Global News Podcast (BBC World Service)

Episode: French PM resigns after less than a month

Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Alex Ritson

Overview

This episode covers several major global news stories, led by the shock resignation of France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu after barely three weeks in office—the shortest tenure in the country's modern history. The episode also reports on:

• The ongoing political crisis in France and discussion of possible paths forward
• Diplomatic movements towards peace in Gaza
• The International Criminal Court’s landmark conviction of a Darfur war crimes leader
• A dramatic rescue effort for hikers stranded by a blizzard near Everest
• Protests in Madagascar, food insecurity in Somalia, and a profile on the late novelist Jilly Cooper
• Legal battles over US troop deployments in Oregon

The podcast provides on-the-ground analysis from correspondents and interviews with affected individuals and experts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. France’s Political Crisis: PM Resignation and Uncertainty

[00:38 – 05:48]

• Main story: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned after just three weeks, following the unraveling of his cabinet and lack of parliamentary support to pass a budget.
• The resignation is described as the quickest collapse of a government in France’s modern era.
• Lecornu blamed "impossible conditions" for governance, noting:

  “Being prime minister is a difficult task, probably even more so at the moment because the conditions are not right. ... we were always taking two steps forward and one step back.” – Sébastien Lecornu [01:38]

• Hugh Schofield (Paris correspondent) gives context:
  • Lecornu’s appointment was a desperate move by President Macron, and even his most loyal ally failed.
  • Collapse stemmed from cabinet members withdrawing support immediately after their appointments—especially Republicans Party leader Bruno Retailleau.
  • Growing speculation about Macron dissolving Parliament and calling snap elections, a risky move with the potential for the far right (led by Marine Le Pen) to win:

    “Could he turn to the left? Possibly ... The logic, it seems to me, determines that he must be certainly seriously thinking of dissolving Parliament and calling new elections.” – Hugh Schofield [03:54]
    “Her [Marine Le Pen’s] calculation is that that kind of left wing alliance couldn't happen again ... and therefore the hard right would easily win the next elections. Macron knows that too, so that's why he's hesitating.” – Hugh Schofield [04:58]

2. Gaza Diplomacy: Hostage Talks and Ongoing Violence

[05:48 – 10:27]

• Major push for negotiations involving Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar, building on President Trump’s 20-point peace proposal.
• Reports of "optimism and hope" that conflict could end, but also skepticism regarding Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s true intentions.
• Mustafa Barghouti (Palestinian politician):

  “This would be the end of this terrible war which has already taken the lives of 66,000 Palestinian lives, including 20,000 children. Hamas has already declared their total acceptance of releasing all the Israeli captives together without delay.” [06:49]

• Sebastian Usher (Global Affairs):
  • Prisoner swaps and withdrawal of Israeli forces remain key sticking points.
  • Both sides are weighed down by competing pressures:

    “Hamas is coming under pressure, both internationally ... but also within Gaza. And Israel, we know internationally, [is under] huge pressure ... from hostage families ... and the far right who ... believe Netanyahu should continue the war.” – Sebastian Usher [08:55]

• Bombardment continues, and humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire despite diplomatic efforts.

3. War Crimes Verdict: Darfur Militia Leader Convicted

[10:27 – 11:36]

• Ali Kushayb, a Sudanese militia leader, found guilty by the ICC of 31 counts of war crimes/crimes against humanity for atrocities in Darfur.
• He led the Janjaweed, known for mass executions, systematic sexual violence, and village destruction (2003–2004).
• Survivors spoke of "villages burned down, men and boys slaughtered, and women sexually enslaved” (Anna Holligan, The Hague) [10:58].

4. Everest Rescue: Hundreds Trapped by Blizzard

[11:36 – 14:58]

• Hundreds of hikers stranded on Everest's eastern slopes by unexpected, heavy snow.
• Chinese officials have rescued at least 350 with hundreds more awaiting evacuation, using local villagers and yaks for snow clearance.
• Stephen McDonnell (China Correspondent):
  • These hikers weren’t attempting to summit Everest, but visiting during a national holiday and were caught by freak weather:

    “It's on the eastern approach to Everest, so we're not sort of halfway up the mountain ... this is a time of year when there isn't supposed to be such heavy snow, so this is uncharacteristically heavy.” [13:31]

  • Exposure and hypothermia are risks, but authorities express optimism about rescuing all remaining hikers safely.

5. US National Guard in Portland: Legal and Social Tensions

[16:01 – 18:29]

• A federal judge blocks the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon.
• Governor Gavin Newsom (California) condemns the proposed deployment as “reckless and authoritarian.”
• Spencer Platt (photojournalist):
  • The protest area is calm but tense, with growing anxiety about a possible National Guard presence.
  • Explains the “split screen” reality of protest versus daily life:

    “The city itself is extremely quiet and calm. ... There are people that are very angry, organized on the street, and then there's a lot of people that have just kind of tuned out. They're tired of it all.” [16:32]

  • Tactics at the ICE detention center can be confrontational, involving police, ICE, and crowd dispersals, but little direct violence so far.

6. Madagascar Protests: Gen Z Activism and Social Struggles

[18:29 – 21:16]

• New youth-driven movement (“Gen Z Madder”) in Madagascar pushes for change amid economic hardship and security fears.
• Young protester “Doda” (pseudonym) shares:

  “Now that we've started this movement, we have to win. ... It matters to everyone to have their voice heard right now. And if it’s not us, then everybody will be silenced forever.” [19:30]

• Common frustrations include crime, power/water cuts, corruption, and lack of government accountability:

  "All of us suffer of this problem ... it's really about governance and many, many corruption. This is why all Malagasy’s concern.” – Herizo (millennial) [20:15]
  “We really suffer because of this power and water cut every day. How the president run the country. It’s not good for the people, so he has to resign.” – young woman, donut seller [20:50]

7. Somalia Hunger Crisis: WFP Budget Cuts

[21:16 – 24:26]

• Somalia faces increased hunger and malnutrition with WFP forced to slash emergency food aid from 1.1 million to just 350,000 recipients due to lack of funding.
• Alison Aman Lawi (WFP Somalia):

  “Over a million people right now in Somalia are facing these emergency levels of hunger. ... We have been supporting the community ... at a level of about 1.2 million. And that really is going to fall off a cliff.” [21:50] “... A million mothers and fathers who can't provide even a single meal a day for their children.” [21:50]

• Potential consequences include further displacement, starvation, and malnutrition, especially among women and children.

8. Remembering Jilly Cooper

[24:26 – 26:57]

• Celebrated British novelist Jilly Cooper dies at age 88.
• Known for her racy Rutshire Chronicles, she started in journalism and became famous for capturing the wit and intrigue of British upper-middle-class life.
• Despite her success, Cooper remained critical of her own work:

  “I'd like to write something that wasn't so much a hurry ... So one that I was happy with.” – Jilly Cooper [26:34]
  “She was, she thought, a reasonable writer, though not a real one. ‘I get drunk at parties,’ she once said, ‘when I should be observing things.’” – Alex Stanger [26:49]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sébastien Lecornu on his resignation:

  “For three weeks I’ve been trying to build the right conditions to pass a budget for France. Working with the opposition, I got the feeling that we were always taking two steps forward and one step back.” [01:38]

• Hugh Schofield on France’s political gambit:

  “He was the ultimate Macron loyalist who would do what the President told him to do. And even he has failed.” [03:54]

• Spencer Platt (on Portland protests):

  “I tell [locals] I don’t work for the Travel Channel. I love the city. And I’m just covering this one aspect.” [18:29]

• Jilly Cooper on her writing ambition:

  “I always ought to have another six months on it, if that’s what I’d like. So one [book] that I was happy with.” [26:34]

Important Segment Timestamps

• France PM resignation and political fallout: 00:38 – 05:48
• Gaza peace negotiations and bombardment: 05:48 – 10:27
• ICC war crimes conviction (Darfur): 10:27 – 11:36
• Everest blizzard rescue mission: 11:36 – 14:58
• US National Guard dispute in Portland: 16:01 – 18:29
• Madagascar Gen Z protests: 18:29 – 21:16
• WFP and Somali hunger crisis: 21:16 – 24:26
• Jilly Cooper obituary and reflection: 24:26 – 26:57

Tone & Language

The podcast maintains its hallmark blend of sober, clear-headed news reporting mixed with in-depth, occasionally poignant, on-the-ground perspectives from correspondents and those directly affected. Interviews and direct quotes inject immediacy and authenticity, while correspondents’ analyses convey both the gravity and complexity behind the headlines.

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