The ECHR will decide on the repatriation of the wives and children of jihadists

The top panel of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is examining on Wednesday the applications of two couples who demand that France repatriate their daughters, companions of jihadists, and their grandchildren, detained by the Kurdish forces in Syria. The two young women had left France in 2014 and 2015 respectively, to reach Syria, where they gave birth to several children. Now aged 30 and 32, they have been held with them, since the beginning of 2019, in the Al-Hol and Roj camps, guarded by Kurdish forces, in northeastern Syria. Faced with a case that should set a precedent, seven member states of the Council of Europe have asked to intervene in the procedure, as have several NGOs and United Nations rapporteurs. The decision, which is not subject to appeal, will be made in several months.

The French Parliament strengthens the fight against audiovisual piracy

On Wednesday afternoon, Parliament is due to adopt a bill strengthening the fight against piracy, which weighs heavily on the audiovisual sector, by merging the CSA and Hadopi for the benefit of a super regulator in this area. The draft law on “regulating and protecting access to cultural and digital works”, on which deputies and senators have reached an agreement, must be definitively validated via a final vote by the National Assembly. The key measure is the creation of the Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority (Arcom), a merger between the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) and the High Authority for the Distribution of Works and the Protection of Rights on the Internet (Hadopi), the public agency for combating piracy

Expulsions: France puts pressure on Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia

France is banging its fist on the table against the Maghreb by announcing the reduction in the number of visas granted, giving guarantees to the right and the extreme right on immigration less than seven months before the presidential election, amid renewed nervousness in relations with these countries. The granting of visas will be tightened within a few weeks for nationals of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, countries that “refuse” to issue the consular passes necessary for the return of immigrants expelled from France, government spokesperson Gabriel Attal announced on Europe 1. “This is a drastic decision, it is an unprecedented decision, but it is a decision made necessary by the fact that these countries do not agree to take back nationals that we do not want and cannot keep in France,” he explained. He thus confirmed a radio report which mentioned a future drop of 50% in the number of visas issued for nationals of Morocco and Algeria and 33% for those from Tunisia. The government assures that it has shown sufficient patience since the first negotiations in 2018 on this subject, and, accused by the right and the extreme right of not expelling enough, points the finger at the responsibility of the three Maghreb countries. “There was a dialogue, then there were threats. Today we are putting this threat into action,” insisted Mr. Attal

AT A GLANCE

North Korea successfully tested a hypersonic glider missile on Tuesday, the official KCNA news agency announced on Wednesday, which presented the test as a major technological advance.

Paris SG superstar Lionel Messi, back after a slight knee injury, was started by coach Mauricio Pochettino for the Champions League clash against Manchester City on Tuesday (21:00), according to the match sheet provided by UEFA.