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Europe’s Diplomatic Failure: How Missteps Fueled the Israel-Iran Crisis
Europe’s response to the Israel-Iran
Étienne-Émile Baulieu, Pioneer of Mifepristone, Passes Away at 98
Étienne-Émile Baulieu, the French biochemist and scientist renowned for his pivotal role in developing mifepristone, commonly known as the abortion pill Ru-486, died Friday at the age of 98. His groundbreaking work revolutionized pregnancy termination methods worldwide.
A Life Dedicated to Scientific Progress and Women’s Freedom
Baulieu’s family confirmed his death in a statement released through AFP. His widow, Simone Harari, emphasized his unwavering commitment:
Her research was guided by her commitment to progress made by science, her dedication to women’s freedom and her desire to allow everyone to live better and longer lives.
President Macron’s Tribute
French President Emmanuel Macron lauded Baulieu as a visionary who championed women’s rights:
A headlight and a progressive mind that allowed women to conquer their freedom.
Emmanuel Macron,President of france
Macron further acknowledged Baulieu’s profound impact on French society,stating,Few french made as many changes as he made.
Did you Know?
Mifepristone works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necesary for a pregnancy to continue. It is typically used in conjunction with misoprostol to induce abortion.
early Career and Focus on steroid Hormones
After World War II, Baulieu specialized in steroid hormones. Invited to the U.S., he concentrated his scientific investigations on sex hormones, according to the French newspaper Le Monde.
Progress of Mifepristone and Subsequent Controversy
Upon returning to France in 1982, Baulieu developed mifepristone. This development made him a target of lawsuits and protests from anti-abortion groups.
Baulieu’s Defense of Abortion Rights
In a 2023 interview with AFP, Baulieu criticized Wyoming’s ban on mifepristone, calling it a scandal
and a setback to women’s freedom.
He also addressed the broader debate surrounding abortion access in a 2022 interview with The New Yorker:
Ideology and machismo, sadly, weigh more than scientific rationality and proof.
Étienne-Émile Baulieu, The New Yorker, 2022
He further asserted:
A method that makes the interruption of pregnancy less traumatic physically for women and less risky for their health has always been rejected by pro-life: what they really seek is to harm and punish women.
Baulieu also criticized the U.S. Supreme court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, stating that it puts in check a fundamental right of women that we think is legal and morally guaranteed.
Pro Tip
For more facts on reproductive health and access to abortion services, consult reputable organizations such as the World health Association (WHO) and the Guttmacher Institute.
Mifepristone’s Global Impact
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 60 million women have used mifepristone for pregnancy termination. According to the Guttmacher Institute, it accounts for over 60% of abortions in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Mifepristone?
Mifepristone,also known as RU-486 or the abortion pill,is an oral medication used to terminate early pregnancies.
How does mifepristone work?
It blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for pregnancy to continue, and is usually followed by misoprostol to induce abortion.
Is Mifepristone safe?
When used as directed under medical supervision, mifepristone is generally considered safe.
Where is Mifepristone used?
It is indeed used globally, with over 60 million women having used it, and it accounts for over 60% of abortions in the U.S.
Additional Resources
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Guttmacher Institute
France on the Brink: Will Macron’s Government Survive a Confidence Vote?
A political crisis is brewing in France, with the survival of Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government hanging by a thread. As early as today, a tense vote looms that could see Barnier’s government topple, plunging the country into further political instability amidst a divided parliament.
The trigger for this crisis is Barnier’s controversial budget proposal, which aims to slash tens of billions of euros in spending to curb France’s famously high deficit and national debt. "This was the first time in more than sixty years that a French government had to resign because of a move like this," writes French journalist Frank Renout, highlighting the significance of the situation.
Barnier, who took over as Prime Minister shortly after the elections five months ago, is facing fierce opposition from both the left and the far-right. The left condemns the budget cuts as excessive while the far-right, led by Marine Le Pen, is pushing for even larger reductions, alongside more nods to their populist platform such as increased spending for pensioners and greater financial support for citizens.
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With Barnier struggling to secure a majority and reaching out to Le Pen for support, tensions have risen.
While the left aims to bring down Macron’s government and has already committed to a motion of no confidence, Le Pen holds the key. If she doesn’t back Barnier’s budget, the government may fall, ending Macron’s grasp on power.
But even before the vote, Le Pen’s demands threaten to split the government. She has insisted on changes to the budget plans, including assurances about ongoing support for pensioners and the cost of healthcare access, suggesting she wants more concessions from Barnier before offering her support.
If the motion of no confidence passes, France faces a critical juncture. The next parliamentary election is still a year away, leaving new elections to replace Barnier out of reach. Could Macron be pressured to step down and trigger Presidential elections?
"President Macron … has no intention of doing so," according to experts cited by Renout. "Furthermore, a new president from the radical left or right is still stuck with the same divided parliament."
For now, the country waits with bated breath. This week’s vote could set the stage for a dramatic reshape of the French political landscape. As Renout writes, "The opposition wants to send the cabinet home with a motion of no confidence."
The outcomes could send shockwaves through Europe, echoing in the U.S. with implications for the fragile ongoing dialogue between Europe and the U.S.
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The entire drama unfolds as the world looks on. Can Macron’s government weather this storm, or will the political logjam plunge France into a new era of deep uncertainty?
2024-12-02 10:41:00
#French #government #hanging #thread #dissatisfied #austerity #plans
Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron asked this Saturday to stop sending weapons to Israel for the war in Gaza.
“I think the priority today is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza,” he said on France Inter radio.
“France does not send,” he added in the interview recorded on October 1.
US President Joe Biden has so far refused to change his policy of support for Israel, beyond the suspension he made in May of a delivery of heavy bombs. The United States sends weapons worth $3 billion to Israel every year.
The United Kingdom announced in September the suspension of around thirty arms export licenses to Israel out of a total of 350, alleging a “risk” that they will be used in actions that violate international law in the conflict in Gaza, which broke out after the attack by the Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli territory on October 7.
The French president deplored that the situation is not changing in Gaza, despite the diplomatic efforts undertaken to obtain a ceasefire, in particular with Israel.
“I think we are not being heard. I have said it again to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu and I think it is a mistake, also for the security of Israel tomorrow,” Macron stressed.
“We see it clearly in our public opinion, and we see it even more clearly in the public opinion of the region, deep down resentment is being born and hatred feeds on it,” he added.
Following the launch of the Israeli operation against the pro-Iranian Islamist movement Hezbollah in Lebanon, Macron also reiterated that the “priority is to avoid escalation.”
“Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza,” he insisted.
Netanyahu attacks Macron for stopping weapons
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, attacked this Saturday against the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and the leaders of the countries that asked to stop the shipment of weapons to Israel in the framework of the war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should firmly support Israel. However, President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. They should be ashamed,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“Is Iran imposing an arms embargo on Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas and their other proxies? Of course not,” Netanyahu said, adding that the three groups are backed by Tehran and are part of the so-called ” axis of resistance” against Israel.
“This axis of terror remains united. But the countries that supposedly oppose this axis of terror are asking for an arms embargo on Israel. What a shame!” insisted the prime minister, who also affirmed that Israel will win even without their support .
This Saturday, Macron said on France Inter radio that the “priority” is to return to a “political solution” and asked that countries stop “delivering weapons to fight in Gaza.”
“France does not send,” he added in the interview, recorded on October 1.
US President Joe Biden has so far refused to change his policy of support for Israel, beyond the suspension he made in May of a delivery of heavy bombs.
The United Kingdom announced in September the suspension of around thirty arms export licenses to Israel out of a total of 350, alleging a “risk” that they will be used in actions that violate international law in the conflict in Gaza, which broke out after the attack by the Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli territory on October 7.
The French president deplored that the situation is not changing in Gaza, despite the diplomatic efforts undertaken to obtain a ceasefire, in particular with Israel.
“I think we are not being heard. I have said it again to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu and I think it is a mistake, also for the security of Israel tomorrow,” Macron stressed.
“We see it clearly in our public opinion, and we see it even more clearly in the public opinion of the region, deep down a resentment is being born and hatred is fed by it,” he added.
#Macron #asks #stop #sending #weapons #Israel #war #Gaza
– 2024-10-07 23:43:11
The French president appointed a conservative as prime minister two weeks ago despite having lost the elections
Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Paris on Saturday against French President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment of Prime Minister Michel Barnier, as France continues to await a final list of names for the president’s new cabinet. Protesters carried banners and chanted as they marched from Place de la Bastille, with many directly calling for Macron to resign at a rally organised by France’s parliamentary left groups. Macron appointed Barnier, a former EU Brexit negotiator and member of the right-wing Les Républiques (LR) party, as prime minister two weeks ago. LR fell behind in the second round of legislative elections in July, which were won by the left-wing New Popular Front coalition. Barnier has struggled to name a new government, underlining the complicated topography of the French political landscape following Macron’s ill-fated decision to call early elections. There is no set deadline for Barnier to publish the final list of new ministers and he will have to tread carefully so as not to irritate opposition parties, who could unite and topple his government with a vote of no confidence.
-Writing-
Emmanuel Macron, photo: Getty Images
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, after consultations with all parliamentary parties, refused to appoint Lucie Castet as Prime Minister, and his application was praised by the largest parliamentary bloc on the left. Already on Tuesday, August 27, the president will begin new consultations “with party leaders” and “personalities.”
Source: a message from the Elysee Palace on Monday afternoon, August 26, reports “European Truth” with reference to the group AFP
Details: Macron said he is ruling out the post Prime Minister of the New Popular Front in the name of “institutional stability”, and on Tuesday, August 27, new consultations “with party leaders” and “personalities” will begin.
Notice:
“My responsibility is that the country should not be hindered or weakened.
The French leader also called on the left bloc to “collaborate with other political forces”.
Let us remember you:
- Macron consultations began with political parties as announced by the Prime Minister on 23 August.
- No party group has enough seats for an absolute majority in the National Assembly (289 votes).
- Constitutionally, Macron cannot dissolve parliament until next summer, so analysts say he is likely to appoint someone as prime minister who has a better chance of finding common ground between the parties.
#Macron #consultations #refused #leftist #prime #minister
2024-08-26 20:59:54