Cancer breakthroughs: Does a string of advances signal turning point?

Cancer breakthroughs: Does a string of advances signal turning point?

It’s not every day that a standing ovation at a medical conference goes viral. Dateline: Chicago, at the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Doctors from around the world rose to their feet to applaud the announcement of a new pill that doubles survival time for pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease. The conference also brought major advances in breast, bladder and head and neck cancers, among others. So why are breakthroughs coming so quickly? Is it the same wave of innovation that delivered Covid vaccines in record time? The growing use of artificial intelligence and increasingly sophisticated data science? Or a political determination to intensify the fight against diseases that affect an ever-growing share of the population? That broader question inevitably leads to prevention. We'll examine access to screening, lifestyle choices and a factor that often receives far less attention than it deserves: environmental exposure. From air pollution to industrial chemicals, many cancer risks lie beyond the control of any one individual. Case in point: the bill passed on Wednesday by the French Parliament to reduce cadmium levels in fertilisers and food. Lawmakers backed stricter measures than those proposed by the government, which has faced pressure from France's powerful agricultural lobby. The dangers of tobacco and alcohol are well known. But how many of the cancers we develop are shaped not only by personal choices, but also by political decisions and commercial interests?   Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Charles Wente.

Can Europe own its digital destiny? EU unveils tech sovereignty roadmap

The list is long: strategic sectors in which Europe is rarely master of its own destiny – energy, manufacturing, even its nuclear deterrence. But what about digital? Who even owns the personal data of Europe's citizens? The European Commission is unveiling its tech sovereignty roadmap this Wednesday. At the dawn of the artificial intelligence revolution, as investors around the world anticipate record-breaking stock market debuts by Silicon Valley giants this month, and as the US president tightens controls on exports of sensitive AI technologies, how can this old continent scale up and compete? Should it build its own chips, store its own data, and train its workforce to adapt to the massive labour-market disruption already underway? Is it too late? Have the United States and China already won the race? And how can Europe achieve sovereignty while preserving what is arguably the EU's greatest strength: its rules-based order?   Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Charles Wente.

The Macron method: How to deal with Putin's Russia?

Here's one for free speech absolutists to chew on: What should the French government do when the former head of Russian state television's French-language channel is offered a place of rank on an all-news station with a free-to-air broadcast license and she touts Kremlin propaganda lines with little or no pushback or fact-checking? Introducing Xenia Fedorova, who's just had her 10-year residency permit approved and who's become the darling of far-right shipping magnate-turned-media mogul Vincent Bolloré, the same Bolloré who’s swooped for French TV, radio, print and publishing outlets. Read moreFormer RT France chief Xenia Fedorova fuels concerns over pro-Kremlin influence in French media [https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260529-former-rt-france-chief-xenia-fedorova-fuels-concerns-over-pro-kremlin-influence-in-french-media] How much of what Fedorova says is opinion and how much is disinformation? How much can one billionaire's personal views shape French public opinion ahead of a presidential poll next year where the pro-Putin, pro-Trump far right [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/far-right/] holds the early lead? Contrast that with current state policy. On Sunday, France [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/] seized another sanctioned Russian tanker with UK [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-kingdom/] support. In the face of repeated Russia-linked aggressions big and small, Emmanuel Macron [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/emmanuel-macron/] and Keir Starmer [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/keir-starmer/] have doubled down in their support for Ukraine [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/ukraine/]. How much can and should Europeans push back? Read moreFrance backed by Britain intercepts sanctioned oil tanker sailing from Russia [https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260601-france-and-allies-intercept-sanctioned-russian-oil-tanker-in-atlantic] Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Charles Wente.

Forever at war? US, Iran trade blows as Israel pushes deeper into Lebanon

What happened to that four-week campaign that the Pentagon promised? Overnight volleys between Iran and the United States are met by many with a shrug, so often has the current ceasefire been violated. Even the deal in the works is mostly to roll over that fragile truce and open more talks, not to permanently settle differences. Ceasefires and their violations seem to be the norm, as Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade blows and US-brokered truces for both Lebanon and Gaza go mostly ignored. We ask if the taking of the Crusaders-era castle at Beaufort in Lebanon [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/lebanon/] is a PR stunt, or are Israelis digging in at what was an army command centre for nearly two decades during the last occupation of south Lebanon? Read moreIsraeli forces capture historic castle in deepest Lebanese incursion in 26 years [https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260531-israeli-forces-capture-historic-castle-in-deepest-lebanese-incursion-in-26-years] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/benjamin-netanyahu/] espouses a super Sparta state mentality to national security, insisting that Israel [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/israel/] – like the Ancient Greek state – embrace a permanent war footing. Do the benefits outweigh the costs for an Israeli leader who's again up for re-election? And what about for Hezbollah [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/hezbollah/], the Iranian regime and a United States whose leaders promised no more boots on the ground but who under Donald Trump [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/donald-trump/] has increasingly made use of or threatened military might around the globe. Does that project strength or weakness? And is it sustainable? Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Charles Wente.

No love for Arsenal? English fans divided ahead of Champions League final

What exactly is the issue with Arsenal? Here in France, we just assume that everyone in England is enamored with the storied team of Arsène Wenger, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira…and all the other greats all the way to the team’s present French defender William Saliba. Ahead of the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, our panel delves into the not-always-rational, always-impassionate world of football fandom. So regarding the side that has just won its first Premier League title in 22 years, what is it? The way they play? Their attitude? Anti-London sentiment? Anti-north London sentiment? Contrast that with the love the Gunners get here in France and across much of Africa.  Likewise, donning a PSG jersey will earn you compliments on several continents. But our panellists may advise against it in Marseille and a host of other cities across France. Old domestic grudges are hard to overcome – even when one side is the defending European champion, and even though PSG’s Qatari owners booted out hooligans a decade ago and streamlined the club’s big egos in favour of an exciting brand of more fast-paced, team-oriented style of play. Perhaps what lovers and haters of both Arsenal and PSG can agree on is that Saturday’s final could serve up that key ingredient that may be lacking when the FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America: authenticity. Is the beautiful game bigger than the toxic build-up to any one tournament – or will this bloated 48-team, price-surged, travel ban-threatened World Cup be a game-changer for football? Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Riham Mahir, Guillaume Gougeon, Charles Wente