Los candidatos socialistas llegaron adelante en la primera vuelta de las municipales francesas en París y Marsella, las dos principales ciudades del país, en las que ya gobernaban, según las estimaciones de voto de los diferentes medios.

En la capital, Emmanuel Grégoire, que concurre asociado con comunistas y ecologistas, logró el 37% de los votos, por delante de la conservadora Rachida Dati, que se quedó en el 24 %, una ventaja superior a lo que auguraban los sondeos.

Emmanuel Grégoire, que reúne a la izquierda unida (socialistas, comunistas y verdes), se convocó en el famoso restaurante La Rotonde, en París. Allí esperan los resultados finales que podrían favorecerlos. Todo dependerá del desempeño de la ultraizquierdista Francia Insumisa, la gran incertidumbre de estas horas.

Sin embargo, la elección en la capital se decidirá en la segunda vuelta. En ese escenario, la favorita es Rachida Dati, representante de Los Republicanos, ex ministra de Cultura de Emmanuel Macron e hija de la inmigración. No obstante, ella ha conseguido un porcentaje menor al esperado. Aunque todas las fuerzas se opondrán al candidato socialista unido, se espera un gran duelo el próximo domingo. Los temas centrales serán la seguridad, la calidad de vida, el civismo, la limpieza y si las familias desean volver a residir en la capital francesa.

En las primeras estimaciones en París, Grégoire obtuvo el 37,50%, largamente por delante de Dati, que consiguió el 24,90%. Por su parte, el macronista Pierre-Yves Bournazel alcanzó el 12,40%, seguido por Sophia Chikirou, de Francia Insumisa, con el 12,10% y la derechista Sarah Knafo con el 10%.

En Le Havre, la lista encabezada por el exprimer ministro Édouard Philippe se impuso con el 43,76% de los votos. El candidato de izquierda, Jean-Paul Lecoq, quedó en segundo lugar con el 33,25%.

Philippe abogó por una amplia coalición en la segunda vuelta para evitar un revés que supondría la victoria del Partido Comunista en dicha ciudad. Desde su sede de campaña en el puerto normando, afirmó afrontar el siguiente turno con energía y la satisfacción de contar con un considerable respaldo colectivo.

«Las elecciones no son encuestas. Estoy a favor de la coalición más amplia posible para evitar el triunfo del Partido Comunista y sus aliados de Francia Insumisa», continuó el exjefe de gobierno, quien añadió que los ciudadanos han manifestado su deseo de continuar la transformación de la ciudad.

El coordinador nacional de la formación, Manuel Bompard, celebró el «notable ascenso» de su partido y llamó a la unidad de toda la izquierda para vencer a la derecha y la ultraderecha.

«Los resultados muestran que nuestras listas duplican, triplican e incluso cuadruplican sus votos en comparación con 2020», afirmó. Bompard añadió que estarán presentes en cientos de segundas vueltas y que entrarán con fuerza en los ayuntamientos, lo que demuestra un gran poder político. Sin embargo, los socialistas se niegan a aliarse con ellos por considerarlos antisemitas.

Reagrupación Nacional ha conseguido una “inmensa victoria” según los primeros resultados, con varios alcaldes reelectos en primera vuelta. El partido ya tiende la mano a la derecha para la segunda vuelta. El actual alcalde de Fréjus, David Rachline, anunció su reelección con el 51,33% de los votos, mientras que en Niza, Eric Ciotti también ganó gracias a su alianza con esta formación.

Asimismo, Steeve Briois anunció su reelección como alcalde de Hénin-Beaumont, en el departamento de Pas-de-Calais. En Marsella, el lepenismo llegó segundo con Franck Allisio (33,60%), quien declaró: “Ustedes le han dado vuelta la página a la izquierda”. El líder de la formación, Jordan Bardella, indicó que, siempre que el contexto local lo permita, apoyarán a las listas de «derecha sincera». Pero el alcalde saliente, el socialista Benoît Payan, fue el más votado con el 38 % de los sufragios. Finalmente, el republicano Jean-François Copé anunció su reelección como alcalde de Meaux con el 64,45% de los votos.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in the war involving Iran, delivering his strongest remarks yet on the conflict and urging leaders responsible for the fighting to halt violence after deadly strikes that hit schools and civilian areas.

The Associated Press reported the pope made the remarks at the end of his Sunday noon blessing at the Vatican, where he appealed to leaders involved in the conflict to halt the fighting and pursue dialogue instead of continued military escalation.

«On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict,» Leo said. «Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for.»

Leo did not cite the U.S. or Israel by name, though he appeared to reference an attack in the opening days of the war that struck a school in Iran and killed more than 165 people, many of them children.

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U.S. officials said the strike may have been based on outdated intelligence, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

The pope said he was particularly close to the families of victims killed in attacks that have struck schools, hospitals and residential areas during the conflict.

He also expressed concern about the impact of the fighting in Lebanon, where aid groups have warned the escalating conflict could trigger a humanitarian crisis.

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This picture obtained from Iran’s ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, on Feb. 28, 2026. (Ali Najafi/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Christian communities in southern Lebanon are of particular concern to the Vatican, as they have long been seen as an important presence for Christians across a largely Muslim region.

For much of the two weeks since the conflict began, Leo has limited his public comments to broader appeals for peace and dialogue while avoiding direct references to the U.S. or Israel – a stance consistent with the Vatican’s longstanding tradition of diplomatic neutrality.

Some Catholic leaders, however, have taken a more direct stance on the conflict.

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Pope Leo XIV arrives to hold his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican on March 4, 2026. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo)

Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, described the war as morally unjustifiable, while Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich criticized the White House for sharing social media posts about the war that included video game-style imagery.

Meanwhile, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin rejected Washington’s characterization of the fighting as a «preventive war,» but said the Holy See continues to keep lines of communication open with all sides.

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«The Holy See speaks with everyone,» Parolin said. «When necessary we speak also with the Americans, with the Israelis and show them what to us are the solutions.»

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Pentagon has identified six U.S. service members who were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, took place in «friendly» airspace during an unspecified incident involving another aircraft. While the other plane landed safely, the KC-135 crashed. Military officials said the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.

The airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, according to U.S. government and state officials.

Those killed were Maj. John «Alex» Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28. 

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Maj. John ‘Alex’ Klinner

Maj. John «Alex» Klinner, 33, leaves behind three small children — 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, confirmed.

A graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, Klinner had recently moved with his family into a new home, according to his wife, Libby Klinner.

«It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot,» Harrill said.

An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also known for helping others. Harrill recalled that when he last saw him in January during a family wedding, Klinner helped shovel Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow.

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«Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,» Harrill said. «He was literally one of the most kind, giving people.»

Libby Klinner said her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father.

«They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,» she wrote in a post. «They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.»

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Klinner was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, though Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said he was stationed in Birmingham.

Capt. Ariana Savino

Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was also assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base.

The deaths of six U.S. Air Force airmen in an aircraft crash in Iraq bring the number of U.S. troops killed in connection with the Iran conflict to 13. (Reuters)

Savino was among the crew members aboard the KC-135 refueling aircraft when it crashed in western Iraq.

Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt

Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, was the third member of the MacDill-based crew killed in the crash.

Six American airmen died in a U.S. Air Force aircraft crash in western Iraq, officials said, bringing the number of U.S. troops killed in the conflict with Iran to 13. (Reuters)

Pruitt served with the 6th Air Refueling Wing and was deployed as part of the mission when the aircraft went down.

Capt. Seth Koval

Capt. Seth Koval, 38, served as a KC-135R Stratotanker instructor pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.

The U.S. military released the names of six Air Force airmen killed in a crash in western Iraq as the investigation into the incident continues. (United States Air Force)

The Ohio National Guard said Koval was an aircraft commander with 19 years of service. While the Ohio National Guard listed his home in Stoutsville, Ohio, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Mooresville, Indiana.

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A graduate of Purdue University, Koval first enlisted in 2006 as a machinist with the Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing before transferring to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017. He earned his commission in 2018 and completed instructor pilot upgrade in 2024. Over the course of his career, Koval logged 2,076 total flight hours, including 443 combat hours.

Capt. Curtis Angst

Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, served as a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.

While the Ohio National Guard listed his home as Columbus, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Wilmington, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in aerospace engineering, Angst initially enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015 as a vehicle maintenance technician with the 123rd Air Control Squadron.

Six airmen, including a squadron operations chief and multiple captains, died in a U.S. Air Force aircraft crash in western Iraq, the Pentagon said. (United States Air Force)

He earned his commission in 2021, completed undergraduate pilot training in 2023, and qualified as a KC-135R pilot in April 2024. During his career, Angst logged 880 total flight hours, including 67 combat hours.

Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons

Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, served as a KC-135R boom operator with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron. He was responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to receiver aircraft during missions.

Among those killed in the Iraq crash were a major overseeing flight training and a boom operator remembered for his «million-dollar smile.» (United States Air Force)

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Simmons entered the Air Force in 2017 and initially served in the security forces before transitioning to aviation in 2022. He became a mobility force aviator in 2023 and reached the rank of technical sergeant on May 1, 2023. During his career, Simmons logged 779 total flight hours, including 230.4 combat hours.

Simmons’ family told WCMH-TV in Columbus they were devastated by the loss.

«Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,» they said.

Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, Ohio adjutant general, said the state is mourning the loss of the three «remarkable» Ohio airmen.

«Today we mourn the loss of three remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard,» Woodruff said.

U.S. Central Command said the aircraft crashed during a combat mission over western Iraq in «friendly» territory. Military officials stated that the incident involved an unspecified interaction with another aircraft that landed safely and that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

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The KC-135 Stratotanker refuels other aircraft in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The aircraft can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling tanker aircraft takes off from the Kadena Air Base, west of Okinawa, southern Japan, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force had 376 KC-135 aircraft last year, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. The aircraft has been in service for more than 60 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.