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

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...

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...

Trump's first 100 days in power: A tumultuous return to the White House

As he marks 100 days since returning to office for his second term, US President Donald Trump is facing countless challenges, many of his own making. On-off tariffs have sent markets lurching. A public meltdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office shocked allies in Europe....

France accuses Russia of cyberattacks during Macron's 2017 campaign

France has officially blamed Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, for a series of cyberattacks, including the breach of President Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign, which led to the leak of over 20,000 emails. The hacking group APT28 (Fancy Bear) is accused of targeting French instit...

Vietnam: Military parade marks 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon

Vietnam held a military parade to mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which took place on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War. The event commemorated the unification of the country and the victory of North Vietnamese forces....

Pakistan says India planning strike as tensions soar over Kashmir

Pakistan claimed on Wednesday it had "credible intelligence" of an imminent Indian military strike and warned of retaliation, as fears of escalating conflict grew following a deadly attack in Kashmir. Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have deteriorated since India blamed Pakistan for l...

Donald Trump marks first 100 days with rally in Michigan

At a Michigan rally, Donald Trump declared his presidency "just getting started" after a turbulent first 100 days. The period has seen rising tensions with China over trade, continued support for Ukraine, and a hardline stance on immigration. Trump promised further actions to reshape both domestic...

Druze fighter among several killed in fresh sectarian clashes near Damascus

A Syrian war monitor said at least two people were killed, including a Druze fighter, in fresh sectarian clashes near Damascus on Wednesday. The killings come after more than a dozen people were killed on Tuesday in a predominantly Druze town close to the capital in clashes sparked by a purported r...

US threatens to end mediation if Russia, Ukraine fail to offer 'concrete proposals'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday Washington will cease mediating Russia-Ukraine peace talks unless concrete progress is proposed. Frustrated by stalled negotiations and ongoing violence since Russia’s 2022 invasion, he warned of disengagement without viable solutions. ...

Dozens killed in shelling of Sudan's El Fasher

The Sudanese army says at least 41 people have been killed in shelling of the town of El Fasher. It's the last major town in the Darfur region still held by government forces in their war with the RSF paramilitary. El Fasher has been under siege since last May, with the prospect of a devastating co...

France accuses Russian military intelligence of cyberattacks

France on Tuesday accused Russian military intelligence of being behind a series of cyberattacks against the country over the last decade, including against Macron's first presidential campaign in 2017. Since 2021, a branch of Russian military intelligence (GRU) dedicated to such attacks has also t...