Author: France 24

For the first time in history, four astronauts aboard the International Space Station had to leave orbit early, because of an undisclosed medical condition of one of the crew members. Their capsule has landed safely in the Pacific. Story by Solange Mougin.

In his New Year address to the armed forces, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a plan to add €36 billion to the country’s multi-year defence budget in its next update, as he said France needed to be more powerful in order to be feared amid rising geopolitical tensions. 

Should access to culture come at a higher price for some visitors? This week on arts24, we examine the growing controversy over rising entrance fees at Europe’s most iconic cultural sites, as France moves to charge non-European visitors more at the Louvre and Versailles – a decision that has sparked debate over fairness, funding and universal access to art.

Iranians began taking to the streets in late December. What initially began with protests against the spiralling cost of living has grown into a nationwide protest movement against the country’s theocracy led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, authorities have cracked down hard. Will these protests lead to the end of the regime that has ruled Iran for 45 years? Our France 2 colleagues chronicle the events of the last two weeks, with FRANCE 24’s Lauren Bain.

Morocco’s dream of an AFCON home victory is still alive. Achraf Hakimi’s side beat Nigeria on penalties in the semi-finals (0-0, 4-2 on penalties) to set up a final against Senegal. Morocco is aiming to win their first continental title since 1976, while Senegal return to the final for the third time in seven years.

€10 more at the Louvre museum, €3 more at the Palace of Versailles… tourists visiting France from outside the European Union now have to pay significantly higher entrance fees at some of the most popular sites in the country.  This after a recent daytime heist at the Louvre exposed shortcomings in its maintenance and security systems.  Plus, Ryanair’s CEO blasted what he called “stupid” passenger taxes in Brussels and said the company would reduce its flights to the city by 10% this year. 

Her performance as Shakespeare’s wife in “Hamnet” won Jessie Buckley the best actress award at the Golden Globes. Our film critic Emma Jones tells us why Chloé Zhao’s sensitive direction has made the film a serious contender in the upcoming Academy Awards.

More than a year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, many people living there are starting to rebuild their lives. However, sectarian violence has flared across Syria and according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, about 7 million people remain internally displaced. The violence has aggravated the humanitarian situation, as Dr Mohamed Alaa Ahmado, Programs Director at the NGO Mehad, tells FRANCE 24. Among the many challenges, he says, is the need for “strengthening primary healthcare services”, “food and non-food items” and “psychological support”.

Olympique de Marseille easily defeated Bayeux (9-0) in French cup round of 32. They will face Rennes in the round of 16.

RFK Jr. has just released new U.S. dietary guidelines, as part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. The national food pyramid has once again been reshaped, urging Americans to change their eating habits. But with shifting advice and political overtones, how effective are these guidelines? For expert insight, Eve Irvine welcomes Charlotte DEBEUGNY, a registered nutritionist based in Paris.