World - World news, culture and opinion

Zimbabwe ferry disaster death toll rises to 72 as search continues

The death toll from Zimbabwe's worst ferry disaster has risen to 72 after authorities recovered 25 more bodies from Lake Kariba, as rescuers continued searching the waters for victims.

Published yesterday at 11:58 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

In Depth

China targets its ultra-wealthy living abroad in tax bid

As Beijing seeks to close its budget deficit, authorities are tightening regulations on trusts established outside China, commonly used by the country's super-rich to avoid taxes.

Published yesterday at 11:41 pm (Paris) Jordan Pouille

News

Wildfires in Belgium force evacuations

By Saturday afternoon, the fire had scorched at least 16 square kilometers in the High Fens natural park. A local spokesperson called it the 'largest in recent history' for Belgium.

Published yesterday at 6:37 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 11:19 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Zelensky regains control after a month of political crisis

After dismissing his popular defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and sparking anger in the streets and within the opposition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have contained the unrest, but has emerged weakened.

Published yesterday at 6:01 pm (Paris) Thomas d’Istria

Feature

Berlin's housing crisis and security concerns shape election campaign

Led since 2023 by a Christian Democratic mayor, Berlin stands out as an exception in a national context marked by the rise of the far right. The city-state will hold elections on September 20.

Published yesterday at 4:52 pm (Paris) Hélène Kohl

News

Liechtenstein changes its rules to allow women to inherit the Alpine principality's throne

Hereditary Prince Alois announced the change in his speech marking the country's national day.

Published yesterday at 3:34 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AP

In Depth

Hamas disarmament deal offers historic opening, but Israel stands in the way

For the first time in its 39-year history, Hamas agreed to put disarmament on the table. The Board of Peace's roadmap, approved by Donald Trump, calls for a gradual and verified process to move forward in parallel with the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected that approach.

Published yesterday at 2:49 pm (Paris) Marie Jo Sader

News

Lebanon: At least 11 killed by Israeli airstrikes in south of country

Israel said it carried out retaliatory strikes against the Iran-backed militant group, but Lebanon's prime minister said seven people killed in one of the strikes were not 'military targets' and urged Israel to halt an 'extremely dangerous' escalation.

Published yesterday at 1:32 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 6:45 pm Le Monde with AFP

In Depth

Trump's silent Iran war: Withheld information, shifting objectives and skilled deception

US media have reported on deteriorating living conditions for sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, deployed for over eight months. Yet the White House has shown little willingness to provide information on the conflict.

Published yesterday at 12:02 pm (Paris) Piotr Smolar

In Depth

2026 European Swimming Championships: The return of Russian athletes sparks controversy

While the international federation reinstated Russian and Belarusian swimmers in April, the European governing body insisted on maintaining neutrality criteria for the competition as the war in Ukraine continues.

Published yesterday at 11:23 am (Paris), updated yesterday at 3:39 pm Valentin Baudry

News

Powerful 7.7 earthquake off Indonesia sparks mass evacuations

The initial jolt was followed by strong aftershocks in the same area, including one with a magnitude of 6.1. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned of the possibility of tsunami waves following the quake and urged people to get to higher ground, but the warning was later lifted. So far, at least one person has died.

Published yesterday at 5:02 am (Paris), updated yesterday at 11:24 am Le Monde with AFP

In Depth

Afghanistan's Taliban break out of international isolation five years after returning to power

Neighboring capitals now engage with Kabul over regional trade routes, while American and European officials are negotiating with the regime in the name of counterterrorism and the return of failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan.

Published yesterday at 5:01 am (Paris), updated yesterday at 9:25 am Jacques Follorou

News

Venezuela frees over 130 political prisoners amid post-Maduro talks

The move comes a day after opposition figure Dinorah Figuera vowed to fight for the release of political prisoners in formal talks with the interim government. A first round of the US-brokered talks kicked off last week and wrapped up on Wednesday.

Published yesterday at 12:48 am (Paris), updated yesterday at 8:55 am Le Monde with AFP

Feature

'We are losing our youth': In northern Morocco, mourning those who drowned off Ceuta

In Tétouan, families mourn the deaths of many young men who tried to swim to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the end of July. According to a Moroccan non-profit organization, over 140 people lost their lives. Despite these tragedies, many still dream of reaching Europe clandestinely.

Published yesterday at 12:09 am (Paris), updated yesterday at 9:42 am Nada Didouh

News

Ebola outbreak in DR Congo killing one person every 30 minutes, UN says

The United Nations says the epidemic is spreading at its fastest pace on record and threatens to become the deadliest outbreak in the disease's history.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 11:18 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 9:00 am Le Monde with AFP

News

US plan for electric-shock gloves for ICE agents sparks abuse concerns

Critics fear the devices could be misused by an agency already facing scrutiny over its use of force and the training of its officers.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 9:53 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 9:04 am Le Monde with AFP

Video

Tiananmen Square massacre: Le Monde reveals unseen footage of the Chinese regime's violent repression

Art historian Nathalie Trouveroy shared footage with Le Monde from her personal archives of the Tiananmen Square protests, shedding new light on how the Chinese regime violently repressed the student protests in June 1989.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 8:00 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 11:19 pm Karim El Hadj Elisa Bellanger Sinead McCausland 17:28

News

Luigi Mangione admits to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO and pleads guilty to stalking charges

'On the morning of December 4, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died,' Mangione told a federal judge as he pleaded guilty to stalking his victim. His lawyers moved to have separate state murder charges dismissed on double jeopardy grounds.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 7:13 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 7:37 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Probe into €5.8 million gift to Nigel Farage reopens as he wins by-election

The leader of the far-right Reform UK party reclaimed his Clacton seat, triggering the reopening of a parliamentary standards probe into a £5 million donation from a crypto billionaire.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 5:45 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 6:08 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

PM Burnham says 'tinderbox' Britain must 'face up to the changing climate'

His comments came during a visit to an area devastated by wildfires.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 5:35 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 6:09 pm Le Monde with AFP

News analysis

Japan's pacifist identity is shaken by a world where military might prevails

Article 9 of the Constitution, which states that Japan 'renounces war forever,' is being challenged by regional instability and doubts over the enduring reliability of American support.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 4:40 pm (Paris) Philippe Pons

News

France urges Israel to arrest settlers blockading Palestinian homes in West Bank

The French Foreign Ministry condemned the occupation of Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra by Israeli settlers and called on Israeli authorities to arrest and prosecute those responsible.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 2:21 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 2:27 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

France welcomes Mali's pardon of intelligence agent serving 20-year jail term

Yann Vézilier, who had been stationed at the French embassy in Bamako, was arrested a year ago on charges of being a spy and undermining state security.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 2:20 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 2:26 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Italian police recover stolen Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse paintings worth millions

The paintings had been stolen from the Magnani Rocca Foundation, and were worth more than €10 million combined.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 2:09 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 7:51 pm Le Monde with AP

Editorial

The Ebola virus is outpacing the international response

After the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, 'pandemic preparedness' has become a global watchword. Yet, new flaws have come to light during the current Ebola crisis. Even when funding is available, it often arrives too late.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 12:45 pm (Paris) Le Monde

News

Chadian president pardons nine jailed opposition leaders

The pardoned prisoners include former prime minister Succès Masra, leader of the main opposition party, sentenced to prison a year ago.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 12:44 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 1:48 pm Le Monde with AFP

Feature

West Bank settlers besieging Palestinian homes hand Israel's army a humiliation

Failing to drive out a handful of so-called 'hilltop youth,' Israel's military turned instead against their Palestinian victims. The government fears that the radical settlers will draw criticism from Washington over more ambitious settlement plans.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 12:35 pm (Paris) Louis Imbert

News

Temperatures over 35ºC persist across western and southern Europe

Areas of Europe home to more than 150 million people, including large swaths of France, are set for high temperatures as the continent's latest heatwave spreads.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 12:32 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

UK firefighters 'under significant pressure' as multiple blazes rage

The UK's National Fire Chiefs Council said firefighters battling several wildfires across the country were 'doing their absolute best' amid 'particularly difficult' conditions, with almost three-quarters of England in a state of drought.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 11:35 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

NATO jets shoot down drone in Latvian airspace

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze thanked Italy for 'maintaining [the] integrity of NATO airspace.'

Published on August 14, 2026, at 10:45 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 2:14 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Brazilian police recover eight stolen Matisse engravings

The works were found at a home in the town of Sao Bernardo do Campo, near Sao Paulo, and the man who had them was arrested, police said.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 9:17 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 1:44 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

British far right's leader Farage beats Count Binface to win by-election

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won with 63% of the vote in an election that was boycotted by the major parties. A parliamentary probe into undisclosed gifts he received was subsequently reopened.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 7:43 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 2:05 pm Le Monde with AP and AFP

News

Trump announces tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones

A White House statement said the tariffs will 'encourage increased domestic production' of drones and their components, and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 3:26 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 7:20 am Le Monde with AFP

News

Three men executed by lethal injection on same day in US for the first time since 2010

Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama all put inmates to death on Thursday. Having three executions in one day is a coincidence in scheduling, but one which also reflects a trend of increased executions in the US.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 2:47 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 9:31 am Le Monde with AP

In Depth

Romania's only nuclear power plant shuts down over low Danube water levels

This is only the second time in three decades that the country's sole nuclear power plant, which supplies nearly 20% of the electricity for Romania's 19 million residents, has been shut down.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 2:08 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 9:50 am Marine Leduc

Op-Ed

Israel: 'In every case, the suspension of a conflict between Israel and a neighbor leaves the cause unanswered'

In Lebanon, Gaza and Iran, Israel deploys military might without ever addressing the political issues raised by the conflicts. The decision to always postpone these issues now represents a danger, writes foreign policy analyst Yonatan Touval.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 1:32 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 2:37 pm Yonatan Touval

News

Tourists rescued by boat as forest fire threatens Greek beaches

Over 250 tourists in bathing suits, with many carrying children in their arms, were evacuated by sea in 15 small boats brought into service for the emergency, ERT public television reported.

Published on August 14, 2026, at 12:01 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 7:23 am Le Monde with AFP

News

US court rules Trump can end tariff exemption for small parcels

The President's tariff agenda has faced a series of legal pushbacks since he imposed sweeping duties on trading partners after returning to the White House last year.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 11:03 pm (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 7:29 am Le Monde with AFP

Feature

Finland wants to restore its peatlands to help the environment. And to slow Russian tanks.

The Nordic country has identified 180,000 hectares of wetlands that, if restored, could benefit not only the climate and biodiversity but also national defense. While the military supports the plan, some environmentalists warn against rushing the process.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 8:30 pm (Paris) Anne-Françoise Hivert

News

US court dismisses Trump administration's antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard

A federal judge in Boston ruled that incidents cited by the Department of Justice were "too isolated and episodic" to prove Harvard violated civil rights law during pro-Palestinian campus protests.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 7:13 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

Mali's junta pardons French intelligence officer detained for a year

The release of Yann Vezilier, who had been officially accredited by the Malian authorities as an officer of France's foreign intelligence agency, follows several months of diplomatic negotiations.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 6:10 pm (Paris) Benjamin Roger

News

Ebola outbreak in DR Congo spreads to sixth province as death toll passes 2,100

The epidemic, already the deadliest in the country's history, is spreading faster than any previous Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization has warned.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 5:50 pm (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 8:50 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Epstein plaintiffs slam French justice system's 'slowness' and sue state

The child protection group Innocence En Danger and Swedish former model Ebba Karlsson point to failures and delays within the French justice system.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 5:33 pm (Paris) Jérôme Lefilliâtre Lucie Soullier

News

Swedish union ends Tesla strike after almost three years

Sweden's union IF Metal said the US carmaker had bought out all of the union's striking members. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has long rejected calls to allow the company's over 100,000 employees worldwide to unionize.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 4:41 pm (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 4:43 pm Le Monde with AFP

Op-Ed

'Europe risks repeating a familiar mistake by tightening fiscal policy too soon'

While fiscal discipline is necessary, it can become counterproductive in the absence of demand, the five chief economists of Scandinavian trade union organizations warn, denouncing the strategy of Finland's far-right government.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 3:30 pm (Paris) Group letter

News

Europe braces for another temperature spike above 35°C

Areas of Europe home to more than 135 million people are set to be affected by the highest temperatures. Temperatures are set to surpass 30°C for nearly three out of five European residents.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 1:21 pm (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 1:58 pm Le Monde with AFP

Editorial

Syria must demonstrate exemplary justice against the former dictatorship

Transitional authorities tasked with holding the Bashar al-Assad regime accountable must at once convince Syrians that impunity is over while also ensuring that justice is served fairly.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 12:45 pm (Paris) Le Monde

In Depth

EU plastic packaging reduction targets weakened from outset by industry lobbying

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which came into effect on Wednesday, introduces binding reduction targets for the first time in Europe, though it has been undermined by heavy industry lobbying.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 11:56 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 12:28 pm Cédric Vallet

News

Romania to shut down nuclear plant due to low Danube level

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube, the river whose water is used to cool the plants, has recorded flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 11:41 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 11:45 am Le Monde with AFP

In Depth

With Russia's strikes in Ukraine and hybrid war in Europe, Kyiv's allies face heightened uncertainty

Russia has stepped up deep strikes in Ukraine and continued its hybrid warfare against Europe, just as US support is faltering. Washington is warning of a possible Russian attack to test Western defenses.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 11:30 am (Paris) Elise Vincent

News

West Bank: Israel sends troops following unusual criticism from US ambassador

Mike Huckabee, usually a staunch defender of Israel, had denounced a 'horrific act of terror' by settlers.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 10:11 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 9:02 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Japan protests Putin's first visit to disputed Kuril Islands

Japan condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the four disputed islands as 'absolutely unacceptable,' with its prime minister saying they 'are an inherent part of Japan's territory.' Japan summoned Russia's ambassador.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 9:49 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2026, at 7:18 am Le Monde with AFP

News

Iran: More than 30 countries condemn executions of protesters

The EU and 32 other countries, including France, the UK and Canada, issued a joint statement condemning Iran's use of the death penalty, to which Iran responded by accusing them of hypocrisy.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 9:31 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 10:12 am Le Monde with AFP

News

US court awards $29 million in damages to family of Boeing plane crash victim

The civil suit was brought against Boeing by Naoise Connolly Ryan, widow of Michael "Mick" Ryan, an engineer with the UN World Food Programme.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 7:37 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

Venezuelan government and opposition wrap first round of talks

The two sides issued a joint statement, highlighting agreements on reforming the judiciary and seeking access to earthquake recovery funds.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 7:28 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 9:36 am Le Monde with AFP

Conversation

'It was either exile or prison': An interview with Boris Nadezhdin, Putin opponent who fled to France

The veteran Russian politician, 63, tried to challenge Vladimir Putin's regime and its war in Ukraine through legal and electoral means. He failed. Facing the threat of arrest, he decided to leave Russia. His interview with Le Monde is his first since arriving in France.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 5:31 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 10:30 am Benjamin Quénelle

In Depth

In Italy, Ukraine aid could become a key electoral issue

With elections scheduled for 2027, calls to cut off aid to the country under attack are gaining traction both on the far right and among the opposition.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 5:00 am (Paris) Allan Kaval

Op-Ed

Germany: 'Friedrich Merz's political solitude raises doubts over his lasting ability to persuade'

The German chancellor, who finds himself increasingly isolated, even within his own party, repeatedly makes missteps and fails to set a clear political course for Germany, laments Franco-German author Nils Minkmar in this opinion piece.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 3:02 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 9:46 am Nils Minkmar

News

Colombia authorizes joint anti-drug ops with US military, says Hegseth

Colombia's newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel to aid his war on guerrillas. Last September, the US military launched a campaign of airstrikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that have killed at least 215 people.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 2:31 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News analysis

India weakened by defense pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey

The pact signed on August 7 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, shifts regional balances to New Delhi's disadvantage by strengthening Islamabad, its longtime rival.

Published on August 13, 2026, at 12:05 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2026, at 9:52 am Sophie Landrin