Malians welcome announcement of French troop withdrawal

Intelligent, dedicated, magnetic and beautiful are just some of the words that have been used to pay tribute to the French actor Gaspard Ulliel, who has died after a skiing accident in the Alps. Known for portraying the young Hannibal Lector and the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, his tragic death at 37 has shocked the film world. In this show we look back at some of his previous films and interviews with the FRANCE 24 team.

French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who dressed Beyonce and Lady Gaga, has died aged 73, according to a statement on Mugler's official Facebook page confirming earlier French media reports. Mugler, who reigned over fashion in the 1980s, was known for his daring theatrical designs featuring broad shoulders and plunging necklines. He dressed the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Diana Ross and Duran Duran - among many others - during his career at the top of the fashion industry.

We look at French papers' reactions to members of Marine Le Pen's party joining far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour, as well as the website Mediapart's analysis of 1,000 of his earliest supporters. We also discuss coverage of the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine and how some papers are explaining Germany’s decision to veto sending support to Kiev. We end with reaction to the death of French fashion icon and designer Thierry Mugler.

French adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin, who set off in a rowboat from Portugal on January 1 to cross the Atlantic solo, has vanished at sea with his boat found overturned and empty near the Azores archipelago, Portugal's navy said. The 75-year-old Savin's support team had said in a Facebook post on Saturday that his body had been found inside the cabin of his sleek, purpose-built boat Audacious, but late on Sunday issued another statement signed by his daughter Manon that the body had not been recovered.

Marie-Hélène Poisson is the only craftswoman to be entirely dedicated to Boulle work. This French technique, invented at the end of the 17th century, consists of inlaying antique furniture with decoration made of brass or tortoiseshell. Marie-Hélène learned the trade from her father and is now passing it on to her daughter. The future of Boulle inlay is safe in their hands. FRANCE 24 takes you to the town of Vendôme, in France's Loir-et-Cher region, for a closer look at this special craft.

French unions are staging a major nationwide strike Thursday, with more than 170 protests calling for salary hikes to deal with the rising cost of living. Rail workers, teachers and other professions are pressuring the government just months ahead of presidential elections.

North Africa's Jewish community does not exceed a few thousand people today. Waves of immigration over the past decades have led many of the region's Jews to Europe, especially France, where the majority of Jews hail from the Maghreb region. Most of them have lost their ancestors' mother tongue: Arabic. But today, some are seeking to learn this language, as a way of discovering their roots and their complex identity. FRANCE 24's Thameen Al-Kheetan and Sophian Aubin report.

The French economy grew an estimated 7 percent in 2021, fuelled by strong domestic demand despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and rising inflation. Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire says the new figures also show the government's policies have worked, praising the "spectacular" bounceback that wiped out the impact the pandemic had on the economy in 2020. Plus, Apple reports all-time record quarterly sales, helped by strong iPhone 13 sales in both developed and emerging markets.

Security expert Andras Racz: Russian troop build-up is 'worrying'

France says nearly 60 fighters from Islamist militias were killed in the days leading up to the coup. The jihadists were killed by forces involved with Operation Barkhane led by France.

Relations between France and Mali take a dramatic turn for the worse as Bamako gives the French ambassador to the country just 72 hours to leave. Also, after a three-year freeze, Rwanda finally opens its border with Uganda. And we end in South Africa, where Kommetdieding or the "people's horse" is winning Cape Town's prestigious races.

Critics have warned of the damage to biodiversity and local rights, as well as the global climate. But Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is hoping for an economic boom.