welcome to bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. france's hard right is in pole position after the first round of parliamentary elections that confirmed their dominance in french politics. supporters of marine le pen�*s anti—immigration national rally cheered as she said the president's macronist bloc has been all but wiped out. marine le pen�*s far right national rally party�* came top, with more than a third of the vote, followed by a surge in support for the left—wing coalition, with around 28% of the vote with president macron�*s centre right alliance of parties relegated to third place. final results won't be known for another week with a second round of voting next sunday. from paris, here's andrew harding. a dramatic win yesterday for france's national rally. the party was for years considered too extreme for most french voters with its anti—immigration, eurosceptic platform and its links to the kremlin. but last night, the rn, as it's known here, secured more than a third of all votes. the party's leader is marine le pen, who has her eye on winning the french presidency next. translation:— translation: she told the country it — translation: she told the country it had _ translation: she told the country it had nothing - translation: she told the country it had nothing to . translation: she told the | country it had nothing to fear from a right—wing, rn led government. but there's a second round of voting here next weekend. and things could still change. after yesterday's vote, president emmanuel macron called for centrist and left—wing parties to form a united front to keep the rn out of power. will it work? it's going to be a struggle. and all this in the middle of paris's preparations for the olympics later this month. many french are worried about their country's deep political polarisation. the road ahead will become clearer in a week's time when a second round of voting will determine france's future. it could be months of political dead lock, it could be a seismic political shift to the hard right, with huge implications for the country and the continent. my colleague mark lowen spent the weekend in paris following developments — and he sent us this update. so it has happened. france's national rally the far—right winning the first round of this parliamentary election. all the opinion polls before the vote had suggested this was going to happen, and indeed it has taken place. now there will be horse trading between the opposing opposition candidates as to who drops out and whether they can rally behind a united candidate to try to stop the far right in next sunday's second round election from getting an absolute majority. but the centre, the left, they are disunited. there is a lot of bad blood between them. can they rally behind a united front? this is the far right national rally party. a party that is hard line on immigration, for example, wants to stop the automatic right of foreigners born here in france to get french nationality. they want to give priority to french people over immigrants in terms of social welfare spending. so there is going to be a huge push from the opposition to try to block the far right from getting that absolute majority, potentially forcing france into a hung parliament and potentially paralysis as well. remember, president macron came to power here pledging to revive the political centre to bridge right and left. what he's actually done and what has happened under his watch, is to polarise and push people into the extremes of right and left. there will be a lot of people tonight who will be furious at president macron for a gamble that has misfired, a trap that perhaps has ensnared himself, and indeed france as well, will have huge implications, potentially for this country and for the european union as a whole. and could, if this were to be replicated on sunday, lead to this country having its first far—right government since world war ii. with me to discuss the exit polls is jamie smith—maillet, who is a french freelance journalist. it's been a busy night for you. yes, indeed. i it's been a busy night for you. yes, indeed.— yes, indeed. i suppose the u-shot yes, indeed. i suppose the upshot is. _ yes, indeed. i suppose the upshot is. it _ yes, indeed. i suppose the upshot is, it could've - yes, indeed. i suppose the upshot is, it could've been| upshot is, it could've been worse. in upshot is, it could've been worse. , worse. in some ways, ultimately, _ worse. in some ways, ultimately, we're - worse. in some ways, ultimately, we're still| worse. in some ways, - ultimately, we're still waiting for the final picture to come through. where we're standing, where things are now, the exit poll is giving the picture of what we expect the national situation to look like. it's a contest that runs seat by seat, constituency by constituency. could it have been worse? it depends what we're talking about. it was a gamble for emmanuel macron a few weeks ago when he sent a snap election out of the blue for many. the polls since then have tracked and are quite close to what we saw last night in many ways. so, for him, you know, it was a risk. and where it stands now, well, he's really looking to see what will happen in the days ahead. see what will happen in the days ahead-— see what will happen in the days ahead. so, 7july is the run-off- _ days ahead. so, 7july is the run-off. the _ days ahead. so, 7july is the run-off. the next _ days ahead. so, 7july is the run-off. the next big - days ahead. so, 7july is the run-off. the next big date i days ahead. so, 7july is the i run-off. the next big date that run—off. the next big date that will be watching. what sort of horse trading is likely to be taking place behind the scenes? ahead of that? 50 taking place behind the scenes? ahead of that?— ahead of that? so it's definitely _ ahead of that? so it's definitely now - ahead of that? so it's definitely now into . ahead of that? so it's - definitely now into strategic sort of — playing and figuring out what will happen between now and next week. why, because there's a run—off. so, ultimately, in most seats, there will be two or three, possibly four candidates going forward. now, the question is what will happen between those who are wanting to block out the far right? now, left—wing block, the new popular front, have said in places where they are third, they will stand down to push for a so—called republican vote, to block out the far—right candidates. less of a clear picture for the centrist emmanuel macron ensemble and his coalition, who have called really for voters to make a sort of democratic republican choice, that doesn't necessarily mean to, you know, vote one way or the other. this will definitely play out in the days ahead. will definitely play out in the days ahead-— will definitely play out in the days ahead. jamie, we saw in that report. _ days ahead. jamie, we saw in that report, we _ days ahead. jamie, we saw in that report, we heard - days ahead. jamie, we saw in that report, we heard some l days ahead. jamie, we saw in| that report, we heard some of the — there were demonstrations, obviously, against those early results. we don't have the final results yet. but what is it about french society that has led to this schism?— this schism? it's a good question- _ this schism? it's a good question. it's _ this schism? it's a good question. it's a - this schism? it's a good| question. it's a question this schism? it's a good - question. it's a question that doesn't have a clear, concise answer in many ways. i mean, i suppose we could say look at the wider european picture, the european parliamentary elections in many ways, we see the rise of the far—right as well across the board. this has been exacerbated by a number of things in society. cost of living crisis, which is similar to here. inflation in many ways as well. also conflict, geopolitical conflict in the region, the war in ukraine, the middle east, all these have fed into this situation in france. immigration has been a big question, pushed by the far right wing, the far—right party. so all of this really kind of leading up to this issue. and i think the final thing to mention is president macron�*s popularity ratings. he's sitting at 35% approval and it slipped away following the snap election. this has led to the situation of uncertainty. to the situation of uncertain . ., , , uncertainty. now, 'ust very quickly, * uncertainty. now, 'ust very quickly. on t uncertainty. now, 'ust very quickly, on the h uncertainty. now, just very quickly, on the subject - uncertainty. now, just very quickly, on the subject of. quickly, on the subject of immigration, this is a legacy of mass labour in the 1960s and the influx of migrants to support european economies. when we look at business within the french climate, it's not happy, is it? uncertainty. i don't know what — we'll be discussing this further in the next 20 minutes, but there's so much uncertainty and it's hit the markets.— the markets. yeah. that is beinu the markets. yeah. that is being tracked, _ the markets. yeah. that is being tracked, you - the markets. yeah. that is being tracked, you said - the markets. yeah. that is. being tracked, you said you'll being tracked, you said you'll be discussing it in more detail later. this will have more of an impact, certainly next week, when we've got the final full result. it's europe's second biggest economy. that obviously will have an impact. i think there's also looking at sort of there's also looking at sort of the level of the upheaval this will cause on the streets. possible conflict as well, and you know, that obviously will impact business and the economy. as you said, you will discuss a little more later on. that set it up nicely for us. jamie smith—maillet, thank you. talks between the taliban and the international community in qatar will centre today on measurers to combat the production of illegal drugs. these un—led negotiations are the first to include the islamists since they seized power three years ago. however the absence of women and civil society figures — at the taliban's insistence — has prompted criticism from rights groups and activists. the taliban stated that they wanted to engage but urged others not to interfere in issues they describe as internal, including women's rights. let's speak to pashtana durrani, who is an afghan human rights activist and community development expert whose focus is girls�* education. hello and welcome to the programme. a very good morning to you. so these are the third talks, first time they'll be attending in person, but in terms of the agenda — how do you feel about what is likely to be discussed and not? well, thank you _ to be discussed and not? well, thank you so — to be discussed and not? well, thank you so much _ to be discussed and not? well, thank you so much for- to be discussed and not? well, thank you so much for having l thank you so much for having me. the first thing i wanted to, highlight how come women's issueis to, highlight how come women's issue is suddenly an internal issue, but the narcotics issue issue, but the narcotics issue is up for debate with the international community. if the economy is good, they said everything is good. at the same time i find it so funny and fascinating at the same time where he considered the economy important to the aspect of development, but at the same time the consumer, the producers, and the customers in that economy, just 50% women, that economy, just 50% women, that suddenly is not counted. their rights are not counted. when i look at the agenda, i'm honestly very disappointed at how the international community and the un is appeasing the taliban right now.— and the un is appeasing the taliban right now. what would ou like taliban right now. what would you like to _ taliban right now. what would you like to see _ taliban right now. what would you like to see them - taliban right now. what would you like to see them do - taliban right now. what would you like to see them do about| you like to see them do about this? i you like to see them do about this? ., you like to see them do about this? . ., ., , this? i mean, in all reality, what is their— this? i mean, in all reality, what is their framework? i this? i mean, in all reality, - what is their framework? what are they trying to achieve with these doha talks? this is the third round table. what's the framework they're trying to achieve? for me it's fascinating the humanitarian reports that happen through the un, and there's the follow—up from the taliban who claim the country is at peace. foreign women can come to the country and they can provide all the security, but they can't come up security, but they can't come up with a single solution about how to open schools or let women be in public places or in publicjobs. so for me, i think the most important thing would've been what are you trying to achieve with these talks? this is the third talks and there's no framework i see that helps them get to that goal where women are included. what exactly is the taliban's problem with women and girls? i mean, they're using it as leverage. because they know that's the only way they can get attention. they've been out of the picture for quite some time because of ukraine and because of gaza. now they're backin because of gaza. now they're back in the picture and they're using the women's card — let's be honest — no—one expects lot of them. who has asked them for accountability? who has asked them on what they have done, what their frameworks are, what the country is progressing towards. everyone is happy as long as the taliban is not bombing other countries. they're being, oh, they're doing such a good job." that's the lowest... doing such a good 'ob." that's the lowest. . ._ doing such a good 'ob." that's the lowest... since the taliban retook power. _ the lowest... since the taliban retook power, what _ the lowest... since the taliban retook power, what happened | the lowest... since the taliban i retook power, what happened to the education of young girls? i mean right now afghanistan the education of young girls? i mean right now afghanistan is not only education by the way, health care, economy, all has been powerless. right now, just this morning, the domestic violence cases, an article we were reading, it's insane it doesn't get reported. girls past age 12 cannot go to school. there's girls sitting in school who haven't finished and grade —— graduated in the pass two and a half years and the taliban call this country at peace. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. the us military says it's destroyed three houthi uncrewed surface vessels in the red sea as part of a self—defence engagement. it said they presented an imminent threat to us and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. meanwhile, heavy battles and bombardment have hit gaza city's shujaiya district for a fourth day. with me is mohamed taha from bbc arabic. it's been fairly quiet. there's been a focus on many other aspects of geopolitical strife that's been going on. what is particularly significant about these targets? the particularly significant about these targets?— particularly significant about these targets? the us is trying to eliminate _ these targets? the us is trying to eliminate the _ these targets? the us is trying to eliminate the houthis' - to eliminate the houthis' ability to strike ships in the red sea and in the mediterranean sea. these attacks happened several months ago. and the us is trying to achieve something in that regard. unfortunately, we cannot see much development in that regard. in the last 2a hours we saw the houthis attacking two ships in the red sea, two ships in the mediterranean sea. they're mediterranean sea. they�* re attacking mediterranean sea. they're attacking targets in haifa in israel, they're co—ordinating their attacks with the so—called iraqi resistance forces in iraq. all of these forces in iraq. all of these forces who are backed with iran are trying to do some trouble to trade in the red sea amongst that widening war in the middle east. this is causing of course millions of losses of trade in the red sea and also causing trouble to insurance companies that are trying to ensure the ships that are going in this path. ships that are going in this ath. �* ., , path. and within gaza itself, what are the _ path. and within gaza itself, what are the latest - what are the latest developments on that offensive? 0f developments on that offensive? of course, we have the fourth day now of the israeli offence on the place in gaza, eastern gaza. this fighting is really intensified in the last hours. the israeli forces talking about killing of an officer and about killing of an officer and a soldier and injuries of 22 soldiers. the killing of unknown numbers of hamas militants in the area. the situation in shujaiya is really dire. we saw pictures of dead bodies in the streets, there's no access of humanitarian aid to the area. the health facilities in the area are complaining that unless power and fuel would be provided to them they would be shut down. this situation, unless the fighting would stop, the situation — the humanitarian situation — the humanitarian situation in this area would be only worsening.— situation in this area would be only worsening. thank you very much. thank— only worsening. thank you very much. thank you. _ caribbean nations are urging residents to make emergency preparations with a powerful and potentially deadly hurricane strengthening further as it moves towards them. beryl, the first named hurricane of the season, is expected to hit several islands in the coming hours. forecasters say the hurricane is extremely dangerous and it is predicted to have extremely powerful winds and a storm surge of around two to three metres. south africa's president, cyril ramaphosa, has announced a new unity government to include representatives from outside the african national congress for the first time since the end of apartheid. the anc lost its majority in the may elections. the main opposition the democratic alliance received a number of posts including the agriculture ministry for leader john steinheusen. the appointment followed weeks of tense negotiations that threatened to collapse the alliance. mr ramaphosa said the incoming government will prioritise rapid economic growth and tackle poverty and inequality. australia is introducing some of the toughest measures in the world around vaping. as of today, it is illegal to supply, manufacture or import a vape, orsell one, other than in a pharmacy. the restrictions apply to all e—cigarettes, whether they have nicotine or not. our australia correspondent katy watson reports from sydney. prime minister albanese had hoped this would be a world first when it came to vaping laws, but opposition from the green party meant it got watered down at the last minute. what it means is as of today, monday, anyone who wants today, monday, anyone who wants to have access to a vape will have to go to a pharmacy and will need a prescription. but come october, you will be able to go into a pharmacy, have a discussion with a pharmacist and under counter they'll be able to give you a vape. under 18s will always need a prescription. this new law is hoping to bring down the number of people vaping, especially among young australians. data shows since the pandemic consumption has really, really soared. australia is no stranger to tough anti—smoking legislation. they've already banned the imports of vapes. they have limited the number of flavours available. in 2012, australia did pass legislation to bring in plain packaging on cigarettes to make them less appealing when it comes to mar