Seine met swimming standards for past several days, Paris says ahead of Olympics
Paris city hall announced on Friday that the Seine has been clean enough for swimming for most of the past 12 days, just weeks before the start of the 2024 Games. Despite recent unseasonable rain that has raised pollution levels, city officials remain confident that the river will be ready to host Olympic events such as the triathlon and swimming marathon.
Biden says he is ‘disappointed’ over Gaza aid delivery failures as pier project slated to end
US President Joe Biden on Thursday voiced dissatisfaction over failures in providing aid to Gaza through a makeshift military dock that, according to US authorities, will shortly be permanently decommissioned. Since its installation in mid-May, the $230-million military pier has been beset by rough seas and onshore distribution problems, leading to repeated operational obstacles.
🔴Live: France’s left-wing coalition hopes to choose a prime minister ‘by the end of the week’
Members of France’s left-wing coalition the New Popular Front, which won the most parliamentary seats in Sunday’s snap legislative elections, have hinted at the election of a French prime minister by the end of the week, but slow progress in negotiations due to internal rivalries are raising doubts about their ability to reach an agreement. This comes a day after the largest French trade union called for nationwide protests demanding that the leftist alliance form a government. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso: How a triumvirate of military leaders are redrawing West Africa’s map
The military juntas of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso signed a treaty of confederation Saturday bringing together 72 million people into the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). It’s a decision, they say, that will not only allow the three nations to wipe the scourge of jihadist violence from their countries, but to build a new economic alliance that will reshape West Africa.
Hungary’s Orban visits Trump at Mar-a-Lago following NATO summit
Viktor Orbán travelled to Florida on Thursday night to meet with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, just weeks after the Hungarian prime minister met Russia’s Vladimir Putin. His visit is the latest in a number of meetings between the two men.