Author: France 24

The European Union has proposed changes to a 2023 law that effectively banned the sale of new internal combustion engine cars from 2035.  Instead of cutting CO2 emissions by 100% from 2021 levels, carmakers would be required to reduce them by 90%, meaning a small-scale production of petrol or hybrid cars could continue. The auto industry and some member states have been lobbying hard to get the rules relaxed in the face of slow market growth for EVs. 

FRANCE 24’s Dheepthika Laurent tells us about Emily’s adventures in Rome, as the heroine of “Emily in Paris” embarks on a fifth season in neighbouring Italy. We debate whether the show has run out of steam and discuss romantic lead Lucas Bravo, who plays Gabriel, as he stars in new French series “Les Saisons”. Also, post-apocalyptic drama “Fallout” returns for a second series, with Walton Goggins as a ghoulish cowboy and Ella Purnell searching for her father in this re-make of the nuclear war-inspired video game. Plus we find out more about the new K-drama “Made in Korea”, starring TV…

The Bondi Beach attack came close to a deadly attack on US troops, with President Donald Trump blaming the Islamic state. For FRANCE 24’s Wassim Nasr, the Islamic State group’s propaganda is maybe more audible to those who resent Syria’s new authorities, a year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Manchester United failed to beat Bournemouth (4-4). The Red Devils remain sixth in the table.

Despite logging record a trade surplus, economic data for November showed China’s domestic woes are deepening.  Retail sales grew at their slowest pace in three years and investment slowed sharply, signalling Chinese people and businesses are becoming increasingly cautious. Plus, Roomba maker iRobot has filed for bankruptcy after struggling with competition, debt, tariffs and Amazon’s buyout offer later being called off. It’s now being taken private by its main Chinese supplier. 

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with the frontman of British band The Spitfires, as well as French musician Gaspard Royant. The Spitfires are back after having split up three years ago. The indie rock, nu-mod band are celebrating their musical renaissance with their sixth album “MKII”. Meanwhile, Gaspard Royant has re-released his wildly successful festive record “All the Best for Christmas”: a soundtrack for a cool, classy Christmas.

In a phone call from prison, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nargis Mohammadi said she endured blows during her incarceration that were so “heavy, forceful and repeated” that she had to be hospitalised twice, the family-run Narges Foundation said Monday. Mohammadi was re-arrested in Tehran on Friday.

RC Lens beat Nice 2-0 and will spend the winter as league leaders. OGC Nice suffered their sixth consecutive defeat.

The Federal Reserve, the US central bank, lowered its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday. The move comes as the US economy deals with sticky inflation, slowing jobs figures and a lack of official data because of the government shutdown. Stock markets reacted favourably to the news initially, but were then weighed down by concerns related to the tech sector. Also in this edition: Donald Trump signals his support for a change of ownership at CNN. Plus, we bring you some data on Venezuela’s oil industry. 

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado receives her Nobel Peace Prize, AI is named Person of the Year 2025 by Time magazine, and another massive protest in Bulgaria leads to the fall of the government. FRANCE 24 looks back at the week’s most striking images.