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False videos swirl as Albania protests Kushner resort plan

Thursday marked the fourth consecutive day of protests in Albania, sparked by plans for a proposed billion-dollar luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner, the husband of Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump. Online, however, misleading videos of the unrest are going viral, with social media users sharing old and out-of-context footage falsely presented as scenes from the current demonstrations. Many protesters fear that the Kushner-backed development could devastate a protected wildlife ecosystem.

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Ukraine's Zelensky pledges clear timetable of talks on EU membership

President Volodymyr Zelensky ⁠pledged on Thursday that ​Ukraine would keep to a clear timetable in talks on joining the ​European Union and in sticking to its obligations with the 27-nation bloc. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Georgia's former minister of Euro-Atlantic integration and professor at SciencesPo Paris Tornike Gorgadze.

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Massive disinformation campaign underway in Armenia ahead of elections, analysts warn

One ballot box, two competing battles. In Armenia, voters are heading to the polls to decide the future direction of their country. But beneath the political campaigns lies a far more insidious warfare. Analysts warn that a massive, coordinated network of foreign disinformation - much of it tracing back to Russia - is systematically weaponizing the deep-seated trauma of recent wars. FRANCE 24's Olivia Bizot reports from Yerevan.

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A 'rogues' gallery' of notorious figures at Russia's biggest economic conference

Russia-U.S. talks on economic and energy issues continue despite a pause in Ukraine peace negotiations, Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev told ​Reuters on Thursday, ‌adding he spoke to U.S. counterparts a day earlier. He spoke on the sidelines of the St Petersburg economic summit, where, as FRANCE 24's international affairs commentator Douglas Herbert explains, a veritable 'rogues' gallery' of notorious figures showed up in support of Putin's policies.

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Exiled for an anti-war drawing: A Russian family punished for dissent

It is the moving story of a Russian father and daughter who opposed Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. It all began in March 2022, when 12-year-old Maria drew an anti-war picture at school in response to the invasion launched a month earlier. She was immediately reported by those around her, and the FSB soon visited both her school and her home. Her father was eventually arrested for supporting his daughter and speaking out against the war. He was convicted of discrediting the Russian army. Following his release from a penal colony, he and Maria left Russia and are now refugees in Strasbourg. A report by Elena Volochine, English adaptation by Lauren Bain.

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Russia ramps up pressure on Armenia ahead of Sunday's crucial election

Russia has increased its pressure on Armenia ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, pulling out virtually all the stops linked to trade should its long-term ally persist in its ambitions to join the European Union. Moscow has threatened to raise gas prices, put measures in place to be able to restrict the Russian import of certain Armenian products and warned it may suspend the country from the Eurasian Economic Union.

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Ukrainian attacks kill several in Crimea after Kyiv targets St. Petersburg energy, military sites

At least four people have been killed in Crimea, Moscow-installed authorities said on Thursday, a day after Kyiv targeted energy and military facilities in Saint Petersburg during Russia's flagship economic forum. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of a "real" risk of escalation, while Ukraine described the attacks as justified retaliation for intensified Russian strikes on its territory.

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Ukraine pushed Russia back in May for second month running, ISW finds

Ukraine recaptured more territory than it lost to Russian forces in May for the second straight month, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Christina Harward, Russia Deputy Team Lead at ISW, says that successful tactical counterattacks as well as ramping up of long range missile and drone strikes in Russian territory have been key in slowing down the advance in Eastern Ukraine.

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Deadly attack on migrants highlights issue of labour abuse in Italy

Four migrants ​working as fruit pickers in slave-like conditions in southern Italy have been burned to death in a grisly murder case that is prompting fresh national soul-searching over labour exploitation. The migrants were found on Monday in ​a burned-out ‌van parked in a petrol station in Amendolara, in the southern region ⁠of Calabria. Surveillance cameras showed two people setting the car alight before running away. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta reports from Rome.

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UK far right exploiting student stabbing attack 'to promote moral panic', expert says

Britain’s interior minister accused activists of hijacking a tragedy to stir up violence after police were attacked at a protest over the death of a teenager who was handcuffed as he lay dying while his killer stood nearby. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Aaron Edwards, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Leicester, says that "we're seeing a populist challenge from the right which is feeding perceptions not founded in reality and promoting a moral panic".

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Ukrainian drones hit Saint Petersburg as 'Russian Davos' opens in the city

Ukrainian long-range drones hit an oil terminal in the Russian city of St Petersburg on June 3, setting the facility ablaze. It came hours before Vladimir Putin's showcase economic forum got under way in the city, apparently an attempt to embarrass the Kremlin chief. Moscow said it would keep striking Ukraine systematically in response to such attacks.

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Ukraine strikes St. Petersburg with drones ahead of 'Russian Davos'

Ukrainian drone attacks in St. Petersburg targeted military and energy infrastructure overnight into Wednesday, setting ablaze a Russian warship and oil depots on the Baltic coast. This attack deep in Russian territory came on the opening day of Putin's three-day economic forum held in the city and as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv for an unannounced visit.

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UK: Outrage grows after police handcuff dying student

British police faced national backlash over the inflammatory case of an 18-year-old student who was handcuffed as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer falsely alleged a racist attack. The killing of Henry Nowak happened in December, but the story got renewed attention after the killer was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, and video was released that showed police not believing Nowak when he said that he had been stabbed.

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