French far-right fails to win regions
France’s far-right National Rally has failed in its bid to win its first ever region. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur was a target for Marine Le Pen’s party. However, Le Parisien reports exit polls suggest their hotly-tipped candidate, Thierry Mariani, took only 43% of the vote and lost to the centre-right Republicans. The election – which saw a potentially record low turnout of less than 30% – also brought disappointment for President Emmanuel Macron, whose centrist party, La République En Marche, also failed to win control of any region. It also performed badly in the first round, which was held last week. Other early results from the second round suggest wins for traditional centre-right parties, and for the left.
Study throws light on COVID origins
The virus that caused COVID-19 did not originate at the Wuhan seafood market, confirms a new study of deleted gene sequences from the virus’ earliest days. USA Today says the sequences had been posted to a website run by the National Institutes of Health, but were removed for unknown reasons. Finding earlier sequences like these might help reveal new insights into the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ earliest days, said Jesse Bloom, the article’s author, who studies viral evolution at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Tunisia’s navy rescues 178 migrants
Tunisia’s defense ministry said Sunday that its navy had rescued 178 migrants who were trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to reach Europe. La Presse quotes a ministry statement saying two bodies were recovered and 178 migrants rescued during three operations off Tunisia’s south coast. The migrants, who the ministry said were from Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Ivory Coast, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mali and Ethiopia, had set off from the Libyan port of Zuwara overnight Friday to Saturday.
Record temperatures in US, Canada heatwave
A sweltering heatwave has hit large parts of the US Pacific Northwest and Canada, sending records tumbling. CNN reports the US National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings across nearly all of Washington and Oregon state. Parts of California and Idaho were also affected.
150 still missing in Florida building collapse
Miami Herald says the death toll from a building collapse in Miami has risen to nine. Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava said scores of rescue workers remain on the massive pile of rubble, working to find survivors among the 156 people who remain unaccounted for. On Sunday, Surfside mayor Charles Burkett assured families that rescuers were working nonstop.
Holders Portugal, the Netherlands eliminated
At the EURO 2020, the world’s top-ranked team Belgium have knocked out holders Portugal after a 1-0 win in a match played in Seville. They qualified for the quarterfinals where they will face Italy, next Friday in Munich. The Czech Republic had earlier caused the first upset of the night beating the Netherlands 2-0 in Budapest. The Netherlands’ De Ligt was sent off in the second half for a voluntary hand ball outside the area. The Czechs now face Denmark in Baku.
Today, Croatia meet Spain at 6 pm while France meet Switzerland at 9 pm.
Copa America: Ecuador stops Brazil 1-1 and snatches the quarterfinals
Ecuador qualified at the last minute in the quarterfinals of the Copa America stopping Brazil 1-1, preventing it from closing Group B with full points. Brazil came from 10 consecutive victories and closed their group clearly in the lead with 10 points, three more than runners-up Peru which yesterday beat Venezuela 1-0 in Brasilia. Tonight, Bolivia play Argentina and Uruguay meet Paraguay in group A. In case of defeat, the Uruguayans will inherit the Brazilian favourites in Friday’s quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro, otherwise Chile will be the next opponent of Seleçao.
