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Today

China : the tallest bridge in the world opens in the Province of Guizhou

The Province of Guizhou is already home to almost half the world’s 100 tallest bridges, but it is about to be home to the tallest bridge in the world. Another example of China's infrastructure diplomacy, demonstrating technological prowess, and large sc

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UK says it will introduce digital ID cards, reigniting a contentious idea

British citizens and permanent residents will have to produce a mandatory digital identification card in order to get work, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Friday, reviving a contentious idea in an effort to show that the government has control of

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Ukrainians in Poland face legal limbo as permits expire

A law governing the protected status of Ukrainian nationals in Poland is set to expire, and nationalist President Karol Nawrocki has yet to sign a bill to renew it — putting up to a million people at risk of falling into a legal limbo. Story by Peter O'B

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NATO plans 'drone wall' to counter threats

EU countries and Ukraine have agreed on the urgent need to create a "wall" of anti-drone defences. The decision comes after a spate of incidents in which Europe’s borders and airports have been tested by rogue drones. Russia has been blamed for some of t

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Musk, Thiel and Bannon named in Epstein schedules released by Democrats

Daily agendas belonging to Jeffrey Epstein and released by Congressional Democrats on Friday revealed the disgraced financier had plans to meet with Republican donors Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, as well as conservative commentator and former Trump aide St

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USA: Donald Trump witch hunt allegations intensify

Donald Trump has gotten his wish : the Department of Justice has indicted James Comey. The former FBI director had long been on the President's enemies list, dating back to his involvement in the investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 Pr

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UN adds 68 companies to blacklist for alleged complicity in rights violations in Israeli settlements

The United Nations has added nearly 70 more companies to a blacklist of firms from 11 countries that it says are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights through their business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Story by Nichol

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New drones sighted over Denmark's largest military base

New unidentified drones were observed over Denmark's biggest military base on Saturday, police said, in a slew of sightings that Danish officials have called a "hybrid attack".

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Moldova to vote in critical parliamentary election fraught with Russian interference claims

Moldovans head to the polls Sunday to cast ballots in a tense parliamentary election fraught with claims of Russian interference. The vote could decide the country’s geopolitical future: a stark choice between East and West. Story by Maria Gerth-Niculesc

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Netanyahu condemns support for Palestinian state at UN after scores walk out

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply denounced Western countries on Friday for embracing Palestinian statehood, accusing them of sending the message that "murdering Jews pays off." Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, the Israeli leader pu

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The Iranian population braces as the UN restores sanctions

As Iran's ailing economy braces for the reimposition of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program, it is ordinary people who increasingly find themselves priced out of the food they need to survive and worried about their futures. Details by FRAN

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UN restores sanctions on Iran as nuclear diplomacy fades

Iran set to come under sweeping UN sanctions for the first time in a decade – barring an unexpected last-minute breakthrough – after nuclear talks with the West floundered. Story by Peter O'Brien.

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US to revoke visa for Colombian President Petro over 'incendiary' comments

The State Department will revoke Colombian President Gustavo Petro's US visa "due to his reckless and incendiary actions" after he took to New York's streets on Friday in a pro-Palestinian demonstration and urged US soldiers to disobey the orders of US P

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Moldova to vote in parliamentary elections amid claims of Russian interference

Moldova's Sunday parliamentary elections will determine whether the country continues on a westward path toward the EU or if it is pulled back into Moscow's orbit. The vote has already seen claims of Russian interference, with Prime Minister Dorin Recean

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Ligue 1: Marseille go top after late win in Strasbourg

Marseille snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory away to Strasbourg in Friday’s Ligue 1 opener for Matchday 6, a result that sends OM provisionally top of the table. PSG and Monaco will have the chance to reclaim first place on Saturday.

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Transactional loyalties: Netanyahu, Trump, and the war for power, influence & relevance

Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to cast himself as an international statesman. He crafts arguments in English and Hebrew, keenly aware that persuasion is a power unto itself. Then there's Donald Trump: unpredictable, even volatile, driven by a self-serving tran

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Iran recalls French, German and UK ambassadors ahead of fresh UN sanctions

Iran on Saturday recalled its ambassadors to France, Germany and the United Kingdom after the three nations pushed for “snapback” sanctions to be reimposed on Iran over its refusal to cooperate with the IAEA nuclear watchdog. The measure will freeze Iran

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Paris Fashion Week to debut shakeups at major labels as luxury fashion lags

Paris Fashion Week kicks off Monday with a dozen new faces set to make their debuts at major labels. Reflecting an unprecedented shake-up of creative directors, the Spring-Summer 2026 season will showcase the renewal of the top ranks of the global luxury

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What are the 'snapback' nuclear sanctions the UN will reimpose on Iran?

UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal will come back into force at midnight after the "E3" European group – Britain, France and Germany – alleged that Tehran was not meeting its obligations, triggering a "snapback"

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Yesterday

Justice in the corridors of power: What the Sarkozy verdict reveals about judicial independence

In a politically charged and deeply polarised France, the sentencing of a revered yet divisive former head of state has become a defining test of institutional independence. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, once the standard-bearer of the Gaullist tradi

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Madagascar sacks energy minister after repeated power cuts spark protests

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina on Friday sacked his energy minister a day after police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters angered by persistent power cuts and water shortages in the capital Antananarivo. Five protesters were

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Trump on Putin: Has the penny dropped? The downfall of President Sarkozy, Recognising Palestine

In a week of coordinated, choreographed diplomacy, a number of western leaders formerly recognised Palestinian statehood. Benjamin Netanyahu said the move rewarded terrorism, insisting there would never be a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, Russian violat

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French court jails three women who joined the Islamic State group in Syria

A French court has handed down jail terms of up to 13 years to three women who joined the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria, taking their eight children with them. The women include the niece of notorious brothers Jean-Michel and Fabien Clain, who claime

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New French PM rules out wealth tax, casting doubt on support from the left

France's incoming Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Friday ruled out introducing a wealth tax or suspending an unpopular pension reform in an interview with French daily Le Parisien, angering left-wing parties whose support he many need to get a budget

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Denmark drone incursions: All signs point to Russia?

Three ships with Russian links have emerged as possibly playing a role in the mysterious drone flights that closed a number of Denmark's airports several times this week. The vessels were spotted off the Danish coast around the time of Wednesday's incide

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Recycled fashion: Meet Beninese designer 'President Djangoun'

A Beninese style icon is setting standards for fashionistas around the continent and beyond. President Djangoun's online videos can easily attract over 10 million views, as fans check in on his wildly creative, award-winning, handmade outfits.

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Sarkozy prison sentence lays bare political divisions in France

French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy's bombshell conviction in a Libyan funding probe has elicited starkly opposing reactions from left and right, exposing France's political divide.

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Netanyahu's speech: Main message was 'Israel against the world'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday (September 26) in an angry UN address to block a Palestinian state, accusing European leaders of pushing his country into "national suicide" and rewarding Hamas. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tell

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Reactions to former French President Sarkozy's jail sentence

The dramatic decision to send former president Nicolas Sarkozy to prison for criminal conspiracy has laid bare France's stark political divisions, with the move cheered by the left but slammed by the ascendant right.

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New Delhi suspicious of Washington after latest H-1B move from Trump

Is India being forced to reconsider its relationship with the United States? In Access Asia, we explore how the aftershocks of the US's new H-1B visa policy are being felt in New Delhi. We also bring you the latest on Indonesia making overtures towards I

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Earth's oldest living organisms survive in Europe's last wild forest

It’s a sacred sanctuary for bisons, wolves and countless birds. The Białowieża Forest is the last untouched forest in Europe. Not a single tree has ever been cut down there. Located between Poland and Belarus, it fascinates scientists and nature lovers a

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Takeaways from Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly

Facing international isolation and a walkout by UN delegates, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday (September 26) said his country "must finish the job" against Hamas in Gaza in a defiant speech at the UN General Assembly. FRANCE 24's Jess

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Ivory Coast’s former first lady Simone Ehivet eyes the presidency

Once nicknamed "The Iron Lady", Simone Ehivet is the strongest female presidential candidate in Ivory Coast’s history. Ex-wife of former president Laurent Gbagbo, the former first lady is hoping to lead her political party, the Movement of Capable Genera

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Replay: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu addresses UN General Assembly

Facing international isolation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stage on day four of the UN General Assembly on Friday (September 26). Scores of delegates have walked out of as he entered the hall to give his speech.

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NATO tests new drone technologies after Russian incursions

At Portuguese and Dutch bases, NATO forces are conducting simultaneous tests of new aerial and underwater drones. With numerous Russian incursions into European airspace in recent weeks, the Atlantic alliance aims to prepare a technological response, hel

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'We must bring security back to West Africa': Sierra Leone's Bio

In an interview with FRANCE 24 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Julius Maada Bio, the president of Sierra Leone and chairman of ECOWAS, stressed that Africa was not represented fairly in the UN when "70 percent of the decisions of

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Delegates walk out as Netanyahu prepares to address UN General Assembly

Scores of delegates have walked out of the UN General Assembly as Netanyahu entered the hall to give his speech. There were boos and cheers, while applause rang out in other quarters.

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Ghana's rivers and soil poisoned by gold mining: Communities demand action

Ghana's gold rush has sparked an environmental and public health crisis in parts of the country. Contamination caused by mining has led to soil readings in some areas that show up to 134 times the maximum permitted amount of contaminants. Ghanaians are d

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Nigeria: Supreme Court allows late appeal in Kano blasphemy case

Nigeria's Supreme Court has granted a musician, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy, permission to appeal against his controversial sentence outside of the legal timeframe. Yahaya Sharif Aminu was convicted of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed

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'Against Erasure': Gaza's photographers fight to be seen

"Art is my way of turning pain into hope." Those are the words of Gaza-based photographer Belal Khaled, whose images have been seen by millions and published in Time, the Guardian and The Wall Street Journal. His work, along with that of 10 other Gaza-ba

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The Day After: How Israelis, Palestinians and global peacebuilders seek to shape a new way forward

As the General Assembly convenes in New York, the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict has commanded an intensity not seen in recent memory. Diplomatic maneuvering, public protests, recognition campaigns, and back‑channel diplomacy all collided, making the week

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Why do men lead women's fashion?

With Paris Fashion Week upon us, we look at an industry that while largely targeting women, is rarely led by them. This year, just two women have been appointed as new creative directors of major fashion houses despite an incredible shake-up in the indus

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America's battle over free speech

This week FRANCE 24's media show Scoop looks at growing pressure in the United States on broadcasters and journalists. Disney briefly suspended comedian Jimmy Kimmel amid threats from the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC

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Tehran and Moscow sign multi-billion dollar deal to build nuclear power plants in Iran

Iran and Russia signed a $25 billion deal to build nuclear power plants in the Islamic republic, IRNA news agency reported Friday, with sweeping UN sanctions on Iran likely to return.

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Clashes erupt between police and protesters at rallies for Uganda opposition leader Bobi Wine

Ugandan voters now have the line up of candidates for next year's elections and opposition leader Bobi Wine is amongst them. Hundreds of Wine's supporters took to the street in excitement. A rally in Kampala celebrating Bobi Wine's candidacy in next year

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Takeaways from Palestinian leader's speech at the UN General Assembly

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday (September 25) that Hamas would have no role in governing the Palestinians, called on all countries to recognise a Palestinian state and condemned the armed group's October 7 attack against Israel. FRANCE 2

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How Italian papers react to Sarkozy's prison sentence

Nicolas Sarkozy, once a dynamic and controversial leader who promised to transform France, has been sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy tied to illegal campaign funding from Libya. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta tells us more about what ha

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Sarkozy prison sentence lays bare political divisions in crisis-hit France

French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy's bombshell conviction in a Libyan funding probe has elicited starkly opposing reactions from left and right, exposing France's political divide. It has also heightened scutiny of a legal provision that ensures verdict

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Living in hell: Brazil's domestic workers

Brazil employs more domestic workers than any other country in the world, with almost 6 million in total, according to official figures. Some 91 percent of these nannies, cooks and cleaners are women and 67 percent are Black. But the majority of these wo

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Slovak parliament approves constitutional change curbing rights of same-sex couples

Lawmakers in Slovakia have passed a constitutional change curbing the rights of same-sex couples and giving national law precedence over EU law. The country's nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico described the constitutional change as "a dam against pr

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Trump's tariffs over treatment of Bolsonaro push Brazil closer to China

Brazil, under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is now the target of tariffs of up to 50 percent on most of its goods heading to the United States. Brazilian businesses are looking to the Chinese market to make up for losses in the U

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A look back at Meloni’s three years in power

Three years may not sound like a long time, but politically speaking in Italy it can see the fall and rise of successive governments. But soon Giorgia Meloni will become the third longest-serving prime minister in Italy's history.

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Paris neighbourhoods: Inside the luxurious 8th arrondissement

In this French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot continue their tour of Paris with a stop in the 8th arrondissement. It has the most employees in the capital – but the fewest inhabitants! This key business district is renowned for it

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Palestinians flee Israel's offensive in Gaza City

The war in Gaza continues to rage. The worst fighting is occurring in and around Gaza City, the enclave's most densely populated urban area. An increasing number of families are fleeing and heading south.

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Poland: Law governing Ukrainians' protected status set to expire

A law governing Ukrainians' protected status expires at the end of the month and President Karol Nawrocki has yet to sign off on a bill to renew it, putting up to a million people at risk of falling into legal limbo.

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French court sentences former president Sarkozy to five years in prison: What's next?

A court on Thursday (September 25) sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison over a scheme for late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 presidential run.

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Moldovan parliamentary elections: Inside the pro-Russian region of Gagauzia

Moldovans head to the polls for parliamentary elections on Sunday September 28, less than a year after a presidential race marred by accusations of Russian interference and a closely contested referendum on EU membership. Sunday's vote could reshape Mold

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Elections in Moldova targeted by Russian influence operations

Moldova heads to the polls on September 28 for a crucial parliamentary election that could determine its European path amid growing threats from Russian hybrid warfare. From online disinformation and coordinated influencer networks to interference orches

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'Spectacular downfall': International press reacts to Sarkozy's jail sentence

A court on Thursday (September 25) sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison over a scheme for late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential run. FRANCE 24's Shirli Sitbon tells us more about how inter

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'All our borders are controlled' and IS group can't return, Iraq's Rashid says

In an interview with FRANCE 24 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid dismissed fears of an Islamic State (IS) group comeback in Iraq, stating "all our borders are controlled" and "we are observi

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