Author: France 24

The Israeli military on Sunday targeted several branches of Islamic finance institution Al-Qard al-Hassan, which it accuses of funding Hezbollah’s activities in Lebanon. For 40 years, this organisation has specialised in microcredit, a sector that has grown significantly since the collapse of Lebanon’s financial system in 2019.

Electricity has been restored to almost 90% of Havana residents four days after a nationwide blackout hit Cuba. Several Cuban provinces were still without power, after the collapse of the nation’s largest power plant caused lights to go out across the island on Friday. FRANCE 24’s Sharon Gaffney speaks to William LeoGrande, Professor of Government at the American University. He says Cuba never recovered from the impact of Covid and the sanctions imposed by Donald Trump.

Cuba has restored 50% of electricity to Havana, but a chronic lack of fuel and deteriorating infrastructure means the crisis is far from over. The AI boom has caused a surge in electricity demand… and in Taiwan, atomic energy could soon be making a comeback as a result. Plus, victims of the 2015 Mariana Dam collapse took their case to a UK court this Monday.

Franco-British singer-songwriter Emily Loizeau joins us on arts24 to tell us about her new album “La Souterraine”, which she produced with John Parish, a longtime collaborator of PJ Harvey. She tells us more about her multi-layered pop and rock album, the people who inspire her and her ambitions to bring her music to a UK audience. 

FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Beirut Rawad Taha reports on overnight Israeli air strikes that  particularly targeted branches of the Hezbollah financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan in the cities of Nabatiyeh and Tyre, according to the official National News Agency in Lebanon. 

Experts in South Africa are warning of a shortage of snakebite antivenom that could leave thousands without access to the crucial treatment. Production stopped four years ago and with South Africa the only antivenom producer on the continent, it means other countries in the region are also vulnerable.

China’s Housing Minister Ni Hong has announced a series of measures to support the country’s beleaguered real estate sector, including a ramping-up of lending for unfinished projects. However, the move failed to impress investors and will add to doubts over whether China will actually be able to reach its 5 percent GDP growth target for 2024. Also in this edition, FRANCE 24’s Bryan Quinn explains why prices on the French overseas department of Martinique are 40 percent higher than on the mainland.

Forty years after its 1984 release, Bronski Beat’s new wave hit “Smalltown Boy” has transcended generations to become an LGBTQ anthem for young and old alike.

At least 87 people were killed or remain missing after Israeli strikes on northern Gaza overnight and on Sunday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which said that an additional 40 people were wounded in strikes on Beit Lahiya. The Israeli military said it had carried out a precise strike on a Hamas target in the town.

Addiction to prescription medication continues to its steep rise and fatalities linked to overdoses of illicit or prescription drugs are hitting record highs. In the US alone close to 108,000 Americans died from drug-involved overdose in 2022. Dr Adam R Winstock, Psychiatrist, Addiction Medicine Specialist, Professor, and Researcher joins France 24’s Genie Godula to shed much-needed light on the current state of mental health and addiction, including the opioid epidemic. Dr Winstock is also CEO and Founder of Staying Safer and the Global Drug Survey (GDS).