Author: France 24

Basque Pelota, in which the ball can reach speeds of over 300 kilometres per hour, was once an Olympic sport. No longer part of the Games, its popularity has nevertheless reached far beyond the Basque country. From Mexico to Argentina, it’s played in mostly Hispanic countries, but remains the pride of a region shared between France and Spain. We take a closer look in this edition of Destination Paris, our weekly show ahead of the Paris Olympics. Source link

The largest hospital serving central Gaza faces imminent shutdown because it is running out of power after Israel’s military assault in Rafah severely limited entry of fuel for generators, the Health Ministry in Gaza said Thursday. Source link

Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, a historic but largely symbolic move that further deepens Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel denounced the decisions and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries. Palestinian officials welcomed the announcements as an affirmation of their decades-long quest for statehood in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip — territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war and still controls. Source link

From the big screen treatment of one of French literature’s greatest classics, “The Count of Monte Christo”, starring French favourite Pierre Niney, to “Wild Diamond”, a gritty social drama about a young French woman who dreams of becoming a famous influencer, arts24’s Eve Jackson looks at France’s offerings at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. We also look back at the life and career of “Star Wars” creator George Lucas as he receives a lifetime achievement award and ask critics for their picks for the top prize, the Palme d’Or. Source link

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has faced heavy criticism from Israel, the US, Germany and Canada since it announced it was seeking warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In an interview with FRANCE 24, former ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo called the reactions “disappointing”, saying launching attacks on the court’s decision instead of focusing on the crimes themselves was a “huge mistake”. Source link

The war raging in Gaza has given added prominence to director Mahdi Fleifel’s drama “To a Land Unknown”, the only Palestinian film to be screened in Cannes this year. While festival organisers have reined in protests, filmmakers, actors and activists have sought to shed light on the plight of Gaza’s population and the hostages still held in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.  Source link

Israeli forces carried out raids in the West Bank city of Jenin for a second day Wednesday, an AFP correspondent reported, with at least 10 Palestinians killed in the fighting. Smoke billowed over the city’s refugee camp in the afternoon, with explosions and gunfire heard from inside, while soldiers in Israeli armoured vehicles fired at masked youths in the city centre, the correspondent said. Source link

The annual tech fair VivaTech has kicked off in Paris, drawing thousands of startups and hundreds of tech bosses. Artificial intelligence is taking centre stage, with companies touting how the technology can be applied to many practical fields such as medicine, and help address global challenges like climate change. Plus, the US government has announced that some new tariffs on a range of Chinese goods, including a 100 percent import duty on electric cars, will take effect on August 1.  Source link

Ademola Lookman scored a stunning hat-trick as Atalanta ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten run to win the Europa League final 3-0 on Wednesday and claim their first trophy for 61 years. Source link

Israeli tanks advanced to the edge of a crowded district in the heart of Rafah. On Gaza’s northern edge in Jabalia, Israeli forces pressed on with a ground offensive that has carried on in parallel with the Rafah assault for two weeks. Health officials and residents say entire residential districts have been destroyed and dozens of people killed in the operation.  Source link