Author: France 24

Annette Young is pleased to welcome Dr. Aaron Y. Zelin, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He sees Israel’s recent actions in the West Bank and Syria as part of a broader shift in its strategic posture. Since October 7, the Israeli government has become markedly less concerned with international opinion, prioritizing what it defines as its security interests even at the cost of growing diplomatic isolation. Domestic politics matter here. With elections approaching, some recent military activity can also be understood through an electoral lens. But he would distinguish that from Israel’s increasingly confrontational posture…

Mason Greenwood struck a second-half equaliser as Fenerbahce fought back to draw 1-1 at home to Lyon in their Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday. Lois Openda put Lyon ahead before Greenwood levelled. Viking Stavanger rallied from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Dinamo Zagreb.

The investigation into the killing of Hind Rajab and paramedics in Gaza launched by the Israeli army came as a “surprise” in the country, “because so much time has passed” since the events took place, FRANCE 24 correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky said. “The timing is extremely late.” But Tarnopolsky said “the fact that these two very renown cases are being referred to criminal investigation is already an admission on the part of the Israeli army that something here went deeply wrong.”

Paul Pogba and AS Monaco have officially parted ways after just one season. The 2018 World Cup winner joined in June 2025 after nearly two years out of the game, but injuries limited him to just six appearances and 115 minutes last season.

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.