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☆ Debby's floodwaters trigger emergency and disaster declarations in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Debby's influence remained strong on Friday, when the National Weather Service warned that rainfall could reach 15 to 25 inches in the Northeast and New England. Major flooding hit Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and neighboring Steuben County, New York. Binghamton, New York, measured 1.94 inches of rain and Avoca, Pennsylvania, saw 1.43 inches, according to the service. More than 362,000 utility customers in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Vermont were without power early Friday evening, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us. Authorities in Berkeley County, South Carolina, said early Friday that 2 to 3 feet of fast-moving water was rushing through streets of Moncks Corner, north of Charleston, prompting multiple rescues.

Persons: Debby, Kathy Hochul, Josh Shapiro, Hochul, Way, Marc Rice, Shane Nickerson, John F, Roy Cooper Organizations: National Weather Service, . New York Gov, Tahesha, Pennsylvania, Hershey, LaGuardia Airport, John, Kennedy International, Amtrak, Penn, York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Station, Washington , D.C, Richmond Staples, Gov, Emergency Management Locations: New England, East, Carolinas, Vermont, Canada, Northeast, South Carolina, New Jersey, Tioga County , Pennsylvania, Steuben County , New York, Tioga County, Steuben, Addison, Jasper, Steuben County, Johnson City , New York, Pennsylvania, Syracuse , New York, Binghamton , New York, Avoca , Pennsylvania, Ohio , New York , Pennsylvania, United States, New York, New, Stamford , Connecticut, Friday's, Washington ,, Richmond, Virginia, Berkeley County , South Carolina, Charleston, , South Carolina, Great, Mississippi, Minnesota

☆ Los Angeles Has Promised a ‘Car-Free’ Olympics in 2028. Can It Do It?
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Jill Cowan | Soumya Karlamangla | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In their winning bid to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles leaders pledged that the city’s version of the Games would be the greenest ever — a goal they planned to achieve in large part by making access to the event “car-free.”It was a bold statement because, well, it’s Los Angeles. Could America’s capital of car culture, where traffic shapes daily life more than the weather, really pull that off? Now that the Paris Olympics have ended, the clock is ticking. Los Angeles must complete much-needed upgrades to the region’s transit system to handle an influx of athletes and visitors without bringing car traffic to a standstill. “I’m optimistic,” said Eli Lipmen, the executive director of Move L.A., an organization that advocates for the expansion of public transit in the region.

Persons: ”, Eli Lipmen Organizations: Los Angeles, Paris Locations: Los, Los Angeles, Angeles

A third teenager has been arrested in connection with a foiled attack on now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna. The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner. Taylor Swift fans gather in Vienna. Authorities display a photo of a man arrested in connection with a plot to attack Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Vienna, Austria. The U.S. State Department and the broader U.S. government have been in contact with Austrian officials about the alleged plot, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Gerhard Karner, Karner, Ernst Happel, Thomas Kronsteiner, Karl Nehammer, “, ” Nehammer, it’s, ” Swift, Sadiq Khan, We’re, ” Khan, Swift, ’, Southport , England Peter Powell, ”, Omar Haijawi, Franz Ruf, Taylor, Roland Schlager, Pirchner, Matthew Miller, “ Taylor, Pedro Gomes, TAS24, Elle, Magnus Ranstorp Organizations: Austrian, Authorities, Islamic State, Investigators, Ernst, London’s Wembley, London, Manchester Arena, Getty, Islamic, of State Security, Intelligence, Ministry of, Interior, CIA, U.S . State Department, State, ” Barracuda, Barracuda Music, Estadio da Luz, Las, Strip, Swedish Defense University, Associated Press Locations: Vienna, al Qaeda, Europe, Gelsenkirchen, Austria, Ariana Grande, Manchester, England, Southport , England, AFP, Ternitz, Austrian, Lisbon, Portugal, United Kingdom, Stockholm

☆ Europe was on the brink of a night train revolution. Here’s what actually happened
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Ben Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Prior to the company’s demise, it had looked like Europe was poised for something of a night train revolution. Despite this demand, the hurdles for startups like Midnight Train trying to enter the market to meet it remain virtually insurmountable. Formidable obstaclesEuropean Sleeper is one of the few new night train operators to begin services, but the company has struggled to find rolling stock. “Politicians must be clear: the night train market will be effectively closed for a very long time,” he says. With the honorable exception of Nightjet, which plans to expand rapidly over the next five years, European night train services have yet to match the hype.

Persons: Adrien Aumont, Eva Plevier, Alex Halada, –, ÖBB, Nick Brooks, ”, “, Bart Biesemans, ” Brooks, Mark Smith, Robert Nemeti Organizations: CNN, Trains, Midnight Trains, Regiojet, Compagnie Internationale des, Orient Express, Getty, Austrian Federal Railways, Reuters, Barcelona, European Union, Swiss Federal Railways, Deutsche Bahn, Italian State Railways, Formidable, EU Locations: Europe, Stockholm, Denmark, Germany, Czech, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Prague, Croatia’s, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, –, France, Barcelona, AFP, Spanish, Paris, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Madrid, Porto, Edinburgh, Anadolu, Vienna, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Sicily, Messina, Europe’s

How Online Hatred Toward Migrants Spurs Real-World Violence Social media posts assailing immigrants have fomented a climate of fear and hatred in Britain, Portugal and other countries. It followed months of vitriol on social media that came not only from disgruntled Portuguese, but also from prominent far-right figures inside and outside the country. “It’s not up-to-date for the social media age,” Leo Varadkar, the prime minister then, said. Asked whether he believes his social media posts contribute to violence, Mr. Robinson responded: “I believe the teachings in the Koran contribute to violence. July 29 1:42 p.m.Not much info yet, but it will be a Muslim culprit followed by violence protests 1:49 p.m.

Persons: ”, Rita Guerra, Patience, ” Lee Marsh, “, Elon Musk, X, Musk, TikTok, we’re, ” Tommy Robinson, Donald J, Trump, Joel Finkelstein, Tony Craig, “ It’s, —, ” Leo Varadkar, He now, Ro, rie, Marc, iona, Robinson, e, ari, rance Organizations: YouTube, Spurs, Center for Psychological Research, Italy British, Protesters, Sunderland, PA, Agence France, Institute for Strategic, Elon, Meta, The New York Times, National, Counterterrorism, Security, Network, Research, Staffordshire University, Reuters, Ireland, unc, rit Locations: Portugal, Portuguese, Lisbon, Porto, Britain, Germany, Ireland, Europe, Southport, Liverpool, Syrian, Wales, Italy, The Netherlands, Greenwich, London, United States, Russia, Netherlands, Leeds, Chester, New Jersey, England, Algeria, Dublin, Coolock

☆ How ‘special forces travelers’ are making – and then breaking – Chinese tourism destinations
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The previously nondescript city in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong became one of China’s hottest spots for domestic tourism last year thanks to its affordable and juicy skewered meat. They’re known as “special forces travelers” because, like soldiers, they move from one checkpoint to another under incredibly tight schedules, often over weekends or short holidays. For the first half of this year, 29.22 million foreign nationals entered and exited, according to the latest figures. But the flash-mob-style approach of “special forces travelers” – switching from one community to the next – has called into question whether that type of domestic tourism is sustainable in the long term. Pan Wenbo, also from Beijing, said his favorite spots included Xi’an, home of the Terracotta Warriors, and Datong, a northern Chinese city known for ancient Buddhist architecture - both offering more affordable accommodation and food.

Persons: ” Zibo, Cici Li Yuetong, “, ”, Li, ” Li, Pan Wenbo, Jiumei, Yang ”, Yang, Mimi Li Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Immigration Administration, University, Cici, Warriors, China News Service, CNN, Labor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Locations: Hong Kong, Zibo, Shandong, Beijing, China, Datong, Gansu, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, Weibo, Hong

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Palantir, Caterpillar, Yum China, CrowdStrike and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Palantir Technologies — The data analytics company rallied 11% after raising its full-year revenue forecast. Yum China — Shares surged 8% after the Shanghai-based operator behind Pizza Hut and Taco Bell posted second-quarter earnings that beat expectations. Adjusted earnings of 55 cents per share topped the 47 cents per share anticipated by analysts surveyed by LSEG. Earnings came in at 47 cents per share, topping the 31 cents expected from analysts polled by LSEG. CSX reported earnings of 49 cents per share in the second quarter, above the 48 cents anticipated by analysts in an LSEG survey.

Persons: Taco Bell, Piper Sandler, ZoomInfo, LSEG, Lucid, — CNBC's Michelle Fox, Fred Imbert, Jesse Pound Organizations: Technologies, Taco, LSEG, Revenue, Caterpillar, Nvidia, Micro Computer, Broadcom, Intel, CSX Locations: China, Shanghai

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Kenvue, Caterpillar, Uber, CrowdStrike and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Kenvue — The maker of Band-Aid bandages rallied 14% after beating analysts' estimates for its second quarter. Kenvue, which spun off from Johnson & Johnson last year, posted adjusted earnings of 32 cents per share, versus the 28 cents expected from analysts polled by FactSet. Palantir now anticipates revenue between $2.742 billion and $2.750 billion, up from its previous guidance of $2.68 billion to $2.69 billion. Caterpillar's adjusted earnings totaled $5.99 per share in the second quarter, beating the $5.55 per share estimate from analysts polled by FactSet. CrowdStrike — Shares rose 3% after Piper Sandler upgraded CrowdStrike to overweight from neutral, saying the dip in the cybersecurity stock following the global tech outage is a buying opportunity.

Persons: Johnson, FactSet, Taco Bell, ZoomInfo, LSEG, Lucid, BioMarin, CrowdStrike, Piper Sandler, —, Sarah Min, Sean Conlon, Yun Li, Jesse Pound Organizations: Johnson, FactSet, Revenue, Caterpillar, Lumen Technologies, Molson Coors Beverage —, Technologies, LSEG, Taco, CSX —, CSX, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Locations: China, Shanghai

☆ Wild, Beautiful and Overlooked: Southern Sardinia Is Ready to Share Its Essence
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Laura Rysman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Buzz has been in short supply in southern Sardinia for some time now — some would say ever since the decline of the region’s Bronze Age Nuragic civilization. Yet on Italy’s second largest island, where sheep vastly outnumber people, there’s unmistakable new energy in Cagliari, its small Mediterranean capital, and the surrounding countryside. “We used to think of ourselves as rustic, as isolated in this island backwater,” a local lay historian, Venturino Vargiu, told me, as we watched the city’s annual folk costume extravaganza of Sant’Efisio. “But Sardinians are starting to understand that our culture has real value for us and for outsiders.”In Cagliari, there’s a surge in pride, along with a wave of new development, mostly aimed at increasing the already growing numbers of tourists. A light-rail line will connect the Marina with Cagliari’s hinterlands, and a new port, projected for 2026, is being constructed to move cruise ships farther away, allowing the yacht set to dock (and spend money) in Cagliari’s center.

Persons: Buzz, Venturino Vargiu, ”, Stefano Boeri Locations: Sardinia, Cagliari, ”, there’s, Marina, Cagliari’s

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Palantir Technologies, Lucid Group, CSX and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Palantir posted adjusted earnings of 9 cents per share on $678 million in revenue. Lucid Group — Shares surged 6% after second-quarter estimates surpassed Wall Street estimates. The electric vehicle company reported revenue of $200.6 million , while analysts polled by LSEG forecast $192 million. CSX notched earnings of 49 cents per share in the second quarter, while analysts polled by LSEG expected 48 cents a share. Simon Property Group topped second-quarter revenue estimates, but posted in-line earnings.

Persons: Palantir, LSEG, AeroSystems, CNBC's Brian Evans, Sarah Min Organizations: Palantir Technologies, Wall, LSEG, CSX Corp, CSX, Semiconductor, Nvidia, Computer, Broadcom, Arm Holdings, Intel, Boeing, Avis Budget, Technologies, ZoomInfo Technologies, Simon Property, Simon Property Group Locations: LSEG .

☆ How Olympic host cities have recycled 5G infrastructure to improve locals' internet speeds and connectivity
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Chris Stokel-Walker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Behind the scenes, 5G infrastructure is powering live broadcasts worldwide and the moments spectators and athletes capture and post on social media. After the event, it became a hub for YouTubers and other content creators because of its gigabit-speed internet connectivity. In the lead-up to the Games, connectivity infrastructure was embedded in the London Underground light-rail network and the Westfield shopping center in Stratford. 5G technology wasn't adopted at a consumer level until 2019, and Japan's 5G-infrastructure rollout was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the 5G technology was fast enough that train riders could watch the opening ceremony on their personal devices.

Persons: —, Rolf Werner, Werner, Sandeep Raithatha, Raithatha, That's Organizations: Service, Nokia, Virgin Media O2, 5G, Stratford Halo Virgin Media O2, Games, Stratford, Stratford . Communities, Tokyo, Olympics Locations: Paris, Europe, London, Tokyo, Westfield, Stratford ., Japan, Beijing, China

☆ U.S. Accuses Norfolk Southern of Delaying Amtrak Trains
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Mark Walker | More About Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Justice Department on Tuesday accused Norfolk Southern, one of the country’s largest freight railroad companies, of violating federal law by delaying Amtrak passenger trains along the route between New Orleans and New York. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Justice Department said Norfolk Southern failed to give Amtrak passenger trains preference over freight trains, as it is required to do under federal law. “Norfolk Southern regularly fails to do so, leading to widespread delays that harm and inconvenience train passengers, negatively affect Amtrak’s financial performance and impede passenger rail transportation,” according to the complaint. “Americans should not experience travel delays because rail carriers break the law,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. “Our action today alleges that Norfolk Southern violates federal law by failing to give the legally required preference to Amtrak passenger trains over freight trains.”

Persons: General Merrick B, Garland Organizations: Department, Norfolk Southern, Amtrak, District of Columbia, Justice Department Locations: New Orleans, New York, U.S, Southern

But, as events this week in Paris have once again shown, when it comes to women’s skating, Japan’s teenage girls are on fire. Fourteen-year-old Coco Yoshizawa’s late surge helped her beat compatriot Liz Akama, 15, to the gold medal at La Concorde Urban Park, Paris on Sunday. Sakura Yosozumi, then 19, and Kokona Hiraki, then 12, topped the 2021 Tokyo women’s park event. “Since there’s no age limit for skateboarding at the Olympics, any youngsters can compete,” Hiraki, the youngest Olympic medalist since 1936, told CNN in July. Lars Baron/Getty ImagesSkewing youngJapan aside, women’s skateboarding across both categories is dominated by teenage athletes.

Persons: Coco Yoshizawa’s, Liz Akama, ” Yoshizawa, Yuto Horigame, Jagger Eaton, Nyjah Huston, Horigame, Momoji Nishiya, Sakura Yosozumi, Kokona Hiraki, Brown, ” Hiraki, Julian Finney, ”, Junnosuke Yonesaka, Yonesaka, “, ” Akama, Lars Baron, Rayssa Leal, Cui Chenxi, Zhang Haohao, ’, China’s, Mazel Paris Alegado, Trew, Hiraki –, –, it’s Organizations: CNN, Team Japan, Concorde Urban, “, Paris Olympics, Tokyo Games, Urban Sports, Olympic, Concorde, Getty, Japan, Association, Paris, Asian Games Locations: Japan, Paris, Tokyo, France, China, Philippines

☆ Justice Department sues Norfolk Southern, accusing rail company of creating delays for Amtrak passengers
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Justice Department said Tuesday it filed a civil lawsuit against Norfolk Southern, alleging the company knowingly created large delays for Amtrak passengers traveling between New York and New Orleans. Norfolk Southern said it has worked with Amtrak and states to expand passenger service and is committed to complying with the law. “Over the past several months with Amtrak, we have focused on the on-time performance of the Crescent passenger train. On another occasion, dispatchers made an Amtrak train wait over an hour while allowing three separate freight trains to pass, officials said. This photo taken with a drone shows the cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in 2023.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, ”, Tom Crosson, “, Gene J, CNN’s Chris Isidore, Holly Yan Organizations: CNN, The Justice Department, Norfolk, Amtrak, Department, “, Crescent, Norfolk Southern, Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB Locations: New York, New Orleans, Washington ,, Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio, East Palestine

☆ French telecoms network hit by vandalism within days of arson attacks against national railways
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Normal train service had resumed on the French rail network by Monday — when authorities reported damage to telecoms infrastructure, which caused local power outages and raised the specter of further national disruption. Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari that France's telecoms network was experiencing isolated outages due to damage carried out overnight in several regions. It was not immediately clear whether vandalism to the telecoms network was connected to the damage and arson carried out on the rail network last week. Disclosure: CNBC parent NBCUniversal owns NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. NBC Olympics is the U.S. broadcast rights holder to all Summer and Winter Games through 2032.

Persons: —, State for Digital Affairs Marina, Ferrari, Dmitry Peskov, Gerald Darmanin, Darmanin Organizations: Paris, Olympics, State for Digital Affairs, CNBC, NBCUniversal, NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBC, Games Locations: Vandieres, France, Paris, Russia, U.S

☆ Britain’s Labour Government Says It Inherited a $28 Billion Budget Hole
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Britain’s Labour government said it was making “difficult decisions” concerning the budget, including cutting some road and rail projects and pension benefits, after accusing its predecessor, the Conservative Party, of leaving the country’s finances in a mess. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor of the Exchequer, said on Monday that there was a hole of 22 billion pounds (about $28 billion) in the country’s coffers this year because spending needs had exceeded expected revenue. Ms. Reeves accused the Conservative Party of making spending commitments on plans such as road repairs and building new hospitals “knowing the money wasn’t there.” Some of those plans would scrapped or reviewed. “The scale of this overspend is not sustainable,” Ms. Reeves told lawmakers in Parliament. She will present a full budget to lawmakers at the end of October.

Persons: Rachel Reeves, Reeves, Ms Organizations: Labour, Conservative Party Locations: Rwanda

☆ UK finance chief says public finances show $28 billion spending hole, cuts road and rail projects
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Finance Minister Rachel Reeves has pledged to make the "necessary", "urgent" and "incredibly tough" choices to restore the country's economic stability. Britain's Finance Minister Rachel Reeves on Monday announced a raft of project cuts after detailing how the newly elected Labour government has inherited a projected overspend of £22 billion ($28.2 billion) from the center-right Conservatives. The finance minister also said she had canceled plans to sell NatWest shares to the public, saying the proposal put forward by her predecessor Jeremy Hunt did not "represent value for money." Britain's finance chief has previously ruled out increases to income tax, national insurance, VAT or corporation tax — the main sources of government revenues. However, Reeves must orchestrate a delicate balance act given the pledges from her party to also boost national investment and public sector pay.

Persons: Rachel Reeves, Reeves, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt Organizations: Britain's, Monday, Labour, Railways Fund, Conservative, NatWest

☆ A Pedigreed Rail Magnate Is Pouring Millions Into Electing Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Alexandra Berzon | Mike Mcintire | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Timothy Mellon, a wealthy banking heir and railroad magnate, has reached the stratosphere of American political influence as the top supporter of Donald J. Trump, doling out millions to try to elect the former president and his allies. But to his neighbors in a Rhode Island beachfront enclave, he is better known as the prime suspect in the Narragansett Runestone Affair. It was the stuff of local lore and attracted visitors at low tide — to the consternation of Mr. Mellon, the pedigreed businessman whose home looked out on the rock. Mr. Mellon refused to talk and hired a former state attorney general as his lawyer. Nearly a year later, the matter was resolved quietly: Mr. Mellon agreed to return the stone, and prosecutors agreed not to bring charges.

Persons: Timothy Mellon, Donald J, Trump, Mellon Organizations: Viking Locations: Rhode, Narragansett, Narragansett Bay

CNN —France is still facing travel disruption a day after saboteurs targeted high-speed railway lines in an attack coinciding with the start of the Olympics. They recovered an “amount of evidence” following the operation, Darmanin told CNN affiliate France 2. Authorities should not rule out industrial espionage, Persson told CNN on Friday, saying that a railway staffer, or someone who built the tracks including construction workers, could also be to blame. Railway staff and police work to repair one of several sites where vandals targeted France's high-speed train network, in the northern villege of Croisilles, on Friday. CNN has previously reported on a host of suspected Russian attacks across Europe.

Persons: Gabriel Attal, Gerald Darmanin, Darmanin, Axel Persson, Persson, ”, Jean, Pierre Farandou, “ don’t, Brian Snyder, Emmanuel Macron, Dmitry Peskov, Dale Buckner Organizations: CNN —, French, CNN, France, Olympic, CGT, Employees, SNCF, Environmental, Railway, Police, Kremlin, Games, Global Guardian, CNN France Locations: CNN — France, French, France, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Paris, Europe

ET Aurelien BreedenJohn Yoon andService on three high-speed train lines in France was disrupted on Friday because of arson attacks, the national railway company said, causing travel chaos on the day of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics in Paris. “A massive attack took place last night to paralyze the high-speed rail network,” the railway company, S.N.C.F., said in a statement. Traffic was “severely disrupted” on three lines where fires had been set: the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern lines, the company said, and many trains had been canceled. The mood was already tense in Paris, where security has been tightening for weeks ahead of Friday night’s Opening Ceremony. The company said that another attack had been thwarted on the line that connects Paris to southeastern France.

Persons: Yoon, Patrice Vergriete Organizations: Olympic, Firefighters Locations: France, Paris, Northern, Arras, Lille, Courtalain

French authorities patrol on a boat on the Seine river, ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris, on July 24. No planes will be allowed to fly over Paris, unless they are part of the ceremony. “There cannot be any party if there’s no security, and we want the celebration to be fantastic,” Paris 2024 CEO Étienne Thobois said. The Games also come amid the backdrop of geopolitical tensions around the world with wars ongoing in Gaza and Ukraine, among others. “The Games are not immune to what is happening on the geopolitical scene,” said Thobois.

Persons: Miguel Medina, Étienne Thobois, “, ” Organizations: Olympic Games, Getty Locations: Paris, AFP, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ What We Know About the Attacks on France’s Rail Network
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Lynsey Chutel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, France was rocked by a series of arson attacks on its rail network on Friday, stoking fears over security during the Games. No one was killed or reported injured, but the damage to France’s high-speed train lines caused major delays as thousands of local and international travelers were expected to converge on Paris for the ceremony and the Games. The arson attacks, which authorities have described as “criminal,” come amid heightened security concerns, when France is the center of a global spectacle. Here’s what we know about the attacks and the resulting disruptions:Is this a terrorist attack? That is not clear yet, but France’s prime minister, Gabriel Attal, has described the fires as “acts of sabotage that were carried out in a prepared and coordinated way.” The police and intelligence services are investigating these “criminal acts,” he added in a post on social media.

Persons: stoking, ”, Gabriel Attal Organizations: Paris Olympics, Games Locations: France, Paris

☆ French rail network hit by 'acts of sabotage' in latest transport woes for Paris during the Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFrance's rail network has been hit by a series of "malicious acts" that have damaged transport routes leading to the capital, causing cancellations and disruption just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. AdvertisementThough several Olympic events are being held outside Paris, Attal highlighted the impact on French families leaving for vacation this weekend rather than on the Olympics. Michel Euler/ APThe attacks also add more pressure to concerns over whether Paris' transport infrastructure can manage the Olympic crowds. Officials promised to reinvigorate the transport system after Paris won the Olympic bid. But, in November 2023, the mayor of Paris said there were parts of the city where "transport will not be ready and there will not be enough trains," according to French radio network RFI.

Persons: —, Gabriel Attal, Attal, Brian Snyder, Michel Euler, Jimmy Brun, France24 Organizations: Service, SNCF, Business, South, Lille, Railway, Reuters, Eurostar, Paris, RFI, Paris Metro, Paris's Metro, Bloomberg Locations: Atlantique, Northern, Paris, Bordeaux, France, Strasbourg, Germany, London, Seine, Paris's

The usual rhythm of arrivals and departures at Paris’s train stations was replaced by a tense atmosphere of uncertainty on Friday. Hundreds of stranded passengers crowded the concourses, sorting out their plans after several arson attacks disrupted the rail system in France. “I don’t know when I will be able to escape,” said Ermine Touré at the Gare Montparnasse, a major transportation artery in Paris, three hours after she had hoped to leave Paris for a vacation in Nantes, in western France. “Paris is a mess so I wanted to go today.”At the Gare Montparnasse, travelers hunched over their phones looking for alternate routes out of the French capital. The words “act of malice” and “vandalism” echoed throughout the hall, doing little to quell the anxiety among travelers.

Persons: “, ”, Ermine Organizations: “, ” Locations: France, Paris, Nantes, “ Paris

☆ The Paris Olympics Opened in Spectacular Style
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nearly 7,000 athletes from 206 delegations were ferried down the Seine today in an extravagant and star-studded opening ceremony to kick off the Olympic Games in Paris. And Celine Dion closed out the night with a triumphant return to the stage. Some competitions have already begun, but the Games move into full swing tomorrow with men’s basketball, tennis and women’s swimming (including the exciting 400-meter freestyle). “Gymnastics, swimming and track remain the heartbeat of the Games,” Andrew Das, our lead Olympics editor, told me. “Good stories there will make any Olympics more memorable.”

Persons: Celine Dion, ” Andrew Das Organizations: Olympic Games, “ Locations: Paris

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