Once prized fighters under the Tsars, Russia’s Cossack population was ostracised by authorities during the Soviet era. Under President Vladimir Putin, they have reintegrated into Russian society, acting as a supplementary police force and restoring their military status on the front lines in Ukraine.
A French court on Monday sentenced ex-rebel leader Roger Lumbala to 30 years in jail after finding him guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-2003.
Australia's leaders have agreed to strengthen gun laws across the country in the wake of the mass shooting at Bondi Beach. After a meeting with the heads of states and territories, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said they had agreed to look into ways to improve background checks for gun owners and bar non-nationals from obtaining weapons. Mass shootings are rare in Australia, where gun ownership is tightly controlled - but some say the laws are slipping.
José Antonio Kast was elected Chilean president on December 14, the first far-right leader in the country since the fall of Augusto Pinochet in 1990. An ultraconservative, the 59-year-old won 58% of the popular vote, with the moderate communist Jeannette Jara, supported by a broad leftist coalition, bringing in just 42%. But who is José Antonio Kast?
A flash flood in a Moroccan coastal town killed at least 37. Drought-hit Morocco often faces severe weather, but Sunday's flooding in Safi is already the deadliest such disaster in at least a decade.
In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with the frontman of British band The Spitfires, as well as French musician Gaspard Royant. The Spitfires are back after having split up three years ago. The indie rock, nu-mod band are celebrating their musical renaissance with their sixth album "MKII". Meanwhile, Gaspard Royant has re-released his wildly successful festive record “All the Best for Christmas”: a soundtrack for a cool, classy Christmas.
French farmers are protesting against government measures, including the culling of entire cattle herds, aimed at containing an outbreak of lumpy skin disease among livestock. If left unchecked, the disease could wipe out 1.5 million cattle in France, or about 10% of the national herd, says Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard. FRANCE 24's Valerie Dekimpe tells us more about the farmer protests.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has called for pushing back the final approval vote on the landmark EU free trade deal with the Mercosur group of Latin American countries after outbreaks of the highly contagious lumpy skin disease sparked livestock culls and protests by cattle farmers. French farmers fear a flood of cheap imports with less stringent environmental rules could undercut their products in their home markets.
Against the backdrop of an already high terror threat in France, the Bondi Beach shooting sounded alarm bells with Hannukah celebrations planned in various French cities. Security and intelligence presence was increased at these places of celebration, on the instructions of interior minister Laurent Nunez, to protect the Jewish community on this important feast day.
