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Macron Delays New Government Appointment Until After Paris Olympics

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French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will postpone naming a new government until after the Paris Olympics conclude on August 11. This decision follows a proposal from the New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing coalition that emerged as the largest group in France’s parliament after recent elections. The NFP has put forward Lucie Castets, a relatively unknown civil servant, as their candidate for prime minister.

Macron stated that appointing a new prime minister before mid-August would “create disorder” amid the ongoing Olympics, which start with an opening ceremony in central Paris on Friday. The left-wing coalition has criticized Macron’s delay, accusing him of undermining the outcome of the recent legislative elections.

Macron had previously accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal due to significant losses for their centrist party in the elections. Attal and his team are continuing in a caretaker role until a new government is formed.

In France, the president is expected to appoint a prime minister who can secure a majority in the National Assembly. Currently, no single party holds a majority, but the NFP, with at least 182 of 577 seats, is in a strong position. The NFP’s choice, Lucie Castets, a 37-year-old economist with a background in finance and public services rather than politics, was presented just before Macron’s scheduled television interview.

Macron emphasized that the key issue is not the specific nominee but the formation of a majority in the Assembly. He plans to appoint a prime minister with the widest possible support. The delay has provoked a strong reaction from NFP members, who accuse Macron of attempting to disregard the results of the elections and deny the will of the people.

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Two killed in New Caledonia as riots escalate after Paris vote

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New Caledonia, a Pacific territory under French governance since the 19th century, is currently gripped by violent unrest stemming from the French parliament’s decision to expand voting rights for French residents there. This move, allowing long-term French citizens in New Caledonia to participate in provincial elections, has sparked outrage among many locals who perceive it as marginalizing the indigenous Kanak people and undermining their political representation.

The escalation of protests into riots has resulted in fatalities, numerous injuries, and widespread property damage, marking the most severe unrest the territory has experienced since the 1980s. In response, French President Emmanuel Macron canceled a planned trip and convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis. The situation prompted authorities to impose a curfew and ban public gatherings in an attempt to restore order.

Despite efforts to quell the violence, tensions remain high, with continued clashes between protesters and law enforcement. The unrest has led to a significant number of arrests and calls from both local and national leaders for calm and de-escalation. The situation underscores the complex political dynamics in New Caledonia, where issues of autonomy, indigenous rights, and French governance intersect, fueling longstanding grievances and tensions within the community.

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Macron says Paris Olympics opening ceremony could be moved

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French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony might be relocated from the River Seine due to security concerns. He suggested alternative venues such as the Trocadéro or the traditional site, the Stade de France. Originally designed to span a 6km stretch of the Seine with over 10,000 athletes on barges and 600,000 spectators along the riverbanks, the event’s scale has been reduced to accommodate only 300,000 invited guests due to security reasons.

Heightened security threats, particularly from groups like the Islamic State, have prompted the implementation of backup plans for the ceremony. Macron emphasized his commitment to ensuring the safety of the games and mentioned efforts to establish an Olympic truce, reaching out to international partners including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8. Despite security concerns, Macron expressed confidence in the successful execution of the opening ceremony, emphasizing its historic significance as the first to be held outside a stadium.

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Brussels shooting: ‘Europe shaken’ after two Swedes shot dead

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Two Swedish nationals were fatally shot and another person wounded in Brussels, treated as a terrorist act by prosecutors. The Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier was halted. Brussels is on high alert, searching for the gunman.

French President Macron, during a visit to Albania, expressed solidarity, calling it a shocking incident. Prosecutors opened a terrorism inquiry, urging the public to stay indoors. A video linked the attacker to the Islamic State.

Unverified footage shows an armed man entering a building. Belgian media reported victims in Swedish football shirts. The Swedish team declined to continue the match, supported by Belgium.

PM de Croo and EU President von der Leyen offered condolences and support for apprehending the suspect, emphasizing solidarity against terror.

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Fire in Vacation Residence in France Leaves Eleven Feared Dead

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A fire erupted at a vacation residence in La Forge, France, where individuals with learning disabilities were staying, resulting in the disappearance of eleven people. The blaze was reported to emergency services at 06:30 local time on Wednesday and was met with a response from nearly 80 firefighters.

Regrettably, the 11 missing individuals are now presumed to have lost their lives, as stated by a local official to AFP news agency. The property was utilized by a charity dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities. While 17 occupants were evacuated and one person was hospitalized, the cause of the fire remains unclear.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin affirmed an ongoing rescue operation, acknowledging the likelihood of multiple casualties in the town near Wintzenheim, close to the German border. The group of 11 missing people originated from Nancy, in eastern France, according to the Haut-Rhin region’s local government. Despite the fire’s intensity, it was successfully controlled by 76 firefighters and four fire engines.

The Bas-Rhin prefecture’s leader, Christophe Marot, revealed that those inside the building during the fire’s outbreak have not yet been located. The incident led French President Emmanuel Macron to express his condolences and appreciation for the emergency services. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and families minister Aurore Bergé are en route to the scene.

Visuals from local media depict the holiday home, a converted barn, engulfed in flames. Firefighters managed to subdue the fire after approximately two-thirds of the building was consumed by the blaze.

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France to deploy over 1,00,000 police

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The European country of France has decided to deploy as many as 1,00,000 police personals in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 during the New Year period.

The country has already imposed a curfew to prevent the spread of the disease.

France is one of the worst affected countries in the continent of Europe. The country has so far witnessed as many as 2.6m Covid-19 cases – which is the fifth highest total in the world.

The country has also seen as many as 64,000 deaths.   

The deployment does not mean that the new year celebration will not happen in France. It only means that this year the celebration will be a limited one.

The main city centers in the country will see maximum number of security personals. The deployment has been justified on the ground that it is necessary to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The deployment will affect the transport facility including metro transport and road transport partially.

Not only France, several other countries in the continent of Europe have stepped up their security installations in order to make sure the possibility of the spread of the disease is kept low.

It is necessary to impose strict measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The continent is facing a serious threat from a highly contagious variant of the Covid-19 virus at this juncture.

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French Prez Macron tested positive for Covid-19

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French President Emanuel Macron has been tested positive for Covid-19. He will self-isolate for not less than seven days.

Though he will self-isolate for the said number of days, Mr. Macron will discharge his duties remotely.

France is one of the worst affected countries. The virus outbreak has affected tens of thousands of people in the country.

Recently, France imposed a curfew to prevent the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The European country is expected to impose more restrictions to prevent the spread of the outbreak.

This is the first time a top leader of France has been affected with the Covid-19 outbreak.

No medical bulletin regarding the status of Mr. Macron’s health has been released yet. A French official has said that Mr. Macron has only experienced some minor difficulties.

Many have expressed their shock on the report. The majority of them have taken to the social media platform to express their shock.

Mr. Macron is a very powerful political leader. He is the leader of an apolitical forum, developed to overturn the establishment.   

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France to bring in bill to tackle radical Islam

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The European country of France is preparing to bring in a powerful bill to tackle radical Islam, amidst rising criticism against the country’s tougher stand.

In a bold move, the French cabinet has cleared the bill. The bill has come in response to a recent series of attacks by extremists.

The law toughens rules on home schooling and hate speech.

France is at present going through a tough period. In the recent history, the country has witnessed several terror attacks.

The new bill has been projected as a part of the effort put by French President Emmanuel Macron to uphold secular values.    

The bill is not free of criticism. Several people have come forward to criticize the bill. It has been alleged that the bill was being used to target religion.

The French government has denounced the allegation. It has projected the bill as an attempt to free Muslims from the grip of radicals. It has even named the bill as a law of protection.  

The government has asserted the bill was not aimed against any religion.

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