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Today

Football: Chelsea dominates Bayer Leverkusen

In their first pre-season match since winning the Club World Cup, Chelsea dominated Bayer Leverkusen (2-0). In his first appearance with the Blues, young star Estevao scored the first goal of the match.

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Japan marks 80 years since atomic bombing of Nagasaki

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

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Yesterday

Trump to meet Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss war in Ukraine

After weeks of escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, US President Donald Trump said he will meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska as Trump looks to seal an elusive deal to end the war in Ukraine.

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‘Just a trickle’: Residents in Russian-occupied Ukraine face severe water shortage

Residents of the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine are facing a severe water crisis, with a shortage leaving them in dire conditions. Experts point to Russia's occupation, subsequent mismanagement, and wartime destruction as the direct c

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DR Congo: Former PM A. Muzito joins government as cabinet reshuffle brings in opposition members

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a cabinet reshuffle has seen opposition figures enter the government. This was a move that the president had been planning for months in order to signal national unity. The most notable development is the return of Ad

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French police open investigation after Israeli rabbi threatens Macron

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Friday said he had reported threatening comments against President Emmanuel Macron to police investigators. The threats were expressed in an online video by a rabbi angered over France's recent decision to for

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Legendary Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell dies at age 97

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Legendary Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell dies at age 97

Jim Lovell, the US astronaut who led the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to the Moon in 1970, died at the age of 97, NASA announced Friday. Lovell, who was supposed to be the fifth person ever to walk on the surface of the moon, is instead credited with crea

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Israel: 'Once Hamas releases the hostages, the war will be over'

Nations across the world have condemned Israel's plan to wrest control of Gaza City, saying it would only worsen the conflict and lead to more bloodshed. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted Israel's plan as a "dangerous escalation", while t

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Trump orders Pentagon to target foreign drug cartels

US President Donald Trump ordered the US military to use force against Latin American drug cartels, US media reported on Friday. According to The New York Times, Trump instructed the Pentagon to begin targeting the cartels that were deemed terrorist orga

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'Following October 7th, many Israelis lost empathy for Gazans, seeing them as complicit with Hamas'

Israel plans to intensify its 22-month-long war against Hamas by launching a ground operation to take control of Gaza City. The move has triggered renewed international appeals for a ceasefire, and deepened fears for the safety of Palestinian civilians a

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

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

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Germany suspends arms export to Israel after Gaza takeover plan revealed

Germany has suspended arms exports to Israel following the revelation of Israel’s plan to take military control of Gaza City. According to FRANCE 24's correspondent in Berlin Nick Holdsworth, this marks a major turning point in the conflict, as Germany h

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Gaza takeover plan sparks international condemnation

Israel’s plan to take military control of Gaza City has drawn strong international condemnation. The UN called it a violation of international law and a threat to Palestinians, while Germany and others denounced the move and considered diplomatic respons

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Hundreds honour Ukrainian journalist who died in Russian captivity

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity last year, was laid to rest in Kyiv on Friday as her colleagues urged international action to free other Ukrainian reporters held by Moscow. Hundreds gathered for the ceremony honouri

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“Unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable” : India faces US tariff pressure

Within minutes of President Trump’s announcement of an additional 25 percent tariff — raising the total levy on Indian imports to 50 percent, one of the highest he has imposed on any country — India condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreaso

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Netanyahu's Gaza takeover plan heightens war tensions

Israel plans to seize Gaza City in its 22-month war with Hamas, raising fears for civilians and hostages. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar are proposing a deal to free all hostages in exchange for ending the war and withdrawing Israeli forces. Noga Tarnopo

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Brazil faces some of the highest US tariffs on goods

Brazil’s tariffs of up to 50% on certain goods rank among the highest the US has imposed on any trading partner. Economists believe these tariffs won’t derail Brazil’s economy, but concerns remain, and Brazil has appealed to the WTO to help ease the trad

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France's largest blaze in decades has scorched 17,000 hectares

The wildfire in southern France has been brought under control but remains a threat, having consumed 17,000 hectares. As Carys Garland reports, the fire has caused devastation to villages in the Aude department.

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Until Putin faces greater pressure from West, he has little incentive to pursue peace negotiations

US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are set to hold talks in a bid to end Russia's brutal war on Ukraine. A ceasefire remains elusive for a Nobel-seeking Trump, eight months into his presidency. Joining us for a deeper pe

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Ukraine mourns tortured journalist Viktoria Roschchyna

Today in Kyiv, the funeral of Viktoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist tortured and killed in a Russian prison, takes place. Her case, along with those of other civilian prisoners, was the subject of an investigation called the Viktoria Project, conduc

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What's Israeli PM's plan to control Gaza and end the war?

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s conditions to end the war include defeating and disarming Hamas, releasing all hostages, and maintaining Israeli security control over Gaza. While Israel plans to keep military oversight, civilian governance would be ha

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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 'abitrary' election ban

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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Israel to 'take control' of Gaza City, igniting backlash at home and abroad

Israel’s military is set to seize control of Gaza City under a new plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet – a move that sparked sharp criticism at home and abroad on Friday. With the war nearing its second year, Netanyahu f

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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

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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Is the mere announcement of a Trump-Putin meeting enough to delay sanctions on Russia?

Russians on the streets of Moscow on Friday held little hope that an upcoming summit between their president, Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump would help end the conflict in Ukraine. As Trump intensifies his bid to convince Moscow to ha

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Thursday, august 7, 2025

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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