World News Hub

Lebanon health ministry says Israeli strikes in south and east kill eight

An Israeli strike in eastern Lebanon killed five people on Thursday, while another attack near the southern city of Tyre killed three more, the Lebanese health ministry said. The strikes also left eight wounded, including three children and two women. They came a day after the Lebanese and Israeli governments agreed a ceasefire plan for Israel's war with Hezbollah, which the group has rejected. FR...

Ukraine's Zelensky pledges clear timetable of talks on EU membership

President Volodymyr Zelensky ⁠pledged on Thursday that ​Ukraine would keep to a clear timetable in talks on joining the ​European Union and in sticking to its obligations with the 27-nation bloc. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Georgia's former minister of Euro-Atlantic integration and professor at SciencesPo Paris Tornike Gorgadze.

Ukraine war and risk of stagnation hang over St Petersburg economic conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding his fifth wartime economic conference in St. Petersburg, with the Russian economy stgnating and his government struggling for ways to resume growth. FRANCE 24's Nick Rushworth reports.

Massive disinformation campaign underway in Armenia ahead of elections, analysts warn

One ballot box, two competing battles. In Armenia, voters are heading to the polls to decide the future direction of their country. But beneath the political campaigns lies a far more insidious warfare. Analysts warn that a massive, coordinated network of foreign disinformation - much of it tracing back to Russia - is systematically weaponizing the deep-seated trauma of recent wars. FRANCE 24's Ol...

Zelensky proposes face-to-face meeting in letter to Putin, says ready for 'full ceasefire'

Zelensky proposes face-to-face meeting, 'full ceasefire' in open letter to Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called for a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter, saying he was also ready for a “full ceasefire”. In response, the Kremlin said Zelensky could meet Putin in Moscow "any time".

Zelensky in open letter to Putin proposes face-to-face meeting and 'full ceasefire'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called for a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter, saying he was also ready for a “full ceasefire”.

A 'rogues' gallery' of notorious figures at Russia's biggest economic conference

Russia-U.S. talks on economic and energy issues continue despite a pause in Ukraine peace negotiations, Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev told ​Reuters on Thursday, ‌adding he spoke to U.S. counterparts a day earlier. He spoke on the sidelines of the St Petersburg economic summit, where, as FRANCE 24's international affairs commentator Douglas Herbert explains, a veritable 'rogues' gallery' of...

A 'ceasefire war' in Lebanon continues as 'chaotic global leadership' takes its toll

Hezbollah's chief on Thursday rejected a conditional truce announced by Lebanese and Israeli envoys, demanding instead a comprehensive ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal as he threatened northern Israel with new attacks. FRANCE 24's Noga Tarnopolsky reports from Jerusalem.

Cancer breakthroughs: Does a string of advances signal turning point?

It’s not every day that a standing ovation at a medical conference goes viral. Dateline: Chicago, at the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Doctors from around the world rose to their feet to applaud the announcement of a new pill that doubles survival time for pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease.

Cancer breakthrough bonanza: Does string of advances signal turning point?

It’s not every day that a standing ovation at a medical conference goes viral. Dateline Chicago and the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Doctors from around the world out of their seats to cheer a new pill that doubles the survival time of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease. At the same conference, big announcements on breast cancer bladder ...

Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska carries fairytale run into French Open final

Polish world number 114 Maja Chwalinska made French Open history on Thursday as she beat Russian Diana Shnaider in straight sets to become the first qualifier to go all the way to the final at Roland Garros – and only the second in Grand Slam history after Emma Raducanu's title run at the US Open in 2021.

Outrage in France as body discovered in case of missing 11‑year‑old Lyhanna

Outrage erupted in France on Thursday after a body was discovered in the search for 11-year-old schoolgirl Lyhanna and it was revealed that the key suspect had been repeatedly accused of sexually abusing children but no action had been taken. The body has yet to be formally identified.

Artificial Intelligence: Open-source important to 'Europe's tech strength'

Investing in a 'common language': Brando Benifei tells #F24Debate open-source #AI could build up Europe's tech strength and help forge global alliances➡️https://go.france24.com/59II

Mexico set for unprecedented third turn as World Cup host

Historically, the Mexican national team – known as ‘El Tri’ – has never exactly been renowned for its sporting achievements. The country reached the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986. However, football is part of everyday life in every family and every village in Mexico. On 11 June, the country will host its third World Cup, a first in history, much to the delight of an entire nation that lives and ...

Long awaited South Korean Centre Pompidou branch opens in Seoul

The Centre Pompidou Hanwha in South Korea opens its doors to the public on Thursday, with an exhibition on Cubism featuring the work of 54 artists. It is part of the Centre Pompidou Paris' Constellation programme, through which the cultural centre is loaning its works to museums and cultural centres across the world while it is closed for a five years of renovation works.

Albania: luxury complex project linked to Trump's family sparks outrage

Anger is growing in #Albania over a plan to build luxury hotels and villas in a protected area on the #Adriatic coast. The project is being led by an investment #fund linked to #Trump's son-in-law Jared #Kushner. Protests started end of May after videos showed bulldozers on the #beach.

Trump slams 'unpatriotic' US House vote to end Iran war

President Donald Trump on Thursday slammed a vote in the US House seeking to order the withdrawal of American troops from the Iran war, suggesting the "unpatriotic" move disrupted negotiations with Tehran. The largely symbolic vote came "right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

DR Congo opposition calls for protest against Tshisekedi running for 3rd term

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the political opposition called on residents of the capital city Kinshasa to stay in their homes to protest against the possibility of President Felix Tshisekedi running for a third term. FRANCE 24’s Emmet Livingstone reports from Kinshasa.

African migrants flee as South Africa's xenophobic violence surges

Hundreds of foreigners fearing for their lives have taken shelter in community halls on South Africa's south coast, saying mobs of locals were going door-to-door telling them to leave the country. Mostly nationals of Malawi and Mozambique, many told AFP they had fled their homes at the weekend and spent nights in the mountains and bush, before making their way to the small-town community centres.

War in Sudan: Is the unity of the RSF beginning to crack?

In recent days, the Sudanese army has announced advances in the east of the country, recapturing several towns from the Rapid Support Forces and forcing some of their members to cross the border into Ethiopia to seek refuge there. At the same time, numerous sources in Darfur report tensions within the paramilitary group, which are said to have led to the defection of several commanders over the pa...

2026 World Cup: Senegal fans fear United States visa barrier

Across Africa, many believe it will be difficult for fans to get visas to the World Cup. The fear is growing in Senegal – who were put on the United States immigration blacklist in late 2025 by Donald Trump. Senegalese nationals are no longer eligible for a US visa except in a few limited cases and visa applications have been systematically rejected since then. Even 6 members of the executive comm...

Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement as Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon

Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, and the militant group demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as more fighting there hampered efforts to end the Iran war. The Hezbollah announcement came as Israeli strikes killed at least four people, according to local authorities, and a UN peacekeeper was killed in the crossfi...

France's ban on Israeli weapons at Eurosatory 'shameful', says economy minister

Speaking to FRANCE 24, Nir Barkat, Israel's economy minister called France's decision to ban Israeli offensive weapons from the Eurosatory defence fair "shameful", warning that Israel would "bypass France" to reach its customers. He argued Israel had "no choice but to eliminate" Iran's capabilities, and said he preferred "to be alive and deal with my image" rather than worry about Israel's battere...

Strait of Hormuz oil crisis: An opportunity for Syria?

In the show this week, we look at how Syria could benefit from the oil crisis triggered by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. After Iran effectively closed the strategic waterway, Syria's Mediterranean port of Baniyas found itself emerging as a hub for crude oil transported overland from the UAE and Iraq. Could Syria – a country in desperate need of investment after 14 years of civil war – establis...