In Kenya, recycled plastic gets a second life as chess pieces
In Nairobi, a project is helping children develop focus, patience and critical thinking through chess, using pieces made from recycled plastic waste.
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Broken children: France confronts crisis of sexual violence against minors
In France, a new "comprehensive law" aims to strengthen preventative measures, the judicial process and support for child victims of sexual violence. Yet advocacy groups, lawyers, and healthcare professionals point out that the legislation has numerous shortcomings. We take a closer look in this edition of France in Focus. Warning: viewers may find parts of this report disturbing.
French youth demand answers as education protests enter third week
French students have continued nationwide protests for a third week, demanding more funding for education, better teaching conditions and more staff. The government’s plan to recruit 3,000 substitute teachers has failed to satisfy demonstrators, who are calling for an additional €10 billion in education spending. Backed by teachers and unions, protesters warn the mobilisation will continue as the ...
King Felipe VI says Ceuta is ‘inalienable’ part of Spain in landmark visit
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta on Tuesday for the first time in 14 years, with the monarch reaffirming Spain’s sovereignty over the North African enclaves claimed by Morocco. The landmark visit comes amid strained relations with Rabat and the aftermath of a mass migrant influx that saw makeshift camps cleared ahead of the royals’ arrival.
Spanish royals visit Ceuta amid tensions with Morocco over migrant influx
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta for the first time in 14 years on Tuesday, as the North African enclave grapples with the aftermath of a mass migrant influx. Authorities have cleared makeshift camps from the beaches ahead of the visit, amid strained relations with neighbouring Morocco.
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South Africa suspends asylum applications amid renewed anti-immigrant protests
Tensions have flared in South Africa after a court ruling prompted the government to open its application system to all foreign nationals, regardless of their legal status. Despite applications remaining subject to approval, anti-immigrant protests erupted outside several Home Affairs offices, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend refugee and asylum applications. FRANCE 24's Eunice Masson has...
Ethiopian forces enter key Tigray town, raising fears among residents
Ethiopian federal forces and their allies have entered a key town in northern Tigray near the Eritrean border after rebel fighters withdrew. As the conflict intensifies, residents fear further violence and instability. Tom Canetti has the latest from the ground.
In Brazil, thousands march fearing return of Bolsonaro presidency
Thousands of young Brazilians have taken to the streets to support President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and voice fears of a return to power for the Bolsonaro political movement, amid a closely watched presidential race. Many protesters say they are worried about their future, particularly the impact a far-right government could have on universities and education. FRANCE 24’s Jan Onoszko reports fr...
Oil facility near Yemen capital Sanaa hit by Saudi Arabia, Houthis say
Houthi media reported an attack by Saudi Arabia on the Yemen Oil Company in Sanaa on Tuesday, which came shortly after the Saudi-led coalition ordered the evacuation of the facility ahead of a military operation. The Iran-backed rebels had warned that they would target Riyadh's airport and other sites in the country if Saudi Arabia followed through on its threat.
France: Student protesters want to 'keep the pressure up on the government'
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Paris on Tuesday in support of high school students protesting poor classroom conditions. The mobilisation brought together not only students but also teachers, unions, political figures and activists, including Greta Thunberg, from across the country. Protesters say they want to maintain pressure on the French government, insisting their demands r...
France: Student protesters want to "keep the pressure up on the government"
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Paris on Tuesday in support of high school students protesting poor classroom conditions. The mobilisation brought together not only students but also teachers, unions, political figures and activists, including Greta Thunberg, from across the country. Protesters say they want to maintain pressure on the French government, insisting their demands r...
Novelist Thélyson Orélien rejects AI claims after bestseller pulled from French prize list
Thélyson Orélien, the Haitian-Canadian writer whose best-selling debut novel was pulled from the prestigious Goncourt prize list amid an AI uproar, said Tuesday "not a single sentence" had been written by a machine. He did, however, admit to "unacceptable mistakes" regarding accusations of plagiarism involving earlier works.
Novelist Thelyson Orelien denies AI use, admits plagiarism 'mistakes'
A top-selling Haitian-Canadian writer who was accused of using AI to write his breakthrough debut novel denied the allegations Tuesday in his first detailed response to the scandal, while acknowleding past plagiarism "mistakes".
France votes on sexual violence bill
France’s National Assembly is set to vote on a comprehensive bill to tackle sexual and gender-based violence. The proposed legislation would create specialised police units to investigate sexual crimes, broaden the definition of incest, and introduce penalties for stalking and sending unsolicited explicit images. It also includes school interviews aimed at detecting abuse and violence. If adopted,...
Belgium: Greener schools thanks to European funding
🇧🇪 In Ganshoren, in Belgium, a new school replaces run-down buildings. But the need for renovations remains enormous.👉🏻 Find the whole reporting on France 24 English.
Russia seeks to overwhelm NATO allies with crises 'across a wide spectrum of geographic locations'
Erin Ogunkeye welcomes Dr. Gavin Hall, NATO expert and Teaching Fellow in Political Science and International Security at the University of Strathclyde. NATO is sending a stark warning to Moscow: any Russian attack on alliance territory could trigger retaliation far beyond the battlefield, targeting “anything and everything that supports, sustains, and controls” the attacking force. But can Europe...
Musical trailblazer Lakecia Benjamin: From chasing Prince to touring with Stevie Wonder
In this interview with FRANCE 24's Culture editor Eve Jackson, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin looks back at her distinguished career. From trying to sneak into Prince's Las Vegas shows to catching the attention of Stevie Wonder, the six-time Grammy-nominated musician has carved out a career working with some of the biggest names in music, from Missy Elliott and Jay-Z to Alicia Keys. In 2023, her alb...
French student protests: From confiscated signs to catchy slogans
As French student protests continue, we take a look at how French police have seized some protest signs. We break down whether this is legal, or police intimidation. We also discuss the origin of a slogan that's catching on – "Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres" – and another that allegedly, according to Le Parisien newspaper, has made French President Emmanuel Macron furious.
French embassy in Riyadh tells citizens to avoid Saudi airports targeted by Houthis
France's embassy in Saudi Arabia told its citizens to avoid the airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on Tuesday as fighting escalates between a Saudi-led coalition and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have been attacking Saudi airports and oil facilities since last week.
Preserving Lebanon's stories amid war: France's Lebanese Film Festival
This Tuesday evening sees the start of the sixth edition of France's Lebanese Film Festival. The festival opens at the Elysées Lincoln cinema in Paris, with Nadim Tabet's supernatural thriller "In This Darkness I See You". This year's edition will also feature a retrospective of the work of actress and director Nadine Labaki, including her Oscar-nominated film "Capernaum". In Perspective, we spoke...
Russia pounds Ukrainian cities, spares energy targets for first time since Trump 'ceasefire'
Russia hammered Ukrainian cities and transport links overnight into Tuesday, killing at least four people in the city of Kharkiv, while appearing to spare energy facilities for the first time since US President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" at the weekend. It was not clear whether Moscow had deliberately avoided targeting power plants.
'Hope so heavy to carry': Al-Shaer on harrowing plight, emotional toll, struggle to survive in Gaza
Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome Palestinian writer and poet Mahmoud Al-Shaer, “Am I real, or just a number in this war?” In I Am Still Alive: Dispatches from Gaza, Palestinian writer Mahmoud Al-Shaer explores how war transforms memory, childhood and the meaning of existence. Recounting his family's displacement, his daughter's understanding of a world reduced to tents, and his evacuation from Gaz...
French school shooting suspect linked to online group that glorifies mass killers
A 14-year-old pupil suspected of shooting and wounding a headmaster and teacher near Marseille may have been involved in an online network associated with the glorification of mass killers known as the True Crime Community, prompting France’s anti-terror prosecutor to take over the case.
Spanish royals visit crisis-hit Ceuta amid diplomatic tensions
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta for the first time since 2007, amid tensions with Morocco following July’s migration crisis, when more than 70,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave. Most returned to Morocco, but thousands remained, and dozens died. Morocco claims sovereignty over Ceuta, making the royal visit diplomatically sensitive. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris has more ...
Trump’s use of Russian diesel fuel, at Ukraine’s expense, sparks controversy in the US
Donald Trump’s plan to import Russian diesel despite Western sanctions has sparked fierce criticism in Washington, including from Republicans, as high fuel prices and the upcoming midterm elections put pressure on his administration. His approach to the Ukraine war has also drawn controversy, with calls for Kyiv to hold elections and claims of an energy ceasefire announced without clear agreement ...
In France, new day of demonstrations against learning conditions, teaching gaps
French students are protesting overcrowded classes and timetables, teacher shortages, and calling for reforms or the abolition of Parcoursup, the university admissions platform. Although school blockades have declined, incidents continue around some high schools. A demonstration has now started in Paris, from Place d’Italie towards Les Invalides, as Claire Paccalin reports from the scene.
IMF upgrades 2026 growth forecast but warns of 'split' outlook
The IMF has raised its 2026 global growth forecast slightly to 3.1%, citing the resilience of advanced economies and investment in artificial intelligence despite rising energy prices linked to the US-Iran war. However, it warned that low-income countries remain particularly vulnerable to the crisis. FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert has the analysis.
Asia's fertility hub: Thailand emerges as top destination for IVF treatment
Thailand has become one of Asia's leading fertility hubs. Every year, thousands of foreign patients travel to Bangkok's state-of-the-art private clinics for IVF, egg donation and other fertility treatments. They come from China, South Korea, Europe and across Southeast Asia, looking for what may be harder to find at home: shorter waiting times, lower costs and, in some cases, fewer restrictions.
Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food
Major French supermarket chains on Monday said they were hit by a cyberattack that caused their refrigerators to shoot up in temperature in hundreds of stores, forcing spoiled food to be thrown away and raising concerns about food security.
'Transactional diplomacy': Greece positioning itself as Trump’s most 'reliable ally in the region'
François Picard is pleased to welcome Petros Konstantinidis, Journalist for TA NEA, Greece's leading daily newspaper, as a financial and investigative reporter. It has all the makings of a reality TV show or a telenovela, or both! “This is diplomacy under Trump turning into lifestyle diplomacy”, explains Konstantinidis.