Russian propagandists targeting 2024 Paris Olympics to undermine Games
As punishment for Russia’s war in Ukraine, Russian athletes cannot compete under their country’s flag in the summer Olympics in Paris. Now, Russian propagandists are reportedly looking for retribution by stoking fears to undermine the upcoming 2024 Paris games in July, according to an analysis by Microsoft and the United States government released on Sunday, June 2.
The propagandists reportedly created false warnings from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and French intelligence authorities. Additionally, the groups created false reports from the BBC and Al Jazeera on terror threats.
Microsoft and U.S. government believe a group known as Storm-1679 is behind the misinformation campaign. Storm-1679’s disinformation campaign is working to scare people out of attending the Games. However, researchers are unsure if the group is backed by the Russian government or act independently.
The disinformation campaign also attacked French President Emmanuel Macron and the Paris Olympics after Macron publicly considered sending French troops to Ukrainian soil. Previously, Storm-1679 focused on videos disparaging Ukrainian refugees.
Analysts said that Storm-1679 seems to thrive on attention from fact-checking organizations. The group predominantly posts its content on Telegram. However, researchers said that when content is fact-checked with large followings it gets far more views and reaches a broader audience.
This is not the first time the Olympics faced interference from Russian groups. In 2018, during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in South Korea, Russian hackers reportedly caused an internet outage. French authorities are aware of that incident and maintain they are looking to prevent any similar sabotage attempts in 2024.
French police shoot and kill suspect in synagogue fire
French police fatally shot a man Friday, May 17, who was suspected of setting a synagogue on fire in Rouen, about 80 miles northwest of Paris. According to authorities, the man, armed with a knife and an iron bar, charged at officers responding to the synagogue.
An officer fired at the assailant, resulting in his death.
“In Rouen, national police officers neutralized early this morning an armed individual clearly wanting to set fire to the city’s synagogue,” Darmanin said on X. “I congratulate them for their responsiveness and courage.”
“It is not only the Jewish community that is affected. It is the entire city of Rouen that is bruised and in shock,” Mayer-Rossignol wrote on X.
The fire was placed under control.
While the motive of the suspect remains unknown, the incident occurs amidst an increase in antisemitic incidents in France since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Humanitarian aid begins entering Gaza via US-built pier
The first shipment of humanitarian aid made its way across the United Statesā newly built pier in Gaza, and at least four people are killed after severe storms hit the Houston area. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, May 17, 2024.
Humanitarian aid begins entering Gaza via US-built pier
The initial aid shipment includes food bars for 11,000 individuals, therapeutic foods for over 7,000 malnourished children and hygiene kits for 30,000 people, aimed at assisting the 2.2 million residents of Gaza.
Also on Friday, Israel presented its defense at the United Nationsā International Court of Justice in the Netherlands, requesting the dismissal of South Africaās plea for a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. South Africa has leveled accusations of genocide against Israel for its actions against Hamas, which Israel has dismissed as unfounded and an insult to the gravity of genocide charges.
This marks the third hearing at the World Court since South Africa initiated its case in December.
French police shoot and kill suspect in synagogue fire
French police fatally shot a man Friday morning who was suspected of setting a synagogue on fire in Rouen, about 80 miles northwest of Paris. The man, armed with a knife and an iron bar, attacked officers responding to the synagogue blaze. An officer fired at the assailant, resulting in his death. The fire was subsequently brought under control.
While the motive of the suspect remains unknown, the incident occurs amidst an increase in antisemitic incidents in France since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Severe storms in Houston kill four, knock out power for nearly 800,000 homes
Severe storms hit Houston on Thursday, May 16, resulting in at least four deaths, shattered windows in tall buildings and power outages affecting around 800,000 homes, leaving much of the city dark.
Houstonās fire chief attributed two deaths to fallen trees. Many residents are still without power this morning.
Mayor John Whitmire has advised citizens to stay inside and refrain from traveling due to dangerous conditions, as continuous rain causes flooding and strong winds damage the downtown area.
Whitmire said that city departments and first responders are actively addressing the situation, including removing live wires that blocked major roads Friday, May 17.
The Houston Independent School District has shut down all 274 of its schools for the day.
As the city begins to recover, crews are working to remove fallen power lines and debris. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for parts of southern Texas and expects additional heavy rainfall.
Trump to attend son’s graduation today; Cohen to return to stand Monday
The criminal trial of fomer President Donald Trump in New York will not see any developments Friday, May 17, as the former president is attending his son Barronās high school graduation. The judge has permitted a recess for Trump to be present at the ceremony at Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida.
In Thursdayās five-hour session, Trumpās lawyer accused Cohen of lying to the jury, specifically about a phone call Cohen claimed to have had with Trump in 2016. The lawyer suggested that Cohen actually spoke to Trumpās bodyguard regarding a prank call incident.
Cohen maintains his account is truthful.
Looking ahead, prosecutors may conclude their case on Monday, May 20, after which the defense will proceed. It remains uncertain whether Trumpās legal team will summon any witnesses, including Trump himself, to testify.
General Motors, LG reach settlement with Chevy Bolt owners over batteries
GM introduced the Chevy Bolt in 2015, featuring batteries supplied by LG. In 2021, GM recalled the vehicles due to fire risks associated with the batteries. Production of the Chevy Bolt ceased last year as GM transitioned to developing new electric vehicles.
McDonald’s introducing Grandma McFlurry as company looks to improve sales
McDonaldās is introducing a new menu item, the Grandma McFlurry, in an effort to attract customers amid concerns about recent price increases. This limited edition dessert features syrup, vanilla ice cream and candy pieces, reminiscent of treats one might find in a grandmotherās purse.
The release highlights the current cultural impact of grandmothers, nodding to the āgrandma-coreā trend on social media where users embrace styles and activities typically linked to grandmothers.
Additionally, McDonaldās plans to launch a $5 value meal aimed at boosting restaurant traffic, following reports earlier in the week.
UK PM Sunak warns of spread in antisemitism as European protests grow
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took a stand against antisemitism on university campuses on Thursday, May 9. Sunak met with university leaders to address concerns about disruptions to learning due to possible antisemitic abuse amid pro-Palestinian protests.
Sunak emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of speech while ensuring that universities remain places of tolerance and safety.
Pro-Palestinian protests sprung up at about a dozen U.K. universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, prompting worries among some Jewish students about antisemitism. To tackle the issue, Sunak announced additional funding to support Jewish students and summoned vice chancellors from top universities to discuss efforts to combat antisemitism.
Specifically, Sunak announced that the government would provide an additional $623,000 to the University Jewish Chaplaincy Service to support Jewish students. The organization provides support for Jewish students at more than 100 universities in the U.K.
Meanwhile, across Europe, campus protests by pro-Palestinian activists spread. Some called on universities to cut academic ties with Israel over the war in Gaza. In Dublin, Ireland, Trinity College students ended a peaceful protest after the institution agreed to divest from Israeli companies that the United Nations said had links to settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
In Berlin, German police broke up a protest at Free University Berlin. Meanwhile, in Amsterdam, protesters occupied a university building, leading police to intervene. Similar protests popped up in Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France and Britain.
In the United States, police have taken action against pro-Palestinian protesters as well. At the University of Chicago, authorities cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment. The move comes as police dismantled many other encampments across the country.
More than 34,000 Palestinians died since the start of Israel-Hamas war, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
Israel vowed to wipeout Hamas in response to the Oct. 7, terrorist attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and saw Hamas militants kidnap around 250 people.
Biden says US will not supply weapons to Israel for Rafah operation
President Joe Biden says the U.S. will not supply certain weapons to Israel should the country launch its major offensive on Rafah. And Democrats and Republicans come together to save the speaker of the House from being voted out. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, May 9, 2024.
Bidensays US will not supply weapons to Israel for Rafah operation
President Joe Biden has warned the United States will not supply Israel with certain weapons and artillery shells if the Israeli army proceeds with its major military operation in Rafah. Biden made these comments during an interview with CNN on Wednesday, May 8, following the U.S.’ decision to withhold a shipment of thousands of bombs to Israel due to growing differences over Israel’s tactics in Gaza.
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“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden said. “I’ve made it clear that if they go into Rafah, they haven’t gone on Rafah yet, if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, a deal with the city, deal with that problem.”
Despite the warning, Biden affirmed that the U.S. remains committed to Israel’s security, particularly in terms of supporting the Iron Dome defense system and Israel’s ability to defend itself against future attacks.
Though the Israeli military moved into Rafah starting on Tuesday, May 7, both the White House and Israel have described it as a limited operation. Biden told CNN that Israel’s current actions in Rafah have not crossed his red line, but he has cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. will not support the operation if it extends into populated areas.
Biden administration expected to propose change in asylum system
Reports indicate the proposed rule would enable immigration officials to quickly deport migrants who illegally crossed the border and are ineligible for asylum. Those targeted would be individuals deemed a national security risk or a danger to public safety.
The new rule could see migrants barred from asylum and deported within days, or even hours, of their arrival ā a process that currently can take years. The rule would still require finalization at a later date.
Lawyer: Airman killed by Florida deputy who burst into wrong apartment
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said Senior Airman Roger Fortson was on a FaceTime call with a woman when deputies, responding to a disturbance at the Okaloosa County apartment complex, forced entry into his unit.
According to Crump, and based on the woman’s account, a deputy shot Fortson six times upon seeing him armed with a gun. Crump said Forston legally owned the weapon. Fortson later died at a hospital.
In a statement, the Okaloosa County Sheriffās Office said the deputy acted in self-defense after encountering an armed man. Authorities have not yet commented on Crump’s claims, but the sheriff posted on Facebook asking the community for patience as they work to understand the facts of the case.
Crump is calling for transparency in the investigation and asking authorities to release the body cam video to the airman’s family.
The deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave.
House Speaker Mike Johnson survives attempt to oust him
Eleven Republicans voted against tabling Greene’s resolution. Greene expressed no surprise at the outcome but did not indicate whether she would attempt to remove Johnson again.
Johnson ā joking with reporters after the vote ā referred to the event as “just another Wednesday on Capitol Hill.” He thanked his colleagues for their support and described Greene’s efforts as misguided.
In remarks to the press, Johnson stated, “Hopefully this is the end of the personality politics and the frivolous character assassination that has defined the 118th Congress. It’s regrettable. It’s not who we are as Americans, and we’re better than this. We need to get beyond it.”
Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery to offer bundled streaming service
Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are collaborating once again, this time to offer a new bundle that includes their Disney Plus, Hulu and Max streaming services.
The bundle will be available for purchase on the platforms’ websites and will be offered in versions with and without ads. Set to launch this summer, the pricing details have yet to be announced.
Olympic torch arrives in France ahead of Paris Summer Games
With just over two months until the Paris Summer Games, the Olympic torch has arrived in France, greeted with significant celebration. After being lit in Greece 11 days earlier, the flame reached the French port city of Marseille on Wednesday, May 8.
There, two Olympians assisted in bringing it ashore before popular French rapper Jul lit the Olympic cauldron. Local officials estimate that a crowd of about 225,000 people attended the event, which was secured by approximately 7,000 law enforcement officers.
Amid these rising tensions, Russia has reiterated its warning that Ukraineās newly acquired F-16 fighter jets will be viewed as a “nuclear-capable” threat. The Russian Foreign Ministry has described the deployment of F-16s as a “purposeful provocation” by the U.S. and NATO, cautioning that any aggression towards Crimea could lead to severe retaliation.
Ukraine’s military, which has been training with the F-16s since November of last year, plans to deploy them soon. Despite the Fighting Falcon’s capability to be outfitted with nuclear weapons, Ukraine does not possess a nuclear arsenal. Currently, there is no indication that nuclear-armed nations plan to arm Ukraine with such weapons.
However, former U.S. military pilots are skeptical about the impact of F-16 jets on the conflict, noting that Russia has deployed advanced air-defense systems like the S-400, which pose a significant challenge to the F-16s, beyond those encountered in past conflicts.
According to the open-source intelligence site Oryx, which verifies losses with visual evidence, Ukraine has lost at least 85 combat aircraft since the invasion began.
France in need of air defense for Paris 2024 Games, asks Greece for help
Athens is facing an unprecedented request from France as preparations for the Paris Olympic Games unfold. French authorities formally asked to borrow a Greek air defense system for the 2024 Games. According to reports from the Greek daily newspaper “Kathimerini,” the French specifically requested the transfer of a Crotale short-range surface-to-air missile system from the Greek air force. The outlet first reported the story on Thursday, April 25.
These talks began last November between France and Greece, yet progress has been slow or nonexistent since then. France argues that as it intends to provide anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, it requires allied assistance to ensure the air defense of critical infrastructure in Paris during the Olympics.
While Athens has not yet officially responded to the request, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis emphasized that any assistance granted would not hurt the country’s defense capabilities and be used only for the Games.
This request marked the first instance of France requesting air defense material for the Olympics. While not directly linked to Ukraine, the request is viewed as an indirect plea to Athens to contribute to the broader European effort to strengthen Kyiv.
Meanwhile, the United States was expected to exert further pressure on Athens during a scheduled teleconference with Greece on Friday, April 26. Despite international calls, Greek officials remain resolute in their commitment to not take any action that could jeopardize the nation’s security or air defense capabilities. Greece has maintained that national security is its No. 1 priority, above all else.
France says it has contingency plans as Olympics security questions arise
Around 300,000 spectators are expected to attend the Paris Olympics opening ceremony this summer. The ceremony will break from tradition by taking place along the Seine River, not in a stadium. The July 26 ceremony will traverse a 3.5-mile stretch through central Paris with 160 boats carrying athletes on the water as crowds line the riverbanks.
However, such plans come with security risks, particularly with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Earlier in April, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concerns about potential security threats to the Games, including from Russia.
“I have no doubt that the Games will be a target for Russia, including in the field of information,” Macron said during the inauguration of the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.
Following recent strikes on Israel, Macron sought to quell any concerns over security, asserting on television and radio that alternative plans are ready should security threats arise.
“We can do it and we will do it. If we think there are security risks, weāll have plan B’s and even plan C’s,ā Macron said.
Macron remains confident the event will proceed as planned but noted that relocating to Trocadero Square or the national arena are options. France is deploying 45,000 police, military police and army troops nationwide for the Olympic Games, with 46 countries also contributing personnel.
According to a Ministry of Interior briefing last month, everyone involved in the Games ā from security staff and construction workers to volunteers ā will undergo background checks. Out of the 1 million planned checks, 100,000 have already been conducted, with 280 cases requiring further investigation.
French charity raises alarm over Seine River pollution before Olympics
A French water charity is sounding the alarm over pollution of the Seine River, which is set to be the backdrop for the Olympic Games‘ opening ceremonies and used by athletes as an open-water swimming venue. Paris authorities are racing to clean up the famed waterway before the Games kick off on July 26.
In an open letter, the Surfrider Foundation said it performed tests on the river in the last six months and found “alarming” levels of bacteria ā including E. coli and enterococci, which are both known to come from human fecal matter and pose dangers to swimmers.
“It is therefore clear that the athletes who will be taking part in the Olympic and Paralympic events planned for the Seine will be swimming in polluted water and taking significant risks to their health,” the foundation stated in a news release.
Officials from the Ćle-de-France precinct have responded to the foundation’s findings, calling them “flawed.” They argue that the samples were collected between September 2023 and March of this year, a period during which officials were not actively treating the water during the winter.
French officials have spent more than a billion dollars in the last decade working to improve the quality of the river.
Currently, rainwater and wastewater get funneled through Paris’ sewer system and both get released into the Seine River.
Authorities promised to clean up the water before the Olympics and they are set to spend another $1.5 billion dollars on a plan to make good on that promise. The new plan includes a new stormwater facility along with new sewage connections for boats along the river.
France President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo have both said they will take a dip in the Seine before the Olympics.
City officials are also hopeful the Seine River water will be used for public bathing by 2025.
As Paris 2024 Games near, France requests help of 46 countries for security
Anticipation is building for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where an estimated 15 million visitors will come to the renowned city. However, with more people comes the need for more security, so France is asking 46 countries if they will send 2,185 police officers and military personnel to help.
France is still supplying the bulk of police, security forces and service members. However, international conflicts like the wars in Gaza and Ukraine have raised safety concerns. The recent attack at a concert hall in Moscow which left more than 140 dead prompted France to increase its security alert to its highest level.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that authorities are “taking into account the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for the attack and the threats weighing on our country.”
According to The Associated Press, the Interior Ministry said on Friday, March 29, that the request for foreign security was made in January.
The officers who are sent will be needed for security and “the spectator experience,” as well as to “strengthen international cooperation,” according to the ministry.
Security is a challenge for any host country, but France is especially wary due to previous repeated terrorist attacks. One military official told Reuters that there is “extreme vigilance” surrounding security at the Games.
France has requested security to fill specific roles like sniffer dog teams, mine clearance specialists, anti-drone specialists and even document fraud specialists.
So far, 35 countries have responded “positively” to France’s requests. Poland is sending troops, including sniffer dog handlers, while Britain and Italy are reportedly sending dozens of police. Despite a war, Israel is sending its own security capacities and the U.S. is sending support as well.
It’s not uncommon for international sporting events to have foreign police, but military personnel are less common from foreign countries. Right now, the biggest concern is reportedly for the opening ceremony, which takes place on July 26.