Algeria to ink $4 bln Italy gas supply deal

The Sea-Eye 4 rescued more than 800 people from the central Mediterranean this week — including 200 minors and five pregnant women. The overcrowded ship was stuck at sea for days before getting permission to dock.

Italy's antitrust authority has fined U.S. tech giants Amazon and Apple a total of more than 200 million euros ($225 million) for alleged anti-competitive cooperation in the sale of Apple and Beats products.

Today we debunk photos shared on Facebook claiming to show "Russian ships arriving in Algeria to support Mali". Also, a slip of the tongue by the French Polynesian president Édouard Fritch is ripe for manipulation. Our team fact-check two stories circulating on social media, that should not be taken at face value.

It was Europe's first coronavirus hot spot. Now, Italy already has one of the strictest anti-infection regimes in the world. And with case numbers rising again, the country is barring unvaccinated citizens from much of public life.

Italian ex-interior minister Matteo Salvini has gone on trial in Sicily, accused of preventing a migrant boat from docking in August 2019. The right-wing politician denies kidnap and dereliction of duty charges. Prosecution witnesses include Hollywood actor Richard Gere, who was on board.

It's the largest trial of organised crime to be held in Italy since that of the Sicilian mafia Cosa Nostra at the end of the 1980s. The Calabrian mafia 'Ndrangheta, one of the most powerful in the world, went on trial in the beginning of 2021. Some 70 convictions were handed down in November, with 355 defendants still to be judged. Our correspondent Louise Malnoy met the protagonists in this so-called "maxi-trial" in which many southern Italians are placing their hopes.

In this edition we head to the Italian capital Rome, which has long attracted the cream of French artists. The prestigious setting of the Villa Medici is home to the Academy of France, and each year a select group of contemporary artists receive a fellowship, allowing them to work on their dream project in a uniquely cossetted setting. Our reporters Luke Brown and Xavier Chemisseur were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of what the artists-in-residence have been working on.

Our first stop in our new show FrancEurope is the Italian capital Rome and the prestigious setting of the Villa Medici. It's home to the Academy of France and each year a select group of contemporary artists receive a fellowship, allowing them to work on their dream project in a uniquely cossetted setting. Our reporters Luke Brown and Xavier Chemisseur were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of what the artists-in-residence have been working on.

A half-volley by Kelechi Iheanacho sealed a 1-0 win for Nigeria against a lacklustre Egypt. Reigning champions Algeria's campaign to retain their title got off to an underwhelming start as they were held to a goalless draw by a spirited Sierra Leone. FRANCE 24's Selina Sykes is joined by sport editor Simon Harding and James Vasina to discuss all the action.

As media attention focuses on a group of women sexually assaulted in Milan on New Year's Eve, we take a look at efforts to combat sexism in Italy. Also human rights activists say accusations of sorcery are being used in Kenya to force elderly widows off their land. Plus we've all heard the jokes about women drivers. So in an attempt to end stereotypes, Argentina has included mandatory gender awareness training in its driving school programs.

Reigning champions Algeria are in danger of an early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations after a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of outsiders Equatorial Guinea in Douala on Sunday. Esteban Obiang's 70th-minute goal gave Equatorial Guinea the victory and brought Algeria's 35-game unbeaten record crashing to an end.

To the east of Paris lies the surburb of Nogent-sur-Marne. Since the end of the 19th century, it’s been a home-from-home for generations of Italian immigrants. Our team went to meet some of the residents of this "Little Italy".