🔴 Live: Erdogan, Hamas chief Haniyeh begin talks in Istanbul

france24.com/en/ • 7h, 55m ago

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a long-time champion of the Palestinian cause, and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh began talks in Istanbul on Saturday as tensions in the Middle East soar, Turkish media reported. One member of an Iran-backed paramilitary group was killed and eight were wounded in an explosion earlier in the day at a military base south of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said. The US military said its forces were not behind the strike. Read our liveblog to follow today's events in the Middle East.

US House to vote on long-awaited aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

france24.com/en/ • 5h, 26m ago

The US House of Representatives is poised to hold a crucial vote on Saturday on a major aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan—and a possible ban of TikTok.

Migration: The US political battle playing out at the Mexican border

france24.com/en/ • 23h, 58m ago

The US-Mexico border is the most dangerous land frontier in the world, according to the United Nations, but it's also the one with the most crossings. Since January 2023, 2.3 million migrants have been apprehended by border police after entering the United States illegally, an all-time high that does not include migrants who got through without being arrested or taken charge of, or those who died trying to cross. The situation has become unmanageable for Texas border towns like Eagle Pass, which has become the epicentre of these illegal arrivals. Our correspondent Fanny Allard reports.

Caught between Israel and Iran, Jordan clings desperately to stability

france24.com/en/ • 18h, 31m ago

After Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel on April 13, Jordan finds itself caught between the two enemies. Friday morning's suspected Israeli strikes in central Iran have intensified fear that the country could be dragged into an escalation against its will. Having been historically neutral in the two countries’ decades-old struggle, the Hashemite kingdom is now seeing its delicate balancing act threatened.

US agrees to withdraw troops from key drone base in Niger

france24.com/en/ • 6h, 16m ago

The United States agreed Friday to withdraw its more than 1,000 troops from Niger, officials said, upending its posture in West Africa where the country was home to a major drone base.

Indian elections: Welfare programmes key to PM Modi's popularity

france24.com/en/ • 1, 44m ago

India's mammoth elections are now under way, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi widely expected to win a third term. Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has expanded subsidy programmes for the poor and women. These programmes include measures like equipping homes with butane gas by offering free cylinders or distributing free food rations. Some 60 percent of the population benefits from Modi’s food distribution scheme, which he has pledged to renew for another five years. Another success story is the nationwide rollout of digital payment services. Meanwhile, critics say the prime minister is eroding democracy by targeting opposition parties and controlling the media. Our correspondents report. 

Émigrés, exiles and refugees: Venice Biennale welcomes foreigners

france24.com/en/ • 22h, 52m ago

It’s the oldest, largest contemporary art show in the world: the Venice Biennale has kicked off its 60th edition under the heading "Foreigners Everywhere". Arts editor Eve Jackson brings us the latest from the event, explaining why the artist and curator selected for the Israeli pavilion chose to keep it closed. The Biennale's artistic director, Adriano Pedrosa, had called for a more inclusive selection of artists this year; we hear about the Ethiopian, British and Canadian pavilions who are changing the face of post-colonial art. Plus our reporters give us a glimpse of a floating museum, as the Art Explora boat brings a moveable feast of arts and culture to cities around the Mediterranean.

Tests expose worrying flaws in France’s anti-drone system for 2024 Olympics

france24.com/en/ • 21h, 9m ago

With less than 100 days to go before Paris hosts the 2024 Olympics, which organisers plan to open with an elaborate waterborne ceremony on the Seine river, concerns are mounting about the efficiency of the anti-drone shield meant to protect the French capital from a potential terror attack. According to several security sources, recent tests have exposed some worrying flaws in the system.

Zelensky says NATO must decide if alliance and Ukraine ‘indeed are allies’

france24.com/en/ • 16h, 30m ago

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that NATO must choose whether it really is an ally of Ukraine by accelerating weapons supplies to help his struggling forces. 

Full jury seated in Trump's hush-money criminal trial in New York

france24.com/en/ • 16h, 42m ago

A full jury of 12 people and six alternates was seated Friday in Donald Trump’s hush money case, setting the stage for opening statements next week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Togo lawmakers give final approval to new constitution amid opposition fears

france24.com/en/ • 15h, 45m ago

Togo lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a constitutional reform that switches to a parliamentary system that triggered criticism from opposition parties who say it allows President Faure Gnassingbe to keep a grip on power.

Suspects linked to Vilnius attack on Navalny ally Volkov arrested in Poland

france24.com/en/ • 20h, 39m ago

Three men who allegedly organised and carried out an attack last month in Lithuania on Russian opposition figure Leonid Volkov have been arrested, officials said Friday.

Hindu nationalist Modi eyes third term as India votes in six-week election

france24.com/en/ • 1, 49m ago

India began voting Friday in a six-week election with an all but assured victory for Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a weakened opposition is pushed to the sidelines.

Indian elections: Dhruv Rathee, the YouTube sensation holding the government to account

france24.com/en/ • 23h, 41m ago

In this week’s special edition of Access Asia, we focus on India as the country's record-breaking election gets under way. In the past few years, India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has plummeted. With the country’s independent media increasingly under threat, YouTube has become a key medium to fact-check trending topics. Twenty-nine-year-old Dhruv Rathee has been using the platform to fact-check issues and hold the Indian government to account. He spoke to FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza.

Italian court drops trafficking charges against crew members of migrant rescue ships

france24.com/en/ • 19h, 46m ago

An Italian court threw out charges Friday against crew members of migrant rescue ships, ending a controversial case seven years after the government accused them of colluding with traffickers.

French police detain suspect after surrounding Iran consulate in Paris

france24.com/en/ • 1, 3m ago

French authorities Friday detained a man suspected of entering the Iranian consulate in Paris and falsely claiming to be armed with an explosive vest, police and prosecutors said.

At least nine killed in Ukraine strikes as Kyiv says it downed Russian warplane

france24.com/en/ • 1, 46m ago

Russian strikes on Ukraine in the early hours of Friday killed at least nine people, including three children, as Kyiv said it shot down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time.

Olympic sports federations slam decision to award prize money to athletics medallists

france24.com/en/ • 1, 39m ago

An organisation of Olympic sports federations on Friday said the decision by World Athletics to award prize money to gold medallists in its events "undermines the values of Olympism".

Taylor Swift's highly anticipated record 'The Tortured Poets Department' drops

france24.com/en/ • 1, 41m ago

Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated record "The Tortured Poets Department" on Friday -- the 11th studio album from the megastar who is already having a blockbuster year.

Jurors selected to serve in Trump's hush-money trial in New York

france24.com/en/ • 1, 28m ago

Lawyers in Donald Trump's historic criminal trial on Thursday selected 12 jurors who will assess his guilt or innocence over the coming weeks in a case stemming from a hush-money payment to a porn star.

US veto sinks latest Palestinian bid for full UN membership

france24.com/en/ • 1, 4m ago

The United States on Thursday spoiled a long-shot Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership, vetoing a Security Council measure despite growing international distress over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.