International news in seven languages
Topic
The French anti-terrorism prosecutor, Olivier Christen, gave a press conference on Thursday about the recent racist terrorist attack that killed one man and wounded five others, including a 12-year-old girl, in Trappes. Watch our replay.
A high-speed train collision south of Madrid killed 64 people and injured scores more on Wednesday (October 28), with the toll likely to rise, authorities said in one of Europe's deadliest such disasters this century. Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente gave some details in a press conference.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to the press on Thursday after a meeting with security chiefs. He said that "illegitimate" protests would be banned in coming days, while those from organised groups such as unions would be offered alternative paths for the marches to protect businesses.
The leader of France's hardline CGT union on Wednesday called for strikes after talks with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu over fresh protests collapsed. As the country is reeling from last weekend's riots, the government offered "no measure or an acknowledgement of our demands" Sophie Binet, secretary general of the CGT, told reporters.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he had secured the delivery of an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. He is currently in Doha as part of a tour of the Gulf. "We are reducing our dependency" he said whilst speaking to the press on October 21.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday said he had asked regional authorities to impose curfews in some cities. The measures, which he said would be "partial" and "localised", are intended to protect businesses after weekend demonstrations spilled over into street violence. Lecornu also accused the "ultra-left movement" of seeking to "orchestrate deep unrest across the country" in the runup to next year's presidential election. Watch our replay.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday vowed there would be "full transparency" over the response by security forces to protests that turned violent this weekend, after criticism that police preparations had been inadequate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday urged European leaders to maintain their support for Kyiv and warned against easing sanctions on Russia. Speaking to reporters at the European summit in Brussels, Zelensky said that ending the war remained Ukraine’s priority but accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having no genuine interest in negotiations. He also criticised a US deal involving Russian diesel, arguing that easing restrictions could allow Moscow to reap financial benefits and pave the way for broader sanctions relief. Watch the replay.
And as the war in Ukraine continues, Western concerns are growing over Moscow’s alleged campaign of sabotage and interference against Kiev's wartime backers. NATO's top military commander gave a press conference this Monday from Warsaw. US General Alexus Grynkewich looks set to warn Russia over the alliance’s ability to counter-attack. Analysis by FRANCE 24 International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert.
Former UN human rights chief Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a judge on the International Court of Justice, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in Oslo, Norway. The South Africa-born Pillay, 85 years old, was recognised for her efforts to promote peace and international law, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Watch our replay.
Sébastien Lecornu spoke before the National Assembly on Tuesday, a day of unprecedented demonstrations after days of high school mobilization. He announced a weekend suspension for "a time of internal democracy".
Speaking alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that it would be "a good decision" if the UK decided to rejoin the European Union. The two leaders met at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid on the second day of Macron's two-day state visit to Spain.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, took the floor to introduce the Pope's conference, entitled "At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity", at the Robert Schuman Congress Centre in Metz. He boasts the construction of Europe, led by Robert Schuman, General de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer.
Pope Leo XIV urged Europe on Monday to "put an end" to the "spirale" of "mense and deception" in international relations, during a speech in Metz, the third and final stage of his visit to France.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europe must rediscover the “courage of its founders” and not give in to the “resurgence of nationalism" as he delivered an address alongside Pope Leo XIV in Metz on the last day of the pontiff's visit to France.
Pope Leo XIV urged Europe to remember its Christian history and appealed for peace and unity in a speech delivered in France's northeastern city of Metz on Monday, the fourth and final day of his visit. "Relations between individuals and states are becoming increasingly uncivilised. The value of keeping one's word is dismissed. Instead, people boast of lies and deceit," he said. "Europe can help to break this cycle through the respect for others that it has learned to cultivate and preserve."
The pontiff spoke Friday, September 25, at UNESCO, in French and English, in support of the geopolitical situation: "Instead of respecting the law, those who hold power invoke it when it serves their interests and flouts it when it hinders them, even treating justice itself as if it were a commodity that can be bought and sold," the pontiff said.
Watch the replay of Pope Leo XIV's address at UNESCO on September 25, 2026 where he spoke about peace, culture, AI and international cooperation during the first stop of his France visit.
President Emmanuel Macron's speech was made at the Palais de l'Élysée on Friday, September 25, during the first day of Pope Leo XIV's visit to France. The French president said in particular that "French secularism" is "nully the negation of religion", hoping that the pope could meet "a France always seeking the universal, an emancipated, diverse and united France".
After listening to Emmanuel Macron's speech at the Elysée, Pope Leo XIV took the floor behind the same desk on Friday 25 September, affirming that "just secularism does not consist in excluding religion from public space", and judging "urgent" dialogue between "people of different cultural and religious affiliations", seven months from the presidential election.
