Brazil says Greek ambassador murdered by wife’s policeman lover

Russia has ordered two German diplomats to leave in response to the expulsion of two Russian envoys after a German court’s ruling that blamed Moscow for the killing of a Georgian citizen in Berlin two years ago.

Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot dead while jogging through a Georgia neighborhood in 2020. The three white men convicted in his murder now face life in prison.

FRANCE 24 spoke to Lu Shaye, the Chinese ambassador to France. He insisted Beijing was prioritising "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, but said the Chinese authorities had "not ruled out the use of force" – not with the intention of targeting "the people of Taiwan", but rather to dissuade "separatists in Taiwan" and certain "foreign forces". The Chinese diplomat also said he was "sure" there would be no mass surge in Covid-19 cases during the Winter Olympics, which open in Beijing on February 4.

We look at the Irish papers focusing on the random murder of a primary school teacher which has shaken the country and prompted debate on violence against women. Also, papers react to the deadly drone attack on Abu Dhabi which was claimed by Houthi rebels. Plus, find out why armpits are the focus of new beauty trends and finally, a long-running neighbourly dispute in Italy over a noisy toilet flush finally ends!

We look at reactions to the assassination of a teenage indigenous activist in Colombia, which is the most dangerous place in the world for environmental activists. In other news, British PM Boris Johnson continues to dominate headlines. Elsewhere, could Showtime's star TV show "Yellowjackets" upend the Netflix binge model? Finally, find out why U2 frontman Bono hates his voice, the band's early songs and even the band's name itself!

Police in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have detained members of a group allegedly linked to the killing of Italy's ambassador last year as well as more recent kidnappings of NGO workers, a provincial police chief said on Tuesday.

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.

We look at reactions from the Brazilian press after the deadly beating of a young Congolese man over back pay at his beachside kiosk job. Also, as the Beijing Winter Games get underway, there's little cheer as drastic Covid-19 restrictions and limited freedom of speech overshadow the opening ceremony. Finally, UK's Royal Mail is investigating after some of its workers got high on weed cookies!

Ex-leader Blaise Compaore is on trial for the 1987 murder of Thomas Sankara, a revered revolutionary leader. Sankara's death coincided with a coup that installed Campaore in power for 27 years.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union denied that the six Russian naval ships in the Black Sea have anything to do with Ukraine. Vladimir A. Chizhov also insisted that Moscow has no intention to make a move on Ukrainian territory and reiterated that the Kremlin is committed to a diplomatic outcome to the crisis.

Last week, a 17-year-old girl was killed by her husband in Iran. A gruesome video showing the alleged killer holding a knife in one hand and his wife's head in the other went viral before being taken down. The victim was married when she was just 12 years old and had a son. Her name was Mona and she had reportedly fled to Turkey for four months before being persuaded by her father to return.

In a crime that shocked Brazil, 24-year-old Congolese refugee Moise Mugenyi Kabagambe was beaten to death in January. The worker at a beach kiosk in Rio de Janeiro had simply asked that his employers pay his overdue wages. His brutal xenophobic killing highlights the deeply rooted racism in Brazilian society. According to the latest Atlas of Violence, in 2019 in Brazil, 77% of homicide victims were Black.