Oil prices tumble amid renewed optimism over the Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices tumbled for the third straight day, as a flurry of headlines from the Middle East sparked renewed optimism in global energy markets.
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Tornado wreaks havoc in village in southwestern France
A tornado swept through a village in the Aude region of southwestern France late on Monday, destroying homes and injuring dozens, authorities said, describing it as a rare and traumatic event. Around 300 of the 500 houses in the village of Pomas have been damaged, officials said, adding that 100 of the damaged ones may no longer be safe to live in.
King Charles III to visit the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda this autumn
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit three countries in and around the Caribbean this fall
Texas law banning drag shows where children may be present struck down again
‘This is a profoundly flawed decision that endangers our children and is an affront to Texas values,’ Ken Paxton saysA federal judge has, for a second time, struck down a Texas state law banning drag performances in settings where children may be present.In a ruling issued on Tuesday, US district judge David Hittner said Texas cannot enforce its drag show ban. He said that the measure improperly r...
Former head of Rwanda's presidential guard dies in prison, his brother says
Tom Byabagamba, a former commander of President Paul Kagame’s elite presidential guard, has died in prison after 12 years behind bars
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Study: Istanbul residents shun culture and arts with high ticket prices main barrier
According to IPA’s Istanbul Barometer survey, 45.8% of Istanbul residents did not attend any cultural or arts event in the past year, with high ticket and entry prices cited as the main obstacle.
'Escape master' who broke out of multiple prisons across Europe arrested in Spain
Officers tracked the fugitive down to a neighbourhood in Tarragona where they believed he was living. A judge ordered the man to be remanded in custody without bail while his extradition to Italy is processed.
South African police arrest two Thai men for allegedly smuggling parrot eggs
Bird eggs intercepted in homemade incubators at Johannesburg airport as officials try to halt wildlife traffickingSouth African police have arrested two Thai nationals in separate incidents for allegedly attempting to smuggle endangered parrot eggs out of the country as authorities try to stem the tide of wildlife trafficking.A 50-year-old Thai national was arrested at OR Tambo international airpo...
US colleges are rolling out three-year bachelor's degrees in 120 programmes across 26 states
US colleges are increasingly offering three-year bachelor's degree programmes that require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120. The programmes are now available or announced in 26 states, with 119 reduced-credit programmes identified by RAND. Supporters say they can save students time and money, while critics question their impact on learning, professional licensing, graduate admissions and ...
If Iceland joins the EU, where does that leave Norway?
On Saturday, Icelanders will vote on whether to resume negotiations to join the European Union. A “Yes” could squeeze Norway’s position in the European Economic Area and put Oslo under pressure to reconsider its own relationship with Brussels — a question with a long and divisive history.
Hundreds missing in Nepal catastrophic flash floods
Massive flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday killed at least 22 people and left hundreds of tourists, workers and others missing after sweeping through communities and bringing travel in parts of the Himalayan country to a halt. China's government across the northern border also launched search and rescue efforts, with major casualties in the border area of Gyirong, state broadcaster CCTV reported. ...
From tariffs to French: Trump’s trade war with Canada takes a cultural turn
A trade war between Canada and the United States is escalating. Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on about $20 billion worth of American goods, after new 50% US tariffs on Canadian products took effect Saturday. But the tit-for-tat over goods has also taken on a cultural and linguistic dimension.
Ending higher private health rebate for Australians 65 and over is ‘good policy change’, report co-author finds
Research finds just 0.1-0.4% of the total insured population will ditch insurance, while the government will save as much as $940m a yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRemoving the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over is good policy that is unlikely to place additional pressure on public...
‘Pack of lies’: Robert Jenrick launches personal attack on Kemi Badenoch
Reform MP seeks to heap pressure on Tory leader amid confusion around details of meeting with Giorgia MeloniRobert Jenrick has accused Kemi Badenoch of telling “a pack of lies” about her meeting with the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, as he launched a deeply personal attack on his former boss.The Reform UK MP sought to heap pressure on the Conservative leader amid confusion about whether ...
Ending private health rebate for Australians 65 and over is ‘good policy change’, report co-author finds
Research finds just 0.1-0.4% of the total insured population will ditch insurance, while the government will save as much as $940m a yearGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRemoving the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over is good policy that is unlikely to place additional pressure on public hospitals, according to health economists.The propose...
‘Reluctant’ approval for Tasmanian datacentre sets marker for national battle
Concerns over planning process as George Town council gives go-ahead for 288MW AI factory despite opposition from localsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe day before Anthony Albanese secured agreement with states and territories to develop national datacentre standards, a small council in Tasmania was grappling with the existing regulations in the face of strong communi...
Holly Madison won’t sell her ‘haunted’ LA home; lists it for rent at $9,500 a month
Holly Madison has listed her historic Tudor-style Los Angeles home for $9,500 a month after deciding not to sell it. She bought the property for just under $1.5 million in 2012 and has described it as a fairytale-like home. The house was also investigated for paranormal activity in 2021. Madison says she may eventually keep the property for retirement and pass it on to her children.
Dolly Parton, queen of country music, dies at 80
Dolly Parton was around six when she wrote her first song: "Little Tiny Tasseltop," an ode to her corncob doll with corn-silk hair. Her mother stored it preciously in a shoebox. Parton never stopped making music after that. The irrepressible country music singer, songwriter and actress whose charisma, heartfelt lyrics and business acumen captured the public's imagination for nearly six decades,...
Why a Christian group is suing the Dutch government for West Bank trade ban
The Israeli Product Centre says it has not been given enough time to sell off its stock.
'Major casualties': Devastating floods wash away villages on Nepal-Tibet border
Massive flooding near the border with Tibet killed dozens in Nepal on Wednesday. Hundreds of people were still out of contact hours after the disaster hit. A torrent of mud and debris burst from the banks of a river between China and Nepal, burying buildings and triggering a frantic search for survivors. FRANCE 24's Sarah Jacob reports from New Delhi, India.
Ireland keeps nuclear door open as data centre energy demand surges
The power-hungry AI revolution is driving Dublin toward a historic decision on nuclear power after decades of opposition and a legal ban.
Turkey says dissolution of Kurdish-led group crucial for Syrian stability
Turkey on Wednesday said the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) marked a key step towards strengthening state authority and achieving lasting stability in Syria. Turkey has long regarded the SDF as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which waged an insurgency against the Turkish state for decades. FRANCE 24's Jasper Mortimer reports from Ankara, ...
Gang attack in Haiti: Anger mounts over police failures
At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped after armed men attacked a once-peaceful community near Haiti’s capital earlier this week, the United Nations said Tuesday. It is believed to be one of the largest mass kidnappings in Haiti in recent years, and one gang leader is threatening to kill the hostages if authorities kill any gang members as they try to secure the community...
'In Ceuta, they are eating the cats': Fake images and a persistent rumour
Cats “massacred” in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta? Three weeks after thousands of migrants crossed the border into Ceuta, Spanish websites and social media users are claiming that the migrants who have stayed are killing cats. But all of the dead cat photos that have been shared so far are either fake or have been taken out of context. Our team spoke to a local cat rescue organisation, which also c...
UK politics: Burnham announces plan for 10,000 work experience placements for young people – as it happened
Prime minister spoke to press while on visit to a Sainsbury’s supermarket in London this morningOver 40,000 more people died on the hottest days in England between 1988 and 2025 than would be expected, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.The figures do not include this summer, when England has sweltered under a succession of heatwaves and is on track to r...
Israel extends campaign against UNRWA to advance West Bank annexation
Raid on UNRWA centre exposes Israel's strategic push to erase refugee rights, seal West Bank annexation, analysts say.
Mudslides and flash flooding cause devastation in Nepal and China's Tibet
A wall of mud and rock appeared to collapse into a river on the Himalayan border of Nepal and China’s Tibet, triggering catastrophic flooding on the Nepali side that killed at least 31 people and left hundreds of tourists missing, including Americans.
Why are European leaders staying silent after our summer of climate shock?
Lethal temperatures and wildfires have exposed a widening gulf between voters demanding action and politicians unwilling to confront the long-term choices global heating requires• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereThe climate crisis means “we’re going to have to change everything – the way we live, the way we produce, the way we trade,” France’s veteran radical-left f...
Flight attendant’s breast cancer was occupational disease, court rules
Sophie Lainault, who worked for Air France, wins legal case linking illness to more than 12,600 hours on flightsA flight attendant in France has succeeded in having her breast cancer recognised as an occupational disease, a first for the country’s aviation industry, her lawyer and a trade union said.The ruling, which recognised that Sophie Lainault, a former flight attendant for Air France, had fr...