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State Visit of King Charles III to France Postponed Amid Mass Strikes and Protests

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On March 24th, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced the postponement of King Charles III’s state visit to France. The decision was made due to the ongoing mass strikes and protests in the country. Macron cited “common sense and friendship” as the reason for the delay and stated that the visit would likely be rescheduled for the beginning of summer.

The planned celebrations of cross-Channel relations were at risk of disruption from the strikes and protests against pension reforms. The main concern was that protesters would use the occasion to further their cause against Macron’s plans to increase the retirement age. The visit was due to start on Sunday, and officials from both sides were closely monitoring the situation, with potential last-minute changes to the three-day program being considered.

The decision to postpone the visit was made with the agreement of both the French and British governments, after Macron asked the British government to postpone the visit. The visit will be rearranged as soon as possible, and Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King and Queen Consort Camilla are looking forward to the opportunity to visit France when new dates can be found. The striking trade unionists threatened to withhold red carpets for the visit, but the body responsible insisted they would still be rolled out as planned

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Boat carrying African migrants sinks off Tunisia, leaving at least five dead and 28 missing in attempt to reach Italy

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A boat carrying African migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Italy sank off the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, resulting in the deaths of at least five people, with another 28 missing. The Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights reported the incident, and the Tunisian authorities were not immediately available for comment. The southern city of Sfax has become a major point of departure for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

This incident coincides with a significant increase in the number of boats departing from the Tunisian coast towards Italy, as well as Tunisian authorities’ campaign to arrest undocumented sub-Saharan African immigrants. Unofficial United Nations data revealed that 12,000 people who reached Italy this year set sail from Tunisia, compared to only 1,300 in the same period of 2022. Prior to this, Libya served as the main launchpad for migrants from the region.

In conclusion, the sinking of the boat carrying African migrants off the coast of Tunisia highlights the risks that desperate people are willing to take in pursuit of a better life. The increase in boats departing from Tunisia, combined with the crackdown on undocumented immigrants, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and compassionate response to the ongoing migration crisis.

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Norway shooting: Man charged with terrorism after deadly Oslo attack

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Following a shooting in Oslo, the capital of Norway, a 42-year-old man has been detained and accused with murder, attempted murder, and terrorist actions. The nocturnal attack on a popular nightlife area resulted in two fatalities and 21 injuries. On Saturday at around 1:00 a.m. local time (23:00 GMT), there was shooting in three different places, including a homosexual pub.

A popular LGBTQ+ establishment, the London Pub, as well as a jazz club and a pub close by were all the targets of gunfire. The annual Pride parade in Oslo was scheduled to take place on Saturday but has been postponed on the advise of the police.

According to a message on the Oslo Pride website, “We shall soon be proud and visible again, but today, we will share our Pride celebrations from home.” In a press conference held later on Saturday, police stated that there was “cause to assume that this may be a hate crime.”

The attack on innocent people was described as “awful and extremely distressing” by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.

Journalist Olav Roenneberg of public broadcaster NRK claimed, “I saw a man approach with a backpack, he picked up a gun and started to shoot.

One witness claimed to have been struck by flying glass to NRK when he was in the London Pub.

The shooter had carefully chosen his targets, a woman informed the Verdens Gang newspaper. “I fled as soon as I saw how terrible it was. On the ground, lifeless, was a man covered in blood “She spoke.

Another individual reported to the newspaper that he had seen many people with head wounds lying on the ground.

The incident, according to Norway’s Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl, “shook the country.”

She remarked, according to NRK, “Norway is a community of trust where everyone should feel comfortable outside on a Saturday night.”

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French screen icon Jean-Louis Trintignant dies aged 91

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Jean-Louis Trintignant, a well-known French actor who appeared in over 100 films, has died at the age of 91. Three Colors: Red, Z, The Conformist, and Amour – which won an Oscar and the Palme d’Or – starred Trintignant.

In 2003, after his daughter Marie was battered to death by her rock star boyfriend, the celebrity received widespread popular sympathy in France. His wife informed the AFP news agency that he died early Friday in the southern Gard region “surrounded by loved ones.”

Trintignant, who was born on December 11, 1930, grew up in the midst of the horrors of World War Two and was sent as a young conscript to Algeria, then a French territory.

Trintignant’s difficult childhood was supposed to explain his willingness to excel in difficult characters, such as thugs and criminals, during the course of a career that spanned more than six decades.

His first notable film role was alongside Brigitte Bardot, with whom he apparently had a brief and highly publicised romance while filming the 1956 romantic comedy And God Created Woman.

Trintignant was known for shunning the spotlight, stating in one of his final interviews with the French newspaper Nice-Matin that stardom “didn’t interest” him.

He was able to put his enthusiasm for motor racing to bear, most memorably as a driver in the 1966 film A Man and a Woman.

The death of Trintignant’s actress daughter Marie in 2003, as well as her musician boyfriend Bertrand Cantat’s murder conviction, shocked France, and Trintignant was seen sobbing at her funeral.

Trintignant had previously lost another child, Pauline, as a baby. A cancer-stricken Trintignant made his final appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 after a career that spanned more than six decades and included attempts at directing.

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EU has taken new legal action against the United Kingdom over revisions to the post-Brexit accord

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The EU has threatened the UK government with additional legal action over its plans to cancel elements of the post-Brexit Northern Ireland deal. On Monday, ministers unveiled a bill aimed at unilaterally altering trade, tax, and governance structures in the 2020 agreement.

Both sides agreed to the pact, but the United Kingdom claims it has disrupted trade and power-sharing in Northern Ireland. However, the EU claims that overriding aspects of the agreement would violate international law.

“There is no legal or political rationale whatsoever for unilaterally amending an agreement,” stated Maros Sefcovic, vice-president of the European Commission.

Mr Sefcovic stated, “Let’s call a spade a spade, this is illegal,” adding that the UK’s decision “left us with no alternative” but to pursue legal action. The Northern Ireland Protocol is a specific agreement that allows Northern Ireland to remain in the EU’s single market for goods while also avoiding a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. The agreement insured that free trade could continue across the Irish land border, which is a sensitive topic given Northern Ireland’s history of war.

The European Commission said it would resume legal proceedings against the United Kingdom for delaying checks on some products arriving in Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom, which had been paused since March 2021.

The Commission has opened two fresh investigations into allegations that the UK failed to meet its responsibilities to share trade data and establish border inspection stations. These legal actions may result in a fine being imposed on the United Kingdom as part of a dispute resolution process overseen by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).The UK government has stated that it would prefer to work with the EU on revisions rather than acting unilaterally to repeal portions of the treaty.

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Philip Baker Hall, who played Jerry Seinfeld, died at the age of 90

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Philip Baker Hall, a popular US character actor who appeared on the sitcom Seinfeld in a memorable guest role, has died at the age of 90. In a classic 1991 episode, Hall played a huffy librarian who accused Jerry Seinfeld of not returning a long-overdue library book.

The actor’s performance was so well received that he returned for the show’s finale. Hall also appeared in The Truman Show, Rush Hour, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights, all directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

In Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning film Argo, he portrayed a CIA detective, and he also appeared in Lars von Trier’s Dogville, Bruce Almighty, and The Talented Mr Ripley. Modern Family, The West Wing, and Curb Your Enthusiasm are among his other TV credits.

Holly Wolfle Hall, Hall’s widow, claimed the actor died in Glendale, California, surrounded by his family. Hall’s talent would be valued, according to the official Seinfeld Twitter account.

When he was cast in Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature picture, Hard Eight, he began working with him. Hall was born in 1931 in Toledo, Ohio, and is survived by his wife, four kids, four grandsons, and brother.

Mark Ruffalo, who co-starred with him in the film Zodiac, tweeted: “Philip Baker Hall, rest in peace. One of the all-time greats. It’s been a pleasure to observe you. It was a pleasure to work with you on Zodiac. Kindness, compassion, humility, and remarkable talent are all qualities that stand out “.

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Russia introduces a ‘delicious’ McDonald’s alternative

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McDonald’s withdrew from Russia in protest of the invasion of Ukraine, selling more than 800 of its restaurants to Russian businessman Alexander Govor. The first rebranded restaurants in Moscow are reopening today. “Vkusno I Tochka,” which means “tasty and that’s it,” is the new name. The Golden Arches have been replaced with a stylized letter M made of two French fries and a dot (or perhaps a burger?) The Big Mac and McFlurry are no longer available.

Customers, on the other hand, should not notice too many differences, according to the new owners. They held a press conference in the flagship restaurant on Pushkin Square, which opened 32 years ago as the first McDonald’s in Moscow. “Our goal is for our guests to notice no difference in quality or ambience,” said Vkusno I Tochka CEO Oleg Paroyev. One male protester, however, disrupted the event by shouting, “Bring back Big Mac!” I was in the long line in 1990, and it took me three hours to get in and be served. I recall being ecstatic. McDonald’s’ arrival was a symbol of Soviet Russia’s embrace of Western ideas, culture, and cuisine.

McDonald’s announced last month that it would leave Russia due to the war’s “humanitarian crisis” and “unpredictable operating environment.” Last year, Russia and Ukraine accounted for about 9% of McDonald’s global sales.

Since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, international brands such as Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, and Apple have left or suspended sales in Russia. Wide-ranging international sanctions have been imposed on Russia, disrupting its supply chains and raising unemployment.

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Russia’s new version of McDonald’s unveils logo

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As it prepares to reopen its restaurants on Sunday, the Russian fast food chain that was formerly known as McDonald’s in the country has unveiled its new logo.

A circle and two lines appear in the new branding, which are said to represent a burger and two French fries. Although a number of options have reportedly been considered, the company has not yet revealed the name of the chain. McDonald’s announced in May that it would leave Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.

According to Russian state-owned news agency TASS, which cited Sistema PBO, the firm that manages the business previously owned by McDonald’s, the Russian chain is set to reopen 15 restaurants this weekend.

“The logo’s green background represents the high quality of products and service that our guests have come to expect,” a Sistema PBO spokesperson told TASS.

The new logo, according to social media users, still looks like a “M.” Others speculated that the new logo was inspired by Bangladesh’s flag, which has a dark green background and a red circle in shades similar to the new logo. Sistema PBO has submitted eight potential names for the new chain to Rospatent, the Russian government agency in charge of intellectual property, according to the newspaper Izvestia.

“Tot Samyi,” which means “the same,” and “Svobodnaya Kassa,” which means “available cash register,” are among the names reportedly being considered. McDonald’s, Sistema PBO, and Rospatent did not respond to requests for comment from the BBC right away.

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Berlin: One dead and others hurt as car drives into pedestrians

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A car slammed into a crowd on a busy Berlin street, killing at least one person and injuring eight others. It’s unclear whether the incident, which occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time (08:30 a.m. GMT), was intentional or unintentional, according to emergency officials.

The driver was arrested at the scene, according to a police spokesperson. The incident occurred in western Berlin, on one of the city’s busiest shopping streets. According to reports, the vehicle veered off the road and climbed the sidewalk before crashing into a storefront.

A silver Renault Clio crashed through a display window in a cosmetics store, according to images from the scene. There are also photos of what appears to be a body in the middle of the road, covered in blankets.

According to Berlin police, around 130 emergency workers are on the scene. Mayor Franziska Giffey of Berlin said on Twitter that she was “deeply affected” by the incident and that “police are working flat out to clarify the matter.”

“Throughout the day, I’ll get a sense of the situation on the ground. I’d like to express my gratitude to the more than 130 emergency services who responded quickly and provided care to those who were affected “she continued.

The actor John Barrowman tweeted that he was nearby when the incident occurred, and that the car had repeatedly mounted the footpath before crashing into the storefront, according to a video posted from the scene.

“The police presence is astounding. They’re removing the debris from the area “”, said the actor. “Right now, helicopters are flying in to airlift people.” The incident occurred near the busy intersection of Rankestrasse and Tauentzienstrasse in west Berlin.

The area is directly across from Breitscheidplatz, where a truck driver deliberately drove his lorry into a crowd of people at a Christmas market, killing 12 people.

The attack, which was carried out by an unsuccessful asylum seeker, was later claimed by IS. Italian police shot and killed the assailant later.

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News Trending War

Flight ban affects Russian foreign minister’s visit to Serbia due to Ukraine conflict

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Since three of Serbia’s neighbours have refused to let his plane use their airspace, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Serbia has been cancelled.

Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, all EU members, have imposed a flight ban, as have Serbia and North Macedonia. In February, the EU imposed an airspace ban in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Lavrov has blamed the latest move on “the Brussels puppeteers.” Serbia has remained friendly with Russia despite the EU’s broad sanctions against the country. Days after the invasion on February 24, the EU and the UK imposed a blanket flight ban on Russian planes, including oligarchs’ private jets.

Serbia, like many other European countries, is heavily reliant on Russian gas. On the 6-7 June, Mr. Lavrov was scheduled to meet with President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

He called the decision “unprecedented” and said that “no one will be able to destroy our relations with Serbia” in a statement broadcast on Russian state news channel Rossiya 24.

“It appears that the Brussels puppeteers did not want to give us a platform so that we could confirm Russia’s position on the Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina problems in the capital of Serbia,” he added.

Serbia’s refusal to recognise Kosovo’s independence is backed by the Kremlin. The NATO bombing campaign against Serbia during the Kosovo war in 1999 enraged Russia.

Mr. Lavrov accused Nato and the EU of wanting to “turn the Balkans into their own project called closed Balkans” in a statement released on Monday. “Our diplomacy has yet to master teleportation,” a Russian foreign ministry source said of the decision to bar Mr Lavrov’s flight.

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