Journal du Club des Cordeliers - News from Marseille, the political, economic and cultural centre of southern France and the whole world

France on Saturday prepared for the first round of presidential elections projected to produce a run-off rematch between President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen that will be far tighter than their duel five years ago.

Lewis Hamilton said his Mercedes was driving "like a rattlesnake" but the Briton tamed his car on Saturday to qualify fifth for the Australian Grand Prix in a much-improved performance.

Israeli security forces raided the flashpoint West Bank district of Jenin on Saturday killing a Palestinian and wounding others, after vowing there will "not be limits" to curb surging violence.

Charles Leclerc has often struggled around the Albert Park circuit but he finally conquered it on Saturday to take pole for the Australian Grand Prix -- even as the setting sun presented yet another challenge.

World champion Max Verstappen complained that his weekend had been "terrible" despite qualifying second for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, saying he did not feel comfortable in his Red Bull.

A British man and French teenager were rescued Saturday three days after going missing while diving in Malaysia, police said, as hopes faded for the man's son who is still unaccounted for.

A former top cop set to become Hong Kong's new leader vowed to reboot the city's international competitiveness on Saturday, but revealed few concrete policy details on how that will be achieved.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed pole on Saturday for the Australian Grand Prix ahead of title rival Max Verstappen -- and in the process broke Lewis Hamilton's stranglehold on the grid in Melbourne.

The United States on Saturday warned of "arbitrary" Covid-19 measures in China and said it would let some staff leave its Shanghai consulate amid a surge of infections in the locked-down megacity.

Pakistan lawmakers clashed angrily in the national assembly Saturday ahead of a no-confidence vote on Prime Minister Imran Khan that will likely see him booted from office.

Storing radioactive waste above ground is a risky business, but the Swiss think they have found the solution: burying spent nuclear fuel deep underground in clay.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan looked certain to be kicked out of office Saturday by a no-confidence vote in parliament, but a political crisis in the nuclear-armed nation of 220 million will likely continue.

McLaren's Lando Norris upstaged Ferrari and Red Bull to clock the fastest time in a scrappy third and final practice on Saturday for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

China is battling its biggest spike in coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with millions under lockdown and the healthcare system feeling the pressure.

Novak Djokovic will return to action at the Monte Carlo Masters next week where Carlos Alcaraz, the teenager seen as his likely long-term successor as world number one and multiple Grand Slam winner, lies in wait.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held telephone talks Friday with US President Joe Biden, a day after the continental powerhouse abstained from voting on a resolution suspending Russia from a UN rights body over its aggression in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a "firm global response" Friday after a missile strike killed 52 people at a train station in eastern Ukraine where civilians had gathered to flee a feared Russian offensive.

Saudi Arabia said Saturday it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's hajj, a sharp uptick after pandemic restrictions forced two years of drastically pared-down pilgrimages.

Saudi Arabia said Saturday it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's hajj, a sharp uptick after pandemic restrictions forced two years of drastically pared-down pilgrimages.

A British man and French teenager were rescued in Malaysia Saturday three days after going missing while diving, but the man's son was still missing, police said.

The Milwaukee Bucks edged closer to securing second seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs on Friday with a 131-101 rout of the Detroit Pistons.

Guinea's ousted ex-president Alpha Conde returned to the country Friday after a trip to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment, the ruling junta said.

Tiger Woods faltered early but battled back to keep his comeback from severe leg injuries alive amid gusting winds that wreaked havoc in Friday's second round of the Masters.

Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras is once again in crisis: caught in a political tug of war over rising fuel costs.

To its many detractors, space tourism amounts to nothing more than joy-rides for the global super rich that will worsen the planet's climate crisis.

In gang-ridden Haiti going to court has become so dangerous for lawyers that they avoid it altogether: at one lower-level tribunal no hearings or trials have been held for months.

Swing changes forced upon Tiger Woods after severe leg injuries suffered in a car crash 14 months ago have added to concerns about his surgically repaired back at the Masters.

World number one Scottie Scheffler defied difficult windy conditions to fire a five-under par 67 at Augusta National on Friday to take a commanding five-shot lead at the 86th Masters.

Leaders of the Amazon unionization campaign have heard from workers at some 100 other company facilities following last week's upset election win in New York, the union's president said Friday.

A Honduran judge on Friday authorized the extradition to the United States of former national police chief Juan Carlos Bonilla who is accused of running drug trafficking operations for former president Juan Orlando Hernandez.

Tiger Woods faltered early then battled back into contention as his incredible comeback from severe leg injuries withstood gusting winds that wreaked havoc in Friday's second round of the Masters.

Chris Wood scored from the penalty spot as Newcastle took a huge step towards staying in the Premier League with a 1-0 win at home to Wolves on Friday.