#AFPgraphics comparing defence spending, troops and major hardware, based on data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies
French President Emmanuel Macron heads to Kyiv after offering Russia "concrete security guarantees" in an effort to dissuade Moscow from invading its neighbour Ukraine
VIDEO: NATO trains for winter combat on Russia's doorstep.
In an icy landscape of birches and pines on NATO's eastern border, this year's regular military exercises by the alliance have come at a time of spiralling tensions between Russia and the West
#BREAKING Macron says obtained from Putin no 'escalation' on Ukraine
#UPDATE French President Emmanuel Macron says he has managed to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "escalate" the crisis around Ukraine, as the West warns Moscow could be planning an invasion
#UPDATE French President Emmanuel Macron said he offered his Russian counterpart "concrete security guarantees" as the West scrambles to deal with Russia's massive troop build-up on Ukraine's border u.afp.com/wY82
#BREAKING Ukraine president says expects summit with Russian, French, German leaders 'in the near future'
#BREAKING French President Macron says there are 'concrete, practical solutions' to end Russia-West tensions
#UPDATE French President Emmanuel #Macron said on Tuesday he saw a path towards easing tensions with #Russia over the festering conflict in the east of #Ukraine, after conducting an urgent round of shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kyiv u.afp.com/wY29
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More than 110,000 people have signed an online petition calling for West Ham and France defender Kurt Zouma to be prosecuted as part of a growing backlash over his abuse of his pet cat u.afp.com/wYzs
#BREAKING Kurt Zouma fined "maximum amount possible" for mistreating pet cat: West Ham
#UPDATE West Ham defender Kurt Zouma has been fined the "maximum amount possible" for mistreating his pet cat, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday
The death toll from #CycloneBatsirai, which moved on from #Madagascar on Monday, has risen to 30, according to an updated count, and could rise further as bodies continue to be found in the rubble of collapsed houses u.afp.com/wYzx
#BREAKING Madagascar cyclone death toll rises to 80: new figures
#UPDATE The death toll in Madagascar from Tropical #CycloneBatsirai has risen to 80 since it hit the Indian Ocean island at the weekend, according to official data released Wednesday
#BREAKING Slovakia's Petra Vlhova wins women's Olympic slalom
#UPDATE Slovakia's Petra Vlhova produced a stunning second leg to win the women's Olympic slalom gold.
Vlhova clocked a combined total of 1min 44.98sec over the two runs to edge Austria's reigning world champion Katharina Liensberger into silver by eight-hundredths of a second
#UPDATE Slovakia's Petra Vlhova produced a stunning second leg to win Beijing #WinterOlympics slalom gold on Wednesday after Mikaela Shiffrin slid out of medal contention with a botched first run u.afp.com/wYRz#Beijing2022#AFPSports
#BREAKING Nominations underway for 94th #AcademyAwards, "Dune," "Belfast," "West Side Story" and "The Power of the Dog" expected to compete for Oscar nods
#UPDATE The nominees for the #AcademyAwards Best Picture, to be handed out March 27, are as follows:
"Belfast"
"CODA"
"Don't Look Up"
"Drive My Car"
"Dune"
"King Richard"
"Licorice Pizza"
"Nightmare Alley"
"The Power of the Dog"
"West Side Story"
#BREAKING No abuse cover-up by ex-pope Benedict while archbishop: aides
#BREAKING Benedict XVI thanks Pope Francis for support after abuse report: letter
#UPDATE Aides to former pope Benedict XVI have denied allegations he knowingly failed to take action to stop four priests accused of child sex abuse in Munich in the 1980s