The Caribbean Island of Cuba is again suffering from blackouts that are causing havoc for the country's nearly ten million residents and the wider economy. Cuba only produces 40% of the fuel it needs and is struggling to receive shipments due to US restrictions. A Russian delivery of 730,000 barrels of Oil in late March ran out at the end of April.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged Spain to strengthen its prevention measures after one of the country's deadliest wildfires in recent history killed 13 people and razed a huge area. The prime minister was visiting the area to meet emergency servies as they worked to extinguish it. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris tells us more.
A leading environmentalist is warning that the destruction of the world's biodiversity is one of the defining challenges of our time – and one that deserves far greater public attention. Marc-André Selosse, a professor at the French National Museum of Natural History and the University of Gdańsk, and author of the new book "De la biodiversité comme un humanisme" (Biodiversity as a Form of Humanism), argues that nature should be protected not only for its own sake, but because it is essential to humanity's future. He has also criticised politicians, pointing out that biodiversity accounted for just one percent of the debate during France's 2022 presidential election campaign. He spoke to us on Perspective.
The French football team arrived in Dallas on July 12 ahead of their semifinal World Cup fixture against Spain. France reached the last four with a 2-0 victory against Morocco while Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in their quarter-final. While France are the favourites by a slim margin, Spain have had the better of Les Bleus in recent encounters, beating them in the 2024 Euros as well as in last year's Nations League semi-finals.
🔎 Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Monday said they had hit US military bases in countries across the Middle East in retaliation for American attacks on targets across Iran. Both US and Iran claim control over the Strait of Hormuz. In a telephone interview with Fox News on Monday, President Donald Trump said that the US will "probably become the guardian of the strait," adding that Washington should be "reimbursed" for the same. #Iran #US #StraitofHormuz #MiddleEast
Iran's military forces recently carried out heavy air strikes on bases belonging to Iranian Kurdish militia groups in Iraqi Kurdistan. These unprecedented attacks underscore Tehran’s fear that these militias could become more offensive amid the instability fuelled by the war with Israel and the US.
In less than 24 hours, a fleet of tiger helicopters will fly over Paris during the July 14 parade. They are among the French Army’s most formidable combat aircraft. Four of them were, in fact, recently on a mission in the Middle East. They destroyed several Iranian Shahed drones that were targeting the Gulf states. Our colleagues at France 2 were able to accompany the pilots during rehearsals between Chartres and the French capital.
On today's Arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim brings us a roundup of upcoming album releases to add to your summer playlists. From the return of indie sleaze icons The Strokes, who are set to release their first album in six years, "Reality Awaits", to a British pop star hoping to recreate the success of her 2024 record Brat – the album that sparked the viral internet trend dubbed "Brat Summer". Her seventh album, Music, Fashion, Film, features musician John Cale, designer Marc Jacobs and filmmaker Martin Scorsese on the cover. Here's the single "Wink Wink".
French President Emmanuel Macron on July 13 said Europe was ready to defend itself and freedom with "blood" if necessary, before a meeting of Ukraine's allies to reaffirm support for Kyiv and step up pressure on Russia. He spoke ahead of France's national public holiday. FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza tells us more.
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.
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
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.
