live from washington, this is bbc news. france's far—right dominates the first round of snap parliamentary elections. after a shaky debate performance, a new poll finds more us voters are worried about presidentjoe biden�*s fitness for another term. and uk election candidates enter the final days of campaigning. hello, i'm carl nasman. we start in france, where thousands of left—leaning protesters rallied in paris on sunday night against the country's far—right, after projections showed it was on track for a big win. the national rally is projected to take the most votes in the first round of the country's snap parliamentary election.

exit polls predict it will take as much as 3a percent, about 6 percent more than the left—wing coalition, the new popular front. trailing in third is the centrist alliance of president emmanuel macron, with just over 20 percent. national rally�*s leader marine le pen says macron�*s camp has been "practically wiped out". here's what she told her supporters on sunday. translation: the people of france have thus - demonstrated unequivocally in this vote their desire to turn the page after seven years of the exercise of contemptuous, corrosive power. we thank the voters warmly and welcomed the result is a first step towards demonstrating a sign of confidence in us, which is an honour and an obligation. an estimated 65.5 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the cast ballots first round of france's parliamentary election, according to polling company, ipsos.

that's the highest turnout in a french parliamentary vote since 1997. now, some party leaders are urging citizens to vote tactically in next week's second round, to reject the far—right. and french president macron is calling for a broad alliance against the national rally party. in a written statement, he said: our mark lowen explains what's next. so it has happened. france's national rally, the far—right winning the first round of this parliamentary election. all the opinion polls before the vote had suggested this was going to happen, and indeed it has taken place. now there will be horse trading

between the opposition candidates as to who drops out and whether they can rally behind a united candidate to try to stop the far right in next sunday's second—round election from getting an absolute majority. but the centre, the left, they are disunited. there is a lot of bad blood between them. can they rally behind a united front? this is the far—right national rally party. a party that is hard line on immigration, for example, wants to stop the automatic right of foreigners born here in france to get french nationality. they want to give priority to french people over immigrants in terms of social welfare spending. so there is going to be a huge push from the opposition to try to block the far right from getting that absolute majority, potentially forcing france into a hung parliament and potentially paralysis as well. remember, president macron came to power here pledging to revive the political centre to bridge right and left. what he's actually done and what has happened under his watch, is to polarise and push people into the extremes of right and left.

there will be a lot of people tonight who will be furious at president macron for a gamble that has misfired, a trap that perhaps has ensnared himself, and indeed france as well, will have huge implications, potentially for this country and for the european union as a whole. and could, if this were to be replicated on sunday, lead to this country having its first far—right government since world war ii. here in the us, a new poll suggests some democratic voters are increasingly concerned about whether presidentjoe biden is mentally fit to serve a second term. that's after a shaky performance in his debate with republican presidential candidate donald trump on thursday. a new cbs news/yougov poll shows 72 percent of registered voters believe president biden does not have the mental and cognitive health to serve. when asked if biden should run for president, 72 percent of registered voters said the president should not seek a second term.

and among his own party, 45 percent of registered democrats say biden should step aside as the nominee. despite those numbers, many allies of mr biden say thursday night was just a setback. meanwhile, republicans are doubling down on their critiques of the president's performance, saying it shows why donald trump is the right choice for a second term. rishi sunak has told the bbc he thinks the uk is better off now than in, when the tories took office.he's also once again accused labour of planning to raise taxes, but they say their plans are fully costed. and as the candidates make a final push towards thursday's elections, they drew some political parallels with england's dramatic euros win over slovakia. here's the bbc�*s leila nathoo. the two candidates to be the next prime minister, seeing perhaps their own fortunes in england's performance. for keir starmer, the result was never in doubt. "it's not over until it's over," says rishi sunak. no, no, no. i've got to pay for this.

only a few more days of encounters like this — rishi sunak visiting a bakery in north london this afternoon. have you had a nice weekend? thank you. with the election now around the corner today, he maintained he would still be prime minister on friday and defended his party's record when challenged over whether the country was better now than when the conservatives took charge. we had a once—in—a—century pandemic, followed by a war in ukraine that drove up everyone's bills. and, of course, that's been difficult for everybody. but we've also made progress in tackling those things — inflation back to normal, the economy growing again, wages rising, energy bills set to fall again just next week. and now we're able to start cutting people's taxes to give them financial security. labour took a break from big campaign events today, but are mindful of the fact they need their huge lead in the polls to actually translate into votes. i'm proud of the campaign that we've run.

i think we've put forward real and meaningful change and done it with an eye on responsibility because of the legacy that we're going to get after 1a years of the tories. but change will only come if people vote for it on thursday. winning back seats in scotland is one of labour's tasks next week. the snp accused both main parties of not being honest with voters about what lies ahead. there is that conspiracy of silence. there's £18—billion worth of public sector cuts, which are agreed by both the labour party and the conservative party. that's a choice that they are making at this election. we, of course, oppose that. we believe that there should be investment in our public services, investment in our nhs, and we need to get away from this race to the bottom on austerity that exists in westminster. the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, is ending his campaign as it began with stunts that make a splash, so he gets the chance to talk about what his party's mps would argue for if more of them are returned to parliament. that would be a fair deal on the nhs and care, it would be a fair deal on cost of living, it'll be a fair deal

on the environment and many other issues. so that manifesto, if people vote liberal democrat, would be our marching orders to deal with any government and any bill and any policy that comes forward. at a reform uk rally in birmingham, its leader, nigel farage, batted away concerns about what he described as a few bad apples in and around his party. he thinks the election result is already decided, and insists reform will have a role to play. for democracy to function, there has to be a concerted voice of opposition, challenge. the conservatives can't do that because they'll be in opposition, but not the opposition, because they're so divided. so... but also the point about reform uk is it's notjust about a voice in parliament, it's a voice in the country. the time for party pitches nearly over as the moment to decide approaches. leila nathoo, bbc news. a reform uk election candidate has disowned the party and endorsed the local conservative candidate instead. it comes just days after the party distanced itself

from two activists who were filmed by channel 4 apparently making racist comments. prime minister sunak described the incident as racist and inappropriate. a short while ago, the reform candidate who dropped out, liam boothe—isherwood, issued a statement detailing how he came to this decision. bbc political correspondent harry farley has more. my decision to leave the reform party and back the local conservative candidate and said, he went on to say, he has become increasingly disillusioned with the behaviour and conduct of reform. he points to reports of widespread racism and sexism in reform that have made clear to him, in his words, that there is a significant moral issue in certain elements of the party. he goes on to say that the party's leadership to not only take this matter seriously but also fundamentally address it has made clear to me it is no longer a party i wish to be associated with. nigel farage in his address, the rally

in birmingham wejust heard from there, he admitted the party had some bad apples. he said he got rid of them. there are no more bad apples, he said. he dismissed that undercover filming from channel 4 as a smear campaign where reform party campaigner was filmed making racist remarks about the prime minister. he dismissed that as a smear campaign but i think this defection or this disowning rather from this candidate will add oxygen to that story and the concerns from some, including their former candidate that there are reform in his words has moral issues. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making headlines. the spanish civil guard has called off the search for the missing british 19—year—old jay slater. he's been missing in tenerife sincejune 17th, after he told a friend he was lost in the mountains. police carried out a new search on saturday with the help of dozens of emergency workers near the village of masca, in the rural de teno

national park. our correspondent guy hedgecoe gave us this update. all of those search efforts have so far been in vain. they have not provided any information or any trace of jay slater�*s whereabouts and the police today said they have called off that search, although the investigation, they say, remains open. that is where we are at the moment. the search by the local authorities has been halted, although the investigation does remain open. a family friend said they would carry on the search and were looking for people with rescue experience. you're live with bbc news. let's turn to the conflict in the middle east. the bbc has seen and heard evidence that israeli troops in the occupied west bank carried injured palestinian men on the bonnet of a military

jeep on at least three occasions during an operation injenin this month. a video emerged last week showing one of the men, muja—hid abadi balas, being driven on the front of the car, sparking international anger. the bbc has now spoken to two more people who say the same thing happened to them, as our middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports from jenin. mujahid's encounter with israel's army is written over his body. gunshot wounds to his leg and shoulder, burns and bruises, from where he was forced onto the bonnet of a militaryjeep. "they told me not to hold on", he said. "i was saying my final prayers. "i didn't expect to survive." the video of his journey caused international outrage, but mujahid was not the only one. samir, shot in the back during the same military raid, was unable to stand, he told us, but was carried to an army vehicle, stripped of his trousers and thrown onto the bonnet.

this video appears to show him half naked on the same armyjeep. both men were shot here in the jabriyat area ofjenin, as israeli forces came to arrest a wanted man. the walls still marked by sniper fire. hisham said he too was shot and put on the front of the same jeep in the olive grove below the house. translation: | tried - to put my hand on the jeep, i couldn't. it was burning hot, but they forced me saying that i should get on it if i didn't want to die. israel's army said mujahid's case violated orders and procedures and would be investigated. it said the new allegations we put to them were under review. all three men were quickly released by the army. jenin has been a target

for israeli raids since the 7th of october hamas attacks. since then, more than 120 palestinians have been killed there by israeli forces — civilians and fighters. but armed men still patrol the camp and the battle has not subsided. translation: what the israeli army doesn't know is _ the resistance is an idea planted in the heart. it will not stop. if one palestinian gets killed, five more will replace him. during an israeli operation this week, bombs buried deep in the roads hit troops as they drove in, killing one soldier and wounding 16 others. this battle began long before the gaza war. but tactics here on both sides are shifting in its wake, and the behaviour of israeli troops is under scrutiny here too. this is different territory to gaza, but it's the same adversaries, the same war. lucy williamson,

bbc news, jenin. south african president cyril ramaphosa on sunday announced a new coalition cabinet, weeks after his african national congress lost its parliamentary majority in elections. mr ramaphosa named the leader of the rival democratic alliance, john steenhuisen, as minister of agriculture. the appointment follows weeks of tense negotiations between the anc and two opposition parties. the democratic alliance now holds six posts in the new coalition, a first in the south africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. australia is introducing some of the toughest measures in the world around vaping. as of monday, it is illegal to supply, manufacture or import a vape, or sell one other than in a pharmacy. until october, those purchasing a vape will require a prescription — after that, customers older than 18 will be allowed to buy vapes over the counter after having a conversation with their pharmacist. australia already has some of the world's strictest anti—smoking laws.

live now to our correspondent in sydney, katy watson. tell us more about these restrictions. how difficult will it be to buy a vape? this was the albanese _ will it be to buy a vape?t'13 was the albanese administration wanted this to be a world first when it came to the sale of e—cigarette. but it got watered—down by the green party who were concerned over total prohibition without prescription. as of today, as you said, trying to buy a vape it means no retailers will be able to sell them, no petrol stations, you have to go to a pharmacy with a prescription. come october, you will be able to go to a pharmacist, have a conversation with them and get a vape without a prescription. under 18 so will always need to have a prescription. it will make it much more difficult, of course and of course for those who were used to being able to

buy them from retailers, that will no longer be an option. and vapes are pretty popular. you so dominic sessa many people in the streets with them these days. what is behind the move? why is australia cracking down? ~ , ,., , move? why is australia cracking down? ~ , ., move? why is australia cracking down? �* , ., move? why is australia cracking down? ~ , ., ., down? absolutely. you look at research done _ down? absolutely. you look at research done here _ down? absolutely. you look at research done here that - research done here that compared just to before the pandemic, vaping especially among young people has really soared. obviously that growth in consumption has been a main driver. australia has got form when it comes to anti—smoking legislation, are you mentioned there. 2012, it was the first country to adopt plain packaging to lessen the marketing appeal of normal cigarettes and of course it is also limited the number of flavours with vapes just in the last few months. to certainly crack down on the appeal of vaping, especially to target the younger consumers. it is the younger consumers. it is really interesting _ the younger consumers. it is really interesting to - the younger consumers. it is really interesting to see that this is something that seems to

be targeting young people, that once this law goes into effect, anyone under the age of 18 will need a prescription. is so concerned that these vapes which obviously have nicotine in them can be addictive for these younger users? absolutely. targeting vapes because they are addictive is what of the main driver. there is concern that if there are tough rules around vapes will there be a switch back to cigarettes if they are more readily available and that would defeat the object of trying to bring in this legislation. there is opposition to the legislation that has been brought in, or concern about what the impact will be. that is something obviously that we will only know when the legislation really takes place.- really takes place. that is something _ really takes place. that is something i _ really takes place. that is something i wanted - really takes place. that is something i wanted to . really takes place. that is| something i wanted to ask really takes place. that is - something i wanted to ask you, what has been the reaction to these reforms? i believe that those who are manufacturing vapes or in the business might be against these but it is interesting to hear there is opposition from people that

claim this might lead people back to cigarettes. £31 claim this might lead people back to cigarettes. of course those who — back to cigarettes. of course those who have _ back to cigarettes. of course those who have been - back to cigarettes. of course those who have been selling| those who have been selling vapes, retailers, they are out of a job as of today. there is concern among pharmacists as well that they are a bit of a dumping ground for vapes, given that this controversy over the therapeutic merits of e—cigarette's in the first place. and, of course, the impact of what this legislation will mean in terms of consumption. but that is something that once it is bedded down, once they has been a switch, that is information, those are statistics we will only know in the coming months. interesting to see how this will all shape up. thank you. the top education official in the us state of oklahoma has ordered that public schools teach the bible to students aged around 11 to 18. the rule announced this week is already sparking controversy. backers say the bible is a "necessary historical document." but opponents say mandatory lessons would violate the us constitution.

it's part of a broader conservative movement to include christian values in public schools. just last week, the state of louisiana was sued over a law requiring the ten commandments be displayed in public classrooms. for more, i've been speaking with richard schragger, a professor of law at the university of virginia. professor, great to get your thoughts on this. i want to start with the latest development, this mandate in oklahoma which would teach the bible in public schools. officials there say this would be taught as an historical document. do think that holds any water when it comes to the constitution and the first amendment? well, it really depends what that means. in some cases there is some question about whether you can teach the bible as an historical or cultural document. that would be ok, except i think some of the purposes of the statutes urging teaching the bible is

for religious purposes. if it is for religious purposes you might have a problem stop make the constitution, at least as interpreted by the supreme court in the 1980s, bible reading was not appropriate. actually, in the 1960s, they do this in a couple of school prayer cases. if the bible is treated as a peace of literature or writing, that might be possible, but if it is being used as a way of teaching moral or religious truths then might be a constitutional problem. is that the key difference here because they are of course classes on religion in the united states. it is not completely banned to study it. help us understand the difference when it comes to well—known part of the constitution, the separation of church and state. there is a difference between treating the bible as a piece of literature and historical document and understanding its cultural significance, which is obviously

quite important. teaching the bible as one might do so in a sunday school classroom or as a religious text, which is meant to impart certain kinds of blessings that are related to religious truths and the salvation of souls, that is something that thomasjefferson, for one, for example, thought was inappropriate for public officials at whatever level in schools or higher levels of government to engage in. that is, participating and articulating religious truths was a problem and it violated the conscience rights of students and parents alike. but about what we're seeing in louisiana? new law there would require all public schools to display a poster of the ten commandments? the aclu has essentially immediately challenge this. they have called it lately unconstitutional. do you think are right?

yes, that court in stone versus graham did consider this. a similar case in kentucky with an order or a rule to post the ten commandments. so this is really a test case that is, i think, everyone is aware that under current law would be unconstitutional, but this court, the roberts court has signalled to many that they are much more amenable to religious practices in public spaces and in particular in schools. and so, recent cases have opened the door a little bit for challenges like this... it is interesting, tojump in, you call this a test case. do you think some of these laws are being passed specifically so they might end up all the way at the supreme court? i think so. i think that is where

the cases are headed and the supreme court has the last word of separation of church and states and has since the 1940s established the doctrine under the establishment and the free exercise clause. more recently, the roberts court has been very active in taking religious freedom and establishment clause cases and establishing new doctrine in those cases. that doctrine is much more amenable to the mixing of religion and state. what you think we might see next year? there has been seemingly a flurry of these sorts of laws coming about in conservative or republican states. do think we might see more? yes, i think we will and if these are successful obviously as they go through the courts, if the supreme court gives the green light to some of these laws, of course i think we will see many, many more across the nation. let's turn to some important news around the world. us weather forecasters

say hurricane beryl has strengthened to a category 4 storm in the caribbean. the national hurricane center expects what it calls �*life—threatening' winds and storm surge in the windward islands to begin early monday morning. we're learning more about deadly blasts saturday in northeastern nigeria that killed at least 18 people, and hurts dozens of others. nigerian authorites says four suicide bombers targeted a wedding ceremony, a hospital, and a security post in gwoza, in the state of borno which has been at the heart ofjihadist attacks that have killed 40,000 people and displaced 2 million since 2009. no group has claimed responsibility. south korea's military says north korea fired two ballistic missiles eastward. it follows north korea's criticism of a joint military exercise by south korea, japan and the united states held last month. and before we go: the streets of new york became a sea of rainbows, sequins and glitter, as tens of thousands marched through the city to celebrate pride. it's the largest event of its kind in the united states. it commemorates the 1969 stonewall uprising,

the catalyst for the modern lgbtq rights movement. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. thanks forjoining me. july, statistically, is our warmest month of the summer, but thisjuly, at least the beginning, is looking very different. mother nature has decided to put a pause on the summer heat. it's going to be rather on the cool side, even really windy at times in the north of the uk. and of course there is some rain on the way. so let's have a look at the forecast for monday. a couple of weather fronts spreading across the uk and early in the morning we will have had fairly cloudy weather with some rain splashing through out towards the east that morning. sunshine and temperatures of around 13 or 1a celsius. ok, let's get the forecast then. that bright weather will give way to cloudier skies. as that weather front advances eastwards, most of the rain will fall across northern england, parts of scotland too, but out towards the west,

come the afternoon, the skies should brighten, so at least some sunny spells on the way. and in the south too. temperatures, nothing spectacular. 17 in belfast, glasgow and newcastle, the midlands too, maybe nudging up to about 21 in london. so a little below where we normally are on average. wimbledon gets under way on monday. temperatures in london about 21, often cloudy, just about staying dry, and similar weather the following day. now let's have a look at the forecast for tuesday. a weak ridge of high pressure tries to build across the uk, but around it there's a fair amount of cloud. notice where the showers go scotland, northern ireland, and the north of england. i think if you're in the south and the south—east, the weather on tuesday should be generally dry and the temperatures about the same, though even higher than 15 degrees in the lowlands of scotland and just about 20 or so further south. then, on wednesday, a weather front, low pressure again moving across the uk. you know what that means — cloud and some outbreaks of rain.

really quite grey for a time for some of us. the winds not too strong, but certainly a good breeze out there. temperatures may not even make 20 celsius midweek, which is a little unusual at this time of the year. let's have a look at the week at a glance. now, towards the end of the week, it's actually going to turn particularly windy, i think, across northern parts of the uk. guess what? even a risk of gale force winds around some scottish coasts. that's it for me. bye— bye.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. hello and welcome to this edition of unspun world, here at the bbc�*s international headquarters in central london. if labour wins the upcoming general election here in the uk, could that become a poisoned chalice for them? where we clearly are is political volatility because it's only four

or five years ago that