As fighting between Hezbollah and Israel worsens, Lebanon’s healthcare system is buckling under pressure, jeopardizing the lives of thousands of pregnant women. UN representatives report that 11,600 pregnant women are currently affected by the conflict and blockade, with 4,000 anticipated to deliver in the next three months. Displacement and damaged infrastructure have severed many from critical medical care. This humanitarian crisis has led to desperate scenarios where expectant mothers are giving birth in unsafe environments, including on the side of roads. The escalation primarily impacts vulnerable populations in southern Lebanon, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, fueling fears of... [Continue Reading]
In a 40-year career that brought him two Pulitzers, he reported from trouble spots around the world, eloquently conveying the chaos of war. [Continue Reading]
The UK government is enhancing policing efforts by expanding Project Vigilant, an undercover operation designed to tackle predatory behavior against women and girls in nightlife settings. The initiative will now run across nine more police forces in England and Wales, increasing the presence of covert officers in high-risk nightlife hotspots. Undercover officers are specially trained to identify early indicators of predatory conduct, including loitering without clear purpose, unwanted sexual advances, misogynistic remarks, covert filming, and following individuals persistently. By identifying these behaviors early, officers can alert visible police units to intervene before crimes escalate into violence. This proactive policing approach... [Continue Reading]
Campaigners rejoice after Keir Starmer backs ‘Philomena’s Law’ to protect payments for up to 13,000 survivors living in BritainSurvivors of Ireland’s mother and baby homes can continue to receive benefits in the UK after Downing Street dropped a plan to cut payments.Keir Starmer bowed to pressure from campaigners to back a bill known as Philomena’s law, which would ringfence survivors’ benefits if they accepted compensation from Dublin. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
ll six crew members aboard a US military refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are confirmed to have been killed, the US military said on Friday. The deaths add to the seven US service members who have already been killed as part of US operations against Iran which began on February 28. [Continue Reading]
New waves of attacks struck Gulf nations on Friday after Iran renewed its threats on oil facilities. Tehran has unleashed waves of drone and missile strikes against neighbouring states hosting US military assets, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Dubai. Hoda Abdel-Hamid reports from Doha, Qatar. [Continue Reading]
Israeli leaders are framing the bombing campaign as having transformed the Middle East in their favour as pressure to end the conflict builds. [Continue Reading]
She’s played the blushing bride in "Mamma Mia!" and the sidekick to the high-school bully in "Mean Girls". Now Amanda Seyfried takes on the role of Ann Lee, the 18th-century religious leader who founded the Shaker movement in the United States. Eve Jackson hears from Seyfried about the role at the Paris premiere of The Testament of Ann Lee. We also check in with ambassadors of Tuareg culture, Tinariwen, as they return with their 10th album and embark on a European tour. And, we hear from the team behind a powerful new animation telling the story of a child soldier... [Continue Reading]
An Iranian drone has killed a French soldier in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, his commanding officer said on Friday, after President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the first French military death in the Middle East war. Since US-Israeli strikes on Iran last month engulfed the Middle East in war, multiple attacks attributed to pro-Iranian factions have targeted the region where foreign forces are based as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more. [Continue Reading]
A whole vibe! [Continue Reading]
Longer sentences, overcrowding and inexperienced staff cited as factors in ‘rising tensions’ in prisonsNotorious prisoners such as the Soham killer Ian Huntley are facing increasingly violent attacks from inmates with “nothing to lose”, the head of the Prison Governors’ Association has said.Tom Wheatley, the president of the PGA, which represents governors in England and Wales, said those serving lengthy sentences or whole-life tariffs in high-security institutions had “no fear” of being given additional time in prison, and could earn status by singling out famous child murderers and paedophiles.Last week, a 20-year-old sex offender who had recently moved to my son’s... [Continue Reading]
The gas, ethylene oxide, plays a crucial role in sterilizing medical devices. But long-term exposure is linked to several types of cancer and other ailments. [Continue Reading]
The United States recently decided to lift certain restrictions on Russian oil exports, a move that has sparked sharp criticism from the European Union. EU officials describe the action as unilateral and concerning, particularly given the volatile global energy market exacerbated by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. This decision comes at a time when Europe and its allies have sought to maintain stringent economic pressure on Moscow to curb its military operations in Ukraine. European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted that easing sanctions would provide Russia with greater financial resources, potentially extending its ability to fund the war against... [Continue Reading]
She's setting the record straight. [Continue Reading]
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun held a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Beirut, focusing on stopping Israeli military strikes on Lebanese territory. The UN chief reiterated his support for Lebanon's sovereignty and called for a ceasefire to prevent further escalation. The Lebanese president emphasized the necessity of halting hostilities to proceed with a peace initiative he has proposed. The meeting underscored the growing humanitarian impact, particularly on the more than 800,000 displaced people within Lebanon. Both leaders stressed the importance of restoring Lebanon’s full sovereign control over its borders and security to stabilize the country. The talks come amid... [Continue Reading]
Despite war, al-Quds Day marches in Tehran saw thousands protest, voicing anger against Israel and the US. [Continue Reading]
A presentation from a headhunting firm aimed to recruit Wall Street investors to the Pentagon by offering “unmatched access” to government officials and fund-raising opportunities among foreign sovereigns. [Continue Reading]
An air attack hit in Tehran as Iran’s chief justice gave lives interview at an al-Quds rally [Continue Reading]
French President Emmanuel Macron Friday vowed to keep up pressure on Russia to end its four-year invasion of Ukraine after Washington partially rolled back sanctions against Moscow to cool oil prices sent soaring by the Middle East war. Kyiv's allies worry that the United States temporarily allowing some sales of Russian oil will aid President Vladimir Putin, already boosted by the rising energy prices. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more. [Continue Reading]
The Israeli military said it carried out an air strike on a bridge in southern Lebanon on Friday, in what appeared to be the first time in the current campaign against Hezbollah that it acknowledged attacking civilian infrastructure. The military said the Zrariyeh bridge, which crosses the Litani River, was used by Hezbollah militants moving between northern and southern Lebanon, but provided no evidence to support the claim. [Continue Reading]
Asian nations, including India, are feeling the impact of the ongoing war in Iran. We explore how dependent the region is on West Asia for energy and consider whether New Delhi should position itself as a mediator to help bring the conflict to an end. [Continue Reading]
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been injured and pledged to continue ramping up attacks, while playing down the impact of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Khamenei is “wounded and likely disfigured”, Hegseth said during a press conference on Friday morning. The new Iranian leader’s first public address, issued on Thursday through a written statement, showed that “he’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run, and he... [Continue Reading]
The auction includes a $100trillion note from Zimbabwe, issued during the country's years of hyperinflation [Continue Reading]
Over the past two months, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the ports of Rochester and Buffalo intercepted multiple shipments containing counterfeit luxury items. Officers identified and seized watches mimicking Rolex trademarks and various jewelry items that bore counterfeit markings. The total value of the seized counterfeit goods surpassed $125,000. The counterfeit Rolex watches alone would have been worth about $82,000 if authentic. These seizures showcase CBP's commitment to protecting American consumers and brand owners from counterfeit goods that can undermine legitimate businesses and potentially pose safety or quality risks. The operation affects importers, retailers, and consumers by... [Continue Reading]
Polls in the United States suggest the war in Iran is unusually unpopular compared with past US military conflicts. There has been propaganda, video-game footage and facts spun into fiction, but also excellent reporting and crucial analysis of the innocent lives lost. This week, FRANCE 24’s media show Scoop looks at US media coverage, and our guest is Negar Mortazavi, an Iranian-American journalist and political analyst. [Continue Reading]
Experts say Trump's decision to sue over his leaked tax returns risks putting him in charge of arranging his own payout. [Continue Reading]
Long before the US and Israel attacked Iran, the Islamic Republic had devised its own weapon: holding the world’s main oil lifeline hostage to offset its foes’ military superiority, three regional sources familiar with Iranian planning said. For decades, Iran has signalled that if pushed into a confrontation, it would restrict tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint where its adversaries are most exposed because disruptions there reverberate instantly through global energy... [Continue Reading]
Premier League champions, FA Cup winners and club legends have all suffered the unwanted fate, but which relegated side really was "too good to go down"? [Continue Reading]
Keep your eyes pealed, people! [Continue Reading]
A reported 20 families face eviction from an apartment block in Limerick city after receiving notices of termination from their landlord a week before the Government's new rental rules came into effect. [Continue Reading]
On Thursday in the United States, a man opened fire at a synagogue in Michigan and was shot dead.In a separate incident, the FBI described a shooting at a university in Virginia as “terrorist” in nature; one person was killed. [Continue Reading]
As Israel steps up its bombing campaign on Lebanon, many hospitals have had to close, leaving only a handful of healthcare facilities still operating. For patients with chronic illnesses , and the doctors and nurses treating them , every trip to the hospital now carries the risk of death. FRANCE 24 visited the Sacré-Cœur hospital near Beirut as it prepares its staff for the worst. [Continue Reading]
This particular piece of advice should really not be followed [Continue Reading]
Proposals include transferring a supercomputer to the University of Wyoming and shifting a space weather lab to a private company. [Continue Reading]
Canada's government announced new measures to strengthen the Criminal Code, providing police forces and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) with increased authority and tools to combat crime. This move comes as criminal groups leverage digital networks and global connectivity to conduct more complex and harmful activities, posing risks from local communities to the national security landscape. The enhanced powers will support law enforcement agencies in investigating serious threats, disrupting organized crime, and protecting Canadian communities from evolving digital and global threats. By modernizing the legal toolkit, authorities aim to respond proactively to crime that increasingly exploits advanced technologies and... [Continue Reading]
Trade talks between China and the United States in Paris this weekend are likely to focus on setting the scene for the Beijing summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump later this month, analysts said, downplaying the prospects of any significant breakthroughs. Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are expected to discuss potential deals on tariffs, investment, and trade in soybeans and rare earths, which would be presented as deliverables for the... [Continue Reading]
Hours earlier, Cuba announced the forthcoming release of 51 prisoners, in what Havana said was a gesture of goodwill. [Continue Reading]
The FBI says it is investigating the incident as a "targeted act of violence against the Jewish community" but a motive for the crime remains unclear. [Continue Reading]
Watchdog ‘disturbed’ by president and US political leaders’ use of dehumanising language to target migrantsThe “racist hate speech” being used by Donald Trump and other US political leaders, along with the country’s intensified crackdowns on migration, has led to “grave human rights violations,” a UN watchdog has said.In a non-binding decision issued this week, the UN‘s committee on the elimination of racial discrimination (CERD) called on the US to uphold its obligations as a signatory to the international convention on combating racism and discrimination. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Thanks to the 2025 UK-Ukraine partnership agreement and the end of Kyiv's arms export embargo, the drone manufacturer Ukrspecsystems is set to start building drones in its first ever UK plant. This scheme is being reproduced in other European countries. The goal: boost and secure Ukraine's drone production. [Continue Reading]
Israel's opposition leader rebuffed claims that the US was pushed into attacking Iran by Prime Minister Netanyahu in a Euronews interview, amid rising doubts over whether the two allies are ultimately seeking different outcomes in the war on Iran. [Continue Reading]
The US economy grew at a significantly slower pace than initially estimated for the final months of 2025, government data showed on Friday, a major downgrade that comes as fallout from war in the Middle East looms. US gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said. This was sharply down from its earlier estimated 1.4 per cent over the October to December period. It also indicates that the world’s biggest economy was on a weaker... [Continue Reading]
The UK has expressed deep concern over the escalating human rights violations in Myanmar under military rule. Civilians are enduring indiscriminate airstrikes, mass displacement, arbitrary arrests, and widespread sexual and gender-based violence. The military is also accused of systematically blocking humanitarian aid, aggravating food shortages and denying critical medical assistance to millions of people. The military-led elections recently held in Myanmar have been condemned by the UK as neither free nor fair, undermining any prospects for legitimate governance. This situation continues to destabilize the country, worsening the humanitarian crisis and prolonging suffering. The UK reaffirmed its support for ASEAN's Five... [Continue Reading]
As the US–Israeli war with Iran continues, we focus on the heavy toll it is taking on women and children across the Middle East. Scores of civilians have already been killed throughout the region, with Iranians accounting for the majority of the deaths. Many more have been injured, while millions have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. As in many conflicts, women and children are among those most severely affected. This week, Annette Young is joined by Jasmine El-Gamal, a former Pentagon adviser, and Tara Kangarlou, an Iranian-American journalist. Both talk about how male leaders on... [Continue Reading]
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth questioned new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's ability to lead after nearly two weeks of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, saying he is "wounded and likely disfigured". [Continue Reading]
Russia on Friday said it summoned the United Kingdom and France ambassadors to protest a Ukrainian strike using Storm Shadow missiles on a factory in Bryansk, calling it a provocation that could undermine peace efforts. [Continue Reading]
Ukraine managed to cut off the Russians from the US Starlink satellite system and increased drone attacks against Russia's rear positions. [Continue Reading]