Author: France 24

The number of confirmed hantavirus cases from the Hondius cruise ship outbreak stands at eleven, three of whom have died. In France, a woman who tested positive remains in hospital in critical condition… while twenty two close contacts are being monitored and have so far tested negative. Health officials say the risk to the general public remains low because the virus does not easily spread between people, and for the time being, has not mutated. Story by Emerald Maxwell.

Kylian Mbappé will lead France’s bid for World Cup glory after coach Didier Deschamps named a largely unchanged 26-man squad Thursday for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Mbappé, recovering from a thigh injury suffered during Real Madrid’s title run-in, is still expected to captain the team.

Owning a home has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream, but is increasingly out of reach for many US workers. A report by the White House in April suggests the United States needs 10 million additional houses to meet demand. Meanwhile, the average price of new home sales has jumped over 30 percent in just five years, and rental prices in most major US cities have surged by around 40 percent.

It’s a big day at the Cannes Film Festival. Marion Cotillard stars in “Karma”, the new psychological thriller from her former partner Guillaume Canet – their first film together since the couple split, and their ninth collaboration overall. Cotillard plays a woman whose life collapses when her young godson mysteriously disappears. Also on the Croisette is John Travolta presenting his directorial debut “Propeller One-Way Night Coach to Los Angeles”, based on a children’s novel he wrote for his own son.

When a foreign nun was the victim of violent physical assault in Jerusalem last month, local activists and clergy say they were shocked but not surprised. In the past few years, anti-Christian incidents have surged in Israel – illustrating how a small minority of insular and mainly ultra-religious nationalist or ultra-Orthodox Jews are becoming increasingly emboldened to act out their anger and hate.

In the span of two weeks, the MV Hondius incident and an outbreak of gastroenteritis on board a cruise ship off the coast of Bordeaux, some people might be tempted to postpone their cruise. But what makes these mastodons such fertile ground for infection? Story by France 2 and Antonia Kerrigan.

Didier Deschamps has announced his 26-man France squad for the 2026 World Cup. For his final tournament in charge of Les Bleus, the France coach has selected 25 capped internationals and one newcomer, Robin Risser. France will travel with three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and nine forwards.

Cuba has run out of fuel and diesel, as the US blockade plunges the island deeper into an energy crisis. The government is now considering a renewed offer of aid from the Trump administration – but that financing would come with conditions. Also in the show – US President Donald Trump announces China will buy 200 aircraft from Boeing, as he continues his high-stakes visit to Beijing. 

It’s a simple action movie that grew into a billion-dollar global franchise. “The Fast and the Furious” marked its 25th anniversary with a midnight showing at the Cannes Film Festival. Lead actor Vin Diesel was joined on the red carpet by the daughter of his late co-star Paul Walker, to whom he paid an emotional tribute. FRANCE 24’s Culture Editor Eve Jackson also tells us about the other films that have festival-goers revved up, from an “unhinged” slasher flick with Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder, to a film starring Barry Keoghan as the charismatic leader of a Circassian immigrant family.

The new Syrian administration is trying to provide justice for the tens of thousands tortured and hundreds of thousands more killed by the regime of former dictator Bashar al-Assad. But is enough being done to investigate and prosecute those accused? Some tentative steps have been taken. A trial is underway in Damascus of Assad himself and his brother Maher, although neither are in the country and are being tried in absentia.