News : France24

Tuesday, august 18, 2026

Singapore’s seniors turn to parkour to boost balance and strength

Parkour may conjure images of rowdy teenagers swinging from building to building in urban landscapes, but since 2017, coach Tan Shie Boon has been using these techniques to improve Singaporean seniors’ strength and agility. Tan’s Movement Singapore class

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Ebola in DRC: Deadliest outbreak on record ‘outpacing the response’

Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome WHO Spokesperson Tarik Jašarević. His central concern is that we do not yet know where all the places the Ebola virus is circulating: infected people remain outside treatment centres, transmission chains go undetected, an

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Monday, august 10, 2026

Trump pushes rethink of school vaccine mandates and MMR shots

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday calling for a rethink of school vaccine mandates and the separation of the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot into three vaccines, despite scientific evidence supporting its safety

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Friday, august 7, 2026

'DRC's largest Ebola outbreak on record: Active conflict and armed groups hamper the response'

Sharon Gaffney is pleased to welcome Heather Kerr, Country Director for Congo at the International Rescue Committee. The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is unprecedented, not simply because of its scale, but because it spre

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Thursday, august 6, 2026

'She was haemorrhaging': In the West Bank, the checkpoint ordeal for pregnant women

Roads blocked and checkpoints closed: After every outbreak of violence, Israel seals off the West Bank. Like after events in Nablus, where two Israeli settlers and four Palestinians died on July 24. Our correspondent Claire Duhamel travelled with a param

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WHO calls for 'intensified' response as DR Congo Ebola cases near 4,000

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ebola outbreak is spreading, with the number of infections rising rapidly. Declared in mid-May, this seventeenth Ebola outbreak has already claimed more than 1,700 lives. To address this situation, the World H

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DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak outpaces response as health workers strike over pay

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic ⁠of Congo is spreading faster than efforts to fight it, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. Families said many frontline workers in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, have gone on

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Wednesday, august 5, 2026

How to enjoy the most complete solar eclipse since 1989?

No matter how sharp your vision, you're going to need some special glasses next week… Wednesday August 12 will bring the most complete solar eclipse since 1989 – the moon will fully cover the sun. To fully appreciate the celestial spectacle,you will requ

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DR Congo is set to open its largest ever Ebola treatment facility

The DR Congo is set to open its largest Ebola treatment facility. Construction is nearing completion as health authorities race to contain an outbreak that the World Health Organization has described as intensifying at an "exceptional" pace. As of July 3

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Monday, august 3, 2026

UK's 'surgeons of the future' are training with robotic assistance

Surgeons in the UK are training using robotics in keyhole surgery, as part of a drive across the overstretched National Health Service. This more precise surgery within a smaller wound should mean a shorter hospital stay and recovery time, which would ho

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Friday, july 31, 2026

Cameroon president's absence sparks debate over government inaction

The lengthy absence of Cameroon's long-serving President Paul Biya, who has been in Switzerland since early June, has reignited debate about government inaction, in a country where many crave change. Biya has made frequent trips to Geneva over the years

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Thursday, july 23, 2026

DR Congo's Ebola outbreak becomes fastest ever recorded

The number of deaths in the current Ebola epidemic in the DRC has now topped 1,000, and the number of confirmed cases is around 2500. Experts are calling for more funding to help tackle the crisis as it becomes the fastest spreading outbreak ever recorde

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Wednesday, july 22, 2026

France recorded 5,700 more deaths than usual during its historic June heat wave

France recorded at least 5,700 more deaths than usual during a historic heatwave last month, the public health agency said Wednesday, sharply increasing its estimates of the feared toll from record-shattering temperatures. FRANCE 24's James Vasina report

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Thursday, july 16, 2026

France adopts bill legalising assisted dying for adults

French lawmakers on July 15 adopted a bill that will create a legal right to assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses, capping an intense ethical and political debate. The law would enable patients suffering from incurable and life-threatening

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Wednesday, july 15, 2026

France's parliament adopts assisted dying law

France on Wednesday moved closer to joining the ranks of countries that guarantee the right to assisted dying, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron. Macron had promised an assisted dying law when he was re-elected for a second term in 2022, in

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'You cannot have a good assisted dying law without good palliative care'

For this edition, FRANCE 24’s François Picard speaks with Anne Reynaud, Board Member of the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity. France's long awaited assisted dying legislation marks a profound shift in the country's approach to end-of-life ca

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After the 'near oppressive' clean girl era, cigarettes are trendy again

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, July 15: French papers weep, while the Spanish press celebrates the World Cup semi-final. Also in France, papers discuss the assisted dying bill that will be voted on today. Finally: are cigarettes back in vogue?

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Tuesday, july 14, 2026

Bangkok bar fire death toll rises to 30, 24 people remain in critical condition

At least 30 people have now been confirmed dead in a blaze that engulfed a bar in northern Bangkok in the early hours of Monday morning. 27 victims have been formally identified, with authorities still working to confirm the identities of the remaining t

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DR Congo Ebola outbreak's true scale could be four times higher than official toll, WHO says

The true number of Ebola cases in Democratic Republic of Congo is at least double, and ‌possibly four ⁠times, the official tally, ‌the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. Official figures hold that the fever has infected nearly 2,000 people sin

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Ebola outpacing health response in DR Congo, warn aid workers

Ebola is continuing to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two new provinces in the country have registered new cases. Aid workers warn that the disease is outpacing the health response. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Kinshasa, Emmet Livin

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Thursday, july 2, 2026

DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 400 deaths as virus reaches major city

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 400 people and continues to spread, with health authorities confirming a first case in the major city of Kisangani, hundreds of kilometres from the epidemic's epicentre in the nor

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Danish Refugee Council on importance of coordinated response to Ebola, wider humanitarian crisis

The Danish Refugee Council has warned that the latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is complicating an already strained humanitarian situation. In a recent report, the NGO stressed the response to the health emergency "must not hollow out the aid programmin

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Authorities race to contain spread of Ebola in eastern DR Congo

One month after Congolese authorities officially declared a new Ebola outbreak, the virus is still spreading in the east of the country and the death toll continues to rise. There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases and more than 250 confirmed deaths

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Tuesday, june 30, 2026

French beauty trends: From sardines to pharmacies

In this edition of Entre Nous we look at the weight that beauty trends have in France. We break down the current sardine craze and the claims it can improve one's skin. As tins fly off shelves, we also look at how French pharmacies have long surfed on th

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Sunday, june 28, 2026

More than 1,300 excess deaths linked to record-breaking Europe heatwave, WHO says

More than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded in connection with Europe's record-breaking heatwave since June 21, according to the World Health Organization on Sunday. Earlier that day, health officials in France reported that there had been around 1,

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What France gets wrong about air conditioning

Is this the heatwave that finally changes French minds on air conditioning? Not for Environment Minister Monique Barbut. She said she was "horrified" by the idea of it becoming widespread. The rest of the world looked on perplexed as France suffered a br

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France records around 1,000 excess deaths during heatwave

The Public Health France agency said Sunday that around 1,000 more deaths than expected occurred during a record-breaking heatwave that baked much of western Europe for days, adding that 85 percent of the casualties were people aged 65 and over. The agen

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Friday, june 26, 2026

France introduces measures to limit the heatwave's impact on health services

A punishing heatwave that has suffocated large parts of France for days is now shifting east. With highs of 38 degrees Celsius forecast for cities like Paris, Strasbourg and Lyon. With hospitals overwhelmed, authorities have banned evening alcohol sales

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Increased health risks, limited resources: French hospitals overwhelmed by heatwave

As a result of the high temperatures and heatwave, human health could be at risk. In France there have reportedly been four times as many cardiac arrests. The mayor of Paris has stated that the number of deaths is on the rise. Across the country, hospita

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Paris Pride parade postponed to not stretch already overwhelmed emergency services

Organisers of the Pride March due to take place in Paris on June 27 weekend postponed the event after police ordered them to change the date to relieve pressure on emergency services during the heatwave. A popular music festival has also been cancelled,

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Thursday, june 25, 2026

Social infrastructure during heatwave: 'Knock on the door makes the difference between life & death'

François Picard is pleased to welcome Eric Klinenberg, Professor of Sociology at NYU and Author of "Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago". He challenges one of the dominant assumptions surrounding extreme heat: that technological adaptation

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Ebola outbreak 'serious' but not 'out of control', head of Africa CDC says

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Dr Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, said the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo is "serious" but not "out of control". He warned that "no one is safe" if it is not stopped at the source and argued that the West would alrea

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UK report uncovers 'biggest childbirth scandal' in NHS history

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, June 25: UK papers discuss the Nottingham maternity care scandal. Next: is there going to be another heatwave in Europe this summer? Also: the Euclid telescope took extraordinary photos of the Milky Way. Finally, Taylor Swift and

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Tuesday, june 23, 2026

France's elderly particularly at risk as heatwave suffocates country

Much of France remains under severe heat alert on June 23 after the country experienced its hottest afternoon and night since records began in 1947. Temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius were forecast for cities including Bordeaux, Rennes and Toulouse.

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Saturday, june 20, 2026

Ebola : Healthworkers in DR Congo worry for their life amid deadly outbreak

Ituri province in eastern DRC is the hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak. The response to the virus is underway. On the frontlines of this outbreak are healthcare workers, who feel increasingly helpless. They have never faced an outbreak of this magnitude

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Thursday, june 18, 2026

Egypt grapples with video game addiction

Gaming cafés have become a common sight on the streets of Cairo, especially in poorer neighbourhoods. Egyptians hold a world record for time spent gaming per day, with an average of 1 hour and 43 minutes daily. Some 43.5 percent of young gamers in Egypt

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Wednesday, june 17, 2026

Not all skinny: The French do get fat

With the French healthcare system now reimbursing the anti-obesity drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro, we explain what the strict conditions are to benefit from them. We discuss France's rates of obesity and the areas where they're highest. Finally, we discuss th

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Tuesday, june 9, 2026

'We must do more in terms of cancer prevention,' leading oncologist says

One of the world's leading cancer specialists has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how people need more support to modify their habits to help prevent cancer. Professor Antoine Italiano is just back in France after attending the world's largest cancer conferenc

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Tuesday, june 2, 2026

Pancreatic cancer: Dr. Pudlarz praises 'new generation targeted therapy' that inhibits gene mutation

Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Dr. Thomas Pudlarz, Medical Oncologist and Head of the pancreatic care pathway within the 'Interception' program at the Gustave-Roussy Institute. For decades, pancreatic cancer has remained one of oncology's most formid

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Monday, june 1, 2026

'Animal medicine': Therapy donkeys help patients at French psychiatric hospital

Patients staying in a psychiatric hospital near Paris have been singing the praises of a novel treatment: spending time with therapy donkeys. Experts and patients say caring for the animals, which are known for their calm and social nature, helps improve

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Saturday, may 30, 2026

DR Congo sees first recovery from Ebola as disease scourges the country

A patient in the DRC has been confirmed to have recovered - a first since the outbreak was detected in mid-May. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the country on Friday, where authorities are still struggling to contain the spread of the diseas

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WHO chief visits Ebola epicentre in DR Congo, as death toll rises

The number of suspected cases of Ebola continues to rise by the day... now above the thousand mark. On the ground, Congolese authorities are scrambling to provide protective equipment which is in short supply, and to establish trust within communities to

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Friday, may 29, 2026

Kabwe, the African city where children carry the burden of lead poisoning

Located about 150 kilometres north of Zambia's capital Lusaka, Kabwe is considered one of the most polluted places in the world, following decades of lead and zinc mining. A simple blood test of two children confirms reports of severe lead contamination.

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Thursday, may 28, 2026

WHO chief says deadly Ebola outbreak in DR Congo can be stopped

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, said Thursday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed more than 200 people, can still be contained despite conflict in the country's east. The WH

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Wednesday, may 27, 2026

'Sleepy Donald'? Trump accused of dozing off at Memorial Day event, reigniting age concerns

A viral video appearing to show Donald Trump falling asleep at a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday has sparked outrage online, reigniting rumours about the state of the US president's health. Social media users claimed Trump was dozing off, and furious tha

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Monday, may 25, 2026

WHO puts suspected Ebola deaths at 220, warns outbreak is outpacing response efforts

The World Health Organization warned Monday that a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with at least 220 suspected deaths reported. Health workers in the conflict-h

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Sunday, may 24, 2026

Protesters clash with police after an anti-government rally in Serbia's capital

Clashes erupted between groups of protesters and riot police after a huge anti-government rally on Saturday in the Serbian capital of Belgrade by tens of thousands of opponents of the country's autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic.

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Saturday, may 23, 2026

Ebola: WHO raises health risk to 'very high' in DR Congo and new cases in Uganda

Gabriela Arenas, Coordinator for Regional Operations in Africa IFRC in Kenya, is our guest.

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Ebola: Highest risk level in DR Congo warns World Health Organization

Emmet Livingstone has more.

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Friday, may 22, 2026

Putin and Xi, To catch a Castro, Red carpet rebellion

It's been a week marked by major geopolitical, legal and public health developments across several fronts. In Washington, the Trump administration has indicted 94-year-old former Cuban president Raúl Castro over alleged murder and conspiracy to kill US n

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Hantavirus isn’t very contagious, but it can spread from human to human

Social media users around the world have been claiming that hantavirus can’t be spread from one human to another. However, scientists have confirmed that the strain of the virus that circulated on the MV Hondius cruise ship can indeed be transmitted that

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Hantavirus and the lessons of Covid: Screening the EU's public health response

In this episode we explore how the EU deals with outbreaks of disease. The latest scare for Europeans has been the hantavirus, detected on cruise ship the MV Hondius, which subsequently docked in Spain. Experts have stressed that this virus is not like C

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Thursday, may 21, 2026

Ebola returns: How to fight outbreak amid defunding of global health?

Can border walls keep out pandemics? The World Health Organization is officially branding the Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo a "public health emergency of international concern". As the death toll from the rare strain climbs, so does the number of co

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Wednesday, may 20, 2026

Ten days without screens: French families urged to unplug and refocus

Across France, children are being asked to put down tablets, switch off consoles and step away from their screens. The movement, called Dix Jours Sans Écrans, or Ten Days Without Screens, involves schools, nurseries and entire communities. But is it real

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Race to contain ebola outbreak in war-torn DRC where weak infrastructure hampers response

Annette Young welcomes Julie Drouet, DRC Director for Action Against Hunger. She offers a sobering assessment of the early Ebola outbreak response in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speaking from the frontline of a rapidly evolving health emergency, Dr

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Ebola in DR Congo: 'This could be a very bad outbreak,' MSF health worker says

A vaccination and epidemic response adviser who is about to fly out to DR Congo to try to help in the fight against Ebola has told FRANCE 24 that the signs are the current outbreak will be a serious one. Already more than 130 people have been killed, wit

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Tuesday, may 19, 2026

'Liquid on lips': Noughty producing premium alcohol-free wine

In this edition of Entre Nous, we explore the rapidly expanding market of non-alcoholic wine. Amanda Thomson, founder and CEO of Noughty, speaks to FRANCE 24 about the factors driving the sector’s success and explains why alcohol-free wine is creating ex

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A spotlight on the growing popularity of non-alcoholic wine

In this edition of Entre Nous, we explore the rapidly expanding market of non-alcoholic wine. Amanda Thomson, founder and CEO of Noughty, speaks to FRANCE 24 about the factors driving the sector’s success and explains why alcohol-free wine is creating ex

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Dutch authorities expect more cruise ship outbreaks as hantavirus-hit vessel docks

The cruiseship hit by a deadly outbreak of hantavirus has finally docked in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. It will be disinfected and the crew will go into quarantine. It will then be setting sail for Iceland, where it is to start another trip on May 29.

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Monday, may 18, 2026

US tightens Ebola precautions as outbreak declared international emergency

The United States said Monday it is bolstering precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola, including screening air travellers from outbreak-hit areas and temporarily suspending visa services, as the World Health Organization declares the outbreak in the

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