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Brittany: Girl from British family shot dead in France named

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Solaine Thornton, an 11-year-old British girl, was tragically shot and killed while playing on a swing in her family’s garden in the village of Saint-Herbot, north of Quimper in Brittany, France. The incident occurred during a barbecue that the family was hosting on a Saturday evening. Solaine’s parents, Adrian and Rachel Thornton, were also injured in the shooting and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Adrian Thornton sustained serious injuries as reported by local media.

The mayor of the commune where the family resided, Marguerite Bleuzen, identified the family. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated that they are offering support and assistance to the affected British family.

According to reports, Solaine and her eight-year-old sister were playing on a swing while their parents were tending to the barbecue. It was during this time that a neighbor, described as a 71-year-old Dutch national, began shooting at them with a shotgun through a hedge. The younger sister, in a state of shock, ran to a neighbor’s house to seek help and raise the alarm, shouting that her sister was dead.

The suspect barricaded himself in his house following the incident, but he eventually surrendered to the police and was arrested along with his wife. Local residents mentioned that the man had a reclusive nature and was involved in a dispute with the British family regarding a piece of land adjacent to their properties.

The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, and Prosecutor Carine Halley stated that the circumstances surrounding the incident are currently being investigated. The mayor and other local residents expressed shock and disbelief over the tragic event, emphasizing that the family was well-known and regularly participated in village events.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that they are in contact with the local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the British family affected by the shooting.

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France knife attack: ‘Backpack hero’ praised for facing attacker

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Henri, a 24-year-old Catholic pilgrim, has been hailed as a hero by French media for his courageous attempt to stop a knife attack in Annecy, which resulted in serious injuries to four children. Henri, who had been touring France’s cathedrals, instinctively pursued the attacker and used his backpack as a weapon to defend against the assailant.

President Emmanuel Macron personally commended Henri for his bravery during their meeting in the town. Macron praised Henri’s actions as a “source of hope” while acknowledging that he had also experienced a traumatic event. The French leader visited the victims of the stabbing and expressed his gratitude to the first responders.

Video footage captured Henri swinging his backpack at the attacker and chasing him across a grassy area. The hashtag #MerciHenri began trending online, and Henri himself posted on Instagram, urging people to pray for the children and assuring them that he was fine.

In an interview with CNews the following morning, Henri explained that he believed it was unthinkable to do nothing in such a situation. He acted on his instincts and did what he could to protect those who were vulnerable. While Henri modestly stated that he was not the only civilian who intervened, he emphasized that he felt compelled to act and defended the weak, just as any French person would.

Henri’s father expressed his belief that his son’s actions prevented further harm, crediting him with scaring off the assailant and preventing carnage. Prior to the incident, Henri had been interviewed about his nine-month tour of France’s cathedrals, where he relied on walking and hitchhiking. He mentioned his habit of knocking on random doors near cathedrals to find accommodation, explaining that it helped him open up to people.

Regarding the attacker’s claim of identifying as a Christian, Henri rejected the notion, stating that it was profoundly unchristian to target the vulnerable. Instead, he believed that something deeply negative possessed the assailant.

Henri’s courageous response to the knife attack has garnered widespread admiration in France, with many praising his selflessness and humility.

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France stabbing: Children attacked in Annecy park in stable condition

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Four young children who were stabbed in a park in Annecy, France, are now in stable condition, according to officials. The children, aged between one and three, are receiving treatment in the hospital.

The attacker, a 31-year-old Syrian man with refugee status in Sweden, was apprehended by the police after entering a children’s playground to carry out the attack. Two adults were also injured, with one in critical condition.

The incident, described as “abominable” by regional deputy Antoine Armand, is currently under investigation, although authorities have limited information. The attack appears to lack any terrorist motivation, according to Annecy prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis. The assailant invoked the name of Jesus Christ during the attack, but his motive remains unclear.

France has experienced knife attacks in recent years, often carried out by young men with criminal backgrounds and potential ties to Islamist extremism, but this incident seems to differ in nature. The attack is expected to contribute to the ongoing immigration debate in the country.

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France destroys 35,000 ‘champagne’ soda bottles

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French border police in Le Havre have destroyed around 35,000 bottles of a soda drink that falsely claimed to be champagne. The bottles, originating from Haiti and containing a bright orange liquid, were seized in October 2021 after customs officials noticed the label “Couronne Fruit Champagne.”

The use of the term “champagne” is reserved exclusively for sparkling wine products from the French Champagne region, according to France’s Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system, which grants exclusive rights to certain geographical indications. The bottles were intended for sale in the French market.

The destruction of these bottles reinforces the importance of the AOC regulation and serves to protect the reputation of the appellation, as stated by Charles Goemaere, the director-general of the Champagne Committee. This action is part of the ongoing effort to combat the misuse of the Champagne name, which has been protected since 1844.

Previously, the same product had faced an investigation and recall due to excessive benzoic acid levels. This incident follows a similar case in which over 2,000 bottles of American beer referred to as the “Champagne of Beer” were destroyed in Belgium at the request of the Champagne Committee.

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Channel migrants tragedy: Five French soldiers accused of failing to help

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Five soldiers in France have been charged in connection with the deaths of 27 people who drowned while attempting to cross the English Channel on November 24, 2021. The soldiers, along with four others, were detained for questioning and are accused of failing to assist the distressed boat. Reports indicate that the boat made 15 distress calls that went unanswered. The victims were predominantly Iraqi Kurds, ranging in age from seven to 46.

The news of the charges has been welcomed by Utopia 56, an organization representing migrants. A spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the progress in the criminal investigation. The tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of all but two individuals on board, occurred shortly after the boat departed from the French coast.

Le Monde newspaper previously reported that the passengers had contacted French officials, informing them of their deflating boat and failed engine. They also sent their location via WhatsApp, but no response was received. Rescue teams eventually responded after ten hours when fishermen alerted them.

The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) described the incident as the largest single loss of life in the English Channel since it began collecting data in 2014. Following the tragedy, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his dismay and pledged to take action against human trafficking networks.

In November 2022, a 32-year-old man appeared in a London court in connection with the incident, accused of being part of a group involved in transporting the migrants. Additionally, last June, French police arrested 15 individuals, mostly from Afghanistan, suspected of being part of a smuggling ring related to the deadly incident.

In response to the increasing number of migrants crossing the English Channel via small boats, the UK government has committed to addressing the issue.

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Tariq Ramadan: Islam scholar cleared of Swiss rape charges

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Tariq Ramadan, a renowned Islamic studies scholar and Swiss citizen, has been acquitted of charges of rape and sexual coercion by a Swiss court. The case was brought forward by a Swiss woman who claimed that Ramadan had raped her in a Geneva hotel in 2008. Ramadan, the grandson of the founder of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, denied all the charges but admitted to having met the woman. If convicted, he could have faced up to three years in prison.

Ramadan had gained recognition as a prominent voice in Islamic thought, condemning terrorism and advocating for human rights. He faced criticism from some quarters, particularly in France, where he was accused of anti-Semitism by leading academics. In 2017, Ramadan’s reputation suffered a blow when he was accused of rape by a French woman, leading to more women coming forward with similar allegations. By 2020, he faced multiple charges of rape in France and Switzerland, spending nine months in detention in France before being released on probation.

The Swiss trial marked the first to go to court, and tension was palpable in the Geneva courtroom. Ramadan’s accuser, using the pseudonym Brigitte, requested a screen to be put up so she would not have to face the man she accused of rape. She provided a detailed account of the alleged attack, expressing fear for her life. Ramadan admitted inviting her to his hotel room but denied any violence, asserting that the accusations against him were politically motivated attempts to discredit him.

Throughout the trial, Ramadan’s family, as well as prominent figures like Noam Chomsky and Ken Loach, supported his claim of being unfairly targeted. However, the prosecution argued that Brigitte could not have fabricated the detailed account of the alleged attack. Ramadan’s defense lawyer maintained his client’s innocence, describing the charges as baseless.

After a week of deliberation, the three Swiss judges found Ramadan not guilty. While he has been cleared in Switzerland, the possibility of further trials looms, as French prosecutors are still evaluating whether charges should be brought against him in France. Ramadan continues to assert his innocence in all cases and intends to clear his name.

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France bans short-haul flights to cut carbon emissions

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The French government has implemented a ban on domestic short-haul flights in situations where there are train alternatives available, as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This law took effect two years after lawmakers initially voted to end routes where the same journey could be completed by train within two-and-a-half hours. As a result, air travel between cities like Paris, Nantes, Lyon, and Bordeaux will be largely prohibited, while connecting flights are not affected by the ban.

Critics of the measure have referred to it as merely a symbolic gesture. Laurent Donceel, the interim head of the industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E), expressed his belief that these bans would only have minimal effects on reducing CO2 emissions. He suggested that governments should instead focus on supporting more substantial and practical solutions to address the issue.

The global airline industry has already experienced significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of flights in 2020 decreasing by almost 42% compared to 2019, as reported by Flightradar24.

Initially, France’s Citizens’ Convention on Climate, formed by President Emmanuel Macron in 2019 and consisting of 150 members of the public, proposed eliminating plane journeys where train alternatives of under four hours were available. However, this limit was reduced to two-and-a-half hours following objections from certain regions and the airline Air France-KLM.

French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir had previously urged lawmakers to maintain the four-hour limit, highlighting that planes emit 77 times more CO2 per passenger than trains on these routes, despite trains being cheaper and the time difference being only 40 minutes. The group also called for safeguards to prevent the French national railway company, SNCF, from raising prices artificially or diminishing the quality of rail services.

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Nicolas Sarkozy to wear tag after losing corruption appeal

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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been unsuccessful in his appeal against a prison sentence for corruption. However, the Paris appeals court has ruled that he can serve his sentence at home with an electronic monitoring device instead of going to jail.

In 2021, Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for attempting to influence a judge in a separate case. This made him the first former French president to receive a custodial sentence.

Sarkozy’s lawyer has announced plans to challenge the ruling further with the Court of Cassation, one of France’s highest jurisdictions, stating that Sarkozy is innocent. In addition to the prison sentence, Sarkozy has been banned from holding public office for three years. There are multiple corruption cases involving Sarkozy, but he denies any wrongdoing.

Recently, prosecutors requested that he face trial over allegations of illegal contributions to his 2007 presidential campaign by the Libyan government, but the final decision lies with investigating magistrates.

Sarkozy served one term as president from 2007 to 2014 and was known for his tough stance on immigration and efforts to reform France’s economy. Critics criticized his leadership style as excessive and focused on celebrity culture, contrasting with the traditional and grand nature of the role.

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Paris synagogue bomber convicted after 43 years

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A court in Paris has convicted a Lebanese-Canadian university professor, Hassan Diab, of planting a motorcycle bomb that killed four people and wounded 38 others at a Paris synagogue in October 1980. Diab, who called his situation “Kafkaesque”, received a life sentence, but refused to attend the trial.

Prosecutors claimed that he was undoubtedly responsible for the bombing, which was the first attack on Jews in France since World War Two and became a model for many similar attacks carried out by militants in the Middle East. Supporters of Diab have criticized the trial as being “manifestly unfair”.

The investigation into the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing has been marked by confusion and persistence by a small group of magistrates. Hassan Diab, a Lebanese-Canadian university professor, was named as a suspect almost 20 years after the attack and was finally extradited from Canada in 2014.

In 2018, the case was closed due to lack of evidence, but an appeal to reopen the case was successful in 2021, leading to Diab’s recent trial and conviction in absentia. Diab has consistently maintained his innocence, and his conviction may lead to a second extradition request, although its success is uncertain. Diab expressed disappointment that “reason did not prevail”.

Responding to the verdict, the Hassan Diab Support Committee in Canada called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make it “absolutely clear” that no second extradition would be accepted.

They said 15 years of legal “nightmare… is now fully exposed in its overwhelming cruelty and injustice”.

At a news conference, Mr Trudeau said his government “will look carefully at next steps, at what the French government chooses to do, at what French tribunals choose to do”.

“But we will always be there to stand up for Canadians and their rights,” he added.

Over three weeks the court heard an account of the known facts of the case, plus arguments identifying Diab as the bomber and counter-evidence suggesting he was a victim of mistaken identity.

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Macron tries to escape French pension row with street song

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French President Emmanuel Macron faced a risky situation while attempting to persuade the country to accept an unpopular pension age increase. During a walk with his wife Brigitte, Macron joined a group of young Parisians who were singing a traditional song his grandmother used to sing.

The singers were part of a Parisian choir performing on a street in the sixth district of Paris, and one of them asked Macron to join in singing an old Pyrenees song called “Le Refuge.” However, the sing-song was reportedly shared by a far-right Facebook group.

The men were using a mobile phone app to read the lyrics of the song created by the Canto project. Macron had given a TV address expressing regret that no consensus could be found on the pension reform earlier that day.

Last October, a left-leaning newspaper called Libération revealed that the Canto project, which aimed to promote traditional songs, had been set up and run by far-right activists. Some of the songs included French classics and nursery rhymes, while others had a questionable past, including songs linked to the Spanish fascist Falange of the 1930s and Nazi Germany.

Macron and his team are aware of how viral videos can distract from important issues, particularly pension reforms. After his TV address, Macron joined a group of singers who were performing a Pyrenean song he knew and liked. His team said that he couldn’t have known the background of each individual singer. Last month, a viral video showed Macron’s watch disappearing during a TV interview, but it was later revealed to be a non-issue.

Similarly, the narrative that Macron was supporting the far right by singing with the Saint Longin choir has gained traction, but his team maintains that he simply joined in singing a song he knew and liked.

The only link between the choir Macron sang with and the far right is that the founder of the app they used to read the lyrics was close to the National Rally opposition party. The app was created to encourage communal singing and received funding from the culture ministry.

It included revolutionary songs, including ones dear to the far-left, such as “Ah ça ira,” which features the line “Aristocrats to the gallows!” The Saint Longin choir appears to be from the Catholic right, but one member stated that their only connection to the Canto project was that they shared an interest in the music it featured. The Élysée also noted that Macron could not control who he met while walking with his wife at night.

The video of Macron singing with the choir has given the story significant traction, particularly as his approval ratings are currently low. This situation only compounds his difficulties as he attempts to restore his reputation. Despite this, he signed the pension reforms into law, which increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, and has given the Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne the responsibility of leading a hundred days of action with a roadmap of significant projects aimed at benefitting France.

Following the reforms, Macron’s impromptu sing-song in Paris was his first public appearance, and he planned to relaunch his second term in office in the Alsace town of Muttersholtz. However, given the protests and criticism against his pension reforms, security was expected to be tight during his visit.

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