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France’s exceptionally high-stakes election has begun. The far right leads polls

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France’s exceptionally high-stakes election has begun. The far right leads polls


PARIS (AP) — French voters around the world are casting ballots Sunday in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election that could put France’s government in the hands of nationalist, far-right forces for the first time since the Nazi era.

The outcome of the two-round election, which will wrap up July 7, could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and how France’s nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed.

Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and economic concerns, as well as President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, which they see as arrogant and out-of-touch with their lives. Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration National Rally party has tapped and fueled that discontent, notably via online platforms like TikTok, and dominated all preelection opinion polls.

A new coalition on the left, the New Popular Front, is also posing a challenge to the pro-business Macron and his centrist alliance Together for the Republic.

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After a blitz campaign marred by rising hate speech, voting began early in France’s overseas territories, and polling stations open in mainland France at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) Sunday. The first polling projections are expected at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), when the final polling stations close, and early official results are expected later Sunday night.

Macron called the early election after his party was trounced in the European Parliament election earlier in June by the National Rally, which has historic ties to racism and antisemitism and is hostile toward France’s Muslim community. It was an audacious gamble that French voters who were complacent about the European Union election would be jolted into turning out for moderate forces in a national election to keep the far right out of power.

Instead, polls suggest that the National Rally is gaining support and has a chance at winning a parliamentary majority. In that scenario, Macron would be expected to name 28-year-old National Rally President Jordan Bardella as prime minister in an awkward power-sharing system known as “cohabitation.”

While Macron has said he won’t step down before his presidential term expires in 2027, cohabitation would weaken him at home and on the world stage.

The results of the first round will give a picture of overall voter sentiment, but not necessarily of the overall makeup of the next National Assembly. Predictions are extremely difficult because of the complicated voting system, and because parties will work between the two rounds to make alliances in some constituencies or pull out of others.

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In the past, such tactical maneuvers helped keep far-right candidates from power. But now, support for Le Pen’s party has spread deep and wide.

Bardella, who has no governing experience, says he would use the powers of prime minister to stop Macron from continuing to supply long-range weapons to Ukraine for the war with Russia. His party has historical ties to Russia.

The party has also questioned the right to citizenship for people born in France, and wants to curtail the rights of French citizens with dual nationality. Critics say this undermines fundamental human rights and is a threat to France’s democratic ideals.

Meanwhile, huge public spending promises by the National Rally and especially the left-wing coalition have shaken markets and ignited worries about France’s heavy debt, already criticized by EU watchdogs.

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Follow AP’s coverage of elections at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections



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'Power of Porsche' exhibit comes to San Diego Automotive Museum

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'Power of Porsche' exhibit comes to San Diego Automotive Museum


SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — To celebrate the arrival of a new exhibit at the San Diego Automotive Museum highlighting the history of the Porsche, car enthusiasts gathered at Balboa Park on Sunday for a “Cars and Conversation” event.

The exhibit will be on display in the museum until Aug. 4.

Watch the video at the top of this page to see the beauties that were on display Sunday.





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JYK All Day San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Exclusives [UPDATE July 1]

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JYK All Day San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Exclusives [UPDATE July 1]


Artist Artist Jin Yung Kim, otherwise known as JYK All Day, is back at San Diego Comic-Con this year with all new prints, originals, and more, spanning many of your favorite fandoms. You can find him at #CC-08 in Artists Alley, so be sure to stop by to check out his offerings.

Best of all, those who purchase will receive a free 3″ sticker with purchase, while supplies last. 

[UPDATE July 1]

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Jin Yung Kim (JYK All Day) is starting off July with a roar. He’s created a brand new Voltron print for San Diego Comic-Con that you’ll be able to pick up in Artists Alley at booth #CC-08. Prints are 11″ x 14″ and will be $20.

[UPDATE June 28]

Prepare to roll out for JYK All Day’s latest creation. His limited edition “Elite Dino Warriors” is a ferociously fun print, measuring 11″x14″. It’s limited to just 84 pieces, and will be available for $30 each at #CC-08 in Artists Alley.

[UPDATE June 22]

JYK All Day is introducing another in his “Pop Wagons” series at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 and it’s all in honor of Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball and designer of Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest and many other beloved projects. Toriyama passed away in March of 2024.

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You’ll be able to pick up “Ink Bucket” from booth # CC-08 in Artists Alley as a 9″ x 12″ Color Variant for $15, or “Ink Bucket Manga Variant,” a black and white variant limited to 30 copies for $20.

[UPDATE June 12]

JYK All Day has some x-citing news for attendees — his latest “Pop Wagons” piece is rolling into San Diego Comic-Con, with some super-sized riders. The series is JYK All Day’s spin on food trucks, each with a pop culture theme. In this iteration, the “X-Diner“, your favorite mutants are serving up some super-powered gumbo and more.

You can pick up the 9″x12″ print for $15 at Booth #CC-08 in Artists Alley, or on his site beginning Friday, June 14 at 10am PT in an online pre-order.

[UPDATE June 10]

Get “stuck” on JYK’s latest stickers, which will be dropping during the con. You can pick up 3″ stickers for either Red Hunter Z or Bomber EX for $3 each.

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[UPDATE June 5]

2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s totally tubular, iconic creation, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. JYK All Day is shell-ebrating with a new print, “Brothers in Spirit”. The 11″x14″ print is available in two options — a regular, full color option for $20, and a Sketch Series Variant which features hand embellishments, so each print is unique in some way. There will be a low run on the variant available for $45.

Pre-orders for both will be launching on Friday, June 7 at 10am PT. Use code PICKUP if you’d like to pick-up at the convention.



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Mauritania’s President Ghazouani wins reelection, provisional results show

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Mauritania’s President Ghazouani wins reelection, provisional results show


NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani will be reelected, provisional results from all polling stations showed on Sunday, after positioning the country as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence.

Ghazouani, who campaigned on a pledge of providing security and economic growth, obtained 56.1% of votes, the country’s independent electoral commission said late on Saturday. His main rival, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, received 22.1% of votes, but earlier on Sunday rejected the results, alleging fraud.

The country’s constitutional court is now expected to review the results to announce the final outcome of the election, but it remained unclear when it would happen.

The turnout was 54% of the two million eligible voters, the commission said.

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Although his opponents accused him of corruption and mismanagement, Ghazouani, a former army chief, remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability. The vote is taking place in a tense regional climate, with Mauritania’s neighbors shaken by military coups and jihadi violence.

Mauritania is rich in natural resources including iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil and natural gas. It is poised to become a gas producer by the end of the year, with the planned launch of the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyin offshore gas project on the border with Senegal.

Yet almost 60% of the population lives in poverty, according to the United Nations, working as farmers or employed informally. With few economic opportunities for young people at home, many are attempting to reach Europe, and some are even trying to get to the United States through Mexico.

“The last word belongs to the Mauritanian voters,” Ghazouni said after voting in Ksar, a suburb of the capital. “I commit myself to respecting their choice.”

Saturday’s vote unfolded peacefully, according to observers.

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“Nothing has been detected so far and the CENI has not received any complaints,” said Taghioullah Ledhem, the spokesman for CENI, the country’s independent electoral commission.

But some opposition candidates held a different view. CENI is made up of representatives of political parties and its president is appointed by the government, and some accused it of colliding with Ghazouani’s regime.

Biram Dah, who came second in the vote, rejected the provisional results and warned of an “electoral coup d’état for the benefit of Ghazouani, who was defeated by voters.”

During a press conference Sunday morning, he accused the electoral commission of fraud by giving Ghazouni thousands of votes “out of nowhere.”

Speaking later on Sunday from his home in Riadh, a poor suburb of the Mauritanian capital, he called for civil disobedience and appealed to the military and security forces to not “accept being used by the government against the people.”

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“The battle is not over, we are not defeated,” he said. “The people are not defeated and will not be defeated, we are there to defend the people until the last drop of blood.”

The African Union sent an observation mission to Saturday’s vote but have yet to release their statement.



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