Author: France 24

An Israeli settler has been fatally shot in the occupied West Bank, while Israel’s military said it killed a man who attempted to ram his vehicle into troops elsewhere in the Palestinian territory. The news came as violence in the West Bank is escalating at a very rapid pace. “All Israeli military authorities involved with the West Bank have been warning the Israeli government that the situation is basically out of control”, explains FRANCE 24 correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky.

In Nigeria’s Ondo state, at least 49 people have died and 100 others injured after drinking alcohol suspected to contain methanol. Local authorities say ‘Monkey Shoulder’, a locally brewed herbal drink with high alcohol content is believed to have been the source of the poisoning, but investigations are still ongoing. State police have announced the arrest of 15 people in connection with the incident. Story by Clemence Waller.

Football legend Zinedine Zidane says that Kylian Mbappe will be his France captain. Zidane named his first squad since being appointed head coach of France’s national football team. His first matches in charge will be against Turkey and Belgium. Details by Nick Rushworth.

German startup Isar Aerospace becomes the first company to achieve a successful private orbital space launch. But first: Germany’s far-right AfD party scores a big electoral victory, pushed along in part by the country’s structural economic crisis and its fiscal policies.

A clash over music, politics and Palestine is putting freedom of expression in the spotlight. Macklemore’s outspoken support for Palestinians has sparked a backlash around Ed Sheeran’s US tour, raising a bigger question: should artists be expected to take a political stand, or are they equally free to stay silent? France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Dr Adam Behr, Reader in Music, Politics and Society at Newcastle University, to discuss the controversy.

UEFA and CONCACAF chiefs have urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to release around $2.1 billion from the governing body’s reserves, calling for each of its 211 member associations to receive $10 million over the 2027-30 cycle. The demand comes amid tensions over Infantino’s proposed sale of a stake in the World Cup to private investors, which was shelved after a backlash from European football.

The US central bank raised its benchmark rate by .25 percent, with new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh defying President Donald Trump’s desire for lower rates. Consumer banks and bond markets react. Also, OpenAI reveals new incidents of AI misconduct as fears grow that the technology could escape human control.

Her new album ‘The Meaning of Flowers’ tackles much more than just flora, as the Danish musician and composer explores the sounds and sentiments of the very beginning of human life. She tells us about creating emotionally rich soundscapes that have often been used in film and television. We also discuss the Faustian pact that artists can find themselves in when it comes to balancing creative, personal and professional lives.

The United States on Thursday said it had approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia. Israel has previously voiced concerns about Riyadh buying F-35s, despite a push to normalise relations.

Charles Pellegrin is pleased to welcome Hannah Storey, Head of Children and Young People’s Digital Rights at Amnesty International. Digital spaces can provide even young people with community, self-expression, education and opportunities for activism. The deeper problem, she warns, lies in the architecture of the platforms themselves: the algorithms, infinite scrolling and other engagement mechanisms that can repeatedly amplify harmful material, stir up negative emotions and incite troubling behaviours – all to bolster a business model built around attention, emotions, addition, data and advertising.