Author: France 24

Israel and Iran engaged in a brief but intense confrontation from June 12 to 24, culminating in a surprise US intervention that sparked fears of a regional escalation. A ceasefire has been announced but tensions remain high, with each side claiming victory.

Her protagonist is a cinematic Sheherazade, captivating viewers with tales of courageous feats and astonishing achievements. Yet Heiny Srour’s “Leila” is not dealing in fiction but in fact: re-telling the story of the Palestinian and Lebanese people with women back in their rightful roles, as active participants in their country’s stories. As the film returns to cinemas 40 years after it was made, the Lebanese director tells us why its themes are still extremely topical today. We also discuss her pioneering documentary, “The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived”, which made Srour the first Arab women to present a feature at…

Manchester City made short work of Juventus (5-2). Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his contract with Al-Nassr until 2027.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung spoke to parliament this Thursday for the first time since taking office, and asked the legislature to approve a 30.5 trillion won (€19.2 billion) supplementary budget aimed at reviving the economy. US President Donald Trump’s tariff war has hit South Korea’s export-driven economy hard, with GDP growth forecasts for 2025 recently slashed from 1.5 percent to 0.8 percent. Also in this edition: cabling thefts in northern France severely disrupt train services, including the Eurostar between London and Paris.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian said that US President Donald Trump “is eager to forge peace in the Middle East”, adding that one “cannot ignore what is happening on the Palestinian-Israeli front”. Denouncing “the genocidal war in Gaza”, she warned that Israel has made clear its intent to “make Gaza Jewish again” through an “annexationist policy”.

For centuries, depictions of Cleopatra have emphasised her beauty and romantic entanglements – much more so than her two-decade rule of Egypt. The Institut du monde arabe (Arab World Institute) in Paris aims to change that with “The Mystery of Cleopatra”, a new exhibit running until January 11, 2026. 

Borussia Dortmund have qualified for the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Kylian Mbappé could make a comeback after a short stay in hospital.

A new way of ensuring everyone on the planet has access to glasses is being pushed by a global NGO that has just launched in France. A machine has been developed that can make glasses anywhere on the planet for just one single dollar. This as it is estimated that up to 950 million people across the globe are unable to have access to glasses or cannot afford them. That means that many people are born – or become – unable to do any skilled work. In Perspective, we spoke to the executive director of GoodVision France, Maryline Ehlermann.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, June 25: International papers criticise Israel’s “genocidal” food distribution system in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Russia is planning to train Chinese troops, according to an exclusive report. Next, Bulgarian papers worry about a black leopard that’s roaming free. Finally, inflatable crocodiles threaten the wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos in Venice. 

Brad Pitt is in the driving seat for the latest action spectacle from US director Joseph Kosinski, with a performance that even got the thumbs up from F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why the big-budget movie won her over despite some flaws in the storyline and frequent sightings of F1 sponsors. We also discuss the Nasser brothers’ latest surreal comedy Western, “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”, as the award-winning Palestinian directors return to a quieter time in their home region, via a tale of sandwich-making and illicit substances. Plus we check out British filmmaker Danny…