France, Germany and Italy have joined a growing list of nations that have suspended the use of AstraZeneca's COVID jabs. Are European powers politicising vaccines, or is there solid science behind the move? WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: France, Germany suspend AstraZeneca jabs

The recently-launched audio-only chat app, Clubhouse, is facing a probe from France's data privacy watchdog.

France's The Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL) is launching an investigation into the popular Clubhouse app to determine if the European data protection rules apply to the US-based company.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/clubhouse-the-invite-only-chat-app-that-elon-musk-uses-361479">Clubhouse: The invite-only chat app that Elon Musk uses</a>

CNIL has also said in a statement that the watchdog will take punitive measures if the chat app does not respect the rules and legislation.

As per CNIL, Clubhouse does not have any "corporate entity within the European Union", but was still using personal information. The watchdog has also questioned the security of this data being collected by the audio-only app.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/thai-government-issues-warning-against-clubhouse-after-it-emerges-as-platform-for-dissidents-364326">Thai government issues warning against Clubhouse after it emerges as platform for dissidents</a>

It has also been reported that a petition with more than 10,000 signatures has been submitted in France which aims to alert the agency against any "potential breaches of privacy by the Clubhouse app".

This has come months after the launch of the app, which has taken the world by storm. Even some of the French ministers, such as Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, have used this app to have a direct exchange of thoughts with the general public.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/party-over-chinese-users-of-clubhouse-app-say-experiencing-internet-access-disruptions-362362">&nbsp;'Party over': Chinese users of Clubhouse app say experiencing internet access disruptions</a>

Clubhouse is an audio-only chat app which people can download only through invitations by existing users. Every user can only send two of such invitations.

In this app, users can listen to interviews and discussions between specific people like in a conference hall, with the only difference being that not every particiapnt can talk in that room. once the discussion ends, the room is closed.

The recently-launched audio-only chat app, Clubhouse, is facing a probe from France's data privacy watchdog. France's The Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL) is launching an investigation into the popular Clubhouse app to determine if the European data protection rules apply to the US-based company.

The recently-launched audio-only chat app, Clubhouse, is facing a probe from France's data privacy watchdog. France's The Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL) is launching an investigation into the popular Clubhouse app to determine if the European data protection rules apply to the US-based company. Also read | Clubhouse: The invite-only chat app that Elon Musk uses CNIL has also said in a statement that the watchdog will take punitive measures if the chat app does not respect the rules and legislation. As per CNIL, Clubhouse does not have any "corporate entity within the European Union", but was still using personal information. The watchdog has also questioned the security of this data being collected by the audio-only app. Also read | Thai government issues warning against Clubhouse after it emerges as platform for dissidents It has also been reported that a petition with more than 10,000 signatures has been submitted in France which aims to alert the agency against any "potential breaches of privacy by the Clubhouse app". This has come months after the launch of the app, which has taken the world by storm. Even some of the French ministers, such as Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, have used this app to have a direct exchange of thoughts with the general public. Also read | 'Party over': Chinese users of Clubhouse app say experiencing internet access disruptions Clubhouse is an audio-only chat app which people can download only through invitations by existing users. Every user can only send two of such invitations. In this app, users can listen to interviews and discussions between specific people like in a conference hall, with the only difference being that not every particiapnt can talk in that room. once the discussion ends, the room is closed.

French watchdog launches investigation into audio chat app Clubhouse

The French National Assembly adopted legislation Monday that characterizes sex between adults and minors under 15 as rape, a move made after years of debate and rounds of sexual abuse scandals gradually pushed lawmakers to bring the French criminal code closer to that of most other Western countries.

“Children are off-limits,” France’s justice minister, Eric Dupont-Moretti, told the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, ahead of Monday's vote. Under the bill, a sexual relationship with a minor under 15 would be punishable by 20 years in prison, unless the age gap between the consensual partners were small.

The bill, which also includes a provision that would make incest a specific crime, will go to the Senate this month and is expected to get final approval in April. The incest ban would also apply to sexual relationships between children under 18 and their stepparents.

That lawmakers agreed on setting an age of consent only three years after having voted against a similar law largely reflects the impact of a series of recent sexual abuse scandals.

A reckoning on child abuse has taken place over the past year, amid the fall from grace of a writer who for decades openly engaged in and promoted pedophilia with the support of powerful friends and amid accusations of incest against a prominent French intellectual that surfaced in January.

Fresh allegations of sexual abuse against powerful figures in politics, the arts and the media that fueled new #MeToo movements have also increased pressure on the French government to take action.

“There has been a real shift in the public opinion and an awareness that there is a problem with these sexual violence cases,” said Pierre Verdrager, a sociologist who has studied pedophilia. He added that France had become highly aware of these issues.

Feminists have also contributed to this change in attitude, Verdrager said, and raised public awareness by speaking out against sexual abuse in the arts and papering Paris with posters denouncing domestic and sexual violence.

French law already prohibited sex between an adult and a minor under the age of 15, but it was not automatically considered rape. Further circumstances, such as the use of coercion, threats or violence, were necessary to characterize such sexual relationships as rape.

“Questioning minors to know if they were consenting even if they were 10 or 11 years old is really a French exception,” Verdrager said. “I think that’s what the legislature wants to get rid of.”

France in 2018 toughened laws against sex crimes and extended the statute of limitations for rape against a minor to 30 years from 20 years, but lawmakers had stopped short of setting an age of sexual consent, citing legal complications.

Some lawmakers, after warnings from France’s Constitutional Council, were worried that setting an age of consent would automatically criminalize sexual relationships between a minor under the age of consent and a person only a few years older. The council reviews legislation to ensure it complies with the French Constitution.

In response, the new bill includes a “Romeo and Juliet” clause that would allow for sexual relationships between a child under 15 and an adult up to five years older. This clause would not apply in rape or assault cases.

“I do not want to put a kid aged 18 on trial because he had a consenting relationship with a girl of 14 1/2,” Dupond-Moretti said.

Alexandra Louis, a French lawmaker who supports the bill, said the provisions that had been added to bill, such as the "Romeo and Juliet" clause, gave her hope that the measure would be approved by the Constitutional Council.

About 300 amendments were discussed, but the bill eventually passed unanimously and in one day. Louis said the bill had “reached a consensus” and marked “a historic breakthrough.”

The legislation also extends beyond 30 years the statute of limitations for rape of a minor in cases where the adult has raped others, and introduces jail sentences of 10 years and a fine of 150,000 euros, or about $180,000, for anyone convicted of inciting children under the age of 15, via the internet, to commit sexual acts.

“Our task is huge,” Dupont-Moretti said. “It’s about changing the law to finally, completely and totally protect our children.”

The French National Assembly adopted legislation Monday that characterizes sex between adults and minors under 15 as rape, a move made after years of debate and rounds of sexual abuse scandals gradually pushed lawmakers to bring the French criminal code closer to that of most other Western countries.

The French National Assembly adopted legislation Monday that characterizes sex between adults and minors under 15 as rape, a move made after years of debate and rounds of sexual abuse scandals gradually pushed lawmakers to bring the French criminal code closer to that of most other Western countries. “Children are off-limits,” France’s justice minister, Eric Dupont-Moretti, told the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, ahead of Monday's vote. Under the bill, a sexual relationship with a minor under 15 would be punishable by 20 years in prison, unless the age gap between the consensual partners were small. The bill, which also includes a provision that would make incest a specific crime, will go to the Senate this month and is expected to get final approval in April. The incest ban would also apply to sexual relationships between children under 18 and their stepparents. That lawmakers agreed on setting an age of consent only three years after having voted against a similar law largely reflects the impact of a series of recent sexual abuse scandals. A reckoning on child abuse has taken place over the past year, amid the fall from grace of a writer who for decades openly engaged in and promoted pedophilia with the support of powerful friends and amid accusations of incest against a prominent French intellectual that surfaced in January. Fresh allegations of sexual abuse against powerful figures in politics, the arts and the media that fueled new #MeToo movements have also increased pressure on the French government to take action. “There has been a real shift in the public opinion and an awareness that there is a problem with these sexual violence cases,” said Pierre Verdrager, a sociologist who has studied pedophilia. He added that France had become highly aware of these issues. Feminists have also contributed to this change in attitude, Verdrager said, and raised public awareness by speaking out against sexual abuse in the arts and papering Paris with posters denouncing domestic and sexual violence. French law already prohibited sex between an adult and a minor under the age of 15, but it was not automatically considered rape. Further circumstances, such as the use of coercion, threats or violence, were necessary to characterize such sexual relationships as rape. “Questioning minors to know if they were consenting even if they were 10 or 11 years old is really a French exception,” Verdrager said. “I think that’s what the legislature wants to get rid of.” France in 2018 toughened laws against sex crimes and extended the statute of limitations for rape against a minor to 30 years from 20 years, but lawmakers had stopped short of setting an age of sexual consent, citing legal complications. Some lawmakers, after warnings from France’s Constitutional Council, were worried that setting an age of consent would automatically criminalize sexual relationships between a minor under the age of consent and a person only a few years older. The council reviews legislation to ensure it complies with the French Constitution. In response, the new bill includes a “Romeo and Juliet” clause that would allow for sexual relationships between a child under 15 and an adult up to five years older. This clause would not apply in rape or assault cases. “I do not want to put a kid aged 18 on trial because he had a consenting relationship with a girl of 14 1/2,” Dupond-Moretti said. Alexandra Louis, a French lawmaker who supports the bill, said the provisions that had been added to bill, such as the "Romeo and Juliet" clause, gave her hope that the measure would be approved by the Constitutional Council. About 300 amendments were discussed, but the bill eventually passed unanimously and in one day. Louis said the bill had “reached a consensus” and marked “a historic breakthrough.” The legislation also extends beyond 30 years the statute of limitations for rape of a minor in cases where the adult has raped others, and introduces jail sentences of 10 years and a fine of 150,000 euros, or about $180,000, for anyone convicted of inciting children under the age of 15, via the internet, to commit sexual acts. “Our task is huge,” Dupont-Moretti said. “It’s about changing the law to finally, completely and totally protect our children.”

Adult sex with minors to be considered rape under landmark French bill

A new Coronavirus variant has been found in France's Brittany. In a statement, the French health ministry said that the new mutant strain had been found in a cluster of cases several of which had not been detected by RT-PCR tests.

Coronavirus Update: New Coronavirus variant found in France's Brittany

France recently conducted a military drill in Space! Why is France preparing to fight in Space? Is Space next battleground? WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: France conducted a military drill in Space!

COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in European Nation France. Hospital resources in the country are overwhelmed, this prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to hint at imposing tighter curbs amid the growing speculations of another lockdown.

French Prez Macron hints at imposing tighter curbs amid rising COVID-19 case

France, Italy and Germany became the latest major European countries to block Astrazeneca's Covid-19 vaccines over reports of dangerous blood clots in some recipients.

News Alert: Italy, Germany, France suspends AstraZeneca jabs

France is struggling to contain the widespread of the deadly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> and the hospitals are facing the effect of it.

Coronavirus hospitals in Paris are running up to their full capacity, leading to a massive shortage of beds, especially in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Considering this, France's government announced plans to evacuate nearly 100 coronavirus patients from the ICUs of Paris hospitals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-probe-points-to-wuhan-wet-market-as-source-of-novel-coronavirus-370111" hreflang="en">WHO probe points to Wuhan wet market as source of novel coronavirus</a>

The government is hoping to avoid another lockdown through these transfers, while the officials prepare to speed up the vaccination programme.

"By the end of this week, probably around 100 patients will have been evacuated from the Ile-de-France region," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said.&nbsp;

Starting with the process, two patients of age 33 and 70 were airlifted to the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-has-increased-social-inequality-in-uk-survey-369696" hreflang="en">Coronavirus has increased social inequality in UK: Survey</a>

Attal also reported that two specially equipped trains will transfer "several dozens of patients to regions that today are under less strain" from the coronavirus pandemic.

While the government is starting the process of evacuating patients from Paris, people are worried if the capital city will undergo another lockdown.

"We are doing everything we can to not have to take more difficult, more restrictive measures," Attal said.&nbsp;

However, he also was careful to not dismiss the idea of lockdown completely. "We will always take whatever decisions are necessary," he said.

A weekend lockdown has already been ordered in the northern Pas-de-Calais region where COVID patients were being transferred from the more crowded area.

France is struggling to contain the widespread of the deadly coronavirus and the hospitals are facing the effect of it. Coronavirus hospitals in Paris are running up to their full capacity, leading to a massive shortage of beds, especially in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

France is struggling to contain the widespread of the deadly coronavirus and the hospitals are facing the effect of it. Coronavirus hospitals in Paris are running up to their full capacity, leading to a massive shortage of beds, especially in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Considering this, France's government announced plans to evacuate nearly 100 coronavirus patients from the ICUs of Paris hospitals. Also read | WHO probe points to Wuhan wet market as source of novel coronavirus The government is hoping to avoid another lockdown through these transfers, while the officials prepare to speed up the vaccination programme. "By the end of this week, probably around 100 patients will have been evacuated from the Ile-de-France region," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said. Starting with the process, two patients of age 33 and 70 were airlifted to the southwestern city of Bordeaux. Also read | Coronavirus has increased social inequality in UK: Survey Attal also reported that two specially equipped trains will transfer "several dozens of patients to regions that today are under less strain" from the coronavirus pandemic. While the government is starting the process of evacuating patients from Paris, people are worried if the capital city will undergo another lockdown. "We are doing everything we can to not have to take more difficult, more restrictive measures," Attal said. However, he also was careful to not dismiss the idea of lockdown completely. "We will always take whatever decisions are necessary," he said. A weekend lockdown has already been ordered in the northern Pas-de-Calais region where COVID patients were being transferred from the more crowded area.

Beds' shortage forces France to evacuate over 100 COVID patients from Paris

Riding high in the polls ahead of the next presidential election, feeling they’ve won the battle over ideas, smelling blood in the Élysée Palace, leaders of France’s far right cocked their eyes across the land at perhaps the one thing standing between them and power: beavers.

That is what some French call the voters who, time and again, have cast political differences aside and put in power anyone but far-right candidates — raising a dam against them as real beavers do against predators. Voters did precisely that in 2014 in Perpignan, a medieval city of pastel-color buildings on the Mediterranean near the border with Spain.

But last year, the dam broke and Perpignan became the largest city under the control of the National Rally, the far-right party led by Marine Le Pen. Today the city of more than 120,000 is being closely watched as an incubator of far-right strategy and as a potential harbinger of what a presidential election rematch pitting Le Pen against President Emmanuel Macron could look like.

A victory for Le Pen would be earth-shattering for France, and all of Europe. It has been an article of faith in France that a party whose leadership has long shown flashes of anti-Semitism, Nazi nostalgia and anti-immigrant bigotry would never make it through the country’s two-stage presidential electoral juggernaut.

But steadily her party has advanced farther than many French have been prepared to countenance, and Le Pen’s debut in the final round of France’s last presidential election in 2017 came as a shock to the system.

She may still be a relative long shot, given the party’s history in France, but for now perhaps not as long as she once was. Recent polls show her matching Macron in the first round of next year’s presidential contest and trailing by a few points in a second-round runoff. In a poll released Thursday, 48% of respondents said Le Pen would probably be France’s next president, up 7% compared with half a year ago.

“They’ve been forming dams since 2002 now,” said Louis Aliot, the mayor of Perpignan and a longtime National Rally leader. “So to ask them again to form a dam with Macron — but what’s changed? Nothing at all.” Voter-built dams were no longer effective, unlike those made by the animal, he said, adding, “When beavers build dams, it works.”

In 2014, many voters on the left and right had successfully united in a “Republican front” against Aliot — the same way they raised a dam against Le Pen in the 2017 presidential election won by Macron.

But in the intervening years, Aliot succeeded in softening the party’s image in Perpignan and won new converts, even as disillusioned beavers stayed home or left blank ballots on voting day in 2020. Aliot won handily — in a rematch against his opponent of 2014 who, like Macron, had tilted rightward and marketed himself as the best check against the far right.

Nationally, Le Pen, who was Aliot’s common-law partner for a decade until 2019, has hewed to the same playbook in sanitizing her party’s image, even amid questions about the depth and sincerity of those efforts.

She has softened the party’s longtime populist economic agenda — for instance, by dropping a proposal to exit the euro and by promoting green reindustrialization — while holding onto or even toughening the party’s core, hard-line positions on immigration, Islam and security.

The effort by the party to wade into the mainstream has presented a special quandary for Macron. Sensing the political threat, and lacking a real challenge on his left, he has tried to fight the National Rally on its own turf — moving to the right to vie for voters who might be tempted to defect to it. Doing so, Macron hopes to keep the far right at bay.

But the shift also helps destigmatize the far right, or at least many of its messages, argue National Rally leaders, some members of Macron’s own party and political analysts. Macron’s strategy may have the unintended consequence of helping the National Rally in its decadeslong struggle to become a normal party, they say.

“It legitimizes what we’ve been saying,” Aliot said. “These are the people who’ve been saying for 30 years: Be careful, they’re nasty, they’re fascists, because they target Muslims. All of a sudden, they’re talking like us.”

Nicolas Lebourg, a political scientist specializing on the National Rally, said that adopting the far right’s themes has often backfired. “What they’re currently doing is campaigning for Marine Le Pen,” he said.

Even as Macron has portrayed himself as the best candidate to protect France from the far right, polls show voters may be growing weary of being asked to vote against a candidate, rather than for one.

Among the former beavers of Perpignan were Jacques and Régine Talau, a retired couple who had always voted for the mainstream right, helping build the dam against the far right in Perpignan in 2014 and in the presidential election of 2017.

Historically conservative and economically depressed, Perpignan was perhaps naturally receptive to Le Pen’s party, which had won smaller, struggling cities in the south and north in recent years. But winning over the Talaus of Perpignan was a tipping point.

Their neighborhood, Mas Llaro, an area of stately homes on large plots amid vineyards on the city’s eastern fringe, is Perpignan’s wealthiest. In 2020, more than 60% of its residents voted for Aliot — 7 percentage points higher than his overall tally and 10 percentage points more than in 2014.

Mas Llaro had always voted for the mainstream right.

But disillusioned and weary of the status quo, the Talaus, like many others, voted for the first time for the far right last year, drawn by Aliot’s emphasis on cleanliness and crime, saying their home had been broken into twice.

Though satisfied with the mayor’s performance, Jacques Talau said he would still join the dam against the far right in next year’s presidential contest and hold his nose to vote for Macron. But Regine Talau was now considering casting a ballot for Le Pen.

“She’s put water in her wine,” Regine Talau said, adding that Macron was not “tough enough.”

Aliot’s opponent in 2014 and 2020, a center-right politician named Jean-Marc Pujol, had pressed further to the right in an unsuccessful move to fend off the far right. He increased the number of police officers, giving Perpignan the highest number per capita of any large city in France, according to government data.

Even so, many of his core supporters appeared to trust the far right more on crime and still defected, while many left-leaning beavers complained that they had been ignored and refused to take part in dam-building again, said Agnès Langevine, who represented the Greens and the Socialists in the 2020 mayoral election.

“And they told us, ‘In 2022, if it’s between Macron and Le Pen, I won’t do it again,’” she added.

Lebourg, the political scientist, said that Aliot had also won over conservative, upper-income voters by adopting a mainstream economic message — the same strategy adopted by Le Pen.

Jeanne Mercier, 24, a left-leaning voter, said many around her had been “seduced” by Perpignan's far-right mayor.

“We’re the test to show France that the National Front is making things work and that people are rallying and are happy,” she said, referring to the party by its old name. “In the end, it’s not the devil that we imagined.”

Camille Rosa, 35, said she doesn’t know whether she would join again in building a dam against Le Pen next year. The attacks by the president’s ministers against “Islamo-leftism” and scholars on feminism, gender and race had fundamentally changed her view of the government of Macron.

“I have the impression that their enemies are no longer the extreme right at all,” she said, “but it’s us, people on the left.”

Riding high in the polls ahead of the next presidential election, feeling they’ve won the battle over ideas, smelling blood in the Élysée Palace, leaders of France’s far right cocked their eyes across the land at perhaps the one thing standing between them and power: beavers.

Riding high in the polls ahead of the next presidential election, feeling they’ve won the battle over ideas, smelling blood in the Élysée Palace, leaders of France’s far right cocked their eyes across the land at perhaps the one thing standing between them and power: beavers. That is what some French call the voters who, time and again, have cast political differences aside and put in power anyone but far-right candidates — raising a dam against them as real beavers do against predators. Voters did precisely that in 2014 in Perpignan, a medieval city of pastel-color buildings on the Mediterranean near the border with Spain. But last year, the dam broke and Perpignan became the largest city under the control of the National Rally, the far-right party led by Marine Le Pen. Today the city of more than 120,000 is being closely watched as an incubator of far-right strategy and as a potential harbinger of what a presidential election rematch pitting Le Pen against President Emmanuel Macron could look like. A victory for Le Pen would be earth-shattering for France, and all of Europe. It has been an article of faith in France that a party whose leadership has long shown flashes of anti-Semitism, Nazi nostalgia and anti-immigrant bigotry would never make it through the country’s two-stage presidential electoral juggernaut. But steadily her party has advanced farther than many French have been prepared to countenance, and Le Pen’s debut in the final round of France’s last presidential election in 2017 came as a shock to the system. She may still be a relative long shot, given the party’s history in France, but for now perhaps not as long as she once was. Recent polls show her matching Macron in the first round of next year’s presidential contest and trailing by a few points in a second-round runoff. In a poll released Thursday, 48% of respondents said Le Pen would probably be France’s next president, up 7% compared with half a year ago. “They’ve been forming dams since 2002 now,” said Louis Aliot, the mayor of Perpignan and a longtime National Rally leader. “So to ask them again to form a dam with Macron — but what’s changed? Nothing at all.” Voter-built dams were no longer effective, unlike those made by the animal, he said, adding, “When beavers build dams, it works.” In 2014, many voters on the left and right had successfully united in a “Republican front” against Aliot — the same way they raised a dam against Le Pen in the 2017 presidential election won by Macron. But in the intervening years, Aliot succeeded in softening the party’s image in Perpignan and won new converts, even as disillusioned beavers stayed home or left blank ballots on voting day in 2020. Aliot won handily — in a rematch against his opponent of 2014 who, like Macron, had tilted rightward and marketed himself as the best check against the far right. Nationally, Le Pen, who was Aliot’s common-law partner for a decade until 2019, has hewed to the same playbook in sanitizing her party’s image, even amid questions about the depth and sincerity of those efforts. She has softened the party’s longtime populist economic agenda — for instance, by dropping a proposal to exit the euro and by promoting green reindustrialization — while holding onto or even toughening the party’s core, hard-line positions on immigration, Islam and security. The effort by the party to wade into the mainstream has presented a special quandary for Macron. Sensing the political threat, and lacking a real challenge on his left, he has tried to fight the National Rally on its own turf — moving to the right to vie for voters who might be tempted to defect to it. Doing so, Macron hopes to keep the far right at bay. But the shift also helps destigmatize the far right, or at least many of its messages, argue National Rally leaders, some members of Macron’s own party and political analysts. Macron’s strategy may have the unintended consequence of helping the National Rally in its decadeslong struggle to become a normal party, they say. “It legitimizes what we’ve been saying,” Aliot said. “These are the people who’ve been saying for 30 years: Be careful, they’re nasty, they’re fascists, because they target Muslims. All of a sudden, they’re talking like us.” Nicolas Lebourg, a political scientist specializing on the National Rally, said that adopting the far right’s themes has often backfired. “What they’re currently doing is campaigning for Marine Le Pen,” he said. Even as Macron has portrayed himself as the best candidate to protect France from the far right, polls show voters may be growing weary of being asked to vote against a candidate, rather than for one. Among the former beavers of Perpignan were Jacques and Régine Talau, a retired couple who had always voted for the mainstream right, helping build the dam against the far right in Perpignan in 2014 and in the presidential election of 2017. Historically conservative and economically depressed, Perpignan was perhaps naturally receptive to Le Pen’s party, which had won smaller, struggling cities in the south and north in recent years. But winning over the Talaus of Perpignan was a tipping point. Their neighborhood, Mas Llaro, an area of stately homes on large plots amid vineyards on the city’s eastern fringe, is Perpignan’s wealthiest. In 2020, more than 60% of its residents voted for Aliot — 7 percentage points higher than his overall tally and 10 percentage points more than in 2014. Mas Llaro had always voted for the mainstream right. But disillusioned and weary of the status quo, the Talaus, like many others, voted for the first time for the far right last year, drawn by Aliot’s emphasis on cleanliness and crime, saying their home had been broken into twice. Though satisfied with the mayor’s performance, Jacques Talau said he would still join the dam against the far right in next year’s presidential contest and hold his nose to vote for Macron. But Regine Talau was now considering casting a ballot for Le Pen. “She’s put water in her wine,” Regine Talau said, adding that Macron was not “tough enough.” Aliot’s opponent in 2014 and 2020, a center-right politician named Jean-Marc Pujol, had pressed further to the right in an unsuccessful move to fend off the far right. He increased the number of police officers, giving Perpignan the highest number per capita of any large city in France, according to government data. Even so, many of his core supporters appeared to trust the far right more on crime and still defected, while many left-leaning beavers complained that they had been ignored and refused to take part in dam-building again, said Agnès Langevine, who represented the Greens and the Socialists in the 2020 mayoral election. “And they told us, ‘In 2022, if it’s between Macron and Le Pen, I won’t do it again,’” she added. Lebourg, the political scientist, said that Aliot had also won over conservative, upper-income voters by adopting a mainstream economic message — the same strategy adopted by Le Pen. Jeanne Mercier, 24, a left-leaning voter, said many around her had been “seduced” by Perpignan's far-right mayor. “We’re the test to show France that the National Front is making things work and that people are rallying and are happy,” she said, referring to the party by its old name. “In the end, it’s not the devil that we imagined.” Camille Rosa, 35, said she doesn’t know whether she would join again in building a dam against Le Pen next year. The attacks by the president’s ministers against “Islamo-leftism” and scholars on feminism, gender and race had fundamentally changed her view of the government of Macron. “I have the impression that their enemies are no longer the extreme right at all,” she said, “but it’s us, people on the left.”

France’s emboldened far right attracts voters it once horrified

India will be a part of France-led exercises "La Pérouse" that will take place in early April this year in the Bay of Bengal. With the Indian Navy's addition, all other QUAD member countries — the US, Japan and Australia — will be a part of France initiated joint naval exercise.&nbsp;

France initiated the joint naval exercise "La Pérouse" in 2019 and at that time had included US, Japanese, and Australian forces. The exercises have been named after La Pérouse, a French naval officer and explorer from in 18th century.&nbsp;

The development comes even as 2020 saw Australia being invited for the Malabar exercises for the first time. The exercises, which happened in the Indian ocean saw QUAD countries coming under one umbrella after a gap of many years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/quad-countries-pledge-cooperation-on-covid-climate-and-security-370185">Watch |</a>&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/quad-countries-pledge-cooperation-on-covid-climate-and-security-370185/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

France has been engaging with QUAD member countries in various formats. In January, the India-France-Australia Trilateral Senior Officials’ Meeting took place. Then, September saw the first Foreign Secretary-level Trilateral Dialogue between the three countries.

The European nation, France, has the world's largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and includes territories in the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Indian Ocean.

EEZ is an area where a country has special rights on maritime resources. France also has 8,000 military personnel based in the region.

In 2018, the country published its Indo-Pacific strategy whose main objective was to promote a rules-based, multilateral regional order, free of any hegemony. Last year, France became&nbsp;the 23rd member of the India ocean Rim Association (IORA).

IORA countries have member countries whose shores are washed by the Indian Ocean waters.

India will be a part of France-led exercises "La Pérouse" that will take place in early April this year in the Bay of Bengal. With the Indian Navy's addition, all other QUAD member countries — the US, Japan and Australia — will be a part of France initiated joint naval exercise.

India will be a part of France-led exercises "La Pérouse" that will take place in early April this year in the Bay of Bengal. With the Indian Navy's addition, all other QUAD member countries — the US, Japan and Australia — will be a part of France initiated joint naval exercise. France initiated the joint naval exercise "La Pérouse" in 2019 and at that time had included US, Japanese, and Australian forces. The exercises have been named after La Pérouse, a French naval officer and explorer from in 18th century. The development comes even as 2020 saw Australia being invited for the Malabar exercises for the first time. The exercises, which happened in the Indian ocean saw QUAD countries coming under one umbrella after a gap of many years. Watch | France has been engaging with QUAD member countries in various formats. In January, the India-France-Australia Trilateral Senior Officials’ Meeting took place. Then, September saw the first Foreign Secretary-level Trilateral Dialogue between the three countries. The European nation, France, has the world's largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and includes territories in the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Indian Ocean. EEZ is an area where a country has special rights on maritime resources. France also has 8,000 military personnel based in the region. In 2018, the country published its Indo-Pacific strategy whose main objective was to promote a rules-based, multilateral regional order, free of any hegemony. Last year, France became the 23rd member of the India ocean Rim Association (IORA). IORA countries have member countries whose shores are washed by the Indian Ocean waters.

QUAD member countries to be part of France-led joint exercises

We have heard about military drills on land and high seas and in the air, but this one about military drills in space. Recently France launches its first military exercise in space, code name 'Asterx'. Excercise based on 18 simulated events. France says space is being militarised and they need to prepare.

France launches its first military excercise in space

France releases some restrictions on International travellers from Australia, UK, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and also South Korea. France's foreign ministry said those travelling to or from seven countries will no longer need to have a compelling reason to travel.

France eases travel rules for Australia, UK, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea

A fire that ravaged a leading French web hosting service, disrupting services for thousands of sites and leaving some clients concerned that they may have lost data, appears to have started by accident, a source close to the investigation said on Thursday.

OVHcloud's facility in the eastern city of Strasbourg caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday, completely destroying one of four data centres and damaging a second. No one was injured.

"The initial elements in the investigation... point towards an accidental fire," the source, who asked not to be named, told AFP, adding that "the investigations are however still ongoing".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-at-least-20-killed-in-clothing-factory-fire-369752" hreflang="en">Egypt: At least 20 killed in clothing factory fire</a>

The firm told AFP that 12,000-16,000 clients suffered impacts, some only temporary, including a French government public data site, the Centre Pompidou museum and bitcoin trading site Coinhouse.

British video game studio Facepunch said that 25 servers running its survival game Rust were knocked out and that data on player progression were completely lost.

OVHcloud said it could not confirm any complete losses of data, as various backup protocols were subscribed to by clients.

The French firm offers services similar to Amazon and Microsoft, such as hosting websites, as well as internal systems like email and other computing resources, and has sites around the world.

While firms like to promote the safety of storing data in the "cloud", the cloud is in reality a network of data centres that are vulnerable to threats such as fires and flooding.

OVHcloud was set up in 1999 as OVH by Octave Klaba, a young Frenchman of Polish origin who arrived in France as a teenager.&nbsp;

The company began by hosting websites, before launching into "cloud" services during the 2010s.

"Many thanks for all the empathy messages you sent us today!" Klaba wrote on Twitter, thanking the teams "who have been working all night/day."

"It's been the worst day for the last 22y and there is no word strong enough to say how sorry I feel today," he said, vowing that the affected units would restart as soon as possible.

Along with just a few other players, OVHcloud carries the hopes of a European cloud presence in the face of the American and Chinese giants in the hugely strategic sector.&nbsp;

The group has 2,450 employees, half of them in France and operates 32 data centres around the world. It announced last week that it was "preparing" to list on the stock exchange.

A fire that ravaged a leading French web hosting service, disrupting services for thousands of sites and leaving some clients concerned that they may have lost data, appears to have started by accident, a source close to the investigation said on Thursday.

A fire that ravaged a leading French web hosting service, disrupting services for thousands of sites and leaving some clients concerned that they may have lost data, appears to have started by accident, a source close to the investigation said on Thursday. OVHcloud's facility in the eastern city of Strasbourg caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday, completely destroying one of four data centres and damaging a second. No one was injured. "The initial elements in the investigation... point towards an accidental fire," the source, who asked not to be named, told AFP, adding that "the investigations are however still ongoing". Also read | Egypt: At least 20 killed in clothing factory fire The firm told AFP that 12,000-16,000 clients suffered impacts, some only temporary, including a French government public data site, the Centre Pompidou museum and bitcoin trading site Coinhouse. British video game studio Facepunch said that 25 servers running its survival game Rust were knocked out and that data on player progression were completely lost. OVHcloud said it could not confirm any complete losses of data, as various backup protocols were subscribed to by clients. The French firm offers services similar to Amazon and Microsoft, such as hosting websites, as well as internal systems like email and other computing resources, and has sites around the world. While firms like to promote the safety of storing data in the "cloud", the cloud is in reality a network of data centres that are vulnerable to threats such as fires and flooding. OVHcloud was set up in 1999 as OVH by Octave Klaba, a young Frenchman of Polish origin who arrived in France as a teenager. The company began by hosting websites, before launching into "cloud" services during the 2010s. "Many thanks for all the empathy messages you sent us today!" Klaba wrote on Twitter, thanking the teams "who have been working all night/day." "It's been the worst day for the last 22y and there is no word strong enough to say how sorry I feel today," he said, vowing that the affected units would restart as soon as possible. Along with just a few other players, OVHcloud carries the hopes of a European cloud presence in the face of the American and Chinese giants in the hugely strategic sector. The group has 2,450 employees, half of them in France and operates 32 data centres around the world. It announced last week that it was "preparing" to list on the stock exchange.

French cloud firm fire appears 'accidental': probe source

France on Thursday eased travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK. Other countries include Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea.

France had banned all travel from outside the EU in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The measure had been adopted in large part to limit the spread of the more infectious variant of Covid-19 that first emerged in England.

But due to the changing pandemic situation, "it will no longer be necessary to prove a compelling reason for travel to or from Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Travellers from these seven countries will still need to present negative COVID-19 test result. The test should have been taken a maximum of 72 hours beforehand.

Travel to other countries outside the EU still remains limited to essential reasons but the foreign ministry said the number of exemptions are being increased to allow couples to reunite and children to attend school.

France on Thursday eased travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK. Other countries include Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea.

France on Thursday eased travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK. Other countries include Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea. France had banned all travel from outside the EU in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The measure had been adopted in large part to limit the spread of the more infectious variant of Covid-19 that first emerged in England. But due to the changing pandemic situation, "it will no longer be necessary to prove a compelling reason for travel to or from Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Travellers from these seven countries will still need to present negative COVID-19 test result. The test should have been taken a maximum of 72 hours beforehand. Travel to other countries outside the EU still remains limited to essential reasons but the foreign ministry said the number of exemptions are being increased to allow couples to reunite and children to attend school.

France eases travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK

A French schoolgirl has admitted lying about a teacher who was beheaded after her false complaints led to an online hate campaign against him.&nbsp;

The unidentified girl had claimed Samuel Paty asked Muslim pupils to leave the class before showing an image depicting the Prophet Mohammed during a lesson on free speech. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-teacher-attack-beheaded-samuel-paty-will-get-frances-highest-honour-336629">Also read: Beheaded Samuel Paty will get France's highest honour</a>

The girl's father later lodged a legal complaint and amplified the allegations online, leading an 18-year-old Chechen refugee to track down Paty in the town of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, northwest of Paris.

"She lied because she felt trapped in a spiral because her classmates had asked her to be a spokesperson," her lawyer Mbeko Tabula told AFP on Monday, confirming a report from the Parisien newspaper.

Paty showed the cartoons, which were first published in the Charlie Hebdo magazine and are deemed offensive by many Muslims, during a civics class in which students debated free speech and blasphemy.

The schoolgirl, who had already been threatened with expulsion because of disciplinary problems, was not in the class.&nbsp;

She has since been charged with slander, while her father and another man, an Islamist preacher and campaigner, and have been charged with "complicity in murder" over the killing.

Paty's murderer was shot dead by police shortly after the attack.

The Parisien newspaper reported Monday that his last contact was with someone in Syria who is a member of a jihadist group.

A draft new security law being discussed in the French parliament would make it a jailable offence to publish information online about a public servant knowing that doing so could cause them harm.

(With inputs from agencies)

A French schoolgirl has admitted lying about a teacher who was beheaded after her false complaints led to an online hate campaign against him. The unidentified girl had claimed Samuel Paty asked Muslim pupils to leave the class before showing an image depicting the Prophet Mohammed during a lesson on free speech.

A French schoolgirl has admitted lying about a teacher who was beheaded after her false complaints led to an online hate campaign against him. The unidentified girl had claimed Samuel Paty asked Muslim pupils to leave the class before showing an image depicting the Prophet Mohammed during a lesson on free speech. Also read: Beheaded Samuel Paty will get France's highest honour The girl's father later lodged a legal complaint and amplified the allegations online, leading an 18-year-old Chechen refugee to track down Paty in the town of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, northwest of Paris. "She lied because she felt trapped in a spiral because her classmates had asked her to be a spokesperson," her lawyer Mbeko Tabula told AFP on Monday, confirming a report from the Parisien newspaper. Paty showed the cartoons, which were first published in the Charlie Hebdo magazine and are deemed offensive by many Muslims, during a civics class in which students debated free speech and blasphemy. The schoolgirl, who had already been threatened with expulsion because of disciplinary problems, was not in the class. She has since been charged with slander, while her father and another man, an Islamist preacher and campaigner, and have been charged with "complicity in murder" over the killing. Paty's murderer was shot dead by police shortly after the attack. The Parisien newspaper reported Monday that his last contact was with someone in Syria who is a member of a jihadist group. A draft new security law being discussed in the French parliament would make it a jailable offence to publish information online about a public servant knowing that doing so could cause them harm. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Samuel Paty murder — Student admits to lying over claims of Islamophobia against beheaded teacher

In France, the student who complained against school teacher Samuel Paty has admitted that she was lying and spreading false claims. The girl had claimed that Samuel Paty has asked Muslim Students to leave the class when he showed the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.

France: French schoolgirl admits lying about murdered teacher Samuel Paty

It might have a reputation as the birthplace of sexy lingerie, but even in France titillation is taking second place to comfort and practicality. 
 
The very word "lingerie" is a French export -- used from Japan to Holland to Brazil -- but France has been slow to adapt to a changing mood in the global industry which no longer treats expensive underwear primarily as a weapon of seduction. 
 
The shift has been noticeable in recent years in other Western countries, measured most notably in declining sales at Victoria's Secret, the US store that brought sexy lingerie to the mass market in the 1970s and then made billions worldwide by promoting images of impossible physical perfection.&nbsp; 
 
Judging by its typical billboards and shop windows, France held out longer than others, but could not ignore the change forever.&nbsp; 
 
"The priority is no longer seduction, it's no longer about attracting men's attention," said Pascale Renaud, who directed a short film to launch this year's French expo, Promincor-Lingerie.&nbsp; 
 
No photo-shopped sexualised models in her film -- instead it is women of all sizes and ages, exercising, dancing, meditating, riding motorbikes... essentially, being real people.&nbsp;

"Women are playing things differently these days... We see it in all the publicity," said Renaud.&nbsp; 
 
"Things that were seen as faults in the past -- a few extra kilos, lines, scars -- today, these are signs of individuality."&nbsp; 
 
The products featured at the expo were themselves signs of the changing mood.&nbsp; 
 
Empreinte's plus-size bras were pitched as something "to be forgotten once they are on", while another model in black lace was trailed as "sports chic", with the focus very much on assisting posture and distributing weight.&nbsp; 
 
Another with straps that can be crossed at the back was specially designed to cushion movements associated with boxing and horse riding.&nbsp; 
 
"Women complain that they can only find bras that either squash or bother them, or don't offer support. It has taken several years to get here," said its director Noemie Berthaux.&nbsp; 
 
- 'Inclusivity' - 
 
As with so much else, the pandemic has accelerated the trend.&nbsp; 
 
With many turning to yoga during the past year's lockdowns, the bra-and-leggings combo has become particularly popular. 
 
Ethical concerns as well as practical ones are driving the change.&nbsp; 
 
"After #MeToo, pictures of objectified women with large breasts and idealised bums are no longer acceptable," said Brigitte Chauchon, commercial director for Lejaby. 
 
"There's a strong demand now for inclusivity. We are moving away from this model of women with perfect measurements." 
 
That means au revoir to push-up bras in favour of practical shapes, ecologically-sourced materials and maximum comfort. 
 
Glamour still exists, but its meaning is being redefined. 
 
Flesh-coloured tones, once seen as dowdy and unflattering, are "now much more fashionable," said Stephanie Perele, a director at her family's brand, Simone Perele. 
 
"We're now having fun working with transparent designs, adding little details." 
 
"Underwear can be invisible, like a second skin, but still very sophisticated," added Chauchon. 
 
"It's about women who are pleasing themselves, comfortable in who they are, who have their own lives that are free from traditional demands."

It might have a reputation as the birthplace of sexy lingerie, but even in France titillation is taking second place to comfort and practicality. The very word "lingerie" is a French export -- used from Japan to Holland to Brazil -- but France has been slow to adapt to a changing mood in the global industry which no longer treats expensive underwear primarily as a weapon of seduction.

It might have a reputation as the birthplace of sexy lingerie, but even in France titillation is taking second place to comfort and practicality. The very word "lingerie" is a French export -- used from Japan to Holland to Brazil -- but France has been slow to adapt to a changing mood in the global industry which no longer treats expensive underwear primarily as a weapon of seduction. The shift has been noticeable in recent years in other Western countries, measured most notably in declining sales at Victoria's Secret, the US store that brought sexy lingerie to the mass market in the 1970s and then made billions worldwide by promoting images of impossible physical perfection. Judging by its typical billboards and shop windows, France held out longer than others, but could not ignore the change forever. "The priority is no longer seduction, it's no longer about attracting men's attention," said Pascale Renaud, who directed a short film to launch this year's French expo, Promincor-Lingerie. No photo-shopped sexualised models in her film -- instead it is women of all sizes and ages, exercising, dancing, meditating, riding motorbikes... essentially, being real people. "Women are playing things differently these days... We see it in all the publicity," said Renaud. "Things that were seen as faults in the past -- a few extra kilos, lines, scars -- today, these are signs of individuality." The products featured at the expo were themselves signs of the changing mood. Empreinte's plus-size bras were pitched as something "to be forgotten once they are on", while another model in black lace was trailed as "sports chic", with the focus very much on assisting posture and distributing weight. Another with straps that can be crossed at the back was specially designed to cushion movements associated with boxing and horse riding. "Women complain that they can only find bras that either squash or bother them, or don't offer support. It has taken several years to get here," said its director Noemie Berthaux. - 'Inclusivity' - As with so much else, the pandemic has accelerated the trend. With many turning to yoga during the past year's lockdowns, the bra-and-leggings combo has become particularly popular. Ethical concerns as well as practical ones are driving the change. "After #MeToo, pictures of objectified women with large breasts and idealised bums are no longer acceptable," said Brigitte Chauchon, commercial director for Lejaby. "There's a strong demand now for inclusivity. We are moving away from this model of women with perfect measurements." That means au revoir to push-up bras in favour of practical shapes, ecologically-sourced materials and maximum comfort. Glamour still exists, but its meaning is being redefined. Flesh-coloured tones, once seen as dowdy and unflattering, are "now much more fashionable," said Stephanie Perele, a director at her family's brand, Simone Perele. "We're now having fun working with transparent designs, adding little details." "Underwear can be invisible, like a second skin, but still very sophisticated," added Chauchon. "It's about women who are pleasing themselves, comfortable in who they are, who have their own lives that are free from traditional demands."

Even in France, lingerie shifts from sexy to comfortable

A cleaner in France has now turned into a star on social media due to his posting of messages pertaining to the environment.

France: Street sweeper becomes TikTok celebrity

Hundreds of thousands of people in northern France went back into lockdown Saturday,&nbsp;while health officials stepped up their nationwide vaccination campaign to make up ground after a slow start.

The residents of Pas-de-Calais on the north coast joined those in the region's port of Dunkirk -- and the Mediterranean resort of Nice -- already shut down on Saturdays and Sundays.

That puts more than two million people across France under the weekend restrictions, required to stay at home unless they can provide a written exemption.

With hospital capacity at 90 percent in Pas-de-Calais, the region's prefect insisted the new restrictions were necessary to prevent local health services from being overwhelmed.

Two thirds of the cases recorded there recently have been the more contagious variant first detected in England, said local officials.

But with a 6pm-6am curfew already in place and non-essential shops closed there, the new restrictions will hurt already hard-pressed businesses.

- Slow progress on vaccinations -

Covid-19 has killed 88,300 people across France, according to the latest figures Saturday.&nbsp;

The government is trying to step up its vaccination campaign to give a first jab to 10 million people by mid-April, 20 million by mid-May and 30 million by summer.

So far however, fewer than 3.4 million people in France have received at least one dose of the vaccine -- compared with more than 22 million in Britain.

New vaccination centres opened in Pas-de-Calais this weekend, and around a hundred across the Paris region also got up and running.

The government has opted for targetted measures in the worst-hit regions rather than another a nationwide lockdown.

Thus in Paris on Friday, police banned the consumption of alcohol outdoors to try to reduce the crowds gathering to enjoy the spring sunshine.

France's Order of Doctors meanwhile, appealed to all health workers to set an example and get vaccinated. So far, take-up in the sector has been just 30 percent.

Hundreds of thousands of people in northern France went back into lockdown Saturday, while health officials stepped up their nationwide vaccination campaign to make up ground after a slow start.

Hundreds of thousands of people in northern France went back into lockdown Saturday, while health officials stepped up their nationwide vaccination campaign to make up ground after a slow start. The residents of Pas-de-Calais on the north coast joined those in the region's port of Dunkirk -- and the Mediterranean resort of Nice -- already shut down on Saturdays and Sundays. That puts more than two million people across France under the weekend restrictions, required to stay at home unless they can provide a written exemption. With hospital capacity at 90 percent in Pas-de-Calais, the region's prefect insisted the new restrictions were necessary to prevent local health services from being overwhelmed. Two thirds of the cases recorded there recently have been the more contagious variant first detected in England, said local officials. But with a 6pm-6am curfew already in place and non-essential shops closed there, the new restrictions will hurt already hard-pressed businesses. - Slow progress on vaccinations - Covid-19 has killed 88,300 people across France, according to the latest figures Saturday. The government is trying to step up its vaccination campaign to give a first jab to 10 million people by mid-April, 20 million by mid-May and 30 million by summer. So far however, fewer than 3.4 million people in France have received at least one dose of the vaccine -- compared with more than 22 million in Britain. New vaccination centres opened in Pas-de-Calais this weekend, and around a hundred across the Paris region also got up and running. The government has opted for targetted measures in the worst-hit regions rather than another a nationwide lockdown. Thus in Paris on Friday, police banned the consumption of alcohol outdoors to try to reduce the crowds gathering to enjoy the spring sunshine. France's Order of Doctors meanwhile, appealed to all health workers to set an example and get vaccinated. So far, take-up in the sector has been just 30 percent.

France extends weekend lockdown to northern region

France could block shipments abroad of COVID-19 vaccines, similar to moves on this front by Italy, said French Health Minister Olivier Veran on Friday (March 5).

France could block vaccine shipments, similar to Italy - Veran

President Emmanuel Macron has decided to face up France's colonial-era crimes. He has admitted that French troops murdered Algerian independence figure Ali Boumendjel.

France admits murder of freedom fighter Ali Boumendjel

Farmers take to the streets of France over the conditions of the countries agricultural industry. Protesters highlighted the issue of rising farmers suicide in Paris. The demonstrations intensified after the authority cancelled the agricultural fairs.

Protest intensifies as France cancels agriculture fair

People who are fond of space science are being invited to help in France to help find an apricot-sized meteorite that fell on Earth last weekend in the country's southwest.&nbsp;

Estimated to weigh 150 grammes, the meteorite was seen coming towards the atmosphere at an astronomy education facility in Mauraux dropping precisely 10:43 pm Saturday near Aiguillon, reports news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-high-resolution-images-from-chinas-mars-probe-shared-367889">High-resolution images from China's Mars probe shared</a>

"Meteorites are relics of the solar system's creation, with the benefit of never being exposed to the elements," said Mickael Wilmart of the A Ciel Ouvert (Open Sky) astronomy education association that runs the observatory in Mauraux.

"A fresh meteorite like this, which fell just a few days ago, hasn't been altered by the Earth's environment and therefore contains very precious information for scientists."&nbsp;

The search is currently underway to hunt the meteorite and posts have been shared on social media calling for help.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-discover-earths-hidden-layer-within-its-innermost-core-367983">Astronomers discover Earth’s hidden layer within its innermost core</a>

Posters have also been placed in areas where the meteorite&nbsp;has most likely to have fallen.&nbsp;

However, Wilmart believes that the chances of finding the rock are very less, saying it's like finding "for a needle in a haystack."&nbsp;

"We're really counting on people to look in their gardens, or along the side of the road, they might just stumble on this rock that's wanted to badly," he added.&nbsp;

People who are fond of space science are being invited to help in France to help find an apricot-sized meteorite that fell on Earth last weekend in the country's southwest.

People who are fond of space science are being invited to help in France to help find an apricot-sized meteorite that fell on Earth last weekend in the country's southwest. Estimated to weigh 150 grammes, the meteorite was seen coming towards the atmosphere at an astronomy education facility in Mauraux dropping precisely 10:43 pm Saturday near Aiguillon, reports news agency AFP. Watch | High-resolution images from China's Mars probe shared "Meteorites are relics of the solar system's creation, with the benefit of never being exposed to the elements," said Mickael Wilmart of the A Ciel Ouvert (Open Sky) astronomy education association that runs the observatory in Mauraux. "A fresh meteorite like this, which fell just a few days ago, hasn't been altered by the Earth's environment and therefore contains very precious information for scientists." The search is currently underway to hunt the meteorite and posts have been shared on social media calling for help. Also read | Astronomers discover Earth’s hidden layer within its innermost core Posters have also been placed in areas where the meteorite has most likely to have fallen. However, Wilmart believes that the chances of finding the rock are very less, saying it's like finding "for a needle in a haystack." "We're really counting on people to look in their gardens, or along the side of the road, they might just stumble on this rock that's wanted to badly," he added.

Please help! Volunteers sought to search apricot-sized meteorite in France

French engineering consulting firm Egis has drawn up a $90 million investment plan for India to fund growth through both organic and inorganic routes in the next five years.

World Business Watch: French firm Egis plans $90 mn investment in India in five years

France has reversed its stance on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine jab for people aged over 65 with existing health problems can now be given the COVID-19 vaccine.

France eases ban on Oxford-AstraZeneca jab for people over 65

People in&nbsp;France&nbsp;aged over 65 with existing health problems can be given the AstraZeneca <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a>,&nbsp;France's health minister said on Monday&nbsp;departing from Paris's earlier stance that the vaccine should be for under-65s only.

When the AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for use by European Union regulators,&nbsp;France&nbsp;mandated it would only go to eligible people under 65 because data from trials in older age groups was limited.

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France&nbsp;will retain its current measures aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, including a nighttime curfew, as a bare minimum for the next four to six weeks, Veran on Monday.

Other measures now in force include the closure of bars, restaurants and museums, and Olivier Veran said he hoped&nbsp;France&nbsp;would not have to go beyond those measures to rein in the disease.

France's COVID death toll rose by 375 to 86,803, the seventh-highest death toll globally.

This compares with a rise of 122 on Sunday and a seven-day moving average of 313. At 3.761 million,&nbsp;France's tally of COVID cases is the sixth highest on the world.

People in France aged over 65 with existing health problems can be given the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, France's health minister said on Monday departing from Paris's earlier stance that the vaccine should be for under-65s only.

People in France aged over 65 with existing health problems can be given the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, France's health minister said on Monday departing from Paris's earlier stance that the vaccine should be for under-65s only. When the AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for use by European Union regulators, France mandated it would only go to eligible people under 65 because data from trials in older age groups was limited. France will retain its current measures aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, including a nighttime curfew, as a bare minimum for the next four to six weeks, Veran on Monday. Other measures now in force include the closure of bars, restaurants and museums, and Olivier Veran said he hoped France would not have to go beyond those measures to rein in the disease. France's COVID death toll rose by 375 to 86,803, the seventh-highest death toll globally. This compares with a rise of 122 on Sunday and a seven-day moving average of 313. At 3.761 million, France's tally of COVID cases is the sixth highest on the world.

France lifts restrictions on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for over -65s

Germany on Sunday classed France's Covid-battered Moselle region as a high risk area for virus variants, triggering tougher entry requirements at the border between the two neighbours.

France's eastern Moselle region is now listed as an area "at particularly high risk of infection due to widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants", Germany's Robert Koch Institute for disease control announced.&nbsp;

From Tuesday, cross-border travellers from Moselle will need to be able to show a recent negative coronavirus test.

Germany has already introduced tough checks at its borders with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region, ignoring calls from Brussels to keep borders within the bloc open.

At those crossings, only Germans and non-German residents are allowed to enter, as well as cross-border commuters working in certain categories of jobs.

Every vehicle is stopped and occupants must produce a negative test that is less than 48 hours old.

The checks on the German side of the Moselle crossing are expected to be less strict, a German interior ministry spokesman told AFP.

Instead of systematic checks, police would randomly stop vehicles on the German side and ask drivers to show "a negative test and their online entry registration", he said.

Germany has grown increasingly concerned in recent weeks about the rapid spread of new, more contagious strains of the coronavirus, especially those first detected in Britain and South Africa.

The coronavirus, including the more dangerous South African variant, is spreading faster in Moselle than elsewhere in France but French officials have pleaded with Berlin to avoid a full closure of the border.

The German classification "normally implies the extremely strict measure of a quasi-closure of borders", France's European Affairs minister Clement Beaune said Sunday.&nbsp;

"We don't want that," he said, adding that talks were ongoing with Berlin to find solutions for the roughly 16,000 commuters who cross from Moselle into Germany's Saarland and Rhineland-Palatine states every day.

The German interior ministry spokesman said the two countries would discuss details of the border implications on Monday.

Asked why the French checks would not be as stringent as those along the Czech and Austrian frontiers, the spokesman said Saarland and Rhineland-Palatine had not requested border closures.

"And there is a good cooperation between the affected German and French regions," he added.

Germany on Sunday classed France's Covid-battered Moselle region as a high risk area for virus variants, triggering tougher entry requirements at the border between the two neighbours.

Germany on Sunday classed France's Covid-battered Moselle region as a high risk area for virus variants, triggering tougher entry requirements at the border between the two neighbours. France's eastern Moselle region is now listed as an area "at particularly high risk of infection due to widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants", Germany's Robert Koch Institute for disease control announced. From Tuesday, cross-border travellers from Moselle will need to be able to show a recent negative coronavirus test. Germany has already introduced tough checks at its borders with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region, ignoring calls from Brussels to keep borders within the bloc open. At those crossings, only Germans and non-German residents are allowed to enter, as well as cross-border commuters working in certain categories of jobs. Every vehicle is stopped and occupants must produce a negative test that is less than 48 hours old. The checks on the German side of the Moselle crossing are expected to be less strict, a German interior ministry spokesman told AFP. Instead of systematic checks, police would randomly stop vehicles on the German side and ask drivers to show "a negative test and their online entry registration", he said. Germany has grown increasingly concerned in recent weeks about the rapid spread of new, more contagious strains of the coronavirus, especially those first detected in Britain and South Africa. The coronavirus, including the more dangerous South African variant, is spreading faster in Moselle than elsewhere in France but French officials have pleaded with Berlin to avoid a full closure of the border. The German classification "normally implies the extremely strict measure of a quasi-closure of borders", France's European Affairs minister Clement Beaune said Sunday. "We don't want that," he said, adding that talks were ongoing with Berlin to find solutions for the roughly 16,000 commuters who cross from Moselle into Germany's Saarland and Rhineland-Palatine states every day. The German interior ministry spokesman said the two countries would discuss details of the border implications on Monday. Asked why the French checks would not be as stringent as those along the Czech and Austrian frontiers, the spokesman said Saarland and Rhineland-Palatine had not requested border closures. "And there is a good cooperation between the affected German and French regions," he added.

Germany to tighten Covid controls at French border

European Union leaders will agree to work on certificates of vaccination for EU citizens who have had an anti-COVID shot, with southern EU countries that depend heavily on tourism desperate to rescue this summer’s holiday season.

EU leaders mull vaccine passports to resurrect tourism

French safety officials on Thursday gave the green light to extend the lifetime of the country's oldest of nuclear power plants as it seeks to boost the share of renewables in its power mix.

Nuclear energy currently provides nearly 70 percent of French electricity, more than in any other country.

France, hoping to reduce that share to 50 percent by 2035 -- a target pushed back from an earlier 2025 date -- with the help of renewables, has been holding off from building new reactors.

The French nuclear safety authority (ASN) said the country's 32 plants with 900 Megawatt capacity, built mostly in the 1980s, would be allowed to operate for another decade, taking their potential lifespan to 50 years from the initially planned 40.

They will therefore not be decommissioned before the late 2020s or even late 2030s, depending on their initial launch date.

The safety of French nuclear plants is checked every decade.

ASN asked state-controlled electricity provider EDF, which manages the country's nuclear plants, to undertake any necessary work to safeguard the stations' security.

The main target was to "limit the consequences of any accident, especially any serious accident involving the meltdown of a reactor", ASN's deputy director-general Julien Collet told AFP.

Another objective was to improve the resistance of the plants to outside shocks including earthquakes, floods, extremely hot weather, or a fire in the reactor.

Anti-nuclear campaigners have long demanded the closure of veteran nuclear power stations, and last year obtained the decommissoning of France's oldest plant at Fessenheim in the east of the country.

"Active French nuclear power plants were built to operate for 30 or 40 years. Beyond that, nuclear reactors enter an unknown ageing phase," said NGO Greenpeace, calling for more plants to be closed.

ASN president Bernard Doroszczuk told the Ouest France newspaper that there were still "weak points" in the stations' security equipment, requiring "vigilance", but that there had been improvements.

French safety officials on Thursday gave the green light to extend the lifetime of the country's oldest of nuclear power plants as it seeks to boost the share of renewables in its power mix.

French safety officials on Thursday gave the green light to extend the lifetime of the country's oldest of nuclear power plants as it seeks to boost the share of renewables in its power mix. Nuclear energy currently provides nearly 70 percent of French electricity, more than in any other country. France, hoping to reduce that share to 50 percent by 2035 -- a target pushed back from an earlier 2025 date -- with the help of renewables, has been holding off from building new reactors. The French nuclear safety authority (ASN) said the country's 32 plants with 900 Megawatt capacity, built mostly in the 1980s, would be allowed to operate for another decade, taking their potential lifespan to 50 years from the initially planned 40. They will therefore not be decommissioned before the late 2020s or even late 2030s, depending on their initial launch date. The safety of French nuclear plants is checked every decade. ASN asked state-controlled electricity provider EDF, which manages the country's nuclear plants, to undertake any necessary work to safeguard the stations' security. The main target was to "limit the consequences of any accident, especially any serious accident involving the meltdown of a reactor", ASN's deputy director-general Julien Collet told AFP. Another objective was to improve the resistance of the plants to outside shocks including earthquakes, floods, extremely hot weather, or a fire in the reactor. Anti-nuclear campaigners have long demanded the closure of veteran nuclear power stations, and last year obtained the decommissoning of France's oldest plant at Fessenheim in the east of the country. "Active French nuclear power plants were built to operate for 30 or 40 years. Beyond that, nuclear reactors enter an unknown ageing phase," said NGO Greenpeace, calling for more plants to be closed. ASN president Bernard Doroszczuk told the Ouest France newspaper that there were still "weak points" in the stations' security equipment, requiring "vigilance", but that there had been improvements.

France to extend lifetime of old nuclear power plants

A painting of a Paris street scene by Vincent Van Gogh is to be shown to the public for the first time, after spending more than a century behind closed doors in the private collection of a French family.

Van Gogh painting to be shown in public for first time

Arif Alvi said: "When you see that laws are being changed in favour of a majority to isolate a minority, that is a dangerous precedent."

Pakistan President slams France Anti-radicalism bill

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