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Paris 2024 Olympics: French police raid organisers’ headquarters

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The headquarters of the organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are being searched by the French police as part of two preliminary corruption investigations.

The authorities are investigating allegations of favoritism and the misuse of public funds in the awarding of construction contracts. The Paris 2024 organizing committee is fully cooperating with the investigators. Anti-corruption investigators arrived unexpectedly at the committee’s headquarters in Saint-Denis, as well as at the offices of Solideo, the public body responsible for the games’ construction projects.

The searches are being conducted at multiple locations involving both organizations. These developments are the latest in a series of incidents affecting France’s Olympic movement and sports in recent months, including the resignation of the National Olympic Committee President, Brigitte Henriques, and the stepping down of the heads of the country’s football and rugby federations due to notable scandals.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics in September.

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Global Climate Trending

Lithuania’s harsh weather includes toxic dust and ash-like dirt

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Even though Lithuania has just heard the pitter-patter of rain, the country is still suffering from a severe drought.

In certain areas of the country, the earth has turned to ash, while toxic dust has blown through the streets of Vilnius, the capital. 

The grass is a burned golden colour, and some of the trees’ leaves are beginning to turn brown.

Many find it unsettling.  

The small Baltic nation’s Farmers’ Union already projects that up to a third of its crops may fail, and summer has just begun. 

With officials this week barring trips to several woods owing to fire concerns, many more months of intense heat might yet be ahead.

A component of this intricate and varied environmental issue is low precipitation.

Only a few times have there been raindrops since April, with the most recent one occurring in the middle of May, according to Gytis Valaika of the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service. 

She notes that whereas May rainfall generally measures 53mm, this year it barely registered 16mm (in some locations less than 10mm).

According to Gabija Tamulaityt, an environmental specialist at the Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania, many farmers lack irrigation systems in their fields since they are typically not required, making them particularly sensitive to excessive heat.

The worst scenario is in western Lithuania, where cattle and arable cultivation have long been practised. Since early May, this region has been experiencing drought.

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“Horrendous new normal”: Millions skip or reduce their calorie intake

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According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, individuals in Britain are being forced to make hard decisions due to extreme food inflation and inadequate public assistance.

According to a charity, millions of people in Britain are being forced to reduce or miss meals due to the rising cost of living. 

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), it is now the “horrendous new normal” for 5.7 million low-income households to not have enough money for food. 

It said that “exceptionally high food inflation” and little government help were to blame, making it hard for individuals with the lowest incomes to choose how frequently they eat and which items they purchase. 

It was discovered that almost 7 million families were without necessities like food, heat, or even amenities. 

In the meantime, 75% of houses receiving Universal Credit, the UK government’s social security payment, had gone without food or cut back on meals in the previous 30 days. 

The results are released ahead of Wednesday’s fresh inflation statistics. 

Price rises have slowed down—according to the Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Prices Index increased by 8.7% over the past 12 months as opposed to 10.1% in March—but they are still persistently high. 

This is likely to have long-term effects on their family life, money, and health. “The number of low-income households going without necessities, going hungry, and being in arrears has not changed in over a year.”

In April 2023, record food inflation overtook energy prices as the main cause of inflation, reaching 19% during the charity’s poll.

In spite of the fact that Ukraine and Russia are two of the world’s largest producers of wheat, these rises have been attributed to the conflict in the Ukraine, which is also harming crop production. 

According to the JRF, 2.3 million low-income households receiving Universal Credit were compelled to alter their food purchases, including switching to less nutrient-dense options. 

Nearly 1.5 million low-income households—more than four in ten of those receiving Universal Credit—also had a poor diet, which raises the likelihood of deteriorating health in the future. 

The JRF demanded that the government enact a “Essentials Guarantee” to ensure that necessities of existence were covered by public assistance. 

According to Rachelle Earwaker, Senior Economist at the charity, “without this, many families face the grim prospect of trying to catch up but never being able to because they are in a spiral of debt, rising prices, and deteriorating health.”

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Airbus experiments with giving the autopilot greater power

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It’s difficult to avoid feeling a little overawed by the Toulouse Airbus facility.

It is a sizable facility where 28,000 employees work alongside hundreds of visitors who are anxious to watch the planes being constructed.

The massive Beluga freight jet is waiting to fly cars and satellites all over the world as it sits stationed at a loading dock.

The hangar where the Concorde supersonic passenger plane was created is not far from where we do our interviews.

A lot of Airbus research and development is being conducted at this location, including the recently completed Project Dragonfly, an attempt to increase the capabilities of the autopilot.

The function of the pilot has changed significantly during the past 50 years due to aviation technology. Today’s pilots benefit greatly from the technology in the cockpit.

On an Airbus A350-1000, Project Dragonfly significantly increased the autonomy of the aircraft.

Improved autonomous landing, taxi assistance, and automated emergency diversion were the three areas on which the project concentrated.

The concept is that if the pilots need to concentrate on making important decisions or if they were to become disabled, this technology would take over.

The aeroplane can descend and land on its own while identifying other aircraft, the environment, and the terrain.

The technology also enables the employment of a synthetic voice produced by artificial intelligence for radio communication between the aircraft and air traffic control.

It is a lot for the systems of the aircraft to handle.

Two emergency descents by Project Dragonfly went well.

The aircraft landed successfully on the test flights since French air traffic controllers were well aware of the circumstances.

“It was really an amazing feat,” recalls Mr. Mendes.

Project Dragonfly investigated the use of several sensors to assist an automatic landing by an aeroplane.

It included combining the use of radar, infrared, and standard cameras.

In order to mimic various meteorological situations, the researchers collected gathered data from around the globe.

What do pilots think of these changes? Some people oppose pushing technology too far.

Tony Lucas, president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, said: “I don’t know if any pilot is particularly comfortable with the computer being the sole arbiter of whether or not a flight successfully lands.”

From his base at Sydney Airport, he said, “Two well-trained and rested pilots on the flight deck cannot be replaced by automation in the decision-making process.

Mr. Lucas cited the Boeing 737 Max as an example, in which an automated system resulted in two catastrophic disasters in 2018 and 2019.

Airbus is keen to stress out that more automation won’t be implemented until it is safe to do so and that keeping pilots in the cockpit is not the goal.

However, is it possible that someday, no pilots will be required for passenger plans?

According to Mr. Ridley, fully autonomous aircraft would only ever fly if doing so was unquestionably and safely the best option for protecting our passengers and crew.

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The Paris Air Show begins with a record order from IndiGo in India

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The largest single-aisle aeroplane contract ever, valued at several billion dollars, was obtained by Airbus.

On the first day of the Paris Air Show on Monday, as the industry’s supply chain issues and the high demand for jets and missiles competed for attention, Airbus announced a record 500-plane agreement with the Indian airline IndiGo.

The multibillion-dollar contract for single-aisle aircraft, which was the highest ever in terms of the quantity of aircraft, surpassed Air India’s earlier this year preliminary purchase of 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

After the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic, the largest air show in the world, which alternates with Farnborough in Britain, is in Le Bourget for the first time in four years.

Airbus’s newest plane, the A321XLR, and air power, notably the French Rafale fighter, were featured in a flying display that the French President Emmanuel Macron saw while travelling by helicopter to the crowded aerospace bazaar.

As airlines attempt to meet demand while also working to achieve industry targets of net zero emissions by 2050, planemakers entered the market with rising demand expectations.

In addition, suppliers are having trouble keeping up with demand due to growing costs, a lack of components, and a lack of competent workers in the wake of the epidemic.

The Ukraine crisis is looming large over the air show, and unlike the previous event four years ago, there is no Russian representation in the chalets or display halls.

Some Ukrainian government representatives and aerospace companies were anticipated at the event.

Despite disagreements amongst industrial partners over whether to expand the project, Belgium announced it will submit an application to participate as an observer in a new fighter-jet project that may serve as the eventual replacement for the Rafale and the international Eurofighter. The project, known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), comprises collaboration between France, Germany, and Spain.

According to industry sources cited by Reuters news agency on Sunday, the planemaker is also close to a potentially significant order for narrow-body planes from Mexican low-cost airline Viva Aerobus.

They said that there were more than 100 planes under discussion, however on Monday, some sources claimed that the number in the final agreement may be closer to 60.

Boeing and Airbus have been engaged in a bitter war over the Mexican airline for a long time.

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News Politics Trending

The majority of UK lawmakers claim that Boris Johnson deceived the legislature

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354 members of the House of Commons vote in favour of a report from the COVID epidemic ‘Partygate’ incident that said the former prime minister lied about it.

A study that suggested punishing former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for misleading the legislature about illegal, intoxicated parties hosted during the COVID-19 outbreak was approved by lawmakers in the country.

The report from the privileges committee, which recommended that the former leader should have his parliamentary pass removed, was approved by the House of Commons on Monday by a vote of 354 to 7. It would have also suggested a 90-day suspension from the legislature if he hadn’t already resigned.

Johnson abruptly left the House of Commons ten days ago after reading a draught of the report and branding the investigation a “witch hunt.”

Theresa May, a member of the Conservative Party and Johnson’s predecessor as prime minister, remarked, “It is important to show the public that there is not one rule for them and another for us.”

House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt urged lawmakers to “do what they think is right” as she opened the five-hour discussion. Mordaunt, a Conservative like Johnson, declared she will support the Commons Privileges Committee’s findings with her vote.

“This matters because the integrity of our institutions matter. The respect and trust afforded to them matters,” said Mordaunt. “This has real-world consequences for the accountability of members of Parliament to each other and the members of the public they represent.”

A few Johnson supporters stood forward to support the former leader. “I cannot see the evidence where Boris Johnson misled Parliament knowing, intentionally, or carelessly,” said MP Lia Nici.

Rishi Sunak, the prime minister of India, was among the several Conservative MPs who skipped the discussion. He remained aside out of concern for upsetting Johnson’s surviving fans.

The prime minister had “a number of commitments,” according to Sunak’s spokesperson Max Blain, including a meeting with the president of Sweden.

Johnson, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Monday, wasn’t either. He left his position as prime minister in September 2022, although he continued to serve as a member of parliament until June 9, when he resigned after learning of the Privileges Committee’s conclusions.

The debate on Monday was the most recent repercussion of the “Partygate” affair concerning events at Downing Street and other government facilities in 2020 and 2021.

When it was revealed that political staffers had birthday parties, garden parties, and “wine time Fridays” during the pandemic, it infuriated Britons who had abided by the regulations put in place to stop the coronavirus’s spread but were unable to visit friends and family or even say goodbye to relatives who were dying in hospitals.

In response to Partygate, Labour Party MP Chris Bryant claimed that “there is visceral anger” among people.

The Sunday Mirror newspaper’s publishing of a video this week of staff members dancing and drinking at a Conservative Party headquarters event in December 2020, when mingling between different families was prohibited indoors, brought back memories.

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Jerusalem Armenians Uneasy as Contentious Land Transaction Raises Concern

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A procession of Armenian priests, distinguished by their peaked black headdresses and long robes, marches through the stone streets of Jerusalem’s Old City. Accompanied by suited individuals in felt tarboosh hats, carrying ceremonial walking sticks, they make their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for prayers.

While Jerusalem remains a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the presence of Armenians in the city dates back to the 4th century when Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion. The Armenian community has a significant stake in the city’s most sacred Christian sites and resides in their own quarter, situated in the southwestern corner of the Old City, where approximately 2,000 Armenians reside.

However, the community now finds itself feeling vulnerable due to a controversial real estate transaction involving their own Church leaders. Amidst vehement protests, the Armenian patriarch has gone into hiding, and a disgraced priest, who denies any wrongdoing, has fled to California.

The unfolding situation reveals that approximately 25% of the Armenian Quarter has been sold on a 99-year lease to an enigmatic Jewish Australian businessman for a luxury development. This includes a substantial car parking area, one of the few remaining open spaces within the Old City walls, which has already been taken over by his company. Many Armenians had hoped this land could be used for the construction of affordable housing for young couples within their dwindling community.

Unofficially obtained plans indicate that the sale encompasses an Ottoman-era building housing five Armenian households, a restaurant, shops, and the seminary. Concerns have been raised that this could jeopardize the long-term viability of living within the quarter.

However, the controversy extends beyond the immediate community. The ramifications are seen as far-reaching, as losing this historically significant land, owned for 700 years, would not only impact the daily cultural life of the Armenians but also alter the overall fabric of Jerusalem. Hagop, a community activist, explains that it would disrupt the status quo and the intricate mosaic that defines the city.

During Orthodox Easter celebrations in April, panic gripped the Armenian community as news of the land sale spread. The Armenian Patriarch, Nourhan Manougian, admitted to signing away the land but claimed he had been deceived by a local priest in his employ.

The defrocked priest faced heated scenes as he was expelled from the Armenian Quarter, escorted away under Israeli police protection while residents labeled him a “traitor.” In recent times, Armenians have been participating in weekly protests, joining arms and singing patriotic songs beneath the window of the patriarch, who now remains secluded within his convent. They demand the revocation of the land deal.

Against the backdrop of increasing attacks on Christians in Jerusalem by extremist Jewish groups, some Armenians view this sale as self-inflicted harm to the Christian presence in the city. Arda, an Old City resident, laments the changing character of the city and asserts that religious nationalists are growing bolder due to the prevailing political climate in Israel.

East Jerusalem, including the Old City, was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War and subsequently occupied and annexed, despite lacking international recognition. Since then, it has remained at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming it as their capital. Consequently, plots of land in this area are fiercely contested.

Near the Armenian Quarter, at Jaffa Gate, a notable entry point to the Christian Quarter, a reminder of these disputes persists. Two landmark hotels, managed by Palestinians, were covertly sold to foreign companies acting as proxies for a radical Jewish settler group. The Greek Orthodox Church’s lengthy legal battle to annul the deal was unsuccessful, and settlers moved into a portion of one of the hotels last year.

Armenian elders recount that settlers have frequently expressed interest in acquiring land within their quarter to bolster the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem. The proximity of the Armenian Quarter to the Jewish one makes it particularly desirable.

However, a spokesperson for the settler group involved in the Jaffa Gate property purchase claimed ignorance of the Armenian land sale when approached by the BBC.

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Three arrested including 14-year-old as police foil attack on Vienna’s pride parade

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Austrian police have prevented an attack on Vienna’s annual Pride parade by apprehending three suspects believed to have ties to Islamic extremism. The individuals, aged 14, 17, and 20, are Austrian citizens of Bosnian and Chechen descent. According to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner from Austria’s State Protection and Intelligence Directorate (DSN), the suspects had become radicalized online and held sympathies for ISIS.

Haijawi-Pirchner emphasized that hate and terrorism have no place in a democratic society. Gerhard Pürstl, the state police president, highlighted that both Islamic and right-wing extremists pose a significant threat to the LGBTQ community. He referenced previous violent incidents during similar events worldwide and in Europe.

The DSN had prior knowledge of the suspects’ alleged plans and closely monitored them. The arrests were made before the parade by Austria’s Cobra special forces. The Interior Ministry’s statement assured the public that attendees were never in danger. Authorities conducted searches in Vienna and lower Austria, resulting in the confiscation of prohibited weapons.

The Rainbow Parade is a prominent part of Vienna Pride, Austria’s largest LGBTQ event, held annually from June 1 to 18. This year, the parade drew approximately 300,000 participants.

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Swiss voters support global corporate minimum tax and environmental goals

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According to public broadcaster SRF, voters in Switzerland on Sunday approved the implementation of a global minimum tax on corporations as well as a climate law that seeks to reduce the use of fossil fuels and achieve zero emissions by 2050.

According to the results of the nationwide referendum held on Sunday, an exceptionally high percentage of voters supported increasing the nation’s corporate tax from the existing average minimum of 11% to the 15% worldwide minimum rate.

Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter stated that doing this “ensures that Switzerland will not lose any tax revenue to foreign countries.” Additionally, it will establish legal clarity and a solid structure.

Similarly, the climate bill was adopted and supported by 59% of voters.

In an effort to curtail the practise of transferring earnings to low-tax jurisdictions, Switzerland joined the almost 140 other nations that agreed to an OECD agreement in 2021 that set a minimum tax rate for large corporations.

The plan, which is expected to generate an additional 2.5 billion Swiss francs ($2.80 billion) in income year and maintain Switzerland’s position as having one of the lowest corporation tax rates in the world, has the support of business organisations, the majority of political parties, and the general public.

The climate law, which was reintroduced in a modified version after it was rejected in 2021 as being too expensive, has sparked additional discussion, with those opposed to it gaining ground recently.

While opponents from the right-wing People’s Party claim it would risk energy security, proponents contend that the measure is the very minimum the affluent nation needs to do to demonstrate its commitment to battling climate change.

In the referendum held on Sunday, voters also agreed to prolong a few COVID-19 emergency law measures. This was necessary under Switzerland’s direct democracy system, in which legislation is decided by popular vote.

Around 2,000 international firms, including Google (GOOGL.O) and 200 Swiss multinationals, like Nestle (NESN.S), have offices and headquarters in Switzerland. Even though everyone would be impacted, business organisations have praised the increased certainty the new tax would offer, even if Switzerland would no longer be as attractive due to its low tax rate.

“No other nation will have less expensive taxes either. Christian Frey from the lobbying organisation Economiesuisse stated, “We want the extra tax income to stay in the nation and be utilised to boost its attractiveness for enterprises.

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After discussing a chip facility, Berlin and Intel will sign an agreement

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The conclusion of negotiations for a new chip manufacturing facility on German territory will take place at 12:45 GMT on Monday, according to the German government.

Berlin’s signing will be attended by Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, according to a statement from the chancellery.

The amount of public support the corporation is expected to get for the project in the city of Magdeburg in central Germany has not yet been verified by the German government.

The U.S. corporation would receive 9.9 billion euros ($10.84 billion), up from a previously guaranteed figure of 6.8 billion euros, the Handelsblatt business newspaper said last week.

The Scholz administration is putting billions of dollars into incentives to entice IT firms to Germany. This occurs at a time when concern over the brittleness of the supply chain and the dependency on South Korea and Taiwan for chips is rising.

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