the AFP news agency said.
As for the Rhone River and its tributaries - which have overflowed - the situation is "under control", says Prime Minister Frédéric Favre during a press conference, reports Swiss public service TV RTS. But the situation is still "fragile", he adds.
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Greece battles wildfires - could get worse
In recent weeks, Greece has been struggling with forest fires. But there is a risk that the worst is yet to come, writes AFP.
During Sunday, a forest fire broke out southeast of Athens. At 12:30 p.m., residents were asked to evacuate several areas near the capital.
The island of Serifos in the Cyclades was hit on Saturday by an extensive forest fire. It is now under control.
- All of south-western Serifos has burned. We are talking about an area where the fire ended by the sea, Mayor Konstantinos Revintis told the Mega TV channel, according to AFP.
Demonstrators on National Assembly's victory: "France is a racist country"
Thousands of people poured into the Place de la République in central Paris immediately after the far-right National Assembly became the largest party according to the polls. This is reported by Libération, which describes the mood as shocked.
- We see it tonight, France is a racist country, says protester Maude to the newspaper.
In several places, people have taken to the streets in protest. In Lyon, some of the demonstrators have thrown shots and clashed with the police, according to several media.
According to the polling station polls, the National Assembly received 34 percent in today's election, the left coalition 28 percent and Macron's group just over 20. The second and decisive round is on July 7. ...........................................
The euro rises after the election: "Short positions covered"
The euro strengthened slightly after polls showed that Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party looks set to become the largest party in the new French elections. The currency began trading at 21:00 in Sydney and was up 0.3 percent against the dollar an hour later. The krone lost about 1 öre to 11.36 for one euro.
Bloomberg's currency strategist Michael Wilson assesses that the rise of the euro in Sidney is probably about short positions taken as a hedge before the election being covered as extreme scenarios seem to be absent.
According to IG Markets chief analyst in Paris Alexandre Baradez, the development suggests that the market is taking the election result in stride.
- If there had been any sense of panic, we would have already noticed it on the currency markets, he says.
Bloomberg also states that a Le Pen victory in the first round is expected and that most of it is already priced in by the markets.
This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.
Published 21.59
President Macron had counted on the French to heed his call and vote in the middle.
They didn't.
The result shows that it is no longer possible to scare people from voting for right-wing extremists.
Quick version
It is the first time that Marine Le Pen's National Assembly has become the largest party in a parliamentary election. Quite superior as well.
Despite the opinion polls, it is a sensational result and a political earthquake. Both in France and Europe.
With around 35 percent of the vote, it is very possible that Le Pen's party can get its own majority in the French National Assembly. It will be decided after the second round of elections next Sunday.
In that case, it is the first time since the Second World War that France has a far-right prime minister.
For President Macron, it is a huge failure. It shows that his decision to call new elections prematurely was a huge miscalculation.
He did it after National Gathering won a big victory in the EU elections at the beginning of June. He felt humiliated and was prepared to bet everything on one card.
Many were shocked by his decision because he thereby invited the far-right party to take power in the French parliament.
But Macron didn't think he had a choice. His party received a landslide victory in the EU elections. He coldly calculated that he would, as several times before, succeed in scaring the French people into not voting for Le Pen's party in the parliamentary elections.
He saw it as voters showing their dissatisfaction in the EU elections but would never dare to do so in an election to the French National Assembly.
Photo: Yara Nardi / AP
Shockwave
But Macron overestimated his ability to get the population on board. He does not want to realize that he is extremely unpopular in broad layers.
This is because he had the courage to implement some unpopular reforms. Like raising the retirement age from a record low of 62 to 64. Even that is low by European standards.
But it wasn't popular.
The result is a shock not only for France but for all of Europe and above all EU cooperation.
We are used to the fact that it is the two great powers Germany and France that largely control European cooperation. It will be immensely more complicated if the National Assembly is allowed to fill the post of prime minister.
Macron will of course remain as president and control much of foreign policy, but in the long term it could seriously squeal in EU cooperation because the National Assembly believes that the EU is getting involved in far too much. The party is also basically very pro-Russia and opposes Europe's support for Ukraine.
A combination of the young and charismatic party leader Jordan Bardella becoming prime minister at the same time Hungary's Viktor Orban takes over the presidency of the EU can develop into a pure nightmare for those who want to see a democratic and cooperative EU that can deal with fateful issues such as the climate threat and Russia's imperialism.
Jordan Bardella, may become the new Prime Minister of France. Photo: Aurelien Morissard / AP
The wave of success of the extreme right
At the same time, the election is yet another sign of the enormous success of far-right and right-wing populist parties around Europe. Successes that come just a few months before another right-wing populist, or whatever you want to call Donald Trump, has a good chance of being elected president of the United States. Trump's chances have not directly decreased after President Biden's total fiasco in the debate between the two a few days ago.
Italy is already governed by a prime minister whose party has its roots in the neo-fascist movement.
In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, achieved great success in the EU elections and is expected to advance strongly in several state elections in eastern Germany during the autumn.
The Netherlands is about to have a government ultimately led by anti-Islam Geert Wilders with the support of the country's large liberal center party.
In Sweden, we have the Tidö collaboration, which gives the Sweden Democrats a unique influence without them having to take political responsibility.
The left's only real success will probably come next week when Labor is expected to win the UK election. Otherwise, the right-wing wave across Europe is as massive as climate change.
There is still the possibility that the victory of the National Assembly will not be as total in the end as it looks today. In the second election round, the winning candidates in each constituency are pitted against each other, which means that there can be a lot of tactical voting.
Jordan Bardella has said he does not want to become prime minister if the party does not get its own majority.
At the same time, Macron hopes that if the National Assembly is forced to take responsibility, it will show the French people that they don't have much to contribute.
All in the hope of ruling out Marine Le Pen becoming president of France after the 2027 election when Macron is no longer allowed to run.
Marie Le Pen's National Collection looks set to become the largest party. Photo: Thibault Camus/AP
Le Pen's party became the largest - wants more: "We need an absolute majority"
The far-right National Gathering was the largest according to the polling station polls. Now Marine Le Pen and her top candidate Jordan Bardella want more. That's what they tell the voters before the second round next Sunday.
- We need an absolute majority so that Jordan Bardella is named prime minister in eight days, says Marine Le Pen in a comment on the polling stations that give her party 34 percent of the vote, according to AFP.
Bardella promises to become "prime minister of all the French" and says he is prepared to govern "respectfully" with his political opponent Emmanuel Macron as president, he says according to Reuters.
Macron is hoping for a "broad, clearly democratic and republican alliance" ahead of the second round on July 7. He writes this in a statement according to Bloomberg.
According to tonight's polling station surveys, the National Assembly is the largest with 34 percent, the left coalition is the second largest with 28 percent and President Emmanuel Macron's group gets just over 20.
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Right-wing populist National gathering largest in French election
Every third Frenchman voted for the right-wing populist National Assembly in today's election. That's what polling station polls show when the polling stations close at 8 p.m., Le Monde reports. The party thus becomes the largest in the first round.
Marine Le Pen's party gets 34 percent. The left-wing coalition is second largest with 28 percent, while President Emmanuel Macron's group gets just over 20.
The figures are expected in view of the opinion polls, writes TT.
The second and decisive round of the election is on July 7. If the National Assembly gets its own majority, Jordan Bardella becomes prime minister and gets to govern with his opponent Emmanuel Macron as president.
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Leftist candidates pull out to save Macron
The leaders of the left-wing coalition, which was second largest with 28 percent, are withdrawing some of their candidates ahead of the second round on July 7. That's what they say in comments on the polling station polls.
- We are withdrawing our candidates where the National Assembly was the largest and the New People's Front third, says Jean-Luc Mélenchon who leads La France Insoumise according to Francetv Info.
The aim is for all votes against Le Pen's far-right party to go to Macron's Renaissance alliance. The Socialist Party's general secretary Olivier Faure says the same thing.
If the National Assembly gets its own majority in the second round, Jordan Bardella becomes prime minister and gets to govern with his opponent Emmanuel Macron as president.
According to polling station polls, the National Assembly got 34 percent in today's election, the left coalition 28 percent and Macron's group just over 20.
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, or Than Oun, posted images and message on his Facebook page stating that he and members of the Lawyers Council delivered dry food, drinking water, baby milk, and diapers to flood victims in Phuket on Sunday.
This occurred during his visit to Phuket, which was originally planned for a charity golf event to raise funds for the Lawyers Council's volunteer lawyer program. However, upon witnessing the flood situation,he and his team decided to divert his attention to help those in distress first. #phuket#flood#thailand
The election in Great Britain Sunak against record race - urges voters to "save the country"
Everything points to a change of government in Great Britain after 14 years of Conservative rule. And with just four days to go until the election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is changing the tone.
In an interview with The Telegraph, he calls on voters to "save the country" from Labor leader Keir Starmer's tax increases.
- Labor would ruin people of all generations. No matter where you are in life, Labor will raise your taxes, he says.
The election looks set to mean a huge defeat for Sunak's Tory Party. According to a compilation of opinion polls by The Economist, Labor is expected to get 465 of the 650 seats in parliament, while the conservative Tory Party gets a record low 76 seats.
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The EU elections The EU's future Orbán wants to create new EU party group: "New era begins"
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Sunday that he wants to create a new party group in the European Parliament, reports AFP.
The new group - called "Patriots of Europe" - will also include Austria's far-right FPÖ party and the Czech Republic's centrist ANO group led by former prime minister Andrej Babis.
- A new era begins here, and the first, perhaps decisive moment of this new era is the creation of a new European political faction that will change European politics, Orbán said during a press conference.
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Europe's heat waves Greece battles wildfires - could get worse
In recent weeks, Greece has been struggling with forest fires. But there is a risk that the worst is yet to come, writes AFP.
During Sunday, a forest fire broke out southeast of Athens. At 12:30 p.m., residents were asked to evacuate several areas near the capital.
The island of Serifos in the Cyclades was hit on Saturday by an extensive forest fire. It is now under control.
- All of south-western Serifos has burned. We are talking about an area where the fire ended by the sea, Mayor Konstantinos Revintis told the Mega TV channel, according to AFP.
The election in the United States|The debate about Biden's age Jill Biden on age criticism: "Is the right man for the job"
A 90-minute debate must not define Joe Biden's four years as president. This is what his wife Jill Biden says in connection with a series of campaign meetings in New York on Saturday, the Washington Post reports. According to her, Biden is "the right man for the job" and should continue to be the Democrats' presidential candidate.
At the same time, she admits that her husband's age made it difficult for him in the debate. Among other things, Joe Biden has been criticized for speaking slowly, stumbling over words and having difficulty finishing sentences.
- I know what you are thinking. As Joe said earlier today, he is not young. And afterwards he said to me: “Jill, I don't know what happened. It didn't feel good," Jill Biden said during a campaign rally.
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Biden tries to calm stressed donors
US President Joe Biden was this weekend in the Hamptons resort for a fundraising event with donors after the criticized debate, international media write. Biden admitted there that he "didn't have a good night" but that "the voters had a different reaction".
- I understand the concern about the debate. I understand, Biden said.
Among the donors, there are now three phalanxes, writes CNN. One believes that a pressure campaign to force Biden to resign would be self-defeating. Another wants to see a compromise where Democrats consider drastic measures. The third phalanx, with less direct ties to Biden, is urging Democrats to immediately find a new candidate.
According to an invitation, seen by Reuters, hedge fund billionaire Eric Mindich, actor Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael J. Fox were among others on the invitation list.
Israel-Hamas war|Israel-Lebanon conflict Israel ignores Iran's threats: "Acting with full force"
Iran's warning that a full-scale Israeli operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon would lead to a "war of annihilation" has not deterred Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
In a post on X, Katz writes that Israel will act "with full force" if Hezbollah does not stop its attacks on the country and withdraw from southern Lebanon.
"A regime that threatens destruction deserves to be destroyed," writes Katz
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The Israel-Hamas war The ship attacks Sources: Putin wants to provide the Houthi movement with robots
Putin has asked Saudi Arabia for permission to hand over cruise robots to the Huthi movement in Yemen, writes the Moscow Times.
The information must originally come from the US intelligence service.
- If I were the Houthis, supersonic cruise missiles would be very high on my shopping list. And the Russians have pretty good cruise missiles for ship targets, Fabian Hinz, an expert on ballistic and cruise robots at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, told Middle East Eye.
According to the newspaper's information, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman initially said no to Russia's request.
The Houthi rebels were at war with Saudi Arabia until 2022. Since last November, they have been using drones and robots to attack ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim that the attacks are carried out in support of Palestine during the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza.
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The Israel-Hamas War|The Victims Swedish researcher follows Gaza's destruction via space
With the help of newly taken satellite images of Gaza, Lina Eklund, researcher at Lund University, analyzes the destruction in the wake of the war in Gaza every week. Aftonbladet writes that.
Eklund is part of the international research group Decentralized damage mapping group (DDMG). According to the researchers, 60 percent of Gaza has been destroyed in the bombings since last October - 170,000 buildings. It is on a "completely different level" compared to previous escalations in the conflict, says Eklund and compares to how 1,700 buildings were destroyed in 2021.
- We cannot show everything that can be shown if you are there. But what we can support, or go against, are the reports that come from inside Gaza or from Israel, says Eklund, researcher in natural geography and ecological science. Send feedback
Election could leave France in 'chaos and confusion'
The complex electoral system that applies to the parliamentary elections in France can make it difficult to estimate the election results in advance. And the final result is only expected on July 7 after the second round of the election, writes Reuters.
If the National Assembly gets an absolute majority, the party's Jordan Bardella will become prime minister, with Emmanuel Macron as president. Such a scenario would mean a "cohabitation" ("samboende" in Swedish) in French politics, where the country's president and the majority of the national assembly belong to different political orientations, explains AFP.
According to the latest polls, National Gathering is expected to get the most seats in the National Assembly, but it is still unclear whether the party can secure an absolute majority.
France faces a year of political chaos and confusion if it has a deadlocked National Assembly, according to Mujtaba Rahman, head of Europe at Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy.
- There is no precedent in more modern French politics for such a stalemate, he says.
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French go to the polls: "Serious for society"
The parliamentary elections in France may give power to the far-right for the first time since the Second World War, writes AFP. About 49 million French people are eligible to vote and for some voters the election is important for the future of society.
- It is not an easy choice, the results are very uncertain and the consequences can be serious for society, says Julien Martin, a 38-year-old architect, to AFP
For Cassandre Cazaux, a nurse, this choice is "decisive".
- [...] But I don't know if everyone will play along and go out to vote, she adds.
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New French election begins: "Like a Netflix series"
The time has come for the first round of the new French election. The right-wing National Assembly looks set to go strong while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance fights for its survival.
Macron's strategy of trying to make his own alliance appear as the only rational alternative has not worked, writes The Guardian. And many of his allies are critical of the decision to dissolve parliament. Among other things, the former president and Macron's former mentor François Hollande has declared that "the Macron era is over" and stood in the election for the left-wing alliance New People's Front.
- Macron is becoming more and more unpredictable. It's like he runs the country as if he were in a Netflix series and has to put a cliffhanger at the end of every episode, says Antoine Bristielle, head of opinion at the think tank Fondation Jean-Jaurès.
................................... Record high turnout at half-time in the fateful election
Turnout in the new French election could be the highest in 40 years, Libération reports. At 12 o'clock, 25.9 percent of those entitled to vote had submitted their ballots, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior.
That is almost 7.5 percentage points more than the last election in 2022. The last time more people had voted at the same time was in 1981.
Almost one in ten French people have changed their holiday plans in order to vote, according to a poll cited in Libération. Among young people between the ages of 18 and 24 and left-wing sympathizers, the percentage is even higher.
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Rich on the French Riviera vote for National Assembly
The far-right National Collection has broadened its voter base and is now also attracting the super-rich in Saint-Tropez in the new French election, writes Dagens Nyheter. In the last European elections, the National Assembly made a record election on the Riviera – 41 percent of the votes in Saint-Tropez went to the party, compared to 31 percent in the whole of France.
According to the broker Marc Florin, who specializes in exclusive properties in the hundred million class, the support for the party is pervasive.
- Everyone here votes for the National Assembly. Also my customers, he tells DN
