Human Rights Watch warns of migrant worker deaths in 2034 World Cup host Saudi Arabia

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday said grave abuses were being committed on giant construction sites in Saudi Arabia and warned the risks to migrant workers could increase as the building of stadiums for the 2034 World Cup gathers pace.HRW said “scores of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia die in gruesome yet avoidable workplace-related accidents, including falling from buildings, electrocution, and even decapitation”.The NGO, which has studied nearly 50 cases of deaths in Saudi Arabia, said Saudi authorities had “failed to adequately protect workers from preventable deaths, investigate workplace safety incidents, and ensure timely and adequate compensation for families” including through life insurance policies and benefits to survivors.”The risks of occupational deaths and injuries are further increasing as the Saudi government ramps up construction work for the 2034 World Cup as well as other ‘giga-projects’,” HRW added.The Gulf kingdom was handed the right to host the 2034 World Cup at a FIFA Congress last December despite concerns about its human rights record, the risks to migrant labourers and criminalisation of same-sex relationships. It was the only candidate.The NGO called on FIFA to ensure all work-related deaths in Saudi Arabia are properly investigated and that bereaved families receive compensation.- ‘Long and burdensome’ -FIFA has committed to establishing a workers’ welfare system, which it says includes “dedicated mandatory standards and enforcement mechanisms applicable to all companies and workers involved in… World Cup-related construction and service delivery” in Saudi Arabia. But HRW said football’s world governing body did not provide “details on concrete measures to prevent, investigate, and compensate migrant worker deaths such as risk-based heat protection measures or life insurance”.The NGO claimed “FIFA is knowingly risking yet another tournament that will unnecessarily come at a grave human cost”, referencing the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.Similar concerns over workers’ welfare dogged Qatar ahead of its hosting of international football’s showpiece tournament.Amnesty International and other rights groups claimed thousands of migrant workers died in the lead-up to the 2022 tournament, though Doha has said only 37 workers on World Cup projects perished — and only three in work-related accidents.HRW stated in its report that the majority of migrant worker deaths in Saudi Arabia are attributed to “natural causes” and are therefore neither investigated nor compensated.According to figures provided by the NGO, for example, 74 percent of 1,420 Indian migrant worker deaths recorded at the Indian embassy in Riyadh in 2023 were attributed to natural causes.HRW added “even work-related death cases categorised as such in a migrant worker’s death certificate are sometimes not compensated as they should be according to Saudi law and international labour standards”.”In migrant death cases that are compensated, the process is long and burdensome,” the report said, providing an example of one such compensation process that took a decade to be completed.”My sons are 11 and 13 years old. When my husband died, they were 11 months and two years old. If we had received compensation right after his death, it would have provided so much relief,” the wife of a deceased worker, who was not named, told HRW.In response to the report, FIFA shared with AFP a letter it sent last month to HRW from its secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.The letter says Saudi Arabia has “in the past years been investing heavily in the development of its society and economy”, using international companies.Grafstrom notes that Saudi Arabia “has taken significant steps to reform its labour laws since 2018”, including the abolition of parts of the kafala system which ties workers to their employers, and introducing standardised contracts for workers.The Saudi government, he says, has also committed to working with the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) “on the further expansion and effective implementation of these reforms”.”In line with its human rights commitments, FIFA seeks to play its part in ensuring strong protections for workers employed by third parties in the construction of FIFA World Cup sites,” Grafstrom adds.AFP has also contacted the Saudi government for comment.

Syrians hail lifting of US sanctions as start of ‘new era’

The sound of fireworks and applause rang out in Syria’s major cities overnight, as Syrians celebrated US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on the devastated country.In Syria’s second city Aleppo, dozens of men, women and children took to the central Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, waving the new Syrian flag and singing.Hours earlier in Riyadh, Trump announced he would lift sanctions on Syria, as the country seeks to rebuild after the December ouster of longtime president Bashar al-Assad.Soap factory owner Zain al-Jabali, 54, rushed to the square as soon as she heard the news.”These sanctions were imposed on Assad, but… now that Syria has been liberated, there will be a positive impact on industry, it’ll boost the economy and encourage people to return,” she told AFP.Amid the sound of cars honking in celebration, 26-year-old Ghaith Anbi described the news as “the second joy since the fall of Assad”.”Lifting the sanctions on the Syrian people will have a very positive impact on reconstruction and rebuilding infrastructure, especially in Aleppo as an economic city,” the civil engineer told AFP.”There will be great economic prosperity for the Syrian people,” he said.- ‘Turning point’ -In the Saudi capital on Tuesday, Trump announced he was lifting the “brutal and crippling” Assad-era sanctions, in response to demands from new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s allies in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.Trump said it was Syrians’ “time to shine” and that easing sanctions would “give them a chance at greatness”.The Syrian foreign ministry called Trump’s decision a “pivotal turning point” that would help bring stability, draw in investment and reintegrate the country into the global economy.Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh said Trump’s lifting of sanctions “will help Syria in building its institutions, providing essential services to the people and will create great opportunities to attract investment and restore confidence in Syria’s future”.The United States imposed sweeping restrictions on financial transactions with Syria during the brutal civil war that began in 2011, targeting the ousted president, his family members and key government and economic figures.In 2020, new sanctions came into effect under a US law known as the Caesar Act, punishing any companies linked to Assad in efforts to force accountability for human rights abuses and to encourage a political solution.”These sanctions only ever hurt the Syrian people, not the regime,” 63-year-old Taqi al-Din Najjar told AFP from Aleppo.In Damascus, dozens more gathered in the capital’s iconic Umayyad Square, chanting and singing in joy.”My joy is great. This decision will definitely affect the entire country positively. Construction will return, the displaced will return, and prices will go down,” said Hiba Qassar, a 33-year-old English teacher.Ahmed Asma, 34, expressed hopes that “now that the sanctions are lifted we can live as we did before, or even better”.”We hope this is the start of a new era for Syria,” he told AFP as he drove through the square.

China’s Tencent posts forecast-beating Q1 revenue on gaming growth

Chinese internet giant Tencent on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected increase in first-quarter revenue, propelled by growth in gaming as the firm’s strategic drive into artificial intelligence deepens.Shenzhen-based Tencent is the operator of China’s multifunctional app WeChat and a major player in the global gaming industry.The firm also has a presence in cloud computing, entertainment and AI — the latter of which has seen a boost in interest among Chinese tech giants following the shock release of advanced chatbot DeepSeek this year.Tencent’s revenue in the three months ended March 31 was 180.0 billion yuan ($25.0 billion), a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange showed, up 13 percent compared to the same period last year.The figure came in slightly higher than a Bloomberg estimate of 175.7 billion yuan.In a breakdown of sales, Tencent said that revenue from domestic games increased 24 percent year-on-year, while international games saw a 23 percent rise.Net profits also charted a moderate increase during the first quarter, the results showed, jumping 14 percent year-on-year to reach 47.8 billion yuan.”AI capabilities already contributed tangibly to our businesses, such as performance advertising and evergreen games,” the firm said in a statement.Tencent added that it has ramped up spending on “new AI opportunities”, including integrated features within the WeChat app.Chinese tech giants have been funnelling resources into the competitive field of AI since the release of DeepSeek’s chatbot in January.The little-known Chinese company caused a global stir because it appeared to have developed the chatbot at a fraction of the price of Western industry leaders such as the United States’s OpenAI.Tencent this year began trialling its own AI model which it says can outpace DeepSeek.Tencent was among the tech firms caught up in a sweeping domestic crackdown that began in 2020 with officials calling off the massive, planned listing of Alibaba-linked fintech company Ant Group.Beijing has signalled renewed friendliness toward tech firms in recent months, but broad restrictions on video game access for minors still stand.

Trump presses Syria leader on Israel relations after lifting sanctions

US President Donald Trump asked Syria’s new leader on Wednesday to normalise relations with Israel after he offered a major boost to the war-ravaged country by announcing the lifting of sanctions.Trump, on a state visit to Riyadh, became the first US president in 25 years to meet a Syrian leader — Ahmed al-Sharaa, an erstwhile Islamist guerrilla and onetime jihadist once on a US wanted list who led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December.The interim Syrian president and Trump, wearing matching suits, shook hands as they met jointly with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. and, by video link, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the key supporter of the new government in Damascus.Turkey and Saudi Arabia had both advocated reconciliation with Syria but the move is the latest to put Trump at odds with Israel, which has voiced pessimism over Sharaa and ramped up strikes to degrade the longtime adversary’s military capabilities.The White House said that Trump asked the Syrian leader to normalise relations with Israel by joining the so-called Abraham Accords signed by some Gulf Arab states.Trump also asked Sharaa to deport Palestinian militants and tell foreign fighters to leave the country, as well as to take control of camps for captured Islamic State group fighters, currently run by Kurdish militants opposed by Turkey, the White House said.Syria’s foreign ministry hailed the meeting as “historic”, but did not mention the Abraham Accords. Syrian state media also did not mention normalisation.The foreign ministry said the leaders discussed “avenues for Syrian-American partnership in counterterrorism efforts” and the importance of lifting sanctions and supporting reconstruction. After the longer-than-expected half-hour meeting, Trump said the Assad-era sanctions had been “really crippling” on Syria.”It’s not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good, strong chance, and it was my honour to do so,” Trump said, addressing Gulf Arab leaders.- Biggest applause -The former reality television host, always attuned to crowd sizes, took note of the rapturous reception when he announced the decision at a Riyadh investment forum Tuesday.”That was the thing that got the biggest applause from the room. We had a very crowded room with thousands of people,” Trump said.After the announcement, Syrians celebrated the easing of sanctions, with dozens of men, women and children gathering in Damascus’s Umayyad Square.”My joy is great. This decision will definitely affect the entire country positively,” said Huda Qassar, a 33-year-old English-language teacher.The Syrian foreign ministry called Trump’s decision a “pivotal turning point”.The United States imposed sweeping restrictions on financial transactions with Syria during the brutal civil war and made clear it would use sanctions to punish anyone involved in reconstruction so long as Assad remained in power without accountability for atrocities.Trump gave no indication that the United States would remove Syria from its blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism — a designation dating back to 1979 over support to Palestinian militants that severely impedes investment.A senior envoy of the Joe Biden administration met Sharaa in Damascus in December and called for commitments, including on the protection of minorities.In recent weeks, Syria has seen a series of bloody attacks on minority groups, including Alawites — the sect of the largely secular Assad family — and the Druze.Rabha Seif Allam of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo said easing US sanctions would help reintegrate Syria with the global economy by allowing bank transfers from investors and from millions of Syrians who fled during the civil war.”Lifting sanctions will give Syria a real opportunity to receive the funding needed to revive the economy, impose central state authority and launch reconstruction projects with clear Gulf support,” she said.- Qatar plane controversy -Trump later heads to Qatar, which has stirred controversy by offering a $400 million luxury aircraft to serve as a new Air Force One and then go to Trump’s personal use.The move raises major constitutional and ethical questions — as well as security concerns about a foreign power donating the ultra-sensitive presidential jet.Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, Tuesday vowed to hold up all Justice Department political appointees in protest over the move. Qatar has been a key intermediary with Hamas, helping Washington negotiate directly the release this week from Gaza of US-Israeli joint national Edan Alexander. 

Trump presses Syria leader on Israel relations after lifting sanctions

US President Donald Trump asked Syria’s new leader on Wednesday to normalise relations with Israel after he offered a major boost to the war-ravaged country by announcing the lifting of sanctions.Trump, on a state visit to Riyadh, became the first US president in 25 years to meet a Syrian leader — Ahmed al-Sharaa, an erstwhile Islamist guerrilla and onetime jihadist once on a US wanted list who led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December.The interim Syrian president and Trump, wearing matching suits, shook hands as they met jointly with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. and, by video link, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the key supporter of the new government in Damascus.Turkey and Saudi Arabia had both advocated reconciliation with Syria but the move is the latest to put Trump at odds with Israel, which has voiced pessimism over Sharaa and ramped up strikes to degrade the longtime adversary’s military capabilities.The White House said that Trump asked the Syrian leader to normalise relations with Israel by joining the so-called Abraham Accords signed by some Gulf Arab states.Trump also asked Sharaa to deport Palestinian militants and tell foreign fighters to leave the country, as well as to take control of camps for captured Islamic State group fighters, currently run by Kurdish militants opposed by Turkey, the White House said.Syria’s foreign ministry hailed the meeting as “historic”, but did not mention the Abraham Accords. Syrian state media also did not mention normalisation.The foreign ministry said the leaders discussed “avenues for Syrian-American partnership in counterterrorism efforts” and the importance of lifting sanctions and supporting reconstruction. After the longer-than-expected half-hour meeting, Trump said the Assad-era sanctions had been “really crippling” on Syria.”It’s not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good, strong chance, and it was my honour to do so,” Trump said, addressing Gulf Arab leaders.- Biggest applause -The former reality television host, always attuned to crowd sizes, took note of the rapturous reception when he announced the decision at a Riyadh investment forum Tuesday.”That was the thing that got the biggest applause from the room. We had a very crowded room with thousands of people,” Trump said.After the announcement, Syrians celebrated the easing of sanctions, with dozens of men, women and children gathering in Damascus’s Umayyad Square.”My joy is great. This decision will definitely affect the entire country positively,” said Huda Qassar, a 33-year-old English-language teacher.The Syrian foreign ministry called Trump’s decision a “pivotal turning point”.The United States imposed sweeping restrictions on financial transactions with Syria during the brutal civil war and made clear it would use sanctions to punish anyone involved in reconstruction so long as Assad remained in power without accountability for atrocities.Trump gave no indication that the United States would remove Syria from its blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism — a designation dating back to 1979 over support to Palestinian militants that severely impedes investment.A senior envoy of the Joe Biden administration met Sharaa in Damascus in December and called for commitments, including on the protection of minorities.In recent weeks, Syria has seen a series of bloody attacks on minority groups, including Alawites — the sect of the largely secular Assad family — and the Druze.Rabha Seif Allam of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo said easing US sanctions would help reintegrate Syria with the global economy by allowing bank transfers from investors and from millions of Syrians who fled during the civil war.”Lifting sanctions will give Syria a real opportunity to receive the funding needed to revive the economy, impose central state authority and launch reconstruction projects with clear Gulf support,” she said.- Qatar plane controversy -Trump later heads to Qatar, which has stirred controversy by offering a $400 million luxury aircraft to serve as a new Air Force One and then go to Trump’s personal use.The move raises major constitutional and ethical questions — as well as security concerns about a foreign power donating the ultra-sensitive presidential jet.Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, Tuesday vowed to hold up all Justice Department political appointees in protest over the move. Qatar has been a key intermediary with Hamas, helping Washington negotiate directly the release this week from Gaza of US-Israeli joint national Edan Alexander. 

Retailleau justifie sa présence au gouvernement, Wauquiez craint “l’effacement” de LR dans la macronie

Le ministre de l’Intérieur Bruno Retailleau a justifié mercredi sa présence au gouvernement malgré le rejet la veille par Emmanuel Macron d’un référendum sur l’immigration, en réponse à son rival à la présidence LR Laurent Wauquiez qui y voit le risque d’un “effacement” de la droite dans la macronie.”Comme gaulliste je me dis que nous la droite (…), nous avons eu raison d’entrer au gouvernement pour faire barrage à la gauche”, a affirmé le Vendéen sur CNews/Europe 1 au lendemain de l’interview télévisée du chef de l’Etat. “Je suis gaulliste, mais je ne suis toujours pas macroniste. J’ai de vraies différences avec le président de la République par exemple sur l’immigration”, a-t-il ajouté, en réponse au rejet par Emmanuel Macron d’un référendum sur l’immigration comme le demande la droite et le Rassemblement national (RN).”Je ne renie rien du tout”, a-t-il assuré, interrogé sur sa présence au sein de l’exécutif et le fait qu’il lui reviendra probablement, en tant que ministre de l’Intérieur, d’organiser un référendum sur la fin de vie, un sujet sur lequel il est en désaccord avec Emmanuel Macron.      “Nous avons décidé, nous la droite, de rentrer (au gouvernement) pour éviter le pire, pour faire barrage à la gauche mélenchonisée”, s’est-il défendu, assurant que “tout se jouera dans deux ans”, au terme du second quinquennat d’Emmanuel Macron.Sur France 2, son adversaire à la présidence de LR Laurent Wauquiez s’est efforcé d’instiller le doute sur l’indépendance du ministre de l’Intérieur, quatre jours avant l’élection interne qui doit les départager dimanche. “Si le chef de notre parti est en même temps ministre, c’est-à-dire avec la solidarité gouvernementale (…), la droite ne pourra plus incarner la rupture”, a-t-il prévenu, convaincu que cette situation mènerait à “une droite qui s’efface dans le macronisme”.”Vous avez vu que ça a commencé”, a-t-il ajouté, prenant l’exemple du département des Yvelines où le président du Sénat Gérard Larcher, soutien de Bruno Retailleau, a “commencé à discuter avec Yaël Braun-Pivet, qui est issue du socialisme, pour se répartir la tâche et aller aux élections municipales ensemble”. “Pour moi, ça c’est la mort de la droite et je ne veux pas ça”, a-t-il ajouté, se disant convaincu que l’avenir de la droite “c’est d’incarner un vrai changement”.Sur CNews, Bruno Retailleau a répondu qu’il “n’y aurait pas d’accord d’appareil aux municipales”, mais en soulignant que dans les communes qui sont aux mains de la gauche “il faudra faire barrage à ces gens-là”. “J’ai désigné l’adversaire et cet adversaire, évidemment, nous devrons faire tous les efforts pour les faire tomber”, a-t-il souligné.Pour sa part, Laurent Wauquiez a plaidé pour un “rassemblement de la droite” de Gérald Darmanin, dont il salue le travail au gouvernement, à Sarah Knafo, sans mentionner pour autant son parti Reconquête ni son leader Eric Zemmour. “Ce n’est pas l’extrême droite”, a-t-il affirmé à propos de l’eurodéputée. “Si on commence avec des jugements moraux, on ne s’en sortira jamais”, a-t-il ajouté. 

Violences à Bétharram: Bayrou face à ses contradicteurs

“C’est un moment périlleux” aux dires d’une ministre. Accusé de mensonges, François Bayrou s’explique mercredi devant une commission d’enquête de l’Assemblée sur ce qu’il savait et son éventuel rôle auprès de la justice dans l’affaire des violences physiques et sexuelles au collège-lycée Notre-Dame de Bétharram.L’audition, qui démarre à 17H00, “va me permettre d’apporter un certain nombre d’éléments dans des campagnes (…) dont le seul but est la destruction. Pas la recherche de la vérité, mais la destruction”, a grondé samedi le Premier ministre, désireux, a-t-il dit à l’AFP de “prouver que tout cela était faux”.Emmanuel Macron a assuré néanmoins avoir “confiance” en lui pour répondre “à toutes les questions” posées. Le président a dit avoir “beaucoup parlé” de cette affaire avec lui, et l’a trouvé “bouleversé” notamment par les révélations de sa fille Hélène sur son agression physique par un prêtre dans un camp d’été. Des proches de ce prêtre assurent dans Libération mercredi que M. Bayrou avait été informé à l’époque d’une “gifle” donnée à sa fille.Le scandale touche intimement François Bayrou, ancien ministre de l’Education et ancien député, qui a scolarisé plusieurs de ses enfants dans cet établissement catholique réputé des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, situé près de Pau, la ville dont il est resté maire, et où son épouse a enseigné le catéchisme.- “Procès politique” -Le parquet de Pau mène l’enquête depuis un an sur environ 200 plaintes visant des faits présumés de violences et de viols dans l’établissement entre les années 1970 et 1990.Le Premier ministre répondra à un duo improbable de rapporteurs: les députés Paul Vannier (LFI) et Violette Spillebout (Renaissance), qui rendront leurs conclusions fin juin, après avoir entendu témoins, victimes et anciens ministres.François Bayrou a plongé dans les sondages en raison notamment de ce scandale qui lui colle à la peau depuis trois mois.Ses proches soulignent qu’il n’est pas l’objet de la commission d’enquête, laquelle porte sur “les modalités du contrôle par l’Etat et de la prévention des violences dans les établissements scolaires”.”Si c’est pour faire un procès politique du Premier ministre, ça ne servira à rien”, prévient le député MoDem Erwan Balanant, pour qui “le vrai sujet” est le silence qui a entouré ces violences à Bétharram, dont les révélations ont libéré la parole dans d’autres institutions.Le chef du gouvernement espère lui que l’attention se portera davantage sur les victimes, en faveur desquelles il pourrait annoncer des mesures.Interrogé par le député Vannier après des révélations de Mediapart, François Bayrou avait assuré n’avoir “jamais été informé de quoi que ce soit”. Il avait ensuite multiplié les dénégations, pourtant contredit par un ancien juge, un ex-gendarme et une professeure à la retraite, et même par sa fille aînée Hélène.- “Une douleur” -Va-t-il concéder qu’il s’est trompé ? “S’il commence à dire +oui je savais un peu+, il est mort”, estime une ministre.François Bayrou a “menti” parce que “ça le gênait dans son ascension politique”, s’est emporté lundi le père d’une victime.L’ex-juge Christian Mirande estime dans Sud Ouest mercredi que François Bayrou “a fait gonfler le soufflé” de l’affaire en niant initialement être venu le voir en 1998 pour évoquer un dossier de viol impliquant un religieux de l’établissement, le père Carricart. Mais il assure que ni lui ni M. Bayrou n’ont violé le secret de l’instruction puisqu’ils ont échangé sur ce que relatait déjà la presse à l’époque.Peu dans son camp imaginent pourtant une censure contre lui sur cette affaire. “Le mensonge en politique, ça ne passe pas, mais c’est balancé par la vraie détresse du Premier ministre quand il a appris les violences contre sa fille” ou rencontré des victimes à Pau, estime une autre ministre. “S’il avait lui-même couvert l’institution pour la protéger au détriment des élèves, effectivement, il devrait partir”, a jugé le Premier secrétaire du PS Olivier Faure sur TF1. François Bayrou est “sûrement affaibli” mais la commission ne doit pas “transformer ce qui est quand même une douleur (…) en une opération politique”, a modéré sur franceinfo l’ancien président socialiste François Hollande. A l’autre bout de l’échiquier politique, le RN se montre clément, et le patron de la droite Laurent Wauquiez a souhaité sur France2 que l’affaire ne soit pas “instrumentalisée” car “c’est une tragédie”.

Violences à Bétharram: Bayrou face à ses contradicteurs

“C’est un moment périlleux” aux dires d’une ministre. Accusé de mensonges, François Bayrou s’explique mercredi devant une commission d’enquête de l’Assemblée sur ce qu’il savait et son éventuel rôle auprès de la justice dans l’affaire des violences physiques et sexuelles au collège-lycée Notre-Dame de Bétharram.L’audition, qui démarre à 17H00, “va me permettre d’apporter un certain nombre d’éléments dans des campagnes (…) dont le seul but est la destruction. Pas la recherche de la vérité, mais la destruction”, a grondé samedi le Premier ministre, désireux, a-t-il dit à l’AFP de “prouver que tout cela était faux”.Emmanuel Macron a assuré néanmoins avoir “confiance” en lui pour répondre “à toutes les questions” posées. Le président a dit avoir “beaucoup parlé” de cette affaire avec lui, et l’a trouvé “bouleversé” notamment par les révélations de sa fille Hélène sur son agression physique par un prêtre dans un camp d’été. Des proches de ce prêtre assurent dans Libération mercredi que M. Bayrou avait été informé à l’époque d’une “gifle” donnée à sa fille.Le scandale touche intimement François Bayrou, ancien ministre de l’Education et ancien député, qui a scolarisé plusieurs de ses enfants dans cet établissement catholique réputé des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, situé près de Pau, la ville dont il est resté maire, et où son épouse a enseigné le catéchisme.- “Procès politique” -Le parquet de Pau mène l’enquête depuis un an sur environ 200 plaintes visant des faits présumés de violences et de viols dans l’établissement entre les années 1970 et 1990.Le Premier ministre répondra à un duo improbable de rapporteurs: les députés Paul Vannier (LFI) et Violette Spillebout (Renaissance), qui rendront leurs conclusions fin juin, après avoir entendu témoins, victimes et anciens ministres.François Bayrou a plongé dans les sondages en raison notamment de ce scandale qui lui colle à la peau depuis trois mois.Ses proches soulignent qu’il n’est pas l’objet de la commission d’enquête, laquelle porte sur “les modalités du contrôle par l’Etat et de la prévention des violences dans les établissements scolaires”.”Si c’est pour faire un procès politique du Premier ministre, ça ne servira à rien”, prévient le député MoDem Erwan Balanant, pour qui “le vrai sujet” est le silence qui a entouré ces violences à Bétharram, dont les révélations ont libéré la parole dans d’autres institutions.Le chef du gouvernement espère lui que l’attention se portera davantage sur les victimes, en faveur desquelles il pourrait annoncer des mesures.Interrogé par le député Vannier après des révélations de Mediapart, François Bayrou avait assuré n’avoir “jamais été informé de quoi que ce soit”. Il avait ensuite multiplié les dénégations, pourtant contredit par un ancien juge, un ex-gendarme et une professeure à la retraite, et même par sa fille aînée Hélène.- “Une douleur” -Va-t-il concéder qu’il s’est trompé ? “S’il commence à dire +oui je savais un peu+, il est mort”, estime une ministre.François Bayrou a “menti” parce que “ça le gênait dans son ascension politique”, s’est emporté lundi le père d’une victime.L’ex-juge Christian Mirande estime dans Sud Ouest mercredi que François Bayrou “a fait gonfler le soufflé” de l’affaire en niant initialement être venu le voir en 1998 pour évoquer un dossier de viol impliquant un religieux de l’établissement, le père Carricart. Mais il assure que ni lui ni M. Bayrou n’ont violé le secret de l’instruction puisqu’ils ont échangé sur ce que relatait déjà la presse à l’époque.Peu dans son camp imaginent pourtant une censure contre lui sur cette affaire. “Le mensonge en politique, ça ne passe pas, mais c’est balancé par la vraie détresse du Premier ministre quand il a appris les violences contre sa fille” ou rencontré des victimes à Pau, estime une autre ministre. “S’il avait lui-même couvert l’institution pour la protéger au détriment des élèves, effectivement, il devrait partir”, a jugé le Premier secrétaire du PS Olivier Faure sur TF1. François Bayrou est “sûrement affaibli” mais la commission ne doit pas “transformer ce qui est quand même une douleur (…) en une opération politique”, a modéré sur franceinfo l’ancien président socialiste François Hollande. A l’autre bout de l’échiquier politique, le RN se montre clément, et le patron de la droite Laurent Wauquiez a souhaité sur France2 que l’affaire ne soit pas “instrumentalisée” car “c’est une tragédie”.

Indonesian filmmakers aim to impress at Cannes

Indonesia’s top movie-makers are aiming to make a splash at this year’s Cannes film festival, backed by one of the country’s most famous cinema veterans, Christine Hakim.More than two decades ago, Hakim produced and played a starring role in the landmark Indonesian drama “Leaf on a Pillow”, which was screened to acclaim in Cannes at the time.The silver screen star is now leading a group of around 60 filmmakers and officials to the glitzy French resort town, hoping to put the Southeast Asian nation’s burgeoning film industry on the map.Days ahead of Cannes’ opening, Hakim told AFP she was heading back to the festival to help Indonesian filmmakers sell their movies and talk to possible new partners for future films.”We are bringing young, talented filmmakers to showcase this new wave,” she said.”It’s important for the future of Indonesian cinema and I believe the impact will be significant,” added Hakim, who appeared alongside Julia Roberts in the 2010 hit “Eat, Pray, Love”.Among her delegation to Cannes are some big players in Indonesian film, including director of 1998’s “Leaf on a Pillow”, Garin Nugroho, actors Chelsea Islan and Reza Rahadian, and directors Robby Ertanto and Yosep Anggi Noen.Producer Yulia Evina Bhara will be a Cannes Critics’ Week jury member, scouting for emerging filmmaking talent.She co-produced Japanese director Chie Hayakawa’s “Renoir” which is in the running for this year’s most prestigious Palme d’Or prize.Indonesia, a country with 280 million people, has a dynamic film market with about 126 million cinema-goers last year.The country also produced 285 movies in 2024 — the same number as France. Half of them were horror flicks.But 33-year-old actor Asmara Abigail, another talent in whom Hakim has high hopes, says Indonesia is producing “a lot of different genres” these days.”Following the example of South Korean cinema, I think that this is a fruitful moment for the development of Indonesian cinema,” said Abigail, who made her name in horror movies including “Satan’s Slaves” and “Impetigore”, the latter of which also featured Hakim. – ‘Happy to return’ -Now 68, the actor and producer says her return to Cannes carried bitter-sweet memories. She paid an emotional tribute to the late French film powerhouse Pierre Rissient, who died in 2018.Thanks to her “brother” Rissient, she said Cannes discovered Indonesian director Eros Djarot’s “Tjoet Nja’ Dhien”. The colonial war drama, which also starred Hakim, was selected for Critics’ Week in 1989, the first Indonesian film to be screened on the Croisette, signifying that it had been recognised for its artistic excellence, originality or innovation.”I must be there to do the same for Indonesian and Asian film that Pierre did,” Hakim told AFP.  “I am happy to return to Cannes for young Indonesian filmmakers because I must give back to the younger generation what cinema has given me.”