‘Embryonic’: lost novel by French film-maker Éric Rohmer is republished
The Guardian

‘Embryonic’: lost novel by French film-maker Éric Rohmer is republished

English translation of Élisabeth, the New Wave director’s 1946 book about young lovers in prewar Paris, receives rave reviews as precursor to auteur’s cinematic workIn the dog days of the second world war, 24-year-old Maurice Schérer wrote a tale of young lovers in prewar small-town France. He described lazy August swims in the Marne River east of Paris. He wrote about age-gap affairs and semi-inc...

Iran warns states joining US sanctions will be considered enemies

Iran warns states joining US sanctions will be considered enemies

France 24

Iran on Saturday said that any country participating in the United States’ “economic war” against the Islamic republic would be considered “an enemy”. The warning came after President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday the war with the US should end because the world had already accepted that Iran had won, according to Iranian state media.

Middle East live: Iran warns states joining US sanctions will be considered ‘enemies’

Middle East live: Iran warns states joining US sanctions will be considered ‘enemies’

France 24

Iran on Saturday said that any country participating in the United States’ “economic war” against the Islamic republic would be considered “an enemy”. The warning came after President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday the war with the US should end because the world had already accepted that Iran had won, according to Iranian state media. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Middle East live: Syria denounces Israeli strike as 'flagrant violation of sovereignty'

Middle East live: Syria denounces Israeli strike as 'flagrant violation of sovereignty'

France 24

Syria on Saturday condemned an Israeli strike southwest of Damascus that wounded one person as a “flagrant violation of sovereignty”. The attack followed a similar strike on Tuesday, which was criticised by US envoy for Syria Tom Barrack as an “unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability”. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. 

Middle East live: Iran allows several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through Hormuz strait

Middle East live: Iran allows several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through Hormuz strait

France 24

Iran has allowed a ​number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following repeated requests from Baghdad, ​Iran’s ‌state news agency reported ⁠on Saturday. Meanwhile, the United States and Iran exchanged defiant messages ahead of Monday's scheduled announcement of new US economic sanctions. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. 

Victorian station used by British royals near Sandringham is on sale for £1.25 million

Victorian station used by British royals near Sandringham is on sale for £1.25 million

Times of India

Wolferton Station, a former royal terminus renowned for its regal service, has been reinvented as a charming family home. For over a hundred years, it welcomed members of the royal family during grand occasions. Following its closure, a dedicated railway employee intervened to prevent its demolition. Now, this unique property is available for purchase at £1.25 million.

Children among wounded in Zelensky's hometown, struck by Russian drones

Children among wounded in Zelensky's hometown, struck by Russian drones

France 24

Early this Saturday, Russian strikes killed at least two people in Ukraine. In Zaporizhzhia, a drone killed a man and wounded four, according to officials, while a warehouse was on fire in Kyiv. It comes after a Russian bombing killed at least 20 people on Friday, 16 of them in two successive strikes on a busy shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Kiyv, Emmanuelle Ch...

Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball in match against England goes for auction

Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball in match against England goes for auction

France 24

The football that Diego Maradona punched into the net for his infamous "Hand of God" goal is under the hammer this weekend. The historic ball from that infamous quarter final World Cup match between Argentina and England in 1986 is expected to fetch over 10 million dollars. Details by Camille Knight.

Albanese: Canberra to join Australia’s gun buy-back programme after Bondi attack

Albanese: Canberra to join Australia’s gun buy-back programme after Bondi attack

SCMP

Australia’s capital will join a gun buy-back ⁠as part of ⁠a response to a ⁠shooting spree that killed 15 at a Jewish festival in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday. Albanese’s centre-left government enacted laws in January for the gun buy-back, tighter checks for gun ‌licences and a crackdown on hate in the wake of the December 14 gun attack at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebrat...

Albanese: Canberra to join Australia’s gun buy-back program after Bondi attack

Albanese: Canberra to join Australia’s gun buy-back program after Bondi attack

SCMP

Australia’s capital will join a gun buy-back ⁠as part of ⁠a response to a ⁠shooting spree that killed 15 at a Jewish festival in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday. Albanese’s centre-left government enacted laws in January for the gun buy-back, tighter checks for gun ‌licences and a crackdown on hate in the wake of the December 14 gun attack at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebrat...

Texas constable shuts down 3 Flock cameras after county ends contract, tells firm ‘get your garbage’

Texas constable shuts down 3 Flock cameras after county ends contract, tells firm ‘get your garbage’

Times of India

Following a contract cancellation with Flock Safety cameras, Hood County officials have initiated a refund request and equipment retrieval. A local constable took the initiative to disable and cover the cameras, openly criticizing the issue of warrantless surveillance. This controversy feeds into a broader discussion across the country regarding the clash between enhanced investigatory methods and...

Mainland Chinese research ship spotted near Taiwan’s largest naval base

Mainland Chinese research ship spotted near Taiwan’s largest naval base

SCMP

A mainland Chinese research ship has sailed close to a key Taiwanese naval base, marking its second appearance near the island in recent months. The Tong Ji, a 2,000-tonne scientific research vessel operated by Tongji University in Shanghai, was spotted 28 nautical miles (52km) southwest of Liuchiu, an island also known as Lamay, on Friday morning, according to the Taiwanese authorities. The islan...

Why smaller US cities are emerging as commercial real estate hotspots

Why smaller US cities are emerging as commercial real estate hotspots

Times of India

South Carolina shows the highest future potential for commercial real estate demand. A new index by the National Association of Realtors tracks economic indicators for this growth. St. George, Utah, leads individual metropolitan markets with strong office employment gains. Smaller and midsized markets demonstrate significant momentum compared to major coastal hubs. This index identifies areas ...

Government still weighing decision on restricting proxy voters, Hong Kong official says

Government still weighing decision on restricting proxy voters, Hong Kong official says

SCMP

Hong Kong authorities have yet to decide whether to restrict proxy voters at homeowners’ meetings to relatives or other flat owners of the same estate under proposed law amendments meant to combat bid-rigging, the home affairs director has said, arguing such a move could be overly strict. Director of Home Affairs Priscilla To Kit-lai said on Saturday that the proposed amendments to the Building Ma...

France's Fontainebleau forest reopens one month after wilfire

France's Fontainebleau forest reopens one month after wilfire

France 24

Good news for hiking and climbing enthusiasts today: the Fontainebleau Forest just South of Paris is set to reopen to the public. But a month and a half after the terrible fire that ravaged 10% of this unique haven of biodiversity, the disaster is still fresh in everyone’s minds. Portions of the forest remain closed to the public. Story by France 2 and Camille Corcoran.