The Bright Side: Smiling figurine thought to be first 'portrait' of a Viking

How Russia is building airports to launch Iranian drones at Ukraine

The number of Russian strikes on Ukraine using Shahed kamikaze drones has been rising significantly since the beginning of the year, terrorising civilians. In order to continue its relentless drone campaign, Russia has been setting up special airports custom-built for mass drone launches. The FRANC...

REPLAY & ANALYSIS - Moldova: EU leaders show support against 'Russian interference'

The leaders of France, Germany and Poland arrived in Moldova on Wednesday in a show of support, a day before campaigning starts for next month's tense parliamentary election amid claims of Russian interference in the pro-EU nation bordering Ukraine. The Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, spoke to the...

Fighting war-fuelled cholera in Sudan: NGO sounds alarm on lack of funding

War-torn Sudan is in the grips of one of its worst cholera outbreaks in years. More than 100,000 people have been infected by the disease and over 2,400 lives lost since the outbreak was declared last year. The war has been fuelling the crisis, forcing mass displacement and as people move, so does...

European leaders display support to Moldova against Russian interference

The leaders of France, Germany and Poland are to visit Moldova on August 27 in a show of support for the EU-candidate country, which accuses Russia of seeking to destabilise it. Details by FRANCE 24 reporter Clovis Casali....

India hit by Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs, plans to cushion blow

India is hopeful that the U.S. will review the additional 25% tariff imposed on Indian goods as penalty for its Russian oil purchases, a government source told reporters on Wednesday. The Indian government is holding talks with exporters to increase shipments of textiles, leather, gems and jeweller...

More than 100,000 Ukrainian homes lose power after Russia targets energy sites

More than 100,000 households were left without power Wednesday after Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Kyiv said. The overnight strikes also killed three people in the southern Kherson region. ...

Israel intensifies Gaza City operations as White House sets meeting on post-war plans

Israeli forces increased military pressure on the outskirts of Gaza City Wednesday as US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said the White House would host a meeting to outline post-war plans for the war-torn enclave....

50% tariff on India comes into effect as talks between Washington and New Delhi stall

The United States' 50% tariff on Indian goods came into effect this Wednesday, making India the target of President Donald Trump's largest import duties in Asia. Half of these levies have been imposed because of India's purchases of Russian crude oil, which have surged since the start of the war in...

French, German, Polish leaders to visit Moldova in show of force in face of Russia

The leaders of France, Germany and Poland are due in Moldova on Wednesday in a show of support, a day before campaigning starts for next month's tense parliamentary election amid claims of Russian interference in the pro-EU nation bordering Ukraine. Details by FRANCE 24 reporter Clovis Casali....

French, German and Polish leaders head to Moldova to denounce Russian 'interference' ahead of vote

Leaders from France, Germany and Poland are headed to Moldova Wednesday on the eve of the campaign for next month's high-stakes parliamentary election. Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu described the European leaders' visit as a "show of support" for the former Soviet republic in the face of wh...

Trump’s punishing 50% tariffs on Indian exports come into effect

US President Donald Trump's 50-percent tariffs on swaths of Indian products took effect Wednesday, straining ties between Washington and New Delhi as the US justified its steep duties as punishment for India buying Russian oil. Former president Joe Biden had encouraged India to step up its purchase...

Ukraine eases martial law, opens border to young men

Despite struggling to withstand Russia's persistent advancements on its eastern territories, Ukraine on Tuesday decided to loosen its martial law restrictions, allowing men aged 18 to 22 to cross the border freely. Story by Morgan Ayre....

A Pro-Russian government in Moldova will facilitate offensive against Ukraine, analyst says

Moldovan authorities have denounced what they call “unprecedented” Russian interference in an upcoming parliamentary election. Cyberattacks, destabilization, electoral corruption, disinformation. These instruments aim to discredit the pro-European party of President Maia Sandu, re-elected last...

Iran sanctions snapback: European diplomats concerned about Russian nuisance potential, expert says

Iran held talks on Tuesday with European powers, seeking to avert a sanctions snapback which they have threatened to impose under the moribund 2015 nuclear deal. FRANCE 24 speaks to Holly Dagres, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute, who says that European diplomats are concerned about potenti...

Geopolitical & economic threats: 'US is incredibly unreliable as core of European financial system'

Jens van ’t Klooster, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Amsterdam, warns that the EU must craft a strong long-term economic strategy to challenge the US directly. He argues Europe has been overly dependent and unassertive in its transatlantic economic strategy for decades. Criti...

Macron warns Netanyahu fight against anti-Semitism must not be 'weaponised'

French President Emmanuel Macron strongly rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent criticism over rising anti-Semitism in France and warned the issue should not be “weaponised” in a letter to the Israeli leader published Tuesday....

Macron warns Netanyahu that fight against anti-Semitism must not be 'weaponised'

Ukraine admits Russian army has entered central Dnipropetrovsk region, fighting ongoing

Ukraine admitted for the first time on Tuesday that Russian forces had entered the central Dnipropetrovsk region, saying fighting there was ongoing. The battlefield monitor DeepState said in a social media post that the Russian army was “consolidating its positions” and preparing “for a furth...

Famine in Gaza: ‘It’s not just a humanitarian crisis, it's a daily tragedy’

For the first time since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, the UN declared a famine in the Gaza governorate on August 22. The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to several local food distribution organisations who say the declaration “comes too late”, as part of the population “has been star...

'Netanyahu not under pressure from US, Mideast, Int'l community to alter trajectory, end tragic war'

Protesters in Israel on Tuesday torched tires, blocked highways and clamored for a ceasefire that would free hostages still in Gaza, even as Israeli leaders moved forward with plans for an offensive which they argue is needed to defeat Hamas. The disruption came as Palestinians in Gaza braced for t...

Macron, Merz, Tusk to visit Moldova to back its 'security, sovereignty'

The leaders of France, Germany and Poland are to visit Moldova on August 27 in a show of support for the EU-candidate country, which accuses Russia of seeking to destabilise it, the Elysee said Friday. Story by Maria Gerth-Niculescu....

Israelis stage a day of disruption to pressure Netanyahu's government over war in Gaza

Protesters in Israel on Tuesday torched tires, blocked highways and clamored for a ceasefire that would free hostages still in Gaza, even as Israeli leaders moved forward with plans for an offensive which they argue is needed to defeat Hamas. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Tel Aviv, Noga Tar...

Has the US shut its ‘Five Eyes’ allies out of intelligence on Ukraine-Russia peace talks?

US media has accused Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard of refusing to share information from Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations with Washington’s closest allies – to the potential benefit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Are cracks appearing in the West's longstanding anglosphe...

Israeli protesters demand hostage deal as cabinet set to meet

Protesters demanding an end to the Gaza war and the return of hostages to their homes took to the streets in Israel on Tuesday ahead of a security cabinet meeting scheduled for the evening. Story by Solange Mougin and Olivier Faissolle....

Australia expels Iran ambassador, accusing Tehran of being behind antisemitic attacks

Australia expelled Iran's ambassador on Tuesday, accusing the country of being behind antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. It marks the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War II. Intelligence services reached the "deeply disturbing conclusion" that Iran direct...

Australia expels Iranian ambassador over antisemitic attacks

Australia accused Iran on Tuesday of executing two antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and gave Tehran's ambassador seven days to leave the country, its first such expulsion since World War Two....

Israeli protesters call for hostage deal ahead of cabinet meeting

Protesters calling for an end to the war in Gaza and the return of hostages being held there took to the streets in Israel on Tuesday morning ahead of a security cabinet meeting scheduled for the evening....

Iran, European powers to resume nuclear talks as sanctions deadline looms

Tehran is set to hold nuclear talks with France, Britain and Germany on Tuesday in Geneva, the second round of meetings since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June derailed negotiations with Washington. The European partners have threatened to trigger UN sanctions unless Tehran resumes cooperation...

Australia accuses Iran of directing anti-Semitic attacks, expels ambassador

Australia’s government on Tuesday announced the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador, accusing Tehran of orchestrating anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited intelligence services’ “deeply disturbing conclusion” that Iran was behind at least two such...

Bolivia right-wing candidate pledges to scrap lithium deals with China, Russia

Bolivian right-wing presidential candidate Jorge Quiroga vowed on Monday to cancel multi-billion-dollar lithium extraction agreements signed by the outgoing government with Russia and China if elected president in October, saying he would seek alternative investment partners. ...