Author: France 24

Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified as fighting spreads around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint for global trade and oil shipments. On FRANCE 24, Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies chairman Farea Al-Muslimi argued this could mark “the last round in Yemen’s current war”, unpacking the Houthis’ ties with Iran and the growing pressure on Washington as the group targets US allies while Donald Trump heads into a crucial election.

France beat Germany Saturday and made it through to the final of the women’s basketball World Cup for the first time after a 86-64 victory. Gabby Williams top scored with 22 points for the Olympic silver medalists, who kept their unbeaten record at the tournament alive before Sunday’s decider in Berlin.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 percent on approximately $19.8 billion worth of US goods came into effect this Tuesday, further escalating the trade war between the two neighbours. At the same time, US President Donald Trump is threatening to ban sales of all Bombardier aircraft in the US, in spite of the Canadian company’s deep web of US suppliers. Also in this edition: Iran raises the price of gasoline and French startup Mistral AI is now valued at €21 billion.

Beloved French Canadian singer Céline Dion on Saturday returned to the stage after years battling a rare neurological disorder with a sell-out concert in an arena west of Paris. The 58-year-old appeared visibly moved as she opened her first full concert in six years to a crowd of around 30,000 people.

Former Israeli police officer Yoav Segalovitz’s decision to run as the No. 2 candidate on the Arab Raam party ticket in the October 2026 elections marks a paradigm change in Israeli politics. Far-right politicians have slammed the move, but it could pave the way for an Arab party to join a coalition opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies.

Manchester United marked their Champions League return with a 4-0 rout of Sabah on Thursday, with Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez scoring. Bayern Munich thrashed Bodo/Glimt 5-0 as Ballon d’Or nominees Michael Olise struck twice and Harry Kane scored, while Cesc Fabregas’s Como impressed on their competition debut.

John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO, unveiled the tech giant’s latest smartphone on Wednesday. The foldable iPhone Duo will go on sale on October 23rd starting at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone to date. The move is a bid to comfort the US company’s position at the top of the global smartphone market. Also in this edition, we head to Argentina where President Javier Milei’s free market approach has led to a downturn in manufacturing.

The city of Paris transforms into the “City of Celine” as Celine Dion begins her much-awaited comeback tour. She’ll be performing a series of sold-out concerts for the first time since revealing in 2022 that she suffers from stiff-person syndrome. In this special edition, we talk to Oleg Chirita, member of the Red Heads, the biggest international Celine Dion fan club in the world. He tells us why Dion continues to draw a devoted fan following and recalls his personal encounters with the star. 

Israel said Thursday it demolished key tunnels built by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, triggering a 4.1-magnitude tremor.

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, September 8: Papers discuss UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Also, could AI change what it means to be human? Finally, “pheromone maxxing” is in; showers are out.