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'Deplorable issues' cloud 2026 FIFA World Cup, deemed 'one of the least anticipated of this era'

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off across the North American continent, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Thando Sibiya, Sports Presenter and Journalist. While the tournament was initially met with great fanfare: an expanded 48-country tournament hosted by three countries, Sibiya warns that the "deplorable issues" and multiple controversies risk "killing the ambiance" and keeping football fans and country supporters away. From exorbitant ticket prices to Donald Trump's hard-line immigration policies, many fans will now be forced to follow their team from their home country. This could very well be 'one of the least anticipated World Cups of this era', laments Sibiya.

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Trump compares White House UFC arena to Eiffel Tower, hints it could stay permanently

In a video posted to his official TikTok account on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump suggested he may never remove the enormous UFC arena being constructed on the White House lawn for his birthday celebrations. He also compared it to Paris's iconic Eiffel Tower, which was initially intended to be temporary but ultimately remained standing. However, Trump's account of the tower's history is not entirely accurate.

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'Both sides are committed' to US-EU trade deal, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says

In an interview with FRANCE 24, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer insisted that despite fresh US tariffs proposed this Wednesday, "both sides are committed to compliance" with the US-EU trade deal. The top US trade official said he saw "a lot of room" for continued compliance, notwithstanding Washington's new tariff proposals on imports of goods produced using forced labour.

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Wembanyama chases NBA dream ahead of Spurs-Nicks final

The NBA finals start on June 4 and the San Antonio Spurs, with its star player, Victor Wembanyama, are favoured to take the title. But as the 22-year-old Frenchman told reporters, it's not a done deal yet against the Knicks - who haven't won since 1973 but won 11 consecutive games in the playoffs this year.

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Californian elections test for divided Democrats on pivotal primary election day

US primaries are taking place in six states. The voting will shape the landscape of the midterms in November, as it decides who is going to be on the ballot. Key races to look out for include California, where candidates will be looking to replace term-limited Gavin Newsom. FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet, in Los Angeles, and Philip Turle tell us more.

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Trump to speak at rescheduled White House correspondents' dinner

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will attend and speak at a rescheduled White House correspondents' dinner on July 24, nearly three months after a shooting outside the original event prompted his evacuation. Organisers said the gathering will proceed with enhanced security, insisting that violence will not dictate public life.

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Trump signs order seeking govt access to new AI releases

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to enable AI developers to voluntarily ​submit their new models for government cybersecurity tests before public release. The order was triggered by concerns over Anthropic's Mythos model, which the company refused to release due to its ability to expose vulnerabilities in computer systems.

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Californians vote in fiercely contested gubernatorial and congressional primaries

Californians have their final chance to vote Tuesday in a fiercely contested gubernatorial primary ahead of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s mandate coming to an end at the end of the year. The state's open-primary system, which allows the two best-performing candidates to advance regardless of party, has raised fears among Democrats that a split vote will pave the way for a Republican victory.

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Trump reconsiders $1.8 billion ally compensation fund amid Republican backlash

US President Donald Trump was said to be reconsidering a controversial $1.8 billion compensation fund on Monday, created as part of a settlement with the IRS, amid legal challenges and growing opposition from Republicans. The Justice Department has paused implementation following a court order, raising doubts about the fund's future.

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Pro-Trump candidate lead in Colombia 'part of Donroe doctrine' asserting itself in region

Pro-Trump lawyer Aberaldo de la Espriella pulled ahead as a leader in Colombia’s race for the presidency in the first round of elections over the weekend, capitalizing on a growing appetite for heavy-handed crackdowns on criminal groups across Latin America. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow on the Americas at Chatham House, says that "this is really again a part of what's unfortunately called the 'Donroe' doctrine asserting itself in partisan politics in Latin America".

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Who is Abelardo de la Espriella, the far‑right Trump fan who could lead Colombia?

Far-right defence attorney and businessman Abelardo de la Espriella topped the first round of Colombia’s presidential election Sunday, followed closely by leftist senator Ivan Cepeda. A fervent supporter of US President Donald Trump as well as the authoritarian crime crackdown of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, De la Espriella has promised to wage an uncompromising war against the splintered armed groups that continue to hold out in the country’s hinterlands. 

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Trump's oil blockade on Cuba aggravates Havana's garbage crisis

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, June 1: Piles of trash are flooding Havana, as Cuba struggles under US President Donald Trump's oil blockade. Next, papers look at the latest cancer research breakthrough and the industry of hair transplants. Also: US farmers find alternative ways to make money. Finally, some Paris metro stations have new names after PSG's Champions League win.

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