translation: the vote is final, the defeat of _ translation: the vote is final, the defeat of the _ translation: the vote is final, the defeat of the president - translation: the vote is final, the defeat of the president and l the defeat of the president and his coalition has been clearly confirmed. us presidentjoe biden faces further pressure from top democratic lawmakers to end his re—election campaign. fears for russian dissident vladimir kara—murza who's been taken to a prison hospital. we speak to his wife evgenia kara—murza. hello, i'm carl nasman. a coalition of left—wing parties in france has pulled off a shock election victory over the country's far—right, although no group is projected to win a parliamentary majority. sunday's outcome defied expectations, after the far—right national rally party won handily in the first round of voting last week. these were the scenes as supporters of the left—wing coalition celebrated in paris. translation: i really was not exectinu translation: i really was not expecting it- — translation: i really was not expecting it. right _ translation: i really was not expecting it. right now- translation: i really was not expecting it. right now it - translation: i really was not expecting it. right now it is . translation: i really was not

expecting it. right now it is a i expecting it. right now it is a moment of pure emotion and it really gives us hope again since i was really down emotionally. it is beautiful and it makes us believe even more. the bbc�*s europe editor, katya adler, is in paris and has more on the reaction across the country. in a shock result for all and a huge relief for many here, the left, far—left coalition has unexpectedly become the biggest party in the french parliament, beating the far—right. translation: the vote is final. the defeat of the president and his coalition has been clearly confirmed. equally stunned by tonight's results, marine le pen�*s national rally party — so sure victory would be theirs, except it wasn't. at an absolute loss for words, it seems. this has been a huge slap in the face for marine le pen�*s party. all the polls before this election had predicted they at least would become the largest party in the french parliament.

they said they were poised to govern, but the french people today said a resounding, non. confusingly, their star had shone so brightly in the first round of this election. translation: unfortunately, an alliance of dishonour - and a dangerous electoral arrangement set up by this government with the far left coalition has deprived the french people of a political recovery. so, emmanuel macron�*s gamble calling a snap election paid off — or did it? no party has a majority to govern in france now, and president macron�*s prime minister hasjust announced his resignation. just ahead of hosting the olympic game, with all eyes on france, this eu and military power — key ally of ukraine — has plunged into political limbo. and when france is unstable and distracted, the impact can reverberate outside the country, too. katya adler, bbc news, paris. the left—wing alliance, called the new popular front, came together after president emmanuel macron

called a snap parliamentary election injune. it has now acheived its goal of blocking the french far—right from winning a majority. here's a closer look at the projections. the new popular front will take between 177 and 192 seats. emmanuel macron�*s centrist ensemble coalition will have 152 to 158 seats. and the far—right national rally party, from 138 to 145 seats. none of the groups came close to the 289 seats required for an absolute majority. live now to piotr smolar, senior correspondent for le monde here in washington. great to have you on. prime minister gabriel attal saying he will hand in his resignation. what will the fallout of this election mean for the government and for macron�*s centrist party? thank you for having me. this

is an earthquake and obviously the dust has not settled yet so we do not know exactly what will be the following steps but here is the problem. we know what the majority of the french said no to, which is a far—right government, but we do not exactly know what they want. here is the thing, every site interpret this major political event in a different way. obviously, there was quite an extraordinary reaction of the french people to the threats of a far—right government with a high turnout but the french are saying they are also tired and exhausted because of the constant polarisation and political hysteria so this is definitely not a blank check to the left, to this new block that has emerged as you mentioned just a few weeks ago. the celebration is understandable but we have

to keep in mind the fact that those parties within this blog are very divided on some major issues, despite the fact they are united against the far—right. —— lock. they do not agree on russia, ukraine, nato, on atomic... nuclear energy. evenif on atomic... nuclear energy. even if the economic programme is not very realistic. it is basically based on the illusion that money is fred... basically based on the illusion that money is fred. . .- basically based on the illusion that money is fred... given the broad umbrella, _ that money is fred. .. given the broad umbrella, jean-luc- broad umbrella, jean—luc melenchon, the leader, said we are ready to form a new government and real now. is government and real now. is that realistic? it is absolutely not realistic. jean—luc melenchon mention the fact that this block have 15 initiatives for the next two months and if someone wanted to join, they have to take everything or nothing. this is absolutely not realistic but

here is the problem, facing right now to different scenarios. the first one is total chaos and a stalemate in the french parliament. and that is very likely, actually, which will mean we will not have a technical government and maybe a new dissolution of the national assembly led by emmanuel macron because of that would be allowed then. the second is and it would be a miracle in french political terms in tradition, which would be a rainbow coalition that would go from basically traditional left, to the centre—right. but we are very, very far from it now. centre-right. but we are very, very far from it now.— very far from it now. that is something _ very far from it now. that is something we _ very far from it now. that is something we see - very far from it now. that is something we see in - very far from it now. that is something we see in other. something we see in other european governments but not so common in france. the far—right, on the one hand, it was a huge gain in terms of seats but not getting that majority, not getting the control they wanted. what will it me now for the far—right in

france? it me now for the far-right in france? a it me now for the far-right in france? n, france? marine le pen said toniuht france? marine le pen said tonight and _ france? marine le pen said tonight and your _ france? marine le pen said - tonight and your correspondence and the tide is rising and should not fool ourselves, what we call the republican front was incredibly efficient to avoid the threat of the far—right government in france but the far—right is on the rise constantly and it is a long—term strategy. 22 years ago marine le pen's father was the first one who broke the ceiling by getting into the second round of the presidential election and since then this party has gone through rebranding, through cleaning, to a sort of whitewashing. they are trying to raise a most controversial aspect of its history. —— a raise. nevertheless, they have right now the largest group

ever and the national assembly and so this is a success for them. , ~ ., , ., them. interesting. i know you have a book _ them. interesting. i know you have a book coming _ them. interesting. i know you have a book coming out - them. interesting. i know you have a book coming out on i have a book coming out on jewish identity, called bad jew. j jewish identity, called bad jew. ., jewish identity, called bad jew. . , ,, jew. i am basing this so i follow this _ jew. i am basing this so i follow this campaign - jew. i am basing this so i | follow this campaign from jew. i am basing this so i - follow this campaign from afar but as a journalist and i was really appalled by the very idea that anti—semitism and jews could be one of the main topics in the french election. anti—semitism is in play in the far—right but it is also developed quite strong in the far left especially in one party. especially since the war in gaza. pm party. especially since the war in gaza. �* . ., in gaza. an election we will still be measuring - in gaza. an election we will still be measuring the -

in gaza. an election we will. still be measuring the fallout for sure. thank you for your time. ., ~' ,, for sure. thank you for your time. . ~ i. for sure. thank you for your time. . ~ . us presidentjoe biden is facing fresh calls to end his reelection bid as questions mount over his fitness to run. on a leadership call convened by the top democrat in the us house of representatives on sunday, at least [i senior house democrats said that biden should step aside as presidential candidate — that's according to our us news partner cbs. biden sought to ease concerns among voters on sunday, with campaign stops in the battleground state of pennsylvania. i've been speaking with brian stelter, a media commentator and special correspondent at vanity fair, who has been following the president's reelection campaign. always great to have you. house democrats holding this private zoom conference and several

reporting they would call on president biden to drop out of the race. this is already a leaky damper. at what point do you think this might start to burst? j you think this might start to burst? ., _ burst? i would say in the next few hours- — burst? i would say in the next few hours. monday _ burst? i would say in the next few hours. monday morning l burst? i would say in the next. few hours. monday morning east coast time when congress reconvened, when lawmakers are back physically together on capitol hill, this would be a major test for president biden. we're talking here sunday night into monday morning. the next few days are the ultimate test for the american president because many of the whispering, the private conversation, they will start to become public now or never become public at all. the fact congress is back in session is at this staging ground for what could be a very real rebellion against biden. conversely, it could be a moment where this starts to away. my bed as it is going to be the former and we will see this rebellion take place in public but either way would be decisive week for the american

president and republican party. that/ democratic party. the president has been making a flurry of appearances. pennsylvania, wisconsin, a sitdown interview. this strategy of putting the president more out there, making more appearances, is paying off? is making more appearances, is paying off?— paying off? is it working to relieve the _ paying off? is it working to relieve the concerns - paying off? is it working to relieve the concerns of - paying off? is it working to relieve the concerns of the j relieve the concerns of the democrats and the activists and the donors who want him out? no. they are not being relieved. those are not being mitigated. in fact, at every appearance you can find some new reason to be worried, whether it is in his interview with abc, he had an answer about what would happen if donald trump wins again, how he would feel. whether it was today, in pennsylvania, whether speeches were short and he seemed to lift of the energy of the crowd but there were no viral moment countering the narrative. if you end the camp that says he has to step aside,

you are not feeling any better after this weekend of appearances. however, there is this a grassroot energy from butter supporters is that enough of the media, the donors, we other voters and we have to decide. we're seeing a battle between these different sides of the party. you brought the word narrative. _ sides of the party. you brought the word narrative. what - sides of the party. you brought the word narrative. what you i the word narrative. what you make of the way the media is covering the president? it seems to have shifted, now almost hanging on every word, analysing the way he delivers a speech. we even so we —— abc had to change the transcript, word by word. the had to change the transcript, word by word.— had to change the transcript, word by word. the debate was the ultimate _ word by word. the debate was the ultimate call. _ word by word. the debate was the ultimate call. people - word by word. the debate was the ultimate call. people who| the ultimate call. people who were in denial and did not recognise the signs ofjoe biden decline, the debate made it impossible to ignore. they have called for his resignation even. let's be frank how

incredible and extraordinary at this moment is. you have boards and collar mess and even some democratic activists same joe biden who resigned the presidency now and make way for president kamala harris. this is completely unprecedented. most would have laughed at this idea a couple of months ago but it is open because ofjoe biden's behaviour. if you are able to hold a two hour news conference and impress american people, he probably would have done that by now. his inability to control or change this narrative is what is driving this story. narrative is what is driving this story-— narrative is what is driving this story. narrative is what is driving this sto . ., ., ., , ., this story. overall, how do you think the media _ this story. overall, how do you think the media has _ this story. overall, how do you think the media has been - this story. overall, how do you think the media has been in i think the media has been in terms of was it vigorous enough, going back months and years in the way it covered president biden and looked at his health issues or lack thereof?— his health issues or lack thereof? ., , , thereof? some of the sites where there _ thereof? some of the sites where there are _ thereof? some of the sites where there are some i thereof? some of the sites| where there are some signs thereof? some of the sites i where there are some signs were reported in real—time. where there was a failure was to connect the dots, to say x andy and z all happen and maybe they

are related and some stories there were there. they were not presented as loudly as they could be. a real big factor, the biden white house and campaign work very hard to criticise outlets that try to pursue the age question, the health question. a lot of pressure applied and that pressure applied and that pressure it is impossible to say whether it had an impact or not but it was a very real factor up until recently. now however, the story has totally changed because you have democratic leaders being the ones questioning biden. some top democrats in the house, ranking members saying he should step aside, this is absolutely extraordinary and no—one knows ultimately how it is going to play out. it is no-one knows ultimately how it is going to play out.— is going to play out. it is a big story _ is going to play out. it is a big story but _ is going to play out. it is a big story but i _ is going to play out. it is a big story but i want i is going to play out. it is a big story but i want to i is going to play out. it is a big story but i want to askj big story but i want to ask about donald trump. he has been remarkably quiet about this. what does that tell you about

the way he has been reacting? this has been the best news cycle, it has been off him the highlights. but it is not going to be to the side for much longer because the republican national convention is about to begin and as soon as this practice in the democratic party sort itself out, all eyes will be back on donald trump. is biden the best message for the democrats or is it someone, anyone else to take the fight against drug because a selection is about donald trump. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. the new prime minister, sir keir starmer, has travelled to scotland — the start of a tour of the uk's nations. here's scotland editor, james cook. no—one said being prime minister was easy. this was not part of the plan for keir starmer�*s third day in office. there was no handshake outside the first minister's official residence — but a chat inside,

with chants about gaza drifting in from the street. afterwards, both sounded positive, with sir keir focusing on scotland's only oil refinery, where hundreds ofjobs are under threat. we discussed the economy, we discussed energy, and as we'd expect, we discussed grangemouth, which is a cause for concern, and our governments will work together on that issue straightaway, and we agreed steps to make sure that we can make sure that delivery for scotland is the number one priority. what i'm interested in as first minister of scotland is making a difference for the people of scotland, of delivering on my objectives of eradicating child poverty, of delivering economic growth, of improving our public services, and delivering net zero. and on many of those questions, there is common ground to be achieved by working collaboratively with the united kingdom government. sir keir swept out the back of bute house this evening, heading for northern ireland, then wales, before meeting english mayors. you're live with bbc news. the family and supporters ofjailed political dissident and journalist, vladimir kara—murza, are fearing for his health, after he was taken to a prison

hospital on thursday. mr kara—murza's wife evgenia kara—murza said on x that prison officials refused to comment on his condition when his lawyers tried to visit him. last year, mr kara—murza — who is a dual russian—british citizen — was sentenced to twenty five years in prison after criticising russian president vladimir putin and the war in ukraine. he was later sent to a prison colony in siberia. mr kara—murza suffers from a neurological condition that his wife says stems from being poisoned. he has repeatedly raised concerns about his health and welfare. russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, died in an arctic prison while serving a three—decade sentence. joining me live is evgenia kara—murza, the wife of vladamir kara—murza. great to have you on with us, especially under these circumstances. what more have you been able to find out about your husband's condition and his health? good evening and thank you very much for your invitation. the problem is we do not know anything. the lawyers came to visit my husband at the prison

colony where he is serving his 25 year sentence for so—called high trees while continuously denying the crimes of the leading a potent regime against population and against ukraine and they were denied entrance and they were denied entrance and told vladimir kara—murza had been transferred to a prison hospital on thursday. they rushed to the hospital and again denied access and given ridiculous pretext not to let them in., such as vladimir had not arrived yet or he has arrived but has not been registered into the system yet and so on. so they spent two days, thursday and friday, trying to get to him, trying to make sure that he is alive and as well as can be expected under the circumstances. and they were continuously denied access and event everything closed down in russia for the weekend so the earliest we will

find out something, hopefully, is either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, when he is lawyer will try to get access to him yet again. his lawyers not been _ to him yet again. his lawyers not been able _ to him yet again. his lawyers not been able to _ to him yet again. his lawyers not been able to get - to him yet again. his lawyers not been able to get in i to him yet again. his lawyers not been able to get in touch with him. have you been able to speak to him? when was the last time you are able to communicate with your husband? the last time i was able to speak to him was last summer, almost a year ago — well, a year ago. almost a year ago — well, a yearago. underthe almost a year ago — well, a year ago. under the strict regime in which vladimir is serving his sentence, he's not allowed any phone calls, and visits by family members. he has been kept since the 21st of september last year and it means over 270 — 280 days he has been kept in solitary, in solitary confinement in a small cell that measures about six square metres with a bed that is attached to the vault from

5am to 5pm and in all this time since the 21st of september he has not seen or talked to one single other prisoner. he is or has been in solitary even though under the un rules, keeping a person in solitary confinement for over 15 days is considered torture. the only human contact he gets is with his lawyer. he still gets to see his lawyer a couple of times a week or as often as a lawyer is allowed in. either than that, vladimir does not have any human contact. we can still communicate through present mail but of course all that mail goes through censorship. we need to understand this. everything goes through censorship. another russian opposition leader, alexei navalny died in prison earlier this year. this is a difficult question to ask but what goes through your mind

when you think about alexei navalny�*s fate and how much to worry about a similar fate for your husband?— worry about a similar fate for your husband? alexei navalny that he did — your husband? alexei navalny that he did not _ your husband? alexei navalny that he did notjust _ your husband? alexei navalny that he did notjust die, i your husband? alexei navalny that he did notjust die, he i that he did notjust die, he was killed, he was murdered. whatever is put on the official papers, either that he was beaten or poisoned orjust because he was put in such conditions in which a person who had survived poisoning in the past and alexei navalny just like my husband survived a deliberate poisoning, an assassination attack carried out by officers. so for someone of his health, been kept under the conditions under which he had been kept in for three years, was notjust torture, it was like a death sentence, so he was murdered. and i understand that my husband has

been kept under similar conditions. ——is being kept. my husband survived to assassination attacks in the past, 2015 and 2017, both kerry date by the same team of operatives that poison alexei navalny and we found this out thanks to an independent investigation by an insider who gave us the names and faces of those operatives, a team of assassins in the service of the russian state. my husband has been kept by the same who tried to kill him twice in the past, kept behind bars, in solitary for over 270 days now, continuously... for over 270 days now, continuously. . .- for over 270 days now, continuously... and of course our continuously... and of course your husband _ continuously... and of course your husband was _ continuously... and of course your husband was speaking . continuously... and of course i your husband was speaking out and was criticising the russian regime and vladimir putin, speaking out against the wall in ukraine. what does this say

about the state of opposition within russia under president vladimir putin?— within russia under president vladimir putin? well, i can say that anyone — vladimir putin? well, i can say that anyone who _ vladimir putin? well, i can say that anyone who dares - vladimir putin? well, i can say that anyone who dares oppose | that anyone who dares oppose the regime in our days and who dares publicly denounced the crimes committed by this regime is being betrayed by the resume as extremist, as a spy, a foreign agent, a terrorist, a traitor, like my husband. my husband was accused and sentenced to 25 years for high treason and for dissemination of numbingly false information about ukraine, thousands and thousands of people in russia today are being persecuted by the state for the exact same crime. so—called crime. of telling the truth in the face of atrocities committed by the state. in of atrocities committed by the state. ,, ., ., ., , state. in the us, a 'ournalist is behind * state. in the us, a 'ournalist is behind bars i state. in the us, a 'ournalist is behind bars in i state. in the us, ajournalist is behind bars in russia i

state. in the us, ajournalist is behind bars in russia as i is behind bars in russia as well and he denies those charges. the wall street journal, his employer says he is innocent of those charges. when it comes your husband, what would you like to see the world to for those like him and evan and others, to work toward their freedom? evan and others, to work toward theirfreedom? i evan and others, to work toward their freedom?— their freedom? i believe it is an important _ their freedom? i believe it is an important time _ their freedom? i believe it is an important time today i their freedom? i believe it is an important time today to l their freedom? i believe it is i an important time today to send an important time today to send a very clear message to the kremlin that the world understands the democratic world understands that the vladimir putin and the regime he has built, the system of government he has built is oppressing the russian population and carries out aggression against its neighbours and i believe it is important for the world to stand with those who oppose the putin regime today because if we want to see russia a democracy one day— and that is the only guarantee of peace and

stability on that continent that actually dashed because as long as there is some kind of regime in the kremlin, this aggression will continue and it will spread, so if we want to see russia a democracy one day, we need to send a message of support and solidarity with those russian citizens who risk their freedom and their lives to stand against the regime. evgenia kara—murza the wife of vladimir kara—murza the gel political dissident, the news that he has been taken to a prison hospital, thank you for joining us. prison hospital, thank you for joining us— stay with us here on bbc news. plenty more of the headlights coming up. —— headlines. hello there. sunday brought a volatile mix of weather across the uk — sunny skies one minute, thunder clouds the next, ominous—looking skies across lincolnshire through sunday afternoon. most of those showers are actually easing away and we've got clearing skies and that's going to allow those temperatures to fall away.

so a chilly start to monday morning, but lots of sunshine around. however, this cloud will arrive later on in the morning. it's going to bring some rain, some of it heavy, across south—west england. the cloud gradually drifting its way steadily north into south wales and the midlands. but further north of that, we keep the sunshine for much of the day. there will be a scattering of showers and some of these slow—moving, because the winds will remain light, and it's still a disappointingly cool story across the far north of scotland — only 12 or 13 degrees. highest values, perhaps close to the borders, of 19 degrees. a few isolated showers into northern ireland and northern england, but mostly bright skies, sunny spells coming through. so there's our showery rain, just pushing into wales in the midlands and south—east england by the end of the afternoon, so that means there's a risk of further showers to come for wimbledon, i'm afraid, for monday, maybe some thunderstorms to come for tuesday as well. the thunderstorms tuck in behind this low pressure

as it continues to move its way further north during the early hours of tuesday morning. so we will start off with cloud and some heavy bursts of rain during the early hours of tuesday. and by the morning rush hour, it'll be sitting across northern england, north wales. so cloudier skies, perhaps, close to the scottish borders. not quite as cold a start on tuesday morning. so we've got that rain to continue to drift its way northwards on tuesday, should stay largely dry for much of scotland through the day, and then behind it, a southerly wind dragging in slightly more humid air, which could trigger off a few thundery downpours as we go through the afternoon. top temperatures, around 21 degrees across england and wales, perhaps. we're looking at around 16—18 further north. that low pressure will continue to slowly ease away, and then as we go later into the week, desperately trying to build in, is this high. there is still a level of uncertainty as to whether that will do so, but hopefully as we move towards friday

and into the weekend, the weather story mightjust quieten down just a touch.

japan's most high profile female politician, yurilo koike, secures a third term as governor of tokyo, a key financial hub in the region. plus: following the labour party's landslide we look at how the uk government will

reset trade ties with asia. thanks for your company on business today. i'm steve lai. we begin where citizens here in asia where citizens injapan's capital have re—elected the governor for a third term. it's a key election because tokyo is an economic engine of japan. it's approximately the same size as the economy of the netherlands. its economy is approximately the same size as the net zeroer —— as the net zeroerlands. she will have an annual budget worth $100 billion as her disposal as they continue to push to be the main finance senator.

but what will her top priority be as she enters