French voters have pushed the far-right National Rally to a strong lead in the first round of legislative elections, creating political uncertainty in France, according to polling projections. French President Emmanuel Macron, who called for the surprise elections three weeks ago, urged voters to unite against the far right. Projections from polling agencies indicate that the National Rally is likely to win a majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time, capturing an estimated one-third of the first-round vote. This is nearly double their performance in the first round in 2022.
Hurricane Beryl has intensified into a Category 4 storm as it approaches the southeast Caribbean. The region has begun to shut down in preparation as government officials urge people to seek shelter. Hurricane warnings have been issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The National Hurricane Center in Miami has warned that Beryl is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge as an extremely dangerous hurricane. Located about 310 miles east-southeast of Barbados, Beryl has maximum sustained winds of 130 mph and is moving west at 21 mph. It is a compact storm with hurricane-force winds extending 15 miles from its center.
LGBTQ+ Pride Month is culminating with colorful parades in major cities like NYC, San Francisco, and others around the world. The month-long celebration serves as both a festive party and a political demonstration. However, this year, tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict have impacted the celebrations, revealing divisions within the community. In New York, protesters briefly disrupted a Pride parade, chanting, “Free, free, free Palestine.” As the marchers hit the streets, a significant security presence is expected.
Amid private concerns about his debate performance, senior Democrats are publicly rallying behind President Joe Biden. While the Biden family spends time at Camp David, party veterans and close allies reaffirm their support for Biden as the 2024 presidential nominee. Despite acknowledging his shaky debate performance, there is no indication of a need to replace Biden at the top of the ticket, despite private discussions among top party officials.
Thousands of Jewish ultra-Orthodox men clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem during a protest against a court order for them to start enlisting for military service. This decision could challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition while Israel is engaged in the conflict in Gaza. Military service is compulsory for most Israeli men and women, but ultra-Orthodox parties have secured exemptions for their followers, who study in religious seminaries instead. This exemption has created resentment among the broader public.
Relatives of a 13-year-old boy shot and killed by police in central New York are demanding justice. The boy’s immigrant community from Myanmar is pressing local officials for accountability. The state attorney general is investigating the shooting, which occurred after police tackled the boy and shot him following a foot chase. Police released body camera footage showing the boy appearing to aim an object at them, which they say was a BB gun resembling a real firearm. Attendees at a vigil questioned the officials’ narrative of the shooting.
States are divided on whether to track gun store sales using special credit card codes. California’s new law requires banks to assign special codes to gun stores to alert them to suspicious purchases. In contrast, laws in Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, and Wyoming prohibit the use of special codes for gun shop transactions. Seventeen states have imposed restrictions on category codes for gun retailers, with California, Colorado, and New York leading the way.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Western countries to relax targeting restrictions inside Russia as the country faces continuous bombardment. Drone footage has shown what appears to be bodies in a civilian area in Toretsk, an embattled town in the Donetsk region. Ukraine is struggling to stabilize its front line after receiving military assistance from the United States in April.
With summer in full swing, small businesses are offering reduced schedules on Fridays, known as summer hours, to boost morale among employees. These summer hours are seen as a perk that can attract prospective talent in a competitive job market. Small business owners believe that offering summer hours can contribute to a positive work environment.
The BET Awards are set to return Sunday night with Oscar-nominated actor Taraji P. Henson as the host. Performances by Childish Gambino, Megan Thee Stallion, Lauryn Hill, and others are expected. Drake leads the nominations with seven, followed by Nicki Minaj with six nods. Usher will receive a lifetime achievement award. The award show will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. Eastern on various networks.
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