FRANCE 24 explores events across Europe, including in the 27 member states of the European Union and the United Kingdom. Follow our on-the-ground reports, interviews and analyses of the events affecting social and political life on the Continent and Europe’s role in the world.
-
Fighter jets, sniper units part of huge security operation in place for Pope Francis’s funeral
24 April 2025
Ahead of Pope Francis's funeral Saturday, Italy and the Vatican are implementing a massive security plan that includes fighter jets, sniper units, airport-style security checks and a large police presence to manage the arrival of world leaders and hundreds of thousands of expected mourners. A 24-hour no-fly zone over Rome is already in place.
-
Live: Macron urges Putin to 'stop lying' about wanting peace in Ukraine
24 April 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of lying about seeking peace in Ukraine while continuing attacks and urged him to agree to a ceasefire. Macron's comments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut short his trip to South Africa on Thursday after strikes on Kyiv killed at least twelve people. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates
-
Ukraine: Trump says he thinks he has a deal with Russia
24 April 2025
US President Donald Trump said he believed he had reached an agreement with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to end the war in Ukraine. He shared that it had been more difficult than expected to work with Volodymyr Zelensky than with Vladimir Putin. Asked about the American proposal calling for recognition of Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula, Donald Trump sidestepped the question, saying he had “no favorites” and simply wanted the war to end.
-
Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognise Russian control of Crimea
24 April 2025
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at Ukraine's president, saying Volodymyr Zelensky is prolonging the “killing field” after refusing to recognise Crimea as part of Russia. The proposal was part of a peace plan by the US, but Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out ceding territory to Russia in any deal.
-
Rescue operations underway after deadly Russian strike on Kyiv
24 April 2025
An overnight Russian combined missile and drone attack triggered fires, smashed buildings and buried residents under rubble in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, killing nine people and injuring more than 70, the State Emergency Service said on Thursday. "It is certainly the biggest attack on Kyiv since July," FRANCE 24 correspondent Gulliver Cragg said, live from the site of the attack in Kyiv.
-
From Ravensbrück to freedom: The story of Sweden’s daring ‘White Bus’ rescue
24 April 2025
In April 1945, as Nazi Germany is on the brink of defeat, the Swedish Red Cross launches the largest rescue operation of World War II. The mission – arranged in secret between a Swedish aristocrat and Adolf Hitler’s right-hand man, SS chief Heinrich Himmler – ultimately saves 15,000 prisoners from Nazi camps. One of the destinations is Ravensbrück, the main concentration camp for female prisoners, where thousands of women are evacuated onboard Sweden’s now-iconic “White Buses”.
-
Zelensky cuts short South Africa trip after deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv
24 April 2025
Combined overnight missile and drone attacks by Russia on Thursday killed at least twelve people and injured more than 70 in Kyiv, local emergency services said. Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cut short a visit to South Africa to urgently return to Ukraine's capital.
-
EU fines Apple and Meta €700 million for digital violations: What happens next?
23 April 2025
The European Union on Wednesday fined Apple and Meta hundreds of millions of euros for violating the Digital Markets Act, accusing both tech giants of stifling competition and limiting user choice. The penalties mark a major push by EU regulators to rein in Big Tech and open markets to smaller rivals.
-
'A very special energy': Pope Francis lies in state at the Vatican
23 April 2025
Pope Francis’s body was transferred on Wednesday from the Saint Martha Chapel in the Vatican to Saint Peter’s Basilica during an emotional procession attended by a massive crowd gathered in the Vatican’s main square.
-
A trap? Behind Putin’s change of heart on direct talks with Ukraine
23 April 2025
In a surprising U-turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said he was willing to hold direct talks with Kyiv for the first time in years on a Ukrainian proposal to halt strikes on civilian infrastructure for 30 days. But his offer could be a trap for Ukraine.
