RFI English

How China’s Paracel expansion extends its military reach towards Vietnam China is rapidly expanding two artificial islands in the disputed Paracel Islands, with analysts saying the new facilities could strengthen Beijing’s military reach towards Vietnam and along key South China Sea shipping routes. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D1Cc.g

France drops Mercator maps as Africa pushes for truer world view France will stop using maps based on the traditional Mercator projection, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Friday – backing an African push for a more accurate representation of the continent. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D1CO.g

DRC eyes Jerusalem embassy as Tshisekedi seeks Israel's support The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem following talks between President Félix Tshisekedi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a rare diplomatic step that could also strengthen Kinshasa's ties with Washington and its access to military support. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D1AT.g

France unveils €1.1bn emergency aid for farmers after record heat ​France has announced €1.1 billion in emergency aid for farmers after record heat and drought caused severe damage to crops, pastures and water supplies. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D18H.g

Paris families sue mayor over alleged child abuse in after-school care Around 15 families who allege their children suffered violence and sexual abuse in Paris after-school care have filed a complaint against the city and its Socialist mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, as well as his predecessor Anne Hidalgo. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D17p.g

How France and Britain’s far right are building a populist ‘entente cordiale’ Jordan Bardella will address Reform UK's party conference in Birmingham on Friday, putting the French far-right leader alongside Nigel Farage as both men seek to strengthen their political profiles. The appearance also marks closer ties between two of Europe's most successful populist radical-right parties that share similar positions on immigration but have not always been natural allies. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D15x.g

Tunisia court upholds long sentences in mass trial of opposition figures Tunisia's top court has turned down the final appeal of dozens of opposition leaders, lawyers and businessmen convicted in a major conspiracy case, in a ruling opponents said further entrenches President Kais Saied's authoritarian rule. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D15K.g

France tests Tesla's self-driving tech as Europe moves closer to autonomous cars France is preparing to test Tesla’s self-driving system on public roads, a move that could bolster the technology's chances of winning approval throughout the European Union. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D14C.g

Culture or Kremlin influence? Europe divided over its Russian Houses A dispute between Germany and Russia over their cultural centres is drawing fresh attention to a network of Russian Houses that has faced years of accusations of propaganda and espionage, but continues to operate in several European countries. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D10M.g

Former RFI journalist disappears in Niger after attempted coup Reporters Without Borders has called for an investigation into the disappearance of Moussa Kaka, the director of a television station in Niger and a former correspondent for Radio France International, days after a failed coup in the country. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0yg.g

British, French leaders hold talks on migrants and EU relations UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first official talks on Thursday, with migrant boats, Ukraine and British-EU relations high on the agenda. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0xO.g

Three Pacific hurricanes gather strength as El Nino intensifies The current El Nino could become the strongest on record as the natural climate pattern that warms the tropical Pacific intensifies, with three hurricanes churning across the ocean on Thursday. The United Nations has warned of growing extreme weather risks into 2027. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0w9.g

France asserts claim on disputed Pacific islands as Vanuatu appeals to ICJ France has insisted on its sovereignty over two Pacific islands claimed by Vanuatu, which has opened a case at the International Court of Justice. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0vi.g

Ebola deaths in DRC top 3,000 as WHO prepares vaccine trials More than 3,000 people have died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the World Health Organisation says it is preparing to launch trials of three potential vaccines against the strain behind the current outbreak, which continues to progress. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0sc.g

EU suspends Brazilian meat imports over antibiotic concerns The European Union has suspended imports of Brazilian meat and other animal products, as Brussels waits for assurances that the South American country is complying with the bloc’s rules on antibiotic use in livestock farming. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0sI.g

French filmmakers and local fixer freed after weeks in Togo detention Two French documentary makers and their Togolese fixer have been granted provisional release in Togo, more than a month after they were arrested in the north while working on a television programme. The three deny accusations of false statements and irregularities linked to their filming assignment. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0q4.g

EU summons Russian envoy, eyes sanctions after Germany drone 'attack' The European Union summoned Russia's top diplomat and signaled it may impose new sanctions on Wednesday, after last month's drone incident in Germany that the bloc's foreign policy chief branded "state-sponsored terrorism." 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0pv.g

Clooney kicks off Venice as festival wades into war, Gaza and AI Venice rolls out the red carpet Wednesday, with George Clooney set to collect a lifetime achievement award as the film festival opens a starry two-week run heavy on biopics, war-zone dramas from Gaza and Iran, and a fresh reckoning with artificial intelligence. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0o3.g

Tunisia accused of shutting down civil society through sweeping crackdown Tunisian authorities have intensified pressure on civil society through arrests, prosecutions, financial investigations and mass suspensions, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday – warning that the independent civic space created after the 2011 revolution has been all but shut down. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0ni.g

World set to breach 1.5C climate limit as UN urges rapid reversal Global warming is set to cross the 1.5C limit within the next few years, exposing people and ecosystems to more severe climate damage, the UN's environmental agency said on Wednesday. But temperatures could eventually be brought back down if emissions fall sharply and carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. 👉 Read more: https://rfi.my/D0mJ.g