France 24

The US economy unexpectedly contracted in Q1 as imports surged ahead of President Trump’s new tariffs. Businesses and consumers stockpiled foreign goods to avoid looming levies. Trump blamed his predecessor for the downturn, despite the rush being tied to his trade policies.

Donald Trump hailed his first 100 days as the most successful in U.S. history—even as polls show plummeting support and rising public disillusionment. Critics say his presidency has brought more chaos than achievement, marked by contradiction, instability, divisive rhetoric, and sweeping executive actions. Governance has given way to spectacle. For deeper analysis of Trump’s fiery leadership and his drift toward autocracy, FRANCE 24’s Eve Irvine welcomes Reed Brody, former NY Assistant Attorney General, human rights lawyer, and author of To Catch a Dictator.

In tonight's edition, a Kenyan court has ruled that a police ban on anti-government protests in Nairobi last year was unconstitutional.

Also, a national political conference in Mali's recommends naming the junta leader as president for five years and scrapping political parties.

And a Togolese comedian is turning to TikTok to reel in followers with a pretty simple stick: his love for spaghetti. 

Barcelona and Inter Milan drew 3-3 in a thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday, with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal starring. Inter led 2-0 after Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries struck, but Yamal’s brilliant solo goal sparked Barca’s comeback in the end-to-end encounter. 

US President Donald Trump has blamed Joe Biden for a 0.3% shrink in GDP for the first three months of the year, as firms stockpiled imports ahead of tariffs. The S&P 500 fell Wednesday as a result... Trump's first 100-days in office have seen the worst stock market performance in half a century.

The FRANCE 24 Observers, in collaboration with Belgium’s RTBF and France Info, used data-analysis techniques to categorize more than 15,000 of Elon Musk's posts on X. This edition sheds light on how Musk became a spokesperson for the European far-right rhetoric on X, by posting hundreds of messages denigrating European values and pushing the visibility of far-right influencers and politicians in Europe. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

The US and Ukraine signed a minerals agreement Wednesday, marking a renewed commitment to Kyiv post-military aid, the Trump administration said. Ukraine secured key terms after lengthy talks, including full sovereignty over its rare earths, critical for new technologies and largely undeveloped.

Donald Trump marking his first 100 days in office with a rally in Michigan where he told enthusiastic supporters “we’ve just gotten started.” Of course, not everyone’s a fan.

The Lebanese army has dismantled more than 90 percent of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure south of the Litani River, a security official said Wednesday. The move comes as Beirut asserts increased control over the country's south under a UN-backed ceasefire deal with Israel.

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.

Following a deadly attack in Kashmir, tensions between Pakistan and India have reached new heights. Both nations have taken drastic measures, including closing borders and expelling citizens from each other’s territories, further straining relations in the already volatile region.

To mark the 100th day of US President Donald Trump’s second term, the FRANCE 24 Observers collaborated with France Info and Belgium's RTBF to analyse the rhetoric of Elon Musk, one of Trump's closest advisers. This two-part investigation, conducted by the Médias Francophones Publics, examines the X owner's social media posts, documenting how the billionaire is propagating anti-Ukraine sentiment and posting tweets in support of the European far right. 

On his social media platform X, Elon Musk posts hundreds of messages denigrating European values, which he deems too "woke", as part of his broader ideological offensive against Europe. The FRANCE 24 Observers, in collaboration with Belgium’s RTBF and France Info, used data-analysis techniques to categorise more than 15,000 of Musk's posts. The second article of a two-part investigation sheds light on his anti-Ukrainian rhetoric and interactions with Europe's far right.

US President Donald Trump is celebrating his "most successful first 100 days" in US history. All the while, the US economy shrank at a 0.3% annual pace from January through March, the first drop in three years, as President Donald Trump's trade wars disrupted business. First-quarter growth was slowed by a surge in imports as companies in the United States tried to bring in foreign goods before Trump imposed massive tariffs. Many economists say that Trump's massive import taxes — and the erratic way he's rolled them out — will hurt growth in the second half of the year. As recession risks continue to rise, FRANCE 24's Charli James welcomes Lex Paulson, Lecturer in Rhetoric and Human Rights at Sciences Po.

The UN's food and refugee agencies have warned of dire cuts to their services as funding plummets from the United States under President Donald Trump. So far his administration has scrapped 83 percent of humanitarian programs funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The agency had an annual budget of $42.8 billion, representing 42 percent of total global humanitarian aid, including major contributions to UN agencies. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the harrowing plight of humanitarian organizations forced to significantly scale back vital aid to millions around the world, FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza welcomes Avril Benoît, Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States (MSF USA). Prior to joining MSF, Ms. Benoît had a "distinguished 20-year career" as an award-winning broadcast journalist, international correspondent and documentary producer at the CBC in Canada.

India blames Pakistan for a deadly attack in Kashmir, while Islamabad accuses New Delhi of planning imminent strikes. The rising hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals have intensified fears of conflict in the disputed region, underscoring the fragility of their long-standing enmity. FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley has more on this issue.

"We knew he would come in swinging, and he did swing." That's the analysis of US political expert Jeremy Ghez, who says that US President Donald Trump has a worldview that disrupts decades of US foreign policy, but what really matters to him is his brand name in defence of the middle classes. As part of our special coverage of Trump's first 100 days back in power, Ghez spoke to us in Perspective. We also hear from our Los Angeles correspondent Wassim Cornet on the Trump administration's unprecedented attack on US higher education.

The attack, which targeted mostly Hindu tourists and left 26 people dead, is one of the deadliest in recent years in India-controlled Kashmir and has raised questions about security in the region. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the massacre, which Pakistan denies.

Gabon was suspended from the African Union (AU) when General Brice Oligui Nguema took power in a coup in 2023, overthrowing president Ali Bongo. After a two-year transitional period, Nguema was elected president in April with 94 percent of the vote. The AU’s decision will allow Gabon to fully resume its participation in the union’s activities.

Clashes near Damascus between Druze fighters and Islamist-linked forces have left at least 13 people dead, reportedly sparked by a fabricated recording insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The violence, concentrated in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, has escalated sectarian tensions, prompting condemnation from Syrian authorities and efforts to de-escalate the conflict.

Michel Leclerc has never shied away from delicate social topics and the French director has now managed to inject humour into the issue of sexual assault in "Not all men, but…". Critic Perrine Quennesson tells us why his gamble has paid off and why entertaining performances from Léa Drucker and Benjamin Lavernhe bring levity to a heavy subject. We also hear about Régis Wargnier's long-awaited feature "La Réparation", a family mystery set between France and Taiwan which unites a stellar cast. Meanwhile, filmmaker Lawrence Valin marks himself out as a rising talent with "Little Jaffna", a thriller set in Paris's Tamil community. Plus, Femen co-founder Oxana Shachko is the subject of a moving biopic which pays tribute to her courage and activism as part of the feminist pressure group.

In the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final on April 29, 2025, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Ousmane Dembélé scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute, finishing a swift counter-attack initiated by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Despite Arsenal's efforts to equalize—including a disallowed goal for offside early in the second half—PSG maintained their lead, setting the stage for the return leg in Paris.​

In his first 100 days, Trump’s tariffs have sparked global trade turmoil, disrupting markets and straining relations with key trading partners. The move, aimed at boosting US manufacturing, has drawn criticism for its economic ripple effects worldwide.

Massive wildfires broke out near Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, forcing the evacuation of communities, road closures and prompting Israel’s government to order the deployment of troops to support firefighters.