Author: France 24

At least 74 people have been killed and 171 were wounded in a series of US air strikes on the key Yemeni fuel port of Ras Issa, the country’s Houthi rebels said early Friday. It is one of the highest reported death tolls so far from US President Donald Trump’s renewed assault on the Iran-backed group.

This week in Paris des Arts, we meet a bestselling author from the French literary scene: David Foenkinos. In his new book, “Tout le monde aime Clara” (“Everybody loves Clara”), he explores his favourite themes: the right to a second chance, the fear of a blank page, and art at the heart of beauty. We meet him at the Tristan Bernard Theatre where the play inspired by his novel “Numéro deux” (Number two) is being performed. 

In his first major speech since leaving office, former US president Joe Biden slammed his successor Donald Trump’s frenetic government overhaul, warning that Trump’s cuts to Social Security risk devastating the lives of millions of retirees who depend on the programme for survival. France24 International Affairs commentator Douglas Herbert explains.

Manchester United rallied from 4-2 down in extra time to beat Lyon in a thrilling Europa League quarter-final on Thursday. Trailing by two with six minutes left, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire struck late to complete a stunning comeback. United, despite Lyon’s Corentin Tolisso being sent off, will now face Athletic Bilbao in the semis.

US President Donald Trump has called for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to be fired, a day after the central bank chief delivered a stark warning about the effects of tariffs. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is ending his Asian tour with a visit to Cambodia, portraying China as a stable trading partner. Plus, the Hermès Birkin handbag is about to get a lot more expensive, at least in the US. 

FRANCE 24 spoke to Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. Abrams, who served as Special Representative for Iran from 2020 to 2021 in the first Trump administration, discussed the ongoing talks between US and Iranian officials about Iran’s nuclear programme – the first of their kind in years. The meetings “should be no surprise”, he said: US President Donald Trump “certainly doesn’t want to go to war” [with Iran]. 

Sweden is looking to clinch another Eurovision win this year with the song “Bara Bada Bastu” (Just Have a Sauna) by the KAJ comedy act, paying homage to sauna culture and exhorting audiences to “steam up and let go of the stress”. 

On Wednesday, members of the World Health Organization have reached a landmark agreement aimed at learning from the COVID-19 pandemic—which claimed millions of lives between 2020 and 2022—and strengthening global preparedness for future health crises. Key challenges in the negotiations included ensuring fair distribution of vaccines and treatments between richer and poorer nations. Solange Mougin has more in this report.

Arsenal overcame Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday, sealing a 5-1 aggregate win to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009. The Gunners, aided by last week’s 3-0 first-leg victory, held off Madrid’s fightback and will next face Paris Saint-Germain.

Wall Street traders returned to selling Wednesday, pushing stocks lower as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s cautious remarks that tariffs are likely to fuel a rise in inflation. The Nasdaq finished down more than three percent.