The US-Israeli war against Iran has once again underlined the vulnerability of the world's oil and gas supplies. Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up oil prices and threatened global economic stability. This comes at a time when wind farms and solar panels are providing real value. The wind-powered Danish island of Samsø is showing the way forward. FRANCE 24's Malcolm Brabant reports.   

Since 2015 and the outbreak of war between the Houthis, who control the north of Yemen, and the internationally recognised government in the south, the country's education system has been steadily collapsing. According to UNICEF, nearly 4 million Yemeni children are currently out of school, amounting to 40 percent of the under-18 population.

At the Joussieh border crossing near the Syrian city of Homs, thousands of Syrian refugees are fleeing the devastating war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Driven out by Israeli air strikes after years of exile in Lebanon, families and children wait for hours before returning to a country where 90 percent of the population is surviving in post-Assad poverty. FRANCE 24's Dana Alboz and Hussam Hammoud report.

As yet another war rages in the Middle East, we take a closer look at the United States' military presence across the region. It's a presence that stretches back decades, but took on heightened visibility during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when both those nations began targeting oil tankers and merchant shipping vessels in the Arabian Gulf. Some 40,000 to 50,000 US troops are stationed across the region full-time. FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago and David Gilberg explain where they are stationed.

A verdict is expected soon in the landmark trial against Google and Meta in Los Angeles. At the heart of the case are repeated accusations that online platforms deliberately fuel social media addiction, especially among young users. The ruling could set a legal precedent and potentially impact thousands of other complaints filed across the United States. Regardless of the outcome, the trial has cast a spotlight on the growing mental health crisis among teenagers, with sometimes tragic consequences. FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet, Pierrick Leurent and Valérie Defert report.

Since the 2017 embargo, one of Qatar’s greatest nightmares has been that a war or geopolitical crisis would isolate Doha from the rest of the world. In late February, renewed tensions following the Israeli-American offensive against Iran brought these concerns to the fore once again. Over the past nine years, Qatar has built up strategic reserves, but has mostly invested heavily in boosting local food production. This has been a major challenge, given the country’s harsh climate. Yet today, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and even mushrooms are being cultivated in the desert. For some, eating Qatari produce has even become a national duty. Amira Souilem and Chloé Domat report.

Housing is always a key issue in political campaigns, and it’s no different in these local elections – it may be the top concern on voters’ minds. For this edition, we head to the Basque Country in south-west France, where the picturesque coast has become a tourist hotspot. While tourism brings business opportunities, it has also created housing shortages for local residents. Clovis Casali reports from Biarritz.

A new violent escalation in Lebanon – but in reality, the war that began in 2023 never truly stopped. According to the United Nations, the ceasefire signed in November 2024 between Hezbollah and Israel has been violated more than 14,000 times by Israel. Then, in late February, Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was assassinated in US-Israeli bombings. In response, Hezbollah – Lebanon’s pro-Iran militia – retaliated from southern Lebanon, raising the risk of plunging the entire country into yet another full-scale war. Since then, Israeli evacuation orders have forced nearly a quarter of Lebanon’s population to flee their homes.

In Egypt, Ramadan is not just a time for religious fasting – it is also a critical financial lifeline for the country’s public and charitable healthcare system. Without the generosity of Zakat (obligatory alms) and Sadaqa (voluntary charity), many major hospitals would struggle to survive. For a month, Egyptian TV and social media are flooded with appeals from hospitals seeking donations, as competition for charity peaks. Hospitals spend millions on emotional campaigns, often featuring celebrities or popular songs. Some rely on Ramadan donations for up to 80% of their annual budgets. Yet behind these polished images lies a darker reality of Egypt’s public healthcare system.

On Europe’s eastern flank, the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – fear they could become Vladimir Putin’s next target. After several drone incursions from Russia, the three countries are stepping up their defence strategies on the ground and in the air. This report from our colleagues at FRANCE 2 and FRANCE 24’s Guillaume Gougeon.