Eurovision Song Contest faces major test as countries weigh Israel's participation

03/12/2025 22:04 France 24

The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Dean Vuletic, historian of the Eurovision Song Contest, and author of 'Post-war Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest'.

Continua a leggere su "France 24"

Altre notizie da "France 24"

EU proposes using frozen Russian assets to provide €90 billion to Ukeraine

The European Commission has unveiled plans to provide €90 billion to support Ukraine over the next two years, by either using frozen Russian assets or by borrowing money on international markets. Although the EU has already been using interests earned on Russian central bank assets held up in Eur...

03/12/2025 22:01 France 24

Putin has 'something to back his confidence with', analyst says

NATO chief Mark Rutte hit back at Vladimir Putin's hawkish comments on Wednesday, saying the alliance is 'ready to do what it takes' to protect Europe. Speaking on FRANCE 24, Peter Zalmayev, Founder and Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, says that Putin has 'something to back his confide...

03/12/2025 20:57 France 24

Macron arrives in China for talks with Xi on trade ties and Russia's war in Ukraine

Emmanuel Macron arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day state visit focusing on trade and diplomatic talks as the French president seeks to enlist Beijing in pressuring Russia toward a ceasefire with Ukraine. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Jean-François Di Meglio, Economist and President...

03/12/2025 20:33 France 24

EU presents plan to use Russian assets for Ukraine as Belgium frets

The EU on Wednesday laid out a plan to use frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine with 90 billion euros over the next two years, despite outspoken opposition from key player Belgium. The European Union's executive has been drawing up options to help plug Kyiv's looming budget black holes as Rus...

03/12/2025 19:56 France 24

EU agrees deal to ban Russian gas by end of 2027

European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal Wednesday to ban all imports of Russian gas before the end of 2027, as the bloc seeks to choke off key funds feeding Moscow's war chest. Aimed at breaking a reliance the bloc has struggled to end despite the invasion of Ukraine, the accord m...

03/12/2025 19:20 France 24

Licence to kill?

When should a soldier disobey an order? The US president and his Pentagon chief doubling down on operations to sink without summation alleged drug boats in the Carribean and the Pacific, the pair pushing back on a Washington Post report asserting that back in September, Pete Hegseth's orders led t...

03/12/2025 19:17 France 24

Zelenska calls for action over Ukrainian children taken to Russian

Thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-controlled territories, with families struggling to locate them amid the conflict. Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska launched the Bring Kids Back foundation to help reunite children with their parents, while French auth...

03/12/2025 18:04 France 24

‘People know so much more about Russian literature’: An author’s invitation to discover Ukraine

A cultural event called Season of Ukraine – Journey to Ukraine: culture strikes back – running from December 2025 to March 2026 seeks to amplify the voices of Ukrainian artists by hosting 50 cultural events in multiple cities across France. FRANCE 24 spoke to Ukrainian author Andrei Kurkov on h...

03/12/2025 17:34 France 24

EU plans €90 billion fund for Ukraine using Russian assets as Belgium pleads for alternative

The EU on Wednesday presented a plan to provide Ukraine with €90 billion of funds over the next two years by using frozen Russian assets as Belgium – which holds the bulk of Russia's frozen assets inside the EU – repeated calls for an alternative solution....

03/12/2025 16:27 France 24

In Gaza, a mass wedding of 54 couples brings hope amid destruction

On Tuesday, 54 coupleswalked hand in hand, the brides dressed in traditional Palestinian gowns of white and red embroidery, accented with crimson ribbons, while the grooms walked alongside them in black suits and ties. Yet the surrounding scene told another story: dilapidated buildings, piles of...

03/12/2025 16:10 France 24

Sinking Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’: Has the Ukraine war reached Senegal?

A Turkish-owned oil tanker that recently visited a Russian port was heavily damaged by explosions off the coast of Senegal last Thursday. While Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the attack, the bombing follows a campaign targeting ships accused of belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” ...

03/12/2025 15:45 France 24

REPLAY: NATO chief holds press briefing over Ukraine-Russia peace talks

Rewatch NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a press briefing in Brussels on 3 December, addressing the latest developments in Ukraine-Russia peace talks....

03/12/2025 15:32 France 24

Mass wedding in Gaza brings hope amid conflict

In Gaza, 54 couples held a mass wedding in Khan Younis, bringing a rare moment of joy amid war and displacement. The UAE-sponsored event also provided support for couples to start their new lives....

03/12/2025 15:21 France 24

Russian court sentences US citizen to additional two years in prison

A Russian court on Wednesday sentenced US citizen Robert Gilman to an additional two years in jail, state media reported. The former US marine was first jailed by Russian authorities in 2022 for a drunken assault on a police officer....

03/12/2025 14:32 France 24

Francis Fukuyama: 'Trump is the most disappointing thing that's happened' in decades

FRANCE 24 spoke to Francis Fukuyama, author of the 1992 book "The End of History and The Last Man", in which he asserted that the end of the Cold War had established the dominance of liberal democracies. The Stanford University professor said that the election of US President Donald Trump is "the...

03/12/2025 14:27 France 24

Trump targets Somali immigrants amid reports of Minneapolis raids

US President Donald Trump, in a televised cabinet meeting, said “I don't want them in our country” about Somali immigrants, sparking outrage from politicians and migration experts. His remarks coincided with reports of planned federal raids targeting Minneapolis’ Somali community, though loca...

03/12/2025 13:52 France 24

Russian tanker attacked off Turkey, Putin warns of retaliation

A Russian tanker carrying sunflower oil was hit by a drone off the Turkish coast, with no casualties. The attack is part of recent strikes on Russian-flagged vessels targeting Moscow’s oil sector, while Putin warns of possible retaliatory measures....

03/12/2025 13:44 France 24

US envoys Kushner and Witkoff leave Kremlin without Ukraine deal

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Putin in the Kremlin on a revised Ukraine peace plan but left without a deal. Russia insists on territorial gains, army cuts, and blocking NATO membership, while Zelensky calls for long-term deterrence against future aggression....

03/12/2025 11:54 France 24

Russia rejecting modified US peace plan is 'exactly what Ukraine expected'

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Putin in the Kremlin on a revised Ukraine peace plan but left without a deal. 'This is exactly what Ukraine expected' says FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg from Kyiv....

03/12/2025 11:53 France 24

Ukraine: Vladimir Putin says Russia ‘ready’ for a war with Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Tuesday that Russia is "ready" for war should Europe pursue that path, accusing European leaders of sabotaging a potential agreement on the Ukraine conflict ahead of his meeting with American envoys. His remarks came as US envoy Steve Witkoff and Pres...

03/12/2025 10:46 France 24

Trump and Hegseth stand by Caribbean boat strikes despite legal concerns

At a cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a controversial pair of strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. Hegseth blamed the “fog of war” for not seeing survivors before the second hit, which is suspected of killing two people and may vio...

03/12/2025 10:31 France 24

France's Macron visits China for talks with Xi Jinping

President Macron’s fourth visit to China underscores how crucial the relationship with Beijing remains for him. The trip opens with a tour of the Forbidden City’s gardens, ahead of a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping and a press statement tomorrow. Discussions are expected to focus on business...

03/12/2025 09:53 France 24

US, Russia find 'no compromise' on key territory issue after Ukraine talks

Russia–US talks on ending the war in Ukraine produced no breakthrough on December 3, with the Kremlin saying no compromise had been reached on territorial issues. President Vladimir Putin met President Donald Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, but Moscow indicated key points of the...

03/12/2025 09:51 France 24

Live: New funding plan will put Ukraine in ‘position of strength’, EU Chief von der Leyen says

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday presented €90 billion funding plan for Ukraine that she said would put Kyiv in a “position of strength”. It is not yet clear whether the two-year plan will be funded by EU borrowing or by using frozen Russian assets. Follow our liveblog for the lates...

03/12/2025 06:26 France 24

Macron arrives in China for talks with Xi on Ukraine war, trade

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to push Chinese President Xi Jinping to lean on Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire during his three-day visit to China starting Wednesday. Macron's fourth state visit to China is also focused on trade as the EU faces a massive deficit with the Asi...

03/12/2025 02:01 France 24

Haiti sets August 2026 date for first general elections in a decade

Haiti’s transitional authorities on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited electoral timetable, announcing that the crisis-hit Caribbean nation plans to hold its first polls in nearly a decade next summer. This marks a significant step toward restoring democratic rule, though officials warn that rampant...

02/12/2025 23:32 France 24

Did Russia accidentally destroy its ability to send cosmonauts into space?

On November 27, Russia launched a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station. Since then, news articles are claiming that Moscow has accidentally destroyed its only launch pad capable of sending humans into space. According to experts looking at the footage, this is true for the first time in...

02/12/2025 22:05 France 24

Nigerian General Christopher Musa returns to government as defence minister

In tonight's edition: A month after losing his job as chief of defence staff amidst coup concerns, Nigerian General Christopher Musa returns to government as the country's minister of defence. Also, a well-known South African radio presenter has been accused of recruiting young men to join the Rus...

02/12/2025 21:55 France 24

'Governments are once again challenging the authority of central bankers'

Italy’s ruling lawmakers are pushing an amendment declaring the Bank of Italy’s $300 billion gold reserves state property, despite concerns it may breach EU rules. The move revives long standing political interest in using the gold to ease public debt. Italy will seek opinions from the Bank of...

02/12/2025 21:37 France 24

OpenAI's Sam Altman declares 'code red' to improve ChatGPT as rivals threaten its position

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared a "code red" to improve ChatGPT, planning to put all other projects on the back burner. The urgent call in an internal memo, first reported by The Information, highlights the ever-tightening race for AI supremacy, with Google's recent launch of its new Gemini chat...

02/12/2025 20:57 France 24

BREAKING NEWS

03/12 22:39 - Australia news live: Victorian government to slash 1,000 roles including 300 executives; Chalmers warns energy bill rebates ‘not forever’ 03/12 22:34 - Zelensky says Ukraine and US negotiators will meet after Russia visit 03/12 22:13 - Lebanon and Israel hold first direct talks in 40 years as war fears rise 03/12 22:13 - Lebanon and Israel hold first direct talks in 40 years as war fears rise 03/12 22:04 - Eurovision Song Contest faces major test as countries weigh Israel's participation 03/12 22:01 - EU proposes using frozen Russian assets to provide €90 billion to Ukeraine 03/12 22:00 - King welcomes German president in first state visit to UK in 27 years 03/12 21:15 - Israel and Lebanon hold first direct talks in decades 03/12 21:03 - What to Know About Trump’s Threat of Military Action in Venezuela 03/12 20:57 - Putin has 'something to back his confidence with', analyst says 03/12 20:54 - Stakes High, Europe Races to Save Its Financing Plan for Ukraine 03/12 20:33 - Macron arrives in China for talks with Xi on trade ties and Russia's war in Ukraine 03/12 19:56 - EU presents plan to use Russian assets for Ukraine as Belgium frets 03/12 19:46 - Ukraine’s NATO membership ‘key question’ in US talks: Russia 03/12 19:46 - Ukraine’s NATO membership ‘key question’ in US talks: Russia 03/12 19:40 - Von der Leyen ignores key EU member’s concerns with new asset theft push 03/12 19:23 - The Ukraine peace deal has stumbled yet again over an inevitable obstacle: Putin 03/12 19:20 - EU agrees deal to ban Russian gas by end of 2027 03/12 19:17 - Licence to kill? 03/12 19:13 - Is Russia Really Ready For War With Europe? 03/12 18:45 - Did Donald Trump fall asleep at a cabinet meeting? 03/12 18:39 - Confident of military success, Putin refuses compromise in Moscow talks 03/12 18:04 - Zelenska calls for action over Ukrainian children taken to Russian 03/12 18:00 - Weak Spots Are Few for Russia in Ukraine Peace Talks 03/12 17:50 - Is Putin about to go to war with Europe? – The Latest 03/12 17:34 - ‘People know so much more about Russian literature’: An author’s invitation to discover Ukraine 03/12 17:14 - Women’s prisons report finds 97 deaths in decade as self-harm hits record high 03/12 16:48 - Nato ‘ready to do what it takes’ to protect Europe, as Russia denies rejecting Ukraine peace plan – as it happened 03/12 16:28 - NATO head mocks Putin for dressing ‘like a soldier on the front’ 03/12 16:28 - NATO head mocks Putin for dressing ‘like a soldier on the front’ 03/12 16:27 - EU plans €90 billion fund for Ukraine using Russian assets as Belgium pleads for alternative 03/12 16:10 - In Gaza, a mass wedding of 54 couples brings hope amid destruction 03/12 16:08 - Amid missiles and diplomacy, Russia is exploiting western divisions over Ukraine 03/12 16:00 - EU has a plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine – how will it work? 03/12 15:47 - European Commission plans ‘reparations loan’ to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets 03/12 15:45 - Sinking Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’: Has the Ukraine war reached Senegal? 03/12 15:40 - Steve Rosenberg: What latest Ukraine talks reveal about Putin's state of mind 03/12 15:32 - REPLAY: NATO chief holds press briefing over Ukraine-Russia peace talks 03/12 15:32 - Hegseth Invoked the ‘Fog of War’ in a Boat Strike. What Does That Mean? 03/12 15:28 - Renovated al-Shifa Hospital ward in Gaza is barely operational 03/12 15:28 - Renovated al-Shifa Hospital ward in Gaza is barely operational 03/12 15:21 - Mass wedding in Gaza brings hope amid conflict 03/12 15:17 - German and Polish leaders clash over WWII reparations 03/12 14:51 - Footage shows Russian troops raising flag over Pokrovsk, claiming control 03/12 14:51 - Footage shows Russian troops raising flag over Pokrovsk, claiming control 03/12 14:46 - Which areas is Russia demanding as its price for peace in Ukraine? – visual explainer 03/12 14:32 - Russian court sentences US citizen to additional two years in prison 03/12 14:27 - Francis Fukuyama: 'Trump is the most disappointing thing that's happened' in decades 03/12 14:22 - Thames Water faces collapse as crisis talks take ‘longer than expected’ 03/12 14:16 - Colombia’s president warns Trump: ‘Do not wake the jaguar’ with threats of military strikes 03/12 14:13 - Belief in Russian defeat ‘a complete illusion’ – Belgium 03/12 14:09 - No security guarantees for Ukraine – Finnish PM 03/12 13:52 - Trump targets Somali immigrants amid reports of Minneapolis raids 03/12 13:44 - Russian tanker attacked off Turkey, Putin warns of retaliation 03/12 13:41 - Is Japan’s Iron Lady pushing her country towards war with China? 03/12 13:32 - Europe Wants to Get the Word Out: Russia Is to Blame for Sabotage 03/12 13:28 - Japan: A Teen’s POV on a WWII Kamikaze Story 03/12 13:28 - Japan: A Teen’s POV on a WWII Kamikaze Story 03/12 13:26 - Street sports help Palestinians cope with trauma 03/12 13:26 - Street sports help Palestinians cope with trauma 03/12 13:04 - ‘We stand with you’: Minneapolis mayor supports Somali community after Trump’s xenophobic remarks – live 03/12 12:46 - Family of victim of Trump boat airstrikes files complaint against ‘extrajudicial killing’ | First Thing 03/12 12:32 - ‘Closing the tap’: EU agrees on deal to end Russian gas imports by 2027 03/12 12:32 - ‘Closing the tap’: EU agrees on deal to end Russian gas imports by 2027 03/12 12:30 - Pope Leo stresses importance of European involvement in efforts to end war in Ukraine 03/12 12:26 - Top ex-EU diplomat Federica Mogherini accused of corruption and fraud 03/12 12:18 - Sudan’s RSF has no “well-articulated governance strategy” 03/12 12:18 - Sudan’s RSF has no “well-articulated governance strategy” 03/12 11:54 - US envoys Kushner and Witkoff leave Kremlin without Ukraine deal 03/12 11:53 - Russia rejecting modified US peace plan is 'exactly what Ukraine expected' 03/12 11:40 - Whistleblower accuses Foreign Office of ‘censoring’ warning of Sudan genocide 03/12 11:36 - Fabergé egg made for last Russian tsar smashes auction record 03/12 11:23 - Hegseth slammed over cartoon ‘narcoterror’ meme 03/12 10:46 - Ukraine: Vladimir Putin says Russia ‘ready’ for a war with Europe 03/12 10:31 - Trump and Hegseth stand by Caribbean boat strikes despite legal concerns 03/12 10:16 - Warning over cosmetic face fillers as scans reveal new details of risks 03/12 09:53 - France's Macron visits China for talks with Xi Jinping 03/12 09:51 - US, Russia find 'no compromise' on key territory issue after Ukraine talks 03/12 09:47 - Gaza university resumes in-person classes 03/12 09:47 - Gaza university resumes in-person classes 03/12 09:25 - Amnesty calls for war crimes probe on RSF attack on Sudan refugee camp 03/12 09:25 - Amnesty calls for war crimes probe on RSF attack on Sudan refugee camp 03/12 08:51 - Matt Van Epps Wins Tennessee House Race After a Trump-Led Rescue Mission 03/12 08:51 - Why Do People Need To Be Warned About You? Reveal Your Own Personal PSA 03/12 07:51 - Opium poppy farming hits 10-year high in war-torn Myanmar 03/12 07:51 - Opium poppy farming hits 10-year high in war-torn Myanmar 03/12 07:34 - Rubio names key obstacle in Ukraine talks 03/12 06:57 - Wednesday briefing: Does the new US plan put Ukraine and Russia on the path to peace? 03/12 06:26 - Live: New funding plan will put Ukraine in ‘position of strength’, EU Chief von der Leyen says 03/12 06:25 - Martial law: Year after South Korea imposed it, where else is it in force? 03/12 06:25 - Martial law: Year after South Korea imposed it, where else is it in force? 03/12 06:00 - Tesla privately warned UK that weakening EV rules would hit sales 03/12 05:49 - YouTube says it will comply with Australia’s under-16s social media ban, with Lemon8 to also restrict access 03/12 05:31 - 31 Winter Essentials To Keep Your Home Warm, Cozy, And Ready For All The Holiday Snuggles 03/12 05:20 - Federal Judge Bars Some Warrantless Immigration Arrests in D.C. 03/12 05:00 - News24 | Trump laments no ‘easy situation’ in Ukraine-Russia war as Putin demands territory 03/12 04:33 - Russia ‘ready’ for war if Europe starts it, Putin says, as US peace talks end without progress 03/12 03:19 - News24 | Putin warns Europe: if you want war, then Russia will defeat you 03/12 02:01 - Macron arrives in China for talks with Xi on Ukraine war, trade 03/12 01:57 - Kremlin signals no Ukraine breakthrough after Putin talks with US