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France Bans Israeli Firms From Exhibiting at Naval Arms Show in Growing Dispute

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Israel's President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Israel to show France's solidarity with the country and further work on the release of hostages who are being held in Gaza. - Reuters
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Israel's President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Israel to show France's solidarity with the country and further work on the release of hostages who are being held in Gaza. - Reuters
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France Bans Israeli Firms From Exhibiting at Naval Arms Show in Growing Dispute

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Israel's President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Israel to show France's solidarity with the country and further work on the release of hostages who are being held in Gaza. - Reuters
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Israel's President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Israel to show France's solidarity with the country and further work on the release of hostages who are being held in Gaza. - Reuters

France has banned Israeli firms from exhibiting in a naval arms trade show next month, the organizers said on Wednesday, the latest incident in a row fueled by the Macron government's unease over Israel's conduct in the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
The ban came after French efforts to secure a truce in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon foundered and as Israel carries out more airstrikes on targets in the country.
It is the second time this year that France has banned Israel firms from a major defense show, according to Reuters.
In May, France said the conditions were not right for them to take part in the Eurosatory military trade show when President Emmanuel Macron was calling for Israel to cease operations in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.
Euronaval, organizer of the event set to take place in Paris from Nov. 4-7, said in a statement that the French government had informed it that Israeli delegations were not allowed to exhibit stands or show equipment, but could attend the trade show.
The decision affected seven firms, it said.

For his part, Israel's defense minister on Wednesday called the decision "a disgrace".
"We will continue defending our nation against enemies on 7 different fronts, and fighting for our future - with or without France," Yoav Gallant posted on X. 
Israeli forces have carried out numerous airstrikes and a ground incursion targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, causing substantial civilian casualties and leading Western allies, including France, to call for an immediate ceasefire.
Diplomatic sparring between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron has increased in recent weeks after Paris had worked with Washington to secure a 21-day truce that would then open the door to negotiations on a long-term diplomatic solution.
Believing Israel had agreed the terms, France and the United States were caught by surprise when the next day Israel launched strikes that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Netanyahu has rejected a unilateral ceasefire that fails to stop Hezbollah rearming and regrouping.
Macron has irked Netanyahu several times in recent weeks, notably as United Nations' peacekeeping forces have been caught in Israeli crossfire in southern Lebanon.
He has called for an end to the supply to Israel of offensive weapons used in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed and a humanitarian crisis has unfolded in a year of warfare against Hamas militants.
On Tuesday, Macron told a cabinet meeting that Netanyahu should not forget that his country was created by a UN decision, according to a French official.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot sought to downplay the comments, saying they had been general remarks reminding Israel of the importance of respecting the UN charter.
But Netanyahu's office said in response that Israel was established through "the War of Independence with the blood of our heroic fighters, many of whom were Holocaust survivors, including from the Vichy regime in France" - referring to the French government that had collaborated with Nazi Germany.

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World

Jailed Istanbul Mayor Dares Erdogan to Call Early Elections Now

The protest demonstrations in Türkiye against the arrest of İmamoğlu have been ongoing since March 2025 (account of the Republican People's Party on X)
The protest demonstrations in Türkiye against the arrest of İmamoğlu have been ongoing since March 2025 (account of the Republican People's Party on X)
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Jailed Istanbul Mayor Dares Erdogan to Call Early Elections Now

The protest demonstrations in Türkiye against the arrest of İmamoğlu have been ongoing since March 2025 (account of the Republican People's Party on X)
The protest demonstrations in Türkiye against the arrest of İmamoğlu have been ongoing since March 2025 (account of the Republican People's Party on X)

Almost one year after he was jailed, Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has told Reuters that Tayyip Erdogan should call elections "now" and predicted that the president would lose if he ran again.

Imamoglu has emerged in recent years as Erdogan’s main rival, with polls suggesting he could indeed defeat Türkiye's leader of more than two decades if he is able to run.

But he has been the focus of a crackdown on the main opposition party that rights groups and foreign observers say has undermined the democratic credentials of EU candidate and NATO member Türkiye.

Having defeated Erdogan's ruling AK Party in three Istanbul elections, Imamoglu, 55, remains a powerful figurehead for the opposition despite being in prison since March 2025, pending trial on corruption charges that he denies.

MAYOR SAYS ERDOGAN KNOWS HE WILL LOSE ELECTION

"We want early elections now. But the current president sees the coming defeat and shies away from elections," a defiant Imamoglu ‌said in his ‌responses to Reuters' questions conveyed by his legal team from the prison at Silivri, west ‌of ⁠Istanbul.

"He will run ⁠and he will lose. And Türkiye will be the winner," Imamoglu said.

His Republican People's Party (CHP) has been calling for months for a snap vote. If elected, it says it would restore rule-of-law governance, revive stalled EU accession talks, and pursue a more social-democratic economic model.

A presidential election is not scheduled until 2028 but if Erdogan, 71, wishes to seek a third term he is obliged to hold it early, unless the constitutional term limits are changed.

Erdogan, who has led Türkiye as prime minister or president since 2003, would need three-fifths of lawmakers to vote for holding early elections, meaning he would also need support from outside his governing alliance.

Most analysts think Erdogan will call ⁠elections next year.

The CHP has sought to keep Imamoglu in the public eye by holding ‌weekly rallies in Istanbul. The latest opinion polls suggest a neck-and-neck race between the ‌CHP and Erdogan's AKP.

Imamoglu, the CHP's formal presidential candidate despite being behind bars, said he maintains a roughly 18-hour working day, toiling with ‌his lawyers on more than 10 cases and investigations, reading letters from supporters and continuing his municipal responsibilities.

He also exercises daily ‌within a 24-square-meter courtyard with high walls, he said in seven pages of responses.

TRIAL BEGINS IN MARCH

But Imamoglu's hopes of contesting the election are looking bleak as he faces a judicial onslaught that will peak next month when he goes on trial.

"As the day of their defeat approaches, the government is increasing the level of pressure and hostility directed towards us," he said.

The main prosecutor in his cases, Akin Gurlek, sought a ‌jail sentence of more than 2,000 years for Imamoglu on charges of running a criminal organization at the Istanbul municipality involved in corruption.

Gurlek was appointed justice minister on Wednesday, sparking CHP criticism ⁠that exploded into a brawl ⁠in parliament with AKP lawmakers. Erdogan accused the CHP of "displaying every kind of thuggery" in the incident.

"The CHP's job will now become even more difficult," said political commentator Murat Yetkin, adding that Erdogan's choice of Gurlek was not just about sidelining Imamoglu but was related to restructuring the justice ministry and judicial mechanisms.

Imamoglu, whose comments to Reuters came before Gurlek's appointment, decried the barrage of court cases against him as a politically driven campaign to block his presidential bid.

"Those in power, having realized they would lose, see their remedy in keeping me in prison on false allegations and by ordering the judiciary around," he said.

The government denies exerting influence over the judiciary, which it says is independent. Erdogan has largely avoided commenting on Imamoglu's case, saying the investigations have "nothing to do with me".

In another blow to Imamoglu's presidential ambitions, a court last month rejected his lawsuit challenging the cancellation of his university degree – a qualification required of any presidential candidate.

Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament's Türkiye rapporteur, said that ruling made the judiciary appear "ridiculously biased".

Asked if he thought he would be able to run in the next election, Imamoglu said he maintained his faith in justice and would exercise his legal rights to the fullest.

"No pressure and no obstacle will keep me from working to make this country more just, freer, and more prosperous," he said.

World

Iran Announces Enquiry Team to Investigate Deadly Protests 

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)
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Iran Announces Enquiry Team to Investigate Deadly Protests 

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)

The Iranian government announced on Friday the establishment of a commission of enquiry to look into protests against the high cost of living that turned into anti-government rallies that left thousands dead.

"A fact-finding committee has been formed with representatives from relevant institutions and is collecting documents and hearing statements," Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told the local news agency ISNA.

The spokeswoman did not specify whether the commission would only focus on the economic demands that triggered the protests, or whether it would also investigate deaths during the protests.

"The final report will be published for public information and further legal action after the process is completed," she stated.

On Thursday, the government website published comments by President Masoud Pezeskhian as saying: "We have assigned teams to investigate the causes (of the unrest)." He did not provide further details.

The protests, which began in late December before escalating on January 8, left more than 3,000 dead, according to the official count.

Iranian authorities claim that the vast majority of victims were security forces or bystanders killed by "terrorists" working for Israel and the United States.

Human rights advocacy groups based outside Iran, however, accuse the security forces of targeting protesters.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that at least 7,005 people were killed during the peak of the protests.

"We are ashamed that such unfortunate events have occurred," Pezeshkian said, according to the report published on the government website.

World

London's High Court: UK Terror Ban on Pro-Palestine group Unlawful

People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
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London's High Court: UK Terror Ban on Pro-Palestine group Unlawful

People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

The British government's ban on pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization is unlawful, London's High Court ‌ruled on Friday ‌after a ‌legal ⁠challenge by the ⁠group's co-founder.

Palestine Action was proscribed in July, having increasingly targeted Israel-linked ⁠defense companies in ‌Britain ‌with "direct action", often ‌blocking entrances, or ‌spraying red paint.

The High Court upheld two grounds ‌of challenge, with Judge Victoria Sharp saying: "Proscription ⁠did ⁠result in a significant interference with the right to freedom of speech and the right to freedom of assembly."

Sharp added that the ban would remain in place to give the parties' lawyers time to address the court on ​the ​next steps.

Earlier this month, six British Palestine Action activists were acquitted of aggravated burglary over a 2024 raid on Israeli defense firm Elbit's factory, with a jury returning no guilty verdicts at all in a blow for prosecutors.