French lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly approved President Emmanuel Macron’s candidate to serve as Défenseur des droits (human rights ombdusman), despite vehement opposition from groups arguing that Senator François-Noël Buffet’s views run counter to the mission of defending the rights of the most vulnerable.
Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel powered to victory in the Tour de France's stage 16 time trial on Tuesday, beating overall leader Tadej Pogacar by 28 seconds to trim the Slovenian's advantage.
US and Lebanese Presidents Donald Trump and Joseph Aoun met for the first time ever on July 20, as Trump hosted his Lebanese counterpart in the White House. This comes as the Lebanese army is taking over pilot safe zones in South Lebanon as pressure builds on the government to disarm Hezbollah and it seeks to get Israel to leave the region. FRANCE 24's Fraser Jackson tells us what to know from that meeting.
Rewatch as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets US President Donald Trump as pressure mounts on Beirut to disarm Hezbollah.
Andy Burnham told the inaugural meeting of his cabinet on July 21 that he would lead a "cost-of-living government", after unveiling an energy tax cut on his first full day as prime minister. At the same time, Burnham called for 'fiscal discipline', just as critics are doubting the VAT cut can be funded by the scrapping of former prime minister Keir Starmer's digital ID scheme. FRANCE 24's Rochelle Ferguson-Bouyahi takes a look.
France's two houses of parliament are expected to give final approval to legislation that bars under-15s from social media. The bill comes amid concern over mental health of young people. If approved, France would follow Australia's lead, where the world's first ban for under-16s on platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube came into force in December.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump in Washington on July 21, as Beirut's military moved into an area of the south under a deal with Israel to disarm Hezbollah. The pilot 'safe zones' comses as Lebanon is under pressure to prove that it can and will disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah, which Israel has set as a precondition for ending its occupation in southern Lebanon. FRANCE 24's Renée Davis tells us more from Beirut.
The leaders of India's youth-led Cockroach movement are vowing to continue protesting a day after police cracked down on demonstrators. They have been demanding the country's education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resign amid repeated leaks for entrance tests to medical schools. While two of the movement's members met with a government minister on July 20th, India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, is failing to address the issue for now. Delano D'Souza reports.
Microsoft and French startup Mistral said Tuesday they had signed a "multibillion-dollar" deal for the US tech giant to use the AI developer's computing infrastructure in Europe.
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.
