Author: France 24

A new volcanic eruption sent flames, smoke and lava spewing out near the Icelandic fishing port of Grindavik on Sunday, only hours after villagers were evacuated to safety, authorities said. Issued on: 14/01/2024 – 16:07Modified: 14/01/2024 – 16:11 3 min It was the North Atlantic nation’s fifth volcanic eruption in under three years.The most recent occurred just weeks ago on December 18 in the same region, southwest of the capital Reykjavik. The eruption began at 8am on Sunday, the Meteorological Office (IMO) said. Jets of glowing orange lava flowed out and a huge smoke cloud rose against the sky at sunrise. People…

US climate envoy John Kerry, a key player in the Biden administration’s push to tackle climate change, will step down to work on the president’s reelection bid, media reported Saturday. Issued on: 14/01/2024 – 07:19Modified: 14/01/2024 – 07:22 1 min The former secretary of state and senator has spent the last three years liaising with other countries to up commitments on climate change, including at the most recent COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai.Kerry, 80, intends to help Joe Biden’s campaign by publicizing the president’s work in combatting global warming, according to multiple US media outlets citing officials familiar with…

Four migrants died overnight and a fifth was found dead on Sunday after trying to reach Britain from northern France despite freezing temperatures, the French maritime authority said. Issued on: 14/01/2024 – 10:29 1 min The group was attempting to reach a vessel off Wimereux when their small boat got into difficulty around 2am (01:00 GMT), the maritime prefecture told AFP.”We have four dead migrants and one migrant in a critical condition at the hospital in Boulogne-sur-mer,” said one official.A fifth migrant was found dead late Sunday morning, the maritime prefecture said. A tugboat patrolling the coast went to the rescue…

Gaza’s health ministry collects data from the enclave’s hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.The health ministry does not report how Palestinians were killed, whether from Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages or errant Palestinian rocket fire. It describes all casualties as victims of “Israeli aggression”.The ministry also does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Throughout four wars and numerous skirmishes between Israel and Hamas, UN agencies have cited the Hamas-run health ministry’s death tolls in regular reports. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Palestinian Red Crescent also use the numbers.In the aftermath of war, the UN humanitarian office has published…

It was no memorable performance, but delighted supporters nevertheless clogged the streets and parties continued late as host Ivory Coast opened proceedings at the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 2-0 victory over Guinea Bissau in Abidjan on Saturday. Issued on: 14/01/2024 – 10:48 1 min Fans lined the route from the Alhassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in the north of the city and mobbed their team’s bus as coach Jean Louis Gasset declared it mission accomplished and spoke of a sense of relief at winning.Goals in each half from Seko Fofana and Jean Philippe Krasso ensured victory but it…

Gaza’s health ministry collects data from the enclave’s hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.The health ministry does not report how Palestinians were killed, whether from Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages or errant Palestinian rocket fire. It describes all casualties as victims of “Israeli aggression”.The ministry also does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Throughout four wars and numerous skirmishes between Israel and Hamas, UN agencies have cited the Hamas-run health ministry’s death tolls in regular reports. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Palestinian Red Crescent also use the numbers.In the aftermath of war, the UN humanitarian office has published…

Denmark turns a page in its history on Sunday when Queen Margrethe abdicates and her son becomes King Frederik X, with more than 100,000 Danes expected to turn out for the unprecedented event. Issued on: 14/01/2024 – 09:30 3 min The hugely popular chain-smoking Queen Margrethe II, 83, will leave her residence at Copenhagen’s Amalienborg Palace shortly after 1:30 pm (1230 GMT) for a short carriage ride to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of government and parliament.There, at a Council of State at 2:00 pm, she will sign a declaration of abdication ending her 52-year reign, only the second time a…

Issued on: 10/01/2024 – 12:43Modified: 10/01/2024 – 12:46 The International Court of Justice is to hold hearings this week on a case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza and seeking a halt to its military campaign. Israel has described the allegations against it as “baseless” and intended to stir up lethal hatred of Jews. FRANCE 24’s Shirli Sitbon tells us more about South Africa’s decision to file the case, the Israeli response and what’s likely to happen at the hearings. Meanwhile, the UN has voiced alarm at the high number of journalists killed in Gaza since the…

Taiwan on Sunday told China to “face reality” and respect its election result, after voters defied Beijing’s warnings and chose pro-sovereignty candidate Lai Ching-te as president.  Issued on: 14/01/2024 – 07:49 3 min Voters spurned Beijing’s repeated calls not to vote for Lai, delivering a comfortable victory for a man China’s ruling Communist Party sees as a dangerous separatist.Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced force to bring it under its control, responded to Lai’s victory saying it would not change the “inevitable trend of China’s reunification”.Lai, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), vowed to…

Issued on: 10/01/2024 – 21:38Modified: 10/01/2024 – 22:29 01:55 Talks between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday were tense, according to Arabic media reports. Blinken said the Palestinian Authority was committed to playing a role in administering Gaza and implementing internal reforms. Abbas for his part pushed back, saying the US has to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza, explains FRANCE 24’s Irris Makler reporting from Jerusalem. Read more on related topics: Source link