World News Hub

Food security: Why Guterres’s UN plan to get fertiliser flowing in Hormuz is stalling

The United Nations is pushing its proposal for a humanitarian corridor to get fertiliser and other essential goods through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked since the start of the Iran war. This plan, which FRANCE 24 has seen, has yet to be approved by several countries. 

Unblocked EU loan provides relief to Ukraine's strained finances

European Union ambassadors unblocked ⁠on Wednesday a ​90-billion-euro ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine that is critical for Kyiv's ability to keep up the fight against Russia. The loan, which ​was approved by the European Council in December, had been halted by a Hungarian veto amid a dispute over oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline.

France boosts fuel subsidies amid mounting cost-of-living pressure

As the French government expands its support for rising energy costs, Prime Minister Lecornu has announced a significant increase in monthly fuel subsidies aimed at helping low-income workers and key industries. These new measures will provide targeted relief for frequent drivers, farmers, and fishermen as economic pressure continues to mount.

'Trump's high-stakes political theatre: US winning conventional war, Iran winning asymmetrical war'

Delano D'Souza is pleased to welcome Dr. William Lawrence, Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence and the Director of the North African Area Studies Program at the National Council on US-Arab Relations. As a former US diplomat in the Muslim world, he views what we are witnessing as a deliberate embrace of chaos and unpredictability as a coercive tool. Yet such theatrical instability carr...

🔴Second French peacekeeper dies after Saturday's ambush in Lebanon, Macron says

Residents pay the price as Afghanistan-Pakistan border remains closed

The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been completely closed for six months, a direct consequence of the conflict between Kabul and Islamabad. Despite several mediation attempts, negotiations have failed, and the two countries remain at a diplomatic impasse in a war that has already displaced tens of thousands of people and claimed numerous lives. 

Iran: 'Going back to war is not in anyone's interest,' risk analyst says

A risk management analyst has spoken to FRANCE 24 about what it means, amid the ceasefire, if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. Paymon Azmoudeh is a senior consultant with the risk and compliance practice at Forward Global. He says he thinks the calculation on all sides is that going back to war is not in anyone's interest. He explained to us in Perspective what it means if the stat...

UK Starmer says unaware of security lapse in Mandelson security vetting

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was grilled during questions in Parliament over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Britain's top diplomat to Washington, effectively brushing aside security concerns. Starmer once again faced calls to resign from the opposition, after former top civil servant Olly Robbins testified this week that there was an "atmosphere of pressure" from Downing Street to ap...

Lilies of the valley: Flowers given on International Workers' Day in France start to bloom

It is a French tradition to give friends and family lilies of the valley on Labour day, the 1st of May. And after a rainy winter, these spring flowers have come into their own earlier than usual. Our colleagues at France 2 took a look behind the scenes at lily of the valley harvest.

REPLAY: UK Starmer takes questions in Parliament over Mandelson appointment

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was grilled during questions in Parliament over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Britain's top diplomat to Washington, effectively brushing aside security concerns. Starmer faced calls to resign from the opposition, after former top civil servant Olly Robbins testified this week that there was an "atmosphere of pressure" from Downing Street to approve Mande...

EU resumes aid to Ethiopia suspended over Tigray war

The European Union has said it will resume budgetary aid to Ethiopia, which was suspended when a brutal civil war broke out in 2020. The EU suspended its annual budgetary support payment in December 2020, a month after the start of the war between government forces and rebels from the northern Tigray region, which continued for two years and claimed some 600,000 lives. FRANCE 24's Tom Canetti repo...

Nigeria faces jet fuel shortage as Strait of Hormuz disruption bites

Nigeria’s jet fuel shortage is being driven by disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz that have curtailed global supplies of middle distillates, a fuel marketers’ group said, squeezing airlines already grappling with soaring costs. Products such as jet fuel and diesel that normally pass through the strategic waterway have become less available worldwide, pushing up prices, the Major Energies Marketer...

Cheri Cherin: Figure of the Congolese popular art movement honoured in Paris

In Paris, a powerful tribute celebrates one of the most influential figures in Congolese painting. Chéri Chérin, who passed away just a few months ago, leaves behind a vibrant and socially engaged body of work. A voice of the people and a keen observer of his time, he played a key role in bringing Congolese popular art to an international audience. FRANCE 24’s Awa Diouf and Anaïs Chesnel report.

Zimbabwe: 8000 schools receive internet under Presidential Scheme

In Zimbabwe, around 8000 schools are in the process of receiving internet access under the Presidential Internet Scheme. Thousands of antennas are to be installed in rural areas. The project, which started at the beginning of the year, could transform the lives of children, many of whom have never seen or used a computer linked to the internet.

EU gives preliminary approval to unblock €90 billion Ukraine loan

EU member states on Wednesday gave a preliminary approval to unlock a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. The decision comes after delays linked to an oil dispute with Hungary over the Druzhba pipeline. 

EU gives preliminary approval to unblock 90-bn-euro Ukraine loan

EU member states on Wednesday gave a preliminary approval to unlock a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. The decision comes after delays linked to an oil dispute over the Druzhba pipeline, with Hungary vetoing the funding. 

Iranian economy: Layoffs, inflation add to sanctions pain amid war

The ongoing conflict between the US and Israel has created a profound economic crisis in Iran. As the government deals with the crippling internet blackouts and soaring inflation, a sense of uncertainty has taken hold of the nation's workforce.

In south Lebanon village, Hezbollah buries fighters killed in war with Israel

Hezbollah held a mass funeral in south Lebanon's Kfar Sir on Tuesday for more than a dozen fighters killed during more than six weeks of war with Israel. The ceremony came after Israel and Lebanon entered into a 10-day ceasefire on Friday announced by US President Donald Trump. Iran-backed Hezbollah has not provided the total number of its fighters killed since Israel last month launched a massive...

Ukraine to restart oil flows via Druzhba pipeline, potentially unblocking EU's loan

Ukraine ​will resume pumping oil through the Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday, an industry source said, after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said repairs were complete and urged the EU to unblock a 90-billion-euro loan halted by an argument over the pipe. A lengthy suspension of oil flows through the pipeline following a Russian attack on a pumping facility in Ukraine in January ​sparked an angry back...

Devastated Gaza will need over $70 billion to rebuild, international report warns

Gaza will need over seventy billion dollars in the next decade to rebuild from more than two years of devastating conflict. That's from a report this week from the UN, the EU and the World Bank, which has looked at the damage done after Israel went to war with Hamas in the Palestinian enclave following its attack on October 7th 2023.

Peru's electoral commission chief resigns over chaotic vote

The head of Peru's electoral body resigned from his post Tuesday, hours before he was scheduled to be questioned by prosecutors over the chaotic presidential vote earlier this month. Peruvians went to the polls on April 12 to choose their ninth president in a decade, with the election dominated by voter anger at a political establishment seen as corrupt. The election day was marred by major logist...

Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs' Game 2 loss

San ⁠Antonio ⁠star center Victor Wembanyama ⁠was concussed during ​Game 2 of the Spurs' first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers ​on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest. Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the ‌basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enou...

Venezuela: 'Repressive apparatus remains in place,' says Amnesty International

In Venezuela, the state’s repressive apparatus “remains intact” after Nicolás Maduro’s overthrow, Amnesty International warns.

Rabbi who bulldozed Palestinian homes selected for Israel's national celebration

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, April 22: An extremist rabbi accused of war crimes has been selected to participate in Israeli Independence Day celebrations. Next: papers look at LGBTQ laws in Hungary and Russia. Also: did someone manipulate France's official meteorological station for insider betting on Polymarket? Finally, Madonna's iconic Coachella outfit has been stolen.

Iran's workers face waves of layoffs as war batters domestic economy

Iranians are confronting mass layoffs and soaring inflation amid destroyed infrastructure and internet blackouts. We take a closer look. But first: US senators grill Donald Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair, and the global condom industry takes a blow from supply chain issues tied to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.