❌

Reading view

Police make seventh arrest over UK airbase incident

A seventh man was arrested Tuesday over a major incident last month at a British military airbase used by the United States to launch strikes on Iran, police said. The arrest came a day after President Donald Trump said the United States had withdrawn all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford because of "threats" he believed were linked to Tehran. A 22-year-old British male was arrested in London "on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts", Britain's Counter-Terrorism Policing network said in a statement. Six men in their 20s have already been arrested and released on bail after three suspicious vans were stopped near the base in southwest England on September 27. FRANCE 24's Bénédicte Paviot reports from London.

  •  

German ex-spy chief arrested for suspected espionage, treason

A former German spy chief was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and treason, an embarrassing case at a time when the country is seeking to broaden the powers of its intelligence agencies. August Hanning, who ran Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency from 1998 to 2005, is accused of espionage, treason and working for foreign intelligence services, federal prosecutors said. FRANCE 24's Nick Holdsworth reports from Berlin.

  •  

Hundreds arrested on biggest day of French student protests over education resources

Mass protests over decrepit conditions at France's high schools descended into sporadic violence Tuesday, leading to nearly 500 arrests and prompting President Emmanuel Macron to call an emergency meeting. Members of the public have accused the authorities of using disproportionate force as protesters clashed with the police in several French cities. 

  •  

Should we be worried about a plague outbreak in Russia?

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, October 6: The death of a researcher in Siberia, reportedly from the plague, sparks concern despite Russian authorities' denial. But first: French high school protesters are promising "Act 3" of their protest movement against learning conditions. Also, Le Monde speaks to the editor of Russian independent outlet Novaya Gazeta ahead of the 20th anniversary of the murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Finally, it appears that butter is back in fashion.

  •  

French interior ministry estimates 250,000 join student protests, organisers claim 450,000

Around 250,000 people joined student protests across France on Tuesday, according to the French interior ministry. Organisers of the mass demonstrations put the figure of 450,000. Clashes erupted in some cities between the police and demonstrators demanding more education funding and resources on the biggest day yet of student protests. Follow our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded.

  •  

Sanchez chose 'best moment in a sea of troubles' to call for snap election, analyst says

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called an early election for November 29, aiming to increase his parliamentary support after lawmakers last week rejected proposals to address a housing crisis that has drawn nationwide protests. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Javier Carbonell, Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre, explains that Sanchez has chosen "the best moment in a sea of troubles" to call snap elections as he is likely to capitalise on the mobilisation of left-wing voters during the housing protests.

  •  

France, Germany seek new EU rapid response tool against trade threats

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday announced they would develop a new legal tool to enable the EU to respond rapidly to trade wars or measures, such as dumping. While they did not say the proposal was a direct response to the actions of any particular country, it came days before EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen visits China to tackle trade frictions.

  •  

ISIS suspects face 'outsourced' justice in Iraq as HRW warns of 'collective global detention crisis'

Erin Ogunkeye is pleased to welcome Letta Tayler, Senior Counterterrorism Advisor at Human Rights Watch. She warns of the detention of suspected Islamic State members transferred from northeast Syria to Iraq as part of a much wider "global detention crisis". The men and boys now held in Iraq are living in 'dire' conditions, including deaths from illness, allegations of torture, and serious questions surrounding access to effective legal representation. Can accountability be achieved through legal proceedings that respect the rule of law and provide genuine justice to both detainees and victims?

  •  

Rubio visits Iceland ‘to discuss security collaboration’ as US boosts Arctic presence

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to Iceland on Monday, two weeks after Washington sealed a security pact with Denmark and Greenland on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Rubio will meet with officials in Reykjavik "to discuss economic and security collaboration", according to a statement by the US State Department. 

  •  

US withdraws B-1 bombers from British military base RAF Fairford amid security concerns

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that all US B-1 bombers deployed to Britain’s RAF Fairford had returned home following a security incident that prompted nearby evacuations. Police found no explosives after reports of suspicious activity at the base last Sunday. Five London-based British men arrested were subsequently released on bail.

  •  
❌