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Chad's decision to end defence agreement with France a 'surprise' and 'humiliation'

Chad's government on Thursday announced that it is ending a defence cooperation agreement with France, its former colonial ruler, to redefine the nation's sovereignty. As one of the last countries in the region in which France maintained a large military

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Senegal president says France should close army bases in country

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye told AFP Thursday that France should close its military bases in the West African state as it prepared to mark the 80th anniversary of a notorious colonial slaughter. Faye said that France's President Emmanuel Ma

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Notre-Dame Cathedral reconstruction a ‘success’, specialist says

The reconstruction of France's world-famous landmark - Notre-Dame Cathedral - appears to be a "success" as the now restored medieval edifice was unveiled during President Macron's visit Friday, lecturer in liberal arts at Queen Mary University of London

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Immigration and housing take centre stage in Irish election

The Irish are heading to the polls this Friday to elect a new government. The left-wing nationalist opposition Sinn Féin party, which is hoping to finally take power, is facing competition from an emerging populist right that's focusing on the issue of i

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How to carry out a visual detox: Ways to sharpen our visual critical thinking

With the advent of social media, our brains are receiving a constant stream of images. So how can we undergo a visual detox? Annette Young speaks to Marine Tanguy who has written a book on how to do just that. Also as we face a global epidemic of domesti

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Macron unveils restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in visit to Paris landmark

After more than five years of reconstruction work, Notre Dame Cathedral was unveiled on Friday as images broadcast live of a site visit by French President Emmanuel Macron showed the inside of the iconic building. Many of the over 1,300 artisans who part

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Macron takes world on first tour inside Paris’s restored Notre-Dame cathedral

Five years after a fire devastated the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, the world got a first glimpse inside the historic French landmark as President Emmanuel Macron conducted a tour of the restored monument Friday. Notre-Dame, which lost its famed spire

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Irish voters head to polls in closely-fought general election

Ireland began voting Friday in a closely-fought general election with the incumbent coalition neck-and-neck with opposition party Sinn Fein after a campaign marked by rancour over housing and cost-of-living crises. The election also marks the first time

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Moment of truth for assisted dying in England and Wales as MPs hold key vote

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, November 29: The debate over assisted dying rages on in the UK ahead of a key vote in Westminster this Friday. In other news, the French government makes concessions to the far right in the hope of surviving a likely no-confidence

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Syria rebels shell Aleppo, seize control of more than 50 towns and villages

Syria insurgents, backed up by their Turkish allies, on Friday pushed ahead with their lightning advance and shelled the country’s second city Aleppo. Since the rebels on Wednesday launched their first major offensive against government troops in five ye

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Macron to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral ahead of reopening

Eight days ahead of the December 7 reopening of the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in France, President Emmanuel Macron will conduct an inspection, broadcast live on television, which will provide the first official insight into how the 850-year-old edifi

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Romanian court orders recount of presidential vote

A top Romanian court on Thursday asked the official electoral authority to recount and verify all of the ballots cast in the first round of the presidential election, won by a far-right outsider candidate, sending shockwaves through the political establi

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'End the wars everywhere': Peace in Lebanon requires 'Palestinian state, normalisation for Israel'

The US-brokered ceasefire to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah brought a rare moment of respite for Lebanon following a year of war. Thousands of displaced people joyfully drove back to their towns and villages. For in-depth analysis and a deeper

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Senegal’s leader says France should close all army bases in country

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Thursday said that France should close all its army bases in the country, noting that it was “incompatible” with Senegal’s national sovereignty. Faye swept to power in the March elections.

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Macron acknowledges 1944 ‘massacre’ of West African troops by French army

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday acknowledged that the 1944 killing of West African soldiers in a Senegalese fishing village by French forces was a massacre for the first time. The soldiers had fought alongside the French during World War II,

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Chad ends military cooperation with France

Chad’s foreign minister on Thursday said his country was putting an end to its military cooperation with former colonial power France, saying “Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty”. Chad was France’s

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Live: Israeli tanks enter Lebanese border village, Macron calls for 'immediate' end to ceasefire violations

French President Emmanuel Macron called for the “immediate” end to all violations of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah that came into effect Wednesday morning, the Élysée Palace said Friday. His plea came as four Israeli tanks later en

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Replay: President Macron visits restored Notre-Dame Cathedral

French President Macron Friday visited the newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral that was partly destroyed in a fire in 2019. Accompanied by his wife Brigitte, Macron toured the key areas of the cathedral, including the nave, choir and chapel, and spoke t

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Replay: President Macron speaks at Notre-Dame Cathedral

Watch French President Emmanuel Macron's speech during his visit Friday to Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral ahead of its scheduled reopening on December 7.

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France's far right at the gates of power: Marine Le Pen's party becomes kingmaker

At almost every French election, it’s the same old story: the far right makes significant gains. Under longtime leader Marine Le Pen, the party carried out a "de-demonisation" operation: changing its name from National Front to National Rally and softeni

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Yesterday

French PM Barnier announces concession in bid to end budget standoff

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday announced a major concession in a bid to end a standoff with the opposition over the budget, which has caused jitters on financial markets and risks bringing down his minority government. FRANCE 24's Sharo

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Mass rape trial: Fake profiles, sites are pretending to be Gisèle Pelicot for money

It's been confirmed she's not on social media, but X and Instagram profiles under the name of Gisèle Pelicot have been sharing and interacting with content as if it’s the French mass rape survivor herself. Additionally, a website exists in her name shari

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Nigerian president woos French investment on state visit

In tonight's edition: For the first time in more than two decades, a Nigerian leader sets out on a state visit to France. Also, at least 15 people are killed and dozens of others are missing in devastating landslides in eastern Uganda. And faced with the

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Putin says there's no need to panic over Russia's plummeting ruble

Russian President Vladimir Putin says there's no need to panic over the country's plummeting currency, despite the ruble weakening to its lowest level in over two years. Plus, Australia has passed a law banning social media for under-16s. Voters in Irela

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On ENTR: Living with the ghosts of Spain's dictatorship

Almost 50 years after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco, the way the repression is remembered still remains a taboo subject in many Spanish families. But younger generations are fighting to revive the memory of the hundreds of thousands of peopl

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Will the Pelicot mass rape trial prompt major change in France?

FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks to Camille Lextray, from the NGO Solidarité Femmes National Federation, about how the Pelicot mass rape trial is prompting change in how sexual violence victims are supported in France.

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Report on 2022 coup plot in Brazil 'very methodical, detailed and loaded with evidence'

Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election, according to a newly unsealed Federal Police report. For in-depth analysis and a dee

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Recount order, TikTok claims throw Romania election into chaos

Romania's presidential election was thrown into chaos Thursday as a court ordered a recount of first-round results and security officials alleged that interference via TikTok had boosted a little-known far-right candidate. The Romanian presidency said se

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Syrian jihadists and their allies cut off key highway as escalating violence kills around 200

Syrian jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and their allied factions cut access on Thursday to the key highway linking Damascus to Aleppo as part of an offensive that has led to the deaths of nearly 200 people, including civilians. A day earlier, t

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After Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire: Too soon to call it de-escalation?

Is it a mere lull? Or the first time in more than a year, can the Middle East point to genuine de-escalation? We ask about the timing of guns going mostly silent in Lebanon after both Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire. A ceasefire; n

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Why Israel and Hezbollah's fragile ceasefire may already be faltering

Hezbollah and Israel traded accusations of ceasefire violations on Thursday, just a day after a US-brokered truce aimed at ending months of conflict took effect. While the agreement initially garnered international praise, experts warn of significant cha

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Irish general election: Housing crisis takes centre stage

Voters in Ireland will cast their ballots on Friday in an election that could shake up a century of political tradition. Instead of a typical left-right swing between governments, Irish voters have always put one of two centre-right parties into power. B

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Macron welcomes Nigerian president in first state visit since 2000

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday began a two-day visit to France, with both sides seeking increased economic cooperation and Paris looking to boost ties in English-speaking Africa following a series of setbacks with former allies on the contine

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A Russian missile and drone attack targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure

President Vladimir Putin has said that a massive Russian overnight attack on Ukrainian infrastructure was a response to Kyiv's attacks on Russian regions using longer-range Western missiles. More than a million Ukrainians were left without power Thursday

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'Dark tourism' on the rise in Ukraine: Is war tourism educational or unethical?

Dark tourism.... or visiting places associated with tragic events, is on the rise in Ukraine. A handful of companies now offer this controversial tour. Story by Elitsa Gadeva and Anna Pereira

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Bittersweet business: How the global cocoa industry is changing

The cocoa industry in Haiti is one of the few bright spots in an economy that's suffocating amid gang violence and political instability. Exports of fermented cocoa to Europe are having a significant impact for small Haitian producers, and helping to cre

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Chronic inflation hits Russia as huge pay increases fuel rising prices

Inflation has again spiked in Russia in recent months, fuelled by massive public spending on the Ukraine war and big wage increases in many sectors of the economy. To counter this, the Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate to a record 21 percen

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Georgia postpones EU bid until 2028, accusing Brussels of 'blackmail'

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that Tbilisi will be postponing EU accession talks until 2028 amid allegations by the opposition and European Parliament that his ruling party Georgian Dream had committed electoral fraud during Oct

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'Europe needs to wake up to the reality of Russia's threat'

Russia unleashed its second big attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this month on Thursday, triggering deep power cuts across the country. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on Putin's brutal war on Ukraine, FRANCE 24's Nadia Massih is

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Syria: HTS breaches the frontlines of Idlib and Aleppo for the first time since 5 years

Jihadists and their allies cut a major highway linking the main cities of Damascus and Aleppo on Thursday after launching an offensive against government forces in Syria's northwest, a war monitor said. "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions cut

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War in Ukraine: Putin says barrage 'response' to West-supplied missiles

A massive aerial bombardment of Ukraine's energy facilities was in response to Kyiv striking Russian territory with Western-supplied missiles, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Pledging Moscow would always respond to Ukraine's use of US-supplied AT

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Pakistan: Nearly 1,000 of influential ex-PM's supporters arrested

Pakistani police have levelled multiple charges against imprisoned former premier Imran Khan, his wife and others for inciting people to violence, officials said Thursday, following days of protests and clashes in which at least six people were killed an

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The Swedish gangs using social media to recruit child contract killers

Gang-related killings have surged in Sweden in recent years – and police say it is children who are increasingly being recruited to carry out the hits. Gangs are turning to social media to recruit youths often under 15 years old, and therefore too young

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Thanksgiving: A feast of facts

This Thursday, November 28 marks Turkey Day in the United States. In Entre Nous, we discuss the traditional Thanksgiving menu, the holiday's origins and how it is linked to the shopping bonanza of Black Friday. We also discuss France's relationship to th

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'Rabia': An IS group bride's journey into darkness

They hit the headlines shortly after Islamist fundamentalists proclaimed a caliphate in Syria and Iraq: the young women who packed their bags and embarked upon a new life, unaware of the fate that would await them. A new film, "Rabia", imagines the journ

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Workers at French cognac maker Hennessy protest China bottling plan amid tariff threat

Staff at the French cognac maker Hennessy staged a protest on Thursday against measures the brand plans to employ to circumvent Chinese tariffs. While the Hennessy management announced on Monday that they would continue to export the drink in vats, bring

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'Village Voices': Remembering the famous Paris bookshop

In Entre Nous, we take a look at a Paris-based bookshop which was once an institution in the French capital. Home to well-known Anglo-American authors, "Village Voice" was located on Paris' Left Bank in the 6th arrondissement for 30 years and closed its

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French government ready for budget concessions to avoid financial 'storm'

The French government is ready to offer concessions to parliament to get through its budget, the finance minister said Thursday, in a standoff which is causing market turbulence and risks bringing down the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. FRA

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Future US president, Trump and Mexican leader, Sheinbaum discuss shared border

President-elect Donald Trump declared a win on stopping illegal immigration through Mexico on Wednesday after talking with that country’s leader. But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Mexico was already doing its part and had no interest in c

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Syrian rebels launch large-scale attack on government forces in Aleppo province

Syrian rebel have launched a large-scale attack on areas controlled by government forces, setting off fierce clashes for a second day and seizing territory in Western Aleppo, government and opposition factions said Thursday. For more, FRANCE 24 correspon

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Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire: Israel says ceasefire with Hezbollah violated

Israel's military said on Thursday the ceasefire was violated after what it called suspects, some in vehicles, arrived at several areas in the southern zone.

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Jonathan Coe on 'The Proof of My Innocence', his political satire of the Liz Truss days

The world-renowned British author Jonathan Coe has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the joys of writing, and his love of mixing a variety of genres in his work. He also warned people to be wary of the self-deprecating British form of humour, something often see

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Amb Paoli: 'In diplomacy, you never give up' so we must support all efforts to elect a new president

Lebanon's parliament will meet on January 9 to elect a new president, seeking to end more than two years without a head of state, a day after an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire began. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on Lebanon's multiple crises

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Defence lawyers plead for defendants in French mass rape trial

Lawyers for dozens of defendants in a French mass rape trial begin their closing arguments Wednesday after prosecutors demanded lengthy jail terms for the suspects.The main defendant, Dominique Pelicot, has admitted enlisting dozens of strangers to rape

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ICC warrant against Netanyahu: France says Israeli PM has immunity

France said Wednesday that it “intends to continue to work in close collaboration” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite an arrest warrant issued for him by the world’s top war crimes court. For more, Marc Perelman French politics editor

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Romania's top court orders recount of presidential first-round votes

Romania's constitutional court on Thursday ordered a recount of votes cast in the first round of the presidential election after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu massively out-performed his pre-vote polling. Romania's media watchdog on Wednesday reque

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Middle East: What to expect for Gaza after Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

Hamas has welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached in Lebanon and said that the Palestinian militant group was also ‘ready’ for a truce with the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. The US President also expressed hopes that the momentum created by the deal i

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Tens of thousands in Lebanon head home as Israel-Hezbollah truce takes hold

Thousands of displaced people started returning to their homes in southern Lebanon in the first hours of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, defying a warning from the Israeli military to stay away from previously evacuated areas. A story by Matthe

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Australia passes world's first social media ban for under-16s

Australia's Senate on Thursday passed a social media ban for children under 16 that will soon become the first law of its kind in the world. Platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram will be liable for fines of up to $33 mil

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Paris neighbourhoods: Discovering the 13th arrondissement and Chinatown

In this French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot continue their tour of Paris with a stop in the lesser-known 13th arrondissement. It lies in the southeastern corner of the city and was annexed into the French capital in 1860 by Napo

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