Global Headlines: Historic Political Shifts, Tech Delays, and Tragedies

This compilation of world news highlights major developments including a call for political alliances in France, Pope's controversial remarks, Hamas' stance on the U.S. ceasefire plan, and Hunter Biden's conviction. It also covers shifts in Haiti's government, NASA's delay on the Starliner return, and the tragic plane crash killing Malawi's vice president.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Anger among French conservatives as party chief wants election deal with far right

The leader of France's conservative Republicans called on Tuesday for an alliance between his party's candidates and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally in a snap parliamentary election - a political shift with wide repercussions. "We say the same things so let's stop making up imagined opposition," Republicans (LR) leader Eric Ciotti told TF1 TV. "This is what the vast majority of our voters want. They tell us 'reach a deal'."

Pope repeats gay slur in closed-door meeting, ANSA reports

The pope has again used a highly disparaging word against gay people for which he had already apologised last month, ANSA news agency said on Tuesday. Italian media had attributed to the pope the use of the word "frociaggine", a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as "faggotness", on May 20 during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops.

Israel says Hamas rejects key elements of US ceasefire plan for Gaza

Hamas formally responded on Tuesday to a U.S. ceasefire proposal for the eight-month-old war in the Gaza Strip, and Israel said the response was tantamount to a rejection while a Hamas official said the Palestinian group merely reiterated longstanding demands not met by the current plan. Egypt and Qatar said they had received Hamas' response to a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31 but did not disclose the contents.

Israel, Hamas, Sudan rivals added to UN list for killing children

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday named and shamed Israel's armed and security forces, Palestinian militants Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and Sudan's warring parties for killing and maiming children in 2023, adding them to an annual global list of offenders for violations against children. In a report to the U.N. Security Council - seen by Reuters - Guterres also called out the armed forces of Israel and Sudan for attacking schools and hospitals and Hamas and Islamic Jihad for abducting children.

Hamas responds to Egypt, Qatar on Gaza ceasefire plan; source says group proposes new timeline

Mediators Egypt and Qatar received a response from Hamas and Palestinian groups to a U.S. ceasefire plan for Gaza, the Egyptian and Qatari governments said on Tuesday as an official briefed on the matter said Hamas proposed a new timeline. The statement from Egypt and Qatar did not disclose what the response said, but the official, who declined to be identified, said Hamas proposed a new timeline for a permanent ceasefire with Israel and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, including Rafah.

President's son Hunter Biden convicted of lying about drug use to buy gun

President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of lying about his illegal drug use to buy a gun, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. A 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware - the Bidens' hometown - found the defendant guilty on all three counts against him.

Haiti names new cabinet, in strong shift from previous government

Haiti's administration picked new ministers on Tuesday, rounding out the new prime minister's cabinet, in a stark departure from the previous government as the country battles a deep humanitarian crisis fueled by armed gangs. The cabinet, announced nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Garry Conille himself was named to his post, trims the number of ministers while replacing all who served in former Prime Minister Ariel Henry's cabinet. Many of the new picks were drawn from outside Haiti's political class altogether.

NASA, Boeing push back Starliner's crewed return to June 18

NASA and Boeing said they expect to bring Starliner and its first astronaut crew back to Earth from the International Space Station as soon as June 18, later than previously scheduled as mission analysts examine issues that could affect its return. Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft was originally expected to undock on Friday and return to Earth after launching its inaugural crew of two NASA astronauts from Florida on June 5. The mission is a crucial test before the U.S. space agency can certify Starliner for routine flights.

Hamstrung at home, G7 leaders struggle to resolve global woes

Group of Seven (G7) leaders will fly to southern Italy this week for their annual summit in downbeat mood, confronting myriad woes at home even as they seek solutions for many of the world's most pressing problems. U.S. President Joe Biden faces a polarized electorate and dismal approval ratings ahead of a re-election bid in November while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks certain to lose power in a national vote next month.

Malawi vice president Chilima and nine others killed in plane crash

Malawi's Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others, including former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, were killed when the military plane they were travelling in crashed, President Lazarus Chakwera said on Tuesday. The aircraft carrying Chilima, who was seen as a potential candidate in next year's presidential election, went missing on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)