France24.com (en)

France's government is facing no-confidence votes that could spell the end of the administration of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. For deeper insight and perspective, as France plunges into uncharted waters of political chaos, FRANCE 24's Genie Godula welcomes Anna McKeever, Political Scientist, Lecturer in Political Science at the University of the West of Scotland and author of 'Immigration Policy and Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe'.

Iran's Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been released from jail for three weeks after undergoing surgery, a move her family and supporters described as "too little, too late".

China is the leading emitter of the greenhouse gases scientists say are driving global climate change and making extreme weather events more frequent. Beijing has pledged to bring planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions to a peak by 2030 and to net zero by 2060. "During this year's autumn season (Sept 1 to Nov 30), the national average temperature was 11.8 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees higher than the average year, the highest ever since 1961," the centre announced on its social media account. ... Читать дальше...

Animal activists have been angered by Marineland's plans to transfer its two killer whales to Japan, a move France's ecology minister said she opposed over Tokyo's more lax animal welfare laws. Marineland was hit by a firestorm of controversy in March after two of its orcas died within five months of each other. The park, near Antibes on the French Riviera, has some 4,000 animals from 150 different species. But visitor numbers have dropped from 1.2 million a year to just 425,000 over the last decade. Читать дальше...

The body of Chiung Yao, which was the pen name used by Chen Che, was found at her home in New Taipei City, the local fire department told AFP. She appeared to have taken her own life, the department said. Chiung Yao was a prolific writer, publishing over 60 books in a career spanning more than five decades. "In the drawers of every literary young girl in 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, there were a few Chiung Yao novels tucked away, hidden from the fear of being confiscated by teachers," said Tsai Mei-tzu... Читать дальше...

Pakistan is home to thousands of climate refugees. While the country contributes less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas, it is heavily impacted by the warming climate. One of the most affected areas is the autonomous province of Gilgit-Baltistan, located in northern Pakistan. It is known for its breath-taking landscapes made up of the majestic peaks of the Karakoram, the Himalayas, and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges. The province has thousands of glaciers that supply water to the valley floors and their millions of inhabitants... Читать дальше...

The 24-year-old Belgian, who won road race and time-trial gold at the Paris Olympics, was rushed to hospital Tuesday after striking the open door of a stationary van in Brussels while preparing for the new season. "After a scary accident on training yesterday, I underwent surgery last night and everything went well," Evenepoel wrote on social media Wednesday. The post was accompanied by a picture of Evenepoel in his hospital bed, with his right arm in a sling. "With a fracture to my rib, shoulder blade... Читать дальше...

France's government on Wednesday faces no-confidence votes that could spell the end of the short-lived administration of PM Michel Barnier, plunging the country into uncharted waters of political chaos. The fall of the 3-month-old Barnier government would present President Emmanuel Macron with the unenviable choice of searching for a viable successor. French MP Eléonore Cariot joins FRANCE 24's Eve Irvine, offering her insight and perspective from Macron's Ensemble pour la République coalition.

The Syrian army was locked in fierce battles with Islamist-led insurgents in Hama province on Wednesday as President Bashar al-Assad's embattled regime scrambled to halt a rebel advance on the central region's main city.

The 57-year-old has headed the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town since 2019 and will curate the next biennale in 2026. Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco hailed her Tuesday as a "curator, scholar and influential public figure" who would bring the "most refined, young and disruptive intelligences" to the sprawling 130-year-old exhibition, which draws hundreds of thousands of art lovers to the Italian city every two years. Before running Zeitz MOCAA, Africa's top contemporary art museum... Читать дальше...

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived proclamation of martial law this week marked the first time a South Korean leader took such a drastic measure since the country became a fully functioning democracy more than 35 years ago.

"We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026," GP director Robert van Overdijk said in a statement. The Dutch Grand Prix has been held since 2021 in the windswept seaside resort of Zandvoort on the North Sea coast. Hundreds of thousands of orange-clad Dutch F1 fans cram into the small town to cheer on their hero Verstappen who, until this year, won every race on his home track. This year's edition saw a minor speed bump on his drive towards the World Championship... Читать дальше...

The assailant entered the Golden Temple in northwestern Amritsar city as a visitor and attempted to shoot Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of a Sikh political party. Badal's security tackled the gunman after he took his weapon from his waist and the sole shot he fired off missed its target, instead hitting a marble pillar. "Security of Sukhbir Singh Badal has been tightened. The assailant is in police custody and investigation is in process," senior Punjab state police officer Harpal Singh told reporters. Читать дальше...

The 30-year-old star batsman Azam was dropped following defeat in the first Test against England in October and rested for the ongoing limited-over series against Zimbabwe. Pakistan will play three Twenty20 internationals in South Africa starting from December 10, followed by three one-day matches and two Tests. Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas also returns to the Test side after last playing in 2021. Off-spinner Sajid misses out despite taking 19 wickets in the 2-1 home Test series win over England... Читать дальше...

Days more heavy rain are forecast in the area, which has already been battered by torrential floodwaters, with more than 155,000 households currently affected, according to the Thai government's public relations department. Five southern provinces have been hit -- -- Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung -- forcing more than 33,000 people to leave their homes, the spokesperson for Thailand's ministry of public health said in a statement. The death toll now stands at 29, up from 25 reported on Tuesday. Читать дальше...

The tragic 2019 fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral led to major discoveries during restoration work. Archaeologists unearthed treasures dating back from antiquity to the 19th century.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, December 4: The Korean papers react to President Yoon Suk Yeol's decision to impose martial law with incredulity, as the opposition moves to impeach him. Meanwhile, television presenter Gregg Wallace faces fresh allegations of sexual misconduct. Also, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi is criticised for adding a religious message to a rainbow armband, while others call the criticism hypocritical. Finally, 'brain rot' is named Oxford Word of the Year 2024.

The Israeli army says it is targeting Hamas-led militants regrouping in Gaza who often use civilian buildings including schools and hospitals for operational cover. Hamas denies this, accusing Israeli forces of indiscriminate bombardments. For deeper insight and perspective on the war in the Middle East, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Inamoto joined Arsenal in 2001 but had to wait until moving to Fulham a year later before he made his debut in England's top flight, where he also played for West Bromwich Albion. He became a national hero when he scored twice at the 2002 World Cup on home soil, including the winner against Russia in Japan's first-ever victory at the tournament. He also played in Turkey, Germany and France before returning to his home country in 2010. The final years of his career were spent playing for Nankatsu SC... Читать дальше...

The UN General Assembly passed a new resolution on Tuesday which professes its "unwavering support" for the two-state solution of Israel and Palestine, calling for Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories and the creation of a Palestinian state. Read our liveblog for the latest developments.

Two days after US President Joe Biden's controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, President-elect Donald Trump formally requested on Tuesday that a New York judge annul his May felony conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money agreement with porn actor Stormy Daniels.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, brushing off rival claims from other countries -- including the Philippines -- and an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Video released by Manila on Wednesday appeared to show a China coast guard ship hitting the right side of the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a fisheries department vessel, with the crew shouting, "Collision! Collision!". The Chinese ship "fired a water cannon... aiming directly at the vessel's navigational antennas"... Читать дальше...

Trung, 19, is one of a growing number of Generation-Z workers driving an e-bike trend in the communist nation where 77 million -- largely petrol -- motorbikes rule the roads. A cheap set of electric wheels can now be had for as little as $500, but issues include wasting hours at charging stations and people finding it hard to give up their habits. Trung has long hated riding in Hanoi, rated among the world's top 10 polluted capital cities in 2023 by air quality technology firm IQAir. The air "is unbearable for motorbike riders"... Читать дальше...

Georgia's rights ombudsman accused police of torturing protesters on Tuesday as demonstrations against the parliaments' postponement of Georgia's EU accession goals to 2028 entered its sixth consecutive night.

The shock announcement sent shivers through the trading floor in Seoul and fuelled a political crisis in Asia's third-biggest economy, with the already unpopular Yoon facing a possible impeachment. Investors are now keeping a close eye on developments in the country, with analysts pointing out that the upheaval comes as authorities steeled for the second presidency of Donald Trump, who has vowed to reignite his hardball trade policy. The Kospi index shed as much as 2.3 percent at the open as traders... Читать дальше...