World

After last week's murder of French high school literature teacher Dominique Bernard by a radicalised former pupil, many teachers are concerned about the rise in violations of France's secular laws in schools. Amid fear, self-censorship and threats, for some teachers, simply doing their job has become of a source of anxiety. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's James Mulholland.

In a meeting in Barbados, Venezuelan leaders and opposition figures agreed to hold the elections in the second half of the next year. International parties including the EU and US have expressed support for this move.

Germany's Frankfurt Book Fair is being overshadowed by the conflict in the Middle East, as different publishers from predominantly Muslim countries pull out of the event.

In this special edition of Middle East Matters, we look at the media war being played out in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Researchers who study mis- and disinformation warn that fake stories are spreading fast, adding to the digital fog of war. We talk to FRANCE 24's Catalina Marchant de Abreu, presenter of our Truth or Fake show.

Israel's regional neighbors are expressing shock and grief after a blast at a hospital in Gaza killed nearly 500 people. Some observers are cautiously optimistic that the tragedy could lead to renewed restraint.

As Israel prepares for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, a video claiming that Egypt has entered the war to defend Palestinians has gone viral on social media.

The number of women on German company boards is slowly but steadily increasing, a study has shown. A look beyond this country's border shows how gender equality can be achieved even without a female quota.

The decision comes amid Canada's accusations that India was behind the killing of a Sikh separatist leader near Vancouver. The incident has caused diplomatic relations to deteriorate between Ottawa and New Delhi.

Fish and krill are abundant in the seas around the South Pole, while potential energy reserves there could help us in the future. Why, then, is it so important to protect this icy wilderness?

In this debate we delve into the latest tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, and discuss how they could affect the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to come closer to the European Union. We also look at what is happening around Ukraine's efforts to join the EU, and what signals the EU Council should send to Kyiv at its upcoming summits this autumn and winter.

The awarding of the Sakharov Prize to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life and Freedom Movement sparked by her death brings hope to women in Iran. Whether it will reinvigorate the cause remains to be seen.

All eyes are on the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which is expected to open on Friday. The Egyptians have sent machinery to repair roads damaged by Israeli air strikes so that much-needed aid can enter the Gaza Strip. Details of the deal are still being hammered out.