Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday agreed an early draft of a controversial "foreign influence" bill, sparking fears of protests against the legislation criticised for mirroring repressive Russian law.
The law would ban the selling of tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009 –- effectively raising the smoking age by a year each year until it applies to the whole population. "This has the potential to phase out smoking in young people almost completely as early as 2040," the government said when it unveiled the plan, calling the move "historic". While the law looks set to pass thanks to support from opposition parties -- including Labour, which is expected to win a general election... Читать дальше...
Russia but not President Vladimir Putin will be invited to the French ceremony in June to mark 80 years since the D-Day landings during World War II, organisers said Tuesday.
The Dane, who was the skipper of the Europe side that won the biennial team golf event in Paris in 2018, was an assistant to Donald during last year's triumph in Rome. Italy's Edoardo Molinari has also retained his role under Donald, who is looking to lead Europe to their first Ryder Cup victory on American soil since 2012 when the teams meet at the Bethpage Black Course in Long Island. "I am very excited to have Thomas back on the team," said Englishman Donald. "Once I was appointed as captain again... Читать дальше...
FRANCE 24 spoke to Abdalla Hamdok, who served as Sudan's prime minister twice after the fall of Omar al-Bashir in 2019. As the war in his country entered its second year, the former premier described the situation as "extremely catastrophic, probably the most serious, disastrous situation in the world today". Yet he expressed hope that the war "will come to an end", noting "some progress" in regional and national efforts towards a political solution.
Donald Trump returned to a New York courtroom Tuesday as a judge works to find a panel of jurors who will decide whether the former president is guilty of criminal charges alleging he falsified business records to cover up a sex scandal during the 2016 campaign. The first day of Trump's history-making hush money trial in Manhattan on Monday ended with no one yet chosen to be on the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Dozens of people were dismissed after saying they didn't believe they could be fair... Читать дальше...
The talk before the opening ceremony of the Paris Games ideally should be about its grandiose backdrop: a summer sun setting on the Seine River as athletes drift by in boats and wave to cheering crowds. But behind the romantic veneer that Paris has long curated, mounting security concerns already have had an impact on the unprecedented open-air event. 100 days out, FRANCE 24's Nadia Massih is joined by Dr. Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, Historian, Journalist, Communications Consultant and Author of "The Making of Les Bleus... Читать дальше...
Russell, the Scotland co-captain, was forced off with a suspected groin problem early in Bath's 21-15 defeat away to southwest English rivals Exeter on April 6. Bath centre Cameron Redpath, also a Scottish international, left the pitch in the second half of the same match with an ankle injury. "Finn suffered a significant groin injury in the Investec Champions Cup round-of-16 tie against Exeter Chiefs," Bath's head of medical, Rory Murray, said in a statement. "His availability will be assessed... Читать дальше...
Last season, Pep Guardiola's men became just the second club in English history to win the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup -- 24 years after neighbours Manchester United achieved the feat. City drew the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with 14-time European champions Real 3-3 at the Bernabeu last week. As the finishing line of the 2023/24 season approaches, they are two points clear at the top of the Premier League with six games to go and face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend. Читать дальше...
The Danish Visma-Lease a Bike rider was hospitalised after suffering rib and collarbone fractures and sustaining lung damage in the shocking incident on April 4. His team, however, released two photographs of Vingegaard outside the hospital on Tuesday, showing him giving a thumbs-up with his left hand while his right arm remains in a sling with two fingers still bandaged. "Hello everyone, it's time for me to leave the hospital," said Vingegaard in his message which went out on social media. ... Читать дальше...
If the Gaza war raging since October 7 has created tough challenges for Jordan, it now faces the additional threat of being literally stuck in the middle of a widening Israel-Iran conflict. Jordan, about half of whose population is of Palestinian origin, is also a close US ally and signed a peace treaty with neighbouring Israel 30 years ago. Amid the half-year-old Gaza war, Jordan's king has repeatedly voiced strong criticism of Israel and directed his military to fly daily food airdrops to help besieged Palestinians. Читать дальше...
On Tuesday, the flame for this summer’s Paris Olympics was lit at the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in southern Greece in a meticulously choreographed ceremony. It will then be carried through Greece for more than 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) before being handed over to French organizers at the Athens venue used for the first modern Olympics in 1896.
Israel and Iran traded threats after Tehran's first ever direct attack on its arch foe sharply heightened Middle East tensions and as the Gaza war ground on with no truce in sight. Israel's military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi on Monday vowed "a response" after Iran and its allies launched a barrage of over 300 missiles, drones and rockets at Israel at the weekend. Iran said its large-scale attack was an act of self-defence following a deadly Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria... Читать дальше...
Former Liverpool midfielder Keita was told before Sunday's trip to Leverkusen he would not be in the starting XI. The 28-year-old refused to board the team bus and instead went home. "We won't tolerate Naby's behaviour," Bremen sporting director Clemens Fritz said in a statement, saying the club had "no alternative." "He let his team down in a time of difficulty surrounding our recent run of form and squad availability and put his own interests above those of the team. We can't allow that." Keita... Читать дальше...
Australian police say a knife attack in Sydney that wounded a bishop and a priest during a church service as horrified worshippers watched online and in person, and sparked a riot was an act of terrorism.
The occupied West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas's October 7th attacks on Israel, with the situation escalating further last week as Israeli settlers attacked and killed several Palestinians over the death of a 14-year-old Israeli. While Israeli authorities have urged people not to resort to vigilante attacks, many accused Israeli forces of ignoring settler attacks or even taking part in them.
A fire ripped through Copenhagen's Old Stock Exchange, one of the Danish capital's best-known buildings, on Tuesday, engulfing its spire which collapsed in a scene reminiscent of the 2019 blaze at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday hailed two Frenchmen who helped to fend off a knife-wielding attacker who killed six people in a Sydney mall, calling them "real heroes."
"I didn't come to an agreement with the club for a contract extension so I will be going in another direction," Felipe Anderson said on X. "I promise that I will continue to give 100 percent until the final day of my contract." Palmeiras then announced the signing of the 31-year-old, who has two caps for his country and has played the majority of his career at Lazio, without specifying the length of his contract. Felipe Anderson has scored six goals in Serie A this season and has been a key man... Читать дальше...
Israel's military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi on Monday vowed "a response" after Iran and its allies launched a barrage of over 300 missiles, drones and rockets at Israel at the weekend. Iran said its large-scale attack was an act of self-defence following a deadly Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria, and that it would consider the matter "concluded" unless Israel retaliated. However, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi also warned that "the slightest action against Iran's interests will definitely be met with a severe... Читать дальше...
The unprecedented open-ended Commission of Inquiry was established by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021 to investigate all alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Israel and the Palestinian territories. "I deplore the fact that people inside Israel who wish to speak to us are being denied that opportunity, because we cannot get access into Israel," Pillay said. The investigation was briefing diplomats at the UN in Geneva on its progress and said that since October 7... Читать дальше...
"Today, the really main and very probable plan is to organise the ceremony on the Seine," Estanguet told RFI. "The president was very clear yesterday. The main objective is to achieve a very beautiful, absolutely unique opening ceremony, the first time that it will be held outside a stadium, in the centre of Paris on the Seine," Estanguet said. In an interview on Monday, Macron said France was looking forward to putting on the unprecedented ceremony in which teams will sail down the Seine, but... Читать дальше...
The South Lebanon Army was a mostly Christian militia recruited by Israel when it occupied south Lebanon in the 1980s and 1990s. The Zadalnikim, as the SLA's former members are known in Israel from the group's Hebrew acronym, sought shelter south of the border in the aftermath of Israel's sudden withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000, fearing reprisals from Hezbollah, whom they had fought for years in a brutal and uncompromising conflict. Iran-backed Hezbollah -- a Hamas ally with a large arsenal... Читать дальше...
The sacred flame for the Paris 2024 Olympics was lit Tuesday in ancient Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Games, setting off an epic three-month torch relay to the July 26 opening ceremony.
A year of war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has driven more than 8.5 million people from their homes, creating the world's largest displacement crisis and uprooting families multiple times as people struggle to escape to neighbouring countries with economic and security problems of their own. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the harrowing plight of Sudan's children, FRANCE 24's Gavin Lee is joined by Ted Chaiban, UNICEF's Deputy Executive Director... Читать дальше...