Author: France 24

France sent a clear message in their Six Nations opener, overpowering Ireland 36–14 at the Stade de France to collect a bonus point. Five tries, led by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, put the champions in firm control early, before Ireland’s late rally proved too little, too late on a rain-soaked night as their title defence began in emphatic style.

Businesses across Italy could see a windfall of some $6 billion, as spectators head to the Alps for the Winter Olympics. The Milano-Cortina 2026 Games have run over-budget, although by a smaller amount than previous competitions. Giulia Wedam, Co-Founder & CEO of the tourism agency Cortina IN, says she’s expecting a boost in business that will outlast the Games themselves. 

From “Babygirl” with Nicole Kidman to Cannes Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness”, Harris Dickinson is one of Britain’s most compelling actors and now one of its most exciting new directors. His debut film “Urchin” is a raw and tender portrait of a homeless addict in London. As the film is released in France, he talks to Laura Di Biasio about filming the London he knows, acting versus directing, and his upcoming role as Beatles icon John Lennon.

Genie Godula is pleased to welcome Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham. He offers a frank assessment of where the Ukraine-Russia peace talks stand. Does the mere fact both sides are talking signal hope? There is some progress, yes, but there are no breakthroughs. The current talks can be simply summed up by small wins: prisoner exchanges, and deep divides: territorial claims and security guarantees. Then there’s the broader geopolitical dynamics: the role the US could play… but isn’t.

As France 24 marks World Cancer Day, François Picard welcomes Lars Henning Milman Engelholm, Associate Professor and Group Leader at the Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet / Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen. From his lab in Copenhagen, Professor Engelholm describes a seismic shift underway in pancreatic cancer research, the result of a decade-long commitment to the steady evolution of translational science.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 4, 2026: Team USA’s Olympics base camp is making headlines since it had to change its name from Ice House to Winter House. But first, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced the country is planning a social media ban for under-16s. Next, Russian athletes could soon be back competing under their national flag. Meanwhile, the 2030 Olympic Games in France are off to a slow start. Finally, scientists study what love might look like in space.

The Trump administration has put aside its tariff threats, and is calling for a new trade bloc to focus on critical minerals. Ministers from 55 countries attended talks in Washington aimed at reducing their reliance on China, which dominates the production and processing of the elements. Meanwhile, Japan hopes to revolutionize its own mineral supplies, becoming the first to retrieve deep-sea mud containing rare earth elements. 

To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again PERSPECTIVE © FRANCE 24 Issued on: 04/02/2026 – 16:26Modified: 04/02/2026 – 16:28 08:45 min From the show Reading time 1 min A world-renowned fashion designer-turned-podcast host has spoken to FRANCE 24 about its success, and about those she has spoken to. Bella Freud is the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis.…

Israeli proscutors on Wednesday filed charges against 12 suspects for smuggling goods into besieged Gaza. The suspects included reservist soldiers and the brother of the chief of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet. The charge sheet for “assisting the enemy in wartime” listed goods such as cigarettes and iPhones that were brought into the Palestinian enclave “for profit”.

Arsenal host Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final second leg. The Gunners won 3-2 in the first leg last month. They have lost only one of their last 14 matches.