France 24

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is “no way” Israel will halt its war in Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release more hostages. His comments are likely to complicate talks on a new ceasefire that had seemed to gain momentum after Hamas released the last living American hostage on Monday in a gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region but skipping Israel. They pointed to a potentially widening rift between Netanyahu and Trump, who had expressed hope that Monday’s release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander would be a step toward ending the 19-month war. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by our International Affairs Editor Kethevane Gorjestani and they welcome Moustafa Barghouti, Physician and General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI).

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to normalise relations and lift sanctions on Syria's new government, marking a major shift in US foreign policy. The decision comes amid growing pressure from Gulf allies and despite al-Sharaa’s controversial militant past, including ties to al Qaeda during the Iraq war.

The US military said Sunday it has struck more than 800 Houthi targets in Yemen since mid-March, killing hundreds of fighters, including leaders. Near-daily air raids under "Operation Rough Rider" aim to halt attacks on Red Sea shipping and restore US "deterrence," officials said.

North Korea on Monday confirmed for the first time it has sent troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence officials said last year Pyongyang dispatched about 10,000 to 12,000 troops, but North Korea had previously neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

Worldwide military expenditure surged to $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking the sharpest annual increase since the Cold War, driven by escalating conflicts and geopolitical tensions, SIPRI reported Monday. Europe and the Middle East saw the steepest rises, with some European nations posting "unprecedented" spending hikes, the research institute said.

New evidence uncovered by the Literary expert and Shakespeare 'sleuth' Professor Matthew Steggle, has upended the long established narrative that William Shakespeare left his wife Anne Hathaway behind in Stratford for a career in London. It was long thought the couple had a disastrous marriage. Professor Steggle had decrypted a fragment of a letter to the 'Good Mrs Shakespeare' which suggests the couple had lived together on Trinity Lane in London. Is is time for a rethink of how ‘Mrs Shakespeare’ is written about? Professor Steggle has been speaking to France 24’s Gavin Lee.

An Israeli strike hit south Beirut on Sunday for the third time since a fragile November 27 ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the strike targeted a building used by Hezbollah to store "precision-guided missiles".

Rapidly deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan over a deadly shooting in Kashmir are starting to have small but prickly economic consequences for both nations. Listen to France24 journalist Liza Kaminov for more.

Nine people were killed and multiple others were injured in Vancouver on Saturday after a driver ploughed into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in the western Canadian city. Prime Minister Mark Carney said all Canadians were "in mourning", just days ahead of the country's federal election. France24 correspondent in Vancouver Craig McCulloch has the latest.

Russia launched a massive attack of nearly 150 drones over Ukraine from Saturday into Sunday, according to Ukraine’s armed forces. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he doubts Putin wants to end the three-year war in Ukraine. Catherine Viette tells us more.

A long queue has formed since this morning, Sunday, April 27, behind St Mary Major, where Pope Francis was buried following the mass funeral. The faithful have been standing here for hours to pay their final respects to Pope Bergoglio, many already wondering who will become the next head of the Catholic Church. France 24 senior reporter Clovis Casali is in Rome and spoke to people outside the church about their hopes for the future.

The Pakistani military on Sunday said that security forces had killed 54 militants who attempted to cross into the country from Afghanistan overnight. The insurgents were spotted and killed near the former stronghold of Pakistan Taliban near North Waziristan, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Afghan border.

President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that racism and hatred based on religion can have no place in France after the brutal murder of a Muslim in a mosque in the south of the country. The man suspected of killing the worshipper was still on the run Sunday, authorities said. Shirli Sitbon joins us for more.

A huge blast thought to have been caused by the explosion of chemical materials killed at least 28 people and left 1,000 others injured on Saturday at Iran's biggest port, Bandar Abbas. The deadly blast occurred as Iran began a third round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman. Camille Knight tells us more.

Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire along the Kashmir border for a third consecutive night, New Delhi officials said Sunday, amid escalating tensions triggered by a deadly attack on a tourist hotspot in the Muslim-majority territory administered by India. France24 Correspondent Shahzaib Wahlah has the latest.

President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that racism and hatred based on religion can have no place in France after the brutal murder of a Muslim in a mosque in the south of the country. The man suspected of killing the worshipper was still on the run Sunday, authorities said.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, representing Gaza mediator Qatar said on Sunday that there was "a bit of progress" in talks in Doha this week aimed at securing a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war.

Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire along the Kashmir border for a third consecutive night, New Delhi officials said Sunday, amid escalating tensions triggered by a deadly attack on a tourist hotspot in the Muslim-majority territory administered by India. Dr. Sajjan Gohel, International Security Director at Asia-Pacific foundation, joins us from London.

On Saturday, the faithful around the world paid their final respects to Pope Francis. Nicholas Rushworth has a roundup.

Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa set a new women's only world record of 2hr 15min 50sec as she won the London marathon on Sunday whilst Kenya's Sabastian Sawe put a star-studded men's field to the sword.

On Saturday, Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, engaged in a third round of indirect talks in Muscat, the capital of Oman, mediated by Omani officials, lasting around six hours. This follows a second round in Rome the previous week, which both parties described as constructive. Simon Mabon, Professor of International politics and Middle East Studies at Lancaster University, joins us for more on the topic.

Nine people were killed and multiple others were injured in Vancouver on Saturday after a driver ploughed into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in the western Canadian city. Camille Knight has this story.

Thousands of South Koreans filled the streets of Seoul on Saturday for the annual Yeon Deung Hoe festival, celebrating Buddha’s upcoming birthday. Despite the rain, organisers expected around 50,000 attendees, with the evening parade featuring floats carried or rolled through the city centre. The festival, which began over 1,000 years ago, was recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020 and promotes the teachings of Buddhism worldwide. Eliza Herbert has this story.