France 24

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, which are critical for new technologies and largely untapped. Emily Boyle reports.

Following some initial reluctance, Ukraine has agreed to a minerals deal aimed at attracting long-term U.S. investment, amid efforts by Trump to significantly reduce America’s global security commitments. Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv, Ukraine.

The United States and Ukraine have concluded a rare minerals agreement following a two-month delay, which the Trump administration hailed as a renewed expression of support following the abrupt suspension of military aid. Ukrainian officials say the deal secures national control over vital rare earth resources, seen as crucial for emerging technologies. The backdrop is a deep-rooted mistrust of Russia, fueled by a decade of aggression, including the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the ongoing brutal conflict in eastern Ukraine. For further analysis, FRANCE 24’s François Picard welcomes Vladyslav Greziev, CEO of Lobby X, Head of Fund to at Opir.org to equip Ukrainian soldiers and a key voice in Ukrainian civil society.

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. Follow our live coverage for the latest on rallies in France and around the world.

President Donald Trump conceded Wednesday that his tariffs could lead to fewer and more expensive goods for Americans, saying children might "have two dolls instead of 30." Still, he insisted China would bear the greater burden. Amid fresh data showing the U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter, Trump dismissed recession fears and blamed Joe Biden for any economic setbacks. For expert insight, FRANCE 24’s Delano D’Souza welcomes Todd Belt, Professor and Director of the Political Management Program at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM).

Serbia's trade unions will for the first time join a protest Thursday called by student leaders, six months after the deadly train station tragedy that sparked mass demonstrations against corruption.

South Korean prosecutors have indicted the country's impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol for abuse of power, adding to his legal woes as he faces trial for orchestrating an insurrection with his botched martial law attempt last December.

Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi was released from US immigration custody on Wednesday after a judge ruled he should be free on bail to challenge the Trump administration's efforts to deport him over his participation in pro-Palestinian protests. Speaking outside a courthouse in Vermont, Mahdawi said he was "not afraid" of the US president. 

Tesla’s board contacted executive search firms about a month ago to identify a potential successor for CEO Elon Musk, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing sources. The status of the search is unclear. Tesla faces slumping sales and profits, with investors wary of Musk’s role in federal job cuts at DOGE.

FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade speaks to Thomas Gift, Director of the Centre on US Politics at UCL, about the dismantling of democratic institutions during the first 100 days of Donald Trump's second term. He says that Congress and the courts are forfeiting much of their authority to an imperial presidency.

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.

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 toward multi-party politics.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.