Perspective

The author of a new book that warns of the breakdown of the nation-state – the system that provides essential pillars such as citizenship, the law, the economy and healthcare – is warning that the current system risks collapsing. On the day that US President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union speech in Washington, Rana Dasgupta says that states are struggling to uphold the constitution and the rule of law. He says that the post-1945 period has been exceptional and we are now entering a stage where the interests of states are diverging from the interests of their citizens. He spoke to us in Perspective.

As the world marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia's ambassador to France has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his country's determination to continue to support Ukraine and its allies in Europe. Estonia shares a nearly 300-kilometre border with Russia and is today celebrating its National Day. Viljar Lubi told us in Perspective that while Russia is lingering in the past, Europe wants to move on.

As the world marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Swedish ambassador to France has spoken of her country's commitment to the Ukrainian cause. It is now almost two years since Sweden joined NATO after years of being a nonaligned country. Caroline Vicini says it was a big but necessary step for Sweden. She spoke to us in Perspective.

The woman who first theorised the idea of the male gaze has spoken to FRANCE 24 about her delight that her theories still resonate so much today. British feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey first wrote her essay back in 1975. But she says the phrase captured the popular imagination and has found its place in other areas of the arts. She spoke to us in Perspective about the positive and negative changes her theories have brought about.

A Grammy-winning songwriter, singer, guitarist and producer, who is performing in Paris this weekend, has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how he's always trying to make his records better. New York-born Jesse Harris has been working with top stars such as Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson and Cat Power. His new album is called "If You Believed in Me" and has enabled him to work for the first time with a full orchestra. His performances are taking place this weekend at the Duc des Lombards venue. He spoke to us in Perspective.

On the day that her memoir is published, Gisèle Pelicot has again spoken of her desire to meet and talk with her ex-husband, who repeatedly drugged her and invited strangers over to their house to rape her. Pelicot's book "A Hymn to Life" covers the full arc of her story, including the trial she went through. In Perspective, we spoke to one of the journalists who has covered her story throughout: Catherine Porter, who is Paris correspondent for The New York Times. She says she knew before she first went to court that the story would resonate across France, but that Pelicot's decision to waive her anonymity really opened the door to her trial having an impact worldwide.

Russia is accused of "aggressively recruiting" people from across the African continent to fight on the front lines in Ukraine. The investigation unit INPACT/All Eyes on Wagner says it has evidence of nearly 1,500 soldiers from 35 countries who have been recruited by Russia, over 300 of whom who have been killed in battle. The organisation says the real numbers are probably far higher as Russia has set up a fraud travel agency to con people into travelling there with the promise of high salaries, only to find themselves serving in the Russian army. We spoke to Lou Osborn in Perspective.

On a day when NATO has promised new help for Ukraine, while thousands more people in the country have been left without power after Russian attacks, a Ukrainian analyst has offered his hopes to FRANCE 24. Peter Zalmayev, director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, says he is not very hopeful that the US tone has changed decisively since last year, when US Vice President JD Vance laid into European leaders. Zalmayev, however, did welcome the new additional support for Ukraine announced by NATO members. We spoke to him in Perspective.

The director of a film that celebrates the resistance of the Hazara people in Afghanistan has spoken about his work ahead of its screening at a festival in Paris on Thursday. "Kamay" follows a Hazara family as they embark on a journey for truth and justice after their daughter Zahra mysteriously dies at Kabul University. Director Ilyas Yourish says their plight is a symbol of the Hazara people's resistance against whoever is in control in Kabul. The film is being shown this Thursday at Sciences Po University. Yourish spoke to us in Perspective. 

Charities and NGOs are urging the world to do more to prevent a looming catastrophe in Sudan. With the country in an almost three-year-long civil war, the Norwegian Refugee Council is amongst those saying the people of South Kordofan region are now at the centre of the fighting. Humanitarian groups say they can safely get aid in, if only they had the funds for that aid. In Perspective, we spoke to Mathilde Vu, Sudan Advocacy Manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

A podcast host who has been exploring what it takes to be a good boss has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his findings. Andrew Palmer, management columnist for The Economist and host of the podcast Boss Class, says problems often arise when people are promoted into management – not because they are suited to it, but because they excelled in their previous role. The challenge is that the skills required to succeed in management can be very different from those needed in other positions. He spoke to us in Perspective.

A renowned Irish artist who currently has two exhibitions showing in Paris has spoken to FRANCE 24 about her work. Ailbhe Ní Bhriain is known for her big, bold dramatic works of art as she uses all sorts of materials including silk, wool, cotton and lurex. She aims to create what she calls an emblem of industry, empire and permanence. Her work is on display at the Irish Cultural Centre and the Andréhn Schiptjenko gallery here in Paris. She spoke to us in Perspective.

Understanding the experience of young people as they cross borders is the aim of a new project. The GRABS project, funded by the European Research Council, is documenting the lives of migrants, but instead of just talking in an interview with the youngsters, it's trying to understand their situation and hopes for the future. To do so, the team is using methods like photography exhibitions and podcasts. In Perspective, we spoke to Dr Glenda Santana de Andrade, from the GRABS team and Paris 8 University, and to one of the photographers taking part, Israel Wabikamba, as one of their exhibitions is on display in Durban, South Africa.

"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.

Having worked as a singer-songwriter and visual artist in Myanmar, Kyar Pauk used his voice to speak out against the military junta that led a coup in 2021. Speaking to FRANCE 24, he describes how, when he learned that military authorities wanted his arrest, he was able to escape through the jungle in Thailand. "We went through the forest with a small bike for eight hours," he remembers. 

More than a year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, many people living there are starting to rebuild their lives. However, sectarian violence has flared across Syria and according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, about 7 million people remain internally displaced. The violence has aggravated the humanitarian situation, as Dr Mohamed Alaa Ahmado, Programs Director at the NGO Mehad, tells FRANCE 24. Among the many challenges, he says, is the need for "strengthening primary healthcare services", "food and non-food items" and "psychological support".

Fifty years after her death, the legacy of Agatha Christie and her classic murder mystery stories is as strong as ever. Speaking to FRANCE 24, James Prichard, chairman and CEO of Agatha Christie Limited and the author's great-grandson, says the books' timelessness comes down to the fact that they are "essentially about people" and for better or worse, "we as people have not changed".

Sixteen years since the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed more than 200,000 people and flattened countless homes and infrastructure, disaster has given way to other crises. Today, gang violence continues to plague the Caribbean nation, displacing at least 1.4 million people in 2025 according to the UN. Civilians also have trouble accessing healthcare, as Claire Ha Duong, deputy programme manager at Doctors Without Borders tells FRANCE 24.

The Trump administration is signalling no retreat in its goal of acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, after the White House said the president wasn't ruling out the use of military force. Speaking to FRANCE 24, Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, an expert on hydrogen geopolitics and Greenland, says the US president's rhetoric is "decredibilising" the NATO alliance. What's more, he adds, "out of all the NATO allies, Denmark is the best of all."

In October 2024, when he was just 18 years old, Nima Rinji Sherpa became the youngest person to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks. It's valuable experience that now means he feels "confident" when "going to the mountains", even if there are risks "every time". Speaking to FRANCE 24, Nima Rinji Sherpa says he has witnessed death multiple times while climbing, adding that mountaineers need to stay calm and make "good decisions".

One of the humanitarian aid organisations affected by an Israeli ban from operating in Gaza and the West Bank says it is trying to negotiate with Israeli authorities to revoke the measure. Israel says the licences of the NGOs were removed after they refused to share full details of their staff. But Elsa Softic, deputy chief operations officer at Première Urgence Internationale, says her organisation has "serious concerns" about the new rules.

The CEO of a huge organisation that has helped millions of girls across a series of African countries has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how the group she now runs helped her when she was a girl. Angeline Murimirwa was able to continue her education thanks to CAMFED, the Campaign for Female Education. It has now been running now for over 30 years, reaching over 8 million children throughout Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. We spoke to her in Perspective.

The award-winning director of a new film that delves into the seedy world of sexual predators and paedophilia has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the ethics of making it. David Osit is a three-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary film director. His latest project is the film "Predators", which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film lifts the lid on "To Catch a Predator", an American television segment of 20 years ago that set traps for sexual predators. We spoke to him in Perspective.

As the doors of the world's most visited museum, the Louvre, remain closed amid a strike, one its greatest supporters has spoken to FRANCE 24 about its energy and its vital importance to cultural heritage. Staff there are taking action after a series of problems, most notably the heist of French crown jewels in October. Elaine Sciolino is former Paris bureau chief for The New York Times and author of the book "Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World's Greatest Museum". She told us you can still fall in love with the Louvre, even though it is a difficult lover. She spoke to us in Perspective.

"Killing the journalist won't kill the story." That's the message from the organisation Forbidden Stories. The group's mission is to take over investigations from journalists who can no longer carry on, either because of extreme intimidation or because they have actually been killed over their stories. Much of the group's work these days is linked to environmental issues. In Perspective, we spoke to Laurent Richard, journalist and founder of Forbidden Stories.

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.

One of the world's leading peace campaigners has told FRANCE 24 that the cycle of impunity for Russian troops must be broken to bring justice in Ukraine and prevent the "next Russian attack" on another nation. Oleksandra Matviichuk is head of the Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties, one of the laureates of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. She works tirelessly to document war crimes in Ukraine, campaign for the release of illegally detained people in Russia and occupied Ukraine, and push for democratic reforms inside Ukraine. She spoke to us in Perspective.

Cédric Villani is one of France's top mathematicians, working across several fields of the discipline. He's won a number of titles and awards for his work. A professor at Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University and member of France's Académie des sciences, Villani is also the author of the new book "Leçons de mathématique joyeuse" – literally "Lessons in joyful mathematics". He spoke to us in Perspective.

A leading French journalist who covered the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria a year ago has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the immense challenges the country faces. Arthur Sarradin is a regular contributor to Libération newspaper and Radio France, amongst others. He says the first thing he noticed when he arrived after the fall of Assad was the silence. He also says that after the fall of a dictatorship, there remains the heritage of that dictatorship, which will take years to get over. He spoke to us in Perspective.

A renowned author has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how she's fascinated by the way people exist in our minds, and the ideas we have about those people. Claire-Louise Bennett's new book "Big Kiss, Bye-Bye" follows the narrator as she moves from the city to the countryside. The move leads her to confront her different memories and think about the people who have come in and out of her life. The author spoke to us in Perspective.

One of the world's most renowned experts on Venezuela has told FRANCE 24 that the calculation for Nicolas Maduro is whether he can survive the current crisis, as US President Donald Trump continues to ramp up pressure on the Venezuelan leader to go – even offering him safe passage out of the country. Christopher Sabatini is Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House. He said there will come a point when Trump has to move on from verbal threats if Maduro doesn't step down. He spoke to us in Perspective.

A Ukrainian philosopher has spoken to FRANCE 24 about daily life in Ukraine, and how outside support helps to lift the mood of people living under Russian bombs and drones. He spoke as France is holding the event "Le voyage en Ukraine" – or journey to Ukraine, which aims to enable the French cultural world to support Ukraine's artistic community. Four months of events are kicking off with support from artists in France for their Ukrainian counterparts and all the people of Ukraine. Volodymyr Yermolenko, philosopher and chief editor of UkraineWorld, and president of the cultural and human rights organisation PEN Ukraine, spoke to us in Perspective.

An uncounted number of extra people have died, and 2.5 million have lost access to medicine to block the spread of HIV and AIDS. That's because of huge cuts to global aid programmes since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. UNAIDS warns that unless the situation improves, the funding cuts will mean an extra 3.3 million people will be infected by HIV over the next five years. On World AIDS Day, we spoke in Perspective to Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director of the Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge Branch of UNAIDS.

A world-renowned American chef and blogger who now lives in Paris has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his love for the genre, and the difference between desserts in the English-speaking world and here in France. David Lebovitz has just revised his ninth book "Ready for Dessert", which includes both US and French-style desserts and puddings. He says that the pastry world is nowadays very global, but he still likes to share recipes that people can make at home. He spoke to us in Perspective.

An Irish author who struggled for years with alcohol and drug use has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his book that tells his story of addiction and recovery. Tim MacGabhann says he was born missing a layer of skin that other people seem to have, meaning that everything just hit too hard. He says that around age 17 he broke into the drinks cabinet and felt completely safe. His memoir is entitled "The Black Pool: A Memoir of Forgetting". He spoke to us in Perspective.

The fifth president of Georgia has spoken to FRANCE 24 about her decision to leave the presidential palace almost a year ago, and her attempts ever since to help the millions of people who support her and the country's bid for EU membership. After losing elections in Georgia that were widely seen as fraudulent and amid huge demonstrations in the country, Salomé Zourabichvili stayed in place to fight the pro-European cause. She spoke to us about the war in Ukraine, as well as her optimism that her country will once again turn away from Russia and towards Europe.

A Cambodian environmentalist activist who's been sentenced to eight years in jail in absentia back home has told FRANCE 24 that she hopes to return to the country one day to continue her environmental fight. Ratha Sun was charged and found guilty – along with five others – of conspiracy and insulting the king. She managed to escape before the sentencing and fled Cambodia. She spoke to us in Perspective. 

A leading climate researcher has told FRANCE 24 that the conclusion of the COP30 summit at the weekend was scientifically nothing less than a failure. Johan Rockström is director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The German institute is seen as one of the world's top environmental think tanks. Although more funding for countries to adapt to extreme weather events was agreed, there were no explicit details to phase out fossil fuels or strengthen countries' inadequate emissions-cutting plans, which dozens of nations had demanded. Rockström spoke to us in Perspective.

Currently touring Europe, jazz musician and trumpet player Takuya Kuroda sits down with FRANCE 24 to speak about his beginnings in the industry and his recording process. Originally from Kobe in Japan, Kuroda says the country's jazz scene, particularly vibrant in Tokyo, encouraged him to go to New York. The Big Apple, he says, is still an influential "melting pot" of cultures and styles. When it comes to "contemporary crossovers" in his own music, Kuroda credits jazz vocalist José James, whom he met during his studies, with showing him how to blend jazz with other genres like funk and hip-hop.

A new bill submitted to the French Senate is hoping to make incest a standalone criminal offence – a move that has been long awaited by children's rights groups. Speaking to FRANCE 24, Iris Ané from the Face à l'inceste organisation highlighted the fact that for centuries, the term of "incest" was "completely absent from French law". The legislation would also make statutes of limitations non applicable for sexual crimes committed against minors, a change backed by 90 percent of French citizens according to a recent Ipsos poll. Ané says allowing victims to come forward well after the time of the abuse is important, as "50 percent of victims of incest suffer from dissociative amnesia". 

An Irish photographer has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his new exhibition here in Paris that raises questions about gender roles, identity and the relationships between those in the photographs and the photographer himself. Daragh Soden delves into the world of drag queens in photographs in which he often appears himself either as an admirer, a collaborator, a narcissist or a voyeur. He told us he was drawn to the world of drag queens both aesthetically and also conceptually. His exhibition is on display at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris until Christmas. He spoke to us in Perspective.

It has been 36 years since the Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia – the peaceful uprising that ushered in a nonviolent transition of power and brought down communism. Nearly four decades on, the Czech Republic is undergoing political change again: last month, the party of “Trumpist” former premier Andrej Babis topped the parliamentary election and is returning to power. In this edition of Perspective we spoke to David Ondracka, author of “The Case of the Czech Republic: How billions disappear and why our state doesn't work" and the former head of Transparency International in the country.