Author: France 24

Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome WHO Spokesperson Tarik Jašarević. His central concern is that we do not yet know where all the places the Ebola virus is circulating: infected people remain outside treatment centres, transmission chains go undetected, and patients who seek care too late face much poorer chances of survival. Conflict, population mobility and other humanitarian pressures make surveillance more difficult, but community engagement is equally crucial. Without trust and cooperation, testing, contact tracing, safe burials and early treatment cannot work effectively. 

Five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo on Tuesday became the first Black African to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Born in Benin, Kidjo has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and 18 albums. Her star is the 2,853th on the famous Los Angeles sidewalk.

Annette Young is pleased to welcome Joost Hiltermann, Special Adviser for MENA and training for the International Crisis Group. He sees the Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis not as an approaching emergency, but as an ongoing process of institutional and economic erosion. The PA has already lost much of its capacity to provide essential services, pay public-sector salaries in full, maintain infrastructure, and sustain education and health care. All the while, settlement expansion, settler violence and Israeli restrictions are occurring alongside financial measures that are threatening Palestinian institutions and economic life.

Olympique Lyonnais and Fenerbahce drew 1–1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off. The second leg will take place on Wednesday 26 August in Lyon.

Parkour may conjure images of rowdy teenagers swinging from building to building in urban landscapes, but since 2017, coach Tan Shie Boon has been using these techniques to improve Singaporean seniors’ strength and agility. Tan’s Movement Singapore classes have gone viral online, showing people in their 60s and 70s climbing structures, vaulting over railings, rolling down slanted surfaces and jumping off platforms. 

Five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo became the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, marking a milestone for African music. The Beninese-French singer was honored at a ceremony in Los Angeles attended by film stars and leading figures from the music industry.

Christian leaders and religious figures in the West Bank say difficult living conditions are pushing an increasing number of Christian families to leave their homes. The reality is threatening the historic presence of Christians in Palestinian territories. France 24’s correspondent Majed Saeed reports.

FIFA’s Director of Operations Kevin Lamour has been dismissed from his post. He had strongly criticised Gianni Infantino and his plan to set up a commercial company.

The Trump administration is stepping up diplomatic efforts to secure a peace plan for Gaza. US envoy Jared Kushner is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bid to persuade him to back the proposal. With Netanyahu facing major political and personal stakes ahead of a possible re-election, FRANCE 24’s Philip Turle examines whether the meeting could bring a breakthrough in Gaza and analyses what is at stake for all sides.

RC Lens won the Champions’ Trophy against Paris Saint-Germain (1-0). With Zinédine Zidane watching on, the Lens side held out for an hour despite being a man down.