Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier claimed his third stage victory of this year's Tour de France, winning a chaotic and crash-ridden sprint at the end of Thursday's 12th stage. Merlier edged out rivals after navigating a disorganised finish that was disrupted by a late crash involving Fernando Gaviria, while overall leader Tadej Pogacar retained his commanding advantage.
French President Emmenuel Macron visited Fontainebleau on the outskirts of Paris, after devastating wildfires that scorched at least 10% of the 20-thousand-hectare forest. Macron warned it would take several weeks for the fire to be completely extinguished but pledged to replant the historic domain. Meanwhile, several arrests have been made, including one of a volunteer firefighter placed under formal investigation.
France and Morocco moved on Thursday to strengthen a renewed partnership that has flourished over the past two years, with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu hailing their "exceptionally positive" ties in Rabat.
The World Health Organization on Thursday warned that the Ebola virus is spreading through the Democratic Republic of Congo faster than during any previous outbreak, with more than 2,000 confirmed cases and 796 deaths recorded in just two months. Health officials say the rapid spread, lack of approved vaccine for the virus strain and ongoing conflict in the country are complicating efforts to contain the epidemic.
Canada has 835 active wildfires - including 112 that are considered to be burning out of control. The smoke has caused hazardous air quality conditions - with Toronto residents neging warned to stay indoors if possible. US officials are concerned that the smog could spread into the northeastern part of the country possibly impacting the world cup final being held in New Jersey.
The US and Iran have rekindled their tit-for-tat strikes as both battle over control of the Strait of Hormuz. It comes a month after a preliminary deal was signed to end the conflict. Kuwait and Bahrain faced renewed aerial attacks from Iran, with Theran saying it was targeting US military bases in the Gulf. But how long can that conflict last? FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley tells us more.
An Italian court sentenced 32 defendants for their role in a deadly bridge disaster eight years ago that killed 43 people in Genoa. One of the accused was Autostrade's former chief executive, Giovanni Castellucci, was found guilty of vehicular homicide and negligence and was sentenced to twelve years in prison. Besides Castellucci, the former head of Spea, the engineering company in charge of the renovations, as well as officials from the infrastructure ministry were on trial as well. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta tells us more on the trial.
With demonstrators shouting “Shame!” and “Power to the people!”, rare protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities on Thursday over the dismissal of the country’s popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Seen as a moderniser, Fedorov was removed by President Volodymyr Zelensky after only six months in the job in what many see as a result of infighting within the Ukrainian military.
His blossoming, botanical and flowing forms recall the life cycles of plants and humans. Designer Ali Zalzali tells FRANCE 24 about creating his first couture collection, ‘Natura Morta’ and the evocative short film he made to conjure up the universe of these hand-crafted pieces.
Hyderabad: The Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI), Mulugu, Siddipet district, has started the application process for admissions into the B.Sc (Hons) Forestry programme for the 2026–27 academic year. College Dean Praveen announced that applications will be accepted from July 1 to July 25. Students who have qualified in TG EAPCET 2026 and passed Intermediate or its equivalent with BiPC, MBiPC, or MPC streams are eligible to apply for the four-year undergraduate programme. The B.Sc (Hons) Forestry course offers comprehensive academic and practical training in areas such as forest conservation, biodiversity, wildlife management, environmental protection, agroforestry, and natural resource conservation. Students will also receive extensive field training and hands-on practical exposure as part of the curriculum. The Dean stated that graduates of the programme will have promising career opportunities in forest departments, environmental organizations, research institutions, government agencies, and private sector companies. Eligible candidates are advised to submit their applications on or before July 25. For detailed admission guidelines and the application process, students can visit the official FCRI website. They may also contact the institute at 63038 271100, 08454-211939, or 08454-211930 for further information. Also Read: AP EAPCET 2026 Results to Be Released on July 2 Instead of Scheduled Date
Tollywood has received one of its biggest announcements of the year as NTR and acclaimed filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas officially reunite for a grand mythological action epic. The prestigious project will be produced under the Haarika & Hassine Creations banner by S. Radha Krishna (Chinababu) and Suryadevara Naga Vamsi. The makers unveiled the project's official announcement along with a striking concept poster carrying the powerful tagline, "The Son of Shiva. The Pride of Parvathi. The Eternal Commander." The poster has gone viral across social media, fueling speculation about the film's storyline and NTR's character. According to industry reports, NTR is expected to portray a powerful divine warrior inspired by Lord Kumaraswamy (Kartikeya/Skanda), the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, and the commander of the celestial army. The film is said to blend mythology with high-octane action, rich storytelling, and modern commercial elements, making it one of the most ambitious projects in Trivikram's career. Reports also suggest that the makers are considering the title "God of War" for the film, although an official confirmation is still awaited. At present, NTR is busy shooting for his upcoming film Dragon, directed by Prashanth Neel. Once that project is completed, this mythological spectacle is expected to go on floors. The production house is likely to reveal more details, including the first glimpse, cast, and technical crew, in the coming weeks.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said “the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s point of view.” WASHINGTON : The US on Thursday (Jun 18) lifted its blockade of Iran, and oil tankers began freely moving through the Strait of Hormuz after months of being unable to use the critical channel, as the tentative agreement to end the war took effect. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance announced that he may postpone a trip to Switzerland that had been planned for Friday and included a ceremonial signing of the deal. The visit might have helped start talks on the next, potentially even more critical, round of negotiations between the two sides.
Colombia next face DR Congo on Tuesday in Guadalajara after Uzbekistan play Portugal in Houston. MEXICO CITY: Colombia winger Luis Diaz dazzled at a raucous Azteca Stadium as his side marked their return to the World Cup with a 3-1 Group K win over tournament debutants Uzbekistan on Wednesday (Jun 17). Colombia, who missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar, struggled in the early stages but broke through in the 41st minute when a brilliant ball lifted into the area by Diaz was hooked in on the turn by Daniel Munoz, who had ghosted in behind the defence.
Hyderabad: With the aim of strengthening its presence in Telangana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its organizational efforts under the guidance of the central leadership. The party is treating the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections as a crucial political battle, believing that establishing a strong base in Hyderabad will pave the way for success in the next Telangana Assembly elections. As part of this strategy, BJP National President Nitin Nabin is scheduled to visit Telangana for a three-day tour. During his visit, Nitin Nabin will hold a special meeting with GHMC booth-level committee leaders this evening. He is expected to provide guidance on key aspects of election management, booth-level organization, campaign strategy, and candidate selection. Party leaders will also review the shortcomings observed in recent local elections and discuss measures to strengthen the BJP's grassroots network ahead of the upcoming polls. The BJP's immediate objective is to secure victories in the three municipal corporations. The party has already decided to contest the elections independently, without entering into any alliance. Nitin Nabin is expected to advise state leaders to establish a dedicated selection committee to identify strong candidates and ensure that the party fields capable contenders in every division. In addition, the BJP leadership is likely to emphasize the importance of voter list verification, new voter enrollment, booth-level management, and continuous engagement with voters. The party believes that a strong performance in the GHMC elections will significantly enhance its political influence in Telangana and strengthen its prospects of achieving success in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
