Gaza truce: third exchange of hostages for prisoners

With the release of eight hostages, three Israelis and five Thais, held in the Gaza Strip, thanks to the fragile ceasefire that will end 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas are due to carry out their third exchange of hostages for prisoners on Thursday. A fourth exchange is scheduled for Saturday, with the release of three hostages, according to the schedule announced Wednesday by Israel.

Floods: the city of Redon was preparing for a historic peak on Thursday

The town of Redon, “almost isolated”, was preparing Thursday for a historic peak in Vilaine in the coming hours or days. The Redon sector, surrounded by rivers, and in particular its capital, which has nearly 10,000 inhabitants, are particularly vulnerable. Since Wednesday, “access to downtown Redon has been limited by filtering put in place by the police. It remains open to residents, professionals, emergency services and security forces as well as public service personnel,” the city said in a statement. It should be noted that Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique remain on high alert.

State budget: deputies and senators try to agree on a common version

Seven deputies and seven senators are meeting in the Assembly on Thursday to try to agree on a common version of the state budget. It will be examined if necessary by the deputies on Monday, with the result undoubtedly the first 49.3 by François Bayrou. In this case, the conclusions of the CMP will be examined in the Assembly Chamber on Monday and in the Senate on Tuesday. In the absence of a majority in the lower house, the Prime Minister should make use of article 49 paragraph 3 of the Constitution to have the text adopted without a vote. Exposing himself for the second time to the censure of deputies.

INSEE: zero French growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024

The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) reveals Thursday the French growth figures for the fourth quarter of 2024, expected to slow down sharply in a France plunged into a fiscal crisis and deprived of the renewed activity that could have slowed down sharply in a France plunged into a fiscal crisis and deprived of the renewed activity that could have instill a sharp fall in inflation. The institute expects zero growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 after an increase of 0.4% in the third quarter due to the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. INSEE estimates that the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.1% over the whole of 2024, as in 2023.

Avalanches: 5 people died Wednesday in Savoy and Haute-Savoie

The prefectures of Savoy and Haute-Savoie announced that four Norwegian skiers and one female Swiss skier died Wednesday in two separate avalanches. These prefectures call for “the greatest caution” in the face of the high risk of avalanches. The four victims in Savoy on Wednesday were part of a group of seven Norwegian skiers caught together in an avalanche. In Haute-Savoie, a 30-year-old Swiss skier died in an avalanche on the north face of Aiguillette des Posettes, according to the Bonneville prosecutor's office.

IN SHORT

Even if the uncertainties about Donald Trump's future policy complicate his task, the European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to announce a further cut in its interest rates on Thursday, conducive to supporting weak growth in the eurozone.

The big city in eastern DRC, Goma, is almost in the hands of M23 and Rwandan troops after a lightning offensive lasting a few weeks.

Police announced that a stampede left at least 30 dead and 90 injured during the Hindu Kumbh Mela pilgrimage in northern India, billed as the largest religious gathering of all time.

In order to relaunch European manufacturers in great difficulty to pass the stage of vehicle electrification in the face of Chinese competition.

To succeed Thomas Bach in March, the seven candidates for the presidency of the IOC are passing a crucial test on Thursday against the hundred members of the supreme body of world sport.