Australian PM says Trump's comments on NATO troops 'completely unacceptable'

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday said families of fallen soldiers would be "hurting" as a result of US President Donald Trump's "completely unacceptable" comments downplaying the efforts of non-US troops in Afghanistan. Trump appeared to be partially walking back his remarks amid growing outrage from European and now Australian allies.

New wave of protests in Minneapolis after man is killed by federal agents

The killing of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents on Saturday sparked new protests and demands for ICE to end its operations in the city. The Trump administration quickly claimed that Pretti had intended to harm the federal agents, but videos of the incident appeared to contradict their account.

Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canadian goods over pending China trade deal

US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that Canada would face 100% tariffs on all its exports to the United States if Ottawa pursued a trade agreement with China, deepening already strained relations between the two neighbours.

Russian strikes kill one, leave millions without power

Russia carried out another large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure early Saturday, triggering explosions across Kyiv and cutting power to around 1.2 million properties nationwide. In the capital, nearly 6,000 buildings were left without heating as temperatures hovered near −10°C (14°F), with many apartments already freezing due to earlier damage to the city’s centralised heating system. France24 International Affairs commentator Douglas Herbert shares his insights.

Man shot by US federal agents in Minneapolis immigration crackdown dies

Man shot dead by US federal agents in Minneapolis amid immigration crackdown

Federal immigration agents shot dead a man during an operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, officials said, as police chief Brian O’Hara described an "incredibly volatile scene" and urged residents to avoid the area amid protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

French Prime Minister survives two no confidence votes

On Friday - the French Prime Minister survived not one - but two no confidence motions in Parliament. Both the far-left and the far-right were unhappy that Sebastien LeCornu forced through the income portion of a budget bill without a vote by MP's. We speak with Renaud Foucart, a senior lecturer in Economics at Lancaster University about the budget and the upcoming municipal elections.

Tehran warn it will treat any US strike as an "all-out-war"

Iran will treat any attack "as an all-out war against us," a senior Iranian official said on Friday, ahead of the arrival of a U.S. military aircraft carrier strike group and other assets in the Middle East in the coming days. "This military buildup - we hope it is not intended for real confrontation - but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran," said the senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Shirli Sitbon reports.

'Brutal' attack on Ukraine amid talks

The first three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US have ended with no apparent breakthrough, following renewed Russian bombardment of Ukrainian targets. France24 correspondent Gulliver Cragg tells us more.

US tightens military posture near Iran

As the United States maintains pressure and threats against Iran, the Islamic Republic has warned that “any attack against it will be considered a total war.” Some airlines subsequently announced the suspension of their Middle East routes; Air France had done the same, but as of midday the company has announced that it will resume its service to Dubai. France24 correspondent Reza Sayah speaks to us for the first time sinche the internet blockade from Tehran.

Turkish pro-Kurd DEM party warns of 'humanitarian tragedy' in siege on Syria's Kobane

DEM, Turkey's pro-Kurdish party, on Saturday called for the blockade on the Kurdish-majority city of Kobane to be lifted immediately, warning of a "humanitarian tragedy" in the northern Syrian town. Kurdish forces have withdrawn from areas near Kobane over the past week following pressure from the Syrian military.

Europe’s digital reliance on US Big Tech: Does the EU have a plan?

Souring transatlantic relations between the EU and US have exposed one of Europe’s greatest vulnerabilities: its heavy reliance on US Big Tech. EU lawmakers are pushing for homegrown alternatives – but how realistic are their goals?

China's top general under investigation

Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s military purge has intensified sharply, with the party now investigating the last two top military officials who had survived earlier crackdowns. The vice chair of the Central Military Commission, the PLA’s highest-ranking general, along with another CMC member, are under scrutiny for alleged disciplinary violations, leaving the commission at its smallest size in history and placing Xi in sole operational control, according to Camille Knight.

Over 8000 flights canceled in the US due to winter storm

More than 200 million Americans are bracing for an unusually severe winter storm beginning Friday, with forecasts calling for heavy snow and freezing rain. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the storm, moving eastward from the High Plains and Rockies, is likely to create “extremely dangerous” conditions across much of the United States. Shirli Sitbon reports.

Protesters take to Minnesota streets despite freezing cold

A new wave of protests has seen hundreds of Minnesota businesses close and thousands of people march in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities to oppose the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement, part of a broader “ICE Out!” general strike against the federal crackdown, while controversy has grown over Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s actions, including the detention of a 5‑year‑old boy along with his father during an operation as they returned from preschool — an incident that has drawn widespread criticism and intensified public outrage over the surge in ICE activity. Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University in Minnesota, David Shulz, tells us more.

Russian attacks on Ukraine kill one

Another deadly night in Ukraine saw continued Russian bombardments, including strikes on the capital that killed one person and wounded four, while the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was also hit by drone attacks injuring 27. The attacks coincided with the conclusion of the second day of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi between Russia and Ukraine, where territorial disputes remain the main sticking point. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister condemned Moscow’s actions, saying the missile strikes targeted not only civilians but also undermined the negotiation process. Liza Kaminov reports.

European reliance on US software: A digital sovereignty challenge

The standoff between the US and the EU over Greenland has heightened existing European concerns about over-dependence on the United States, particularly in the digital sector, with French President Emmanuel Macron at one point threatening the U.S. with a so-called “trade bazooka” to restrict major American tech companies—a move complicated by the EU’s deep reliance on those same companies for cloud services, professional tools like Microsoft and Google, social media, entertainment, and payment systems such as Visa; for further insight on digital sovereignty, Leila Murk, an entrepreneur at tech investment firm Meresquier Partners, shares her insights.

Minnesotans begin economic strike against ICE

Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota closed on Friday and thousands of protesters turned out in severely cold weather to demonstrate against the ongoing immigration crackdown in the state. Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, in Cambridge, Massachussetts, Cass Sunstein, shares his insights.

Sudan's women face 'world's worst' sexual violence amid brutal conflict, minister says

A social affairs minister for Sudan's army-backed government said that that women are the main victims of the brutal conflict ongoing since April 2023. Sulaima Ishaq al-Khalifa said Sudanese women are facing "the world's worst" sexual violence, with reports of rape often perpetrated as "the family witnessed" the crime.

Iran, US tensions set region on edge

After a brief easing of tensions, relations between the United States and Iran remain strained, with the prospect of potential U.S. strikes weighing heavily, as the Pentagon announced on January 15 that it was redeploying an aircraft carrier strike group -comprising fighter jets, guided-missile destroyers and at least one attack submarine - from the South China Sea toward the Middle East, with reports indicating the force was expected to arrive within about a week, according to Gabrielle Nadler.

United Kingdom: Man admits drugging, raping ex-wife

A former British local councillor has pleaded guilty to nearly 50 criminal offences, including repeatedly drugging and raping his former wife over a period spanning more than a decade, with the alleged crimes occurring between 2010 and 2023 and a trial scheduled to begin in October. Gabrielle Nadler reports.

US officials enter Al-Hol camp in Syria

The United Nations announced it will assume control of the Al-Hol camp in north-eastern Syria, which houses thousands of people suspected of having links to the Islamic State group, after Kurdish-led forces that had been managing the facility withdrew amid an advance by Syrian government troops. Yinka Oyetade reports.

US strikes boat killing 2 in Pacific

The US military conducted its first strike on a vessel suspected of drug-trafficking in the eastern Pacific since late last year, killing two people and prompting a US Coast Guard search for a third survivor, in an operation that follows the Trump administration’s campaign against alleged smuggling boats begun in early September and comes shortly after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month; meanwhile, a Venezuelan town hopes to benefit from initial plans to open the nation’s oil sector to private investment, potentially attracting US energy majors.

Russia, UK, Ukraine sit for tense talks in Abu Dhabi

US.-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia resumed on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as part of rare trilateral negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year war, which began in the United Arab Emirates on Friday and were set to include senior representatives from Ukraine’s armed forces and military intelligence, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.