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Today

Sudan's army says it has retaken Khartoum presidential palace from paramilitary forces

The Sudanese military on Friday said it seized full control of the presidential palace in the heart of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in one of the most significant advances in a two-year-old conflict threatening to fracture the coun

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Live: Israel intercepts missile fired from Yemen, expands Gaza ground operation

The Israeli military on Friday said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels have resumed attacks against Israel over its renewed assault on Gaza. Health officials in the Palestinian enclave say more than 500 people have

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'Kirstoric': Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry elected first female IOC President

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, March 21: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer sends a warning to Vladimir Putin, insisting that his Russian counterpart should fear British nuclear weapons. Elsewhere, Ronen Bar is removed as the head of Iserael's security service, lead

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🔴Global flights disrupted as power station fire shuts down London's Heathrow Airport

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Global flights disrupted as power station fire shuts down London's Heathrow Airport

The UK's Heathrow Airport said it would be closed all of Friday after a huge fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out power at Europe's busiest hub, disrupting flight schedules around the world. Firefighters said the blaze, which also affected th

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US judge blocks deportation of Indian researcher accused of Hamas ties

Virginia District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ordered that Georgetown University scholar Badar Khan Suri, who is of Indian origin, could not be deported for allegedly "spreading Hamas propaganda" until a new court ruling is issued.

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Macron says 'coalition of the willing' to hold fresh Ukraine peace talks

The coalition backing Ukraine will meet again next week in Paris, Macron said on Thursday, aiming to concretise a path towards a ceasefire with Russia, soon after the warring countries are scheduled to hold talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

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Israeli government dismisses Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar over 'lack of trust'

The Israeli government on Friday sacked Ronen Bar, the head of its Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, "unanimously" approving a proposal put forward by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Poor relations between Bar and Netanyahu originating be

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Trump signs order aimed at dismantling US Department of Education

Flanked by students and educators, US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order intended to essentially dismantle the federal Department of Education, making good on a longstanding campaign promise to conservatives.

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Glacier preservation 'a matter of survival' after largest three-year loss on record

The last three years have seen the largest glacial mass loss on record, the UN's meteorological agency said Friday in a report marking the first World Day for Glaciers. The agency warned that glaciers from Canada to New Zealand "will not survive the 21st

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Yesterday

Riots break out at Ankara university campus after Erdogan rival detained

Riots broke out at the campus of Ankara's Middle East Technical University as students protested against the detention of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Thousands have been protesting in major Turkish cities for a second night in a row as Imamoglu, Presi

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Former ICE lawyer says deportations are eroding public trust

Officials in Paris are expressing their dismay after a French scientist was denied entry to the US, because of text messages on their phone containing a 'personal opinion' about the Trump administration. The British and German governments have updated th

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Perisic stars as Croatia beats France in Nations League quarterfinals

Croatia contained the attacking duo of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in a 2-0 victory over France in the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinals Thursday.

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Former ICE lawyer says deportations are eroding public trust

Officials in Paris are expressing their dismay after a French scientist was denied entry to the US, because of text messages on their phone containing a 'personal opinion' about the Trump administration. The British and German governments have updated th

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Zelensky urges EU to keep pressuring Russia ahead of new round of peace talks

President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed his case for more weapons supplies to Ukraine during a summit with EU chiefs on Thursday. He also urged leaders to keep pressuring Russia to commit to a ceasefire deal ahead of a new round of peace talks with the US n

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Did the Israeli army drop ‘harrowing’ leaflets into Gaza warning of Trump’s ‘forced displacement’?

ABC News, Haaretz and other media reported on March 20 that the IDF dropped leaflets into Gaza with disturbing messaging to Palestinians in the enclave, warning that “the world map will not change if all the people of Gaza cease to exist”. We explain in

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US empowering Israel's most hard-right wing as IDF resumes operations

FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks to Dr H.A. Hellyer, Senior Fellow in Geopolitics and International Security at the Royal United Services Institute about the war in Gaza and the resumption of military operations by the IDF. He says that the US administr

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Congo army confirms rebel takeover of Walikale

In tonight's edition, Rwanda-backed rebels battling Congo's army have pushed into a strategic, mineral-rich town in the east, ignoring calls for a ceasefire this week. Also, Sudanese troops are reportedly within half a kilometer of the presidential pala

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France to raise €5bn in new capital for defense sector

French authorities seek to shore up investment in the defense sector, aiming to raise €5bn in new capital. EU officials say they will delay implementing a first set of tariffs on goods from the US. Plus, the Bank of England holds its key interest rate at

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Giving up US NATO command in Europe would give Russia the chance 'to make a lot of mischief'

The Trump administration is weighing relinquishing the U.S. role as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. The position, which oversees all NATO operations in Europe, has been filled by a four-star U.S. general since its creation in 1950. FRANCE 24's Yi

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Thousands protest for second night over Istanbul mayor's arrest

Turkish riot police fired teargas and rubber bullets on Thursday, as demonstrators protested for a second night outside Istanbul City Hall over the shock arrest of the Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in a graft and terror probe. The powerful and popular Imamoglu --

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Europe never prepared to 'take care of their extreme dependency on the US for their own security'

European Union leaders said on Thursday that they will continue to support Ukraine, but they did not immediately endorse a call by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to approve a package of at least 5 billion euros for artillery purchases. For in-de

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French ex-surgeon Le Scouarnec on trial for sex abuse admits guilt for all 299 victims

A 74-year-old French former surgeon standing trial for sexually abusing 299 of his patients, most of them children, admitted in court on Thursday that he was guilty of all the criminal charges brought against him, his lawyers said, in what has become the

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Europe's 'porcupine strategy': EU leaders welcome plan to boost defence spending

As US-led talks with Russia and Ukraine progress without the Europeans at the table, the 27-nation bloc is pressing ahead with what Ursula von der Leyen has branded a steel "porcupine strategy". In her words: "We need to make Ukraine strong enough to be

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Why has the EU kept silent on Serbia’s massive protest movement?

As hundreds of thousands of Serbians take to the streets of Belgrade to protest what they describe as rampant corruption and cronyism in President Aleksandar Vučić’s government, the European Union is once again facing accusations that it’s putting its ec

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EU to curb steel imports in bid to protect industry

The European Union has unveiled a new package of measures, including reducing its import quota by 15 percent, in a bid to shore up its struggling metals industry in the face of US President Donald Trump's tariff threats. We take a closer look in this edi

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Trump signs order calling for closure of US education department

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to shut down the Department of Education, fulfilling an election campaign promise and a long-held dream of American conservatives. Educators and Democrats have slammed the move.

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US citizen George Glezmann freed by Taliban in Qatar-mediated deal

Taliban authorities have freed US citizen George Glezmann after he spent more than two years in detention in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday. Glezmann, 66, was released after weeks of negotiations led by Qatari and US mediato

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Israel expands Gaza ground offensive into Rafah as missiles intercepted

Israel's military on Thursday said it had resumed its ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip while continuing activity in other parts of the conclave. This comes after reporting it had intercepted missiles from Yemen and Hamas militants said they ha

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French survival guide: Preparing for war?

The French government is preparing a survival guide for French households to prepare them for an emergency such as an armed conflict. We take a look at what's in the pamphlet and what other European nations are doing to prepare their citizens for worst-c

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Becoming French: What it takes to become a citizen in France

This week, we're focusing on citizenship. France is one of the more generous nations in Europe when it comes to granting citizenship to foreigners living there. But what does it take to become one? We break down the different paths to citizenship and the

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Kirsty Coventry elected as new president of the International Olympic Committee

After months of suspense, Kirsty Coventry has been named successor to Germany's Thomas Bach as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), one of the most powerful people in sports. Zimbabwean Coventry becomes the first woman and Afr

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Transatlantic military alliance: US has been asking Europe to 'step up' since the 1960's

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Oslo on Thursday for talks with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian government said. Zelensky's visit comes as some 30 military chiefs from countries keen to protect an eventual Russia

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'Assassin's Creed' controversy: Dive into the debate surrounding the latest instalment

Join us as we explore the heated discussions around the newest "Assassin's Creed" video game, praised for its beauty but sparking debates over character choices and historical accuracy. Plus, discover the incredible rescue of 18th-century French masterpi

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Exploring the art of perfume-making

In this edition we're meeting perfume creator Marie Urban le Febvre. Marie is a member of the Paris-based International Perfumer Creator Association and secretary general of L'Osmothèque, the most important perfume archive in the world, which is based in

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US author Alice Austen on her WWII novel '33 Place Brugmann'

In Perspective, Oliver Farry speaks to American author Alice Austen about her new novel "33 Place Brugmann". The book tells the stories of 14 characters in a Brussels apartment building on the eve of World War II, a building that Austen herself once live

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In West Bank village of Masafer Yatta, Israelis and Palestinians unite against settlers

Located in the southern West Bank, the village of Masafer Yatta was made famous by the film "No Other Land", which won the 2025 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film. The movie, the joint brainchild of Palestinian filmmaker Basel Adra and Israeli direc

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'Netanyahu is seen as acting with complete malfeasance to protect his personal interests alone'

A coalition of hostage families and protesters against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's moves against the judiciary and parts of the security establishment is coming together again after war returned this week to Gaza. For in-depth analysis an

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International Olympic Committee new president decided in first round

The next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), one of the most powerful people in sport, has been elected on Thursday. The successor to Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was decided after just one rou

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'We hope it's just blah blah': European wineries brace for Trump's 200% tariffs

Europe's winemakers are the latest to find themselves in the crosshairs of a possible trade spat with the United States after President Donald Trump threatened a 200-percent tariff on wine, Champagne and other spirits if the EU imposed retaliatory tariff

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Live: ‘Nothing has changed’, Zelensky says, as Russia still targets energy sites

Putin must put an end to his “unnecessary” demands, which are prolonging the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian president told an EU summit in Brussels Thursday. Despite Russia agreeing to a limited ceasefire, “nothing has changed”, Zelensky said, after new d

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'The world is no longer buying Netanyahu’s rhetoric': Papers react to Israel's renewed bombardment

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, March 20: The papers in the Arabic world react with anger as Israel resumes its bombardment of Gaza, although many of the Israeli dailies defend the move. Elsewhere, several candidates vie to be the new president of the Internat

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Iran releases French citizen Olivier Grondeau, held since 2022

Frenchman Olivier Grondeau has been released from an Iranian jail and is back in France after being held for more than 880 days, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday. Grondeau, 34, was detained on security charges in October 2022 while

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Live: Israeli army says expanded ground operation to Rafah in southern Gaza

Israel’s military expanded its ground offensive to Rafah in southern Gaza while continuing its activity in northern and central parts of the enclave, where health officials said Israeli strikes killed at least 85 people overnight. Hamas’s armed wing said

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Military chiefs gather in UK to discuss Ukraine peacekeeping force

Senior officers from some 30 countries across Europe and beyond were meeting Thursday at a military headquarters on the outskirts of London to flesh out plans for an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine, days after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

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Trump offers to take control of Ukraine's nuclear plants in call with Zelensky

President Donald Trump proposed that the United States take control of Ukrainian nuclear power plants to protect them from Russian attacks during a Tuesday call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky said Kyiv was "ready" to pause attacks

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Finland again tops global happiness rankings, US falls to lowest position ever

The World Happiness Report 2025 ranks Finland as the happiest country globally for the eighth consecutive year. Released Thursday by the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, the report also places Denmark, Iceland and Sweden in the top four.

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US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady over Trump tariffs

The US Federal Reserve announced a pause in interest rate cuts, citing increased economic uncertainty exacerbated by President Trump's unpredictable tariff measures. The central bank's decision keeps the key lending rate steady at 4.25 to 4.50 percent as

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China executes four Canadians in recent weeks despite Ottawa's pleas for leniency

China on Thursday insisted that it had acted "in accordance with the law" amid criticism from Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who announced that China had executed four Canadian citizens on narcotics offenses in recent weeks despite pleas from Ot

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'Deplorable': French scientist denied US entry over text messages criticising Trump

French officials have expressed their dismay after a French scientist was denied entry into the United States because immigration officers found text messages containing a "personal opinion" about the Trump administration and its policies on scientific r

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US Federal Reserve holds rates steady, but warns of inflation and slowing growth

America's central bank keeps interest rates steady but warns that inflation projections are rising and growth is likely to slow as President Donald Trump's trade wars hit the US economy. Also in this edition: Ben & Jerry's sues parent company Unilever ov

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'Erdogan trying to play a bigger role internationally but he's not reliable, nor is he predictable'

Turkish police detained Istanbul's powerful mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, Wednesday over graft and terrorism allegations, prompting outrage from the opposition which slammed it as a politically-motivated "coup". For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, F

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Wednesday, march 19, 2025

Israel-Hamas war: Prominent Palestinian human rights activists join FRANCE 24

Israeli troops have retaken part of a corridor that bisects Gaza, and its defence minister warned that attacks would increase “with an intensity that you have not known” until Hamas frees dozens of hostages and gives up control of the territory. For in-d

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Greenpeace must pay $660 million in damages in Dakota pipeline suit, jury finds

A North Dakota jury on Wednesday found Greenpeace liable for defamation and other claims brought by a pipeline company in connection with protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The nine-person jury awarded Dallas-based Energy Transfer and its subsi

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Another mass drug-facilitated rape case roils France

A man has confessed to fifteen rapes after drugging his victims. The 34-year-old suspect is a landscaper by profession and has no criminal record. According to the prosecutor in Montpellier, he "admitted to filming the events and acting under the influen

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Democracy under threat in US from president who wants to be dictator, human rights lawyer says

Donald Trump's rumbling conflict with the judiciary burst into open confrontation on Tuesday as US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public rebuke of the US president over his call for the impeachment of a federal judge. FRANCE 24's

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Mixed reactions after Qatar talks between DR Congo and Rwanda leaders

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have expressed their support for a ceasefire in DR Congo after a surprise face-to-face meeting in Qatar. Many welcome their commitment as an important development, but it’s not

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JFK assassination files: Were there any 'bombshell' revelations?

The Trump administration has just released over 64,000 pages of declassified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Following the release of these files, many pro-Trump users on social media claim to have found "new"bom

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LGBT Americans settling in Spain amid Trump's DEI crackdown

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more American citizens have been settling in Madrid. Last year, 11,000 of them were registered in the Spanish capital. The trend began during the first Trump mandate and has gathered steam since Donald Trump returned

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US State Department confirms program tracking abducted Ukrainian children halted

President Donald Trump promised Wednesday to help Ukraine get back thousands of children allegedly abducted to Russia. But Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, which has been tracking the missing children, lost crucial funding from the US governm

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