FRANCE: Unsafe levels of E coli have been found in the Seine River for the third consecutive week, according to test results published today, less than a month before the Paris Olympics.
The test results by monitoring group Eau de Paris reveal contamination levels consistently above the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters determined by the World Triathlon Federation for competitions.
Marathon swimming and triathlon events are scheduled to take place in the river during the Olympics, which begin on July 26.
SOUTH AFRICA: Parliament will open for its next term on July 18, President Cyril Ramaphosa said today, as he remains locked in negotiations with other parties to form a Cabinet.
Talks to seal the final details of a multiparty government and appoint a Cabinet have been marked by disagreements between Mr Ramaphosa’s African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance, the second-biggest party, over how to divide up ministerial positions and portfolios.
MONGOLIA: The polls closed today on a parliamentary election in which both new and old political parties tried to win over disillusioned younger voters eager for change. Preliminary results are expected on Saturday morning.
At stake were 126 seats in an expanded parliament, 50 more than in the previous election in 2020. That contest was won by the Mongolian People's Party in a landslide.
The governing party still appears to hold the upper hand, but other parties may capitalise on voter discontent to eat into its majority.
TURKEY: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today that there is no obstacle preventing his government restoring diplomatic ties with Syria.
His comments came just days after Syrian President Bashar Assad made similar remarks, indicating a willingness among the two neighbouring countries to end tensions and normalise relations.
Turkey supported armed opposition groups during Syria’s civil war. Mr Assad’s government has repeatedly condemned Turkey’s invasion of its north since 2016 targeting Kurdish forces — which Ankara regards as terrorists.
