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Amsterdam bans cannabis on red light district streets EU

New laws set to come into effect in Amsterdam. Soon it will be illegal to smoke pot on the street in the city’s red light district. The change in regulation is intended to improve the lives of Amsterdam’s residents who’ve long complained about the disruption caused by tourists. FRANCE 24’s Leo McGuinn explains.

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In Portugal, a planned lithium mine in a rural village sparks controversy EU

Northern Portugal is believed to contain the largest lithium reserves in Europe. These resources have attracted the attention of some of the world’s largest mining companies. London-based firm Savannah Resources wants to open the continent’s biggest open-cast lithium mine in the village of Covas do Barroso by 2026. Supporters of the project say this would give Europe an invaluable supply of lithium for producing electric car batteries, helping the EU reach its carbon-zero target by 2050. However, many locals and environmentalists oppose the project. Our regional correspondents report.

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Travelogue: From Brussels to Kyiv, European diplomacy stands the test of war EU

In this special travelogue, FRANCE 24’s Caroline de Camaret and Luke Brown follow EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell step by step through the EU-Ukraine summit that happened last week in Kyiv. Our team accompanies him on the train, on the plane, in meetings and on a visit to a mine clearance operation. Borrell analyses his relations with his European and Ukrainian counterparts as well as the EU’s support for the war and shares his geopolitical vision. We discover European diplomacy in action on the ground and behind the scenes, all the while collecting impressions of the trip.

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Iran’s crackdown on protesters: Can the EU deter Tehran? EU

Iran has long been one of the world’s most prolific executioners. But it seems to have taken the death penalty to a new level recently, with dozens of people executed in the last few weeks, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights. The UN has denounced what it calls state-sanctioned killing, while campaigners say capital punishment has been weaponised to intimidate those who have been protesting since of the death of Mahsa Amini. She died following her arrest last September, after allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s dress code for women. The EU’s response has included sanctions and a strongly-worded resolution in the European Parliament. But what more should the bloc be doing?

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Losing its marbles? Pressure mounts on British Museum to return Parthenon frieze EU

It’s one of the oldest symbols of democracy. The 2,500-year-old Parthenon in the Greek capital Athens attracts around 7.2 million vistors annually. But for more than two centuries, the site has been missing some of its marble sculptures. They were taken by the British ambassador in the 1800s, then sold to the British Museum in London, where they are still on display. Now pressure is mounting on the museum to return the Greek sculptures to their birthplace. Our correspondents in Greece report.

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New German defence minister arrives in Kyiv on surprise visit EU

Germany’s new defence minister, Boris Pistorius, made an unscheduled visit to Kyiv on Tuesday, two weeks after Berlin agreed to provide Leopard tanks to help Ukraine counter Russian forces, according to the Ukrainian government. Read our live blog to see how all the day’s events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).

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How to save Venice from rising sea levels? EU

As revellers flock to Venice to celebrate its iconic carnival, local authorities have a much more worrying concern. The Serenissima is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, but also one of the most fragile. The Italian city on the lagoon is increasingly threatened by rising sea levels, which are exacerbated by climate change, and is frequently hit by flooding. If nothing changes, Venice could disappear underwater by the end of the century. Our correspondents report on the protective measures the city has put in place.

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Great Britain: Largest ever healthcare strikes over pay dispute EU

Nurses and ambulances staff stepped up their demands for better pay Monday to combat the UK’s cost of living crisis with their biggest round of health service strikes. The stoppages — part of a wave of industrial action across the UK economy — will see nurses and paramedics take action on the same day for the first time. FRANCE 24’s correspondent in London Benedicte Paviot tells us more.

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Female genital mutilation: ‘Women circumcise little girls for men’ EU

In France, nearly 125,000 women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). The fight against this practice has led to the creation of psychological and surgical care over the last 40 years but the subject remains taboo. FRANCE 24 provides an overview of the situation on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, February 6.

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