French leftists win most seats in elections, pollsters say. Lack of majority threatens turmoil
PARIS (AP) — Polling projections show that a coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly ahead of France’s snap elections won the most parliamentary seats in the vote. The surprise projections put President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in second and the far right in third. The lack of majority for any single alliance threatened to plunge France into political and economic turmoil. Final results are not expected until late Sunday or early Monday in the highly volatile snap election. It was called just four weeks ago in a huge gamble for Macron. It does not appear to have paid off for the deeply unpopular president. Macron’s office said the president would “wait wait for the new National Assembly to organize itself” before making any decisions.
Biden addresses supportive Black church service amid growing Democratic calls for him to step aside
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Joe Biden has urged supporters to stay unified behind him at a rousing Black church service Sunday where the pastor referenced biblical teachings in declaring “never count Joseph out,” and blamed jealousy for intensifying pressure from some Democrats to abandon his reelection bid. Speaking from a stage Sunday flanked by sunshine from a pair of stained-glass windows at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ in northwest Philadelphia, the 81-year-old Biden declared: “I honest to God, have never been more optimistic about America’s future if we stick together.” He has vowed to remain in the presidential race despite more Democrats calling for him to step aside.
Persistent heat wave in the US expected to shatter new records as it bakes West and swelters in East
Forecasters say a long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the U.S. will persist, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that will soar into the 100s. The scorching weather will also hold the East in its hot and humid grip throughout the week. National Weather Service forecaster Bryan Jackson said he expected as many as 30 high-temperature records to be tied or broken on Sunday. He says the National Weather Service’s highest heat warning is in effect for about 36 million people — about 10% of the country’s population.
Texas coastal residents told to expect power outages, flooding as Beryl moves closer to landfall
MATAGORDA, Texas (AP) — Texas officials are telling coastal residents to expect power outages and floodings as Beryl was forecast to regain hurricane strength before making landfall. Landfall was expected early Monday. The outer bands of Beryl began lashing communities along the Texas shoreline on Sunday, bringing rain and intensifying winds. The storm was projected to make landfall around the coastal town of Matagorda, about 100 miles south of Houston, but officials warned that the path could still change. The chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management says residents along the coast should expect power outages as Beryl comes ashore. Several counties have issued voluntary evacuation orders.
Can you ‘Trump-proof’ NATO? As Biden falters, Europeans look to safeguard the military alliance
WASHINGTON (AP) — NATO allies are gathering in Washington for a summit this week, and the prospect that Donald Trump, the military alliance’s most prominent critic, may return to power is dominating discussions. President Joe Biden’s shaky performance in the presidential debate last month has escalated doubts about his chances of reelection. It’s given rise to the term “Trump-proofing” or “future-proofing” NATO. Trump shrugged during the presidential debate when Biden asked him if he would pull out of the 75-year-old military alliance. As the prospect of another Trump administration grows, European allies and NATO itself are talking about taking on more of the U.S. role in organizing support for Ukraine and working to make the alliance more self-sufficient.
Israeli protesters block highways, call for cease-fire to return hostages 9 months into war in Gaza
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Marking nine months since the war in Gaza started, Israeli protesters blocked highways across the country calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and pushing for a cease-fire that could bring back hostages held by Hamas. Sunday’s “Day of Disruption” started at 6:29 a.m., the moment that Hamas militants launched the first rockets toward Israel on Oct. 7. Israel and Hamas inched closer to a possible cease-fire deal after Hamas appeared to drop their demand that any deal include a complete end to the war, though both sides said significant gaps remain. Israel issued new evacuation orders for parts of Gaza City on Sunday, which was heavily bombed and largely emptied early in the war.
A Ukrainian drone triggers warehouse explosions in Russia as a war of attrition grinds on
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian officials say a village in the western border region has been evacuated following a series of explosions after debris from a downed Ukrainian drone set fire to a nearby warehouse. Social media footage Sunday appeared to show rising clouds of black smoke in the Voronezh region while loud explosions could be heard in succession. No casualties were reported. A Ukrainian security official told AP that a strike had been carried out on a warehouse storing ammunition. The strikes come after Ukrainian troops last week retreated from a neighborhood on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the Donetsk region under a monthlong Russian assault.
Argentine President Milei heads to CPAC in Brazil, snubbing Lula and escalating a political feud
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine President Javier Milei is in Brazil to headline a far-right convention after skipping a presidential summit to discuss regional trade policy. Milei on Sunday met with former President Javier Bolsonaro in Brazil’s southern city of Balneario Camboriu just days after federal police indicted the right-wing populist in a scheme to embezzle Saudi diamonds. Milei’s appearance with Bolsonaro delivered another harsh rebuke to Brazil’s left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and escalated a risky feud with his country’s biggest trading partner. Milei has branded Lula a “communist” and refused to deal with him. Lula has given Milei the cold shoulder and demanded an apology.
New British prime minister seeks to improve on ‘botched’ trade deal with European Union
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he would seek to improve the trade deal with the European Union as he began a two-day tour of the U.K. as part of an “immediate reset” with governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Starmer said Sunday in Edinburgh, Scotland, that he thinks the U.K. can get a much better deal than the “botched” one negotiated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Starmer said there were many discussions ahead to strengthen trading, research and defense ties with the EU. But he said those talks had already begun as his top diplomat met his counterparts in Europe.
Sudanese Olympic backstroker Ziyad Saleem of Cal looks to leave his mark on Paris Games
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Ziyad Saleem took his spot at the top of the podium with a backstroke gold medal for Sudan at the African Championships and cherished hearing the anthem of his parents’ homeland play. Next, the University of California swimmer who trains regularly with decorated U.S. Olympian Ryan Murphy will represent Sudan at the Paris Olympics and it will mean the world to his entire family — most of whom have left Sudan because of war and a humanitarian crisis. Murphy says “Ziyad is awesome, one of the nicest guys I’ve trained with at Cal.”
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