France 24

The US and Ukraine signed on Wednesday a resource-sharing deal granting Washington access to critical minerals. Kyiv hopes the pact will lock in military support, establish a reconstruction fund and counter Russian aggression, while keeping full Ukrainian control over national resources. France24 International Affairs commentator Douglas Herbert joins us for more.

The general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the importance of May Day, or International Workers' Day. Esther Lynch is in Paris to join the demonstrations here as she says the day is about celebrating how workers' friendship with each other – and their solidarity and unity – have won the rights that have been gained. Her organisation warns, though, that Europe should do more to protect jobs, and ensure it is not bullied out of its social model. She spoke to us in Perspective.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou on Saturday, April 26, condemned the fatal stabbing of a Muslim worshiper inside a mosque, as police searched for the suspect who filmed the victim while he lay dying. Emily Boyle reports.

From workers' rights and political protests to the buying (and selling) of lilies of the valley, we explore France's unique May 1st traditions. We also look at nationwide rallies and a proposed bill in Parliament that could potentially reshape the rules surrounding this day.

In this edition of arts24, we explore a major retrospective in Paris dedicated to legendary French photographer Robert Doisneau, best known for his iconic image "Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville" ("The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville"). The exhibition celebrates his poetic vision and timeless moments captured on film.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Tasnim Jara, a senior figure in Bangladesh's new National Citizen Party, said that the July 2024 uprising that brought down then-leader Sheikh Hasina offers a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to reshape the country's politics. A medical doctor by training and a social media figure, Jara explained that she entered politics to fight "nepotism, polarisation and corruption". While backing the current reform process led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, she said the former ruling party – the Awami League – must face trial before being allowed to run in future elections.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, aged 17, became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final in a 3-3 clash with Inter Milan on Wednesday. Both managers praised his brilliance in a game full of drama and attacking flair.

The US and Ukraine signed on Wednesday a resource-sharing deal granting Washington access to critical minerals. Kyiv hopes the pact will lock in military support, establish a reconstruction fund and counter Russian aggression, while keeping full Ukrainian control over national resources.

Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna never returned from what is thought to have been her fourth trip to Russian-occupied Ukraine. She disappeared in August 2023 and was confirmed to be in Russian custody in April 2024. In October the Russian defence ministry wrote to Roshchyna’s father to say she had died. Journalist and founder of Forbidden Stories, Laurent Richard, joins us.

Activists around the globe kick off May Day demonstrations on Thursday, pushing for better rights for workers and more social justice as they mark International Labour Day. Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Lancaster University Management School, joins us.

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, May 1: The Spanish papers continue to wonder what – or who – was responsible for the Great Blackout that plunged Spain and Portugal into darkness this week. Is renewable energy to blame? Also: US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr alarms medical experts over his plans to impose placebo testing of vaccines. Plus: Steven Spielberg reveals what he thinks is the greatest film of all time.

Arnoli Boukary Togo, known as the "African Spaghetti Man," has become a social media sensation. His TikTok account, launched in 2023, has over 7 million followers and his videos have garnered more than 73 million likes, with his hilarious, noodle-filled antics capturing the attention of fans worldwide.

Washington and Kyiv have signed an agreement to create an investment fund aimed at defraying US costs for supporting Ukraine's defence, based on the extraction of the country's rare earth minerals and other natural resources. We take a closer look at what's in the deal. Also in this edition: French consumer spending drops as shoppers cut back on purchases amid food inflation and a grim economic outlook.

Deadly clashes in Damascus this week between members of Syria’s Druze community and gunmen linked to the national authorities highlight how members of the minority group are increasingly faced with a precarious choice: loyalty to Syria or forming a new alliance with Israel. France24 International Affairs Editor Philip Turle joins us for more.

Britain’s two main parties face losses in Thursday’s local elections, signaling the rise of hard-right populists and a potential end to their political dominance. The polls, the first since Keir Starmer became Labour PM and Kemi Badenoch led the Conservatives, may see gains for Reform UK, Liberal Democrats, and Greens, reflecting a shift towards multi-party politics. Morgan Ayre reports.

Fifteen Druze fighters have been killed in an ambush near the Syrian capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday, following days of deadly sectarian violence involving members of the Druze minority and Islamist groups linked to the country's transitional authorities.

Polls opened in local elections Thursday tipped to inflict losses on the UK's two main parties and confirm the rise of hard-right populists, portending the splintering of a century-long political duopoly. Our France24 correspondent in London, Benedicte Paviot, tells us more.

May Day is a celebration of workers' rights—but in France, the system has some quirks. For example, florists are legally prohibited from opening, and bakers are not allowed to employ staff on that day, making it harder for those who want to keep selling flowers or cakes.

Massive wildfires broke out near Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, forcing the evacuation of communities and road closures, and prompting Israel’s government to deploy troops to support firefighters. Declaring a “national emergency,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the blazes could reach the city itself amid worsening weather conditions.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in 2014, the Russian-installed regime there has been arbitrarily detaining civilians on a massive scale. Journalists, activists, local politicians: just about anyone the occupation authorities take a dislike to is in danger of being taken prisoner and tortured. Some are held for a few days, others for years. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg investigates, with a consortium of media under the "Forbidden Stories" umbrella.

Pakistan’s information minister said early Wednesday that Islamabad had "credible intelligence" India was planning an imminent military strike, vowing a "decisive response" amid rising tensions over a Kashmir attack. The statement followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with security chiefs, at which he gave them "complete operational freedom", a government source told AFP. Sarah Jacob, our France24 correspondent in India, tells us the latest.

Israeli firefighting teams battled wildfires near Jerusalem for a second day on Thursday, with police reporting the reopening of several major roads that had been closed.

As far-right parties surge in polls across Europe, analysts warn that internal divisions could pose serious challenges if they gain power. In the UK, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage continues to ride the momentum of Brexit, with polls showing his party rivaling or surpassing Labour. For deeper insight into these dynamics, Oliver Farry welcomes Dr. Ben Williams, Lecturer at the University of Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Social Sciences.

Massive wildfires near Jerusalem forced evacuations and road closures on Wednesday, prompting Israel to deploy troops as firefighters battled the flames. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a national emergency, warning the fires could reach the city. On Jerusalem's Independence Day, Noga Tarnopolsky reports, celebrations are absent as the country remains shut down and the air nearly unbreathable.

The US and Ukraine signed a delayed minerals deal, with Ukraine retaining control over its rare earths. Seen as a shift from military to economic support, the accord aims to boost long-term US investment. Treasury Secretary Bessent called it a signal of lasting commitment to Ukraine and warned that Russia’s backers will be barred from reconstruction efforts. France24 correspondent in Washington, Fraser Jackson, tells us more.