European Union prepares new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine war

Russian goldmining in CAR funds Wagner in Africa and evades crippling int'l sanctions against Moscow

Several African nations, including Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR), have turned to the Russian private military company Wagner for security support. In return, Wagner gains access to lucrative resources—rare minerals, precious metals, and gems like gold and diamonds—while also helpi...

RSF warns of historic decline in US Press Freedom, intensified by Trump’s return to the White House

After a century of steady progress, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has determined that the United States is now undergoing its most significant and sustained erosion of press freedom in modern history—a decline sharply intensified by the return of Donald Trump to the political stage. For in-dept...

France slams Russia's 'unwillingness to negotiate' on war in Ukraine

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Thursday that the European Union is preparing a 17th round of sanctions against Russia, describing the country's president as the "sole obstacle" to peace in Ukraine. Story by Morgan Ayre....

'Alarming deterioration' of US press freedom under Donald Trump, says RSF

Media rights group RSF warned Friday about "an alarming deterioration in press freedom" in the United States under President Donald Trump as well as "unprecedented" difficulties for independent journalists around the world. FRANCE 24's Oliver Farry interviews Thibaut Bruttin, director general of Re...

Russia launches massive drone attack on Ukraine, 29 wounded in Zaporizhzhia

A Russian drone attack wounded 29 people, including a child, in Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine overnight, officials said on Friday, a day after Kyiv and Washington signed a landmark minerals deal....

'Alarming deterioration' of US press freedom under Trump, says RSF

Media rights group RSF warned Friday about "an alarming deterioration in press freedom" in the United States under President Donald Trump as well as "unprecedented" difficulties for independent journalists around the world....

China says contemplating US tariff talks offer, seeks 'sincerity'

China's commerce ministry on Friday confirmed it is "currently evaluating" a US offer to hold talks on tariffs on the condition that the US demonstrate "sincerity", amid Donald Trump's ongoing trade war which has strained the Chinese economy and rocked global markets....

Trump threatens sanctions on Iranian oil after US-Iran nuclear talks postponed

US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened sanctions on anyone who buys Iranian oil, a warning that came after planned talks over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme were postponed....

Albanian coastline affected by climate change, erosion and rising tourism

Albania has the third fastest-growing tourism industry in the world, but as erosion eats away at the coastline and developers build ever closer to the sea, the country is facing a crisis. The national civil protection agency has warned that a third of the coastline will face severe flood risks by 2...

How Ukraine’s mineral agreement with the US could impact the war with Russia

The US and Ukraine signed on Wednesday a resource-sharing deal granting Washington access to critical minerals. Kyiv hopes the pact will lock in military support, establish a reconstruction fund and counter Russian aggression, while keeping full Ukrainian control over national resources. France24 I...

'All improvements in working practices have been won by working people getting together'

The general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the importance of May Day, or International Workers' Day. Esther Lynch is in Paris to join the demonstrations here as she says the day is about celebrating how workers' friendship with each other – and...

What Ukraine's mineral deal with the US means for the war against Russia

The US and Ukraine signed on Wednesday a resource-sharing deal granting Washington access to critical minerals. Kyiv hopes the pact will lock in military support, establish a reconstruction fund and counter Russian aggression, while keeping full Ukrainian control over national resources. Ludovic de...

Forbidden Stories: A journalist's disappearance in Russian-occupied Ukraine

Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna never returned from what is thought to have been her fourth trip to Russian-occupied Ukraine. She disappeared in August 2023 and was confirmed to be in Russian custody in April 2024. In October the Russian defence ministry wrote to Roshchyna’s father to say she had...

US, Ukraine sign long-awaited natural resources deal

Washington and Kyiv have signed an agreement to create an investment fund aimed at defraying US costs for supporting Ukraine's defence, based on the extraction of the country's rare earth minerals and other natural resources. We take a closer look at what's in the deal. Also in this edition: French...

Reign of terror: Russia detains and tortures thousands of Ukrainian civilians

Since 2014, the regimes installed by Russia and its local collaborators in occupied regions of Ukraine have been arbitrarily detaining civilians on a massive scale. The Ukrainian government puts the number of those currently in detention at over 16,000. Journalists, activists, local politicians:...

Israel’s Netanyahu warns raging wildfires threaten to reach Jerusalem

Massive wildfires broke out near Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, forcing the evacuation of communities and road closures, and prompting Israel’s government to deploy troops to support firefighters. Declaring a “national emergency,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the blazes could re...

New US-Ukraine minerals deal marks post-aid partnership

The US and Ukraine signed a delayed minerals deal, with Ukraine retaining control over its rare earths. Seen as a shift from military to economic support, the accord aims to boost long-term US investment. Treasury Secretary Bessent called it a signal of lasting commitment to Ukraine and warned that...

'While voters are disenchanted with Labour, they're not necessarily willing to go back to Tories'

As far-right parties surge in polls across Europe, analysts warn that internal divisions could pose serious challenges if they gain power. In the UK, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage continues to ride the momentum of Brexit, with polls showing his party rivaling or surpassing Labour. For deeper insigh...

Wildfires rage near Jerusalem, Israel declares the state of emergency

Massive wildfires near Jerusalem forced evacuations and road closures on Wednesday, prompting Israel to deploy troops as firefighters battled the flames. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a national emergency, warning the fires could reach the city. On Jerusalem's Independence Day, Noga Tarnopolsky...

Kyiv reacts to critical minerals deal between Ukraine and US

Following some initial reluctance, Ukraine has agreed to a minerals deal aimed at attracting long-term U.S. investment, amid efforts by Trump to significantly reduce America’s global security commitments. Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv, Ukraine....

Ukraine and US sign minerals deal, marking shift from military to economic support

The US and Ukraine signed a minerals agreement Wednesday, marking a renewed commitment to Kyiv post-military aid, the Trump administration said. Ukraine secured key terms after lengthy talks, including full sovereignty over its rare earths, which are critical for new technologies and largely untapp...

Vladyslav Greziev warns 'never trust Russians': 'They don't want peace deals, nor an end to the war'

The United States and Ukraine have concluded a rare minerals agreement following a two-month delay, which the Trump administration hailed as a renewed expression of support following the abrupt suspension of military aid. Ukrainian officials say the deal secures national control over vital rare ear...

Tesla chair denies reports that board is looking for new CEO to replace Musk

The chair of Tesla on Thursday denied a Wall Street Journal report that said the company's board had contacted executive search firms about a month ago to identify a potential successor for CEO Elon Musk. The reports come as Tesla faces slumping sales and profits, with investors wary of Musk’s ro...

Ukraine, US sign minerals deal, marking shift from military to economic support

The US and Ukraine signed a minerals agreement Wednesday, marking a renewed commitment to Kyiv post-military aid, the Trump administration said. Ukraine secured key terms after lengthy talks, including full sovereignty over its rare earths, which are critical for new technologies and largely untapp...

🔴 US and Ukraine sign deal to form reconstruction investment fund, Washington says

100 posts a day: Who does Elon Musk target on X?

To mark the 100th day of US President Donald Trump’s second term, the FRANCE 24 Observers collaborated with France Info and Belgium's RTBF to analyse the rhetoric of Elon Musk, one of Trump's closest advisers. This two-part investigation, conducted by the Médias Francophones Publics, examines th...

MSF warns: USAID’s demise a ‘human-made disaster that will have dire health consequences worldwide'

UN aid agencies warn of deep service cuts as US funding plummets under President Donald Trump. His administration has slashed 83% of programs funded by USAID, which had a $42.8 billion annual budget—42% of all global humanitarian aid. As vital operations for millions of people worldwide is severe...

Around the world in 100 days: US economy unexpectedly shrinks as Trump tariffs loom over the economy

US President Donald Trump is celebrating his "most successful first 100 days" in US history. All the while, the US economy shrank at a 0.3% annual pace from January through March, the first drop in three years, as President Donald Trump's trade wars disrupted business. First-quarter growth was slow...

French film 'Not all men, but...' pokes fun at stereotypes and sexism

Michel Leclerc has never shied away from delicate social topics and the French director has now managed to inject humour into the issue of sexual assault in "Not all men, but…". Critic Perrine Quennesson tells us why his gamble has paid off and why entertaining performances from Léa Drucker and...

Elon Musk's tweets (1/2): A conduit for pro-Russian anti-Ukraine rhetoric

Elon Musk has become one of the most fervent critics of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky online, especially on X, the platform he owns. To better understand Musk’s messaging about the Ukrainian war, the FRANCE 24 Observers team worked with RTBF and France Info to analyse some 15,000 of Mu...