The Debate - What aftermath for Venezuela? Earthquake relief hampered by political crisis
Kudos to Venezuela's first responders and all the brave citizens still pulling survivors from under the rubble of the 774 buildings that collapsed in last Wednesday’s double earthquakes. Is the sudden pancaking of so many structures - structures built during the boom years of high oil prices, »»»
Pragmatic diplomacy: Dawud Al Ansari says 'Oman is committed to de-escalation & peace in the region'
As French President Emmanuel Macron meets Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman amid efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, François Picard welcomes Dawud Al Ansari, a geopolitics and energy analyst. As diplomacy in the Gulf is once again being tested by renewed military tensions, Al Ansari»»»
Healthcare in a heatwave: French hospitals and aged care homes bear the brunt of rising temperatures
Overburdened hospitals, overwhelmed mortuaries and millions suffering in temperatures touching 40°C – prolonged and intense heatwaves are the new normal, and a healthcare burden that France must immediately tackle. Europe has been baking for weeks. An intense and prolonged early summer heatwav»»»
US Supreme Court expands Trump's power to fire officials, but protects Fed
The US Supreme Court on Monday boosted presidential power, upholding President Donald Trump’s firings of the heads of independent federal agencies with one important exception: the Federal Reserve. The US Supreme Court on Monday expanded President Donald Trump's powers to fire members of independen»»»
Americans' pride in US history and democracy dropped steeply over past decade, poll finds
Americans’ pride in their country's history or the way its democracy works has dropped noticeably over the past decade, according to a new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Americans have grown less proud of their country's history or the way its democracy»»»
Syria slams new Israeli incursion in southern Daraa province
The Syrian foreign ministry on Monday condemned Israeli incursions and bombardment in the country's south a day after Israeli forces advanced into the village of Abidin, where angry residents tried to block the road with stones to stop the patrol. The Israeli military has conducted at least 70»»»
Senegal president Faye to call referendum on constitutional reform limiting his powers
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye will call a referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment that would strengthen the power of parliament and the prime minister, the country's justice minister said Monday. The country's National Assembly overwhelmingly backed the reform in a vote earlie»»»
At least six killed in shooting in Stade in northern Germany, police say
At least six people have been killed in a shooting in the northern German city of Stade, police said Monday. Two people have been detained, including the suspected shooter. Six people were killed in a shooting on Monday at a youth welfare facility in the northern German town of Stade, police said»»»
The World This Week - Iran's 'Guardian Angel' route, Britain awaits Burnham
Political change in Britain has dominated the headlines this week with Keir Starmer’s resignation paving the way for Andy Burnham to become prime minister, while the country also marks 10 years since the Brexit vote. Also, fresh peace talks between the US and Iran have begun amid continuing tension»»»
EU refuses to take side for or against air conditioning amid record-breaking heatwave
As Europe’s deadly heatwave moves east, Brussels said Monday it would not pick a side in the heated political debate for or against air conditioning. The European Union refused to be drawn into a heating political debate on the merits of air conditioning Monday, saying it was not for 27-nation bloc»»»
Defense Minister: Last U.S. Military Aircraft Has Left Bulgaria
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov announced that the mission of the U.S. military aircraft deployed in Bulgaria has officially concluded, while also confirming that the Bulgarian Armed Forces are entering the wildfire season with expanded aerial capabilities and fully prepared crews. Speaking after»»»
July 1: Bulgarian Banks Adjust Lev-to-Euro Rules as Pension and Inflation Concerns GrowOpinions
The transition process from the Bulgarian lev to the euro is progressing in line with expectations, with authorities stressing that there is no cause for public concern over remaining cash in circulation. Economic journalist and “ReVizia” host Yordan Barzakov said in an interview on NOVA that the w»»»
Sub-Saharan Africa's green transition could create up to 84.5mn jobs by 2050, report says
Sub-Saharan Africa's transition to a low-carbon economy could generate between 3.8mn and 7.9mn direct and indirect jobs by 2030, rising to between 65.9mn and 84.5mn by 2050 if governments implement supportive policies and invest in workforce development, according to a report published on June 15 b»»»
Russia's ASEAN summit in Kazan was a diplomatic coup for the Kremlin
The ASEAN summit held in Russia last week was one of the Kremlin’s biggest diplomatic successes since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite Western sanctions, a lack of progress on the battlefield, growing economic problems, and more frequent Ukrainian drone attacks, Putin was able to»»»
Stocks rise, oil climbs after US-Iran clashes
LONDON — Stocks mostly rose while oil prices climbed on Monday after the United States and Iran exchanged fire over the weekend, underscoring the fragility of their tentative agreement to end the war.While Washington said it had agreed with Iran to halt the attacks and continue talks, the strikes a»»»
EU, China trade tensions loom over minister visit
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Europe and China were seeking to gauge Monday whether trade frictions can be resolved without a fight, as top EU trade official Maros Sefcovic hosts his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao in Brussels for day-long talks.The European Union has turned its attention to China as Brussel»»»
JCI launches 'Industrialist's Compass' series
AMMAN — The Jordan Chamber of Industry on Monday launched a new knowledge series titled "Industrialist's Compass" aimed at providing industrial companies with simplified and practical analysis of key global economic, trade and regulatory developments.The series seeks to outline the implications of »»»
Jordan's industrial exports rise 9.1% to record JD2.8b in first four months — JCI
AMMAN — Jordan's industrial exports grew by 9.1 per cent during the first four months of 2026, underscoring the sector's growing competitiveness in global markets, according to the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI).Statistical data obtained by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, showed that industrial ex»»»
Tête à tête - DR Congo conflict: Rwandan FM 'disappointed by increasingly biased US mediation'
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said his country is "disappointed by the increasingly biased US mediation" in the conflict with DR Congo. He also accused the US of sanctioning Kigali alone while Kinshasa fails to honour the 2025 Washington Accords betwe»»»
All warring parties in Mali committed 'grave abuses' against civilians, report says
Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists, the Malian army and its Russian allies have all committed "grave abuses" against civilians during and after the April attacks that rocked the West African country, Human Rights Watch said in a report on Monday. Malian civilians suffered serious abuses at the hands of Isla»»»
Spotlight - What happens when lightning strikes the Eiffel Tower?
The heatwave that's seen much of northern Europe melting in the past week, is moving eastwards, with Germany and Hungary reaching or exceeding 40°C in the past 24 hours. Here in France, residents finally saw a break from baking temperatures and the tropical nights with the cooler Atlantic air comin»»»
Dozens of civilians killed in Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan, officials say
At least 36 civilians have been killed and more than 160 others injured in Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, officials said. Pakistani forces launched a military operation along the border with Afghanistan overnight to Monday in response to multiple militant attacks across Pakistan. Overnight ai»»»
Ukrainian strike ignites Russian oil refinery as Putin acknowledges 'difficult period'
Debris from downed Ukrainian drones sparked a blaze at a major oil refinery in Russia on Sunday, according to local authorities. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country was “going through a difficult period”. In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up its long-range attac»»»
Bulgaria Is Still Among EU’s Cheapest CountriesOpinions
Bulgaria remains among the lowest-priced countries in the European Union, but the gap with the EU average continues to narrow, according to comparative price level data covering 2021-2025, the Institute for Market Economics reports. The indicators, which benchmark countries against the EU-27 averag»»»
EU mulling “membership-lite” financial benefits for candidate countries to keep enlargement on track
The European Commission is preparing plans to grant European Union candidate countries some financial benefits while they wait for full membership as the process becomes bogged down in internal wrangling. Under proposals currently being developed, candidate countries would gain access to selected E»»»
EU mulling “membership-lite” financial benefits for candidate countries to keep enlargement on track
The European Commission is preparing plans to grant European Union candidate countries some financial benefits while they wait for full membership as the process becomes bogged down in internal wrangling. Under proposals currently being developed, candidate countries would gain access to selected E»»»
EU mulling “membership-lite” financial benefits for candidate countries to keep enlargement on track
The European Commission is preparing plans to grant European Union candidate countries some financial benefits while they wait for full membership as the process becomes bogged down in internal wrangling. Under proposals currently being developed, candidate countries would gain access to selected E»»»
People & Profit - VivaTech 2026: Space race hits new heights with reusable technology
Space loomed large over the 2026 VivaTech festival. Startups and technology giants alike have entered the new space economy – a sector previously dominated by government agencies. FRANCE 24’s Business Editor Kate Moody sat down with Marta Oliveira, Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at Atmos S»»»
Venezuela's earthquakes death toll nears 1,500, tens of thousands still missing
The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes neared 1,500 on Sunday as rescue workers raced against the clock to find survivors among the nearly 50,000 people still unaccounted for. Rescue teams raced on Sunday to find more survivors of the two powerful earthquakes that struck Vene»»»
Thousands of foreign nationals leave South Africa ahead of June 30 'deadline'
Thousands of people have fled South Africa in recent weeks ahead of a June 30 "deadline" for foreign nationals to leave the country announced by anti-immigrant groups. We spoke to Congolese refugees in KwaZulu-Natal province who were forced to leave their homes and livelihoods after anti-immigrant »»»
DR Congo beat Uzbekistan and fly to World Cup round of 32
Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3–1, securing a place in the World Cup knockout stage. The victory means nine of the tournament's ten African teams have advanced to the next round, joining South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Egypt, Algeria and Ghana. For some teams, including Congo, »»»
France's 2027 presidential election: Can the far-right National Rally win without Le Pen?
With less than a year to go until France's April 2027 presidential election, the far-right National Rally party still hasn't designated a candidate. As Marine Le Pen appeals a graft conviction that barred her from seeking office for five years, her young protégé Jordan Bardella is poised to step in»»»
Tech 24 - 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 brutal week, particularly for schools, hospital»»»
Paris mortuaries overwhelmed as France counts victims of devastating heatwave
France estimates that its death rate rose by at least 1,000 people during the devastating heatwave that swept the country last week – but that is at the cautious end of the estimate. As authorities continue to tally the number of heat-related deaths, mortuaries in Paris and its immediate region rep»»»
Turkey police detain dozens at LGBT+ Pride event in Istanbul
Turkish police on Sunday detained at least 50 people, including a journalist, during a LGBT+ Pride event in Istanbul that went ahead despite a ban by local authorities. Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but since 2015, the annual Pride march has been almost systematically banned and supp»»»
Bulgaria's Finance Minister Defends 2026 Budget, Says Vignette Increase Equals Just €1.20 Per Month
Finance Minister Galab Donev has defended the 2026 state budget, describing it as a realistic reflection of Bulgaria’s public finances after years of accumulated obligations and unresolved structural issues. Speaking on bTV’s “120 Minutes,” Donev said the document does not conceal financial difficu»»»
Progressive Bulgaria Seeks Full State Audit of Public Finances for 2020–2026 Period
Progressive Bulgaria has introduced three separate draft parliamentary decisions requesting that the National Audit Office carry out a comprehensive review of public finances across several key institutions and budget areas covering the period from 2020 to May 2026. The proposals were presented in »»»
NATO Summit Talks in Istanbul Highlight Expanding Bulgaria-Turkey Partnership
Speaker of the National Assembly Mihaela Dotsova held talks in Istanbul with the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmus, focusing on parliamentary cooperation and broader bilateral relations. The meeting took place during a visit by a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation at»»»
Water Utility Chief in Nessebar Charged After Alleged 8,000-Euro Bribe ProbeOpinions
The head of the water and sewerage operator in the Nessebar area has been formally charged in a corruption case involving an alleged 8,000-euro bribe, while the second detained official has been released without charges, authorities confirmed following a multi-day investigation. The case centers on»»»
Oleg Nevzorov Says KYB Will Continue Operations Despite Bulgaria’s "Baba Alino" InvestigationOpinions
The controversial Ukrainian businessman, Oleg Nevzorov, has released a video message addressed to partners and investors in the KYB Corporation, the company behind the so-called "illegal city" known as "Baba Alino" near Varna. In the statement, he insisted that "the company is operating as usual" d»»»
Iran war switches energy investment priorities from climate to security where electricity is king - IEA
The Iran war has switched up government’s priorities and energy investments are now driven less by climate targets than by security concerns, as governments respond to the second major energy crisis in five years. Green goals have been downgraded as diversifying supply routes, strengthening electri»»»
Venezuela death toll reaches 1,430
More than three days after Venezuela was struck by its most powerful earthquake in over a century, hopes of finding survivors are fading. Experts say the first 72 hours are critical for rescues, after which the operation increasingly becomes one of recovering bodies. The confirmed death toll has cl»»»
Skydiving plane crashes in France, killing all 11 people on board
A skydiving plane crashed in eastern France on Sunday, killing all 11 people on board. The crash in the town of Tomblaine killed five instructors, five students and the pilot, according to local officials. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear, and a technical investiga»»»
Two Bulgarian Children Die in Hot Car in Cyprus; Father and Partner ArrestedOpinions
Two Bulgarian children, an 8-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sibling, were found dead inside a parked car in the Cypriot village of Xylofagu, in the Famagusta district, an area that falls under the jurisdiction of the British Sovereign Base of Dhekelia. The children had recently traveled from Bulg»»»
Bulgaria Opens Probe Into High Food and Drink Prices at Sofia AirportOpinions
Bulgaria’s competition authority has opened a preliminary probe into pricing practices at Sofia Airport’s food and beverage outlets, amid growing public complaints about unusually high costs for basic items. The Commission on Protection of Competition said it is examining whether there is possible »»»