Author: France 24

The award-winning author of a new book has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how it is the voices and hearing the chatter of his characters that inspires him to write. Swedish-Tunisian writer Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s new book “The Sisters” in English or “Les Sœurs” in French follows the lives of three sisters and a curse that weighs on them. In the book they spend 35 years trying to break the curse “Everything you love, you will lose”. He spoke to us in Perspective.

A number of French health experts wrote an open letter in Le Monde Tuesday calling on the French government not to reintroduce the bee-killing pesticide acetamiprid, warning that it could also be dangerous to the broader public.

Lorena Wiebes remains the queen of sprinting. The 26-year-old Dutchwoman secured her second win in a row, coming out on top in stage 4 of the Women’s Tour de France. Just like on Monday, she finished ahead of the yellow jersey, Marianne Vos.

The deal reached by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump over the weekend has led the Euro to lose value against the US dollar. This follows wide-ranging criticisms within the bloc over the “asymmetrical” nature of the deal, with French Prime Minister François Bayrou equating it to submission. In this edition, we look back on what’s been agreed on, and what still needs to be determined.

After pledging to recognise a Palestinian state in September, France is co-chairing a UN conference in New York this week in a push to rally other countries behind its lead. A far cry from the “unconditional” support for Israel declared in the wake of the October 7 attacks, French diplomacy seems to be shifting gears.

Join arts24 presenter Eve Jackson on an exclusive journey inside the Grand Egyptian Museum – a colossal cultural masterpiece just a mile from the Great Pyramids of Giza. The museum’s grand debut has faced multiple delays and was set to open this July, but ongoing tensions in the Middle East have pushed back the opening once again, making this your rare opportunity to explore its wonders ahead of time. 

A backlash is brewing in France’s culinary world over the Duplomb law, which reauthorises a banned pesticide. Michelin-starred chefs, school canteen cooks, bistro owners and farmer-restaurateur collectives have spoken out, accusing lawmakers of endangering health, biodiversity and food quality.

Marseille have reached an agreement with Feyenoord for the transfer of winger Igor Paixao. The French giants will spend €35 million, including add-ons, making the 25-year-old Brazilian the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Israel’s “creeping annexation” of the occupied West Bank is illegal and must stop, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday, equally condemning what he described as the “wholesale destruction” of the Gaza Strip. Guterres’ remarks came at the UN conference on a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Follow our liveblog for the latest development.

The first-ever Birkin handbag sold for 8.58 million euros ($10 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris on Thursday, smashing previous price records for a handbag. The bag, which was bought by private collector in Japan, was designed by French luxury brand Hermes for celebrity Jane Birkin.