Author: France 24

It’s a rock ‘n’ roll band with over 1 million monthly listeners, with three albums out in barely six weeks. But despite shooting to Spotify’s top ranks, The Velvet Sundown’s music is entirely AI-generated – and it had quite a saga being revealed as synthetic. Vedika Bahl gives us the deep dive into the band’s mysterious origins in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Ben O’Connor won Stage 18 of the Tour de France Thursday, conquering what is considered the queen stage of the race. He claimed a solo victory ahead of Tadej Pogacar, who pulled away from Jonas Vingegaard in the final meters of the Col de la Loze.

As European leaders attend an EU-China summit in Beijing, the issue of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles entering the single market is one of the items on the agenda. Brussels has imposed tariffs on Chinese manufacturers such as Zeekr because of what it considers to be unfair trade practices. In this edition, we talk to Lothar Schupet, acting CEO of Zeekr Europe, about the effect of these trade restrictions on its business.

Israelis seek US pressure to end war in Gaza.

A lawyer for France’s first couple said they’ll be seeking “substantial” damages from US conservative influencer and podcaster Candace Owens if she persists with claims that President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte, is a man. The lawyer, Tom Clare, said in an interview with CNN that a defamation suit filed Wednesday for the Macrons in a Delaware court was “really a last resort” after a fruitless yearlong effort to engage with Owens and requests that she “do the right thing: tell the truth, stop spreading these lies”. Read moreMacrons file defamation suit against US podcaster over transgender rumours “Each time we’ve done that, she mocked…

Global pop icon Taylor Swift has officially joined the world-famous Madame Tussauds ! Fans can now get up close with her lifelike wax figure, capturing the star’s signature style and presence in stunning detail. Don’t miss your chance to meet the music legend like never before !

Spain defeated Germany after extra time (0-1) on Wednesday evening in the second semi-final of the Women’s Euro held in Switzerland. The Spanish team will face England in the final.

After months of negotiations, the US has reached a trade deal with Japan. US President Donald Trump celebrated the agreement on tariffs in a social media post, while Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hailed the deal, which sets duties on Japanese exports to the US at a rate of 15 percent. In this edition, we look at what exactly has been announced by both sides and what it means for Japan’s auto sector, which is responsible for a quarter of all exports to the US.

More than 100 aid groups warned on Wednesday of “mass starvation” throughout Gaza, with their staff severely impacted by shortages. Israel faces growing global pressure over the enclave’s dire humanitarian crisis, where over two million people have endured 21 months of war.

Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of heavy metal band Black Sabbath often described as the “Godfather of Heavy Metal”, died on Tuesday at 76, just days after performing a final concert in his hometown of Birmingham.