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In pictures: Paris Olympics kicks off with ambitious Opening Ceremony on the Seine

Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rule-breaking Opening Ceremony studded with stars and fantasy, showcasing the city’s resilience as authorities dealt with suspected acts of sabotage that targeted France’s high-speed rail network earlier in the day. 

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Historic river parade launches Paris Olympics

A historic boat parade down the River Seine launched the Paris Olympics with spectacular French flair Friday, as the City of Light welcomed the world’s greatest athletes for a sporting extravaganza. Braving torrential rain, some 300,000 people lined the river banks to cheer on the armada carrying competitors past the city’s iconic sights: the Eiffel […]
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Macron declares Paris Olympics open

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday officially declared open the Paris Olympics, at the end of a spectacular but rain-soaked opening ceremony held for the first time outside the main stadium. “I declare open the Games of Paris celebrating the 33rd Olympiad of the modern era,” said Macron, launching the Games exactly 100 years after […]
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French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura performs at Olympic opening ceremony

ranco-Malian R&B superstar Aya Nakamura, the most listened to French-speaking singer in the world, performed at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, defying criticism from far-right activists. Far-right politicians and conservatives had accused the 29-year-old singer, best known for her hit “Djadja”, of “vulgarity” and disrespecting the French language in her lyrics.
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What we know about Oropouche virus after first deaths

The first-ever deaths from the Oropouche virus, a little-known disease spread by the bites of infected midges and mosquitoes, have been recorded in Brazil. Here is what we know about the virus so far. – What happened? – Two women under 30 years old from the Brazilian state of Bahia have become the first known […]
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Trump slams ‘politicized’ FBI

The former US president has accused the FBI of failing at its job to protect America while covering for the ruling Democrats Read Full Article at RT.com

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EU state warns of impending fuel shortage

Hungary must resolve its oil transit row with Ukraine by September to avert shortages, the head of the prime minister’s office says Read Full Article at RT.com

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Paris Olympics: A gold medal for parity?

The French capital is hosting the 2024 Olympic Games and its organisers say they are the first in history where women and men will be equally represented. But do these Games deserve a gold medal for parity? Annette Young asks former French Olympic champion and sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, as to what she thinks. We also look at why so much of women’s sportswear is seen to be sexist and the complicated issue of participation for transgender athletes.

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Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris in bid for US presidency

Some of the last, but surely not least. Former US President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama endorsed Kamala Harris’s bid for the White House on Friday, in a filmed video call that was released on social media. The support of these two major Democratic party figures is expected to build further momentum for Harris after Joe Biden’s decision to end his re-election bid.

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Opening Ceremony: Olympic flame rises over Paris as Céline Dion sings Edith Piaf

The Olympic flame rose over Paris Friday night in a floating cauldron lit by French athletes Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner at the height of the Opening Ceremony. Canadian music icon Céline Dion brought down the curtain by giving her first public performance in four years, singing Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’Amour” from the Eiffel Tower. Worsening rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the banks of the River Seine as a floating parade carried nearly 7,000 athletes throughout the night. Read our liveblog to see how the Opening Ceremony unfolded.

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Paris braced for high-risk Olympics opening ceremony along Seine river

Some 300,000 spectators are expected to attend the historic Olympic opening ceremony in Paris on Friday, which will take place along the River Seine. Expected to unfold under a rainy sky, the ambitious event will see thousands of competitors travel downstream on a procession of boats as pop stars like Céline Dion and Aya Nakamura perform.   

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Bill Gates on Kamala Harris's US presidential bid: 'It's great to have somebody younger'

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates discussed the US presidential bid of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to be the new Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped his re-election bid. Gates welcomed the prospect of “somebody who’s younger, who can think about things like AI”. Harris is 59 years old while her rival – former president Donald Trump – recently turned 78.

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Paris prosecutor opens probe into 'criminal' attack on France's high-speed train network

French train operator SNCF on Friday said that the country’s high-speed network had been targeted with widespread and “criminal” acts, disrupting travel for hundreds of thousands of people just hours before the grand opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Paris prosecutor has opened a probe into a suspected bid to undermine “fundamental national interests”.

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Kamala Harris moves the dial on Gaza after 'frank' talks with Netanyahu

Speaking to the press on Thursday, Kamala Harris insisted she would “not be silent” on the ongoing suffering in the Gaza Strip after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Her remarks signal a major shift in US policy on the war in Gaza. While outgoing President Joe Biden has for the most part maintained an amiable relationship with Netanyahu, Harris said she pressed the Israeli premier to end the “dire humanitarian situation” and “finalise” a peace deal.  

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US arrests Mexican drug kingpins ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and son of ‘El Chapo’

With bounties of several million dollars offered for their capture, Mexican drug lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of the infamous “El Chapo”, were at the top of the most wanted list for US authorities. The two leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel were arrested on Thursday after landing in Texas on a private plane. But as the cartel is one of the most powerful organised crime groups in Mexico, the power vacuum resulting from their arrests could trigger new bouts of violence.

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Race and racism take centre stage as Kamala Harris eyes White House prize

If she convinces voters in the November election, Kamala Harris could be the first Black and South Asian woman to become US president. It’s a prospect her supporters find exhilarating, which has sparked an ugly racial backlash against the Democratic front-runner from among her conservative critics. 

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NASA says astronauts stuck at space station until troubled Boeing capsule can be fixed

NASA has yet to fix a return date for its two astronauts at the International Space Station, who have now been stuck there for more than a month due to technical issues with the Boeing-manufactured Starliner capsule intended to bring them back to Earth. The new spacecraft experienced thruster failures and helium leaks upon docking at the ISS in early June. The US space agency says it is also reviewing backup return options including using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.  

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West issues North Korean hacker warning

A group of alleged North Korean cyber spies called Andariel is threatening the West, according to US, UK and South Korean intelligence Read Full Article at RT.com

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Russia to slow down YouTube

The move is a “necessary step” due to the platform’s ignoring of Russian legislation, Aleksandr Khinshtein said Read Full Article at RT.com

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US police no longer trust FBI – report

Law enforcement across America has lost faith in the FBI after the January 6 crackdown and the Mar-a-Lago raid on ex-president Donald Trump Read Full Article at RT.com

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‘Real enthusiasm’: Venezuela’s opposition may be on the cusp of unseating Maduro

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is vying for a third term in Sunday’s presidential election after being in power for more than a decade. But weakened by economic crisis and a deteriorating security situation, Hugo Chavez’s chosen successor is trailing in polls against opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who is looking to open a new chapter in Venezuela’s history. 

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Israel must end war in Gaza – Trump

The war with Hamas is bringing too much bad publicity on Israel and must end “fast,” former US President Donald Trump has said Read Full Article at RT.com

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Trump comments on Biden’s drop-out speech

US President Joe Biden’s address was embarrassing for the country, according to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Read Full Article at RT.com

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Argentina’s Milei to meet Macron as tensions rise over racist football chants

On visit to Paris for the Olympics Games, Argentina’s Javier Milei is scheduled to meet President Macron Friday at the Elysee Palace, according to the Argentine presidency. The two leaders’ meeting comes amid mounting tensions between France and Argentina over racist chants at a football match by Argentine players.   

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UN human rights chief calls on Bangladesh to disclose protest crackdown details

UN human rights chief Volker Turk Thursday demanded Bangladesh disclose details surrounding the crackdown on anti-job quota protests last week that killed 193 people. Turk also called on the government to restore internet connection, which was cut off Friday in response to the student-led demonstrations. Thousands of military personnel continue to patrol the country where protests have subsided after the Supreme Court scrapped most of the government-imposed quotas.

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US rejects G20 plan to tax super-rich under consideration at Rio summit

G20 finance ministers gathering in Brazil Thursday are set to discuss the much-debated topic of taxing billionaires amid widening global inequality. According to a Oxfam study, the world’s top one percent saw their fortunes increase by $40 trillion over 10 years while taxation fell to “historically” low rates. While France, Spain, South Africa, Colombia and other countries support taxing the super-rich, Germany and the US are against the idea with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen telling reporters that Washington sees “no need” for further discussions.

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EU state rings alarm over Ukrainian refugees

Poland must prepare for an influx of Ukrainian refugees in the coming months, a top official within the Polish Interior Ministry has warned Read Full Article at RT.com

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EU state accuses Kiev of blackmail

Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok has described Ukraine’s suspension of Russian pipeline oil supplies as ‘unacceptable’ Read Full Article at RT.com

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US Democrats snub Netanyahu – Axios

Nearly half of Democrats skipped Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s address during a joint session of Congress, Axios reports  Read Full Article at RT.com

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Trump calls Kamala Harris 'lunatic' in first rally since Biden exit

Donald Trump launched a volley of attacks against US Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday, calling her a “radical left lunatic” in his first rally since she became the de facto Democratic Party nominee for November’s election. In a speech where he also claimed that Harris was in favor of the “execution” of babies due to […]
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Netanyahu meets with Biden, Harris at White House in high-stakes moment for US-Israel ties

US President Joe Biden and Vice President and likely Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris met with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday. Biden has been pushing for an elusive ceasefire deal that would see the release of hostages over three phases which, if it comes to fruition, would be a considerable boon to his foreign policy legacy as well as Harris’s bid to succeed him. At a time when US-Israel relations are fraught with tensions over the war in Gaza, the stakes are high. 

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Israeli army says it has recovered bodies of five hostages killed on October 7 from Gaza

The Israeli Defence Forces announced on Thursday that they had found the bodies of five hostages killed during the October 7 attacks who have been held in Gaza ever since. Corpses of a kindergarten teacher and four soldiers were found during a military operation in Khan Younis, the main city in the southern Gaza Strip, where the IDF have launched new attacks this week. Those found are among the 120 hostages listed as still being held in Gaza.

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Gaza ceasefire deal in 'closing stages': US official

Negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal are in their “closing stages,” a US official said Wednesday, ahead of talks between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden will try to close some “final gaps” in his talks with Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday but key elements […]
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BLM slams Democrats for ‘anointing’ Harris

Democrats showed “blatant disregard” for democracy by tapping Kamala Harris to take over Joe Biden’s campaign, Black Lives Matter has said Read Full Article at RT.com

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US has a doping problem – WADA

US anti-doping authorities are more concerned with policing foreign sporting events than their own, agency chief Witold Banka has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com

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Woke virus ‘killed my son’ – Musk

Elon Musk has claimed he was tricked into giving consent to puberty blockers for his child that were actually “sterilization drugs” Read Full Article at RT.com

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Obama ‘dumped’ Biden – Trump

Former US president Obama was one of several top Democrats who threatened to “go after” Joe Biden unless he quit, Donald Trump has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com

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Harris would purge Biden’s team – WSJ

Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan are reportedly unlikely to keep their jobs in a Kamala Harris administration Read Full Article at RT.com

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Does Trumpism have a future after Trump?

America’s likely next president has reshaped the Republican Party in his own image to a point where it seems inconceivable without him Read Full Article at RT.com

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French left agrees on consensus candidate for prime minister

Left-wing French parties said Tuesday they had chosen a little-known economist as  prospective prime minister, after butting heads for weeks over a name since winning snap elections. The New Popular Front (NFP) pick Lucie Castets is an economist and senior civil servant with a background in “fighting tax evasion and financial crime” as well as […]
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EU opens antitrust probe into Delivery Hero, Glovo

The EU launched an investigation on Tuesday to determine whether online food delivery companies Delivery Hero and Glovo violated the bloc’s antitrust rules. “Today’s investigation is part of the Commission’s efforts to ensure that online food delivery and the groceries sector deliver choice and reasonable prices to consumers,” the European Commission, the EU’s powerful competition […]
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Greenpeace co-founder arrested

Greenland authorities have detained anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson on a Japanese warrant Read Full Article at RT.com

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Gaza: Israeli attacks on Khan Yunis kill 70

The health ministry in Gaza reported Monday that an Israeli operation launched in Khan Yunis has killed 70 people and wounded over 200 others. “Due to the Israeli occupation’s attacks and massacres in Khan Yunis governorate from the early hours of this morning until now, 70 people have been martyred and more than 200 wounded,” […]
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Pelosi key to Biden exit – NBC

Former House Speaker Pelosi reportedly warned the US president that Democrats could lose the House and the Senate if he stayed in the race Read Full Article at RT.com

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Trump’s son ridicules Zelensky

Donald Trump Jr. has taken a jab at Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and his ever-growing appetite for US financial aid Read Full Article at RT.com

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Biden is done for, what’s next?

It’s not impossible that the US president’s party could eventually come to regret forcing him out Read Full Article at RT.com

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Spanish PM to testify in graft probe case against wife

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will testify on July 30 in a preliminary corruption inquiry into his wife Begona Gomez’s business ties, a Madrid court said Monday, an issue that caused him to consider resigning three months ago. The investigation over alleged corruption and influence peddling has infuriated Sanchez, who has characterised the allegations as […]
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Trump donations to Harris revealed

Former US President and Republican nominee Donald Trump appears to have previously donated to a Kamala Harris campaign Read Full Article at RT.com

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Netanyahu to keep Biden plan – AP

The meeting between US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will go ahead as planned, AP has reported Read Full Article at RT.com

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Trump reacts to Biden exiting race

Donald Trump said that Biden will be remembered as “the single worst president by far in the history of our country” Read Full Article at RT.com

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