International
Modi leads the count of the Indian elections with a smaller margin than expected
The preliminary results of the Indian general elections show the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in the lead but with a lower margin than expected.
The BJP leads the vote trend in 236 seats out of the 543 of the Lower House of Parliament or Lok Sabha in the running, according to data from the Electoral Commission of India (ECI), and with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) it leads it would stand at 282.
A political force requires 272 seats to win the majority, a result that the BJP achieved with ease in 2019, by obtaining 303 seats.
The same data from the ECI place the Congress Party (INC), the main formation of the opposition, with 99 seats.
The historic formation leads a coalition of opposition parties known as the National Inclusive Alliance for the Development of India or simply INDIA, with more than 200 seats.
The ECI does not specify what percentage of votes has been counted, so the trend could vary as the count progresses.
The Indian Electoral Commission began on Tuesday to total the votes of the general elections to the Lower House of the Indian Parliament, the largest votes in the world in which almost 650 million people participated over more than six weeks.
At the moment, the ECI only concludes the results of a constituency, in the city of Surat, in the western state of Gujarat, Modi’s home state.
The electoral authority attributed the victory directly to the BJP, being the only formation that managed to run for that region.
This is the only phase of the electoral process that takes place simultaneously in this country with almost one billion voters that required seven phases for voting, held between April 19 and June 1, convening groups of more than 100 million voters each.
The Hindu nationalist leader is looking for a third consecutive term and had set himself the goal of achieving 400 seats with his alliance.
Modi has made a fierce campaign in search of the two-thirds parliamentary majority that allow him to promote constitutional reforms.
At the same time, the result of these elections will offer a real look at the strength of opponents of Modi, a coalition that includes the historic Indian Congress Party, of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.
International
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.
“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.
He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”
“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.
Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.
International
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.
In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.
France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.
Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.
International
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.
In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.
The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
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