Stories from France

The CGT union has seen an increase of 30,000 members each year. New members are described as activists who are engaging in political issues, including Palestine and the fight against the far right.

Approximately 280 rallies and demonstrations are planned across France for May 1st, according to the prefecture. In Lyon, the prefecture reported approximately 6,500 participants at the Place de la République. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, posted on X that Jeanne d'Arc embodies the French people. Approximately 2,400 people assembled in Marseille this morning. In Bourges, organizers expect up to 30,000 people, though 10,000 have already gathered near a military firing range. Around 2,000 vehicles are reportedly parked on departmental roads near Cornus. Approximately 320 gatherings were organized across France on Friday for the traditional May Day labor holiday. Processions took place in cities including Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes, Marseille, Nice, and Reims. Approximately 350 May Day gatherings took place throughout France.

A regulatory change was voted on in Paris yesterday regarding cosmetic products. The new rules may allow professionals to sell products containing carcinogenic substances. The report notes that the change impacts how cosmetics are marketed and sold to consumers.

French conductor Philippe Jaroussky is forced to postpone his upcoming tours in the United States and Canada. The postponement is due to visa issues resulting from tightened policies by the Trump administration.

An artist has denounced what they described as a dangerous cultural grip by a conservative billionaire, which they claim poses a threat to democracy. The artist made these comments regarding the influence at venues such as L'Olympia and Casino de Paris.

France's gross domestic product remained stable during the first quarter, according to INSEE. Household consumption showed a rebound in March but experienced a decline overall for the quarter. The report was discussed on France Info.

Éric Cochrel, a deputy for Saint-Denis and president of the National Assembly's Finance Commission, has written to the departmental prefect regarding a dispute in Saint-Ouen.

TotalEnergies announced a total gain of 5.8 billion dollars for the first quarter. This follows a period of economic discussion regarding inflation and interest rates. TotalEnergies reported nearly $6 billion in profits for the first quarter, representing a 50% increase compared to the previous period. The company attributed these earnings directly to the war in Iran. Meanwhile, Socialist lawmakers are submitting a bill this morning to implement a 20% tax on super profits. Analysts and commentators are discussing whether the company is profiting from the ongoing war. The CFDT union is mentioned in the context of responding to these exceptional profits. Apple reported a record quarterly profit of over 25 billion euros for the first quarter of this year. This figure represents a 22 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Clinical trial results published in the journal Nature show that intratumoral immunotherapy injections are technically feasible and effective. The treatment increases efficacy by injecting medication locally while maintaining almost no added toxicity.

Paris Saint-Germain lateral Akimi has a confirmed injury and will not play against Bayern Munich next week. The news was reported during a morning update in the Paris region.