Author: France 24

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian said that US President Donald Trump “is eager to forge peace in the Middle East”, adding that one “cannot ignore what is happening on the Palestinian-Israeli front”. Denouncing “the genocidal war in Gaza”, she warned that Israel has made clear its intent to “make Gaza Jewish again” through an “annexationist policy”.

For centuries, depictions of Cleopatra have emphasised her beauty and romantic entanglements – much more so than her two-decade rule of Egypt. The Institut du monde arabe (Arab World Institute) in Paris aims to change that with “The Mystery of Cleopatra”, a new exhibit running until January 11, 2026. 

Borussia Dortmund have qualified for the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Kylian Mbappé could make a comeback after a short stay in hospital.

A new way of ensuring everyone on the planet has access to glasses is being pushed by a global NGO that has just launched in France. A machine has been developed that can make glasses anywhere on the planet for just one single dollar. This as it is estimated that up to 950 million people across the globe are unable to have access to glasses or cannot afford them. That means that many people are born – or become – unable to do any skilled work. In Perspective, we spoke to the executive director of GoodVision France, Maryline Ehlermann.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, June 25: International papers criticise Israel’s “genocidal” food distribution system in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Russia is planning to train Chinese troops, according to an exclusive report. Next, Bulgarian papers worry about a black leopard that’s roaming free. Finally, inflatable crocodiles threaten the wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos in Venice. 

Brad Pitt is in the driving seat for the latest action spectacle from US director Joseph Kosinski, with a performance that even got the thumbs up from F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why the big-budget movie won her over despite some flaws in the storyline and frequent sightings of F1 sponsors. We also discuss the Nasser brothers’ latest surreal comedy Western, “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”, as the award-winning Palestinian directors return to a quieter time in their home region, via a tale of sandwich-making and illicit substances. Plus we check out British filmmaker Danny…

French football heavyweights Lyon will play in the second division next season after the sport’s financial watchdog on Tuesday confirmed a provisional demotion for financial mismanagement. The club, owned by US businessman John Textor, said it would “immediately” appeal the decision. 

Researchers said on Tuesday that vaccination rates among children are dropping across the world, increasing the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases, as economic inequality, misinformation, and foreign aid cuts threaten to stymie decades of progress.

Global oil prices tumbled for a second day while stocks rose sharply, as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains in place despite earlier violations. Meanwhile, the German government approves a draft budget which will sharply increase its defence spending as leaders arrived for a key NATO summit.  

Since the start of the war between Israel and Iran, a number of Iranian media outlets with close links to the government have reported that Iran had shot down four Israeli F-35 fighter jets. However, for the time being, there is no proof to support these claims and military experts consider them unlikely.