News
Man shot at Saint-Lazare train station - Railway security officers in Paris have shot a man who threatened them with a knife on Monday evening, November 1st, a little before midnight, at the Saint-Lazare station. An investigation has been opened by the Paris prosecutor's office. The man took a knife out of his bag and started running towards the agents and according to witnesses he shouted "Allah Akbar". The officers then used their weapon, seriously injuring the man in the chest and hand. He was treated at the Georges-Pompidou European Hospital in Paris where he is reported to be in a serious condition.
Former President to be heard as a witness in Paris court today - The former President of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy is to be heard as a witness in the case in which he is cited. Sarkozy is expected to testify today Tuesday 2nd November at the trial of his former collaborators in the Elysée polls case, a case in which he is covered by his presidential immunity.
Protected by this immunity Sarkozy has never been prosecuted or heard about the suspicions of favouritism and misappropriation of public funds on which his former collaborators have been on trial since 18th October. But, in a dramatic move, the president of the 32nd criminal chamber of the Paris court ordered on October 19th his appearance as a witness.
Row escalates between Australian Prime Minister and French President - The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has escalated a row with France over a scrapped submarine deal, saying his nation will not accept "sledging" and "slurs". French President Emmanuel Macron had on Sunday said that he knew Mr Morrison had lied to him about his intentions to scrap the deal. Mr Morrison denies he lied.
Fishing licenses - France has postponed sanctions which were due to come into force today Tuesday 2nd November, over the post-brexit fishing licenses, allowing time for further negotiations until Thursday 4th November. Speaking on Monday Macron said that "it is not while we are negotiating that we will put sanctions". On the side-lines of the COP26 in Glasgow, Emmanuel Macron declared, we want to "give a chance" to the discussions with London. A ministerial meeting, to which is invited the British Secretary of State for Brexit, David Frost, will be held on Thursday in Paris. Since the entry into force of Brexit, London and Paris have clashed over the number of licenses granted to French fishermen. Paris is threatening to ban British fishing vessels from landing their cargoes in French ports and tighten customs controls on all trucks if London does not grant more licences to French fishermen. In the aftermath, the British government welcomed the postponement of French sanctions.
COP26 – More than 100 countries, including France, will commit to stop deforestation and "restore forests" by 2030. An agreement was reached at the COP26 in Glasgow and will be finalised today Tuesday 2nd November. Financial institutions will also participate in this scheme. More than 100 countries, representing more than 85% of the world's forests, will commit to halt and reverse the course of deforestation by 2030. Among the signatories of the agreement are France, Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Russia. As part of the deal, twelve countries, including France, will commit to jointly mobilize £8.75 billion ($12 billion) of public funds between 2021 and 2025, plus £5.3 billion ($7.2 billion) of private investment.
In addition, the CEOs of more than 30 financial institutions, representing more than $8.7 trillion in global assets will commit to eliminating investments in deforestation-related activities.
Meanwhile a few hours before the arrival of the French President in Glasgow on Monday activists held Portraits of France's Head of State upside down, in front of the entrance of the COP26 with "Climate emergency, Macron guilty" written on banners. They accuse Macron of "hypocritical speech" in the face of climate crisis: "
A water leak has led police to discover a squat filled with drugs, weapons, and cash in Nice.
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Around 100 far-right activists have staged an unauthorised demonstration in Nice waving French flags and singing La Marseillaise on the steps of the M...
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A high school student has been arrested after police found two switchblade knives in his bag during a security check at the school entrance in Menton,...
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France is bracing itself for major strike action this week. This Thursday the 18th of September, schools may close, transport workers will strike, cau...
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A major union representing French air traffic controllers has cancelled its strike notice for 18 September...
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