Author: News Desk

French high-speed rail vandalised before Olympic ceremony Hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, French rail company SNCF reported “malicious acts” targeting its high-speed network, aiming to paralyse the system. The attacks affected several TGV lines to the west, north, and east of Paris, causing queues at Gare Montparnasse station. Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete condemned the “criminal acts” disrupting holiday plans. Several trains were cancelled, and SNCF warned that repairs could take “at least all weekend.”

Boat carrying 45 migrants and refugees capsizes off Yemen Only four survivors have been found after a boat carrying at least 45 migrants and refugees capsized off Yemen, according to the UN Refugee Agency. The vessel overturned on Wednesday night due to strong winds and overloading near the coast of Taiz province along the southern Red Sea. The agency, working with its partners to assist the survivors, emphasised the dangers of migration routes between Yemen and Africa. This incident follows a similar tragedy last month, where at least 56 Somali and Ethiopian migrants died and 140 went missing after a…

Wildfires may have destroyed half of historic Canadian town Wildfires have ravaged up to half of the historic Canadian town of Jasper, with the fires still out of control as firefighters work to save the remaining buildings. Entire streets in Jasper National Park have been reduced to smouldering rubble, though no deaths have been reported. Around 20,000 tourists and 5,000 residents have evacuated the area in Alberta province. During a news conference, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tearfully reported that “potentially 30 to 50 per cent” of buildings had been destroyed, calling it “the worst nightmare for any community.” She spoke…

Kamala Harris tells Netanyahu it is time to end war in Gaza US Vice-President Kamala Harris, likely to be the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, held “frank and constructive” discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a firmer stance than President Joe Biden, Harris expressed “serious concerns” about Gaza casualties, emphasising the importance of how Israel conducts its defence. “It is time for this war to end,” Harris declared after their meeting at the White House. She also highlighted the need for a path to a two-state solution and urged Americans to recognise the “nuance” of the…

London weather to finally be warmer and brighter today and at the weekend | UK News Today’s weather is set to be warmer and sunnier after yesterday’s grey drizzle. Londoners are waking up to brighter skies with temperatures reaching 23°C in the capital. Elsewhere will see highs of around 20°C, including Nottingham and Exeter, while Edinburgh will see highs of 17°C. The UV index is also expected to be very high, making it feel like we are actually in the middle of the summer months. The forecaster said: ‘A drier and brighter day with sunny spells developing for many. ‘Showers…

Benjamin Netanyahu scolds critics of Israel’s war in Gaza in speech to Congress Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a defiant address before Congress on Wednesday, castigating critics of Israel’s war in Gaza as either motivated by Iran or antisemitism. The Israeli leader boasted about Israeli efforts to limit civilian casualties and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave, a view that contradicts with the United Nations and international aid groups. While dozens of liberal Democrats boycotted the remarks, Republicans offered boisterous applause and many Democratic leaders clapped and stood up during various moments of the speech. Read More ↗

As US Congress cheered for Netanyahu, protesters gathered to denounce him Washington, DC – Hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the United States Capitol to deliver a speech to Congress, a woman with a blue scarf concealing her face sat alone on a park bench and waved a Palestinian flag near Union Station in Washington, DC. “We will fight for freedom wherever it’s being denied all over the world. We connect with the Palestinians because we are freedom fighters here in America,” the lone protester, who asked to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday. She was one of the…

At Netanyahu speech, most hostage relatives didn’t stand because they can’t anymore WASHINGTON — It was a line that brought just about everyone in the US House of Representatives chamber to their feet on Wednesday. “I will not rest until all their loved ones are home,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in his speech to a joint session of Congress. Referring to the Hamas captives held in Gaza, he made the pledge just after highlighting the families of the American hostages in the audience. While almost everyone stood and applauded, most of the roughly one dozen relatives of the eight…

Amid chaos of US politics, Netanyahu finally gets attention he craves in Washington On his third day in Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu finally got the attention he so desperately wanted in the US capital. Republicans and their guests in the House chamber stamped their feet and whistled as a joint session was gaveled into order, while the Democrat lawmakers who chose not to boycott someone whom colleagues had called a “war criminal” looked on in sullen silence. In a 56-minute speech punctuated with 50 rounds of applause, the Israeli prime minister dashed hopes of a quick end to the war in…

Olympic Football fixtures today 25 July 2024 – all eyes on Emma Hayes Women’s Olympic football is in action tonight – watch live on BBC iPlayer. Group A  Canada vs New Zealand (16:00) France vs Colombia (20:00) Group B Germany vs Australia (18:00) USA vs Zambia (20:00) Group C Spain vs Japan (16:00) Nigeria vs Brazil (18:00)