Global arms sales surge in 2023, driven by wars and tensions in Asia

US military says it has seized two sanctioned oil tankers

The United States said on Wednesday it had seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic and a second oil tanker in the Caribbean.  US officials said both of the vessels are part of a so-called shadow fleet that has carried oil for countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran in viol...

Warner Bros rejects Paramount takeover again and tells shareholders to stick with Netflix bid

Warner’s leadership has rebuffed Paramount’s overtures again and urged shareholders to back the sale of its streaming and studio business to Netflix for $72 billion. Warner expressed concerns that the Paramount bid would essentially be a leveraged buyout, which includes a lot of debt. A merger...

US seizes two sanctioned Venezuela-linked oil tankers as blockade 'in full effect'

The U.S. has seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. This comes after US President Donald Trump announced that a deal had been struck with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez to send tens of millions of barrels of oil to the...

'Donroe Doctrine': 'Kidnapping of Maduro had nothing to do with democracy, human rights'

Brazilian award-winning author and European correspondent Jamil Chade offers deep perspective on Trump's dramatic attack on Venezuela and ensuing abduction of Nicolás Maduro. He argues this has very little to do with democracy or human rights and is more about US strategic interests in Latin Ameri...

'Breaking point'? Iranian protests reflect 'a multi-layered convergence of dissatisfaction'

Iran's top judge is warning protesters there would be "no leniency ⁠for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic", while accusing Israel and the US of pursuing hybrid methods to disrupt the country. Joining Genie Godula is Maziyar GHIABI, an Iran expert and Professor at the Universit...

US military seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic

The US on Wednesday seized a Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic that officials said was part of a shadow fleet carrying oil in violation of US sanctions. The US military had pursued the Marinera tanker, formerly named the Bella-1, from the coast of Venezuela, capturing it shortly before se...

US seizes Russia-flagged oil tanker chased to North Atlantic

The United States on Wednesday seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the coast of Venezuela, in an operation set to ratchet up tensions with Moscow....

US takeover of Greenland would 'simply mean the end of NATO', says Denmark

US President Donald Trump is discussing options including military action to take control of Greenland, the White House said on January 7, upping tensions that Denmark warns could destroy the NATO alliance. Denmark has warned any move to take Greenland by force would mean "everything would stop," i...

US attempting to seize Russian oil tanker in north Atlantic, US media report

Kherson lives under anti-drone nets and in fear of Russian attacks

With talks around Ukraine's security ongoing in Paris, Russian attacks in Ukraine continue. In the city of Kherson, close to the border with Russia, Ukrainians are constantly under threat of drone attacks. To protect them, giant nets have been tied to trees and spread out over streets. Although it...

US, Ukraine teams tackle 'most difficult issues' in Russia war talks: Zelensky

Washington and Kyiv teams in Paris were on Wednesday expected to tackle Ukraine talks' "most difficult issues" including territory following a breakthrough in European-led negotiations, Ukraine's leader said....

US, Ukraine teams meet in Paris to tackle 'most difficult issues' in Russia war talks

US and Ukrainian negotiators meet in Paris on Wednesday for a new round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire with Russia, with territorial disputes and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on the agenda. The talks come a day after Ukraine's Western allies agreed key security guarantee...

Ukraine allies agree on security guarantees in case of a ceasefire

In Paris, discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine are underway. French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, EU leaders and a delegation from the US including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. On January 6, Kyiv’s allies said they would provide s...

Yemeni separatist leader charged with 'high treason' by Yemen's anti-Houthi council

The leader of Yemen's southern separatists has reportedly fled when he failed to turn up for his flight to peace talks in Riyadh, following the flare-up in tensions between Saudi Arabi and UAE forces in the region. Yemen's presidential council says Aidarus Al-Zubaidi has been expelled from the coun...

'Donroe Doctrine': Latin American resources 'belong to US, to hell with anyone who gets in our way'

On the heels of the US attack on Venezuela, leaders from major European powers and Canada are rallying behind Greenland amid threats of a US takeover. Nick Morgan, Director of the Centre for Latin American and the Caribbean at Newcastle University, warns of the consequences of an "extremely weak...

Trump considering military options to acquire Greenland

President Donald Trump is exploring how to take control of Greenland and using the US military is "always an option," the White House said Tuesday, further upping tensions with NATO ally Denmark. Washington's stark warning came despite Greenland and Denmark both calling for a speedy meeting with th...

Trump 'sees that there's money to be made' out of a Ukraine ceasefire, analyst says

Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, James J. Townsend Jr, Senior Advisor at the Atlantic Council, says that the presence of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Ukraine peace talks in Paris was 'very important' in light of developments in Venezuela, to assuage allies' concerns about th...

Allies agree 'robust' security guarantees for Ukraine

European and US allies of Ukraine on Tuesday agreed "robust" security guarantees for Kyiv to come into force after an eventual ceasefire in Russia's war against the pro-Western country that would see the United States lead a truce monitoring mechanism, French President Emmanuel Macron said. FRANCE...

Watch live: Leaders of Ukraine’s 'Coalition of the Willing' speak from Paris

Tending to the forgotten: A Russian family brings abandoned graves back to life

Every weekend, a Russian family restores abandoned graves, cleaning headstones and placing flowers for those no one else remembers. For Grandma Lida, it’ is a way of keeping memories of the deceased alive. According to her grandson, their videos have inspired others in Russia and abroad to care f...

Kyiv allies discussing 'what could be put in place after a ceasefire' at key talks in Paris

Volodymy Zelensky is meeting the "Coalition of the Willing", those European leaders who support Kyiv against Russia, as well as top US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The goal is to discuss what could happen in terms of security guarantees in case a ceasefire is put in place on the ground....

Ukraine and top allies aim to make security pledges concrete

The summit of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" is focused on security guarantees Ukraine requires in the event of a ceasefire to deter further Russian aggression. According to a draft statement before the talks started, Washington would commit to "support" a European-led multinational force...

What is the "Coalition of the Willing" set to discuss with US envoys at key talks in Paris?

European allies of Ukraine and top US envoys are meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on January 6, in their latest bid to agree security guarantees for any ceasefire in Russia's war against its neighbour. The summit of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" comes despite no ease up in f...

Is U.S. military operation in Venezuela a 'return to 19th century gunboat diplomacy'?

The UN has condemned the US attack on Venezuela & the abduction of Nicolas Maduro. As the world body calls on the int'l community to "come together" & forcefully reject "undermining a fundamental principle of int'l law", Genie Godula welcomes Dr. Edward Blumenthal, Professor of Latin American Studi...

Cité Universitaire de Paris: The French campus that defies war

Every year, the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris welcomes around 12,000 residents from all backgrounds and nationalities. Students, researchers and artists live there side by side across its 47 campus houses, tucked away in a lush park in the south of Paris. The "Cité U", as locals call...

US operation in Venezuela marks a 'geopolitical shift'

European leaders have given a low-key response to US President Donald Trump's military intervention in Venezuela as they try to get Trump to help end Russia's war on Ukraine. Venezuela's traditional allies are also in a bind to criticise the US intervention: Russia has to way up the cost of losing...

European leaders push back on Trump's wish to take over Greenland ahead of Ukraine talks

Key European allies of Ukraine and top US envoys meet President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on January 6 in their latest bid to agree security guarantees for any ceasefire in Russia's war against its neighbour. At the same time, several attending European leaders pushed back on U.S. President Donal...

Aid organisation warns of 'dire' conditions in Gaza, West Bank following Israeli ban

One of the humanitarian aid organisations affected by an Israeli ban from operating in Gaza and the West Bank says it is trying to negotiate with Israeli authorities to revoke the measure. Israel says the licences of the NGOs were removed after they refused to share full details of their staff. But...

Capture of Maduro by US means Russia, Iran and China lose key ally

Nicolas Maduro's allies have been particularly vocal in their condemnation of the US' capture of the deposed Venezuelan leader. Among them are Russia, Iran and China. US control of oil reserves in Venezuela would mean the United States could control the market, and therefore prices - something worr...

Kyiv allies meet in Paris to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine

Ukraine's allies meet in Paris on ⁠January 6, seeking to finalise as much as possible their contributions to future security guarantees to reassure Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. According to Reuters, a draft statement mentions binding commitments to support Ukraine in case of a fu...