Author: France 24

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. 

Gilles Lellouche’s take on the euphoria of teen romance was savaged by the press at the Cannes Film Festival, but critic Emma Jones tells us why “Beating Hearts” won her over by capturing the intensity of first love. We also discuss the dark undercurrents in Romanian drama “Three Kilometres to the End of the World” and check out the talent on the red carpet at the Lumière Festival in Lyon. Plus, Disney’s most famous fawn gets the live action treatment in French director Michel Fessler’s “Bambi: The Story of a Life in the Woods”.

Sixteen EU defence ministers meeting in Italy on Wednesday called for “maximum political and diplomatic pressure on Israel” to prevent further “incidents” involving UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Earlier, the UN special coordinator for Lebanon urged the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure after Israeli strikes hit municipality buildings in the southern city of Nabatieh on Wednesday, killing the mayor and at least five others. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments in the Middle East crisis.

This year alone more than 360 thousand people will be diagnosed with breast cancer … while many will die of it without being diagnosed at all. And yet if it is detected early, the 5-year relative survival rate of breast cancer stands at an incredible 99 percent. This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we talk to oncologist Dr. Ines Vaz Luis to discuss the progress in fighting the disease and what more can be done.

Allegations of rape against French footballer Kylian Mbappé are “totally false” and “a slanderous rumour”, his representatives said on Tuesday after a Swedish prosecutor said a rape investigation had been opened without mentioning the France star’s name.