With France's snap legislative elections now just days away, Emmanuel Macron's signature economic and social reforms are in the crosshairs of both the far-right National Rally party and the left New Popular Front coalition. Among the most controversial of those reforms was Macron's raising of the country's retirement age to 64. Bryan Quinn takes a look at the different parties’ plans for pensions.
The countdown is now at its final leg, with just one month to go before the Paris 2024 Olympics kick off in the French capital. Vedika Bahl and our colleagues at France 2 take a closer look at the city's preparations and the excitement building among the public and athletes.
The six candidates approved to run in Iran's presidential election have made their final pitches to Iranians ahead of Friday's vote. The snap election was called after Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last month and candidates have spent much of the campaign encouraging Iranians to participate, amid fears of low turnout. But on the streets of Tehran, our reporters Andrew Hilliar, Karim Yahiaoui and Abdallah Malkawi met people still undecided about taking part.
Kenyan police put up roadblocks on streets leading to the presidential palace on Thursday as some protesters vowed to "occupy State House", despite the president's climbdown on proposed tax hikes that sparked a week of demonstrations.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed on Wednesday that the European Parliament's three main centrist groups would back Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as Commission president, in a deal Italy's prime minister said ignored voters' wishes.
In Peru, a decree aimed at constitutional reform was approved at the beginning of May, opening up the possibility of official recognition by the state of the Afro-Peruvian community. This would be a historic first in this South American country, where nearly one and a half million people are of African descent but where the community often finds itself marginalised and discriminated against and has long been fighting for recognition and rights.
Police have arrested two army leaders in Bolivia – army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga and navy chief Juan Arnez Salvador – after a coup attempt Wednesday during which tanks tried to break into the presidential palace. However, Zuniga said President Luis Arce asked him to stage an uprising in order to trigger a crackdown that would help boost his image.
Between injury struggles, shaky form and bad luck, many of football's leading lights have underwhelmed in the group phase. Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo, playing at a record sixth Euros, is yet to strike in three appearances -- if he manages to, the 39-year-old will become the oldest ever goalscorer at the tournament. Arguably the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe is only off the mark for France with a penalty against Poland in a disappointing 1-1 draw that resulted in the favourites finishing second in Group D. Читать дальше...
The French far right is leading opinion polls with three days left before voters cast their ballots in snap legislative elections called by President Emmanuel Macron following his party’s defeat in European elections over two weeks ago. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is estimated to win more than 35 percent in the first round on Sunday, with a left-wing alliance following at 29 percent and Macron's centrists trailing at around 20 percent.
The New Zealander was appointed in January to rebuild the team in the wake of Eddie Jones' disastrous tenure and concedes he is still getting to know some of the players. "I've never been so unprepared to be fair," he said after a four-day training camp in Brisbane, which has doubled as a meet-and-greet. "It's a little bit daunting, to be honest, but if I wasn't nervous, I don't think I'd be on the edge doing my job right. "So I'm happy to be nervous because it just encourages me to work a bit... Читать дальше...
Kenyans faced the lingering smell of tear gas and military in the streets on Wednesday morning, a day after demonstrators stormed the parliament in protest of a contentious finance bill aimed at raising taxes. President William Ruto on Wednesday decided to withdraw the bill after police clashed with demonstrators, leaving at least 23 people dead.
Protesters in Kenya are demanding the resignation of President William Ruto despite his decision Wednesday to withdraw a controversial finance bill aimed at raising taxes to help relieve the country's debt burdens. The bill sparked mass protests which saw police open fire on demonstrators, killing more than 20 people.
After a series of impressive results including two consecutive second place finishes behind the Dutchman, the McLaren driver wants to trim his 69-point deficit in the title race. The 24-year-old Englishman believes he has the car and the confidence to put together a winning sequence himself. "We're on a roll and we're doing well," said Norris, adding he was frustrated by his own errors. "I need to tidy up a few little bits and pieces and we'll be on top. I am confident. "Every weekend we go into now... Читать дальше...
Martin, who is moving from a satellite Ducati team to Aprilia next year, has seen his lead shrink to just 18 points ahead of "Pecco" Bagnaia, whose assault on a third consecutive championship is rapidly gaining momentum. Bagnaia bagged back-to-back victories in Catalunya and home circuit Mugello, and the Ducati factory team rider is back this weekend at "The Cathedral" in Assen -- one of the Italian rider's favourite tracks. Bagnaia won at Assen in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first to do so since... Читать дальше...
South Africa demolished Afghanistan by nine wickets to saunter into the final, where they will face India or holders England. Afghanistan were bowled out for 56 off 11.5 overs after they chose to bat at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Trott conceded that his players had struggled to handle the pressure of a maiden World Cup semi-final, but he was still "very proud" of the team. "A lot to process really emotionally, physically, so all new territory for the guys and it all plays its part," said Trott... Читать дальше...
In Iran, the six candidates approved to run in the imminent presidential election have made their final pitches to voters ahead of Friday's snap poll. The election was called after former president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last month. The candidates have spent much of the campaign encouraging Iranians to participate, amid fears of low turnout. FRANCE 24's Andrew Hilliar, Karim Yahiaoui and Abdallah Malkawi report.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant Thursday said he discussed "day after" plans for post-war Gaza with senior US officials, which would include local Palestinians, regional partners and the US in a "long and complex process". Follow our live blog for the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war.
Days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “intense phase” of the military operation in Rafah in southern Gaza was ending, enabling the redeployment of troops in the north, Israeli warplanes on Friday struck the Shujaiya district of Gaza City in northern Gaza.
Mongolians go to the polls in parliamentary elections on Friday, with the ruling Mongolian People's Party widely expected to retain a majority it has held for eight years. But for the first time in almost a decade, parties are required by law to ensure that 30 percent of their candidates are women, in a country where politics is overwhelmingly dominated by men. As a result, more women than ever before are running this year, in a new voting system that balances proportional lists with district candidates elected directly by the people. Читать дальше...
Left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3 for 6) and gangling pacer Marco Jansen (3-16) spearheaded the rout of Afghanistan's brittle batting line-up for just 56 off 11.5 overs after they chose to bat. Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje maintained the relentless pressure with two wickets apiece at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. On a surface which encouraged all bowlers but left Afghanistan with too little to defend, South Africa lost Quinton de Kock early in reply for Fazalhaq Farooqi's tournament-leading 17th wicket. Читать дальше...
Among those scaling the soaring Himalayan mountain this year was a team not aiming for the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak, but risking their own lives to bring some of the corpses down. Five as yet unnamed frozen bodies were retrieved -- including one that was just skeletal remains -- as part of Nepal's mountain clean-up campaign on Everest and adjoining peaks Lhotse and Nuptse. It is a grim, tough and dangerous task. Rescuers took hours to chip away the ice with axes, with the team sometimes using boiling water to release its frozen grip. Читать дальше...
Here is an overview of how coral restoration is being done around the world: - How is coral sourced? - Restoration begins with obtaining coral, sometimes by breaking it off from a healthy reef. These pieces can be broken into smaller bits in a process called microfragmentation. Each piece can become a new coral. Another option involves collecting "fragments of opportunity" -- coral pieces broken off by natural causes such as storms. Conservationists can also propagate from egg bundles collected during reef spawning... Читать дальше...
Nannalin Pornprasertsom is one of a growing number of scuba divers learning conservation and citizen science techniques as coral reefs experience a fourth global bleaching event. After a two-week course in Koh Tao, the 14-year-old can identify coral types, carry out reef restoration, and help scientific research on coral health by recording the colour and tone of outcroppings at dive sites. "It's just something that I can do that will have a good consequence for the environment," Nannalin, who has been diving since she was 12... Читать дальше...
Joe Biden and Donald Trump square off for a historic US presidential debate Thursday, with the stage set for what could be an inflection point in the 2024 race as millions of voters tune in to the clash of rivals.
Mexico-based veteran striker Salomon Rondon stroked in the only goal from the penalty spot to seal all three points for Venezuela, who are top of Group B with six points from two games. Mexico, meanwhile, can still qualify for the knockout rounds with a victory over Ecuador in their final group game on Sunday. But the Mexicans will be left kicking themselves at their failure to take at least a point from Wednesday's clash with Venezuela at a packed SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Mexico's Orbelin... Читать дальше...
