The US-Ukraine mineral deal: A look at rare earths, their use and purposes

Romania launches criminal probe into far-right, pro-Moscow presidential candidate Georgescu

Romanian prosecutors opened a criminal probe Wednesday into far-right populist Calin Georgescu, whose surprise first-round win in December presidential elections prompted authorities to take the unprecedented move of annulling the vote after Romanian security services accused Russia of "aggressive"...

What we know so far about the US-Ukraine minerals deal

Kyiv and Washington have reportedly agreed a deal that would allow the United States to access Ukraine's mineral resources – although it does not yet detail the security guarantees sought by Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Washington on Friday to finalise the agreemen...

What we know so far about the US-Ukraine minerals deal

Kyiv and Washington have reportedly agreed a deal that would allow the United States to access Ukraine's mineral resources – although it does not detail the security guarantees sought by Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Washington on Friday to finalise the agreement. ...

'We don't intend to stay' in Gaza, Israeli FM Sa'ar says

With the first phase of the ceasefire that paused 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas set to end on March 1, FRANCE 24 spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. The second phase entails in theory the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza but what comes next remains unclear. "We do...

A closer look at Ukraine's mineral wealth as deal with US takes shape

As Ukraine and the US reportedly reach an agreement on a joint exploitation of Ukraine's critical minerals, FRANCE 24 takes a closer look at exactly which minerals can be found in Ukraine and why they are so crucial to the US economy. However, a number of obstacles will make it difficult for the US...

Two French researchers admit carrying out attack on Russian consulate in Marseille

Two French nationals who threw explosive devices at the Russian consulate in Marseille are employed by the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the public prosecutor’s office told AFP late Tuesday. One is an engineer and the other a chemist. They have admitted carrying out the attack....

US-Ukraine deal on minerals set to be signed this week in Washington

The US and Ukraine have agreed on the terms of a draft minerals deal central to Kyiv's push to win Washington's support as President Donald Trump seeks to rapidly end the war with Russia, sources with knowledge of the matter have said....

US, Ukraine agree to minerals deal but no security promise for Kyiv

An agreement that would give the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals could be signed as early as Friday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set to travel to Washington to meet President Donald Trump, according to one Ukrainian official on Tuesday....

Live: US-Ukraine mineral deal will depend on talks with Trump, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said that the success of a minerals deal with the US would depend on talks with President Donald Trump. Zelensky is due to visit Washington on Friday to discuss the deal, which would give the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Follow our...

UN warns of 'extreme brutality' surge in Haiti as killings soar, thousands flee

A UN-led coalition warned on Monday of a "wave of extreme brutality" in Haiti, reporting numerous killings and mass displacements, adding that families have been massacred, and children shot while fleeing. Gang dominance in the capital and widespread violence persist, despite reinforcements from a...

Israel strikes military targets in southern Syria after calling for demilitarisation

The Israeli army said it conducted air strikes on military sites in southern Syria on Tuesday, targeting weapon depots and command centres, just days after Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu called for completely demilitarising the area. At least two people were killed at a Damascus-area military un...

Trump: Russian oligarchs eligible for $5 million residency 'gold cards'

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wants to begin selling gold cards for $5 million to foreigners who want to move to the U.S. and create jobs. Trump said the immigration program, which he said was legal, could start in about two weeks. He added it is possible Russian oligarchs could qu...

Ukraine and US have agreed on a framework minerals deal, officials say

Ukraine and the U.S. have reached an agreement on a framework for a broad economic deal that would include the exploitation of rare earth minerals, three senior Ukrainian officials said Tuesday. One of them said that Kyiv hopes that signing the agreement will ensure the continued flow of U.S. milit...

Ukraine will need more than $500 billion to recover from war, World Bank estimates

The World Bank estimates it will take over $500 billion to rebuild Ukraine after three years of war. Also in this edition: Bitcoin hits its lowest level in over three months. Plus, a thousand musicians including Kate Bush, Cat Stevens and Annie Lennox are protesting the UK government’s planned ch...

More than 20 staffers quit Musk’s DOGE, refusing to ‘dismantle critical public services’

At least 21 tech employees quit Elon Musk's DOGE in a joint resignation letter on Tuesday, refusing to use their expertise to “dismantle critical public services". The employees warned that many of those hired by Musk were political ideologues lacking the necessary skills or experience, noting...

Media report estimates 95,000 Russian troop deaths so far in Ukraine

The Kremlin declined to comment Tuesday after the release of a report documenting the deaths of more than 95,000 Russian soldiers fighting Ukraine. The report was based on open-access data collated by independent Russian news outlet Mediazona in collaboration with the BBC's Russian Service....

UK's Starmer announces rise in defence spending ahead of visit to 'bridge' Trump-Europe divide

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday that the UK will raise its defence spending from 2.3 percent to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027. The announcement comes days before talks with US President Donald Trump – who has long demanded European nations spend more on defence – as Europe seeks U...

Macron attempts to avert trade war at Trump meeting as EU prepares tariff response

During his visit to Washington, French President Emmanuel Macron argued against US President Donald Trump's protectionism, saying he couldn't have a trade war with China and Europe at the same time, and adding that it would make Europe's bid to be less reliant on US defence more complicated. Meanwh...

Will Macron visit to White House bring transatlantic relationship 'back from the brink'?

French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump appeared to rekindle their friendly relationship as they met in Washington on Monday for talks on Ukraine. But at a time of increasing divide between the Trump administration and European leaders, will it be enough to save the transatla...

France arrests two after arson attack on Russian consulate in Marseille

Two suspects were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of throwing explosives at the Russian consulate in Marseille, local prosecutors said. Russia said the "incident had the hallmarks of a terrorist attack"....

Live: Kremlin reaffirms opposition to European peacekeepers in Ukraine

Russia on Tuesday reiterated its opposition to European peacekeepers in Ukraine, indicating that such a move remained unacceptable to Moscow. US President Donald Trump said in talks Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron that Russia was open to European troops monitoring a possible future pea...

Macron pushes for US-EU cooperation on Ukraine during White House visit

In a brief trip to the White House, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday pushed to attach security guarantees to a peace deal in Ukraine as US President Donald Trump expressed hope that a deal could be reached in a matter of weeks. Macron urged for the joint participation of the European Unio...

UN Security Council adopts US-drafted resolution on Ukraine war

FRANCE 24 correspondent Jessica Le Masurier reports from the UN's New York headquarters, where the Security Council passed a US-drafted resolution on Monday which refuses to condemn Russia's role as the sole instigator of the Ukraine war. Ten member states voted in favour of the resolution, none op...

Macron and Trump rekindle their 'bromance' amid strategic tensions over Ukraine

Trump greeted Macron as a "very special man" during their Oval Office meeting, exchanging their characteristic firm handshake as the French leader sought to leverage their personal relationship to strengthen US backing for Ukraine. ...

Macron backs Trump diplomacy but seeks US support on any troops

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday supported Donald Trump's outreach to Russia over Ukraine during his visit to Washington, but called on the US to back any European troop deployment as a form of security guarantee. FRANCE 24's Fraser Jackson reports from the White House....

War in Ukraine: Three years of Russia's disinformation machine

As Ukraine marks its third anniversary since Russia's full-scale invasion, this episode of Truth or Fake looks back at three years of Russia's vast propaganda machine – and the tactics and operations used – to discredit the Ukrainian state and justify the war. Vedika Bahl explains....

🔴 Live: 'Peace cannot mean the surrender of Ukraine,' Macron says after talks with Trump

Turning point for European defence? Germany's next leader embraces security independence

There's no hitting the snooze button on this wake-up call. Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting is savouring victory in Sunday’s federal elections while taking stock of what he faces: with the Putin and Trump-backed far right finishing a strong second, Friedrich Merz is stating that his country and...

'They knew and did nothing': French surgeon's trial for sexual abuse exposes systematic failures

The trial of French surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec began on Monday with him facing accusations of assaulting nearly 300 patients, mostly children, over several decades. The case has sparked widespread outrage, with France’s Order of Physicians accused of turning a blind eye to early warning...

Seismic shift at UN as US twice backs Russia, further breaking from Ukraine

In another sign of US President Donald Trump's shift away from Ukraine and its European allies, the US pushed through its own Security Council resolution not framing Russia as the aggressor in its invasion of Ukraine. While European leaders scored a "moral" victory in the General Assembly, both the...