From Ukraine’s evolving battlefield, where drone warfare is redefining frontlines and so-called “killing zones,” to reports of “Martian drones” and their impact on both Russian and Ukrainian forces, we also look at the expanding use of unmanned systems in rescue operations, including the evacuation of a 77-year-old woman in Odesa region. France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Olena Krizhanivska, a Ukrainian defence analyst specialising in drones and unmanned systems, and founder of Ukraine’s Arms Monitor.

As Mali’s military struggles to maintain control amid a growing jihadist insurgency, a number of its own soldiers have been arrested, accused of collaborating with Al-Qaeda-linked militants in coordinating widespread attacks. Islamist group JNIM, alongside separatist rebels, has reportedly seized two northern cities, killed the defence minister, and is now attempting to impose a blockade on the capital, Bamako. We take a closer look at what’s happening on the ground, the escalating security crisis, and the role of Russian mercenaries in supporting the government. France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Beverley Ochieng, a specialist in West Africa and political risk analyst at Control Risks, to discuss.

A senior Iranian officer on Saturday said that fresh fighting with the United States is “likely”, underscoring rising tensions after President Donald Trump dismissed Tehran’s latest negotiating proposal and issued fresh threats to attack the country.  

Iran’s imprisoned Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been transferred to hospital to receive urgent care after experiencing a “catastrophic deterioration” of her health, a foundation run by her family said on Saturday. Mohammadi was moved on Friday after suffering a heart attack and experiencing two episodes of “complete” unconsciousness, it said.

In addition to withdrawing troops from Germany, Donald Trump is escalating his trade dispute with the European Union. He says tariffs on cars and trucks will rise to 25 percent next week because the bloc is not complying. That is 10 percentage points higher than the rate agreed in a trade deal last July. The automotive sector is especially important to the EU, as car manufacturing makes up a significant part of Europe’s economy. Charlotte Lam reports.

Women are increasingly being arrested and tried for drug trafficking here in France. This trend is linked to networks recruiting more women to cater to their female clientele. We have a special report on women in the drug trade and how they got involved.

The US will pull around 5,000 of its troops from Germany over the next year after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Tehran was "humiliating" Washington. NATO said Saturday that it is working with the US to understand the details of the decision. France 24 International Affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more.

Israel on Saturday said it had brought two Gaza flotilla activists in for questioning after having intercepted the aid operation in international waters Thursday. Spain slammed the detention of one of its nationals as “illegal”.  

The Pentagon says it has reached agreements with eight AI companies to use their technology in classified defence settings. The military will have access to resources provided by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Oracle, OpenAI, SpaceX, and the startup Reflection. Absent from the list is Anthropic, following its public dispute and legal battle with the Trump administration over AI ethics. Peter O’Brien looks at how these developments came about.

NATO says it is working with the United States to understand the decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. President Donald Trump announced the move on Friday following a dispute with Germany’s chancellor over the Iran war. Transatlantic relations have been strained since Friedrich Merz questioned Washington’s strategy in the Middle East. Germany’s defence minister has said the reduction in American troops should encourage European countries to strengthen their own defences further. Caroline Baum takes a closer look at America’s military bases in Germany.

Malian authorities say some military officers collaborated with jihadist and separatist fighters who carried out coordinated attacks across the country earlier in the week. A statement from the prosecutor’s office confirmed that the first arrests have been made and that efforts are continuing to track down other suspects involved. Meanwhile, separatist fighters from the Azawad Liberation Front claim they have captured a strategic military camp in the town of Tessalit after the Malian army and its Russian allies withdrew. Consulting fellow of the Africa Programma at Chatham House, Paul Melly, shares further insights.

NATO on Monday said it is working with the United States to understand the decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. US President Donald Trump announced the move on Friday, following a dispute with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war. Transatlantic relations have been strained since Merz questioned Washington’s strategy in the Middle East. Germany’s defence minister has now said the reduction in American troops should encourage European countries to further strengthen their own defences. FRANCE 24 European affairs correspondent Dave Keating tells us more.