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World’s five richest men doubled their fortunes since 2020, Oxfam says EU

The world’s wealthiest five men have more than doubled their fortune since 2020 from $405 billion to $869 billion last year, the charity Oxfam said Monday in a report published as the global elite hobnob at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. Yet since 2020, nearly five billion people worldwide have grown poorer, Oxfam said. Pointing to the level of “staggering, obscene inequality”, Oxfam International Interim Director Amitabh Behar told FRANCE 24’s Yuka Royer that the world is “entering into an era of billionaire supremacy”.

‘I call on member states to combat social dumping’: EU jobs commissioner Nicolas Schmit EU

Talking Europe interviews the EU commissioner in charge of jobs and social rights, Nicolas Schmit. He speaks to the importance of protecting workers, particularly the “gig” or “platform” workers, whose status is at the core of a dispute between the European Commission and several EU member states. He also addresses the issue of “social dumping” – people being paid below their level of skills – an issue of relevance not only to EU workers, but also to Ukrainian refugees that have been granted permission to live and work in the EU. Plus, he explains the implementation of the EU Directive on adequate minimum wages, as economic conditions in Europe threaten people’s purchasing power; especially that of poorer members of society.

‘They had to flee their own country’: The lives of migrants at the Franco-Italian border EU

Two renowned anthropologists have spent the past five years documenting the lives of migrants in one specific place. Didier Fassin and Anne-Claire Defossez chose to assist aid workers at a reception centre in the French Alpine town of Briançon, close to the Italian border. They looked at how the migrants were living, what support they received, as well as how they were treated by police. The pair were even arrested while carrying out their research, simply for helping the migrants. They spoke to FRANCE 24’s Gavin Lee in Perspective.

South Africa asks ICJ to order Israel to stop Gaza war EU

South Africa asked the International Court of Justice to order Israel to immediately suspend its military operation in Gaza, where it says Israel is committing genocide against Palestinian civilians. FRANCE 24’s Fernande van Tets is in The Hague with the details.

Several countries in Europe, including France, have already adopted the so-called Nutri-Score, a food ranking system displayed on packaging aimed at helping people choose healthier food. The system essentially gives food and drink items a score from A to E based on their key ingredients, such as sugar, salt and fibre. But the algorithm is now changing to better reflect nutritional reality, as FRANCE 24’s Julia Sieger explains.

How Gabriel Attal became France’s youngest-ever prime minister EU

After a swift rise up the ranks, 34-year-old Gabriel Attal took the reins as France’s new prime minister on Tuesday. With a background steeped in privilege, the first openly gay head of government is expected to bring new energy to President Emmanuel Macron’s government, which has been weakened by months of protests over pension reform, the lack of a parliamentary majority and low approval ratings.

Pro-Russian propaganda: Zelensky accused of buying Joseph Goebbels’ villa EU

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has accused Ukraine of being a neo-Nazi state – with President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government often targeted as sympathisers. A video by a German “whistleblower” now accuses the Ukrainian president of buying a former Nazi holiday home that belonged to Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. In this episode of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl explains how this claim has been fabricated.

Succession? Macron picks Gabriel Attal as youngest French Prime Minister EU

New year, new face.France’s youngest-ever president naming the country’s youngest-ever prime minister. We willl ask why Emmanuel Macron chose to replace Elisabeth Borne with Gabriel Attal and chart the meteoric rise of a 34-year old Parisian who has already enjoyed stints as city councilor, party spokesperson, budget minister, government spokesperson and most recently education minister.