Новости за 18.12.2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had already ordered sanctions on judges and prosecutors in the case, explicitly linked the new sanctions to a vote Monday in which the judges sided with the majority and upheld arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. "We will not tolerate ICC abuses of power that violate the sovereignty of the United States and Israel and wrongly subject US and Israeli persons to the ICC's jurisdiction," Rubio said in a statement. Читать дальше...

Foreign ministers from the G7 on December 17 condemned the prosecution of Hong Kong journalist and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, who was found guilty of collusion with foreign forces this week. His son, Sebastien Lai, told FRANCE 24 that his father is being persecuted by the Chinese authorities because he ran the famous pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, adding that the trial produced 'more than 100 pages of nothing'. Sebastian Lai's presence was also an opportunity to discuss the complicated relationship between Hong Kong and China.

Ghana has sent a military contingent to assist with reconstruction and relief efforts in hurricane-hit Jamaica, following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa over a month ago. This marks the third time this year that Ghana has extended support to nations in crisis, after previously providing humanitarian aid to Jamaica, Sudan, Gaza, and Cuba, as FRANCE 24's correspondent Justice Baidoo explains.

One of the highlights of the Christmas season here in France is the food. The main feast usually happens on Christmas Eve and the traditional dessert is the incredible Yule log or bûche de Noël. More than eight million Yule logs are sold in France every year, with three quarters of them purchased in late December. Eugenie Pont from Fou de Pâtisserie tells us where this delicious dessert comes from.

More than 1,000 civilians were killed when Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces took over the famine-stricken displacement camp of Zamzam in Sudan's Darfur in April, according to a UN report published on Thursday. About a third of the victims were summarily executed, says the UN Human Rights Office.

Two of Italy’s top newspapers, La Repubblica and La Stampa, are likely to be sold to Greek media tycoon Theodore Kyriakou, whose political and business links abroad have sparked concern over editorial independence. The proposed sale, which involves foreign investment from Gulf allies and has drawn interest from Moscow, has prompted strikes, political debate and widespread unease among journalists and readers alike.

On the sidelines of the European summit, hundreds of farmers are gathering in Brussels, blocking parts of the Belgian capital to protest against EU regulations and the signing of a Mercosur trade deal, which they call unfair competition for European farmers. Our journalist Armen Georgian is on the scene and describes a chaotic situation.

As Europe hesitates over the Mercosur agreement, Brazilian President Lula has shown signs of frustration with a deal '37 years in the making'. He warned it was 'now or never' to sign, saying there would be no further opportunities during his term in office. FRANCE 24's Tom Vickery has the details from Rio.

Morocco is putting the finishing touches on preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts on December 21 and runs until January 18. With venues ready across six cities, the football tournament is seen as a showcase of Morocco’s sporting ambitions and a dress rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup, with record ticket sales and global broadcast coverage.

Australia is tightening hate speech laws after the Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre, which killed 10-year-old Matilda and others. PM Anthony Albanese announced tougher penalties, easier prosecution of hate crimes, blacklisting extremist groups, visa restrictions, and investigations into antisemitism in schools amid rising antisemitic incidents.

Thousands of French and Belgian farmers converged on Brussels in protest, expressing frustration over EU regulations, struggling livelihoods, and the Mercosur trade deal, which they fear will disadvantage European agriculture. Anger has also been fueled by the culling of herds to control lumpy skin disease in France.

President Trump delivered a pre-recorded Christmas address highlighting his first year back in office, focusing on economic achievements, immigration, and tariffs, while criticizing the previous administration. He promised an economic boom and announced $1,776 checks for nearly 1.5 million military personnel. Critics, including Democrats, argued his speech exaggerated successes and ignored struggles with inflation and rising living costs.

Farmers, particularly in France, worry the Mercosur deal,  which will be discussed at the EU leaders meeting, will see them undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours.

On International Migrants Day, hundreds of groups across France are mobilizing to highlight migrants’ contributions and struggles as immigration rules tighten and expulsions rise. Migrant workers remain vital to sectors like restaurants and construction, even as many face years of insecurity, with expulsions up sharply in 2024.

Britain and the European Union agreed on December 17, 2025 to allow UK students to rejoin the bloc's popular student exchange programme Erasmus+ from 2027, a small but symbolic sign of improved relations after Brexit.

Brazil’s Senate passed a bill that could drastically reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup, potentially cutting his time behind bars to just over two years. The bill, already approved by the lower chamber, now goes to President Lula, who may veto it, though Congress could override.

President Trump delivered a prime-time address blaming Democrats and Joe Biden for economic struggles while promising an eventual economic boom. He announced a one-time bonus check for U.S. troops tied to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, in a speech that leaned heavily partisan as he faces declining approval and looming midterm elections, as FRANCE 24's Rochelle Ferguson analyses.

A trial opened December 18 in Aleppo for suspects accused of post-Assad violence, including attacks on transitional government forces. About 500 people are under investigation, in what is seen as a landmark case as it is the first time government-linked security forces are being held accountable, with Syrians closely watching for a fair trial. FRANCE 24's Dana Alboz has more from Damascus.

Venezuela on Wednesday said its crude oil exports were not impacted by US President Donald Trump's announcement of a potentially crippling blockade, insisting it was proceeding with business as usual.

Nick Reiner made his first court appearance Wednesday in Los Angeles on two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, actor-director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, while the couple's other two children made their first public statement on their crushing loss.

Brazilian President Lula has warned the EU to sign the long-delayed EU-Mercosur trade deal now or risk losing Brazil’s participation altogether. France and Italy are blocking progress over concerns about protecting their agricultural sectors, while supporters such as Germany and Spain argue the deal would boost EU exports and strengthen Europe’s global trade position.

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, December 18: French paper Le Monde reveals who was behind the viral AI fake news video that announced a coup in France. Next, some good news: a mama polar bear adopts a cub in a rare case of polar bear bonding. Also: the new season of Emily in Paris is out and we calculate exactly how much it would cost to live like Emily. Finally, we do an art quiz with our presenter.

French farmers are protesting the Mercosur trade deal and a livestock disease called lumpy skin disease, which affects cattle with painful nodules and fever. Laura Darnat, a French horse breeder and chicken farmer in Perigueux, spoke to FRANCE 24 about the farmers’ demands. They want cows vaccinated against lumpy skin disease, measures to prevent avian flu, and isolation of infected animals rather than culling. “We’ve received false promises, and until we have something concrete on the table, we will stay in place,” the farmer said.

After a three-and-a-half-month trial, anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier was sentenced Thursday in Besançon to life in prison for all the charges against him, a verdict he plans to appeal. Péchier is accused of poisoning 30 patients, 12 of whom died, between 2008 and 2017.

Hundreds of farmers in tractors protested in Brussels against the EU-Mercosur trade deal, disrupting the EU summit. Some countries pushed for stronger agricultural safeguards, while others backed the deal to boost exports. Brazil’s President Lula warned the EU that the deal must be signed now or risk losing Brazil’s participation, as FRANCE 24's Armen Georgian explains from Brussels.