Gains by the far-right in voting for the European Parliament prompted a bruised French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap national election and added uncertainty to Europe's future political direction.

Brussels

Far-right parties have made gains in the European Parliament election, generating uncertainty for the EU's political future. Exit polls indicate that while center, liberal, and socialist parties will maintain a majority in the 720-seat parliament, they are expected to lose around 28 seats.

French President Emmanuel Macron faced significant setbacks as Marine Le Pen's far-right party performed well. Macron described the EU election results as grim for his administration, prompting him to call for a snap national election. Should Le Pen's National Rally Party secure a parliamentary majority, Macron's influence over domestic affairs would diminish.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats also endured a poor performance, recording their worst result ever and losing ground to mainstream conservatives and the hard-right Alternative for Germany. In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's position appeared strengthened, with her arch-conservative Brothers of Italy group leading in exit polls.

Despite the far-right advances, a central exit poll indicated that the center-right European People's Party would remain the largest political family in the new legislature, gaining five seats to hold 189 positions. This outcome benefits EPP member Ursula von der Leyen, who is pursuing a second five-year term as head of the EU's executive arm.

As election results were announced, von der Leyen positioned herself as a counterbalance to political extremes. The center remains strong, although the rise in support for far-left and far-right factions underscores the significant responsibilities for centrist parties. Analysts attribute the surge in nationalist support across Europe to discontent over rising prices, migration issues, the costs associated with the green transition, and the war in Ukraine. The rightward shift in the European Parliament could hinder the approval of new legislation needed to address security challenges, climate change impacts, and industrial competition from global powers like China and the United States. 



Far right makes gains in European election

Far-right parties made gains in the European Parliament election on Sunday, adding uncertainty to the EU's future political direction. Exit polls projected centre, liberal and socialist parties would retain a majority in the 720-seat parliament, but would lose some 28 seats. French President Emmanuel Macron was battered by Marine Le Pen's far-right party. Macron said the EU result was grim for his government, and one he could not ignore, prompting him to call a snap national election. If Le Pen's National Rally Party wins a parliamentary majority, Macron would be left with little sway over domestic affairs. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also endured a painful night, whose Social Democrats scored their worst result ever, suffering at the hands of the mainstream conservatives and hard-right alternative for Germany. Meanwhile, exit polls showed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney with her position strengthened with her arch-conservative Brothers of Italy group on top. Despite the far-right's inroads on Sunday, a centralised exit poll showed that the centre-right European People's Party will still be the biggest political family in the new legislature, and even gain five seats to field 189 deputies. That's good news for EPP member Ursula von der Leyen, as she seeks a second five-year term at the helm of the powerful EU executive arm. As results came in, von der Leyen was quick to present herself as a shield against extremes. The centre is holding, but it is also true that the extremes on the left and on the right have gained support, and this is why the result comes with great responsibility for the parties in the centre. Analysts attribute the gains by nationalist parties across Europe to discontent over spiralling prices, concerns over migration and the cost of the green transition, as well as the war in Ukraine. Conservatives will now seek to translate their victories into influence on EU policy. A rightward shift inside the European Parliament may make it tougher to pass new legislation that might be needed to respond to security challenges, the impact of climate change or industrial competition from China and the United States.

Traffic on three major French high-speed train lines remained disrupted after saboteurs paralysed much of the rail network ahead of the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris.

Paris

Paris Olympics

French high speed train services remain disrupted after sabotage

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu worked to mend ties with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as he neared the end of a contentious US visit that put on display the growing American divisions over support for the Israeli-Hamas war.

Palm Beach

U.S. Presidential Election

Israeli PM Netanyahu meets with Trump at Mar-a-Lago

Thousands of residents and tourists were forced to evacuated the tourist town of Jasper in Canada's western Alberta province. Officials said that the blaze prompted 25,000 people to flee as it roared into the near-deserted town of Jasper overnight. Assessments of damaged infrastructure was ongoing, but officials estimated about 30% of the town was damaged, with 358 structures destroyed.

Jasper

Thousands forced to evacuate as wildfire consumes Canadian town

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are officially underway following a spectacular opening ceremony. The city was turned into a stage with an incredible display paying tribute to France's history and culture.

Paris shines in Olympics opening ceremony

A rainy outdoor ceremony marked the official launch of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The event featured performances from Lady Gaga and Céline Dion as athletes and other performers floated down the iconic Seine River.

Rain soaks Olympics Opening Ceremony

Officials have returned to Jasper, Canada for the first time since a devastating wildfire wiped out a third of the town's properties. The rebuilding process is expected to be slow, leaving residents and businesses unsure about what’s next.

Historic Canadian town 'wiped out' by wildfires

Taiwanese authorities are assessing the damage caused by Typhoon Gaemi. The coastguard has been rescuing boats stranded by the tropical storm. The official death toll has risen to eight, with more than 800 people injured.

Taipei

Cargo crew rescued from Typhoon Gaemi

Wildfires are raging from western Canada to California in the U.S. At least a dozen fires are burning across California, with the Park Fire growing to become one of the biggest wildfires ever recorded in California in just two days.

Chico

Uncontrolled fires burn across California

Typhoon Gaemi has made landfall in southeastern China prompting warnings of flash floods and waterlogging in areas still recovering from torrential rain several weeks ago. Authorities relocated more than 290-thousand people.

Tsim Sha Tsui

Climate Crisis

Thousands evacuated in China as Typhoon makes landfall

Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and a son of his former partner, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, were arrested on Thursday in El Paso, Texas, in a major coup for U.S. authorities that may also reshape the Mexican criminal landscape.

El Paso

Mexican drug lords arrested in El Paso

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had always been warm as the two leaders met on Friday (July 26), and the Israeli leader said he hoped progress was being made in talks on a Gaza ceasefire.

Netanyahu meets Trump, says working on cease-fire

A North Korean military intelligence operative has been indicted in a conspiracy to hack into American health care providers, NASA, U.S. military bases and international entities.

Kansas City

North Korean charged in U.S. cyberattacks

Arsonists lighting fires across France's high-speed rail network have disrupted the transport network just hours before the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris, however the attacks failed to stop the event from going ahead.

France rail network attacked before Olympics

Saboteurs struck France's TGV high-speed train network in a series of pre-dawn attacks that caused chaos on the country's busiest rail lines ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but two security sources said initial suspicions fell on hardline leftist militants or environmental activists.

Saboteurs attack French railways ahead of Olympic ceremony

Typhoon Gaemi pummeled towns on China's coastal Fujian province on Friday with heavy rains and strong winds as the most powerful storm to hit the country this year began its widely watched trek into the populous interior.

Fujian

Typhoon Gaemi lashes China after pounding Taiwan, Philippines

Presidential candidates in Venezuela have held their final campaign rallies ahead of the election on Sunday. Opposition leaders are asking voters to oust President Nicolas Maduro, who's seeking a third term. But Maduro has warned the country risks a "bloodbath" if the opposition wins.

Caracas

Final rallies held ahead of Venezuela presidential election

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.

Washington

Israel-Gaza War

Harris strikes tougher tone on Gaza ceasefire deal

Dolphins swimming coach Mick Palfrey will remain in Paris for the Olympics, after being criticised for publicly backing South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min. Swimmer Elijah Winnington has defended the coach saying he's a great guy and there's no hard feelings.

Swim coach spared axe over supporting Korean rival

On the eve of the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games, security in Paris is tight and athletes are navigating the risks. More than a million people have undergone screening to access the site of the Opening Ceremony.

Athletes navigate security risks at Paris 2024

Typhoon Gaemi has reached southeastern China after churning across the Taiwan Strait. The typhoon has prompted warnings of swelling rivers, flash floods, and waterlogging in cities and provinces that were hit by extreme rains several weeks ago.

Typhoon Gaemi hits China after pounding Taiwan, Philippines

The Olympic Games are set to officially open on Friday (July 25), with the French government pledging an "unprecedented" security operation to ensure the safety of the event. A force of 35,000 to 45,000 security personnel will be deployed, including 15,000 French military members and over 2,000 foreign police officers.

Major security operation in place to guard Paris Olympics

U.S. President Joe Biden pressed for a ceasefire to the 9-month-old war in Gaza in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (July 25), with Vice President Kamala Harris due to meet the Israeli leader later in the day.

Biden meets with Netanyahu, presses for ceasefire in Gaza

Counterterrorism officers are investigating after a man was allegedly found with chemical explosives and a knife at a Sydney shopping centre. Police moved in after shoppers heard a loud blast at Miranda Westfield.

Miranda

Man with knife and explosives arrested at Westfield

The Prime Minister is set to unveil a new Cabinet line-up after two senior members announced today they're retiring from politics. Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Brendan O'Connor will move to the backbench.

Canberra

Prime Minister set to reveal cabinet reshuffle

A limited curfew is still in place in Bangladesh after days of protests and a police crackdown. Some businesses and government offices are reopening, and partial internet service is being restored in some areas. Police have arrested more than 2,000 people. The United Nations has demanded an investigation of the Bangladeshi government's crackdown on student protesters.

Dhaka

UN demands investigation of Bangladesh's crackdown on protesters

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said abandoning his reelection campaign and endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic candidate was the best way to unite the country and save democracy, despite his ambition to win a second term.

Biden says he bowed out to unite nation, backs Harris to beat Trump

On the eve of the Olympics the city of Paris is getting ready to put on a show For the next two and a half weeks the competition will unfold in some of the capital's most iconic sites all prepped for the occasion, while thousands of miles away the French Polynesian island of Tahiti is also getting ready to host the surfing events.

From Paris to Polynesia, final Olympic preparations underway

Thousands of people gathered in North Carolina for Donald Trump's first rally since Joe Biden pulled out of the race. It’s a key battleground state for both sides and the Republican nominee wasted no time in going on the attack against his likely opponent in November, Kamala Harris.

North Carolina

Trump slams Harris as ‘radical’ in first rally since Biden’s exit

In a fiery speech to the U.S. Congress skipped by some top Democrats, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed critics of his country’s war against Hamas as ‘useful idiots’ for Iran, and said America and Israel must stand together.

Netanyahu blasts Gaza war critics, Iran in fiery speech to U.S. Congress

A passenger plane has crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off from Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, killing 18 people, aviation officials say. The pilot was the only survivor of the crash and was treated in hospital.