Author: France 24

The US’ motives are unclear after it seizes a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. France’s last major home appliance maker goes bust. Disney strikes a deal with OpenAI. And, Lidl gets creative with its advertising, with a competition to win its “Eau de croissant”.

He’s currently on screens as “Jay Kelly”, an ageing movie star on an existential quest in Europe. And it’s not too far from George Clooney’s own reality, as the actor tells journalists how he’s enjoying his new life in the south of France. We also look back at the impressive legacy left by “starchitect” Frank Gehry, after the death of the visionary architect behind landmarks like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. The world of photography has also lost a major talent in Martin Parr; we take a look back at his distinctive style…

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza have faced severe flooding in recent days, with heavy rain, strong winds and flash floods expected to continue. Meanwhile, Israel is still heavily restricting humanitarian aid, including shelter supplies, in violation of the US-brokered ceasefire agreed more than two months ago.

Numerous posts on social media claim that South Korean researchers developed a patch that can regrow teeth. This is false. Although scientists are indeed looking at the issue of tooth regeneration, no credible scientific article has reported such a discovery.

Erling Haaland’s relentless scoring, Arsenal’s flawless Champions League march and Unai Simon’s heroics headlined a dramatic night of European football on Wednesday. Manchester City edged a faltering Real Madrid to deepen the pressure on Xabi Alonso, Arsenal cruised to a sixth straight victory with a pair of wonder goals in Brugge, and Athletic Bilbao held holders PSG thanks to a stunning goalkeeping display.

The US Federal Reserve has lowered its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point, to a range of 3.5% – 3.75%, but signalled there will be fewer cuts going forward amid a cooling labour market and persistently high inflation. The vote was not unanimous, with two calling for keeping rates unchanged, and Trump ally Stephen Miran wanting a larger cut.  Also in the segment, the United Arab Emirates is turning towards AI as part of a strategy at ensuring its future in a post-fossil-fuels world. 

Critic Manon Kerjean takes us through the week’s French film releases, starting with an assured début from Alice Vial. “You Found Me” deals with medical emergencies, mortality and a medium who helps souls leave our earthly realm, managing to balance its heavy subject matter with a gentle tone. We also discuss “Love Me Tender”, Anna Cazenave Cambet’s adaptation of a novel by author Constance Debré, in which a mother is left fighting for the right to raise her child. Motherhood is also a theme in Jérôme Bonnell’s film “The Condition”, which explores the power dynamics in a bourgeois home in…

A doctor who spent over 700 days working in hospitals in Gaza during Israel’s war there has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the horrors he witnessed, and his hopes for a real ceasefire in the future. Dr Mohammed Abu Mughaiseeb is deputy medical coordinator for MSF’s operations and left Gaza back in September. He told us how medical staff had to do operations on the floor without anaesthetic, while at the same time trying to survive in a war zone. He spoke to us in Perspective.

Liverpool clinched a 1-0 win at Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday despite the absence of unsettled forward Mohamed Salah. Chelsea fell to Atalanta, while Barcelona defeated Eintracht Frankfurt in a mixed night for Europe’s heavyweights.

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, December 9: The bidding war has begun after Paramount launched a $108 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, days after shareholders accepted a Netflix deal. Who will prevail? Also: we learn about the growing Japanese community in India. Plus: YouTube launches the first ever AI reality TV series: a “Hunger Games”-style fight to the death.