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Macron under pressure from all sides after his call to halt arms sales to Israel

International

France's president Emmanuel Macron recently called for an embargo on the sale of any weapons to Israel that could be used in Gaza. His statement, aimed at the international community, has drawn criticism from within his own political camp, angered Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and led to him being booed during a tribute in Paris to the victims of October 7th. Politicians on the Left, meanwhile, have welcomed his words but are now expecting action. Justine Brabant and lyes Ramdani report.

Violent protests force Martinique airport to close

France — Link

Dozens of protesters stormed the runway at the airport in the capital, Fort-de-France, prompting its closure.

France bans protests in Martinique after riots over price rises

France — Link

Fresh riots over rising prices have resulted in one death, 26 injured police officers and widespread looting on the Caribbean island. 

New French government unveils tough austerity budget

France — Link

Michel Barnier's administration is seeking deep spending cuts and higher taxes in an effort to tame state's ballooning debt and deficit.

France's curious silence after murder of exiled Azerbaijani blogger

International

Vidadi Isgandarli, a fierce critic of the regime in Baku and a refugee in France since 2017, was stabbed fifteen times at his home in Mulhouse last month and died of his injuries two days later. Despite this attack bearing the possible hallmarks of what might have been a political assassination on French soil ordered by a foreign power, the authorities in Paris have remained mysteriously quiet. However, as Justine Brabant reports, the French government will have to take a stance on the killing  of the exiled blogger before next month's COP29 climate conference – which is being hosted by Azerbaijan.

French factory workers fear being overtaken in the electric car revolution

France — Report

The Renault factory at Cléon in north-west France specialises in engines and engine components. However, it has been revealed that the engine for the upcoming electric Twingo car – a vehicle on which the giant manufacturer is pinning great hopes - is to be produced in China. Trade unions representing workers at the French factory are concerned that the recent decline in workforce numbers will become even worse as the group offshores ever more of its production. Manuel Sanson reports.

France's minority government survives no-confidence vote

Politique — Link

Two weeks after taking office, administration gets over the first hurdle placed by left-wing MPs to bring down new conservative prime minister Michel Barnier.

Ex-wife of IS chief to stand trial in France for genocide

France — Link

Sonia Mejri, a former wife of an emir of the Islamic State (IS) armed group, is to stand trial for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Osama bin Laden's son deported from France

France — Link

Interior minister Bruno Retailleau said he had signed an order banning Omar Binladin and barring him from returning after the latter posted comments on social media deemed to have glorified terrorism.

The war in Gaza and our guilty silence

International — Opinion

One year after the Hamas attack on Israel, the resulting war in the Middle East now spreads from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon. The populations of Western countries have remained largely passive before the massacre of Palestinian civilians, writes Mediapart’s publishing editor Carine Fouteau in this op-ed article, and that inertia has left their governments free to refuse to sanction the Netanyahu government. It is, she argues, as if sections of our societies don't want to recognise their own crimes in the mirror image of colonization that is reflected by Israel.

France insists 2025 budget will 'fully' comply with EU rules

France — Link

France's Finance Minister Antoine Armand aims to bring the public deficit down to five percent of GDP next year, with a longer-term goal of reducing it below the EU's three percent limit by 2029.

Boy aged 14 held over fatal shooting of Marseille cab driver

France — Link

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in the southern French port city of Marseille on suspicion of shooting a cab driver in the head after he reportedly refused to wait for the teenager while he carried out a drugs-related revenge killing for the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old.

Macron calls for halt to arms deliveries for Israel

International — Link

President Emmanuel Macron said France was not delivering weapons to Israel and called for other countries to do the same, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a swift retort against any move for an arms embargo, telling Macron 'Shame on you'.

Toddler and three adults reported dead in Channel crossings

International — Link

In two separate incidents overnight Friday, a two-year-old infant was crushed to death and two men and a woman were found unconcious, reportedly drowned, in overloaded dinghies attempting to cross the Channel from France to Britain.

Silent march held in French village of mass rape victim

France — Link

Hundreds of people turned out on Sunday for a silent march in the southern French village of Mazan in support of Gisèle Pelicot, 72, whose ex-husband and 50 other men are accused in an ongoing trial of raping her while she was unconcious after being secretly administered with sedatives by her spouse.