Author: France 24

On the heels of the new US-Israel peace plan and Gaza reconstruction, Genie Godula welcomes French diplomat and former Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli. A seasoned diplomat with decades of experience, he takes us through the wide-ranging proposals, encompassing new, positive post-war initiatives alongside numerous ambiguities. On one hand, promises that resonate with moral urgency: the end of bloodshed, the release of hostages, a firm commitment ensuring no Gazan would be forced from their homes, and a nod to the role of the United Nations and a vague pathway to self-determination. Then came the caveats that risk undermining the very…

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Infectious disease experts have hailed a move that will see a highly effective HIV prevention drug be sold at just 40 dollars a year in low and middle income countries. Deals with Indian drug manufacturers will see generic versions of the highly effective lenacapavir rolled out in 120 countries as of 2027. Experts hope the wider accessibility of the drug will mean reducing the curb of the HIV epidemic. Story by Carys Garland.

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Electronic Arts, the company behind blockbuster video games such as the Sims and Madden NFL, has agreed to transfer ownership to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund PIF, US private equity firm Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.  The $55 bn deal marks the largest leveraged buyout in history.  Meanwhile, China is launching a new visa programme to attract young foreign talent, after Washington shocked the tech world with a new $100,000 fee for its H1-B visa. 

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If you’re a fan of gospel, soul and folk with a vintage pop vibe, you’ll love the work of Natalie Bergman, who has just released her second solo album “My Home Is Not In This World” on Jack White’s Third Man Records. The record can be seen as a rebirth following her stunning but grief-stricken first album. This new offering explores past loves and aims to bring comfort and reassurance in these complicated times. She popped by FRANCE 24 to tell Marjorie Hache more about the record and the music videos that beautifully accompany it. We also meet Ireland’s rising pop star CMAT,…

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As Israeli troops bear down, the health care system in Gaza City is coming under fire and being pushed toward collapse. Nearly two weeks into Israel’s latest ground offensive on Gaza’s largest city, two clinics were destroyed by airstrikes, two hospitals shut down after being damaged and others are barely functioning, with medicine, equipment, food and fuel in short supply. Vaughan is a nurse from Seattle and volunteered through the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association since July. She kept a video diary of her time at al-Quds, occasionally posting on social media. Story by Nicholas Rushworth.

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Oil and gas giant TotalEnergies has won a contract to build “Centre Manche 2”, a 1.5 GW wind farm off the coast of Normandy.  Planned to go onstream in 2033, the €4.5 billion project will generate electricity for some 6 million households and boost France’s overall wind power generation. Plus, with the price of gold hitting record highs, more and more French shoppers are selling their gold jewellery and investing in the precious metal. 

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