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In this edition we head to Morocco for the Marrakech African Book Festival (FLAM), a key gathering for writers, thinkers and novelists from across Africa and its diaspora. Our team sits down with Nigerian writer Chigozie Obioma, whose acclaimed works "The Fishermen" and "An Orchestra of Minorities" were both shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Reporters Without Borders says global press freedom has dropped to its lowest level in 25 years, with only 1 percent of the world’s population living in countries rated as having a “good” media environment. The report highlights rising violence against journalists in conflict zones, worsening legal pressure worldwide, and political attacks on the media, while Norway ranks first and Eritrea remains...
A Beirut-based filmmaker whose debut feature film has been described as an ode to the collective courage of the Lebanese people has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the film and her love for the city. Lana Daher has spent years working in Beirut and the last six years delving through thousands of hours of footage from Lebanon. That work comes together in her film "Do You Love Me". She spoke to us in Pers...
Gulf countries are quietly pressuring the United States and Iran to reach a deal as the conflict disrupts vital oil exports and takes a growing economic toll. Working behind the scenes, including through Pakistan, they are trying to revive negotiations despite tensions with Tehran as FRANCE 24’s Hoda Abdel Hamid reports from Doha.
In Mali, rebels have called for Russian forces to withdraw, with the pullback from Kidal highlighting growing pressure despite Moscow’s claims of success and its habit of blaming external actors. For Jumo Ayandela, specialist in African politics and security at the New York University, this reflects a wider narrative battle increasingly questioning Russia’s role across the Sahel, while the intervi...
Migrants in Djibouti are making the long journey back home after failed attempts to cross the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait to reach Gulf countries, facing hunger, detention and life-threatening conditions. Driven by poverty and conflict in Ethiopia, thousands attempt this perilous route each year, with more than 900 deaths recorded in 2025, making it the deadliest on record.
Iranian-American creator Mahdi Hemmat is gaining millions of views with AI-generated, Lego-style rap videos that blend satire, pop culture and political messaging about the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. While presented as entertainment, the content promotes pro-Iran narratives and criticism of Donald Trump, illustrating how digital creators are shaping opinion and reaching...
Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced the creation of a paramilitary force to secure its mining sector, backed by funding from the United States and United Arab Emirates. The unit, expected to grow to over 20,000 personnel by 2028, aims to protect operations, strengthen state control and reassure investors as global competition for critical minerals intensifies. FRANCE 24's Emmet Livingst...
A spate of high-profile stadium tours by stars like Céline Dion, Taylor Swift and Oasis have put a spotlight on the practice of dynamic ticket pricing, with many fans saying they're unable to secure or afford tickets. We take a closer look in this edition of People & Profit.
Despite fluctuations in its price, gold continues to fuel economies and often greed across Africa. Deep in the Sahara, in Mauritania, extraction sites are multiplying across the desert. In the past few years, this gold rush has become a key pillar of the Mauritanian economy. FRANCE 24's Sarah Sakho and Simon Martin report.
Two bays in Indonesia are hotspots for endangered whale sharks, who frequent their waters year-round and not seasonally as previously thought, a new study has revealed. The research tracked 70 whale sharks over a decade, shedding new light on their migration habits.
As geopolitical instability exposes the deep entanglement between energy, food systems, and global security, Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Delphine Lévi Alvarès, Petrochemicals Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). Joining us from a high-level summit in Colombia, Ms. Alvarès says we've reached a critical juncture that requires steadfast action. The on-goin...
The US Department of Justice has charged Rubén Rocha Moya, governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, with drug trafficking in a rare move against a sitting foreign official. If convicted, he could face life in prison, as Washington steps up its crackdown on narcotics networks.
Mali’s military launched strikes on Kidal after separatist Azawad Liberation Front fighters claimed control, while coordinated attacks with jihadist group JNIM intensified insecurity. As rebels push to expand their reach and demand the withdrawal of Russian forces, jihadists have also announced a blockade of roads into the capital Bamako, raising fears of further escalation.
Donald Trump has discussed with oil companies how to cushion the impact of a months-long US blockade of Iranian ports, as reports of potential new strikes pushed Brent crude to its highest level since March 2022. For FRANCE 24's international editor Angela Diffley, both sides are locked in a 'who will blink first' strategy, with Washington applying sustained pressure while Tehran resists concessio...
Body-worn camera video footage shows Metropolitan Police officers detaining a knife-attack suspect at Golders Green in London, home to a large Jewish community. Two men were stabbed outside a synagogue in north London in the wake of a series of recent arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in the area.
PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, April 30, 2026: First, the Golders Green attack features on all the British front pages. Next, King Charles's speech to the US Congress is hailed as a master class in subtle diplomacy. In Germany, papers discuss the latest feud between the US president and the German chancellor. Finally, a stranded whale gets a new home.
Several women were sexually assaulted during a traditional festival in Nigeria’s Delta state in March 2026. The Alue-do fertility festival is celebrated by members of the Oramudu community to help married women having trouble getting pregnant. At certain points, the ritual calls for single women to stay inside. Community leaders said the event was “hijacked by hoodlums” from outside who didn’t und...
Russia on Thursday said its forces would stay in Mali, rejecting a call from Tuareg rebels for Moscow to withdraw after separatists and jihadists launched the largest attacks against the military junta's rule in 15 years.
Pete Hegseth faced sharp criticism in Congress over launching the Iran conflict without approval, as Democrats condemned the war’s justification and its estimated $25 billion cost. Meanwhile, Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal on the Strait of Hormuz, leaving negotiations at an impasse while Tehran seeks international support.
In this edition of French Connections, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot continue their tour of Paris with a stop in a massive Parisian arrondissement – the 17th! We get a behind-the-scenes look at Napoléon's iconic Arc de Triomphe and discover the man who helped shape the 17th and most of Paris: Baron Haussmann. Whether it's Haussmannian apartment blocks or a giant glass tower dominating the l...
Brent crude has jumped to its highest level since the start of the Ukraine war after US President Donald Trump signalled that the American blockade on the Strait of Hormuz could last for months. Also in this edition: the US Federal Reserve prepares for a new chief as its board tries to maintain political independence, and French oil giant TotalEnergies faces calls for a windfall tax amid soaring p...
The Supreme Court of the United States struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, ruling it relied too heavily on race and weakening protections under Voting Rights Act of 1965. The 6–3 decision, driven by the court’s conservative majority, is expected to make it harder for minority communities to challenge discriminatory maps, with critics warning it could reduce representa...
Donald Trump says a US naval blockade on Iran could last for months, as the standoff between Washington and Tehran continues. The crisis has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, sending prices to multi-year highs. FRANCE 24's correspondent in Tehran, Reza Sayah, has more.
Israel has expanded its military zone in Gaza to cover nearly two-thirds of the territory since the October ceasefire. While the army says restrictions support aid efforts, Palestinians fear displacement and a long-term Israeli presence amid ongoing violence.
Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel are escalating after a reported breach of the “yellow line,” with Israel threatening further strikes. Talks between Iran and the US remain stalled, complicating efforts to contain the situation. Meanwhile, Israel faces a growing scandal over alleged grain imports from Russia linked to Ukraine.
As the Kenyan peace force is set to leave Haiti, Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Dr. Rosa Freedman, Professor of Law Conflict and Global Development at the University of Reading. She argues that the crisis in Haiti reflects deep structural failures, not just “gang violence.” She calls the Kenyan mission “a profound failure from the outset” and says “anyone… who understands Haiti knew that this ...
A French 18-year-old is facing mischief and public nuisance charges in Singapore after he posted a video to social media of him licking a straw from a vending machine and putting it back. The teen, who has not entered a plea, was charged after the company operating the juice machine filed a police report.
Freedom of the press has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, NGO Reporters without Borders (RSF) warned Thursday as it released its annual global ranking. The group reported a worldwide decline in media freedom, citing factors ranging from US President Donald Trump’s “systematic” attacks on the press to actions in Saudi Arabia, where a journalist was executed in 2025.
