Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that he feared his US counterpart Donald Trump "will continue" lifitng sanctions on Russia. Zelensky's relationship with Trump deteriorated after the Washington eased sanctions on Moscow as part of a diesel-supply deal, despite Russia increasing strikes on Ukraine.
In tonight's programme, Kenya confirms a third case of Ebola, a relative of a man who died earlier this month after travelling from DR Congo. Also,Cameroonian journalist Ambe Macmillan is recovering in hospital after being shot in the legs by gunmen in Bamenda. And we meet Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama... And finally, we meet Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama, who digs deep into his country's colonial and industrial past to lay new creative foundations for generations to come.
An online movement against rising fuel prices has gained momentum ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on October 17 with former Yellow Vest figures set to join the protests in support of high-school students. Some are drawing parallels between the latest action and the 2018 cost-of-living protests that rattled President Emmanuel Macron's first term in office.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday blamed the involvement of “foreign hands” for escalating protests, which he said are aimed at hindering Albania's bid to join the European Union. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Albania's capital since Tuesday, demanding Rama’s resignation and denouncing university conditions and high tuition fees.
In India, the Cockroach movement felt the crushing boot of the state this week. Thousands of Gen Z protesters were rounded up and detained in sports stadiums and community halls turned into makeshift detention centres, while the movement’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, was arrested on arrival. A mass demonstration over alleged voter fraud was effectively crushed before it could begin.And Abdijeet has been detained again todayNarendra Modi’s government says the measures were necessary to protect civilians in the capital. But he now faces accusations of choosing repression over democracy, with the UN Human Rights Office urging authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly.
It’s been a week of blame games and accusations of betrayal in Ukraine with President Zelensky speaking of his personal hurt at President Trump’s decision to make a diesel deal with the Kremlin ahead of the US Mid term elections calling it “weak”, suggesting Trump had chosen, “the other side”. Trump meanwhile made clear he wants Zelensky replaced, and warned him against striking Russian refineries AND announced an energy ceasefire, declaring it to have been agreed by both sides but which went nowhere. President Zelensky continued to search for solidarity and a solution in Europe.
It’s been a week of blame games and accusations of betrayal in Ukraine with President Zelensky speaking of his personal hurt at President Trump’s decision to make a diesel deal with the Kremlin ahead of the US Mid term elections calling it “weak”, suggesting Trump had chosen, “the other side”. Trump meanwhile made clear he wants Zelensky replaced, and warned him against striking Russian refineries AND announced an energy ceasefire, declaring it to have been agreed by both sides but which went nowhere. President Zelensky continued to search for solidarity and a solution in Europe.
Gavin Lee is joined this week by Anne-Elisabeth Moutet, John Sweeney, Victor Mallet and Suhasini Raj.
As transatlantic relations confront renewed geopolitical uncertainty, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves delivers a pointed assessment of Washington's shifting approach to Russia's war on Ukraine and the profound implications for European security. At the heart of his analysis lies a fundamental question: can Europe develop the political unity, strategic independence and military capabilities necessary to defend its interests in an increasingly unpredictable international order? Ilves response: "If there's any time for Europe to begin to act as Europe and not as being strictly self-interested, then this is the time for it."
A White House Press official said Friday that Secretary Katie Zacharia was "let go" from her role after US President Donald Trump signaled she was on her way out, a week after he picked her for the post. Zacharia's credentials as an attorney had come under scrutiny and she admitted to not having passed the bar in an interview with Fox News on Thursday.
Irish novelist Sally Rooney's books will no longer be sold in Britain over her plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned as a terrorist organisation, Rooney and her publisher said on Wednesday. The bestselling author, known for novels including "Normal People" and "Conversations with Friends", has been a vocal supporter of Palestine Action, including after it was proscribed by the British government under terrorism laws last year.
Argentine demonstrators clashed with police on Thursday at a major protest in Buenos Aires over budget-slashing President Javier Milei's higher education spending. The main demonstration outside parliament by thousands of university students and staff, trade unionists and opposition activists remained peaceful. But dozens of mostly hooded demonstrators who broke away from the crowd lobbed stones and other projectiles at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
An online movement against rising fuel prices has gained momentum ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on October 17 with former Yellow Vest figures set to join the protests in support of high-school students. Some are drawing parallels between the latest action and the 2018 cost-of-living protests that rattled President Emmanuel Macron's first term in office.
Indian police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke on Friday ahead of fresh protests demanding the removal of the country's election chief, the youth-led movement said in a social media post. Dipke, 31, was detained shortly before a rally called by the online movement in the heart of New Delhi where hundreds of protesters marched on Friday evening, despite heavy security measures. FRANCE 24's Navodita Kumari reports from New Delhi, India.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took aim on Friday at US President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia and welcomed the prospect of European allies stepping up their role in talks, calling Moscow's stance a "parody" of peace negotiations. At a European Union summit in Brussels, Zelenskiy said Russia did not want peace. He added that Ukraine was still experiencing disruptions to the SpaceX Starshield satellite system. FRANCE 24's Europe Editor Armen Georgian reports from Brussels.
After weeks of student protests, France is set to be swept by broader, nationwide demonstrations on Saturday. The country's Yellow Vest movement – which eight years ago staged street protests against President Emmanuel Macron – has appealed to teachers, workers, pensioners and farmers, as well as students, in an online call spread through social media. The prospect of the two movements merging poses a big challenge to the government, as FRANCE 24’s Shirli Sitbon reports.
Italy has extended by another week its suspension of the European Union's border-free travel arrangements with Spain over a surge in migrant arrivals in Ceuta in late July, an Italian government source said on Friday. A Spanish government spokesperson said the interior ministers of both countries would work over the coming week on lifting the border controls.