New Delhi (AFP) – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the headquarters of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters after claiming victory in the country’s election. Commentators and exit polls had projected an overwhelming victory for Modi, but the BJP failed to secure an overall majority of its own, figures from the election commission showed, meaning it would need to rely on coalition partners. IMAGES
Neu Delhi (AFP) – Vote counting is underway in India’s election on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his allies heading for election victory. Commentators and exit polls had projected an overwhelming victory for Modi, whose campaign wooed the Hindu majority to the worry of the country’s 200-million-plus Muslim community, deepening concerns over minority rights. But for the first time in a decade Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could fail to secure an overall majority of its own, figures from the election commission projected, meaning it would need to rely on its alliance partners.
Mexiko-Stadt (AFP) – Claudia Sheinbaum’s election as Mexico’s first woman president sparks hope for change in a country where gender-based violence has long been rife. Flag-waving supporters sang and danced to mariachi music late into the night after the former Mexico City mayor won Sunday’s election by a landslide.
Vovchans’k (AFP) – Smoke rises above destroyed buildings in the town of Vovchansk, which lies less than five kilometres (three miles) from the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine and has recently faced intense fighting. Rare drone footage released by the Tsunami Assault Regiment, part of the assault brigade “Lyut”, shows the scale of devastation, with much of the town reduced to rubble and bombed-out residential buildings. Kyiv has been battling a fresh Russian land assault in the Kharkiv region since May 10.
Washington (AFP) – The United States is “completely confident” in the Israeli willingness for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal set out by US President Joe Biden. Israel on Tuesday mourned four captives reported dead in Gaza by the army amid growing doubts and international pressure over the plan for a ceasefire outlined by Biden. The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,550 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee says “no activities that contravene the law should take place,” when asked about whether citizens could publicly mourn the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Tuesday, June 4, marks 35 years since Beijing’s deadly clampdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. Hong Kong used to be the only place under China’s rule where public commemorations of the event could take place.
A Chinese probe carrying samples from the far side of the Moon has started its journey back to Earth, according to the country’s space agency. Material collected from the far side may shed light on how the Moon formed in the first place.
Istanbul (AFP) – Thousands gather in Istanbul for a “Justice Rally” to protest against a draft bill seeking to euthanise stray dogs. Turkey is classified as a “high risk” country for rabies by the World Health Organization, and the government says dogs caused 3,544 road accidents over the past five years, killing 55 and injuring more than 5,000.
Varanasi (AFP) – People in Varanasi, a Hindu holy city, react to exit polls following the end of India’s six-week general election. The polls predict Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its coalition allies will win 355 seats, well above the 272 needed for a majority in the lower house. While official results will be announced on Tuesday, analysts have long considered Modi’s victory a foregone conclusion, largely due to his vigorous promotion of India’s majority faith.
São Paulo (AFP) – Thousands of Brazilians parade in the streets of Sao Paulo, specifically along the famous Avenida Paulista, for the annual Pride march. “There is a greater meaning to this, which is to fight for rights, for visibility, against violence,” says Eugenio dos Santos.
(AFP) – Maryana Checheliuk, 24, returns to Ukraine after two years in captivity as a prisoner of war. Russia and Ukraine announced on 31 May that they had exchanged dozens of POWs in one of the only areas of dialogue between the warring countries.
El Bosque (AFP) – Waves wash over abandoned homes in a Mexican village, slowly being swallowed by the sea — a symbol of the climate change effects being felt by the major fossil fuel producer. Located in the southern state of Tabasco, El Bosque is the first settlement in the country to fall victim to the rising tides, forcing some 700 people from their homes.
