Author: France 24

A viral video purports to show the NEOM Stadium – the venue slated for construction as part of the eponymous Saudi Arabian megaproject – perched atop a skyscraper. In reality, these AI-generated images, created by an online user, do not reflect the official project. 

Chinese e-commerce giant Shein has come under renewed pressure in France, just days before it opens its first permanent physical retail space in Paris.  France’s consumer watchdog said it had discovered child-like sex dolls on the e-commerce platform, prompting the government to warn it could block its market access.  In response the Chinese-owned company suspended its ‘adult products’ category.  Also in the segment, Huawei’s massive factory being built in Alsace faces an uncertain future. 

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem. She’s one of the UK’s most exciting breakout stars of the last decade, with Grammy and Mercury nominations under her belt. Her music is a mix of bold, genre-blending pop and razor-sharp lyrics. She’s also an actress, with roles including Sally Bowles in the West End production of “Cabaret”. Self Esteem’s third album “A Complicated Woman” is her most theatrical and truthful record to date, exploring the complexities of womanhood – from burnouts to depression to sexuality. She’s currently on a European tour,…

Israeli police on Monday arrested former military advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi after she leaked a video appearing to soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee. The arrest comes after Tomer-Yerushalmi announced her resignation at the end of last week.

24-year-old Jannik Sinner won the Paris Masters for the first time on Sunday by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Italian’s maiden crown in Paris will see Sinner return to the pinnacle of men’s tennis when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday.

Several trade deals and frameworks between the US and Southeast Asian countries unveiled at the recent ASEAN summit heavily favour Washington. Some analysts are concerned that the lopsided deals will push ASEAN countries towards Beijing, this as China beefs up its own trade ties with the region. Also in this edition: France’s National Assembly passes an extension on corporate tax surcharges, and the US government shutdown threatens funding for critical social services.

US President Donald Trump hails an “amazing” meeting with China’s Xi Jinping, Hurricane Melissa leaves a trail of destruction in the Caribbean, and Mexicans don colourful skeleton costumes as they celebrate El Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead. FRANCE 24 takes a look back at the week’s most striking images. 

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will make a “historic” visit to Washington DC later this month to discuss issues including lifting remaining sanctions, reconstruction and counter-terrorism with White House leadership, the country’s top diplomat said Sunday.

Armel Le Cléac’h, skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, never leaves anything to chance as he and co-skipper Sébastien Josse prepare for the 2025 Transat Café-L’OR, formerly the Transat Jacques Vabre. Former winners of the Ultim division, the duo will face thousands of nautical miles of unpredictable Atlantic waters, where tactical decisions, extreme weather, and high-speed sailing make every move crucial. Cédric Ferreira reports with Simon Moritz.

It’s a promising medical discovery that could help researchers fight cancer. New research published in the journal Nature has found that patients with some forms of advanced cancer who received a COVID mRNA vaccine lived significantly longer than those who didn’t. FRANCE 24’s Sharon Gaffney speaks with Christiano Marconi, cancer researcher at the University of Florida.