Author: France 24

Hundreds of Palestinians protested in northern Gaza on Tuesday, demanding an end to the war with Israel and chanting anti-Hamas slogans, witnesses said. The crowd, mostly men, shouted “Hamas out!” and “Hamas terrorists” in Beit Lahia.

In the digital age, we are often reminded of the minefield that awaits us online—and the need to remain vigilant. As we whimsically share life’s most cherished moments—at times simple, at times exceptional, we bask in the excitement without a care in the world. All the while, a darker underworld lurks beneath the surface. Artificial intelligence offers a whole new world of possibilities, albeit bipolar, as it unlocks a Pandora’s box and unleashes “deep fakes” and disinformation, spreading bias, socio-economic inequality, and political instability. But what happens when an everyday private citizen falls prey to “virtual insanity”? A Norwegian family…

We kick off this edition of arts24 with a look at the world’s oldest moving images, courtesy of France’s Lumière Brothers, in Thierry Frémaux’s documentary “Lumière! The Adventure Continues”. Next, get ready for the musical adaptation of the Oscar-winning classic “Midnight Cowboy”, which is hitting London’s Southwark theatre soon. Plus, discover Alain Chabat’s new 3D animated Asterix series and a stylish Snoopy exhibition in Paris marking the Peanuts gang’s 75th anniversary.

Two of football’s former top officials, Sepp Blatter of FIFA and Michel Platini of UEFA, were on Tuesday acquitted of charges of fraud and mismanagement of $2 million of FIFA money by a Swiss court. It is the second time the pair has been acquitted of the crimes that prosecutors say occurred in 2011.

Attorney Generals in several US states have warned users to delete their accounts and protect their data, after 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection and its CEO stepped down on Sunday. The company is best known for its saliva test kits that enable users to track their ancestry, but it has been struggling with the fallout of a massive data leak in 2023. Plus, a French entrepreneur hopes to revive Tupperware after buying the bankrupt airtight container maker’s French business. 

The United Nations is cutting its international staff in Gaza by around a third, a UN spokesperson said on Tuesday, citing concerns that the organisation wouldn’t be able to keep them safe. One UN staffer was killed and five more wounded earlier in March after an Israeli tank fired on a UN guesthouse in central Gaza. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments.

French movie giant Gérard Depardieu on Tuesday gave his first testimony in a Paris-held trial where he is accused of groping two women on a 2021 movie set. The actor acknowledged using vulgar language and grabbing a woman’s hips but denied the sexual assault charges against him, saying his behavior can sometimes be boorish. “I’m not touching the butts of women,” he said.

France staved off a late challenge from Ireland to win the opening match of the Women’s Six Nations tournament in Belfast on Saturday.

In 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in the country by 2025, aiming to set an example globally. Since December 2024, India’s health minister has led a “100-day campaign” to eliminate TB, but recent WHO data shows India is far from its goal. It recorded 2.5 to 3 million new cases and over 400,000 deaths in 2023 alone, accounting for a third of global TB cases and deaths. The country faces two major issues: TB treatment shortages and the rise of multi-drug-resistant TB. While treatments exist, the government’s slow approval of their distribution has hindered…

BYD has reported a record leap in sales, surpassing the $100bn mark for 2024 and beating rival Tesla. Meanwhile Elon Musk’s EV company has been targeted with a series of attacks and vandalism, as well as weekly demonstrations outside its Tesla showrooms over Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. Plus, Twitter’s iconic bird logo sold for $35 000 at an auction.