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French peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon17 minutes agoSamantha GranvilleBeirutReutersA French peacekeeper has been killed and three others wounded after a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, in what officials described as a deliberate attack.The soldier was serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which confirmed that one peacekeeper had died and three others were injured, two of them seriously, when their patrol came under small-arms fire.French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah. The The Macron The “France’s Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the peacekeeper had been part of a mission to reopen access to a Unifil position that had been cut off by the recent fighting when it had been “ambushed by an armed group at very close range”.Vautrin added that he was “hit immediately by a direct shot from a small arms weapon” and was pulled away by fellow soldiers, who were unable to revive him.Unifil said the patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to reconnect isolated positions.It said the team came under fire from what it described as non-state actors and condemned the attack as “deliberate”.What we know about the Israel-Lebanon ceasefireFollow updates on the Iran warCeasefire with Israel brings respite to Lebanon, but obstacles to peace remainThe Lebanese Armed Forces said the incident followed exchanges of fire with armed individuals, adding that it was co-ordinating closely with Unifil during what it described as a sensitive phase in southern Lebanon.Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and told Macron during a phone call that those responsible would be brought to justice.Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has also ordered an investigation.Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday denying it was responsible, describing them as “rushed” and “baseless accusations”.It called for “caution in making judgements and assigning blame regarding the incident, pending the Lebanese army’s investigation to determine the full circumstances”.The group urged both Unifil and the Lebanese army to continue co-ordinating with locals on manouevres “under these delicate circumstances”.In late March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents – an explosion that destroyed a Unifil vehicle and a projectile strike a day earlier.Unifil warned that under international law “all actors” were obliged to ensure the “safety and security” of UN personnel, adding that “deliberate attacks” on peacekeepers were “grave violations” of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.The peacekeeping force was first established in 1978 by the UN Security Council following Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon, with a mandate to confirm Israeli withdrawal, restore peace and assist the Lebanese government in regaining authority in the south.Its role was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, when Security Council Resolution 1701 strengthened its responsibilities in monitoring the ceasefire along the Blue Line – the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel – in co-ordination with the Lebanese army.More than 330 peacekeepers have been killed since the mission was established.Peacekeepers killed by roadside explosion in Lebanon, initial report findsMiddle EastHezbollahLebanonIran war

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Media She In ” She ” Our “Culture Minister Catherine Pegard told AFP that Baye had “lit up a long chapter in the history of French cinema with her talent and radiant personality”.Her family said she had died following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia, a neurodegenerative disease, AFP reported.EuropeFranceCultureFilm

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Millions listen to Ethiopian singer’s song criticizing government22 minutes agoBBC AmharicGetty ImagesIn Ethiopia, where criticising authorities can often land you in trouble, Teddy Afro’s track Das Tal has been viewed over seven million times on YouTube. Teddy Afro, whose real name Tewodros Kazsahun, sings about a traditional mourning camp, referring to a country that he believes has been lost. The 49-year old laments in Das Tal that “the spirit of being Ethiopian has been pushed away.” “Now I can understand the pain and sorrow. Where can one go to cry, to mourn? In the village where I was raised, I feel like a stranger. “The star was a thorn on the side of previous government. His last album, Ethiopia, was a huge success in the country, topping the Billboard World Albums chart in several weeks. It was a historical album that called for unity between Ethiopians. But its official release in Ethiopia was blocked by the government. Teddy Afro told BBC in 2017 that “all of my music is based upon love.” “Like Martin Luther King, who said that hate cannot drive out hatred: only love can achieve this. For us to get out of this situation, I believe that the only option we have is love. Ethiopians celebrate the baptism of Jesus with drums, chants, and celebrations.

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One dead after car hits pedestrians in Melbourne, police say3 hours agoAndre Rhoden-PaulReutersPolice have arrested a man in Melbourne after a car mounted a kerb and drove into pedestrians, killing one.A grey Toyota struck two pedestrians on Langs Road in the Ascot Vale suburb just before 17:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Saturday, Victoria Police said.One pedestrian died at the scene and the second was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.Police said the circumstances surrounding the collision had not yet been established and the arrested man was due to be interviewed.Local media reported the crash happened outside the Melbourne Showgrounds, which had been hosting the two-day Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event.Pictures of the scene showed a police cordon around the vehicle which appeared to have visible damage.Det Insp Craig McEvoy told 9News that the driver had been arrested by an off-duty officer who received assistance from the public.He said it was unclear whether the incident was intentional, but police would be investigating all avenues, including whether drugs or alcohol were involved.The Sydney Morning Herald reported an eyewitness, Tom, said he “heard a screech and a guy mounted the kerb at an erratic speed, hit a couple people”.He said the car U-turned back down the street towards him before it stalled, and he claimed to have stopped the driver from fleeing.Thousands of people had reportedly been expected to attend the event, which describes itself as the “home of Australia’s pop culture fandom”.Celebrities including Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis and Harry Potter actress Bonnie Wright were announced as guests at the expo.MelbourneAustralia

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Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter surprise Coachella40 mins agoAndre Rhoden PaulRiver Callaway via Getty ImagesMadonna surprised Coachella fans by making a guest performance during Sabrina Carpenter’s Friday night headline show. The Queen of Pop performed Vogue and Like A Prayer, while the intro of Vogue was playing and dancers posed. With matching blonde hair and corsets, they sang the 1990 house song, before strutting to the stage to sing I Feel So Free, from Madonna’s new album. Madonna said: “Twenty years ago today, I performed at Coachella – I was in the dance tent and it was the first time I performed Confessions On A Dance Floor: Part 1 in America. That was such a thrill for me.” She then went on to discuss the astrology for the New Moon of Taurus with Carpenter. The 5ft4in star said it was the first performance she had done with someone smaller than her. Madonna joked, “Thank you for that experience.” The pair then joined together for a Duet of Like A Prayer. Madonna first appeared at Coachella 2006 when she performed Confessions on a Dance Floor at the Sahara Tent rather than the main stage. She returned to the desert in 2015, appearing as a guest during Drake’s set. Her kissing of the rapper became a viral video. The collaboration took place in Carpenter’s second headlining week. Justin Bieber will headline the festival for the second time on Saturday, followed by Colombian pop singer Karol G on the following Sunday.