France’s far-right party, the National Rally, has emerged as the leading party in the first round of voting for the French National Assembly, winning projections of around 34 percent of the vote. This victory highlights a surge in nationalist, anti-immigrant politics in the country, bringing the party to the brink of power. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists and left-wing parties trailed behind in the preliminary results.
With high voter turnout of about 67 percent, the National Rally looks likely to become the largest force in the lower house, potentially leading to a new majority of lawmakers opposed to Macron. This could force him to appoint a political adversary as prime minister, or result in months of political turmoil if no clear majority emerges.
In Iran, voters expressed their discontent with the country’s system of clerical rule in the presidential election by turning out in record-low numbers. Reformist Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili will face off in a runoff after neither secured more than 50 percent of the vote. The winner will have to navigate challenges such as Iran’s struggling economy and regional conflicts with the ultimate approval of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Meanwhile, President Biden’s family strategized at Camp David following his disappointing debate performance, urging him to remain in the race. In Japan, Netflix is set to launch the country’s first same-sex reality dating series, “The Boyfriend,” showcasing the lives of nine men living in a luxury beach house outside Tokyo. This show aims to portray same-sex relationships authentically and challenges stereotypes often seen on Japanese television.
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