Author: France 24

The 70-member Iranian delegation taking part in negotiations in Pakistan today is being led by one of Tehran’s most prominent non-clerical figures, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Caroline Baum takes a look at the man Iran has entrusted with securing an end to the war on terms acceptable to Tehran.

France Cricket, the former governing body for the sport in France, is fielding a senior men’s team at an international ranked tournament in Portugal despite having lost its official status on January 1. France’s sports ministry warned that doing so would be against the law, and legal experts said those responsible risk civil and criminal liability.

The US and Israel’s war with Iran has triggered one of the biggest global energy shocks in decades. Asian economies, in particular, are facing disruptions to oil and gas supplies, while energy prices have surged worldwide. Climate activists say the shock should serve as a catalyst in the switch to renewable energy sources. 

Céline Dion’s 16 Paris tour dates could bring hundreds of millions of euros to the French capital this autumn experts have said, as fans flock from overseas for a rare chance to see the megastar perform live. Potential revenue from the series of concerts is expected to include ticket sales, hotel and restaurant bookings, retail spending.

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Dr. Randa Slim, Director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute and Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). According to Dr. Slim, Israeli strikes on Lebanon cannot be credibly framed as targeted operations against Hezbollah, but rather indiscriminate violence causing widespread civilian casualties and intensifying regional tensions. She argues that the events represent a critical inflection point within Lebanese public opinion.

Sunday’s election in Hungary could have repercussions far beyond its borders. Since Prime Minister Viktor Orban came to power in 2010, his illiberal policies have made Hungary the only EU member state classified as “partly free” by Freedom House. His close ties to Vladimir Putin have also complicated Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine. Hungary has become something of a black sheep within the EU – but also a model for far-right movements elsewhere. The question now is whether that model is faltering. Opinion polls show a strong lead for the centre-right opposition Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, who…

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe on Wednesday said he would welcome a corruption investigation, adding the body had nothing to hide after meeting Senegalese officials in Dakar. Senegal last month called for a probe after CAF stripped it of the 2025 AFCON title and awarded it to Morocco.

The war in Iran has sent fuel costs soaring, and consumers scrambling for savings. At the New York Auto Show, many drivers are warming up to the idea of buying an electric vehicle, because of high petrol prices, as our correspondent Jessica Le Masurier reports. Also in the show  – the relief rally loses steam as the fragile Iran ceasefire enters its second day, and the OECD decries a ‘historic decline’ in international development aid, driven by the US. 

Film critic Ben Croll joins Eve Jackson to break down this year’s Cannes lineup – from the biggest names to the films already generating buzz, and what it all says about the state of global cinema. 

Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the US and Iran, playing a crucial role in brokering the two-week ceasefire agreement and working with both camps, as well as regional powers, to end the war. Islamabad has ties to Tehran and Washington and is set to hold talks this weekend.