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17 May Briefing Read full brief

Pro-Palestinian speech crackdown, Epstein probe widens, and a Cannes culture war over Bolloré

Paris moved to deport Palestinian-Egyptian activist Ramy Shaath, freed by Macron in 2022, citing his Gaza-protest activity as a public-order threat ahead of a 21 May hearing. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said around ten new alleged victims have come forward in the French Jeffrey Epstein probe opened in January. At Cannes, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada said the group will stop working with the 600 industry signatories of a petition against owner Vincent Bolloré.

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France moves to deport activist Ramy Shaath, citing pro-Palestinian protests as public-order threat

France's Nanterre prefecture has summoned Palestinian-Egyptian activist Ramy Shaath to a 21 May deportation hearing, citing his pro-Palestinian protest activity and statements describing "Israel's criminal occupation of Gaza" as evidence he poses a "serious threat to public order". Shaath was freed from Egyptian arbitrary detention in January 2022 after Emmanuel Macron's intervention, and his lawyer Damia Taharraoui says he cannot be expelled to Egypt — where he no longer holds citizenship — or to the Palestinian territories during the ongoing war. Family and supporters launched a #FreeRamyShaath2 campaign on Sunday, framing the move as a reversal of France's 2022 welcome of him as a "prisoner of conscience".

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Around 10 new victims come forward in French Epstein probe, says Paris prosecutor

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Sunday that around 10 new suspected victims have come forward in a French investigation into the network of late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The probe was opened after the US Justice Department released the latest cache of Epstein files in January. Beccuau said investigators are listening to the victims, some of whom are abroad, and are re-examining Epstein's computer, phone records, and address books.

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Canal+ CEO says group will stop working with 600 industry professionals who signed petition against Vincent Bolloré

Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada said Sunday at the Cannes Film Festival that the group will no longer work with 600 film industry professionals who signed a petition against right-wing billionaire owner Vincent Bolloré. Saada called the petition an 'injustice' toward Canal+ teams. Signatories include actress Juliette Binoche and director Arthur Harari, co-writer of 'Anatomy of a Fall.'

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G7 finance ministers meet in Paris to address internal divisions and declining global influence

Finance ministers and central bank governors from G7 countries gathered in Paris for a two-day meeting on May 18-19, 2025, aiming to overcome internal divisions worsened by US President Donald Trump's policies. The G7's share of global GDP has fallen to 30%, and the group faces challenges from rival forums like BRICS and APEC. The meeting precedes a G7 leaders' summit scheduled for June 15-17 in Évian, France.

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Finance ministers and central bank governors from G7 countries gathered in Paris for a two-day meeting on May 18-19, 2025, aiming to overcome internal divisions worsened by US President Donald Trump's policies. The G7's share of global GDP has fallen to 30%, and the group faces challenges from rival forums like BRICS and APEC. The meeting precedes a G7 leaders' summit scheduled for June 15-17 in Évian, France.

Frequently Asked

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Why is Ramy Shaath facing deportation from France?
Ramy Shaath, a Palestinian-Egyptian activist, was summoned to a deportation committee on 21 May for his role in pro-Palestinian protests and statements describing 'Israel's criminal occupation of Gaza', which authorities say poses a 'serious threat to public order'.
How many new victims have come forward in the French Epstein investigation?
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced around ten new alleged victims have come forward in the French investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's network.
What is the Cannes Film Festival dispute about?
Canal+ chief Maxime Saada said the group will no longer work with about 600 film-industry professionals who signed a petition against right-wing billionaire Vincent Bolloré, escalating a culture war at the festival.
What new legislation targets criticism of Israel in France?
A parliamentary bill introduced last month would penalise specific forms of criticism of Israel and expand terrorism-related offences to 'implicit' provocation.