Author: France 24

Since the October ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, organisations in Gaza have been working actively to preserve heritage sites that were damaged or destroyed by Israel’s war on the enclave. The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to the coordinator of the Intiqal programme, which was launched by the NGO Première Urgence Internationale to protect Gaza’s cultural heritage.

It is one of the most consequential legal proceedings in modern corporate history — a trial that could redefine what accountability means in the global economy. The Lafarge case, now before French courts, marks the first time a company as a legal entity is being prosecuted in France for financing a terrorist enterprise. Even more striking, it is the first case where a corporation faces this charge for payments made through a foreign subsidiary. At its heart lies a question that has haunted global business for decades: can a multinational corporation claim ignorance of crimes committed in its own supply…

Bayern Munich extended their perfect start to the season with a 2–1 victory over title-holders Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, in a Champions League clash overshadowed by an injury to Achraf Hakimi and a red card for Luis Díaz, who had earlier scored both goals.

US coffee chain Starbucks has announced it is forming a joint venture with asset management firm Boyu Capital in China, where the latter will hold a 60 percent stake in the company’s local business. China is Starbucks’ second-largest market globally and it has recently been struggling with increased competition from local rivals like Luckin Coffee. Also in this edition, we look at OpenAI’s blockbuster $38 billion deal with Amazon’s cloud services unit.

Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu is turning heads and bending reality. Her vibrant portraits blend women seamlessly into richly patterned fabrics, creating hypnotic optical illusions that celebrate African identity while questioning how we see beauty, culture and self-expression. Now, Muriu returns to Paris for her third solo exhibition, “Clouds Bring Blessings”, at 193 Gallery. For the first time, she’s created her own tie-dye fabrics, calling nature her “uninvited co-creator”. In this edition of arts24, Muriu opens up about her journey from Kenya’s first female commercial photographer to a global art sensation – and how fabric, light and heritage weave together in…

Israeli police arrested former military prosecutor Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the national security minister said Monday, following a scandal that erupted after she leaked a video appearing to show soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee. Tomer-Yerushalmi disappeared for several hours on Sunday after she announced her resignation, with speculation swirling in the press of a possible suicide attempt. FRANCE 24’s Jennie Shin reports.

A viral video purports to show the NEOM Stadium – the venue slated for construction as part of the eponymous Saudi Arabian megaproject – perched atop a skyscraper. In reality, these AI-generated images, created by an online user, do not reflect the official project. 

Chinese e-commerce giant Shein has come under renewed pressure in France, just days before it opens its first permanent physical retail space in Paris.  France’s consumer watchdog said it had discovered child-like sex dolls on the e-commerce platform, prompting the government to warn it could block its market access.  In response the Chinese-owned company suspended its ‘adult products’ category.  Also in the segment, Huawei’s massive factory being built in Alsace faces an uncertain future. 

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem. She’s one of the UK’s most exciting breakout stars of the last decade, with Grammy and Mercury nominations under her belt. Her music is a mix of bold, genre-blending pop and razor-sharp lyrics. She’s also an actress, with roles including Sally Bowles in the West End production of “Cabaret”. Self Esteem’s third album “A Complicated Woman” is her most theatrical and truthful record to date, exploring the complexities of womanhood – from burnouts to depression to sexuality. She’s currently on a European tour,…

Israeli police on Monday arrested former military advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi after she leaked a video appearing to soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee. The arrest comes after Tomer-Yerushalmi announced her resignation at the end of last week.