Friday, 18 September 2026
323 articles · times in UTC
France 24 · 00:27
37 suspected illegal miners die in custody in central Nigeria ↗Nigerian authorities launched an investigation Thursday after 37 suspected illegal miners died in a civil defence detention facility in central Niger state, with conflicting accounts blaming either a disease outbreak or overcrowding and poor ventilation.
France 24 · 01:04
Trump says 'major progress' made toward US military base in Poland ↗US President Donald Trump said that Washington and Warsaw were making 'major progress' toward establishing a US military base in Poland, potentially giving the United States a permanent military foothold on NATO's eastern flank even as his administration reviews its broader troop presence in Europe.
France 24 · 03:16
Live: At least five injured in Russian drone strikes in Kyiv region ↗At least five people were injured on Friday after Russian drone strikes struck the Kyiv region, including three children, local officials said. The attack came as polling stations in Russia opened for the country's first parliamentary election since the start of the war in Ukraine. Follow our liveblog for all the la…
France 24 · 05:04
Europa League: Marseille suffer heavy defeat at Besiktas ↗Marseille suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at Besiktas in Turkey in their opening Europa League match. The result was a fourth consecutive defeat for the French side, who must now prepare for Sunday’s Classique against Paris Saint-Germain at the Vélodrome.
France 24 · 05:38
Russia votes in parliamentary election as war in Ukraine drags on ↗Polls opened in Russia's Far East on Friday as the country began three days of voting for its parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin's main party, United Russia, is poised to keep its grip on power alongside other parties aligned with President Vladimi…
France 24 · 06:15
Early voting begins in US midterms that could see Republicans lose control of Congress ↗In-person early voting for the US midterm elections begins Friday, six weeks ahead of the final November 3 vote, which will determine whether Republicans will maintain their majority in the US House and Senate. Some of the main issues American voters are deciding on are how to navigate the cost-of-living crisis, the…
France 24 · 06:29
US approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia ↗The United States on Thursday said it had approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia. Israel has previously voiced concerns about Riyadh buying F-35s, despite a push to normalise relations.
France 24 · 07:23
French PM vows to cut public spending by €54 billion to reduce deficit ↗Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Thursday that France will cut public spending by €54 billion next year to reduce the country's deficit. The announcement comes seven months ahead of the country's presidential election, and the government is wary of a new wave of demonstrations with a jump in global oil price…
France 24 · 08:14
'Election without meaningful competition': Russia’s results won't measure support for Putin or war ↗Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes at Chatham House. According to Roos, Russia’s parliamentary election is revealing because of what the electoral process can still tell us about the political system Vladimir Putin has constructed. In the abse…
France 24 · 08:26
Fear and broken families: Inside a Texas ICE detention centre ↗Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, migrant arrests have surged in the United States. More than 610,000 people have passed through detention centres run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal immigration agency in under two years. The pace only continues to accelerate:…
France 24 · 09:06
Far-right politician Éric Zemmour joins 2027 French presidential race ↗French far-right politician Éric Zemmour said on Friday that he would run in next year's presidential election, joining far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who was runner-up to President Emmanuel Macron in the last two elections. Zemmour is campaigning on a crackdown on immigration, including a plan to expel unemploy…
France 24 · 09:11
Russia seizes assets of Swiss food giant Nestle and three French firms ↗Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday to transfer assets of Swiss food giant Nestle and three French groups to a company called LEV Management. Most Western companies quickly sold their Russian operations and holdings after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Kremlin ha…
France 24 · 09:24
‘We cried the whole way’: Refugees flee Yemen fighting ↗An estimated 125,000 people, including more than 57,000 children, have fled since hostilities erupted in July between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the Yemeni government and its ally Saudi Arabia, with the UN calling it one of the most rapid and volatile waves of displacement in Yemen in years. Thousands have even…
France 24 · 09:31
UN mission says grounds to believe US committed war crimes in Iran ↗A UN fact-finding mission on Iran said on Thursday it had reasonable grounds to believe the United States was behind two military strikes on a school and sports facility in Iran in February, and that these constituted war crimes. It also found that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their d…
France 24 · 09:51
Police move hundreds of migrants still in Ceuta off beaches in Spanish enclave ↗Spanish police in Ceuta on Friday morning started moving hundreds of migrants from the beaches of the Spanish enclave to a new tented area. Several thousand migrants remain in Ceuta after tens of thousands of people crossed the border with Morocco in late July.
France 24 · 09:52
Russia votes in wartime election set to secure the Kremlin's power ↗Voting got underway on Friday in a tightly controlled three-day parliamentary election in Russia which President Vladimir Putin has framed as a barometer of support for Russia's war in Ukraine. It is the first parliamentary election since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, and most anti-…
France 24 · 10:04
Venezuela lifts block on some news sites as transition talks resume ↗Venezuela has unblocked some news sites that had been censored for years, its telecom regulator said Thursday, as US-backed political transition talks were set to resume. Digital rights group VE Sin Filtro verified access to 17 news sites through several internet providers. However, at least 188 websites remain bloc…
France 24 · 10:16
Russian elections a ‘veneer of democracy’ with opposition barred from running ↗PRESS REVIEW – Friday, September 18: Russia holds its first parliamentary elections since the Ukraine war. Since only parties loyal to Vladimir Putin are running, the elections are seen as nothing but a veneer of democracy. In sports: Zinedine Zidane will unveil his first selection as coach of the French football te…
France 24 · 10:24
France’s Macron summons party leaders for talks on Mideast and Ukraine ↗French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting leaders of France’s political parties at the Elysée on Friday for talks on the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and the consequences for the country’s security and energy amid soaring fuel prices.
France 24 · 10:54
The Cameroon civil society groups taking on gender-based violence ↗August 2026 has been a particularly tragic month for women in Cameroon, as eight cases of femicides were recorded in eight days. These figures add to the sixty or so cases already recorded since the start of the year by the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family. On the ground, associations are mobilising to…
France 24 · 11:06
How will rise of AI impact Africa? ↗The threat of catastrophic danger as artificial intelligence develops at high speed has sparked a global debate on how it should be regulated. And Africa is no exception. As governments and businesses look to harness the technology, concerns are growing over jobs, misinformation and the need for safeguards.
France 24 · 11:43
France’s Yellow Vests to return as fuel prices soar? ↗Eight years after fuel taxes helped spark the Yellow Vest movement, calls for a return to the streets are gathering momentum in France amid soaring energy prices. Recent days have seen fishermen blockading ports and oil terminals in protest at price hikes, but they are far from the only group feeling the squeeze.
France 24 · 11:44
Prized Aztec codex returns to Mexico on loan ↗A cherished 16th-century Mexican manuscript that tells the history of the Aztecs in pictograms went on display Thursday in Mexico City, nearly two centuries after it was whisked off to France. France's National Library, which has maintained possession of it for over a century, loaned it to Mexico to commemorate 200…
France 24 · 12:24
🔴 Macron orders plan to protect France critical infrastructure against 'Russian hybrid attacks' ↗France 24 · 13:10
Russian elections: 'Even the facade of opposition has gone' ↗Russians on Friday began three days of voting in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election, which features virtually no opposition and is all but certain to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance. France 24's Douglas Herbert takes a closer look.
France 24 · 13:15
REPLAY: Macron orders plan to counter 'Russian hybrid attacks' ↗President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said he had ordered measures to shield France's key infrastructure and defence industry sites from increasing Russian hybrid attacks. The announcement came as Macron spoke to the press after meeting in Paris with political party leaders to discuss recent developments in the intern…
France 24 · 13:28
Mbappé quits Nike after career-long partnership for Swiss sports brand On ↗France captain Kylian Mbappé has signed with Swiss sportswear brand On, ending a partnership with Nike that began at the start of his career. The deal marks On’s entry into football, with the company also appointing France and Arsenal great Thierry Henry as its football director.
France 24 · 13:29
US approves sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia ↗The United States has approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said Thursday, the kingdom's latest major arms purchase since the start of the Iran war. Saudi Arabia has been repeatedly targeted with drone and missile strikes by Tehran's forces since the United…
France 24 · 13:31
Ukraine strikes continue as polling stations open in Russia ↗Russia and Ukraine traded strikes overnight as Russians prepared to vote in parliamentary elections in which the Kremlin's main party, United Russia, is poised to keep its grip on power, with the only party that criticised the war was removed from the ballot.
France 24 · 13:36
Gaza documentary sparks political storm, protests in Israel ↗The Israeli filmmakers behind the award-winning documentary "NAZA", which uses anonymous military sources to speak about Israel's widespread killing of civilians in Gaza, have been the subject of a wave of threats and intimidation in their home country, one that has even targeted their families. Prime Minister Benja…
France 24 · 13:53
Macron addresses energy crisis, warns of 'hybrid attacks' ↗President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that France would convene a G7 meeting dedicated to energy in the weeks to come as fuel prices soar amid the US-Iran war. Speaking to the press after a meeting with party leaders over the energy crisis and international security, Macron also said he had ordered measures to prote…
France 24 · 14:25
France's new head coach Zidane unveils his first team line-up for Nations League matches ↗Newly appointed head coach of France's national football team Zinedine Zidane unveils his first line-up on Friday. Follow our live coverage of the announcement from 6pm Paris time.
France 24 · 14:26
Macron convenes French party leaders as soaring energy prices put focus on wars in Iran and Ukraine ↗Haxie Meyers-Belkin is pleased to welcome Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Lancaster University’s Management School in the UK. According to Foucart, France’s energy and economic crises expose a deeper collision between economic constraints, political accountability and an approaching presidential elec…
France 24 · 15:17
Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth State of the Union speech: A grand sweep, but thin on details? ↗In this episode, we debrief one of the key annual events in the EU calendar: the State of the Union speech. It was Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth such address as President of the European Commission, and the second State of the Union speech of her second mandate.
France 24 · 15:17
We’re ideally placed to chair EU budget negotiations, says Irish Minister of State ↗Ireland is managing a jam-packed agenda as the current holder of the rotating presidency of the EU. We caught up with the country’s Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, who was in Strasbourg for the 2026 State of the Union speech and debate with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We discu…
France 24 · 15:23
Air France bets on caviar and champagne to lure luxury flyers ↗Air France is betting big on luxury to keep wealthy travellers spending with lavish servings of caviar and champagne in first-class cabins as soaring fuel costs and disrupted travel patterns squeeze airlines worldwide. The campaign seems to have paid off, with the Paris-based carrier saying that premium bookings and…
France 24 · 15:25
Agnes Obel captures the cosmic feelings of motherhood ↗Her new album ‘The Meaning of Flowers’ tackles much more than just flora, as the Danish musician and composer explores the sounds and sentiments of the very beginning of human life. She tells us about creating emotionally rich soundscapes that have often been used in film and television. We also discuss the Faustian…
France 24 · 15:40
AI safety: No, China will not hit the brakes ↗A spate of warnings in recent days about the dangers of AI have sparked mixed reactions: from Donald Trump dismissing the fears as a hoax, to Beijing criticising calls for the US to block its advancement as fearmongering. As President Xi Jinping heads to Washington for talks, FRANCE 24's technology correspondent Pet…
France 24 · 16:01
Sweden's centre-left leader Andersson tasked with forming government after election ↗Sweden's parliament speaker on Friday tasked opposition leader Magdalena Andersson with forming a government after an election gave the left-wing bloc a narrow majority, setting the stage for difficult coalition talks. Andersson, a former prime minister, must bridge deep differences between four parties, with the ce…
France 24 · 16:27
A Sydney Sweeney ad goes viral: Are we all just being played? ↗Another Sydney Sweeney ad goes viral – this time promoting a sports betting application almost naked. The campaign sparked fury among female athletes who said it undermines decades of progress in women's sports. Yet is the outrage itself part of the overall marketing strategy and ‘feminist-baiting’ merely a tool to…
France 24 · 16:47
REPLAY: Zidane names first squad as France manager ↗Zinedine Zidane named his first squad since taking over from Didier Deschamps as head coach of the French man's football team Friday. His selection included five new players and but excluded former squad members Aurélien Tchouaméni and Khéphren Thuram. Kylian Mbappé has been named captain.
France 24 · 17:01
War in Iran 'jeopardises the Trump presidency', ex-Obama National Security Council member says ↗In an interview with FRANCE 24, former Obama administration National Security Council member Charles Kupchan said the war in Iran "in many respects jeopardises the Trump presidency", calling it "yet another failed war of choice" that has driven up fuel and living costs ahead of the midterms. Trump's advisers "prize…
France 24 · 19:20
Time to stop suggesting AI is conscious?, Riyadh Calling: Saudi’s Hour of News, Russian elections ↗This week, Saudi Arabia has turned to its allies for military support as Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten their grip on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab el Mandeb shipping choke point, while drone attacks on the Kingdom’s oil infrastructure deepen an emerging energy crisis. In Russia, voters head to the polls for…
France 24 · 19:20
Trump bans media outlets CNN, MSNOW and Politico from White House ↗President Donald Trump says he is banning CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House over what he describes as their unfavourable media coverage, in the latest test of the America's 1st Amendment.
France 24 · 19:23
Trump bans media outlets CNN, MSNOW, Politico from White House ↗France 24 · 19:45
UEFA, CONCACAF demand FIFA make $2.1 billion payout to member groups amid funding row ↗UEFA and CONCACAF chiefs have urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to release around $2.1 billion from the governing body's reserves, calling for each of its 211 member associations to receive $10 million over the 2027-30 cycle. The demand comes amid tensions over Infantino's proposed sale of a stake in the World C…
France 24 · 20:52
Uproar in Niger state, 37 die in custody ↗In tonights programme, investigation is ongoing into the death in custody of thirty-seven people, accused of illegal mining in Nigeria. Also,Tunisia is emerging as a major boat-building hub, serving both local buyers and international markets. And finally, we speak to the author of “The Moon Will Not Burn Us”, Ricci…
France 24 · 22:18
Trump says US, Denmark reach deal to expand military presence in Greenland ↗US President Donald Trump said on Friday he had reached a deal with Denmark to expand the US military presence in Greenland, while respecting Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty. Denmark said the agreement would be signed next week during the UN General Assembly but still requires parliamentary approval.