ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including French President Emmanuel Macron dissolving the National Assembly and calling for snap polls after the far right inflicted a heavy defeat on his centrist alliance in European elections, Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz resigning from the emergency unity government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and European Parliament polls closing in most countries as citizens chose new MEPs.

TOP STORIES

• France's Macron dissolves parliament, announces snap polls

French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called snap elections after the far-right National Rally (RN) party inflicted a heavy defeat on his camp in European elections.

The first round of the legislative elections will be held on June 30 and the second round on July 7, Macron said in a broadcast speech after National Rally got 32% of the vote in the EU elections.

"The rise of the nationalists and demagogues is dangerous not only for our nation but also for Europe," Macron said.

• Israeli War Cabinet Minister Gantz resigns from Netanyahu’s government

Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz resigned from the emergency unity government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Addressing a press conference in Tel Aviv, Gantz called on Netanyahu to hold early elections “as soon as possible.”

“Do not let our nation be torn apart,” he said.

• EU Parliament polls close in most countries as citizens choose new MEPs

Polls were coming to a close in most European Union countries as citizens voted to elect new members of the European Parliament.

The turnout rate was around 45.26% in France as of 5 p.m. local time (1500GMT), slightly higher than it was in 2019 (43.29%), according to French media outlets.

The country has around 50 million voters to send 81 politicians to the EU parliament.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center left-liberal coalition suffered major losses in European Parliament elections, while the far-right Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) votes were at a record high.
• Yemen’s Houthi group claimed to have targeted a British destroyer in the Red Sea and two ships in the Arabian Sea.
• Hamas said that three Israeli hostages, including a US citizen, were killed in an Israeli operation during which four captives were freed in the Gaza Strip.
• At least seven Pakistan army troops were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in the country's northwestern region, the military said.
• The Israeli army detained 22 more Palestinians in a military raid in the occupied West Bank, according to prisoners’ affairs groups.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated his country’s position that the West will receive an equal response if it arms Moscow’s “enemies.”
• Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi extended the closure of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television channel.
• Pope Francis called on the international community to "urgently" take action using "all means" possible to help people of Gaza affected by war.
• The Israeli army said it conducted attacks targeting the Hezbollah group in three areas of southern Lebanon.
• At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli bombing that targeted residential homes in Gaza City, while more fatalities were reported in the central Gaza Strip.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has "failed" in its offensive in his country's northeastern Kharkiv region.
• North Korea has once again sent balloons presumably carrying trash to South Korea, prompting Seoul to resume its propaganda broadcasts against Pyongyang amid heightened tensions between the neighboring arch-rivals, local media reported.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Trendyol named Türkiye's e-export champion

Turkish e-commerce platform Trendyol won the 'e-export' category at the "Export Champions Award Ceremony" organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM).

Highlighting the significance of TİM’s inaugural e-export award, Trendyol Group President Caglayan Cetin said it reflects the organization’s emphasis on digitalization.

“With the strength derived from Türkiye's ecosystem, Trendyol has become one of the top five technology companies in Europe and the Middle East and the e-export champion of our nation. This award truly belongs to Trendyol's young engineers, who create groundbreaking technologies, and to Turkish producers, whose products enable this export success,” he said.

SPORTS

• Ali Koc reelected Fenerbahce’s president for 3rd term

Ali Koc, a well-known Turkish businessman, was reelected Fenerbahce’s president for a third term.

Koc, 57, defeated another candidate, Aziz Yildirim, receiving 16,464 of 26,947 valid votes.

The 71-year-old Yildirim, who ran the club for 20 years between 1998 and 2018, garnered 10,483 votes.