Author: Frank Deux

Israel’s cabinet voted on Saturday to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. The first stage of the truce is set to begin this weekend bringing a halt to fighting and bombardment in Gaza’s deadliest-ever war. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments. Live: Israeli government approves Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal

As France celebrates half a century of legal abortion, FRANCE 24’s Oliver Farry welcomes Kei Yoshida, Senior Legal Advisor at the Center for Reproductive Rights, offering an in-depth look at women’s health, reproductive rights, and the progressive trend spanning the globe. 'Progressive trend: In the past 30 years we've seen 60 countries liberalise their abortion laws'

Two wildfires still burning in Los Angeles have torched more urban area than any other fire in the state since at least the mid-1980s. Experts say several factors could lead to wildfires reaching cities more often. Urban areas continue to sprawl into wildland. Climate change is raising global temperatures that lead to more severe weather, including droughts, especially in the western United States. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Yinka Oyetade welcomes Yves Figueiredo, Associate Professor of US Environmental History at LARCA, an interdisciplinary research unit of Université Paris Cité. Natural element of ecosystem: L.A. fires 'so intense, violent, brutal that recovering's problematic'

Right wing protesters and cabinet ministers in Israel on Thursday voiced disapproval for ceasefire deal with Gaza while crowds in Tel Aviv gathered to support the deal and urge a swift release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas Mixed reactions in Israel to Gaza ceasefire deal

Dozens of bodies have been rescued from a disused South African gold mine at Stilfontein where hundreds of illegal miners had been trapped for months.  Senegalese employees working for the French army fear losing their jobs after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye says the French army must leave. And as the African Nations Championship tournament is postponed we look into why the Confederation of African Football deemed the host countries ‘not ready’. End of miners rescue…

A SpaceX Starship rocket broke up in space minutes after launching from Texas on Thursday, forcing airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico to alter course to avoid falling debris and setting back Elon Musk’s flagship rocket program. SpaceX Starship explodes after launch, forcing airlines to divert

Honoring a deal with US President Joe Biden’s administration which saw it removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, the Cuban government started releasing jailed protesters on Wednesday, despite the possibility of incoming US President Donald Trump reversing Biden’s decision. Cuba begins release of jailed protesters under US terror list deal

Lawyers for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was arrested on Tuesday over his failed attempt to impose martial law, said Yoon would not take part in further questioning on Thursday, posing questions on how cooperative the impeached president will be after weeks of evading arrest. Impeached South Korean President Yoon to avoid new questioning over martial law bid

Impeached South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over his failed martial law bid, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first sitting president to be detained in the nation’s history. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Nadia Massih welcomes Dr John Nilsson-Wright, Author, Senior Fellow, Asia Programme, at Chatham House and Associate Professor in Modern Japanese Politics and International Relations at the University of Cambridge. ‘Almost…

After a week in which two wildfires smothered multiple Los Angeles neighbourhoods, killing at least 25 people, the US entertainment capital and its surrounding counties remain in “particularly dangerous” conditions, with 70 mile per hour winds predicted to sweep the area on Wednesday. Wildfires, Santa Ana winds keep LA on 'particular dangerous' footing

Around 84,000 people may be forced to flee after a new wildfire erupted on Tuesday in Ventura County, near Los Angeles, where two separate fires have killed at least 25 people in the past week. Strong winds have ramped up the most recent blaze, named the Auto Fire, which has already covered 56 acres, threatening nearby towns. New blaze threatens tens of thousands in Ventura County

France 24 regional correspondent Yena Lee reports on the situation in South Korea, where Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting president in the country’s history to be arrested on Wednesday after anti-corruption authorities stormed his presidential residence to execute a warrant for Yoon’s failed martial law attempt early last month. South Korean investigators arrest impeached President Yoon

The impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol began Tuesday, as the Constitutional Court reviews his failed attempt to enforce martial law. Yoon, who was impeached after attempting to halt a parliamentary vote by military force, has evaded arrest and was absent from the trial’s brief opening session. Impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon begins

South Korea’s military reported that North Korea launched several suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday around 09:30 AM local time. This incident follows Pyongyang’s test of a new hypersonic missile system last week and occurs amid strengthening ties between Japan and South Korea. North Korea fires several suspected short-range ballistic missiles

Los Angeles faces critical wildfire threat as Santa Ana winds, gusting up to 75 mph, exacerbate blazes that have destroyed neighborhoods and claimed over two dozen lives. Firefighters work tirelessly to control fires that have scorched an area as large as Washington, D.C., with red flag warnings effective from 10 p.m. PST. Los Angeles braces for strong winds as deadly wildfires continue to rage

Wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed 24 lives, with officials warning of dangerous winds that could exacerbate the situation. The blazes, now in their sixth day, have devastated communities and left thousands homeless. Despite massive firefighting efforts, incoming winds could create life-threatening conditions, particularly on Tuesday. The death toll from massive wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles rose to 24 on Sunday, with officials warning of incoming dangerous winds that could whip the blazes up…

The Kumbh Mela festival in India opened on Monday, with vast crowds of Hindu pilgrims participating in ritual baths at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Organisers anticipate the world’s largest human gathering, expecting about 400 million attendees. India opens the world's largest Hindu festival for 400 million pilgrims

Jeff Bezos told Reuters on Sunday that he trusts Elon Musk will not leverage his relationship with President-elect Donald Trump against Blue Origin. Bezos expressed optimism about the new administration’s space policies, crediting Musk for prioritising public interest over personal gain.

Thousands of people demonstrated against a convention of the far-right Alternative for Germany on January 11, blocking some roads and delaying the meeting’s start as parties launched their campaigns for the country’s election next month. We talked about this situation with PhD candidate at King’s College London Claire Burchett. German election: ‘The AfD is trying to present a more moderate image’

Algeria on Saturday rejected France’s accusation of escalation, denouncing a “campaign of disinformation” in their latest diplomatic row after Algiers sent back to Paris an influencer deported from the European country. “Algeria is in no way engaged in a logic of escalation… or humiliation,” the Algerian foreign ministry said in a statement, accusing the extreme right in France of “waging a campaign of disinformation” against Algeria. “Doualemn”, a 59-year-old influencer, was detained by French authorities in…

Syria’s new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanon’s prime minister vowed on Saturday to build lasting ties after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa said the new Syria would “stay at equal distance from all” in Lebanon, and “try to solve problems through negotiations and dialogue”. Syria, Lebanon pledge 'long-term strategic relations' after Assad ouster

We are 10 days BT: Before Trump is back in office. And this week has seen the president elect given to an unconditional discharge, spared of jail or a fine, but confirmed as a convicted felon for fraud relating to hush money payments to an adult film star.

The US on Friday imposed a swath of fresh sanctions on Russian oil and gas which could cost the country billions of dollars per month, aimed at cutting Russia’s revenue for funding the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the action, which should improve the odds of a peace deal being reached.  US intensifies sanctions on Russia in bid to give Ukraine, Trump leverage

For the second year in a row, the city of Ouidah in Benin is playing host to Vodun Days – a celebration of the region’s long spiritual traditions. France 24’s correspondent Lilaafa Amouzou visited the festival and found out about efforts to dismantle myths about Vodon. Celebrating Benin's Vodun heritage

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked for a meeting with Donald Trump to try to end the “bloody mess” of the Ukraine war, the US president-elect revealed Thursday, just days before his January 20 inauguration. Trump has often criticised the massive military aid Washington has sent to Kyiv.