The big picture: Dignitaries and fans watched as participants paraded across 3.7 miles of water on more than 90 boats, instead of the traditional march into a stadium.
PARIS — France's high-speed rail networks have been disrupted by what authorities labeled "coordinated" attacks, including arson, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
Why it matters: The attacks have stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers. They come as organizers and French officials try to secure Paris as much as possible while still conducting an ambitious opening ceremony along the Seine River, rather than in a stadium.
Former President Trump met on Friday in Mar-a-Lago with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Why it matters: It is the first time Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has met Netanyahu since a rift formed between them after the U.S. presidential elections in 2020.
CIA director Bill Burns is expected to meet on Sunday in Rome with senior Israel, Qatari and Egyptian officials in an effort to bring the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal to a close, U.S. and Israeli officials told me.
Why it matters: The negotiations over the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal are at a critical juncture.
Nearly all of the world's oceans are in the midst of "unusual warmth," warns a leading NOAA scientist who notes this has contributed to the extreme heat baking much of the Northern Hemisphere this summer.
Why it matters: "Even small rises in temperature can disrupt marine ecosystems, cause some species to relocate, and increase disease risks," said Stats NZ's Stuart Jones in a statement. "It also contributes to sea-level rise as the warmer water expands."
PARIS — When the Paris Olympics kick off Friday, 200+ Samsung smartphones will provide a unique lens to viewers as athletes from around the world travel by boat along the Seine River.
Why it matters: The first-of-its-kind opening ceremony brings new challenges. But Olympics sponsor Samsung also saw an opportunity to incorporate its technology into the broadcast.
Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics — but not under their country's flag.
Why it matters: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) imposed strict restrictions on the athletes because of Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protested to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan Thursday about sanctions the Biden administration recently imposed on Israeli settlers who are involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, two Israeli and U.S. officials said.
Why it matters: The settlers and Netanyahu's ultranationalist coalition partners are growing increasingly concerned about the U.S. sanctions and by the fact that many Western countries have followed suit.
