Author: France 24

Ben Croll takes us through four films from the Cannes Film Festival which are being released in cinemas this week. One of France’s biggest film events of the year is Antonin Baudry’s “De Gaulle: Resistance”, the first of a two-part WWII epic centred on French general Charles de Gaulle, from the fall of France in 1940 to the liberation in 1945. Ben tells us why this film is part of a new trend of French blockbusters focused on uniquely French stories.

Four months after its creation, the Gaza reconstruction fund of US President Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace has yet to receive any of the billions of dollars pledged by donor countries. Israel has continued to carry out strikes across the devastated Palestinian territory despite a US-backed ceasefire, killing at least 910 people since the truce was signed.

Emmet Livingstone has more.

World number one Jannik Sinner made a commanding start to his French Open campaign on Tuesday, cruising past French wildcard Clément Tabur in straight sets to extend his remarkable winning streak and underline his status as the man to beat in Paris.

Retail tycoon Chung Yong-jin, chairman of the Shinsegae Group which owns Starbucks Korea, issued a second apology in two weeks on Tuesday as the public outcry over the coffee chain’s “Tank Day” marketing campaign fails to subside. The group is seeing a drop in sales over the campaign that appeared to reference a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1980. Also in this edition: Ferrari unveils its first fully electric supercar, “Luce”.

One hundred years after the late Miles Davis was born, the revolutionary trumpet player remains one of the 20th century’s most influential artists. We look back at the life and legacy of a complex, visionary figure with one of his collaborators, musician Jason Miles, who recorded the albums “Tutu”, “Music for Siesta” and “Amandla” with Davis during his later years. Jason’s latest record “100 Miles for Miles Davis” is a reflection on those recording sessions.

The US struck targets in Iran, the first since the start of the ceasefire and amid fragile talks between Tehran and Washington. The strikes come as the US is becoming anxious to come to a deal and end the war, as a growing number of Americans oppose the war ahead of the midterm elections. Iran has accused the US of violating the ceasefire and asked for the unfreezing of Iranian funds as part of the deal. FRANCE 24’s Philip Turle tells us about where the talks stand now.

The World Health Organization warned Monday that a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with at least 220 suspected deaths reported. Health workers in the conflict-hit Ituri province face attacks on medical facilities, complicating efforts to contain the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

Gaël Monfils played the final match of his career at Roland Garros. He lost in five sets to Hugo Gaston (6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0).

France’s utility giant EDF is poised to start dismantling the Fessenheim nuclear power plant on the border with Germany, a €1.4 billion project slated to take 22 years.  Built in 1971, the two reactors are the oldest in France and have been permanently shut down since 2020 after 43 years in operation following a string of safety failures.  But first, the ongoing ebola outbreak in Africa is starting to take an economic toll on local populations.