Swedes are voting in a closely fought general election that could see the far-right Sweden Democrats enter government for the first time. With immigration, crime and the economy dominating the campaign, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson are locked in a neck-and-neck race.
This week's debate over AI has put the spotlight on how seriously we should take the technology's growing risks. On FRANCE 24, University of Salford Chair in Science Communication and Future Media, Andy Miah, argued that while AI poses real challenges requiring closer coordination between companies and governments, there is no existential threat to humanity. He also said clearer data and concrete figures would help the public better understand the risks.
In France, Marine Le Pen has launched her presidential campaign with a rally in Hénin-Beaumont this Sunday, despite wearing an electronic tag following her recent conviction. On FRANCE 24, international affairs editor Oliver Farry explains why she remains the frontrunner in the polls despite her weakened legal position, pointing to her long-standing national profile, the appeal of her "national preference" agenda, and the left's struggle to unite behind a convincing candidate.
As AI leaders warn that the technology is advancing faster than our ability to control it, Donald Trump has dismissed some of those concerns as exaggerated. On FRANCE 24, AI philosophy professor Raphaël Millière said this summer's real-world AI security incident shows the risks are no longer hypothetical, while stressing that it does not mean "AI will kill us all". Instead, he argues the priority is coordinated action by companies and governments to manage increasingly real safety risks.
With the Lexus Trestles Pro underway in California, the French surfing team is using the future Los Angeles 2028 Olympic venue for its first full-scale training camp. Led by reigning Olympic champion Kauli Vaast, the squad is testing both its sporting preparation and team logistics as it builds towards defending France's medal success from Paris 2024.
Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified as fighting spreads around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint for global trade and oil shipments. On FRANCE 24, Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies chairman Farea Al-Muslimi argued this could mark "the last round in Yemen's current war", unpacking the Houthis' ties with Iran and the growing pressure on Washington as the group targets US allies while Donald Trump heads into a crucial election.
At least one person has died and more than 100 people remain missing after a ferry carrying 243 people sank in rough weather between the Indonesian islands of Java and Borneo. The disaster is the second major ferry accident in the region in five days, renewing concerns over safety standards, overcrowding and maintenance.
Fighting is escalating in Yemen after Iran-backed Houthi forces seized strategic territory around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting counterstrikes by government forces and reported Saudi air raids. The Houthis also claimed attacks inside southern Saudi Arabia and threatened to disrupt shipping through the key maritime chokepoint, raising fears for regional security and global trade.
As Sweden heads into a closely fought election, the far right is gaining ground by tapping into concerns over crime and security, issues that some voters increasingly associate with migration. On FRANCE 24, Stockholm University sociologist Zeth Isaksson said the movement has also softened its image in recent years, making it more acceptable to a broader electorate, while also cautioning against overstating the strength of the far right in Sweden.
Staff at public broadcaster Radio France began a two-day strike on Sunday over the appointment of Charles Sapin, deputy editor-in-chief at far-right weekly Valeurs Actuelles. Unions accuse Sapin of promoting far-right ideas ahead of next spring's presidential election, while management has defended the appointment in the name of pluralism.
Brazil is heading to the polls on October 4, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeking a fourth term as the Bolsonaro family mounts a political comeback through Flávio's presidential bid and Michelle's Senate campaign. With polls pointing to another tight race, Michelle's popularity among women could prove crucial as the family tries to return to power.
A look back at some of the week's key news stories and the most striking images, from commemorations marking 25 years since the 9/11 attacks to the breakthrough win for Germany's far-right AfD party and the lightening offensive that has left Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels in control of the country's Red Sea coast.
The stakes are high in Sweden's general election, with the far right poised to enter government for the first time. TV4 News journalist Markus Karlsson-Bourrioux explains how opinion polls shifted from a comfortable centre-left lead to a tight race over the summer, and how far-right ideas have gained ground since the last election in 2022.
Tens of thousands of people marched in around 20 cities across Germany to protest the rise of the far right after the AfD's historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. Demonstrators said they were defending democracy as mainstream parties continue to rule out governing with the AfD.
The BRICS summit in New Delhi ended with a joint declaration calling for greater Global South influence in global governance and urging restraint in the Middle East. The gathering also served as a platform for one-to-one diplomacy, with leaders holding a series of bilateral meetings aimed at easing regional tensions. FRANCE 24's Navodita Kumari has the details.
British police have opened a criminal investigation into a £72 million donation to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, amid questions over whether the funds breached rules on foreign political donations. The probe comes as anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations intensify across England, highlighting growing tensions over immigration and national identity.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will reaffirm the “sovereignty of nations” on a visit on September 20 to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French territory in the North Atlantic, the Élysée Palace announced on Sunday. The symbolic trip comes as the territorial ambitions of US President Donald Trump sparked a new controversy on Monday after he posted a map on social media showing the entire North American continent covered by the US flag.
More than 70,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen after Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched an offensive to seize the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with many escaping to Aden and around 1,400 crossing into neighbouring Djibouti. The UN and IOM warn the new displacement wave is worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis in a country devastated by 12 years of war.
The French UN mission said it regretted an online post criticising a US vote at the UN General Assembly in a move that should clear the way for the new French ambassador Aurélien Lechevallier to take up his post in Washington.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday slammed critics of artificial intelligence (AI) who warned firms to slow down development, branding them "negative" forces. The comments came soon after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced his company will not go public this year, citing safety concerns.