Portugal: Police start new investigation in Madeleine McCann case

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03/06/2025
United States: Boulder, Colorado attack suspect posed as gardener
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Voting has closed in South Korea's snap presidential election
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French lawmakers back promoting Dreyfus 130 years after scandal
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France probes terror motive after man shoots dead Tunisian neighbour
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War in Ukraine: Istanbul talks fail to make headway towards ceasefire
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South Koreans vote for new president in wake of Yoon's ouster
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Middle East: Gaza rescuers say toll from Israel fire in Rafah rises to 27
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Ivory Coast: Ele festival celebrates lagoon culture and tradition
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Celebrating African talent: 'The Cavemen' champion highlife revival

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LeMonde

an hour ago

• LeMonde

Paris Olympics and Paralympics cost taxpayers nearly €6 billion

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics cost the French state just under €6 billion, the national audit body announced in an "initial estimate" on Monday, June 23. The organization of the two sporting extravaganzas last summer cost €2.77 billion, which included €1.4 billion for security. A further €3.19 billion was spent on work linked to infrastructure projects. The Olympics ran from July 26 to August 11, while the Paralympics took place from August 28 to September 8, with organizers making the most of historic sites in central Paris, either as venues or the backdrop to the events. The Games were widely hailed as highly successful. The national audit body said there would be a "heightened interest" in the figures because France is also preparing to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. It is the first time actual figures have been announced, although the president of the national audit body, Pierre Moscovici, had in 2024 said they would cost the state "three, maybe €4, €5 billion." Moscovici, a former French finance minister and European Union Commissioner, added that the real costs would only be known at the end of the Games. Until now, only the costs of the local organizing committee (COJO) of €4.4 billion, which represented a surplus of €76 million, have been made public. That figure came almost exclusively from private financing and from Solideo, the body responsible for delivering Olympic construction projects, which was in part publicly financed. A more detailed report will be published in October, as other costs are not yet known. The body added that because of a lack of concrete information the figures did not include "the positive and negative impact the Games had on economic activity." It said, however, that the Games were "indisputably a success with the public and the media." Another report on the legacy of the Games will be published in 2026.

France 24

an hour ago

• France 24

IOC is in 'best of hands', says Bach as he hands over to Coventry

The Zimbabwean is the first woman and African to head the body and at 41 the youngest since Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who is credited with founding the modern-day Olympics. Coventry accepted the Olympic key from Bach, who like her is an Olympic champion -- he won a team fencing gold in 1976 and she earned two swimming golds in 2004 and 2008. Stepping down after a turbulent 12-year tenure, Bach expressed his confidence that the Olympic movement was "in the best of hands" and Coventry would bring "conviction, integrity and a dynamic perspective" to the role. Coventry, who swept to a crushing first-round victory in the election in Greece in March, leans heavily on her family. Aside from her parents, who were present at the ceremony in Lausanne, there is her husband Tyrone Seward, who was effectively her campaign manager, and two daughters, six-year-old Ella, who Bach addresses as "princess", and Lily, just seven months old. "Ella saw this spider web in the garden and I pointed out how it is made, and how strong and resilient it is to bad weather and little critters," said Coventry, who takes over officially at midnight Swiss time Monday (2200 GMT). "But if one little bit breaks it becomes weaker. That spider web is our movement, it is complex, beautiful and strong but it only works if we remain together and united." 'Pure passion' Coventry said she could not believe how her life had evolved since she first dreamt of Olympic glory in 1992. "How lucky are we creating a platform for generations to come to reach their dreams," she said to a packed audience in a marquee in the Olympic House garden, which comprised IOC members, including those she defeated, and dignitaries. "It is amazing and incredible, indeed I cannot believe that from my dream in 1992 of going to an Olympic Games and winning a medal I would be standing here with you to make dreams for more young children round the world." Coventry, who served in the Zimbabwean government as sports and arts Minister from 2019 to this year, said the Olympic movement was much more than a "multi-sport event platform." "We (IOC members) are guardians of this movement, which is also about inspiring and changing lives and bringing hope," she said. "These things are not to be taken lightly and I will be working with each and every one of you to continue to change lives and be a beacon of hope in a divided world. "I am really honoured to walk this journey with you." Bach, who during his tenure had to grapple with Russian doping and their invasions of the Crimea and Ukraine as well as the Covid pandemic, said he was standing down filled with "gratitude, joy and confidence" in his successor. "With her election it sends out a powerful message, that the IOC continues to evolve," said the 71-year-old German, who was named honorary lifetime president in Greece in March. "It has its first female and African to hold this position, and the youngest president since Pierre de Coubertin. She represents the truly global and youthful spirit of our community." Bach, who choked back tears at one point during his valedictory speech, was praised to the rafters by Coventry, who was widely seen as his preferred candidate of the seven vying for his post. After a warm embrace she credited him with teaching her to "listen to people and to respect them," and praised him for leading the movement with "pure passion and purpose." "You have kept us united through the most turbulent times.

France 24

2 hours ago

• France 24

Israeli strike on Tehran jail 'irresponsible': French prisoner's sister

Iran's judiciary said Israeli strikes left sections of the facility damaged and Israel's defence minister confirmed the army was targeting it. Cecile Kohler has been held along with her partner Jacques Paris in Evin since May 2022 on espionage charges their families reject. Overall, Iran is believed to hold around 20 European nationals in what some Western governments describe as a strategy of hostage-taking aimed at extracting concessions from the West. Most are held in Evin, a large, heavily fortified complex notorious among activists for rights abuses. It is located in a northern district of the Iranian capital. "This strike is completely irresponsible. Cecile, Jacques and all the prisoners are in mortal danger," Noemie Kohler told AFP. "This is really the worst thing that could have happened," she added. "We have no news, we don't know if they are still alive, we're panicking," Noemie Kohler said. She urged the French authorities to "condemn these extremely dangerous strikes" and secure the release of the French prisoners. She also expressed concern about the risk of "chaos" and "riots". Noemie Kohler has tirelessly campaigned to secure the release of her sister and her sister's partner Jacques Paris. Chirinne Ardakani, a lawyer for the Kohler family, denounced the strikes as "illegal". "The risk of riots, general confusion and reprisals by the security forces against the insurgent prisoners raises fears of bloodshed," she told AFP. "Both sides are playing with people's lives."