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China: Rare tornadoes tear through central cities
France 24

China: Rare tornadoes tear through central cities

At least eight people were killed as two rare tornadoes wrought devastation in central China's Hubei province state media said on Tuesday, with winds of up to 149 kph (92.58 mph) ripping through buildings and overturning cars.

Syria's reconstruction and economic policy will rely on Europe and Turkey
France 24

Syria's reconstruction and economic policy will rely on Europe and Turkey

French President Emmanuel Macron is the first Western European leader to have met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, in a landmark visit for the country's post-Assad era. A question is at the centre of the visit: How can Syria build itself back after years of wars? Marc Pierini, Visiting Scholar and former EU ambassador to Syria and Turkey speaks to FRANCE 24 from Brussels.

At Nato summit, Trump berates European allies while pleasing Turkish host
France 24

At Nato summit, Trump berates European allies while pleasing Turkish host

The NATO summit has opened on July 7, with many topics to be discussed. Trump has opened the possibility of the US selling F35 fighter jets after Turkey was booted out of the programme in 2019 over Ankara's purchase of a Russian system. Trump has also expressed annoyance at European Nato allies for not "helping" the US in Iran. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more on the summit.

'The party of white-collar crime': French MPs react to Le Pen's conviction

'The party of white-collar crime': French MPs react to Le Pen's conviction

France 24

Marine Le Pen's conviction was a long-awaited decision as it will decide who will be representing the far-right party National rally in the 2027 presidential election. Following the announcement of her sentence, FRANCE 24's Carys Garland went to the National Assembly to see what MPs from the left, right and centre thought of the decision. She tells us more.

From fringe to mainstream: Is it still taboo to vote National Rally?

From fringe to mainstream: Is it still taboo to vote National Rally?

France 24

The Marine Le Pen verdict is just the latest challenge for her National Rally party and its quest to be seen as a widely accepted, mainstream party. France24's Solange Mougin dives into the party's normalisation strategies. From "dédiabolisation,"  to softening anti-semitism rhetoric, to feminism, to necktie wearing, the efforts are working.

How France's far right National Rally 'dediabolised' over the years

How France's far right National Rally 'dediabolised' over the years

France 24

From being a political scapegoat, the far-right party National Rally has managed to become the most popular political force in France under the reign of Marine Le Pen, the founder's daughter - and that despite not dropping its anti-immigration and far-right rhetoric. FRANCE 24's Solange Mougin tells us how the party managed to do so.

Hamas withdrawal from Gaza governance a bid to unblock 'deadlocked' peace plan

Hamas withdrawal from Gaza governance a bid to unblock 'deadlocked' peace plan

France 24

Nearly 20 years after taking power in Gaza, Hamas said on Monday it would hand over control of the territory to a committee of Palestinian technocrats. The move is a bid to get the ball rolling on the second phase of a peace plan backed by US President Donald Trump and wrest some control of the territory from Israel's grasp, Middle East expert Jean-Paul Chagnollaud told FRANCE 24.

French diplomatic force pull out of Burkina Faso after four years of souring ties

French diplomatic force pull out of Burkina Faso after four years of souring ties

France 24

France has pulled all its diplomats from Burkina Faso, the foreign ministry has said, after the military-led African nation broke off diplomatic ties with its former colonial power. French authorities also demanded Burkinabese diplomatic staff leave the country by July 6. Laurent Berstecher takes a look back at four years of souring ties.

Literary icon Margaret Atwood on why The Handmaid’s Tale no longer feels like fiction

Literary icon Margaret Atwood on why The Handmaid’s Tale no longer feels like fiction

France 24

Two-time Booker prize-winning author, Margaret Atwood has spent four decades warning what happens when democracy, women’s rights and free expression begin to erode. Today, many readers believe the world has caught up with her fiction. In this interview with FRANCE 24’s Eve Jackson, the author of The Handmaid’s Tale reflects on US President Donald Trump, the expanding book bans in the United States...

Literary Icon Margaret Atwood on why The Handmaid’s Tale No Longer Feels Like Fiction

Literary Icon Margaret Atwood on why The Handmaid’s Tale No Longer Feels Like Fiction

France 24

Two-time Booker prize-winning author, Margaret Atwood has spent four decades warning what happens when democracy, women’s rights and free expression begin to erode. Today, many readers believe the world has caught up with her fiction. In this interview with FRANCE 24’s Eve Jackson, the author of The Handmaid’s Tale reflects on US President Donald Trump, the expanding book bans in the United States...

Marine Le Pen: Presidential bid in doubt as court upholds fraud conviction

Marine Le Pen: Presidential bid in doubt as court upholds fraud conviction

France 24

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen saw her conviction for fraud upheld by a Paris appeals court on Tuesday. The court sentenced Le Pen to a three-year jail term, but with two years suspended and one year with an electronic ankle tag. It means Le Pen will be eligible to run in France’s 2027 presidential elections but while wearing an electronic bracelet, something she has said is a no-go.

What are the different options for Marine Le Pen's future?

What are the different options for Marine Le Pen's future?

France 24

Marine Le Pen could run for the presidential election if she chooses to. But she would have to do so wearing an electronic bracelet, which she has previously said she does not want to do. She is set to give an interview on primetime television about her decision. If she doesn't run, her popular protégé Jordan Bardella is set to replace her. FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman looks at what can happen.

Climate-smart apartments designed to beat the heat

Climate-smart apartments designed to beat the heat

France 24

While most of France suffered from last week's heatwave, a certain number of Montpellier residents were in total comfort in their apartments – without air conditioning.  From Middle Eastern-inspired latticework maximising ventilation to curved facades acting as giant sunshades, everything has been designed to keep the heat at bay.  And it works: indoor temperatures rarely rise above 25°C. In this ...

Russian threat, Greenland: Denmark’s struggle to tackle fake news

Russian threat, Greenland: Denmark’s struggle to tackle fake news

France 24

Faced with US pressure over Greenland and Russia’s belligerence in the East, Denmark finds itself caught between twin threats - and at the nexus of disinformation campaigns. With online campaigns dividing public opinion on crucial issues, the race is on to push back against fake news.

Syria's al-Sharaa bets on relaunching economy to solve other issues

Syria's al-Sharaa bets on relaunching economy to solve other issues

France 24

France is ​working to redefine its security ​and military cooperation with Syria, including the potential support of ​French ‌special forces ⁠to fight against Islamic State in ‌the country. The announcement was made by French President Emmanuel Macron during a landmark visit to Damascus. But problems remain, mainly regarding the country's security. FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley tells us more.

Marine Le Pen branding as 'victim of judicial harassment' would be 'political stretch'

Marine Le Pen branding as 'victim of judicial harassment' would be 'political stretch'

France 24

Marine Le Pen is set to give a crucial interview on French primetime television on July 7 following a sentence handed down by a court of appeal after she was found guilty of systemising the embezzlement of EU funds within her party, the National Rally. Although she has said she would not run with an electronic tag on, she could well change her mind. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent looks at the ...

'Decision time' for far right National Rally as ruling clears Le Pen's way for election run

'Decision time' for far right National Rally as ruling clears Le Pen's way for election run

France 24

Will Marine Le Pen leader be running in the 2027 presidential election? Or will she step back and let her popular 30-year-old protégé Jordan Bardella run instead? That is the question the party will have to answer following the appeal court's decision to bar Le Pen for office for 15 months, which could in theory allow her to run - although with an electronic tag, which she has already said would b...

Le Pen now 'has a choice' to run in the election or not

Le Pen now 'has a choice' to run in the election or not

France 24

A Paris appeal's court cleared the way July 7 for popular far-right leader Marine Le Pen to possibly run for the French presidency in 2027, but said she must wear an electronic bracelet. But she has said she would not in those conditions in the past. Now, the ball is in her court: she must decide whether she has to campaign with a monitoring bracelet or not. FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman tells us more...

What has French far-right leader Marine Le Pen been found guilty of and sentenced to?

What has French far-right leader Marine Le Pen been found guilty of and sentenced to?

France 24

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU fund, with the appeal's court sentencing her to a 15-month ineligibility for office and a year with an electronic tag. Technically this would allow her to run for the presidential election, but she has said she would not run with an electronic tag. FRANCE 2''s Catherine Norris-Trent is at the appeal's court in Paris and t...

France's Le Pen cleared to run for president in 2027 but with ankle bracelet

France's Le Pen cleared to run for president in 2027 but with ankle bracelet

France 24

Marine Le Pen's path to the French presidency was thrown back into uncertainty on Tuesday after an appeals court cleared the far-right leader to run in next year's presidential election but ordered her to serve a one-year sentence with an ankle bracelet, raising questions over whether she could effectively campaign.

French court clears way for far-right leader Le Pen to run in 2027, with ankle bracelet

French court clears way for far-right leader Le Pen to run in 2027, with ankle bracelet

France 24

A French appeal court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzling EU funds but shortened her ban on running for public office, in theory giving a path ​for the far-right ‌leader to run in the 2027 presidential election. The court also sentenced Le Pen to ⁠a three-year jail term: two suspended and one with an electronic ankle tag. She ​is due to give a prime-time TV interview on TF1...

Who is Jordan Bardella, French far right's Marine Le Pen's protégé?

Who is Jordan Bardella, French far right's Marine Le Pen's protégé?

France 24

French far -right figurehead Marine Le Pen has been barred from public office for 15 months and sentenced to a year under electronic card after an appeal's course found her guilty of embezzling EU funds. Although this means she could run in the election, Le Pen always said she would not run for office with an electronic tag - meaning her protégé Jordan Bardella is likely to become the far right's ...