In a historic move, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The declaration positions France as the most influential Western country to back Palestinian statehood—sparking celebration in Ramallah and outrage in Tel Aviv.
Macron framed the decision as a moral obligation and a diplomatic necessity, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and a surge of humanitarian aid. But his statement also included conditions: demilitarisation of a future Palestinian state and full recognition of Israel.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the announcement, describing it as a step towards justice and self-determination. Hamas issued cautious support, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely condemned the move as a “reward for terror.” Israeli ministers have threatened retaliatory measures.
In this edition of NewsHour, we ask what France’s bold new stance means for the future of the Middle East, whether it signals a broader shift in European policy—and what comes next.
Watch our full segment, including reactions from Paris, and a special interview with a pro-Palestinian guest.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in ta...
A survivor of the air strike on a Kabul drug rehabilitation centre described scenes of devastation, saying patients w...
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the country’s military killed two of Iran’s most senior security figu...
More than 400 people were killed and around 250 injured in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul late on Monday, Afghan official...
Kazakhstan’Kazakhstan’s lower house has approved plans for a green energy corridor with Azerbaijan and Uz...
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in targeted strikes on the country.
A survivor of the air strike on a Kabul drug rehabilitation centre described scenes of devastation, saying patients were engulfed in flames moments after explosions tore through the facility late Monday (16 March).
The real power of the Strait of Hormuz lies not in closing it, but in the threat of closure.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the country’s military killed two of Iran’s most senior security figures in overnight airstrikes, as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in targeted strikes on the country.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
In a special edition of Context, Orkhan Amashov reports from Washington on the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, examining plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, a proposed stabilisation force, and the wider diplomatic impact of the U.S.-led initiative.
Here are the latest stories from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across the African continent.
Here are the latest stories from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across the African continent.
The following story summaries are from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across Africa and beyond.
In today’s Prime Time, we covered the following conversations: Azerbaijan has shipped petroleum products to Armenia by rail for the first time in decades, marking a significant step toward economic cooperation and regional integration in the South Caucasus.
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