Assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, Matignon’s ideas on taxes, results of Hurricane Hélène… Five things to remember from the weekend

Israel continues bombing Lebanon after killing Hezbollah leader

The Jewish state announced on Saturday that the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, had been killed the day before by an Israeli strike in his stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The pro-Iranian Shiite militia, a true state within a state in Lebanon, confirmed the death of its leader early this afternoon. Twenty members of the Lebanese movement were also killed in this operation called “New Order” by Israel.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 33 people were killed and 195 injured on Saturday, and at least 49 people were killed on Sunday in violent Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon. The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it had carried out “dozens” new raids against Hezbollah in Lebanon, where it continues to target executives of the powerful movement.

Israel claims to be acting to stop Hezbollah’s fire towards the north of its territory and thus allow the return of tens of thousands of residents forced to flee. According to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, nearly a million people may have been displaced by Israeli bombings, the largest population displacement in the country’s history, according to him. More than 50,000 people have fled Lebanon towards Syria, according to the UN.

The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, is due to go to Lebanon on Sunday evening, announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifying that Mr. Barrot planned to“exchange with local authorities and provide French support, particularly humanitarian support”. France asked on Saturday “the immediate cessation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon”saying to be “opposed to any land operation” in the country.

Exceptional contribution, tax on share buybacks: the government’s options for reducing the deficit

Two days before his general policy declaration, the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, plans to “appeal, exceptionally and temporarily”to the wealthiest, to stop the drift of public accounts. Among the projects examined by the executive in recent days, and consulted by The World, There are two main measures.

Bercy is first considering a “exceptional contribution to the profits of large companies”as had already been done in 2017. It could be presented as part of an amending finance bill and could thus be applied from the last corporate tax installment for 2024. This “exceptional contribution” could bring in 8 billion euros in 2025. Second measure: the government wants to introduce a tax on share buybacks. As for income tax, it would remain stable.

Sunday in Tourcoing, where he was making his political comeback, Gérald Darmanin affirmed that “ Many of us will not be able to support a government that would increase taxes: that would be contrary to everything positive we have done for the French”. “I support the government of Michel Barnier appointed by the President of the Republic”however, clarified the former Minister of the Interior. And if he understands that a tax increase would only concern “ than the wealthiest French people”he believes that “the money of the wealthiest must go into job creation, not into public coffers”.

Hurricane Helene leaves at least 63 dead in the United States

The human toll from Hurricane Helen in the east and southeast of the United States increased to 63 deaths on Saturday, according to authorities. Helene made landfall in northwest Florida on Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, packing winds measured at 225 km/h. The hurricane then progressed northwards, losing intensity, while leaving a landscape of desolation in its wake.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee have declared federal states of emergency. Rescue teams are still working to restore power and deal with the consequences of the massive floods which destroyed homes, roads and businesses. But their efforts are hampered by rugged terrain and blocked access routes. According to the monitoring site PowerOutage.us, more than 2.6 million people were still without electricity Sunday morning in ten states, from Florida to southeast Indiana.

Legislative elections in Austria: the far right tops the projections

After the debacle five years ago, the far right returned in force to the legislative elections on Sunday in Austria, moving, if the first estimates are confirmed, towards a historic success. According to projections published at the close of the vote, Herbert Kickl’s Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) would obtain 29.1% of the vote, a jump of 13 points compared to the previous election in 2019.

In a context of the rise of radical parties in Europe, this formation founded by former Nazis is doing even better than what the polls predicted. The conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, would come second, with 26.2% of the vote. This first place for the extreme right would be an earthquake in the Alpine country, because, if the latter has already tasted power, it has never finished at the top of a national election.

Several demonstrations in France to defend the right to abortion

Hundreds of people demonstrated on Saturday in Paris and in several French cities to defend the right to abortion, on the occasion of the international day dedicated to this right and the call of the Abortion in Europe collective, women decide, bringing together feminist associations and unions. The text of the call to demonstrate expresses concern that “downgrades” the conditions of the “freedom guaranteed” access to abortion enshrined in the Constitution in March – a first in the world.

According to official figures, 243,623 abortions were performed in France in 2023, 8,600 more than in 2022. But for feminist associations and 89% of French people, obstacles persist, particularly in terms of structures and deadlines, according to an IFOP barometer published by Family Planning. The Alliance Vita association, which campaigns against abortion, maintains, on the contrary, that access has been “simplified, even trivialized”. The Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, assured that the “acquired rights”particularly in matters of abortion, would be “completely preserved”.

And also:

War in Ukraine. kyiv claims to have struck Russian missile and munitions depot

United Kingdom. MP quits Labor Party in protest over Keir Starmer gifts scandal

Nepal. The toll of the torrential rains is increasing.

Cycling. Lotte Kopecky retains her world champion title

Space. A SpaceX mission took off on Saturday to rescue two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station