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Spain arrests alleged arsonist as France sends planes to battle deadly wildfires

Spain was grappling on Thursday with one of its worst fire seasons in 20 years, with blazes fuelled by record heat forcing evacuations and prompting the country to seek help from European partners. France sent two Canadair water-bombing planes to help ta

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Israeli far-right minister backs contentious West Bank settlement plan

Israel's finance minister on August 14 backed plans to build 3,400 homes in a particularly contentious area of the occupied West Bank, calling for the territory's annexation in response to several countries' plans to recognise a Palestinian state. France

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Hong Kong court to hear closing arguments in mogul Jimmy Lai's trial

Jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai's national security trial, which began in late 2023, will enter its final stages on August 14 as lawyers present closing arguments. The 77-year-old founder of the Apple Daily newspaper is charged with foreign coll

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Serbia: Clashes erupt for a second day at anti-government protests

Clashes erupted between Serbian anti-government protesters and supporters for a second day on August 13 in a major escalation after more than nine months of persistent demonstrations against autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic.

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Wildfires kill at least 3 and displace thousands across southern Europe

Wildfires intensified across southern Europe on Wednesday with a round-the-clock battle to protect the perimeter of Greece’s third-largest city and at least three deaths reported in Spain, Turkey and Albania.

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DR Congo: US sanctions armed group, mining firms

The United States has imposed sanctions on an armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, accusing it of profiting from mineral trafficking. Congolese and Chinese companies linked to this illegal trade have also been sanctioned. This decision co

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Last chance saloon for global plastic pollution treaty

Negotiators trying to secure a global agreement on tackling the scourge of plastic pollution have less than 24 hours to salvage a deal on August 14 after the talks plunged into total disarray.

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Spain: Deadly wildfires kill at least three people

In just a week, dozens of forest fires have burned through 60 000 hectares as record heatwaves, combined with strong winds and dry conditions, have ravaged the country. Wildfires have already devastated parts of Castilla y León, Extremadura, the Comuni

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Serbia's police intervene as ruling party supporters face off against anti-government protesters

Months of protests in Serbia reached a new intensity Wednesday night as riot police intervened to separate rival demonstrations of anti-government protesters and supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic. The president once again accused unnamed foreign p

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Football : le Paris Saint Germain s'offre la Supercoupe au bout du suspense

Le Paris SG remporte la Supercoupe d'Europe face à Tottenham (2-2, 4 tirs au but à 3), devenant le premier club français à soulever le trophée, mercredi à Udine, en Italie.

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International aid groups say new Israeli rules stop them delivering supplies to Gaza

More than 100 international non-government organisations released a joint statement Thursday saying that the Israeli government was increasingly using new regulations to prevent them bringing much-needed humanitarian aid into the devastated Gaza Strip.

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PSG defeat Tottenham on penalties to claim European Super Cup

Paris Saint-Germain won European Super Cup by beating Tottenham (2-2, 4-3 on penalties). This is PSG's fifth trophy this year.

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Moroccan feminist activist accused of 'offending Islam' has trial postponed

A Moroccan feminist activist has provoked widespread outrage after she was arrested on Sunday for posting a picture of herself wearing a shirt with the word "Allah" followed by "is lesbian". The woman had her trial postponed by two weeks on Wednesday aft

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From socialism to shock therapy? Bolivia's presidential hopefuls make last push for votes

Two right-wing candidates promising to impose austerity measures after two decades of socialist policies are leading Bolivia's presidential race, with voters set to go to the polls on Sunday. Ex-president Evo Morales, who has been barred from running in

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US cracks down on mineral trafficking in DR Congo with new sanctions

The United States has imposed sanctions on an armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, accusing it of profiting from mineral trafficking. Congolese and Chinese companies linked to this illegal trade have also been sanctioned. This decision co

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Trump eases commercial rocket launch regulations in win for Musk's SpaceX

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order easing regulations for the country's private space industry, including stripping away some environmental restrictions around rocket launches. The move, which was slammed by one environmenta

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Russia partially restricts WhatsApp and Telegram calls to 'combat criminals'

Europe • 1:34 AM

In what it called an effort to "combat criminals," Russia said Wednesday it would restrict calls on the popular messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram, platforms a watchdog says are used for fraud, extortion, and that involve Russian citizens in "terrorist

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US places $5 million reward for top Haiti gang leader's arrest

A US grand jury Wednesday set its site on one of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders, Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier, announcing a $5 million reward for his arrest after indicting Cherizier for heading a "wide-ranging conspiracy." The US' involvement comes as

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French animal shelters see surge in heatwave cases

Early and sustained heatwaves have led to an increase in admissions at French animal shelters, the director of a facility near Paris said on August 13.

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Four years on: Taking stock of the Taliban’s return to Kabul

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers divert international aid by force and other means, block minority communities from receiving aid and may collude with UN officials to seek kickbacks, a US watchdog said on August 12.

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Trump-Putin summit: Ukraine's European allies discuss ceasefire conditions

European allies of Ukraine held a joint call to discuss the conditions of an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine ahead of US President Donald Trump's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky told Trump he woul

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Israeli minister announces settlement plan to 'bury the idea of a Palestinian state'

Israel’s far-right finance minister on Thursday announced plans to revive a contentious settlement plan in the occupied West Bank, which Palestinians and rights groups fear will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state. The so-called E1 scheme linkin

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Does Netanyahu envision annexing Palestinian territories and parts of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt?

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has approved plans for a settlement that would split East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank, a move his office said would bury the idea of a Palestinian state. It was not immediately clear if Prime

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Peru enacts amnesty for military personnel and police in Shining Path insurgency

Peru's president on August 13 signed an amnesty bill into law, preventing military personnel and police officers from being prosecuted over alleged human rights abuses during the country’s armed conflict decades ago.

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Zelensky meets with UK's Starmer ahead of high-stakes Trump-Putin summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London Thursday ahead of Friday's Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The two leaders said that the upcoming ta

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Ukraine's allies signal hope for Trump-Putin talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived for talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on August 14 ahead of a key US-Russia summit in Alaska.

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Yesterday

Spain calls on European allies for help amid worsening wildfires

Spain is seeking assistance from its European neighbours to help contain the spread of wildfires as one of the longest heatwaves in the country's history entered its 10th day.

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UEFA Super Cup: PSG beats Spurs on penalties to claim title after dramatic rally

Paris Saint-Germain returned to last season's historic form on Wednesday to claim the UEFA Super Cup title after capitalising on a stunning late comeback to overcome Tottenham Hotspur on penalties.

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Macron admits French 'repressive violence' in Cameroon decolonisation 'war'

France waged a "war" in Cameroon marked by "repressive violence" during and after the African country's decolonisation in the late 1950s, President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged in a letter published Tuesday. The letter, sent to his Cameroonian counterpar

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Peru's president signs amnesty bill on military crimes into law

Peru's historically unpopular President Dina Boluarte on Wednesday signed into law a bill granting amnesty to soldiers, police and members of civilian militias accused of carrying out crimes against humanity in the decades-long struggle against Maoist Sh

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Israel military says approved plan for new Gaza offensive

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had approved the framework for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip. The approval for the expanded offensive comes days after Israel's security cabinet called for the seizure of Gaza's largest city, following 22 mon

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Ukraine will be in 'a situation similar to that of Germany in the Cold War' after ceasefire

Europe • 6:38 PM

Speaking to FRANCE 24, Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the University College Dublin Clinton Institute, says that following a ceasefire, Ukraine may find itself in the same position as Germany during the Cold War, enjoying the continu

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Mermaid’s tears: How tiny plastic pellets are flooding the environment

Lentil-sized and toxic, industrial plastic pellets known as "nurdles" – or "mermaid's tears" – are the second-largest source of microplastic pollution worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of tonnes leaked into the environment each year. As UN negotiatio

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'Wariness' in Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin talks in Alaska

Ukrainians are wary about Friday's talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, says France 24's Emmanuelle Chaze, reporting from Kyiv. Ukrainians have been seeking security guarantees in case of a ceasefire, but t

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France: Jellyfish force French nuclear plant shutdown

⚡ A nuclear plant in northern France was temporarily shut down on Monday after a swarm of jellyfish clogged pumps used to cool the reactors. ☣️ The automatic shutdowns of four units "had no impact on the safety of the facilities, the safety of personn

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Europe's leaders, Zelensky to hold online talks with Trump ahead of US-Russia meeting

European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold online talks with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday to underline Ukraine’s right to maintain its internationally recognised borders ahead of Trump’s meeting with Russia’s Vladimir

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Russia makes biggest 24-hour advance in eastern Ukraine ahead of Alaska summit

The Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine made major advances Wednesday as European leaders held online talks with US President Donald Trump ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Just days ahead of the Alaska summit, Russia made its

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'A disaster': Russia’s Africa Corps suffers its first defeat in Mali

Africa • 4:11 PM

At least three Russian fighters died when a convoy of the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps was caught in a jihadist ambush on August 1 near Ténenkou in the Mopti region of Mali. Members of the jihadist group JNIM filmed grisly footage of the dead

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'Israel's domestic political struggle: Not a call to end war, not a call against ethnic cleansing'

Israelis are again protesting Netanyahu, with a general strike planned—yet the country’s largest trade union remains uninvolved. Political analyst Dr. Ori Goldberg notes these protests echo past years, lacking institutional support and avoiding criticism

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Israel army approves new framework for offensive

Israeli armed forces chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has “approved the main framework” for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, a statement released by the army said. Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu has not provided a timetable for when Israeli troop

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Zelensky calls for trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump following Alaska talks

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called Wednesday for trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to follow their meeting in Alaska on Friday. Speaking after a video conference with Trump and European leader

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REPLAY – Zelensky and Merz meet in Berlin for US/EU virtual summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday called for a meeting between the leaders of the US, Russia and Ukraine following a video conference with US President Donald Trump ahead of Trump’s meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in

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'Ariane 6 is a launcher for European sovereignty'

Europe • 2:00 PM

The Ariane 6 rocket on Wednesday blasted off carrying Europe's next generation satellite for warning against extreme weather events. As many European countries simmer in a deadly heatwave, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological

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Space: European satellite to step up monitoring of extreme weather

As many European countries simmer in a deadly heatwave, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) said its MetOp-SGA1 satellite will give "earlier warnings to help protect lives and property from extreme weath

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Southern Europe wildfires kill at least three, displace thousands

Wildfires following heatwaves and temperature spikes across the Mediterranean killed at least three people in Spain, Turkey and Albania, authorities reported Wednesday. The fires have displaced thousands in Greece and Albania as governments in several so

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Israel military says it has approved plan for expanded Gaza offensive

Israeli armed forces chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has “approved the main framework” for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, a statement released by the army said. Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu has not provided a timetable for when Israeli troop

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Israeli military approves plan for expanded offensive in Gaza

Israeli armed forces chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has “approved the main framework” for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, a statement released by the army said. Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu has not provided a timetable for when Israeli troop

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Live: Zelensky calls for trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump to follow Alaska talks

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called Wednesday for trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to follow a US-Russia summit in Alaska on Friday. Speaking after a video conference with Trump and European l

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Ariane 6 rocket launches with next-gen weather satellite as deadly heatwave hits Europe

As Europe battles record-breaking heat, the Ariane 6 rocket carrying the MetOp-SGA1 satellite successfully launched on Wednesday from French Guiana. Developed by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, the satellite w

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PSG return to action against Tottenham in season opener

Luis Enrique's team are competing in today's UEFA Super Cup, which sees the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League face off against one another. Having returned from holiday a week ago following a historic season, Paris Saint-Germain have

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Up to 55 million offered for arrest of powerful gang leader

A federal grand jury has indicted one of Haiti’s most powerful gang leaders and a US citizen, known as “Barbecue”, accused of conspiring with him to violate US sanctions and fund gang activities in the troubled Caribbean country, the US Justice Departmen

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Zelensky rules out ceding Donbas region as Russians make fresh advance in Eastern Ukraine

Russian troops have advanced deeper into eastern Ukraine in a surprise attack ahead of upcoming ceasefire negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. France24 International Affairs Editor Philip Turle explains.

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Russian military push comes ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Russian troops have advanced deeper into eastern Ukraine in a surprise attack ahead of upcoming ceasefire negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. France24 Correspondent Emmanuelle Chaze reports from Kyiv.

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Wildfires rage across southern Europe as temperatures top 40C

Europe • 9:05 AM

At least three people have died in a scorching heatwave, which is fuelling dozens of wildfires across parts of southern Europe and forcing thousands from their homes. In several French cities, local authorities are working to protect vulnerable residents

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Europe's powerful Ariane 6 rocket launches for 3rd time ever

Europe’s Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket completed its third launch on 12 August, carrying a state-of-the-art weather and climate satellite into orbit. Operated by the French firm Arianespace for the European Space Agency, Ariane 6 succeeds the recently retir

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Ariane 6 gains speed against SpaceX rival

Europe's Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket launched for the third time ever tonight (Aug. 12), sending an advanced weather and climate satellite to orbit. Ariane 6, the successor to the recently retired Ariane 5, is operated by the French company Arianespace on

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Zelensky says "we will not leave Donbas" and rules out land swap with Russia

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine would reject any Russian proposal to give up the Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire, warning it could be used as a springboard for future attacks. Zelensky was speaking ahead of a meeting between US Pr

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