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Namibia votes for new president and parliament as ruling party faces thoughest race yet

Thousands of namibians queued to have their say in general elections.. Logistical issues held up the scheduled closure of pivotal presidential and legislative polls. The vote was held as the ruling paty SWAPO faced its strongest challenge yet in 34 yea

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French borrowing costs spike amid political turbulence

Another looming political crisis is battering France's reputation on global markets. Borrowing costs spiked as investors looked to a possible vote of no confidence over the government's budget proposal. That led the spread between French and German bond

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Pelicot trial: ‘There’s no such thing as ordinary, accidental, involuntary rape’

Europe • 8:39 PM

Prosecutors in France’s mass rape trial denounced the “casualness” of defendants who claimed their rape of Gisèle Pelicot was unintentional as they wrapped up their case on Wednesday, requesting lengthy jail terms and calls for a wider societal reckoning

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France said Netanyahu is “immune” to the ICC's arrest warrant. We did a legal deep dive

The French government has claimed the Israeli Prime Minister has immunity from the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for war crimes -- on the grounds that Israel isn’t an ICC member. This position has garnered criticism, in contrast to Paris’

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Netanyahu on 'revenge' path against Gaza, unlikely to make concessions, analyst says

Following the ceasefire deal between Hezbollah and Israel, there are fears for the fate of the Gaza Strip with Israel now able to direct its military effort on the Palestinian territory. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks to Elijah Magnier is a veteran war cor

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France says it will work closely with Netanyahu despite ICC arrest warrant

France said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had immunity given his country was not party to the statutes of the International Criminal Court that has sought his arrest, and Paris would continue working closely with him. FRANCE

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France's reckoning with rape: Will Mazan mass trial change attitudes to sexual violence?

Will this trial be remembered as France’s reckoning with sexual violence in the digital age? Closing arguments are underway in the mass rape trial of 51 men who were invited over the internet to the home of Dominique Pélicot to assault his sedated wife

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French court to rule on electoral ineligibility for far-right leader Le Pen in March

The verdict on whether France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen will be ruled ineligible to compete in elections will be delivered on March 31, 2025. Le Pen and two dozen other figures in the National Rally party are accused of having embezzled millions o

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UN Resolution 1701 is the linchpin of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. Will it hold in 2024?

The ceasefire deal agreed to by Lebanon and Israel aims to reinvigorate a UN Security Council resolution adopted in 2006 after a previous war between Hezbollah and Israel. Observers say that circumstances are now more complicated than they were nearly tw

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'My father stayed to defend his people': Son of jailed Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai

FRANCE 24 spoke to Sebastien Lai, the son of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon, pro-democracy activist and founder of the now-defunct tabloid Apple Daily newspaper, Jimmy Lai. The elder Lai, in prison since December 2020, is currently on trial in Hong Kong f

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Plastic pollution: Chinese island’s plastic waste turned into artworks

As storm clouds gathered on a forgotten beach in China's Miaodao islands, artist Fu Junsheng picked his way through piles of plastic waste washed up along the shoreline, looking for inspiration.

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Romania telecoms regulator calls for TikTok suspension after viral far-right candidate leads vote

A senior official at Romania's telecoms watchdog called for TikTok to be suspended on Wednesday pending an investigation into the platform's possible role in the surprise victory of a far-right candidate in the first round of its presidential election. R

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Bunkers and survival manuals: The EU countries preparing their populations for war

Europe • 3:29 PM

In this Science segment, we take a closer look at the "bunker plan" launched by Germany as a response to a worsening international threat, particularly from Russia. The goal is to identify all shelters or bunkers capable of accommodating the population i

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An operatic experience like no other: 'The Opera Locos' returns to Paris

Exposing children to opera is not always easy. Traditional productions can last three hours or more, but a French show called "The Opera Locos" is trying to change that. It's made up of five slightly crazy singers, including our guest Laurent Arcaro. We

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France says Netanyahu has 'immunity' from ICC arrest warrants

France • 2:59 PM

France's foreign ministry has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enjoys "immunity" from prosecution before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC last week issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoa

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Susie Morgenstern, the American star of French kids' fiction

We speak to US author Susie Morgenstern, who's written over 150 books in her five-decade career, including several bestsellers that have become classics here in France. She's has won several awards, including a knighthood from the French government and m

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Film show: Ungodly horror in 'Heretic', toxic masculinity and a quirky 'Grand Tour'

Film critic Emma Jones tells us why Hugh Grant's creepy character is the star attraction in his latest film, "Heretic". We also discuss timely French feature "Animale", as Oulaya Amamra plays a woman trying to navigate the macho world of bull-running in

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Author Alexis Pauline Gumbs on perpetuating the Black feminist legacy of Audre Lorde

An author who has drawn strong parallels with the iconic Black lesbian feminist writer Audre Lorde has spoken to FRANCE 24 about Lorde's legacy, and her hope that she is carrying on her message. Alexis Pauline Gumbs is author of the new biography "Surviv

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As ceasefire takes effect, Lebanon's economy is shattered by war

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the US and France, went into effect this Wednesday, paving the way for the more than 1.2 million Lebanese citizens displaced by war to return home. More than a year of cross-border fighting had c

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Taiwan's Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting 'quits event' over gender questioning

Taiwan's Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting pulled out of the World Boxing Cup Finals in Britain on Wednesday, the country's sports chiefs said, saying that organisers had questioned her gender eligibility. The featherweight was one of two women boxers

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Russia cements rule in occupied Ukrainian regions through propaganda and violence

Europe • 11:26 AM

Russia currently occupies about 18 percent of Ukraine's territory. Yet reliable information about what life is like there is hard to come by, since there is no longer any access for Ukrainian media. Nevertheless, various Ukrainian initiatives aim to shed

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Did the Biden administration discuss returning nuclear weapons to Ukraine?

Europe • 10:16 AM

Rumours about the US returning nuclear weapons to Ukraine have been circulating since November 21, when The New York Times published an article citing several unnamed US officials who "suggested that Mr. Biden could return nuclear weapons to Ukraine that

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ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Myanmar’s junta leader for crimes against humanity

The top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday asked judges to grant an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s junta leader. Min Aung Hlaing is suspected of committing crimes against humanity through the deportation and persecution of th

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World Food Programme scales up operations to deliver aid in famine-hit Sudan

Africa • 9:39 AM

Displaced people living in Sudan's North Darfur state cheer at the arrival of the first convoy of food and supplies in months, but the glimmer of hope is still vastly short of what's needed. Also, Namibia heads into general elections, with the ruling par

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As ceasefire begins, a look back at the Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Israel and the Lebanese based militant group Hezbollah have reached a ceasefire agreement. The two sides have been exchanging fire for more than a year, but in the past two months the conflict escalated greatly when Israel launched aggressive air and gro

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What's left of the German model? The Merkel years revisited

Europe • 8:52 AM

It's hard to believe she’s only been out of power for three years. While no one expects Angela Merkel's supporters to rally behind calls to "make Germany great again", the excitement surrounding the release of her memoirs highlights a sense of nostalgia

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The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire seems to be holding, but Gaza sees no end to war

A US-France-brokered ceasefire agreement to the 14-month conflict between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that came into power on Wednesday morning seems to be holding. But for Palestinians in Gaza – and the families of hostages still held t

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Whose legacy is it?: Germany grapples with Merkel's 'no regrets' legacy as govt 'breaks into pieces'

Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel is giving a spirited defence of her 16 years at the helm of Europe's top economy in her memoir "Freedom", including her diplomatic efforts with Russia and open-door migrant policy. For in-depth analysis and a dee

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'Diplomacy finally gets a win': Papers react to ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, November 27: We look at reactions and analysis as an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal is agreed. The local and international press ponder if peace will be long lasting and what the deal means for the war in Gaza.

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REPLAY: Netanyahu says he supports proposed Lebanon ceasefire in address to nation

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday recommended his cabinet approve a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Wat

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Live: Israeli military imposes restrictions on nighttime movement in south Lebanon

The Israeli army announced restrictions Wednesday on people's movements in south Lebanon after dark, hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect. The army will also bar them from returning to villages it has ordered evacuated, a military spokesper

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The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire seems to be holding, but Gaza sees no end to war

A US-France-brokered ceasefire agreement to the 14-month conflict between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that came into power on Wednesday morning seems to be holding. But for Palestinians in Gaza – and the families of hostages still held t

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Almost 1,000 arrested as Pakistani police crack down on pro-Khan march

Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested in Islamabad since Sunday after taking part in a protest march calling for the release of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan, the capital’s police chief said Wednesday.

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Poland joins France in opposing EU-Mercosur free trade agreement

Europe • 1:55 AM

Citing "concern" for his country's farmers and food security, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that his government "will not accept" the prospective free trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur block in its current form, join

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Champions League: Manchester City's woes continue as Lewandowski makes history

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City remains winless in six consecutive games after blowing a three-goal lead to Feyenoord on Tuesday, while Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, and Atlanta piled on the goals, and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski became the third player t

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Yesterday

Explainer: What we know about the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal

Israel approved a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Here is a look at some of the deal's key provisions.

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Brazil's Bolsonaro 'fully aware' of 2022 assassination plot against Lula, police report says

Brazil's former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro was alleged to have "actively participated" in a 2022 coup plot to prevent his elected leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office and was "fully aware" of a plan to assassinate him,

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🔴Live: US and France say Lebanon ceasefire deal will ‘secure’ Israel from Hezbollah ‘threat’

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France unveils new measures to protect women in wake of Pelicot affair

France • 6:30 PM

France announced on Monday a new campaign to combat violence against women, including raising awareness about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse, as the country reckons with a mass rape trial that has shocked the public.

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🔴 Live: Israel's Netanyahu says he approves Lebanon ceasefire deal

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Algeria holds French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal on national security charges

Africa • 5:13 PM

Algerian authorities have detained the prize-winning French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal on national security charges, his French lawyer said on Tuesday, days after French authorities expressed concern over the writer's fate.

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'Chaotic evening': Israel issues first central Beirut evacuation warning

The Israeli army warned residents of four neighbourhoods of central Beirut to evacuate their homes on Tuesday, saying it is poised to strike Hezbollah targets there. FRANCE 24's Rawad Taha reports as he is evacuating Beirut city centre.

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FRANCE 24 report: Wrestling on the big stage in Senegal

This Sunday Senegalese gathered for the country’s biggest wrestling fight – Combat Royale. Title holder for the past 5 years, Modou Lo took to the National Arena to face Siteu, a very popular fighter from the Dakar suburbs. Accompanied by cultural tradit

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Kenya and Mayotte sign trade deal to boost economic ties

Kenya and Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, have signed a trade deal to boost economic ties and simplify trade. The agreement, signed in Nairobi, brings together the Mayotte Development and Innovation Agency and the Kenya National

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20 Ugandans win damages in Covid-era LGBTQ arrests

A Ugandan court awarded damages to 20 people who were arrested, paraded in public and tortured on suspicion of being homosexuals, in a decision hailed by rights groups on Monday. Uganda passed one of the world's harshest anti-gay laws last year. But the

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Zimbabwe charts ambitious return to global finance at debt conference

Zimbabwe's president hosted creditors and finance executives on Monday to discuss ambitious goals to clear debt arrears and restructure $12.7 billion in external debt, as the country aims to eventually tap international capital markets for the first time

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Thousands march against Angola govt, hunger

Several thousand Angolan opposition supporters in the capital Luanda protested against the government on Saturday in the first large demonstration since 2022's disputed vote. Closely supervised by police, some 4,000 people marched peacefully with banners

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Generational: Children in violent households more prone to perpetrate, experience violence as adults

French prosecutors requested a maximum 20-year jail term for Dominique Pelicot, who has been on trial with 49 other men for organising the rapes and sexual abuse of Gisele Pelicot, now his former wife. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on th

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The problems with plastic recycling: Is there a viable alternative?

Will the international community manage to come to an agreement to fight plastic pollution? That question is on everyone's minds as representatives from across the globe meet in Busan, South Korea. The challenge is significant: plastics represent a threa

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'Witches': Elizabeth Sankey on her courageous film on postpartum psychosis

British director Elizabeth Sankey bravely recounts her story of frightening isolation and unwanted thoughts after childbirth in her spellbinding documentary "Witches", which is out on Mubi. The film features interviews with medical professionals, histori

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France promises to help chemical submission victims amid mass rape trial

France will launch reforms to help women who fear they have been drugged and then raped, including state-funded test kits, Prime Minister Michel Barnier said on Monday, in the midst of a mass rape trial that has shocked the country. The kits, that could

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Trump vows new Canada, Mexico, China tariffs that threaten global trade

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday pledged big tariffs on the United States' three largest trading partners - Canada, Mexico and China - detailing how he will implement campaign promises that could trigger trade wars. Trump, who takes office on Jan.

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Delicious French advent calendars: The countdown to Christmas is on

We continue our series on France's love affair with advent calendars with Claire Pichon, the editor-in-chief of Fou de Patisserie magazine. She's written an article on high-end delicious advent calendars and she shares her favourites with us.

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Russian court orders arrest of FRANCE 24 journalist who reported from Kursk

Europe • 2:44 PM

A Russian court has ordered the arrest of FRANCE 24's senior reporter Catherine Norris Trent on charges of crossing illegally into its western Kursk region to file a report on the Ukrainian army's summer incursion.

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4 security forces killed as ex-PM Khan supporters flood Pakistan capital

Pakistani protesters demanding the release of ex-prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday killed four members of the nation's security forces, the government said, as the crowds defied police and closed in on the capital's centre. Convoys of pro-Khan demonst

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Trump vows steep tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China over drug trafficking, migration

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will slap a 25 percent across-the-board tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada unless they stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the United States. Separately, he also vowed to impos

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Ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah looks imminent, officials say

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah looked set to reach a ceasefire deal on Tuesday, Israeli and Lebanese officials said, clearing the way for an end to the conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war 14 months ago. A s

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Russia says Ukraine has launched two more ATACMS missile strikes

Russia on Tuesday accused Ukraine of launching two more attacks on its territory using US-supplied ATACMS missiles in recent days, adding that it was preparing "retaliatory actions".

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How to counter obstetric and gynaecological violence against women

In this Science segment, we tell you more about obstetric and gynaecological violence, a form of violence against women that has remained hidden for a long time. However, in the privacy of a medical consultation or childbirth, many women say they have ex

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Investigation - Ukraine: Latin Americans on the front lines

Europe • 11:30 AM

Many Latin American fighters have joined Ukraine’s armed forces since Russia's invasion in February 2022. And many of them post about it on social media, especially on TikTok. While some of them appear satisfied with their experience, others are more cri

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