What Europe thinks of Trump's VP pick

Hello. Donald Trump's pick for vice-president JD Vance is due to take the stage in Milwaukee in a few hours. Some of the 39-year-old's statements on US foreign policy have caught the attention of European diplomats, Jess Park and James Waterhouse report. In the Netherlands, Anna Holligan witnesses heartbreak and resolve at an event marking 10 years since the downing of flight MH17. Finally, we cover promising research on anti-aging treatments in lab mice that scientists hope could affect humans, too.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

America's allies react to JD Vance

JD Vance singled out Berlin for criticism of its military preparedness earlier this year. Credit: MSC/Michaele Stache

The possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency has been the subject of much preparation among European officials and diplomats. The Republican candidate's choice of Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate signals potential future disagreements over the war in Ukraine, security and trade.

What has JD Vance said about the war in Ukraine?

Days before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Mr Vance told a podcast he “doesn’t really care what happens in Ukraine, one way or the other”. He also played a key role in delaying a $60bn military aid package from Washington.

Can Ukraine still win his support?

For Yevhen Mahda, the executive director of the Institute of World Policy think tank in Kyiv, the priority would be to change Mr Vance's mind. "A fact we can use is that he fought in Iraq, therefore he should be invited to Ukraine so he can see with his own eyes what is happening and how American money is spent."

Would that be enough?

The question for Kyiv would be to the extent to which Vance might influence his new boss. An EU diplomat, who preferred not to be named, said that no-one was naïve: "We understand what it means if Trump comes back as a second-term president, regardless of his running mate."

THE BIG PICTURE

Five questions about women's killings

Police say Collins Jumaisi Khalusha confessed to the killings, but his lawyer told a court he was tortured. Credit: AFP

A confession allegedly made under duress. Bodies found in a site just metres away from a police station. Dozens of victims yet to be identified. The arrest of a man accused of killing 42 women in Kenya has raised more questions than answers, reports BBC Africa security correspondent Ian Wafula.

And finally... in a lab

A drug has increased the lifespans of laboratory mice by nearly 25%. In fact, treated mice were known as "supermodel grannies" in the lab because of their youthful appearance. Scientists now hope the discovery could lead to humans enjoying longer, healthier lives.