Administrative Probe Reopened into French Minister’s Suicide, Google Avoids Antitrust Breakup, and Putin Hosts Military Display with Allies
A judicial inquiry has been reopened into the 2004 suicide of Caroline Grandjean, then-Minister Delegate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, following new allegations of pressure related to a probe into alleged illegal lobbying by Elf Aquitaine, Libération reported Wednesday. The reopening comes after a whistleblower came forward with claims of deliberate obstruction of justice. Grandjean was found dead at her Paris home shortly after being questioned in the Elf Aquitaine case.
Meanwhile,a U.S. judge ruled Tuesday that Google does not need to be broken up despite finding the company maintained a monopoly in the search engine market through exclusive distribution agreements. However, the judge ordered Google to share data with rivals in an effort to rebalance competition.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin oversaw a military parade in Moscow featuring troops from China and North Korea, alongside representatives from several former Soviet states. The display, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and North korean leader Kim Jong Un, signaled a strengthening of alliances amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
elsewhere, France awaits the first selection of 15 novels competing for the prestigious Prix Goncourt literary award, to be unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The list is expected to be closely watched by publishers and booksellers following a busy publishing season with nearly 500 novels released in recent months. French president Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to chair a Council of Ministers meeting at 10 a.m., possibly the last under current Prime minister François Bayrou, should a vote of no confidence pass on September 8th as anticipated by opposition parties.Macron is expected to advocate for opening government coalitions to socialist parties.
