Author: France 24

France’s utility giant EDF is poised to start dismantling the Fessenheim nuclear power plant on the border with Germany, a €1.4 billion project slated to take 22 years.  Built in 1971, the two reactors are the oldest in France and have been permanently shut down since 2020 after 43 years in operation following a string of safety failures.  But first, the ongoing ebola outbreak in Africa is starting to take an economic toll on local populations. 

Formed in Brittany in the late 2000s, Sax Machine blend funk, soul and hip-hop thanks to their joyous beatmaking and brass-infused melodies, as well as featuring the rapping of Chicago native MC Days. 2026 is looking exciting for the band, who will be releasing a new album this autumn and are set to tour Colombia extensively in September. They popped by arts24 to talk about their new single “Untrapped”, which celebrates intellectual freedom.

Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics and Middle East Studies at Lancaster University, joins FRANCE 24 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. While Iran and the United States are still exploring a possible deal to end the conflict, both sides are now downplaying hopes of an imminent breakthrough after appearing close to an agreement just days ago. Mabon explains that Iran may currently hold leverage through its influence over the Strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on both President Donald Trump and the global economy, while Tehran also seeks economic guarantees after years of sanctions. The Iranian nuclear…

Clashes erupted between groups of protesters and riot police after a huge anti-government rally on Saturday in the Serbian capital of Belgrade by tens of thousands of opponents of the country’s autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic.

Tottenham beat Everton on the final day of the Premier League season and secured their place in the league. Chelsea will miss out on all European competitions.

Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite company has publicly filed details about its upcoming initial public offering, highlighting both the company’s ambitious goals in space and its financial results. Among the group’s long-term goals are the construction of data centres in space and creating a large human settlement on Mars. Also in this edition: Samsung and its workers find a last-minute deal to suspend a planned 18-day strike. 

Cristian Mungiu’s Norway-set drama about political polarization, “Fjord,” has won the Palme d’Or, handing the Cannes Film Festival ’s top honor for the second time to Mungiu, the Romanian director of “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.”

Jasper Mortimer, France 24 correspondent, in Ankara has more.

Gabriela Arenas, Coordinator for Regional Operations in Africa IFRC in Kenya, is our guest.

Novak Djokovic is headlining the first day of French Open on Sunday, where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on the centre court. The 39-year-old has already won the Roland Garros tournament three times, and if he wins it again, he would have a record 25 Grand Slam titles under his belt.