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

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

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

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began his first Middle East tour on Sunday with a meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, where he is expected to advocate for US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to take contr

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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

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

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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Yesterday

European leaders set to hold emergency summit on Ukraine

France is in talks with its allies about holding an informal European summit on Ukraine on Monday, diplomatic sources said Saturday. Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg earlier said that Europe would not have a role in Ukraine peace talks planned

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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 Mahmoud Ali Youssouf elected to head African Union Commission

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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Victoires de la Musique awards: Singer-songwriter Santa wins album of the year

The 40th edition of the Victoires de la Musique celebrated this year’s standout artists. Zaho de Sagazan claimed another win, while rapper-singer Gims took home his first trophy.

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Hamas to free three more hostages: Men among 80 residents taken from Nir Oz kibbutz

Hamas-led militants released three male Israeli hostages on February 15 and Israeli forces began releasing hundreds of prisoners in return. Militants in the southern Gaza Strip paraded the three hostages — Iair Horn, 46, a dual citizen of Israel and Arge

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Israel: Mood in Tel Aviv ‘euphoric’ after hostage release

The mood at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv was described as 'euphoric' on February 15, as news reached the friends and families of Israelis being held in Gaza that the latest batch of hostages had been released. FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky reports from the

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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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🔴 Hamas transfers three Israeli hostages to Red Cross in Gaza after 16 months in captivity

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At least one Israeli hostage to appear on stage ahead of release

Gaza militants will release three Israeli hostages on February 15 in exchange for 369 Palestinians in Israeli custody. This is the sixth such swap since a ceasefire when into force at the end of January. FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Jerusalem, Noga Tarno

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Live: 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

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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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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Rwanda-backed rebels advance into eastern Congo's 2nd major city of Bukavu

In tonight's edition, nearly three weeks on from their seizure of Goma, M23 rebels continue their advance to the city of Bukavu. Also, the conflict is high on the agenda for the Africa Union summit this weekend as the heads of the 55 member states from

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

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'

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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90 minutes that changed Ukraine, ‘Uncle Sam’ & Uncle Sucker’, AI Unleashed, Musk v Altman

It’s been a week where Moscow got what it wanted. A 90-minute call between Trump and Putin ended with talk of visits and cooperation—and the real headline: no NATO future for Ukraine. Kyiv may never reclaim its lost borders, and as Putin steps in from th

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

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

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

"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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