Does Marco Rubio covertly control Venezuela? A report from the New York Times suggests that the US Secretary of State now effectively controls the Latin American country's finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government since the capture of Nicolas Maduro. FRANCE 24's Monte F»»»

More people have favourable views of China than the United States in 25 out of 36 countries and territories surveyed, including Canada and Mexico, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center released on Wednesday. Views were also more favourable of Chinese leader Xi Jinping than US Pres»»»

The World Health Organization launched the first clinical trial on Tuesday to test whether an antiviral drug can prevent infection in people exposed to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the outbreak continues to outpace response efforts and spread beyond known c»»»

In tonight's edition, after years of waiting, Kenya's Rastafarians lose a landmark court battle over the religious use of cannabis. Also, the continent's top cocoa producers join forces to process more cocoa at home instead of exporting it raw. And on the beaches of Dakar, an environmental activist»»»

On this particular television channel we do love covering the French and their love affair with fine food. But truth be told, eating habits here vary wildly be it by necessity, choice or habit. Don't say it too loudly but France boasts Europe’s highest number of McDonalds per person. So here w»»»

With the two wildfires burning southeast of Paris now contained, for investigators, the focus is on how they started. Five people have been arrested, suspected of setting the blazes intentionally, including a volunteer fire fighter. Prosecutors say that a second suspect admitted to accidentally sta»»»

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 a change seen as one of the most important so»»»

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday announced a "drone deal" with Ukraine to boost joint production of the key battlefield technology. Ukraine has already signed similar deals with some individual EU countries and Gulf nations looking to tap into the expertise Kyiv has developed during more »»»

For Spotlight, François Picard is pleased to welcome Johan Sjöström, Senior Research Scientist at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. He argues that the devastating wildfires affecting northern France are not an isolated anomaly but part of a "new normal" for Europe. His focus moves »»»

THE HAGUE — Dutch tech giant ASML, which makes cutting-edge machines to manufacture semiconductor chips, Wednesday posted a gain in second-quarter net profits compared with the same period in 2025.ASML is a critical cog in the global economy and a key bellwether for the tech sector, as the semicond»»»

AMMAN — The Aqaba Special Economic Zone's (ASEZA) truck entry and exit management project, operated by the new service provider Maqta Ayla, recorded around 445,000 truck trips between March 1 and June 30, 2026, with an average of around 3,700 trips a day over the four-month period.June recorded the»»»

FRANKFURT, Germany — German chemical giant BASF raised its earnings forecast for the year Wednesday after hiking prices for some products following the outbreak of the Iran war, but warned of heightened uncertainty.BASF now expects EBITDA before special items, a key measure of profitability, to com»»»

AMMAN — Jordan's capital market is undergoing a significant recovery, driven by higher market capitalisation, stronger liquidity, increased trading activity and rising stock indices, according to a report by the Jordan Economic Forum (JEF).The report "Amman Stock Exchange: Market Transformations, G»»»

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should continue to use traffic stops despite a decision the previous day to suspend the practice. The ban on vehicle stops came after an ICE agent fatally shot a Colombian driver in Maine and another motor»»»

Does Marco Rubio covertly control Venezuela? A report from the New York Times suggests that the US Secretary of State now effectively controls the Latin American country's finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government since the capture of Nicolas Maduro. FRANCE 24's Monte F»»»

President Donald Trump on Tuesday reimposed a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and threatened to hit power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran resumes negotiations, in the latest U.S. escalation of the conflict.»»»

The US has pounded Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas since Tehran and Washington renewed missile strikes last week, including an unprecedented sea drone attack on a submarine maintenance facility. We take a look at why this city of more than half a million people has become a prime target f»»»

Large parts of France are facing water restrictions as the country grapples with a drought described as "exceptionally" early and intense. France has been experiencing its third heatwave in as many months, accompanied by fierce wildfires further fuelled by dry conditions. France is experiencin»»»

In this edition, a climatologist talks to FRANCE 24 about our changing weather patterns and their effects on wildfires currently raging across Europe. Dr. Alan Kennedy-Asser, Senior researcher at the University of Bristol, sheds light on the issue against a backdrop of hundreds of French firefighte»»»

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?  PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, July 15: French pa»»»

In France, a handful of wealthy entrepreneurs are buying up hundreds of hectares of land with the goal of letting nature reclaim its rightful place. Among them is Rodolphe Landemaine, an artisan baker at the helm of 30 bakeries in France and Japan. He routinely opens the doors to his Normandy »»»

Bulgaria recorded monthly deflation of 0.9% in June 2026, while annual inflation remained at 5.4%, according to the latest data published by the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The statistical agency reported that inflation since the beginning of the year has reached 2.9%. The average annual »»»

France’s National Assembly is set to give final approval Wednesday to a bill allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication, the culmination of years of debate over end-of-life care. France was on Wednesday set to move closer to joining the ranks of countries that guarantee t»»»

Former Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) chief executive Stoyan Mavrodiev was released on bail of 50,000 euro after spending only several hours in custody following his extradition from Serbia. Mavrodiev was transported to Bulgaria yesterday at noon in a convoy and handed over to Bulgarian authoriti»»»

Bulgaria's National Assembly adopted the draft 2026 state budget on first reading on Wednesday, approving a deficit of 5.7% of GDP, or 7.191 billion euros, the highest in the eurozone and nearly double the figure that brought down the previous government seven months ago. The bill passed with 143 v»»»

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suspended the use of traffic stops to detain immigrants across the country, US media reported Tuesday, a day after an ICE agent shot and killed a Colombian driver in Maine. The fatal shooting came a week after an ICE officer killed a motorist in Texas, r»»»

In this edition, our reporters look at Haiti, which is still in the grips of a long-running battle against armed gangs in the capital and some provinces. A new international security force is being deployed but has yet to make widespread progress. Against this backdrop, the humanitarian crisis in t»»»

After closing the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran on Wednesday threatened to shut additional energy export routes including the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea, a major global shipping route through which Saudi Arabia exports its oil. The warning comes after the US launched a fresh round of strikes o»»»

Ukraine and the European Union have signed a "drone deal" to combine Kyiv's expertise with Europe's industrial capacity in order to boost production, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday. Her visit comes as Russian strikes killed six people and wounded at l»»»

The parliamentary group of “Revival” launched sharp criticism against the government’s foreign policy, with MP Angel Georgiev presenting a declaration in parliament. The statement was made following Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova’s visit to Kyiv. According to Georgiev, Bulgaria’s foreign policy»»»

The parliamentary group of “We Continue the Change” (PP) has launched a petition calling for the gradual replacement of dangerous metal road barriers with concrete safety barriers in order to improve traffic safety. The initiative was presented by MP Yordan Terziyski, who said urgent action was nee»»»

Qatar Airways is ending its operations in Bulgaria, bringing an end to more than 15 years of direct flights between Doha and Sofia in a move that the country's tourism industry says will significantly weaken Bulgaria's air links with Asia, Africa, and Australia. According to Dimitrina Goranova, Vic»»»

Sofia has failed to secure a place in the prestigious Michelin Guide after inspectors completed their assessment of the Bulgarian capital this year. According to chef Boris Petrov, who spoke to TravelNews, the decision was based on a combination of shortcomings involving service standards, restaura»»»

The planet’s seas are on their way to being as warm as bath water as the predicted super El Niño arrives. It is already clear that this year’s oceanic heating event will be the most powerful on record. Global sea temperatures have already climbed past their previous all-time high, smashing records »»»

The planet’s seas are on their way to being as warm as bath water as the predicted super El Niño arrives. It is already clear that this year’s oceanic heating event will be the most powerful on record. Global sea temperatures have already climbed past their previous all-time high, smashing records »»»

Book publishers sued Google on Tuesday, accusing the tech giant of illegally using copyrighted works to train its artificial intelligence models and generate content that competes with human authors. The lawsuit marks the latest legal battle over how AI developers use books and other creative works»»»

An Iranian government spokesperson on Wednesday said more than 30 civilians were killed in US air strikes targeting the country’s southern region in “recent days”. Tehran was quick to retaliate with Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain all reporting attacks. The strike exchanges come as the US naval blockade»»»

Four people are currently in custody in the investigation into the fires ravaging the Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, including a volunteer firefighter who admitted to the facts, the Fontainebleau prosecutor announced on Tuesday.»»»

Spain’s defensive prowess and swagger were just too much for an attacking trio led by France great Kylian Mbappé, and just enough to get the 2010 champions into another World Cup final. Spain will play on Sunday against the winner between reigning champion Argentina and England on ⁠Wednesday. »»»

The regional chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) in Burgas, Hristo Shirokov, was detained in connection with a police investigation, Nova TV reported, citing its sources. The detention took place on Wednesday morning, with unofficial information indicating that the»»»

The Bulgarian government has decided to withdraw its approval for Tsvetelina Borislavova Karagyozova to continue serving as Iceland’s honorary consul in Bulgaria. The decision was taken at a government meeting following a proposal submitted by Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova. The cabinet»»»

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said that Sofia defended its national interests during discussions on the European Union’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, while the decision not to join the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” was motivated by the need to seek a peaceful settlement o»»»

The National Assembly is set to hold the first reading of Bulgaria’s 2026 state budget, the first fiscal plan drafted by Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s cabinet. The proposal has already triggered strong criticism from opposition parties, largely because it projects a consolidated fiscal deficit of 5.»»»

Fitch Ratings will publish its decision on Romania’s sovereign credit rating and country outlook on July 31, 2026, the Ministry of Finance announced. Representatives of the Ministry took part on Tuesday in technical discussions with Fitch specialists as part of the procedure for assessing Romania’s»»»

Mareike AdenTen years after the Brexit referendum, only one-third of people in Britain believe that leaving the EU was the right decision. Among young people in particular, support for rejoining the European Union is strong. https://p.dw.com/p/5GXo2AdvertisementTen years after the Brexit referendum»»»

LONDON — The dollar slid Tuesday after a drop in US inflation dented expectations of an interest rate hike later this month.Oil prices had jumped sharply on fresh Iran-US strikes, with two ships struck overnight near the Strait of Hormuz.But those gains faded during the day, with US President Donal»»»

WASHINGTON, United States — US consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June, government data showed Tuesday, as energy prices fell on a temporary cooling of the US-Iran war.With the recent renewal of hostilities between Washington and Tehran, and US President Donald Trump ordering the resta»»»

Fitch Ratings has warned that Bulgaria’s 2026 state budget reflects growing risks for the country’s public finances and economy, pointing to a deterioration in the fiscal position in recent years, BTA reported. According to the international credit rating agency’s analysis, the expansionary fiscal »»»

SAN FRANCISCO, United States: One person was dead and two were missing after a boat carrying 19 people sank near Alcatraz, the former prison and tourist site in San Francisco Bay, US officials said Tuesday. Helicopters, planes and rescue boats operated by local fire and police teams were working al»»»

US forces on Tuesday reimposed a naval blockade to prevent ships from sailing to or from Iran's ports and conducted strikes against the country for a fourth day in response to Tehran's attacks on commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and on Gulf facilities. The US military said Tues»»»