Author: France 24

Defending champions Ivory Coast made a winning start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Wednesday, edging past Mozambique with a 1-0 victory. Set to face the Elephants on Sunday, Cameroon also got off to a strong start with a 1-0 victory over Gabon. Algeria, meanwhile, cruised to a convincing 3-0 win over Sudan, inspired by a standout performance from Riyad Mahrez.

Will history remember this as the day the planet started to rein in big tech? Australia is firing the first shot by banning under-16s from platforms and social media that include giants such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. We of course ask if rebellious teens will make light work of the ban. More broadly, is this the day regulators start treating merchants of scrolling the way they do tobacco and drinks giants: like businesses with a penchant for encouraging addiction?

Many people celebrated Christmas Day with a traditional mass on Thursday, while others enjoyed the holiday with tiramisu at Sydney’s Bondi Beach or watching a parade of Ukrainian soldiers in Lviv. In Bethlehem, Christians celebrated their first festive Christmas in over two years as the occupied West Bank city emerged from the shadow of the war in Gaza. 

Joy is returning to Jerusalem as Christians mark Christmas in one of the world’s oldest cities. FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky reports a festive atmosphere in the air, describing it as “a huge relief” after more than two years of war in Gaza.

Defending champions Ivory Coast started the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique on Wednesday. Amad Diallo scored shortly after half-time to secure the win in the Group F match in Morocco, although Ivory Coast missed several chances to increase their lead.

It’s one of those New Year’s resolutions often blurted out after a big family meal. “I’m going to run a marathon!” But like the cautionary saying “puppies aren’t for Christmas, they’re for life”, one wonders how many realise the error of their ways when they’re gasping for air during that first January training run. Or not.

France’s prime minister has called for pushing back the final approval vote on the landmark EU-Mercosur free trade deal as an outbreak of lumpy skin disease sparks a fresh crisis in its agricultural sector. Also in this edition: credit default swaps for AI hyperscalers take off as investors worry about excessive debt, and French consumers tighten their belts for Christmas.

There’s nothing more innately human than humming a tune. Especially when it’s made by humans. But don’t bother trying to see The Velvet Sundown in concert: the band doesn’t exist. The sounds are produced with artificial intelligence.

Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, Jesus’ traditional birthplace, are slowly returning, as the city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank emerges from the shadow of war to celebrate its first festive Christmas in more than two years. Story by Bryan Quinn.

Nigeria began their Africa Cup of Nations Group C campaign with three points on Tuesday as Ademola Lookman’s long-range effort settled a rain-soaked contest against Tanzania in Fes, easing the Super Eagles past stubborn opposition despite missed chances and a brief second-half scare.