Perspective

"It's not if there will be another pandemic, but when it will happen." Dr Christian Happi and his team have just won a $100 million grant that enables them to expand their vital work to try to identify threats to provide the world with an early warning system for future pandemics. His project comes as many of his colleagues are facing huge funding cuts, with money being withdrawn from global health funding. The renowned professor of molecular biology and genomics spoke to us in Perspective.

A world-renowned fashion designer-turned-podcast host has spoken to FRANCE 24 about its success, and about those she has spoken to. Bella Freud is the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. Her podcast "Fashion Neurosis" invites major stars such as Debbie Harry, Helena Bonham Carter, John Malkovich, Courtney Love and Cate Blanchett to lie on the couch next to her and explore the connections between fashion and identity. She spoke to us on Perspective.

A leading photographer has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how his exhibition is a good excuse to talk about how the jungles of the Congo and the whole ecosystem of Central Africa are about to become potentially the most important site in the fight against climate change. The water there sustains the lives of millions of people across nine different countries. Photographer Hugh Kinsella Cunningham has spent years taking the images for his newest collection, and they've just gone on display at the Galerie Angalia in Paris.

A researcher on animal behaviour has told FRANCE 24 how he and his colleagues have been mind blown by the story of the cow that uses a broom to scratch its back. Veronika the cow has been shown to pick up and use a broom. She even chooses the soft end or the handle, depending on whether she wants to scratch her thicker or more sensitive skin areas. The researchers say her story significantly changes the way we should be thinking about cattle, and potentially about other animals as well. Antonio Osuna Mascaro, from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, spoke to us in Perspective.

One of the few French women to climb Mount Everest has spoken to FRANCE 24 about her long-term dream to climb the world's highest mountain. Orianne Aymard made the climb despite several nasty accidents in earlier climbs, and she had a brain haemorrhage at the age of 25 that temporarily put the brakes on her life mission. Her exploits are celebrated in a new film and in two books that she herself has written, "L'appel de l'Everest" and "Au coeur de l'Everest". She spoke to us in Perspective.

A world-renowned journalist has spoken to FRANCE 24 about her new book that documents the life of a women she says is the most extraordinary one she has ever met. Lara Marlowe is a US-born journalist who has worked as both US and Paris correspondent for The Irish Times. Her book chronicles the life of Yulia Mykytenko, who is currently the commander of a unit of 25 men who are drone pilots on the front line in Ukraine. "How Good It Is I Have No Fear of Dying" also tells of Mykytenko's background, including the loss of her father and husband. Marlowe spoke to us in Perspective.

A Ukrainian woman has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how she's written a book about her family history to try to help her people's efforts in the war against Russia. Olia Hercules is a Ukrainian-born, London-based chef, cookbook writer and activist. In her latest book "Strong Roots: A Memoir of Food, Family and Ukraine", she combines her journalism background and passion for food to recount the story of her family through four generations, from life under Soviet rule to the war-torn present day. She spoke to us in Perspective.

A year on from the US announcing it was stopping all international aid, one leading charity has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how it is impossible to fill the gap and no one ever will. Just over a month after the announcement, 83 percent of USAID had been terminated, representing around 40 percent of all international aid. We spoke to Kevin Goldberg, who is executive director of the NGO Solidarités International. He told us that they are used to dealing with emergencies, but this was on a scale they had never seen before.

US President Donald Trump's actions during his first year back in office have been "faster and more shocking than we even expected". That's the view of US domestic and foreign policy specialist Laurie Dundon. She told us that Trump's mind is set on the historical legacy he will leave and that he aims to upend how the US functions internally and how it is seen in the world. She spoke to us in Perspective.

The leader of a group that aims to unite Iranian students amid the violence in the country has spoken to FRANCE 24 about her belief that the Islamic regime cannot hold its power just through terror. Aïda Tavakoli is founder of the group We Are Iranian Students. She spoke to us after Iran's supreme leader for the first time publicly admitted that thousands of his own people have been killed in the huge demonstrations there. She spoke to us in Perspective.