Infantino says open to FIFA reform talks after World Cup controversy
Summary:
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday proposed an external review of how the football association makes decisions, including who has a say in major initiatives. Infantino faced backlash and calls for a boycott over the summer after proposing to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.
France's new coach Zinedine Zidane leads first training session
Summary:
France coach Zinedine Zidane on Monday oversaw his first training session with Les Bleus ahead of the new Nations League campaign. The 1998 World Cup winner led a dozen of his players through a light training session under the gaze of some 50 journalists.
'Banking on a national brand': Bolsonaro sons Carlos, Jair Renan run for power in Brazil's south
Summary:
Flavio Bolsonaro is not the only member of his family campaigning in his father’s shadow. The former president's eldest son, who is now polling neck and neck with incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, can count on two of his brothers, who are standing in the senatorial and legislative elections. In Santa Catarina, one of Brazil’s most pro-Bolsonaro southern states, their surname alone is enough to secure victory.
‘National security threat’: Trump’s latest attack on US media
Summary:
US President Donald Trump on Monday accused mainstream media outlets of being a “cancer” and national security threat in his latest attack on members of the press. It comes after Trump barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, with the three media outlets saying Monday they would sue the Trump administration, calling the ban a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment.
French singer Amanda Lear accuses US star Miley Cyrus of 'copying' 1970s hit
Summary:
French disco diva Amanda Lear accused Miley Cyrus on Monday of plagiarising her 1970s song "The Sphinx" in the US pop star's new track, "Redlights". However, Lear later added that she was not interested in a lawsuit.
Bayeux Tapestry craze prompts photo ban at British Museum
Summary:
The British Museum said on Monday that it has banned people from taking photos of the Bayeux Tapestry to prevent crowds from backing up at the new exhibit. The 1,000-year-old artwork is on display in the UK after an unprecedented loan from France, and tickets are sold out until December 31.
EU fines Google €403 million for improperly using location data
Summary:
Ireland, on behalf of the European Union, said Monday it had fined Google €403 million for improperly using users' location data between May 2018 and February 2020. However, the eight-year delay drew some criticism, as the European Consumer Organisation said that "can be as harmful as no enforcement at all".
Merz’s election setback: What it means for Germany?
Summary:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CDU representatives held a press conference on Monday, September 21, after the party suffered its worst regional election defeat in postwar Germany. Merz called the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a “disaster”, as the CDU fell below the 5% threshold for entering the state parliament. Helmut Schmidt fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the US, Markus Ziener, shares further details.
France and Canada deepen economic and defense ties
Summary:
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have announced plans to deepen economic ties between their countries following a meeting at the weekend. Macron welcomed Carney in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French territory off the coast of Canada’s Newfoundland. The two leaders discussed opportunities to share infrastructure in the space and defence sectors, as Canada’s trade relationship with the US deteriorates and Europe looks to diversify its energy supplies. Bryan Quinn has more.
Saudi Arabia left without US help against Houthis
Summary:
Saudi Arabia is weighing Washington’s refusal to help fend off Houthi attacks after Riyadh requested US assistance, despite the two countries being longstanding allies and President Donald Trump and his family maintaining close personal ties with Saudi leaders. France 24 International affairs commentator Douglas Herbert shares further details on this alliance.
UK: Fallout over Charles Spencer’s Diana Memoir
Summary:
In the UK, fallout continues over the explosive memoirs of Princess Diana’s brother. Charles Spencer on Sunday accused King Charles of “gaslighting” him over his account of events surrounding Diana’s death, detailed in a book due to be released on Tuesday. Earl Spencer claims the monarch was “giddily elated” in the immediate aftermath of her death. Carys Garland has the story.
France: Government hosts energy meeting amid fuel price tensions
Summary:
The French government is holding urgent meetings today as it looks for ways to tackle rapidly rising fuel prices. Drivers are paying record-high prices for diesel, as the war in Iran disrupts crude oil shipments from the Middle East. But with public discontent growing, the government has limited options, as France’s finances are already under pressure. This report is from Bryan Quinn and our colleagues at France Télévisions.
French farmers turn to tropical crops amid rising temperatures
Summary:
In the south of France, climate change is reshaping the region’s fruit production. Rather than fighting against it, a growing number of farmers are learning how to work with it – turning to tropical crops, now well-suited to the local climate. Bananas, papaya and even dragon fruit are being grown in greenhouses but also in open fields, without heating or pesticides. Our Down to Earth team reports.
Pope Leo heads to France amid church scandals
Summary:
Preparations are underway in France for Pope Leo’s visit from September 25 to 28. During his trip, the Pontiff is expected to meet victims of church sexual abuse, as the Catholic Church faces renewed scrutiny following recent scandals. Delano D'Souza reports.
Music show: Meet Ed Banger Records' new girl Tatyana Jane and wild Jazz band Buck
Summary:
This week on Arts24, music editor Marjorie Hache chats to Buck's saxophonist. He tells us more about how the six-piece came together during lockdown and took their name from the antler-sporting animal to make psychedelic wild jazz. They are currently touring their new album "Animal Boisé". We also meet French Cameroonian Dj Producer Tatyana Jane, Ed Banger Records' first female signing in two decades. Plus, we take a look at new releases by Leon Bridges and M83.
CNN, MS NOW, Politico to sue Trump administration after White House ban
Summary:
US media outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced Monday they were filing suit after US President Donald Trump banned their journalists from the White House last week. The ban on the three outlets marks an escalation in the Trump administration's years-long assault on the country's press freedoms.
Two tankers hit by 'unknown projectile' or debris in Strait of Hormuz
Summary:
Two tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday by either an "unknown projectile" or debris, a maritime security agency said. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations added that at least two crew members were injured in the first incident, and both vessels will continue to their next port of call.
Germany's Merz vows to hold ruling coalition together after election gains by far right, hard left
Summary:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed Monday to keep his ruling coalition of the centre-right CDU and centre-left SPD together for the sake of the country's "democratic future", after both the far right and hard left made big gains in Germany's state elections on Sunday.
West Bank: Israeli settler, Palestinian killed in latest violence
Summary:
Violence flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, as Israeli forces arrested a suspected Palestinian gunman accused of killing an Israeli man. In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian driver who the military said had attempted to run them over. Nicholas Rushworth reports.
REPLAY: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in post-vote comments
Summary:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CDU representatives held a press conference on Monday, September 21, after the party suffered its worst regional election defeat in postwar Germany. Merz called the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a “disaster”, as the CDU fell below the 5% threshold for entering the state parliament.
According to FRANCE 24 Europe editor Armen Georgian, Merz and his party’s Berlin candidate, Stefan Evers, offered no concrete solutions to address the historic defeat, despite pledging to keep the coalition together in the name of a “democratic future.”
Midterm elections: Trump looms large over 2026 vote as Democrats eye gains
Summary:
With the US midterm elections now just six weeks away, we’ll speak to our Washington correspondent Fraser Jackson about whether President Donald Trump could help or hurt his party’s chances. Polls have pointed to what some are calling a “blue wave”, with Democrats potentially regaining control of the House, while the Senate race remains more uncertain. Trump has ramped up campaigning, including spending heavily on advertising and proposing $5,000 payments to voters who support Republicans. But with his approval ratings under pressure amid the war in Iran and the Middle East, and rising oil, gasoline and commodity prices compared with before he took office, the political landscape could still shift significantly in the coming weeks.
Sorbonne Professor Hans Stark: 'Merz is in a very, very fragile situation'
Summary:
The far right AfD claims it has become Germany’s new “people’s party”. The statement comes after AfD claimed its second regional election win in as many weeks, ramping up pressure on the poorly performing CDU and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The far-left party also advanced, winning its third regional election thanks to its latest victory in Berlin. Perspective spoke to Hans Stark, professor in contemporary German civilization at Sorbonne University, who said that Merz is now in a very fragile situation, but that there is no obvious candidate to take over from him.
