♪ ♪ >> i cease fire between israeli and palestinian jihad militants. border crossing has started at gaza. there was three days of violence that killed dons and wounded more. scale of chernobyl followingthe attacks on a nuclear power plant in the south of the country. kyiv and moscow share blame for shelling in the region.

olivia newton john has died at the age of 73 after a battle with breast cancer. an official announcement says she died peacefully at her ranch in california, surrounded by family. thanks for joining us. we begin with the cease-fire in gaza. the checkpoints into the region have reopened and the agreement declared sunday between israel and palestinian islamic jihad appears to be holding. this follows three days of violence where they killed 44 people including children. 300 others were injured in what was the worst flareup in the conflict so far this year. we have the latest on the cease-fire from bbc news foreign correspondent giordano miller. >> so far it seems very sble. it has been quiet all day, no rockets from militants in gaza, no israeli airstrikes.

and on both sides of the border both sides resuming as the report illustrated. the gaza border is open. the most important fuel came in today. the main power plant in gaza is up and running again, reopening is so important because there have been rolling blackouts in gaza the last few days. aside from violence the last few days. all restrictions lifted. back to normal life. trades ran all day, the roads were open. kids were back in summer camp. it really feels as if this cease-fire is going to hold. we are also getting that indication from both israeli leaders and islamic jihad leaders last night when the jihad leader praised the operation saying they reached

their objective, which indicates they are not interested in another round. the israeli prime minister and israeli defense minister spoke in the last hour. they reached their objectives. it feels like this violent and short episode is over. anchor: that is bbc news foreign correspondent jordana miller. ukraine warning of a disaster on the scale of chernobyl following attacks on a nuclear power plant in the south of the country. kyiv and moscow sharing blame for shelling near the region in march. the nuclear complex is prompting serious alarm with the u.n. chief calling for international access to the facility. reporter: a pointing of the finger from both sides as concerns continue over the zaporizhzhia power plants.

shell traces and debris around the complex over the weekends. for days moscow and kyiv have been blaming each her for attackin the site, though who has done what remains unclear. they have accused russian forces of turning the plant into a military base and said moscow's plan was to disconnect the site from ukraine's power grid. >> the majority of power lines which connected the plant to the ukrainian power system is damaged, so now they are transmitting electricity through just one power line. it is dangerous because if it is damaged, the stati will go into blackout mode. reporter: ukraine h called on the international community to respond with sanctions on russia's nuclear sector. moscow accuses kyiv of trying to take europe hostage. reporter: -- >> though zelensky regime

created a humanitarian disaster in the zaporizhzhia region. reporter: russian forces captured zaporizhzhia in early march, but ukrainian officials are still fixing it. it prompted the u.n. to warn of a real risk of disaster. the u.s. has urged moscow to stop military operations around facilities in ukraine and hand control back to kyiv. calls are coming to allow international inspectors to visit the site, which is safe for now. anchor: the u.s. has pledged an additional $4.5 billion in aid to ukraine, bringing the total support to kyiv to $8.5 billion cents russia's invasion in february. most of it should reach ukraine this month. two ships carrying grain left ukrainian ports monday. that brings to 10 the total number of vessels that have departed since a deal was reached to end the russian

blockage this month. there have been food shortages and famine in parts of the world. repoer: the polar net is transporting goods that some see as most valuable of all, grains. on board this turkish ship, 12,000 tons of corn. and other shipsailing to lebanon,taly and turkiye are also filled with grains, to the relief of hundreds of millions of people who worried about the shortages after ukraine's forts were blocked due to the russian invasion. >> we successfully exported agricultural food products. if our partners live up to their obligations and keep this secure, this could resolve the world food crisis. reporter: on top of delivering

much-needed grains, these shipments allowed food pces to recede. >> markets respond to expectations quickly. the agreement was all right. reporter: the world food index calculated by the fao has started to decline. from over 154 in june, to over 140 in july. exports have taken alternative routes. like the danub rer. that was plan b when the black sea was blocked. these ports will alleviate the crisis, but are unlikely to resolve it entirely. the price of fertilizers and the effects of global warming are weighing on food prices worldwide. anchor: in kenya millions are expected to vote in a high-stakes presidential election tuesday.

it is shaping up to be a tight race and there is much at stake for the country. >> twice a week in this clinic in nairobi, they care for newborns. the women no longer pay for consultation since a government-sponsored free insurance plan for mothers and newborns. >> because i did not have the means, the program has helped me and the baby is all right. >> during delivery and postnatal. it even covers the baby, the normal delivery, sis arion section. -- caesararian section. reporter: the health of mothers has improved. these widespread criticisms of ken yada's -- kenyatta's two

times in office. many have announced -- denounced the corruption of the medical sector. >> he put the money in their pocket. they were not giving a receipt. how things are going here is not good. reporter: this corruption extends to all levels. over 10 years, scandals emerged. many have been critical of kenyatta's legacy. >> one of the weakest areas was massive corruption. there have been five or six mega projects, responsible for about 143 billion shillings worth of mismanagement and wastage and theft. reporter: all of the public

sector is affected. kenya is the 52nd most corrupt country in the world. 45% of the population have had to pay [indiscernible] anchor: in france, bracing for our fourth heatwave this summer. in addition to soaring temperatures, dry conditions pushed authorities to classify some regions as in crisis. reporter: in france, a historic drought taking a toll. authorities have banned the irrigation of some crops in half the country to conserve water. in the southwest, desperate times call for desperate measures. many farmers are flouting the rules and watering crops in spite of restrictions. >> we are not respecting the rules because we have to support a family, we have expenses to pay, which have increased, due

to the economy situation in ukraine. reporter: this was confiscated by authorities after they irrigated illegally for three months. the agricultural industry needs to adapt. >> it is not ne to see crops drying up, but alerts were sent out as early as february, warning the season would be difficult. farmers should have avoided planting crops that would require a lot of water in the summer. reporter: in eastern france, flowers cause worry. their colorful bouquets have not been watered for days because of the ban. they asked for an exception. >> we want to maintain the beauty for tourists. reporter: others argue there should not be double standards. >> residents have put a lot of work into their gardens. why should the city be exempt from rules and not the residents? reporter: they say this drought

is the worst since records began in 1958. there is expected to be no respite until mid-august. anchor: technology that can save lives. last month of 14-month-old saved from drowning by a drone patrolling a beach in spain, the first lifeguard system of its kind in europe and our team went to see how it works. reporter: this boy is in trouble, in danger of drowning. but three meters above him, help is on the way. a drone carrying a life jacket. arone operator to the rescue. he has operated this gadget above the sea for two years. >> [speaking non-english-language] reporter: operational on the beach in the valencia region,

this 10 kilo device resists extreme conditions. >> [speaking non-english-language] reporter: these guardian angels descending from the sky are already very popular with everyone on the beach. >> [speaking non-english-language] >> [speaking non-english-language] reporter: drone operators and lifeguards work together closely on the shore. >> [speaking non-english-language] reporter 22 drones are currently deoyed on spain's eastern coast. this beach alone they have saved six people since the start of the summer.

anchor: olivia newton john has died after a battle with breast cancer. the announcement was made on her official instagram account saying the actress died peacefully at her ranch in southern california this morning surrounded by family and friends. she won four grammys, had five number one hits, and was known for her appearances in the films "greece -- "grease" and "xan adu." that is it for us. stay tuned for more news on "france 24." ♪ ♪

reporter: after years in the background as a beat maker, james, the son of an afro jazz legend, is stepping into the light with the first album under his own name. wolves of africa. part one was released in july. part two will come out in november. i am joined by the man himself, james. welcome to "france 24." such a treat to have you on the

show. what inspired this double album? guest: i wanted to have something fresh, but something fresh to the table. working for so long behind the scenes, producing for a lot of artists. i wanted to tell the story and add something new and fresh to the table when it comes to world music and afro fusion. anchor: you started out as a musical producer and beat maker. you worked for prestigious artists in the u.s., puff daddy, snoop dogg, and in france. what pushed you to come out of the shadow and into the light and write your own? guest: i felt i was doing the same music as any other producers. even though i was humbled making a living out of music, i felt i was missing something, like i

was going towards my 30's and wanted to leave something behind me. i was a fan of timberland, the swiss beets. they were able to pave the way. able to have their own musical signature. that is what i was looking for. i said to myself, whenever we had the opportunity to produce music for myself, i would try to aim at this. anchor: the result is incredible. i recommend listening to your album, "wolves of africa." you are james bks, which stands for "best kept secret." the secret is out of the bag. here is a song off of your album -- ♪

anchor: that was james bks' solo album, wolves of africa. huge hit. it features the late legend, who you found out late in life was your biological father and you ran into him in a hotel. can you tell us about that encounter? guest: yes. when my mom saw i was taking the same path as him not knowing he was my dad, she told me the secret. that is something i really rejected it first because i was raised in love, i have wonderful

stepfathers who gave me the love that i needed, so i thought i did not need that it first. i moved back to france and was just trying to put away the contract i had with the major-label that did not go that well and was trying to go back from zero and learn about the music industry and music business. that is when i ran into him. when we first met we exchanged a few words. it took me a few months to get to know him and tell him who i was. when we reunited for real, that bond was unbelievable. anchor: it went on to change your life and you collaborated with him as well there it he sadly passed away in 2020. does he continue to influence your creative process? guest: yes, most definitely. if it was not for him, i would

not be connected to my roots from cameroon. he allowed me to see different perspectives of how cameroon is and what goods are from there and introduced me to musicians, i got to go on tour, did a concert with him. he really changed my perspective. anchor: you were talking about your roots. you were born in france the parents from cameroon, moved to the u.s. as a law -- as a young adult, moved back to france. you have all kinds of influence, hip hop from the u.s., music from france, and across africa. in the music you write, are you telling your own story? guest: yes. that is why nobody would be able to do it if it was not me. at one point, i was behind the scenes working with wonderful artists, but nobody would be able to carry the story of mine,

so i decided to take the mic and pursue my destiny. anchor: you have collaborated with incredible artists, idris elba, black-eyed peas. how did the friendship with idris come about? guest: he listened to the first album i put out and we became close. he is still like a big brother to me. he allowed myself to express myself on a bigger platform. we have been friends ever since and are still working together. anchor: looking at a new breed on your album. moving to other music news making headlines, exciting summer releases. the american living legend beyonce dropping her seventh

studio album, renaissance. her first solo project in six years. she said it allowed her a place to dream and find escape during a scary time for the world. i hope you find joy in this music and i hope it inspires you to release the wiggle, she says. check out this dance heavy, carefree summer album "break my soul." ♪ >> ♪ i'm building my own foundation baby, baby you won't break my flow you won't break my flow everybody, everybody ♪ anchor: hotly anticipated album. you have a suggestion as well. guest: yes, love the new album beirut.

it just got released a few weeks ago. it is really, really good. anchor: that is what you'll be dancing to this summer. release the wiggle. , the former white stripes front man jack white living up to his workaholic reputation three months after releasing his fourth solo album, he is releasing his fifth, entering heaven alive. it has been an eventful year for the blue haired rocker. he proposed to his fiancee, onstage, marrying her on the spot. they formed the white stripes in 1997. he continues to crank out the hits. this tune is called "if i die tomorrow." >> ♪ if i die tomorro uld you find it in yr heart if my mother cries in sorrow will you help her with the many things she needs from time to time

and day-to-day so if died tomorrow, will you know exactly what to say today ♪ anchor: back to you, james bks. your new album "wolves of africa" released on your album, grown kid. a lot of freedom, but does it come with responsibility as well? guest: yes, i have been working on it for four years. it is a long road, but i am proud what we accomplished with our team. they have been helping us put the final piece on the table. i am so happy i am finally able to express myself that way. anchor: your music videos are amazing as well. finally, music news. a hotly anticipated ninth studio

album "will of the people." it goes from metal to pop. this is their best yet. matt bellamy said it was inspired by the increasing instability and insecurity in the world. personal navigation through fears and preparation for what comes next. we will lead you with a track from that album. before we go i want to thank my guest james bks. thank you for being with us on "france 24." check out his album "wolves of africa." part one is out now, part two in november. coming up right after this. ♪ >> ♪ transformation one we all can see we need a revolution as long as we stay free

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>> "france 24," your window on the world. liberte, egalite, actualite. >> africa news, your eyes on africa. bringing you the latest from across the continent. >> eye on africa, is entered by georgia calvin smith on "france 24" and france24.com. ♪

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08/08/22 08/08/22 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> it was horrifying. they targeted the house with five or six rockets. there were body parts on the ground. it was horrifying. amy: at least 44 palestinians in gaza, about one third of them children, have been killed in a three days of an israeli military bard meant.