after a member of his war cabinet, benny gantz, quits and demands an election. narendra modi is sworn in as india's prime minister for a record—equalling third term. welcome to bbc news. our top story tonight, the french president has dissolved his country's parliament and called snap elections after far—right opponents made huge gains in the european parliament elections tonight. that trend has been mirrored elsewhere with a significant swing to the right in germany, the netherlands, and austria. emmanuel macron�*s announcement was a huge suprise. addressing the nation tonight, he said his decision to call snap but above all "an act of trust."

he says the nation needs "clarity". france's far—right leader, marine le pen, has welcomed mr macron�*s decision to call the snap vote. she said her party is "ready to take over power" if entrusted to do so, promising to "end mass migration" and "make france live again". let's take a closer look at our first projection of what the european parliament will look like. as well as france, far—right parties have to have made substantial gains across many countries, including germany, austria and the netherlands. the french far right leader, marine le pen, spoke following the announcement of the results of the european parliament election. translation: the french have spoken and this historic election shows - that when the people vote, the people win. by giving more than 32% to the national rally, the french have just given us their highest score,

all parties combined, in a0 years. it is a real emotion to see this beautiful popularforce rising up throughout the country. and here's president macron speaking a short while ago. translation: the rise - of nationalists and demagogues is a danger for our nation but also for europe, for france's position in europe and in the world. and i say this even though we have just celebrated with the whole world the normandy landing, and as in a few weeks we will welcome the world for the olympic and paralympic games. yes, the far right is both the result of the impoverishment of the french and the downgrading of our country, so at the end of this day, i cannot act as if nothing had happened. added to this situation is a fever which has gripped public and parliamentary debate in our country in recent years, a disorder which i know worries you, sometimes shocks you and to which i do not intend to give in.

however, today, the challenges that present themselves to us, whether external dangers, climate change and its consequences or threats to our own cohesion, these challenges require clarity in our debates, ambition for the country and respect for every french person. this is why, after having carried out the consultations provided for in article 12 of our constitution, i decided to put back in your hands the choice of our parliamentary future by the vote. in a few moments, i will sign the decree convening the legislative elections which will be held onjune 30th for the first round, and july 7th for the second round. that was emmanuel macron speaking earlier. we've been getting reaction to all of this from our correspondent in paris, hugh schofield. everyone is shocked and surprised. i say everyone, because even the

people who are supposed to know about these, the pundits on the talk shows, and the minutes leading up to the president's dress they were asking themselves what could it'll be about and it beginning to dawn on some that they could be calling a snap election but it was the furthest from their thoughts because the presumption was that it would be a totally rash thing to do and so full of risk for his project that it would be unthinkable. but it turns out that macron has actually done what he loves doing, which is surprise people and act with doing things by surprise and putting people on the back foot and i think he is living up to his image of a figure of politics who will do the unexpected even if it sounds quite suicidal. it is not suicidal in the sense of we are obviously all now

fixated by this very big far right wing or populist wind in the elections, but macon�*s calculation, it is not necessarily the case that this will be replicated at the parliamentary elections. he is going to go through the next few weeks, and so is his party, saying all good people of sound mind and views that should come together now to keep out the hard right and should come together now to keep out the hard rightand in should come together now to keep out the hard right and in so doing, he will be preparing for what he hopes might be a kind of new coalition of his own party and maybe the republicans on the one side and some soft left on the other and that way there will be a new sort of centrist bloc that will keep out the hard right. but it is a very risky proposition, because nothing suggests actually in french politics that there won't be another big victory for the hard right who have done so well consistently in recent

years. against whom the old sort of fear and the old source of project fear and the old source of project fearjust fear and the old source of project fear just does fear and the old source of project fearjust does not work fear and the old source of project fear just does not work any fear and the old source of project fearjust does not work any more, and there are parts of the country where 50, 60, 60 5% of the population vote for the hard right, talking about the areas outside the big cities, and for the country as a whole, the idea you can still bandy around the threat of fascism and resurgent jackboots around the threat of fascism and resurgentjackboots is around the threat of fascism and resurgent jackboots is just ludicrous. so it is a very, very risky proposition that macron is undertaking, but one has to say at the same time it is not a given that the same time it is not a given that the harder it will necessarily wind these elections and be able to perform in government. that was hugh schofield with the view from france. meanwhile we have heard from the president of the european comission —

ursual von der leyen, who vowed to build a "bastion against extremes" in the new eu parliament. you have heard from others, we will build a bastion against the extremes from the left and the right. we build a bastion against the extremes from the left and the right.— from the left and the right. we will sto from the left and the right. we will step them- — from the left and the right. we will stop them. this _ from the left and the right. we will stop them. this is _ from the left and the right. we will stop them. this is for _ from the left and the right. we will stop them. this is for sure. - from the left and the right. we will stop them. this is for sure. that i stop them. this is for sure. that was a ursula _ stop them. this is for sure. that was a ursula von _ stop them. this is for sure. that was a ursula von der— stop them. this is for sure. that was a ursula von der leyen. - stop them. this is for sure. that was a ursula von der leyen. we are starting to get an indication of what has happened in italy. exit polls saying that the prime minister's far—right party has topped the eu vote in italy. lots of talk about giorgia meloni being key in these elections. we willjoin christian fraser to get the significance of all the latest that is taking place in italy and the rest of europe as well of course. benny gantz, one of the most senior members of the israeli war cabinet which was set up after the hamas attack last october, has resigned from the government.

he had threatened to stand down, unless he felt there was a post war plan for gaza with a deadline set for yesterday. he told reporters that he wasn't satisfied. this is the moment he confirmed his resignation. translation: unfortunately, netanyahu is preventing us i from approaching true victory, which is the justification for the painful, ongoing crisis. and this is why we quit the national unity government today with a heavy heart. yet we feel that it is the right decision. we are now in the midst of a campaign that will impact the fate of israel generations ahead. in order to guarantee true victory, this coming fall, when it will be the one—year anniversary of this disaster, we should go for elections and reach a new government. i call on netanyahu to set a date for elections.

that was bernie gantz resigning at a press conference earlier today. it's worth bearing in mind that mr gantz was not part of prime minister, benjamin netanyahu's government before the war in gaza and the government does not depend he had set out six strategic goals for israel including the return of all foreign and israeli hostages still held by hamas in gaza and the return of displaced palestinian civilians to northern gaza by the ist september. according to his speech, he has not been reassured on any of those counts. mr netanyahu had called on mr gantz to remain in the war cabinet. after mr gantz made his announcement, mr netanyahu posted this message on the social media platform x. 0ur correspondentjon donnison is injerusalem and put the announcement into context.

well, i don't think it was a shock because he has been threatening to resign for some time. and he, in fact, was due to give a press conference yesterday and postponed that when we got news of the raid in the centre of gaza taking place. it's not going to bring down the government of benjamin netanyahu, who still maintains his majority in the knesset. but what it does do is i guess it isolates mr netanyahu a little bit at a time when he is calling for unity, and it removes a voice of experience and a more centrist voice from that war cabinet. you have to remember that the coalition cabinet is made up of, really, people with very little experience. that cannot be said of benny gantz, who is a former army chief of staff, a former defence minister, and someone with a long history in the military at a time

when israel is now at war. and what it means, i think, is that those further to the right, the likes of itamar ben—gvir, who is from the far right of israeli politics, are going to have more influence. and i'm just seeing that mr ben—gvir has requested himself that he now should be allowed to join the war cabinet. yes, there was a lot of build—up, wasn't there, in terms of ben—gvir�*s response to this? in local press describing it as very happy, that if he were to resign he would be very happy indeed. we now know that benny gantz has done that. there were two other names that were mentioned in that press conference, jon. one of those was the defence minister, yoav gallant. the other, another former military chief, like benny gantz, was gadi eisenkot. he also had spoken about possibly standing down, hadn't he? he had done, yes.

and it's not clear at the moment whether he will do as well. that remains to be seen. but as i say, he would be the removal of another very experienced voice, long military experience and at a time, of course, when israel is at war. officials from the hamas—run health ministry in gaza way say that the israeli raid on a refugee camp on saturday which led to the rescue of four hostages led to the deaths of nearly 300 palestinians. a spokesman for the armed wing of hamas says that three hostages were also killed during the operation. 0ne one of those with a us passport. we haven't been able independently to verify that claim. several hundred palestinians were also wounded in that rain, hamas

accusing the israelis of carrying out a massacre in that phrase also echoed by the european top diplomat josep borrell. more footage has emerged of the rescue israel used helicopters to evacuate the hostages from an area around the nuseirat refugee camp, in central gaza. the head of the hospital where they are being treated said none of them require emergency care or large procedures, but that they wil need long—term evaluations. being deprived of so many things for so long and living under this unbelievable stress is something that leaves its mark both on the body and on the soul. we are going to cross to brussels now. let's speak to christian fraser who's in brussels for us. it is italy's turn. yes, we are just

it is italy's turn. yes, we are 'ust in the hemicycle i it is italy's turn. yes, we are 'ust in the hemicycle here i it is italy's turn. yes, we are just in the hemicycle here looking - it is italy's turn. yes, we are just in the hemicycle here looking at| it is italy's turn. yes, we are just i in the hemicycle here looking at the board which tells me the polls are closed and all the countries now. italy was the last to close at 11 o'clock, so we had ten minutes to get and digest the exit poll. let's cross to roam and speak to mark, what can you tell us? it cross to roam and speak to mark, what can you tell us?— what can you tell us? it looks like gior: ia what can you tell us? it looks like giorgia meloni _ what can you tell us? it looks like giorgia meloni has _ what can you tell us? it looks like giorgia meloni has indeed - what can you tell us? it looks like i giorgia meloni has indeed confirmed her dominance with a big win for her protected, _ her dominance with a big win for her protected, putting her governing party _ protected, putting her governing party somewhere between 26 and 30% at the _ party somewhere between 26 and 30% at the top _ party somewhere between 26 and 30% at the top of the poll. behind her, the centre—left democratic party somewhere between 21 and 25% which is a pretty— somewhere between 21 and 25% which is a pretty good result for them and i think_ is a pretty good result for them and i think will— is a pretty good result for them and i think will strengthen their lead. the leader has face and descend from within_ the leader has face and descend from within her— the leader has face and descend from within her party in recent months. then— within her party in recent months. then you — within her party in recent months. then you have the five star movement which _ then you have the five star movement which was _ then you have the five star movement which was in _ then you have the five star movement

which was in government until a few years— which was in government until a few years ago— which was in government until a few years ago which is between ten and 14%. _ years ago which is between ten and i4%, and _ years ago which is between ten and 14%, and then berlusconi pass from a party, _ 14%, and then berlusconi pass from a party, and _ 14%, and then berlusconi pass from a party, and then matteo savini. he won hack— party, and then matteo savini. he won hack in — party, and then matteo savini. he won back in 2019 with 34% of the vote hack— won back in 2019 with 34% of the vote back in 2019 and it has collapsed to between 8—10%. it is hard right, — collapsed to between 8—10%. it is hard right, marcio scalvini has voiced — hard right, marcio scalvini has voiced some pretty eurosceptic opinions — voiced some pretty eurosceptic opinions in recent weeks, he called emmanuei— opinions in recent weeks, he called emmanuel macron brain—dead and mentally— emmanuel macron brain—dead and mentally unstable, and he has tried to attack— mentally unstable, and he has tried to attack the hard right that he has collapsed _ to attack the hard right that he has collapsed in the opinion polls. the bil collapsed in the opinion polls. the big story— collapsed in the opinion polls. the big story of the night, giorgia metohi — big story of the night, giorgia meloni entrenching her win and dominance and control of the italian political— dominance and control of the italian political scene, it looks like she

has come — political scene, it looks like she has come out as expected at the top of this— has come out as expected at the top of this poll. — has come out as expected at the top of this poll, and matteo salvini of the even — of this poll, and matteo salvini of the even further right has collapsed realty _ the even further right has collapsed really to _ the even further right has collapsed really to fifth place. what does it mean _ really to fifth place. what does it mean in — really to fifth place. what does it mean in the european picture? giorgia — mean in the european picture? giorgia meloni is being courted by both sides in the european parliament and european politics, she has— parliament and european politics, she has ursula von der leyen from the centre — she has ursula von der leyen from the centre right leading the tpp, the centre right leading the tpp, the grouping which appears to have won this _ the grouping which appears to have won this european election, the transnational grouping, which are saying _ transnational grouping, which are saying they will work with giorgia meiohi. _ saying they will work with giorgia meloni, she has been working well with george maloney in the last few years— with george maloney in the last few years and _ with george maloney in the last few years and needs her support if she is going _ years and needs her support if she is going to — years and needs her support if she is going to get a second tenure as president — is going to get a second tenure as president of the european commission. then you have a hard right, _ commission. then you have a hard right, people like marrying a pen of france _ right, people like marrying a pen of france who— right, people like marrying a pen of france who of course will be very strengthened by the result in france tonight _ strengthened by the result in france tonight -- — strengthened by the result in france tonight. —— marine le pen. it has

ireen— tonight. —— marine le pen. it has been suggested they were joined together, but giorgia meloni has said she — together, but giorgia meloni has said she is unlikely to do that. she has been _ said she is unlikely to do that. she has been much more pro—ukraine leadership— has been much more pro—ukraine leadership here in italy, she has worked — leadership here in italy, she has worked well with people like us seal upon the _ worked well with people like us seal upon the lion in brussels, with leaders — upon the lion in brussels, with leaders in _ upon the lion in brussels, with leaders in france and it is more in the mainstream right. —— people like ursula _ the mainstream right. —— people like ursula von— the mainstream right. —— people like ursula von der leyen. and then you have _ ursula von der leyen. and then you have people — ursula von der leyen. and then you have people like marine le pen who are more _ have people like marine le pen who are more to — have people like marine le pen who are more to the right, so i think giorgia — are more to the right, so i think giorgia meloni has played a game where _ giorgia meloni has played a game where she appears to be more hardiine — where she appears to be more hardline back in italy that's being institutionally mainstream right—wing, particularly on an international level, so i think that has how— international level, so i think that has how she has a chance to dominance, she has a most really is one of— dominance, she has a most really is one of the _ dominance, she has a most really is one of the strongest if not the

strongest right—wing leader in europe — strongest right—wing leader in europe and that is a picture that has been — europe and that is a picture that has been very much confirmed in the european _ has been very much confirmed in the european elections.— european elections. mark, thank you ve much european elections. mark, thank you very much indeed _ european elections. mark, thank you very much indeed for— european elections. mark, thank you very much indeed for that. _ european elections. mark, thank you very much indeed for that. that - european elections. mark, thank you very much indeed for that. that is i very much indeed for that. that is the picture in rome at tonight. we arejust waiting for the picture in rome at tonight. we are just waiting for another projection here, remember there are seven groupings in the european parliament, updated figures due to come in the next five or ten minutes, maybe while we talk to our europe adult. —— europe editor. 0ur europe editor katya adler is here in the hemicyle with me. there is no question what everyone down there is talking about tonight. emmanuel macron, absolutely. they are talking about emmanuel macron and you worked in france for many years, and i am here in brussels, and emmanuel macron is often accused by his peers are trying to grab the limelight but he has grabbed

everything in this european election. he has been trounced by the hard right, he decided to dissolve his own national parliament as a result, call a snap election and it is a huge gamble. he says he is a centrist, a passionate european, and after the snap election you could end up with a private minister of the hard right who is a eurosceptic. you can have a president and prime minister from different parties before, but never when the prime minister has come from the hard right. that is something marine le pen will hope just keeps going, that success, and the dream of being france's president will feel much closer with the next election after was in 2027. but it is much easier to campaign thanit but it is much easier to campaign than it is to run in government. it

than it is to run in government. it is a dream she has come close to before and failed to get, but tonight she will feel closer. she has tried to make her party feel more acceptable, to broaden its appeal and tonight shows that she has managed that and it is not the first time she has had success. she did really well in france's parliamentary election which was just last summer, so she has shown she can do it. whether she can get to those dizzy heights or not, of course there is a massive question mark about that, but across the eu many are concerned and many use this vote not about the eu policy, that feels too far away them in their everyday lives, they used their state as a protest vote against their own national government and there are common themes there. worries about migration, worries about inflation, worries about the cost of environmental reform. that is really interesting, _

cost of environmental reform. trust is really interesting, because i just spoke to the parliamentary president and i said look, all of these are parties when income at the vote shifting on the right, have you done something wrong with climate? maybe we push too hard, did not extend the green policies we had we have paid the tonight. that begs the question when you talk about climate change, climate science, investment and regulation that needs to be passed, whether they back off because of the result we are seeing here tonight. i because of the result we are seeing here tonight-— because of the result we are seeing here tonight. i think having covered the eu for many _ here tonight. i think having covered the eu for many years, _ here tonight. i think having covered the eu for many years, it _ here tonight. i think having covered the eu for many years, it has - here tonight. i think having covered the eu for many years, it has long i the eu for many years, it has long been ambitious on climate, it wanted to be a world leader, but again and again i have seen other things knock it off that top perch. covid, they war in ukraine, and these sort of more immediate concerns, of course the environment is a more immediate

concern, we see the effects of climate change day to day, but for people in the eu, there are floods that they are not urgent enough that when people are in the midst of a cost of living crisis they think to get a new car for a cost of living crisis they think to get a new carfor a new cost of living crisis they think to get a new car for a new metre, cost of living crisis they think to get a new carfor a new metre, it is just too much. i think the greens hoped after covid and the war in ukraine people were think we need to make our own energy and not bring it in from elsewhere, we need to think about the environment, but the fact we have seen here, what is interesting and upsetting for the greens, and they are very close to where we are standing now and seem very upset, is that the young who voted for the greens in their droves in the last european election... they have been halved tonight. timer;r they have been halved tonight. they have and a lot _ they have been halved tonight. they have and a lot of _ they have been halved tonight. they have and a lot of the youth vote has gone to the hard right so it shows

they are worried about a lot of other things first and foremost. brute other things first and foremost. we will other things first and foremost. - will bring you back projection when we get it, they are still crunching the numbers. that easily result will have a bearing on that because italy has 76 seats in that hemicycle down there. when we get that we will bring it to you here on bbc news. back to you in the studio. question, thank ou back to you in the studio. question, thank you very _ back to you in the studio. question, thank you very much. _ narendra modi has taken the oath of office and has been sworn in for a third term as india's prime minister. he will lead a coalition government, after his hindu nationalist bjp failed to win enough seats in the general election. thousands of guests attended the inauguration at delhi's presidential palace, including the heads of several neighbouring countries. here's a little of what prime minister modi had to say in his inauguration speech. translation: i will faithfully . and conscientiously discharge my duties at the prime minister of the union and that i will do right to all manner of people

in accordance with the constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. narendra modi there. before we go, june marks pride month and celebrations have kicked off all around the world. these are the scenes in washington, dc as thousands celebrated with the lgbtq+ community. the parade route acknowledges the evolution of the lgbtq+ neighbourhoods within the city and sell. —— city itself. and in europe, the 28th rainbow parade took place in vienna. 0rganisers reported a record turnout with more than 340,000 people

participating in the parade. they certainly had the weather for it, didn't they? you are watching bbc news, do stay with us. more coming up shortly. hello there. weather for the week ahead is perhaps not the story you want. no significant summer sunshine or warmth, i'm afraid. in fact, the story in armagh on sunday really sets the scene — just a high of ten degrees. we had cloudy skies with light rain or drizzle with a cool northerly wind as well. now, that rain is sinking its way steadily southwards and it will clear away from eastern england and southeast england during monday morning. behind it, this northerly wind and this cooler air source starts to kick in across the country. so a rash of showers, a cold, brisk wind driving those showers in off exposed coasts and drifting their way steadily

south across scotland and northern ireland as we go through the morning. here's our cloud and rain still lingering across east yorkshire, lincolnshire first thing in the morning, some heavier bursts that will ease away. best of any brighter skies, perhaps across southern england down to the southwest. here, showers should be few and further between. but nevertheless, that wind direction still really digging in right across the country. so sunny spells, scattered showers, a brisk northwesterly wind for many, so temperatures just below par really for this time of year, a maximum of 10—15 degrees for most. we might see highs of 17 or 18 if we get some sunshine across south west england and wales. now, as we move out of monday into tuesday, the low pressure drifts off to scandinavia, high pressure builds. it should start to kill off some of the showers out to the west. but with those clearing skies, well, those temperatures will be below path through the night as well, low single figures for some, quite a chilly start to our tuesday morning. hopefully some sunshine around on tuesday.

there will continue to be some showers, most frequent ones running down through central and eastern scotland and england. further west, some brighter skies and once again, highs of 17 degrees, but for many, just a maximum of 10—15 once again. moving out of tuesday into wednesday, winds will fall lighter still for a time, but there's another low pushing in and that will bring some wetter weather to close out the end of the working week. it will gradually start to change the wind direction. so, after a drier day on wednesday, it will turn that little bit milder, but also wetter as we head into the weekend.

this is bbc news, the headlines exit polls suggest far right parties have made big gains, in elections for the european parliament. france's far right national rally party takes almost a third of the votes. president macron responds by calling a snap election. translation: i decided to put back in your hands the choice _ of our parliamentary future by the vote. in a few moments, i will sign the decree convening the legislative elections, which will be held onjune 30 for the first round and july seven for the second round.

israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu is under pressure after a member of his war cabinet, benny gantz, quits and demands an election the wife of tv and radio presenter michael mosley confirms his body has been found on the greek island of symi. now on bbc news, it's newscast: electioncast so let's start with a message from a newscaster. why not? because we love newscasters getting in touch. connor has written to us. "hi, newscasters. "another workington man here. just wanted to say i hated this label in the 2019 election". workington man, of course, was the label to put on a cliched group of voters who were supposedly those what won it for boris johnson based on the fine town of cumbria in the north of england. conor has a side bar. "could you explain how this general election will affect scotland? "some polls have labour ahead of the snp. "if labour wins a majority of scottish westminster seats, could we see a labour first minister or would that be decided in a scottish election?