Live: Maritime drone ‘of type used in Ukraine’ explodes in Romanian Black Sea port

In open letter to Putin, Zelensky calls for meeting and ceasefire

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter to the Russian leader Thursday, shortly after the Kremlin chief had conceded Moscow needed to strengthen its air defences following a spate of Ukrainian attacks. The Kremlin said Putin had not yet...

War in Ukraine: Zelensky proposes face-to-face meeting with Putin to end years-long war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter to the Russian leader Thursday, saying he was also ready for a "full ceasefire". "Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us -- and you. I am proposing a meeti...

The hidden front: How disinformation is targeting Armenian voters

One ballot box, two competing battles: In Armenia, voters are heading to the polls to decide the future direction of their country. But beneath the political campaigns lies a far more insidious warfare. Analysts warn that a massive, coordinated network of foreign disinformation – much of it traci...

Israel continues deadly attacks on Lebanon as Hezbollah rejects ceasefire agreement

Israeli strikes overnight in the historic south Lebanon city of Tyre killed seven people, a source from the civil defence told AFP on Friday, despite a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war. A conditional truce was announced by Lebanese and Israeli envoys this week that would require Hezbollah to s...

2026 World Cup: France begin their preparation with a defeat against Ivory Coast

It was a false start for France after losing 2-1 to Ivory Coast in their first warm-up match before the World Cup. While Rayan Cherki put on a show, France lost control in the second half, allowing the Elephants to come back and take the lead, notably thanks to an outstanding performance from Guél...

'Human role narrowing': Anthropic calls for global AI slowdown as systems could escape control

The developer of the Claude chatbot says a pause in the AI race would "likely be a good thing" and warns that cutting-edge models are beginning to show signs they could become increasingly difficult for humans to control....

US throws support behind Bolivia's president as unrest grows

Washington is pledging emergency aid to Bolivia and is warning against attempts to topple President Rodrigo Paz as his government faces mounting protests and worsening shortages....

France stunned by Ivory Coast in World Cup warm-up defeat

The Elephants overturned an early deficit to beat France 2-1 on Thursday, inflicting a rare defeat on Didier Deschamps's side in their penultimate World Cup warm-up game....

Lebanon health ministry says Israeli strikes in south and east kill eight

An Israeli strike in eastern Lebanon killed five people on Thursday, while another attack near the southern city of Tyre killed three more, the Lebanese health ministry said. The strikes also left eight wounded, including three children and two women. They came a day after the Lebanese and Israeli...

Ukraine's Zelensky pledges clear timetable of talks on EU membership

President Volodymyr Zelensky ⁠pledged on Thursday that ​Ukraine would keep to a clear timetable in talks on joining the ​European Union and in sticking to its obligations with the 27-nation bloc. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Georgia's former minister of Euro-Atlantic integration and prof...

Ukraine war and risk of stagnation hang over St Petersburg economic conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding his fifth wartime economic conference in St. Petersburg, with the Russian economy stgnating and his government struggling for ways to resume growth. FRANCE 24's Nick Rushworth reports....

Massive disinformation campaign underway in Armenia ahead of elections, analysts warn

One ballot box, two competing battles. In Armenia, voters are heading to the polls to decide the future direction of their country. But beneath the political campaigns lies a far more insidious warfare. Analysts warn that a massive, coordinated network of foreign disinformation - much of it tracing...

Zelensky proposes face-to-face meeting in letter to Putin, says ready for 'full ceasefire'

Zelensky in open letter to Putin proposes face-to-face meeting and 'full ceasefire'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called for a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter, saying he was also ready for a “full ceasefire”. In response, the Kremlin said Zelensky could meet Putin in Moscow "any time"....

A 'rogues' gallery' of notorious figures at Russia's biggest economic conference

Russia-U.S. talks on economic and energy issues continue despite a pause in Ukraine peace negotiations, Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev told ​Reuters on Thursday, ‌adding he spoke to U.S. counterparts a day earlier. He spoke on the sidelines of the St Petersburg economic summit, where, as...

A 'ceasefire war' in Lebanon continues as 'chaotic global leadership' takes its toll

Hezbollah's chief on Thursday rejected a conditional truce announced by Lebanese and Israeli envoys, demanding instead a comprehensive ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal as he threatened northern Israel with new attacks. FRANCE 24's Noga Tarnopolsky reports from Jerusalem....

Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska carries fairytale run into French Open final

Polish world number 114 Maja Chwalinska made French Open history on Thursday as she beat Russian Diana Shnaider in straight sets to become the first qualifier to go all the way to the final at Roland Garros – and only the second in Grand Slam history after Emma Raducanu's title run at the US Ope...

Trump slams 'unpatriotic' US House vote to end Iran war

President Donald Trump on Thursday slammed a vote in the US House seeking to order the withdrawal of American troops from the Iran war, suggesting the "unpatriotic" move disrupted negotiations with Tehran. The largely symbolic vote came "right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War w...

Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement as Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon

Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, and the militant group demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as more fighting there hampered efforts to end the Iran war. The Hezbollah announcement came as Israeli strikes killed...

France's ban on Israeli weapons at Eurosatory 'shameful', says economy minister

Speaking to FRANCE 24, Nir Barkat, Israel's economy minister called France's decision to ban Israeli offensive weapons from the Eurosatory defence fair "shameful", warning that Israel would "bypass France" to reach its customers. He argued Israel had "no choice but to eliminate" Iran's capabilities...

Strait of Hormuz oil crisis: An opportunity for Syria?

In the show this week, we look at how Syria could benefit from the oil crisis triggered by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. After Iran effectively closed the strategic waterway, Syria's Mediterranean port of Baniyas found itself emerging as a hub for crude oil transported overland from the UAE and...

Ukraine regains more territory than it loses for second consecutive month

Ukraine recaptured more territory than it lost to Russian forces in May, for the second straight month, according to new data. Russia's advance has been slowing since last year, as Ukrainian drone strikes become increasingly effective, as August Hakansson reports....

Andreeva races past error-prone Kostyuk to reach French Open final

Mirra Andreeva beat an erratic Marta Kostyuk in straight sets at the French Open on Thursday to reach her first Grand Slam final. The 19-year-old from Russia drew on her defeat against the same opponent at the Madrid Open earlier this year to deliver a tactical masterclass at Roland Garros, ending...

Hotter summers and colder winters: El Nino set to intensify extreme weather, scientist says

A climate scientist has told FRANCE 24 that we should all watch out and prepare for the strong possibility of an extremely hot summer in the northern hemisphere in the coming months. The World Meteorological Organization is warning that the El Nino phenomenon is set to develop in the Pacific betwee...

Trump slams 'unpatriotic' vote as House orders end to Iran war

US President Donald Trump on Thursday hit back at lawmakers who voted to halt military action in Iran, describing the move as "unpatriotic". A handful of Republicans joined with Democrats in the House of Representatives to pass the largely symbolic resolution seeking to end the three-month-long co...

'Deplorable issues' cloud 2026 FIFA World Cup, deemed 'one of the least anticipated of this era'

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off across the North American continent, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Thando Sibiya, Sports Presenter and Journalist. While the tournament was initially met with great fanfare: an expanded 48-country tournament hos...

Ukrainian strikes kill three in Crimea, Russian officials say

A Ukrainian strike killed at least three people in Crimea, the region's Moscow-installed authorities said Thursday, a day after Kyiv targeted energy and military sites in Saint Petersburg where Russia was hosting an economic forum. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv, Ukraine....

US House votes to curb Trump on Iran war as talks stall

The US House of Representatives has backed a resolution seeking to halt American military action in Iran -- a symbolic move that deals a political blow to President Donald Trump as efforts to find a deal with Tehran stagnate. Weeks of complicated talks marked by sharp rhetoric and flare-ups of viol...

Exiled for an anti-war drawing: A Russian family punished for dissent

It is the moving story of a Russian father and daughter who opposed Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. It all began in March 2022, when 12-year-old Maria drew an anti-war picture at school in response to the invasion launched a month earlier. She was immediately reported by those around her, and th...

Russia ramps up pressure on Armenia ahead of Sunday's crucial election

Russia has increased its pressure on Armenia ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, pulling out virtually all the stops linked to trade should its long-term ally persist in its ambitions to join the European Union. Moscow has threatened to raise gas prices, put measures in place to be able to...