French President Emmanuel Macron was given a rousing reception at a top university in southern China on the last day of his trip where scores of students made a beeline to take selfies and shake hands.

After his official motorcade arrived on the grounds of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou on Friday, huge crowds of waiting students broke into ecstatic cheers and then mobbed the French leader.&nbsp;

Screams of “I love you Macron” reverberated on the premises as the French president made his way amidst Chinese and French secret service officers guarding him.

The scenes of cheers and jubilation witnessed&nbsp;here were in stark contrast to the tensions back home where he wasn’t even able to set foot on the campus of a French university last week for fear of being lynched by angry protesters opposing his pension reforms.

The French leader then spoke to students in the campus gym and answered their questions before leaving for an early dinner with President Xi Jinping ahead of meetings with Chinese investors.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Macron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Macron</a> the French President is more welcomed in China than France by the look of it. 
 
Here he is today visiting University in Guangzhou, China. <a href="https://t.co/vKp0uSmxt5">pic.twitter.com/vKp0uSmxt5</a>
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Macron landed in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day trip and urged Xi to hold talks with Russia and Ukraine and make efforts to end the war.

“I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table,” Macron told Xi on Thursday.

A French diplomat told AFP that Xi expressed willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right.

In a joint statement late Friday, both sides pledged to "support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine".

The statement, however, neither named Russia nor condemned its invasion and called on all parties to respect international law.

Macron’s visit also focused on strengthening trade relations with China. He was accompanied by more than 50 French business leaders, including the top bosses of Airbus, EDF and Veolia.

Airbus announced Thursday it would open a second final assembly line in&nbsp;China&nbsp;that will double its production capacity in the country, with the framework for the deal signed by CEO Guillaume Faury in Beijing.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
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French President Emmanuel Macron was given a rousing reception at a top university in southern China on the last day of his trip where scores of students made a beeline to take selfies and shake hands.

French President Emmanuel Macron was given a rousing reception at a top university in southern China on the last day of his trip where scores of students made a beeline to take selfies and shake hands. After his official motorcade arrived on the grounds of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou on Friday, huge crowds of waiting students broke into ecstatic cheers and then mobbed the French leader. Screams of “I love you Macron” reverberated on the premises as the French president made his way amidst Chinese and French secret service officers guarding him. The scenes of cheers and jubilation witnessed here were in stark contrast to the tensions back home where he wasn’t even able to set foot on the campus of a French university last week for fear of being lynched by angry protesters opposing his pension reforms. The French leader then spoke to students in the campus gym and answered their questions before leaving for an early dinner with President Xi Jinping ahead of meetings with Chinese investors. #Macron the French President is more welcomed in China than France by the look of it. Here he is today visiting University in Guangzhou, China. pic.twitter.com/vKp0uSmxt5 — James B (@JamesBAusCN) April 7, 2023 × Macron landed in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day trip and urged Xi to hold talks with Russia and Ukraine and make efforts to end the war. “I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table,” Macron told Xi on Thursday. A French diplomat told AFP that Xi expressed willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right. In a joint statement late Friday, both sides pledged to "support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine". The statement, however, neither named Russia nor condemned its invasion and called on all parties to respect international law. Macron’s visit also focused on strengthening trade relations with China. He was accompanied by more than 50 French business leaders, including the top bosses of Airbus, EDF and Veolia. Airbus announced Thursday it would open a second final assembly line in China that will double its production capacity in the country, with the framework for the deal signed by CEO Guillaume Faury in Beijing. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | French President Macron gets rockstar welcome at top Chinese university, mobbed by students

There were more mass strikes, protests, and in some cases unrest across France on Thursday in opposition to President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform. The demonstrations are the 11th formal call to strike from trade unions to protests the government's new law, controversially passed by decree. It came immediately after trade union leaders walked out of talks with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Wednesday.

France: Fresh protests over pensions reforms

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news, top headlines and international breakings from all across the globe, stay tuned with Gravitas for more!

Gravitas Global Headlines | France: Another day of protests against pension reform

French President Emmanuel Macron is on a three-day state visit to China and he's scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later today. Macron met with Chinese Premier Li Qang and National Assembly chairperson at the Great Hall of the People.

China: French President Emmanuel Macron meets Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing

Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Thursday for peace talks over Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to him to “bring Russia to its senses,” but Xi gave no indication Beijing would use its leverage as Vladimir Putin's diplomatic partner to press for a settlement.

French President Emmanuel Macron in China, wants 'common path' on peace in Ukraine

Shortly after the high-level meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French Counterpart Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders made a joint declaration. The leaders called for Russia-Ukraine peace talks "as soon as possible."

Chinese President Xi Jinping and France's Emmanuel Macron make joint declaration from Beijing

France President Emmanuel Macron met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing. The French President is on a three-day visit to China. He met the Chinese Premier Li Qiang and with the National Assembly chairperson Li Zhanshu at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.

France's President Emmanuel Macron meets Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing | WION

A priest in France is reportedly receiving death threats after a pole dancing show was held in his church, news agency AFP reported, further mentioning that a local paper called the performance "sexy" and the tickets were sold out.&nbsp;

Daniel Boessenbacher, who is the priest at the Protestant Saint-Guillaume church in Strasbourg, told the news agency that after he received two anonymous letters, he had alerted the police.&nbsp;

As quoted, Boessenbacher said: "There is no doubt, this is about a show involving Stabat Mater and pole dancing." The Connexion reported that he even filed a complaint with the police on Monday (April 3).&nbsp;

An arts association rented the church last week for two performances of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's lyrical sequence Stabat Mater. As per reports, they had combined the performance with dance and pole dance acts.&nbsp;

The priest, however, said that the entire show was "flirtatious but soft" and there were some people who didn't like it. He also talked about the threat letters, as he said that one of the threatening letters said "parishioners should be decapitated". The letter also said that "This is not a church, it's a cabaret".&nbsp;

The second letter appeared to be a bit concerning as it was said that "his [priest] head needs to be cut off because he handed the key to our holy church to a dancing serpent".&nbsp;

Boessenbacher also said copies of the show&nbsp;were found slipped under the church door, with&nbsp;remarks including "you will die" or "you're going to hell".&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Boessenbacher wrote in a Facebook post: "Didn't plan on spending time at the police station on the first day of Holy Week. But oh well... my open-mindedness stops when pseudo-Christians drop anonymous mails at the parish."&nbsp;

"I write pseudo-Christians because I don't know where, in the Gospels, Jesus asks to send death threats. Of course, a complaint was filed," the post added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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A priest in France is reportedly receiving death threats after a pole dancing show was held in his church, news agency AFP reported, further mentioning that a local paper called the performance "sexy" and the tickets were sold out.

A priest in France is reportedly receiving death threats after a pole dancing show was held in his church, news agency AFP reported, further mentioning that a local paper called the performance "sexy" and the tickets were sold out. Daniel Boessenbacher, who is the priest at the Protestant Saint-Guillaume church in Strasbourg, told the news agency that after he received two anonymous letters, he had alerted the police. As quoted, Boessenbacher said: "There is no doubt, this is about a show involving Stabat Mater and pole dancing." The Connexion reported that he even filed a complaint with the police on Monday (April 3). An arts association rented the church last week for two performances of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's lyrical sequence Stabat Mater. As per reports, they had combined the performance with dance and pole dance acts. The priest, however, said that the entire show was "flirtatious but soft" and there were some people who didn't like it. He also talked about the threat letters, as he said that one of the threatening letters said "parishioners should be decapitated". The letter also said that "This is not a church, it's a cabaret". The second letter appeared to be a bit concerning as it was said that "his [priest] head needs to be cut off because he handed the key to our holy church to a dancing serpent". Boessenbacher also said copies of the show were found slipped under the church door, with remarks including "you will die" or "you're going to hell". × Boessenbacher wrote in a Facebook post: "Didn't plan on spending time at the police station on the first day of Holy Week. But oh well... my open-mindedness stops when pseudo-Christians drop anonymous mails at the parish." "I write pseudo-Christians because I don't know where, in the Gospels, Jesus asks to send death threats. Of course, a complaint was filed," the post added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Pole dance show': French priest receives death threats over church event described as 'sexy'

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will land in China on Wednesday (April 5), in a rare and significant three-day state visit amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Macron and von der Leyen are also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be von der Leyen's first trip since becoming European Commission president, while Macron last visited China in 2019.&nbsp;

The visit&nbsp;comes against the backdrop of Beijing's peace plans to end the ongoing fighting in Ukraine. China had floated a peace plan as a 12-point foreign ministry paper for a gradual de-escalation of the war, which has led to global crises, including food and fuel.&nbsp;

The Western leaders and Ukrainian allies will seek resetting ties with an important economic partner China amid an evident shift in the world order. Some reports claimed that Macron&nbsp;will visit China hoping to persuade Beijing to not support Russia's invasion of Ukraine apart from attempting to forge closer ties with a crucial trade partner.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/johnson-johnson-to-pay-89-billion-to-settle-lawsuits-over-cancer-causing-talc-579243">Johnson &amp; Johnson to pay $8.9 billion to settle lawsuits over 'cancer-causing' talc</a>&nbsp;

Xi recently visited Moscow and met with President Vladimir Putin. Putin told his Chinese counterpart that their countries shared many "common goals" and also said that the visit was "symbolic".&nbsp;

Russia and China presented a unified front against the West and both leaders&nbsp;called each other "dear friends" and hailed a "new era" in their nations' ties.&nbsp;

Noah Barkin, an analyst with Rhodium Group, told Reuter,&nbsp;"It's not the time to announce business deals or big new investments. It would essentially be a vote of confidence in the Chinese economy and send the message that France is not on board with the US approach."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gloomy economic outlook boosts economic crisis&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, the White House said that on the eve of his visit, Macron discussed his trip to China during a phone call with United States President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

News agency AFP cited a French diplomatic source, who noted that the two leaders said they want China to help "accelerate" the search for a solution to the war.&nbsp;

The source said that the conversation showed the "common will of France and the United States to engage the Chinese to accelerate with us the end of the war in Ukraine and build a lasting peace".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will land in China on Wednesday (April 5), in a rare and significant three-day state visit amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will land in China on Wednesday (April 5), in a rare and significant three-day state visit amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Macron and von der Leyen are also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be von der Leyen's first trip since becoming European Commission president, while Macron last visited China in 2019. The visit comes against the backdrop of Beijing's peace plans to end the ongoing fighting in Ukraine. China had floated a peace plan as a 12-point foreign ministry paper for a gradual de-escalation of the war, which has led to global crises, including food and fuel. The Western leaders and Ukrainian allies will seek resetting ties with an important economic partner China amid an evident shift in the world order. Some reports claimed that Macron will visit China hoping to persuade Beijing to not support Russia's invasion of Ukraine apart from attempting to forge closer ties with a crucial trade partner. ALSO READ | Johnson & Johnson to pay $8.9 billion to settle lawsuits over 'cancer-causing' talc Xi recently visited Moscow and met with President Vladimir Putin. Putin told his Chinese counterpart that their countries shared many "common goals" and also said that the visit was "symbolic". Russia and China presented a unified front against the West and both leaders called each other "dear friends" and hailed a "new era" in their nations' ties. Noah Barkin, an analyst with Rhodium Group, told Reuter, "It's not the time to announce business deals or big new investments. It would essentially be a vote of confidence in the Chinese economy and send the message that France is not on board with the US approach." WATCH | Gloomy economic outlook boosts economic crisis × Meanwhile, the White House said that on the eve of his visit, Macron discussed his trip to China during a phone call with United States President Joe Biden. News agency AFP cited a French diplomatic source, who noted that the two leaders said they want China to help "accelerate" the search for a solution to the war. The source said that the conversation showed the "common will of France and the United States to engage the Chinese to accelerate with us the end of the war in Ukraine and build a lasting peace". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia-Ukraine war and trade ties on agenda as France's Emmanuel Macron begins China trip

French Minister Marlene Schiappa will appear on the cover of the French edition of Playboy magazine. The move has triggered a row while the Minister has defended her decision. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: French minister under fire for posing for playboy magazine

The citizens of Paris overwhelmingly voted on Sunday to ban for-hire electric scooters from the French capital's streets, in a huge blow to the operators. The voting ended with a victory for campaigners for road safety.&nbsp;

The referendum will now turn Paris, which was once a pioneer in embracing services of e-scooter, will now become the only major capital of Europe to outlaw the widespread devices which are booked on applications like Lime.&nbsp;

The residents of the city were asked to vote for or against them in a public consultation which was organised by mayor Anne Hidalgo in which around 90 per cent of the votes were cast against the scooters, showed official results.&nbsp;

"We're happy. It's what we've been fighting for over four years," stated Arnaud Kielbasa, the Apacauvi charity's co-founder, which is representing the victims of e-scooter accidents.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-garbage-strike-paris-trash-collectors-to-suspend-strike-this-week-577095">Garbage strike raises stink: Paris trash collectors to suspend work boycott this week</a>

"All Parisians say they are nervous on the pavements, nervous when they cross the roads. You need to look everywhere," Kielbasa, whose infant daughter and wife were hit by an e-scooter driver, said. "That's why they've voted against them," he added.&nbsp;

Operators have alleged that they are being singled out unfairly and being held solely responsible for the chaotic nature of streets in Paris, where mayor Hidalgo has championed bikes and different forms of non-emitting transport since he came to power in 2014.&nbsp;

Last week, while speaking to AFP, Hidalgo said that “self-service scooters are the source of tension and worry” for Parisians and that a ban would “reduce nuisance” in public spaces.

WATCH | Paris to vote on banning electric scooters as 'they are involved in accidents' | WION Fineprint

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In 2018, the mayor's administration welcomed e-scooter operators with open arms, but since then, it has tightened regulations progressively, creating designated parking zones, restricting the number of operators and limiting the top speed.

However, the measures adopted have not been able to convince residents who have been complaining about drunken and reckless driving, as well as, clutter on pavements.&nbsp;

A number of fatal accidents also highlighted the dangers of electric scooters which are currently being hired by children who are 12 years old or above.

"I'm committed to respecting the choice of voters, purely and simply," &nbsp;said Hidalgo as she voted on Sunday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The citizens of Paris overwhelmingly voted on Sunday to ban for-hire electric scooters from the French capital's streets, in a huge blow to the operators. The voting ended with a victory for campaigners for road safety.

The citizens of Paris overwhelmingly voted on Sunday to ban for-hire electric scooters from the French capital's streets, in a huge blow to the operators. The voting ended with a victory for campaigners for road safety. The referendum will now turn Paris, which was once a pioneer in embracing services of e-scooter, will now become the only major capital of Europe to outlaw the widespread devices which are booked on applications like Lime. The residents of the city were asked to vote for or against them in a public consultation which was organised by mayor Anne Hidalgo in which around 90 per cent of the votes were cast against the scooters, showed official results. "We're happy. It's what we've been fighting for over four years," stated Arnaud Kielbasa, the Apacauvi charity's co-founder, which is representing the victims of e-scooter accidents. ALSO READ | Garbage strike raises stink: Paris trash collectors to suspend work boycott this week "All Parisians say they are nervous on the pavements, nervous when they cross the roads. You need to look everywhere," Kielbasa, whose infant daughter and wife were hit by an e-scooter driver, said. "That's why they've voted against them," he added. Operators have alleged that they are being singled out unfairly and being held solely responsible for the chaotic nature of streets in Paris, where mayor Hidalgo has championed bikes and different forms of non-emitting transport since he came to power in 2014. Last week, while speaking to AFP, Hidalgo said that “self-service scooters are the source of tension and worry” for Parisians and that a ban would “reduce nuisance” in public spaces. WATCH | Paris to vote on banning electric scooters as 'they are involved in accidents' | WION Fineprint In 2018, the mayor's administration welcomed e-scooter operators with open arms, but since then, it has tightened regulations progressively, creating designated parking zones, restricting the number of operators and limiting the top speed. However, the measures adopted have not been able to convince residents who have been complaining about drunken and reckless driving, as well as, clutter on pavements. A number of fatal accidents also highlighted the dangers of electric scooters which are currently being hired by children who are 12 years old or above. "I'm committed to respecting the choice of voters, purely and simply," said Hidalgo as she voted on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Parisians massively vote to ban for-hire electric scooters

A French minister, Marlene Schiappa, is drawing flak from her own party members for appearing on the cover of Playboy magazine.

The 40-year-old author, a self-described feminist, had appeared in the magazine as part of a 12-page interview she did on women’s and LGBT rights.

In the cover photo, Schiappa, who is the Minister for the Social Economy and French Associations, was photographed wearing a white dress.

Her decision was not supported by her colleagues within the government, which has been battling violent demonstrations over President Emanuel Macron’s plans to increase the retirement age.

According to AFP, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who is only the second woman to occupy the position, called Schiappa to tell her that it "was not at all appropriate, especially in the current period".

The EELV party MP, Sandrine Rousseau, told BFM TV channel that she was not opposed to her decision, saying that she could have timed her move properly given the turmoil France is facing right now.

"Where is the respect for the French people? People who are going to have to work for two years more, who are demonstrating, who are losing days of salary, who aren't managing to eat because of inflation.”

"Women's bodies should be able to be exposed anywhere, I don't have a problem with that, but there's a social context."

However, the minister, who is the mother of two, defended her decision on Twitter on April 1.

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Invité ce matin sur Europe1 le Ministre de l’intérieur <a href="https://twitter.com/GDarmanin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GDarmanin</a> apporte son soutien à <a href="https://twitter.com/MarleneSchiappa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarleneSchiappa</a> sur sa Une Une de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/playboy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#playboy</a>. Il cite Cookie Dingler : « vous ne me ferez pas dire de mal de Marlène Schiappa (…) être une femme libérée, c’est pas si facile » <a href="https://t.co/pz50OoQdls">pic.twitter.com/pz50OoQdls</a>
— Jeanne Baron (@jeannebarontv) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeannebarontv/status/1642452565823455232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"Defending the right of women to do what they want with their bodies: everywhere and all the time,"

"In France, women are free. Whether it annoys the retrogrades and hypocrites or not."

French Playboy editor Jean-Christophe Florentin said that Schiappa was the "most Playboy compatible" of her colleagues because of her feminist views, according to Sky News.

The magazine will be available to buy on April 8, according to Le Parisien newspaper.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A French minister, Marlene Schiappa, is drawing flak from her own party members for appearing on the cover of Playboy magazine. The 40-year-old author, a self-described feminist, had appeared in the magazine as part of a 12-page interview she did on women’s and LGBT rights.

A French minister, Marlene Schiappa, is drawing flak from her own party members for appearing on the cover of Playboy magazine. The 40-year-old author, a self-described feminist, had appeared in the magazine as part of a 12-page interview she did on women’s and LGBT rights. In the cover photo, Schiappa, who is the Minister for the Social Economy and French Associations, was photographed wearing a white dress. Her decision was not supported by her colleagues within the government, which has been battling violent demonstrations over President Emanuel Macron’s plans to increase the retirement age. According to AFP, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who is only the second woman to occupy the position, called Schiappa to tell her that it "was not at all appropriate, especially in the current period". The EELV party MP, Sandrine Rousseau, told BFM TV channel that she was not opposed to her decision, saying that she could have timed her move properly given the turmoil France is facing right now. "Where is the respect for the French people? People who are going to have to work for two years more, who are demonstrating, who are losing days of salary, who aren't managing to eat because of inflation.” "Women's bodies should be able to be exposed anywhere, I don't have a problem with that, but there's a social context." However, the minister, who is the mother of two, defended her decision on Twitter on April 1. Invité ce matin sur Europe1 le Ministre de l’intérieur @GDarmanin apporte son soutien à @MarleneSchiappa sur sa Une Une de #playboy. Il cite Cookie Dingler : « vous ne me ferez pas dire de mal de Marlène Schiappa (…) être une femme libérée, c’est pas si facile » pic.twitter.com/pz50OoQdls — Jeanne Baron (@jeannebarontv) April 2, 2023 × "Defending the right of women to do what they want with their bodies: everywhere and all the time," "In France, women are free. Whether it annoys the retrogrades and hypocrites or not." French Playboy editor Jean-Christophe Florentin said that Schiappa was the "most Playboy compatible" of her colleagues because of her feminist views, according to Sky News. The magazine will be available to buy on April 8, according to Le Parisien newspaper. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

French minister faces flak for appearing on Playboy cover amidst mass agitation

Europe seems to be on a banning spree earlier, believe it or not, Italy has decided to ban lab-made meat - something which is good for the environment - and now, France interestingly of all things is deciding to ban electric scooters.

Paris to vote on banning electric scooters as 'they are involved in accidents' | WION Fineprint

The French parliament's lower chamber recently passed a bill that aims to ban influencers from promoting cosmetic surgery on social media while making it mandatory for them to label the images when filters or photoshop has&nbsp;been used. The National Assembly voted on the cross-party bill that will now move to the Senate where it is expected to be adopted without much opposition.&nbsp;

Aurélien Taché, a member of the French Green Party&nbsp;introduced the bill draft, last year in November. After&nbsp;Taché's statements that influencers promoted scams due to lack of consequences, the French government also took a keen interest in the issue.&nbsp;

Arthur Delaporte and Stéphane Vojetta, members of President&nbsp;Emmanuel Macron’s party, brought the revised iteration of the draft that will ultimately be turned into legislation, according to a report by TechCrunch.&nbsp;

With the advent of social media and beauty influencers,&nbsp;kids, teens as well as adults are often made to believe that a person is expected to look a certain way. Trying to reach such ridiculous standards often breeds body dysmorphia which can cause severe physical and mental health issues.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/de-influencing-the-new-viral-trend-558645">WATCH |&nbsp;De-influencing: The new viral trend</a>

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The French government is aiming to nip the issue in the bud by making sure that influencers disclose if they are using a filter or if any part of their body/face has been photoshopped. The disclosure has to be visible all the time on all forms of media i.e., photos and videos.&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, failure to comply with the strict regulations could result in two years of jail and&nbsp;$32,515 (€30,000) in fines. Moreover, convicted influencers will not be allowed to use social media to continue their career.&nbsp;

Le Maire cleared that it was not an attempt by the French government to stigmatise an industry, albeit, a way to protect both them and the consumers.&nbsp;

“Influencers must be subject to the same rules as those that apply to traditional media,” he said, adding the internet "is not the Wild West".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/social-media-influencers-told-not-to-use-misleading-beauty-filters-361150">ALSO READ |&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-human-rights-court-hears-climate-cases-against-france-switzerland-577054">Social media influencers told not to use 'misleading' beauty filters</a>

Under the bill, the work of child influencers will also be closely monitored. The language of the bill states that minors under 16 will have to obtain state approval to work on the platforms. Additionally, 90 per cent of the money they earn through commercial activities will be frozen until they turn 18 to avoid any abuse, the French media reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The French parliament's lower chamber recently passed a bill that aims to ban influencers from promoting cosmetic surgery on social media while making it mandatory for them to label the images when filters or photoshop has been used.

The French parliament's lower chamber recently passed a bill that aims to ban influencers from promoting cosmetic surgery on social media while making it mandatory for them to label the images when filters or photoshop has been used. The National Assembly voted on the cross-party bill that will now move to the Senate where it is expected to be adopted without much opposition. Aurélien Taché, a member of the French Green Party introduced the bill draft, last year in November. After Taché's statements that influencers promoted scams due to lack of consequences, the French government also took a keen interest in the issue. Arthur Delaporte and Stéphane Vojetta, members of President Emmanuel Macron’s party, brought the revised iteration of the draft that will ultimately be turned into legislation, according to a report by TechCrunch. With the advent of social media and beauty influencers, kids, teens as well as adults are often made to believe that a person is expected to look a certain way. Trying to reach such ridiculous standards often breeds body dysmorphia which can cause severe physical and mental health issues. WATCH | De-influencing: The new viral trend × The French government is aiming to nip the issue in the bud by making sure that influencers disclose if they are using a filter or if any part of their body/face has been photoshopped. The disclosure has to be visible all the time on all forms of media i.e., photos and videos. According to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, failure to comply with the strict regulations could result in two years of jail and $32,515 (€30,000) in fines. Moreover, convicted influencers will not be allowed to use social media to continue their career. Le Maire cleared that it was not an attempt by the French government to stigmatise an industry, albeit, a way to protect both them and the consumers. “Influencers must be subject to the same rules as those that apply to traditional media,” he said, adding the internet "is not the Wild West". ALSO READ | Social media influencers told not to use 'misleading' beauty filters Under the bill, the work of child influencers will also be closely monitored. The language of the bill states that minors under 16 will have to obtain state approval to work on the platforms. Additionally, 90 per cent of the money they earn through commercial activities will be frozen until they turn 18 to avoid any abuse, the French media reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

New French bill requires influencers to disclose use of filters, photoshop; bans plastic surgery promotion

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is hearing climate cases against the governments of France and Switzerland over the alleged failings to protect the environment. On Wednesday, the ECHR said the case against Switzerland is based on a complaint by the Club of Climate Seniors (an association of elderly people) concerned with the consequences of global warming on their living conditions and health, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

The association, backed by Greenpeace Switzerland, has accused Swiss authorities of various climate change failings which they say amount to the violation of the government's obligation to protect life and homes and families of the citizens.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-climate-change-what-are-its-consequences-a-lowdown-574727">Explained: What is climate change? What are its consequences? | A lowdown</a>

Jessica Simor, the plaintiffs' lawyer, said that her clients were already suffering the effects of climate change that Switzerland was not doing enough to stop. Simor added that temperatures were rising twice as quickly in the country as the global average.&nbsp;

Alain Chablais, representing the Swiss government, told the ECHR that it was baseless to claim or suggest that the government was doing nothing. Chablais added that the ECHR had no business becoming the place where national climate protection policy is decided, AFP reported.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the case against France was brought by Damien Careme, the former mayor of Grande-Synthe, who argued that the government failed to meet its obligation to protect life by taking insufficient steps to prevent climate change.&nbsp;

When Careme was serving as the mayor, he brought the case to the French judiciary not only on behalf of his town but also on his own behalf, saying climate change was raising the risk of his home being flooded. In 2021, the country's highest administrative court ruled in favour of Grande-Synthe against the central government.&nbsp;

However, the court threw out the individual case brought by Careme, which he then took to the ECHR.

Speaking to the news agency on Wednesday, Corinne Lepag, one of Careme's lawyers, said the stakes were extremely high. Lepag, the former ecology minister of France, said, "European court recognises that climate failings violate the rights of individuals to life and a normal family life, then that becomes precedent in all of the council's member states and potentially in the whole world."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is hearing climate cases against the governments of France and Switzerland over the alleged failings to protect the environment.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is hearing climate cases against the governments of France and Switzerland over the alleged failings to protect the environment. On Wednesday, the ECHR said the case against Switzerland is based on a complaint by the Club of Climate Seniors (an association of elderly people) concerned with the consequences of global warming on their living conditions and health, the news agency AFP reported. The association, backed by Greenpeace Switzerland, has accused Swiss authorities of various climate change failings which they say amount to the violation of the government's obligation to protect life and homes and families of the citizens. ALSO READ | Explained: What is climate change? What are its consequences? | A lowdown Jessica Simor, the plaintiffs' lawyer, said that her clients were already suffering the effects of climate change that Switzerland was not doing enough to stop. Simor added that temperatures were rising twice as quickly in the country as the global average. Alain Chablais, representing the Swiss government, told the ECHR that it was baseless to claim or suggest that the government was doing nothing. Chablais added that the ECHR had no business becoming the place where national climate protection policy is decided, AFP reported. Meanwhile, the case against France was brought by Damien Careme, the former mayor of Grande-Synthe, who argued that the government failed to meet its obligation to protect life by taking insufficient steps to prevent climate change. When Careme was serving as the mayor, he brought the case to the French judiciary not only on behalf of his town but also on his own behalf, saying climate change was raising the risk of his home being flooded. In 2021, the country's highest administrative court ruled in favour of Grande-Synthe against the central government. However, the court threw out the individual case brought by Careme, which he then took to the ECHR. Speaking to the news agency on Wednesday, Corinne Lepag, one of Careme's lawyers, said the stakes were extremely high. Lepag, the former ecology minister of France, said, "European court recognises that climate failings violate the rights of individuals to life and a normal family life, then that becomes precedent in all of the council's member states and potentially in the whole world." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

European human rights court hears climate cases against France, Switzerland

In today's episode of WION Climate Tracker, we bring you climate stories from around the world - During a protest against irrigation reservoirs in the rural community of Sainte-Soline, thousands of environmental activists in Western France got into a physical altercation with police.

France anti-reservoir protests turn violent | WION Climate Tracker

Protests in France don't seem to end while the country is witnessing weeks of demonstrations against a pension reform bill. In a first, protesters, including eco-activists have now started protesting in western france against the construction of a large water reservoir for agricultural irrigation.

French Pension Reforms: Violent protests break out at reservoir in Sainte-Soline

Protesters clashed with the French police on Saturday (March 25) as they opposed creation of a large water reservoir for farm irrigation resulting in several injuries. The incident took place in western rural district of Sainte-Soline. Police used tear gas to try to disperse the people who had come together despite a ban on gatherings in the area.

Some protesters threw fireworks and other projectiles as they approached the construction area. Television footage showed that at least three police vehicles were set alight.

Two protesters were seriously hurt, including one who is in a critical condition after suffering a head injury, as well as 16 police officers, the local prefecture said. One officer was evacuated by helicopter.

Thousands of protesters had converged on the site of the planned reservoir, where a similar protest last October also turned violent.

Emmanuelle Dubee, the prefect of the surrounding region, said around 1,000 radical individuals were expected among an estimated 6,000 protesters.

In light of the possible protests, around 3200 police personnel were deployed, said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

He blamed far left groups for the violence.

The heavy police presence included helicopters and squads riding quads.

The protest over the irrigation project comes after weeks of demonstrations in France against a pension reform that have turned violent since the government pushed through the legislation without a final parliamentary vote.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Protesters clashed with the French police on Saturday (March 25) as they opposed creation of a large water reservoir for farm irrigation resulting in several injuries.

Protesters clashed with the French police on Saturday (March 25) as they opposed creation of a large water reservoir for farm irrigation resulting in several injuries. The incident took place in western rural district of Sainte-Soline. Police used tear gas to try to disperse the people who had come together despite a ban on gatherings in the area. Some protesters threw fireworks and other projectiles as they approached the construction area. Television footage showed that at least three police vehicles were set alight. Two protesters were seriously hurt, including one who is in a critical condition after suffering a head injury, as well as 16 police officers, the local prefecture said. One officer was evacuated by helicopter. Thousands of protesters had converged on the site of the planned reservoir, where a similar protest last October also turned violent. Emmanuelle Dubee, the prefect of the surrounding region, said around 1,000 radical individuals were expected among an estimated 6,000 protesters. In light of the possible protests, around 3200 police personnel were deployed, said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. He blamed far left groups for the violence. The heavy police presence included helicopters and squads riding quads. The protest over the irrigation project comes after weeks of demonstrations in France against a pension reform that have turned violent since the government pushed through the legislation without a final parliamentary vote. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

France: Protesters opposed to a reservoir clash with police

China recently published a 12-point position paper that called for urgent peace talks and a political settlement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In Moscow, Putin & the Chinese president pledged friendship, but the talks yielded no breakthrough on Ukraine. However, the Russian President said China's peace plan could be basis for peace in Ukraine. In the coming week, Spain's Prime Minister will meet with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

China on a diplomatic blitz as Ukraine war rages | Peace plan too vague to make a difference? | WION

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, came under fire for taking off an expensive watch during a TV interview about pension reforms.&nbsp;He was shown briefly slipping his hands under the table and seemingly taking off his watch during a prime-time national television show in which he vowed to move forward with plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64, further infuriating his critics.&nbsp;

The opposition politicians termed him president of the rich who "has never lived up to his name so well," juxtaposing the move with his claims in the interview about minimum wage earners "who have never had so much purchasing power."

The&nbsp;Elysee Palace claims&nbsp;that Macron did&nbsp;not remove&nbsp;the watch&nbsp;“in order to hide it&nbsp;– but because it was clinking against the table,” as reported by the Independent.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media

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Petit jeu (facile). 
Qu'est-ce qui disparaît entre ces 2 extraits ? <a href="https://t.co/kkn0U8p1Gj">pic.twitter.com/kkn0U8p1Gj</a>
— Caisses de grève (@caissesdegreve) <a href="https://twitter.com/caissesdegreve/status/1638857561704202243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“The noise is clearly audible only a few seconds before the beginning of the video shared on social media,” the presidential palace said in a widely reported statement, which chimes with the audio in the viral clip.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/king-charles-france-visit-postponed-as-pension-protests-turn-violent-575344">King Charles III’s state visit to France postponed as pension protests turn violent</a>

About 10 minutes into the interview, Macron put his wrists on the table and a clunk was audible. Then he put his hands under the desk. When they came out, his left wrist's watch was gone.

The manoeuvre caught the eyes of the French audience&nbsp;and the clip has since gone viral.

The watch's exact worth is unclear. It was reportedly made by the French company Bell &amp; Ross and cost between €1,600 (US$1,725)&nbsp;and €2,400 (US$2,587), according to French media.

Millions of people have protested against Macron's reforms. Ifop reported last week that Macron's approval rating has dropped to just 28 per cent, the lowest since the peak of the Yellow Vest protests in 2018. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
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Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, came under fire for taking off an expensive watch during a TV interview about pension reforms. He was shown briefly slipping his hands under the table and seemingly taking off his watch during a prime-time national television show in which he vowed to move forward with plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64, further infuriating his critics.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, came under fire for taking off an expensive watch during a TV interview about pension reforms. He was shown briefly slipping his hands under the table and seemingly taking off his watch during a prime-time national television show in which he vowed to move forward with plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64, further infuriating his critics. The opposition politicians termed him president of the rich who "has never lived up to his name so well," juxtaposing the move with his claims in the interview about minimum wage earners "who have never had so much purchasing power." The Elysee Palace claims that Macron did not remove the watch “in order to hide it – but because it was clinking against the table,” as reported by the Independent. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media Petit jeu (facile). Qu'est-ce qui disparaît entre ces 2 extraits ? pic.twitter.com/kkn0U8p1Gj — Caisses de grève (@caissesdegreve) March 23, 2023 × “The noise is clearly audible only a few seconds before the beginning of the video shared on social media,” the presidential palace said in a widely reported statement, which chimes with the audio in the viral clip. ALSO READ | King Charles III’s state visit to France postponed as pension protests turn violent About 10 minutes into the interview, Macron put his wrists on the table and a clunk was audible. Then he put his hands under the desk. When they came out, his left wrist's watch was gone. The manoeuvre caught the eyes of the French audience and the clip has since gone viral. The watch's exact worth is unclear. It was reportedly made by the French company Bell & Ross and cost between €1,600 (US$1,725) and €2,400 (US$2,587), according to French media. Millions of people have protested against Macron's reforms. Ifop reported last week that Macron's approval rating has dropped to just 28 per cent, the lowest since the peak of the Yellow Vest protests in 2018. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

France: Macron takes off luxury watch on television while talking about pension reforms, irks protesters

A report by the news agency AFP citing a ministerial source said that France, as of Friday (March 24) has banned public sector employees from downloading “recreational applications” including the Chinese-owned TikTok on their work phones. This comes after a number of countries in the West have banned the short video-sharing app from phones particularly those with access to its lawmakers citing national and cybersecurity concerns.&nbsp;

The ban also follows restrictions placed in European countries, “the government has decided from now on to ban the downloading and installation of recreational applications on professional telephones given to public servants,” said the public services ministry, reported AFP.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-are-countries-banning-tiktok-573111">Explained: Why are countries banning TikTok?</a>

It added, “Recreational applications do not present sufficient levels of cybersecurity and data protection to be deployed on administrative equipment”. The European Commission and countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and recently New Zealand have told government officials that they cannot use TikTok on work devices over fears of its ties to the Chinese government.&nbsp;

The anonymous source also told AFP, that the ban would include, “game apps like Candy Crush, streaming apps like Netflix and recreational apps like TikTok”. However, Beijing has recently said that it does not ask companies to hand over data gathered overseas.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-is-shou-zi-chew-the-tiktok-ceo-attempting-to-save-its-us-operations-574876">EXPLAINED | Who is Shou Zi Chew? TikTok CEO attempting to save its US operations</a>

China has “never and will not require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located in a foreign country, in a way that violates local law,” said China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, on Friday. But the firm had previously reportedly acknowledged that some of its employees in Beijing could access European user data while insisting that the Chinese government has no control over or access to its data.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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A report by the news agency AFP citing a ministerial source said that France, as of Friday (March 24) has banned public sector employees from downloading “recreational applications” including the Chinese-owned TikTok on their work phones.

A report by the news agency AFP citing a ministerial source said that France, as of Friday (March 24) has banned public sector employees from downloading “recreational applications” including the Chinese-owned TikTok on their work phones. This comes after a number of countries in the West have banned the short video-sharing app from phones particularly those with access to its lawmakers citing national and cybersecurity concerns. The ban also follows restrictions placed in European countries, “the government has decided from now on to ban the downloading and installation of recreational applications on professional telephones given to public servants,” said the public services ministry, reported AFP. ALSO READ | Explained: Why are countries banning TikTok? It added, “Recreational applications do not present sufficient levels of cybersecurity and data protection to be deployed on administrative equipment”. The European Commission and countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and recently New Zealand have told government officials that they cannot use TikTok on work devices over fears of its ties to the Chinese government. The anonymous source also told AFP, that the ban would include, “game apps like Candy Crush, streaming apps like Netflix and recreational apps like TikTok”. However, Beijing has recently said that it does not ask companies to hand over data gathered overseas. ALSO READ | EXPLAINED | Who is Shou Zi Chew? TikTok CEO attempting to save its US operations China has “never and will not require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located in a foreign country, in a way that violates local law,” said China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, on Friday. But the firm had previously reportedly acknowledged that some of its employees in Beijing could access European user data while insisting that the Chinese government has no control over or access to its data. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

France bans ‘recreational’ apps like TikTok from public sector employees’ work phones

Britain's King Charles III's state visit to France has been postponed due to a sea of protests in the country against the massively unpopular pension reform legislation to increase the retirement age.

Britain's King Charles III's state visit to France has been postponed due to a sea of protests in the country against the massively unpopular pension reform legislation to increase the retirement age. The king was scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday, which incidentally would have been his first visit as the newly crowned monarch. However, the Élysée Palace released a statement on Friday and said the decision to postpone the visit was taken after King Charles had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. "Given yesterday's announcement of a new national day of action against pension reform on Tuesday, March 28, in France, the visit of King Charles III, initially scheduled for March 26 to 29 in our country, will be postponed," read the statement. "This decision was taken by the French and British governments, after a telephone exchange between the President of the Republic and the King this morning, in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King Charles III under conditions which correspond to our relationship of friendship," it added. ALSO READ | Rubbish piles up in Paris, protests over pension reforms continue across France Buckingham Palace also released a statement stating that the king looked forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates could be found. More than a million people took to the streets in different cities of France on Thursday in a continued protest against the Macron government's retirement policy. Up until Thursday, the French authorities were optimistic that the state visit will go ahead without any hiccups. However, after Macron gave a TV interview, it seemingly galvanised the protesters. Subsequently, the entrance to the town hall in Bordeaux was set alight, forcing the administration to chalk up new plans. As per Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, 149 police officers and dozens of protesters were injured in clashes on Thursday. In addition, 172 people were arrested across the country, 72 of them in Paris. WATCH | France pension protests: Bordeaux town hall set on fire, scores of protesters arrested | Details × The government is of the view that extending the pension age will prevent the French service system from collapsing under the weight of deficits. Notably, the workers in France tend to retire much earlier than their European Union (EU) counterparts. The direct repercussion is that the French exchequer has to foot a bigger pension bill than most countries in the bloc. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

King Charles III’s state visit to France postponed as pension protests turn violent

King Charles III's state visit to France has been postponed, after a request by President Emmanuel Macron, Downing Street says. France's Elysée Palace said the decision was taken because of a 10th day of action planned on Tuesday.

King Charles's III postpones visit to France

Hundreds of thousands of people were set to strike and demonstrate in France on Thursday after President Emmanuel Macron vowed to push on with a deeply unpopular pension reform despite escalating anger across the country.

Protests rock France over raising of retirement age

Russia has delivered a cargo of enriched Uranium to France. Reports say there have been at least seven such instances since the beginning of the war. What's more? French import has actually gone up since Feb 2022. What gives? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: Russia delivers enriched Uranium to France | A classic case of European hypocrisy

French government used special constitutional powers to enact contentious legislation that would raise the retirement age for the majority of workers from 62 to 64. The no-confidence vote that were held on Monday were requested by lawmakers who were against the reforms.

Rubbish piles up in Paris, protests over pension reforms continue across France

The top administrative court of France on Monday asked the government to impose a ban on fishing in different parts of the Atlantic to save dolphins after hundreds of them recently washed up dead on the coast.&nbsp;

The step taken by the State Council, which is the highest court in matters of government, comes days after a report from an oceanographic institute surfaced stating that around 910 dolphins had washed up on the Atlantic coast in France since the start of the winter.

In a single week, around 400 marine mammals were discovered stranded along the coast which the Pelagis oceanographic observatory called an "unprecedented" number in its report. The observatory is based in the western city of La Rochelle.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-experts-concerned-after-dead-dolphins-washed-up-on-atlantic-beaches-566612">France: Experts concerned after dead dolphins washed up on Atlantic beaches</a>

A legal complaint was filed by various environmental NGOs, including Sea Shepherd, against the government over the deaths of dolphins and porpoises. The organisations claimed that the government was not taking adequate measures to protect the species which are facing the threat of disappearance from parts of the Bay of Biscay along the Atlantic coast.

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Regarder la réalité en face : Hier nous avons exposé 6 🐬 aux Sables d'Olonne d'où viennent de nombreux bateaux que nous filmons avec des 🐬 capturés. Nous attendons avec impatience la décision du Conseil d'Etat sur la fermeture des zones de pêche <a href="https://twitter.com/HerveBerville?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HerveBerville</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> <a href="https://t.co/kWWQrygfc8">pic.twitter.com/kWWQrygfc8</a>
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Many of the dolphins discovered had consistent injuries which they had suffered from boat engines, nets and other fishing equipment.&nbsp;

Many dolphins died in February and March when they generally move closer to the coast in search of food and have higher chances of encountering fishing operations.

So far, the government of France has held back from imposing a ban on fishing and instead opted for solutions which can mitigate the impact of industrial fishing on dolphins like onboard cameras or loud sound equipment which can drive the dolphins away.

WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Noise pollution in ocean hinders communication of dolphins

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However, the State Council on Monday ruled that instruments of "acoustic deterrence" on fishing boats "do not guarantee a favourable state of conservation for small cetacean species" including porpoises and dolphins.

Both the species were facing the threat of extinction, "at least regionally", it said.

The court has given the time of six months to the government to establish the no-fishing zones and also asked it to increase the monitoring of dolphins' accidental capture which it said was still too approximate.

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The top administrative court of France on Monday asked the government to impose a ban on fishing in different parts of the Atlantic to save dolphins after hundreds of them recently washed up dead on the coast.

The top administrative court of France on Monday asked the government to impose a ban on fishing in different parts of the Atlantic to save dolphins after hundreds of them recently washed up dead on the coast. The step taken by the State Council, which is the highest court in matters of government, comes days after a report from an oceanographic institute surfaced stating that around 910 dolphins had washed up on the Atlantic coast in France since the start of the winter. In a single week, around 400 marine mammals were discovered stranded along the coast which the Pelagis oceanographic observatory called an "unprecedented" number in its report. The observatory is based in the western city of La Rochelle. ALSO READ | France: Experts concerned after dead dolphins washed up on Atlantic beaches A legal complaint was filed by various environmental NGOs, including Sea Shepherd, against the government over the deaths of dolphins and porpoises. The organisations claimed that the government was not taking adequate measures to protect the species which are facing the threat of disappearance from parts of the Bay of Biscay along the Atlantic coast. Regarder la réalité en face : Hier nous avons exposé 6 🐬 aux Sables d'Olonne d'où viennent de nombreux bateaux que nous filmons avec des 🐬 capturés. Nous attendons avec impatience la décision du Conseil d'Etat sur la fermeture des zones de pêche @HerveBerville @EmmanuelMacron pic.twitter.com/kWWQrygfc8 — Sea Shepherd France (@SeaShepherdFran) March 12, 2023 × Many of the dolphins discovered had consistent injuries which they had suffered from boat engines, nets and other fishing equipment. Many dolphins died in February and March when they generally move closer to the coast in search of food and have higher chances of encountering fishing operations. So far, the government of France has held back from imposing a ban on fishing and instead opted for solutions which can mitigate the impact of industrial fishing on dolphins like onboard cameras or loud sound equipment which can drive the dolphins away. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Noise pollution in ocean hinders communication of dolphins However, the State Council on Monday ruled that instruments of "acoustic deterrence" on fishing boats "do not guarantee a favourable state of conservation for small cetacean species" including porpoises and dolphins. Both the species were facing the threat of extinction, "at least regionally", it said. The court has given the time of six months to the government to establish the no-fishing zones and also asked it to increase the monitoring of dolphins' accidental capture which it said was still too approximate. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

France: Court orders ban on fishing after numerous dolphins wash up on coast

Anti-nuclear NGO Greenpeace has slammed France for continuing its import of enriched uranium from Russia in spite of the Ukrainian war, calling the deal “scandalous”.

On Monday morning, a Russian cargo ship dropped off a consignment of 25 cylinders containing nuclear fuel at the northern French port of Dunkirk.

This marks the seventh delivery of uranium from Russia to France since the start of invasion of Ukraine, Greenpeace said.

According to TASS news agency, Russia accounts for 15 per cent of enrichment activities for France.

"This is a new illustration that the French nuclear industry continues to trade uranium with Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear giant," Greenpeace campaigner Pauline Boyer told AFP on Monday.

"The continuation of this nuclear trade with&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;in times of war is scandalous," she added.

In a report released earlier this month, the NGO highlighted how France continued to depend on Russian nuclear power despite the Ukraine conflict. It added that unlike fossil fuel, importing Russian uranium doesn’t fall under the sanctions, which was announced by the West in response to the war.

However, the French government denied this, saying, "Our country does not depend in any way on&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;for the operation of its nuclear power plants" and "has been able to diversify its sources of supply."

Greenpeace campaigner Boyer called out the French government’s hypocrisy, saying that if “they want to be consistent with its support for the Ukrainian people, it should cut all contracts with Rosatom (Russian nuclear company)."

According to data by the Point magazine published in December, French energy corporation EDF (Electricite de France) purchased 153 tons of enriched uranium from Russian contractors in 2022.

In total, since the beginning of the year, EDF has purchased 7,000 tons of uranium ore for its nuclear power plants, the report noted.

The publication says that this includes not only the ore mined in Russia, &nbsp;direct mining for France is also carried out in Kazakhstan, Canada, Niger and Uzbekistan.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Anti-nuclear NGO Greenpeace has slammed France for continuing its import of enriched uranium from Russia in spite of the Ukrainian war, calling the deal “scandalous”.

Anti-nuclear NGO Greenpeace has slammed France for continuing its import of enriched uranium from Russia in spite of the Ukrainian war, calling the deal “scandalous”. On Monday morning, a Russian cargo ship dropped off a consignment of 25 cylinders containing nuclear fuel at the northern French port of Dunkirk. This marks the seventh delivery of uranium from Russia to France since the start of invasion of Ukraine, Greenpeace said. According to TASS news agency, Russia accounts for 15 per cent of enrichment activities for France. "This is a new illustration that the French nuclear industry continues to trade uranium with Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear giant," Greenpeace campaigner Pauline Boyer told AFP on Monday. "The continuation of this nuclear trade with Russia in times of war is scandalous," she added. In a report released earlier this month, the NGO highlighted how France continued to depend on Russian nuclear power despite the Ukraine conflict. It added that unlike fossil fuel, importing Russian uranium doesn’t fall under the sanctions, which was announced by the West in response to the war. However, the French government denied this, saying, "Our country does not depend in any way on Russia for the operation of its nuclear power plants" and "has been able to diversify its sources of supply." Greenpeace campaigner Boyer called out the French government’s hypocrisy, saying that if “they want to be consistent with its support for the Ukrainian people, it should cut all contracts with Rosatom (Russian nuclear company)." According to data by the Point magazine published in December, French energy corporation EDF (Electricite de France) purchased 153 tons of enriched uranium from Russian contractors in 2022. In total, since the beginning of the year, EDF has purchased 7,000 tons of uranium ore for its nuclear power plants, the report noted. The publication says that this includes not only the ore mined in Russia, direct mining for France is also carried out in Kazakhstan, Canada, Niger and Uzbekistan. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia delivers enriched uranium to France, Greenpeace calls it ‘scandalous’

On Monday, Russia delivered enriched uranium to France. A cargo ship unloaded cylinders of uranium from Russia at the French port of Dunkirk. Western allies are clashing over the inclusion of uranium and other nuclear tech in sanctions. However, nuclear fuel shipments continue to make their way to the EU. As per Greenpeace, shipments of nuclear fuel are bankrolling the war in Ukraine and prolonging Europe’s energy dependence. The NGO said the latest shipment marked the seventh delivery of uranium from Russia to France since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. In a report earlier this month, Greenpeace criticised France's dependence on Russian nuclear power. It said France had received a third of the enriched uranium needed to operate nuclear power plants for one year from Russia. The French government denied the claims. The government said France does not depend in any way on Russia for the operation of its nuclear power plants.

French Govt: Don't depend on Russia for operation of nuclear plants

Cargo ship unloads cylinders of Uranium at the French port of Dunkirk

The drying up of a lake in France is ringing alarm bells all across Western Europe. Shivan Chanana tells how France's lake Montbel, famous for its turquoise waters, massive size and thriving aquatic life is drying up due to the winter drought.

Winter drought dries up France's lake Montbel | WION Climate Tracker

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