Author: France 24

Three years after the majestic Parisian monument closed for renovations, the Grand Palais is once again the HQ of the contemporary art world, as it hosts Art Basel Paris. We hear from Oliver Beer, one of the artists showing his sound-inspired pieces at the event, who tells us how his Resonance Project has inspired installations, paintings and even an operatic film experience. Our reporters also check out the sculptures popping up in public spaces around Paris, as the fair brings contemporary art to the streets. And we meet some of the artists bringing their work to the Also Known As…

It’s the deadliest conflict in Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war. The current war between Hezbollah and Israel has set the whole country ablaze. The provisional death toll on the Lebanese side stands at more than 2,300, with 11,000 wounded, while thousands more are missing. The violence of the Israeli strikes has also provoked a mass exodus of the population: some 1.2 million people already have been forced to leave their homes, or a fifth of the population. Our Lebanon correspondents Chloé Domat and Sophie Guignon report.

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Saturday issued a medical report showing she is in “excellent health” and fit to serve as the country’s leader. The move is seen as a challenge to Donald Trump, whom Harris has accused of lacking transparency for not releasing his own medical records. After Joe Biden dropped out of the race for the White House in July, Trump became the oldest presidential nominee from a major political party in US history.

Randal Kolo Muani scored twice as France defeated Belgium 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday. Kolo Muani’s penalty opener was equalized by Lois Openda before Muani headed in the winner after the break. France secured victory despite Kylian Mbappe’s absence in the match at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.

The European Central Bank policymakers have decided to lower interest rates by a quarter percentage point, a third such cut this year as inflation across the 20-member Eurozone came down to 1.7% in September.  ECB President Christine Lagarde says while the bank does not expect a recession, downside risks remain amid hightened geopolitical tensions.  Plus, China has announced a fresh stimulus package to prop up the faltering property sector. 

After the phenomenal success of her first novel, “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie”, author Ayana Mathis returns with a story that shifts between 1980s Philadelphia and a mythical Black utopia in Alabama. She tells us about finding inspiration in a particular moment of American history – of dashed hopes and failed social projects – and discusses the challenge of creating three-dimensional characters, including their flaws. We also talk about the upcoming US presidential election and Ayana tells us about an unexpected encounter with Oprah Winfrey herself.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that it was checking the possibility that it has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar following an operation in the Gaza Strip that it said had targeted three militants. Palestinian officials in Gaza reported at least 15 dead, including five children, after a strike on a school being used as a shelter, while Syria’s military said an Israeli strike early Thursday wounded two civilians and damaged a military post. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments in the Middle East.

The 2024 Ivy Tech Prize for France’s young entrepreneur of the year was awarded on Tuesday to François Vonthron, CEO and co-founder of Poppins. The app was designed to help children with dyslexia by using a video game format, with one independent study showing significant progress for users in both reading precision and speed. Some 1.3 million children in France struggle with dyslexia. FRANCE 24’s Charles Pellegrin speaks to Vonthron about the app’s origins and features. 

Israel’s Nations League football match against Les Bleus will take place at the Stade de France with fans in attendance, French authorities said Tuesday, a day after Italy hosted Israel under tight security amid fears of unrest linked to the war in the Middle East.

As Big Tech companies consume more energy for data centres and artificial intelligence, they’re under pressure to commit to clean power sources. Amazon has followed in the footsteps of Google and Microsoft in announcing new deals with nuclear power providers. Also in the show – the International Energy Agency hails the dawn of the ‘Age of Electricity,’ and we delve into the shift towards sustainability in the drinks industry.