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'Massive attack' on French rail threatens more chaos
French rail officials warned of travel chaos for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the weekend after saboteurs following a meticulous plan paralysed much of the train network Friday as the Olympic Games started. With one of France's busiest holiday travel weekends clashing with the start of the Olympics, SNCF said about a quarter of trains will be cancelled on Saturday and Sunday on the lines attacked.
Concern grows as Venezuela blocks election observers
Concerns grew Friday over the fairness of Venezuela's presidential elections as Caracas was accused of blocking international observers from arriving for the Sunday vote, including a delegation of ex-presidents. His government agreed with the opposition last year to hold free and fair elections in 2024, with international observers present -- winning a temporary easing of sanctions from the United States.
Rainy Paris Olympic parade dampens many spectators' spirits
Wrapped in a poncho under torrential rain, Brazilian Lucas Amadeu said he regretted forking out 2,700 euros ($2,930) for a top seat at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday. When they promised a spectacular open-air ceremony at the heart of one of the world's most beautiful cities, the organisers of the Paris Games were praying for fine weather.
Justin Timberlake seeks to dismiss DUI case
An attorney for Justin Timberlake asked a judge to dismiss drunk driving charges against the US pop singer Friday, saying his client was "not intoxicated" when he was arrested last month. "The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested."
Kobe Bryant locker, Maradona jersey up for auction in New York
Kobe Bryant's Staples Center locker and Maradona's 1986 World Cup jersey went on display Friday in New York, part of an auction of rare sports memorabilia at Sotheby's. Bryant's locker will be on public display at Sotheby's New York until Tuesday, alongside legendary Argentinian footballer Maradona's autographed 1986 World Cup semi-final jersey and NBA star Jordan's shorts from his final game. gc/nr/acb
New York family of Holocaust victim reclaims Nazi-looted art
US authorities announced Friday the return of another artwork stolen by Nazis to the family of Fritz Grunbaum, the Austiran-Jewish cabaret performer and collector who originally owned it. The drawing, by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele, was returned at a ceremony Friday by another Austrian-Jewish family, who purchased the piece without knowing that it had been stolen.
Thousands evacuate season's biggest wildfire in northern California
A huge, fast-moving and rapidly growing wildfire in northern California has forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate as firefighters battle gusty winds and perilously dry conditions, authorities said Friday. A total of 4,000 people have evacuated the towns of Cohasset and Forest Ranch, and an additional 400 from the small city of Chico.
Lady Gaga adds sparkle to star-studded Olympic show
Lady Gaga and French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura joined dancers, an opera diva and even a heavy metal band in an opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics that sought to proudly showcase French culture with a modern twist. Franco-Malian R&B superstar Aya Nakamura, the most listened-to French-speaking singer in the world, performed a medley with two of her hits "Pookie" and "Djadja" and a classic by Charles Aznavour, "For me Formidable", one hundred years since his birth.
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sharply criticized his Democratic political rivals, and warned of dire consequences for the Middle East if he was not reelected, as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Friday. Trump warmly greeted Netanyahu and his wife Sara, kissing her on both cheeks and then clasping hands with the long-serving prime minister as they arrived at the Republican's Mar-a-Lago resort.
FBI confirms Trump hit by bullet in assassination attempt
Former US president Donald Trump was indeed hit by an assassin's bullet or a fragment of one, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Friday, putting to rest questions over the nature of the Republican candidate's wounding at a campaign rally this month. "What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject's rifle," the FBI said in a statement.
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
Thousands of spectators faced long queues and ticketing problems as they arrived for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics along the River Seine on Friday. Other long queues were visible close to the Louvre in central Paris.
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sharply criticized his Democratic political rivals and pledged to work for peace in the Middle East if reelected as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Friday. Trump's campaign later released a statement on the meeting, saying he "pledged that when he returns to the White House, he will make every effort to bring peace to the Middle East and combat anti-Semitism from spreading throughout college campuses across the United States."
S.African police say 95 Libyans detained at suspected military camp
South African authorities rounded up 95 Libyans in a raid Friday at a farm that appeared to have been converted into an illegal military training base, police said. "The place, which was initially designated as a training site, appears to have been converted into an illegal military training base," the police statement said.
Blinken, in Laos, set for talks with Chinese foreign minister
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived early Saturday in Laos, where he will attend a regional meeting and hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, part of a multi-nation Asia visit aimed at reinforcing ties with regional allies in the face of an increasingly assertive Beijing. This is Blinken's 18th visit to Asia since taking office more than three years ago, reflecting the fierce competition between Washington and Beijing in the region.
G20 pledges to work together to tax ultra-rich
G20 nations have agreed to work together to make the super-rich pay their taxes, but stopped short of a more substantial deal, according to a declaration adopted Friday after a meeting of finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said that "from a moral point of view it is important that the twenty richest nations consider that we have a problem, which is to have progressive taxation on the poor and not on the rich."
Spain train driver jailed for 2.5 years over deadly 2013 crash
A Spanish court on Friday sentenced a train driver and a safety director to two-and-a-half years in prison over a 2013 crash that was the nation's deadliest rail disaster in nearly eight decades. Investigators said the crash resulted from a lapse in attention by the driver, Francisco Garzon, who ended a phone call with the on-board conductor just moments before the train lurched off the rails.
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
Weeping families packed homes in a southern remote part of Ethiopia on Friday to bid farewell to relatives killed following a devastating landslide, as authorities announced three days of mourning. Ethiopia's parliament announced three days of mourning to start on Saturday.
US Fed's favored inflation measure cools further in June
The US Federal Reserve's favored inflation measure eased further in June, according to government data published Friday, in more good news for policymakers ahead of next week's interest rate decision. - Analysts see September cut - Stripping out volatile food and energy prices, the closely watched core measure of inflation eased to an annual rate of 2.6 percent in June -- also in line with expectations.
'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know
Three separate arson attacks targeting France's high-speed rail network paralysed train travel nationwide Friday as Paris prepared to host the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics. High-speed rail operator Eurostar said around one in four services across its network linking France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany would be cancelled, including trains from Paris to London.
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