The main news from these two days that should not be missed in France and the rest of the world.
Hostage release, Israeli shooting and Trump's statement
The truce agreement between Israel and Hamas seemed to be on good track at the start of the weekend. The four Israeli hostages, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag having been released in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, as planned on Saturday. But the fate of another hostage and Trump's inflammatory statements reignited tensions between the two parties on Sunday. Hundreds of Palestinians tried to reach the northern Gaza Strip, as provided for in the ceasefire agreement, but Israel refused them access due to the failure to release the hostage civil Arbel Yehoud. In Lebanon, where the 60-day deadline for the evacuation of the Israeli army from the south of the country has just expired, residents were the target of fatal IDF fire as they sought to return to their homes. Early Sunday evening, the Lebanese Ministry of Health put the number of deaths at 22 people, in a provisional report.
For his part, Donald Trump presented his solution on Saturday to shelter the Gazans, after fifteen months of bombing on their territory: “We’re just cleaning it up.” The American president wants to install them in Jordan and Egypt, so “temporary or long term”. He assured that he had spoken to King Abdullah II of Jordan about it and was preparing to do the same with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi. If these declarations delighted the Israeli extreme right, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed “his strong rejection and condemnation of any project aimed at displacement” Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Bassem Naïm, a senior Hamas official, told AFP that the Palestinians “will fail” the proposal, “as they frustrated all the plans to move […] for decades”.
Fighting in the DRC: the UN meets urgently
While deadly fighting continues between the army and the M23 rebel group – supported by Rwanda – in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN Security Council met urgently this Sunday, January 26 . During the meeting, the Congolese authorities notably denounced the “declaration of war” of Rwanda, accusing Kigali of sending new troops to the east of the DRC. Fighting is taking place near the regional capital Goma. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Rwandan forces to withdraw from DRC territory and stop supporting the M23. Internationally, Paris, London and Washington are calling for de-escalation. On Saturday Emmanuel Macron, for example, called for “immediate end of the offensive of the M23 and the Rwandan forces as well as the withdrawal of the latter from Congolese territory”.
Autocrat Lukashenko returns for a seventh term
Pro-Russian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko was re-elected this Sunday for 5 years, in a vote without suspense. He received 87.6% of the vote, according to an official exit poll, due to a lack of tolerated opposition in the country. Only four candidates hand-picked by those in power acted as foils. He thus begins his seventh term. Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, forced into exile, denounced “a farce” during a rally in Warsaw. The EU and human rights NGOs have also called the election staged.
Budget 2025: final stretch in search of a compromise
Before the joint committee on the finance bill is held on Thursday January 30, the government continues to negotiate to restore the compromises made to the opposition, without upsetting its common base, while reducing the deficit. While waiting for the CMP, members of the government, who play no official role in this commission, are increasing the number of media interventions and behind-the-scenes meetings with parliamentarians. Sunday, at lunchtime, Amélie de Montchalin, minister responsible for public accounts, said on BFM TV that the cost of censorship amounted to 100 million per day, “a waste”while her colleague in charge of the Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, provided monthly figures on France 3. “Each month that passes is 8% less budget”, she said, before calling “the parties which voted for censorship [à prendre] their responsibilities.
Storms Éowyn and Herminia
A flood never seen for more than 40 years in Rennes, gusts of more than 100 km/h, the Vendée Globe village closed, rail and road traffic disrupted: the Herminia depression played spoilsport in the west of the country this Sunday – nine departments have been placed on orange alert for a risk of floods, heavy rain and flooding or violent winds. A 73-year-old British boater, who was sailing alone off the coast of Gironde (southwest of France), is missing in the Atlantic, swept away in recent days by storm Eowyn then depression Herminia, announced Sunday the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic.
-Also read on Libération.fr
Isolated in his Palace, Emmanuel Macron seeks direct contact with the French
While many advisors are leaving the Elysée, the President is trying to cure his unpopularity by addressing citizens himself. Its decisions on possible referendums are expected in the spring. Our story.
Australian Open: Jannik Sinner retains his title in Melbourne by beating Alexander Zverev
The Italian and world number one won his third Grand Slam title this Sunday, January 26, after beating Alexander Zverev in the final of the Australian Open. He retains his title at the same time. For his part, the German player was attacked by a spectator, reminding him of the accusations of violence from two of his former companions.
The former mayor of Bordeaux Nicolas Florian is dead
The elected LR, who succeeded Alain Juppé in 2019, died of a stroke, announces Southwest this Sunday. He was 55 years old. Our article.
