Author: France 24

Despite being behind at halftime, France scored four goals in 15 minutes to defeat Belgium (4-1). Thanks to this win, France are first in Group 1 after four matches.  

The euro has stumbled to a 17-month low against the US dollar on concern about France’s ability to bring its public finances in order.  The currency has fallen nearly 7% from its peak in late January.  Meanwhile, global oil prices fell despite ongoing tensions around the Arabian Peninsula, after the G7 agreed to release up to 100 million barrels from strategic reserves and oil flows from the Persian Gulf have returned to pre-war levels. 

This week, Marjorie Hache has the pleasure of sitting down with Sudan’s Sulaf, who is releasing her debut album “Aba”, a poetic exploration of traditional Sudanese music with a contemporary twist and which she recorded in Paris where she has been living in exile since 2022.

The Yemeni military, backed by Saudi jets, began a broad set of strikes on Monday against Iran-backed Houthi targets in an attempt to retake lost territory. The Houthis launched an offensive in September, which killed hundreds of combatants on both sides, according to UN figures, and has since become the most active front in the wider Middle East war. 

France face Belgium in 4th and last nations league game this international break. France beat Belgium on 28th of September in matchday 2 (1-0).

Artificial intelligence insiders are quitting their jobs, saying the technology could mean the end of humanity. Pope Leo in France warned of a “paradise of machines”. And the New York Times reported this week that one of AI firm Anthropic’s co-founders spent months lobbying religious thinkers on the possibility that AI could be conscious.

Moroccan-British artist and photographer Hassan Hajjaj has photographed some of the biggest names in music and pop culture – from Madonna, Billie Eilish and Alicia Keys to Cardi B and Lee “Scratch” Perry. Now, 40 of his vibrant “Rock Stars” are on show at Paris’s Philharmonie. Hajjaj tells us how he creates his instantly recognisable portraits, blends Moroccan heritage with London street culture – and what happens when a global superstar steps in front of his camera.

From French highschoolers protesting to demand better learning conditions to a Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after a flightcrew member’s onboard attack and flooded streets in Bangkok, FRANCE 24 looks back at the week’s most striking pictures.

An Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle in Gaza on Sunday killed one Palestinian and wounded at least 11 others. Israel’s military said it was targeting a Hamas militant. Palestinians have reported a surge in Israeli fire and airstrikes across Gaza over the past month, with more than 75,000 people killed and much of the enclave destroyed. Meanwhile, Israelis held their weekly protest in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, the last before Wednesday marks three years since the October 7 attack. Protesters said they wanted to commemorate the victims and demand an independent state inquiry into the events and decisions that…

The Stade de France was filled to capacity as the new French national team manager, Zinedine Zidane, prepared to make his home debut. The very side against whom he had ended his playing career in 2006 was once again the opponent he faced. Despite Michael Olise’s splendid free kick, the French were quickly overpowered by a clinical Italian side.