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US judge suspends Musk plan to slash US public workforce

A judge on Thursday suspended a scheme masterminded by billionaire Elon Musk to slash the size of the US government by encouraging federal workers to quit through a mass buyout. The federal judge in Massachusetts ordered a temporary injunction on the pla

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Trump’s plan to shutdown USAID would lead to rise in conflict and insecurity, expert says

US President Donald Trump’s decision to lay off most of the Agency for International Development’s workforce – a government aid agency – would have heavy consequences on health, water and sanitation in countries where missions are carried out, said Rosa

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'Companies are not going to take the lead in making AI a nice transition for their workforce'

Global experts began debating the threats and promise of artificial intelligence (AI) at a gathering in Paris on Thursday and Friday, ahead of a summit of world leaders on the fast-moving technology. As thousands seek common ground on a technology that h

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One month after Los Angeles wildfires, residents denounce emergency response

This Friday marks one month since the start of the wildfires that ravaged the US city of Los Angeles, leaving neighbourhoods in a state of utter devastation. Fires are nothing new in California, but the ones that tore through Los Angeles last month are r

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Live: UN calls on US to reverse sanctions slapped on ICC for ‘illegitimate’ Israel probe

The UN on Friday said it deeply regretted President Donald Trump's decision to impose US sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and urged him to reverse the move. The response came hours after Trump signed an executive order slapping sanctio

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A cultural stroll through Paris with Marc Lavoine and Emily Loizeau

This week on Paris des Arts, Valérie Fayolle meets French singer, actor and writer Marc Lavoine. He discusses his second novel, "Quand arrivent les chevaux" ("When the horses arrive"), a poetic tribute to his late mother. With him, we discover the works

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Baghdad's first skatepark provides escape for young people

A new skatepark has opened in Baghdad, the first in the Iraqi capital. The park, which was opened by three organisations from Italy, Iraq and Belgium after lengthy negotiations, now provides a welcome means of escape for young people in a country that ha

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Trump sanctions ICC for 'illegitimate' probes targeting US, Israel

US President Donald Trump has approved asset freezes and travel bans against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials or anyone deemed to have helped ICC investigations of US citizens or allies like Israel. The move, condemned by the court, comes in

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What does it mean to be French? PM Bayrou calls for a national debate

France • 11:00 AM

French Prime Minister François Bayrou on Friday called for a wider debate on the issue of French identity after his justice minister said that the constitution should be changed to end birthright citizenship. A debate on the sensitive issue of what it me

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Rapper Kendrick Lamar to headline Super Bowl halftime

Rapper Kendrick Lamar, one of the big success stories of the Grammys last week, said Thursday his fans should expect "storytelling" at the Super Bowl halftime show this weekend. Lamar will headline the halftime show at Sunday's showdown between the Kansa

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Milei orders Argentina's withdrawal from WHO

Argentina's president has ordered the country's withdrawal from the World Health Organization due to “profound differences” with the U.N. agency, a presidential spokesperson said Wednesday. President Javier Milei 's decision echoes that of his ally, US P

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US top diplomat says backs international mission in Haiti

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the United States backed an international security mission in Haiti but wanted a broader solution in the troubled country that includes economic stimulus. Rubio signed waivers to a sweeping ban on aid

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ICC condemns Trump sanctions over 'illegitimate' Israel probes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday called on its member states to stand up against sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump, saying the move was an attempt to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work.” FRANCE 24's Fernande va

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UAE to invest billions to build AI data centre in France

The French presidency on Thursday announced that the United Arab Emirates would invest billions of euros to build a huge artificial intelligence data centre in the country, which would be the largest in Europe.

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DR Congo: M23 rebels seek to march on Kinshasa

Africa • 9:51 AM

In a stadium rally held in the recently captured city of Goma Thursday, M23 political leader Corneille Nangaa asserted that he wanted to march on DR Congo's capital – Kinshasa. Backed by neighbouring Rwanda, the M23 rebels continued advances elsewhere in

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Russell Vought returns as White House budget chief

The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Russell Vought as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the entity at the centre of a contentious effort to freeze federal funding for aid programs. Despite strong opposition from Democrats

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'We want best for people of Tunisia': Birthplace of Arab Spring 'going in reverse into dictatorship'

A judge in Tunisia handed down lengthy sentences to prominent politicians and at least one leading journalist in a move seen as targeting critics of autocratic strongman Kais Saied. Offering context and perspective on the fall of North Africa's nascent d

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iSPIRT: 'If we play AI right, it'll lift many Indians out of poverty', up into health and education

Artificial intelligence: The tools for building a bright future? "Does humanity know what it's doing or are we creating the tools of our own downfall?" asks FRANCE 24's François Picard. Our guest, Co-Founder of iSPIRT Foundation Sharad Sharma, acknowledg

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Live: UN calls on US to reverse sanctions slapped on ICC for ‘illegitimate’ Israel probe

The UN on Friday said it deeply regretted President Donald Trump's decision to impose US sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and urged him to reverse the move. The response came hours after Trump signed an executive order slapping sanctio

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Taiwan detects six Chinese balloons as military pressure continues

Taiwan's defence ministry said Friday it had detected six Chinese balloons near the island in the past 24 hours, one of the highest figures recorded. The sightings come amid ongoing military activity by Beijing, which also deployed nine aircraft, six war

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US seizes second Venezuelan government plane in the Dominican Republic

The US on Thursday seized a second aircraft linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government in the Dominican Republic. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally oversaw the operation during his visit to Santo Domingo as tensions between Wa

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UAE to invest billions in France AI data centre

Europe • 3:47 AM

The UAE will invest between €30 billion and €50 billion to build Europe’s largest AI data centre in France, the French presidency announced Thursday. Part of a broader AI agreement between the two nations, the project will serve as the core of a new AI c

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US college sports body bars transgender women from competing in women's divisions

The NCAA changed its policy Thursday to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports, aligning with a new executive order from President Donald Trump. The move marks a major shift for college athletics, overriding previous rules that followed n

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Could dead leaves turn into green gold?

Imagine a world where we could make paper, cardboard and packaging without cutting down a single tree. Today, that dream is becoming reality. The start-up Releaf Paper turns fallen leaves into value. It was founded by a Ukrainian scientist, who moved to

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US envoy draws ‘red line’ over Hezbollah’s inclusion in Lebanese govt

On her first official visit to Lebanon, US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus on Friday said the US had drawn a red line against Hezbollah's inclusion in a future Lebanese government. Prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam has struggle

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Belgian authorities struggle to rein in spate of drug-related shootings in Brussels

Europe • 12:29 AM

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, February 7: The Belgian capital Brussels has been rocked by a spate of violent drug-related shootings that authorities are at a loss to control. Also in the news: the Greek island of Santorini is in a state of emergency due to thou

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'We're in an aggression situation: Rwanda invaded east DRC with no meaningful self-defence argument'

Africa • 12:08 AM

The Rwanda-backed rebels who captured eastern Congo's key city of Goma sought to shore up public support amid growing international pressure. As the M23 rebels continue their advance, ignoring the UN secretary-general's call to lay down their arms, FRANC

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Ukraine offers humanitarian corridor for Russian civilians trapped in seized border areas

Europe • 12:07 AM

Ukraine says it is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to help Russian civilians return home from territory seized in its August offensive – if Moscow requests one. Kyiv accused Russia of ignoring its own citizens while the Kremlin has so far remained

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Hong Kong, law and order: Inside the rebel city now under Chinese control

FRANCE 24 brings you a special report on the new Hong Kong, with the freedom-loving former British colony undergoing a severe political, social and economic takeover by the authorities in Beijing. In what was until recently the last island of freedom in

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Yesterday

M23 leader vows to push on in DR Congo

Africa • 10:28 PM

Thousands of people have gathered in Goma to hear from the leader of the M23 rebels, the group behind the conflict in eastern DR Congo. Corneille Nangaa called for a minute's silence for victims of his fighters' takeover of the city, before warning of mo

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Trump falsely states that two female Olympic boxers 'transitioned'

Before signing an executive order to ban transgender women and girls from competing in female school sports, US President Donald Trump claimed two boxers from the Paris 2024 Olympics "transitioned" to female, and "stole" titles from biological women. Thi

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France announces creation of 35 new data centres as AI summit kicks off

France's digital minister has announced that 35 sites are ready to host data centres in the country, as the global AI summit opens its doors in Paris. It's an opportunity for President Emmanuel Macron to show that France is a key contender on the world s

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Ukraine's options: How to maintain US support in the age of Trump?

Europe • 7:15 PM

Does what goes for Greenland and Gaza also go for Ukraine? With the third anniversary of Russia's all-out invasion approaching and Kyiv on the back foot, allies are scrambling to figure out the "art of the deal" power plays of a US president they thought

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‘Political stunt’: Feasibility of Trump plan in limbo as first migrants are sent to Guantanamo

US President Donald Trump’s plan to house 30,000 undocumented migrants at Guantanamo Bay gained pace this week as the first flights arrived in Cuba. As administration officials debate the legality of the plan and others warn of human rights abuses, its v

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Is 'masculine energy' needed in order to pursue innovation in AI?

As AI action summit kicks off in Paris, FRANCE 24's tech editor, Peter O'Brien meet Yann LeCun, chief AI scientist of Meta, to talk about innovation.

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France: New divisions among left-wing coalition after no confidence vote

France finally has a budget, after the government pushed the bill through by decree, and went on to survive a no confidence vote. But the episode has fractured the left wing opposition. The left emerged the largest group in parliament after last Summer's

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Binyamin Netanyahu calls Donald Trump's Gaza plan 'remarkable'

Israel’s defense minister says he has instructed the army to prepare plans for large numbers of Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip in line with President Donald Trump’s proposal for the war-ravaged territory. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday

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Israel orders army to prepare 'volontary' departures from Gaza

Amid international condemnation, Donald Trump has spelled out more of his idea for the United States to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and resettle the Palestinians elsewhere. He said that Israel would "turn over" the territory when fighting was over,

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Panama's president hits back at US 'lies' about free canal access

Panama has vehemently denied claims made by the US on Thursday that its government vessels would have free passage through the Panama Canal, calling the US claims “lies and falsehoods”.

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Could Trump force Jordan and Egypt to take Palestinians deported from Gaza?

US President Donald Trump’s demands for Jordan and Egypt to take in what could be millions of Palestinians deported from Gaza under the president’s stated plan for the devastated territory have been met with a fierce backlash from the Arab world. But wit

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AI Action Summit: Can Europe catch up with the US and China?

Political leaders, tech executives, scientists and experts are gathering to Paris to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Summit host France dreams of becoming a leader in the disruptive technology. Back in 2018, President Emmanuel Macron launc

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Meet the 'Grannies' taking on Germany's far-right AfD

With Germany set for general elections in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could make historic gains, a group called “Omas Gegen Rechts” or “Grannies Against the Right” are taking to the streets in to persuade voters to reject extremist

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What are the expectations of Syria and France on the wake of the Paris summit

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Syria’s newly installed interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in a phone call Wednesday and invited him to visit France “in the coming weeks,” al-Sharaa’s office said in a statement. FRANCE 24's journalist Wassi

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Greece's Santorini hit by fresh series of quakes, declares state of emergency

Europe • 3:34 PM

Greek authorities declared a state of emergency for the island of Santorini on Thursday after an unprecedented series of undersea earthquakes shook the popular island for nearly a week.

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Smartphones: A lifeline or a dangerous distraction?

On World No Mobile Phone Day, we take a look at how this event started and was named in honour of a famous French song. We also dive into which nations are most on their smartphones and which are not. Finally, we discuss what smartphone use could be doin

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Red carpet glam, Cannes jury reveal and zombie animals in new French animation

In this edition of arts24, we're bringing you all the excitement from the world premiere of "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" in Paris. Join us as Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Chiwetel Ejiofor light up the red carpet, with FRANCE 24's Dheepthika Laur

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Donald Trump signs order to ban trans athletes from women's sports

Rights groups have slammed the latest executive order from the US president.. This after Donald Trump banned transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. It's the latest move targeting transgender people since he's been back in power. Delano D'

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United States' government vessels to sail free through Panama Canal

The United States has announced that its government vessels would be no longer have to pay to sail through the Panama Canal, following heavy pressure from President Donald Trump. But Panama says that might not be true.

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Donald Trump administration appears to walk back shock Gaza plan

After international condemnation, US officials have begun to walk back president Donald Trump's suggestion that the United States should take ownership of the Gaza Strip and permanently resettle the Palestinians elsewhere.

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'The Seers': Sulaiman Addonia on his tale of an Eritrean refugee in London

Europe • 2:49 PM

An author who spent his early life living in a refugee camp in Sudan, his early teens in Saudi Arabia and then arrived in London as an underage unaccompanied refugee speaking no English, has told FRANCE 24 how he turned his life around, and how his books

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Protesters in cities across the US rally against Trump's policies

From the East Coast to the West, thousands across the US are rallying in protests against Trump. In a movement called "50 protests in 50 states," Wednesday saw demonstrations nationwide outside state Capitol buildings, and protesters are denouncing Trump

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French court orders city of Biarritz to rename 'La Négresse' neighbourhood

France • 2:35 PM

The seaside resort city of Biarritz has been ordered to rename the historic district of La Négresse, which translates as "negro woman", following legal action by activists fighting the legacies of slavery and colonialism.

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The ninth art: Exploring France's love of 'la bande dessinée'

French people love comic books, known as bandes dessinées. That means that the "BD" industry is booming. Graphic novels are such an important part of French culture that there are several festivals around the country, including the prestigious Angoulême

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Bangladesh protesters raze buildings linked to ousted leader

Thousands of protesters in Bangladesh took out their anger at former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by burning her family's former residence to the ground on Wednesday. Hasina fled to India last autumn after being forced to resign, but recently called on h

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