As young people protest poor school conditions and the rising cost of living across Europe, misleading videos are spreading online. Footage from Poland in 2017, military preparations in Portugal and a protest in Argentina have all been falsely presented as recent demonstrations in Europe, painting a misleading picture of unrest. Vedika Bahl fact-checks three viral videos to uncover what they really show and how old footage is being recycled to spread misinformation and attract clicks.
On October 25, Serbia's student-led protest movement won a historic victory in parliamentary elections, defeating outgoing President Aleksandar Vucic's party. Supporters of the student list explained to FRANCE 24 how they mounted a massive mobilisation to fight electoral fraud and monitor the electoral process inside and outside the polling stations.
Emotions ran high in Belgrade on Monday after a student-led movement upset the right-wing populist Aleksandar Vucic's party in Serbia's snap election. A celebratory mood gripped the capital, with drivers honking their horns and passers-by holding up three fingers -- the winning list's ballot number and a Serbian greeting. Many wore badges and other symbols of the student movement, while a large group of residents spent the day cleaning up a park between parliament and the presidency after Vucic loyalists, who had camped there for more than a year, fled. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with researchers and political activist Aleksandar Matković.
The French government met student representatives on Monday (October 26) following weeks of unrest. Students who had been demanding a meeting for weeks hail progress. Nonetheless they are now calling for fresh demonstrations next Saturday (October 31) to press for further measures. Details by FRANCE 24’s French Politics Editor Marc Perelman.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the government would announce “concrete measures" on Monday (October 26) to address school students’ demands after weeks of unrest. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was scheduled to meet with students later Monday. FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago reports from the ground.
Serbia's student-led protest movement won a historic victory in parliamentary election, ending the long rule of Aleksandar Vucic and sparking mass celebrations. But their yet-to-be named leaders face a long list of issues. FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley gives us her analysis.
Serbia's student-led movement declared victory in parliamentary elections Sunday ending 14 years in power for Aleksandar Vucic's right-wing populist party. Vucic conceded defeat less than two hours after polls closed, triggering raucous scenes in the capital as supporters of the movement celebrated the defeat of a government they blamed for deep-rooted corruption.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is set to meet with high school students on Monday afternoon (October 26) to ease tensions in the country after nearly a month of protests. This follows another meeting in which French president Emmanuel Macron promised a concrete response to demands for better education standards and funding.
PRESS REVIEW – Monday, October 26: Brazilian and international papers react to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's presidential election victory. Next: The New York Times warns that the war in Iran is entering a dangerous new phase. Also: cocaine consumption and cocaine-related crimes are surging across Britain. Finally, it turns out that wrapping children in cotton wool isn't the best parenting strategy.
Celebrations erupted across several Serbian cities late Sunday (October 25) as people hailed the student-backed movement deposing veteran leader Aleksandar Vucic's party in a snap election.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in an historic election on Sunday (October 25) following a near to 70% turnout at polling stations. The snap election followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations against perceived corruption and authoritarianism triggered by the deaths of 16 people when a train station canopy collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in 2024. FRANCE 24's Laurent Rouy tells us more.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in an historic election on Sunday following a near to 70% turnout at polling stations – the highest since the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992. The snap election followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations against perceived corruption and authoritarianism triggered by the deaths of 16 people when a train station canopy collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in 2024.
From student protests across France over the weekend and presidential elections in Brazil pitting leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro to wildfires in Indonesia, FRANCE 24 looks back at some of the most striking images from the past week.
Serbia votes on Sunday in what is set to be its most contested parliamentary election in more than 14 years, as a student-led movement seeks to oust the party of populist leader Aleksandar Vucic. The vote comes after nearly two years of student-led protests sparked by the 2024 collapse of a canopy that killed 16 people.
Ukraine's access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted front-line operations for more than a week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.
Ukraine has regained a "stable" connection to the Starlink and Starshield satellite communications systems, Kyiv's defence minister said on Saturday. Recent disruptions to the connection led to tensions with Washington over the SpaceX-made network crucial to the Ukrainian army's operations.
Italy is preparing for another day of protests on Saturday against budget cuts and the high cost of living in eight cities, including Rome and Milan. Following last weekend’s unrest, authorities announced heavy security measures, including the use of drones and helicopters to monitor the marches.
This week has seen mass protests hijacked by violent rioters across France, with the looting of shops, trashing of public buildings, the burning of Lyon's Tourist Information Office and the iconic Limoges City Hall. After the riots came the curfews and the contemplation: who did what and why weren't they stopped? French President Emmanuel Macron blamed seditious groups, ultra-left anarchists and opportunist criminals, with a qualified mea culpa: authorities made mistakes in anticipation and dropped the ball in intelligence gathering.
Estonia's counterintelligence service has recently warned that sabotage operations orchestrated by Russian special services have reached a new and dangerous phase in Europe, with targets no longer being purely symbolic. Talking Europe sits down with the country's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, to discuss the security situation in Estonia and the European Union in general.
A marathon EU summit on October 15-16 failed to produce a breakthrough on the European Union's next long-term budget. Although EU leaders put on a brave face at the end of the talks by saying that "the way forward is clearer", EU capitals appear deadlocked on what that path is. At stake is the EU's ability to finance its strategic priorities from 2028 to 2034. The main dividing line is between the so-called "frugal countries", who want deep cuts to the proposed budget, and the "friends of cohesion", who say that cuts are not the answer.