Far-right gains in European Union deal stunning defeats to France’s Macron and Germany’s Scholz
BRUSSELS (AP) — A first projection provided by the EU suggests far-right parties have made big gains at the European Parliament as the Greens took a major hit at Sunday’s European elections. The estimates aggregated by the EU parliament are based on exit polls or other survey data, along with projections that may include some partial election returns. The two mainstream and pro-European groups, the conservatives and the socialists, lost a few seats but remained the dominant forces. The Greens were expected to lose about 20 seats. The party of Marine Le Pen dominates the polls in France at just over 30%. In Germany, the party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz fell to 14%, behind the far-right Alternative for Germany.
The Latest | Far-right projected to make big gains as voting wraps on last day of EU elections
A first projection provided by the European Union indicates far-right parties have made big gains at the European Parliament, as voting was wrapping up Sunday on the final day of elections for the next five-year term. In France, President Emanuel Macron said he was calling early legislative elections after his party suffered a heavy defeat from the far-right National Rally party. Polls opened in 20 EU countries early Sunday for the June 6-9 elections for a new European Parliament, the legislative branch of the 27-member bloc. Millions of Europeans have been casting their ballots this week in one of the biggest global democratic events.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says 274 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raid that rescued 4 hostages
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of children, were killed in the Israeli air and ground raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas. The ministry says about 700 other people were wounded. Local health officials say Saturday’s rescue operation was the largest since Oct. 7, when Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people and seized about 250 hostage. Israel’s massive offensive in response has killed over 36,700 Palestinians. International pressure is mounting on Israel to limit civilian bloodshed. The U.S. secretary of state will return to the Middle East this week, seeking a breakthrough in cease-fire efforts.
Centrist Benny Gantz is quitting Israel’s war Cabinet, citing frustrations with Netanyahu
JERUSALEM (AP) — Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s three-man war Cabinet, has announced his resignation, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mismanaging the war effort and putting his own “political survival” over the country’s security needs. The move does not immediately pose a threat to Netanyahu, who still controls a majority coalition in parliament. But he becomes more heavily reliant on far-right allies who oppose the latest U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal and want to press ahead with the war. Gantz joined Netanyahu’s government shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. His presence boosted Israel’s credibility with its international partners. Gantz had previously said he would leave the government by June 8 if Netanyahu didn’t formulate a plan for postwar Gaza.
Hunter Biden’s family weathers a public and expansive airing in federal court of his drug addiction
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden’s family has gone to great lengths to support him as he stands trials for lying on a federal gun purchase form when he said he didn’t have a drug problem. Jill Biden has been a regular presence in the federal courtroom in Delaware, and other family members have attended. Every family wrestles with personal challenges, and politicians are often left to do so in public. But the airing in open court of tawdry details surrounding Hunter Biden’s addiction is of an order of greater magnitude. And it’s happening in the glare of an election year. The president’s family has shown a steadfast determination to ensure that Hunter Biden doesn’t weather it alone.
Biden honors US war dead with a cemetery visit ending a French trip that served as a rebuke to Trump
BELLEAU, France (AP) — President Joe Biden has closed out his trip to France by paying his respects at an American military cemetery that Donald Trump skipped when he was president. Biden’s stop Sunday at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery outside Paris was a solemn end to five days in which Trump was an unspoken yet unavoidable presence. Biden placed a wreath at the cemetery chapel before an expanse of white headstones marking the final resting place of more than 2,200 U.S. soldiers who fought in World War I. On the trip, the president marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day and celebrated the alliance between the United States and France. Trump has called into question fundamental understandings about America’s global role.
Why Robert F. Kennedy’s Jr.’s current presidential polling numbers might not hold up into November
WASHINGTON (AP) — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is hoping to get on the debate stage with Democratic President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. To do that, Kennedy will need to hit certain benchmarks, and he appears close on the polling one. But his current level of polling support doesn’t necessarily translate into sustained momentum for his campaign. An Associated Press analysis of Gallup data going back to 1980 shows that it’s pretty common for third-party candidates to look like they have polling momentum in the months before an election, only to come up far short at the ballot box.
Ukraine says it struck a top fighter plane deep inside Russia
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine says its forces have hit an ultra-modern Russian warplane stationed on an air base nearly 370 miles from the front lines. If confirmed, it would mark Ukraine’s first known successful strike on an Su-57 fighter plane, lauded as Russia’s most advanced. Russia’s Defense Ministry or senior political figures did not comment Sunday. The strike came shortly after Kyiv’s Western allies authorized the use their weapons to hit some targets on Russian soil. But the airstrip’s distance from Ukraine and unofficial comment from Russia suggest that Ukrainian-made drones were used in the attack.
Stranded migrants confront violence and despair as Tunisia partners to keep them from Europe
EL AMRA, Tunisia (AP) — Europe’s efforts to partner with neighboring countries to curb migration have resulted in thousands of migrants being stranded in Tunisia. Tunisia’s authorities with EU funds have successfully prevented tens of thousands of people from crossing the Mediterranean. But thousands more are now encamped in small towns along the coast where they hide in olive groves and wait for a chance to cross the sea. They have no money to return home. Their presence has unleashed a xenophobic backlash in Tunisia, whose many residents are also trying to get to Europe in search of a better life.
Carlos Alcaraz tops Alexander Zverev at the French Open for his third Grand Slam title at age 21
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz has come back to defeat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to win the French Open for his third Grand Slam title. Alcaraz is a 21-year-old from Spain who becomes the youngest man to collect major championships on three surfaces. Sunday’s victory allows him to add the clay-court trophy from Roland Garros to his triumphs on hard courts at the U.S. Open in 2022 and on grass at Wimbledon in 2023. He is now 3-0 in Grand Slam finals. Zverev dropped to 0-2 in major title matches. He was the runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open after blowing a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem.
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