Author: France 24

As Mike Leigh’s five-decade career takes centre stage at the Paris Cinémathèque for a retrospective, the British filmmaker speaks to Eve Jackson about 50 years of making movies, from the raw intensity of “Naked” and the jubilant optimism of “Happy-Go-Lucky”, to historical storytelling in “Peterloo” and “Mr Turner”. With accolades like the Palme d’Or for “Secrets & Lies” at the Cannes Film festival and the Golden Lion for “Vera Drake” at Venice, at 82 Leigh continues to illuminate humanity’s complexities with his latest film “Hard Truths”.

In a major upheaval, the US Department of Health and Human Services, led by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country. For in-depth analysis amd a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Yinka Oyetade welcomes Martin McKee. Professor of European Public Health. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. 

Kenya launched a investigation into alleged match manipulation Thursday, after a video posted online appeared to show national goalkeeper Patrick Matasi agreeing to a deal to influence the outcome of a league-match in return for cash. Kenyan football has been plagued by match-fixing scandals in the recent past, leaving a trail of disappointment among fans. 

Anti-American sentiment is surging amid the second term of US President Donald Trump. Ifop research found this week that two thirds of French people support a boycott of US products. One market where those products are especially hard to avoid is technology. Just how integrated into our lives is American tech? How are boycotters taking steps to disconnect? And what’s the EU doing to tackle America’s tech monopoly? We take a closer look in this edition of Tech 24.

Israel on Friday conducted drone strikes on a southern Beirut suburb, according to Lebanese official media, shortly after the Israeli military issued an evacuation order. The strike occurred as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and is the first such attack since a November ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. 

On this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with the torchbearer for French soul: Ben l’Oncle Soul. His songs “Soulman” and “Elle me dit” have become instant classics, bridging eras and emotions through his smooth vocals. Ben is back with his eighth album “Sad Generation”, an homage to some of the music he grew up listening to, such as Sly Stone and Otis Redding.

A major summit to discuss global efforts to tackle malnutrition kicked off in Paris. The meeting comes as international humanitarian organisations face a funding crisis sparked by the Trump Administration halting a majority of the US’s foreign aid programmes. Plus, Canada’s Prime Minister said the United States was no longer a reliable partner in trade, as governments around the world weigh responses to Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on cars. 

Israel’s parliament on Thursday approved a controversial judicial reform law that increases political control over judicial appointments by a vote of 67 in favour and one against. The opposition boycotted the vote and several parties immediately filed an appeal against the law with the supreme court.

The critically-acclaimed and wildly popular British Netflix drama “Adolescence” is offering a new generation of storytelling with very thought-provoking themes that force viewers to question many things about the world we live in and the values that we’ve been embracing without giving much thought. To offer in-depth perspective of the recurring theme of toxic masculinity, France 24’s Delano D’Souza is pleased to welcome Jack Halberstam, celebrated author, Professor of Gender Studies and English and Director of the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality; David Feinson Professor of Humanities. Halberstam asserts that teenage boys don’t need to be managed.…

Join film critic Emma Jones and presenter Eve Jackson on this week’s arts24 film show as we explore the action-comedy “Novocaine” starring Jack Quaid, Nicole Kidman’s “Holland” on Amazon Prime and the critically acclaimed “The Grill” by Alonso Ruizpalacios. Plus, we dive into the legacy of German filmmaker Ernst Lubitsch with a retrospective at the Cinemathèque française.