PARIS DRAMA POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY

FRANCE FACING RADICALIZATION

AND THE ISSUES OF IMMIGRATION

The attacker, a Frenchman born in 1997 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, already on file for his links with radical Islamism and his psychiatric disorders, was apprehended by the police.

The drama began around 9 p.m. in the 15th arrondissement, as recounted by Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, present on the scene late in the evening. The suspect allegedly dealt several fatal blows to a man in the street, precipitating his tragic fate. The victim, a German national, was walking with his wife, physically spared but plunged into deep emotional shock.

The intervention of a taxi driver put an end to the first phase of the attack, followed by a call to 17 around 9:15 p.m., mobilizing the police of the 15th arrondissement. What followed was a breathtaking hunt for the suspect on the Bir-Hakeim bridge to the 16th arrondissement on the other side of the Seine.

During this hunt, the suspect attacked two other individuals with a hammer. Although their lives are not in danger, one is of foreign nationality, while the other is a French man in his sixties. The arrest of the suspect was facilitated by the use of an electric stun gun by law enforcement.

The initial investigation, entrusted to the criminal brigade, was quickly transferred to the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (Pnat) after midnight. Disturbing details emerged that the suspect allegedly chanted "Allah Akbar" repeatedly, expressing intolerance towards the deaths of Muslims around the world.

Gérald Darmanin revealed that the individual had already been sentenced in 2016 to four years in prison for having expressed a desire for violent action. Released in 2020, he was under the administrative surveillance of the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), while undergoing treatment for his psychological disorders.

Faced with this tragedy, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne expressed her thoughts towards the victim, the injured and their loved ones, emphasizing the government's determination to not give in in the face of terrorism. Emmanuel Macron, later in the night, presented his condolences to the family of the deceased German national, praising the speed of the emergency services in arresting the suspect. He underlined the crucial role of the national anti-terrorism prosecution in the quest for truth on behalf of the French people.

This atrocious act of violence raises crucial questions about radicalization and the challenges linked to immigration in France. There are legitimate concerns about the system's ability to manage radicalized individuals with criminal histories, as well as the effectiveness of post-release monitoring systems.

This tragedy highlights the pressing need for in-depth reflection on immigration policies, in particular the distribution of French nationality without strict criteria and the management of the threat of radical Islamism. The French political authorities are now faced with their responsibilities in combating these challenges, in order to ensure the security and stability of the country.

Radicalization in the Spotlight

The echo of this tragedy resonates in the corridors of French power, raising broader questions about the management of radicalization in society. The cry of “Allah Akbar” uttered by the suspect highlights the religious dimension of this act, raising concerns about the way in which radical Islamism can take root in society.

The attacker's legal journey raises questions about the effectiveness of monitoring radicalized individuals after their release from prison. Convicted in 2016 for his violent aspirations, he was released in 2020, placed under the surveillance of the DGSI. However, despite this monitoring, he was able to carry out a murderous act, highlighting potential gaps in the security system.

The question of radicalization cannot be dissociated from the complexity of immigration in France. French nationality distributed without strict criteria is becoming a major concern.

How were individuals sharing extremist beliefs able to access citizenship without a rigorous assessment of their adherence to republican values ​​being carried out ?

This question resonates with particular force in the current context where the rise of radical Islamism is creeping into the cracks of an immigration system that is sometimes too permissive.

Immigration: Challenges and Reflections

The tragedy of December 2, 2023 highlights the need for serious introspection on immigration policies in France. The distribution of French nationality without rigorous criteria may prove to be an open door to individuals whose extremist beliefs threaten the stability of society. The ease with which radical individuals can access citizenship calls into question the robustness of control and selection mechanisms.

A reassessment of nationality granting procedures

The redefinition of migration policies in France, focused on the establishment of selective immigration, is emerging as a promising solution to strengthen the social and economic harmony of the country.

Questioning land law is seen as an essential necessity to adapt the process of granting French nationality to a changing world.

The central idea of ​​this transition is to move towards carefully selected immigration, based on rigorous criteria. The promotion of French culture, mastery of the language, as well as understanding of morals and customs, constitute essential elements among these criteria.

By opting for a proactive approach, France seeks to attract individuals whose values ​​and skills align harmoniously with those of French society.

The strict quotas, inherent to this new approach, aim to ensure a balance between the economic needs of the country and the preservation of its cultural identity.

By favoring specific selection criteria, such as professional qualifications and commitment to republican values, France aspires to build a diverse but united community.

This transition towards selective immigration is not only seen as a response to current challenges, but also as an opportunity to strengthen the French social fabric.

By encouraging integration and valuing diversity, France seeks to create a society where each individual, whatever their background, can contribute positively to national dynamism.

It is crucial to emphasize that this approach does not aim to close the doors, but rather to open them in a more selective manner, promoting a cultural exchange beneficial to all. By placing French culture at the heart of the selection criteria, the objective is to preserve and celebrate the cultural riches that make the nation unique.

In conclusion, the transition to chosen immigration in France, based on selective criteria including the promotion of French culture, represents a positive step forward towards a more coherent and resilient society. This proactive approach demonstrates France's desire to shape its future by welcoming those who share its fundamental values, thus contributing to the construction of a more inclusive and prosperous society.

All his reforms will also have the consequence of putting an end to such barbaric acts. All our thoughts are of course with the families of the victims.

COMMENT PRENDRE EN CHARGE ET GERER

 LE STRESS POST-TRAUMATIQUE DES OTAGES

 DU HAMAS ?

Alors qu' Israël dénonce "l'impasse des négociations" sur une nouvelle trêve humanitaire et fait rentrer ses émissaires au Qatar, l’armée israélienne a confirmé, vendredi, la mort de cinq otages dans la bande de Gaza, en donnant leurs noms, ajoutant avoir " informé les familles de leurs décès ". Après la libération de 110 otages depuis le début du conflit, dont 105 pendant la trêve, il reste 136 otages à Gaza aux mains du Hamas et d’autres groupes affiliés, ont annoncé les autorités israéliennes.

Au lendemain d’une visite en Israël, le secrétaire d’Etat américain, Antony Blinken, a dit que les Etats-Unis, principaux alliés d’Israël, restaient  " concentrés " sur la libération des otages. " Nous continuons de travailler avec Israël, l’Egypte et le Qatar afin de remettre la trêve sur les rails ", a déclaré, de son côté, le secrétaire à la défense américain, Lloyd Austin.

Les soldats, un enjeu particulier

Parmi ces otages, pourraient encore se trouver des soldats, prises précieuses du Hamas, dans un pays où chaque famille ou presque compte un soldat . Au moins 11 soldats, dont quatre femmes, ainsi qu’une quarantaine d’hommes en âge d’être réservistes feraient partie des 240 personnes enlevées le 7 octobre.

Si les corps des otages décédés peuvent constituer un enjeu dans les négociations, ceux des soldats encore plus, Israël souhaitant les inhumer avec les honneurs qui leur sont dus.

Quatre Français encore présumés otages

Avant la trêve, la France comptait encore huit ressortissants portés disparus, dont certains étaient retenus en otages dans la bande de Gaza.

Mia Schem,21 ans, Eitan, 12 ans, et Sahar et Erez, frère et sœur de 12 et 16 ans ont été libérés, Après la trêve, restent quatre Français présumés otages :

Le Hamas n’est pas le seul groupe à retenir des otages dans la bande de Gaza. Le Djihad islamique est aussi dans ce cas, de même que d’autres organisations palestiniennes.

" Dans le désordre qui a accompagné les attentats terroristes, des civils [et des soldats] israéliens ont été pris en otage par le Hamas, par une autre organisation terroriste qui s’appelle le Djihad islamique et aussi par des individus qui étaient entrés [en Israël] ", expliquait la ministre des Affaires étrangères, Catherine Colonna le 28 novembre. " Le Hamas a la responsabilité, si je puis dire, de la majorité des otages, mais il n’est pas le seul ", ajoutait-elle.

Des conditions de détention extrêmement difficiles

Les récentes libérations d’otages ont permis d’en savoir plus sur les conditions de détention dans la bande de Gaza.

Le Dr Ronit Zaidenstein de l’hôpital Shamira examiné 17 otages thaïlandais à leur libération, a expliqué qu’ils n’avaient reçu qu’une " alimentation très faiblement nutritive " durant leur captivité. " Les gens que nous avons admis ont perdu une part importante de leur poids en très peu de temps, – 10 % ou plus ", a-t-il ajouté.

Le site d’information Ynet, qui a interrogé le Dr Margarita Mashavi de l’hôpital Wolfson, par où ont transité de nombreux otages à leur libération. Détenus en sous-sol, ils n’avaient " que deux heures de lumière " par jour, a-t-elle expliqué. Par ailleurs, ils mangeaient « du riz, du houmous et des fèves en boîte et parfois du fromage avec du pain, mais rien d’autre ". La parole commence a se libérer.

Des enfants traumatisés à vie

Le président Joe Biden a annoncé la libération dimanche par le Hamas d'une otage américaine de 4 ans. La petite, nommée Abigail, "est libre et elle est en Israël", a-t-il indiqué lors d'un discours. L'enfant avait été prise en otage le 7 octobre par le Hamas. Selon un haut responsable américain, sa mère a d'abord été assassinée sous ses yeux. Son père a essayé de protéger l'enfant avant d'être tué à son tour. "Elle a subi un traumatisme terrible", a déploré dimanche le président américain.

Les enfants ont livré des récits tout aussi inquiétants. « Eitan a vécu des horreurs, a rapporté Deborah Cohen, la tante de ce Français de 12 ans. Le Hamas l’a obligé à regarder le film d’horreur [de l’attaque du Hamas en Israël le 7 octobre]. Là-bas, chaque fois qu’un enfant pleurait ils le menaçaient avec une arme pour qu’il se taise. Quand il est arrivé à Gaza, tous les civils l’ont tapé. »

Le père d’Emily, une Israélo-Irlandaise de 9 ans, a aussi expliqué à The Sun qu’elle était « terrifiée de faire du bruit » depuis son retour et qu’elle ne faisait plus que " murmurer ".

Les violences sexuelles

Mais un mois et demi après, la parole commence à se libérer concernant les violences sexuelles commises sur des femmes israéliennes, notamment celles présentes au festival de musique Tribe of Nova, qui a été pris pour cible par le mouvement islamiste dans le désert du Néguev. "Nous avons de multiples témoins dans plusieurs affaires", précise David Katz, chef de la section cyber de l'unité de police criminelle Lahav 433, surnommée "le FBI israélien" Dans la presse, les témoignages de survivantes se multiplient. Le quotidien israélien Haaretz s'est fait l'écho de celui d'une jeune festivalière, qui dit avoir assisté au viol collectif d'une femme. Celle-ci aurait ensuite été abattue d'une balle dans la tête par les hommes du Hamas. Ce week-end, c'est Le Parisien qui publie le portrait d'une rescapée du 7 octobre, "Esther", qui raconte avoir été violée et tabassée sous les yeux de son petit ami : "C'était si douloureux que j'ai perdu connaissance, ils ont arrêté lorsqu'ils m'ont crue morte". La jeune femme raconte ensuite avoir été mutilée par un homme du Hamas. Outre les interrogatoires des combattants du Hamas détenus par le Shin Bet, les agents israéliens peuvent s'appuyer sur de nombreuses preuves vidéo (caméras de surveillance, images de caméras GoPro du Hamas), ainsi que sur la reconnaissance faciale pour tenter d'identifier les responsables de ces crimes.

"Certains éléments, comme les pelvis brisés ou des corps de femmes nues, laissent penser qu'il y a eu des viols et d'autres exactions à l'égard des femmes lors de cette attaque, ce qui n'est pas étonnant au vu de sa barbarie, mais pour l'instant nous avons très peu de détails", estime Céline Bardet, juriste en droit international, spécialiste des crimes de guerre. "Le phénomène du viol comme arme de guerre est connu depuis très longtemps. C'est une arme qui détruit les générations suivantes", complète Me Julie Goffin, avocate au barreau de Bruxelles et auprès de la Cour pénale internationale (CPI), une instance non reconnue par l'État hébreu. La police israélienne a annoncé le 14 novembre l'ouverture d'une enquête pour des viols et des mutilations commises par des hommes du Hamas ce jour-là. Des exactions qui pourraient également avoir été commises sur les otages.

Un stress post-traumatique et syndrome de Lazare

Selon le psychiatre Patrick Clervoy, les individus libérés après une période de captivité sont susceptibles de développer un stress post-traumatique, phénomène qu'il qualifie de possible "syndrome de Lazare". Ces civils, majoritairement des femmes et des enfants, ont enduré une détention d'environ cinquante jours, marquée également par les violentes attaques du 7 octobre. Le traumatisme subi est donc double, souligne le professeur agrégé du Val-de-Grâce, qui, tout au long de sa carrière, a traité des survivants de prises d'otages et d'attentats. L'éventualité d'un syndrome de Lazare est évoquée dans son intervention sur TF1Info.
Pour le psychiatre, la captivité ne représente qu'une phase, souvent la seconde, d'une série d'épisodes traumatiques. La prise d'otages, précédant souvent la captivité, est décrite comme un acte de guerre brutal, plus ou moins prolongé, plongeant le sujet dans un état de stress aigu, le laissant totalement désorienté. Pendant cette période, les capacités psychiques permettant à une personne de comprendre, maîtriser ses réactions et assurer sa survie sont saturées. Les cris, l'obscurité, la brutalité des événements, les blessures physiques et le spectacle de proches décédés sont autant d'éléments contribuant au stress aigu. Les individus vivent des épisodes de déréalisation, se déconnectant de la réalité et évoquant un sentiment d'extrême bien-être, voire d'invincibilité.
La captivité constitue ensuite une phase instable, marquée par des moments cruels, odieux, parfois assortis de tortures ou d'abus physiques et sexuels.

Le troisième temps survient avec la libération, qui s'accompagne également d'un stress. Dans ce contexte, la probabilité de développer des troubles psychiques prolongés, sous la forme d'un stress post-traumatique, est élevée. Seule exception possible : le cas de certains enfants qui, restés avec leurs parents, ont pu se sentir sécurisés grâce à un rôle de protecteur bien assumé par le parent. Cependant, les autres enfants connaîtront probablement un parcours de vie chaotique.
Parmi les symptômes post-traumatiques figure le syndrome de Lazare.Pour le psychiatre Patrick Clervoy, les personnes qui sortent de captivité, développent un stress post-traumatique .Il évoque un possible syndrome de Lazare.

Parmi les symptômes post-traumatiques : le syndrome de Lazare

C'est un dysfonctionnement social insidieux et prolongé qui transforme profondément celui qui a vécu un événement traumatique, où la mort semblait imminente, altérant sa nature initiale de manière irréversible. Il est hautement probable que les otages développent ce syndrome, d'autant plus qu'ils réintègrent une société elle-même marquée par le traumatisme. L'ex-otage peut envisager un retour dans un monde identique à celui d'avant, espérant sa stabilité pour se reconstruire et retrouver sa place. Cependant, cette attente est vouée à la déception, car la population israélienne est traumatisée de manière indélébile depuis l'opération terroriste du Hamas. Que ce soit pour ceux qui accueillent l'otage ou pour l'otage lui-même, le monde d'avant a irrémédiablement disparu.

Les séquelles psychologiques nombreuses.

L’expérience même d’un otage présente des particularités susceptibles de servir de ressort à des troubles futurs : mise en retrait de la vie sociale, avec toutes sortes d'évitement, humiliations potentielles, sentiment d’impuissance… De plus, les prises d’otages, par la médiatisation dont elles font souvent l’objet, mettent particulièrement en lumière la capacité des victimes à s’en remettre ou pas.

Certaines ont sombré, comme le journaliste Brice Fleutiaux, qui a mis fin à ses jours en 2001, peu de temps après avoir été retenu en otage en Tchétchénie, ou l’héritier John Paul Getty III, qui ne s’est jamais remis de son enlèvement en Italie dans les années 1970 alors qu’il était enfant, et a plongé dans une spirale de dépendances qui l’ont laissé tétraplégique jusqu’à sa mort.

Sans être aussi dramatiques, une vaste série de symptômes post-traumatiques ont été recensés chez les anciens otages : difficultés à se concentrer et pertes de mémoire, accès dépressifs ou anxieux, mise en retrait de la vie sociale.

Mais les victimes tendent tout de même à reprendre le contrôle de leur vie, et certains anciens otages, aussi paradoxal que cela puisse paraître, enregistrent à terme des conséquences positives de leur expérience sur le plan psychologique.

Ces différences sont difficiles à comprendre. Les psychiatres peinent à répondre et admettent qu’il est difficile de savoir à l’avance si un otage risque plus qu’un autre de développer des troubles mentaux. « On n’a pas clairement délimité les facteurs qui conduisent à une évolution défavorable après une prise d’otage », admettaient en 2009 les auteurs d’un résumé sur le sujet, dans la revue de la Société royale britannique de médecine (RSM).

Un élément, enfin, complique le suivi des séquelles psychologiques : les troubles peuvent mettre longtemps à émerger.

« Cela peut ressurgir un an, deux ans, 10 ans après, et c’est absolument imprévisible », explique la psychiatre Christine Roullière, spécialiste des troubles post-traumatiques, qui souligne notamment la nécessité d’une prise en charge dès la libération d’un otage. Il faut « tout de suite permettre à la personne de verbaliser ce qu’elle a pu vivre », insiste-t-elle. « C’est une façon de remettre dans le fil de sa vie des événements hors normes qui l’ont fait passer de l’autre côté du miroir. L’objectif, c’est d’accompagner le retour dans le monde des vivants. »

Et c'est effectivement ce retour dans le monde des vivants que les autorités israélienne tente de mettre en place avec la prise en charge médicale, les retrouvailles avec ses proches et la gestion du traumatisme. Autant d’étapes imposées par Israël que les ex-otages du Hamas vont devoir suivre à lettre .

La prise en charge médicale, les retrouvailles avec ses proches.

Le protocole national israélien mis en place avec les otages est scientifiquement approuvé dans le monde entier . Il consiste à « déchoquer les gens, les faire sortir de cette glaciation, les ramener dans le réel » pour éviter que les patients ne tombent « dans une sidération, une glaciation psychique » sur le long terme. Pour cette raison, les otages libérés suivent un protocole strict et encadré.

Un premier examen médical personnalisé est donc mis en œuvre par le CICR à Rafah lors de leur réception, avant d’être transférés aux représentants de l’armée israélienne.

« D’un point de vue médical, évidemment, le médecin va demander s’ils n’ont pas de douleurs. (...) Il faut savoir s’ils n’ont pas de problème médical spécifique et faire des examens physiques », détaille-t-il. Les soins médicaux adéquats sont ensuite prodigués dans l’un des six hôpitaux israéliens où ont été envoyés les patients.

Des recommandations gouvernementales ont d’ailleurs été fournies au personnel en charge des otages. Et une attention toute particulière doit obligatoirement leur être accordée. The Times of Israël cite l’exemple des contacts physiques qui ne peuvent avoir lieu qu’avec l’accord de l’ex-otage ou la manière de les nourrir lors de cas de sous-alimentation prolongée en captivité.

En cas de détention sous terre, il est également demandé de porter une attention spécifique à leur sensibilité vis-à-vis de la lumière naturelle.

Le ministère de la Santé israélien a aussi demandé au personnel médical « de rechercher et de documenter tout signe de torture, de viol ou d’autres crimes de guerre », comme l’indique le média israélien. Un travail de documentation essentiel.

Se reconstruire au contact de ses proches

Une fois ces premières précautions passées, les otages vont progressivement revenir à la réalité. Ce qui commence par récupérer leurs effets personnels. Un moment important avant de retrouver les familles, alors informés du lieu où leur proche a été transféré.

Mais pour les retrouver, le personnel en charge du suivi des otages doit avant tout s’assurer « qu’ils soient à nouveau en bonne santé ». Ensuite ils pourront retrouver leurs familles. Un moment crucial pour reprendre « le contrôle de leur vie car la guérison est à la fois physique et mentale ».« Ils ont besoin d’être avec leurs familles, car être en famille est très important pour leur rétablissement »

Durant cette période de retrouvailles privées, les médias ne pourront pas avoir accès aux otages, ni à leurs familles. Ce qui s’explique par une volonté de laisser les otages se reconstruire loin de la lumière médiatique dans un premier temps. Toutefois, les familles seront ensuite libres d’échanger ou non avec des médias si elles le souhaitent.

Les enfants israéliens retenus en otage à Gaza ont un long chemin à parcourir pour se rétablir après leur libération . Selon le gouvernement israélien, jusqu'à 40 des otages sont des enfants, dont un bébé de 10 mois et des enfants d'âge préscolaire, dont certains ont vu leurs proches assassinés sous leurs yeux juste avant d'être kidnappés.

"Il n'y aura jamais de rétablissement complet", a déclaré M. Dollberg, psychologue clinique et du développement à l'Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. "Ce ne sera jamais que ce qui leur est arrivé ne les affectera pas et ne sera pas oublié. Les enfants connaitront un parcours de vie chaotique.

VIEW AT EPOQUAUTO 2023

THE EPOPE OF FASTO A2 A RESURRECTED TREASURE

This old car, enigmatic and little known to the general public, stands out as the only example still existing to our knowledge, a rare testimony to a bygone era.

The FASTO A2, produced in the Saint-Éloy-les-Mines and Saint-Ouen workshops between 1926 and 1929, embodies the creative spirit of the interwar period.

This period, marked by the ephemeral emergence of numerous automobile brands, saw the FASTO shine both on the circuits and on the commercial market.

The FASTO adventure began in 1924 in Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, with the production of the first automobiles in 1926.

Going against the trends of the time, the decision was made to build the car in its entirety, including the engine.

The first models were created under the aegis of the Odoire et Cie establishments in Sainte-Éloy, before being assembled in Saint-Ouen from the end of 1926.

The FASTO A2, the prototype succeeding the A1, stands out for its closed design and its 1,600 cc, 4-cylinder engine, developing 25 horsepower.

The C1 model chassis was briefly presented at the Paris Auto Show in 1926, but remained unsuccessful.

The following year, the A3 debuted with a new 1,600 cc overhead cam engine, boosting power to 35 horsepower.

That same year, three A3 S models equipped with 2-liter engines were prepared for the 24 hours of Le Mans, offering FASTO a prestigious showcase despite mechanical setbacks on the track.

In 1927, the A4 joined the catalog, unveiling a less efficient version of the A3. Unfortunately, the FASTO adventure came to a premature end in 1928/1929, at the dawn of the Great Depression, putting an end to a promising but short-lived automobile epic.

Nearly a century later, the Associative Group of Technical Heritage Collectors (GACPT) took the initiative to revive the FASTO A2.

Under the direction of Lionel Duperray of Éditions Vals d'Allier, a committed publishing house, a work has seen the light of day.

The profits from its sale are entirely dedicated to the restoration project of the last known example of the FASTO A2, today in the hands of the GACPT.

The history of FASTO, recounted in this work prefaced by Franck Mesnel, former rugby player for the French team and co-founder of the Eden Park brand, takes on a new dimension. Franck Mesnel, grandson of Pierre Mesnel, the driver of Fasto number 8 during the 1927 24 hours of Le Mans, brings a personal touch to this forgotten saga.

Today, FASTO cars are almost impossible to find, having fallen into obscurity even at vintage vehicle gatherings.

However, destiny decided otherwise, and it is in the suburbs of Lyon that an A2 model resurfaces, testimony to a bygone era.

Used as a family car until the mid-1950s, it then sank into oblivion, spending many years in a damp underground garage, leaving its state of conservation in poor condition.

Faced with a probable destiny towards scrap metal, the GACPT, based in Givors, manages to divert FASTO from its final journey, making the association the guardian of the last known example among the 15 produced.

Thus, the GACPT is embarking on an ambitious project: the complete restoration of the FASTO A2.

This arduous task, equivalent to a real reconstruction, involves in-depth technical investigations with a view to remanufacturing the missing parts.

The estimated cost of the work is 180,000 euros.

Raising the necessary funds becomes imperative, and this is where a committed publisher comes in, proposing the creation of a book dedicated to this exceptional car.

The royalties generated by the sale of this book will be entirely donated to the association.

In addition, for generous donors wishing to contribute to saving this unique automobile heritage, the Heritage Foundation automatically provides tax credits.

The commitment to the FASTO A2 does not go unnoticed, and the Motul Foundation, famous oil manufacturer, is already supporting the project with a generous grant of 10,000 euros.

However, the call for mobilization does not stop there.

Automotive history enthusiasts, heritage defenders and all those who wish to participate in this adventure are invited to join this preservation process.

At the heart of this epic, the GACPT, with its address at 2348 route de Mornant, 69700 Givors, embodies the spirit of preserving technical heritage.

Likewise, Éditions Vals d'Allier, located at 31 rue du Docteur Dumas, 63300 Thiers, stands out for its contribution to the dissemination of historical and heritage knowledge.

The FASTO A2, a poignant testimony to a bygone era, is reborn thanks to the collective effort and commitment of enthusiasts.

The restoration of this unique piece promises to be a captivating odyssey, where the history of the FASTO will regain its splendor and its place in the rich panorama of French collector's automobiles.

By contributing to this noble cause, each participant becomes a link in a chain aimed at preserving automotive heritage for future generations. Let's raise our eyes to the FASTO A2, silent witness to a bygone era, and engage in this quest to bring it back to life. 

UN NOUVEL ATTENTAT DU HAMAS 

A JERUSALEM

Trois personnes ont été tuées et six autres blessées par deux hommes qui ont ouvert le feu sur un arrêt de bus, dans la partie ouest de Jérusalem, jeudi 30 novembre au matin. Le Hamas a revendiqué leur acte. Cette attaque a été perpétrée alors que la pause dans les combats à Gaza a été reconduite in extremis jeudi matin pour un septième jour.

Un arrêt de bus de Jérusalem-Ouest pris pour cible

L'attentat a eu lieu jeudi matin, vers 7h40 (heure locale), aux abords d'un arrêt de bus bondé de Jérusalem-Ouest. "Deux terroristes venus en voiture et armés, l'un d'un [fusil d'assaut] M16, et l'autre d'un pistolet", ont ouvert le feu, a déclaré le directeur de la police de la ville à la presse sur les lieux de l'attaque.

Trois personnes ont été tuées, et plusieurs autres ont été touchées, selon la police israélienne. Plusieurs médias israéliens, dont Haaretz et The Times of Israel, font état de six blessés. Les trois morts sont deux femmes de 24 et 67 ans, et un homme de 73 ans, tous de nationalité israélienne, ont précisé les autorités.

Les tireurs abattus par deux soldats et un civil

Des images diffusées par les télévisions israéliennes montrent deux hommes sortant d'une voiture et ouvrant le feu avant d'être abattus. Selon la police, ils "ont été tués rapidement par deux soldats, qui n'étaient pas en service, et un civil, qui leur ont tiré dessus".

Benyamin Nétanyahou les a félicités dans un communiqué. "Mon gouvernement continuera d'étendre la distribution d'armes aux citoyens", a assuré le Premier ministre israélien. Depuis l'attentat du 7 octobre, le gouvernement israélien a facilité l'attribution du permis de porter une arme à feu, et les boutiques d'armement ont vu les ventes auprès des civils se multiplier.

Le Hamas revendique l'attaque et appelle à une "escalade"

Les assaillants ont rapidement été identifiés comme deux frères, dont la police israélienne affirme qu'ils avaient été incarcérés par le passé et qu'ils étaient affiliés au Hamas. Le mouvement islamiste, classé comme terroriste par l'Union européenne, a revendiqué l'attentat jeudi à la mi-journée. "Les frères Mourad Nemr (38 ans) et Ibrahim Nemr (30 ans) (...), membres des brigades Ezzedine al-Qassam de Sour Baher", un quartier de Jérusalem-Est, "se sont sacrifiés en menant une opération", écrit l'organisation dans un communiqué.

Le Hamas appelle également à une "escalade de la résistance" contre Israël, et présente l'attaque de jeudi comme "une réponse naturelle aux crimes sans précédent de l'occupant [Israël] dans la bande de Gaza et contre des enfants à Jénine", une ville de Cisjordanie où deux garçons de 8 et 15 ans ont été tués par l'armée israélienne mercredi.

Avant même cette revendication, le président israélien Isaac Herzog a jugé que cette attaque était "encore un exemple de la situation dans laquelle nous nous trouvons, la guerre sans fin que nous menons contre les organisations terroristes, en particulier le Hamas". 

Le chef de la diplomatie américaine, Anthony Blinken, a estimé qu'elle rappelait "la menace terroriste affrontée au quotidien par Israël", où il se trouve en visite.

LA COP28 A DUBAI SOUS LES FEUX DE LA CRITIQUE

La 28ème Conférence des Parties sur le Climat de l'ONU (COP 28), prévue du 30 novembre au 12 décembre, s'apprête à ouvrir ses portes à Dubaï, aux Emirats arabes unis.

Les délégués mondiaux se rassembleront aux Émirats arabes unis pour le prochain cycle de négociations internationales sur le climat. Au cours de l'année 2023, de nouveaux records météorologiques extrêmes ont été établis, marqués par des inondations dévastatrices en Libye et des incendies de forêt ravageurs au Canada, en Grèce, et sur l'île hawaïenne de Maui. 

Alors que ces négociations de la COP28 sont cruciales pour obtenir les accords mondiaux nécessaires afin d'éviter des changements climatiques dangereux, la confiance envers ce sommet est actuellement ébranlée, en grande partie en raison de la personne qui le dirige.

Le choix de Dubaï comme lieu de cet événement international majeur a suscité des vagues de critiques, notamment de la part des défenseurs de l'environnement. De plus, le choix de Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, PDG de la compagnie pétrolière émiratie Adnoc, pour présider cet événement majeur est lui aussi contesté. Cette nomination a soulevé des interrogations quant à la neutralité des décisions prises lors de la COP28, alimentant ainsi le débat sur les liens entre intérêts économiques et réelles avancées environnementales.

Ahmed al Jaber, président de la COP28, le loup dans la bergerie ?

Les Émirats arabes unis ont suscité la controverse en annonçant, en janvier 2023, que le sultan Ahmed al Jaber, PDG de la compagnie publique Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), présiderait le sommet sur le climat, lui conférant ainsi un large contrôle sur l'ordre du jour.

Le président de la COP, le Sultan Al-Jaber, est en proie à des conflits d’intérêts majeurs en ce qui concerne la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Alors qu’il est censé guider la rédaction des décisions de la négociation d’une manière neutre et indépendante, Al-Jaber représente aussi le pays hôte, les Émirats arabes unis, en tant que CEO de la compagnie pétrolière nationale, Adnoc.

Étant donné que les combustibles fossiles représentent près de 90 % des émissions de CO2 à l’origine du changement climatique, certains dénoncent un conflit d’intérêts évident à ce que les producteurs de pétrole et de gaz soient à la tête des négociations sur le climat. Les Émirats arabes unis brûleraient plus de gaz qu’ils ne le déclarent.

Plusieurs enquêtes ont d’ailleurs montré que les Émirats envisagent d’augmenter les exploitations de pétrole de 3,7 millions de barils par jour à 5 millions d’ici 2027.et de gaz, et que des tractations commerciales ont même lieu pendant les réunions prévues pour la COP.

Selon des documents confidentiels obtenus par le Centre for Climate Reporting, les Émirats arabes unis ont ainsi préparé des réunions d’affaires privées impliquant Adnoc avec les délégations de plus de 27 gouvernements étrangers avant le sommet.

La rente pétrolière un gage de stabilité socio-économique des pays du Golfe.

En outre malgré des décennies de politiques visant à diversifier l’économie du pays en dehors du pétrole, le secteur des hydrocarbures des Émirats arabes unis représente un quart du PIB, la moitié des exportations du pays et 80 % des recettes publiques. La rente pétrolière contribue à la stabilité socio-économique.

Cet état de fait est un principe central du contrat social du Golfe arabe, dans lequel les citoyens des six États du Golfe occupent principalement des postes bureaucratiques dans le secteur public, administrant une économie basée sur le pétrole avec une main-d’œuvre expatriée qui domine le secteur privé non pétrolier.

Les préoccupations quant à l'obstruction des politiques pro-climat par les industries fossiles sont donc bien justifiées, compte tenu des preuves indiquant que ces industries ont eu connaissance depuis des décennies des conséquences climatiques de leurs produits.

Cependant le programme politique promu par la présidence des Émirats arabes unis à la COP28 pourrait peut-être contribuer à accélérer la transition vers la sortie des énergies fossiles.

Tout d'abord les Émirats arabes unis et Ahmed al Jaber ont été choisi par la région Asie-Pacifique, qui se compose d’un ensemble diversifié de pays en développement

Le choix du pays qui accueille le sommet de la COP est en effet géré par un processus des Nations unies qui fait l’objet d’une alternance démocratique entre six régions. Les pays de chaque région se consultent pour savoir qui représentera leur région, et ce pays fait une proposition, qui est évaluée et finalisée par le secrétariat qui gère la Convention-cadre des Nations unies sur les changements climatiques.

Les préoccupations énergétiques des pays du Sud

Pour certains pays du Sud, la perspective d’une élimination progressive des énergies fossiles semble non seulement décourageante, mais aussi une menace pour le développement économique.

Sur les dizaines de pays producteurs de pétrole dans le monde, environ la moitié sont des pays en développement à revenu intermédiaire dont les économies sont très vulnérables face à la volatilité des prix du pétrole et du gaz.

Des études ont suggéré qu’une élimination rapide des énergies fossiles pourrait entraîner des milliers de milliards de dollars de pertes dues aux investissements dans les infrastructures des pays producteurs de pétrole, s’ils n’y sont pas préparés.

En même temps, de nombreux États du Sud sont confrontés aux conséquences démesurées du changement climatique, qu’il s’agisse de phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes ou de l’élévation du niveau de la mer qui peuvent menacer l’existence même de leurs communautés.La présidence des Émirats arabes unis à la COP28 pourrait accélérer la transition énergétique, malgré les critiques suscitées par le choix d'Al Jaber.

Les inquiétudes quant à l'élimination progressive des énergies fossiles sont importantes, notamment pour les pays en développement dont les économies dépendent fortement de ces ressources. Cependant, Al Jaber a qualifié cette transition d'" inévitable " et d' " essentielle ", soulignant la nécessité de renforcer les énergies renouvelables avant de cesser rapidement l'utilisation des combustibles fossiles.

La présidence d'Al Jaber à la COP28 a été interprétée comme une tentative des Émirats arabes unis de verdir leurs projets d'expansion pétrolière et gazière.  

Al-Jaber a cependant passé l’essentiel de sa carrière dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables. En 2006, il a fondé et dirigé la société d’État des Émirats arabes unis spécialisée dans les énergies renouvelables, Masdar, qu’il a aidée à devenir le plus grand opérateur d’énergies renouvelables en Afrique.

Il a été nommé PDG de l’Adnoc en 2016, dans le cadre du lancement officiel par les Émirats arabes unis d’une stratégie nationale pour l’après-pétrole. L’année précédente, le prince héritier Mohammed bin Zayed avait prononcé un discours déclarant que les Émirats arabes unis célébreraient " le dernier baril de pétrole " d’ici le milieu du siècle.

Le programme de la COP28

L’Adnoc a certes été fortement critiquée pour avoir prévu d’investir 150 milliards de dollars dans l’expansion de ses capacités pétrolières et gazières au cours de cette décennie. 

Mais au niveau mondial des plans de croissance des énergies fossiles bien plus importants que ceux des Émirats arabes unis sont menés par les États-Unis, le Canada, la Russie, l’Iran, la Chine et le Brésil. La majeure partie du financement des énergies fossiles dans le monde provient de banques des États-Unis, du Canada et du Japon. 

Et depuis 2015, les banques européennes ont versé un montant colossal de 1,3 billion de dollars dans les combustibles fossiles, dont 130 milliards de dollars pour l' année 2022.

Plusieurs évaluations de l’ONU – comme l’édition 2023 de l’Emissions Gap Report du Programme des Nations unies pour l’environnement (PNUE), ou même les engagements actuels pris par les États dans le cadre de l’accord de Paris – ont montré que les engagements actuels nous placent sur une trajectoire d’augmentation des températures comprise entre 2,5 et 2,9 °C, bien au-delà des objectifs fixés par l’accord de Paris.

Face à ces nombreuses contradictions, la COP28 est  donc un rendez-vous indispensable qui entend dresser un bilan mondial de la situation, parler de transition énergétique et mettre l’accent sur la solidarité entre pays du nord et pays du sud.

Et les Émirats arabes unis font  preuve d’un leadership qui va au-delà des présidences précédentes de la COP. En effet la valeur totale des projets d’énergie renouvelable prévus par les Émirats arabes unis avec divers partenaires au cours de la décennie s’élève à plus de 300 milliards de dollars.

Le programme de la COP28 prévoit de tripler la capacité des énergies renouvelables au cours des sept prochaines années, en réduisant encore les coûts pour concurrencer rapidement les combustibles fossiles, potentiellement au cours des 20 prochaines années.

Il demande également aux pays d’accepter de cesser la production d’énergies fossiles lorsque les émissions de CO2 ne sont pas capturées d’ici au milieu du siècle, ce qui pourrait accélérer le développement de la capture, de l'utilisation et du stockage du CO2 à des fins commerciales.

Enfin, la restructuration du financement de la lutte contre le changement climatique pour le rendre moins coûteux et réduire le fardeau de la dette, comme le propose la présidence des Émirats arabes unis, pourrait débloquer les milliers de milliards de dollars dont le monde en développement a désespérément besoin pour soutenir ses transitions énergétiques tout en s’industrialisant.

L’an dernier, lors du sommet de la COP27 à Charm el-Cheikh, en Égypte, l’accord visant à constituer un fonds pour les " pertes et dommages " avait été salué comme une avancée majeure, sur l’un des sujets les plus difficiles des négociations climatiques. 

Au cours de cette édition cette décision de novembre 2022 actait le fait que les pays les plus pauvres et les moins émetteurs ont besoin d'aide pour faire face aux conséquences du changement climatique. Mais un an après les négociations, le fonds ne s’est pas encore concrétisé comme l’espéraient les pays en développement.

De grandes questions en suspens

De nombreuses questions ont été soulevées et laissées en suspens à Charm el-Cheikh. Parmi elles : 

qui alimentera ce nouveau fonds ? 

Où sera-t-il situé ? 

Qui aura le pouvoir de le gérer ? 

Et qui aura accès au financement, et surtout qui n’y aura pas accès ? 

Les pays en développement ont accepté que le fonds soit hébergé par la Banque mondiale pour une période intérimaire, malgré des réserves.

De nombreux délégués s’inquiètent de la réputation de la Banque, et notamment de la prédominance des pays développés parmi les donateurs, de l’accent mis sur l’octroi de prêts plutôt que de subventions, et du manque de sensibilité au climat dans les opérations de la Banque. Il est probable que ces inquiétudes resurgissent à Dubaï.

Lors de la COP28, la concrétisation du fonds pour les pertes et dommages sera un test décisif pour la légitimité de l’ensemble du régime de négociation sur le changement climatique.

Certes, le fait qu’un PDG du secteur pétrolier dirige un sommet sur le climat est inquiétant pour tous ceux qui prônent une réduction progressive et rapide des combustibles fossiles mais si le sommet de la COP28 parvient à conclure des accords historiques sur les questions susmentionnées, il s’agira d’une avancée significative dans l’accélération de la transition énergétique . Et le sommet de la COP sera autre chose qu'un simple ballet d'hypocrisie...

MAGRET DE CANARD FLAMBE AU COGNAC

 AUX POMMES ET AUX ABRICOTS

Pour cette recette de Magrets de canards flambés au cognac, pommes et abricots, vous pouvez compter 40 minutes de préparation. Ce plat peut être préparé avant le repas et réchauffé 15 à 20 min avant d'être servi.

Ingrédients

Magret de canard 3 tranche(s)

Chorizo doux 1

Pomme(s) Golden 3

Abricots secs 250 g

Cognac

Préparation

1° Coupez les magrets de canards en fines tranches sur la longueur. Détaillez les tranches de lard en petits dés.

2° Émincez le chorizo en fines rondelles. Épluchez les pommes, retirez les pépins et coupez-les en petits dés.

3° Placez dans un saladier les pommes et les abricots, versez dessus un léger filet de cognac pour parfumer les fruits et laissez-les macérer.

4° Dans une grande poêle, faites fondre un peu de gras (un peu de la peau des magrets par exemple), faites revenir les tranches des magrets, les morceaux de lard et les rondelles de chorizo.

5° Quand la viande commence à être saisie, versez le cognac dans la poêle, laissez-le chauffer un petit peu, et faites flamber le tout.

6° Laissez mijoter quelques minutes sans laisser trop cuire les magrets afin d'éviter qu'ils sèchent par la cuisson, versez le tout dans une marmite pouvant accueillir un couvercle, ajoutez-y les pommes et les pruneaux.

7° Pensez à remuer régulièrement le tout et laissez cuire à feu doux, le temps que les fruits fondent.

8° Si le couvercle de votre marmite n'est pas lisse et possède un léger rebord, vous pouvez verser sur le couvercle un peu d'eau, la condensation produite par la chaleur de la cuisson évitera d'assécher le contenu qui est en train de cuire.

Et dégustez !

 LE LUXE SOUS LE CHARME 

DES STARS COREENNES DE LA K-POP

Véritables icônes en Corée du Sud et au-delà de ses frontières, les chanteurs de K-pop sont devenus les nouveaux visages du luxe mondial. Ces derniers mois, leur ascension en tant qu'ambassadeurs s'est intensifiée au sein des maisons de couture les plus prestigieuses. Plongée au cœur de l'univers des égéries sud-coréennes des marques de luxe.

La Corée du Sud, au dynamisme économique indéniable, suscite un intérêt croissant de la part des grandes marques. Louis Vuitton et Nicolas Ghesquière ont dévoilé leur défilé femmes pré automne-hiver 2023 à Séoul, sur le pont Jamsugy, le 29 avril. En mai, Gucci a présenté sa collection Cruise 2024 au palais de Gyeongbokgung, situé dans la capitale sud-coréenne, au nord de la rivière Han.

Ces deux géants du luxe ont choisi des lieux emblématiques de la cité, mais l'un des piliers du soft power coréen n'est autre que la K-pop. Ce genre musical, au succès international retentissant, met en avant des chanteurs et danseurs énergiques et inspirants, souvent regroupés en formations. Les appelés "idoles" attirent depuis plusieurs années des marques partenaires au positionnement grand public. Récemment, les maisons de luxe européennes se sont éprises de ces jeunes talents.

À première vue, deux groupes se partagent le devant de la scène : BTS et Black Pink, ce dernier étant le girl band le plus en vue. Les membres de Black Pink, à savoir Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé et Lisa, sont chacune égéries d'au moins deux marques de luxe. Les bijoux Tiffany&Co., les robes Chanel et Saint Laurent, les sacs Jacquemus et les montres Cartier bénéficient d'une visibilité extrême, chaque geste de ces artistes coréennes étant scruté et analysé par une communauté de fans très impliquée.

La machine semble s'emballer du côté des marques, toutes cherchant à avoir leur propre idole K-pop, et de nombreuses nominations ont eu lieu récemment. Taeyong, chanteur du groupe NCT aux onze millions d'abonnés Instagram, est devenu ambassadeur international de la marque Loewe depuis le mois de juin. Dior, qui compte déjà parmi ses rangs Jisoo (Black Pink) et Park Jimin (BTS), a récemment accueilli Haerin, du groupe NewJeans, en avril. Dans la même dynamique, la maison Kenzo, dirigée par le designer japonais Nigo, a annoncé en juin l'arrivée de Vernon, membre du groupe Seventeen. Plus récemment, fin juillet, Versace a intronisé Hyunjin (Stray Kids) comme nouvelle égérie.

Un mariage avantageux, mais pour qui ?

L'engouement des amateurs de K-pop ne se limite à aucun groupe ou artiste en particulier. Si les têtes d'affiche sont déjà très prisées, un vaste réservoir d'artistes talentueux existe. Cependant, les marques devront probablement s'adresser aux mêmes interlocuteurs, car la grande majorité des jeunes de la K-pop évolue au sein de quatre agences géantes, à savoir Hybe, YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment et JYP Entertainment.

Selon le média Glitz Paris, ces agences imposent des contrats très restrictifs aux idoles, allant jusqu'à leur interdire d'être en couple, afin de garantir une image lisse et soignée, au prix d'une certaine perte de liberté. Leur contrôle est tel que certaines idoles n'ont même pas conscience des chiffres générés par leurs contrats d'égéries, selon le même média français.

Cependant, la frénésie ne faiblit pas au Pays du matin calme, et le potentiel international de la K-pop semble inépuisable. Ainsi, des marques moins puissantes que les grands groupes de luxe peuvent tenter leur chance avec les futures stars potentielles. Hybe, qui accompagne depuis ses débuts le célèbre boys band BTS, a créé en janvier 2022 le groupe japonais &Team, dont le dernier clip vidéo "Road not taken" cumule 1,4 million de vues deux semaines après sa publication. Plus récemment, en mai, l'agence a lancé le groupe Boynextdoor, via son sous-label KOZ Entertainment.

En attendant d'autres mariages...

DRAME DE CREPOL LE CARACTERE RACISTE 

DU MEURTRE DOIT ETRE PRIS EN COMPTE

En ce qui concerne le profil des suspects, la maire a souligné la présence d'environ "une centaine de jeunes, avec un noyau dur particulièrement violent". 

Lors d'une entrevue ce mardi 28 novembre 2023 sur BFM-RMC, Marie-Hélène Thoraval a également plaidé pour "mettre fin à la culture de l'excuse".

Le caractère raciste

La maire de Romans-sur-Isère, Marie-Hélène Thoraval, affiliée à la diversité de droite, a déclaré ce mercredi 29 novembre que les «familles» des victimes de l'attaque lors du bal du village à Crépol, dans la Drôme, il y a une dizaine de jours, ont sollicité que la justice considère l'incident comme "raciste".

'Les familles demandent deux choses", a déclaré l'élue lors de son entretien sur BFM-RMC. 

"La première, c'est une fermeté incontestable de la justice, et la deuxième, c'est que le caractère raciste manifesté par les agresseurs soit pris en compte", a-t-elle souligné. La maire de Romans-sur-Isère a exprimé ses craintes quant à d'éventuels drames à venir après le meurtre de Thomas. 

Elle a regretté le fait que tous les mis en cause soient "issus de parents déjà délinquants". Selon elle, il s'agit d'une culture qui se transmet, une observation qu'elle fait en tant que maire depuis 2014.
Interrogée sur le quartier de la Monnaie, d'où proviennent certains des suspects, Marie-Hélène Thoraval a affirmé qu'au sein des 4500 habitants, «une centaine de jeunes» posent des problèmes, formant «un noyau dur particulièrement violent».

Radicalisation et trafic de drogue

Elle a décrit ce noyau dur comme cherchant à établir «une zone de non-droit en occupant le territoire» de la Drôme, au détriment des 34 000 habitants de la ville qui aspirent à la tranquillité. 

"C'est tout un territoire qui est touché", a insisté l'élue, ajoutant avec force : 

"Il faut cesser de pratiquer la culture de l'excuse".

Concernant la divulgation des prénoms des suspects, la maire de Romans-sur-Isère a critiqué le fait de "ne pas avoir communiqué les prénoms plus tôt", jugeant cela "indécent". 

Elle s'est interrogée sur le manque de transparence initial, soulignant que la divulgation des prénoms sur les réseaux sociaux avant leur confirmation par les autorités ne fait que renforcer la stigmatisation.

Déjà dimanche, la maire avait appelé à "s'asseoir autour de la table et à travailler autrement" face à un niveau de délinquance qui, selon elle, trouve ses racines dans la radicalisation et le trafic de drogue, à Romans et dans d'autres villes.

Lundi, le gouvernement avait tenté d'apaiser les tensions suscitées par la mort de Thomas.

Ce qui a coûté la vie au lycéen de 16 ans n'est pas "une simple rixe" mais "un drame qui fait courir le risque d'un basculement de notre société", a déclaré.Olivier Véran, appelant à ne pas répondre à la violence par la violence. Certes mais quand le gouvernement aura-t-il le courage de nommer les choses et de prendre les mesures qui s'imposent ?

FENNEL AVOCADO AND ORANGE SALAD

Due to its aniseed taste, fennel is the ingredient to discover and slip into your salads !

It gives them a little extra taste and with the avocados and oranges, this salad is perfect to surprise your guests.

Ingredients

Lawyer(s) 2

Fennel 1

Orange(s) 2

Red onion(s)

Red onion(s) 1

Balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp. soup

Olive oil 2 tbsp. soup

Salt pepper

Preparation

1°Rinse the fennel and cut it into thin strips.

2°Chop the onion finely and cut the avocado into quarters.

3° Peel the oranges and cut them into quarters.

4°In a small bowl, mix the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, with a pinch of salt and pepper.

5° Add the olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a drizzle, with a pinch of pepper and salt.

6°Mix with a wooden spoon.

You can replace the oranges with grapefruit.

COME BACK TO THE SHOW

EPOQUAUTO

EpoquAuto is an exciting and unforgettable odyssey to the heart of ancient automobile passion in Lyon, a large city in France, capital of Gaul, and which is also the world capital of gastronomy.

The 2023 edition of EpoquAuto took place from November 10 to 12 in Lyon, transforming the vast halls of Eurexpo into a true sanctuary dedicated to lovers of vintage cars.

Proudly occupying 5 halls as well as the central square of Eurexpo, EpoquAuto 2023 welcomed 849 exhibitors, including 528 dedicated to spare parts and old documents, as well as specialized craftsmen.

What makes EpoquAuto so special is its status as the only show of this scale organized by a club of vintage car enthusiasts.

Unlike major international shows such as Essen, Maastricht, Brussels or Paris-Rétromobile, EpoquAuto has managed to maintain the authentic character of a stock exchange, contrasting with the global trend where collector vehicle dealers and service providers are taking center stage.

Where other events gradually shift towards intensive commercialization, EpoquAuto remains faithful to the spirit of exchange, highlighting the diversity of regional clubs and brands.

This approach gives the show a unique atmosphere, truly designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, a strong point that is felt in every corner of the exhibition halls.

This symbiosis between clubs, exhibitors, and visitors makes EpoquAuto much more than just a show; it is a meeting place, a celebration of the shared love for vintage automobiles.

Between popular brands still in operation, prestigious brands that have now disappeared, and giants of the American automobile industry, visitors had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a true automobile retrospective.

The show also highlighted several themes, ranging from rallying to hill climbs, including youngtimers (collector cars from the 80s/90s) and utility vehicles, including imposing coaches and the emblematic Berliet manufactured In Lyon.

This thematic diversity helped enrich the visitor experience, offering a variety of exhibitions and demonstrations that captivated the attention of enthusiasts.

The aisles of EpoquAuto were lively with the presence of enthusiast clubs, car dealers, private car sales areas, and areas dedicated to vehicles up for auction.

Visitors were able to admire an impressive range of models, from popular cars to luxury ones, allowing everyone to find what they were looking for, whether for purchase or simple contemplation.

Between the acquisition of an old one, the contemplative strolls, the activities such as the record dismantling of a Citroën 2CV, and the conferences organized by the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles, everyone could find what they were looking for.

The clubs, present in large numbers, were available to answer visitors' questions, displaying a smile and patience which underline the passion which drives them.

The 250 volunteers formed an exceptional team, effectively managing the busy crowds from 9 a.m. on Friday, coordinating access to the parking lots, and ensuring that each visitor could fully enjoy the EpoquAuto experience.

On Friday, from 10 a.m., the aisles were already crowded, creating an electric atmosphere where business was brisk. The regulars met with enthusiasm, while the newcomers were amazed by the diversity of the exhibitions.

Each year, the 3A demonstrate their expertise by choosing themes that highlight specific brands, adding a thematic dimension to the show.

This year, the honor was given to Peugeot, Talbot and Cadillac, offering visitors an immersive dive into the history of these iconic brands. The 3A also ensures that the soul of the show is preserved by giving a significant place to clubs and individuals, and by creating a space where diversity reigns supreme.

The friendly atmosphere of EpoquAuto is also enhanced by the gastronomic tradition of the region.

Visitors, who come in vintage cars, also benefit from privileged treatment with the provision of free parking, adding a picturesque touch to the overall spectacle.

The 3As, with their keen sense of organization, manage to maintain a relaxed atmosphere despite the crowds, creating a harmonious balance between automotive passion and conviviality.

Beyond economic considerations, EpoquAuto offers a day of shared happiness.

The remarkable involvement of the 3A, the frequent reunions between enthusiasts, the quality and quantity of the exhibitors, as well as this unique atmosphere of popular celebration, make this show an event apart.

The experience goes beyond simply looking at vintage cars; it is part of a true immersion in automotive history, where each model tells a story, and each enthusiast shares their love for these vehicles full of memories.

The show is not only an exhibition space, it is also a large car flea market where visitors can find rare parts, unforgettable souvenirs, and exchange anecdotes with other enthusiasts. The clubs, at the heart of this ecosystem, are essential pillars, offering a space where camaraderie and exchange are in the spotlight.

It's a total immersion in automotive culture, where visitors can not only admire exceptional models, but also learn more about their history from the enthusiasts who proudly present them.

Gender diversity is the hallmark of EpoquAuto, making sure not to give in to elitism often seen elsewhere. The parts and automobile dealers' halls are a real treasure trove for enthusiasts, offering items at all prices..

Authenticity reigns, and each stand is an invitation to discovery, in search of the rare pearl that will complete the collection or that will evoke a precious memory.

However, in the midst of this passionate excitement, economic considerations emerge.

Prices appear to have increased since the previous year, raising questions about the reasons for this increase.

Visitors, while understanding the economic realities, were able to see this evolution of prices, while expressing their passion through negotiations often marked by conviviality.

Despite this observation, the price of entry to the show remains affordable, which contrasts with other events of the same type.

Beyond the economic aspect, spending a day at EpoquAuto provides shared happiness. The 3A, through their commitment and passion, have succeeded in creating an event that goes well beyond a simple car show. It is an immersive experience, a dive into automotive history and culture, where every detail is carefully orchestrated to provide a memorable day for enthusiasts.

The spirit of EpoquAuto also lies in the generosity of the volunteers, who devote time and energy so that each visitor leaves with memories engraved in their memory.

The 3A are the real heroes behind the scenes, orchestrating this event with remarkable precision and an obvious love for vintage automobiles. Their dedication deserves special recognition, because it is thanks to them that thousands of enthusiasts are able to experience this unique immersion in the world of vintage cars every year.

In conclusion, EpoquAuto 2023 was much more than just a car show.

It was an odyssey through time, a celebration of shared automotive passion, masterfully orchestrated by the 3A and their army of dedicated volunteers.

Varied exhibitions, warm encounters, passionate exchanges and a friendly atmosphere marked this edition, making it an unmissable event for all vintage car enthusiasts.

EpoquAuto is not only an annual meeting, it is an experience that leaves an indelible mark in the heart of each visitor, a memorable chapter in the rich history of automobile passion.

LA GUERRE MEDIATIQUE MENEE PAR LE HAMAS CONTRE ISRAEL

La République islamique est engagée dans une guerre par procuration contre Israël ; un pays dont elle va jusqu'à nier le droit même à exister. Si l'Iran se garde de mener des actions militaires directes en territoire israélien, il finance un réseau d'organisations armées à l'extérieur de ses frontières qu'il surnomme " l'axe de résistance" contre Israël. 

Et juste après l’Iran et son programme nucléaire, deux organisations figurent sur le podium des menaces, considéré depuis Tel-Aviv : le Hamas palestinien et le Hezbollah libanais, qui disposerait de "100.000 fusées" prêtes à être lancer contre l’Etat hébreu.

Le Hamas avec les atrocités commises en Israël du 7 octobre 2023 n'a pas démérité de sa réputation. Et il a su utiliser les médias pour propager l'horreur de leurs actes.

" Nous livrons une bataille, et que plus de la moitié de cette bataille se déroule sur la scène médiatique. Nous sommes donc engagés dans une bataille médiatique pour gagner les cœurs et les esprits des membres de notre communauté. " , clamait déjà en 2004 Ayman al-Zawahiri, autrefois numéro deux d'Al-Qaida et ensuite leader après l'élimination d'Oussama Ben Laden en 2011, sur le rôle crucial de la sphère médiatique en tant que champ de bataille autonome.

Le message d'Al-Zawahiri en 2004, encourageait pour Irak à mobiliser l'ensemble des musulmans dans un djihad global contre ce qu'il percevait comme une nouvelle "croisade" américaine contre l'islam. Al-Zawahiri soulignait la nécessité de déplacer les sanctuaires d'Al-Qaida des zones rurales vers les centres urbains pour exploiter le potentiel médiatique des conflits urbains.

Un usage médiatique des civils

Ce basculement géographique reposait sur un constat stratégique : la ville, dans les conflits contemporains asymétriques, est devenue un véritable catalyseur capable d’alimenter la « guerre médiatique ». Les destructions qui y sont commises par l’ennemi sont plus spectaculaires qu’en zone rurale, la présence de milliers de civils peut faire hésiter l’assaillant au moment de lancer ses attaques, le nombre de victimes collatérales plus élevé, la quantité de photos et de vidéos qui y sont prises est plus importante – autant d’éléments qui permettent de mieux mobiliser les publics lointains contre l’armée qui mène l’offensive.

Il est difficile de ne pas voir dans les modes opératoires du Hamas mis en œuvre actuellement à Gaza une logique similaire à celle utilisée par Al-Qaida en Irak à Falloujah (quelque 300 000 habitants) en 2004.
De plus en concentrant les bastions défensifs soit autour d’une mosquée stratégique soit autour de l’hôpital de Falloujah les terroristes bénéficient non seulement de la protection de boucliers humains mais transforme aussi l’opération en une véritable profanation aux yeux des populations musulmanes, la mosquée revêtant un caractère sacré. L'objectif recherché : réveiller chez l’Oumma le « réflexe » du djihad dit « défensif ».

Cette approche stratégique persiste dans les tactiques actuelles du Hamas à Gaza, mettant en œuvre des méthodes similaires à celles employées par Al-Qaida en Irak, telles que l'utilisation de boucliers humains et la concentration des opérations dans des zones urbaines densément peuplées.Les objectifs consistent à maximiser les pertes civiles en cas de frappe, provoquant ainsi une réaction émotionnelle et un soutien accru de la population locale.

Soulever "la rue arabe" et fragiliser les régimes arabes partenaires d’Israël

A la différence d’Al-Qaida, le Hamas ne cherche pas a priori à susciter des vocations djihadistes, mais plutôt à soulever "la rue arabe", à la radicaliser afin de fragiliser les régimes arabes partenaires d’Israël et d’isoler un État hébreu soucieux de normaliser ses relations avec ses voisins. Les stratèges d’Al-Qaida ont d’ailleurs théorisé la vocation du djihad palestinien à saper la légitimité des régimes arabes en paix avec Israël .

Après les deux ans de la signature des accords d'Abraham qui, ont contribué à détendre les relations avec d'autres pays arabes - l’Egypte, la Jordanie, l’Arabie saoudite et les pays du Golfe- à l' exception près du Qatar qui soutient les Frères musulmans et le Hamas palestinien, qui en est une émanation- la riposte d’Israël contre Gaza aux attaques du Hamas a mis a fortement mis à mal les efforts de part et d'autres...

La filiation idéologique et stratégique entre Al-Qaida et le Hamas éclaire le conflit en cours à Gaza, soulignant l'importance du champ de bataille médiatique et la manipulation des médias pour influencer l'opinion publique.

GEERT WILDERS PREMIER MINISTRE 

AUX PAYS-BAS PREFIGURERAIT L'AVENIR 

DE L'EXTREME-DROITE EN EUROPE

Les élections législatives néerlandaises de mercredi 22 novembre 2023 ont donné une victoire massive du parti d’extrême droite PVV, qui a obtenu 37 sièges sur 150, suivi par la coalition des partis socialiste et vert (Parti travailliste/PvdA, Gauche verte/GL) de l’ancien commissaire européen Frans Timmermans, qui a obtenu 25 sièges.

M. Wilders a déclaré que le PVV ne pouvait « plus être ignoré », affirmant que « nous allons gouverner ».

« Une telle mégavictoire doit être respectée. C’est ce que disent les électeurs, ils veulent que les choses soient différentes. Il serait très antidémocratique de laisser les électeurs de côté », a-t-il déclaré.

De l'autre côté de l'échiquier politique, M. Timmermans a exprimé sa déception face aux résultats, soulignant son espoir initial et reconnaissant qu'il n'a pas réussi à convaincre suffisamment de personnes. 

Appelant à un "front progressiste" pour défendre la démocratie et l'État de droit, il a vivement critiqué le discours anti-migratoire du PVV.
"Peu importe d'où vous venez", a affirmé Timmermans, "vous êtes les bienvenus aux Pays-Bas si vous fuyez la guerre et la violence, cela restera inchangé pour nous".

Deux scénarios possibles

Face aux résultats, deux scénarios se dessinent : soit le VVD libéral, le NSC de centre-droit et le PVV d'extrême droite forment une coalition de droite, éventuellement avec le soutien de petits partis comme le BBB (Mouvement agriculteur-citoyen), soit le bloc Pvd A/GL de M. Timmermans tente de gouverner avec le NSC et le VVD, aux côtés du parti libéral D66 (Démocrates 66).

Dans une semaine au plus tard, un débat parlementaire avec les nouveaux sièges sera organisé pour discuter des résultats des élections. Tous les partis nommeront un médiateur pour explorer des coalitions viables. Ensuite, le médiateur recommandera une coalition, et le Parlement choisira et nommera l'un des chefs de parti au poste de Premier ministre, chargé de former une coalition. Ce processus peut s'étendre sur plusieurs mois.

Bien que tout soit incertain, les divergences de vue entre les partis sur des questions clés rendront les négociations de coalition difficiles, compliquant la gouvernance future.
Le VVD se montre ouvert à une collaboration avec l'extrême droite, alors que la présidente du parti, Dilan Yeşilgöz, a précisé qu'elle ne soutiendrait pas M. Wilders en tant que Premier ministre en raison de ses opinions extrêmes.

"Je ne vois pas M. Wilders devenir Premier ministre car je ne le vois pas capable de former une majorité. C'est maintenant à lui de montrer s'il en est capable", a déclaré Dilan Yeşilgöz lors de la soirée électorale.

Le leader du NSC, Peter Omtzigt, a réitéré à plusieurs reprises que son parti ne collaborerait pas avec le PVV en raison de ses positions anti-islam et anti-migrants, contraires à la constitution néerlandaise. Cependant, rien n'est exclu.
M. Omtzigt exprime son désir de faire partie du nouveau cabinet, mais reconnaît que cela ne sera pas facile. "Les Pays-Bas doivent être gouvernés, et nous sommes prêts pour cela", a-t-il déclaré.

Malgré l'ouverture du VVD et du NSC à la négociation, M. Wilders a indiqué qu'il était prêt à faire des concessions sur ses propositions politiques les plus controversées. "Nous n'allons pas parler de mosquées, de Corans et d'écoles islamiques", a-t-il déclaré, reconnaissant que certaines mesures étaient anticonstitutionnelles.
Une coalition avec le NSC et le VVD pourrait atténuer leur discours. 

Par exemple, une coalition de droite continuerait probablement à soutenir une approche unifiée dans la dimension extérieure de l'Union européenne, notamment en matière de commerce mondial, de coopération en défense et d'autonomie stratégique, comme le préconisent le VVD et le NSC dans leurs programmes électoraux.

En ce qui concerne une coalition centriste, le Pvd A/GL de M. Timmermans et le VVD sont historiquement rivaux, le VVD ayant des positions eurosceptiques et fiscalement conservatrices au sein de la famille des partis libéraux européens. De plus, l'alliance verte-socialiste a été formée pour évincer le VVD du gouvernement.

Le réveil de l'extrême droite européenne

La victoire du PVV néerlandais aiguise l'appétit des nationalistes de l'UE pour un retour aux "identités nationales". Les dirigeants des partis d'extrême droite européens exprimant ouvertement leur soutien à l'ancien président américain Donald Trump célèbrent la victoire de Geert Wilders avant les élections européennes de juin.

"Partout en Europe, les citoyens réclament un changement politique !", a commenté le parti d'extrême droite allemand Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) sur X. Le Premier ministre hongrois Viktor Orbán a félicité immédiatement Geert Wilders pour sa victoire, soulignant un "vent de changement".

A Paris, la dirigeante d'extrême droite Marine Le Pen du Rassemblement national (ID) a félicité Geert Wilders et le PVV pour leur performance spectaculaire aux élections législatives, confirmant le soutien croissant à la défense des identités nationales.

Le chef du parti espagnol Vox (CRE), Santiago Abascal, a également félicité M. Wilders, notant que de plus en plus d'Européens demandent que leurs nations, frontières et droits soient défendus.

La Première ministre italienne conservatrice, Giorgia Meloni, n'a pas encore réagi à la nouvelle. Cependant, Matteo Salvini, de la Lega (La Ligue, Identité et Démocratie/ID), son partenaire de coalition, a félicité M. Wilders, le qualifiant d'"allié historique de la Lega". "Une nouvelle Europe est possible", a-t-il déclaré sur X.

Après 13 ans à la tête du gouvernement néerlandais, Mark Rutte pourrait céder la place à un nouveau visage de l'extrême droite issu des élections législatives du 22 novembre.

ACCORD ISRAEL-HAMAS LIBERATION D'OTAGES TREVE HUMANITAIRE...

Les deux parties ont finalement conclu un premier accord dans la nuit du mardi 21 novembre 2023 au mercredi 22 novembre. Après des semaines de conflit et de pourparlers simultanés, un consensus a été atteint. Le Hamas et Israël se sont entendus sur la libération de 50 otages, enlevés par le groupe terroriste le 7 octobre 2023 dernier, en échange de la libération de prisonniers palestiniens et de l'instauration d'une trêve dans la bande de Gaza.

Le Premier ministre Benyamin Netanyahou a qualifié l'accord de "bonne décision" mardi soir, avant le début de la réunion de son cabinet, qui a ensuite donné son feu vert tôt mercredi. Le Hamas, via son chef Ismaïl Haniyeh, a salué la décision de "trêve humanitaire", soulignant que les modalités de l'accord étaient conformes à la vision de la résistance.

Les autorités qataries, au cœur des pourparlers, ont confirmé l'accord dans la nuit, exprimant leur gratitude envers l'Égypte et les États-Unis pour leur contribution aux médiations.

Libération de 50 otages contre 150 prisonniers palestiniens ?

240 otages, capturés lors de l'attaque du Hamas sur Israël le 7 octobre 2023, étaient concernés. Le gouvernement israélien a annoncé avoir approuvé les grandes lignes de la première étape de l'accord, libérant au moins 50 otages, principalement des femmes et des enfants. Aucun militaire ne devrait être relâché.

En échange, un nombre indéterminé de femmes et d'enfants palestiniens détenus en Israël seront également libérés, selon le ministère des Affaires étrangères qatarien. Deux sources parlent de 150 prisonniers.

La nationalité des personnes libérées reste floue, bien que trois ressortissantes américaines figurent parmi les 50 otages, selon un haut responsable de la Maison Blanche. Huit Français sont toujours aux mains du Hamas.

Bien que cet accord porte initialement sur 50 personnes, les États-Unis s'attendent à la libération de davantage d'otages dans les prochains jours. Si ce premier accord ne porte que sur 50 personnes, les États-Unis s’attendent à ce que davantage soient libérées. 

"Il y aura maintenant une pause de plusieurs jours, ils (le Hamas) auront la capacité d’identifier des femmes et des enfants supplémentaires. Nous nous attendons donc à ce qu’il y en ait plus de 50", a déclaré un haut responsable américain à la presse.

Dans une série de messages sur X ce mercredi matin, le gouvernement israélien écrit d’ailleurs que "la libération de dix otages supplémentaires entraînera une journée supplémentaire de pause".

Une trêve d'au moins quatre jours.

L'échange de prisonniers et d'otages se déroulera au cours d'une trêve humanitaire, d'une durée initiale de quatre jours, avec la possibilité de prolongation. 

Cette pause est réclamée depuis longtemps par des organisations internationales et des ONG, pour permettre l'entrée de convois humanitaires et d'aide d'urgence, y compris du carburant, dans la bande de Gaza, soumise à un siège total d'Israël.. Jusque-là, seule une pause quotidienne de quatre heures avait été accordée par le gouvernement hébreu.

La Croix Rouge pourra rendre visite aux otages non encore libérés à Gaza, avec des médicaments.

Difficile de savoir si cet accord va être tenu de bout en bout. Les deux parties ont déjà évoqué un retour à la guerre. Le ministre israélien de la Défense, Yoav Gallant, a exprimé le souhait d'une reprise "à pleine force" des opérations après la trêve pour "défaire" le Hamas et créer les conditions nécessaires au retour d'autres otages.

 "Le gouvernement israélien, l’armée israélienne et les forces de sécurité poursuivront la guerre pour ramener toutes les personnes enlevées, éliminer le Hamas et garantir qu’il n’y ait plus aucune menace pour l’État d’Israël depuis Gaza", a d’ailleurs confirmé le gouvernement après son vote. 

"Nous confirmons que nos mains resteront sur la gâchette et que nos bataillons triomphants resteront aux aguets", a également averti le Hamas de son côté.

La pause pour les "otages"ne signifie pas la fin de la guerre.

ARGENTINA ELECTS A LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENT

TO SHOCK PROPOSALS

If he obtains the necessary support in Parliament, he could notably implement a radical economic policy.

He hailed “a historic night for Argentina”.

The ultraliberal Argentine economist Javier Milei, anti-system polemicist and admirer of Donald Trump, was elected president of Argentina on Sunday November 19, 2023.

He won the Argentine presidential election this Monday, with 55.6% of the votes against 44.3% for his opponent, the centrist Sergio Massa.

Repeated political and financial scandals have gradually eroded the confidence of the Argentine people in their elected officials.

In December 2022, former president Cristina Kirchner was sentenced to six years in prison for “fraudulent administration” to the detriment of the State. By distancing himself from politicians, Javier Milei managed to win the hearts of Argentines, sickened by years of corruption and strangled by inflation which amounts to 143% over one year.

The new Argentine leader, who readily defines himself as an "anarcho-capitalist", notably proposes a dollarization of the country's economy and a budgetary "shock treatment". He also rejects human responsibility for global warming and opposes the right to abortion.

Adoption of the dollar to replace the peso

The politician presenting himself as "anti-system" promised shock therapy to Latin America's third largest economy involving significant budget cuts, going so far as to suggest the total elimination of several ministries, including that of Health and Transportation.

An economist by training and elected deputy in 2021, he defined as a key measure of his mandate the dollarization of the Argentine economy, in the face of galloping inflation exceeding 142% over one year, according to the country's Central Bank. He plans to replace the peso, "described as excrement", with the dollar by 2025.

More than 200 economists consider this a “mirage”, anticipating increased fragility in the face of “external shocks” and periods of recession with a high unemployment rate.
At the same time, the new president wants to “energize” the Argentine Central Bank.

A “chainsaw” for public spending

During his presidential campaign, Javier Milei repeatedly brandished a chainsaw, a symbol of the drastic budget cuts to come in the event of victory. The new president intends to reduce public spending by 15% of GDP and put an end to "this aberration called social justice, synonymous with budget deficit".

It plans to reduce public spending by 15% of GDP, privatize the 34 public companies, remove subsidies on gas and electricity, and establish a private tender system for public works.

He also plans to reduce the number of ministries, end the retirements of former presidents, judges, and diplomats, while reducing funds paid to the provinces.

Although Javier Milei tried to allay concerns at the end of the campaign, ensuring that he would not privatize health and education, his anti-feminist positions raise concerns. He proposes to abolish the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity declaring in May 2022:

“I will not apologize for having a penis” and denying wage inequalities despite a gap of 27.7% in Argentina.

He opposes the right to abortion, legalized until the 14th week of pregnancy in December 2020, considering abortion to be murder. Javier Milei wants to organize a referendum on the subject: “Obviously, the woman has the rights to her body, but the child is not her body,” he believes.

The new president supports the primacy of individual freedoms on subjects such as the legalization of drugs, the deregulation of the sale of arms, and proposes a "market solution" for organ donation.

However, he defends the primacy of individual freedoms over other subjects, such as the legalization of drugs "as long as it does not involve state aid". The new Argentine president also says he is in favor of deregulating the sale of arms, but also of a "market solution" for organ donation.

A climate skeptic program

On the environmental front, Javier Milei adopts a climate skeptic position, denying global warming due to human activities. He refuses adherence to the UN 2030 agenda and goes so far as to defend the idea of ​​privatizing rivers in Argentina.
“There is, in the history of the Earth, a temperature cycle,” he also declared at the beginning of October during the presidential campaign. The new Argentine president went so far as to defend the idea of ​​privatizing rivers in Argentina

“If water becomes scarce, it stops being worthless and then a trade begins, and you will see how the pollution [from businesses] ends,” he declared in particular during the campaign.

A new president with “tied hands”

But between the initial exercise of charm and the materialization of campaign commitments, the road ahead proves to be particularly demanding. Populist leaders tend to present political proposals often focused on breaking with reality. This approach proves very effective when gaining power, but it takes on a whole new dimension once it is acquired, warns and author of Geopolitics of Latin America.

Although Javier Milei forged his image on the fringes of the corridors of Argentine power, it was nevertheless the support of the right that propelled him to the presidency.

According to the Latin America specialist, Christophe Ventura, research director at Iris, "the real architect of his victory is the right-wing bloc which supported him in the second round to prevent the Peronists, embodied by the candidacy of Sergio Massa, to stay in power."

However, alliances will be essential for him to carry out his program. In Parliament, his party is only the third force, behind the center-left and center-right blocs. For the moment, Javier Milei only has 38 deputies out of the 257 in the Argentine Parliament.

However, to legislate in Argentina, a quorum is required, that is to say half of the deputies plus one. He is very far from it.

The new president will "have his hands tied", because it is "unlikely that he will succeed in forming a majority" in Parliament. Half of the parliamentarians were renewed in the first round of the presidential election and the second half will be renewed during elections in two years.

Javier Milei therefore finds himself obliged to form alliances and, therefore, probably to put water in the wine of his shock campaign declarations.

If Javier Milei manages to obtain the necessary support, he wants to implement shock measures to put an end, as he says, "to Argentine decadence".

The crucial question therefore remains to know to what extent this alliance of circumstance could last.

The Argentines who "barely manage to survive", have chosen the "chainsaw" to the Peronist continuity which has continued to push them into poverty....

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Squash is a versatile fruit (yes, a fruit) that you can use in a myriad of recipes.

You can easily prepare these succulent fall recipes using squash.

Small spaghetti squash-2

Vegetable oil-10 ml (2 tsp)

Pepper-To taste

Onion-1

White mushrooms - 1 punnet of 227 g

Italian sausages-350 g (¾ lb)

Grated mozzarella cheese-125 g (1 cup)

Tomato coulis-1 bottle of approximately 675 ml

Baby spinach - 1 punnet of 142 g

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or a reusable baking sheet).

Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and strings from inside the squash.

Using a kitchen brush, brush the inside of the squash with oil. Season generously with pepper and place the squash on the baking sheet, cut side down.

Bake them for 25 to 35 minutes or until the tip of a knife easily inserts into the flesh.

Meanwhile, chop the onion, slice the mushrooms and remove the sausage casings.

In a large, high-sided non-stick skillet preheated over medium-high heat, without adding any fat, crumble the sausage meat using a wooden spoon. Cook it for 2 or 3 minutes, until it starts to brown.

Add the onion and mushrooms to the pan. Continue cooking for 7 or 8 minutes, avoiding handling them too much to allow them to brown well.

Meanwhile, grate the cheese.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the tomato coulis and spinach, then mix. Continue cooking for 3 or 4 minutes, until the sauce is hot.

Divide the sauce among the cooked squash halves and top them with cheese. Brown them under the grill for 2 minutes or until the cheese is browned. Serve everything.

FRANCE MECHANICAL ORANGE

16-YEAR-OLD THOMAS KILLED WITH KNIVES

BY A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE CITY

This tragic event arouses emotion within right-wing and far-right circles. Thomas, a 16-year-old boy, was fatally stabbed on the night of Saturday to Sunday during the "winter ball" in Crépol, a village with barely more than 500 inhabitants in Drôme.
“His family will remain dignified and will not incite a riot. As usual, some will keep silent about his murder perpetrated by individuals who came to Crépol to attack young French people,” declares the leader of Reconquête, Éric Zemmour, on X ( formerly Twitter).

Thomas, a “victim of wildness”

A group of at least ten people infiltrated the village hall in the middle of the evening. A security agent, denying them access, was injured by a stab. In difficulty, participants left the evening, triggering a general fight, specifies the Valencia prosecutor, Laurent de Caigny.

Thomas died of a stab wound while on his way to Lyon hospital.

The leader of the Republicans, Éric Ciotti, interprets the death of the teenager as a “victim of the savagery of France”. “No, Thomas was not simply in the wrong place at the wrong time!”, affirms the MP for Alpes-Maritimes.

The emotion and grief are palpable in Crépol. Denouncing "the barbarity and tragedy" of the night, the RC Romans-Péage rugby club, to which the young man belonged, posted on social networks a photo of him, smiling, wearing his jersey.
A minute of silence in tribute was observed this Sunday before a match organized by the club. The young boy's friends describe him as "a happy go lucky guy", always ready to bring others together and ease conflicts.
"What happened at the ball in Crépol, a village in the Drôme, is not a simple 'brawl', as the media claim: it is the effect of a savagery which disrupts lives and shatters them others,” writes the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella.

Darmanin reacts “faster for a crushed cat”

The observation is shared by Bruno Retailleau. The head of the LR senators evokes on social networks "the state of ultra-violence into which part of our youth is sinking", attributed largely to the feeling of impunity.
For the moment, the government, like the left, maintains a discreet silence. Gérald Darmanin, usually quick to react, has not yet spoken, causing annoyance within Reconquête.

The Minister of the Interior "reacted more quickly for a cat crushed by a TGV than for Thomas, massacred by the barbarians of Romans-sur-Isère 15 kilometers from Crépol", deplores Marion Maréchal, candidate for the European elections. She refers to the cat crushed by a train in Paris last January, which deeply shocked the tenant of Place Beauvau.
According to the first elements collected, the group's aggression seemed to be premeditated and "perhaps linked to a dispute with someone" present at the evening, explains Laurent de Caigny.
The vagueness remains regarding the motivations of the attackers, "but an element collected allows us to consider that this expedition is not simply justified by the simple intention of 'going to the ball' in Crépol", specifies a judicial source.

An investigation into “homicide and attempted homicide” by an “organized gang” was opened and entrusted to the gendarmes. No suspects have yet been apprehended.

JOE BIDEN AND XI YINPING SUMMIT

REUNION DESPITE STRONG RIVALRIES

IN INTERDEPENDENCE

The time has come for appeasement between China and the United States. This is the message that Xi Jinping and Joe Biden will try to convey during their meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning in San Francisco, on the sidelines of the APEC summit. Beijing, Monday.

The American president is due to meet with his counterpart for several hours, near San Francisco, California, on the sidelines of an Apec summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

According to Voice of America, the meeting, scheduled for 6:45 p.m. GMT, will take place in an upscale and bucolic estate, about forty kilometers from the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

The two men want to show that the rivalry between their two countries remains under control. In an international context complicated by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, this meeting, which takes place a year before the American presidential election, will allow them to discuss "peace and development in the world", assured Joe Biden .

No “decoupling”

Despite geopolitical rivalries and security tensions, despite the trade war started by Donald Trump and continued by Joe Biden, the decoupling of the two economies is no longer at all relevant, Americans and Chinese assure in unison. Jack Sullivan, the White House Security Advisor, puts it in full: “the United States and China have interdependent economies”. Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, warns that “a complete breakdown would have significant negative repercussions on the economy.” In Beijing, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs goes further: “We are opposed to a definition of Sino-American relations in terms of competition.” The very nationalist Chinese daily Global Times explains that the big subject of San Francisco is the stabilization of economic relations between the two countries to revive global growth.

Just before this tête-à-tête, the tone was intended to be very conciliatory. “We are not trying to decouple ourselves from China,” Joe Biden assured Tuesday, for whom the objective is to “be able to pick up the phone and talk to each other if there is a crisis.”

“We are opposed to a definition of Sino-American relations in terms of competition,” even said a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two leaders, who have known each other for several years, spoke for three hours on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Indonesia a year ago. The relationship has since turned sour, particularly with the flight over American territory by a Chinese balloon at the start of the year. Joe Biden irritated Beijing by highlighting in February the “enormous problems” that, according to him, China encounters economically.

Previous provocative statements

We are a long way from the provocative statements of March when Xi Jinping criticized, with rare virulence, an American strategy of “encirclement” while Washington is strengthening its alliances in the Asia-Pacific. China denounces the sanctions imposed on it by the United States in the technological field, while Washington protests against Beijing's "provocative" actions in the South China Sea.

Even the famous “panda diplomacy” had suffered from the cold snap: on November 8, the three giant pandas from the Washington Zoo left for China, marking the end of an animal-diplomatic practice begun in 1972.

The tone between Washington and Beijing, however, softened enough in the summer to allow the organization of the Californian face-to-face meeting.

Taiwan, Israel, Ukraine

Joe Biden “wants to ensure that we manage this very important bilateral relationship in the most responsible manner possible,” White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday.

On the American side, China is expected to guarantee its non-interference in Taiwan's next presidential election in January 2024, to begin military de-escalation in the South China Sea and to put an end to its intimidation operations around the island

The status of the island, of which Beijing claims sovereignty, and to which Washington provides substantial military assistance, remains a central subject of friction. The increase in demonstrations of force by the Chinese army off the coast of Taiwan worries the United States, as the presidential election on the island looms in January. On the Chinese side, the visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the American House of Representatives, in August 2022, was very poorly received by Beijing, which had suspended most regular military communications with the United States.

“Xi Jinping will once again defend the One China policy before President Biden. Because the impassable red line, as the Chinese government has repeatedly said, is the question of Taiwan!”, advances RFI Gao Zhikai, vice-president of the Center on China and Globalization in Beijing. Joe Biden must reaffirm to China that Washington does not support independence for Taiwan, and that American policy on the matter has not changed.

The two leaders must also address the two major conflicts of the moment: in Ukraine and the Middle East. Before the meeting, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her administration was "concerned that equipment critical to Russia's military effort is evading [US] sanctions and being delivered to Russia.

" The United States certainly does not expect China to cut ties with Russia, but hopes that it does not further deepen its friendship with Vladimir Putin by directly supplying him with weapons.As part of the outfit annual meeting of the Xiangshan Security Forum Zhang Youxi, first vice-president of the Central Military Commission, expressed China's wish to deepen cooperation with Russia in the military field. “China stands ready to actively work with Russia to respond to various security threats and challenges in order to jointly safeguard global strategic balance and security,” he said, quoted by the official agency. New China.

The United States also asks China not to aggravate major international crises, and in particular the war between Israel and Hamas, which Joe Biden does not want to see spread. “They have lines of communication in the region that we don't have,” John Kirby said, referring to the relationship between Beijing and Iran. Building on its recent mediation in the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the United States hopes that China will put pressure on Tehran so that the Shiite power does not seek to become more involved in the Gaza war.

However, during international crises, "China loves to be seen as a major player, but it is very little involved in resolving problems. It is first and foremost focused on its own issues, particularly economic and strategic, because it likes also increase the circle of those who can support it", underlines Valérie Niquet, head of the Asia pole at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS)

Renewing a joint dialogue

The crisis in Taiwan has damaged the military relationship between China and the United States. Washington wants a resumption of dialogue. “President [Biden] is committed to seeing the restoration of military-to-military ties because he believes it is in the national security interests of the United States,” said Jake Sullivan, the American adviser to national security, on the American channel CBS. “He believes that communication between armies is necessary to ensure that this competition does not escalate into conflict.”

If the United States wants to control any escalation in the military domain, while maintaining vigorous competition in the technological and economic domains, China does not distinguish between these domains, because they are interconnected.

A working group on joint climate action

Tuesday, on the eve of the meeting between the two men, China and the United States announced the upcoming creation of a working group on climate cooperation, a few weeks before the international climate conference (COP28 ).

This working group will focus on "energy transition, methane, circular economy and resource efficiency, low-carbon and sustainable provinces/states and cities, and deforestation", it said in a statement shared by Chinese state media and the US State Department. The members of the group will lead “dialogue and cooperation in order to accelerate concrete actions in favor of the climate”, according to the text.

The meeting between the two largest CO2 emitters countries "offers tempting hope in terms of climate action", estimates, in an article, Kate Logan, of the Asia Society Policy Institute, a few days before the opening of the COP28 in Dubai, November 30. “A high-level agreement between the United States and China could provide the change of course necessary to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C” increase compared to the pre-industrial era, she assures. .

Why this change of tone ?

Both leaders currently find themselves in a delicate phase on the domestic front, where the need for positive economic outcomes is more crucial than ever. In the United States, with the election just a year away, polls reveal growing skepticism toward Bidenomics among the population. In order to preserve the growth that the United States is experiencing, it is imperative to ease tensions that could potentially hamper the national economy.
In Beijing, Xi Jinping is resigned to reality: China will not become the leading world power as quickly as initially expected. Faced with slowing growth and rising unemployment, particularly among young people, Xi recognizes that now is not the ideal time to clash with such a crucial trading partner. Indeed, the American market represents a vital outlet necessary to maintain the operation of factories and revive an activity devastated by the real estate crisis.

Recent figures for "Singles' Day", the Chinese equivalent of "Black Friday", which occurred on November 11, are hardly encouraging, according to Reuters. Exports recorded a fall of 6.4% year-on-year in October, and the youth unemployment situation in urban areas has reached such a worrying level since June (21.3%) that the government has reportedly decided to no longer report publicize these figures.

On the Chinese side, demands revolve around the review of customs duties, the lifting of controls on American exports to China and the easing of sanctions against Chinese companies. These aspirations reflect Beijing's desire to strengthen its commercial ties with the United States in an increasingly complex and uncertain economic context. An easing of tensions could bring American companies back to the Chinese market.

A group of big bosses very involved in the largest market in the world such as Elon Musk with Tesla will participate in the dinner organized in honor of Xi Jinping. Their investments and their purchases are more welcome than ever to support Chinese growth.

What to expect from this summit ?

Obviously, the grievances harbored on both sides are too numerous and too deep to hope for anything other than the affirmation in Beijing and Washington of the shared desire to renew a dialogue conducive to rebuilding the path of mutual trust. .
For Masahiro Okoshi, head of the Washington Bureau of the Japanese media Nikkei Asia, - quoted by Pierre-Antoine Donnet in Asialyst - it would be illusory for the United States to expect from this summit a change in strategy from the Chinese regime to towards America. According to him, nourishing the hope of a change in Chinese strategy towards America would be illusory.

The crucial aspect of the meeting between Biden and Xi lies in the possibility for each to truly understand the other's position. He believes that this mutual understanding would potentially be more meaningful than resounding declarations.

Thus, beyond the spectacular announcements, the real challenge would be to promote a deep understanding of the respective positions. These reflections shed light on the complexity of Sino-American relations, in a delicate geopolitical context.

“The San Francisco meeting will at least have allowed the American and Chinese presidents to speak directly to each other. And therefore to avoid misunderstandings which can lead to the worst,” according to a specialist.

WHY TARGETED IDF OPERATIONS

ON THE AL-CHIFA HOSPITAL IN GAZA ?

What is the status of the Israeli army's operation in al-Chifa hospital ?

And what does international law say ?

The Israeli army raid continues on the grounds of al-Chifa hospital this Thursday, November 16. . Officially, for Israel, this is an operation "targeted [...] against Hamas in a specific sector of the hospital". For years, Israelis have accused Hamas of using Gaza hospitals as bases. And for them, there is no doubt, Hamas "operates inside and under" the Al-Chifa hospital, the most important in the Palestinian enclave.

On October 27, 2023, Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari claimed to have “concrete evidence that the hospital was used to hide Hamas members.” He presented, during a press conference, photographs and audio recordings proving, according to him, that the Islamist movement had several underground complexes hidden under the hospital, accessible through the network of tunnels located under the strip of Gaza, and an entry into one of the services.

Accusations supported on November 14 by the White House, which claimed to have American intelligence according to which Hamas would use the al-Chifa hospital to direct its military operations and probably store weapons.

This is not the first time that a link has been established between Hamas and this hospital. In a report published in 2015, the NGO Amnesty International accused the Islamist movement of having tortured and summarily executed Palestinians during the Israeli military offensive against Gaza in July and August 2014.

“Some [people] were subjected to interrogation and torture, or otherwise mistreated in an abandoned outpatient clinic located on the grounds of al-Chifa hospital,” the NGO noted.

The political leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinouar confirmed, in 2021, that his movement operates a vast network of tunnels “exceeding 500 kilometers”.

Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85-year-old woman taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, said after her release that she walked for miles through tunnels in Gaza that resembled "a spider's web."

Weapons, ammunition and military equipment found

Twenty-four hours after entering what the IDF presents as a strategic Hamas military platform, the Israeli army confirmed that its "soldiers" were still deployed in the largest hospital complex in Gaza where they are still located, according to the UN, some 2,300 people. Among which are patients, caregivers, and even displaced people.

An adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army had found weapons and "other things."

“We entered the hospital on the basis of actionable intelligence,” assured Mark Regev to the American television channel MSNBC. And while the terrorist organization denies Israel's accusations, the IDF claims to have found "munitions, weapons and military equipment" from Hamas.

In particular, photographs of weapons, grenades and other military equipment were published. “Images relating to hostages” captured during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 were also found on computers seized during the intervention. According to Israeli authorities, no clashes or skirmishes occurred inside the hospital center, whether with civilians, patients or nursing staff

The unease of Israel's closest supporters.

Faced with this IDF military operation, the international community fears an irreversible deterioration of humanitarian conditions and access to care. The UN, which has repeatedly denounced the counter-offensive led by Israel, said it was "horrified" by the intervention of Israeli soldiers in a hospital compound.

Unease seems to be spreading even to Israel's closest supporters. American President Joe Biden called on the Israeli army during the night from Wednesday to Thursday to be “extremely cautious” in conducting its operation at the hospital. Washington also declared this Wednesday that it had not "given the green light to operations around the al-Chifa hospital", any more than it does for Israel's other military decisions.

For its part, France, which has claimed since the bloody attack of October 7 "Israel's right to defend itself", expressed 

"its very deep concern", believing that the Palestinian population had "no to pay for Hamas' crimes. On the sidelines of a trip to Switzerland, President Emmanuel Macron condemned “with the greatest firmness” the bombing of civilian infrastructure.

"Because Israel is a democracy, signatory to the same texts and the same charters as us, we have always said that this right to defend oneself must be part of international humanitarian law and respecting the rules of war, and therefore in particular the civilian populations,” he said.

Unsurprisingly, however, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday described Israel as a "terrorist state", denouncing the cost in human life of Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip. A key mediator in the negotiations on the release of hostages still in the hands of Hamas, Qatar has for its part called for "an international investigation" into the Israeli raids on hospitals in Gaza, describing the operation in the al-Chifa establishment as "war crime".

A worsening humanitarian situation

Since October 7, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has continued to deteriorate. Despite a first delivery of just over 23,000 liters of fuel on Wednesday via the Rafah crossing in the south of the territory, the UN warned that its aid operations in Gaza were "on the verge of collapse" and the head of United Nations humanitarian affairs called on Wednesday for an end to “the carnage in Gaza”.

Due to lack of fuel, the Palestinian telecoms operator Paltel announced on Wednesday "a suspension of all telecommunications services within a few hours" and could "further threaten the lives of the population of Gaza", the Human Rights organization warned on Thursday. Watch.

On Wednesday, nearly 650 people, foreigners, dual nationals and wounded Palestinians, were evacuated to Egypt through Rafah, reported the Palestinian authority in charge of operations at the border terminal.

The Israeli army, for its part, assured to provide the hospital with “incubators, baby food and medical supplies”.

The focus on the humanitarian crisis in hospitals has reinforced international calls for a ceasefire, which for Hamas would likely mean an opportunity to regroup, recover and strike again.

And what exactly does international law say ?

An exception to the rule in cases of “harmful acts”

Under international law, hospitals are entitled to protection during conflicts. But they can become legitimate targets under certain conditions, particularly if they are used for military purposes.

This is also what Article 18 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War says: “Civilian hospitals organized to provide care to the wounded, the sick, the infirm and women in childbirth may not, under any circumstances, be the object of attacks; they will, at all times, be respected and protected by the parties to the conflict".

But, in the following article, an exception to this rule is specified. “The protection due to civilian hospitals may only cease if they are used to commit, outside of humanitarian duties, acts harmful to the enemy,” details the Convention, without defining the latter.

It was on this basis that Israeli troops struck targets near Gaza hospitals, and even targets located inside them, and entered medical buildings.

As they retreated from the hospital on Wednesday, Israeli soldiers left behind medicine, baby food and bottles of water.

The presence of weapons, if proven, could be included in the list of "harmful acts" and call into question the protection of the hospital, according to an article from the International Committee of the Red Cross, published on November 6.

“When they (hospitals) are used to directly or indirectly interfere in military operations and thereby harm the enemy, the rationale for this protection disappears.

This is particularly the case when a hospital is used as a launch base for an attack, an observation post used to transmit information of military interest, an arms depot, a liaison center with armed troops, or even to shelter able-bodied combatants", underlines the humanitarian aid institution.

Unlike Hamas, which does not claim to respect international conventions, it is up to Israel to prove that it is not violating international humanitarian law.  

PRESIDENTIAL IN ARGENTINA

TWO DIAMETRALLY OPPOSED CANDIDATES ARRIVE IN THE FIRST ROUND

Javier Milei as an outsider.

In the current presidential campaign, Javier Milei stands out as an outsider. This trained economist became known thanks to his columns on Argentine television. Two years ago, he achieved an electoral breakthrough during the partial legislative elections in Buenos Aires, obtaining 17% of the vote. Nicknamed “El Loco” (“the madman”), Javier Milei is an atypical public figure. He named his dogs after liberal economists and reportedly used a psychic to make policy decisions.

Deeply reform the State.

While Argentines are exhausted by over-indebtedness and rising prices, Javier Milei, 53, highlights his training in economics and proposes shock measures. He advocates significant tax cuts, the flexibilisation of labor laws, privatizations and the abolition of social assistance. Javier Milei has the “paternalistic state” in his sights.

This “chainsaw plan”, as he calls it, must put an end to social justice, which he considers “synonymous with budget deficit”. A radical speech, even as Argentina struggles to get its head above water, with inflation hovering around 140% in 2023. If elected, Javier Milei has promised to “dollarize” the economy Argentina, ensuring that this would break the rise in prices.

Self-proclaimed "anarcho-capitalist", he describes himself as libertarian, with a libertarian touch. He thus says he is opposed to abortion, but envisages a market for the sale of organs.

He quickly gained popularity thanks to his bold ideas and incisive, sometimes insulting language. During his rallies, he urges his voters "Let them all go, so that there is not one left!", he chants during his meetings, where he promises to clear "with blows kick in the ass" the "political caste which parasitizes" Argentina. Self-designating as "anarcho-capitalist", he defines himself as libertarian.

Javier Milei is also a showman. During his rallies, he describes himself as "the lion" who will save Argentina, referring to his tousled hairstyle, and chanting his provocative slogan:

“Long live freedom, damn it!” He promises to restore Argentina to its status as a "world power" and to make the country a "promised land" of emigration, like the beginning of the 20th century. This quest for a “rediscovered greatness” recalls the admiration he has expressed on several occasions for Donald Trump. In the past, Javier Milei was also a footballer and a rock singer, elements that he highlights on social networks to boost his popularity.

In the midst of an inflationary crisis with a price increase of 138% in one year, the "anti-system" candidate who wishes to put an end to "social justice" maintains a solid chance of winning the election.

Economy Minister Sergio Massa, heir to Peronism

On the other hand, his opponent Sergio Massa places the economy at the center of his program, seeking to strengthen public companies. Having previously granted numerous budgetary expenditures to mitigate the impact of inflation, the centrist candidate must now defend his record. He undertakes to increase the trade balance surplus, to repay the debt contracted with the International Monetary Fund, and to restore fiscal order.

Positioning himself above political divisions, Sergio Massa aspires to be the candidate of unity. After the announcement of the results, he promised to form a "government of national unity", thus opening the door to alliances on the left and the right. He appeals to all those who share democratic values.

As for Javier Milei, he reaches out to the center-right coalition which obtained 23.6% of the vote, declaring: "Let's work together to change our country."

The outcome of the election remains uncertain, and the second round is scheduled for November 19.

It remains to be seen how voters who did not vote for the two main candidates will influence the outcome, with Sergio Massa having a reserve of votes on the left, but potentially needing to gain votes from the traditional right side that his appeal appeals to rival.

LOOTTING OF THE SACRE-COEUR BASILICA

FROM ROUEN

“A statue was broken. Sacred vessels have been stolen. The altar and the choir are in a terrible state, broken. By chance, grace or providence, the holy sacrament was not stolen,” reacted, still in shock, Father Geoffroy de La Tousche.

The parish priest of Rouen thus invited the faithful and Catholics to “pray […] for the parish”. He will meet them this Thursday, November 16 at 6:15 p.m. “for a time of prayer and reparation, at the request of the archbishop.” “At 6:30 p.m. we will celebrate mass, with new vases lent to us,” he continued.

The priest estimated the damage at “tens of thousands of euros”. A complaint was filed and an investigation was opened .

The investigation is to determine whether this act is linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

UNITED KINGDOM

AFTER THE DISMISSAL OF SUELLA BRAVERMANN

THE SURPRISE RETURN OF DAVID CAMERON

Recently she published a controversial column in which she describes the pro-Palestinian demonstrations as "a march of hatred" and questions the neutrality of the London police without having obtained the green light from Downing Street. Suella Braverman is replaced by James Cleverly, previously holder of the foreign affairs post.

And, to everyone's surprise, Rishi Sunak calls David Cameron, foreign affairs.

David Cameron's surprise "comeback"

Away from the British political scene since the 2016 referendum, David Cameron makes a surprise return to government as Foreign Minister.

This game of musical chairs sounds like an attempt by Rishi Sunak to breathe new life into the Conservatives, well ahead of Labor in the polls, as the legislative elections approach.

Commenting on this surprise return to business, David Cameron, who went to 10 Downing Street on Monday morning, said he was ready to put his "experience" at the service of the government while the United Kingdom must face " formidable international challenges, notably the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East", as he declared on X (ex-Twitter).

“While I may have disagreed with some particular decisions, it is clear to me that Rishi Sunak is a strong and competent Prime Minister, who is showing exemplary leadership at a difficult time,” he said. he rocks.

No one imagined such a turnaround for the former Prime Minister, aged 57, who has remained away from the British political scene since the Brexit vote in 2016.

David Cameron had conceded this referendum to the clan of Eurosceptic conservatives, betting on a “yes” victory to put an end to internal debates on Europe within his party. By underestimating the Brexit vote, he made a mistake considered historic which cost him his place in Downing Street.

Since resigning, he has held several administrative positions within international charitable organizations and carried out consulting missions for various commissions. However, in 2020, his career was marred by a controversy linked to his links with Greensill Capital, just before the debacle of this investment fund, closely linked to the activities of steel magnate, Sanjeev Gupta. As a lobbyist for Greensill, David Cameron would have contacted numerous government authorities to obtain public aid before the bankruptcy...

Sunak's joker for the elections

To appoint him Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rishi Sunak had to circumvent the practice according to which only those elected to Parliament can enter the government. No longer elected to the House of Commons since 2016, David Cameron was urgently co-opted into the House of Lords.

With this reshuffle, the ruling conservative party hopes to relaunch itself a few months before the legislative elections scheduled for 2025.

But Tim Bale, a political scientist at Queen Mary University in London, says he is "very skeptical" about the success of the maneuver: "It seems desperate."

The Tories remain weighed down by a stagnating economy, the highest inflation in the rich G7 countries and the deep crisis of the public health system. A poll published this weekend by the Survation Institute suggests that the opposition will win an even stronger majority than that of Tony Blair in 1997.

The news was well received in European capitals

For the former ambassador of the United Kingdom to France, Peter Ricketts, David Cameron "had good relations with many world leaders, went into detail on foreign policy and managed crises calmly. A great experience which will be very useful in the current period".

ELECTRIC CARS AND REVOLUTIONS

ACT I

When we think that only a few years ago we thought of oil-powered cars. But Dieselgate passed like a hurricane, razing our old certainties and the whole environment opened up other perspectives, including the most anticipated: the electric car.

The whole environment ?

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and clean the air locally ?

A name of “ecological car” which has already been controversial since its (re)birth....

A truism: the only truly ecological car is the one that doesn't exist !

But which capital has not announced with great fanfare its desire to ban thermal engines from cities:

Paris, Madrid, Oslo, Athens to achieve by 2030 more than 30% for the market share of hybrid or electric vehicles.

Economic revolution

Predictions to be taken seriously as the automotive industry is about to face a big bang!

In any case, it is a radical upheaval that is expected for both manufacturers and users.

When we know that from the first link, manufacturers will have to change their production chains and put billions of euros on the table even though there is uncertainty over the choice of investment:

100% electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid ?

No one knows yet.

Prudence requires at PSA we have chosen "a multi-energy platform strategy which allows industrial investments to be amortized" reveals Christian Chapelle, responsible for the development of traction chains for the PSA group.

The other manufacturers are following suit, except Renault and Tesla, but at what cost ?

The Renault-Nissan Alliance did not hesitate to invest 4 billion euros. But so many changes underway:

1° For engines, this activity employed 112,000 employees in 2015 spread across 126 factories in Europe.

“ If the market moves towards hybrid, it will be good news for automotive employment, because manufacturing this type of model requires 50% more time than for a thermal vehicle,” comments Laurent Petizon, director at AlixPartners. But if it's the other way around...

2° The employee’s profile. The zero-emission vehicle requires more qualifications in electronics and "soft" than in mechanics...

3°The margins will decrease the cost structure of the electric vehicle being higher than for thermal vehicles..

Hence savings plans to be planned for groups like Daimler: 4 billion.

Equipment manufacturers in the automotive world of tomorrow will have to quickly get up to speed:

so experts from the financial services company UBS dismantled piece by piece a Chevrolet Bolt from General Motors, sold in Europe under the name Opel Ampera-e.

Result: the Korean LG contributed more than 50% to the content of the vehicle with its battery and a myriad of key modules. Traditional equipment manufacturers, such as Delphi or Bosch, only account for 28%. So a turn to take eminently for some…

Oil and tankers will also have to change their strategy if the projections of the International Energy Agency (IEA) come true:

nearly 450 million electric cars would be on the roads by 2035 (battery and plug-in hybrids combined).

A drop of 4 million barrels per day in global oil consumption which does not seem dramatic compared to the 55 million barrels per day for the automobile industry.

In addition, the fleet of "classic" cars in emerging countries should continue to increase, without counting that of buses and trucks for air and maritime transport needs...

And it is up to oil companies to stay on track with the development of greener alternative fuels (bio and gas) and to prepare for technological change.

What they are already doing since the battery manufacturer Saft was bought by Total which

will install charging stations. To Shell for having taken over the Dutch electric charging specialist NewMotion at the head of 30,000 private points and 50,000 public points in Europe.

Mining companies specializing in cobalt, lithium, nickel or graphite present in batteries are big winners. Just like copper producers

Battery manufacturers have everything to gain.

Moreover, in battery chemistry, the Asians Panasonic, LG Chem, Samsung, CATL and others have acquired a decisive lead.

However, accumulators (10,000 euros on average) today represent half the cost of manufacturing an electric vehicle and more than a third of its final price !!!

Aside from Mercedes, the others source their supplies from Asia before assembling the packs in their factories.

A dependence on Asia is worrying for Brussels, which would consider setting up an “Airbus of automobile batteries” in Europe.

Tesla did not wait to install its "Boeing" in Nevada...

As for mechanics, they will have to pass authorizations issued by a training organization.

In the case of the hybrid, two approvals will be required to master the new technology.

Midas, Speedy, Norauto and others will also see around 20% of traditional interventions disappear but these networks with the largest resources are already very focused on electronics.

THE ERUPTION OF THE FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO

IMMINENT PUTS ICELAND ON ALERT STATE

An intense series of earthquakes shook the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, starting on Friday, November 10, 2023. Hundreds of earthquakes were detected by regional seismometer networks and several were strong enough to be felt in Reykjavik, 50 kilometers away. A civil protection alert was triggered warning of the risk of a volcanic eruption – it would be the fourth since 2021.

Iceland straddling a collapsing ditch

Iceland sits majestically on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a place where the North American and Eurasian plates are gradually moving away from each other, at a rate of about 2 centimeters per year. In the depths of the Earth's mantle, where the rocks adopt the consistency of extremely rigid caramels, the plates agree to deform in an uninterrupted manner.

However, as they approach the surface, the rocks of the earth's crust reveal their cold and brittle nature: their extension only occurs at the cost of their rupture. The Reykjanes Peninsula forms the southwest tip of Iceland, where the Mid-Atlantic Rift emerges from the ocean. There, the Earth's crust responds to relentless tectonic forces by cracking every few centuries, giving rise to a collapse gap, commonly called a rift.

The last sequence of crustal rupture and eruptions dates back more than 800 years. Since then, the plates should have moved apart by about sixteen meters. Currently, Iceland is experiencing a new phase of rupture, marked by hundreds, if not thousands, of earthquakes, many strong enough to be felt in the southwest of the island. All these phenomena are caused by the intrusion of magma close to the surface.

Each earthquake and eruption releases some of the energy stored in these tectonic plates, and eventually, when all of this tension is completely released, the eruptions will end. Crustal ruptures are facilitated by the presence of magma, acting as a lubricant, a feature shared with other ocean ridges. Magma forms continuously at depth, and its density means it will rise.

Within the rigid and brittle crust, magma can only make its way by following existing fractures, if any. However, once it begins its ascent, it traces its path towards increasingly shallow areas, thus intensifying the risk of eruption.

In early November 2023, the Icelandic government declared a state of emergency in the area surrounding the Fagradalsfjall volcano, following a series of earthquakes, often warning indicators of a volcanic eruption.

On November 11, 2023, preventive measures were announced to mitigate the possible devastating effects of an impending eruption. The response plan by the authorities and the tourism industry was activated in response to recent developments, including the numerous earthquakes recorded in Reykjanes, as reported on the government website in English.

As part of these measures, the town of Grindavík, home to 4,000 inhabitants, was evacuated to ensure the safety of residents. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) expresses serious concerns about the possibility of large quantities of magma spreading underground, which could erupt in the region. Scientists are carefully monitoring the region's seismic activity.

“Since midnight on November 11, approximately 800 earthquakes have been recorded in the area where the magma intrusion is occurring. Although seismic activity has decreased slightly in recent hours, it remains high.

Most of the recent earthquakes occurred near Grindavík, where the southwest end of the magmatic dike intrusion is estimated to be present," the IMO said. At midday on November 11, the Office meteorologist published on Twitter a map of ground deformations in the region, described as "much higher than normal".

With around 30 active volcanoes over 100,000 square kilometers, Iceland strives to best manage the anticipation of volcano-related risks. In the case of Fagradalsfjall, the threat comes from underground magma that could soon emerge.

An imminent eruption with the release of magma

The possibility of an imminent eruption with the emergence of magma now concerns observers. Signs of this threat are manifested by a progressive deformation of the Earth's surface, signaling the intrusion of fresh magma into the crust. Over the past weekend, the situation has evolved dynamically. Parameters such as the size, number and location of earthquakes clearly indicate the filling of a crustal fracture with magma, at a depth of about 5 kilometers.

The magma persists in its intrusion, widening the ends of the fracture and creating a passage through the crust, thus forming a "dike" - a vein of rock infiltrated into a fissure - about 15 kilometers long. Although the magma has not yet reached the surface, ground movements and computer models suggest that a magma reservoir has built up within a kilometer of the surface.

Anticipation of an imminent eruption remains high, but monitoring teams will only be able to determine the precise time and location when they detect specific signals indicating magma movement. These signs could include a repetitive "buzzing" of volcanic tremors, announcing a possible eruption in the coming hours, or an increase in earthquakes at very shallow depths.

The results

Currently, the dike appears to extend directly beneath the town of Grindavik, a fishing community in southwest Iceland. If a surface eruption occurs, it could resemble those of 2021-2023 at Fagradalsfjall, with a fissure opening onto the earth, fountains of hot red molten rock, and lava flowing down the hillside from the site of the rash.

The potential threat will depend on the exact location of the start of the eruption and how far the lava has traveled. Fumes emanating from erupting magma, combined with the burning of peat and vegetation, could also create toxic air, depending on the speed of the eruptions and the direction of the winds.

In the event of an eruption in Grindavik, the consequences could be comparable to those of the Eldfell eruption in 1973, which buried part of the town of Heimaey.

This is why a preventive evacuation of the town, the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant, and the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's most popular tourist attractions, is currently underway.

ILLUMINATIONS OF THE CHAMPS ELYSEES

IN HONOR OF HOLIDAYS AND OLYMPIC GAMES

Marc-Antoine Jamet, the president of the Champs-Elysées Committee, unveiled this Monday, October 30 in the morning, at the Barrière Le Fouquet's hotel, the new developments concerning the illuminations for the New Year celebrations and the innovations undertaken on the famous avenue Parisian.
The illuminations ceremony for the end-of-year holidays, scheduled for November 19, will be honored by the presence of renowned actor Gilles Lellouche, an emblematic figure of French cinema with recognized talent, with successes such as "Les Petits mouchoirs " and "Bac Nord".

The sponsor of this special edition of the illuminations will be surrounded by institutions and, new in 2023, a family of three sick children, accompanied by the “Petits Princes” association. Together, they will have the honor of lighting the 400 trees that majestically line the Champs-Élysées.

It is the Provençal company Blachere Illuminations which is once again responsible for installing the light creations this year, which this year will follow “a more sustained three-step rhythm”. “Each hour will be marked by a strong and long sparkle, which will be repeated every quarter of an hour, and every five minutes the rhythm of sparkles will change, explains Marc-Antoine Jamet. The Committee of the Champs-Élysées also presents its new logo

integrating evolving pictograms according to the theme and a blue-white-red color palette.

These illuminations, placed under the sign of energy sobriety since the unprecedented extinction last year, reflect a total consumption estimated at around 13 300 kWh for 2023. This slight increase compared to the previous year is due to the extension of lighting by one week this year.

To further mark the identity of the Champs-Élysées, a new slogan is appearing this winter : "Let's light up the avenue, make Paris shine." Four new posters, inspired by the famous kisses of Times Square and City Hall, highlight the artery while capturing the romantic essence of the city.

As part of the ambitious “La Clef des Champs” project, the Champs-Élysées are also reinventing themselves visually. The Chairman of the Committee underlines the efforts made to make this avenue even more attractive for Parisians, based on the "3 P" strategy: becoming Parisian, popular and shared again. Among the many new features, the reorganization of the avenue's 17 terraces, supervised by Belgian designer Ramy Fischer, promises a modernized aesthetic and improved accessibility.

Welcoming 150,000 visitors daily and more than 250,000 on Sunday, the Champs-Élysées remains a dynamic place, combining cultural spaces, restaurants, food stores, and international brands such as JD Sports and Sephora. This vitality illustrates the success of the strategy adopted over the years, testifying to an avenue still at the height of its charm and attractiveness.

See you on November 19 from 6 p.m. to experience this magical moment.

A RAISED CONSCIOUSNESS

NEAR DEATH

"Conscious" experiences of imminent death therefore, quite incompatible with the biological reality of a dying brain. Is it possible that the human brain is activated by the process of death?

Recently, researchers have reported increased electrical activity in the brains of dying people. It could be associated with last-minute conscious experiences, a new vision of the role played by the brain in this final stage of life.

To find out for sure, researchers at the University of Michigan in the United States have decided to study, in "more detail than ever before", the biological mechanism at work in the brain in all last moments.

The study, led by Jimo Borjigin, associate professor in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and the Department of Neurology, and his team, follows animal studies conducted nearly 10 years ago in collaboration with George Mashour, founding director from the Michigan Center for Consciousness Science.

A cerebral burst before a complete stop

The brain "on fire"

To do this, it was necessary to find dead patients, for the blow, of a cardiac arrest, but maintained under ventilatory assistance. And observe the signals of electrocardiogram and electroencephalography (EEG) before and after the withdrawal of the assistance, synonymous with brain death.

They studied the files of four people. When they were taken off their life support devices, two of them (a 24-year-old woman and a 77-year-old woman) saw their heart rates increase, and their brain activity also showed a spike in gamma waves. , at a frequency level usually associated… with consciousness.

In addition to confirming this stimulation, already observed in animals, these researchers have mainly identified the most stimulated part of the brain, the temporo-parieto-occipital junction, an area previously associated, among other things, with the memorization of dreams.

“A similar pattern was observed in healthy brains during wakefulness and dreaming, in patients experiencing visual hallucinations or out-of-body experiences,” the study describes.

Jimo Borjigin indicates, in support of these results obtained after observing a posterior area of ​​the brain associated with consciousness: If this part of the brain is stimulated, it means that the patient sees something, can hear something and can potentially feel sensations outside his body.

She specifies that this specific area was “on fire!”.

In the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), which published their work on Monday, the scientists however draw limits to their study: they first concede that they do not really know why these signs have not been observed. in the other two patients, a history of seizures may have had an impact, they said.

George Mashour explains in a press release:

"How living experience can emerge from a dysfunctional brain during the dying process is a neuroscientific paradox. Dr. Borjigin has conducted an important study that helps shed light on the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms."

The beginnings of a "secret" consciousness still misunderstood

Due to the small sample size, the authors caution against making overarching statements about the implications of the results. They also note that it is impossible to know in this study what the patients experienced (because they did not survive to testify).

Larger studies, including EEG-monitored intensive care patients who survive cardiac arrest, could provide much-needed data to determine whether these bursts of gamma activity are evidence of hidden consciousness, even when approaching the death.

Although the mechanisms and physiological significance of these findings remain to be explored, these data demonstrate that the dying brain may still be active. They also suggest the need to reassess the role of the brain during cardiac arrest.

This study then lays the groundwork for further research into covert consciousness during cardiac arrest, which could serve as a model system to explore the mechanisms of human consciousness.

FRANCE THE EPOQUAUTO SHOW IN LYON

AN UNMISSABLE MEETING

FOR OLD CAR ENTHUSIASTS

The EpoquAuto Salon is held in the heart of Lyon, the cradle of the French automobile industry, and offers a journey through time through an extraordinary collection of classic cars. Visitors will have the opportunity to admire rare and iconic vehicles, ranging from elegant Bugattis from the 1920s to legendary Italian sports cars from the 1970s.

The atmosphere of the show is steeped in nostalgia, and every corner of the showroom reveals a bygone era of automobiles. Restorers and collectors proudly display their restored treasures, demonstrating the artistry and passion required to keep these mechanical gems in working order.

In addition to cars, the show highlights a multitude of stands and exhibitions linked to the world of classic automobiles. From rare spare parts to vintage accessories, exhibitors offer a variety of treasures for restoration and customization enthusiasts.

It's a real flea market for automobile aficionados, where each discovery is a unique find.

The EpoquAuto Show is not only limited to static exhibition.

Enthusiasts will also have the chance to see these classic cars in action through on-track demonstrations. The roars of vintage engines echo through the aisles of the show, providing a unique immersive experience.

Classic race car parades bring to life the golden age of motor racing, transporting spectators to a world of speed and technology of the era.

In addition, the show is a meeting place for collectors, restorers, and classic automobile experts. This is the perfect opportunity to exchange stories, knowledge and experiences, thereby strengthening the community of enthusiasts.

Lively discussions on the particularities of each model and historical anecdotes abound, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. The common passion for these unique automobiles brings people from all over the world together, breaking down borders and language barriers.

The EpoquAuto Show is much more than just an event for classic car enthusiasts.

It is a tribute to the heritage of the automotive industry, a journey into the past through mechanical wonders.

The 44th edition of this iconic event promises to once again amaze visitors from around the world.

If you have a passion for classic cars, don't miss this unparalleled celebration of vintage automobiles. It’s a must-see for anyone who appreciates the history, beauty and mechanics of these legendary vehicles. So, get ready to take a trip back in time at the EpoquAuto Show and let yourself be transported by the golden age of the automobile.

It's an event that celebrates not only cars, but also the art of preservation and sharing a timeless passion for these mechanical masterpieces. Each edition of the EpoquAuto Show is a living tribute to the history of the automobile and the determination of the enthusiasts who perpetuate it.

CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI FLAN

Ingredients

For 4 people

Cauliflower 0.5

Broccoli(s) 0.5

Egg(s) 4

Liquid cream 20 cl

Grated Gruyère 50 g

Curry 1 tbsp. coffee

Salt pepper

Preparation

1° Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into florets. Place them in a pot of boiling salted water. Cook for 20 min. Check the cabbages for cooking and drain.

2° In a salad bowl, whisk the eggs with the liquid cream. Add curry ale, salt and pepper generously.

3° Distribute the cabbages in a gratin dish or in individual molds. Pour the egg mixture on top and sprinkle with grated cheese.

ALL GATHERED AT THE MARCH

AGAINST ANTISEMITISM IN PARIS

And will end at Edmond Rostand place, opposite the Senate, in the 6th. The route should connect the Assembly to the Senate, two Republican symbols. A great fraternal march bringing together “all those who recognize themselves in the values ​​of the Republic and are determined to defend them” !

Gérard Larcher and Yaël Braun-Pivet called for a general mobilization, while anti-Semitic acts have multiplied in France, more than a thousand since the massacre of October 7, 2023 perpetrated by Hamas terrorists in Israel.

“A cry of conscience,” say Gérard Larcher and Yaël Braun-Pivet, “to declare to the world that the French Republic does not allow, and will never allow, abjection to flourish.” .

Because abjection is already spreading throughout the world, in Europe and in France in reaction to the resurgence of tensions between Israel and its neighbors.

These are men steeped in hatred who in Dagestan went to the Makhachkala airport screaming “Allah Akbah” in search of a plane coming from Tel Aviv to chase away the Jew.

It is also with the cry of “Allah Akbar” that the demonstrators call for peace in the streets of Paris and spreading the propaganda of the terrorist organization, that young people in the Paris metro have fun shouting “we are Nazis and we are proud.” Fanatical hatred sows horror.

We are witnessing the resurgence of uninhibited anti-Semitism, in Germany, Great Britain and France, but also on American campuses,

Already in Le Monde in 2012, the former President of CRIF, Richard Pasquier wrote :

“When for the first time since the end of the Second World War children are killed because they are Jewish with the crimes perpetrated in Toulouse by Mohamed Merah, when a grenade is thrown in broad daylight in a kosher supermarket in Sarcelles (. ..), this violence is not indiscriminate (...).

It is in the name of this anti-Semitism that Ilan Halimi was tortured to death by the Barbarian Gang in 2006.

Awareness must be national: this matter concerns us all.”

The tragic events of October 7 remind us sadly, revealing the fragilities of our democracies, the horror of hatred and despair, but they have also brought back the darkest hydra in History, warns Brice Socco.

“Anti-Semitism is a serious offense against man in general,” proclaimed Vladimir Jankélévitch.

The need to combat all discrimination.

IS THE VOICE OF FRANCE BECOME INAUDIBLE

ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE ?

And wouldn't its primary objective be above all to restore the lost greatness of France ?

A diplomatic ballet in Paris

The list of objectives was as long as the hopes of success were slim. This was the sentiment expressed by the foreign press on November 9, while the International Humanitarian Conference for the civilian population of Gaza took place in Paris, followed by the Annual Peace Forum from November 11, 2023.

The Head of State is inaugurating this Friday, November 11, 2023, the 6th edition of the Paris Peace Forum at the Palais Brongniart, dedicated this year to “building together in a world of rivalries”.

It will also close the One Planet summit on the poles and glaciers at the National Museum of Natural History, after similar meetings on the oceans in Brest and forests in Gabon.

Two linked, "connected" meetings, which are part of the "same logic of preparing international cooperation to avoid the crises of tomorrow and create more common goods", according to the term of the Élysée upstream of the sequence .

To conclude this diplomatic week, Macron will chair the 5th summit of the Christchurch Call, an initiative launched with New Zealand after the 2019 attack, aimed at combating terrorist content online. A new opportunity for the president to show initiative and affirm the strength of unity.

And to affirm that we are always stronger together. This is the vision of the President of the Republic, champion of multilateralism on the international scene.

Multilateralism in the spotlight

According to the Élysée, the Paris Forum manages to maintain multilateralism despite tensions and conflicts, by cooperating on subjects where collaboration is essential."

What we manage to do at the Paris Forum is that despite the tensions and despite the wars, we continue to bring multilateralism to life on subjects where we have no choice but to cooperate", explains today today the presidency to journalists

However, diplomatic hyperactivity in Paris raises concerns among correspondents, who fear that messages will be diluted in the multitude of summits.

Politico highlights Emmanuel Macron's impressive to-do list this week, from resolving the crisis in Gaza to tackling melting ice caps and the challenges of artificial intelligence.

A “humanitarian conference” at the initiative of Emmanuel Macron

France hosted on Thursday November 10, 2023 a “humanitarian conference” at the initiative of President Emmanuel Macron to facilitate aid to Gaza, hampered by Israeli bombings since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

After more than a month of strikes, hundreds of thousands of civilians, according to the UN, remain trapped in the north of the Gaza Strip, an area of ​​intense Israeli offensive.

Around 1.5 million people of Gaza's 2.4 million inhabitants have been displaced by the conflict.

Emmanuel Macron stressed the need to work to protect civilians, calling for a rapid humanitarian pause and a ceasefire. He insisted on Israel's right to defend itself while emphasizing its responsibility to protect civilians.

“It is the protection of civilians that we must work on. For this we need a very rapid humanitarian pause and we must work for a ceasefire,” declared Emmanuel Macron in front of representatives of around fifty of countries and humanitarian organizations, which had until then only mentioned the need for a "truce".

If Israel has "the right to defend itself and the duty to protect its own", its government also has "an eminent responsibility (...) to respect the law and protect civilians", insisted the French president.

Paris also considers a truce necessary to obtain the release of some 240 hostages held by Hamas, including some French people.

At the end of the conference, the organizers announced that the commitments made yesterday by the participating countries exceeded one billion euros.

The disappointment of the NGOs

According to the White House, Israel has agreed to daily four-hour breaks. At the end of the conference, commitments from participating countries exceeded one billion euros.

However, the conference, organized as an emergency, mainly brought together only second-rate representatives in the absence of the Israeli government, and it took place without the participation of the belligerents and the United States.

Furthermore, despite financial commitments, much of the aid intended for the Palestinian territories, estimated at $1.2 billion by the end of 2023, risks being ineffective without regular access of aid trucks to Gaza. .

Humanitarian organizations have expressed their disappointment, stressing the impossibility of intervening as long as the bombings continue."

We are quite disappointed because there was no consensus on an immediate ceasefire (…).

Beyond the mobilized aid, the challenge is to get it back to Gaza,” said Jean-François Corty, vice-president of Médecins du Monde. Setting up relief on the battlefield is impossible.”

End of inadmissibility from Biden and Netanyahu

As if in response to these calls, the White House affirmed that Israel agreed to "daily" four-hour breaks in certain areas of the north "of the Gaza Strip, but US President Joe Biden ruled that there was “no possibility” of a real ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consistently rules out such a ceasefire without the release of the hostages.

An Israeli military official said Thursday that "there is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip," while acknowledging the "many difficulties" facing civilians in the Palestinian territory gripped by Israel's war. and Hamas. Israel "facilitates the delivery of humanitarian aid," said Colonel Moshe Tetro, head for Gaza of the Israeli Defense Ministry body overseeing civilian activities in the Palestinian Territories.

However, US President Joe Biden ruled that a real cessation of hostilities was impossible.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rules out a ceasefire without the release of the hostages. An Israeli military official has denied the existence of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The voice of France become inaudible ?

Israel and the United States may have differences on the strategic priorities of this war, but they are at least united in quickly dismissing their French counterpart. Emmanuel Macreon's desire to exist internationally through some show of brilliance falls like a bellows.

This is evidenced by the reception of several initiatives recently launched by the President of the Republic, and the small fallout from his trip to the Middle East.

His idea, put forward from Jerusalem, of an international coalition against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, behind the bloody attacks against Israel, has not aroused the enthusiasm of other Western capitals, far from it. It was rather mocked by experts considering it extremely complex to implement.

Just like the deployment of the ship “Tonnerre” off the coast of the Gaza Strip, announced this time in Cairo in Egypt to “support the hospitals there”.

The ship has arrived in the area, but it is still not receiving any wounded and its operations there are complicated by the blockade imposed by Israel.

These actions were met with skepticism, raising questions about France's ability to embody a respected and listened to diplomatic voice.

And to speak of a big diplomatic gap : "how can he be followed when in Israel, on October 24, he proposed - without warning anyone - to mobilize the international coalition against the Islamic State this time to "fight against Hamas" , then asks to “work towards a ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip this Thursday, November 9, 2023?

In other words, how can he go in 17 days from the idea of ​​intervening mainly by air in Gaza with the added bonus of support from Arab countries (which is what "the coalition against Daesh" was doing) to the completely opposite objective of a ceasefire in the same place? ", we read from the pen of Maurice Bontinck in La Charente libre.

"But this great diplomatic gap carried out on a thread demonstrates that Emmanuel Macron thinks first of his country and of preserving its already well-divided unity. By blowing hot and cold with sometimes contrary ideas, he also embodies the tensions politicians who are found even in its own majority.

But above all he embodies French divisions. We can still see it in his hesitation to demonstrate on Sunday against anti-Semitism. ", concludes the editorialist.

CHANGE IMMIGRATION POLICY

IN FRANCE

BUT WITH MORE POLITICAL COURAGE

After the pension reform, the bill on asylum and immigration is currently giving rise to lively debates, the most controversial text of the start of the five-year term. Postponed twice, it resurfaced three weeks after the Arras attack, in a context of conflict in the Middle East. An Odoxa poll for Public Senate reveals that more than two thirds of French people support this bill, considering that it will allow better control of immigration, while 74% of French people believe that there is an overpopulation of immigrants , according to an Odoxa survey published in May 2023. Indeed, the proportion of immigrants in the population has continued to increase, with a major transformation in the origin of immigrants, mainly of non-European origin and of Muslim faith. These cultural and religious differences often make assimilation difficult.

This bill, which will be examined by senators from November 6 and by deputies in December, has been the subject of intensive negotiations for more than a year. The executive, having a relative majority in Parliament, must seek allies for its adoption.

Surprising figures among LFI voters

An Opinion Way poll for Le Parisien provided remarkable figures that reflect general sentiment. 77% of French people believe that society has difficulty integrating foreigners. 80% think that France does not manage expulsions effectively. 81% criticize the shortcomings in the fight against illegal immigration. 78% favor a referendum on immigration, although this is currently impossible due to constitutional rules, which President Emmanuel Macron may be considering changing. 91% want a strengthening of expulsion measures for foreigners representing a serious threat to public order. It should be noted that 85% (!) of La France Insoumise voters share this repressive desire. 78% demand a reduction in the number of possible appeals against expulsion decisions. 65% of Jean-Luc Mélenchon's supporters support this position.

The article that crystallizes passions

Article 3 of the bill crystallizes passions. It concerns the regularization of undocumented workers in sectors in tension. In recent weeks, pressure has increased around this article, which particularly divides Republicans and centrists. He proposes the creation of a temporary residence permit for foreign workers in sectors with a labor shortage.

The Republicans are firmly opposed to the idea of ​​issuing a “full right” residence permit to undocumented immigrants employed in sectors in tension, fearing that this would constitute a migratory “call for air”. The centrists, for their part, are in favor. They proposed a rewriting of the article, which provides for "exceptional regularization within the framework of the discretionary power of prefects", while removing the requirement for written authorization from the employer to request regularization, in order to avoid the “low-wage traps”.

Despite these disagreements, the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, called for caution during a group meeting, stressing that we must not "break all the dishes". A Senate which returned a blank copy would have the worst effect for Gérard Larcher, who defends the role of stabilizer of the Senate.

“In these times when the institutional balance has been profoundly modified due to the absence of a majority in the National Assembly where the majority fact is no longer, the Senate has an essential role in the functioning of our Institutions. It has managed to be the point of balance for a struggling democracy,” he claimed on October 2.

Marine Le Pen, who had not yet taken a position on the bill, indicated that she could ultimately vote in favor of this "small law with small measures which improve the situation a little bit" if the article 3 was deleted, thus seeking to thwart the Republican strategy. However, the left continues to present a disunited front on the issue of immigration, with La France Insoumise refusing to support the regularization of undocumented workers.

The possibility of a 49.3

It remains to be seen whether the government, in desperation, will resort to article 49.3 of the Constitution to have the text adopted by force. Gérald Darmanin defends his bill on immigration as "a text of general interest for the French", and he has a major advantage: a large majority of French people are calling for an indisputable toughening of immigration policies and of immigrants.

The bill presented by the Minister of the Interior is part of a long tradition of immigration policy which oscillates between firmness and permissiveness. But this initiative seems insufficient to many experts to fundamentally change the situation.

One more law that is very ineffective in terms of control

In 1985, France gave up control of its land borders by signing the Schengen agreements, favoring the free movement of flows , including humans. However, after the migration crisis of 2015 and the massive arrival of illegal migrants in Europe, the European Commission showed itself powerless. To counter this, it created the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, commonly known as Frontex, whose role is to protect borders. However, the initial budget allocated to Frontex was paltry, well below the annual budget of a small French town, reflecting the contradictions between respect for borders and the European Union's principles of openness and individual rights.
As a result, the Schengen Area's borders remain porous, allowing migrants to freely enter Europe through various routes.

The all-powerful Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)

Despite France's attempts to reestablish lasting controls with Spain and Italy after the 2015 attacks, the Court of Justice of the European Union reiterated that such pushbacks are contrary to the Schengen agreements in a ruling last September. The overall trend is towards more openness and less firmness, as evidenced by previous decisions of the CJEU.

The solution lies in the Member States of the European Union. The Minister of the Interior campaigns alongside Italy for the creation of international zones near illegal entry points, in order to prevent migrants from entering European soil until their administrative situation is resolved , instead of letting them disperse throughout Europe, from where they generally do not leave. Some believe that revising the Schengen agreements is necessary to address these problems, without necessarily withdrawing from them.

France's attractiveness for migrants is largely explained by the generosity of its reception system. Certain measures, such as State Medical Aid (AME) or the unconditional right to housing, are not imposed by European obligations. They could have been included in the bill currently under discussion, but they were not. As a result, many associations working to welcome migrants influence public policy by acting against expulsions and increasing legal recourse.

Another major problem lies in expulsions, which come up against budgetary and diplomatic constraints. Administrative detention centers (CRA) lack places, the costs linked to expulsions are high, and diplomatic relations with countries of origin complicate forced returns.

Although measures have been taken to create more places in CRA, it is necessary to double or even triple their number. France could also exert diplomatic pressure to facilitate expulsions, in particular by reducing the issuance of visas or diplomatic passports....

A TIME MACHINE

THE SAPORAILLE

By pure chance, we came across an association which allows you to relive for a moment in a distant past, that of the Napoleonic period.

This association is called “la Saporaille”, a very friendly team, which transports you and makes you want to join straight away.

We tell you about them and their history, their objectives, to help you discover them.

A little history :

After the abdication of Napoleon I, the fall of the Empire and the restoration of royalty with Louis XVIII, all the soldiers of the Napoleonic armies were demobilized and had to surrender their weapons (sabers, rifles), uniforms and all equipment. military.

Covered with glory throughout Europe, many soldiers loyal to Napoleon did not want to give up their weapons and equipment and hid them.

In June 1817, after the failure of the Bonapartist insurrection in the Lyon region, in which Savignois took an active part, and the repressions which followed, these uniforms and materials became even more precious and more carefully hidden within the families.

On August 12, 1857, Napoleon III decided to grant a medal known as Saint Helena, accompanied by a pension, to all soldiers of the land and sea armies who fought under the flags of France from 1792 to 1815.

In 1858, in Savigny, the troop came to pay honors to these last survivors on the occasion of the patronal festival of Pentecost.

These veterans, seeing themselves recognized, were able to bring out hidden weapons, equipment and clothing to parade and celebrate this event.

Creation of the Saporaille:

Since that day, each year, on the occasion of the patronal feast of Pentecost, people from Savignois, assisted by medalists from Sain Bel, will perpetuate this tradition until the 1960s with a traditional parade, singing. La Saporaille was born.

The activities of Saporaille :

For several years, a small group has reconnected with the past and revived this ancient tradition. This team is made up of 15 sappers, 1 mounted hussar, and 3 waiters who parade to the sound of the drum, punctuated with revolutionary songs and Empire. The parade ends with rifle and cannon fire, accompanied by the “little glass” of friendship.

La Saporaille in recent years:

More than ever, La Saporaille is increasing its interventions, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the calendar to perpetuate the tradition, in a pleasant and festive, and very friendly atmosphere that makes you want to join.

Do not hesitate to contact them, La Saporaille, here are the contact details :

Association La Saporaille

Mairie de Sain-Bel

69210 Sain-Bel (France)...

TOWARDS A PROGRAMMED FAILURE OF THE UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE ?

In this fall of 2023, Ukrainian reconquest efforts are struggling to produce strategic effects. The territories recaptured since the beginning of June by the armies of kyiv are substantial, but remain incommensurate with the 20% of the national territory occupied and illegally annexed by Russia.

The chief of staff of the Ukrainian army, Valery Zaluzhny, admits that the current conflict is in a difficult situation, and that the counter-offensive carried out by his troops has not given the expected results. "He does not "there will probably be no magnificent and profound breakthrough", he added while his men have been engaged since June in a laborious counter-offensive intended to retake the territories conquered in the South and East from the Russians. On the ground, kyiv's troops continue to come up against a gigantic defense line erected along some 1,000 kilometers of the front line by Russia. Despite the mobilization of twelve brigades trained on NATO standards and supported by Western tanks, Ukraine only managed to capture a few hundred km2 in five months.

According to the Ukrainian general, the technological level of the weapons used on both sides is such that on the ground, the forces neutralize each other. Surveillance systems detect any concentration of forces almost instantly, and the precision of the weapons used makes any attempt to cross the front line virtually impossible. Valeri Zalouzhny acknowledges that it is unlikely that a significant breakthrough can be achieved, saying that "to make a difference, we need major technological innovations." He is referring here to limits on Western arms deliveries.

American F16 planes will not be operational until 2024, and the Ukrainians are demanding state-of-the-art electronic jamming systems. In addition, pressure from Western countries is intensifying. Allies demand immediate results, but achieving this mission on the battlefield is proving difficult.

Towards a war of attrition

The hope of a quick victory gave way to the resignation of a second winter under Russian bombs, synonymous with deprivation and power cuts for the Ukrainian population.

Does this mean that doubt would creep into Ukrainian minds? A few days before General Zalouzhny's release, an article from the Time correspondent caused a stir in kyiv. Journalist Simon Shuster describes an isolated President Volodymyr Zelensky, obsessed with victory in the face of advisers increasingly perplexed by the Ukrainian chances of reconquering Donbass and Crimea.

In his column published in The Economist, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian forces worries about a war of attrition which would ultimately turn to Russia's advantage. “This will benefit Russia, allowing it to rebuild its military power, to the point of perhaps threatening the Ukrainian forces or even the existence of the State itself,” assures the soldier.

According to Estonian intelligence, Moscow still has more than four million artillery shells. Furthermore, North Korea recently supplied an additional million shells to its neighbor and ally, a South Korean MP revealed, citing information from his country's intelligence services.

With a population of 143 million inhabitants and a defense industry which should be operating at full capacity in 2024, the Russian army seems better prepared for a long-term war, despite Western sanctions.

Conversely, Ukraine and its 43 million inhabitants could soon experience difficulty in renewing its

“If Western countries are patient so that we can erode Russian forces and open a breach, it could work,” adds General Valeri Zalouzhny in his column. “As we know, attack is more difficult than defense, and this depends not only on Ukrainians, but also on Western countries.”

These statements come in a difficult context for Ukraine as the war between Hamas and Israel has diverted international attention and pushed some allies to rethink their military aid.

I n the world chancelleries there are some declines in support for Ukraine, in Poland due to the conflict linked to the importation of Ukrainian cereals into Europe, in the United States in a context of institutional crisis in Congress or even in Europe central as in Slovakia, where Robert Fico's victory weakens the unity of the EU in its standoff with Russia.

SHOCK REPORT

THE VULNERABILITY OF FRANCE

FOREIGN INTERFERENCE AND ESPIONAGE

We can doubt it. The observation is clear. "The new dimension taken by foreign interference reveals persistent vulnerabilities, starting with our naivety, which is as much that of the political and administrative elites as [those] of economic and academic circles", indicates a report of the parliamentary intelligence delegation, published this Thursday, November 2, 2023.

Made up of eight parliamentarians, all authorized for defense secrecy, the parliamentary intelligence delegation is responsible for monitoring the action of specialized services, such as the DGSE, the DGSI or the DRM.

“High threat level”

Foreign interference has mutated to become a “protean, omnipresent and lasting” threat from espionage to the use of cyber space or information manipulation operations. His conclusion is clear: France is not armed enough to confront foreign influences.

The delegation underlines that this danger has taken “a new dimension in recent years, primarily due to a “radical change in the geopolitical context”…

“We have suddenly moved from a world of competition to a world of confrontation with authoritarian regimes on one side and Western democracies on the other (…). This divide between the West and the rest of the world emerges (…) as the dominant marker of the current period,” according to the document. Sacha Houlié, the president of the delegation, speaks of a “new cold era”.

“The informational and reputational war waged by authoritarian regimes.”

This danger arises, in fact, at the heart of a digital and technological revolution which has made cyberspace “the privileged field of confrontation and strategic competition between States”, a war led, above all, according to the DPR, by Russia. , China and Turkey.

The delegation's report dwells at length on "the informational and reputational war waged by authoritarian regimes." Because if classic espionage still exists, “fake news is the weapon of a war waged against the West without, for a long time, having identified the means to defend ourselves.”

And in this game Russia is the strongest. Moscow even has “its signature”, its techniques and they are formidable. Infiltration is part of this, for example the appointment of former European officials to the boards of directors of large Russian companies, such as the former French Prime Minister François Fillon or the former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

There is also the manipulation of information, even if in France the banning of the media Russia Today and Sputnik has “helped reduce the scope of the information war” of Russia.

We must not neglect Xi Jinping's China, very effective with its “united front”, a “political strategy and a network of public and private institutions and key individuals, placed under the control of the Chinese Communist Party”. Chinese nationals (600,000 in France) are a key link in this system

Finally there is Turkey which since the arrival of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the top of power – in 2014 – no longer even hides its ambition “to control the Turkish diaspora as a relay of the ideas of Ankara’s power, it is i.e. hostile to Kurds and Armenians.” The report points to “religious practice”, “a powerful lever for promoting a political ideology”.

The document highlights the financing of places of worship in France and the assignment of Turkish imams to French mosques which “allowed Turkey to influence Islam in France”.

This system has since been banned... but its effects continue. Ankara also infiltrates through “entry into politics through participation in local and national elections”, through activism on social networks to propagate messages hostile to legislation, such as that on religious separatism.

“Our allies are not always our friends”

But not only that: unlike the fight against terrorism, where France can count on its traditional allies, the area of ​​foreign interference is unique. “Our allies are not always our friends when it comes to espionage and economic interference,” summarized the chairman of the law committee, who cited the cases of the United States, Australia and even Israel. . “We are alone in this.”

Various operating methods, such as the extraterritoriality of law, are used in particular by the United States of America to capture data and undermine our economic security.”

Finally, the document insists on the need to pay attention to more discreet forms of espionage which may be the work of France's historical “allies”, as was the case with the Pegasus affair, named after the famous software Israeli spy that Morocco allegedly used to hack President Macron's telephone data. Since June 2022 the two countries have been at loggerheads and Israel has dried up Rabat's sources.

All these phenomena thrive on the “naivety” of elected officials, senior civil servants but also businesses and academic circles, writes the report. The report calls for a national awakening and intends to reduce the “naivety” and “denial” which are rampant within French society against an evil which undermines national sovereignty in all its forms: political, legal, military, economic and technological.

At the start of 2023, Emmanuel Macron explained that “war is no longer declared, it is waged quietly, insidiously, it is hybrid”. The delegation suggests the creation of an anti-interference bill aimed at detecting the action of foreign intelligence services, through data processing on the Internet.

To compensate for these deficiencies, the deputies propose the establishment of an “ad hoc legislative system for the prevention of foreign interference on the model of American law”, the adoption of a system of freezing assets for “any person or structure engaging in actions detrimental to the maintenance of national cohesion or intended to promote the interests of a foreign power.”

Furthermore, the authors of the report suggest “a European response” and are of the opinion that the different response strategies could be grouped “in a bill dedicated to the fight against foreign interference”.… At the level of national

emergency

The State elevates the fight against foreign interference to the rank of national emergency and devotes most of its annual report to it. Welcoming to see the budget and staff allocated to intelligence constantly increasing – 3.03 billion euros and 19,572 people in 2022 – the DPR also welcomes the injection of 5 billion additional euros planned in the 2024-2030 military programming law.

This will be necessary, say its members, to support “the paradigm shift in French intelligence” that constitutes the new priority given to counter-intervention.

ISRAEL’S LAND OPERATION

DESTROY HAMAS TUNNELS

The Israeli army announced, Tuesday, October 31 in a press release, the death of two of its soldiers in fighting in the north of the Gaza Strip. As it advances in the Palestinian enclave, it had reported earlier in the day "fierce fighting" with Hamas. For its part, the Palestinian Islamist movement claimed that its fighters had “annihilated” an Israeli force by ambushing it in a building in the north of the territory.

Convoys of armored vehicles of the Israeli army (IDF) were spotted on Monday on one of the main roads in the Gaza Strip, converging towards the center of Gaza City. The main objective of this ground operation is to target Hamas' complex network of underground tunnels, which represent a veritable city beneath the city, a labyrinth of virtually impenetrable galleries.

The infiltration of these underground tunnels remains the major challenge for the Israeli armed forces. Israel seeks to prevent this vast underground network, used by Hamas fighters, from becoming a trap for its soldiers. To analyze this underground maze, which could also shelter the hostages kidnapped during the terrorist attack of October 7, Israel is relying on the numerous surveillance technologies developed over the years.

Cyber ​​espionage against Hamas targets

Cyber ​​espionage against Hamas targets is one of the approaches employed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a 3D rendering of the tunnels beneath Shifa Hospital in Gaza on his X account (formerly Twitter) on October 27, although their existence cannot be confirmed.

Israeli forces have the capacity to deploy cyberespionage technologies against Hamas targets and their proxies. One of the most powerful spyware programs, Pegasus, was developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, and it allows you to infect a phone simply by sending an SMS. Smartphone traceability provides valuable information on the movements and possible hiding places of fighters. Attackers can also intercept communications, including targeting loved ones, to obtain sensitive information. Although there are no concrete tools to accurately model tunnels from the air, it is possible to monitor activity and pinpoint entry and exit points.

The IDF also has a fleet of spy planes, including recent models such as the Oron, tested last August and touted as an "intelligence jewel." Three Gulfstream G550 aircraft roam the skies to collect and analyze electromagnetic signals. All of these devices are used to intercept communications, collect real-time images and track movements.

On the satellite side, Israel has several surveillance devices. A small constellation of TecSAR, radar reconnaissance satellites, helps analyze changes and activities on the ground, reporting to the military any signs of new construction, for example. It is also possible to compare images and data to detect changes in infrastructure.

Iran's influence

The construction of this network of sophisticated underground tunnels by Hamas was a long-term project, spanning two decades. In the star-shaped tunnel, all sense of direction is abolished. Are we heading towards Gaza? Is it towards Egypt? We lose all points of reference. These tunnels are not built in a linear fashion, they are zigzag. They are on several levels. With arteries, rooms, halls, doors, electricity. It's a real military base. It is a military base under a civilian population.

They allow Hamas to operate far from the technological eyes of the State of Israel and the Israeli army, which is nevertheless one of the most efficient armies in the world.

The possibility of external influence, notably from Iran, is considered. Although this cannot be confirmed at the moment, there are similarities with other countries like North Korea or Iran, where wider tunnels could allow the passage of motorcycles or even trucks. It is also possible that certain locations are used for the manufacture and storage of weapons.

From a strategic perspective, a tunnel can serve a variety of purposes, including attacks, ambushes, kidnapping of civilians or soldiers, or even trafficking. Not all tunnels are the same, which means their detection and elimination may vary.

Current operation a considerable challenge

The current operation represents a considerable operational challenge. Israeli forces must navigate a dense urban environment with civilians present despite requested evacuations. Underground warfare itself is complex, and combating underground tunnels has always been a major challenge for armies. Finally, a delicate human dimension is added to the situation, with the protection of hostages, innocent civilians in Gaza, and the safety of the soldiers engaged in these operations as priorities.

"For Israel, this is an existential war. At this point, there is no question of losing the war, there is no question of a ceasefire either because it is a question of right to self-defense."

WAR IN UKRAINE THE LARGEST RUSSIAN ATTACK SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

Since launching their offensive in February 2022, Russian forces have fired millions of artillery shells at Ukrainian towns and villages near the front lines, reducing many to rubble across the country. 'East of the country.

Furthermore, a Russian attack on an oil refinery in Kremenchuk (center), which did not cause any casualties, required the dispatch of more than a hundred firefighters to fight the fire which followed for several hours. , according to Igor Klimenko

Ukraine and its Western allies fear that Russia will intensify its attacks on the country's energy infrastructure before the dreaded winter, as it did last year.

THE SHOCKING MEMORIES OF BRITNEY SPEARS

EXIT FROM HELL

"THE WOMAN IN ME"

END OF LONG AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR STRIKE IN THE UNITED STATES

These agreements are the result of several weeks of negotiations and sacrifices made by workers in the sector, who played a crucial role in keeping the automobile industry afloat, particularly during the great economic crisis of 2009, according to the American president.

The strike began on September 15 due to the lack of agreement during the revision of collective agreements. It mobilized more than 45,000 of the 146,000 UAW members employed by these three American automobile giants. It is the first time since the creation of the union in 1935 that the "Big Three" have been simultaneously affected by a strike of this magnitude, which intensified over the six weeks of conflict.

After initiating walkouts at secondary plants and parts distribution centers, the UAW struck hard by targeting the largest and most profitable plants of each auto company based in Detroit, Michigan. Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant, generating annual sales of $25 billion, was hit by the strike on October 11. The manufacturer finally reached a preliminary agreement on October 25, after 41 days of strike, followed by Stellantis (Chrysler, Jeep, etc.) three days later.

Shawn Fain, president of the UAW, was pleased with the results of the negotiations, saying: “Ford put on the table 50% more than when we walked out. Once again, we have achieved what we were told was impossible just a few weeks ago. » Salary increases over four years, cost-of-living adjustments, social benefits, improvements for retirees, and measures specific to each group are part of the preliminary agreements.

Stellantis has committed to creating 5,000 jobs, a major move given previous planned job cuts, including controversy over the closure of a factory in Belvidere, Illinois, which was ultimately averted . The agreement with Stellantis also calls for a 25% increase in base salaries by 2028.

Ford also agreed to a 25% increase in base salaries, a compromise below the 40% initially requested by Shawn Fain at the start. of the strike, but significantly higher than the 9% proposed by the group in August.

These preliminary agreements will still have to be validated by a national committee of the union before being put to a vote by members, a step which could take up to two weeks, according to a source close to the negotiations last week.

However, the union has already announced that Ford and Stellantis employees will return to work immediately, without waiting for these votes.

UNITED STATES 22 DEAD AND MORE THAN 50 INJURED

IN MASS SHOOTING IN MAINE

The scene is real carnage. A shooter opened fire Wednesday evening, October 25, at a bowling alley and bar-restaurant in a city in the northeastern United States. Initial reports show at least 22 people killed and more than fifty injured, according to the authorities, who published the photo of a man actively wanted.

An “armed and dangerous” man, still on the run.

These horrific shootings occurred in Lewiston, the second largest city in the state of Maine. Residents were forced to confine themselves in the face of the threat posed by this “armed and dangerous” man, still on the run, according to the police. “We have 22 confirmed dead and many, many injured,” said Robert McCarthy, elected official from Lewiston, a city of more than 36,000 residents.

The region's hospital infrastructure proved incapable of handling this type of shooting. According to local authorities, there were between 50 and 60 injured.

Lewiston police are currently attempting to locate the suspected shooter, identified as 40-year-old Robert Card. The motivations behind these actions remain unknown. Photos circulating show a man dressed in a brown top and dark blue pants, armed with a semi-automatic rifle that he had taken in his hand. The shots rang out in at least two different locations, a bowling alley and a bar-restaurant, as reported by local law enforcement.

The Boston FBI, the federal police, is also involved in the investigation. "Hundreds of police officers are investigating across the state to determine the whereabouts of Mr. Card, a potential suspect," the commissioner said. Maine Public Safety Officer Mike Sauschuck during a press conference.

According to several media outlets, Maine law enforcement indicated in a news bulletin that Robert R. Card was a trained weapons instructor and U.S. Army reservist who had recently reported that he had suffered from mental disorders.

This tragedy unfortunately joins the long list of shootings which regularly mourn the United States, a country where firearms are abundant and easily accessible. Another shooting took place during the same evening in a logistics center of a Walmart supermarket, according to several American media. These tragedies once again reignite the debate over the role of the NRA in each mass shooting.

The NRA, considered the most powerful lobby in the world, enjoys considerable influence in defending the right to bear arms in the United States. While a third of Americans say they own a gun, American authorities are struggling to tackle the roots of the problem. At issue: fundamental American law.

Indeed, if the Constitution allows the population to arm themselves, the carrying of a rifle has serious defenders. On one side, the Second Amendment, on the other, the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The NRA, a staunch defender of the Second Amendment

Created in 1871 with the aim of uniting hunters and shooting enthusiasts, the organization evolved from 1975 to become involved in the political arena, with the primary mission of preserving the Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights, a text written in 1791, the day after the American War of Independence, including the first ten amendments to the American Constitution, deemed untouchable.

The Second Amendment states that "in view of the necessity of a well organized militia for the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Faced with multiple threats to this right, the NRA created the Legislative Affairs Division in 1934, although it did not lobby directly at that time. In 1975, recognizing the need for urgent political defense of the Second Amendment, the NRA established the Institute for Legislative Action.

Currently, the association has more than five million members and has an annual budget of 300 million dollars (around 281 million euros). During election campaigns, the NRA intervenes by airing ads opposing candidates who might challenge the Second Amendment.

In 2012, the NRA spent $32 million on political lobbying, including $700,000 on direct financing of candidates, 88% of whom were affiliated with the Republican Party. .
The NRA also funds many politicians, with a recent list published by the New York Times revealing which members of Congress had received money from the association, sparking heated debate on social media.

The United States is paying a heavy price for the proliferation of firearms on its territory, as well as the ease with which Americans can obtain them.

Excluding suicides, more than 15,000 people have lost their lives to gun violence so far this year in the country, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

UKRAINE ISRAEL THESE TWO MAJOR CONFLICTS

WHO ARE RESHALLING THE GEOPOLITICAL CARDS

Upon his arrival in Beijing on the evening of October 17, Vladimir Putin was officially present to participate in the annual forum on the New Silk Roads (Belt and Road Initiative, BRI). However, there is little doubt that, beyond his public declarations on this major project, the discussions between the Russian president and his Chinese "friend" mainly focused on the exceptional international situation generated by the recent escalation of violence. in the Middle-East.

Opening of a third front after Ukraine and East Asia

The sudden conflagration of this region, following the terrorist acts of Hamas against Israel on October 7 and the retaliation of the Jewish State, has created an unprecedented zone of instability. This new instability has opened up an unexpected opportunity for China and Russia. It requires the involvement of American armed forces on a third front, in addition to the existing fronts in Ukraine and East Asia.

For his part, US President Joe Biden visited Israel on October 18 to reaffirm US support. He also obtained permission from the Israeli government to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza before any major military intervention in this enclave, where around two million Palestinians live. This intervention aims to destroy Hamas infrastructure.

The American president reminded Benjamin Netanyahu that the world was paying attention to the situation. He urged Israel to take all necessary measures to protect civilians in Gaza from any consequences of the Israeli army's imminent assault. “The world is watching,” Joe Biden reminded Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has the same values ​​as the United States and other democracies and they are watching what we are going to do. " In response, the Israeli prime minister promised: "Israel will do everything it can to ensure that civilians are not harmed." »

On Wednesday, Israel announced that it would allow humanitarian aid (water, food and medicine) to enter the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian border, a decision it had previously refused. However, this gesture by Israel may not be enough to ease regional tensions, especially since the country has massed a large contingent of soldiers and reservists, as well as an impressive military arsenal on the outskirts of Gaza, in preparation to a possible invasion.

The announcement by Hamas of the bombing of a hospital attributed to the IDF, which would have led to the death of hundreds of Palestinians, immediately triggered a wave of anger in the Arab-Muslim world. The Israeli government quickly denied any involvement in this bombing. It was subsequently established, thanks to Israeli and American intelligence services, that this catastrophe was probably due to a failed rocket launch by Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas. It will take time for the region to return to stability.

An unexpected window for Moscow and Beijing ?

This situation has raised concerns in Washington about the medium and long-term consequences of these tragic events, in a region which is already a real powder keg. The military commitment of the United States is already heavily strained by its support for Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion since February 2022 and its presence in the East Asian region, where tensions with China n have never been so lively, especially around Taiwan.
Opening a third front in the Middle East would pose a serious challenge for the United States, and this situation could represent an opportunity for China and Russia, who could be tempted to extend their military influence in these two territories. .

For America this risks becoming a major headache if the conflict between Israel and Hamas were to extend to neighboring countries, in particular over-armed Iran but also Lebanon and Syria. This conflict will also bury for a long time the prospect of recognition of Israel that Saudi Arabia was preparing to ratify under the aegis of the United States.

It is moreover this perspective which probably led Iran to play a determining role in the preparation of Hamas attacks in Israel, believe many analysts. This cross-recognition between Jerusalem and Riyadh would also have constituted a major success for the United States in the Middle East where China has scored undeniable diplomatic points since the beginning of this year.

Anti-Western position of China and Russia...

The evolution of the Chinese position since the Hamas attack on October 7 is obvious. Initially reluctant to label the attack "terrorist" and opting for diplomatic caution, China has recently swung in favor of the Palestinians. This change in position was accompanied by a public communication to Iran, which in turn warned Israel of a possible “preventive attack” in the event of military intervention by the IDF in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the United States has mobilized two aircraft carriers and deployed about 15,000 Marines off the coasts of Israel and Iran, while warning both countries not to get directly involved in the ongoing conflict. It is common knowledge that China has maintained close ties for many years, some of which remain confidential, with Tehran, as well as with Hamas.

Last weekend, China raised its voice over the Israeli response to Hamas attacks. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the bombing of Gaza "goes beyond self-defense" and stressed the need for Israel to end what he called "collective punishment inflicted on people of Gaza."
On October 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin went even further, making a shocking analogy. According to Putin, if the siege of Gaza, imposed by Israel, were to intensify, it could evoke memories of the siege of Stalingrad by Nazi Germany during World War II. This historical comparison deeply offended Israelis.

What about the Sino-American relationship ?

Alongside this crisis in Israel, the already tense Sino-American relationship continues to deteriorate, as two crucial deadlines approach: the presidential election in Taiwan in January 2023 and the American presidential elections in November 2024.

Xi Jinping has renewed dialogue with Washington in recent months, but obstacles persist, particularly linked to crucial issues for China, such as Taiwan, democracy, human rights and economic development. The big question is whether or not Xi Jinping will participate in the next edition of APEC: the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum will take place from November 11 to 17 in San Francisco. If the Chinese president agreed to come, it could be the scene of a bilateral summit with Joe Biden.

The crisis in Israel has underscored a broader trend: the distancing of China and Russia from the West in favor of alliances with authoritarian regimes like Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. China is also working to strengthen ties with countries in the Global South, seeking to capitalize on a common hostility toward the West, hoping to take the leadership of that group in confronting America and its allies.

To use a phrase from researcher Alexandra Novosseloff, “It is these powers which regulate the metronome of the evolution of these conflicts through their agreement or, most often, their division, or even their confrontation. One of the major characteristics of conflicts frozen is that they are both internal conflicts and interstate conflicts."

PEOPLE WEEK

The Queen of Spain surprises by launching into Rap. In a surprising artistic turn, the Queen of Spain recently explored the world of rap. Her audacity and creativity have been praised by music fans, highlighting a little-known artistic side of Spanish royalty

And Madonna puts on a show in London
The legendary Madonna recently made a sensational entrance onto the London scene with a two-piece show hours. Her performance was praised by many fans for its iconic music, sensual dances and tributes to her exceptional career. However, some were shocked by a moment of stripping involving her own children: X-rated scenes mimed next to the eldest, ambivalent gestures towards the youngest playing the piano... .

Pure trash Madonna

HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR

THE ROLE OF QATAR IN THE LIBERATION

OF HAMAS HOSTAGES

The two American citizens from the Chicago area were visiting relatives in Kibbutz Nahal Oz when, on October 7, during the Hamas attack on Israel, they were kidnapped. This incident marks the very first release of hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist movement since the start of the conflict.
The two women handed over to the Red Cross

The release of the two women, Judith and Natalie Raanan, was carried out at the border between Gaza and Israel, where they were handed over to staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as evidenced by a video released by Hamas when they were released on Friday evening. In a statement, the ICRC expressed its relief, declaring that these two weeks of anguish had come to an end. Israeli special forces and Israel's hostage and missing persons coordinator also welcomed them.

Subsequently, the two women were transferred to central Israel, where family members awaited them at an Israeli military base. Judith's brother confirmed that both women are in good health and could return to the United States in the coming days. US President Joe Biden said he was extremely happy that they would soon be reunited with their families, after having had the opportunity to speak with them.

Three days after the release of an American woman and her daughter, Judith and Natalie Raanan, both hostages of Hamas, two Israeli women, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, close to the Gaza Strip, were released, Monday October 23. Hours after their release, the Israeli Prime Minister's office released their identities. They are Yocheved Lifschitz, 85 years old, and Nourit Kuper, aged 79 years old.

The two women were taken hostage along with their husbands, but both are still being held in the Gaza Strip. According to the spokesperson for Hamas' military wing, Abou Obeida, these women were released "for pressing humanitarian reasons", thanks to mediation from Qatar and Egypt. After being transported in a military helicopter, the two ex-hostages arrived at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, one on a stretcher and the other in a wheelchair.

Around 220 hostages are still being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, ten of whom are American nationals. According to the Israeli army, the majority of them are still alive.

Qatar's mediation

Qatar's mediation played a decisive role in this release, after several days of intense negotiations. Hamas' military spokesperson said in a statement that the hostages had been released "for humanitarian reasons" thanks to Qatar's mediation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also praised Qatar's important contribution to the release, while French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted Qatar's crucial role in the matter.

In Doha, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari praised the work of his government and expressed hope that these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages of all nationalities.

Additionally, Hamas' military spokesperson said the release of the two hostages was intended to demonstrate to the American people and the entire world that the accusations made by the Joe Biden administration against Hamas were unfounded, a statement that was not well received by Israel.

"Hamas claims to the world to have released these women whom it had taken hostage for humanitarian reasons, whereas it is a murderous terrorist organization which is currently holding infants, children, women and the elderly,” replied Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli army.

Qatar's involvement in this liberation highlights this country's complex and influential role in the Middle East, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Qatar's diplomacy

Qatar, despite its small size, plays a central role in recent diplomatic maneuvers in the Middle East. Although its surface area is barely comparable to that of the Ile de France, its influence goes far beyond its borders.

The diplomatic web woven by Qatar over the last thirty years is impressive. This is based on pillars such as hydrocarbon reserves and a bold vision of diplomacy. In France, the brand of this canvas is notably embodied by the presence of the president of PSG, an example of sports diplomacy which culminated with the organization of the last World Cup, a costly but prestigious event.

Qatar also benefits from a considerable gas windfall, strengthening its influence, particularly in the context of an energy supply crisis following sanctions against Russia. With an ambitious football club, a thriving gas industry and the Al Jazeera news channel, dominant in the Arabic-speaking market, Qatar has become a key player.

Behind the facade of these elements, reprehensible networks are maintained. Qatar cultivates strong relations with regional players such as Iran and Hamas. Doha, the Qatari capital, hosts officials from the Islamist party that governs the Gaza Strip. These elements do not go unnoticed by countries seeking solutions to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Distrust of Qatar ?

The emirate has demonstrated its skill by acting as a mediator in sensitive issues. During the major conflict between Israel and Gazan factions in 2014, he played this mediating role.

Israel is well aware of the close ties between Qatar and Hamas, whose financial survival the emirate has ensured for years, notably through millions of dollars in aid. Public statements leave little doubt as to which side Qatar appears to have chosen.

For example, hours after the Hamas attacks, Doha publicly held Israel solely responsible for the escalation. However, despite these statements, Qatar is home to the largest US military base in the Middle East. And “Qatar is the historic sponsor of Hamas at the request of the government of Israel and the United States,” declared criminology professor Alain Bauer on Cnews

This duality makes him an actor with an ambiguous position, capable of juggling his interests.

While a ceasefire is currently out of reach, the first area in which Qatar could exert its influence is that of the approximately 220 hostages still in the hands of Hamas terrorists. And so far with success...

RESIGNATION OF THE BELGIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE

AFTER FAILURES IN THE FIGHT

AGAINST ISLAMIST TERRORISM

On Monday October 16, 35,000 Belgian and Swedish football fans, including adults and children, found themselves confined for three long hours in a stadium to escape the terrorist threat, thus avoiding becoming potential targets themselves.

Known to the Belgian authorities

Despite the fact that Abdesalem Lassoued was already known to the Belgian authorities for various crimes, including death threats made against an asylum seeker, the courts revealed that he was not included in the database of OCAM, the federal agency responsible for analyzing the terrorist threat.

Following this attack which caused the death of two Swedes, Vincent Van Quickenborne simply informed that Belgium had been alerted in 2016 by a foreign police service concerning the radicalization of Abdesalem Lassoued, without any terrorist antecedents being mentioned.

However, before requesting asylum in Belgium, where he claims to have arrived at the end of 2015, the Tunisian had submitted similar requests in Norway, Sweden, then Italy, all of which were rejected. Note also that he was to be extradited from Belgium.

“I’m not looking for any excuses.”

The Belgian Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, announced his resignation on Friday October 20 in response to these revelations, taking full responsibility for the error committed. He told a press conference:

“I’m not looking for any excuses.”

He added that he had learned that Tunisia had requested the extradition of Abdesalem Lassoued in August 2022, a request which had remained without response from the Brussels prosecutor's office. This negligence had dramatic consequences, and Vincent Van Quickenborne decided to resign to fully assume his responsibility in this affair.

“The competent magistrate did not respond to this request and the file was not processed, he lamented. It is an individual, monumental fault, an unacceptable fault, with dramatic consequences,” he said. he regretted, before declaring that he assumed “responsibility by resigning”.

“I sincerely want to apologize in the name of justice to the victims and their loved ones. I also want to apologize in the name of justice to the Swedish people and to our fellow Belgian citizens.”

A relative of the terrorist arrested in France

Monday evening's attack, which occurred near downtown Brussels shortly before a football match between Belgium and Sweden, targeted Swedish fans. The 45-year-old Tunisian was located Tuesday morning in a café in the Brussels commune of Schaerbeek, where he was fatally injured by police gunfire.

The investigation into this attack even extended to France. Last Thursday, Raid agents arrested, in the east of Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), a man suspected of having received a video of demands from the Brussels terrorist, a few minutes before he went to the act.

The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) then declared this Friday evening that it had initiated its own investigation into criminal terrorist association, in response to information transmitted by the Belgian judicial authorities concerning this attack.

Europe's weak link against Islamist terrorism

In terms of the fight against terrorism, Belgium presents vulnerabilities which make it the weak link in Europe.

The situation in Brussels is particularly worrying, in a country where Islamism has wreaked havoc and where the fragmentation of society is well advanced. Belgium is ideal prey for the ideologues of political Islam, with weakened sovereign power, a strongly communitarian society, and a central position on the continent.

Certain neighborhoods of Brussels have become rear bases for terrorism, as the French have tragically observed since the attacks of November 13, 2015.

The country is deeply divided between the North, in Flanders, where the political parties NVA and Vlaams Belang attract a public opinion oriented to the right, favorable to the limitation of immigration, and inclined to the independence of the region.

In the South, in Wallonia, the PS embodies a different approach with a welfare state, mass unemployment, and active promotion of immigration.

This division between the two communities is exacerbated, and Belgium is disintegrating.

In the midst of all this, Brussels is divided between Walloons, Flemings, and Muslim communities, and Belgians of Belgian origin now constitute only 26% of the capital's population, according to StatBel, the equivalent of INSEE in Belgium.

The demographic shift has already taken place in Brussels....

HUMANITARIAN AID CONVOYS

WILL ENTER GAZA

Dozens of trucks full of international aid have been waiting in Egypt for several days, waiting for the opportunity to reach Gaza. However, it is imperative that this aid be substantial, of the order of 100 trucks per day, and that it be secure, according to statements by Martin Griffiths, the head of United Nations humanitarian emergencies.
Water and food are lacking for the 2.4 million inhabitants of Gaza, also deprived of electricity, after the siege imposed by Israel since October 9 on the enclave, already subject to a land, sea and air blockade. since 2007.

Russia announced Thursday, October 20, 2023 that it will soon deliver 27 tons of humanitarian aid, given to representatives of the Egyptian Red Crescent, for civilians in the Gaza Strip.

"A special plane (...) flew from the Ramenskoye airfield near Moscow to El-Arich airport in Egypt. Russian humanitarian aid will be handed over to representatives of the Red Crescent Egyptian to be sent to the Gaza Strip,” Deputy Minister Ilia Denissov was quoted as saying in a statement, without however specifying when this plane took off. “The population will receive flour, sugar, rice (and) pasta,” he added.

Russia has not specified when its aid should be delivered to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, the American and Egyptian presidents announced that the passage of humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza would be possible. Many aid shipments have been waiting for days on the other side of the border.

Joe Biden in Israel on Wednesday

This announcement comes after Joe Biden's visit to Israel, where he reaffirmed his support for his ally. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took to the region on Thursday, in Israel and several other capitals, to call for avoiding an escalation of the war. Meanwhile, in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his desire to cooperate with Egypt to bring more stability to the region and the world.

Road impassable due to bombing

Joe Biden, who also came to the region to guarantee access for international aid to Gaza, claimed to have obtained the agreement of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi to allow up to 20 trucks to pass through the Gaza crossing. Rafah, the only one not controlled by Israel. However, it is likely that this aid will not arrive before Friday due to work to be carried out on the road, damaged by Israeli bombing.

Subsequently, the spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency confirmed that Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Joe Biden, after their telephone conversation on Wednesday evening, had agreed to sustainably transport humanitarian aid to the strip. from Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

Israel agreed to the passage of the aid, but set one condition. This assistance will not pass through its territory until the hostages held by Hamas are released. The Palestinian movement claims the holding of between 200 and 250 hostages, while Israel says at least 199 of them are being held.

On Wednesday, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for a "humanitarian pause." Washington criticizes this text for not mentioning "Israel's right to defend itself".

DISCOVERY OF A ROOM NAMED THE 2000 YEAR OLD TOMB OF CERBERUS IN ITALY

The tomb was sealed by a slab of tuff and, upon its opening, the burial chamber revealed dazzling frescoes adorning its walls. Among these, an exceptional depiction of the three-headed dog Cerberus is particularly noteworthy, hence the apt nickname of the "Tomb of Cerberus".

Cerberus, also known as the "Hound of Hades", was the guardian of the gates of the Underworld, responsible for preventing the souls of the deceased from escaping. The fresco illustrates the capture of Cerberus, depicting the accomplishment of the twelve labors of Heracles.

The tomb also contains depictions of mythological scenes featuring the ichthyocentaurs, half-human, half-horse creatures with a fish's tail, embodying a human upper part, equine front legs and a fish-like tail.

Full excavation of this chamber tomb is underway before exploration of the extensive necropolis that surrounds it.

FAREWELL TO PROFESSOR DOMINIQUE BERNARD KILLED BY AN ISLAMIST TERRORIST

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron attended the ceremony, as well as the Minister of National Education Gabriel Attal. During this funeral, his relatives spoke to talk about what a man Dominique Bernard was. The French teacher was named a knight of the Legion of Honor on Thursday, the day of his funeral.

In Arras Cathedral.

“I would like to reiterate my gratitude to all the teachers in our country,” declares Olivier Leborgne

We must renounce the fact that others do not always correspond to what we expect of them or would like them to be. Hope demands that we leave all spirit of domination,” declared the Bishop of Arras. “But in this count, there is no resignation,” he urged.

“There is no invitation to resignation,” urges Monseigneur Leborgne

"When we say “thy will be done”, we must not be misunderstood. There is no invitation to resignation. God does not want death. Jesus is the one who recovers. He wants to make us into alive", declared Monseigneur Leborgne before beginning the Our Father with the assembly.

“When will the violence and madness of the world stop ?” asks the Bishop of Arras in his homily

“What are we allowed to hope ?, asks Monsignor Leborgne in his homily. Faced with the drama that brings us together this morning, this question crosses us all. And it crossed Dominique. He had very great sensitivity. Worrying about the "evolution of education and teaching."

“A teacher was brutally murdered in a school compound,” he continues, thinking of the three other victims of the attack who were injured. We are all stunned. When will the violence and madness of the world stop ?

Are we irremediably condemned to it ?

“We are stripped bare in the face of the odious and the unacceptable,” declares Olivier Leborgne. In his homily, the bishop, who notably celebrated Lola's funeral ceremony in October 2022, said he also feared "revenge and withdrawal".

No invitation to resignation. Jesus is the one who raises

“There is no invitation to resignation,” urges Monseigneur Leborgne

“When we say “thy will be done”, there should be no mistake. There is no invitation to resignation. God does not want death. Jesus is the one who lifts up. He wants to make us alive,” declared Monseigneur Leborgne before beginning the Our Father with the assembly.

A professor brutally murdered

“I would like to reiterate my gratitude to all the teachers in our country,” declares Olivier Leborgne

“A teacher was brutally murdered in a school compound,” he continues, with a thought for the three other victims of the attack who were injured. We are all stunned. When will the violence and madness stop world ?. 

Are we irremediably condemned to it ?"

“We are stripped bare in the face of the odious and the unacceptable,” declares Olivier Leborgne. In his homily, the bishop, who notably celebrated Lola's funeral ceremony in October 2022, said he also feared "revenge and withdrawal".

A teacher who will be remembered forever by his students "You were there for the students who were nourished by your passion for literature and the hope that you put in them. (...) Here you are elevated to the rank of martyrs." , remembers a colleague. But the State must protect its people against this blind violence of Islamism and fight against Islamo-leftism.

"KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON" AN ASSUME WESTERN ON THE GENOCIDE OF THE OSAGE INDIANS

The New York filmmaker brings together his favorite actors for a major fresco set in Oklahoma in the 1920s Robert De Niro and LeonardoDiCaprio

A film that Martin Scorsese has carried with him for many years.

“The film has been in preparation for 7 or 8 years,” said Leonardo DiCaprio last May in Cannes, adding “I know that Marty (Scorsese) spent months, a year there (with the Osage) collecting their stories, to try to get as close as possible to the truth. (...) One hundred years after the massacre (of the Osage), we had the opportunity to speak to direct descendants of the tragedy, to listen to their stories." underlines the actor.

In 2016, Martin Scorsese discovered the captivating work of David Grann, master of literary investigation. Intrigued by the title, Killers of the Flower Moon, he was struck by the gentleness and brutality it suggested. The writer revisits the atrocities committed against the Osage Native Americans in the 1920s and decides to make them the basis of his film

“One of the most heinous crimes”

He sets out to relate "one of the most heinous crimes and racial injustices perpetrated by white settlers against Native Americans, motivated by the lure of oil profits", explains the author. The state of Oklahoma, 1920s. Oil brought wealth to the Osage Indians...much to their chagrin.

The tragedy of the Osage Indians had an enchanted interlude, worthy of a fable. Driven from Kansas at the end of the 19th century for the benefit of white settlers, these Native American people were relegated to an arid corner of Oklahoma. A barren land from which one day geysers of black gold gushed. Thanks to this oil field, the largest in the United States, the Osage Indians became incredibly wealthy.

Like nabobs, they owned vast estates and hired workers, arousing everyone's desire. White criminals then used the worst methods to seize their fortune from the oil boom: scams, poisonings, marriages of interest, bullets in the head. Fascinated by this forgotten page of history, the filmmaker decides to bring it to the screen. She embodies the matrix of his obsessions with greed, organized crime and the essence of evil.

Killers of the Flower Moon narrates this era of terror through the prism of the couple: the opportunist Ernest Burkhart, a war veteran, seeks to seduce the wealthy Mollie Kyle Cobb. Leonardo DiCaprio is an obvious choice for the male role, but who to play him? Martin Scorsese thinks of Lily Gladstone, spotted in the film Certain Women by Kelly Reichardt (2016). Convinced that a single look on his part can convey all the dismay of his character, a privileged witness to the disappearance of his family, he declares: “Marty liked that I had total confidence in my presence on screen.” Because Mollie was a reserved, dignified woman, adept at monosyllabic responses: “On the set, we had to bring the interstices between her words to life.”

How can we do justice to a people marked by drama and ignored by cinema? Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio meet descendants of the Osage tribe, including Margie Burkhart, the heroine's granddaughter. “I saw a lot of Mollie in her. Her laugh, her strength, her skepticism sometimes. I understood how this drama had impacted subsequent generations.”

Thus was born the most memorable scene in Killers of the Flower Moon. We see Mollie and Ernest sitting side by side at a table: him, staring at the ceiling with a focused look; she, a blanket on her shoulders, giving him a tender look. For two years, this image represented the only glimpse of Martin Scorsese's feature film. The actress relies on an anecdote collected during her research.

A man tells him about his grandmother Rose's ritual in times of storm: “When she heard lightning, she would sit down, cover her shoulders and welcome all this force in calm. In the original script, the scene just ended with Mollie pouring herself a glass of whiskey. » On screen, the entire dynamic of the couple is also revealed in this key moment: one rejoices in the benefits of the rain on the crops, while the other urges him to silently embrace the unleashings of the rain. nature.

An assumed western

The film takes on classic Scorsese themes: a story of violence, criminals and love, but it is also perhaps one of his most political films. It depicts how white men dispossessed members of a Native American people, the Osage, on whose lands oil was discovered in the 1920s. The way Native Americans were treated in the centuries after the colonization of the America by Europeans "remains a wound to be healed", he declared during the Cannes festival, where the film was presented out of competition.

In an assumed western atmosphere, with the arrival of the hero in the small town of Fairfax aboard a train, the pipe ceremony and the oil wells, the small community will suddenly be the victim of a series of murders and of disappearances. With this film, Martin Scorsese also realized his dream of a western, a genre which reached its peak "in the 20th century and which has disappeared today". “I loved westerns, they reflected who we were then and who we still are, in some ways.”

“Maybe by knowing our history and understanding where we are, we can make a difference and live up to what our country is supposed to be,” said the American filmmaker. “Let’s just show the story and see what happens."

ISLAMIST ATTACKS IN BRUSSELS

TWO SWEDENS KILLED

A 45-year-old Tunisian in an irregular situation

The suspect, Abdesalem L, is a 45-year-old Tunisian in an irregular situation in Belgium. He was fatally injured when he was arrested by police on Tuesday morning. He is said to have published two protest videos, indicating that he wanted to attack Swedes.

The prosecution detailed the arrest of the assailant

The alleged assailant of the Brussels attack was spotted this Tuesday morning by a witness in "a drinking establishment in Schaerbeek", a suburb of Brussels, the federal prosecutor's office said in a press release. “The police went to the scene. During the intervention, shots were fired by the police and the suspect was shot dead.”

Emergency services tried to resuscitate him before transferring him to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:38 a.m. “A weapon of war and a bag of clothes were found in the café,” specifies the prosecution.

Known to the authorities

The man would not be unknown to the authorities. Tuesday morning, the Belgian Prime Minister confirmed that he was in an irregular situation in Belgium. His asylum application filed in 2019 was refused and he was ordered, in 2021, to leave the territory.

The Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, added: “He was known to the police for suspicious acts of human trafficking, illegal residence and endangering state security.” According to Vincent Van Quickenborne, he was suspected, as early as 2016, of presenting a radicalized profile, ready to go and wage jihad. “But this was one of dozens of such daily reports,” he explained.

Nicole De Moor, Secretary of State for Migration, explained that after receiving a negative response to his asylum application, he had been officially removed from the national register, making his location and therefore his return to the border impossible. However, he was spotted in a mosque in June 2022 in Brussels, “this fact was reported to the local task force in Brussels, but did not give rise to other measures”.

It was this year 2016, in Belgium, that one of the worst terrorist attacks in the country's history was committed. On March 22, 32 people were killed and 300 others injured in the Brussels metro and airport.

The alert level for terrorist threats has been raised to level 4, the highest, in Brussels.

Sweden targeted by Islamist terrorist

In protest videos cited by Attorney General Frédéric Van Leeuw, the attacker, then on the run, explained that he was specifically targeting Swedes, many of whom were present in the capital for a football match between Belgium and Sweden.

In another video taken before the attack this time, the same individual, who claims to be from the Islamic State, “appears hooded and declares that ‘the book of Allah is a red line for which he sacrifices himself’” , said the prosecutor. The attacker was probably referring to the Korans burned in Sweden in recent months.

“All European states are vulnerable” in the face of the return of “Islamist terrorism”, declared the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron during a press conference in Tirana, the day after the Islamist terrorist attack which left two dead in Brussels.

“All European states are vulnerable. And there is indeed a return of this Islamist terrorism, and we all have a vulnerability. It’s the one that goes with democracies, states governed by law where you have individuals who at a moment can decide to do the worst.”

Certainly, but citizens have the right to expect firmness from the State in the execution of expulsion measures... fewer failures and laxity.

Yes, citizens want to “live in strong states of law at a time when terrorism returns”, as Emmanuel Macron suggested, but this is not the case today !

FACED BY HORROR ISRAEL EXPOSES THE REMAINS OF HAMAS VICTIMS

The toll of Hamas's barbaric attack on the south of the country last week is unbearable: more than 1,300 dead in atrocious conditions, 3,526 injured, some very seriously, 400 people missing.

According to IDF estimates, between 150 and 200 people are being held hostage in Gaza.

“…never seen this degree of barbarity”

At the Tel Aviv Forensic Institute, the horror is indescribable. The remains of Israeli victims, murdered by Hamas on October 7, are gathered there with a view to their identification. Among them, bodies burned, mutilated and in an advanced state of decomposition, a macabre scene to which forensic doctors, dressed in green overalls, tackle like a morbid puzzle, trying to reconstruct these human remains as much as possible. The corpses lie before examination on wheeled stretchers, carefully wrapped in thick black plastic bags.

Some of these bags are small, corresponding to that of a child. Each body is carefully numbered and comes from various localities, transported by volunteers, mainly Orthodox Jews. In accordance with Jewish tradition, a body may only be buried if it is complete, as far as possible.

“We chose to show this horror because some accuse us of lying, claiming that we are showing dog bones,” confessed the director of the Institute, Doctor Hen Kugel, overcome by emotion, according to reports from the French media like Le Point. “This is my 31st year in this profession. I have never been confronted with such a degree of barbarity, such cruelty, such relentlessness. It is simply abominable,” he added in tears.

Thousands of victims

Israeli authorities have recorded more than 1,400 deaths since the attack on October 7, 2023, perpetrated by hundreds of Hamas members from the Gaza Strip who attempted to infiltrate localities and kibbutzim adjacent to the territory. Palestinian. Simultaneously, Israel carried out strikes on Gaza, where local authorities reported around 2,750 deaths.

For the identification of the bodies, in addition to the seven forensic doctors from the Tel Aviv Institute, an anthropologist, a radiologist and eight geneticists are involved, with the support of around thirty volunteers.

PSYCHE MISSION ON THE METAL ASTEROID

SCIENTIFIC ADVANCE AND COMMERCIAL INTEREST

IN A LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO BE DEFINED

Powered by two large solar panels, the probe will be propelled by four ion engines expelling xenon at high speed, ensuring a six-year journey. In May 2026, Psyche will receive a gravitational boost from the planet Mars before heading towards the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Why return to observe an asteroid when the Japanese Hayabusa-2 and American Osiris-REx missions have already collected numerous data on two of these celestial bodies, Ryugu and Bénou, and brought back samples? Because the term "asteroid" actually encompasses a whole diversity of stars, and Psyche, the target of NASA's mission, differs considerably from its counterparts.

First by its size:

This 280 km diameter asteroid is worth so much because it is one of the “M-type” asteroids, meaning it is mainly composed of metals.

Then, by its composition: Psyche is made up of nickel, iron and gold. This type of asteroid is quite rare in our solar system and could allow us to answer many questions about the origin of planets like Earth, which is why NASA is sending a space probe to Psyche this Friday October 13, 2023.