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Conservative chief Merz on track to become next German chancellor

German voters are voting on Sunday with the conservatives as the strong favourites after an intense campaign underscored by a far-right surge, bolstered by Donald Trump's presidency in the US, and amid voter concerns about economic stagnation, immigratio

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French convict arrested in Romania nine months after deadly van ambush

Fugitive French prisoner Mohammed Amra who prompted an international hunt after staging a deadly escape nine months ago was arrested Saturday in Romania, the French government said. Matthew-Mary Caruchet has this story.

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One billion Catholics concerned about Pope Francis' critical condition

The Vatican said that Pope Francis had a peaceful night at a hospital in Rome following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusion on Saturday. He remains in critical condition, as more than 1.3 billion Catholics around the world are concerned

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Norwegian film “Dreams (Sex Love)” wins Berlin Film Festival’s top prize

Norwegian drama Dreams won the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday, taking home the Golden Bear. The head of the jury described it as a 'meditation on love that cuts to the quick with its keen intelligence.' Australia's Rose Byrne clinched

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Hezbollah could enter Lebanese political landscape, Rawad Taha reports

FRANCE 24’s Rawad Taha reporting from Beirut, where mourners gather for the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, says the big question everyone is asking is what is next for the Hezbollah. “Will they try to reestablish some sort of a military i

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Trump addresses CPAC amid growing tensions between US and Europe over Ukraine

In the US woke ideology is getting a hammer treatment. The Conservative Political Action Conference—better known as CPAC—is a major event in right-wing politics in the US. On its third day, US President Donald Trump addressed the gathering, rallying his

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Thousands of mourners flock to funeral of slain Hezbollah leader in Beirut

Mourners dressed in black, some waving Hezbollah flags or clutching portraits of the group's slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, gathered in their thousands to attend his funeral on Sunday in a stadium on the outskirts of Beirut.

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Israeli army to remain in some West Bank refugee camps for 'coming year', says defence minister

The Israeli army is to remain in some of the occupied West Bank’s urban refugee camps “for the coming year", Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Sunday.

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Germans vote as far right surges in polarised national election

Europe • 8:50 AM

Voting kicked off in Germany on Sunday in an increasingly polarised election, with the conservatives tipped to claim victory after a campaign rocked by a far-right bump in the polls and the dramatic return of Donald Trump to the US presidency.

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In pictures: Catholics pray for Pope Francis as he remains in critical condition

Europe • 7:53 AM

Well-wishers from around the world offered prayers for Pope Francis on Sunday after the Vatican announced the night before that he was in critical condition following a prolonged respiratory attack. While the 88-year-old pope had a peaceful night, he was

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Live: Germans head to polls in high-stakes national election

Europe • 7:27 AM

German voters head to the polls on Sunday with the conservatives the strong favourites after an intense campaign underscored by a far-right surge bolstered by Donald Trump's presidency in the US and amid voter concerns of economic stagnation, immigration

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Pope Francis receives high flow of oxygen to help him breath

The Vatican says Pope Francis was in critical condition on Saturday after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican says. France24 correspondent Seema Gupta tells us m

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Germans head to polls in high-stakes national election

German voters head to the polls on Sunday with the conservatives as the strong favourites after an intense campaign underscored by a far-right surge, bolstered by Donald Trump's presidency in the U.S., and amid voter concerns about economic stagnation, i

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Germany: AfD set for record gains as CDU struggles to secure majority

Voting is underway in what many are calling Germany's most crucial election in decades. The snap election was triggered by the collapse of a three-way coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party. Friedrich Merz, leader o

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Israel delays the release of 602 prisoners to be freed in return to the six hostages

On Saturday, Hamas released six hostages, but Israel did not release the more than 600 Palestinian prisoners that were expected to be freed in return. This was meant to be the seventh and final exchange under phase 1 of the ceasefire agreement.

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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral in Beirut, five months after death

Mourners dressed in black, some waving Hezbollah flags or clutching portraits of the group's slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, gathered in their thousands to attend his funeral on Sunday in a stadium on the outskirts of Beirut. France24 correspondent Rawad

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Yesterday

Pope remains in 'critical' condition after respiratory attack, Vatican says

Pope Francis, 88, continues to be in critical condition after suffering a respiratory attack, the Vatican said Saturday. While alert, he continues treatment for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has spent nine nights. Ffrance24 corres

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Germany braces for pivotal elections as far-right makes further gains

German politicians made a last push for votes on Saturday ahead of pivotal elections, with the far right making rapid gains amid economic woes and security concerns.

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Pope remains in 'critical' condition after respiratory attack, Vatican says

Pope Francis, 88, continues to be in critical condition after suffering a respiratory attack, the Vatican said Saturday. While alert, he continues receiving treatment for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has spent nine nights.

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🔴 Macron says deadly knife attack in eastern France an 'Islamist terror act'

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Germany braces for pivotal elections as far-right makes further gains

Europe • 5:33 PM

German politicians made a last push for votes on Saturday ahead of pivotal elections, with the far right making rapid gains amid economic woes and security concerns.

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Macron says deadly knife attack in eastern France an 'Islamist terror act'

Europe • 5:21 PM

French police arrested several suspects after a man went on a stabbing rampage, killing one and wounding several others in what President Emmanuel Macron called an "Islamist terrorist act", anti-terror prosecutors told AFP Sunday.

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Ugandan opposition politician charged with treason, faces death penalty

Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye was charged with treason on Friday in an escalation of legal troubles stemming from allegations he plotted to remove President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986. FRANCE 24's regional corresponde

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French fugitive arrested in Romania nine months after deadly van ambush

Europe • 4:32 PM

French gangster Mohamed Amra, who was freed after a violent prison van ambush in May, was arrested in Romania on Saturday, the French interior minister said. His escape sparked a nationwide manhunt and political outcry over drug crime.

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US proposes Ukraine UN text omitting mention of occupied territory

Washington has called on United Nations members to support its resolution on the war in Ukraine, despite criticism over its controversial language. Diplomatic sources reveal that the resolution omits references to Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia

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At Nasrallah’s funeral, Hezbollah and Iran set to put on a ‘show of strength’

Lebanon’s Hezbollah will on Sunday hold a funeral for its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The public ceremony for Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli strike in September, is set to be “highly political” says expert

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602 Palestinians prisoners to be freed by Israel under Gaza deal

In exchange for the six Israeli hostages, Israel was supposed to release 602 Palestinians who have been held in its prisons, though that portion of the agreement has reportedly been delayed for several hours. For more, we spoke with Palestinian journali

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Hamas freed all six living Israeli hostages in Gaza on Saturday

Hamas freed six more Israeli hostages in Gaza on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in the seventh hostage-prisoner swap under the first phase of a fragile ceasefire. Their release came after the remains of a body returned by Hama

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French PM Bayrou under growing pressure over Catholic school abuse scandal

A judicial investigation into charges of rape and sexual assault at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school in southwestern France was opened against a former school employee Friday. French PM François Bayrou, whose children attended the school, has come unde

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UN Security Council demands Rwanda withdraw troops from eastern DR Congo

Africa • 1:44 PM

The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution calling Rwanda to end its support for the M23 rebel group and withdraw troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Green expected to come in fourth in German’s legislative elections

Ahead of the snap federal elections in Germany this Sunday, the Green Party held a rally in Hamburg. Two-week polling averages show that 13% of voters intend to vote for the historically ecologist party. In recent years, the Greens have taken a more ce

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"Israel won’t withdraw from Gaza without security against Hamas" - says David Miller

Saturday's exchange marks the final swap of living hostages under the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. Joining us from Washington, Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, explains the three

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Zelensky faces pressure to sign US access deal for Ukraine's mineral deposits

US President Donald Trump is pressuring Ukraine to give US companies preferential access to the war-torn country's mineral deposits, saying the country's leadership "don't have any cards, but they play it tough". Kyiv has been pushing for security guaran

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Sixth Israeli hostage handed over to Red Cross in Gaza

Hamas has handed over Israeli hostage Hisham al-Sayed to the Red Cross, Israeli media reports said, making him the sixth captive released by the Palestinian militant group on Saturday. He was released without a public ceremony. The Israeli military issue

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Israel will release 602 prisoners and detainees after Hamas' release of six hostages

Three more Israeli hostages freed by Hamas militants at a ceremony in central Gaza Saturday were now in the custody of Israeli forces, the military said. Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert were paraded by masked militants on stage where they wav

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Paris Agriculture Show 2025: Farmers want their income to reflect their efforts

The "Salon de l'Agriculture" showcase is a major annual event in France, attracting around 600,000 visitors over nine days. For the first time in more than 60 years, the fair will welcome a foreign country as the guest of honor: Morocco. Agriculture is a

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'See you in court': Donald Trump and Maine governor spar over trans rights

US President Donald Trump had a tense confrontation with a Democratic governor on Friday regarding his executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The governor responded sharply, telling Trump, "See you in court." The o

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40,000 Palestinians displaced in the West Bank as Israel's 'Iron Wall' operation intensifies

The Israeli army's “Iron Wall” operation has led to an unprecedented displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. According to the United Nations, some 40,000 people have fled their homes. They come from refugee camps, overcrowded areas where displaced

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The importance of mother tongue teaching according to Minister Siviwe Gwarube

International Mother Language Day, celebrated on February 21st, honors linguistic diversity and aims to preserve mother tongues worldwide. The day highlights the importance of languages in fostering inclusion, acting as the primary medium for knowledge t

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Hamas brings three more Israeli hostages in Gaza's Nuseirat area before release

Hamas brings three more Israeli hostages in Gaza's Nuseirat area before release Copy Hamas brought three more Israeli hostages on stage in Gaza's Nuseirat area before their release, AFP reports. Earlier in the day, two additional Israeli men were relea

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Final hostage-prisoner exchange underway. "Now is time for reconstruction" says Yossi Mekelberg

The seventh and final hostage-prisoner exchange of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is underway. Two hostages have been transferred to Israeli custody, and four more are expected to be exchanged in Nuseirat. "This war has brought nothin

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Six hostages to be freed Saturday: Last living ones in ceasefire's first phase

A few hours later, following the release of the first two hostages by Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Red Cross vehicles arrived in the central town of Nuseirat for the next handover. The six hostages freed on Saturday are the last living ones

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French President Macron arrives at the Paris Agriculture Show 2025

The largest farm in France opened its doors on Saturday at the Porte de Versailles in Paris, following the final adoption of the agricultural orientation law. President Macron arrived at the fair and walked through the halls of the exhibition in an atmos

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Bardella withdraws from US conference after Trump ally Bannon’s Nazi ‘wave’

French far-right leader Jordan Bardella cancelled his scheduled speech at a Washington conference on Friday after Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon appeared to make a Nazi salute at the same event. The incident comes just weeks after Elon Musk, another Trum

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The morale of Ukrainians weakened after three years of war

On February 24th, Ukraine will mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, a milestone amid rising diplomatic tensions as US-Russia relations seem to be warming. This geopolitical shift is worrying both European leaders and Ukrainians. Despite be

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Hamas releases first Israeli hostages after body of Shiri Bibas identified

On Saturday, Hamas began releasing Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, marking the seventh hostage-prisoner swap under a fragile ceasefire. Six Israeli hostages are set to be exchanged for 602 Palestinian prisoner

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France still seeking to oppose EU-Mercosur trade deal, says Macron

France is standing alongside disaffected farmers and other agricultural groups to block the EU-Mercosur trade deal with four South American countries from taking effect, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.

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Germany’s ‘Tesla-Land’ experiences an economic miracle but does it appease voters?

Europe • 8:50 AM

Grünheide, a small town on the outskirts of Berlin, has become the showcase of Brandenburg, an eastern German state experiencing strong economic growth in stark contrast to the rest of the crisis-hit country. For many, the reason is clear: a massive Tesl

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‘A lot of relief for both families’ of first two Israeli’s freed, FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky says

Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham were the first two Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Saturday. “There’s a lot of relief for both families,” FRANCE 24’s Middle East correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky says.

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Hamas says Israel delaying prisoner release is ‘blatant violation’ of truce

Hamas accused Israel on Saturday of breaching the Gaza ceasefire by delaying the release of Palestinian prisoners, initially set to follow the return of six Israeli hostages. Israeli officials said the release may occur after a security consultation led

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Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after six Gaza hostages freed

The release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, scheduled for Saturday, was delayed indefinitely following the return of six Israeli hostages under a fragile Gaza truce. The Israeli prime minister’s office said early Sunday the release of prisoners wou

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French farmers demand policy changes over too much taxes

Copy Last year, during the Paris Agriculture Show, many farmers protested against the Macron government, demanding better measures for their work. This year, the fair seems calmer with the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron, but the calls for po

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'He's a real general': Dan Caine is Trump's pick for top US military role

US President Donald Trump has named retired three-star general Dan Caine as his top pick to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff following a flurry of firings at the Pentagon.

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Shiri Bibas confirmed dead as her body returned to Israel following Hamas mix-up

After Israel accused Hamas of returning the wrong body—mistakenly identified as an Israeli hostage, Shiri Bibas, instead of an unknown woman—Hamas has now released what it claims is the correct remains. The body arrived in Israel early Saturday and will

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Friday, february 21, 2025

Uganda moves opposition figure's treason trial to civil court

In tonight's edition, Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye was charged with treason on Friday. Also, Our focus tonight is on education; we talk to South Africa Basic Education Minister Siviwe Garube. And artists are paying tribute to the work of Fr

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Israelis in shock after confusion around release of hostage Shiri Bibas' body

Israel was still in shock Friday after the revelation that one of the bodies purportedly belonging to four dead hostages being returned by Hamas was in fact an unknown woman. Hamas later handed over what they said was the correct body of deceased hostage

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Why is Paris’s annual agriculture show such a big deal in France?

Europe • 9:22 PM

Every year thousands of farmers convene in the French capital for a nine-day exhibition of livestock, produce and farming tools. The event attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and is an essential stop for France’s top politicians – why?

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In Putin’s Orbit, Trump & the ‘Madman theory’, Europe's defining moment, German elections

Europe • 7:49 PM

Three years after ending all official communications with Moscow, the US government is suddenly back in Russia’s orbit. The two nuclear powers were sitting down in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday finding a path to ending the Ukraine war and more besides. The tal

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Man who tried to kill novelist Salman Rushdie found guilty of attempted murder

Hadi Matar, the man who charged "The Satanic Verses" author Salman Rushdie on stage and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife, was found guilty Friday of attempted murder. The attack left the author blind in his right eye.

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Suspect arrested after stabbing at Berlin's Holocaust memorial

A man was seriously wounded in a stabbing at Berlin's Holocaust memorial Friday. A suspect was later arrested, police said, but no details on the identity or possible motive were provided.

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Israel's Bibas family accuses Netanyahu of 'abandoning' Shiri, boys

Israel's Bibas family accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 21 of failing to protect their loved ones during Hamas's 2023 attack and of failing to bring them home.

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Exclusive: EU's Costa says 'no credible negotiations with results' without Ukraine, EU

Europe • 4:49 PM

FRANCE 24 was granted exclusive access to EU Council President Antonio Costa, just before he left for Ukraine to mark the third anniversary of the war. He responds to US President Donald Trump's direct talks with the Russian government, insisting that ne

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In a former East German mining town, political extremes entice disenchanted voters

Europe • 4:07 PM

Germany’s Brandenburg is known as a dynamic federal state with a thriving economy. But in the small town of Forst near the Polish border, residents feel they have been left out of the economic success the rest of the state has encountered and many are li

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Thousands freed from online scam hubs in Myanmar

Pacific Asia • 3:38 PM

Around 10,000 people, mostly foreigners, have been freed from telecom fraud operations in Myanmar in recent days. Lured by lucrative job offers, they had found themselves trapped in scam centres where they were forced to work swindling people around the

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Mapping alternative artistic visions of the future

Culture • 3:37 PM

A new exhibition at the Pompidou Centre in Metz is hoping to challenge the Euro-centric principles that have long dominated art history. "After the end. Cartographies for another time" brings together the work of 40 international artists, as they explore

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'For the first time since 1941 there is no alliance between a US government and European countries'

President Donald Trump's proposed US takeover of Gaza has been roundly condemned globally, with Palestinians, Arab nations and rights experts saying it was tantamount to "ethnic cleansing." For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Oliv

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Trump begins talks with Russia without Ukraine or EU: Europe scrambles for a plan

Europe • 2:34 PM

Europe does not have a seat at the negotiating table: the message could not be clearer from Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg. This week, the US president opened discussions with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin – w

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Menswear collections, winter 2025: Strong messages and a poetic feel

Culture • 2:01 PM

Designers Jeanne Friot, Walter Van Beirendonck and Louis Gabriel Nouchi have taken a stand to defend gender-neutral fashion, calling for inclusion rather than exclusion. Meanwhile, Japanese labels Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto propose a simple, comfort

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Immigration in Germany and the challenge of integration

Europe • 1:48 PM

As Germans head to the polls on Sunday to vote in pivotal legislative elections, immigration will be a key issue on their minds. It's nearly 10 years since Angela Merkel's famous phrase "Wir schaffen das" (We can manage this), when images of German citiz

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French prosecutors open rape investigation in Catholic school abuse scandal

France • 1:05 PM

A judicial investigation into charges of rape and sexual assault at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school in southwestern France was opened against a former school employee Friday. French PM François Bayrou, whose children attended the school, has come unde

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PSG draws to play Liverpool in Champions League last 16

Paris Saint-Germain will face Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League, a draw showed Friday. The two teams last met in the group stage during the 2018/2019 season.

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Sweden launches probe after yet another Baltic Sea cable is damaged

Europe • 11:00 AM

Sweden has launched an investigation into suspected sabotage after yet another underwater cable in the Baltic Sea was found damaged. The cable links Finland and Germany and is the last of a string of telecom cable disruptions in the region in recent mont

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French hackers show how easy it is to 'jailbreak' Musk's new AI model Grok 3

Elon Musk is starting to see the fruits of his AI shopping spree with the release of Grok 3, one of the most capable AI models yet. But according to French startup PRISM Eval, the chatbot's safety filters can easily be bypassed to make requests about dan

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Arab leaders meet in Saudi Arabia in bid to counter Trump’s ‘Riviera’ Gaza proposal

Leaders from Arab countries met in Saudi Arabia Friday to hammer out a recovery plan for Gaza. The summit is aimed at countering US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate the Palestinian enclave’s two million people to Egypt and Jordan and turn Ga

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Kash Patel confirmed to head FBI despite fears he will go after Trump foes

Kash Patel, a fierce Donald Trump loyalist, has been confirmed as the new head of the FBI. Critics fear that Patel has been placed on the position to run the president’s errands and to go after Trump adversaries in both the government and the media.

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Israel says body returned by Hamas is not Shiri Bibas but identifies her sons

Israel on Friday said one of the four bodies returned by Hamas a day earlier is not that of Shiri Bibas, mother of the two young boys whose bodies were handed over Thursday. Israel said it had identified her children, Kfir and Ariel – the youngest hostag

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Hamas releases new hostage body after misidentification of Shiri Bibas

Hamas released a body on Friday it claimed to be that of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, whose misidentification in a handover this week threatened to derail the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal. Read our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded.

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US cuts Biden-era deportation protections for 521,000 Haitians

US Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Thursday shortened the duration of temporary work permits and deportation protections for 521,000 Haitians to last until August of this year rather than February 2026, weeks after cutting a "temporary pro

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