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ICC calls on members to stand 'united for justice' following Trump sanctions

The International Criminal Court on Friday called on its member states to stand up against sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump, saying that the move was an attempt to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work.” The White House issued t

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A cultural stroll through Paris with Marc Lavoine and Emily Loizeau

This week on Paris des Arts, Valérie Fayolle meets French singer, actor and writer Marc Lavoine. He discusses his second novel, "Quand arrivent les chevaux" ("When the horses arrive"), a poetic tribute to his late mother. With him, we discover the works

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Baghdad's first skatepark provides escape for young people

A new skatepark has opened in Baghdad, the first in the Iraqi capital. The park, which was opened by three organisations from Italy, Iraq and Belgium after lengthy negotiations, now provides a welcome means of escape for young people in a country that ha

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Trump sanctions ICC for 'illegitimate' probes targeting US, Israel

US President Donald Trump has approved asset freezes and travel bans against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials or anyone deemed to have helped ICC investigations of US citizens or allies like Israel. The move, condemned by the court, comes in

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What does it mean to be French? PM Bayrou calls for a national debate

French Prime Minister François Bayrou on Friday called for a wider debate on the issue of French identity after his justice minister said that the constitution should be changed to end birthright citizenship. A debate on the sensitive issue of what it me

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Rapper Kendrick Lamar to headline Super Bowl halftime

Rapper Kendrick Lamar, one of the big success stories of the Grammys last week, said Thursday his fans should expect "storytelling" at the Super Bowl halftime show this weekend. Lamar will headline the halftime show at Sunday's showdown between the Kansa

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Milei orders Argentina's withdrawal from WHO

Argentina's president has ordered the country's withdrawal from the World Health Organization due to “profound differences” with the U.N. agency, a presidential spokesperson said Wednesday. President Javier Milei 's decision echoes that of his ally, US P

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US top diplomat says backs international mission in Haiti

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the United States backed an international security mission in Haiti but wanted a broader solution in the troubled country that includes economic stimulus. Rubio signed waivers to a sweeping ban on aid

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ICC condemns Trump sanctions over 'illegitimate' Israel probes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday called on its member states to stand up against sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump, saying the move was an attempt to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work.” FRANCE 24's Fernande va

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UAE to invest billions to build AI data centre in France

The French presidency on Thursday announced that the United Arab Emirates would invest billions of euros to build a huge artificial intelligence data centre in the country, which would be the largest in Europe.

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DR Congo: M23 rebels seek to march on Kinshasa

In a stadium rally held in the recently captured city of Goma Thursday, M23 political leader Corneille Nangaa asserted that he wanted to march on DR Congo's capital – Kinshasa. Backed by neighbouring Rwanda, the M23 rebels continued advances elsewhere in

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Russell Vought returns as White House budget chief

The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Russell Vought as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the entity at the centre of a contentious effort to freeze federal funding for aid programs. Despite strong opposition from Democrats

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'We want best for people of Tunisia': Birthplace of Arab Spring 'going in reverse into dictatorship'

A judge in Tunisia handed down lengthy sentences to prominent politicians and at least one leading journalist in a move seen as targeting critics of autocratic strongman Kais Saied. Offering context and perspective on the fall of North Africa's nascent d

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iSPIRT: 'If we play AI right, it'll lift many Indians out of poverty', up into health and education

Artificial intelligence: The tools for building a bright future? "Does humanity know what it's doing or are we creating the tools of our own downfall?" asks FRANCE 24's François Picard. Our guest, Co-Founder of iSPIRT Foundation Sharad Sharma, acknowledg

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Live: UN calls on US to reverse sanctions slapped on ICC for ‘illegitimate’ Israel probe

The UN on Friday said it deeply regretted President Donald Trump's decision to impose US sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and urged him to reverse the move. The response came hours after Trump signed an executive order slapping sanctio

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Taiwan detects six Chinese balloons as military pressure continues

Taiwan's defence ministry said Friday it had detected six Chinese balloons near the island in the past 24 hours, one of the highest figures recorded. The sightings come amid ongoing military activity by Beijing, which also deployed nine aircraft, six war

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US seizes second Venezuelan government plane in the Dominican Republic

The US on Thursday seized a second aircraft linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government in the Dominican Republic. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally oversaw the operation during his visit to Santo Domingo as tensions between Wa

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UAE to invest billions in France AI data centre

The UAE will invest between €30 billion and €50 billion to build Europe’s largest AI data centre in France, the French presidency announced Thursday. Part of a broader AI agreement between the two nations, the project will serve as the core of a new AI c

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US college sports body bars transgender women from competing in women's divisions

The NCAA changed its policy Thursday to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports, aligning with a new executive order from President Donald Trump. The move marks a major shift for college athletics, overriding previous rules that followed n

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Could dead leaves turn into green gold?

Imagine a world where we could make paper, cardboard and packaging without cutting down a single tree. Today, that dream is becoming reality. The start-up Releaf Paper turns fallen leaves into value. It was founded by a Ukrainian scientist, who moved to

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US envoy draws ‘red line’ over Hezbollah’s inclusion in Lebanese govt

On her first official visit to Lebanon, US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus on Friday said the US had drawn a red line against Hezbollah's inclusion in a future Lebanese government. Prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam has struggle

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Belgian authorities struggle to rein in spate of drug-related shootings in Brussels

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, February 7: The Belgian capital Brussels has been rocked by a spate of violent drug-related shootings that authorities are at a loss to control. Also in the news: the Greek island of Santorini is in a state of emergency due to thou

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'We're in an aggression situation: Rwanda invaded east DRC with no meaningful self-defence argument'

The Rwanda-backed rebels who captured eastern Congo's key city of Goma sought to shore up public support amid growing international pressure. As the M23 rebels continue their advance, ignoring the UN secretary-general's call to lay down their arms, FRANC

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Ukraine offers humanitarian corridor for Russian civilians trapped in seized border areas

Ukraine says it is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to help Russian civilians return home from territory seized in its August offensive – if Moscow requests one. Kyiv accused Russia of ignoring its own citizens while the Kremlin has so far remained

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Hong Kong, law and order: Inside the rebel city now under Chinese control

FRANCE 24 brings you a special report on the new Hong Kong, with the freedom-loving former British colony undergoing a severe political, social and economic takeover by the authorities in Beijing. In what was until recently the last island of freedom in

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Yesterday

M23 leader vows to push on in DR Congo

Thousands of people have gathered in Goma to hear from the leader of the M23 rebels, the group behind the conflict in eastern DR Congo. Corneille Nangaa called for a minute's silence for victims of his fighters' takeover of the city, before warning of mo

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Trump falsely states that two female Olympic boxers 'transitioned'

Before signing an executive order to ban transgender women and girls from competing in female school sports, US President Donald Trump claimed two boxers from the Paris 2024 Olympics "transitioned" to female, and "stole" titles from biological women. Thi

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France announces creation of 35 new data centres as AI summit kicks off

France's digital minister has announced that 35 sites are ready to host data centres in the country, as the global AI summit opens its doors in Paris. It's an opportunity for President Emmanuel Macron to show that France is a key contender on the world s

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Ukraine's options: How to maintain US support in the age of Trump?

Does what goes for Greenland and Gaza also go for Ukraine? With the third anniversary of Russia's all-out invasion approaching and Kyiv on the back foot, allies are scrambling to figure out the "art of the deal" power plays of a US president they thought

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‘Political stunt’: Feasibility of Trump plan in limbo as first migrants are sent to Guantanamo

US President Donald Trump’s plan to house 30,000 undocumented migrants at Guantanamo Bay gained pace this week as the first flights arrived in Cuba. As administration officials debate the legality of the plan and others warn of human rights abuses, its v

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Is 'masculine energy' needed in order to pursue innovation in AI?

As AI action summit kicks off in Paris, FRANCE 24's tech editor, Peter O'Brien meet Yann LeCun, chief AI scientist of Meta, to talk about innovation.

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France: New divisions among left-wing coalition after no confidence vote

France finally has a budget, after the government pushed the bill through by decree, and went on to survive a no confidence vote. But the episode has fractured the left wing opposition. The left emerged the largest group in parliament after last Summer's

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Binyamin Netanyahu calls Donald Trump's Gaza plan 'remarkable'

Israel’s defense minister says he has instructed the army to prepare plans for large numbers of Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip in line with President Donald Trump’s proposal for the war-ravaged territory. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday

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Israel orders army to prepare 'volontary' departures from Gaza

Amid international condemnation, Donald Trump has spelled out more of his idea for the United States to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and resettle the Palestinians elsewhere. He said that Israel would "turn over" the territory when fighting was over,

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Panama's president hits back at US 'lies' about free canal access

Panama has vehemently denied claims made by the US on Thursday that its government vessels would have free passage through the Panama Canal, calling the US claims “lies and falsehoods”.

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Could Trump force Jordan and Egypt to take Palestinians deported from Gaza?

US President Donald Trump’s demands for Jordan and Egypt to take in what could be millions of Palestinians deported from Gaza under the president’s stated plan for the devastated territory have been met with a fierce backlash from the Arab world. But wit

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AI Action Summit: Can Europe catch up with the US and China?

Political leaders, tech executives, scientists and experts are gathering to Paris to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Summit host France dreams of becoming a leader in the disruptive technology. Back in 2018, President Emmanuel Macron launc

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Meet the 'Grannies' taking on Germany's far-right AfD

With Germany set for general elections in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could make historic gains, a group called “Omas Gegen Rechts” or “Grannies Against the Right” are taking to the streets in to persuade voters to reject extremist

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What are the expectations of Syria and France on the wake of the Paris summit

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Syria’s newly installed interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in a phone call Wednesday and invited him to visit France “in the coming weeks,” al-Sharaa’s office said in a statement. FRANCE 24's journalist Wassi

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Greece's Santorini hit by fresh series of quakes, declares state of emergency

Greek authorities declared a state of emergency for the island of Santorini on Thursday after an unprecedented series of undersea earthquakes shook the popular island for nearly a week.

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Smartphones: A lifeline or a dangerous distraction?

On World No Mobile Phone Day, we take a look at how this event started and was named in honour of a famous French song. We also dive into which nations are most on their smartphones and which are not. Finally, we discuss what smartphone use could be doin

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Red carpet glam, Cannes jury reveal and zombie animals in new French animation

In this edition of arts24, we're bringing you all the excitement from the world premiere of "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" in Paris. Join us as Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Chiwetel Ejiofor light up the red carpet, with FRANCE 24's Dheepthika Laur

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Donald Trump signs order to ban trans athletes from women's sports

Rights groups have slammed the latest executive order from the US president.. This after Donald Trump banned transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. It's the latest move targeting transgender people since he's been back in power. Delano D'

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United States' government vessels to sail free through Panama Canal

The United States has announced that its government vessels would be no longer have to pay to sail through the Panama Canal, following heavy pressure from President Donald Trump. But Panama says that might not be true.

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Donald Trump administration appears to walk back shock Gaza plan

After international condemnation, US officials have begun to walk back president Donald Trump's suggestion that the United States should take ownership of the Gaza Strip and permanently resettle the Palestinians elsewhere.

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'The Seers': Sulaiman Addonia on his tale of an Eritrean refugee in London

An author who spent his early life living in a refugee camp in Sudan, his early teens in Saudi Arabia and then arrived in London as an underage unaccompanied refugee speaking no English, has told FRANCE 24 how he turned his life around, and how his books

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Protesters in cities across the US rally against Trump's policies

From the East Coast to the West, thousands across the US are rallying in protests against Trump. In a movement called "50 protests in 50 states," Wednesday saw demonstrations nationwide outside state Capitol buildings, and protesters are denouncing Trump

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The ninth art: Exploring France's love of 'la bande dessinée'

French people love comic books, known as bandes dessinées. That means that the "BD" industry is booming. Graphic novels are such an important part of French culture that there are several festivals around the country, including the prestigious Angoulême

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Bangladesh protesters raze buildings linked to ousted leader

Thousands of protesters in Bangladesh took out their anger at former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by burning her family's former residence to the ground on Wednesday. Hasina fled to India last autumn after being forced to resign, but recently called on h

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Turkey: Two years after earthquake, survivors still face loss and hardship

Thousands took to the streets of Antakya, Turkey in the early hours of Thursday morning. They were out in the cold to mark the 2 year anniversery of when a 7.8 magnitiude earthquake struck the area. The quake was the deadliest and most destructive in mor

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Three weeks into Trump's presidency: What can we make of his strategy

Only three weeks into Trump's presidency and a lot has happened so far. FRANCE 24's international affairs editor Angela Diffley tells us more.

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French parliament adopts 2025 budget after months of political turmoil

The French parliament on Thursday finally adopted the state's 2025 budget following a tumultuous months-long process that saw the previous government toppled and the current administration survive multiple no-confidence votes.

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Ivory Coast: artisanal weaving of loincloths under threat

In Ivory Coast, the weaving of loincloths used by the Baoule people is an age-old skill that requires years of apprenticeship. But today few young people are learning the techniques it takes to make the distinctive textiles as many member of the communit

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Niger's ruling military orders the Red Cross to leave the country immediately

Niger's ruling military has ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross to leave the country immediately. The junta hasn't given any reason for the decision but earlier this year said that the government was looking more closely at the supervisi

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United States aid freeze: Kenya's haiti mission under threat

Donald Trump's freeze on foreign aid could impact more than 13 millions dollars in funding that US had air marked for International Security Force to help fight armed gangs in the Caribbean Nation. FRANCE 24's correspondent Olivia Bizot has more.

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Swedish police say 'multiple nationalities' among victims of school mass shooting

Swedish law enforcement officials said there were numerous nationalities among the victims of Tuesday's shooting at an adult education centre in Orebro that left 11 people dead, including the suspected gunman, and dozens wounded. Police said the suspect

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United Nations says hundreds of women were raped in DR Congo

The people of Goma in North Kivu are still trying to come to terms with the fallout of the conflict in DR Congo so far. FRANCE 24's correspondent in Goma, Emmet Livingston has more.

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Italy says it freed Libyan officer because of errors in ICC warrant

Italy's government has defended its decision to release a Libyan suspect accused of war crimes. Giorgia Meolni's justice minister blamed the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant and said it was poorly written. The case of Osama Almasri Najim, he

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Middle East backlash after Trump proposal to 'take over' Gaza

Reaction has been swift to US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Washington "take over" the Gaza Strip, and resettle Gazans in neighbouring countries. In the Middle East there has been a predictable backlash… Emerald Maxwell takes a look.

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France hosts global AI summit as Chinese rivals disrupt tech sector

The Artificial Intelligence Action Summit kicks off in Paris with scientific and technical forums as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to position France at the centre of the AI boom. Also in this edition: China calls US President Donald Trump's latest tar

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