Rescuers searched on Thursday for seven missing sailors after drones struck two chemical tankers near Romania's Black Sea coast, setting them ablaze and raising fresh security concerns along a vital shipping route used by Ukraine. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Europe editor Armen Georgian, Nicolae Stefanuta, Romanian MEP and Co-Chair of the Group of the Greens, says that the Danube delta region is facing a more intense threat from Russia than Baltic States and that "it is clear that sooner or later we will have European casualties".

Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Nobel Peace laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, Director of the Centre for Civil Liberties, says that with the diesel-supply deal with Moscow Donald Trump "is openly financing this war, by lifting sanctions is providing Russia with opportunities to earn more money" adding that "extra money will be converted in rockets and drones and additional deaths among the civilian population".

Romania reported seven people missing on Thursday after two drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea, where several vessels have been hit recently in suspected fallout from the Ukraine war. The attacks are the latest in a series off the coast of Romania and neighbouring Bulgaria in recent weeks. FRANCE 24's Eliza Herbert reports.

​Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday rejected calls to resign as thousands of student-led protesters smashed windows and fought running battles with riot police firing water cannon and tear gas in the capital. The demonstrators accuse officials of corruption and neglecting education and say they are angry about the sale of parts of Albania's southern coastline to a luxury resort development backed ​by US President ‌Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports

Delano D'Souza is pleased to welcome Peter Zalmayev, Founder and Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, LIVE from Kyiv. As Zelensky declares Ukraine "done" with Trump's self-declared energy ceasefire and resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries, Zalmayev warns: "When you talk about the energy ceasefire, it presupposes two to be able to tango and to dance this dance." He challenges the legitimacy of Trump's unilateral announcement, made without agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, as Russia continues attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Yet he cautions that Zelensky may need tactical restraint to preserve vital US support. Zalmayev also examines Western sanctions, frozen Russian assets, and Washington's pursuit of economic normalization with Moscow without meaningful Russian concessions.

Les dirigeants ​de l'Union européenne se réunissent jeudi 15 octobre à Bruxelles pour un sommet lors duquel ils débattront notamment du budget du bloc, avec une préoccupation majeure: parvenir à le boucler avant la cascade d'élections en 2027, à commencer par la présidentielle française.

EU leaders head to a summit on Thursday seeking a deal on the bloc’s nearly €2 trillion budget for 2028-2034 by Christmas amid deep divisions over spending and fears that upcoming elections, particularly in France, could strengthen eurosceptic forces.

The French anti-terrorism prosecutor has taken ​over the investigation into a school shooting near Marseille, after an initial probe found the 14-year-old suspect appeared to belong to ​a ‌group called the True Crime ⁠Community. Two teachers were shot and wounded, after a student opened fire with ⁠a hunting rifle that had been hidden inside a guitar case. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Alexandre Rodde, security consultant, researcher and author of the report "Understanding nihilistic violent extremism and the True Crime Community in France".

Lawyers for a Ukrainian ex-military officer accused of leading the bombing of Russia's Nord Stream ​pipeline in September 2022 argued at the start of his trial in Germany on Wednesday that "an aggressor's infrastructure" may have been a lawful target. FRANCE 24's Juliette Brown reports.

Restrictions reported by Ukraine on its use of the US satellite internet system Starlink have exposed Kyiv's reliance on the technology for both offensive and defensive operations in its fight against Russia'a invasion, analysts and observers say. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, David Galbreath Professor of War and Technology at the University of Bath, says that "we always knew that allowing a private organisation like Starlink to have such a big impact on the combat operations in Ukraine was going to be challenging", explaining that "it is no surprise" that Starlink services had been throttled after SpaceX boss Elon Musk called the targeting by Ukrainian drones of data services in Russia "a step too far". 

Pope Leo XIV had a cancerous growth removed from his right lung in a 90-minute operation on Tuesday and "woke up normally" after the procedure, the Vatican said. A Vatican source said further tests were being carried out to determine if the cancer had spread. "To ensure the procedure was radical, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed," the Vatican said in a statement. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta reports from Rome.

King Felipe VI on Tuesday said Ceuta and Melilla were "an inalienable part" of Spain as he made a landmark visit to the north African territories claimed by neighbouring Morocco. "Ceuta and Melilla are an inalienable part of the political and national reality that is Spain. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country are not negotiable," Felipe said. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris reports from Madrid.

🇧🇪 In Ganshoren, in Belgium, a new school replaces run-down buildings. But the need for renovations remains enormous.👉🏻 Find the whole reporting on France 24 English. 

Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta for the first time since 2007, amid tensions with Morocco following July’s migration crisis, when more than 70,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave. Most returned to Morocco, but thousands remained, and dozens died. Morocco claims sovereignty over Ceuta, making the royal visit diplomatically sensitive. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris has more from Madrid.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are visiting Ceuta months after more than 70,000 migrants arrived from Morocco. While most have returned, thousands remain. The visit has divided residents and risks reigniting diplomatic tensions with Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla.

Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for surgery to remove a small lung nodule discovered during recent medical checks. The 71-year-old pontiff said the growth was detected at an early stage. The procedure marks his first hospitalisation since becoming pope in May 2025. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta has the latest from Rome.

US President Donald Trump's envoys told ​Ukrainian officials on Friday that a deal to allow Russian diesel exports is part of a bid to draw Russia back to negotiations after the failure of previous efforts to launch sustained talks to end the war, three people familiar with the meeting told Reuters. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Grégoire Roos, director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes at Chatham House. He says that "it's clear that Moscow is just playing with Washington because Vladimir Putin knows that Donald Trump lives on borrowed time".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday it was clear that Russia would not agree to stop hitting energy targets, after US President Donald Trump unilaterally announced a deal between the warring nations. "It is increasingly evident that Russia is unwilling to accept an energy ceasefire proposed by the United States," Zelensky said on social media. FRANCE 24's Selina Sykes reports.

Reporting from central Ukraine, FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg says that "a lot of Ukrainians are feeling extremely betrayed by a country that until recently they saw not only as an ally but as a beacon of freedom and democracy, a country whose values they should aspire to. All of that is falling apart very quickly and Ukrainians' admiration for the United States is disintegrating."

And as the war in Ukraine continues, Western concerns are growing over Moscow’s alleged campaign of sabotage and interference against Kiev's wartime backers. NATO's top military commander gave a press conference this Monday from Warsaw. US General Alexus Grynkewich looks set to warn Russia over the alliance’s ability to counter-attack. Analysis by FRANCE 24 International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert.