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.

Israel military says ‘failed’ in mission to protect kibbutz from Hamas attack

The Israeli military on Thursday released the results of its first internal investigation into the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, admitting to major failings in the defence of Kibbutz Beeri, a town on the Gaza border. More than 100 people were killed in the attack on Be’eri and 32 were taken as captives to Gaza, 11 of whom are still being held there. The report stated that the military was unprepared and slow to respond to the attack but fell short of holding individual commanders to account, leaving key questions unanswered. 

Defiant Biden vows to stay in race after verbal gaffes at Nato summit

US President Joe Biden, who is facing intense scrutiny amid questions over his age, gave no indication he would consider dropping out of the electoral race in a press conference that lasted almost an hour on Thursday. He fielded tough questions from reporters about his mental acuity after he made two verbal slips, including mistakenly referring to his Vice-President Kamala Harris as “Vice-President Trump” and to Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin”, triggering gasps in the room.

Biden mistakenly introduces Zelensky as Putin at NATO summit

US President Joe Biden accidentally introduced Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” in a gaffe during a signing ceremony on the final day of the Nato summit in Washington DC on Thursday. The blunder will fuel further concerns about his mental acuity after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump two weeks ago. It comes just hours before a press conference that could decide the fate of his reelection bid.

Zelensky urges NATO leaders to drop restrictions on hitting military targets in Russia

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called on NATO allies to provide more support for his outgunned forces and to allow them greater scope to strike inside Russia. 

Mélina Robert-Michon and Florent Manaudou: flag-bearers for the French delegation

France has just officially unveiled its flag-bearers for the French delegation during the opening ceremony on July 26th. Swimmer Florent Manaudou and discus thrower Mélina Robert-Michon have been given the honour.