News : France24

India and China are racing to build mega-dams along major rivers that would massively affect water supplies to both countries. The source of that water is a glacier in Tibet, which supplies millions of people with water downstream - and there are high po

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Australia expels Iran ambassador, accusing Tehran of being behind antisemitic attacks

Pacific Asia • 10:00 AM

1 min

Australia expelled Iran's ambassador on Tuesday, accusing the country of being behind antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. It marks the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War II. Intelligence services reached the "d

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Australia accuses Iran of organizing antisemitic attacks and expels ambassador

Pacific Asia • 9:48 AM

1 min

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Iran of organizing two antisemitic attacks in Australia and said the country was cutting off diplomatic relations with Tehran in response on Tuesday. Story by Charlotte Lam.

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Australia expels Iranian ambassador over antisemitic attacks

Pacific Asia • 8:09 AM

1 min

Australia accused Iran on Tuesday of executing two antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and gave Tehran's ambassador seven days to leave the country, its first such expulsion since World War Two.

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The Bright Side: Japanese hiker, 102, becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Pacific Asia • 7:59 AM

1 min

Kokichi Akuzawa, 102, has become the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji, overcoming heart problems, recent illness and past falls. Despite the feat, the Japanese retiree shrugged it off, citing years of regular mountain hikes.

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Iran, European powers to resume nuclear talks as sanctions deadline looms

Pacific Asia • 6:25 AM

1 min

Tehran is set to hold nuclear talks with France, Britain and Germany on Tuesday in Geneva, the second round of meetings since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June derailed negotiations with Washington. The European partners have threatened to trigger UN

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Australia accuses Iran of directing anti-Semitic attacks, expels ambassador

Pacific Asia • 4:13 AM

1 min

Australia’s government on Tuesday announced the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador, accusing Tehran of orchestrating anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited intelligence services’ “deeply disturbing conclusion” tha

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Trump says he wants another meeting with North Korea's Kim this year

Pacific Asia • 1:41 AM

1 min

US President Donald Trump said Monday he hoped to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un again this year as he hosted South Korea’s dovish new leader at the White House. Hours before President Lee Jae Myung’s arrival, Trump denounced a “Purge or Revolution” in S

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China's push for mega-dams driven by energy-hungry tech, AI, researcher says

Pacific Asia • 9:15 PM

1 min

India fears a planned Chinese mega dam in Tibet will reduce water flows on a major river by up to 85% during the dry season, according to four sources familiar with the matter and a government analysis seen by Reuters, prompting Delhi to fast-track plans

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'Avoid disaster: Any new leader meeting Trump has foremost in their minds a risk of being ambushed'

Pacific Asia • 10:29 AM

1 min

US President Donald Trump hosts South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington for their first summit meeting after the countries struck a trade deal last month lowering US tariffs on the Asian ally to 15% from a threatened 25%. Alongside trade, US p

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Vietnam evacuates tens of thousands from coastal areas as Typhoon Kajiki makes landfall

Pacific Asia • 12:49 AM

1 min

Tens of thousands of residents were evacuated from coastal areas in Vietnam on Monday as Typhoon Kajiki made landfall with winds of more than 130 kilometres per hour. The typhoon is the fifth to affect Vietnam this year and roiled the Gulf of Tonkin with

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'Afghan women are leading the resistance against the Taliban,' researcher says

Pacific Asia • 12:47 AM

1 min

It's been four years since the Taliban swept back to power in Afghanistan and the worst fears about their return have indeed come true, especially for the country's women and girls. The Taliban have issued dozens of directives stripping them of their rig

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Taiwan to invest in military drones, drawing 'major lesson' from war in Ukraine

Pacific Asia • 6:12 PM

1 min

Drawing lessons from the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the use of drones is widespread, Taiwan said it plans to invest in 50,000 drones over the course of the next two years. The decision comes as the island faces mounting pressure from China, which it c

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Taiwan to invest in military drones, drawing 'major lesson' from war in Ukraine

Pacific Asia • 5:45 PM

1 min

Drawing lessons from the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the use of drones is widespread, Taiwan said it plans to invest in 50,000 drones over the course of the next two years. The decision comes as the island faces mounting pressure from China, which it c

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Indonesia’s mobile music craze divides opinion

Pacific Asia • 3:27 PM

1 min

In Indonesia, a mobile form of street music is all the rage on the island of Java. Massive towers of loudspeakers blast electronic beats in many towns and villages, but for some, the music is simply too loud - and Islamic scholars say the trend is sparki

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North Korea test-fires two new air defence missiles, state media says

Pacific Asia • 1:29 AM

1 min

North Korea has test-fired two "improved" air defence missiles, state media said Sunday. Analysts say that Pyongyang is likely using its troops' experience fighting against Ukrainian forces in Russia to accelerate the development of ways to combat the dr

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Changing Asian chessboard: Pakistani foreign minister visits Bangladesh, India watches

Pacific Asia • 5:29 PM

1 min

Pakistan's foreign minister flew to Bangladesh on Saturday as the nations, once bitter enemies after they split in 1971, seek to rebuild ties. India, which fought a four-day conflict with Pakistan in May, is watching closely. France 24's Leela Jacinto ex

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Japan, South Korea agree to strengthen ties amid 'challenging' security environment

Pacific Asia • 5:21 PM

1 min

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday, emphasised the importance of setting aside past historical grievances and boosting security ties.

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South Korean and Japanase leaders agree to step up cooperation

Pacific Asia • 2:19 PM

1 min

In their first summit on Saturday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the need to move beyond historical disputes and focus on shared challenges alongside their mutual ally, the United States. The t

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Thai court clears ex-PM Thaksin of royal defamation charges

Pacific Asia • 4:19 AM

1 min

A Thai court on Friday cleared former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of royal defamation charges, saying there was not enough evidence to prove wrongdoing. The case stemmed from decades-old remarks Thaksin made in South Korean media that prosecutors s

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North Korea's Kim decorates 'heroes' who fought for Russia against Ukraine

Pacific Asia • 3:19 AM

1 min

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un led an emotional ceremony decorating troops who fought against Ukrainian soldiers in Russia's Kursk region and honouring those who died, images released by state media on Friday showed. In a speech, Kim praised the "admir

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Iran says it will use more advanced missiles if Israel attacks again

Pacific Asia • 10:02 AM

1 min

Iran on Wednesday said that if Israel launched fresh attacks it would respond with newly developed missiles that have "far greater capabilities" than those used by Tehran during its 12-day war with Israel in June.

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Scores die in bus crash carrying Afghan migrants returning home

Pacific Asia • 6:45 AM

1 min

A collision between a bus and two other vehicles killed at least 78 people in western Afghanistan, local officials said on Wednesday. The bus was carrying Afghan migrants who had been living in Iran and were returning home to Kabul.

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Hong Kong builds artificial nests to save endangered cockatoos

Pacific Asia • 5:56 PM

1 min

Researchers in Hong Kong are installing artificial nest boxes to help yellow-crested cockatoos breed after most natural cavities were lost to typhoons and tree cutting. The species is endangered, with only about 150 in the city and around 2,000 worldwide

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India's Modi meets China's foreign minister as Asian powers rebuild ties

Pacific Asia • 4:34 PM

1 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers. Story by Emrald Maxwell.

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India's Modi to meet China's top diplomat as both powers rebuild ties

Pacific Asia • 2:37 PM

1 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with China’s top diplomat on Tuesday in a sign of easing tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after several years-long standoff between the Asian powers. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in New Delh

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Devastating floods in Pakistan kill at least 270 people

Pacific Asia • 8:42 AM

1 min

Anguished Pakistanis searched remote areas for bodies swept away by weekend flash floods as the death toll reached 277 on Monday, while one official replied to the lack of evacuation warnings by saying people should have built homes elsewhere. Story by Y

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The Bright Side: Hong Kong scientist fights to save endangered cockatoos

Pacific Asia • 2:23 AM

1 min

Hong Kong-based researcher Astrid Andersson is planning to set up around 50 nest boxes around the city in an effort to help boost the population of the endangered yellow-crested cockatoo. The raucous birds, of which fewer than 2,000 remain in the world,

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More torrential rains expected after Pakistan floods kill hundreds

Pacific Asia • 12:03 AM

1 min

Massive, sudden downpours that struck northern Pakistan in recent days have killed at least 356 people in the past five days. As rescue workers continue to recover bodies and tend to the injured, local authorities warned on Tuesday that more rain could c

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Fresh monsoon rains in Pakistan kill at least 20, disrupt ongoing rescue operation

Pacific Asia • 8:57 AM

1 min

At least 20 people were killed on Monday by fresh torrential rains in northern Pakistan, amid the aftermath of an unusually severe monsoon season that has already claimed more than 300 lives in recent days. Flooding and landslides have destroyed entire v

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The Bright Side: China's thriving women-only communities make residents 'feel safe'

Pacific Asia • 2:27 AM

1 min

Women in China are increasingly seeking out single-sex living spaces where they can ensure peace of mind and physical safety. Organisers insist that the women-only homes do not encourage antipathy towards men but rather guarantee the women a right to spa

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Pakistan expands rescue and relief efforts after flash floods

Pacific Asia • 9:43 AM

1 min

At least 150 people are missing in northwest Pakistan, the head of the provincial disaster authority said Sunday (August 17), after flash floods that have killed at least 344 people in the country. Thousands of rescuers were battling rain and knee-deep m

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At least 150 still missing in Pakistan after deadly flash floods

Pacific Asia • 8:43 AM

1 min

At least 150 people are missing in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province following devastating flash floods that have killed at least 344 nationwide, officials said Sunday. Rescue efforts are underway, with fears that many victims may be trapped under r

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At least 344 people killed in monsoon flash floods in Pakistan

Pacific Asia • 5:32 AM

1 min

The death toll from heavy monsoon rains that have triggered flash floods across northern Pakistan has risen to at least 344 people in the past 48 hours, the country's disaster authority said Saturday.

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Flash floods kill at least 160 in Pakistan, scores still missing

Pacific Asia • 9:37 AM

1 min

Sudden floods and mudslides swept through Pakistan and the disputed region of Kashmir on Thursday, killing at least 160 people, injuring more than 100 and leaving 200 missing, as rescuers searched for survivors amid the debris.

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Four years after the fall of Kabul, Taliban succeeds in near-total exclusion of women

Pacific Asia • 8:13 AM

1 min

Four years since Taliban forces seized Kabul and ended two decades of Western presence, Afghan women face near-total exclusion from public life. Nearly 100 edicts have stripped them of basic freedoms, while any dissent remains dangerous and international

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Dozens killed, more than 200 missing after flash floods in Kashmir

Pacific Asia • 2:27 PM

1 min

At least 56 people died in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday after torrential rain triggered flash floods in India's second major deadly flooding disaster this month. Rescue teams struggled to reach the area as the region's weather department issue

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Trump extends tariff truce with China for 90 days

Pacific Asia • 7:38 AM

1 min

US President Donald Trump on Monday ordered a 90-day extension to a US-China tariff truce, hours before it was due to expire – keeping higher duties on hold until November 10 as both sides continue trade talks. France24 correspondent Yena Lee reports fro

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At least four dead, over a hundred missing in Indian Himalayas

Pacific Asia • 12:16 AM

1 min

Dozens of people remain missing after heavy flash flooding and a mudslide devastated a village in northern India, killing at least four people, local officials said.

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Archaeologists find possible artefacts of oldest known Wallacean hominids in Indonesia

Pacific Asia • 10:50 AM

1 min

This discovery could challenge the way scientists see our ancestors. Archaeologists discovered tools dating more than 1 million years back on an Indonesian island. How did humans get there? and when? Scientists have many questions, Shirli Sitbon brings y

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'My boss raped me': Japanese prosecutor's long fight for justice

Pacific Asia • 3:19 AM

1 min

Hikari kept quiet for years about her alleged assault by her boss, Osaka's former chief prosecutor. Finally, after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and taking time off work, she filed her case in June 2024.

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India: opposition parties protest controversial electoral roll

Pacific Asia • 12:44 AM

1 min

Some of India's opposition lawmakers, including leader Rahul Gandhi have been detained, and then released again by the police. They had taken part in a protest in New Delhi Monday, calling for the rollback of a controversial revision of the voter list in

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The Bright Side: Humble bugs are popular pets in nature-loving Japan

Pacific Asia • 11:02 AM

1 min

Bugs are fast becoming the pet of choice in Japan where they compete for the attentions of pet lovers who might once have settled for more conventional choices such as playful puppies, cute kittens or hamsters endlessly spinning on a wheel. Fueling the J

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China aims to lead in AI and robotics at Beinjing World Robot Conference

Pacific Asia • 10:11 AM

1 min

The World Robot Conference is currently underway in Beijing. It comes as some analysts say China has overtaken the US in the robotics race, particularly when it comes to humanoid robots. In the past year Chinese humanoid robots have danced in lunar New Y

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The race for robot supremacy: Beijing conference highlights China's push for innovation

Pacific Asia • 9:21 AM

1 min

China is flaunting its robotics industry with a series of big events – the first World Humanoid Robot Games, the opening of a robot dealership in Beijing, and the World Robot Conference. Technologists think androids are the future, and analysts say China

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Japan marks 80 years since atomic bombing of Nagasaki

Pacific Asia • 2:49 AM

1 min

Thousands observed a moment of silence on Saturday to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Nagasaki as two of the city’s cathedral bells chimed in unison for the first time since the atrocity that ended World War II – a

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Why is the US discreetly easing pressure on Myanmar's junta?

Pacific Asia • 3:50 PM

1 min

The US announced on July 24 that it was lifting sanctions against several allies of Myanmar's ruling military junta and their businesses. Human rights activists called the move “shameful” and a “catastrophic message” at a time when the junta is seeking i

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Armenia, Azerbaijan to end 'all fighting forever' at White House summit, Trump says

Pacific Asia • 2:33 AM

1 min

The leaders of rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan convened at the White House on Friday in a "Peace Signing Ceremony" that US President Donald Trump said would end a decades-long conflict between two former Soviet republics. The fine print of the "joint decla

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EU faces major export decline amid sluggish growth in key member states

Pacific Asia • 10:23 AM

1 min

The United States has begun charging higher tariffs on goods from dozens of trading partners in a major escalation of President Donald Trump's drive to reshape global commerce in America's favour. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the esc

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The Bright Side: Cockatoos have at least 30 distinct dance moves, Australian researchers find

Pacific Asia • 6:43 AM

1 min

Australia's famously cheeky cockatoos can perform at least 30 distinct dance moves, researchers found, with documented dances ranging from headbanging and body rolls to a deceptively simple sidestep.

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Myanmar's junta-picked acting president Myint Swe dies after a long illness

Pacific Asia • 5:47 AM

1 min

Myint Swe, the figurehead acting president handpicked by the military junta that seized power from Myanmar's democratically elected government in 2021, died on Thursday after a long illness, the junta said. Myint Swe had been suspended since July due to

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'Highest tariffs since Great Depression': In 1930's, trade plummeted and global depression deepened

Pacific Asia • 12:33 AM

1 min

President Donald Trump began levying higher import taxes on 60 countries and the European Union, just as the economic fallout of his monthslong tariff threats has begun to create visible damage for the US economy. Trump expects the EU, Japan and South Ko

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Nuclear weapons states no longer respect 'legal commitment to non-proliferation treaty'

Pacific Asia • 3:32 PM

1 min

Hiroshima has marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. With the number of survivor

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'The memories of the horrors of nuclear war and radiation seem to be lost on today's leaders'

Pacific Asia • 3:22 PM

1 min

Hiroshima on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. The bombing of H

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Several dead, more than 50 missing after deadly Himalayan flash floods

Pacific Asia • 4:51 AM

1 min

The Indian army scoured a Himalayan village on Wednesday in an effort to find scores of missing people a day after flash floods killed at least four people and left many other trapped beneath debris. At least four people were killed and more than 50 are

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Hiroshima marks 80 years since atomic bombing amid escalating nuclear tensions

Pacific Asia • 3:07 AM

1 min

Against the backdrop of rising Russia-US tensions, Japan held a ceremony on Wednesday morning commemorating 80 years since the United States' atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Speakers warned the representatives of 120 countries and regions in attendance that

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Japan: Fire during fireworks show forces five men into the sea

Pacific Asia • 4:09 PM

1 min

Five workers at a fireworks festival jumped into the sea Monday night to escape a dramatic fire on two barges loaded with rockets in Tokyo Bay.

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Bangladesh to hold parliamentary elections in February 2026, interim leader Yunus says

Pacific Asia • 3:35 PM

1 min

Bangladesh's interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus announced Tuesday that national elections will be held in February 2026, aiming to restore democratic governance following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.

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'Contradictions in objectives' of Chinese Studies Dept & what China would like UK schools to project

Pacific Asia • 11:53 AM

1 min

A report by UK‑China Transparency (UKCT) has unveiled major challenges affecting students, scholars and institutions across the United Kingdom. Professors and students are facing on-going surveillance leading to pressure and even intimidation to conform

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East Asia Hit by Record-Breaking Torrential Rains and Mass Evacuations

Pacific Asia • 10:37 AM

1 min

Hong Kong broke rainfall records on Tuesday with 355.7 mm in a few hours, prompting a “black” rain alert until 5pm.

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