Author: Frank Deux

Hamas on Saturday is expected to release a fifth prisoner-hostage swap held in Gaza since October 2023 in exchange for Israel’s release of Palestinian detainees under the first phase of a fragile ceasefire deal. It comes as US President Donald Trump’s proposal to displace Gazans raised doubts over the future of the multiphase deal. Follow our live blog for all the latest developments on the Middle East. Key Highlights from this mornings prisoners exchange Hamas…

Hamas named three more Israeli hostages it plans to release Saturday in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners in the fifth hostage-prisoner exchange between the militants and Israel. The latest swap takes place amid the global outcry sparked by US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a US takeover of Gaza, remarks which certain mediators fear could derail the fragile ceasefire agreement. Live: Hamas, Israel set for fifth prisoner-hostage swap under Gaza truce deal

Diplomatic efforts to achieve peace are getting underway this weekend in Tanzania. It will be the first time that Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi engage in direct talks since the resurgence of the conflict. As the United Nations warned of regional escalation, the Congelese President hopes to get out of the summit an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional withdrawal of M23 group and its Rwandan allies, but it is not clear if Kigali is willing to make those…

US President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on the International Criminal Court Thursday for “illegitimate and baseless” investigations targeting America and its ally Israel, the White House said. Follow our live blog for all the latest developments on the Middle East.

Ukraine says it is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to help Russian civilians return home from territory seized in its August offensive–if Moscow requests one. Kyiv accuses Russia of ignoring its own citizens, while the Kremlin remains silent on the offer. Ukraine offers humanitarian corridor for Russian civilians trapped in seized border areas

Rwanda invaded DR Congo with no meaningful defence. The Rwanda-backed rebels who captured eastern Congo’s key city of Goma sought to shore up public support amid growing international pressure. Rwanda invaded DR Congo with no meaningful defence As the M23 rebels continue their advance, ignoring the UN secretary-general’s call to lay down their arms, François Picard welcomes Daniel Levine-Spound, Human Rights Lawyer, Researcher and Clinical Teaching Fellow and Supervising Attorney at the Harvard Law School…

President Donald Trump said the US would take over the Gaza Strip and develop it economically after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere, moves that would shatter decades of US policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  The comments drew sharp criticism, with a Democratic senator calling them ‘insane’. Follow our liveblog for all the latest. Live: Hamas official says Trump's remarks about taking over Gaza are 'ridiculous and absurd'

Colombia and Venezuela launched a joint operation to counter guerrilla groups that are fighting in the mountainous northeastern Catatumbo region. The violence broke out after the National Liberation Army (ELN) targeted rival armed groups and their alleged sympathizers in an attempt to assert control over a swath of the border region that is home to coca plantations that supply much of the world’s cocaine. Colombia, Venezuela launch joint operation to counter guerrilla groups

Serbia’s student population were the driving force behind mass demonstrations that blocked bridges over the River Danube in the city of Novi Sad on Saturday. Persistent protests have been part of a growing anti-corruption movement that forced the resignation of PM Milos Vucevic earlier this week, and signal dwindling confidence in the country’s populist government. Students lead Danube bridge blockade in protest over Serbia's leadership

France captain Antoine Dupont lived up to expectations as the mercurial scrumhalf made his Six Nations comeback in style to lead France to a 43-0 crushing of Wales in this year’s curtain riser on Friday. Antoine Dupont marked his return to Six Nations duty in stunning style as he underlined his billing as the ultimate all-round rugby player by helping France to a crushing 43-0 victory over Wales in Paris on Friday. Dupont missed last…

In tonight’s edition, calm returns to the DRC’s eastern city of Goma while M23 is advancing south.  Also, the Southern African Development Community held a special meeting in Zimbabwe to discuss the situation in DR Congo. And in Kenya, it’s time to fight back after a surge in violence against women. Congo's army slows M23 rebel's southern march

Hamas and Israel will conduct their next hostage-prisoner swap as part of the Gaza ceasefire on Saturday, with three Israelis to be released in exchange for 183 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Three Israeli hostages set for release in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners

67 people are feared dead after a helicopter collided with a passenger jet over the Potomac River, near Washington, D.C., on Thursday. US President Donald blamed the crash on weakened security policies, later suggesting diversity, equity, and inclusion policies installed by former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama played a role in the incident. Helicopter and passenger jet near Washington, DC collide, killing 67

English teams clear inaugural league phase as Lazio top the table. The Europa League’s inaugural league phase ended on Thursday, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who are both producing lackluster domestic campaigns, but managed to secure a round of 16 spot. Italy’s Lazio finished top of the standings despite suffering their first loss, with Lyon ranking sixth and exceeding expectations for the French club. English teams clear inaugural league phase Diogo Dalot tapped in…

The Nicaraguan government strengthened President Daniel Ortega’s hold on power on Thursday when it amended the constitution to give Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, “absolute power”. The amendment, proposed by Ortega, enshrines Murillo as “co-president”, and transfers the country’s legislative, judiciary, and supervisory control to the pair. Nicaragua amends constitution, grants 'absolute power' to president and his wife

Former US senator Robert Menendez, 71, was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday for corruption, including extortion, obstruction of justice, and accepting bribes tied to Egypt and Qatar. Gold bars and cash were found at his home. The New Jersey Democrat, convicted in July 2024, sought leniency but vowed to appeal. He chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ex-US senator Bob Menendez gets 11 years for bribery, acting as Egypt's agent

US President Donald Trump unveiled a plan Wednesday to detain thousands of undocumented migrants in Guantanamo Bay, shifting focus from White House chaos after a funding freeze order was withdrawn. Trump said a new camp would hold up to 30,000 “criminal illegal aliens” at the Cuba facility, intensifying his immigration crackdown and second-term agenda.

More than a dozen people were killed and many more injured in a crush at a huge religious festival in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state on Wednesday. India’s Kumbh Mela is a Hindu festival held by the banks of the Ganges river. The stampede appears to have happened when people who were sleeping on the river bank were trampled on by other worshippers who were trying to bathe in the holy waters.  Worshippers killed in India stampede…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to travel to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump as early as next week, two US officials said, with Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, scheduled to meet with Netanyahu in Israel this week. In Gaza, over 200,000 Palestinians began to return to the north of the enclave on Monday under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, 15 months after being forced to flee southward…

Coca-Cola recalled its drinks in several countries across Europe on Monday because of excessive levels of a potentially harmful substance. The recall concerns cans and glass bottles of Coke, Sprite, Fuze Tea and other beverages distributed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Britain, Germany, France and Luxembourg since November. Coca-Cola orders massive recall of its products in Europe over chlorine derivative

As a major energy summit kicked off in Tanzania towards the goal of delivering affordable electricity to 300 million more people by 2030, France 24’s Yuka Royer speaks with Sarah Malm, Executive Director at Gogla, about the importance of off-grid solar power. But first, the release of Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek has caused a global rout in technology stocks, with US chip designer Nvidia losing about 600 billion dollars in its market cap in a…

Israel on Monday began allowing Palestinians to return to the heavily destroyed north of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas, in accordance with a fragile ceasefire. Live: Displaced Palestinians start returning to northern Gaza

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Rwandan troops to exit the Democratic Republic of Congo and cease aiding M23 rebels nearing Goma. The conflict, escalating in DRC’s east, has claimed multiple peacekeepers’ lives and threatens the city’s million-plus residents. UN chief urges Rwandan forces to withdraw from DR Congo

In response to US sanctions threats, Colombia has agreed to accept repatriated citizens on military flights, the White House announced Sunday. Although Colombia has not confirmed, the US will halt plans for new tariffs and sanctions on Latin America’s fourth-largest economy, pending Colombia’s “unrestricted acceptance” of its nationals. Colombia to accept repatriated citizens after Trump sanctions threat, says White House

Masses of protesters filled the streets of Berlin and other cities across Germany on Saturday in a rally dubbed the “sea of light” to show their defiance against the rise of the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is polling in second place for the upcoming February 23 general election. Thousands march to protest against the AfD and Elon Musk. Thousands of Germans took to the streets in several cities to protest…