Author: France 24

France kicked off its Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign with a slow and steady win over Italy, with the game remaining scoreless for almost half an hour. Les Bleues’ relentless pressure on Italy’s defence in the second half saw earned them a 24-0 win.

Gaza City is now officially facing famine, a crisis that the UN-backed global hunger monitor warns could spread across the entire Palestinian enclave – the first such declaration in Middle Eastern history. Speaking to France24, Gaza City journalist Shrouq Al-Aila says, “One of the reasons for this famine is that the Israeli army is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza on a daily basis.”

England ran in 11 tries as they brushed aside the United States 69-7 in front of a record-breaking crowd on Friday to win the opening game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup and emphasise their status as pre-tournament favourites.

The UN declared this morning that famine in Gaza is now official. FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Jerusalem analyses Israel’s outright rejection of the report, noting that the government provides no alternative statistics and simply insists Hamas figures are false. Admitting famine would leave Israel exposed to accusations of war crimes.

‘HEGEMONY OF PSG’: As Qatar’s shining football jewel continues its dominance of both French and European football, France’s League 1 ‘is struggling with an identity problem”, explains Ed Dove, ESPN/North Star Network Journalist. And while PSGs wildly successful season and “star factor will make them a more appealing draw to international audiences, that might not translate into other teams in the division.” While there are some highly competitive teams in the League 1, “when you see the giants of the French game encountering financial struggles,” including Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais, “it makes the league less appealing to international audiences”.

The Israeli military stepped up its bombardment of Gaza City overnight, ahead of a key meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers on a potential ground operation to seize the enclave’s largest city. The army has already called up 60,000 reservists, signalling that the government may move ahead despite growing international condemnation. One military official said most reservists are not expected to see combat and that plans to take Gaza City remain under discussion. For in-depth analysis, Annette Young welcomes Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme at Chatham House in London.

Racing Club Strasbourg host Danish side Brondby in the first leg of the Conference League play-offs. Strasbourg has not played in Europe since 2006.

The Miss Universe organisation has announced that Palestine will be represented for the first time in the 2025 edition of the competition, which will be held on 21 November in Thailand.

Real Madrid was far from perfect in their first appearance of the season, but the 15-time European champions only needed one goal to beat Osasuna. And who else to provide it other than Kylian Mbappé, whose penalty was enough to secure the win – the first in La Liga for Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid head coach.

A senior Israeli official told AFP on Tuesday that the government had not changed its stance on a potential ceasefire deal and that it demanded the release of all hostages held in the Gaza Strip. On Monday, Hamas agreed to a deal that would see only a partial hostage release, the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners, a 60-day truce and aid to enter the enclave.