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France puts out massive fire that torched 42,000 hectares and smouldered for 69 days

France's largest wildfire since 1949 has been declared extinguished more than two months after it broke out in southwestern Gironde, forcing the evacuation of around 224,000 people and covering the city of Bordeaux with a thick plume of smoke. The blaze was put under control on August 1, but continued to smoulder underground for weeks.

France puts out largest wildfire since 1949

A wildfire that scorched 42,000 hectares in southwest France has finally been declared extinguished, two months after the country's largest blaze since 1949 broke out, authorities said Monday.

Israel's opposition bloc, Netanyahu’s coalition in dead heat, election poll finds

With a month to go until Israel goes to the polls on October 27th, a new opinion poll shows the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party in a dead heat with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's coalition. It comes as the leaders of the four main opposition parties pledged to work together.

Israel's opposition bloc, Netanayhu’s coalition in dead heat, election poll finds

With a month to go until Israel goes to the polls on October 27th, a new opinion poll shows the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party in a dead heat with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's coalition. It comes as the leaders of the four main opposition parties pledged to work together.

Tigray TV station hit by drone as rebels advance in north Ethiopia

Authorities in Ethiopia are accusing outside forces of backing armed groups fighting the country's troops in the north. Since last week, heavy clashes have been reported between government forces and the Tigray people's liberation front.It's raised fears of a wider regional conflict erupting. Delano D'Souza explains

As midterms approach, does GOP have a Trump problem?

The US midterm elections are just five weeks away - and while the US President is not on the ballot, his influence is top of mind for Republicans. Donald Trump's approval ratings have been hitting record lows in recent weeks, and in a sign of the party's concern it has started pouring campaign funding into many seats once considered safe, and some candidates have even changed their tune on one of ...

French hotels, souvenir shops benefit from pope business boost

Monday is the final day of Pope Leo'svisit to France and the trip has been marked not only by an outpouring of emotion from France's Catholics but also flurry of economic activity. The first figures are beginning to come in from the pope's trip, and unsurprisingly, they're showing a big boost in tourism activity related to his appearances - with hotels and restaurants in and around the cities he's...

Five suspects arrested in explosives case near UK airbase were British nationals

Five suspects arrested by British police on suspicion of terrorism and explosives ​offenses after white vans drove towards an airbase used by US forces were all British nationals from London in their early 20s, police said on Monday. France 24 Benedicte Paviot has more.

Pope Leo wraps up France visit, urging Europe to help combat 'lies and deceit'

Pope Leo XIV urged Europe on Monday to draw from its Christian roots and tradition of dialogue to counter the "uncivilised" relations and "desire for domination" driving today's wars, as he wrapped up a four-day state visit to France that leaned heavily into politics and drew huge crowds at every turn.

Pope urges Europe to help combat 'lies and deceit' in world affairs

Pope Leo XIV wrapped up a historic four-day visit to France on Monday after warning that relations between nations were becoming increasingly uncivilised and urging Europe to help break the spiral of "lies and deceit".

For a 'measured diplomatic figure', Pope Leo's visit to France has been 'deeply political'

Erin Ogunkeye is pleased to welcome Colleen Dulle, Vatican correspondent for America magazine and author of "Struck Down, Not Destroyed". She came to Pope Leo’s visit to France expecting measured diplomacy but was struck by how deeply political the trip became. She observed a pope trying to articulate a vision of Europe shaped simultaneously by its Christian inheritance, its history of conflict, i...

Hybrid warfare: The threat of Russia looms over the Mediterranean

The CIA has reportedly warned several countries that Russia is preparing to launch hybrid operations across the Mediterranean Sea. But is the risk real, or is it a form of cyber warfare?

🔴 Five men arrested over suspected bomb plot at UK air base to be released on bail

UK police bail five men held over suspected bomb plot at US-run air base

British police said Monday that five men arrested on explosives and terror charges near a US-run air base in England were being released on bail but remained under investigation. Counter-terror detectives said they were investigating "multiple lines of inquiry", including whether there is a link to Iran.

Five men arrested over suspected bomb plot at UK air base to be released on bail

British police said Monday that five men arrested under counter-terrorism laws near a US-run air base in England will be released on bail but are still under investigation. The head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing said that the men face stringent conditions and "absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry".

French far right's Jordan Bardella denies media report he made anti-Semitic comments

Jordan Bardella, the head of Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party, has denied allegations made by French investigative website Mediapart that he wrote anti-Semitic comments on private chats in 2013, when he was aged 17 or 18. Bardella, seen as a likely prime minister if Le Pen wins next year's presidential election, said he would take legal action over the claims.

French far right's Jordan Bardella denies alleged 2013 anti-Semitic comments

Jordan Bardella, the head of Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party, has denied allegations made by French investigative website Mediapart that he wrote anti-Semitic comments on private chats in 2013, when he was aged 17 or 18. Bardella, seen as a likely prime minister if Le Pen wins next year's presidential election, said he would take legal action over the claims.

'Fascinating success': Pope Leo’s appeal in France transcends faith and politics

Annette Young is pleased to welcome Victor GAETAN, Senior International Correspondent for the National Catholic Register. He sees Pope Leo XIV's visit to France as more than a successful pastoral journey. He says it offers a window into the intellectual and political character of Leo's nascent papacy. What has been particularly striking is the breadth of his appeal: Leo has been welcomed by people...

A Green pope? Vatican describes environmental destruction as an 'ecological sin'

In recent years, the Catholic Church has taken a growing stance in favour of climate action, culminating with the Vatican's signing of the landmark Paris climate agreement in 2022. As Pope Leo wraps up his four-day visit to France, FRANCE 24's Valerie Dekimpe looks at where religion and the environment meet. 

French Senate elections: What next after far right surge?

The far-right party of Marine Le Pen will for the first time in its history be able to form a parliamentary group in the French upper house, election results showed Monday, a political breakthrough just over half a year before presidential polls. France 24's Marc Perelman takes a look at how much of a boost the result might be to Le Pen's National Rally.

🔴 Live: Pope Leo leads Mass at Metz Cathedral on final leg of visit to France

Heavy rain and flooding kills dozens northern India

The death toll from floods triggered by heavy rain in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh rose to 81, the government's disaster agency said. Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state with more than 240 million people, is frequently lashed by rain and thunderstorms during the monsoon rainy season from June to September.

Trump heads to GOP strongholds Alabama and Oklahoma to campaign for midterms

President Donald Trump vowed to campaign in 35 of the most competitive battleground races in the final sprint to November's midterm elections. Instead, he will begin October by stumping in Alabama and Oklahoma, two of the most Republican states in the nation. France 24's Fraser Jackson takes a closer look.

Pope wraps up France trip with most overtly political message of trip

Pope Leo XIV urged Europe on Monday to draw from its Christian roots and traditions of dialogue to blunt the “desire for domination” driving today's wars, as he wrapped up a visit to France by recalling the forces that contributed to the continent's peaceful integration and made his post overtly political message of his trip.

Pope touches on war, migration in speech at Metz

Pope ​Leo urged Europe to remember ​its Christian history in a speech delivered in Metz, the ​hometown ‌of Robert ⁠Schuman, a founding father of ‌the European Union, during his four-day ⁠visit to France. Speaking in French, he urged Europeans to recall ‌the founding values of the EU, including the rule of law and the equality of all people without distinction of race, ⁠colour, class or profession.