The Latest Breaking News from FRANCE 24

In 1977, 13-year-old Megumi Yokota vanished from the Japanese coastal city of Niigata on her way home from school. Twenty-five years later, North Korea admitted that its agents had snatched her away, along with 12 other Japanese citizens, in order to train its spies. In a groundbreaking diplomatic move, Pyongyang…

An investigation by the FRANCE 24 Observers team has found evidence that shotgun cartridges manufactured by French-Italian manufacturer Cheddite have been used in the repression of protests in Iran. Shotgun cartridges using Cheddite components have been widely used for hunting purposes in Iran since at least 2011, an apparent violation…

Moscow and Kyiv carried out the latest in a series of prisoner of war exchanges on Thursday, with both sides handing over 50 POWs. It took place as Ukrainian energy workers raced to restore power after Russian missile strikes destroyed energy infrastructure across the country, leaving millions without power. US…

In an interview with FRANCE 24 in Strasbourg, the chairman of the environment committee at the European Parliament reacted to the recent COP27 climate summit in Egypt. Pascal Canfin hailed the deal on "loss and damage" for vulnerable countries as "better than nothing" and welcomed the fact that China has…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday after Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions of western Ukraine, leaving millions without electricity and causing power cuts in neighbouring Moldova. Earlier in the day, the European Parliament declared Russia a…

Current champions France started their World Cup campaign in fine style with their 4-1 victory over Australia, capped by a brace from Olivier Giroud, who matched Thierry Henry's 51-goal record for Les Bleus. Read FRANCE 24's liveblog below to see how the match unfolded.

After Russian forces left Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv, residents started to piece their lives back together. In March, our reporters filmed in the bombed-out neighbourhood of Saltivka, a residential area which had been shelled day and night. Most inhabitants fled, although a few terrified, isolated and yet defiant locals…

In her first interview since the start of this year's uprising in Iran, lawyer Shirin Ebadi talks to FRANCE 24 about the Iranian people's desire for democracy. Ebadi was Iran's first female judge before losing her right to practice in 1979 amid the creation of the Islamic Republic. She has…

Russian authorities said Crimea was targeted by a "drone attack" on Tuesday, prompting Russia to put air defence forces on alert. Earlier on Tuesday Russian energy giant Gazprom threatened to cut provisions of natural gas after accusing Ukraine of diverting supplies intended for Moldova. Read our blog to see how…