The Winter Games are now underway. In an anti Covid bubble, for good reason. The opening ceremony has been impressive. The diplomatic action too has been as important. Vladimir Putin is the VIP visitor: at a time when Russia's president is in the eye of another storm, the Ukraine conflict.

In Ukraine just how real is the threat of war? For residents along the border between Ukraine and Russia the answer is very realistic: 120,000 Russian troops are there, there are more in Belarus too. John Kirby, US Defence spokesman, warned earlier, that the United States is increasing troop numbers in eastern Europe, ready to respond.

This week Joe Biden declared the death of the leader of the Islamic State group. Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi was killed during a raid assisted by US special forces. Biden called Abu Ibrahim's act of blowing himself up, along with his family and an unknown number of innocent civilians:  "cowardice."

This week Mali served notice on the French ambassador to leave the country. A new low in Franco-Malian relations amid the seeming disintegration of French influence in the Sahel region of Africa. With the influence of Russia and China set to fill the void left by the end of Operation Barkhane.

🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN

🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/

Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen
Follow us on Twitter: https://f24.my/TWen
Discover the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen