French outpost off Canada in the spotlight as Macron hosts Carney on symbolic visit
President Emmanuel Macron embarked Saturday on a symbolic visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory off Canada's Newfoundland, where he hosts Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The first-ever visit by a Canadian prime minister to the French archipelago in the North Atlantic»»»
Smoke, flames seen near Riyadh airport, ‘major’ flight disruptions reported
A plume of smoke and flames rose near Riyadh's main international airport on Saturday and residents reported hearing loud booms hours after Saudi authorities issued the first alert for the country's capital since the latest escalation with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. An Aramco fuel tank near»»»
Denmark hails Greenland deal with Trump respecting ‘red lines’
Denmark on Saturday welcomed a deal announced by President Donald Trump that bolsters the US military presence in Greenland and limits its adversaries from investing or having a military presence on the Arctic territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal respects the "red lines"»»»
OSCE Raises Concerns Over Albania’s Special Court Media Rules
The OSCE office in Tirana has criticized new regulations adopted by Albania’s Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO), warning that they impose disproportionate restrictions on journalists. The rules, in force since September 1, ban the use of cell phones and electronic devices»»»
Government's Goal: Double Number of Foreign Tourists Visiting Bulgaria to Eight Million per Year by Term-end, Tourism Minister Says
The government’s goal is to double the number of foreign tourists visiting Bulgaria by the end of its term, from around four million to eight million a year, while maintaining the current level of domestic tourism, Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov said on Saturday. Dimitrov participated in the LongSu»»»
Trump claims son repaid Russian oligarch who funded wedding festivities
US President Donald Trump said Friday that his eldest son had repaid a Kremlin-linked Russian businessman who funded two days of lavish wedding celebrations in the Bahamas, after the gift raised questions over foreign influence and ethics. US President Donald Trump said Friday that his eldest son h»»»
Tunisia’s booming boat industry: From pleasure craft to luxury yachts
In Tunisia, the summer is ending, but the boating season is still in swing. The boating industry has been quietly growing, despite an overall sluggish economy. Since the sector was reorganized through a trade association in 2024, there have been numerous foreign factories set up and Tunisia has bec»»»
France's Macron hosts Canadian PM Carney amid US tensions
President Emmanuel Macron embarks on a rare and symbolic visit to a remote French territory in the North Atlantic on Saturday, hosting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a time of growing tensions with Washington. This comes after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed maki»»»
Air France bets on caviar and champagne to lure luxury flyers
Air France is betting big on luxury to keep wealthy travellers spending with lavish servings of caviar and champagne in first-class cabins as soaring fuel costs and disrupted travel patterns squeeze airlines worldwide. The campaign seems to have paid off, with the Paris-based carrier saying that pr»»»
Suspected alcohol poisoning in Nigeria's Ondo State kills at least 49 people
In Nigeria's Ondo state, at least 49 people have died and 100 others injured after drinking alcohol suspected to contain methanol. Local authorities say 'Monkey Shoulder', a locally brewed herbal drink with high alcohol content is believed to have been the source of the poisoning, but investigation»»»
Spain's police launch operation to clear migrants off Ceuta beach
Police on Friday moved hundreds of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta to a temporary camp in the Spanish enclave's port area. The police operation takes place weeks after a record influx of people into Spain's North African tiny territory. During the transfer, the police struggled to contain crowds»»»
The World This Week - AI: Silicon Species or Trojan Horse? Riyadh Calling, Russia Votes & the Ed Sheeran debate
This week, Saudi Arabia has turned to its allies for military support as Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten their grip on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab el Mandeb shipping choke point, while drone attacks on the Kingdom’s oil infrastructure deepen an emerging energy crisis. In Russia, voters head»»»
Scientists discover first new wild cat in more than 100 years
Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of wild cat living at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia. The tiny, spotted feline had lived at the sanctuary for years before genetic analysis revealed it as the first new living wild cat species identified in more than a century. A previously u»»»
Access Asia - AI safety: No, China will not hit the brakes
A spate of warnings in recent days about the dangers of AI have sparked mixed reactions: from Donald Trump dismissing the fears as a hoax, to Beijing criticising calls for the US to block its advancement as fearmongering. As President Xi Jinping heads to Washington for talks, FRANCE 24's techn»»»
Live: Russian strike on apartment building in Ukraine's Sumy kills at least two
At least two people were killed and seven were injured after a Russian aerial bomb struck an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy late Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials said. A frequent target of Russian attacks, Sumy is located in an area where »»»
France’s Macron warns of Russian ‘hybrid’ attacks, seeks to step up energy defence
Just months before France's presidential election, rising fuel costs due to the wars in Iran and Ukraine have pushed the nation to the verge of crisis. In an attempt to address public anger and energy threats, French President Emmanuel Macron gathered the nation's major party presidential candidate»»»
Princess Diana's iconic 'revenge dress' goes to auction
As the worldwide release of Diana Spencer’s brother’s book prompts a reaction from King Charles and the British Crown, another piece of Diana's legacy is making headlines – the iconic little black dress, worn by the then Princess of Wales, is going under the hammer. Better known as the "Revenge Dre»»»
Indians living in Japan on stand-by to house Asian Games athletes
New Delhi: Indians living in Japan are standing by to house the country's athletes at the Asian Games if accommodation shortages continue, officials said Saturday. Asia's biggest sporting spectacular opens officially in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture on Saturday night, but the build-up to the event ha»»»
Cuba hit with another nationwide blackout amid US fuel blockade
Cuba suffered a total blackout after the collapse of its electrical grid on Friday. The blackout is the latest of at least six partial or total grid collapses since the beginning of this year, as the island grapples with an ongoing US fuel blockade. Cuba's electrical grid suffered a total col»»»
UAE, Philippines discuss stronger defence and security cooperation
Officials highlight regional security, military training, defence industry cooperation Dubai: The UAE and the Philippines have discussed ways to strengthen defence and security cooperation, with both sides highlighting the importance of dialogue and collaboration in addressing evolving regional and»»»
IIT Bombay student dies by suicide after ChatGPT exam incident; protests erupt
Third suicide in seven months at IIT Bombay sparks protests, exam postponement A 19-year-old student of IIT Bombay died by suicide after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during an examination, prompting more than 400 students to protest on campus and the institute to postpone the ongoing»»»
US State Dept. Approves Sale of Air Defense Development Upgrades to Ukraine for $2.68 Billion
The US State Department said it has approved the possible sale of air defense development upgrades to Ukraine for $2.68 billion. "The US Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine for purchase of Air Defense Development Upgra»»»
Sweden's centre-left leader Andersson tasked with forming government after election
Sweden's parliament speaker on Friday tasked opposition leader Magdalena Andersson with forming a government after an election gave the left-wing bloc a narrow majority, setting the stage for difficult coalition talks. Andersson, a former prime minister, must bridge deep differences between four pa»»»
Bulgaria Recalls UAE Ambassador Over Peevski Flight Allegations
Bulgaria has urgently recalled its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ivan Yordanov, following allegations that a company owned by his father was involved in financing private flights taken by Delyan Peevski. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova has summoned Yordanov to Sofia and ordered an insp»»»
The 51% - A Sydney Sweeney ad goes viral: Are we all just being played?
Another Sydney Sweeney ad goes viral – this time promoting a sports betting application almost naked. The campaign sparked fury among female athletes who said it undermines decades of progress in women's sports. Yet is the outrage itself part of the overall marketing strategy and ‘feminist-bai»»»
Macron orders plan to protect France's critical infrastructure against 'Russian hybrid attacks'
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said he had ordered measures to protect France's critical infrastructure and defence industry sites from "Russian hybrid attacks", adding that the threat from Moscow had intensified in recent weeks. France was threatened by Russian hybrid att»»»
India vows to protect energy security after new US tariffs over Russian oil
India has warned Washington that new measures to levy tariffs over the purchase of Russian oil could impact bilateral ties, the South Asian nation's foreign ministry said on Thursday, hours after the U.S. made a new move to punish such buyers. Earlier in the day, the U.S. House of Representatives»»»
Russia votes in parliamentary election as war in Ukraine drags on
Polls opened in Russia's Far East on Friday as the country began three days of voting for its parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin's main party, United Russia, is poised to keep its grip on power alongside other parties aligned with»»»
Police move hundreds of migrants still in Ceuta off beaches in Spanish enclave
Spanish police in Ceuta on Friday morning started moving hundreds of migrants from the beaches of the Spanish enclave to a new tented area. Several thousand migrants remain in Ceuta after tens of thousands of people crossed the border with Morocco in late July. Police on Friday began moving h»»»
Talking Europe - Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth State of the Union speech: A grand sweep, but thin on details?
In this episode, we debrief one of the key annual events in the EU calendar: the State of the Union speech. It was Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth such address as President of the European Commission, and the second State of the Union speech of her second mandate. We home in on the key innovations sin»»»
Japan's central bank raises benchmark interest rate to 1.25%
Japan's central bank on Friday raised the benchmark interest rate to 1.25% from 1.0%, a 31-year-high. The Bank of Japan has been trying to normalize monetary policy after decades of keeping interest rates near or below zero to try to encourage more borrowing and spending to counter deflation and pu»»»
Brazil's Lula announces 15% increase in flagship welfare ahead of key election
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree on Thursday increasing benefits under his flagship welfare program by 15%, weeks before the first round of the presidential elections. The minimum monthly benefit per family of Bolsa Familia, or Family Grant, will rise to 691 reais ($134»»»
Negotiations begin over Romania’s next government as parties clash over economic priorities
Romania’s political parties have begun negotiations over a new government after Siegfried Mureșan’s nomination for prime minister, with fiscal policy, public-sector reform and the country’s economic direction emerging as central points of contention. Mureșan appeared on Friday alongside PNL leader »»»
French PM vows to cut public spending by €54 billion to reduce deficit
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Thursday that France will cut public spending by €54 billion next year to reduce the country's deficit. The announcement comes seven months ahead of the country's presidential election, and the government is wary of a new wave of demonstrations wit»»»
Opposition Parties in Bulgaria Attack Government's Fuel Relief Package
GERB and the We Continue the Change (PP) party have criticized the government's newly announced measures to ease the impact of high fuel prices, arguing that the package will not reduce inflation and could instead add to price pressures. GERB-SDS MPs Temenuzhka Petkova, Aleksandar Ivanov and Vladis»»»
Bulgaria: Guardrail Probe Links Peevski Flights, UAE Ambassador’s Family
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said investigators had uncovered links between companies that won almost all of Bulgaria's public procurement contracts for highway guardrails and expenses related to 36 flights taken by MP and political party leader Delyan Peevski. Demerdzhiev made the allegation»»»
Bulgaria's Radev: We Are Not Replacing One Oligarchic Model With Another
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the government is working to dismantle Bulgaria’s oligarchic model and conduct a comprehensive fight against corruption, stressing that the executive branch cannot deliver justice but must gather admissible evidence for the judiciary. “This is the first, but not the »»»
Shell Company Paid for Delyan Peevski’s Private Flights With Money Diverted from Guardrail Tenders, Interior Minister Says
Companies involved in the supply of guardrails diverted funds to a shell company, which in turn paid for private flights taken by Delyan Peevski, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev told a briefing on Friday. At the Council of Ministers, Prime Mi»»»
Bulgaria Plans More Than 10 New Anti-Drone Systems
Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened the Council of Security at the Council of Ministers, where ministers and senior security officials discussed the need for additional funding for anti-drone systems, stronger protection of critical infrastructure and tighter security at facilities producing and st»»»
Russia's wartime economy faces long-term erosion from debt and military spending
The frictions in Russia's wartime economy are growing, as massive military spending balloons the budget deficit. Consumers and businesses are gloomier. Growth has slowed. None of that, however, signals an imminent financial crisis or economic collapse, economists say. With crucial oil export revenu»»»
Vazrazhdane: "It's Theft from State Budget"
Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov described the government’s newly announced package of measures to address fuel prices and provide inflation relief as “theft from the state budget.” “For me, this is theft from the state budget and taking money out of people’s pockets only to hand it back to t»»»
Entre Nous - From Then to Now: European Heritage Days and saving France's 'patrimoine'
Whether it’s visiting a national monument, going behind-the-scenes at a television station or walking around a neighbour’s castle, millions participate every year in The European Heritage Days. We dive into how they got their start, why they're needed now more than ever, and how there's a new deal »»»
Vazrazhdane Leader Criticises Government’s Fuel and Inflation Aid Package
Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov described the government’s newly announced package of measures to address fuel prices and provide inflation relief as “theft from the state budget.” “For me, this is theft from the state budget and taking money out of people’s pockets only to hand it back to t»»»
Foreign Investors Council: Fiscal predictability, energy and strategic investment, priorities for Romania's competitiveness
The Foreign Investors Council (FIC) has proposed a set of priorities for the future government programme aimed at strengthening Romania's competitiveness, increasing its attractiveness to investors and supporting long-term economic development, according to a press release issued by the organisatio»»»
PSD's Grindeanu, surprised, disappointed by President Dan's PM pick
National leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Sorin Grindeanu, says that he has learned with "surprise and disappointment" about President Nicusor Dan's pick to be Romania's prime minister.Dan on Thursday designated MEP Siegfried Muresan the new prime minister, who accepted the proposal."It»»»
USR's Seilder says party to further continue to support Siegfried Muresan
Save Romania Union (USR) continues to support Siegfried Muresan for the position of Prime Minister and considers his nomination to be the "logical option," stated the party's spokesperson, Cristian Seidler."We continue to support Siegfried Muresan in his attempt to form a government. He is not a su»»»
PNL: Muresan has to put his efficiency in Brussels at Romania's service
Senate Chairman Mircea Abrudean of the National Liberal Party (PNL) on Thursday said that a fully empowered government is needed, adding that the Prime Minister-designate, Siegfried Muresan, has proven his efficiency as a politician in Brussels, an experience that must now be put at the service of »»»
Trump declines to back Saudi Arabia as US officials reportedly meet Iran-backed Houthis in Oman
US officials met representatives of Yemen's Houthis in Oman over the weekend, five sources familiar with the matter said, days after the Iran-backed militia seized a strategic stretch of the Red Sea coast in a sweeping offensive that routed Saudi-backed forces. U.S. President Donald Trump has so»»»
Live: At least five injured in Russian drone strikes in Kyiv region
At least five people were injured on Friday after Russian drone strikes struck the Kyiv region, including three children, local officials said. The attack came as polling stations in Russia opened for the country's first parliamentary election since the start of the war in Ukraine. Follow our liveb»»»
Leaders’ Forum Qatar celebrates Engineers’ Day
DOHA: Leaders’ Forum Qatar (LFQ), a prominent community-based forum, celebrated Engineers’ Day at Maestro Hall, Skills Development Centre, Doha, bringing together senior professionals, young engineers, and members of the Indian community. The programme was presided over by P N Babu Rajan, former Pr»»»