FRANCE 24 English

Gaza fighting intensifies as Palestinians mark ‘Nakba Day’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday insisted there was no "humanitarian catastrophe" in Rafah, even as hundreds of thousands fled the south Gaza city amid intense fighting. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKbp.g

Biden, Trump agree to election debates in June and September Joe Biden and Donald Trump agreed Wednesday to hold presidential debates in June and September after the Democratic incumbent challenged his rival to "make my day" and the scandal-plagued Republican replied he was ready to "rumble." 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKj5.g

Cannes spotlights Judith Godrèche, icon of France’s #MeToo moment The Cannes Film Festival kept up its female focus on Wednesday with the pounding, action-packed “Mad Max” prequel “Furiosa” and the soft-spoken uprising of French actress Judith Godrèche, who has spearheaded the host country’s long-awaited #MeToo reckoning. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKj6.g

What we know about France’s ‘The Fly’ and his deadly prison van escape A massive manhunt was underway in France on Wednesday and an Interpol red notice was issued a day after a group of gunmen ambushed a prison van at a motorway toll and freed a notorious gangster known as “The Fly”. Two prison officers were killed in the spectacular escape and three more were wounded. Here's what we know so far. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKho.g

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico injured in shooting Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was wounded in a shooting Wednesday afternoon and taken to hospital. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKfa.g

French gendarme wounded in New Caledonia riots dies, toll rises to four A French gendarme who was seriously injured during riots in New Caledonia died of his wounds on Wednesday, said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, raising the death toll to four. President Emmanuel Macron's office said a state of emergency would be declared in the French Pacific territory after violent protests erupted over the passage of a constitutional reform that angered pro-independence forces. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKgK.g

Buffer or ruse?: Russia's new offensive in northeast Ukraine 'not an open road to Kharkiv' Over the past three days, Russia has seized control of several localities north of Kharkiv in a fierce new offensive that could bring Moscow to the gates of Ukraine’s second-largest city. FRANCE 24 spoke to several military analysts who believe that it is still too early to speak of a turning point in Russia’s war on Ukraine. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKfI.g

Ukraine pulls back in parts of Kharkiv region in face of Russian ground assault Ukraine has pulled back troops near several villages in the northeastern Kharkiv region, where Russian forces have been advancing and pounding settlements along the border since last week, Kyiv announced. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKce.g

Brazil President Lula fires Petrobras chief over dividend payments The government of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Tuesday that the CEO of state oil company Petrobras has been sacked. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKbT.g

Cohen reveals insider details at trial, Trump’s defense claims vengeance motive It wasn't until after a decade in the fold, after his family pleaded with him, after the FBI raided his office, apartment and hotel room, Michael Cohen testified Tuesday, that he finally decided to turn on Donald Trump. 👉 Read more: https://f24.my/AKbM.g