Author: France 24

Roland Garros begins this weekend, as the world’s best players arrive in Paris for the 130th edition of the French Open. In the men’s draw, world number one Jannik Sinner returns after last year’s epic final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz. In the women’s competition, Aryna Sabalenka arrives as the top-ranked player, while attention will also focus on Iga Swiatek — the Queen of Clay — and defending champion Coco Gauff.

It’s easy to lecture world leaders about how fuel subsidies ruin the environment and bleed state coffers dry, but try telling that to beleaguered Bolivians and cornered Kenyans, two of the many nations where the energy crisis has reached breaking point with citizens unable to keep up with prices at the pump. It’s not just in the Americas, Africa and Asia where the Iran war is destroying livelihoods and derailing fiscal roadmaps.

Monica Bellucci brings classic Cannes glamour back to the Croisette tonight as she premieres ‘The Birthday Party’, the latest Competition film from acclaimed French director Léa Mysius. Set in eerie isolated marshlands, the psychological thriller follows a family whose birthday celebration spirals into chaos as unsettling events begin to unfold. Bellucci plays a mysterious Italian painter living next door, alongside Hafsia Herzi and Bastien Bouillon. Mysius, known for ‘Ava and The Five Devils’, also co-wrote Jacques Audiard’s ‘Emilia Pérez’, making this one of the most anticipated late premieres of the festival. Elsewhere at Cannes, British director Clio Barnard impressed critics with…

Can border walls keep out pandemics? The World Health Organization is officially branding the Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo a “public health emergency of international concern”. As the death toll from the rare strain climbs, so does the number of contact cases. Ituri province may seem remote on a map, but nowhere’s very far in a globalised world.

Aston Villa won the Europa League with a dominant 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the final. The English side controlled the match from start to finish. Freiburg showed resistance in spells but were ultimately overwhelmed by Villa’s intensity and tempo. Aston Villa secured their first continental trophy in 44 years. After his previous triumphs with Sevilla and Villarreal, Villa manager Unai Emery claimed the fifth Europa League title of his career.

French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu announced new support measures to cushion the impact of the energy crisis caused by the war in Iran.  The €710 million package includes extending existing support schemes for sectors such as fishing, farming and construction, as well as a new bonus for taxi drivers to switch to electric cars.  But the prime minister ruled out blanket subsidies like fuel tax cuts as Paris struggles to bring its debt and deficit down. 

Penélope Cruz leads ‘La Bola Negra’, the new film from the creators of ‘La Mesías’, set partly during the Spanish Civil War and following three gay men across generations as they navigate desire, repression and inherited trauma. Glenn Close also stars in the ambitious Spanish-language drama. Meanwhile Lukas Dhont returns to Cannes after ‘Close’ with ‘Coward’, a First World War story questioning what courage really means – fighting in battle, or daring to live openly as yourself.

All 37 French nationals detained aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to Turkey were deported on Thursday after Paris summoned a senior Israeli diplomat over a video showing Israel’s national security minister taunting the activists. Israel later announced it had deported all foreign activists from the Gaza flotilla. 

Across France, children are being asked to put down tablets, switch off consoles and step away from their screens. The movement, called Dix Jours Sans Écrans, or Ten Days Without Screens, involves schools, nurseries and entire communities. But is it realistic? Delano D’Souza talks to digital parenting coach Elizabeth Milovidov about what parents and caregivers can do to make it through the 10 days.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, May 20, 2026: The 17th Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo is getting a lot of coverage. Papers are looking into the impact of recent aid cuts on the emergency response plan. In the United States, President Donald Trump’s battle with the Internal Revenue Service continues to make headlines. Also, The New York Times discusses Trump’s World Cup delegate, Andrew Giuliani. Finally, the Gunners are back on top, as Arsenal win their 14th Premier League title.