The World Today

The UK Conservative Party is continuing negotiations with the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland in its bid to form stable government after it lost majority in last week's general election. The right-wing Northern Irish party, which holds 10 seats in the UK Parliament, is expected to call for increased infrastructure funding, job creation projects and continued soft borders with Eire in the wake of Brexit. But there is growing speculation over whether they will demand more divisive concessions, such as marching rights through Belfast, which could destabilise the fragile peace in Northern Ireland.

French President Emmanuel Macron's party is on course for a landslide win in the national Parliament after the first round of elections. As polls closed, projections showed his 'La Republique En Marche!' was set to win more than 400 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.

In Kenya, rising crime rates and a corrupt judiciary have led to hundreds of young men and boys being shot dead by police officers. In just eight months last year, 122 people were killed by police in the capital, Nairobi. Kenyan human rights groups are now campaigning for an end to the violence, but the police are defending their actions. Families of victims speak of a lack of investigation or oversight, with many forbidden from even seeing the bodies of victims.

Scientist Jonathan Clarke has spent 85 days on a simulated Mars surface in the Utah desert. He's helping to prepare for the challenges that may arise when humans travel to the red planet. And he's put his hand up to swap a simulated Mars for the real thing when the opportunity arises.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is sending a team to inspect the damage on a plane that made an urgent return to Sydney airport last night. The plane that is operated by the international airline, China Eastern, suffered a major failure of one of its engines. Pictures show a massive hole in the engine casing.

Broken Hill became Australia's first National Heritage listed city two and a half years ago. Now the local council has set its sights on getting Broken Hill on the World Heritage list. But its plan to spend tens of thousands of dollars to do so doesn't have overwhelming support from locals.

In the UK, British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble on an early election may have backfired. As counting continues, an exit poll suggests her Conservative Party could fall short of a parliamentary majority. Theresa May unexpectedly called the snap election seven weeks ago in the hope of gaining an even greater majority of seats to give her a stronger mandate for upcoming Brexit negotiations.

Former adviser to Tony Blair and associate professor Nick Rowley predicts a difficult and turbulent time for UK politics in the wake of the general election. Speaking with The World Today's Kim Landers, he describes the Conservative Party's campaign as presidential, heavily focussed on Prime Minister Theresa May and with 'strong and stable leadership' as almost the only platform on which she campaigned. Unfortunately, even if the Tories form government, their heavily reduced majority means that strength and stability are likely to be last things they will be able to offer the UK electorate.

About 150 officers from Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO have raided three properties in Melbourne's north. They're investigating the Brighton siege and believe the people they're interviewing may have provided the two weapons used by the gunman.

Counter terrorism is high on the agenda at today's meeting between the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders. Malcolm Turnbull says he wants the meeting to agree on nationally consistent bail and parole laws. While some of the premiers have flagged setting up a federal prison to house terrorists. The leaders are also discussing energy policy.