Author: France 24

New York prosecutors filed a murder charge against the suspect in the killing of a UnitedHealth executive, a brazen shooting that set off a manhunt that culminated in his capture in Pennsylvania. Story by Morgan Ayre.

Saudi Arabia was officially confirmed Wednesday by FIFA as the host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s football, sparking “sportswashing” accusations from human rights groups. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each hosting one game. 

Iran may look increasingly isolated on the international stage, but cybersecurity companies say its extensive network of hackers is working hard to pursue the government’s strategic interests. One person who’s being used as a pawn in a massive cyber campaign is FRANCE 24’s technology editor Peter O’Brien.

Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, a first for the US president-elect, after he was named “person of the year” by Time magazine. Plus, the European Central Bank cut interest rates again as the focus shifts from fighting inflation to supporting the Eurozone economy amid sluggish growth and political uncertainty. 

 A top U.S. military officer visited Beirut on Wednesday to monitor the withdrawal of the first Israeli troops from Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement reached last month, the U.S. Central Command said. The U.S. confirmed that Israel had withdrawn its forces from the town of Al-Khiam in south Lebanon. 

Dheepthika Laurent and film critic Perrine Quenesson look at the latest film releases in France, starting with a very famous aviator: the enigmatic Antoine de Saint Exupéry, best known for writing “The Little Prince”. He’s the focus of “Saint-Ex”, a biopic by Argentine-French filmmaker Pablo Aguero. Also on the big screen is another biopic on a legendary French stage actress in Guillaume Nicloux’s film “The Divine Sarah Bernhardt”, and a very French movie – “Holy Cow” by filmmaker Louise Courvoisier – set in the Jura region home to Comté cheese, as well as a documentary on renowned French music composer Michel Legrand in…

France has restricted the sale of certain common cold medicines by making them prescription only. On today’s edition, we explain why the ANSM – France’s national agency for the safety of medicine and health products – has made this call. We also dive into some preconceived notions about the French’s love of prescriptions. We find out they are no longer the champion pill poppers of Europe, but they do consume dozens of boxes of drugs every year.

Manchester City are facing elimination from the Champions League after a seventh defeat in 10 games. They lost 2-0 to Juventus on Tuesday. 

French lawmakers are considering emergency financing laws to avoid a potential shutdown of government services. The budget which Michel Barnier attempted to force through parliament was a key factor in the no-confidence vote which toppled his government. With the government’s future in limbo, any delay could leave the French state – and programs like social security – without funding on January 1. Also in the show – your Christmas tree may be green, but is it sustainable? 

Since the October 7 Hamas attack last year, some 350,000 Israeli reservists have been called up to fight. The ongoing fighting, now entering its 14-month mark, has left its mark on Israel troops as more and more suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Struggling to cope with the horrors of war, some soldiers are seeking out equine therapy to help heal from their trauma. Claire Duhamel and Noga Tarnopolsky report.