Tag: France

Skepticism in France as Macron launches ‘great national debate’

by Clare BYRNE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron faced a battle Monday to convince skeptical French of his latest move to quell “yellow vest” anger as he kickstarted a two-month national debate on his policies. Struggling to end the biggest crisis of his presidency, Macron on Sunday set out over 30 questions to be debated in towns and villages across the country from January 15 to March 15. “We […]

France to cull wild boar after swine virus cases in Belgium

by Emmanuelle TRECOLLE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — France will start culling thousands of wild boar near the Belgian border to prevent the African swine fever virus from spreading, the agriculture ministry said Monday. It said the operation would be held in the coming weeks and involve large number of hunters and forest officials. The virus was first reported in Belgium on September 13 near the borders with Luxembourg and France. “The spread […]

Paris gas blast toll rises to 4 as body found in rubble

by Simon VALMARY and Nathalie ALONSO Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The death toll from a powerful gas explosion in central Paris has risen to four after rescue workers found a woman’s body in the rubble, investigators said Sunday. Two firefighters and a Spanish tourist were also killed in the Saturday morning blast that injured dozens and badly damaged nearby apartments. Rescue workers with sniffer dogs had earlier searched for a missing woman […]

Two firefighters, Spanish tourist killed in Paris gas leak blast

  by Joseph Schmid Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — A powerful gas explosion tore through a building in central Paris on Saturday, killing two firefighters and a Spanish woman, injuring dozens of people and badly damaging nearby apartments, officials said. Around 200 firefighters were mobilized to battle the fire that broke out after the blast and evacuate victims and residents in the area, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene. The […]

UPDATED: Several injured as massive explosion rips through Paris bakery

by Joseph Schmid Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — A powerful explosion destroyed a bakery in central Paris on Saturday morning, injuring several people and blowing out dozens of nearby windows after a suspected gas leak, police and AFP journalists. Around 200 firefighters were mobilised to battle the fire that broke out after the blast and rescue residents in neighbouring buildings, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene. Police closed off streets […]

Ghosn hit with more charges, release unlikely

by Hiroshi HIYAMA / Sara HUSSEIN Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo prosecutors on Friday filed two new charges of financial misconduct against former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, meaning the auto tycoon is unlikely to be leaving his jail cell soon. Lawyers for the former jet-setting executive immediately said they would file a bail application, but have acknowledged that he will probably be detained until a trial. Ghosn denies any wrongdoing and argued […]

22 hurt in France building blaze: fire service

TOULOUSE, France (AFP) — Twenty-two people were injured, two seriously, when a fire swept through an apartment building in the southwestern French city of Toulouse, the fire service told AFP on Thursday. Part of the four-storey building collapsed and guests from a neighbouring hotel were also evacuated, said fire lieutenant-colonel Sylvain Gergaud. “The fire spread very quickly through the lift shift,” he said. Two firemen were among the casualties. The blaze had been brought under control […]

Japan court rejects Ghosn release bid

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A Japanese court on Wednesday rejected a bid by former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn to end his detention over alleged financial misconduct, a day after he denied all accusations in a dramatic court appearance. Ghosn’s lawyers had appealed to the court to free the auto tycoon, claiming at a special hearing in a Tokyo court there were no grounds for his detention, which has now lasted more than 50 days. But […]

Ghosn makes first public appearance since shock arrest

by Hiroshi HIYAMA Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn appeared in public Tuesday for the first time since his arrest in November rocked the business world, as he offers his side of the story in a high-profile court hearing. The 64-year-old auto industry titan attended a hearing at the Tokyo District Court where the judge was to explain the reasons for Ghosn’s continued detention on suspicion of financial misconduct. He […]

Radicalized in jail, teen thug becomes hardened jihadist

  by Matthieu DEMEESTERE Agence France Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Mehdi Nemmouche stands accused of carrying out Europe’s first attack by an Islamist fighter returning from the war in Syria. But his journey from a French foster home to a Brussels court began not in a Middle Eastern desert but in a run-down industrial town. This week, he will go on trial for four anti-Semitic murders during a shooting spree at Belgium’s Jewish Museum. […]

82 seconds of terror at Brussels’ Jewish museum

by Clément Zampa Agence France Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — A shadow creeps behind two visitors just inside the Jewish museum in Brussels. A man emerges, arm extended as he fires a pistol into their necks. The first bullet kills Emanuel Riva, the second, his wife Miriam, with the couple dropping to the floor in a ghoulish scene captured by the museum’s security cameras. Neither Israeli tourist sees the shooter coming as they are engrossed […]

French women reclaim ‘yellow vest’ protests with peaceful demo

PARIS, France (AFP) — Hundreds of women on Sunday marched in Paris to reclaim France’s “yellow vest” movement from violent activists, a day after protesters smashed their way into a government ministry. The women, wearing yellow vests, turned out after 50,000 people returned to the streets of France on Saturday amid violent clashes with police. Some of the women waved yellow balloons and pushed prams. Protests were also held in other French cities. “All the […]