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Zelensky lands in UAE as US and Russia prepare for Ukraine peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky touched down in the United Arab Emirates Sunday for an official visit ahead of planned talks between US and Russian officials expected to take place in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. The UAE has been an important

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Rally against Germany's resurgent far right draws thousands in Berlin

Europe • 5:15 PM

One week out from Germany's general election, tens of thousands of people gathered in Berlin to protest the growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. A quarter of a million people joined a similar rally in Munich last weekend

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UK: Over 10,000 foxes share streets and gardens with Londoners

If you live in London, an occasional sighting of a fox would come as no surprise. They were first sighted in the capital after WWII. Nowadays, more than 10,000 foxes share streets and gardens with residents, and not all of them are happy...

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Marco Rubio's Mideast tour: US, Israel present united front on Gaza, Iran

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a united front on February 15 against their common enemies, threatening to 'open the gates of hell' on Hamas and 'finish the job' against Iran.

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Navalny's widow Navalnaya calls for fight for 'free, peaceful' Russia

Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Alexei Navalny, on February 16 urged supporters to fight for a 'free, peaceful' Russia, a year after her husband's prison death.

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Hezbollah leader says Lebanon's government must ensure Israeli withdrawal

Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem said that the Lebanese government had a responsibility to "make Israel withdraw" in keeping with its commitment under the ceasefire deal to pull its troops out of the country before February 18.

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Vance-Zelensky: 'This meeting was more successful than we expected'

US Vice President JD Vance held a meeting in Munich with Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Donald Trump's push for a deal with Moscow. Olena Prokopenko, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, was our guest. 'I would

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Hamas, Israel complete sixth hostage-prisoner swap of Gaza truce

Palestinian militants released three Israeli hostages on February 15 in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian inmates freed by Israel, completing the latest swap despite fears the Gaza truce deal was near collapse.

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European countries to meet in Paris to discuss security: France FM

France's President Emmanuel Macron will host envoys from the 'main European countries' on February 17 to discuss security on the continent, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said. 'The president will bring together the main European countries tomorrow fo

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Trump's plan for Gaza: 'Ethnic cleansing is not acceptable,' UN chief Guterres says

In an interview with FRANCE 24, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, saying that "ethnic cleansing is not acceptable in our world".

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The situation in DR Congo dominate agenda at African Union summit

Our special envoy and politics editor Marc Perelman is covering the African Union summit for us. The conflict in DR Congo is on the top of the agenda.

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French President Emmanuel Macron to host European leaders' meeting on Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron will host a meeting of European leaders on February 17 to discuss the situation in Ukraine. What can we expect to come out of this meeting? France/Europe correspondent for the Swiss daily Blick Richard Werly tells us more

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Rubio says Hamas 'must be eradicated': 'It sounded as if, almost, the war still had to begin'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on February 16, fully endorsed Israel's war aims in the Gaza Strip, saying Hamas 'must be eradicated' and throwing the future of the shaky ceasefire into further doubt. He was speaking alongside Benjamin Netanyahu. 'It

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Former PM of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk: 'No talks about Ukraine without Ukraine'

Europe won't have a seat at the table for Ukraine peace talks, Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy said on February 15, after Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals asking what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kyiv. Former Ukraini

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M23 troops advance into DR Congo's second city as UK warns of escalation

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced on Sunday into Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, witnesses said, as the British government warned the advance risks escalating into a broader regional conflict.

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Deadly Austria stabbing was 'Islamist attack', interior minister says

Europe • 11:35 AM

Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on Sunday said that the stabbing attack in Villach, which killed a teenager and injured five others, was an "Islamist attack". The suspect, a 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker, was reportedly radicalised online.

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US Secretary of State Rubio to meet Netanyahu on first Middle East tour

Rubio landed at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv hours after Hamas freed three Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners — the sixth swap under the fragile ceasefire.

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US cuts Europe from Ukraine peace talks: It 'has caused extreme alarm'

Trump shocked European allies this week by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin without consulting them or Kyiv beforehand and declaring an immediate start to peace talks. 'The idea the Europe is going to be excluded from talks to reach an agreement

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Europe will not be part of Ukraine peace talks, US envoy says

Europe won't have a seat at the table for Ukraine peace talks, Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy said on February 15, after Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kyiv.

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DR Congo: 'It’s getting worse and it requires international attention'

UN chief Antonio Guterres on February 15 demanded the Democratic Republic of Congo's 'territorial integrity' be respected and a regional war avoided, at an African summit the day after Rwandan-backed fighters seized a second DRC provincial capital. 'The

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Navalny supporters mark first anniversary of his death as Russian opposition falters

Europe • 9:43 AM

Supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny marked the first anniversary of his death on Saturday, risking retaliation from President Vladimir Putin. The opposition has been badly weakened since Navalny’s death as many members have fled into e

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Residents flee, looters run rampant: M23 rebels advancing in Bukavu

The morning after M23 fighters entered the outskirts of Bukavu — a city of about 1.3 million people that lies 63 miles (101 kilometers) south of rebel-held Goma — some streets were flooded by residents attempting to leave and looters filling flour sacks

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Panama Canal caught in power struggle as US and China vie for trade dominance

The Panama Canal is one of several territories that US President Donald Trump says he wants the US to take control of, amid concerns about China's influence over the waterway. What worries the US is a Hong Kong-based company that manages the two ports of

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Netanyahu thanks top US diplomat Rubio for 'unequivocal' backing on Gaza

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began his first Middle East tour on Sunday by meeting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Rubio highlighted their countries' "common strategy" to eliminate Hamas's

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One person killed and five wounded in knife attack in Austria, police say

A teenage boy has been killed and five more people wounded in a knife attack in southern Austria on February 15, police said.

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Thousands mark Serbian Statehood Day with mass protest against corruption

Thousands of Serbians blocked Kragujevac’s main boulevard on February 15 in the latest student-led protest since the deadly collapse of Novi Sad’s train station roof. Marking Serbia’s Statehood holiday, demonstrators called for government accountability

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Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf elected to head African Union Commission

Djibouti’s long-serving Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected on February 15 as head of the African Union Commission, securing the backing of regional leaders in Addis Ababa. Youssouf vowed to prioritise peace and security as Africa faces con

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Dozens killed in India stampede as crowds rush to Kumbh Mela's festival

Pacific Asia • 6:27 AM

At least 18 people died in a stampede at a New Delhi railway station on February 15 as crowds rushed to board trains bound for the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering. The incident, which mostly claimed women and children, follows another

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Several killed in India stampede on way to world's largest religious gathering

Pacific Asia • 4:37 AM

At least 18 people died in a stampede at a New Delhi railway station late Saturday as crowds rushed to board trains bound for the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering. The incident, which mostly claimed women and children, follows another

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'Conclave' and 'The Brutalist' tie for most BAFTA film awards

Culture • 3:57 AM

Papal thriller "Conclave" and three-and-a-half hour epic "The Brutalist" won four BAFTA awards apiece on Sunday, with 25-year-old Mikey Madison winning best actress for her portrayal of a New York sex worker in Sean Baker's black comedy "Anora".

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Bolsonaro camp in Brazil hopes to capitalise on the ‘Trump effect’

Brazil's right-wing hero and former president Jair Bolsonaro is ineligible to run for office until 2030 following his conviction on abuse of power charges after his supporters stormed parliament on January 8, 2023. But US President Donald Trump's return

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Yesterday

European leaders set to hold emergency summit on Ukraine

France will hold an urgent European summit on Ukraine on Monday after US President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy said that Europe would not have a role in planned Ukraine peace talks between the US and Russia.

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One person killed and five wounded in knife attack in Austria, police say

A teenage boy has been killed and five more people wounded in a knife attack in southern Austria Saturday, police said.

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PSG narrowly beat Toulouse in Ligue 1 as Marseille, Monaco thrash rivals

A single goal from Fabian Ruiz secured a narrow Paris Saint-Germain victory against Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Saturday while Marseilles resoundingly beat rivals Saint-Etienne and Monaco thrashed Nantes with a 7-1 sweep.

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Mother and two-year-old daughter die days after Munich car ramming

A mother and her two-year-old daughter have died from injuries sustained two days ago when a car deliberately rammed into a trade union demonstration in Munich on Thursday. The attack wounded 37 people, including children, police said.

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School paedophilia allegations: François Bayrou battles to contain scandal

On February 15, French Prime Minister François Bayrou met with victims from the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school. Survivors are demanding answers after decades of physical and sexual abuse with more than 100 complaints now filed. The case, which dates back

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Accused of lying to parliament, French PM Bayrou vows to probe Catholic school sex abuse

French Prime Minister François Bayrou vowed to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse at a Catholic school near the city of Pau after a meeting with victims on Saturday. Bayrou has been accused of lying to parliament for denying he knew of the lon

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Thousands mark Serbian Statehood Day with mass protest against corruption

Thousands of Serbians blocked Kragujevac’s main boulevard on Saturday in the latest student-led protest since the deadly collapse of a train station roof in the city of Novi Sad late last year. Marking Serbia’s Statehood holiday, demonstrators called for

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Venice prepares for 2025 Carnival, paying tribute to Giacomo Casanova

Venice woke up to rain today, but the spirit of the city’s Carnival shines through. St. Mark’s Square, the beating heart of the city, has been bustling throughout the day with visitors eager to immerse themselves in this centuries-old tradition. This yea

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Zelensky calls for European army to deter Russia, earn US respect

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on February 15 for the creation of a European army, saying the continent could no longer be sure of protection from the United States and would only get respect from Washington with a strong military.

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UN chief warns against regional war over DR Congo at Africa summit

UN chief Antonio Guterres on February 15 demanded the Democratic Republic of Congo's 'territorial integrity' be respected and a regional war avoided, at an African summit the day after Rwandan-backed fighters seized a second DRC provincial capital.

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Germany's Scholz rebukes Vance, defends Europe's stance on hate speech and far right

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a strong rebuke on Saturday to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's attack on Europe's stance toward hate speech and the far right, saying it was not right for others to tell Germany and Europe what to do. Vance lambaste

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Volodymyr Zelensky calls for European army as US backing questioned

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on February 15 for the creation of a European army, as he insisted Kyiv and its backers on the continent must be listened to in peace talks with Russia. France 24's Nick Holdsworth tells us more.

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Israel, Hamas complete their latest exchange as ceasefire's first phase has just 2 weeks left

Israel and Hamas completed the sixth exchange of hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on February 15 with just over two weeks remaining in the initial phase of their fragile Gaza ceasefire.

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Ceasefire deal: 'It is going to be very difficult to reach a Phase 2 agreement in two weeks' time'

Israel and Hamas completed the sixth exchange of hostages and prisoners this February 15. But 'it is going to be very difficult to reach a Phase 2 agreement in two weeks' time,' according to our guest Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at t

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Israel-Hamas - Sixth hostage-prisoner exchange: 'Today, we saw a sad face'

Our correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky interviewed Cécila Cohen, a friend of a family whose two sons were in captivity—one of whom was freed today.

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Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Youssouf elected to head African Union

Africa • 4:13 PM

Djibouti’s long-serving Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected Saturday as head of the African Union Commission, securing the backing of regional leaders in Addis Ababa. Youssouf vowed to prioritise peace and security as Africa faces conflicts

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Second phase of Gaza truce negotiations to start next week

Palestinian militants released three Israeli hostages on February 15 in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian inmates freed by Israel, completing the latest swap despite fears the Gaza truce deal was near collapse. Negotiations on a second phase of the ce

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Hamas frees three hostages: 'Some of the hostages are in critical condition'

Three Israeli men, all dual nationals, who were abducted from the same kibbutz community during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack and have been held hostage by Gaza militants since, were released on February 15. Their health status still needs to be assess

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Russia orders US citizen arrested for drug smuggling to remain in custody

A Moscow court on Saturday ordered a 28-year-old US citizen arrested at a Moscow airport on suspicions of drug smuggling to remain in custody for 30 days. Customs officers detained the man on Friday after finding cannabis-laced sweets in his luggage, cou

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Tennis world number one Jannik Sinner banned for three months after doping scandal

World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner agreed to a three-month ban from tennis on Saturday, bringing an end to a doping scandal that has dogged the Italian tennis player for months. Sinner has twice tested positive for traces of the banned substanc

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Serbia's striking students and populist president to hold parallel rallies as tensions spike

Serbia’s striking students and supporters of populist President Aleksandar Vucic have planned parallel rallies on February 15 as both mark the country's Statehood Day with notably contrasting messages.

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War in Ukraine: JD Vance tells Zelensky US wants 'lasting' peace

US Vice President JD Vance pledged on February 14 that Washington sought to secure a 'lasting' peace as he held a first meeting with Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Donald Trump's push for a deal with Moscow. Vance also criticised Germany

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Hamas frees three more hostages: 'We are witnessing a demonstration of defiance'

Hamas-led militants released three male Israeli hostages on February 15 and Israeli forces began releasing hundreds of prisoners in return. Oliver McTernan, director of Forward Thinking, was our guest.

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Valentine's Day: Invasive bugs and toxic pesticides hurt Kenya rose exports

The red rose: a token of love for many, and for Kenya, a major economic sector. More than a third of Kenya's flower exports where the roses, in particular, are prized for their longevity and vase performance, the Kenyan government says. What can’t be see

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Nigerian lawmakers approve $200 million to offset shortfall from US health aid cuts

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 200 million people, was among the top ten recipients of aid from the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2023. USAID's funding has been frozen for 90 days by the Trump administration.

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AU summit: DR Congo's Tshisekedi will not attend gathering in Ethiopia

DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi will not attend the African Union summit that Ethiopia is hosting this weekend (15-16 February). Désiré Assogbavi, political analyst, was our guest.

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Rwanda-backed rebels advance in Bukavu, M23 claim control of Kavumu airport

M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, continue their advance in South Kivu province after capturing Goma. Local sources report that the group has seized a strategic airport. Meanwhile, the UN continues to raise alarms over the deteriorating humanitarian situatio

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Ukraine could 'drive out' Putin if US armed Ukraine 'to the teeth', allowed attacks deep into Russia

European leaders are trying to make sense of a tough new line from Washington on issues including democracy and Ukraine's future. As the Trump administration continues to upend trans-Atlantic conventions that have been in place since after World War II,

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In Munich, Vance accuses European politicians of censoring free speech

US Vice President JD Vance on February 14 took a swipe at European governments for what he described as their censorship of free speech and their political opponents, while largely avoiding the question of how to resolve the Ukraine war.

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Sixth exchange: Hamas frees 3 Israeli hostages for 369 Palestinian prisoners

Hamas-led militants have released three male Israeli hostages, and Israeli forces began releasing hundreds of prisoners in return, in the latest indication that the fragile ceasefire deal that has paused fighting in the Gaza Strip but that had teetered i

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More than 25 people arrested in Lebanon after attack on UN convoy

More than 25 people have been arrested in Lebanon after a convoy carrying United Nations peacekeepers came under attack on Friday. The force’s outgoing deputy commander and a Nepalese soldier were both wounded after the vehicle they were travelling in wa

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Three Israeli hostages freed in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners under ceasefire deal

Three Israeli hostages were freed early on Saturday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal in exchange for the release of 369 Palestinian prisoners. The first groups of Palestinian prisoners were bussed shortly thereafter to the West Bank city of Ramallah. R

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Ukraine will have ‘low chance’ of surviving without US support, Zelensky says

Europe • 6:28 AM

Ukraine may not survive should it lose the backing of its main ally the United States in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with NBC to be broadcast on Saturday. He added that Russia is not after a c

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Hamas and Israel complete sixth hostage-prisoner swap after tense week

Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad released three Israelis held in captivity since October 7, 2023 in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas last week threatened to delay the planned swap, accusing Israel of having violate

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Friday, february 14, 2025

UN Lebanon force demands 'immediate' inquiry into torching of vehicle in Beirut

A deputy commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon was injured and a UN vehicle torched late Friday by Hezbollah protesters blocking the road to Beirut airport. Demonstrators had been protesting against a decision by Lebanese authorities to revok

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Vance meets leader of Germany's far-right AfD, attacks European 'firewalls' against populism

Europe • 9:16 PM

US Vice President JD Vance on Friday met with Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Vance lectured European leaders about free speech and said there was no place for “fire

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The day after: 'Robust post-war reintegration plan critical for sustainable free democratic Ukraine'

Europe • 9:07 PM

US Vice President JD Vance has pledged that Washington seeks to secure a "lasting" peace as he held a first meeting with Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Donald Trump's push for a deal with Moscow. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspec

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Zelensky, Vance meet amid 'preliminary posturing to establish parameters for peace negotiations'

Europe • 7:14 PM

A highly anticipated meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance is underway at the Munich Security Conference. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Erin Ogunkeye welcomes Dr Gavin Hall, NA

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Drone warfare stalls progress on Ukraine’s front line

Europe • 6:05 PM

Some 35 kilometres north of Kharkiv with the Russian army at a distance, the soldiers of the 127th brigade are waging electronic warfare. Over three years, artillery combat has given way to drone warfare, including troop surveillance and the threat of ka

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Rekindling bromance: Modi, Trump discuss defence cooperation, trade and migration

Pacific Asia • 5:23 PM

"I missed you a lot": Donald Trump gave Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a warm welcome at the White House. But behind the hugs, smiles and handshakes were intense negotiations. The US president complained about India's high tariffs on US goods while

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Catholic school abuse scandal lands French PM Bayrou in hot water

France • 4:58 PM

French Prime Minister François Bayrou is fighting allegations that he ignored reports of the widespread sexual abuse of minors at a Catholic boarding school in southwestern Béarn, his political bastion for several decades, in a case that has weakened his

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EU should give Ukraine 'very strong security guarantees': Finland's former president Niinistö

Europe • 4:50 PM

Europe is facing increasingly hybrid threats, and it lacks a shared culture of preparedness, according to our guest. Sauli Niinistö was the president of Finland from 201HJYYUU2 to 2024 and is now a special advisor to the head of the European Commission,

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The lost children of Romania's Ceaușescu dictatorship

Europe • 4:41 PM

Thirty-five years after the horrors of the Ceaușescu dictatorship were discovered in Romania, our reporters investigated one of the darkest episodes in the country's history – the squalid, state-run institutions where thousands of children were locked aw

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Can artificial intelligence be feminist as calls against inclusivity grow?

A few concepts arguably dominated remarks at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris this February: inclusivity, ethics and deregulation. Debates about these themes, complimentary for some but conflicting for others, will have a significant im

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From Bob Marley to the Sex Pistols: The work of photography icon Dennis Morris

Culture • 3:58 PM

As a teenager in the 1960s, he was told there was no such thing as a Black photographer. Today, the work of Dennis Morris includes some of the most iconic music portraits of our time. Official photographer for the likes of Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols,

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