Dakar divers fight to clear Senegal’s plastic tide

Scientists have long warned about the effects of rising temperatures and plastic pollution in the world's oceans. Now, recent studies show the problems are getting worse.

As the international art world flocks to Dakar for its much-anticipated Biennale, Senegalese artist Fally Sene Sow just has to look out the window to find inspiration in the colourful and chaotic market street outside his studio in the capital.

A court in The Hague railed against conditions at asylum centers in the Netherlands. The situation got so bad this summer that Doctors Without Borders deployed teams over humanitarian concerns.

This year, the show is taking place in Dakar, Senegal – the first luxury event of its kind to take place in sub-Saharan Africa. Rapper Abd Al Malik, writer Alain Mabanckou, model and producer Caroline de Maigret, actress Lyna Khoudri, musician Nix, director Moly Kane, actress Whitney Peak and musician Pharrell Williams talk us through their impressions of the show.

A weekly news show produced with photos, videos and personal accounts from France 24 Observers around the world - all checked by our staff here in Paris.

Globally recognized stars including Senegalese maestro Youssou Ndour, and Nigerian artists P-Square and Tiwa Savage are among those set to perform during the main awards ceremony at the 15,000-seat Dakar stadium.

The EU legislature wants to tighten its rules in the wake of shocking corruption allegations dubbed Qatargate. The president's proposals aren't published yet, but the tussle over reform plans has already kicked off.

Before dawn, crews from Kinshasa's sanitary police brigade armed with crowbars and aided by a bulldozer, set on demolishing makeshift stalls that crowd a busy intersection and a main artery of the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital.

Africa's Lake Victoria is a source of joy and livelihood for those living along its shores, but the waterway is being overrun by pollution. Kenya's Rahmina Paullete is not just tackling the scourge, but transforming waste particles into furniture, coasters and bags. She's the founder of the "Let Lake Victoria Breathe Again" campaign. The young activist joined us for Perspective.

Cheered on by her family, driver Fatumata Bah raised her arms in triumph after winning an amateur motor drag race in Dakar that saw four men and four women competing for first place.

As plastic production continues unabated, new findings say that with sufficient ambition, the world could cut plastic pollution by more than three-quarters.

As treaty talks over plastic pollution begin in Paris, we find out why recycling schemes, rather than reducing use, may not be that green of an idea. We take a look at different reactions to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's re-election. Reactions to Juliette Triet’s Palme D'or speech also continue to roll in, with the French media having widely different takes. Finally, we find out about a bear with a sneaky sweet tooth.