Trump kicks off Middle East tour with focus on Gaza, Iran and business deals

US - China trade deal: tariffs temporarily lowered from three digits but still remain high

The US and China agreed to a 90-day truse in their trade war, suspending or cancelling sky-high tariffs they imposed on each other's goods since April, but underlying issues still need to be addressed over the next three months.  "The devil is in the details" says Maurizio Zanardi, professor of ec...

No, Macron was not ‘caught red-handed’ hiding cocaine bag on train to Ukraine

A fake news story seen over 75 million times and counting on X - Conspiracy theorists and Russian propagandists are spreading the viral claim that French President Emmanuel Macron was caught hiding a bag of cocaine during train ride to Ukraine. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake....

Cannes gears up for mission impossible as Trump’s trade wars loom over film festival

The 78th Cannes Film Festival kicks off on Tuesday with a typically tantalising line-up of indie auteurs, Hollywood stars and the final instalment in Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible” saga. But US President Donald Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on foreign-made movies risks dominating conv...

Indians lured to war in Ukraine by Russia under pretense of job opportunities

At least 126 Indians have joined the Russian army to fight in the war in Ukraine, according to the Indian government. At least 12 have been killed and 16 are still missing. Many of the affected Indians, most from poor families, were reportedly lured with promises of lucrative jobs and roles as hel...

‘Weaponising aid’: New plan calls for private contractors to take over from UN in Gaza

A new plan for providing humanitarian aid to Gaza using a private charity and US security firms could replace the United Nations by seizing control of the delivery of essential goods to the besieged Palestinian enclave by providing aid “directly – and only – to those in need”. The UN has re...

US, China take a step back from sky-high tariffs and agree to pause for 90 days

US and Chinese officials said on May 12 they had reached a deal to roll back most of their recent tariffs and call a 90-day truce in their trade war to allow for more talks on resolving their trade disputes....

War in Ukraine: US, European leaders demand 30-day Ukraine truce

Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept a ceasefire starting on May 12 before holding peace talks. France 24's Armen Georgian tells us more....

'Putin doesn't want a ceasefire': Russia does not recognise Ukraine as sovereign, independent state

The Kremlin on Monday said "ultimatums" to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine were "unacceptable" after EU leaders said Moscow had until midnight Monday to agree to a joint proposal with Kyiv for a 30-day halt to the fighting. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza...

Zelensky-Putin: Ukrainian leader offers in-person meeting in Turkey

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 11 he would be willing to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Turkey "personally", after Donald Trump said direct talks were needed to determine whether peace was possible. Mark Temnycky, Nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council Eurasia Ce...

Hamas to release hostage as part of direct Gaza talks with US

Hamas said it would release a US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza as the group revealed it was engaged in direct talks with the United States towards a ceasefire in the war-battered territory. France 24's Noga Tarnopolsky tells us more....

Spanish conductor on how Ukraine's cultural scene continues to thrive despite war

After more than three years of war in Ukraine, simple cultural pleasures like seeing a comedy show or going to the theatre have become both moments of refuge and an act of resistance for the people of Kyiv. Foreign artists have almost stopped travelling to the country since Russia's full-scale inva...

Hamas says will release US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on May 12

Hamas's armed wing said it would release on May 12 a US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza since October 2023, even as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of an "intensification" of fighting in the war-ravaged territory....

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza in symbolically rich blessing

Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church....

'Trump could stop the horror': Papers discuss Gaza aid blockade

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, May 12: US President Donald Trump is set to begin his tour of the Middle East on Tuesday, but is not yet scheduled to stop in Israel. Meanwhile, papers are discussing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the last soup kitchens are forced to close. Also, millions of voters hea...

Washington and Beijing agree to 90-day tariff pause

Stocks and the dollar rallied on May 12 after the United States and China said they had agreed on a 90-day pause on tariffs and reciprocal duties would drop sharply, giving investors some confidence that a full-scale trade war may have been averted. France 24's Patrick For tells us more....

War in Ukraine: Zelensky offers to meet Putin in Turkey 'personally'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 11 he would be willing to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Turkey "personally", after Donald Trump said direct talks were needed to determine whether peace was possible....

Ukraine says Russian attacks continued after ceasefire proposed by Europe kicked in

Ukrainian authorities said Russian attacks against Ukraine continued on May 12, including an overnight assault using more than 100 drones, despite a ceasefire proposed by Europe and Ukraine that Russia did notagree to abide by."It's difficult to believe that there's any will on the Russian side for...

Live: Ukraine says Russia is 'completely ignoring' ceasefire call

Ukraine’s air force said Monday that Russia had launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drone attacks on its territory overnight despite a ceasefire proposal from the US and European leaders made over the weekend. There was no response from the Kremlin to Volodymyr Zelensky’s challenge for Vlad...

US, China strike accord to cut tariffs by 115% in bid to end trade war

The United States and China on Monday announced a joint agreement to dramatically slash reciprocal tariffs as Washington and Beijing seek to end a trade war that for months has upended the global economy and set financial markets teetering on collapse. ...

Germany, Israel mark 60 years of diplomatic relations as Gaza war complicates ties

Israeli President Issac Herzog visits Germany on Monday to mark 60 years of relations with the country that perpetrated the Holocaust. Herzog's visit comes amid growing support for the far right in Germany in recent years, which has led to a questioning of the country’s “remembrance culture”...

Trump's trade war casts long shadow over Cannes film festival

US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap 100-percent tariffs on films “produced in foreign lands” in an expansion of his trade war agenda that is likely to undercut the commercial prospects of an industry already under pressure from online streaming platforms. Trump's announcement came...

'Substantial progress' made on US-China trade deal

US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent on Sunday said negotiations between the US and China have led to "substantial progress" on reaching a trade deal that would de-escalate the trade war started by US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff policies last month....

Zelensky challenges Putin to meet 'in person' for peace talks

Russia and Ukraine took a significant step towards discussing an end to the Ukraine war Sunday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would personally be "waiting for Putin in Turkey" on Thursday. Putin accepted to engage in "direct talks" with Ukraine, but refused Zelensky's request to...

Israel urges evacuation of Yemen ports after strikes target Houthi strongholds

Israel's military on Sunday called on civilians to evacuate three Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen – Ras Issa, Hodeida, and Salif – following recent airstrikes in response to missile attacks, including one that hit Israel’s main airport. The warning comes amid escalating tensions with the I...

🔴 Zelensky says ‘will be waiting’ to meet Putin for talks in Turkey

Erdogan says efforts to end Ukraine war at 'turning point'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 11 told Russian and French leaders that a "historic turning point" has been reached in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and that Ankara was ready to host talks between the two warring parties, his office said. France 24's Philip Turle tells us more...

‘No more war’: Pope Leo XIV delivers first Sunday blessing from Saint Peter’s Basilica

In his first Sunday blessing as the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV urged world leaders to end war and called for lasting peace in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza. ...

Turkey ready to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Erdogan tells Putin

Putin on May 11 proposed direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul aimed at ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was willing to talk but Moscow must first agree to a ceasefire....

War in Ukraine: Vladimir Putin proposes direct talks in Istanbul

Turkey is ready to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul again, President Tayyip Erdogan told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on May 11, Erdogan's office said. Our guest Melinda Haring, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, tells us more....

India, Pakistan ceasefire holds after early violations

A ceasefire appeared to hold on May 11 between India and Pakistan, hours after the nuclear-armed rivals accused each other of violating a truce that brought them back from the brink of all-out war. France 24's Navodita Kumari tells us more....