Paris bid a triumphant “au revoir” to the Olympics on Sunday as the curtain came down on its widely-praised staging of the global sporting spectacular. A star-studded closing ceremony got under way in front of some 71,500 spectators at the Stade de France to crown an event that has been broadly acclaimed as one of the greatest editions of the Olympics ever held.

Paris closed out two and a half extraordinary weeks of Olympic sports and emotion with a boisterous, star-studded show in France’s national stadium on Sunday, handing over hosting duties for the Summer Games to the next city in line: Los Angeles in 2028.

Stars of sport, screen and music came together at the Paris 2024 closing ceremony to bring the 33rd Olympic Games to an end.

Actor Tom Cruise descended from the roof of Stade de France to collect the Olympic flag as part of the handover to the American city of Los Angeles, which will host the next Games in 2028, before departing on a motorcycle.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre then performed on Venice Beach as part of a star-studded music set to conclude the ceremony.

Earlier, inside the stadium in Paris, gold medallists Alex Yee and Bryony Page were Great Britain’s flagbearers at the ceremony. Yee won the men’s triathlon in dramatic fashion, while Page won Britain’s first ever Olympic trampoline gold.

The closing ceremony directed by Thomas Jolly, the mastermind of spectacular opening ceremony which took place on the River Seine, took place at the stadium in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis.

‘The Olympic Games of a new era’

In his closing speech, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach reflected on a “sensational” Games.

Bach, who will step down as IOC president in 2025, said Paris 2024 had been “sensational, or dare I say, ‘Seine-sational’” – a play on words referencing the river which flows through the host city.

He added that they were the “Olympic Games of a new era” as the first “delivered completely under our Olympic agenda reforms: younger, more urban, more inclusive, more sustainable and the first Olympic Games with full gender parity”.

The German praised athletes for their “simply amazing” performances, saying they showed “what greatness we humans are capable of”.

He continued: “During all this time, you lived peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village. You embraced each other. You respected each other, even if your countries are divided by war and conflict. You created a culture of peace.

“This inspired all of us and billions of people around the globe. Thank you for making us dream. Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone.

“We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace. But the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world. This is why I call on everyone who shares this Olympic spirit: let us live this culture of peace every single day.”

There was also special praise for the 45,000 volunteers who assisted during the Games, which began with a rain-soaked opening ceremony along the Seine on July 26.

The United States and China ended with 40 gold medals each but then the US also won 44 silver and 42 bronze for a total of 126 medals while China won 27 silver and 24 bronze for a total of 91 medals. Japan finished third with 20 gold and a total of 45 medals, Austriala fourth (18 gold and 53 total) and host nation France fifth with 16 gold and a total of 64 medals

As well as reflecting on the Olympics in Paris, the closing ceremony provided a showcase for Los Angeles, which will host the Games for a third time in 2028. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo handed over the Olympic flag to Karen Bass, the mayor of 2028 host city Los Angeles, the Californian city.

The 2024 Paralympics will be held in the French capital from  August 28 to  September 8.

Portugal’s National Olympic Committee president dies

The president of the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP), José Manuel Constantino, died on the last day of the Paris Olympics. Having been ill for some time, he nevertheless managed to follow the participation of the Portuguese team in the initial phase of the Games, but in the last few days he had to be admitted to a hospital in Lisbon, where he died yesterday. José Manuel Constantino was born in Santarém in 1950 and had a long university career before going on to direct the Cop in 2013.

Ukrainian troops digging trenches in Russia’s Kursk Oblast

On the sixth day of Ukraine’s advance into Kursk Oblast in southern Russia, there’s growing evidence the Ukrainian invasion corps – some or all of up to five 2,000-person brigades plus at least one 400-person independent battalion – plans to stay.

Forbes reports the Ukrainians are digging trenches. Anticipating static warfare along or near the existing front line, the Russians are digging in, too.

That both sides are fortifying their positions doesn’t mean the Ukrainians are done advancing. Nor does it mean the Russians can’t counterattack – and push the Ukrainians back to the border, 10 miles away.

But it does mean that stabilisation of the front line – and a long-term Ukrainian occupation of part of Kursk – is on the table.

Fire at cooling tower of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

A fire broke out Sunday at a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, with Kyiv and Moscow trading blame for the incident.

France 24 reports both sides said there had been no detected spike in radiation levels around the power station, which has been under the control of Russian forces since the first days of its full-scale military offensive.

“As a result of shelling of the town of Energodar by the Ukrainian armed forces, there was a fire at a cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station,” Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region said on Telegram. He said the “radiation background” around the facility was normal.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said in a social media post “Russian occupiers have started a fire” at the plant. “Currently, radiation levels are within the norm,” he added.

Hamas bows out of talks, demands July agreement be upheld

Hamas announced Sunday it will not send negotiators to cease-fire talks scheduled for Thursday in either Cairo or Doha. The talks are supposed to cover border security, hostage releases, and the conditions for a cease-fire.

The group is demanding that mediators present a plan based on previous agreements from July 2, claiming that any new deal would grant Israel more time for aggression.

The shift comes in the wake of Israel’s expanded evacuation orders in Khan Younis, which displaced thousands of residents, and Saturday’s airstrike on a Gaza City school shelter that killed at least 90 people. Israel says 20 Hamas militants were using the shelter as an operating base, but the attack has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders, including those of Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Both EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and British Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed shock at the images from the school, and US Vice President Kamala Harris stated, “Yet again, far too many civilians have been killed.”

Hamas denounced a “dangerous escalation” after the Israeli strike

Meanwhile, tensions are heating up on Israel’s border with Lebanon as Hezbollah launched several explosive-laden drones at northern Israel on Saturday. The militants said the attack was in response to an Israeli strike that killed a Hamas commander in Lebanon.

Iran also has yet to retaliate for the assassination last month of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh – a move that could further fuel conflict in the region amid fears of an all-out war with Israel.

At least 39,790 Palestinians have been killed and 92,002 injured in Israel’s war in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The Hamas-led October 7 attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 1,190 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Some 250 people were taken hostage, with about 120 remaining in Gaza. Many have been declared dead by Israeli authorities.

‘Israeli ministers incite war crimes’ – Borrell

“As the world pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Minister Ben Gvir calls for cuts to fuel and aid to civilians. Like Minister Smotrich’s sinister statements, this is an incitement to war crimes and sanctions must be on our EU agenda,” EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, wrote on X.

 “I urge the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from these incitements to commit war crimes and urge it to engage in good faith in negotiations facilitated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt for an immediate ceasefire,” he adds.

Biden calls Trump ‘a genuine danger’ to US security

President Joe Biden, in his first TV interview since dropping out of the White House race, warned that Republican candidate Donald Trump was “a genuine danger to American security”.

“Mark my words, if he wins this election, watch what happens,” Biden told CBS News in a pre-taped interview broadcast on Sunday. “He’s a genuine danger to American security. Look, we’re at an inflection point in world history… and democracy is the key.”

Biden, 81, has kept a low profile since ending his campaign after his flailing debate performance against Trump underlined fears about his age and mental abilities. In the short TV interview, recorded in the White House last week, he appeared frail but cogent, again admitting he failed in the debate but stressing that health-wise he has “no serious problem”.

Biden said he was proud of his record on jobs, investment and Covid recovery –  and vowed to campaign hard for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has replaced him on the ballot. “I’m going to do whatever Kamala thinks I can do to help most,” he said.

A wildfire near darkens the skies over Athens and moves fast

A wildfire burned northeast of Athens on Sunday, darkening the sky as the smell of smoke and soot pervaded the Greek capital.

More than 400 firefighters, 110 fire engines and a large number of volunteers were fighting the fire, which broke out around 3 p.m. local time around 35kms from Athens. The 15 firefighting planes and nine helicopters were operating by late afternoon but stopped at sunset.

Residents of the villages near the area of the fire have been warned by emergency text messaging to evacuate.

Late in the afternoon, messages were also sent to residents of some northern Athens suburbs to do the same. Police said they evacuated more than 200 individuals, mostly elderly and others who did not heed the warnings.

Another fire that broke out west of Athens has been contained, the spokesman said.

Argentine unions turn up the heat

Argentine university workers plan a 72-hour strike to demand higher wages starting on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The government is offering an increase of three per cent for August and two per cent for September, which the unions have deemed unacceptable. Data for the first half of 2024 shows Argentina with the highest cumulative inflation worldwide at 80 per cent and a peak year-on-year inflation of 271.5 per cent.

The private sector is also feeling the heat, as unions for the country’s soybean workers demand that processing companies approve wage hikes above the country’s inflation rate. Argentina produces a third of the world’s soybean meal and exports much of it to China, which provides a crucial source of Buenos Aires’ foreign reserves. Last Tuesday, Argentine workers began a strike against their employers that shut down processing plants and caused loading delays for 36 ships.

These strikes are at the heart of the political debate over President Javier Milei’s promises to improve Argentina’s flailing economy – with some tough love if necessary. Labor unions have conducted two general strikes, including one in May that saw 400 flights cancelled and transport lines shut down as trash collectors, teachers, and health workers walked off the job, and banks, businesses, and state agencies closed for the day.

There was a huge march in Buenos Aires against the government of President Javier Milei yesterday, on St Cajetan’s Day, the patron saint of the unemployed.

Helicopter crashes into roof of Australia hotel

A pilot has died after the helicopter they were flying crashed into the roof of a hotel in a popular Australian tourist town.

Hundreds of guests at the Hilton’s DoubleTree hotel in the northern city of Cairns were evacuated after the incident at around 2am local time on Monday.

“The pilot and single occupant of the aircraft was located and declared deceased at the scene, and forensic investigations are under way to formally identify them,” Queensland Police said. “The building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground. Two of the helicopter’s propellers came off and one landed in the hotel pool, according to Australian media reports.

Perseid meteor showers tonight

A display of celestial fireworks is expected to light up the night skies as the Earth passes through a cloud of cometary dust, producing up to 100 meteors every hour. The Astronomical Society of Malta has invited the public to join its members to observe the Perseids during their peak at Miġra l-Ferħa (Mtaħleb, Rabat, Malta) today from 7 pm onwards.

The Perseid meteor shower should be visible from around sunset tonight until the early hours of August 13.