July 1, 2024

Daily News Brief

*) France's far right wins election first round: estimates France's far-right has won the first round of pivotal legislative elections after the highest turnout in over four decades, estimates say. It remains unclear if the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen will win an absolute majority of seats in the new National Assembly lower house. This will be determined in the second round of voting on July 7, where Le Pen could claim the post of prime minister. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron's party came in third behind the left. *) Gaza hospitals will face shutdown within 48 hours: ministry The Gaza-based Health Ministry has cautioned that hospitals and oxygen stations across the besieged territory will cease operations within 48 hours. This is due to fuel depletion caused by the ongoing Israeli war, now in its 268th day. Israeli attacks have killed at least 37,877 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 86,969, according to the Ministry. *) Oman hosts UN-sponsored prisoner swap talks between Yemen’s warring rivals Oman has hosted a new round of UN-sponsored prisoner swap negotiations between Yemen’s government and the Houthi group. A government negotiator said the “fundamental demand…is the unconditional release of all prisoners and abductees, without any discrimination.” He added that they “are hopeful of achieving positive results” during the talks. *) Ghazouani secures re-election victory in Mauritanian presidential poll Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has won the country's presidential election. Ghazouani was re-elected with over 56 percent of the vote, the results on the electoral commission website showed. That puts him well ahead of rival and human rights campaigner Biram Dah Abeid, who was predicted to win 22 percent of the vote. *) Japan introduces holographic technology in new banknotes Japan will start issuing new banknotes with the first-ever use of cutting-edge holographic technology. Holographic portraits of historical figures rotate in 3D on the bills, serving as an anti-counterfeit measure, local news reports. This is the first design change in 20 years.