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Efforts by centrist and left-wing blocs in France to stop the far right National Rally from winning an overall parliamentary majority in next Sunday's second round have seen more than 150 of their candidates drop out. Such tactics -- traditionally known as a 'Republican Front' -- have been successful in previous elections. We speak to one of President Macron's Ministers.
Also in the programme: Donald Trump has hailed as a 'big win' for democracy the Supreme Court's ruling giving him substantial immunity from prosecution for actions taken in his former role as president. We hear from a Democratic Congresswoman; and is Sweden the dream location to start a family? New parents can now gift maternity or paternity pay to friends and family who help out.
(Photo: Jordan Bardella has vowed only to be French prime minister if his National Rally (RN) party wins an absolute majority. Credit: Reuters/Benoir Tessier)

Opponents of the French far-right National Rally party have begun stepping aside in favour of better placed candidates in the hope of limiting its gains in next Sunday's second round of parliamentary elections. In several constituencies just one candidate will face the RN. The party's co-leader, Jordan Bardella, has expressed confidence that it could win an absolute majority.
Also in the programme: We speak to the injured Palestinian man who says Israeli soldiers tied him to an army vehicle, and behind-the-scenes at the late Queen's favourite house as tourists are allowed into Balmoral Castle.
(Photo: Jean-Luc Mélenchon said his party's guideline was simple: not one more vote for RN. Credit: AFP)

France's far right National Rally has made big gains in the first round of the parliamentary elections, exit polls suggest.
Celebrating her party's early success, Marine Le Pen says "democracy has spoken" as she declares President Emmanuel Macron's camp "practically wiped out". Meanwhile, Mr Macron is calling for a broad alliance against Ms Le Pen's party ahead of next week's second round.

Also in the programme: The UN holds talks with members of the Afghan Taliban in Qatar: does bringing them to the table imply recognition of their government? And the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines on preparations for Hurricane Beryl.
(Photo shows Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, speaking to journalists after partial results in the first round of the early French parliamentary elections in Henin-Beaumont, France on 30 June 2024. Credit: Yves Herman/Reuters)

Round one of the French parliamentary elections: with the far right party of Marine Le Pen ahead in the polls, what's expected and what could happen in the next two weeks as the three main voting blocs compete for votes?
Also in the programme: the United Nations says conditions for Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip are 'unbearable' following a flare-up in the fighting there - we hear from UNRWA inside Gaza; and we look at the economic impact of banning TikTok in India.
(IMAGE: A voter casts their ballot in the first round of France's early parliamentary elections, at a polling station in Paris, France, 30 June 2024 / CREDIT: MOHAMMED BADRA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

In Iran - the only reformist candidate in presidential elections will face a run-off, at the end of next week, with an ultra-conservative rival. Also on the programme, 10 years after Islamic State declared their “Caliphate”, Yazidis are still struggling to recover from genocide; and, Amnesty International says armed criminals may have been introduced into protests in Kenya to inflame the situation.
(Photo: An Iranian woman casts her vote in a polling station during the presidential election, in Tehran, Iran, 28 June 2024. Iran holds presidential elections on 28 June, following the death of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024.STRINGER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Presidential elections in Iran go to a second round, with the only candidate to have criticised the status quo clearly ahead. But after a record low turnout, the authorities denied that there was widespread voter apathy.

Also in the programme: ten years after the founding of the Islamic Caliphate, some victims of IS sing their memories; and how TikTok is being used to recruit guerilla fighters in Colombia.
(IMAGE: An Iranian woman look at the presidential candidates lists before casting her vote in a polling station during the presidential election, in Tehran, Iran, 28 June 2024 / CREDIT: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)