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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

Everything you ever wanted to know about the European Elections, but were afraid to ask, with Nikola Obermann.
Written by: Nikola Obermann
Producers: Frédéric Doazan & Sylvain Cappelletto

European Election Special

Everything you ever wanted to know about the European elections, but were afraid to ask, with Nikola Obermann.

Karambolage

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

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

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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

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

Following the Magdeburg Christmas market attack and several knife attacks in the rest of Germany, the themes of security and migration are being heavily debated ahead of the federal elections. An overview of the proposals of the different parties. 

At the top of worries for Germans, immigration is polarising politics in Germany.

German elections: Immigration policy

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

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

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

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

José James, the jazz artist of the hip-hop generation, plays an hour of mellow, calming tunes at the Mojo Club, a cult venue for Hamburg nightlife.

Hamburg Sessions

José James, the jazz artist of the hip-hop generation, plays an hour of music as hushed as a caress.

José James

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

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

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.

ARTE Reportage

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

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.

Frankfurt’s Bahnhofsviertel is notorious for crime, drug use, and a party vibe. But what for some is a dangerous zombie land, is also home to some 3,500 ordinary Frankfurters. A trip to one of Germany’s most disreputable neighbourhoods which is also a place of hope and community.

A trip to one of Germany’s most disreputable neighbourhoods which is also a place of hope and community.

Re: Frankfurt's Notorious Station District

On 16 December 2024, German chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence in the Bundestag, the German parliament. Since then, parliament has been dissolved and new federal elections have been organised, initially planned for September 2025. The voting system will be majority and proportional and will almost systematically lead to the formation of a coalition, which is necessary to elect the future chancellor.

On 23 February 2025, the German federal elections are due to take place. The voting system will be both majority and proportional.

German elections: how does it work?

The menopause can still be a taboo subject for many. But in Spain, particularly progressive in women’s rights, a more open discussion about this period in a woman’s life is taking place.

In Spain, a more open discussion about the menopause is taking place.

Re: Spain - Breaking Taboos about the Menopause

Across Europe, the far right is embedding itself into the political landscape and daily life. But behind an increasingly smooth and respectable façade lies an ideology that remains fundamentally racist and violent. An in-depth focus into an ecosystem of extreme ideology in France, Germany, and Belgium.

Inside Europe's Far-Right Movement

Across Europe, the far right is embedding itself into politics and daily life, but remains fundamentally violent and racist. 

White Power

"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

Finnish Henna Virkkunen is in charge of technical sovereignty, security and democracy and has taken over the most sensitive files at the moment: regulating platforms and social media in the face of disinformation and against a backdrop of online hatred and artificial intelligence. In a way, Europe facing up to its values.

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