national rally. we'll bring you live analysis from across the country, on one of the most significant french elections in years. i'm samantha simmonds, the other main stories this hour... new prime minister, keir starmer, tours the uk's nations, his first stop, edinburgh. demonstrations across israel, urging the government to reach a deal with hamas. the group is reported to have accepted a us proposal to begin talks of a hostage release. and four volunteers emerge from a small compound in texas, having spent more than a year living in conditions simulating those on mars.

polls are open in france as people across the country we are outside a polling station here in the french capital west voters have been streaming an all day to cast their votes in the second round of the parliamentary election. , ., ., election. president macron called a sna oll election. president macron called a snap poll to — election. president macron called a snap poll to see — election. president macron called a snap poll to see where _ election. president macron called a snap poll to see where the - election. president macron called a snap poll to see where the voters l snap poll to see where the voters wanted to usher in a far right national rally party. the opposition is hoping to rally around candidates to hope to block it. earlier, president macron cast his vote in le touquet. turnout — so far — has been significantly higher than in the second round of the last election in 2022 — according to the interior ministry. final opinion polls suggest marine le pen's far—right national rally will secure the most votes, but it's thought it's unlikely to win an outright majority in the national assembly. such an outcome could plunge the country into a chaotic hung

parliament, severely denting the authority of president macron. the anti—immigration national rally scored historic gains in last sunday's first—round vote, giving le pen and the party's 28—year—old leaderjordan bardella their first realistic chance of running the government and taking control of the national assembly. however, after hundreds of rival candidates from centrist and leftist parties dropped out to give their allies a better chance of defeating the far—right, le pen's hopes of winning an absolute majority seem less certain. paris is a city where the far right don't have a strong indent. this area of paris is the only one in the city where the far right are contesting the second round of the polls. i've spent the morning gauging the temperature at this polling station in paris.

in this polarising country, they voted in the most crucial parliamentary election in decades. the far right national rally is at the gates of power for the first time since the second world war. but against france, opposition candidates have dropped out in two—way races urging a single figure who can stop the far right. it's hard line immigration attracts some but oppose others.— hard line immigration attracts some but oppose others. everywhere you go in france, there _ but oppose others. everywhere you go in france, there are _ but oppose others. everywhere you go in france, there are pretty, _ in france, there are pretty, beautiful dance and they're beautiful dance and they�* re completely beautiful dance and they're completely not french any more. do ou completely not french any more. do you still believe in macron? i think. you still believe in macron? i think a vote more _ you still believe in macron? i think a vote more to _ you still believe in macron? i think a vote more to block _ you still believe in macron? i think a vote more to block the _ you still believe in macron? i think a vote more to block the far- you still believe in macron? i think a vote more to block the far right l

a vote more to block the far right that vote — a vote more to block the far right that vote -- _ a vote more to block the far right that vote —— than vote for my crumb. many— that vote —— than vote for my crumb. many v0ters— that vote —— than vote for my crumb. many voters today are being asked to hold their noses and back a candidate who could stop the far—right party. there is a fear this will galvanise far right supporters who fear stitcher. it is being plunged into uncertainty by president mccrum's snap poll. france, europe, ukraine and beyond. bbc news pallet paris it is the international implications making the election all the more important. the far right national rally has been very close to moscow. marine le pen went to moscow in 2014 to get the blessing of vladimir putin. it

has now shifted to be more supportive of ukraine since the invasion by russia, but there are real concerns in ukraine are much further beyond over the national implications of the selection. if indeed the far right were to get into power or if there were to be a hung parliament or paralysis. let's get a sense of the view from the other side of the country down of in the south—west in toulouse. that's an area where the left is traditionally done very well. in the first round last sunday, the electoral commission came out on top. joining me now is chris bockman who's in toulouse. is that the scent since the election last night week and their fear of the far right gaining this week, there is going to be a step up to block a far right majority? it depends who you talk to. i can tell you that the far right are pretty much contested in paris and this

reason. there is a good chance they're going to pick up a lot of seats. until parliament was dissolved just a few weeks ago, the centrist, president macron�*s party, left of centre, lots of mps hadn't ministers. the minister had to give up ministers. the minister had to give up the first round to stop splitting the vote. 0ther mps from macron�*s party, there is a good chance they'll be swept aside. the key thing is that he had the further you go from city centre, the more the far right gains in strength. as it gains in strength four years ago it did not even get double digit figures. 48, 49%. it's difficult to say whether it will pick up this time around, it will favour this one or another. the cost of living, a lot of people got pushed out of the

city centres, especially those with families and the fuel bills went up. also there is a fear of crime. that is a big issue. not massive immigration in the countryside, i can't say that, but there is a fear of crime in the standard of living has fallen enormously. in this region, average salaries are between 1600 and 2000 euros a month after tax. that's not huge, and that's talking about people who work in the public sector. a lot of people who earn that kind of salary work in hospitals. with cost of living and prices going up with inflation, people are angry and it could go either way. people are angry and it could go either way-— people are angry and it could go either wa . ., , . , either way. thanks very much. chris talkin: either way. thanks very much. chris talking thereabout _ either way. thanks very much. chris talking thereabout factors _ either way. thanks very much. chris talking thereabout factors that - either way. thanks very much. chris talking thereabout factors that are l talking thereabout factors that are driving voters towards the far right

national rally. and even though centrist voters may combatant up there in the south—west, a rural area to the south—east of paris, an area to the south—east of paris, an area that again has seen a drop in industry, public services, more of the rural population of farmers who are attracted by the more hardline law and order, anti—migration of messages of the far right. 0ur correspondent azadeh moshiri has sent this report from auxerre, which is a rassemblement national stronghold. we're here in front of a polling station in auxerre in burgundy. the national rally has dominated politics here, local politics, since 2020 and many people we've spoken to, like others across france, are hoping that the far right comes to power in an historic election and takes over the national assembly. now, it wasn't always this way. yes, daniel grenon, the incumbent national rally, has taken more than 40% of the vote in the first round. but before this used to be fertile ground for the left, auxerre had a socialist mayor for nearly two decades. but people decided, as we've spoken to them, that life has become too difficult

and they needed change. that feeling is spreading like wildfire across france. and what about emmanuel macron�*s politics, his centrist project? well, his candidate didn't even make it to the second round here. here's what one resident, anne, had to say about the president. translation: and the fact is, he did not take into account. day to day hardships for families and people who are having trouble, especially in small towns and the rural areas. translation: and what are those hardships? - translation: difficulty to make it to the end . of the month to pay electricity and gas bills. difficulty to find work. here it's really hard to find work. another told us he thought emmanuel macron was arrogant, thought he believed he was a king. sensing we were from britain, said he thinks he's charles iii. we'll see tonight whether that feeling, that rejection to such

a scale of emmanuel macron�*s centrist project will be reflected in tonight's results. talking thereabout the rejection of macron, the project that he stands for. he came to power here, hoping to bridge the right and left. but there has been a polarisation pushing this country to the extremes. a little earlier i was joined by brian and marie — national rally and macron voters respectively — and they told me more about their decision—making. brian, you voted for the national rally, the far right. explain why. today in france, we have an amazing and beautiful country, but i think one of the main issues we have is safety. i've travelled myself, and this is something shared across the world. we need a little more safety.

of course, there are flaws in a lot of the programmes, but what is the point of working and putting your soul into the country, don't see my daughter working every night to come back and not be safe at the end of the day. my wife looking back, not being safe. then you get to the point we say, ok, i need something. i need my country at least to be safe. it's the main thing. marie, it is the sense of security and law and order that the national rally are promising. do you worry about some of the other promises? i worry about the far—right party, yes. i believe it's a very racist movement, and i worry for my fundamental rights and for the fundamental rights of people of colour, people of different origins, people of lgbt+, so i worry about that. i believe it's a danger for france.

you voted for macron�*s candidates. do you feel frustrated with the president of calling a snap election that could backfire? yes. it was a decision i didn't really understand and i was frustrated because i thought it was a situation that could have been dangerous if it was handing the election to the national rally. i think he is hoping to get a majority and have a renewed face from voters, but that is not really what happened here. yes, difficult situation. brian, marie called the party racist, would you accept that? i think what they are saying seems racist, but i don't agree with it, and i'm not part of it. i think safety is the number one thing.

when candidates are saying you have to unarm police for them to be respected, i've travelled to the us. they've also got a lot of problems. from what i've seen in spain and the us, police are respected. i say hi to the police because i've grown up there. i have this respect and honour to the police, and i thank them for the service. here, it's totally the reverse. police, when you say hi to the police, they want to stop you and say, is everything 0k. safety is the main thing right now, and it's not about racism. racism isjust... theyjust use it as it a counter—effect. two voices of a very divided france. we should be talking about how this country is on the cusp of opening the olympic games here in paris. it should be celebrating and basking in its glory at the centre of the world

stage for the right and joyous regions —— reasons, but it is usually divided facing these important parliamentary elections that could bring in the far right for the first time since the second world war into power. we intend to bring you all the analysis across france as the voting continues throughout the day. polls close at 8pm today. and 289 seats they would needin 8pm today. and 289 seats they would need in parliament, or whether they would. and it looks as though france is heading for a hung parliament. plenty more from us throughout the day but back to you in the studio. the prime minister is beginning his tour of the uk's nations today. sir keir starmer is travelling first to scotland where he'll meet the first minister and snp leader john swinney. meanwhile, the new business secretary, jonathan reynolds,

says the threat to nearly 3,000 jobs at the tata steelworks in wales is a major priority for the government, and he is holding talks with the company. here's our political correspondent harry farley. last week's festival of democracy is over, and the clear—up is under way in westminster. for the new government, the difficult decisions begin. there are immediate questions about the future of steel production in port talbot after the previous conservative government agreed a rescue package that would keep the plant open but would mean losing thousands of jobs. the business secretary says it's an immediate priority. there is more money available for the steel industry under our plans for government, but that's about making sure we meet this transition with the private sector together. but there is a better deal available for port talbot and the steel industry as a whole, i'm sure of that. are you guaranteeing those jobs this morning? well, i'm going to make sure that job guarantees are part of the negotiation that we're having. but already there are signs of tensions with unions over the rules labour sets itself on how much it can borrow and spend. we are going to have to borrow to invest. we haven't got time to wait for growth.

people are literally hurting out there, and we're going to have to borrow to invest. and our crumbling public services need money. for the conservatives, the postmortem has started. two thought to be considering bids to lead the party, offering their analysis, but not quite their own ambitions. we didn't have a good enough diagnosis ofjust how broken some of our public services were, and we didn't have the willingness to take the tough decisions that were necessary to deliver for the british public. the reason i came on today was genuinely not to talk about leadership, because this is not the moment for this. we need to show the public that we understand, they have sent us some very, very loud messages that we are listening, that we are reflecting, and then we, as a party, need to get together and unite and work out what we want for the future. the tory leadership battle will take shape in the coming days. for labour, they face the tough decisions of government as they decide how to use

their large majority. with ongoing conflicts in ukraine and the middle east, foreign policy is high up the agenda for the new prime minister. this morning keir starmer spoke with both israel's prime minister and the palestinian president. while reiterating his condolences for the tragic loss of life following the october attacks with benjamin netanyahu, he also set out the clear and urgent need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and an immediate increase in the volume of aid reaching civilians. it comes as protesters in israel demonstrate across the country, demanding the government reach a deal with hamas to ensure the release of the remaining hostages in gaza. sources from hamas say the palestinian armed group has accepted washington's proposal to begin talks on releasing hostages and have also dropped their demand that israel first commit to a permanent ceasefire. let's speak to our middle east

correspondent sebastian usher. welcome. with those further protests across israel, and those reports that hamas is changing its position on the ceasefire talks, what now is the deal? , ., , , ., , on the ceasefire talks, what now is the deal? , ., , , .,, i. on the ceasefire talks, what now is thedeal? ,, the deal? the protests, as you say have been — the deal? the protests, as you say have been going — the deal? the protests, as you say have been going on _ the deal? the protests, as you say have been going on since - the deal? the protests, as you say have been going on since early - the deal? the protests, as you say have been going on since early in i have been going on since early in this morning. they started at the symbolic time is 629 local time. that was when hamas launched its first rocket son 0ctober seven. it's going to be a week of protest, all of which putting pressure on president netanyahu to act now to have a ceasefire. there is anger and grief and have a ceasefire. there is anger and griefand pain. the have a ceasefire. there is anger and grief and pain. the israeli president hasjust made grief and pain. the israeli president has just made a statement on twitter saying that the state will do everything it can to get the hostages back and the majority of people here want the deal to do that. so as i say, the pressure is

building. there has been some hope. the sources from hamas is suggesting that though no official announcement, have been amenable to announcement, have been amenable to a proposal by biden a few weeks ago now. they have been in the doldrums. we've seem full of false starts before. this time it looks a bit more serious. israelis are keeping expectations in check. there will be a delegation sent to talks in the coming days, possibly in egypt or qatar or both. we have also heard that the head of the cia will be attending these talks. we've heard that before and they have not resulted in anything. but the signs are better than we've seen for some time. on the ground, we'vejust are better than we've seen for some time. on the ground, we've just been hearing in the past hour or so, that an israeli —— an israeli strike,

according to palestinian sources, has killed the deputy labour minister in gaza city. we have asked the israeli army for comment and they say will get back to us. that shows, as other incidents continue to show, that israel is continuing to show, that israel is continuing to carry out strikes where it believes is necessary for its battle to essentially denude hat hamas for any political capacity. that is what israel will still be wanting after the ceasefire. that's where compromises still need to be made. thank you. now it's time for a look at today's sport. hello from the bbc sport centre. we start at wimbledon, where the british summer continues to affect play on the outdoor courts. but play is under way on the show courts, and chetan pathak is there for us. and, chetan, the men's defending champion carlos alcaraz is first up on centre court?

he is. thankfully they have a roof. as you can see, on the outside courts, players very much stopped with those inflated covers. players stop for this afternoon. really feeling fair people on henman hill who have scurried for cover. 0n centre court this is the defending champion against humbert who managed to close that set out. humbert has taken the first set against him. madison keys, former grandstand champion against paolini who is the former champion from this year. she raced away a lot tighter in the second and it is five games all their own court number one. what have we got to come later? yannick sinner, the top seed who is trying to win his first wimbledon title. he

has looked really impressive against a finalist three years ago. he'll be “p a finalist three years ago. he'll be up against ben shelton of america. we will see emma raducanu as well. she pulled out of the mixed doubles map which we've seen last night because of a stiffness in her wrist. she has been training here on the press courts in good spirits. we'll see her against new zealand qualifier. well positioned if you can make it to the qualifiers of these championships for the first time. it could potentially face coco gauff for the first time. we'll see her against a fellow american countrywoman. busy on the show courts but not so much on the outside courts at the moment. hopefully this rain will stop. after england and the netherlands finalised the last—four line—up at the euros in dramatic fashion on saturday. attention now turns to the first of the semi—finals on tuesday, which is an eye—catching match between three—time winners spain

against two—time champions france. it'll be a clash of styles in munich. spain have been one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament, whilst france needed penalties to get through their quarterfinal against portugal and are yet to score a goalfrom open play. there was a shock in the copa america, as uruguay knocked out brazil to reach the semi—finals. uruguay were down to 10 men after nahitan nandez was sent off, but as both teams struggled to create chances the match was decided from the penalty spot. former aston villa midfielder douglas luiz hit the post for brazil, leaving it to manuel ugarte to score the decisive spot—kick to send 15—time winners uruguay through, but send brazil out. colombia, who topped brazil's group, are also through to the semis after they beat panama 5—0. they'll play uruguay next. holders argentina take on canada in the other semifinal. also stage nine of the tour de france is underway. and the british grand prix

starts in the next hour with george russell on pole. you can follow both of those on the bbc sport website but that's all your sport for now. the us presidentjoe biden is facing growing pressure from party colleagues to quit the presidential race. five democratic members of the house of representatives in congress have now called for him to step aside, following his tv debate performance against donald trump. hakeem jeffries, the leader of the democrats in the us house of representatives, has scheduled a virtual meeting on sunday with party members to discuss mr biden's candidacy. a crew living and working inside nasa's first simulated mars habitat have emerged from their ground—based home after more than a year. this is the moment they depart from this building.

the four—person chapea mission crew simulated mars mission operations, including "marswalks", and growing and harvesting vegetables. they endured the conditions that a mars—based crew would experience. nasa says the goal was to study the risks to humans associated with exploration on mars. just before we go, let's show you this picture live from france where polls have opened across the country and people are casting their balance in the second round of parliamentary elections. —— casting their ballots. hello again. we've had some pretty heavy showers this morning —

they are going to continue through the afternoon as well. some of those could be thundery in places, but really quite dramatic clouds in staffordshire this morning, some very dark and menacing england morning, some very dark and menacing and wales these england and wales will see most of these downpours. fewer showers and lighter winds further north. parts of south—west scotland could stay dry altogether to go. more pleasant in the sunshine. a bit drier in wales and the south—west of england as well. across southern england, quite breezy. in the north, much lighter winds. weather still disappointing for this time injuly with high teens from north to south across the country. there will be some disruption to play at wimbledon today and tomorrow, courtesy of a new area of low pressure moving up from the south. as we head into this evening, the showers fade away quite quickly, and overnight, skies will clear widely, with wins temperatures

will turn quite chilly. recovering across the south, and that is because we've got a new area of low pressure moving up from the south. that will produce more cloud, outbreaks of rain and breezes from the near continent. we start with cool but fine. lots of sunshine around for monday morning, but rain and cloud will be pushing into southern britain, spreading northwards. further north, if few showers developing. the heavy one, but if you should spell is continuing and sunshine continuing in central and eastern parts where we will see 20 or 21 celsius. for most it is the mid—high teens. a bit gritty on tuesday. that rain pushes north into tuesday. there is a strong easterly winds as well. england and wales will see the wind is lighter and a mixture of sunshine and showers scattered. top temperatures around 20 or 21

celsius. unfortunately, it looks and settled as we move through the rest of the week. longer spells of rain, temperatures remain just below average for the time of year.

this is bbc news. the headlines: voters cast their ballots in france, where a second round of parliamentary elections is under way. turnout appears on course to be

highest in over 40 years. centrist and left—wing parties mounted a joint effort to block the far—right national rally. protests in israel, with demands the government reach a deal with hamas to ensure the release of the remaining hostages in gaza. the palestinian armed group is reported to have accepted a us proposal to begin talks of a release. the british prime minister, keir starmer, is travelling to scotland, which is led by a pro—independence party. sir keir wants to improve relations between the central government and other parts of the united kingdom. and four volunteers have emerged from a small compound in texas where they've spent more than a year in conditions simulating those on mars. now on bbc news, it's time for newscast. today's episode is hosted by laura kuenssberg, paddy o'connell, and henry zeffman.