Macron calls for snap elections; AI model competition : NPR

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Today’s major news

Benny Gantz, a key member of Israel’s war cabinet And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s longtime rival has resigned. Gantz gave Netanyahu an ultimatum three weeks ago to come up with a plan to replace Hamas or he would resign. His announcement came a day after Israel rescued four hostages held by Hamas on October 7. More than 270 Palestinians were killed and nearly 700 were wounded in the rescue operation, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Witnesses present during the operation described to NPR producer Anas Baba a period of bloody chaos and confusion.

• Gantz’s departure will not cause the Israeli government to collapse. But as NPR’s Hadeel al-Shalchi reports, this would make Netanyahu even more dependent on his right-wing allies. First of all. He said Gantz has accused Netanyahu of prioritizing his political survival over releasing the hostages in Gaza. Protesters at a rally organized by the families of these hostages told al-Shalchi that they are happy to have the four hostages back, but that it is not enough.

European Parliament elections There has been a political upheaval in France. President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the French parliament and called new elections after losing to his right-wing rivals Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella.

• NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley called the move a “huge blow”. He said Macron hopes people are so scared by the EU vote that they will go to the polling stations to support his party. But Beardsley says this is a huge risk. If the right-wing wins a majority, Macron could become “a lame duck president with a prime minister from a hostile party.”

A clinical trial begins this month to test whether the anti-malaria drug tafenoquine works May be used in combination with other medications to treat babesiosis, a tick-borne disease. The disease is typically treated with a course of the antibiotic azithromycin along with another medication. But, sometimes, this is not enough to kill the parasite, and there is a risk of the disease recurring. Babesiosis was first identified in the U.S. in 1969 on the island of Nantucket and was once called Nantucket fever. As deer ticks continue to expand their range, the CDC says cases of babesiosis have increased significantly in the past decade.

Detailed analysis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the gathering during the swearing-in ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Sunday.

MANI SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images

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MANI SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images

This deep dive was written by Vincent NeeAsia Editor.

Modi’s invincibility is not yet defeated.

Narendra Modi on Sunday He was sworn in as India’s prime minister for the third time, days after Modi’s electoral performance surprised many analysts.

However, it is too early to speculate as to what this means This will be the biggest challenge for Modi in his third term. There may be even more checks and balances on him. But Modi’s party, the BJP, remains the largest party in parliament with 240 of the 543 seats. According to local reports, his allies are also likely to have some ministerial posts.

One thing to keep an eye on in the coming months How Modi interacts with India’s institutions in an era of coalition politics will determine the outcome. Over the past decade, the BJP’s Hindu majoritarian outlook has worried those who see India as a diverse secular state. How the new Modi government handles the economy will also matter to India’s perceived ability to become a major economic player.

We at NPR will continue to report on these changes And understanding what all this means for the world’s most populous country. But our focus will also be on the experiences of its citizens. After all, they are the real story of modern India.

NPR’s international correspondents will report on global elections by 2024 — and provide an international perspective on the upcoming U.S. election. Read some of our recent reporting:

Virginia Ponce searches around the Xaltepec volcano in Tláhuac, Mexico City, on May 28, 2024, for any evidence of human remains that may be buried there.

Israel Fuguiman for NPR

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Israel Fuguiman for NPR

In 2023, the number of disappeared in Mexico will exceed 110,000. The country’s outgoing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ordered a recount from the National Search Commission, claiming the numbers had been “manipulated.” The missing people database was then reduced to about 12,000. Most of the numbers were restored due to protests from families. The real number may be higher as people go missing in Mexico every day. Advocates and victims say they feel the government is apathetic to finding the country’s missing. A group of mothers and volunteers have taken the search into their own hands, often at great risks.

View photos of the group in action Read more of the story.

Know these 3 things before you go

US World War II veterans Harold Terence, 100, and Jean Swerlin, 96, arrive on Saturday to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais in Normandy, northwestern France.

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Jeremias Gonzalez/AP

1. Harold Terence first travelled to Normandy 80 years ago He was there when he served as a U.S. Army Air Force corporal after D-Day. This weekend, he returned to the area to marry his girlfriend.
2. The AI-generated models are competing in the first Miss AI competition this month. Beautiful, photo-realistic contestants demonstrate how AI can be used as a marketing tool.
3. Corey Harris went viral last month for driving illegally during a virtual court hearing for charges related to driving with a suspended license. It was revealed that he never had a driver’s license, adding a new twist to the story.

This newspaper was edited by Majd al-Wahidi, anandita bhalerao has contributed.