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Our top stories.

In pouring rain outside Ten Downing Street, a soggy Rishi Sunac,

Britain's Prime Minister, called a general election to be held on July 4th.

Mr. Soonac said that now is the moment for Britain to choose its future.

He may hope that a six-week campaign will be long

enough to close the 20-point gap in the opinion polls between his Conservative

Party and Sakir Starmer's Labour Party.

The Economist's forecast model gives the Tories less than a 1% chance of retaining their

majority.

Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognize a Palestinian state on May 28th.

Norway's Prime Minister Yonas Garstor said there cannot be peace in the Middle East without recognition.

Israel recalled its envoys from Ireland and Norway.

It is expected to do the same for Spain.

At least 140 UN members recognize a Palestinian state, but no member of the G7 does.

America has said that Russia launched a space weapon on May 16th that may be equipped to attack other satellites.

A spokesperson for the Department of Defence said that the satellite is in low Earth orbit,

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