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Opinions divided over Paris city hall's pro-bycicle drive

France — Link

As Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and her council majority continue to roll out measures to restrict motor traffic and encourage cycling in the French capital, the latest being a ban on through-traffic in the city centre, opinions are divided. 

Europe's wealthiest man testifies at French spy chief trial

France — Link

Bernard Arnault, 75, the CEO of French luxury goods group LVMH, appeared in court on Thursday as a witness at the trial of former French intelligence director Bernard Squarcini who he hired as a security chief, and who is accused of using state agents to counter a blackmailer targeting Arnault, and also when mounting an intelligence-gathering operation targeting journalist and leftwing MP François Ruffin.

More than half of French want Barnier government to fall: poll

France — Link

As the French government, led by former minister and EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, approaches a possible fatal no confidence vote in parliament next week over its budget proposals, an Ifop-Fiducial opinion survey for Sud Radio published on Thursday found 53% of those polled wanted Barnier and his ministers to step down.

France says Netanyahu has immunity from ICC arrest warrant

International — Link

The French government has changed its earlier position on the arrest warrants for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, which was initially that it would arrest the men if they landed on French soil.

Evelyne de Pontbriand, organic wine pioneer, dies at 73

France — Link

Evelyne de Pontbriand, who transformed her family's winemaking domain, more than five centuries old, into a showcase for organic vinyards, and who became a voice for sustainable agriculture, has died at the age of 73.

South African poet and artist Breytenbach dies in Paris at 85

International — Link

The South African poet, author and artist Breyten Breytenbach, whose outspoken opposition to the apartheid regime led to him being jailed for seven years and forced into decades of exile in France, has died in Paris at the age of 85.

Mass rape trial: prosecutors call for husband to be jailed 20 years

France — Link

As the trial in Avignon, southern France, of Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men accused of raping over several years Pelicot's wife Gisèle, who he sedated into an unconscious state for the acts to take place, draws to an end, prosecutors have demanded he serve a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars.

Le Pen sharpens threat to bring down Barnier government

France — Link

Marine Le Pen, figurehead and parliamentary leader of France's far-right Rassemblement National party, left talks with Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Monday centred on a looming parliamentary vote on the country's 2025 budget, complaining he made no concessions and raising the possibility that her party will join in a no confidence vote against Barnier's minority government.

The Russian-language Latvian news outlet battling Kremlin propaganda

International

With the Baltic state seeking to enforce the use of the Latvian language in public media, the need to ensure that the sizeable Russian-speaking population in the country still has access to reliable information has become a critical issue. This is now the mission of Latvian journalist Inna Plavoka, the founder of an independent Russian-language local media outlet that is growing in popularity despite some hostility and suspicion after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Estelle Levresse reports.  

Thousands march in France to denounce violence against women

France — Link

Marches were held in Paris and cities and towns across France on Saturday to protest the widespread crimes of violence perpetrated specifically against women, an issue highlighted by the ongoing trial of 51 men accused of raping over several years the wife of one of them while she was unconscious.

Haiti summons French ambassador over 'morons' comments

International — Link

The French ambassador to Haiti was summoned to hear the Caribbean country's protests over filmed comments by President Emmanuel Macron in which he called the transitional presidential council 'total morons'. 

Pope turns down invitation to attend Notre Dame reopening

France — Link

Pope Francis has declined an invitation to attend the ceremony in early December for the re-opening of Notre Dame, which was severely damaged by fire in 2019, amid speculation over a rift between him and President Emmanuel Macron who backed a successful campaign to make abortion a constitutional right in France.

Prize-winning author accused of stealing story from wife's patient

International — Link

French-Algerian author Kamel Daoud, who this year won France's prestigious Goncourt literary prize for his novel Houris, set during the 1992-2002 Algerian civil war, is being sued by a woman former patient of his psychiatrist wife for allegedly using her intimate story, including the cutting of her throat by Islamists, for that of his heroine. 

'Ouest-France' is first French newspaper to stop posting on X

France — Link

It is the latest in a string of European publications to suspend posts on the social media platform.

Le Pen threatens to topple government over cost of living

France — Link

The leader of the  far-right Rassemblement National could help bring down the government of Michel Barnier over its budget plans.