Street battles and withdrawal of Russian mercenaries: Inside the 48-hour fall of Mali’s Kidal

The Azawad Liberation Front and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) launched an offensive against several Malian towns on April 25. In the north, the city of Kidal was recaptured following a three-year presence of Russian and Malian forces. Verified footage offers a window into these two days of tensions.


Issued on: 27/04/2026 - 
By:  The FRANCE 24 Observers / Guillaume MAURICE

FLA rebels seen parading through Kidal after capturing the city. © Observers

Two and a half years later, the flag of Azawad – the Tuareg name for the northern region of Mali claimed by separatists of the FLA (Azawad Liberation Front) – is once again flying over the city of Kidal.

In November 2023, the Malian army seized the city alongside Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, now rebranded as Africa Corps. On April 25, separatists raised their flag in the city’s central square, claiming to have regained control.

FLA fighters pose in Kidal’s main square after seizing control of the city on April 25. Location: 18°26'48.17"N 1°24'32.56"E Source: X / Wamaps_news / Guillaumem_MRC

The assault began at 6am. Six Malian cities found themselves under fire. In Kidal and Gao, the offensive was led by a coalition comprising the FLA and the al Qaeda-linked Jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

A morning of heavy fighting on the outskirts of Kidal

An FLA commander told the FRANCE 24 Observers team that checkpoints at the city’s entrance fell within the first hour of fighting. The Tuareg rebel, originally from the area, said that the city fell to the coalition by early afternoon.

Around noon, a video shows vehicles belonging to the JNIM or the FLA circulating freely past a military camp north of Kidal. With a Starlink receiver mounted on the hood of their car, the armed men drove past the building without stopping.

An account supporting the FLA independence movement shared a video showing militants bypassing a military camp north of Kidal. Location: 18°27'27.73"N 1°24'4.54"E Source: Facebook / AlkassimAgAhouchel.1990

Within the city, fighting was concentrated around the police station, where Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) soldiers had taken up defensive positions. The building’s perimeter was breached at approximately 2pm.

Footage published on April 25 shows armed FLA militants parading a Kidal police car they have captured. Source: X / XNewsUncensored

Symbolic sites

Another symbolic victory was claimed as the Kidal governorate fell into the hands of separatists. This building served as the administrative headquarters for General El Hadj Ag Gamou, the governor of the region, following the Malian junta’s return in 2023. As the leader of the Imghad Tuareg Self-Defence Group and Allies (Gatia), Gamou has remained loyal to the junta.

By late afternoon, a pro-FLA account released a video showing independence forces hoisting their flag atop the building.

Footage shows FLA members raising the group’s flag atop the Kidal governorate. Location: 18°26'58.81"N 1°24'12.59"E source: X / Guillaumem_MRC

The FLA and JNIM also claim to have captured soldiers from the Malian army.
The former UN base south of Kidal: a strategic stronghold

Located on the southern outskirts of the city, the former camp of MINUSMA, the former UN mission in Mali, served as a strategic stronghold. While encircled and entrenched within the base, Russian Africa Corps mercenaries were reportedly targeted by drone strikes and mortar fire from the FLA.

To organise their evacuation, negotiations between the FLA and Russian forces reportedly began as early as April 25, according to the pro-independence source the Observers team spoke to. Russian troops were evacuated from the former UN base the following day, at approximately 4 or 5pm.

A comparison of satellite imagery captured on April 10 (left) and April 25 (right) reveals potential signs of fighting or fires. © Sentinel- 2 Copernicus


However, resistance from Africa Corps mercenaries also persisted on the fringes of Kidal until the evening of April 25. Our source within the FLA said the mercenaries and Malian troops, entrenched in a turret with precision rifles, were finally evacuated to the MINUSMA camp the following day.

Withdrawal of Russian mercenaries

At 5pm, the Tuareg commander claimed that the independence fighters had taken control of the camp’s exit points. He said the Russian mercenaries burned several installations and vehicles before pulling out.

Our team geolocated a video showing a convoy of vehicles from the Africa Corps mercenaries and the Malian army departing the MINUSMA base and heading north. However, it’s currently impossible to determine where the forces previously stationed in Kidal are repositioning.

This video was published on April 25 by a pro-FLA account. It shows the evacuation of vehicles from the Africa Corps and the FAMA. Location: 18°26'10.28"N 1°24'29.34"E source:X / BayeAg1 / Guillaumem_MRC

The retreating Russian column included heavy weaponry, such as several BM-21 Grad multiple-rocket launchers, and truck-towed artillery pieces.

The total number of casualties remained unknown after a day of intense fighting. While footage emerged on April 25 showing the bodies of Malian soldiers in Kidal, none of the combatant groups has disclosed their losses. Meanwhile, the Malian Armed Forces stated that “the hunt for armed terrorist groups continues in Kidal, Kati, and other locations across the country”.

This article has been translated from the original in French.

France investigates return of adult website linked to Pelicot mass-rape trial


French prosecutors are investigating the reopening of the adult website Coco, now renamed Cocoland, on which sex criminal Dominique Pelicot used a chatroom to find dozens of strangers to rape his sedated wife Gisèle Pelicot. The platform has also been linked to crimes including the sexual abuse of children and murder.


Issued on: 29/04/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

The logo for the website "Cocoland", formerly "Coco", displayed on a smartphone in Paris on April 28, 2026. © Simon Wolhlfahrt, AFP

France has launched a probe into the reappearance of a website that enabled sex criminal Dominique Pelicot to recruit dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Authorities say the French-language platform Coco has been linked to crimes, including the sexual abuse of children, rape and murder. The website, which was registered abroad, was shut down in June 2024.

"The Paris public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the website's reopening," it told AFP.

The website, now operating under the name Cocoland and featuring a coconut-themed backdrop, was accessible on Tuesday.

France's commissioner for children, Sarah el Hairy, raised the alarm in mid-April.

"The reopening of the Coco site is a real slap in the face to the promise of protection we've made," she told broadcaster RMC at the time.

Such websites "exploit every loophole, they seek out prey, and that prey is children"? she said.

READ MOREFrance probes online platform for possible 'paedophile content'

"We will track them down, we will hound them, we will give them no respite."

Prior to the platform's re-emergence, the investigation into the Coco platform was "well advanced", according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

Isaac Steidl, the founder and manager of the Coco website, was in January 2025 charged with complicity in drug trafficking, possession and distribution of child pornography, corruption of a minor via the internet, and criminal conspiracy. He denies the charges.

His lawyer Julien Zanatta said Steidl had "nothing to do" with the new website.

The platform has been at the centre of several criminal cases, including the high-profile Pelicot trial.

Pelicot was sentenced in 2024 to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape, after he recruited dozens of strangers to rape his then-wife Gisele after drugging her in their home between 2011 and 2020.

He spoke to potential attackers on the website's chatroom called "A son insu" (literally, "Without his/her knowledge").

Two French women's rights groups called Tuesday for the authorities to launch a broader probe into other, similar websites and platforms.

The appeal came after a report by US news network CNN in March on so-called "Rape Academy" platforms, where men around the world exchange tips on drugging and raping their partners while filming the scenes.

"Given recent cases such as that of Gisele Pelicot, it is highly likely that French users are participating (on such sites) and that victims in France are involved," the Women's Foundation and the group M'endors pas (Don't Put Me to Sleep) said in a joint statement.

The latter group was co-founded by Gisele Pelicot's daughter, Caroline Darian.

"These are not isolated episodes but organised crimes by fully fledged communities that encourage and structure such violence," the groups said.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Abuse at French after-school programmes: Parents sound the alarm

Issued on: 29/04/2026 - 

Play (12:15 min) From the show

In Paris, parents are now dropping their children off at school in a climate of anxiety. For several months, reports of physical and sexual abuse involving nursery school children have been mounting. These cases are said to have taken place during after-school care and lunch breaks, when the children are supervised by non-teaching staff. In 2026 alone, 78 youth workers were suspended in Paris, 31 of them on suspicion of sexual abuse. Warning: viewers may find this report disturbing.

While much media attention has focused on the scandal in Parisian schools, the abuse is a nationwide issue. Amid a culture of silence, denial, inadequate training for employees and flawed recruitment practices, how can such serious failures be explained?

Parents' warnings ignored

In April 2026, several dozen parents gathered for a demonstration in front of Paris's City Hall. Shaken by reports of the physical and sexual abuse of children during lunchtimes and after-school care, they were calling for decisive action from their representatives. "What we'd like is to restore trust as soon as possible so we can all get back to normal," said Lyna, a concerned mother who decided to withdraw her children from the after-school programme.

Since this scandal came to light, Nathalie has been plagued by guilt. Her son, now eight years old, attended one of the dozens of schools involved. "At the time, he was having very violent outbursts. We couldn't understand why. He wasn't well. He was always saying, 'I hate them. I don't like it. I don't want to go to the after-school club.'" Like other parents, she had tried to raise the alarm. But her concerns fell on deaf ears.

Olivier knew nothing about the situation at the school when his children started there last September. Soon, his daughter began having serious trouble sleeping, and his son would regularly come home with bruises and scratches.

In January, Olivier and his wife recognised their children's school in video clips circulating from a report on violence in after-school care. When the children returned from school, they questioned them. The family's life was turned upside down. "They obviously told us about the violence and the shouting, but they also told us about the sexual abuse, the behaviour, the inappropriate touching," says Olivier, who is devastated.

Several months after coming forward, the two children are still suffering from severe psychological after-effects, typical of victims of abuse.

Children's accounts often doubted

That trauma has been revisited and triggered by the inefficiencies of the justice system: the children had to repeat their accounts several times due to a lack of appropriate procedures.

In France, doubt is still too often cast over children's accounts. "These opinions go against the scientific data. Numerous studies show that in less than 1 percent of cases, the child is lying," explains Luis Alvarez, a child psychiatrist.

Overwhelming accounts of violence in after-school care have been flooding into the founders of the 'Afterschool programmes in crisis' association. Created by Anne and Elisabeth, this collective put out a call for testimonies in 2021. "We received over 80 testimonies in 10 days. That's when we realised it was systemic," explains Elisabeth.
Inadequate training and flawed recruitment processes

The majority of accounts reveal physical and psychological abuse, often downplayed by the adults in charge of the children. The whistleblowers point to a deeply flawed system. Inadequate recruitment, unsuitable training, precarious working conditions and the absence of a clear national framework: these are the main issues that, in their view, explain the violations.

Given the scale of these revelations, the City of Paris has launched a €20 million action plan to better protect children in after-school care. Measures include improving reporting procedures, training staff and setting up support groups for children who have been victims of abuse.

Initiatives to raise awareness of consent are also emerging, in order to better equip children to deal with violence.

More broadly, this scandal highlights the urgent need to listen to children more carefully, to protect them and take their accounts seriously.

BY:

Noémie ROCHE

Elodie RADENAC

Stéphanie CHEVAL

Olivia SALAZAR-WINSPEAR

Yes, Trump's portrait will soon feature in some US passports

Issued on: 29/04/2026 

TRUTH OR FAKE © FRANCE 24


04:30 min From the show

Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has plastered his name, likeness and signature across a series of US government buildings and documents. The US State Department has now announced that to mark the US's 250th birthday, it is unveiling a limited-edition "patriot passport" featuring Trump's portrait. The announcement has sparked criticism of "megalomania" and "vanity" from US lawmakers and average Americans alike.

These special edition passports are to be issued only in Washington, featuring Trump's portrait on the inside cover, surrounded by the text of the Declaration of Independence and the US flag, with his signature – rendered in gold – underneath.

There are few precedents worldwide – let alone in a democracy – of having the sitting leader's portrait in its citizens' passports.

Currently, US passports depict historical scenes such as the Moon landing, or famous American symbols like the Liberty Bell or Statue of Liberty. Trump would be the first sitting president to have his image inside Americans' travel documents.

The launch is expected to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, and it's not clear whether Americans will be able to opt out of this special edition.


How have Americans reacted to these commemorative passports?

The announcement sparked heavy criticism from US lawmakers and average Americans alike. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said Trump is "too busy trying to slap his face on everything to lower costs for working people or end his war in Iran."

California Representative Mike Levin blasted this as "not patriotism, it is vanity" and multiple lawmakers slammed the move as "megalomania".

California Governor Gavin Newsom – who often spars with Trump – went a step further in his criticism, with his press office sharing a parody California driving license featuring Newsom's own face, as well as an AI-generated passport design featuring Donald Trump and disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

American citizens also slammed the move and compared Trump to a dictator, saying that not "even Castro, Peron, Mussolini or Hitler did such a thing" and pointing out that even North Korea's passport doesn't feature longtime leader Kim Jong Il.
Latest in Trump's efforts to plaster his portrait on institutions and documents

Since his return to office last January, banners of Trump already grace multiple government buildings in the capital, as well as the Kennedy Center and US Institute for Peace both being renamed to feature him. The US Treasury announced last month that his signature will soon appear on paper currency, with Trump-class battleships also announced.

Vedika Bahl goes through what we know about these new passports in Truth or Fake.

Powell to remain on Fed board after term ends, preventing Trump appointment

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday urged central bank independence as he nears the end of his term on May 15. He said he would remain a Fed governor, drawing criticism from President Donald Trump, who mocked the decision.


Issued on: 30/04/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24

© FRANCE 24

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made a fervent appeal Wednesday for central bank independence, as he prepares to cap an eight-year term at its helm marked by insults and legal action under the Trump administration.

Powell's chairman term ends on May 15, and at his last policy press conference as chief, he announced that he would continue serving as a Fed governor for some time – even after vacating the top job.

The decision swiftly drew ire from President Donald Trump, who charged that he was only staying as he "can't get a job anywhere else".

At his press briefing, Powell gave a lengthy explanation of why central bank independence was key to the economy and the general public.

"We just work directly for the American people," he said.

"We don't think, oh, I want to do this because the president says it's a good idea, or because there's an election coming up and I want to speed up or slow down the economy," Powell added.

"This isn't bipartisan. This is nonpartisan," he said.

The briefing, where Powell appeared more relaxed than previous news conferences, concluded with some applause.

"You want people to make monetary policy and set interest rates to benefit the general public, and try to achieve economic goals, which are maximum employment and price stability, and focus only on that, and ignore political considerations – completely ignore them," he said.

The Fed has come under sharp pressure from Trump during Powell's term, sparking concerns that its cherished independence could be eroded.

Trump has called Powell a "numbskull" and "moron", lashing out at the Fed chief for not slashing interest rates more aggressively.

His Justice Department also launched an investigation into the Fed and Powell over renovation cost overruns at the central bank's headquarters.

But the department said last Friday that it would drop the probe for now.

Powell noted Wednesday that the Justice Department has provided assurances that it would not reopen the probe without a criminal referral from the Fed's inspector general.

He stressed the need to keep the Fed insulated from politics.

Otherwise, he added, "we'd have no credibility".

"Markets would lose faith in us and our ability to control inflation and have any respect would be gone," he said.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

How Iranian diplomats turned embassy accounts into viral meme machines

Memes, humour, and trolling of American politicians: This is how a handful of Iranian embassies have become superstars on “X”, attracting millions of views. But how did the old-fashioned and largely ignored accounts of Iran’s diplomats in South Africa, Thailand, and the United Kingdom suddenly turn into Gen Z-style viral feeds, with millions of views?


Issued on: 29/04/2026 -
By: The FRANCE 24 Observers

Iran’s embassy in Ghana published a meme on April 20, 2026 mocking US President Donald Trump by portraying him as Forrest Gump, central character in the 1994 film. Similar memes published by Iranian embassies have garnered hundreds of millions of views around the world. © Observers

When US and Israeli jets and missiles started attacking Iran on February 28, another battle – a propaganda war – opened up on social media. Official US accounts, including those of the Pentagon and the White House, started publishing clips of their attacks on Iran, mixed with footage from Hollywood films, video games, and cartoons.

Iran’s regime launched a counterattack online. Mocking and trolling posts from Iranian embassy accounts have targeted the US administration, notably President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the broader war narrative promoted by the US government.

While the US administration’s combative messaging on the war with Iran has largely failed to gain traction online, the Iranian embassy's memes and humorous content have gone viral, sometimes attracting millions of views and reposts.

This meme of a toy steering wheel posted on X by Iran’s embassy in South Africa on March 23, 2026 mocks Donald Trump after he suggested in a post that he could share control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s leadership. The meme gathered nearly 4 million views. © Observers


The embassy accounts were, until recently, little-followed feeds recycling statements from Iran’s foreign minister, other state officials, and routine embassy activity. In early March, they started reposting humorous tweets by other X users mocking the US’s war on Iran, and by the end of the month, they were posting humorous tweets of their own.

Reaction of of Iran’s diplomatic mission in Zimbabwe to a post by Trump that had set a deadline for Iran, to open the strait of Hormuz. © Observers


On March 23, Iran’s embassy in South Africa posted a photo of a toy steering wheel after Trump suggested the US could share control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran. The post had 3.9 million views on X. On April 6, after Trump posted a message appearing to extend a deadline for Iran to open the strait before “Tuesday, 8:00 am Eastern Time”, the Iranian embassy in Zimbabwe posted a message with more than 6 million views, asking him to change it to between 1 and 2 pm.

Iran’s embassies have posted Internet-famous memes showing close knowledge of global pop culture, as well as references to popular films and series such as Friends and Pirates of the Caribbean, prompting British tabloid the Daily Mail to describe them as “jaw-dropping”.

.

 © Observers

The war emergency put younger diplomats in charge

Ali Pourtabatabaei, an Iranian journalist with inside knowledge of the Iranian administration, explains how this abrupt shift was decided and how it was implemented:

When the war started, the older generation of Iranian diplomats – who normally run these accounts – realised their point of view had no voice among non-Iranian audiences. So they turned to a younger generation of diplomats who understand social networks. This new generation was more easily granted freedom and authority during wartime to take control of these accounts.

For multiple reasons, this younger generation of Iranian diplomats has been trained more in public diplomacy and communication than in other areas. They are young and, naturally, more familiar with contemporary pop culture.

Another important point is that this new PR strategy was not applied to all accounts at once. One or two embassies started as a test, and when it proved successful, others followed.

. 

© Observers

And despite what many might suspect, the diplomats behind these accounts are not based in Tehran in the same room; they are all located in their respective countries of assignment.

The combination of a wartime emergency and the very positive reaction they received on social media led to this shift, with permission granted to this younger generation to cross traditional diplomatic PR red lines.

Old clichés and outdated management no longer work

The embassies have also reposted satirical videos portraying Trump as an animated Lego character. The videos are produced by young Iranians, such as a group calling themselves “Explosive Media”. In an interview with the FRANCE 24 Observers, the group’s spokesperson confirmed the shift towards a younger generation:

When war breaks out, people become convinced that old clichés and outdated methods can no longer work.

Young people like us have taken charge, and with God's help and the inspiration he provides, we are able to produce work at a global standard across different fields.

I don’t think that, once the war started, a single group or team was suddenly created to take control of all these accounts.

According to a study by the “Institute for Strategic Dialogue”, in the first 50 days of the war, posts from Iran’s embassies and other official accounts collectively gained approximately 900 million views and 22 million likes, around 14 and 30 times more, respectively, than in the same period before the war.

TotalEnergies profits surge amid Iran war, sparking calls for windfall tax


TotalEnergies on Wednesday said its first quarter net profit rose 51 percent, boosted by a sharp spike in energy costs linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. The announcement drew war-profiteering criticisms from climate groups and a call by France's opposition Socialist Party for a law on imposing a tax on crisis-related windfall profits.


Issued on: 29/04/2026 - 
By: FRANCE 24

TotalEnergies reported a Q1 profit surge of more than 50 percent. 

© Christophe Archambault, AFP (File


French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Wednesday net profit had risen 51 percent in the first quarter to $5.8 billion, boosted by higher oil prices linked to the war in the Middle East, drawing criticism from climate groups.

Growth in its oil and gas production in Brazil, Libya and Australia allowed the group to offset losses in the Gulf region, which is normally equivalent to 15 percent of its total oil and gas business, the company said in a statement.

It also highlighted its "ability to capitalise on rising prices".

The company's oil and gas production rose four percent in the quarter, with the amount of liquefied natural gas transported by sea gaining 12 percent.


TotalEnergies also said its trading arm had produced "a very strong performance".

In early April, the Financial Times reported that TotalEnergies had earned more than one billion dollars by buying almost all of the exportable oil cargoes in the Middle East, at a time when US-Israeli attacks on Iran had closed the key Strait of Hormuz and sent oil prices soaring.

"TotalEnergies' war profits highlight our persistent dependence on fossil fuels, whose soaring prices once again benefit shareholders at the expense of consumers," Antoine Bouhey, campaign coordinator at Reclaim Finance said in response.

Greenpeace France denounced a "cynical logic" while "households pay the high price at the pump".
New windfall profit tax proposed

Soaring gas prices have revived a political debate in Europe on taxing windfall profits made on high oil prices, an idea to which French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said in early April that he had "no objection in principle".

On Wednesday, Lecornu called on TotalEnergies to commit to redistributing windfall profits "one way or another".

"Exceptional ⁠results raise the question of an exceptional, proportionate redistribution ... one option being through fiscal means. No doors are closed," Lecornu told senators on Wednesday after the opposition Socialist Party proposed a law imposing a minimum 20% tax on crisis-related windfall profits.

Last year Total paid no ​French tax, as its trading profits are booked mostly in Switzerland while its French refineries were loss-making.

It has voluntarily capped prices ‌at the pump at its French service stations since the crisis began.

The company said it was already doing so by limiting the increase in prices at the pump.

"That's how we redistribute our profits," TotalEnergies told AFP.

TotalEnergies also said it had partially restarted its Satorp refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia in mid-April, after it had shut the facility following air strikes in early April.

The group increased its dividend to 0.90 euros a share from 0.85 euros.

Shares in TotalEnergies were up 0.2 percent in late afternoon trading in Paris, where the bluechip CAC40 index was down 0.5 percent.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Europe air quality improves but falls short of 2030 targets, European Environment Agency warns


Air quality in Europe is improving but further action is needed to meet the European Union’s 2030 targets, the European Environment Agency said on Thursday, noting pollution still exceeds limits at up to 20% of monitoring stations across 39 countries.


Issued on: 30/04/2026 - 
By: FRANCE 24

Paris on December 28, 2016, during a period of increased air pollution

 © Lionel Bonaventure, AFP


Air quality in Europe is improving but more effort is needed to reach the European Union's 2030 targets, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said in its annual report on Thursday.

"EU standards were mostly met in most regions across Europe for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and for nitrogen dioxide (NO2)," the EEA said in a statement.

However, in up to 20 percent of monitoring stations, "air pollution is still above current EU air quality standards, especially for smaller particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns (µm) or less (PM10), ground level ozone (O3) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)", it said.

The EEA report covers 39 European countries, comprising the 27 EU member states and 12 countries associated to the agency, including Switzerland, Norway and Turkey.

EU moves to tighten rules on harmful pollutants: The invisible danger of 'forever chemicals'

According to the EEA, EU member states will have to implement their roadmaps if they are to meet the 2030 air quality limits, set in 2024.

"For most pollutants the distance to the 2030 target is significant and will likely require additional measures," the report said, stressing the need for efforts on fine particulate matter.

It can be politically difficult to gain acceptance for such efforts, as illustrated by France's recent rollback of low-emission zones (LEZs) targeting polluting vehicles.

Moreover, the EU's 2030 targets still fall well short of the World Health Organisation's recommendations, updated in 2021.

The European agency also emphasised the lack of significant progress on ground-level ozone levels, which "have not decreased significantly", and which caused 63,000 premature deaths in the EU in 2023.

"Climate change is expected to worsen ozone pollution in Europe because of increased frequency and intensity of heat-related meteorological conditions that enhance ozone formation," the EEA said.

It warned that action at local and national levels "may not be sufficient", since ozone and its precursors can travel over long distances.

"Effective mitigation also depends on stronger European and international cooperation to tackle transboundary air pollution," the agency said.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

GEMOLOGY

New York's Mamdani calls on King Charles to 'return' Koh-i-Noor diamond taken from India


New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday called on King Charles III to "return" the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a 105.6 carat gem that was mined in India and is now the star of Britain's crown jewels. The diamond has been in British hands since 1849 but its ownership is contested with several countries laying claim.


Issued on: 30/04/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

King Charles III and Queen Camilla met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a state visit. © Getty Images North America, pool via AFP

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for King Charles to "return" the prized Koh-i-Noor diamond, which the British Empire took from the Indian subcontinent in the 1800s, on the third day of the monarch's state visit on Wednesday.

Before greeting Charles and Queen Camilla at a 9/11 memorial event, Mamdani was asked what he would discuss with the king if he had the chance.

"If I was to speak to the king, separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond," the leftist mayor said, adding that his focus would be honoring those killed in the terror attacks.

It's unclear whether Mamdani followed through and brought up the contentious subject with Charles when the two met.

The monarch was seen laughing with Mamdani and having a brief conversation after they shook hands.

Housed in the Tower of London, the massive 106 carat stone is the star of Britain's crown jewels, adorning the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

The Koh-i-noor, or "mountain of light," diamond, set in the Maltese Cross at the front of the crown made for Britain's late Queen Mother Elizabeth, is seen on her coffin on April 5, 2002. © Alastair Grant, AP

The ownership of the jewel has been contested over the centuries, passing through the hands of Mughal emperors, Iranian shahs and Sikh maharajas before the Kingdom of Punjab gave it to Queen Victoria in 1849 as part of a peace treaty.

India has repeatedly and unsuccessfully sought the return of the priceless jewel.

While there is little doubt it was mined in India, its history thereafter is a mixture of myth and fact, with several countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan also laying claim to the gem.

A politician from the anti-immigration Reform UK party was quick to slam the comments as an "insult to our King."

"This beautiful diamond is currently on display in the Tower of London," the party's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said in an X post. "That is where it will stay."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

gutenberghttps://www.gutenberg.org  › files  › 155  › 155-h  › 155-h.htm

The Moonstone | Project Gutenberg

The generations succeeded each other; the warrior who had committed the sacrilege perished miserably; the Moonstone passed (carrying its curse with it) from...

Iran crisis, World Cup tensions overshadow FIFA Congress in Vancouver

Football officials gather in Vancouver on Thursday for FIFA’s 76th Congress, weeks before the expanded World Cup kicks off in North America. War in Iran, logistics and Russia’s ban top the agenda. Iranian federation officials left Canada abruptly, casting a shadow over the meeting.


Issued on: 30/04/2026 - 
By: FRANCE 24

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is juggling multiple issues ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, the last major gathering of football's global governing body before the World Cup © Kent NISHIMURA, AFP

Football's power brokers meet in Vancouver on Thursday as FIFA convenes its 76th Congress, a high stakes gathering less than two months before the biggest World Cup ever opens across Canada, Mexico and the United States

The Iran war, World Cup logistical headaches and the unresolved question of Russia's international ban are set to feature in discussions among roughly 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations.

Iran's absence is already threatening to overshadow the meeting.

Officials from the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) abruptly left Canada after landing in Toronto earlier this week, abandoning their onward trip to Vancouver.

Iranian media said FFIRI president Mehdi Taj – a former member of Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – and two colleagues flew home after being "insulted" by Canadian immigration officers.

Canada, which designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2024, said Wednesday that individuals linked to the force were "inadmissible".

"While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country," Canada's immigration agency said in a statement.

The episode adds fresh uncertainty to Iran's World Cup status, already clouded since the Middle East war erupted on February 28 with a wave of attacks by the United States and Israel.

Iranian football officials said last month they had suggested moving their three World Cup group games from the United States to co-hosts Mexico – a plan which was swiftly nixed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Infantino told AFP that Iran will play at the World Cup "where they are supposed to be, according to the draw."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted last week that Iran's footballers would be welcome to compete at the tournament.

But Rubio warned that the United States may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the IRGC.
Infantino under scrutiny

The FIFA boss heads into Thursday's meeting facing scrutiny following criticism over skyrocketing World Cup ticket prices and his close friendship with US President Donald Trump.

FIFA on Tuesday announced it had boosted World Cup financial distributions to nearly $900 million, up from the initial $727 million announced in December.

The move came after several World Cup-qualified teams reportedly warned that they risked losing money from competing at the sprawling tournament, citing the high cost of travel, taxes and overall operations.

Rights groups meanwhile have called for the football supremo to use his upcoming address to FIFA delegates to give assurances that World Cup visitors face no risk of being caught in the Trump administration's draconian immigration crackdown.

"FIFA President Gianni Infantino has yet to publicly outline how fans, journalists and local communities will be safe from arbitrary detention, mass deportations and crackdowns on free expression," Amnesty International's head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn said Wednesday.

"This FIFA Congress should be the moment he does so, and the global football community must receive more than empty platitudes," Cockburn added in a statement.

Infantino is also facing calls to abolish the FIFA Peace Prize, which he awarded to Trump during last December's World Cup draw in Washington.

"We want to see (the prize) abolished," Norwegian football association president Lise Klaveness told reporters this week. "We don't think it's part of FIFA's mandate to give such a prize."

Thursday's Congress could also address the issue of Russia's ongoing ban from international football, which has been in force since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Infantino spoke in favor of lifting the ban on Russia earlier this year.

"We have to (look at readmitting Russia). Definitely," Infantino told Britain's Sky News.

"This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Iranian football officials leave Canada before FIFA Congress due to airport 'insult'


A team of Iranian football officials left Canada before the start of this week's FIFA Congress due to the "inappropriate behaviour" of immigration officials at Toronto airport, Iranian media reported Wednesday. The Iranian federation's president is a former member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which is a designated terror group in Canada.


Issued on: 29/04/2026 - 
By: FRANCE 24

File photo of the 2026 World Cup logo on a screen outside Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles taken on May 17, 2023. © Jae C. Hong, AP

Top Iranian football officials left Canada before the start of the FIFA Congress because of the behaviour of officials during immigration checks at Toronto's international airport, Iranian media reported Wednesday.

The global football body's gathering of member nation representatives will be held this week in Vancouver, the British Columbia city which is also hosting seven matches in the World Cup that Canada will co-host with the United States and Mexico this summer.

The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) president, secretary general and deputy secretary general "returned to Turkey on the first flight due to the inappropriate behaviour of the immigration officials at the airport and the insult to one of the most honourable organs of the Iranian Armed Forces", several outlets reported, without providing further details.

In 2024, Canada designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) a terror group, barring its members from entering the country.

The Iranian federation's president Mehdi Taj is a former IRGC member.

The Iranian reports said the officials had travelled to Canada with "official visas" before turning around.

The incident underscores the practical and political obstacles surrounding Iran's participation at the World Cup, the most politically ‌sensitive item on FIFA's agenda since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in February.

Iran's ⁠qualification has not removed hurdles tied to travel, visas and security in a tournament staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said it could not comment on specific cases due to privacy but added: "IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada."

Doubts over Iranian team's attendance

While FIFA has insisted fixtures will proceed as scheduled, the delegation's withdrawal deepens doubts over whether ​Iranian players, officials and supporters will be able to move freely across borders during the tournament.

The officials – ‌who had travelled to Canada to attend Thursday’s Congress in Vancouver – returned on the next available flight, according to the Tasnim report, which added that the incident involved an insult directed at one of the most decorated branches of Iran's armed forces.

FIFA has since contacted the Iranian ‌delegation to express regret over the incident and indicated that president Gianni Infantino would arrange a meeting with them at the organisation’s headquarters, the report added. FIFA did not respond ​to a request for comment from Reuters. A source at the FIFA Congress told Reuters FIFA had sent a representative to mediate in Toronto but their efforts were in vain.

Doubts have risen over the Iranian team's attendance at the World Cup because of the Middle East war that began on February 28 with a massive wave of US-Israel attacks.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted last week that Iran's footballers would be welcome at the global spectacle.

But he warned that the United States may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation it judged to have ties to the Revolutionary Guard, which is also designated a terrorist organisation by Washington and several other governments.

No one "from the US has told them they can't come", Rubio said.

'Visa issues'

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the Iranian ​officials were also unable to attend Tuesday's Asian Football Confederation Congress, which was also held in Vancouver, due to visa ​issues.

“If it's like this in Canada where it's supposed to be easy, how is it ​going to be for the World Cup in the US?" a delegate at the AFC Congress told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Concerns over security, travel restrictions and the broader geopolitical climate have prompted officials in Tehran to seek guarantees for the Iran team at the World Cup and, in some cases, explore the possibility of ⁠alternative venues for their matches in the United States.

FIFA has so far resisted any changes, reiterating that participating teams are expected to adhere to the established match ⁠schedule.

The Congress – bringing together ​more than 200 member associations – was already expected to focus on operational and financial questions linked to the first 48-team World Cup.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)