far right

NPR's Up First newsletter rounds up what is known so far about a suspected terror plot in the United Kingdom, alongside coverage of the ongoing standoff in the Gulf region. Reports also reference a UK-US air base and Iran's position around the Strait of Hormuz, with media coverage involving CNN and former President Trump drawing attention.

A new poll projects France's 2027 presidential election could come down to a run-off between far-right leader Marine Le Pen's camp and hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, sidelining President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc. Commentators see the projection as a sign of deepening polarisation in French politics, with the mainstream centre at risk of being squeezed out of the second round entirely.

Egypt has rejected calls from Israeli officials to expand military operations in the occupied West Bank, after far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a Gaza-style war there. Cairo warned such a escalation would destabilise the region further, deepening tensions between Israel and a key mediator in the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran is prepared for hostilities with Israel to resume, declaring the country ready 'even if it comes to a doomsday war'. The remarks, carried by Al Jazeera, signal defiance and a warning that Tehran will not back down despite the risk of a far wider conflict. The statement is drawing attention as tensions in the region remain high.

France's far right has made gains in indirect Senate elections, where mayors and local councillors choose half of the upper house's seats. The results point to the National Rally's continued expansion beyond its traditional strongholds. Observers see the vote as another sign of the party's growing normalization and mainstream acceptance in French politics.

Japan and India met in a one-off T20 International as part of the Suzuki Cup, with match highlights drawing massive attention across cricket audiences. The fixture pitted an emerging Japanese side against a far more established Indian team, and fans have been sharing and reacting to the highlights in large numbers.

France's far-right National Rally has made significant gains in elections to the French Senate, an institution long dominated by mainstream conservative and centrist forces. The result marks a notable advance for the party of Marine Le Pen in a chamber where it previously held little representation. The surge is being read as another sign of the far right's growing foothold in French institutions following its recent national breakthroughs.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal, championed by a right-wing populist party, to toughen the country's neutrality laws. Final results from the Swiss government showed more than 70% voted against the plan, with majorities against in all 26 of the country's cantons. The outcome is a clear defeat for the far right and leaves Switzerland's long-standing neutrality policy unchanged.

France's far-right National Rally has gained ground in the Senate, according to Al Jazeera. The result marks a further advance for the party of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella in an upper chamber long dominated by mainstream conservative and centre-left forces. The vote comes amid heightened political tension in France following recent legislative instability and ahead of further electoral contests, with commentators weighing the party's growing institutional reach.

A new Israeli election poll shows former military chief Gadi Eisenkot running even with Benjamin Netanyahu, while far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich's party reaches its highest support yet in polling. The figures suggest a shifting right-wing landscape ahead of Israel's next national vote, with Eisenkot emerging as a serious challenger and Smotrich consolidating support among hardline voters.

France's far right has achieved a historic victory in elections to the French Senate, a result with no precedent in the chamber's history. The win marks a significant breakthrough for the nationalist right in an institution long dominated by mainstream conservative and centre-left groups, and is being closely watched for what it signals about the party's growing national strength.

Marine Le Pen is polling as the frontrunner for France's 2027 presidential election, according to trending reports. Early surveys suggest the far-right Rassemblement National leader holds a lead over potential rivals, months ahead of the vote. Commentators are debating whether she can convert poll numbers into victory after previous near-misses, and how rivals on the mainstream right and left might unite to block her.

France's far-right National Rally has secured enough Senate seats to form its own group in the upper house of parliament for the first time. The milestone marks a symbolic breakthrough for the party of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, which has long struggled to convert its electoral strength into representation in the indirectly elected chamber, where local officials dominate.

France's far-right National Rally has made significant gains in partial Senate elections, according to The Guardian. The result marks a notable advance for the party in the upper house, where it has historically held little representation. The surge will fuel debate over the far right's growing reach in French institutions ahead of future national votes.

France's far right has made gains in indirect Senate elections, expanding its presence in the upper house of parliament. The results add to the party's momentum in French politics and may complicate President Emmanuel Macron's ability to secure majorities in the chamber, where senators are elected by local officials rather than directly by voters.

France's far-right National Rally has made significant gains in indirect Senate elections, marking a breakthrough in a chamber where it previously held almost no seats. The result points to the party's growing entrenchment across French political institutions, extending its influence beyond the National Assembly. Observers see it as another sign of the far right's normalisation in French politics, with implications for President Macron's already weakened position.

France's far right has increased its presence in the Senate following indirect elections by local officials, according to France 24. The result adds to recent electoral momentum for far-right parties in the country and is likely to fuel debate over their growing influence in French politics, including their ability to shape legislation and the upper house's leadership.

The Washington Post reports on a woman who helped lead a far-right internet movement and was subsequently attacked and rejected by the same community she helped build. The article examines how online extremist movements often turn against prominent figures within their own ranks, and what her experience reveals about the dynamics of these groups.

Swiss voters have rejected by a large margin a referendum proposal, pushed by the far-right Swiss People's Party, that would have enshrined stricter neutrality into law and limited cooperation with foreign allies. The result means Switzerland will keep its current interpretation of neutrality, which allows sanctions alignment with Western partners and military cooperation. Supporters had argued it would protect Swiss independence, while opponents said it would have isolated the country diplomatically.

France's Rassemblement National has formed a parliamentary group in the Senate for the first time, marking a historic step for Marine Le Pen's far-right party in the upper house of parliament. Reaching the threshold for an official group gives the party greater speaking time, committee seats and institutional legitimacy, and is being read as further evidence of its growing normalisation in French politics.

France's Rassemblement National will form a parliamentary group in the Senate for the first time, having won at least 10 seats in the indirect senatorial elections. The party picked up a seat in Gironde, another in Var, and two in Bouches-du-Rhône. Observers are framing the milestone as a first step toward broader institutional presence for the far right, long marginalised in the upper house.

Early results from France's Senate elections indicate the far right will form a parliamentary group in the upper house for the first time. Reaching the threshold required for an official group marks a symbolic breakthrough for the party in an institution long dominated by mainstream conservatives, giving it greater speaking time and committee roles.

France is holding its Senate elections today, with 178 of the 348 seats in the upper house being renewed. The grand electors, drawn from local elected officials, are casting their votes, with the far-right RN in a position of strength in several areas. The left says it expects little from the vote, since indirect elections by local officials limit its chances.

European far-right movements are gaining ground by appealing to voters' feelings of loss — of status, identity and economic security — rather than simply winning them over with policy. Commentators argue that understanding this emotional root is key to explaining radicalism's rise across the continent and the growing challenge it poses to mainstream politics.

France's far-right National Rally announced it has secured enough seats to form a group in the Senate for the first time in its history, following the senatorial elections. The breakthrough would give the party greater institutional weight, speaking time and committee positions in the upper house, and marks a new step in its expansion beyond the National Assembly.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of politically motivated interference, after she ordered a freeze on planning approvals for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank. Smotrich, who oversees settlement policy, claims the move is designed to influence the upcoming election. The dispute deepens the ongoing conflict between the government and the attorney general over settlement expansion and the rule of law.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon publicly celebrated the election of his son-in-law Gabriel Amard to the French Senate, claiming that in every department La France Insoumise scores far higher than its number of grand electors would suggest. He called the result an "auspicious sign for 2027", while also noting that the RN has tripled its presence, fueling debate on the left's and far-right's momentum.

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of election interference after she moved to freeze construction plans in the E1 settlement area between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim. Smotrich framed the halt as a politically motivated attempt to influence the outcome of Israel's upcoming election, intensifying his ongoing conflict with the country's legal establishment over settlement policy.

A new book, 'End Times Fascism', examines how white supremacist and far-right groups are increasingly uniting around shared end-of-the-world and apocalyptic ideologies. The work, highlighted by NPR, argues that the belief in an approaching final collapse is acting as a binding force between different extremist movements, rather than any single political program or leader.