Former Supreme Administrative Court Chair Cholakov Denies Bribery Accusations
Former Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) chair Georgi Cholakov denied holding conversations with an alleged intermediary involved in arranging court decisions in exchange for bribes of hundreds of thousands of euro, quoted by SAC's press centre on Friday evening. His comments came in response to e»»»
Turkiye joins global push to shield children from harmful online content
LONDON: Turkiye has become the latest country to restrict children’s access to social media, passing legislation this week that prevents under-15s from opening accounts on major platforms and requires stricter controls on harmful content. The bill, now awaiting final approval from President Recep T»»»
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump says ‘great chance’ for peace deal
Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire by three weeks on Thursday following a meeting of officials from both sides at the White House. US President Donald Trump said he believed there was a "great chance" the two countries would agree on a peace deal, even though Israel and Hezbollah have accu»»»
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump says ‘great chance’ for peace deal
Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire by three weeks on Thursday following a meeting of officials from both sides at the White House. US President Donald Trump said he believed there was a "great chance" the two countries would agree on a peace deal, even though Israel and Hezbollah have»»»
Strait of Hormuz: Iran, US seize ships
US President Donald Trump says he is not rushing into a peace agreement with Iran, downplaying concerns over Iranian small boats even after they seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and arguing that Tehran is unable to strike a deal due to divisions within its leadership, an accusati»»»
Trump orders navy to shoot Iranian boats
The standoff between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz appears to be edging closer to renewed conflict than a peace deal, with President Donald Trump ordering the Navy to target Iranian boats laying mines and Israel signaling it is ready to resume bombing once it receives the go-ah»»»
Lebanon - Israel: Truce extended by three weeks
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire for three weeks, according to the White House, which hosted ambassadors from both countries, but fighting persists as Hezbollah, absent from the talks, has launched new waves of rockets and drones, while Israeli forces continue operations in sout»»»
Tête à tête - 'The world bailed out the banks, no one is bailing out the children,' UNICEF says
In an interview with FRANCE 24, UNICEF global spokesperson James Elder discussed the situation in Lebanon, where "critical infrastructure that girls and boys rely on" have been targeted, giving Lebanese people "a sense that there really is nowhere safe". He also declared that humanitarian groups li»»»
Hormuz standoff chokes 20% of oil supply
In the Strait of Hormuz, the United States and Iran are locked in a struggle for influence over one of the world’s most strategic waterways, with Washington emphasizing ship seizures to demonstrate its ability to disrupt maritime traffic, while a parallel on-the-water confrontation unfolds over dem»»»
UN peacekeeper dies of wounds suffered in Lebanon
The UN mission in Lebanon said Friday that an Indonesian peacekeeper has died from wounds sustained in a March 29 attack on his base. Arriving at an EU summit in Cyprus, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to “intensify its efforts” to help restore stability in the Middle East»»»
UN peacekeeper dies of wounds in Lebanon
The UN mission in Lebanon said Friday that an Indonesian peacekeeper has died from wounds sustained in a March 29 attack on his base. Arriving at an EU summit in Cyprus, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to “intensify its efforts” to help restore stability in the Middle East»»»
Spotlight - Trump's favourite field marshall: A profile of Asim Munir
One of the notable aspects of Pakistan being the centre of peace talks is just how the country positioned itself as the mediator, or facilitator, between the US and Iran. Analysts point to a number of key moments that made Islamabad the go-to for President Trump. First, after the US mediated talks »»»
US Defense Secretary Hegseth: 'US blockade has gone global'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury has achieved a decisive result in just weeks, focused on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He noted the mission is entering a new phase, giving Iran the chance to pursue a “good and wise” peace deal, while emphasising the streng»»»
Spotlight - Retired US Army Colonel discusses naval strategy in Hormuz
Joe Buccino is the former communications director of US Central Command, CentCom, which directs and commands American military operations in the Middle East, Central and Sout Asia. He’s a retired US Army Colonel. And the author of ‘When Every Word Counts: How to Earn Trust, Command Attention, and C»»»
Spotlight - Pope in Equatorial Guinea: Moral authority role risks being 'whitewashed & used to legitimise power'
François Picard is pleased to welcome Tutu Alicante, an international human rights lawyer and anti-corruption activist. According to Alicante, the pope's visit to Equatorial Guinea presents a paradox: it offers a rare opportunity to spotlight injustice, yet risks being appropriated b»»»
Eye on Africa: Fally Ipupa marks 20 years of career
Congolese music star Fally Ipupa is marking 20 years in the industry with new albums and major concerts in Paris, celebrating a journey that took him from Kinshasa to becoming one of Africa’s most recognized artists, known for pioneering a modern take on Congolese rumba by blending it with R&B,»»»
Focus - Fleeing war in Sudan, refugees flock to Libya's Kufra province
For the past three years, war has been raging in Sudan betwe en the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leading to more than 11 million Sudanese being displaced. After Chad, Libya is the largest host country of Sudanese refugees. In the southeastern Kufra province, 250 kilo»»»
French foreign minister Barrot voices concern about 'terrorist threat' in the Sahel
France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday voiced concern about the spread of Islamist extremism in west Africa, after talks with Togo's leader, Faure Gnassingbe. Violence by jihadist groups has blighted the Sahel region for the last decade, and is now spreading into northe»»»
Syrian Agriculture Minister visits Italy’s Perugia University for cooperation talks
Rome,,April 24 (SANA) Syria’s Minister of Agriculture, Amjad Badr, and the accompanying delegation visited the University of Perugia in Italy, one of Europe’s oldest and most distinguished academic institutions, particularly renowned for its scientific and agricultural research. The delegation tour»»»
French connections - Genius & gadgets: French inventions that changed the world
This week we take a step back from the news and focus on something a little different: French inventions. But we're not just talking about gadgets. Beyond the baguette and beret, France is behind some very impactful inventions, in fields as varied as medicine, fashion and transport. We bring you a »»»
Orient Express train exhibition in Paris
Finally, a legendary rail journey from Paris to Istanbul is in the spotlight as the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris hosts an exhibition dedicated to the Orient Express, with France 2 taking a closer look, in a report brought to us by Nick Rushworth.»»»
'I wasn't in politics before and I'm not going to be after': Macron to quit politics in 2027
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he will quit politics in 2027 as the final year in his second term approaches. He added that at this late stage in office, the "hardest thing" was to strike a balance between defending his record and acknowledging what "didn't work out".»»»
Iraq deadlock persists over next prime minister
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s main Shiite alliance failed on Friday to agree on a new candidate for prime minister after US pressure stymied the chances of frontrunner Nouri Al-Maliki. Leaders of the Coordination Framework — a ruling coalition of Shiite groups with varying ties to Iran who had initially nominate»»»
Plane skids off runway in Kenya, passengers unharmed
NAIROBI: A passenger plane overran the runway and careered into roadside bushes at a remote airstrip in northeastern Kenya on Friday, but all 36 people on board escaped without injury, an aviation official said. The Embraer aircraft operated by Kenyan carrier EBB Air had taken off from Nairobi’s »»»
62,000 Somalis displaced by drought since beginning of year UN says
Geneva: The United Nations revealed Friday that the drought plaguing Somalia since the beginning of the year has displaced approximately 62,000 people across five regions. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), in its latest report, anticipates that the total number of displaced p»»»
Ex-Philippine president Duterte to stand trial at ICC over deadly ‘war on drugs’
The International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, paving the way for a landmark trial. Duterte is accused of murder and attempted murder linked to his anti-drugs campaign, in a major test for the court amid mo»»»
Access Asia - India-Pakistan ties 'not good', a year after Kashmir attack
A year after the deadly terror attack in Kashmir, relations between India and Pakistan remain at an all-time low. Since then, Islamabad has emerged as a key mediator seeking to end the war in Iran. On Access Asia, we're joined by Indian MP Dr Shashi Tharoor to find out what India makes of Pakistan'»»»
Tokyo urges government workers to swap suits for shorts to counter energy costs
Government workers in Tokyo have new dress code rules that allow them to wear shorts to the office in a bid to cut air conditioning costs, an official said on Friday, as the Middle East war drives up energy costs around the world. Tokyo's metropolitan government is encouraging staff to wear shorts »»»
Meta to add AWS Graviton cores to run agentic AI - UPI.com
Meta announced it will add "tens of millions" of AWA Graviton cores to its stack to help it manage agentic AI. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Meta announced Friday that it's partnering with Amazon Web Services to add millions of AWS Gravitron cores to Meta's compu»»»
Sheikh Abdullah receives phone call from Russian Foreign Minister
Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received a phone call from Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. During the call, the two ministers discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and the Russ»»»
WWF warns Mediterranean overfishing remains critical
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization show 58% of assessed Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished, meaning catches exceed sustainable limits, WWF Greece fisheries officer Michalis Margaritis said. The Mediterranean is among the world’s most overexploited seas, he added. Fish consumption»»»
Venezuela ends amnesty after thousands are freed - UPI.com
Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez said that the amnesty, enacted into law and intended to pardon alleged political crimes committed since 1999, “has come to an end.” Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA April 24 (UPI) -- Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced she was ending t»»»
UAE strongly condemns terrorist attack on Kuwaiti border posts
Abu Dhabi: The UAE condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack that targeted two northern border posts in the State of Kuwait using two explosive-laden drones launched from the Republic of Iraq. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this terrorist attack con»»»
SDAIA showcases Saudi Arabia’s AI governance model
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority participated in the 29th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, held in Geneva from April 20 to 24. Under the theme “Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Age of AI,” the session gathered global repre»»»
OCA President visits Athletes' Village at Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games
Sanya, China: President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani visited the Athletes' Village at the 6th Asian Beach Games, being held in Sanya, People's Republic of China. This visit comes as part of his ongoing mo»»»
What We Are Reading Today: ‘What To Do If ...?’
Author: Anne-Maartje Oud “What To Do If ...? How to handle any situation at work and come out winning,” by Anne-Maartje Oud, is a concise yet thoughtful guide to help navigate tricky situations at work. Presented through a series of 35 real-life workplace dilemmas, the book provides practical strat»»»
Saudi deputy FM meets US embassy official
RIYADH: Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed A. Elkhereiji met Alison Dilworth, charge d’affaires of the US Embassy to the Kingdom, in Riyadh. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed current developments in the region and issues of mutual interest, the Kingdom’s Forei»»»
Saudi culture on display at Sarajevo book fair
RIYADH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the King Fahd Cultural Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is participating in Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the 37th Sarajevo International Book Fair, held from April 22 to 27 at the Skenderija Center. This year’s fair, the the»»»
Umluj: A sustainable tourism destination in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Umluj governorate is redefining its status on the global tourism map, leveraging its natural wealth and maritime heritage to create a sustainable, inclusive destination. Historically known as the “white city” for its pristine sands, Umluj’s modern identity is being shaped by national transf»»»
Macron bands Trump with Putin, Xi as ‘dead against’ Europe
ATHENS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday banded US President Donald Trump together with Russia’s Vladmir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping as world leaders who are “dead against” Europe. Macron’s bromance with the mercurial US leader has cooled in recent months, and the White House has made no»»»
Conflict and climate crisis push 266m into acute food insecurity
ROME: Two-thirds of people facing food crises globally last year lived in just 10 countries, with a third of them in Sudan, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a UN-backed yearly report said on Friday. Conflict remained the main driver of acute food insecurity, according to the Global Re»»»
What We Are Reading Today: Every Man’s Home a Castle
Author: Julia Bowes “Parental rights” is a rallying cry for today’s American conservatives, signaling opposition to mandatory vaccination and “woke” public school curricula. In “Every Man’s Home a Castle,” Julia Bowes traces the origins of the modern parental rights movement to the 19th century, wh»»»
Thailand offers backing for Myanmar’s bid to normalize ASEAN ties
BANGKOK: Thailand wants to play a leading role in Myanmar’s bid to normalize its ties with Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN after five years on the sidelines, the Thai foreign minister said ahead of a meeting on Wednesday with new President Min Aung Hlaing. Former military chief Min Aung Hlaing led a 20»»»
Syrian forces arrest Amjad Youssef, suspect in 2013 Tadamon massacre - UPI.com
The Syrian Interior Ministry said Amjad Youssef had been hiding out in Hama province since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Syrian Interior Ministry/X April 24 (UPI) -- Authorities arrested a key suspect in the 2013 massacre of civilians in the Tadamon dis»»»
Reckless red light jumps caught on Sharjah Police cameras
Sharjah: Sharjah Police has released a powerful awareness video highlighting the deadly risks of jumping red lights, as part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and reduce traffic violations across the emirate. The video blends real-time surveillance footage with exclusive glimpses inside the»»»
Press Review - After losing her son, healthy British woman will legally end her life in Swiss clinic
PRESS REVIEW – Friday, April 24: We look at reactions in the German, Russian and Kazakh press after an important oil pipeline from Russia is suspended to Germany. Russia says it's for "technical" reasons, but the German press say it is "political". Also: the press is divided over the case of a»»»
Tête à tête - Humanitarian worker Mike Penrose on the 'Food from Ukraine' programme
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Mike Penrose, a veteran humanitarian worker and special adviser to the government of Ukraine on the "Food from Ukraine" humanitarian programme, explained that this initiative "increases the value of the aid that's being distributed" in an "era of diminishing amounts »»»
Reporters - Why are so many Colombians fighting for Ukraine?
On the most dangerous parts of Ukraine's front line, it's almost as common these days to hear Spanish as Ukrainian. Many Colombian soldiers are now fighting in Ukraine, lured by the comparatively high salaries, but also by a sense of adventure and of helping a good cause. Our reporters Gulliver Cra»»»