Author: France 24

Middle East tensions are once again driving up global oil prices, with Brent crude climbing above $100 a barrel for the first time since May. While much of the focus has been on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the alternative shipping route through the Red Sea is becoming increasingly dangerous after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they targeted two Saudi oil tankers. The escalation comes as Donald Trump said on Thursday he was considering a “massive attack” on Iran, prompting Tehran to warn it would hold accountable any country that assists the United States in such an operation. France 24…

The number of deaths in the current Ebola epidemic in the DRC has now topped 1,000, and the number of confirmed cases is around 2500. Experts are calling for more funding to help tackle the crisis as it becomes the fastest spreading outbreak ever recorded.

Following a decisive attack in the closing stages, Richard Carapaz claimed victory on Stage 18, leaving all his rivals trailing in his wake. He finished ahead of Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid and the American Matteo Jorgenson, who crossed the line 45 seconds behind him. Today, the riders face another mountain stage, with over 3,000 metres of elevation gain.

Nearly 1,000 years after chronicling the Norman conquest of England, the Bayeux Tapestry is making history once again. The fragile 11th-century embroidery has arrived in London on an unprecedented loan to the British Museum, prompting delight and concern in equal measure. Celebrated as one of Europe”s greatest medieval treasures, its journey has reignited debates over heritage, diplomacy and the risks of moving delicate cultural artefacts.

US President Donald Trump threatened Yemen’s Houthi rebels with “major military punishment” after they launched missile and drone strikes on oil tankers in the Red Sea. Concern has sparked across the globe regarding the rebels’ involvement in the war. FRANCE 24’s Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more.

France recorded at least 5,700 more deaths than usual during a historic heatwave last month, the public health agency said Wednesday, sharply increasing its estimates of the feared toll from record-shattering temperatures. FRANCE 24’s James Vasina reports.

A new era will begin on Tuesday for ‘Les Bleus’. Zinedine Zidane is expected to be officially appointed as the head coach of the French national team on Tuesday. The 54-year-old coach will sign a four-year contract, until the 2030 World Cup. He will bring an end to the Didier Deschamps era, who has been in charge of Les Bleus since 2012.

The United States temporarily waived sanctions on Iranian oil exports on Monday, opening the door for Tehran to return to global energy markets as negotiations between the two countries continue. In this edition, we look at the impact this has had on oil prices, while also examining major job cuts at Oracle linked to AI-driven restructuring and a sharp sell-off in technology stocks that’s rippled from Wall Street to Asian and European markets.

François Picard is pleased to welcome Dana Thomas, Paris-based journalist, specialising in fashion and culture, and author of “Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster”. For decades, allegations of sexual exploitation in the fashion industry, spanning the globe, have resurfaced, often surrounding powerful figures whose deaths have complicated any semblance of accountability. In the wake of Daniel Siad’s sudden death, Thomas offers a scathing indictment of the systemic failures within French law enforcement, the modelling industry, and the highest echelons of power. 

The US on Wednesday is set to announce a deal with Saudi Arabia that would allow the oil-rich Gulf nation to enrich uranium, according to US media reports. Riyadh has long asserted its right to a civilian nuclear programme, but Israel and several policy experts warn that it could spark a nuclear proliferation threat in the region.