@CNN in Paris 'God Among Men: Why the French hate Emmanuel Macron' -- Out Feb '27
Paris
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The day Russia invaded Ukraine was a special day for Elmira: her 5th birthday
Children in Kharkiv have suffered more than most from the war
Now even school is underground
“We won’t hear the bangs,” she told us
@fpleitgenCNN @TarasovaMarkina
I can't think of a better snapshot (perhaps unfair if hugely telling) of where we are with the French presidential election
Macron's disciple Attal talks the 'United States of Europe' ...
as Marine Le Pen tours the fire-ravaged house of a Frenchwoman
A @lemondefr poll this week said that 71% of people are looking for social and political change from the election - the same change that Macron was supposed to offer
And with France already facing cost-of-living protests, the battleground for 2027 isn't big ideas
Joseph Ataman retweeted
Millions are set to pack the streets of Tehran for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral four months after he was killed. CNN’s Fred Pleitgen was the only Western TV journalist allowed inside the event. CNN is operating in Iran with the permission of the government but maintains full editorial control.
Preparations underway for this weekend’s massive funeral for Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Millions expected. Tehran quieter than usual today. Miles of posters and food stands going up for the funeral march
At the Musalla mosque, 🇮🇷 & foreign VIPs paying their respects
Andy Burnham is set to become the United Kingdom’s first Catholic prime minister.
He said he was deeply moved by the life of Pope Francis.
Upon his death, he said Francis “spoke for equality and compassion and for humanity, in a world where we see political leaders target minorities and marginalize people in the search for votes”.
Joseph Ataman retweeted
‘Mother, I’ve weighed the risks which I prefer to living in a world dominated by Nazis. Bill’
CWGC epitaphs are unbearably moving
UK defence secretary resigns over lack of funding for the British military
Incredibly, the government was only going to increase funding to 2.68% of GDP by 2030, when the current budget plans would have got it to 2.6% anyway
NATO wants 3.5% by 2035
BREAKING: France and Germany cancel the FCAS SCAF fighter jet
Industry couldn’t decide how to divide up the workload/leadership
As minds sharpen around what Europe really needs to win a war vs Russia, this exquisite project fell by the wayside
Sweden inks a 40B-euro deal for 4 🇫🇷 frigates - largest investment since the 1980s
Beating off 🇬🇧🇪🇸 competition, comes after 🇫🇷 bought 🇸🇪 aerial radar
Germany will before long be the military muscle in Europe. France (and UK) are up there but Sweden is becoming another key pole
La Suède a fait le choix de la frégate de défense et d'intervention de Naval Group pour moderniser sa marine.
Je remercie la Suède et je mesure la confiance faite à la France.
Après le choix fait par la France de se doter du Global Eye de Saab pour renouveler sa flotte d'avions radar Awacs, c'est une décision stratégique majeure, qui traduit la confiance mutuelle entre nos deux pays.
Notre partenariat n’a en effet cessé de se renforcer ces dernières années jusqu’à la participation de la Suède à la dissuasion avancée.
Une Europe forte et souveraine au sein de l'OTAN : voilà notre conception de notre défense et de notre sécurité commune. Elle se bâtit chaque jour.
The clearest sign of the current balance of power and real military weight in Europe
France sends a carrier group to the Red Sea
UK sends a single warship
(And it’s a joint 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 venture)
Britain has ordered @HMSDragon forward from the Med to the Middle East in case a deal goes into place that allows the Uk/French led Hormuz clearance operation to go ahead. France’s carrier group has already deployed, passing through the Suez Canal a couple of days back
I have had more difficulty getting 🇫🇷 people to understand me saying burger in French than any other word
“Taiwan is China”
The assorted French Left is still a major player today and @JLMelenchon is the presidential candidate for the largest bloc on the Left
It says a lot about where politics has gone that he considers this an acceptable opinion for a presidential campaign
🗣️ "Taïwan, c’est la Chine", lance @JLMelenchon
💬 "Si la Chine prend Taïwan et si je suis élu président de la République, nous ne nous en mêlerons pas. Nous ne ferons jamais la guerre à la Chine."
Iran announces that the Strait of Hormuz is now open
Only the US is blockading the strait now …
This comes as UK, France and some 30 allies are discussing a defensive mission to protect shipping during a ceasefire. Call ongoing at the Elysee
Always nice when a colleague digs your lede
Thanks @kaitlancollins
"There’s no escape from the tax collector. At least that’s what Benjamin Brière must have felt after his return from three and half years as a hostage in Iran when he got that message that we all dread: he hadn’t filed his taxes."
cnn.com/2026/04/13/europe/fr…
Joseph Ataman retweeted
"There’s no escape from the tax collector. At least that’s what Benjamin Brière must have felt after his return from three and half years as a hostage in Iran when he got that message that we all dread: he hadn’t filed his taxes."
cnn.com/2026/04/13/europe/fr…
Polish PM Donald Tusk to new Hungary PM:
“I’m so happy. I think I’m happier than you”
EU glee at finally freeing themselves of thorn-in-the-side Orban on full display (he chose to tweet this!)
