Author: France 24

In the face of an unprecedented political crisis, France’s re-appointed prime minister Sébastien Lecornu proposed suspending President Emmanuel Macron’s signature pension reform enacted in 2023.  Speaking before parliament, Lecornu warned however of the estimated cost of such a move as he pressed lawmakers to agree on next year’s budget.  Also in the segment, the US and China have started collecting new tit-for-tat port fees imposed on each other’s maritime transport and shipping industry. 

The first French contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race – and the fearless host of Drag Race France – Karl Sanchez, better known as Nicky Doll, joins Eve Jackson on Arts24 to share the story behind the persona. In this episode, Karl opens up about his powerful new album “Apollo • Artemis”, his journey balancing masculinity and femininity, and how drag has become a platform for art, fashion, and activism. He also tells us about the first-ever Drag Race France Live All Stars Royal Tour.

With huge crowds waiting to welcome them home, Palestinian prisoners released by Israel on Monday were overwhelmed with joy as they returned to their loved ones. Israel freed about 1,700 Palestinian prisoners and 250 security detainees in exchange for 20 hostages held by Hamas, under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Amid political and economic turbulence, few issues have illuminated the fault lines of French governance quite like the highly unpopular pension reform. And the clash goes far beyond policy, it inflamed an already angry and volatile electorate and parliament the moment Macron forced it through with article 49.3. So now why is a reform so central to Macron’s reformist agenda now regarded as the sacrificial lamb that just might be a saving grace to the autumn of his presidency? To answer that question, Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome Renaud Foucart, Economist and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics…

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are “marching the country” into a government shutdown over their refusal to meet with Democrats and strike a deal to save health care funding from cuts. This shutdown, not the nation’s first, could be more difficult. Trump’s budget office this week ordered federal agencies to prepare a mass firing of federal workers, rather than the typical temporary employee furlough, if the federal government were to close. Story by Catherine Viette.

Following his goal and assist in France’s 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan, Kylian Mbappé will not be closing in on Olivier Giroud’s national team scoring record this October. The French team captain is leaving the squad due to injury. Meanwhile, the French are getting closer to securing their place at the 2026 World Cup. Leading their group by a large margin, they could secure their place in the 2026 World Cup on Monday evening when they play Iceland.

The 2025 Nobel economics prize went to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for “explaining innovation-driven growth”.  They are credited with quantifying “creative destruction”, an idea that innovations such as steam engines and artificial intelligence that push out older technologies and businesses can be beneficial to humanity in the long run. Plus, in an unprecedented move, the Dutch government took control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia over national security concerns. 

On today’s music show on Arts24, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with two talented French musicians. Scott Tixier, a six-time Grammy-winning violinist, composer, and professor, has collaborated with some of the world’s biggest artists, including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Beyoncé, Hans Zimmer, and Jon Batiste. His new solo album, “Bonfire”, offers a bold, innovative take on jazz improvisation. Célia Kameni, one of France’s most exciting singers, draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, from Nina Simone to Björk. Recently, she won one of France’s most prestigious jazz awards for her intimate and beautiful EP “Meduse” (or Medusa in English).

President Donald Trump arrived in Egypt Monday for a global summit on Gaza’s future, following his visit to Israel to mark a US-brokered ceasefire with Hamas. His trip, including a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem, comes amid hopes to end two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. Over two dozen countries will attend the summit hosted by Trump and Egypt’s President el-Sissi. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declined, citing a nearby Jewish holiday.

In a critical day for the Middle East, the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas were returned to Israel while Israel released some of the nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under a breakthrough Gaza ceasefire deal. US President Donald Trump made a whirlwind visit to the region. In Jerusalem, he addressed the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, to repeated applause before heading to Egypt for a summit of world leaders backing the ceasefire plan. More ramped-up aid was being readied for Gaza, much of which is in ruins after two years of war that began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct.…