Tag: French

French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, warns of virus exploitation

by Dave CLARK Agence France-Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Prominent French intellectual, Bernard-Henri Levy, argues that the coronavirus epidemic is not an unprecedented health threat but that the way societies are responding is both new and dangerous. In an AFP interview, the 71-year-old philosopher and writer said the so-called “Asian Flu” outbreak in 1957 to 1958 and the “Hong Kong Flu” pandemic of 1968 to 1969 were similar in scale to the current deadly global situation. […]

French towns, NGOs sue oil giant Total over climate ‘inaction’

Paris, France (AFP) – A group of French cities and advocacy groups said Tuesday they had filed a lawsuit against oil giant Total, claiming it was not doing enough to limit carbon emissions and prevent climate change. “We’re asking for them to be held accountable, but also for positive and concrete actions for our citizens and territories,” Patrick Jarry, mayor of the Paris suburb of Nanterre where the case was filed, told journalists. It is […]

World powers meet to pressure Syria on chemical attacks

by Valérie Leroux Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) – Diplomats from 29 countries including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meet in Paris on Tuesday pushing for sanctions and criminal charges against the perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria. Tillerson and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian will also co-host a meeting of ministers ahead of a new round of peace talks in Vienna later this week and again in Sochi in Russia the week after. The […]

French police scuffle with striking guards at Europe’s largest jail

FLEURY-MEROGIS, France (AFP) — French police fired tear gas to break up a picket line of striking prison guards outside Europe’s biggest prison on Friday as unions pressed the fourth day of strikes across France over security concerns. The scuffles took place outside the Fleury-Merogis facility just south of Paris as prison guards protested after a string of brutal attacks that have focused a spotlight on security problems and radicalisation inside often overcrowded French facilities. […]

E. Guinea leader denies opposition death in custody claims

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AFP) – Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has rejected opposition claims that one of its activists died in custody after being tortured, and that some 200 of their number are under arrest. In an interview late Tuesday with French radio station RFI and France 24 television, Africa’s longest-serving president confirmed the death in custody of an opposition activist but put it down to ill health. “I think there are about 20 people” currently under […]

France confirms second French death in London attack: minister

PARIS, France (AFP) — A second French citizen has been confirmed killed in the London attack, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday. “It is with great sadness that I have learned that one of the French citizens, who was previously given as unaccounted for, has been identified among those who have died,” Le Drian said in a statement, adding that a third French citizen remained unaccounted for.

Sharapova retires from Italy Open game after being denied French Open wildcard

ROME, Italy (Reuters) — Triple champion Maria Sharapova retired injured from her second round match with Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at the Italian Open on Tuesday (May 16), ending her hopes of qualifying on merit for Wimbledon’s main draw. The 30-year-old Russian, playing her third tournament back after a 15-month doping ban, was leading 2-1 in the deciding set but was unable to continue after apparently injuring her left thigh which was heavily strapped. It completed […]

French naval ship arrives at Japan port for joint training

NAGASAKI, Japan (Reuters) — The French naval ship Mistral arrived at Japan’s southern city of Nagasaki on Saturday (April 29) to participate in a four-nation military drill by Japan, the U.S., the U.K., and France. A welcoming ceremony was held by Japanese Self Defence force personnel, where the captain of Mistral Stanislas De Chargeres gave a speech. Children performed a traditional Japanese dance called Yosakoi to welcome the French officers. Just hours before the Mistral’s […]

Arrests in Paris amid protests over police killing of Chinese man

By Katell Prigent PARIS, France (AFP) — Ten people were arrested in a second night of protests in Paris over the killing by police of a Chinese father of five, an incident that has caused tensions with Beijing. Around 400 members of the Asian community and supporters of anti-racism groups gathered outside a police station in the northeast of the capital to again denounce the fatal shooting of Shaoyo Liu, 56, in his home two days […]

‘Shocked’ UK ready to help after ‘terrible’ Nice incident

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May is being briefed on the “terrible incident” in Nice and the UK authorities stand ready to assist their French counterparts, Downing Street said Friday. The British premier’s office said it was “shocked and concerned” by the scenes in the Mediterranean resort. A truck ploughed into a crowd in the southeastern French city on Thursday, leaving at least 70 dead and scores injured in an “attack” […]

Marine Le Pen hails Brexit, calls for French referendum

PARIS, France (AFP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Friday hailed Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and called for a similar referendum in France. “Victory for Freedom! As I have been asking for years we must now have the same referendum in France and EU countries,” the National Front (FN) leader tweeted. The eurosceptic, anti-immigration FN has accused the EU of suffering a “democratic deficit” and has long urged all members […]

Pieces of missing EgyptAir plane found: investigators

CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) — Pieces of the cabin from the missing EgyptAir plane which crashed into the Mediterranean last month have been found, Egyptian investigators said Wednesday. A French vessel taking part in the search discovered pieces of fuselage at “several sites”, the Egyptian board of inquiry said in a statement. The Airbus A320 which had been en route from Paris to Cairo disappeared on May 19, with the loss of all 66 people on […]