Beijing said the use of spy agencies, not scientists, was "iron-clad proof" of Washington's attempts to politicize the origins of COVID-19. A new report published Friday shed little fresh light on how the virus emerged.

The Empire State building was lit up with the colours of the French flag this week, in honour of the American-French performer Josephine Baker, who was inducted into France's Panthéon mausoleum on Tuesday. In the US, Josephine Baker is just as beloved as she is in France, and nowhere more so than in Harlem, in New York City. Our correspondents Jessica Le Masurier, Yves Schaeffner and Fanny Chauvin met with New Yorkers to explore Baker's legacy.

we take a closer look at the so-called Freedom Convoys, which have spread from Canada to New Zealand to Europe. Our guest is Ciaran O'Connor, an analyst with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. He specialises in the use of open-source research to track and monitor disinformation and online extremism. "At home [in Canada] and abroad, there's been widespread support across the right-wing extremist spectrum for the Convoy," he told FRANCE 24.

The French healthcare system is often held up as an example for its quality of treatment and universality of coverage. But disparities exist across the country, with a severe shortage of doctors in certain areas seriously limiting access to care, a phenomenon the French call "medical deserts". Although the government has decided to increase the number of students accepted to medical school, this measure will take almost a decade to bear fruit. FRANCE 24's reporters Pauline Godart and Claire Paccalin went to find out what it's like to live and work in a "medical desert".

With a minimum of 30 days of paid leave per year, French people have the reputation of being on vacation all the time. During the summer months of July and August, parts of the country virtually shut down. So, what do they do with these cherished “congés payés”?

As regular viewers will know, French Connections is all about exploring the intricacies of life in France and tearing apart common clichés about the French. There are indeed many stereotypes. Always fascinating, frequently baffling, France is a country that non-French people often like to reduce to preconceived notions. So what are the prevailing clichés about the French and why is it so hard to shake them off? For this 40th episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula bring you a special show on stereotypes about France.

For a country that so famously chopped off the head of its own king, many people in France are enchanted by the British monarchy. This fascination was particularly visible when Queen Elizabeth II passed away last week. On top of the official expression of condolences by French President Emmanuel Macron, many ordinary French people were upset by the passing of the monarch. For many, the queen was a symbol of Franco-British friendship and the Entente cordiale.

He is the candidate of hope and renewal for some, a demon of the past and a symbol of corruption for others. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who became Brazil's first left-wing president in 2002, hopes to return to the country’s top job after the presidential election, whose first round takes place on October 2.

"Who's Black and Why?" is the title of a fascinating new book about the origins of racism. Back in 1739, the Royal Academy of Sciences in the French city of Bordeaux announced a contest for the best essay on the sources of "blackness".

This week’s show is entirely dedicated to China’s Communist Party Congress, taking place this week. It’s a days-long conclave that meets once every five years and shapes the country’s leadership. This year’s congress will be particularly closely watched with President Xi Jinping expected to further cement his rule.

Halloween is not an ancient Celtic custom, nor was it invented by the American candy industry. DW explores the unique history of this spooky holiday.

The declassified materials are believed to point at links between the COVID outbreak and a Chinese laboratory. Biden vowed not to disclose information deemed harmful to national security.