Fresh headlines and publisher-supplied excerpts from Kenya, Africa and the world—collected in one transparent, attributed briefing.
Andy Burnham put the idea of Britain rejoining the EU on the table Wednesday, breaking a taboo for a UK prime minister and reopening the divisive Brexit debate. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Monte Francis, Catherine Barnard, Professor of European Law at the University of Cambridge, says that Burnham "is sending the message that actually it's been pretty cold being on the outside of the EU so we're now looking at the alternatives".
Read briefingIn tonight's edition, Africa's richest man breaks ground on a 16 billion dollar oil refinery in Kenya. Also, at universities across Cameroon, programming is overshadowed with uncertainty amidst an indefinite strike by lecturers. And I speak to Ethiopian-born computer scientist and pioneering AI ethicist Timnit Gebru as she is honored with the Swedish Right Livelihood Award for her work on how AI is influenced by biases.
Read briefingDonald Trump has launched “America”, an AI chatbot designed as a digital portal for US government information. But its responses appear to be changing. The chatbot initially challenged several of Trump’s claims, including on the 2020 election and inflation, providing evidence and links. More recently, it has refused to answer some of the same questions. Other responses still contradict Trump, while some echo his views. Vedika Bahl tests the chatbot, and its varying answers in Truth or Fake.
Read briefingManchester City enjoyed a meteoric rise from mid-table mediocrity to Premier League domination, but their golden era could be forever tarnished after they were found guilty of scores of financial rule breaches. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with James Reade, Professor of Economics at the University of Reading. He says that it's unlikely that the club will see any leniency from football authorities: "it's hard to see it getting anything other than the book thrown at them".
Read briefingPortugal captain and striker Cristiano Ronaldo said Wednesday he had walked out on the national team's training camp in Copenhagen after coach Jorge Jesus announced the 41-year-old player would be dropped from the team's next match against Denmark.
Read briefingThe French government will sell a record amount of bonds to investors next year as it faces a surge in Covid-era debt due for redemption and needing to be refinanced, the public debt management office said on Tuesday amid mounting concern about France's surging public deficit and borrowing rates.
Read briefingIn tonight's edition, Uganda's new king of Tooro is crowned before thousands. Also, Africa's richest man cautions the continent against losing control of its major projects. And dozens of civilians are killed as Ethiopian government forces bombard towns in the northern region of Tigray.
Read briefingA new study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) shows that an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024 – about 12% of all new cancer cases – were caused by infections and could be prevented with treatment or vaccines. FRANCE 24's Jennie Shin speaks with the lead author of the study, Dr Gary Clifford, Scientist at the IARC.
Read briefingBritain's counter-terrorism police said on Tuesday that no improvised explosive devices had been found as part of an investigation into a suspected plot targeting a British airbase used by US forces to strike Iran, deepening uncertainty over the incident a day after five UK-based suspects were released on bail.
Read briefingUK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged Tuesday to give Britain "a new social contract for the 21st century", reform the country's electoral system and build consensus on a new relationship with the European Union as he set out a long-term vision to tackle the UK's woes in his first speech as leader at the annual Labour party conference.
Read briefingTrade unions in France have called on public sector workers - from train drivers to teachers to health workers and police officers - to stop working and protest at the government's plan to freeze the public sector's pay index, just days before the government is set to unveil its draft budget for 2027. Plus, as Paris Fashion Week kicks off, we speak with an expert on what the struggling luxury sector needs to do towards a more sustainable future.
Read briefingIn tonight's edition, Ethiopia's army says it's seized a key city in the northern region of Tigray amidst escalating conflict with local rebels. Also, two mass shootings in South Africa leave at least 28 dead. And Ugandan activist Praise Aloikin Opoloje is facing court after she turned up following days of uncertainty about her whereabouts.
Read briefingA French investigative website on Monday alleged that far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella made antisemitic comments in writing in 2013, but the close ally of presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen dismissed the claims as fake. The allegations emerged as Le Pen's prospects for the 2027 elections appear stronger than at any point in her previous campaigns. FRANCE 24's Jennie Shin speaks with Dr Andrew Smith, Lecturer in History and Liberal Arts at Queen Mary University of London.
Read briefingRussian drones struck Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences in the historic heart of Kyiv on Monday, in the latest deadly daytime attack on the capital. Volodymyr Zelensky has long been pleading with Ukraine’s allies for more military aid to fend off Russia. But Ukrainian weapons producers say the country could be bringing in significant revenue of its own, if only they were allowed to export their products. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv.
Read briefingThere's a new Pope in town and he's got very different ideas on what France's far-right calls the defense of Christian civilization. Leo the 14th concluding his trip to France in the eastern city of Metz, hometown of a founding father of present-day European federalism Maurice Schumann. There, the head of the world's largest organized religion proudly stated fact, that Europe’s roots are Christian, dating back to the Romans, all the while hailing an EU model that transcends 'us versus them' ideology, which brushes aside ‘might is right’ in favor of human rights and international law.
Read briefingMarine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its allies won enough seats in France's Senate to form a parliamentary group in the upper house for the first time in the party's history Sunday, securing 14 seats out of 348. Half the upper house is elected through indirect voting every three years, with senators in the right-wing dominated chamber serving for six years.
Read briefingSerbian President Aleksandar Vucic stepped down as the country's head of state Sunday, paving the way for him to run as his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party's candidate for prime minister in the October parliamentary elections.Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic resigned Sunday ahead of the upcoming October 25 parliamentary elections.Vucic, who has been Serbia’s prime minister or president since 2014, had announced that he would resign the presidency so he can formally pursue a bid to become prime minister if his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party wins the October vote. Vucic’s second presidential term would otherwise end in May next year. He is banned by the Serbian Constitution from seeking a third termHundreds of Vucic's supporters cheered him in front of the Presidency building in Belgrade's city centre."This is the last evening for me in this building," he told the flag-waving crowd minutes before resigning."I have faithfully served you and my fatherland, Serbia ... I am proud of what we have done together," he said.The snap elections were a key demand of a student-led movement sparked by the November 2024 collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station that killed 16 people and was widely blamed on corruption.The tragedy triggered some of Serbia's largest protests since the fall of Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000, at times drawing hundreds of thousands of people into the streets.Initial calls for a transparent investigation grew into demands for snap elections, which Vucic had repeatedly promised without setting a date.Read moreSerbia’s student-led protesters wanted accountability. Now they’re calling for electionsEarlier this month, though, he called an October 25 vote, citing "major turbulence on the domestic political scene".Under Serbia's constitution, outgoing parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will serve as interim president until a new one is elected. The presidential election must be completed within 90 days, with the campaign lasting between 30 and 60 days."By the end of December ... we will have the first round of presidential elections," Vucic said.Minutes before resigning, Vucic used his constitutional powers to pardon dozens of people, including students and his party loyalists, suspected of offences during the protests."I have decided to pardon 49 people, 23 of them in connection with the terrible events we have gone through over the past year and a half," Vucic said, referring to the protests.The snap parliamentary election next month pits Vucic's SNS and its allies against Students Win, a student-led anti-corruption movement, and European Serbia, an alliance of pro-Western opposition parties.Students Win, European Serbia and other parties still have to nominate their presidential candidates.
Read briefingSerbian President Aleksandar Vucic stepped down as the country's head of state Sunday, paving the way for him to run as his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party's candidate for prime minister in the October parliamentary elections.
Read briefingA referendum on whether Swiss neutrality should be more strictly, legally enforced in the Constitution.
Read briefingAfter two days in Paris, where he drew hundreds of thousands of worshippers, Pope Leo XIV is continuing his visit to France in the southwestern pilgrimage town of Lourdes. There, he is due to meet privately with survivors of clergy sexual abuse. His four-day trip is the first official papal visit to France in nearly two decades. For more reaction, we can speak to Marc Artzrouni, the French representative for the global coalition “Ending Clergy Abuse”.
Read briefingMore than 800,000 people filled the streets of central Paris to hear Pope Leo XIV say Mass on Saturday, according to Vatican estimates. The pontiff rounded out the second day of his four-day apostolic visit to France by praying at the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, a renowned pilgrimage site for Catholics from across the world.
Read briefingProtests are ongoing in Madrid right now, with many demonstrators holding signs and banners that read “Maricarmen vs the Vultures”. “Maricarmen, you are not alone.” Or “Ni una Maricarmen más.” Not one more Maricarmen.
Read briefing🇫🇷 🇻🇦 During #Pope Leo XIV's giant Mass at the Place de la Concorde in #Paris on Saturday, he spoke directly to Catholic youth, calling them the "Church of today". The pontiff made efforts to connect with young people during his visit, holding a youth vigil at the Stade de #France on Friday.
Read briefingThe eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday sparked a thousands-strong protest in the streets of Madrid Saturday, with demonstrators calling for greater protection for tenants. Widespread anger at rising housing costs have put pressure on centre-left Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose government is expected to approve a package of pro-tenant measures in its next cabinet meeting.
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