Weather
English
RocksNews

International news in seven languages

Advertisement
Advertisement

Politics

Hundreds of schools to shut Monday as France braces for more student protests

France's education minister said lessons would be "totally or partly suspended" at up to 500 high schools on Monday after several days of sometimes violent protests against teacher shortages, dilapidated school buildings and overcrowding in classrooms. The minister said 24 schools had been "burned or ransacked" since the start of the protest movement.

Lula de Silva: 80-year-old incumbent Brazilian president seeks 4th term

Brazilians began casting their votes on Sunday in a closely watch presidential election pitting incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Nearly 160 million voters will also pick lawmakers, senators and governors in an election that will determine whether Latin America's biggest nation follows a regional swing to the right championed by US President Donald Trump. France 24 correspondent Jan Onoszko tells us the latest from Rio de Janeiro.

Advertisement

Brazil: Lula and Bolsonaro tied in polls

Brazilians began casting their votes on Sunday in a closely watch presidential election pitting incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Mara Nogueira, Senior Lecturer in Urban Geography at Birbeck, University of London, says the tight race reflects the consolidation of two political camps, with many Brazilians voting not out of support for a candidate, but to keep the other out of power. She points to the cost of living, religion and social media echo chambers as key factors shaping the vote, alongside a

Report from Rio de Janeiro: Brazil votes with low probability of defining in first round

Brazil began a decisive election day this Sunday. More than 158 million citizens are called to the polls to elect president, vice president, governors, deputies and part of the Senate. The polling stations will remain open until 5: 00, Brasilia time. The surveys point to a very tight contest, so the possibility of a first-round definition seems reduced. In 2022, the abstention was 20.9%, or about one in five voters did not vote. From Rio de Janeiro, our correspondent Valeria Saccone tells us more.

Advertisement

Brazil: "The two candidates are more likely to be elbow-to-neck in the first round"

Frédéric Louault, director of the Centre d'études des Amériques at the Université libre de Bruxelles, was the guest of France 24 on Sunday, October 4. He returned to the presidential election in Brazil, the first round of which took place on Sunday. According to him, there is "a greater chance that the two candidates will be on their elbows in the first round, around 45% of the valid votes, and that everything will be played in three weeks in a second round".

Cornell president breaks silence over alleged campus rape

Cornell University remains at the centre of controversy over an alleged gang rape at a fraternity on campus, with the university president now breaking his silence. In an eight-minute video statement released Saturday night, Michael Kotlikoff called the allegations, made by a woman known as Jane Doe, deeply disturbing and said the university must do better. Shirli Sitbon has this report.

Lula and Bolsonaro face off in Brazil presidential race

Twelve candidates are on the ballot, but the presidential race is centred on two rivals: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro. Lula is seeking a fourth and final term, warning that Brazil’s sovereignty is at stake amid pressure from Donald Trump. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, has highlighted his ties to the White House, saying Brazil needs better deals with the US, including over its rare mineral resources. Nick Rushworth has more on the controversial senator. Dr Andrea Aruska de Souza Santos, Director of King's College Brazil Institute in London, shares further insights.