Author: France 24

France will face off against Scotland at the Stade de France outside Paris on Saturday, fighting for a victory of four or more tries that would guarantee Les Bleus the Six Nations title. 

Lawmakers in Germany’s Bundestag have passed a colossal defence and infrastructure spending package tabled by Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz. It includes a special 500 billion euro fund to update the country’s infrastructure over the next 12 years and an exemption of big defence spending from its prized “debt brake” system designed to ensure fiscal discipline. Plus, residents in western Senegal are voicing anger over a gigantic mining operation by France’s Eremet. 

The families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza accused Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials on Tuesday of having planned the “explosion” of the ceasefire struck with Hamas in January, even at the cost of sacrificing their family members’ lives. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight have killed at least 400 people, Palestinian health authorities said.

On today’s music show on Arts24, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with a pioneering superstar of classical soul. Alexis Ffrench has over 1 billion streams and multiple number 1 albums. The British pianist and composer even performed at King Charles III’s coronation celebrations in 2023. He’s known for redefining the boundaries of classical music, such as on his most recent album “Classical Soul Vol. 1”. On this record, he revisits his childhood influences like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and the late Roberta Flack. He’s set to release “Classical Soul Vol. 1 – The Solo Piano Collection” and is continuing his tour…

On the 5th anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic, people across the globe are still deeply affected physically and psychologically. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the long-term impact of the devastating once-in-a-century pandemic, France 24’s Genie Godula welcomes Dr. Vivian Kovess-Masfety, MD, PHD, Psychiatrist and Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

McLaren’s Lando Norris held off defending champion Max Verstappen in Melbourne on Sunday to win a Formula One season opener littered with crashes, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton had to settle for 10th on his debut with Ferrari.

The OECD has cut global economic outlooks in its first report since US President Donald Trump unleashed tariffs on a number of allies. Meanwhile consumers across the world are taking matters into their own hands, many boycotting American products. Plus, Forever 21 is filing for bankruptcy for the second time.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, announced attacks on an American aircraft carrier group twice within 24 hours on Monday, describing it as retaliation for US strikes that killed at least 53 people. There was no immediate comment from the United States.

What do designers Olivier Saillard, Kevin Germanier, Stéphane Rolland, Khol by Hamza Guelmouss and Valentin Nicot as well as Julien Fournié all have in common? They are reinventing the notion of haute couture, often in an artistic, aesthetic way, while being mindful of environmental issues and respectful of their elders. It’s a question of playful modernisation; a snapshot of a politically-conscious world. FRANCE 24 takes you to check out the summer 2025 collections.

France claimed their seventh Six Nations trophy in a record-strewn 35-16 victory over Scotland on March 15, shaking off their beautiful runners-up tag on a crisp evening at the Stade de France.