Since December, Russia has gradually amassed more than 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine. Amid stalled talks between the US and Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron is embarking on a solo mission to Moscow and then Kyiv, insisting a diplomatic solution is still possible. For more on what to expect from this latest diplomatic push, we spoke to Natia Seskuria, Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Russia will not stop at Ukraine," she warned.

In the heart of France's Burgundy vineyards, where villages bear the names of grands crus such as Pommard, Nuit-Saint-Georges and Chablis, preparations are underway for the Saint-Vincent tournante wine festival; a tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages. Every year, in the last week of January, some 20,000 people are expected for the two-day festival. This time, the villages of Gilly-lès-Cîteaux and Vougeot are the lucky hosts. We catch up with Élisabeth, the head of the not-for-profit organisation, but also Bernard, a volunteer winegrower.

Emmanuel Macron is on a special trip to Moscow to meet and talk with Vladimir Putin. The mission: to try and calm matters on the Ukraine-Russia border and avoid what many analysts say is certain war. Macron is representing the EU, with France holding the rotating presidency. What influence does he take into these talks?

France blindsided by US-Australian submarine deal: Sonia Phalnikar reports

The financial freeze on Mali brought in by regional group ECOWAS has hit its economy hard. Key sectors like the cotton industry have been struggling to overcome the impact of the trade penalties. Also, as the excitement of the Africa Cup of Nations winds down, we head to two-time tournament hosts Gabon, where once-gleaming stadiums have fallen into disrepair. Finally, a Malawian musician finds runaway fame on TikTok at the age of 92.

France's President Macron calls nuclear energy "sustainable" and is expanding the nuclear power grid. French people support him, but other European countries have taken their nuclear reactors offline over concerns about disasters like Fukushima.

Police fired tear gas at demonstrators on the Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris on Saturday shortly after a "Freedom Convoy" protesting against Covid-19 restrictions made it into the French capital.

At least seven people were killed following an explosion and fire in southern France, French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said in a tweet on Monday. Darmanin said on his Twitter page he was planning to visit the scene.

Less than 60 days from April's French presidential election, we focus on conservative candidate Valérie Pécresse after her first big rally. Some of her former allies have recently pledged allegiance to Emmanuel Macron as Pécresse stalls in popularity behind Marine Le Pen. The far-right leader is herself being challenged herself by former pundit Eric Zemmour, who can count on the backing of a movement of young supporters called "Generation Z". FRANCE 24 finds out who they are and what their strategy entails.

European foreign ministers discuss the security situation in Mali ahead of this week's AU-EU summit. Also, one month after the re-opening of schools in Uganda, our correspondent takes a look at how children are faring after the world's longest Covid-related class closure. Students' access to education had been crippled for almost two years. Finally, we take a look at how climate change is devastating the land and livestock of Kenyan herders.

Western powers are reassessing their mission to Mali amid deteriorating relations with the country's military junta. European and African Union leaders are set to meet later this week for talks.

France’s president hosting African and European allies before the announcement of a withdrawal from Mali. Relations have seriously soured with the junta in Bamako ever since a second coup in as many years and the cozying up of the military to Russia and the mercenaries of Wagner.