Author: France 24

China’s commerce ministry on Monday imposed sanctions on 10 US tech companies, blocking them from exporting “dual-use” items, which have military and non-military applications, to the US. The companies barred from doing business with the US include drone makers and some involved in rare earths. Beijing’s move comes weeks after the Pentagon slapped similar restrictions on Chinese companies.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with British Afrobeats superstar Afro B. He is the brains behind the smash hit “Drogba (Joanna)”, one of first Afrobeats songs to break the US charts. He has collaborated over the years with the likes of French Montana and Chris Brown. He is back with a new single called “Mapouka”, a love letter to Ivory Coast. It’s the first taste of his upcoming album, “Afro Ivoire”.

US Vice President JD Vance has said that a first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland had laid a good foundation for reaching a final deal on ending the Middle East war that the US and Israel began in February. Vance’s comments came after he met with Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on June 21 and 22. The mediation effort in Switzerland had rocky moments, but the talks also led to some agreements between the two sides.

VivaTech turned ten this year and Europe’s biggest tech showcase has never been louder, shinier, or more crowded. But walking the show floors, France 24 tech reporters Charlotte Lam and Peter O’Brien were drawn to one topic: not about productivity or performance, but about companionship and how the booming AI market is filling that void. Is it a cure or a curse?

Football fans around the globe tune into the World Cup, the Obama’s celebrate a presidential legacy in Chicago, Parisians find a new way to escape soaring temperatures and the Knicks celebrate their NBA championship victory in New York. FRANCE 24 looks back at some of the week’s most striking images.

Lebanon is at the centre of the ongoing US-Iran talks in Switzerland. Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire in Lebanon despite the ceasefire concluded a few days ago. Iran answered by closing the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday, fighting was reported to have stopped for almost 24 hours – a first since March 2 – before starting again. The latest from the ground by FRANCE 24 correpsondent in Lebanon, Renée Davis.

Tiny Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, clinched their maiden point on Saturday after battling to a 0-0 draw against Ecuador in Kansas City thanks to ​an outstanding performance from goalkeeper ⁠Eloy Room.

Ituri province in eastern DRC is the hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak. The response to the virus is underway. On the frontlines of this outbreak are healthcare workers, who feel increasingly helpless. They have never faced an outbreak of this magnitude before. Report by Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula, Paula Sevilles and Jorkim Jotham Pituwa.

Block parties all night, live music till early in the morning, and… British tourists? In 2025, Paris’s annual Fête de la Musique, the ‘Festival of Music’ marking the advent of summer, saw a wave of young Brits crossing the Channel to take part in the revelry. What’s that trend all about? FRANCE 24’s Tanishk Saha explains.

Iran has closed the strait of Hormuz – citing alleged ⁠violations of a ceasefire agreement ​by the US ‌and Israel. Tehran said the closure was the “first step” in response ​to what it described ​as breaches ​of commitments regarding the continuing clashes in Lebanon – and warned ​that further measures would be taken if “aggression” continued. Details and analysis by FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani, and FRANCE 24 correspondent in Tehran, Reza Sayah.