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.
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Hundreds of prisoners of war freed in latest exchange between Russia, Ukraine
05 February 2025
Russia and Ukraine engaged in a swap of at least 300 prisoners of war on Wednesday in the latest prisoner-of-war exchange between the two warring countries. The deal was brokered by the United Arab Emirates, which has been behind numerous other prisoner exchanges.
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'Bayrou needs to be careful about managing a lot of very sensitive groups in French Parliament'
05 February 2025
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is expected to survive a no-confidence vote in parliament, winning some breathing space after less than two months in office. All the while, risk analysis firm Eurasia Group is giving a 70-percent chance that the government will "fall in the next few months". As French politics remain in disarray since President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections last year, FRANCE 24's Genie Godula welcomes Paul Smith, Associate Professor in French History and Politics at the University of Nottingham.
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French hauliers hit by heavy fines as migrants seek to reach UK from Calais
05 February 2025
Five years after Brexit came into force, tensions are mounting in Calais between French lorry drivers and the British authorities. Some companies are threatening to stop delivering to the other side of the border, while others fear they'll soon be out of business. Every day, stowaways try to sneak onto trucks in an attempt to reach the UK. For each migrant stopped, the hauliers have to pay a fine, but these have become astronomical. Since last year, the amounts have increased five-fold to reach up to €12,000. At a time when hauliers are being squeezed for cash, the fines represent a substantial windfall for the British authorities. Last year, they collected almost €12 million from them. FRANCE 24's Cécile Khindria, Juliette Lacharnay and Lauren Bain report.
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Suspect among 11 killed at education centre in Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting
05 February 2025
A gunman opened fire on Tuesday at a school west of Stockholm that offers adult education classes and Swedish-language classes for immigrants. Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the shooting “an event that shakes our entire society to its core”. At least 11 people were killed, including the suspected gunman.
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Ukraine's Zelensky says he is ready for direct talks with Putin
05 February 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to sit at the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He made the comments in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan posted on YouTube on Tuesday.
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Deadly attack on adult education centre is Sweden's 'worst mass shooting' PM says
04 February 2025
A gunman killed around 10 people at a school for adults west of Stockholm on Tuesday in what Sweden's Prime Minister said was the "worst mass shooting" in the country's history. Local media reported that the perpetrator was also killed, though police did not confirm those reports.
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What Trump’s transatlantic trade war would mean for Europe
04 February 2025
US President Donald Trump has promised to slap sweeping tariffs on the European Union’s US-bound exports. The move would hammer major manufacturers already tangled up in Washington’s threatened tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico, but ultimately it will be ordinary consumers around the world who will be paying the price.
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Russian missile kills five, wounds more than 50 in Ukraine's Izium
04 February 2025
A Russian ballistic missile killed five and injured more than 50 in the town of Izium in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region. The missile also partially partially destroyed the city council building.
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Gunman kills several people at adult education center in Sweden's 'worst mass shooting'
04 February 2025
A gunman killed several people at a school for adults west of Stockholm on Tuesday in what Sweden's Prime Minister said was the "worst mass shooting" in the country's history. Local media reported that the perpetrator was also killed, though police did not confirm those reports. Fatal attacks at schools are rare in Sweden.
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USAID $40bn budget frozen: Int'l aid from UN agencies, NGOs, public/private sector severely impacted
04 February 2025
President Donald Trump's overhaul of US foreign assistance has led to chaos in the aid and development field, leaving hundreds of contractors in a severe financial crunch with some already having to lay off staff and others facing millions of dollars in unpaid invoices. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney welcomes Dr. Paul B. Spiegel, Director of the Center for Humanitarian Health and Distinguished Professor of the Practice at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
