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The Bright Side: Abidjan landfill transformed into city parkland

Built on the site of a long-standing landfill area, Abidjan's soon-to-be-opened Akouedo Park is one of the world's latest efforts to turn harmful wasteland into community spaces.

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PSG dominate list of Ballon D'Or nominees

The 2025 Ballon d’Or will have a new winner after 2024 holder Rodri missed the 30-man shortlist dominated by PSG, with nine nominees. Neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo made the list.

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Israel cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza despite army misgivings

Israel’s military will take control of Gaza City under a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved by his security cabinet, to 'defeat' Hamas while delivering aid outside combat zones. Nearly two years into the war, Netanyahu faces growing pres

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Lebanon works to disarm Hezbollah

Lebanon’s cabinet met Thursday for the second time in days to discuss disarming Hezbollah, after the Iran-backed group rejected the government’s move to strip it of weapons. Ministers reviewed a US proposal setting a timetable for disarmament, with Washi

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Huge wildfire in southern France now under control

France’s largest wildfire this summer, the worst in its Mediterranean region in at least 50 years, has been contained after killing one person, injuring 13 and destroying thousands of hectares and dozens of homes. Around 2,000 firefighters battled the bl

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Thousands forced to evacuate ahead of California’s fast-spreading Canyon Fire

Thousands of people have been driven from their homes north of Los Angeles as a brush fire spread quickly across the mountainous area.

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Cameroon opposition figure Kamto rejects 'abritrary' election ban

Africa • 6:58 AM

Prominent opposition figure Maurice Kamto on Friday rejected what he denounced as his "arbitrary" exclusion from running in Cameroon's presidential election in October. Kamto's candidacy was rejected Tuesday by the country's constitutional court.

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‘Palestinian Pelé’ shot dead by Israeli forces in Gaza, football association says

Suleiman al-Obeid, a former Palestine national football team player dubbed the "Palestinian Pelé", was shot dead Wednesday by Israeli troops who opened fire on people waiting to receive humanitarian aid, the Palestinian Football Association said.

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France's huge wildfire is under control but will still burn for days, authorities say

A wildfire larger than Paris that killed one person and injured more than a dozen more will continue to burn for days even after being brought under control, French authorities said Friday. Around 2,000 firefighters are still working to extinguish the bl

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Ex-Arsenal midfielder Partey joins Villarreal despite his legal troubles

Granted conditionnal bail two days ago, Partey joins the Spanish club Villareal. Partey was charged with five counts of rape against two women and a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. He denies the charges.

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US increases reward for Venezuelan President Maduro's arrest to $50 million

The United States on Thursday raised to $50 million its reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was indicted in the US on drug trafficking charges in 2020. The US, which does not recognise Maduro's past two election victories, s

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Protests erupt with Israelis divided over government's plan to 'control' Gaza

Families of the hostages still being held in Gaza led widespread protests on Thursday against the Israeli government's plans to "control" the territory, demanding instead an end to the war and a release of all the remaining captives. Members of governmen

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France's largest fire in over a decade contained, but not yet extinguished

FRANCE 24 journalist Carys Garland reports from Narbonne, in France, after officials said Thursday the country's largest wildfire in over a decade had been contained after blazing through 16,000 hectares. Residents who had been forced to evacuate near th

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French court blocks return of banned pesticide

A top French court struck down an effort to reintroduce an environmentally toxic pesticide on Thursday after over 2 million people signed a petition against the initiative, although some worry the decision will lead to insufficient crop yield.

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Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said early Friday that his security cabinet approved a plan to take over Gaza City in a further escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas. Israel's offensive on the devastated territory has already kille

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Trump to host Armenia, Azerbaijan for historic 'Peace Signing' at White House

Pacific Asia • 2:33 AM

The leaders of archrivals Armenia and Azerbaijan will convene at the White House on Friday in a "summit" that US President Donald Trump said will yield an "official Peace Signing" that aims to end a decades-long conflict between two former Soviet republi

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Plan to take over Gaza City receives approval from Israeli security cabinet

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Yesterday

Lebanese cabinet holds second meeting on Hezbollah disarmament

The Lebanese cabinet met for the second time in days on Thursday as it discusses ways of disarming Hezbollah, a day after the Iran-backed militant group rejected the government's decision to take away its weapons.

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Ghana names finance minister as defence chief after fatal crash

Following a military helicopter crash in which both the defence and environment ministers were killed, Ghana's president appointed the country's finance minister to also head defence. The two ministers died alongside six others when the helicopter went d

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France's largest wildfire in decades brought under control

France's largest wildfire in decades, which erupted on Tuesday in the southern Aude department, has been "brought under control", local authorities said late Thursday. The blaze, which officials linked to climate change and prolonged drought, killed one

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Dr. Gershon Baskin: 'Hamas is ready for a deal that will release all Israeli hostages in 24 hours'

Former hostage negotiator Dr. Gershon Baskin tells FRANCE 24 that he has spoken directly with Hamas, saying the militant group is "ready for a deal that will release all the Israeli hostages in 24 hours". Now the Middle East director of the International

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Nearly 12,000 children under five face acute malnutrition in Gaza, WHO says

Nearly 12,000 children under five in Gaza were diagnosed with acute malnutrition in July, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday, warning of worsening hunger-related deaths amid ongoing conflict and aid restrictions. The organisation urged imm

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OpenAI releases ChatGPT-5 as global AI race accelerates

OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT-5 on Thursday, describing it as a major leap forward in artificial intelligence, with enhanced abilities in reasoning, task automation, and coding. The new model is being rolled out free to all users, as the company continues to c

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Netanyahu says Israel wants to ‘control but not govern’ Gaza as security cabinet convenes

Ahead of a security cabinet meeting on the future of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that his government plans to take full military control of Gaza but does not want to "govern" it. The statement comes amid growing domes

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Researchers race to predict wildfire behaviour as France battles biggest blaze in decades

A fire that raged through France’s southern Aude region and devastated an area larger than Paris had been brought under control late Thursday, authorities said. As large-scale wildfires become a bigger threat due to climate change, researchers in France

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Relatives of hostages protest with Gaza flotilla ahead of Israeli security meeting

Relatives of Israeli hostages sailed in a flotilla toward Gaza, waving flags and posters of their loved ones held by Hamas, calling for international support. The protest comes ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet meeting Thursday, where

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Ballon d'Or 2025: PSG dominate nominations as Rodri, Messi and Ronaldo miss the cut

The 2025 Ballon d'Or award will see a fresh winner for the second consecutive year, with last year's recipient Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, "Rodri", absent from the 30-man shortlist announced on Thursday. Players from Paris Saint-Germain dominate the list

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Israel's Netanyahu says wants to take control of all of Gaza, doesn't intend to 'govern' it

Prime Minister Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel does not intend to govern Gaza permanently but 'intend to take control', remove Hamas, and hand over administration to a new authority. He said no detailed military plan exists yet, ahead of a crucial ca

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Massive wildfire devastates southern France, dozens of homes lost

As more than 2,000 firefighters continue battling the largest wildfire France has seen in nearly 80 years, FRANCE 24's journalist Carys Garland is on the ground among the burnt-out homes. Residents from about 15 villages have been evacuated, and dozens o

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French wildfires reignite debate over vanishing 'fire break' vineyards

As wildfires rip through southern France's Aude region, winemakers and farmers are blaming their rapid spread on the loss of moisture-rich vineyards that once acted as natural firebreaks, sparking fresh calls to preserve them as climate change fuels incr

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France's top constitutional court rejects return of bee-killing pesticide

France's Constitutional Council on Thursday rejected a controversial measure that would have allowed the reintroduction of acetamiprid, a chemical banned since 2018 due to its harmful effects on pollinators and ecosystems. The "Duplomb law" drew public o

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'Wildfires in south of France becoming more widespread, challenging to manage over past 10-15 years'

France’s largest wildfire in decades continued to burn and spread Thursday, though at a slower pace, after having already ravaged more than 160 square kilometers (62 square miles) in the south of the country and claiming one life, local authorities said.

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Trump-Putin meeting agreed for 'coming days', Kremlin says

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold a summit as early as next week, according to the Kremlin. The possible meeting comes as Trump pushes to end Russia’s military assault on Ukraine, just a day after Putin met with US

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Trump calls on Middle Eastern countries to join Abraham Accords

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that expanding the Abraham Accords, which he brokered during his first presidency in 2020 to normalise ties between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries, is key to achieving Middle East peace. Efforts to ex

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Netanyahu’s far-right coalition: What’s next for the West Bank and Gaza?

Since the November 2022 elections, Israel has been led by its most right-wing government ever. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power through a coalition with far-right parties, including ultranationalists and Jewish supremacists. Facing cor

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'Plastic pollution really begins when we're making plastics and extracting oil, gas from the ground'

The 184 countries gathering to forge a landmark treaty on combating plastic pollution are seeking a way forward to tackle a global crisis wrecking ecosystems and trashing the oceans. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Eve Irvine

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France's Macron urges tougher line in standoff with Algeria

President Emmanuel Macron urged a tougher line from Paris in an intensifying standoff with former north African colony Algeria, saying France's stance needed to 'command respect'. Tensions have grown in recent months to new levels between Paris and Algie

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France faces largest wildfire in decades

Firefighters are battling a massive wildfire in Southeastern France’s Aude department. Since Tuesday, the fire has burned an area 1.5 times larger than Paris. One person has died, and three are missing. Dry, windy conditions are fueling the country’s lar

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

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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UK detains first migrants to be returned to France under 'one-in, one-out' deal

The UK has detained a first group of migrants slated to be returned to France under a deal struck between Paris and London last month to curb the number of people attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, the country's Home Office said Thursday.

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'As with Maidan and other revolutions in Ukraine, civic mobilisation is an extremely effective tool'

Ukraine has appointed a new head of an economic crimes investigation unit, after rolling back an attempt to overhaul its anti-corruption agencies following public protests and concerns from key allies. Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, a renowned anti-graft detective

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Flash floods and landslides hit Himalayan village, dozens missing

Rescue teams in northern India are struggling with heavy rain and blocked roads following a deadly flash flood and landslides in a Himalayan village earlier this week, which left dozens missing and four dead. Disaster relief workers and the military are

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More than half of French admit to faking vacation stories on social media

We tend to share only the most glamorous moments of our lives on social media, but have you ever lied about your vacation? A poll reveals that over half of French people admit to doing so whether it’s about the destination, the weather, or the vibe of th

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US to punish India with 50% tariffs as punishment for buying Russian oil

US President Donald Trump has vowed additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the combined tariffs imposed by the United States on its ally to 50%. India has called the additional tariffs 'unfortunate'. Trump's Wednesday a

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Trump signals possible meeting with Putin on Ukraine ceasefire

US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin is highly likely soon, following constructive talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin earlier that day. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cauti

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France's biggest wildfire of the summer has eclipsed the size of Paris and is still spreading

France’s biggest wildfire in years was spreading quickly Wednesday in a Mediterranean region near Spain after leaving one person dead and several injured, authorities said. The fire burned an area larger than Paris, and the military was called in to help

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Putin says 'conditions' for talks not met as Zelensky pushes for meeting with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the "conditions" were not yet in place for a face-to-face meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, hours after the Ukrainian president said he was willing to meet for talks on ending the war. The comments come amid

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Italy gives final go-ahead for landmark Sicily bridge project

Italy's government gave final approval on Wednesday to the construction of what will be the world's longest single-span bridge, linking Sicily to the mainland, despite environmental, financial and other concerns that have delayed it for decades. The 3.7-

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US begins collecting Trump's new global tariffs

On "T-Day," the US began enforcing Trump's new tariffs, raising average rates from 2% to 15% after a 90-day pause allowed some countries to negotiate reduced deals while others, like India and Brazil, faced hikes. These tariffs have generated over $150 b

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French firefighters struggle to contain biggest wildfire since 1949

France is grappling with its largest wildfire in nearly 80 years, with the three-day blaze still raging near the border with Spain. As of Thursday, at least one person has been killed and three more are missing.

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Third-hottest July on record worsens droughts, floods and fires

The world experienced its third-hottest July on record last month, the European climate monitoring service said Thursday, with parts of Asia and Scandinavia suffering record-high temperatures even as the global average dipped slightly.

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

Pacific Asia • 6:43 AM

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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Humanitarian situation in Gaza still very severe, EU official says

Humanitarian operations in the besieged Gaza Strip continue to be undermined by "significant obstructive factors", an EU official told Reuters Thursday following an update from the bloc's foreign policy and humanitarian arms. The official described the h

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

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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Nice falls to Benfica (0-2) in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round

Nice’s hopes of reaching the Champions League group stage took a hit. They lost 0-2 at home to Benfica in the first leg of the third qualifying round. The return leg will be played on Tuesday in Lisbon, and Nice will need a major upset to advance to the

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New Trump tariffs take effect, plunging dozens of countries into economic uncertainty

US President Donald Trump's sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs took effect on Thursday, kickstarting a new stage of uncertainty for dozens of trading partners, including allies, and casting fears of an economic backlash domestically.

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