Author: France 24

Anthropic, the firm behind AI assistant Claude, submitted a confidential filing to go public with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The firm, valued at close to a trillion dollars, could make its market debut by the end of the year as it sees a surge in interest for its range of AI products. Also in this edition: as France welcomes new data centre investments, we see what’s driving that interest and what impact it could have on local communities. 

Premiering in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival, “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning” is Clio Barnard’s adaptation of Keiran Goddard’s acclaimed novel about five childhood friends from working-class Birmingham whose lives have drifted far from the futures they once imagined. “Peaky Blinders” actor Joe Cole stars as Rian – the one who escaped, made money and seemingly “made it”, only to discover that success cannot free him from the place he came from.

Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Peter Zalmayev, director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative. He offers a forceful assessment of the evolving dynamics of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Rejecting narratives of Russian momentum, he argues that Moscow’s intensified bombardment of Kyiv reflects mounting pressure on President Vladimir Putin, whose military campaign has become increasingly “bogged down” and politically costly. While acknowledging the devastating impact on Ukrainian civilians, he contends that Russia’s battlefield difficulties, growing casualties, and declining territorial gains have created pressure on the Kremlin to project power through spectacular strikes on urban centers. As Moscow faces AI-enhanced drone warfare…

Israel ​kept up strikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday, killing eight people, including children, as it pressed its campaign against Hezbollah a day after President Donald Trump asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Beirut to avert a further escalation.  

Patients staying in a psychiatric hospital near Paris have been singing the praises of a novel treatment: spending time with therapy donkeys. Experts and patients say caring for the animals, which are known for their calm and social nature, helps improve emotional regulation, communication, social interaction and self-esteem.

Aryna Sabalenka strengthened her French Open title bid on Monday by defeating Naomi Osaka to reach the quarter-finals, while Matteo Berrettini continued his comeback from injury with a place in his first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2022. The world number one is now the only major champion left in the singles draws at Roland Garros.

French President Emmanuel Macron gave the country’s plans to move away from fossil fuels another boost on Tuesday, announcing big private investments, including a €1 billion EV project from Stellantis. Some 200 companies signed onto a national pact to join the government’s efforts to double the share of electricity in the country’s energy mix to 60 percent by 2030. Plus, BP has fired its chairman Albert Manifold over “serious concerns” about governance standards and conduct. 

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with sibling duo The Lemon Twigs. The Long Island natives could easily be mistaken for a British Invasion band, thanks to their unmistakable harmonies and retro blend of pop, folk and psychedelic rock. 

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Dr Filippo Dionigi, Senior Lecturer of International Relations specialized in Middle Eastern politics at the University of Bristol. As Israeli forces push deeper into southern Lebanon than at any point since the end of their occupation in 2000, the seizure of Beaufort Castle has powerful symbolic resonance within the history of the conflict. And while the military campaign is directed at Hezbollah, Israel seeks to exert pressure through widespread civilian suffering and forced displacement of more than a million Lebanese “as a weapon” of war.

A patient in the DRC has been confirmed to have recovered – a first since the outbreak was detected in mid-May. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the country on Friday, where authorities are still struggling to contain the spread of the disease. Story by Jennie Shin.