France has held its second round of regional elections, with Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) again failing to take power anywhere. President Emmanuel Macron’s party also suffered bad results, while the centre-right Republicans and the Socialist Party both received surprise boosts. Turnout for Sunday’s elections was at a record low, with under 35% of eligible voters casting their ballots. It comes ahead of French presidential elections due in April next year. Mr Macron’s centrist La République En Marche (LREM) party, which performed badly in the first round of regional elections last week, also failed to win control of any region. It was the first time President Macron’s party had taken part in regional elections, as it did not exist the last time they were held in 2015.(BBC)…[+]

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has met national leaders for emergency talks on how to tackle a spike in Covid-19 infections. An outbreak in Sydney linked to the highly contagious Delta variant has grown to 128 cases. Cases have also been recorded in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.

Officials say it is a “critical time”. Australia has kept case numbers low with border closures and lockdowns. Reports say the emergency meeting considered measures such as mandatory vaccinations for care home workers and new quarantine rules. This is the first time in months that cases have emerged in multiple parts of the country at the same time. “I think we’re entering a new phase of this pandemic, with the more contagious Delta strain,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told ABC News ahead of the meeting of the Covid-19 response committee. (BBC)…[+]

Canada has recorded its highest ever temperature as the country’s west and the US Pacific north-west frazzle in an unprecedented heatwave. Lytton in British Columbia soared to 46.6C (116F) on Sunday, breaking an 84-year-old record, officials said. A “heat dome” of high pressure parked over the region has set new records in many other areas. The US and Canada have both warned citizens of “dangerous” heat levels that could persist this week. Experts say that climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves. However, linking any single event to global warming is complicated. The high pressure zone is huge, from California right up to Canada’s Arctic territories and stretching inland through Idaho. There has been a run on air-conditioners and fans, and cooling shelters have sprung up. Some bars and restaurants – and even at least one swimming pool – were deemed too hot to function.(BBC)…[+]