A portrait of Irish travellers: Childhood curtailed

Just over a year after Brexit became a practical reality, the Northern Ireland Assembly is in crisis after its First Minister resigned in protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit deal. Ireland's Europe Minister Thomas Byrne tells FRANCE 24 the departure of Paul Givan "has caused deep difficulties within the government system in Northern Ireland", and that the situation is "very very worrying".

In Durban, Romario Valentine, a young eco-warrior, dedicates his weekends to beach cleanups, environment classes and protecting the planet. Instead of opening gifts on his birthdays, he concentrates on crowdfunding.

French street artist JR travelled to the Ukrainian city of Lviv to install one of his trademark giant portraits. It features a small, smiling Ukrainian girl, dressed for winter, captured in black and white. JR says "this little girl reminds us what Ukrainians are fighting for". Five-year-old Valeria is one of the millions of the refugees to have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

Photographer Alexander Glyadyelov has covered conflicts all over the world. But now the battlefield is his own country, Ukraine, and the frontline his home city of Kyiv. The award-winning photographer speaks to us from the Ukrainian capital about documenting the consequences of the Russian invasion, including harrowing scenes involving civilian casualties. We also take a look at an exhibition at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Paris, which is showcasing the work of photographers on the ground, whether it's the view from their makeshift bomb shelters or the scenes of destruction in towns across the country.

In places such as Cameroon, Guinea Bissau, Rwanda or post-coup Mali, the media's vigilance extends well beyond issues that matter to the public. Journalists are forced to watch their own backs — and data, too.

Northern Ireland voters go to the polls today (May 5) in what could be the most important election in a generation. They will elect the 90 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, from which a power-sharing executive should be formed. These institutions were created by the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. According to opinion polls, Sinn Fein - representing mostly people of Catholic and Irish background - could become the largest party for the first time.

Ireland's foreign minister has told France 24 that Dublin sees the United Kingdom's search for a new prime minister as "an opportunity for a fresh start" in the two countries' relations. This Friday, the European Commission launched new legal action against the government of Boris Johnson — this, as it pushes on with moves to unilaterally breach part of the Brexit treaty relating to Northern Ireland.

Trimble was instrumental in ending 30 years of violence that killed more than 3,500 people in Northern Ireland. British PM Boris Johnson and Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin have led the tributes.

In this special programme from London, we look back at Queen Elizabeth II's life as a cultural icon. During her 70-year reign, the late monarch was the subject of countless portraits, photographs and artworks around the world. Artist Nicky Philipps painted the queen's official portrait three times. She speaks to Eve Jackson about their sittings together, the stories Elizabeth II shared and the moment she had to tell the queen to close her mouth.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, who delivered the keynote address at this year's DW Global Media Forum in Bonn, has been at the forefront of the campaign against fake news and disinformation in the Philippines.

New Zealand will soon tax farmers for methane emissions caused by cow flatulence and urine in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. After cheating in chess and Irish dancing, Fat Bear week has been allegations of rigging as well!

Growing up in Albania, our guest had a childhood of two halves. One was lived in plain sight, since she was brought up at school to believe and love the communist doctrine of Albania's Enver Hoxha and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.