Author: France 24

In the weeks leading up to the ceasefire, the impact of the war in the Middle East was felt far beyond the region, reaching countries such as India. The nation of nearly 1.5 billion people relies heavily on imports of cooking gas, or LPG, much of it sourced from the Middle East. When Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz – a critical global shipping route – supplies were severely disrupted. Long queues formed outside distribution centres in major cities, forcing many to turn to the black market. The conflict has also put at risk the lives of nearly ten million Indians…

Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive ⁠design of online platforms.

PSG took a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Liverpool at home in the first leg. Désiré Doué opened the scoring in the 11th minute, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead in the 65th minute. The reigning champions could even have regrets, given how much they dominated the match (74 percent possession, 18 shots).

Oil prices have plunged and stock markets soared after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Israel and Iran. But regardless of whether the deal holds, the energy crisis unleashed by the war is far from over. Damage to infrastructure in the region means it could take years for oil and gas production to get back to pre-war levels. Meanwhile, global aviation group IATA says supplies of jet fuel will remain tight. 

Critic Emma Jones tells us why “Dead Man’s Wire” plays to the director’s strengths, with Bill Skarsgard and Colman Domingo mixed up in a chaotic kidnapping inspired by a true story which took place in the 1970s. We discuss the BAFTA-winning performance from Robert Aramayo, as he plays campaigner John Davidson, a man suffering from Tourette’s syndrome. Director Gore Verbinski returns with his riff on AI and technological dystopia, with Sam Rockwell and Juno Temple leading the charge. And the “Ready or Not” horror scenario returns for a sequel, bringing in Sarah Michelle Gellar and Kathryn Newton for a blood-soaked…

Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome Professor Marc Weller, Director of the Global Governance and Security Centre and Programme Director of the International Law Programme at Chatham House. According to Professor Weller, the central issue is whether we are witnessing an erosion of the international order. He argues that the use of force by the United States constitutes an unlawful act of aggression, and that threats directed at civilian infrastructure represent clear violations of humanitarian law. 

François Picard is pleased to welcome Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. According to Commissioner Síkela, global health stands at a crossroads. The lessons of COVID-19 have made clear that pandemics are not isolated crises but systemic shocks with profound economic and social consequences. Today, we face a convergence of pressures: climate change sparking new diseases, declining global health funding, and fragmented governance structures. He argues that prevention must replace reaction as the organizing principle of global health.

Bayern Munich won 2-1 away at Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. The second leg will take place in Munich on April 15.

As Donald Trump threatened to wipe out an entire civilisation in Iran ahead of his latest deadline for Tehran to open up the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar’s foreign ministry official warned that the world was nearing a point beyond which the war would be out of anyone’s control. Oil markets continue to be volatile amid ongoing tensions, while physical prices refiners are paying are rising to record levels with premiums on crude with earlier delivery dates surging. 

The UK has refused entry to American rapper Kanye West to headline London’s Wireless Festival in July over his past antisemitic comments and celebration of Nazism. Organiser ​Festival Republic said ‌his permission to enter and perform in the UK had been withdrawn on Tuesday and ⁠the three-day event had been cancelled and refunds would be issued to all ticket holders. FRANCE 24’s Camille Knight reports.