Category Archives: France

Brexit: Johnson and Von der Leyen to take over with direct talks

Posted on by

UK PM and European commission president to speak on Saturday after negotiators fail to reach agreement

The Brexit talks will enter their final act on Saturday with a shift to direct negotiations between Boris Johnson and the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, following the failure to find agreement in London.

In a joint statement, David Frost, the UK’s chief negotiator, and his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, said they had not been able to come to terms on the final issues and that the historic trade and security negotiation would be paused.

Continue reading...

Brexit talks falter as UK claims EU is hardening negotiating stance

Posted on by

Progress stalls as robust lobbying from France alleged and tussle ensues over UK subsidies regulator

Brexit negotiations took a sudden step backwards Thursday afternoon Downing Street said, after furious French lobbying pushed the EU to make late demands.

The apparent eleventh hour hardening of the EU position was said to have destabilised the troubled talks, peeling back progress made over the previous 24 hours.

Continue reading...

European and US experts question UK’s fast-track of Covid vaccine

Posted on by

Some criticise jingoistic tone of announcement and say longer process may prove preferable

Politicians, health professionals and commentators in Europe and the US have questioned Britain’s decision to fast-track approval of a coronavirus vaccine and criticised what some saw as the jingoistic tone of its announcement.

The UK on Wednesday became the first country in the world to approve a Covid-19 vaccine when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) granted the Pfizer/BioNTech shot emergency authorisation for clinical use.

Continue reading...

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing obituary

Posted on by
Former French president who brought in socially liberal reforms but whose grand style ultimately proved offputting to voters

As Valéry Giscard d’Estaing became the Grand Old Man of French politics – a position he held for at least two decades – it became harder to recall the intellectually brilliant and reforming politician who in 1974 became the Fifth Republic’s youngest president.

Giscard, who has died aged 94, was 48 when he became president and only 55 when he stopped, after one seven-year term, meaning he experienced his political career go into decline at an age when most of his contemporaries were only just making a bid for high office. Thereafter Giscard fought to remain relevant, particularly in European politics, as he saw off his bitter rivals – François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac – to become the longest lived former French president in history. It would be a mistake, however, to remember Giscard, or VGE as he was often known, solely for his longevity.

Continue reading...

France will carry out border checks to stop skiers from spreading Covid

Posted on by

Coronavirus clusters in Alpine resorts played key role in early spread of virus in Europe

France will carry out random border checks over the holiday season targeting French skiers on their way to and from foreign resorts – particularly Switzerland and Spain – where slopes stay open, the prime minister, Jean Castex, has said.

“The goal is to avoid French citizens getting contaminated. That will be done by performing random checks at the borders,” Castex told French television, adding that returning holidaymakers would be ordered to quarantine for seven days.

Continue reading...

France: teargas grenade that killed woman ‘may have been fired directly at her flat’

Posted on by

Zineb Redouane, 80, was closing her shutters during gilets jaunes protest when she was fatally injured

A report into the death of an 80-year-old woman hit by a teargas grenade during a gilets jaunes demonstration in 2018 has suggested the police officer fired directly at her apartment.

Zineb Redouane was closing the shutters of her fourth floor flat in central Marseille when she was struck by the canister. Ballistic experts say it would have been travelling at more than 97 km/h when it smashed into her chest and face, causing devastating injuries.

Continue reading...

France and New Zealand join Australia’s criticism of Chinese government tweet

Posted on by

Former diplomat urges more countries to stand against ‘coercion’ from Beijing, as Chinese state media says Australia is ‘treating China’s goodwill with evil’

France and New Zealand have joined Australia in criticising the Chinese government for its inflammatory tweet about Australian soldiers, as a former senior diplomat called for more countries to take a stand against Beijing’s “coercion”.

The tensions between China and Australia showed no sign of abating on Tuesday, with the Chinese embassy in Canberra accusing the Morrison government of overreacting to the social media post and of stoking the issue for domestic political purposes.

Continue reading...

Europeans urged to quickly set out roadmap on Iran nuclear deal

Posted on by

Diplomats call on UK, France and Germany to map out task facing incoming Biden administration

France, Germany and the UK must move quickly to set out a roadmap for Iran and the incoming Biden administration in the US to come back into compliance with the nuclear deal, some of Europe’s leading diplomats have said.

They warn that unless the three countries, known as the E3, coordinate a joint public statement setting out what both sides must do to end the impasse, there is a real risk that Joe Biden will come to power facing only escalating tensions with Iran.

Continue reading...

Owner of French restaurant in Mexico City murdered ‘while delivering fine wine’

Posted on by

Police investigating claims killers of Baptiste Lormand stole bottles worth £20,000

The grisly killing of a prominent French restaurateur has shaken Mexico City’s foreign community and raised fresh questions over a nationwide murder crisis that has already claimed more than 29,000 lives this year.

Baptiste Lormand, a 45-year-old Parisian, disappeared last Thursday evening in Polanco, an upmarket corner of Mexico’s capital that is home to many of its best eateries as well as many foreign diplomats, businesspeople and journalists.

Continue reading...

Four French police charged over beating of black music producer

Posted on by

Alleged unprovoked attack on Michel Zecler, who also alleges racial abuse, was caught on film

Four French police officers have been charged in connection with the beating of a black music producer exposed by a video as Emmanuel Macron sought to contain the political fallout from a case that has scandalised the country.

Footage last week showed police punching, kicking and using a truncheon on Michel Zecler, who alleged that they also racially abused him several times. Before the video came to light, the officers had accused Zecler, 41, of resisting arrest and attacking them.

Continue reading...

UK woman who has travelled Europe for six years goes missing in Pyrenees

Posted on by

Urgent search under way for Esther Dingley, who was hiking alone in the mountains

A British woman who has spent six years travelling across Europe has gone missing while on a solo hiking tour in the French Pyrenees.

Esther Dingley, 37, had been travelling with her partner, Dan Colegate, since 2014, with the couple’s travel adventures well-documented in a blog and in the national press. She had embarked on a month-long solo trip when she went missing.

Continue reading...

UK and France sign deal to make Channel migrant crossings ‘unviable’

Posted on by

Both countries agree to double police patrols on route already used by more than 8,000 people this year

Britain and France have signed a new agreement aimed at curbing the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

The home secretary, Priti Patel, and her French counterpart, Gérald Darmanin, said they wanted to make the route used by more than 8,000 people this year unviable.

Continue reading...

Protesters launch fireworks at police in Paris – video

Posted on by

French security forces fire teargas at protesters marching against police violence in Paris on Saturday after masked activists launched fireworks at their lines, put up barricades and threw stones.

Thousands rallied across France after video of police beating a black music producer fanned anger about a draft law that is seen as curbing the right of journalists to report on police brutality

Continue reading...

Shops reopen in France as national lockdown eases

Posted on by

Retailers and hairdressers admit limited number of customers for first time since October

Queues formed outside hairdressers’ shops and department stores sold gifts and Christmas decorations on Saturday as France partially reopened after a month-long lockdown.

Shops selling non-essential goods, such as shoes, clothes and toys, reopened in the first easing of national restrictions since 30 October. Bars and restaurants remain closed until 20 January.

Continue reading...

UK ski holiday firms in limbo as Covid restrictions and Brexit bite

Posted on by

British tourists, chalet owners and resort staff wait for winter season decisions across Europe

British holidaymakers, chalet owners and resort staff are in limbo as countries across Europe decide whether or not this winter’s ski season will go ahead.

This week, Britain’s biggest ski operator Crystal Ski Holidays was forced to cancel all its French ski trips in December after President Macron ordered the nation’s resorts to stay shut until the new year.

Continue reading...

Macron ‘shocked’ by video of French police beating black man

Posted on by

President condemns ‘shameful aggression’ amid growing anger over apparently unprovoked assault

The French government is scrambling to dampen rising anger over footage showing police beating a black music producer in Paris, the latest in a series of acts of alleged police violence to rock the country.

Emmanuel Macron said a video of officers beating Michel Zecler in his studio was “shameful” and said that government would have to find a way to restore public confidence in the police force.

Continue reading...

Grave issue: France bans discrimination against regional accents

Posted on by

Assemblée Nationale makes glottophobie an offence along with racism, sexism and other outlawed bigotry

In France, it’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it. When the prime minister, Jean Castex, opens his mouth, he is often accused of being “a bit rugby” – he comes from the south-west, where the sport is popular. Others with regional accents sound like “they should be reading the weather”.

Now the French have not only come up with a word for this kind of prejudice - glottophobie - but a new law banning it. The Assemblée Nationale has adopted legislation making linguistic discrimination an offence along with racism, sexism and other outlawed bigotry.

Continue reading...

French police caught on CCTV beating black music producer in his Paris studio – video

Posted on by

France's police watchdog, IGPN, said on Thursday it was investigating allegations a black music producer was physically attacked and racially abused during a police check. The incident was captured on CCTV, which was obtained by the Loopsider news organisation. 

The alleged victim, identified only as Michel, told reporters he was jumped on by police at his music studio on the 17th arrondissement of Paris on 21 November. He said he had been walking around nearby without a mask, against French Covid health protocols, and upon seeing a police car, went into his music studio to avoid a fine. 

However, the officers followed him inside the studio and started to physically attack and racially abuse him, he alleged. The Paris police force previously faced criticism this week after clashes erupted when officers cleared a migrant rights protest in Place de la République  

Continue reading...

Paris police filmed beating music producer in studio

Posted on by

Footage shows victim, who was later released without charge, being punched, kicked and hit with truncheon

Three French police officers have been suspended after they were filmed beating and allegedly racially abusing a music producer in his Paris studio.

An official inquiry has been opened – the third such investigation in a week – into the officers’ behaviour. The latest incident comes after MPs in the French parliament voted to approve a new law increasing police powers.

Continue reading...

Europe at odds over plan to ban Christmas ski holidays amid pandemic

Posted on by

Germany, Italy and France in favour of resort closures but Austria and Switzerland fear economic damage

Governments are at odds over a Europe-wide plan to bar ski holidays over Christmas and new year, with Germany, Italy and France in favour but Austria and Switzerland reluctant to damage a sector worth billions to their economies.

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Thursday joined Italy’s prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in calling for a Europe-wide shutdown of winter sports until 10 January to avert a fresh coronavirus wave.

Continue reading...