Author: France 24

Cuba has run out of fuel and diesel, as the US blockade plunges the island deeper into an energy crisis. The government is now considering a renewed offer of aid from the Trump administration – but that financing would come with conditions. Also in the show – US President Donald Trump announces China will buy 200 aircraft from Boeing, as he continues his high-stakes visit to Beijing. 

It’s a simple action movie that grew into a billion-dollar global franchise. “The Fast and the Furious” marked its 25th anniversary with a midnight showing at the Cannes Film Festival. Lead actor Vin Diesel was joined on the red carpet by the daughter of his late co-star Paul Walker, to whom he paid an emotional tribute. FRANCE 24’s Culture Editor Eve Jackson also tells us about the other films that have festival-goers revved up, from an “unhinged” slasher flick with Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder, to a film starring Barry Keoghan as the charismatic leader of a Circassian immigrant family.

The new Syrian administration is trying to provide justice for the tens of thousands tortured and hundreds of thousands more killed by the regime of former dictator Bashar al-Assad. But is enough being done to investigate and prosecute those accused? Some tentative steps have been taken. A trial is underway in Damascus of Assad himself and his brother Maher, although neither are in the country and are being tried in absentia.

The #cruise ship Ambition arrived in #Bordeaux… and its passengers were stopped from disembarking, due to suspicions of a stomach flu outbreak aboard. One passenger has died, and about 50 others have shown symptoms. Authorities say it has no connection to the #hantavirus outbreak.

Paris Saint-Germain officially secured the 14th French league title in their history after a 2-0 win away at Lens. The Parisians were pushed hard by their closest rivals but made the difference through goals from Kvaratskhelia (29’) and Mbaye in extra time (90+3). The result seals a fifth consecutive league title for the Paris club with one game still remaining.

More than a dozen executives from the world’s largest companies have joined US President Donald Trump on a high-stakes visit to China. The business delegation points to an agenda dominated by trade, technology, and rare earths. The minerals are the building block of many modern industries, and a source of economic leverage for Beijing. Also in the show – the US Senate approves Kevin Warsh to be the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve. 

According to data obtained by the New York Times, in some countries, just a few hundred voters would have been enough to secure a popular vote victory in the Eurovision song contest. FRANCE 24’s Sharon Gaffney speaks with Mara Hvistendahl, investigative reporter at the New York Times, about how Israel has been using the contest as a soft power tool, with attempts to influence Eurovision beginning years earlier than previously thought.

Israeli strikes targeting cars on a highway south of Beirut on Wednesday killed eight people, including two children, Lebanon’s health ministry said, a day after 13 people were killed in attacks on towns in the south. Earlier, US President Donald ⁠Trump said he expected to have a “long talk” about the Iran war with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping when they meet for a high-stakes summit in Beijing. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

As the number of confirmed hantavirus cases from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius reaches 9, social media users firmly revived Covid-19 era conspiracy theories of “bioweapons” and “plandemics,” making the online rhetoric feel eerily familiar. Among these resurrected theories, the name of American billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has once again emerged.

Paris Saint-Germain face Lens in a rescheduled match from the 29th round of Ligue 1, with both teams’ league positions already decided. It will be “a celebration of French football”, according to Paris coach Luis Enrique.