Perspective

Aline Deschamps is a photojournalist who has documented life in Lebanon as the country was once again drawn into conflict with Israel. Having lived in Beirut for five years, Deschamps did not initially set out to be a war photographer. Her work focuses on how ordinary people—students, entrepreneurs, and teachers—come together during times of crisis to support one another. In this interview with FRANCE 24, she shares stories of those she met during her assignments in Beirut, including a Palestinian man who moved from Gaza to the city a decade ago, only to find himself caught in the current bombardment.

Amnesty International is accusing Denmark of using artificial intelligence in a way that targets people with disabilities, low-income families, migrants and anyone who is marginalised in society. The NGO is voicing deep concern about a new welfare system in the country that uses AI. The algorithm tools are used to flag people for potential social benefit fraud investigations. Amnesty says the situation is already creating an atmosphere of fear through mass surveillance, as it warns against the use of AI in similar situations around the world. In Perspective, we spoke to David Nolan, a senior investigative researcher at Amnesty Tech.

Two jets of billionaire Elon Musk – who is set to join the incoming Trump administration – jointly discharged as much CO2 in just 25 days as 834 years' worth of emissions generated by the average person. That's just one of the shocking statistics in a report by the charity Oxfam ahead of the COP29 climate change summit, which is now underway in Azerbaijan. The report says the carbon emissions of the world's richest 1 percent increase hunger, poverty and deaths. In Perspective we spoke to Josie Lee, policy and advocacy lead for Oxfam Australia, who is at the summit trying to persuade governments to take action.

It is known by experts as an invisible threat - but one which is unravelling marine life, food chains and entire economies. That is the conclusion of new research on the critical threat of ocean acidification. Scientists discussed the problem at the COP16 biodiversity conference in Colombia last month; and it is among issues at the COP29 climate change conference, which is underway in Azerbaijan. In Perspective, we spoke to post doctoral researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Dr Sabine Mathesius. 

Women and girls in Sudan are being targeted specifically for rape because of their identity, according to Human Rights Watch. This as the 18-month-long civil war in the country has killed over 20,000 people and forced many others to flee their homes. The accusation is levelled against members of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, which has been recently beaten back by the Sudanese military in some areas of the country. The group though continues to hit back, still controlling large areas of the capital Khartoum, and at least 120 people were killed in one town alone last month in east-central Sudan. In Perspective, we spoke to the director at Human Rights Watch for the Horn of Africa, Laetitia Badder.

As the dust begins to settle on the US presidential election, thoughts are now turning to why Donald Trump won, and what went wrong for Kamala Harris. Attention is also turning to what comes next. Will President Joe Biden try to Trump-proof more of his policies before he leaves office, and what happens to the legal cases surrounding Trump? In Perspective, we spoke to US domestic and foreign policy specialist Laurie Dundon.

With polls showing the US presidential election on a knife edge, our guest says Americans will decide how to cast their ballots based on domestic issues. US domestic and foreign policy specialist Laurie Dundon says the economy and abortion rights remain the key subjects on voters' minds, rather than foreign policy. She joined us in Perspective.

If you think of the major axes of the world, the big borderlines, you might think of migratory routes like through Africa into Europe, or through the Americas. You might also think of trade routes, like the Silk Road, or you might even think of the route into space. Those axes of humanity and how they shape our geopolitics are all covered in a new book by one of FRANCE 24’s regular guests. General Dominique Trinquand commanded a battalion in Lebanon in the early 90’s and in the former Yugoslavia, and has held a number of other senior positions with NATO, the EU and the UN, including former head of the French military mission to the UN.  He spoke to us in Perspective about his book “D’un monde à l’autre” – or “From one World to Another”.

A multiple International Chocolate Award Gold medal winner has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his love for the tasty treat. As several hundred chocolate makers gather in Paris for the Salon de Chocolat, Mikkel Friis-Holm told us of his mission statement "Best in the world – best for the world". The Danish chef has much of his cacao supplied by farmers in Nicaragua, and aims to ensure he has the best quality beans at the right prices to ensure the farmers are also paid a fair wage. He spoke to us in Perspective.

The UN agency for children, UNICEF, is warning that children are bearing much of the pain and suffering in Ukraine. As the war sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion grinds on towards the three-year mark, the loss of essential infrastructure, the lack of power and the lack of a proper health service and schools are all having a devastating impact. We spoke to France's former secretary of state for childhood and family affairs, Adrien Taquet, who is just back from visiting the south and east of Ukraine with UNICEF France, of which he is now a board member. He joined us in Perspective.