Norway votes in cliffhanger election

Fire reignites at South African Parliament a day and a half after flames first broke out. A man is due in court this week in connection to the devastating blaze. The Sudanese army's power has grown following the resignation of civilian transitional PM Hamdok over the weekend. Generals now have sole governing authority as fatal tensions continue to deepen. And Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey dies aged 77, after spending a life defending his country's endangered wildlife.

This is the 49-year-old man accused of setting South Africa's parliament building on fire, which completely destroyed its lower house National Assembly chamber. The chamber was destroyed after flare-up on the second day.

As French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants to "piss off" the unvaccinated people in his country to push them into getting Covid-19 vaccines, the head of the European Parliament’s Human Rights Committee tells FRANCE 24 that while she is unconvinced by the phrasing, "it's really important to have a higher rate of vaccination in Europe and elsewhere, to guarantee that we don't go back to lockdowns".

Prosecutors have added terrorism to the five charges a man who allegedly set fire to South Africa's parliament was already facing. The 49-year-old was also diagnosed with "paranoid schizophrenia."

Maltese conservative politician Roberta Metsola is the new president of the European Parliament. While many praise the 43-year-old as a bridge-builder, others criticize her anti-abortion stance.

As Russian military movements close to the Ukrainian border continue to be a major global concern, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola tells FRANCE 24 she is doubtful about Moscow's claims that its troops are moving away from the frontier. The top EU lawmaker reaffirms that "if the escalation occurs, the European Parliament would align with other institutions to ensure concrete, swift and effective action".

The European Parliament is demanding an end to the practice of countries selling EU citizenship.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated a plan to bolster defense spending while pledging to take on more refugees. "We are standing before a monumental challenge," he said.

Tunisian President Kais Saied slammed what he called a "failed coup attempt" after lawmakers convened online and voted to repeal presidential decrees that gave him near-total power.

In visiting Kyiv, Roberta Metsola becomes the first EU top official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor on February 24.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had attempted to sidestep a no-confidence vote by dissolving Parliament. Pakistan's top court has ordered the legislative body reconvene, putting Khan's position into serious doubt.

The British prime minister insisted he did not knowingly breach pandemic lockdown rules. He is the first modern UK leader to receive a fine for breaking the law.