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Plonk and Replonk decide to kidnap François Morel whilst he's on tour. They tie him to a chair, put a wig and makeup on him, and command him to tell them his life story.

Square Artiste

Carte Blanche to Plonk and Replonk

Artificial Intelligence is in the news every day. We hear how it is misleading us with deep fakes, will replace us in the workplace, or even wipe out the human race. For British artist and researcher James Bridle, while the advances and risks are usually exaggerated, our obsession with AI could allow us to recognise the many forms of non-human intelligence.

Open Ideas with James Bridle

What is Intelligence?

Square für Künstler

Carta blanca a Plonk et Replonk

"Tajemniczy François Morel"

With Plonk and Replonk in control, this episode was never going to be normal

For James Bridleour obsession with AI could allow us to recognise the many forms of non-human intelligence.

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NNAVY puts Switzerland on the map of European neo-soul. Thanks to the warm, intimate melodies of her EP CLOSER, the young singer has cast a spell over the ESNS festival.

Eurosonic Noorderslag 2025

The ESNS festival is rocked by the neo-soul of Swiss diva NNAVY.

NNAVY

In Brussels, most single-parent families are headed by women. Being a single mother often means being poor with single-parent households four times more likely to fall below the poverty line. But support is there with the Single Parents' House.

In Brussels, most single-parent families are headed by women. Being a lone mother often means being poor with single-parent households four times more likely to fall below the poverty line. But support is there with the Single Parents' House.

Re: The Brussels Single-Parent House

Language is an instrument of political and social domination. From ancient China to Europe, the number of words and languages one mastered were signs of belonging to an elite. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the linguistic landscape. An interview with linguist Stefanie Ullmann, machine learning specialist Omolabake Adenle, and philosopher Marc Crépon.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the linguistic landscape.

AI and Language

Before, it was simple: there was selfishness or altruism. Either we got rich or we helped others. But now these binary divisions are fading. A supporter of effective altruism, the young philosopher William MacAskill proposes to go even further with "arithmetic altruism". This is, applying the concept of profitability to charitable contributions.

Earth of Women helps women and girls to escape the vicious cycle of poverty, forced marriage and prostitution

Square Artist: Sibel Kekilli

Portuguese actress and director Maria de Medeiros produces a documentary on the Spanish journalist and activist Richard Mateos. Blind from birth, he defends the right of disabled people in Bolivia to live with dignity.

Blind from birth, Richard defends the right of disabled people in Bolivia to live with dignity

SQUARE Artist: Maria de Medeiros

Cosmetic surgery is becoming more popular in Europe and the world. We talk about the plastic surgery craze with French plastic surgeons Mauricio de Maio and Oren Marco and philosopher Heather Widdows.

We talk about the plastic surgery craze with French plastic surgeons Mauricio de Maio and Oren Marco and philosopher Heather Widdows.

Crazy for Plastic Surgery

Two sets of gay parents discover that their children are related via their biological father. This sensitive and humourous documentary follows the two families as they navigate how best to involve the siblings in each other's lives.

Two sets of gay parents discover that their children are related via their biological father

My Extraordinary Family

We give Charles Berling, French actor, director and screenwriter, carte blanche. He takes us to Toulon, where he grew up and where he heads the Freedom Theatre. In a bus, he meets Dominique, who drives the line 1. The actor and director traces the story of this woman battered by life, but animated by an irrepressible energy. A tender and funny portrait.

Charles Berling

We give Charles Berling, French actor, director and screenwriter, carte blanche

Square Artist

Bonuses and Extracts

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The breakout success of Chinese DeepSeek has shaken the US’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence. But although it might seem like a two-horse race between the US and China, the EU was the first region in the world to have created a legal framework for AI and is starting to massively invest in supercomputing and innovation. As the European Commission said, “The race for AI is far from over.”

Is Europe still in the AI race?

Europe may be lagging behind in AI technology, but DeepSeek’s rise is a sign it could catch up.

ARTE Europe Weekly

Diwa is only 11 years old. She is one of the thousands of victims of a crime that is hardly reported on in Europe but which is causing havoc in the Philippines. She was raped by her parents, live on the internet, to satisfy the desires of foreign paedophiles who paid for the spectacle of her rape, giving instructions from a distance.

Philippines: Child Rape Online

Thousands of children in the Philippines have been abused, live on the internet. Report on a shocking crime.

ARTE Reportage

Not all nipples are the same. On Instagram or Facebook female breasts are censured whereas the bare male torso is allowed. Some artists are challenging this double standard. 

All Nipples are Not Equal

Not all nipples are the same. On Instagram or Facebook female breasts are censured whereas the bare male torso is not. Some artists are challenging this double standard. 

Gymnastics

Forget about polar bears and their pristine icy wilderness. As the icecap melts with climate change the arctic is becoming a strategic region for maritime traffic, oil and gas.

An Arctic Cold War

As the icecap melts with climate change the arctic is becoming a strategic region for maritime traffic, oil and gas.

Stories of Conflict

Tenerife is a dream holiday destination for many with year-round sun and beautiful beaches. But with a rising population and an increase in tourist numbers, the island is struggling to cope: The water treatment infrastructure is overloaded and untreated waste-water is often discharged into the sea, a health danger to swimmers, surfers, and wildlife.

The island’s water treatment infrastructure is overloaded meaning untreated discharge into the sea, a health risk for swimmers and surfers.

Re: Tenerife's Sewage Problem

Every year for 45 days, Uruguay lives to the rhythm of Carnival. In Montevideo, the capital, carnival traditions are taken very seriously: Candombe, the special carnival music and dance developed by Afro-Uruguayans, is a highly prized art form and is inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Montevideo: Dancing to the Rhythm of Carnival

Every year for 45 days, Uruguay lives to the rhythm of Carnival and the country's traditional art form: Candombe.

360° Reportage

The billionaire owner of X has announced loud and clear his support for the AFD in the upcoming German federal elections. Research shows that bots on his social media platform are artificially boosting the AFD message, to the detriment of other parties.

Bots on Musk's social media platform are artificially boosting the AFD message, to the detriment of other parties.

How Elon Musk is Manipulating the German Election

Dancers from the Compagnie Hervé Koubi take over the Château d'Ormesson for Sur Mesure. This performance, a blend of dance and acrobatics, is brought to life by Quatuor Voce and Jasser Haj Youssef.

Sur Mesure

An encounter between dance and classical music led by the Compagnie Hervé Koubi.

Compagnie Hervé Koubi

What is the secret of a good relationship? Ronja von Rönne meets Anna König and Paul Hoepner, who are in an open relationship and Kalle and Annett Wulf, who have been monogamous for years. How have they managed to preserve their love and build a happy life together?

A Good Relationship

What is the secret of a good relationship? Ronja von Rönne meets people who live in open and monogamous relationships.

Unhappy

It seems that scientist have proven that the enigmatic gaze of the Mona Lisa does not follow you around the room. So why did we think that in the first place?

The Mona Lisa's Eyes Don't Follow You Around the Room

It seems that scientist have proven that the enigmatic gaze of the Mona Lisa does not follow you as you move around the room. So why did we think that in the first place?

When a minor earthquake throws life coach Aaron’s world into turmoil, he tries to find out the cause of this unusual event. A musical short film that plunges into the world of conspiracy theories.

When a minor earthquake throws life coach Aaron’s world into turmoil, he tries to understand why it happened.

I Am the Architect of My Life

Chinese men are suffering. There are simply not enough women to go around since China implemented its one-child policy in 1979.  This means that 1 in 5 Chinese men will not be able to find a partner in five years’ time.

Chinese men are suffering. There are simply not enough women to go around since China implemented its one-child policy in 1979. 

China: Men without Women

To celebrate 50 years of French radio station FIP, Sting gives a special performance in the monumental surroundings of the Pantheon in Paris.

50 Years of FIP Radio

Sting at the Pantheon in Paris

The latest adaptation of The Little Mermaid, with Halle Bailey in the title role, definitively buried the cliché of the blonde, blue-eyed siren. Now there are mermaids of every race, gender and body type. The Afro-American mermaids are having their fourth gathering in Miami, organised by Melanee Schneider.

Florida Mermaids: A Passion for the Waves

Mermaids in Florida are from all backgrounds, gender, and body type.

"The big problem of science is that science is not a very good storyteller" says the Israeli philosopher and bestselling writer Yuval Noah Harari. Jagoda Marinić interviews one of the major thinkers of our time and finds out what books have inspired him throughout his life.

With Yuval Noah Harari

Jagoda Marinić interviews one of the major thinkers of our time and finds out what books have inspired him throughout his life.

The Book of My Life

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Eastern European countries have felt directly threatened by Putin's expansionism. They are calling on support from Nato, whilst worrying about the isolationist turn that Donald Trump's administration could take.

President Trump & European Defence Policy

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Eastern European countries have felt directly threatened by Putin's expansionism.

Mapping the World Essentials

ALA.NI, Patrice, Celeste, Kareen Guiock Thuram, Kham Meslien and Youn Sun Nah celebrate the legacy of Nina Simone at the Pantheon in Paris. Six artists, six emotional perspectives on the work of this timeless artist.

Resonances at the Paris Pantheon

Six contemporary artists celebrate the legacy of Nina Simone.

Nina Simone

Every day, Janne Aikio travels long distances to look after the elderly, most of whom are Sami. A population whose daily life is punctuated by ancestral activities. To ensure that, even in old age, the Sámi can remain in their familiar surroundings, the Finnish government is doing its utmost to ensure that they remain at home for as long as possible.

Social Care in Lapland

Every day, Janne Aikio travels long distances to look after the elderly, most of whom are Sami. A population whose daily life is punctuated by ancestral activities.

Goth is back from the grave and now it is queerer, more diverse, and partying harder. Tracks goes to the British capital to meet the new London scene and finds out what makes today’s goths tick.

London's New Goth Scene

Goth is back from the grave and now it is queerer, more diverse, and partying harder.

Tracks

"Paper Planes", "Bucky Done Gun"... In the 2000s, the singer M.I.A. was at the top of the charts. In her lyrics she regularly denounced the civil war in Sri Lanka and the persecution suffered by her people: the Tamils. Originally from India and Sri Lanka, the Tamil population numbers 85 million people around the world. Tracks meets young Tamil artists in Europe who are walking in M.I.A’s footsteps and re-imagining Tamil culture.

In M.I.A.'s Footsteps: Tamil Culture Conquers the World

Tracks meets young Tamil artists in Europe who are walking in M.I.A’s footsteps and re-imagining Tamil culture.

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