The French government says multiple telecommunications lines have been hit by acts of vandalism, affecting fiber lines and fixed and mobile phone lines as cities around France are hosting events for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The scale of the impact is unclear, as is whether it has affected any Olympic activities. The vandalism came after a rson attacks hit train networks around France on Friday, hours before the Olympics opening ceremony.
Quick Read
- McDonald’s same-store sales fall for the 1st time since the pandemic, profit slides 12%
- McDonald’s posted weak sales in the second quarter, with increasingly value-conscious consumers in the U.S., China, and other regions visiting restaurants less frequently.
- Sales at locations open for at least a year fell 1% worldwide across every company segment in the April-June period, marking the first decline since the final quarter of 2020.
- In the U.S., same-store sales fell nearly 1%, with fewer customers visiting but spending more due to price increases.
- Lower store traffic was also reported in China, France, and the Middle East, where boycotts have occurred due to perceptions of McDonald’s supporting Israel in the Gaza conflict.
- McDonald’s warned in April that inflation-weary customers were seeking better value and affordability, leading to the introduction of a $5 meal deal in the U.S. on June 25.
- Quarterly revenue was flat at $6.5 billion, slightly below Wall Street’s expectation of $6.6 billion.
- Net income fell 12% to $2 billion, or $2.80 per share, with adjusted earnings at $2.97 per share, missing the forecasted $3.07 per share.
- McDonald’s shares fell less than 1% in premarket trading.
The Associated Press has the story:
Vandalism hits communication lines in France during Paris Olympics
Newslooks- PARIS (AP) —
The French government says multiple telecommunications lines have been hit by acts of vandalism, affecting fiber lines and fixed and mobile phone lines as cities around France are hosting events for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The scale of the impact is unclear, as is whether it has affected any Olympic activities. The vandalism came after a rson attacks hit train networks around France on Friday, hours before the Olympics opening ceremony.
Marina Ferrari, secretary of state in charge of digital affairs, posted on X that damage in several regions overnight Sunday to Monday affected telecommunications operators. She said that led to localized impact on access to fiber lines and fixed and mobile telephone lines. Paris 2024 Olympics organizers would not immediately comment.
A French police official said at least six of France’s administrative departments were affected, which include the region around the Mediterranean city of Marseille, hosting Olympic soccer and sailing competitions. Telecom operators Bouygues and Free confirmed their services were affected. French media reports said lines operated by provider SFR also were hit. The parent company of Free said its teams are mobilized to restore services.
A national investigation is underway into last week’s train sabotage, which disrupted travel for nearly a million passengers in France as well as people in London and in other neighboring countries. Train traffic had largely resumed by Monday. French media reported that an extreme-left activist was arrested at a rail facility on Sunday in the Seine-Maritime region of western France. But the Paris prosecutor’s office said it was unconnected to what happened Friday and that no one has been arrested so far in the national investigation into the arson attacks.
