Japan retrieved sediment containing rare earth minerals from a depth of 6,000 metres during a test mission aimed at reducing reliance on China, the government said on Monday. Officials said the world-first operation would be analysed to determine mineral content, calling it a significant step for economic security and maritime development.

RapperKendrick Lamarwon four Grammys on Sunday, whileBad BunnyandLady Gagaeach took two awards, keeping all three in contention for record-breaking wins. Bad Bunny drew applause after condemning nationwide immigration raids that have polarised the United States.

Former British ambassador to WashingtonPeter Mandelsonquit the Labour Party on Sunday after newly released US documents revived scrutiny of his links to late sex offenderJeffrey Epstein. Mandelson said he wanted to avoid causing further embarrassment and denied wrongdoing.

Syrian Kurdish security forces announced a curfew in two northeastern cities starting early next week, ahead of implementing a deal with Damascus to integrate Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the state. Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi said the agreement would begin on Monday, with both sides pulling back from frontline positions.

Iran on Sunday designated the armies of European countries as "terrorist groups" following the EU decision last week to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the bloc's list of terrorist organisations. The announcement came as the US and Iran traded warnings and threats of potential US military action and Iranian retaliation.

Reacting to the news of Israel's decision to stop MSF operations in Gaza, Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, a British-Palestinian surgeon has worked with MSF in Gaza, said it was "absolutely devastating" for Gazans. Termination of MSF operations would further damage Gaza health system, he said. Israel is "destroying the health system inside Gaza as a way of making ...

Israel on Sunday announced that it was terminating Doctors Without Borders or Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) operations in Gaza over its failure to provide a list of Palestinian staff. MSF called the decision was a "pretext to obstruct humanitarian assistance" to Gaza and said it did not hand over staff names because Israeli authorities failed to provide ...

Fifteen people were killed and seven wounded after a Russian drone struck a bus carrying miners in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, energy firm DTEK and government officials said on Sunday. Earlier on Sunday, regional officials said at least nine had been wounded in Russian strikes on a maternity hospital and a residential building in the ...

A Russian drone attack on a bus carrying miners in Ukraine'ssoutheastern Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday killed 15 employees returning from their shift, the company that owned the bus said. Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal called it a "cynical and targeted attack" on the country's energy sector as the country copes with one of the harshest winters in ...

When the Mongolian language started to disappear from classrooms in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China's north, many turned to the internet to keep their language and culture alive. A new investigation shows those remaining online spacesare being targeted by the Chinese government.

Elon Musk said on Sunday that moves by his SpaceX company to stop the 'unauthorized' use by Russia of its internet system Starlink seemed to have worked, while Kyiv's defence chief said officials were working on ways to prevent any future use by Moscow. Kyiv's military relies on tens of thousands of satellite-based Starlink internet connections for ...

It's the most colorful time of the year - at least in Venice The Italian city has kicked off its annual Carnival festivities. The event draws thousands of tourists eager to party and purchase one of Venice's famous handmade masks. Story by Shirli Sitbon.

Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing between the devastated Gaza Strip and Egypt on Sunday, after months of appeals from aid organisations, although access is restricted to pedestrians. COGAT, the Israeli Ministry of Defence body responsible for coordinating Palestinian civilian affairs, made no reference to allowing a long-awaited surge in aid, and ...

A massive landslide this week killed at least 200 people in the Rubaya mine in the eastern DR Congo province of North Kivu, the local governor said on Sunday. The Rubaya mine produces 15 to 30 percent of the world's supply of coltan and was seized by the M23 rebel group in May 2024.

Ambulances from the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing have been seen heading into Gaza. The reopening of the enclave's southern crossing marks a major step in the US-backed peace plans' second phase. But for the moment, the Rafah gate is only being used on a trial basis - and key details are still unclear. Many Palestinians have been waiting for ...

The 68th annual Grammy Awards take place this Sunday night in Los Angeles. Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads the nominees, along with Lady Gaga, pop princess Sabrina Carpenter, R+B singer Leon Thomas, and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, who could make history with the first win for an "album of the year" sung entirely in Spanish. Details and analysis by Christina ...

Gazas Rafah border crossing with Egypt showed signs of activity as Israel said that limited travel to and from the territory was set to resume Monday after years of near-complete isolation. Reopening the border crossing is a key step as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire moves ahead. Analysis by Olice McTernan, co-founder and director of Forward Thinking.

Julien Pereira is a 26 year old French citizen. In 2025, he was arrested and detained by ICE for a month. Speaking to FRANCE 24, he dives into his detention conditions, why he got arrested, and how he sees the current situation in the US.

Prominent Venezuelan human rights activist Javier Tarazona was released after more than four years in jail, a legal rights group said Sunday.Tarazona was arrested in July 2021, and is the latest in a spate of high-profile political prisoner releases by Venezuela's interim authorities since the January 3 ouster of Nicolas Maduro.

Outrage and mourning following the shooting death of Alex Pretti by US federal agents in Minneapolis, a polar cold snap slams Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits China and tensions flare between the US and Iran: FRANCE 24 looks back at the week's most striking images.

The death toll from the Crans Montana bar fire has rises to 41 after a teenager died in hospital after being injured by the blaze that broke out during new year's celebrations in the Swiss resort town.

From tech titans to Wall Street power brokers and British royalty, a whos who of powerful men make appearances in the huge trove of documents released Friday by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations of Jeffrey Epstein. Story by Nicholas Rushworth.

Pakistan forces were hunting on Sunday for the separatists behind a string of coordinated attacks in restive Balochistan province, with the government vowing to retaliate after more than 190 people were killed in two days. Story by Jennie Shin.

Costa Rica, a beacon of stability in Central America that is battling a surge in violence related to drug trafficking, goes to the polls on Sunday in elections that are expected to bring a tough-on-crime right-winger to power. Laura Fernandez, the 39-year-old candidate of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves's party, is the runaway favorite to become the next ...

With music's biggest night, the Grammy Awards, one artist stands out: Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican reggaeton musician has already made history as the first Spanish language artist to be nominated for song record and album of the year for Deb Tirar Ms Fotos. The ceremony will cap off what's been an extraordinary year for the artist. Story by Gabrielle Nadler.