The Latest Breaking News from FRANCE 24

Nobel Foundation cancels Russian envoy's invitation to prize ceremony

The Nobel Foundation said on Saturday that it was reversing its decision to invite ambassadors from Russia and Belarus to this year's Nobel award ceremony in Stockholm, after the move sparked anger. The news comes after Russia said its forces had destroyed Ukrainian naval drones that were attempting to target…

France 24 · Sep 2, 2023

Green transition takes centre stage at top French business gathering

This week we're at the 2023 annual MEDEF meeting, where the largest employers' federation in France gets leaders of the country's business community together to discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead – one of them being the transition to a green economy. A world leader when it comes…

France 24 · Sep 1, 2023

IFA 2023: Can new consumer tech still excite?

It's the starting gun for the busiest time of the year in tech: IFA Berlin. Europe's largest tech trade show has kicked off, with more folding phones and robot lawnmowers than anyone could possibly need. With the "smart home" facing privacy and interoperability concerns and the smartphone industry dogged by…

France 24 · Sep 1, 2023

Russia says it shot down 281 Ukrainian drones over the past week

Russia's defence ministry on Friday said it had destroyed a total of 281 Ukrainian drones over the past week. Also on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a business forum in Italy that there can be no "sustainable peace" in Ukraine unless the country regains control of Crimea, Donbas and…

France 24 · Sep 1, 2023

Chinese property firm Country Giant posts record losses, warns of potential default

Chinese real estate group Country Garden has posted record losses of €6.5 billion for the first half of 2023 and warned that it could default on its debt if its financial performance "continues to deteriorate". The news underlined the country's struggling growth, since the property sector may represent as much…

France 24 · Aug 31, 2023

Western powers condemn coup in Gabon, curfew remains in effect

A group of senior military officers in Gabon seized power in the early hours of Wednesday, shortly after the country's election body announced President Ali Bongo had won a third term. The United States, the UK, France and others condemned what appeared to be the eighth military coup in west…

France 24 · Aug 31, 2023

Disputed election sparks beginning of the end of 56 years of Bongo family rule

The ouster of Gabon’s President Ali Bongo early Wednesday came shortly after the country’s election commission announced the official results of the August 26 presidential election, handing the incumbent another disputed victory. But this time, it provided the spark for a military takeover to end more than half a century…

France 24 · Aug 30, 2023

Gabon's economy: A wealth of resources that fails to trickle down to the population

As a group of senior Gabonese military officers announce they have seized power and placed President Ali Bongo under house arrest, we take a closer look at Gabon's economic situation. The Central African nation is the fourth-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, but a third of its population lives below…

France 24 · Aug 30, 2023

Gabon general named ‘transitional president’ by attempted coup leaders

Gabon’s junta named General Brice Oligui Nguema as transition leader, soldiers said on national television on Wednesday. The announcement came hours after President Ali Bongo appeared in a video and called on his "friends" to "make noise" after military officers in the Central African state staged a coup attempt. Read…

France 24 · Aug 30, 2023

Paris Opera star Hugo Marchand strives to make ballet more accessible

To kick off a new season of Encore!, Eve Jackson welcomes French dancer Hugo Marchand, a star of one of France's most prestigious cultural institutions. Known for his unique dancing style that mixes strength and grace, he was named principal dancer at the Paris Opera in 2017 when he was…

France 24 · Aug 29, 2023