Author: France 24

Elon Musk’s SpaceX filed for a stock market debut on Wednesday that could become the largest IPO in history, seeking to raise up to $75 billion at a valuation of as much as $1.75 trillion, according to US media reports. Musk would remain CEO, CTO and chairman after the listing.

From wartime France to the AIDS crisis and noir-soaked Los Angeles, Cannes is diving deep into stories of political upheaval and personal survival. Rami Malek stars in ‘The Man I Love’, Ira Sachs’ intimate portrait of art, desire and loss in 1980s New York. Antonin Baudry’s epic ‘De Gaulle’ revisits France’s wartime collapse, while Andy García’s long-awaited noir ‘Diamond’ earned a standing ovation on the Croisette.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on Wednesday of some 430 activists detained from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, many of them bound and kneeling, accompanied by the message: “Welcome to Israel.” European governments and Israeli politicians were quick to denounce the video.

Amanda Thomson, a former BBC correspondent turned award-winning entrepreneur with a Champagne taste for innovation, founded Noughty, a premium alcohol-free wine brand, in 2019. She set out to redefine one of France’s most cherished institutions with a deceptively radical premise: offering wine lovers across the globe a taste of the good life while always remaining in good spirits. In doing so, she brings a distinctly modern twist to one of the world’s most treasured traditions. Thomson sees herself as an architect of a seismic shift within the wine industry.

Thanks to Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, Arsenal have won their 14th league title.

G7 finance ministers and central bankers wrapped up their two-day meetings in Paris as the war in Iran and the energy crisis continue to weigh on the global economy.  Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who represented the 21-member euro area in the talks, told FRANCE 24’s François Picard and Yuka Royer that despite some differences, there was a shared understanding that a multilateral approach was key to face the ongoing challenges. 

Spanish author Pedro Almodóvar returns to Competition at the Cannes Film Festival with “Bitter Christmas”, a self-reflective drama about filmmaking and mental collapse. Meanwhile, Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev premieres the gripping “Minotaur” dealing with tensions in Russia, while Andy García unveils “Diamond” – his long-awaited noir passion project starring Vicky Krieps and Brendan Fraser.

A car bomb that exploded outside a defence ministry building in Damascus Tuesday killed one Syrian soldier and wounded at least 18 people, authorities said. No group has yet claimed to be responsible for the attack.

The United States said Monday it is bolstering precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola, including screening air travellers from outbreak-hit areas and temporarily suspending visa services, as the World Health Organization declares the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo an international health emergency.

Arsenal beat Burnley 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz. The Gunners are now just one win away from the Premier League title.