Netanyahu vows to keep up strikes against Iran and Lebanon after call with Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Iran and resumed hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Monday after talks with US President Donald Trump. Earlier in the day, Trump backed off a threat to "obliterate" Iranian energy plants, citing progress in negotiations that »»»
Global economy under 'major' threat as Middle East war carries on
The International Energy Agency warned that the US-Israeli war on Iran could trigger the worst energy crisis the world has ever seen. The warning comes after Iran on the weekend vowed to escalate its attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf region, following President Trump's 48-hour ultima»»»
Israel strikes key bridge in south Lebanon, stoking fears of ground invasion
Israeli forces destroyed bridges they said were used by Hezbollah to cross the key Litani river, north of the border. The attack has sparked concern that a large-scale Israeli ground invasion could be in the works, with the Lebanese president calling the bombing 'collective punishment' and 'a flagr»»»
Israel to 'advance targeted ground operations' in Lebanon
Israel continues to bomb Lebanon as it tries to root out Hezbollah, which the president has called a collective punishment. After having destroyed several bridges linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, Israeli forces are 'advancing targeted ground operations' as they claim the operati»»»
Trump delays Iran strikes, citing progress in talks but Tehran denies negotiations are under way
President Donald Trump said Monday that the US was holding "productive" talks with Iranian officials, notably an unidentified Iranian leader. The speaker of Iran’s parliament speaker and the foreign ministry denied there had been any recent negotiations with the United States. Trump's surpris»»»
Trump extends his deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. will hold off on striking power plant strikes for five days, close near the end of the original forty-eight hour deadline. He also said the US and Iran were having 'very good' conversations - somet»»»
Trump backtracks on Iran's deadline to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump says the US and Iran had 'very good and productive talks' over the weekend. He also said the US would hold off on strikes on Iranian powerplants for five days, just as his initial 48-hour deadline was coming to an end. But the Iranian news agency says there has been no communication be»»»
Israel destroys another bridge linking south Lebanon to rest of country
As it engages in heated battles with pro-Iran militant group Hezbollah in a number of Lebanese border villages, Israel has bombed another bridge across a river dividing the country's north and south. It adds to widespread fears in Lebanon that Israel intends to depopulate the southern region in the»»»
Trump U-turn on Hormuz could be due to 'pressure' from Gulf nations
President Donald Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. He had previously given a 48-deadline to Tehran, which would lead to strikes on Iranian power plants were the Strait not to reopen. The backtracking could have been encouraged by »»»
'Growing mistrust and disagreement' over Trump declaring war with Iran
In a surprise U-turn, US President Donald Trump has extended a deadline he had given to Iran over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, adding five days to the initial 48-hour window. He had threatened to strike Iranian power plants were the Strait not to be reopened. For FRANCE 24's Philip Turle,»»»
Iran exploiting Trump administration's sensitivity to pressure from the markets, expert says
Speaking with FRANCE 24's Monte Francis, Nicholas Mulder, Assistant Professor at Cornell University and author of “The Economic Weapon: The Rise Of Sanctions As A Tool Of Modern War”, explains that "the Trump administration is particularly sensitive to pressure from the markets" and that "Iran has »»»
The Debate - Whose war is it? Trump eyes Iran talks as Israel hints at long campaign
Another deadline day, another ultimatum, another surprise turn from the US president. The same Donald Trump who may or may not send ground troops to try and secure the Strait of Hormuz now affirming that his administration's talking with the Iranians and thus holding off on hitting critical infrast»»»
A propos - Iran exploiting Trump administration's sensitivity to pressure from the markets, expert says
Speaking with FRANCE 24's Monte Francis, Nicholas Mulder, Assistant Professor at Cornell University and author of “The Economic Weapon: The Rise Of Sanctions As A Tool Of Modern War”, explains that "the Trump administration is particularly sensitive to pressure from the markets" and that "Iran has »»»
US‑Israel war with Iran Day 25: What UAE residents need to know today
Passengers travelling through the UAE on March 24 are being advised to stay updated on flight schedules as unstable weather, regional developments and airline advisories continue to affect travel plans. From potential delays and schedule changes to fuel price updates and security developments, here»»»
Former French Socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin dies aged 88
Former French prime minister Lionel Jospin, a Socialist who led the government from 1997 to 2002, died on Sunday aged 88. Former French prime minister Lionel Jospin, a Socialist who introduced the 35-hour work week and civil partnerships for gay couples, has died aged 88, his family said Monda»»»
Former French PM Lionel Jospin, figure of the 'plural' left, dies
Former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin passed away at the age of 88. Jospin was head of government under the centre-right President Jacques Chirac from 1997 to 2002 during cohabitation and embodied what he called the 'plural left'. FRANCE 24's Emily Boyle takes a look at early reactions to»»»
French left wins over country's largest cities in municipal election
Franc has brought in its new generation of mayors, in a local election that was held with the 2027 presidential election in mind. The left succeeded in major cities including Paris, Lyon and Marseille but failed to conquer Toulouse. On the other hand, Nice swung to the far right.»»»
Marseille sticks with the left as far-right fails to convince in local elections
Marine Le Pen's nationalist eurosceptic party lost out in big target cities including Marseille and Toulon. The only win has been through its ally, Eric Ciotti who in Nice, France's fifth-largest city. The municipal votes were a test of both the depth of the far right's support base a year ahead »»»
French far-right fail to take key cities in test for 2027 presidential race
Despite predictions, French far-right party the National Rally failed to take over any major cities in the municipal elections, in a ballot considered to be a stress-test ahead of the 2027 presidential race. But overall, the results do not give any further clue as to who could succeed to President »»»
Press Review - 'A big confusion': All sides claim victory after French municipal elections
PRESS REVIEW – Monday, March 23: France's municipal elections are all over the French front pages. International papers try to make sense of the results, as all sides seem to be claiming victory. Next, Hittler is elected as mayor of a small French town, beating out Zielinsky. Finally, the firs»»»
'The key' for 2027 French presidential race will be party alliances
France's far-right National Rally (RN) failed to win control of any major city in Sunday's nationwide municipal election, a setback that gave hope to embattled mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential election. Meanwhile, the socialist party won the vote in Paris and Marseille. But wha»»»
Paris a 'left-wing outlier' in local elections: 'Unprecedented' 60% of Parisians voted for left
Genie Godula is pleased to welcome Paul Smith, Head of Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham. He sees these municipal results not as a simple predictor of the presidential election, but as a revealing moment of political realignment across France. Lacking a single dominant force, these e»»»
French far right's bet on local elections falls short
For the extreme right National Rally, formerly the National Front, the municipal elections were supposed to confirm its national momentum at the local level. But the gamble didn’t totally pay off. While the party’s vote count doubled in some medium-sized cities like Narbonne and Lens, it came up sh»»»
Former French rugby star Serge Blanco wins bid for Biarritz mayor
Legendary French rugby player Serge Blanco successfully entered politics in Biarritz, a seaside town in the southwest where he established his athletic career, by winning the municipal election on Sunday. Blanco said he won because voters wanted "to be spoken to from the heart" and "respected". Fre»»»
After strong showing in France's major cities, will left even qualify for 2027 presidential runoff?
Carys Garland is pleased to welcome Renaud Foucart, Economist, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University. He observes a political landscape shaped less by ideology alone and more by geography and fragmentation. What these municipal elections reveal is not a clear national trajectory, but a mosaic of »»»
Lionel Jospin (1937-2026): 'Highly-respected moral and intellectual figure among left wing'
François Picard is pleased to welcome Damien Lecomte, Political Scientist and Researcher at CRPS-CESSP, Paris Pantheon Sorbonne University. According to Dr. Lecomte, there is a persistent tension between unity and fragmentation in French politics, and the legacy of Lionel Jospin illustrates this pa»»»
Dr. Andrew Smith: Elections are won by 'constructing a vision that articulates political values'
Stuart Norval is pleased to welcome Dr. Andrew Smith, Historian of Modern France and Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. What stands out to our guest is not just that the Socialists held Paris, but how they did so: by resisting opportunistic alliances and instead presenting a coherent, ind»»»
Airstrike Hits Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite Militia Military Base in Ramadi - Reports
An airstrike hit a military base of Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias, the Popular Mobilization Forces, in the city of Ramadi in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, Al Jazeera reported citing police. The channel claims the strike resulted in casualties. The group confirmed the death of Anbar Opera»»»
Over 600 People Killed in Tehran as Result of Attacks by US, Israel - Authorities
More than 600 people have died in Tehran since the start of the conflict with Israel and the United States, Mohammad Ismail Tavakkoli, head of the Tehran district's emergency services, said. "During this period [since the start of the conflict], 636 people have been killed, and 6,848 have been inju»»»
Access Asia - Japan's PM walks tightrope in high-stakes Washington visit
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi travelled to Washington hoping to strengthen ties with the United States. The visit turned into a delicate balancing act amid US President Donald Trump's growing pressure on allies to help the US in the Iran war. Yuka Royer discusses the visit with James Schof»»»
Ex-Manchester City player to join Kyrgyzstan’s club - | 24.KG
Kyrgyz football club Muras United from the city of Manas has strengthened its squad with former Manchester City and Ghana national team player Thomas Agyepong. The 29-year-old joined Muras United during the winter transfer window and officially linked up with the team on March 21. Agyepong began hi»»»
Slovenia's liberal PM Golob claims victory over conservatives in neck-and-neck vote
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob on Sunday claimed victory after a tight parliamentary election, with near-final results showing his liberal party at 28.54 percent ahead of Janez Jansa’s conservatives at 28.17 percent. Authorities are probing whether an Israeli company was behind a video alleg»»»
London police probe ‘anti-Semitic arson attack’ after Jewish charity ambulances set ablaze
British police on Monday said they were investigating an anti-Semitic hate crime after four volunteer ambulances run by a Jewish organisation were set on fire in north London, an attack Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned as "deeply shocking". British police said Monday they were investigating a »»»
A "no" vote in Italy's referendum could be 'first blow' to Meloni's premiership
Italy’s conservative premier, Giorgia Meloni, faces a pivotal political test in a two-day referendum on judicial reform that started on March 22. The vote has transformed into a broader judgement on her leadership at home and abroad. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta tells us more about the reform, the divid»»»
Italy divided over Meloni government, referendum exit polls show
Polls have closed in Italy's two-day referendum. According to exit polls, the "No" vote is slightly ahead - but the final results could differ, as they do not take into account what Italians from abroad voted. What can be said though, is that the country 'is very divided' over the county's leadersh»»»
Jewish charity ambulances set ablaze in London in suspected hate crime
Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were set on fire early on March 23 in London. British police are investigating the arson attack as a hate crime. This comes amid a rise in antisemitic attacks in the UK since the October 7 Hamas attacks, and are suspected to amplify due to the war in th»»»
EU restricts Hungary's access to classified intelligence over alleged leaks to Russia
As European far-right leaders gather around Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, the EU has restricted classified intelligence to Hungary following allegations that the Hungarian foreign minister leaked EU Council details to his Russian counterpart. Since this has come out, several European leaders have said»»»
Italian voters reject Giorgia Meloni's judicial reform in referendum defeat
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conceded defeat on Monday in a referendum which sought to overhaul the country's judiciary. The vote is a major blow to Meloni's far-right leadership, and could weaken her re-election chances next year. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conceded defea»»»
EU 'deeply concerned' by reports Hungary leaked negotiation details to Russia
The European Commission said on Monday it was “greatly concerned” by reports Hungary’s foreign minister shared sensitive EU negotiation details with Russia. The Washington Post cited officials saying Peter Szijjarto briefed Sergei Lavrov during meetings. Szijjarto dismissed the report as “fake news»»»
Orbán: It is unacceptable that intelligence operations against the government are carried out in the interest of the Tisza Party and through the Tisza Party
Speaking at a campaign rally in Kecskemét on March 23, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary has reached a crossroads, arguing that the upcoming election will determine whether the country remains on a path of peace, sovereignty, and stability or shifts toward a pro-war direction backed by Bruss»»»
LaGuardia airport crash: CCTV captures shocking Air Canada jet-fire truck collision
Surveillance footage shows the chilling moment an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday. The crash killed both pilots and injured dozens, leaving the regional jet’s cockpit mangled and the emergency vehicle overturned. The collis»»»
Mayor of Bishkek fires head of Oktyabrsky district and his deputy - | 24.KG
A scheduled meeting was held at Bishkek City Hall to review the results of a site inspection at Orto-Sai market. The City Hall reported. The mayor expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the market. «Despite work carried out throughout the year to improve and beautify the area, it was n»»»
'Harm at a population level': World Happiness Report flags social media's negative impact
Young people have a “much lower” level of wellbeing than 15 years ago due to the effects of social media use, according to the 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report, which sees Finland maintain its position as the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year. Where is the happiest c»»»
The Observers - Four tips for detecting images generated by AI
AI-generated images are everywhere, and they're getting better and better, making it harder and harder to know what's real and what's fake. Here are four tips for detecting images generated by AI. See who posted the content. Was it a reliable source, or an unknown user? Look at the account. Does it»»»
Tech 24 - Is this the beginning of the end for the Metaverse?
Five years and more than $80 billion later, Mark Zuckerberg's virtual reality dream seems to be being dismantled, and replaced with equally ambitious AI projects. We take a closer look in this edition of Tech 24. When Facebook became Meta in 2021, founder Mark Zuckerberg stood before the world and »»»
Czechs voice fear over government attacks on democracy at largest mass rally since 2019
Around 200,000-250,000 Czechs rallied at the Letná plateau in Prague on March 21 against the policies of the ruling radical populist cabinet led by billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš' Ano party, which they fear threaten democratic standards in the country. »»»
Golob’s Freedom Movement narrowly leads Slovenia vote as coalition talks loom
Slovenia’s ruling Freedom Movement, led by Prime Minister Robert Golob, was narrowly ahead in the March 22 general elections after 99.81% of votes were counted, setting the stage for complex coalition negotiations. Accordi»»»
The West has split – Stubb
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has warned that relations between the US and Europe are fracturing under Donald Trump’s policies, urging allies to “salvage what you can” of the transatlantic alliance, The Telegraph reported on March 22. »»»
EU-Mercosur trade deal to take effect provisionally from May 1
The European Commission has announced that its trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc will provisionally enter into force on May 1, marking a crucial milestone for a pact that has divided European capitals and drawn fierce opposition from agricultural producers. »»»