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⟳ Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:33:47 GMT

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.

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.

Foreign interference, terrorism, cyber-attacks: Paris Olympics face unprecedented security risks

The Paris Olympic Games officially get underway on Friday, at a period of high geopolitical tensions. An impressive security operation has been put in place, but the Games also face unprecedented security challenges.

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".

Trump meets with Netanyahu in Florida, criticises Democratic rivals

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida Friday while slamming his Democratic political rivals and pledging to bring peace to the Middle East.

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.

EU reprimands France and six other EU countries for breaking budget rules

The European Council on Friday launched formal action against France, Italy and five other EU countries for breaking the bloc's budget rules, kickstarting a procedure forcing them to negotiate a plan with Brussels to get their deficit levels back on track.

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.

Israel army says readying 'decisive offensive' against Lebanon's Hezbollah

An Israeli commanding officer said that troops in the north of Israel were preparing for an offensive against Lebanon's Hezbollah after months of escalating violence which killed at least 523 people in Lebanon.

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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