Author: France 24

As strikes against Iran appear to intensify, increasing numbers of Iranians are seeking safety abroad, raising fears that the conflict could trigger a refugee crisis. The United Nations has warned of a “moment of grave peril” for civilians caught up in the fighting, urging de‑escalation and protection for vulnerable populations. Nicholas Rushworth tells us more.

The war in Iran has now entered its second week, with loud explosions reported in Tehran early Saturday morning.
State television said blasts were heard in several areas of the Iranian capital but did not provide further details. Israel’s military said around 80 fighter jets dropped 230 munitions across Iran overnight, claiming several military sites were targeted. Meanwhile, US Central Command said American forces have struck more than 3,000 targets in Iran since last weekend. There are also mounting concerns about civilian casualties. Since the strikes began last Saturday, schools, landmarks and a hospital have reportedly been hit. The head of…

Some spectators booed Russia’s athletes as they marched under their own flag in the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics on Friday. The International Paralympic Committee in February lifted a long-running ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their own flags and anthems due to their role in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

South Korea’s main stock index, the KOSPI, lost 12 percent on Wednesday, sending retail investors into a panic as fears of energy shortages due to the war in Iran battered shares in chipmakers and industrial giants. Meanwhile, Donald Trump says the US will insure oil tankers transiting the Persian Gulf as operating costs skyrocket, and the travel industry suffers as key Middle East hubs remain out of commission.

Art historian and president of France’s Versailles Palace Christophe Leribault is taking the reins of the world’s most famous museum, a day after his predecessor submitted her resignation. Leribault faces the daunting task of steering the Louvre out of decades of crisis and reinforcing security after the brazen theft of a collection of jewels last year.

Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome James J. Townsend Jr, the Atlantic Council’s Senior Advisor in the Scowcroft Center’s Transatlantic Security Initiative. He asserts that European military involvement in the widening Middle Eastern conflict should not be interpreted as entry into the war itself, but rather as a reluctant defensive response to the conflict’s spillover effects across the entire region. European governments did not seek participation in the military operations initiated by Israel and the United States, yet the regional expansion of the war has placed European citizens, economic interests, and diplomatic partners at risk.

Lens can still dream of an improbable double. With only four points behind PSG in Ligue 1, Lens are now also two wins away from lifting their first-ever Coupe de France. Pierre Sage’s side beat Lyon on penalties on Thursday in the quarter-finals. They will face Toulouse for a spot in the final, while Strasbourg host Nice in the second semi-final.

China’s annual parliamentary session kicks off with a growth downgrade as leaders target technology dominance in the manufacturing field. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: South Korean markets bounce back from a huge selloff, and a US trade court orders the Trump administration to issue tariff refunds.

As war shakes their home country, Iranians of the diaspora in Paris have raised their voices, calling for peace, solidarity and a sustainable transition from autocracy. 

The US has made an outreach to Iranian Kurdish dissident groups as “Operation Epic Fury” rattles the pieces of the Middle East geostrategic chess game. The Kurds in other countries have a history of being pawns in Washington’s games and have at times used their leverage to their advantage. But under the Trump administration, Iran’s Kurds face colossal challenges.