Author: France 24

A spate of violent kidnappings has targeted wealthy French cryptocurrency investors as criminal gangs seek to extort ransoms. We take a closer look. But first: Washington prepares for trade negotiations with Beijing amid reports of progress on a US-UK trade deal aimed at de-escalating Donald Trump’s trade war.

In a country in the midst of change, where more and more women refuse to wear the veil despite the rules, conservatives are looking to maintain their grip on power. Nearly 180,000 clerics, or mullahs, preach the words of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran, but not all of them are ultra-conservative. Some have understood the need for dialogue, in a society divided by economic sanctions and the feminist uprising that followed the death in custody of Mahsa Amini back in 2022. Farad Fathi, a media-savvy cleric and a staunch supporter of the regime, is reaching out to young Iranians to…

She is a music legend whose voice and presence have shaped generations beyond the African continent. Beninese-French singer Angélique Kidjo is a multi-Grammy award winner but also a fierce advocate for education, culture and freedom. This year, she was one of the “Guests of Honour” at Abidjan’s Festival of Urban Music in Ivory Coast, where she shared the stage with emerging artists in Africa. On the sidelines of the festival, Kidjo sat down with our music editor Fatimata Wane. In this special interview, they discuss Kidjo’s passion for music and working with the next generation to come.

Magnificient Mason Mount double sends Red Devils into Europa League final at Bilbao. They will face Tottenham in an all-English final that could well save the season for both teams. “It will be all or nothing” said Amorim. 

Europe’s largest economy finally has a leader. Conservative Friedrich Merz was elected as German chancellor on Tuesday, but only after a second round of voting in the Bundestag. The unprecedented failure in the first round has raised doubts about the new government’s ability to revive a flagging economy through reforms. Germany’s industrial base, once the backbone of its economy, is eroding. What needs to be done for the country to bounce back? FRANCE 24’s Yuka Royer talks to Frederik Lange, senior manager for research of industrial and economic policy at the Federation of German Industries. 

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Palestinian National Initiative President Mustafa Barghouti sharply criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government, describing them as fascist and accusing them of attempting to resolve the issue of occupation by deepening it—actions he argues are in clear violation of international law. According to Barghouti, Israel is subjecting Palestinians to conditions akin to a concentration camp, forcing them to live under extreme hardship with the intent of driving them to leave. He accuses Israel of committing three grave war crimes simultaneously: genocide, collective punishment through starvation, and the ethnic cleansing of Gaza’s population.

Novelist Percival Everett won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for “James”, a reimagining of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of an enslaved man, while playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins won the drama prize for “Purpose”, a play about a successful Black family in crisis. Other winners included Jason Roberts for biography, Marie Howe for poetry, and Susie Ibarra for music.

In a boiling Parc des Princes and with a one-goal lead, PSG managed to qualify for the 2nd Champions League final in their history. The culmination of a new project for Luis Enrique. Paris will now take on Milan to clinch their first Champions League title. 

As widely expected, the US Federal Reserve has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged despite pressure from President Donald Trump.  Fed chair Jerome Powell warned the risks of higher inflation and higher unemployment had risen. Plus, Disney announced a plan to build its first theme park in the Middle East, on Abu Dhabi’s Yas island. But first, we take a look at how a 14-year civil war devastated Syria’s economy, as interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Paris. 

The European Union renewed an urgent call on Wednesday for Israel to immediately lift the blockade on Gaza, allowing humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and warned against Israel’s planned new aid delivery mechanism. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the harrowing plight of humanitarian aid workers and displaced civilians in war-torn Gaza, FRANCE 24’s Delano D’Souza welcomes Olga Cherevko, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).