Joseph Ataman
@jataman.bsky.social
Journalisting for CNN.
France, Ukraine, Middle East.
France, Ukraine, Middle East.
France’s top General claims that Russian cruise missiles are able to evade American made PATRIOT missile defence batteries in Ukraine
And that European-made interceptors are now more successful
(From early November hearing)
And that European-made interceptors are now more successful
(From early November hearing)
November 14, 2025 at 11:58 AM
France’s top General claims that Russian cruise missiles are able to evade American made PATRIOT missile defence batteries in Ukraine
And that European-made interceptors are now more successful
(From early November hearing)
And that European-made interceptors are now more successful
(From early November hearing)
Out Monday, back in Friday.
New/Old French PM Sébastien Lecornu has had quite the week.
He’s made the same promise not to force through laws but also demanded ministers not challenge Macron’s 2027 successor (optimistic the gov will last that long).
New/Old French PM Sébastien Lecornu has had quite the week.
He’s made the same promise not to force through laws but also demanded ministers not challenge Macron’s 2027 successor (optimistic the gov will last that long).
October 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Out Monday, back in Friday.
New/Old French PM Sébastien Lecornu has had quite the week.
He’s made the same promise not to force through laws but also demanded ministers not challenge Macron’s 2027 successor (optimistic the gov will last that long).
New/Old French PM Sébastien Lecornu has had quite the week.
He’s made the same promise not to force through laws but also demanded ministers not challenge Macron’s 2027 successor (optimistic the gov will last that long).
#BREAKING: Macron reappoints his last PM Sébastien Lecornu
Another shock from a week of shocks
He’ll have to have one hell of a new mission statement to avoid total and immediate rejection
Another shock from a week of shocks
He’ll have to have one hell of a new mission statement to avoid total and immediate rejection
October 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
#BREAKING: Macron reappoints his last PM Sébastien Lecornu
Another shock from a week of shocks
He’ll have to have one hell of a new mission statement to avoid total and immediate rejection
Another shock from a week of shocks
He’ll have to have one hell of a new mission statement to avoid total and immediate rejection
Lecornu is now the shortest-serving PM of the French Fifth Republic - under 4 weeks
The last record holder was Macron's second last PM, Michel Barnier
Lecornu's ministers appointed last night are surely the shortest serving ever ...
Macron has now had 7 PMs since he was elected in 2017
The last record holder was Macron's second last PM, Michel Barnier
Lecornu's ministers appointed last night are surely the shortest serving ever ...
Macron has now had 7 PMs since he was elected in 2017
October 6, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Lecornu is now the shortest-serving PM of the French Fifth Republic - under 4 weeks
The last record holder was Macron's second last PM, Michel Barnier
Lecornu's ministers appointed last night are surely the shortest serving ever ...
Macron has now had 7 PMs since he was elected in 2017
The last record holder was Macron's second last PM, Michel Barnier
Lecornu's ministers appointed last night are surely the shortest serving ever ...
Macron has now had 7 PMs since he was elected in 2017
Lecornu blamed other parties, a lack of humility and "certain egos" for the gov collapse in France
“There are lots of red lines in the mouths of some ... there aren’t many green lines"
He was a Macron loyalist to the end
“There are lots of red lines in the mouths of some ... there aren’t many green lines"
He was a Macron loyalist to the end
October 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Lecornu blamed other parties, a lack of humility and "certain egos" for the gov collapse in France
“There are lots of red lines in the mouths of some ... there aren’t many green lines"
He was a Macron loyalist to the end
“There are lots of red lines in the mouths of some ... there aren’t many green lines"
He was a Macron loyalist to the end
#BREAKINGNEWS
French government collapses just hours after ministers announced, Sébastien Lecornu out as PM
🇫🇷 Left and Right refused to accept another gov based on Macron’s own party
Far-right calling for new elections
French government collapses just hours after ministers announced, Sébastien Lecornu out as PM
🇫🇷 Left and Right refused to accept another gov based on Macron’s own party
Far-right calling for new elections
October 6, 2025 at 9:15 AM
#BREAKINGNEWS
French government collapses just hours after ministers announced, Sébastien Lecornu out as PM
🇫🇷 Left and Right refused to accept another gov based on Macron’s own party
Far-right calling for new elections
French government collapses just hours after ministers announced, Sébastien Lecornu out as PM
🇫🇷 Left and Right refused to accept another gov based on Macron’s own party
Far-right calling for new elections
Visibly angry, #Sarkozy slammed the "hate" behind his conviction
70-year-old will be in jail ahead of an appeal
Guilty: "criminal association"
Cleared: corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of the embezzlement of public funds.
The first president jailed in France
70-year-old will be in jail ahead of an appeal
Guilty: "criminal association"
Cleared: corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of the embezzlement of public funds.
The first president jailed in France
September 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Visibly angry, #Sarkozy slammed the "hate" behind his conviction
70-year-old will be in jail ahead of an appeal
Guilty: "criminal association"
Cleared: corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of the embezzlement of public funds.
The first president jailed in France
70-year-old will be in jail ahead of an appeal
Guilty: "criminal association"
Cleared: corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of the embezzlement of public funds.
The first president jailed in France
#BREAKING: Ex French president Nicolas Sarkozy will be in prison within days
"If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison. But with my head held high. I am innocent." - Sarkozy at the court
Sentenced to 5 yrs for plot for Libya to fund his political campaigns
"If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison. But with my head held high. I am innocent." - Sarkozy at the court
Sentenced to 5 yrs for plot for Libya to fund his political campaigns
September 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
#BREAKING: Ex French president Nicolas Sarkozy will be in prison within days
"If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison. But with my head held high. I am innocent." - Sarkozy at the court
Sentenced to 5 yrs for plot for Libya to fund his political campaigns
"If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison. But with my head held high. I am innocent." - Sarkozy at the court
Sentenced to 5 yrs for plot for Libya to fund his political campaigns
French PM Francois Bayrou officially out in a crushing (but totally expected) defeat
Macron to appoint new PM in "next few days"
(That's if he finds someone to accept the poisoned chalice ... )
Macron to appoint new PM in "next few days"
(That's if he finds someone to accept the poisoned chalice ... )
September 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
French PM Francois Bayrou officially out in a crushing (but totally expected) defeat
Macron to appoint new PM in "next few days"
(That's if he finds someone to accept the poisoned chalice ... )
Macron to appoint new PM in "next few days"
(That's if he finds someone to accept the poisoned chalice ... )
With some 6,000 aid trucks waiting at Gaza's borders for the Israeli green light to enter, Palestinian officials have slammed the airdrops for dehumanising desperate Gazans
The French drop is along the coast by the red GHF site in this map
The French drop is along the coast by the red GHF site in this map
August 1, 2025 at 11:44 AM
With some 6,000 aid trucks waiting at Gaza's borders for the Israeli green light to enter, Palestinian officials have slammed the airdrops for dehumanising desperate Gazans
The French drop is along the coast by the red GHF site in this map
The French drop is along the coast by the red GHF site in this map
As UN says airdrops cost 100x truck-borne aid, France shares pix of its latest aid drops of 40 tons
Approx GPS of the drop: 31°28'16.4"N 34°23'00.2"E
That puts it far north of the main displaced populations in Gaza, not far from the most northerly 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation' aid site
Approx GPS of the drop: 31°28'16.4"N 34°23'00.2"E
That puts it far north of the main displaced populations in Gaza, not far from the most northerly 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation' aid site
August 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
As UN says airdrops cost 100x truck-borne aid, France shares pix of its latest aid drops of 40 tons
Approx GPS of the drop: 31°28'16.4"N 34°23'00.2"E
That puts it far north of the main displaced populations in Gaza, not far from the most northerly 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation' aid site
Approx GPS of the drop: 31°28'16.4"N 34°23'00.2"E
That puts it far north of the main displaced populations in Gaza, not far from the most northerly 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation' aid site
Weirdly Napoleonic Egypt vibes as Paris installs palm trees in Place de la Concorde ...
March 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Weirdly Napoleonic Egypt vibes as Paris installs palm trees in Place de la Concorde ...
The first French Mirage fighter jets arrived in Ukraine!
It's been a remarkably quick turnaround, with Ukrainian pilots ready to get them up in the air
France has already been supplying the missiles and glide bombs that should make these jets indispensable
It's been a remarkably quick turnaround, with Ukrainian pilots ready to get them up in the air
France has already been supplying the missiles and glide bombs that should make these jets indispensable
February 6, 2025 at 11:49 AM
The first French Mirage fighter jets arrived in Ukraine!
It's been a remarkably quick turnaround, with Ukrainian pilots ready to get them up in the air
France has already been supplying the missiles and glide bombs that should make these jets indispensable
It's been a remarkably quick turnaround, with Ukrainian pilots ready to get them up in the air
France has already been supplying the missiles and glide bombs that should make these jets indispensable
In a sea of workers, firefighters, artisans, Macron addresses those that brought Notre Dame back to life
“The whole planet was shaken that famous day in April”
“The whole planet was shaken that famous day in April”
November 29, 2024 at 11:55 AM
In a sea of workers, firefighters, artisans, Macron addresses those that brought Notre Dame back to life
“The whole planet was shaken that famous day in April”
“The whole planet was shaken that famous day in April”
The cost of the fire hasn’t just been financial -- the careful cleaning and restoration has stolen some of the mystical gloom and charm that visitors will remember from Notre Dame.
The cathedral has been transformed.
The cathedral has been transformed.
November 29, 2024 at 11:04 AM
The cost of the fire hasn’t just been financial -- the careful cleaning and restoration has stolen some of the mystical gloom and charm that visitors will remember from Notre Dame.
The cathedral has been transformed.
The cathedral has been transformed.
An incredible day as the world sees Notre Dame reborn
2,000 artisans
2,000 oaks
340,000 donors in 150 countries
Nearly $900M raised
It’s not the cathedral we knew, but it’s still the Notre Dame we love
2,000 artisans
2,000 oaks
340,000 donors in 150 countries
Nearly $900M raised
It’s not the cathedral we knew, but it’s still the Notre Dame we love
November 29, 2024 at 9:48 AM
An incredible day as the world sees Notre Dame reborn
2,000 artisans
2,000 oaks
340,000 donors in 150 countries
Nearly $900M raised
It’s not the cathedral we knew, but it’s still the Notre Dame we love
2,000 artisans
2,000 oaks
340,000 donors in 150 countries
Nearly $900M raised
It’s not the cathedral we knew, but it’s still the Notre Dame we love
France backs independent work of the ICJ as warrants come down for Netanyahu/Gallant
Macron still dancing a fine line between anger at Hamas/Israel support vs France's support for human rights in Occupied Palestinian territories
"This is not a judgement but a formalisation of an accusation"
Macron still dancing a fine line between anger at Hamas/Israel support vs France's support for human rights in Occupied Palestinian territories
"This is not a judgement but a formalisation of an accusation"
November 22, 2024 at 12:20 PM
France backs independent work of the ICJ as warrants come down for Netanyahu/Gallant
Macron still dancing a fine line between anger at Hamas/Israel support vs France's support for human rights in Occupied Palestinian territories
"This is not a judgement but a formalisation of an accusation"
Macron still dancing a fine line between anger at Hamas/Israel support vs France's support for human rights in Occupied Palestinian territories
"This is not a judgement but a formalisation of an accusation"