france24--2020-01-30--Pompeo heralds 'enormous benefits' from Brexit on UK visit, downplays Huawei dispute

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shakes hands with Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson as they meet at Downing Street in London on January 30 , 2020 .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo predicted Thursday that Brexit would bring `` enormous benefits '' to the United States and the UK , as he wound down a visit to Britain on the eve of its historic departure from the European Union .
The chief US diplomat also played down a dispute about Britain 's decision to plug in Chinese technology into its next-generation mobile network , suggesting that Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There were things that the United Kingdom was required to do as part of being a member of the EU , and they 'll be able to do them differently now , '' Washington 's top diplomat told a think-tank audience in London .
`` Some of this will be worked out through the free trade agreement , some of it will be worked out by entrepreneurs just kicking it , '' he said , alongside British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab .
`` You will see the enormous benefits that accrued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this . ''
Britain will enter a new chapter when it becomes the first country to quit the EU 's institutions at midnight Brussels time ( 2300 GMT ) on Friday .
`` It is a great moment for our country ... a moment of hope and opportunity , '' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday , as he prepared to address the nation at 2200 GMT Friday -- an hour before Brexit .
Pompeo paid a courtesy visit to Johnson before flying to Kiev , the second leg of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ republics .
Although Britain will remain under most EU rules during an 11-month transition period , it is then likely to lose privileged access to the single European market -- the world 's largest and most important for UK trade .
Johnson has argued he can negotiate ambitious free trade agreements with both his 27 former partners and the US , but has seen recent strains in the so-called `` special relationship '' with Washington .
Britain has been angered by American refusal to extradite the wife of a US diplomat who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid prosecution over the death of a teenager in a road accident in England .
Johnson 's hopes for a US trade deal are also complicated by US President Donald Trump 's unpopularity in Britain and domestic pressure to stand up to Washington .
The British premier has defied expectations since taking power last July by failing to side with the United States on everything from the Iran nuclear deal , which Trump has abandoned , to working with Chinese tech giant Huawei .
Trump -- a long-time fan of Brexit and Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has publicly urged Britain to rethink , yet has so far been restrained in his criticism .
But others , including Republican senators who will have to sign off on a future US-UK trade deal , have cautioned that sharing intelligence and striking an agreement could be imperilled by the Huawei decision in particular .
He said the US-UK intelligence sharing relationship would remain `` deep '' and `` strong '' and that he was `` confident '' the next generation of technology would be secure .
However , he warned strongly about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China 's ruling Communist Party `` the central threat of our times '' that challenges Western principles .
Britons narrowly backed departing the EU in a 2016 referendum that left the country locked in political crisis and acrimonious division .
Johnson , who headed the pro-Leave campaign , won a thumping election victory in December on the mantra `` get Brexit done '' .
That is now finally happening , with Britain 's departure set in European law Wednesday , amid emotional scenes , as the bloc 's parliament voted to ratify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love you and we will never be far , '' said EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen , adding : `` Long live Europe . ''
Britain 's eurosceptic lawmakers were in triumphant mood after two decades as a thorn in Brussels ' side , brandishing British flags in contravention of the chamber 's rules .

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo predicted Thursday that Brexit would bring "enormous benefits" to the United States and the UK, as he wound down a visit to Britain on the eve of its historic departure from the European Union.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson as they meet at Downing Street in London on January 30, 2020.
Advertising Read more
The chief US diplomat also played down a dispute about Britain's decision to plug in Chinese technology into its next-generation mobile network, suggesting that Washington would continue sharing intelligence with London.
"There were things that the United Kingdom was required to do as part of being a member of the EU, and they'll be able to do them differently now," Washington's top diplomat told a think-tank audience in London.
"Some of this will be worked out through the free trade agreement, some of it will be worked out by entrepreneurs just kicking it," he said, alongside British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
"You will see the enormous benefits that accrued to both of our nations as a result of this."
Britain will enter a new chapter when it becomes the first country to quit the EU's institutions at midnight Brussels time (2300 GMT) on Friday.
"It is a great moment for our country... a moment of hope and opportunity," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday, as he prepared to address the nation at 2200 GMT Friday -- an hour before Brexit.
Pompeo paid a courtesy visit to Johnson before flying to Kiev, the second leg of his five-nation tour that includes four former Soviet republics.
Contentious issues
Although Britain will remain under most EU rules during an 11-month transition period, it is then likely to lose privileged access to the single European market -- the world's largest and most important for UK trade.
Johnson has argued he can negotiate ambitious free trade agreements with both his 27 former partners and the US, but has seen recent strains in the so-called "special relationship" with Washington.
Britain has been angered by American refusal to extradite the wife of a US diplomat who is using the cover of diplomatic immunity to avoid prosecution over the death of a teenager in a road accident in England.
Johnson's hopes for a US trade deal are also complicated by US President Donald Trump's unpopularity in Britain and domestic pressure to stand up to Washington.
The British premier has defied expectations since taking power last July by failing to side with the United States on everything from the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump has abandoned, to working with Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Trump -- a long-time fan of Brexit and Johnson's ability to deliver it successfully -- has publicly urged Britain to rethink, yet has so far been restrained in his criticism.
But others, including Republican senators who will have to sign off on a future US-UK trade deal, have cautioned that sharing intelligence and striking an agreement could be imperilled by the Huawei decision in particular.
Pompeo sounded a more positive note on Thursday.
He said the US-UK intelligence sharing relationship would remain "deep" and "strong" and that he was "confident" the next generation of technology would be secure.
However, he warned strongly about Beijing's growing global influence, calling China's ruling Communist Party "the central threat of our times" that challenges Western principles.
'Long live Europe'
Britons narrowly backed departing the EU in a 2016 referendum that left the country locked in political crisis and acrimonious division.
Johnson, who headed the pro-Leave campaign, won a thumping election victory in December on the mantra "get Brexit done".
That is now finally happening, with Britain's departure set in European law Wednesday, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers.
"We will always love you and we will never be far," said EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, adding: "Long live Europe."
Britain's eurosceptic lawmakers were in triumphant mood after two decades as a thorn in Brussels' side, brandishing British flags in contravention of the chamber's rules.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-30--Appeals court clears French cardinal Barbarin of shielding paedophile priest

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin has been cleared of covering up the sexual abuse of minors , A French appeals court has acquitted a French cardinal of covering up the sexual abuse of minors in his flock .
The appeals court in the southeastern French city of Lyon gave no explanation on Thursday for its ruling .
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin , archbishop of Lyon , had been convicted in March and given a six-month suspended sentence for failing to report a predator priest to police .
But Pope Francis refused to accept the cardinal 's decision to resign until the appeals process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had sought the acquittal accorded by the court .
“ This decision is logical , ” one of Barbarin 's lawyer 's , Felix Luciani , said outside the courtroom .
He said the cardinal had faced down “ public rumor and calumny.
” Barbarin , 69 , said at his appeals trial in November that he filed an appeal because `` I can not see clearly what I am guilty of . ''
The verdict comes at a time of increasing scrutiny around the world of the Catholic Church ’ s role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The court had ruled that Barbarin , `` in wanting to avoid scandal caused by the facts of multiple sexual abuses committed by a priest ... preferred to take the risk of preventing the discovery of many victims of sexual abuse by the justice system , and to prohibit the expression of their pain.
” Bernard Preynat , the now-defrocked priest at the center of the scandal , described to a court at his trial earlier this month how he systematically abused boys over two decades as a French scout chaplain .
Preynat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abnormal ” behavior as far back as the 1970s .
“ Had the church sidelined me earlier , I would have stopped earlier , ” Preynat said .
Preynat , now 74 , faces up to 10 years in prison in what is France 's biggest clergy sex abuse trial to date .
He 's suspected of abusing around 75 boys , but his testimony suggests the overall number could be even higher .
That verdict is expected in March .
The case against Barbarin hinges on a 2014 discussion with victim Alexandre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sexual abuse he had suffered in the 1980s by Preynat during scout camps .
Hezez felt the priest should no longer lead a parish .
Barbarin told the appeal hearing that he followed Vatican instructions after that discussion with Hezez .
He suggested he could not have done more .
At the trial of Preynat , victims testified about how much power the priest had held over them and the lifelong damage that his abuse caused .
“ I saw this community that admired this man , and I was his protege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francois Devaux .

A French appeals court has acquitted a French cardinal of covering up the sexual abuse of minors in his flock.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin has been cleared of covering up the sexual abuse of minors,
Advertising Read more
The appeals court in the southeastern French city of Lyon gave no explanation on Thursday for its ruling.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, had been convicted in March and given a six-month suspended sentence for failing to report a predator priest to police. But Pope Francis refused to accept the cardinal's decision to resign until the appeals process is complete.
The prosecutor's office had sought the acquittal accorded by the court.
“This decision is logical,” one of Barbarin's lawyer's, Felix Luciani, said outside the courtroom. He said the cardinal had faced down “public rumor and calumny.”
Barbarin, 69, said at his appeals trial in November that he filed an appeal because "I cannot see clearly what I am guilty of."
The verdict comes at a time of increasing scrutiny around the world of the Catholic Church’s role in hiding abuse by its clergy.
The court had ruled that Barbarin, "in wanting to avoid scandal caused by the facts of multiple sexual abuses committed by a priest ... preferred to take the risk of preventing the discovery of many victims of sexual abuse by the justice system, and to prohibit the expression of their pain.”
Bernard Preynat, the now-defrocked priest at the center of the scandal, described to a court at his trial earlier this month how he systematically abused boys over two decades as a French scout chaplain. Preynat said his superiors knew about his “abnormal” behavior as far back as the 1970s.
“Had the church sidelined me earlier, I would have stopped earlier,” Preynat said.
Preynat, now 74, faces up to 10 years in prison in what is France's biggest clergy sex abuse trial to date. He's suspected of abusing around 75 boys, but his testimony suggests the overall number could be even higher. That verdict is expected in March.
The case against Barbarin hinges on a 2014 discussion with victim Alexandre Hezez, who told the cardinal about the sexual abuse he had suffered in the 1980s by Preynat during scout camps. Hezez felt the priest should no longer lead a parish.
Barbarin told the appeal hearing that he followed Vatican instructions after that discussion with Hezez. He suggested he could not have done more.
At the trial of Preynat, victims testified about how much power the priest had held over them and the lifelong damage that his abuse caused.
“I saw this community that admired this man, and I was his protege, his pet,” said victim Francois Devaux.
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-30--More than 30 civilians killed in attacks in eastern DR Congo

A survivor of a previous attack near Beni , Democratic Republic of Congo that was attributed to the armed group ADF is pictured on December 3 , 2019 .
Thirty-six people have been killed in a suspected militia attack in the eastern DR Congo region of Beni , where hundreds have died in violence since November , a local official said Wednesday .
Congolese troops have been carrying out a military operation on an armed group in the east of the country -- long plagued by various militias -- and militiamen have responded with a series of massacres against civilians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
This brings ( the toll ) to 36 bodies , '' local Beni governor Donat Kibwana told AFP , updating casualties from Tuesday 's attack .
Two people with skull fractures caused by machetes have been admitted to the hospital in Oicha for surgery , an AFP reporter there said .
The main attack took place late Tuesday in Manzingi , a village 20 kilometres ( 12 miles ) northwest from Oicha , while a pastor was also killed in nearby Eringeti .
According to a toll compiled by a civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( KST ) , 265 people have now been killed in the Beni region since the army began its crackdown on the armed group , the Allied Democratic Forces ( ADF ) , on October 30 .
The massacres seem to be a tactic by the ADF to frighten the population into silence , local commentators say .
The group has also disrupted operations to curb an outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu province .
Tuesday 's massacre occurred to the west of the ADF 's usual area of operations , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army offensive , unfolding in thick forest and jungle , has led to what the military say is the capture of the group 's headquarters and the killing of five of its six leaders .
The ADF , blamed for the deaths of more than a thousand civilians in Beni since October 2014 , began as an Islamist-rooted rebel group in Uganda that opposed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni .
It fell back into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 1995 during the Congo Wars and appears to have halted raids inside Uganda .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationalities .
UN experts estimated the ADF in 2018 to number around 450 fighters .
A report to the UN Security Council last week said the ADF seemed to follow an extreme Islamist ideology , but there is no information on whether the group had links with international jihadist groups .
The spate of massacres has become a major challenge for President Felix Tshisekedi , who took office a year ago last Friday .
In November , angry protests erupted in the city of Beni , the region 's administrative hub , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DR Congo of failing to protect them .
Tshisekedi , in his first state-of-the-nation address to Congress , last month said he had changed the army command in Beni and sent 22,000 troops to the region .

Thirty-six people have been killed in a suspected militia attack in the eastern DR Congo region of Beni, where hundreds have died in violence since November, a local official said Wednesday.
A survivor of a previous attack near Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo that was attributed to the armed group ADF is pictured on December 3, 2019.
Advertising Read more
Congolese troops have been carrying out a military operation on an armed group in the east of the country -- long plagued by various militias -- and militiamen have responded with a series of massacres against civilians.
"They were all hacked to death. This brings (the toll) to 36 bodies," local Beni governor Donat Kibwana told AFP, updating casualties from Tuesday's attack.
Officials had earlier reported 15 fatalities.
Two people with skull fractures caused by machetes have been admitted to the hospital in Oicha for surgery, an AFP reporter there said.
The main attack took place late Tuesday in Manzingi, a village 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest from Oicha, while a pastor was also killed in nearby Eringeti.
According to a toll compiled by a civil society organisation, the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), 265 people have now been killed in the Beni region since the army began its crackdown on the armed group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), on October 30.
The massacres seem to be a tactic by the ADF to frighten the population into silence, local commentators say.
The group has also disrupted operations to curb an outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu province.
Tuesday's massacre occurred to the west of the ADF's usual area of operations, which is closer to the Ugandan border.
The army offensive, unfolding in thick forest and jungle, has led to what the military say is the capture of the group's headquarters and the killing of five of its six leaders.
Brutal militia
The ADF, blamed for the deaths of more than a thousand civilians in Beni since October 2014, began as an Islamist-rooted rebel group in Uganda that opposed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
It fell back into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 1995 during the Congo Wars and appears to have halted raids inside Uganda. Its recruits today are people of various nationalities.
UN experts estimated the ADF in 2018 to number around 450 fighters.
A report to the UN Security Council last week said the ADF seemed to follow an extreme Islamist ideology, but there is no information on whether the group had links with international jihadist groups.
The spate of massacres has become a major challenge for President Felix Tshisekedi, who took office a year ago last Friday.
In November, angry protests erupted in the city of Beni, the region's administrative hub, as citizens accused the UN peacekeeping force in DR Congo of failing to protect them.
Tshisekedi, in his first state-of-the-nation address to Congress, last month said he had changed the army command in Beni and sent 22,000 troops to the region.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-30--European court orders France to pay inmates in prison overcrowding ruling

Three members of the collective `` Trop c'est trop '' sit in a nine-square-metre area drawn on the ground , reconstituting in actual size a prison cell , on October 2 , 2007 on the Place de la Concorde in Paris , France to denounce prison overcrowding .
The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday ordered France to pay thousands of euros in damages to dozens of inmates after ruling that authorities had not taken sufficient measures to end prison overcrowding .
The case was filed by 32 inmates from six prisons including one of France 's largest at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,500 people -- nearly double the number of beds at the site .
`` The court considered that the personal space allocated to most of the applicants had fallen below the required minimum standard of three square meters ( 32 square feet ) throughout their period of detention , '' it said in a statement .
It also criticised a `` lack of privacy in using the toilets '' at the six facilities .
France has about 70,800 people behind bars at 188 penitentiaries according to official figures from October 2019 .
Official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of 116 percent .
Nearly 1,500 mattresses are placed on the floor because no beds are available .
Conditions in French prisons have long been an embarrassment for the state , with President Emmanuel Macron himself once describing them as `` disgraceful '' .
An official report on conditions at the Fresnes prison in 2016 found it to be infested with rats , with prisoners sleeping three to a 10-square-metre cell .
It also criticised a shortage of personnel , a widespread problem that was a major complaint by guards during two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Macron has promised to create space for 7,000 additional prisoners by the end of his term in 2022 , and has implemented a series of sentencing changes aimed at finding alternatives to jail time .
But the rights court said `` overcrowding in prisons and the dilapidated state of some prisons acted as a bar to the full and immediate cessation of serious breaches of fundamental rights '' .
It recommended the adoption of `` general measures aimed at eliminating overcrowding and improving the material conditions of detention '' , and ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4,000 to 25,000 euros ( $ 4,400- $ 27,500 ) each .
Patrice Spinosi , a lawyer with France 's International Prisons Observatory ( OIP ) , which coordinated the prisoners ' cases , called the decision `` a huge victory '' .
He urged the government to undertake a `` global rethink on sentencing '' in order to combat the chronic overcrowding , instead of simply building new prisons .
`` An overcrowded facility is one that lacks sufficient activities and work for inmates , that lacks equipment , and one where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Nicolas Ferran , the OIP 's head of litigation .
France 's justice ministry said it had `` taken note '' of the court 's ruling , adding that it had steadily increased budgets for prison upkeep in recent years .
Beyond the 7,000 additional spots being created for 2022 , it said it aims to have an additional 8,000 in place by 2027 .
The ministry also expects to thin prison populations with the phasing in of recent court reforms , including the elimination of sentences of under one month and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered to serve six months or fewer in jail .
The European court has also faulted other European countries for prison overcrowding , including Hungary , Italy and Romania .

The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday ordered France to pay thousands of euros in damages to dozens of inmates after ruling that authorities had not taken sufficient measures to end prison overcrowding.
Three members of the collective "Trop c'est trop" sit in a nine-square-metre area drawn on the ground, reconstituting in actual size a prison cell, on October 2, 2007 on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France to denounce prison overcrowding.
Advertising Read more
The case was filed by 32 inmates from six prisons including one of France's largest at Fresnes, outside Paris, which holds 2,500 people -- nearly double the number of beds at the site.
"The court considered that the personal space allocated to most of the applicants had fallen below the required minimum standard of three square meters (32 square feet) throughout their period of detention," it said in a statement.
It also criticised a "lack of privacy in using the toilets" at the six facilities.
France has about 70,800 people behind bars at 188 penitentiaries according to official figures from October 2019. Official capacity is 61,065, for an occupancy rate of 116 percent.
Nearly 1,500 mattresses are placed on the floor because no beds are available.
Conditions in French prisons have long been an embarrassment for the state, with President Emmanuel Macron himself once describing them as "disgraceful".
An official report on conditions at the Fresnes prison in 2016 found it to be infested with rats, with prisoners sleeping three to a 10-square-metre cell.
It also criticised a shortage of personnel, a widespread problem that was a major complaint by guards during two weeks of nationwide strikes in January 2018.
Macron has promised to create space for 7,000 additional prisoners by the end of his term in 2022, and has implemented a series of sentencing changes aimed at finding alternatives to jail time.
But the rights court said "overcrowding in prisons and the dilapidated state of some prisons acted as a bar to the full and immediate cessation of serious breaches of fundamental rights".
It recommended the adoption of "general measures aimed at eliminating overcrowding and improving the material conditions of detention", and ordered France to pay the plaintiffs damages of 4,000 to 25,000 euros ($4,400-$27,500) each.
'Huge victory'
Patrice Spinosi, a lawyer with France's International Prisons Observatory (OIP), which coordinated the prisoners' cases, called the decision "a huge victory".
He urged the government to undertake a "global rethink on sentencing" in order to combat the chronic overcrowding, instead of simply building new prisons.
"An overcrowded facility is one that lacks sufficient activities and work for inmates, that lacks equipment, and one where access to care is difficult," said Nicolas Ferran, the OIP's head of litigation.
France's justice ministry said it had "taken note" of the court's ruling, adding that it had steadily increased budgets for prison upkeep in recent years.
Beyond the 7,000 additional spots being created for 2022, it said it aims to have an additional 8,000 in place by 2027.
The ministry also expects to thin prison populations with the phasing in of recent court reforms, including the elimination of sentences of under one month and automatic probation or public service for people ordered to serve six months or fewer in jail.
The European court has also faulted other European countries for prison overcrowding, including Hungary, Italy and Romania.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-30--Paris Lunar New Year parade postponed over coronavirus concerns

A general view of the Bichat hospital in Paris on January 29 , 2020 , where some of the patients infected with the coronavirus in France are being treated .
Paris , home to four people taken ill in China 's coronavirus outbreak , has postponed the popular annual Lunar New Year parade scheduled for this weekend in the capital 's Asian quarter , organisers said Thursday .
Sunday 's event , a highlight for Paris ' 13th arrondissement or district , will be postponed for a few months , mayor Jerome Coumet told AFP .
`` The Chinese community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the situation is too complicated with what is happening in China , '' he said .
Sacha Lin-Jung of the Association of Chinese People Living in France , which organises the festival , said it was being deferred for health reasons and to allay public concern .
Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in China , Franco-Chinese community members have complained about xenophobic abuse on social media and on the street .
The parade , which features dancers , paper lanterns and huge dragon puppets , had been called off to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , Lin-Jung said .
Anne Souyris , a Paris city health official , said it was postponed as a `` precaution '' , as `` it is an event where hundreds of thousands of people are in close proximity for several hours '' .
A small Lunar New Year parade planned in central Paris last Sunday , and another in Bordeaux , were also cancelled .
So far , five people in France -- four in Paris -- have been diagnosed with the coronavirus .
The fifth case , confirmed Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourist hospitalised in the capital .
The start of the Lunar or Chinese New Year , the Year of the Rat , fell last Saturday , but celebrations in China were dramatically scaled back .
The outbreak has killed 170 people and infected more than 7,700 worldwide .

Paris, home to four people taken ill in China's coronavirus outbreak, has postponed the popular annual Lunar New Year parade scheduled for this weekend in the capital's Asian quarter, organisers said Thursday.
A general view of the Bichat hospital in Paris on January 29, 2020, where some of the patients infected with the coronavirus in France are being treated.
Advertising Read more
Sunday's event, a highlight for Paris' 13th arrondissement or district, will be postponed for a few months, mayor Jerome Coumet told AFP.
"The Chinese community is not in the mood for partying, the situation is too complicated with what is happening in China," he said.
Sacha Lin-Jung of the Association of Chinese People Living in France, which organises the festival, said it was being deferred for health reasons and to allay public concern.
Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Franco-Chinese community members have complained about xenophobic abuse on social media and on the street.
The parade, which features dancers, paper lanterns and huge dragon puppets, had been called off to avoid it "being ruined by insults", Lin-Jung said.
Anne Souyris, a Paris city health official, said it was postponed as a "precaution", as "it is an event where hundreds of thousands of people are in close proximity for several hours".
Two previous French parades called off
A small Lunar New Year parade planned in central Paris last Sunday, and another in Bordeaux, were also cancelled.
So far, five people in France -- four in Paris -- have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The fifth case, confirmed Wednesday, was the daughter of an elderly Chinese tourist hospitalised in the capital.
The start of the Lunar or Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rat, fell last Saturday, but celebrations in China were dramatically scaled back.
The outbreak has killed 170 people and infected more than 7,700 worldwide.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-30--Air France suspends all flights to mainland China over coronavirus outbreak until February 9

This file photo taken on June 27 , 2019 shows two Air France aircraft on the tarmac of Roissy-Charles de @ @ @ @ @ , France .
Air France announced on Thursday it will suspend all its scheduled flights @ @ @ @ @ until Feb 9 , the latest reaction in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak in @ @ @ @ @ suspended its flights to and from the Chinese town of Wuhan , the epicentre of @ @ @ @ @ 22 , and the suspension remains in effect until further notice .
“ Customers with @ @ @ @ @ China for departures on or before February 29 , 2020 , may change their flight @ @ @ @ @ , or request a refund , at no extra cost ” , the airline said @ @ @ @

Air France announced on Thursday it will suspend all its scheduled flights to and from mainland China until Feb 9, the latest reaction in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China.
This file photo taken on June 27, 2019 shows two Air France aircraft on the tarmac of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport north of Paris, France.
Advertising Read more
Air France previously suspended its flights to and from the Chinese town of Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, on Jan 22, and the suspension remains in effect until further notice.
“Customers with a booking to or from China for departures on or before February 29, 2020, may change their flight until May 31, 2020, or request a refund, at no extra cost”, the airline said in a statement.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-30--An inside look at France's forced repatriation process

An inside look at France 's forced repatriation process France is now receiving more asylum applications than any other EU @ @ @ @ @ some 133,000 requests , up 7.3 percent on the previous year .
Also on the @ @ @ @ @ repatriation : foreigners whose applications have failed and who are deported back to their home @ @ @ @ @ expensive and time-consuming process fraught with legal , humanitarian and logistical concerns .
Our colleagues @ @ @ @ @ and Delphine Chevalier from France 2 were given rare permission to film an example of @ @ @

An inside look at France's forced repatriation process
05:32 FOCUS © FRANCE 2
By: FRANCE 2 | Malcolm SURER
France is now receiving more asylum applications than any other EU country. Last year saw some 133,000 requests, up 7.3 percent on the previous year. Also on the rise are cases of forced repatriation: foreigners whose applications have failed and who are deported back to their home country. It's an expensive and time-consuming process fraught with legal, humanitarian and logistical concerns. Our colleagues Hakim Abdelkhalek, Philippe Maire and Delphine Chevalier from France 2 were given rare permission to film an example of forced repatriation.


france24--2020-01-30--Comic book writer Joe Sacco on redefining war reporting

As the world 's leading comics festival of Angouleme gets underway in the south of France , we meet Joe @ @ @ @ @ world 's top cartoonists and the creator of war reportage comics .
He speaks to @ @ @ @ @ work on indigenous North America , `` Paying the Land '' ; his most famous @ @ @ @ @ and `` Safe Area Gorazde '' ; and why he thinks The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ day on political cartoons following a social media outcry about an anti-Semitic cartoon featuring Benjamin @ @

Comic book writer Joe Sacco on redefining war reporting
11:42 ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
As the world's leading comics festival of Angouleme gets underway in the south of France, we meet Joe Sacco, one of the world's top cartoonists and the creator of war reportage comics. He speaks to Eve Jackson about his new work on indigenous North America, "Paying the Land"; his most famous award-winning books "Palestine" and "Safe Area Gorazde"; and why he thinks The New York Times are cowards for calling a day on political cartoons following a social media outcry about an anti-Semitic cartoon featuring Benjamin Netanyahu.


france24--2020-01-30--Spanish pharmacists react to social media influencers promoting medication

Guillermo Martin Melgar , who tweets under the name “ The Furious Pharmacy ” ( Farmacia enfurecida ) is extremely worried by this growing trend .
He himself is extremely active on social media and is part of a group known as the the Association of Pharmacist Influencers in Spain .
In September 2019 , he posted a thread calling out influencers and bloggers that have been recommending specific medication .
`` I ’ m going to put together a thread of all the influencers and bloggers who are promoting medication , ” Melgar tweeted at the start of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and videos of the influencers in question .
One of the influencers recommending medication is Jenn Muchelas , who has amassed 249,000 followers on Instagram by posting photos of clothes and the beach .
In this excerpt from an Instagram story shared by Melgar in September , Muchelas recommends taking Aciclovir to take care of your lips .
In another video , fashion and beauty blogger Maria Soriano , who has 281,000 followers on Instagram , points the camera at one of her friends , who is holding up an Eridosis wipe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my bag in case Marta gets a pimple !
” Lots of bloggers recommend using Eridosis to treat acne .
Eridosis is applied using a wipe so it can be mistaken for a cosmetic item instead of a medication .
Eridosis is an antibiotic and Aciclovir is a strong , antiviral medication and neither of these medications should be taken without a prescription from a doctor .
Promoting them is illegal under Spanish law .
Melgar saw more and more of these videos online and decided that he needed to act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their Instagram stories .
They were recommending medication without any knowledge of what it actually contains .
The medication that they were talking about should be prescribed by a doctor or recommended by a pharmacist to a particular patient , not recommended to the entire population .
People are coming into pharmacies and asking for medication that they saw influencers take .
Sometimes , pharmacists aren ’ t careful and sell them these products .
That ’ s really dangerous .
Customers could be allergic to the medication or have bad side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be your pharmacist , a health professional who is an expert in medicine ” After seeing Melgar ’ s posts , a professional group of pharmacists , the General Council of the Association of Official Pharmacists ( Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Farmacéuticos , or CGCGF ) also spoke out about the dangers of this practice and called on the Minister of Health to do so , as well .
Ana López-Casero , the spokesperson for the CGCGF , says that recommending medication puts people ’ s health at risk , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It ’ s the absolute opposite of what we should be promoting -- the rational and responsible use of medication , ” López-Casero says .
“ You shouldn ’ t play around with health .
It ’ s important to tell people online that if they have a concern about medication , the real influencer should be their pharmacist , who is a health professional and an expert in medicine.
” In this video from June 2018 , a YouTuber who makes videos about beauty trends told her more than a million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all night to get rid of acne .
Aspirin contains an ingredient called acetylsalicylic acid , which is excellent for fighting acne , ” she says .
However , aspirin should not be taken in strong doses and even a topical application can be dangerous if you use too much .
Brands often pay influencers to promote their products or trips , etc .
On both Instagram and YouTube , you can indicate when it is a paid partnership , but a lot of influencers don ’ t do this .
Do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratories ?
The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to the GSK laboratory , which produces Aciclovir : '' GSK says that [ bloggers are carrying out ] this kind of activity on a totally independent basis , in accordance with both Spanish law and the internal policy of GSK , which bans any kind of contractual agreement with influencers , whether we ’ re talking about prescription medicine or drugs sold over the counter . ''
After the CGCGF complaint , the Spanish Health Minister decided to start working with Google to eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several videos have been removed from YouTube .
The Spanish Health Minister told the newspaper El Pais that they haven ’ t received any complaints about content on Instagram .
However , pharmacist Guillermo Martin Melgar thinks that Instagram is the most problematic platform of all : Half of people in Spain think that antibiotics are used to treat colds and viruses , according to a study published by the European Commission in 2016 .
Article by Marie Genries

SPAIN
Spanish influencers on Instagram and YouTube have started recommending medication to their followers. This illegal practice has many pharmacists worried.
Advertising Read more
Spanish social media influencers have started recommending medication to their followers on YouTube and Instagram, which pharmacists say poses serious health concerns. The FRANCE 24 Observers took a look at this dangerous trend and what pharmacists and officials are doing to combat it.
“No influencer is an expert in medication-- YOUR PHARMACIST IS,” tweeted an association of Spanish pharmacists on January 11. "Medication IS NOT a trend.”
Ante la creciente tendencia de influencers que recomiendan medicamentos en sus perfiles, desde @IniciativaFarma queremos concienciar a la población que el ÚNICO experto en medicamentos es el farmacéutico.
Porque los medicamentos no son una moda.#FarmacéuticosConIniciativa pic.twitter.com/zjUtNMbnjj Iniciativa Farmacéutica (@IniciativaFarma) January 10, 2020
"In light of the growing trend of influencers recommending medication, we wanted to inform the public that pharmacists are the ONLY experts in medication,” tweeted an association of Spanish pharmacists, along with the slogan “medication is NOT a trend”.
This tweet is a response to a growing trend in Spain. Influencers, often with thousands of followers, have been posting videos on YouTube and Instagram recommending medication to treat an array of conditions, including insomnia and acne and other skin problems.
"People are coming into pharmacies and asking for specific medication because they saw an influencer take it"
Guillermo Martin Melgar, who tweets under the name “The Furious Pharmacy” (Farmacia enfurecida) is extremely worried by this growing trend. He himself is extremely active on social media and is part of a group known as the the Association of Pharmacist Influencers in Spain. In September 2019, he posted a thread calling out influencers and bloggers that have been recommending specific medication.
Voy a hacer un hilo recopilando a todos los influenseres y blogueras que promocionen el consumo de medicamentos.
Se aceptan aportaciones: Farmacia Enfurecida (@Farmaenfurecida) September 9, 2019
"I’m going to put together a thread of all the influencers and bloggers who are promoting medication,” Melgar tweeted at the start of this thread, which was full of screengrabs and videos of the influencers in question.
Supposedly prescipted medication
One of the influencers recommending medication is Jenn Muchelas, who has amassed 249,000 followers on Instagram by posting photos of clothes and the beach.
In this excerpt from an Instagram story shared by Melgar in September, Muchelas recommends taking Aciclovir to take care of your lips.
In another video, fashion and beauty blogger Maria Soriano, who has 281,000 followers on Instagram, points the camera at one of her friends, who is holding up an Eridosis wipe, and says, "I have Eridosis in my bag in case Marta gets a pimple!”
Lots of bloggers recommend using Eridosis to treat acne. Eridosis is applied using a wipe so it can be mistaken for a cosmetic item instead of a medication.
Eridosis is an antibiotic and Aciclovir is a strong, antiviral medication and neither of these medications should be taken without a prescription from a doctor. Promoting them is illegal under Spanish law.
El Aciclovir también es cool
De Jmuchelas. pic.twitter.com/jkfO7IkluC Farmacia Enfurecida (@Farmaenfurecida) September 15, 2019
"Llevo Eridosis Enel bolso por si a Marta le sale un grano"
Marta Soriano. pic.twitter.com/fQ3f4G1ZYa Farmacia Enfurecida (@Farmaenfurecida) September 14, 2019
Melgar saw more and more of these videos online and decided that he needed to act.
I started seeing fashion influencers reference medication in their Instagram stories. They were recommending medication without any knowledge of what it actually contains. The medication that they were talking about should be prescribed by a doctor or recommended by a pharmacist to a particular patient, not recommended to the entire population. People are coming into pharmacies and asking for medication that they saw influencers take. Sometimes, pharmacists aren’t careful and sell them these products. That’s really dangerous. Customers could be allergic to the medication or have bad side effects.
“The real influencer should be your pharmacist, a health professional who is an expert in medicine”
After seeing Melgar’s posts, a professional group of pharmacists, the General Council of the Association of Official Pharmacists (Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Farmacéuticos, or CGCGF) also spoke out about the dangers of this practice and called on the Minister of Health to do so, as well.
Ana López-Casero, the spokesperson for the CGCGF, says that recommending medication puts people’s health at risk, especially when you are talking about antibiotics.
"It’s the absolute opposite of what we should be promoting-- the rational and responsible use of medication,” López-Casero says. “You shouldn’t play around with health. It’s important to tell people online that if they have a concern about medication, the real influencer should be their pharmacist, who is a health professional and an expert in medicine.”
In this video from June 2018, a YouTuber who makes videos about beauty trends told her more than a million followers to put aspirin on their skin all night to get rid of acne. Aspirin contains an ingredient called acetylsalicylic acid, which is excellent for fighting acne,” she says. However, aspirin should not be taken in strong doses and even a topical application can be dangerous if you use too much.
Brands often pay influencers to promote their products or trips, etc. On both Instagram and YouTube, you can indicate when it is a paid partnership, but a lot of influencers don’t do this. Do the Spanish influencers recommending medicine have contracts with laboratories? The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to the GSK laboratory, which produces Aciclovir:
"GSK says that [bloggers are carrying out] this kind of activity on a totally independent basis, in accordance with both Spanish law and the internal policy of GSK, which bans any kind of contractual agreement with influencers, whether we’re talking about prescription medicine or drugs sold over the counter."
After the CGCGF complaint, the Spanish Health Minister decided to start working with Google to eliminate videos recommending medication. Since then, several videos have been removed from YouTube. The Spanish Health Minister told the newspaper El Pais that they haven’t received any complaints about content on Instagram. However, pharmacist Guillermo Martin Melgar thinks that Instagram is the most problematic platform of all:
Most of these videos are shared as Instagram stories, which means that they are deleted after 24 hours. It’s really hard to find them and, currently, nothing is being done about this particular social media platform.
Half of people in Spain think that antibiotics are used to treat colds and viruses, according to a study published by the European Commission in 2016.
Article by Marie Genries


france24--2020-01-31--In London’s ‘Frog Valley,’ French diaspora braces for Brexit

French nationals living in the UK are greeting Britain ’ s January 31 exit from the EU with Gallic resignation and trepidation over administrative procedures to come .
Stepping out of the South Kensington tube station , down the road from the Royal Albert Hall in the heart of the British capital , can sometimes be a surreal experience .
As elegant mamans hustle their children to the prestigious Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle , the French language can be heard almost as much as English .
Chic French cafés , bakeries , patisseries and cheese shops lend a distinctive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been dubbed `` Frog Valley '' by Londoners .
For residents of this French microcosm in London , and French nationals in the rest of the UK , there are uncertainties around Britain ’ s January 31 exit from the European Union .
On Harrington Road , not far from the Institut Français , the well-stocked Librairie La Page French bookshop offers everything from the lofty works of novelist-politician Erik Orsenna to the latest Vanessa Springora shock-book .
Behind the counter , Éléonore and Emma shrug their shoulders when asked about the January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've been talking about it for so long , we 're a bit jaded now .
In the end , now that we 're sure it 's going to happen , we 're more relaxed .
No more endless back and forth .
And if we have to leave , we 'll find work somewhere else . ''
Britain ’ s legal exit from the EU more than three years after the 2016 Brexit referendum appears not to have had an immediate impact on EU nationals living here .
The Brexit withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Parliament in Brussels this month includes an 11-month transition period that ends December 31 , 2020 .
During this phase – the so-called implementation period – Britain remains in the EU customs union and single market to ensure frictionless trade until a long-term relationship is agreed .
Until the end of 2020 , the British will continue to apply and benefit from European rules , including the freedom of movement , without membership in the EU ’ s political institutions .
Sick of Brexit conversations Nearly 150,000 French citizens are registered on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the southeastern region , which includes London .
The total estimated number of French nationals in the southeast is around 300,000 , most of whom appear not to be unduly worried .
Since the 2016 Brexit referendum , the French Embassy in the UK has not noted any noticeable change in the arrivals and departures of French people in Britain , which has long welcomed executives , self-employed entrepreneurs , as well as young people seeking odd jobs and an opportunity to polish their English .
`` There was a great deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There was a lot of grief , a feeling that they were no longer welcome .
Brexit had a very strong emotional impact for those who have been here for a long time .
The shock effect has eased somewhat since then and the British authorities – especially London ’ s mayor [ Sadiq Khan ] – have been very insistent that the Europeans living here at the time of Brexit were at home here , '' a French diplomatic source told FRANCE 24 .
`` We had more registrations in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maero , head of London 's Centre Charles Péguy , which helps French new arrivals settle in the city and find jobs .
“ At most , we had a few calls from people who were planning to come to the UK in February [ 2020 ] and did n't know whether to apply for a visa .
But most of them know that for a year , they can still enjoy London as before.
” Maero has lived in the British capital since 2010 and says he ’ s tired of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ careful to note however that as a foreigner he has not felt stigmatised over the divisive issue since 2016 .
`` What pissed me off most was the referendum campaign and all the lies that accompanied it , '' he said .
‘ Settling ’ the issue of EU nationals in Britain Whether it ’ s the wealthy classes of South Kensington or elsewhere in this capital of exorbitant rents , the main concern stirring conversations of the French diaspora in London is their status after Brexit .
In March 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for EU nationals who have resided in the UK for at least five years to continue living here legally after Brexit .
The new status , which requires a rapid online registration , should allow them to continue working , studying and accessing the country 's social benefits and services under the same conditions as before .
Securing the rights of an estimated three million EU nationals living in the UK was a top priority for Brussels during the withdrawal negotiations .
“ We were uncompromising in the negotiations in Brussels to guarantee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was discussed already in the first phase of the negotiations , in the withdrawal agreement .
There will be no going back on this , '' said the diplomatic source .
In theory , there ’ s nothing to worry about .
In reality , there ’ s probably plenty .
‘ Anxious , angry , unwanted ’ Nicolas Hatton , co-chair of 3million , a campaign group for EU citizens created after the 2016 referendum , is familiar with these anxieties .
During an interview at the European Commission London Office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fly side-by-side a stone 's throw from the British parliament , Hatton , a Frenchman who ’ s lived in the UK since 1995 , details a number of them .
`` It ’ s true that after 31st January nothing will change for those who already live here .
The problem is the uncertainty about what will come after that , '' Hatton explained .
The 3million group , along with a professor at Northumbria University , conducted a survey of European citizens ’ views on the settled status scheme , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many tell us they find it insulting , even humiliating , to have to apply online , especially those who have lived here for a long time , because it 's tantamount to asking a favour .
We 've been asking for a classic administrative registration since 2017 , '' said Hatton .
In the poll , the respondents described their feelings as `` anxious '' , `` angry '' , and `` unwanted ” .
This partly explains , according to Hatton , why only 100,000 French people have so far applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be granted until June 30 , 2021 .
`` After this grace period , those who have not applied will be illegal immigrants , '' he explained .
He is especially worried about the elderly , people who are not connected to the Internet or have lived here for so long that they feel more British than French , or disadvantaged people like the homeless or Roma .
No physical document to prove residency Another major concern is the lack of a physical ID in the UK , where everything is digitised .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had no problem finding housing or work in the UK , fear that having to prove a digital settled status could lead to discrimination .
The 3million survey found 90 percent of respondents were unhappy about the lack of a physical document to demonstrate their proof of residency .
`` The truth is that after all the lies of the Brexit campaigns and the latest legislative elections , Europeans have lost all confidence in the [ British ] government and the home [ interior ] ministry , ” said Hatton .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shares with three room-mates in Mile End , East London , Laura , a Frenchwoman who has been living in England for five years , lost her patience with the email she received after applying for settled status .
`` It is clearly stated on this document that it is not a physical proof of my status , which will only be verifiable online .
So , I have to trust them to keep my data .
But how do you expect us to trust the government , especially after episodes like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Windrush scandal shook Britain in 2018 , when around 50,000 Commonwealth workers who had arrived in England from 1948 to 1973 found themselves threatened with deportation due to a lack of documentation proving their right to reside in the country .
The trauma it unleashed for what came to be called “ the Windrush generation ” – including legal residents being treated as illegals at British airports and denied re-entry , people losing jobs and homes – forced the resignation of then British home secretary Amber Rudd .
Johnson ’ s predecessor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary when the crackdown on the Windrush generation began , also came in for harsh criticism .
`` We want to make sure that the same thing will not happen to European citizens , '' said Guy Verhofstadt , European Parliament Brexit Coordinator .
The British government ’ s track record on digital data does not spark confidence either .
In 2014 , the ministry of justice was fined £180,000 for losing sensitive data on prisoners .
In 2008 , the ministry of defence was forced to admit that it had lost 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which had been stolen .
If Britain ’ s ministries do not always inspire confidence among the French diaspora , political leaders fare even worse – and that ’ s cause for concern .
`` With someone like Boris Johnson in power , ” noted Laura , “ anything is possible '' .
This article was adapted from the original in French .

On the ground
French nationals living in the UK greeted Britain’s January 31 exit from the EU with Gallic resignation and trepidation over the administrative procedures to come.
Advertising Read more
Stepping out of the South Kensington tube station, down the road from the Royal Albert Hall in the heart of the British capital, can sometimes be a surreal experience. As elegant mamans hustle their children to the prestigious Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, the French language can be heard almost as much as English. Chic French cafés, bakeries, patisseries and cheese shops lend a distinctive Gallic quality to a district that has been dubbed "Frog Valley" by Londoners.
For residents of this French microcosm in London, and French nationals in the rest of the UK, there are uncertainties around Britain’s January 31 exit from the European Union.
On Harrington Road, not far from the Institut Français, the well-stocked Librairie La Page French bookshop offers everything from the lofty works of novelist-politician Erik Orsenna to the latest Vanessa Springora shock-book. Behind the counter, Éléonore and Emma shrug their shoulders when asked about the January 31 deadline. "Le Brexit, we've been talking about it for so long, we're a bit jaded now. In the end, now that we're sure it's going to happen, we're more relaxed. No more endless back and forth. And if we have to leave, we'll find work somewhere else."
Britain’s legal exit from the EU more than three years after the 2016 Brexit referendum appears not to have had an immediate impact on EU nationals living here. The Brexit withdrawal agreement ratified by the UK and the European Parliament in Brussels this month includes an 11-month transition period that ends December 31, 2020. During this phase – the so-called implementation period – Britain remains in the EU customs union and single market to ensure frictionless trade until a long-term relationship is agreed. Until the end of 2020, the British will continue to apply and benefit from European rules, including the freedom of movement, without membership in the EU’s political institutions.
Sick of Brexit conversations
Nearly 150,000 French citizens are registered on the consular registers in Britain, mostly in the southeastern region, which includes London. The total estimated number of French nationals in the southeast is around 300,000, most of whom appear not to be unduly worried.
Since the 2016 Brexit referendum, the French Embassy in the UK has not noted any noticeable change in the arrivals and departures of French people in Britain, which has long welcomed executives, self-employed entrepreneurs, as well as young people seeking odd jobs and an opportunity to polish their English.
"There was a great deal of consternation in the community after 2016. There was a lot of grief, a feeling that they were no longer welcome. Brexit had a very strong emotional impact for those who have been here for a long time. The shock effect has eased somewhat since then and the British authorities – especially London’s mayor [Sadiq Khan] – have been very insistent that the Europeans living here at the time of Brexit were at home here," a French diplomatic source told FRANCE 24.
"We had more registrations in 2019 than in 2018," said Fabien Maero, head of London's Centre Charles Péguy, which helps French new arrivals settle in the city and find jobs. “At most, we had a few calls from people who were planning to come to the UK in February [2020] and didn't know whether to apply for a visa. But most of them know that for a year, they can still enjoy London as before.”
Maero has lived in the British capital since 2010 and says he’s tired of the conversations about Brexit. He’s careful to note however that as a foreigner he has not felt stigmatised over the divisive issue since 2016. "What pissed me off most was the referendum campaign and all the lies that accompanied it," he said.
‘Settling’ the issue of EU nationals in Britain
Whether it’s the wealthy classes of South Kensington or elsewhere in this capital of exorbitant rents, the main concern stirring conversations of the French diaspora in London is their status after Brexit.
In March 2019, the British government launched the settled status scheme for EU nationals who have resided in the UK for at least five years to continue living here legally after Brexit. The new status, which requires a rapid online registration, should allow them to continue working, studying and accessing the country's social benefits and services under the same conditions as before.
Securing the rights of an estimated three million EU nationals living in the UK was a top priority for Brussels during the withdrawal negotiations. “We were uncompromising in the negotiations in Brussels to guarantee the rights of European citizens. This was discussed already in the first phase of the negotiations, in the withdrawal agreement. There will be no going back on this," said the diplomatic source.
In theory, there’s nothing to worry about. In reality, there’s probably plenty.
‘Anxious, angry, unwanted’
Nicolas Hatton, co-chair of 3million, a campaign group for EU citizens created after the 2016 referendum, is familiar with these anxieties. During an interview at the European Commission London Office, where the Union Jack and EU flag fly side-by-side a stone's throw from the British parliament, Hatton, a Frenchman who’s lived in the UK since 1995, details a number of them.
"It’s true that after 31st January nothing will change for those who already live here. The problem is the uncertainty about what will come after that," Hatton explained.
The 3million group, along with a professor at Northumbria University, conducted a survey of European citizens’ views on the settled status scheme, in which 400 French people participated. "Many tell us they find it insulting, even humiliating, to have to apply online, especially those who have lived here for a long time, because it's tantamount to asking a favour. We've been asking for a classic administrative registration since 2017," said Hatton.
In the poll, the respondents described their feelings as "anxious", "angry", and "unwanted”. This partly explains, according to Hatton, why only 100,000 French people have so far applied for the settled status, which can be granted until June 30, 2021. "After this grace period, those who have not applied will be illegal immigrants," he explained.
He is especially worried about the elderly, people who are not connected to the Internet or have lived here for so long that they feel more British than French, or disadvantaged people like the homeless or Roma.
No physical document to prove residency
Another major concern is the lack of a physical ID in the UK, where everything is digitised. Many French nationals who, until now, had no problem finding housing or work in the UK, fear that having to prove a digital settled status could lead to discrimination.
The 3million survey found 90 percent of respondents were unhappy about the lack of a physical document to demonstrate their proof of residency. "The truth is that after all the lies of the Brexit campaigns and the latest legislative elections, Europeans have lost all confidence in the [British] government and the home [interior] ministry,” said Hatton.
In her cosy Victorian house, which she shares with three room-mates in Mile End, East London, Laura, a Frenchwoman who has been living in England for five years, lost her patience with the email she received after applying for settled status. "It is clearly stated on this document that it is not a physical proof of my status, which will only be verifiable online. So, I have to trust them to keep my data. But how do you expect us to trust the government, especially after episodes like the Windrush scandal?" she raged.
The Windrush scandal shook Britain in 2018, when around 50,000 Commonwealth workers who had arrived in England from 1948 to 1973 found themselves threatened with deportation due to a lack of documentation proving their right to reside in the country. The trauma it unleashed for what came to be called “the Windrush generation” – including legal residents being treated as illegals at British airports and denied re-entry, people losing jobs and homes – forced the resignation of then British home secretary Amber Rudd. Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, who was home secretary when the crackdown on the Windrush generation began, also came in for harsh criticism. "We want to make sure that the same thing will not happen to European citizens," said Guy Verhofstadt, European Parliament Brexit Coordinator.
The British government’s track record on digital data does not spark confidence either. In 2014, the ministry of justice was fined £180,000 for losing sensitive data on prisoners. In 2008, the ministry of defence was forced to admit that it had lost 100 USB memory sticks and 650 laptops, which had been stolen.
If Britain’s ministries do not always inspire confidence among the French diaspora, political leaders fare even worse – and that’s cause for concern. "With someone like Boris Johnson in power,” noted Laura, “anything is possible".
This article was adapted from the original in French.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-31--UK's Johnson hails Brexit as 'new beginning' as conflicted nation prepares celebration

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday hailed a `` new beginning '' for Britain as it prepares to leave the European Union after 47 years .
The Conservative leader called for an end to years of bitter arguments over Brexit that have divided the country , saying it was time to move on .
`` Our job as the government -- my job -- is to bring this country together and take us forward , '' he said in remarks released by his office .
`` This is not an end but a beginning .
This is the moment when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on a new act .
`` It is a moment of real national renewal and change . ''
Britain will leave the EU at 11:00 pm ( 2300 GMT ) on Friday , January 31 , more than three years after the 2016 referendum vote for Brexit .
To mark the occasion , Johnson will on Friday hold a special cabinet meeting in Sunderland , a city in northeast England that voted heavily for Brexit .
During last month 's general election , in which his Conservatives won a huge majority , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many 'Leave ' areas that globalisation had left them behind .
He has promised investment in public services and infrastructure to `` level up '' the whole country .
`` This is the dawn of a new era in which we no longer accept that your life chances , your family 's life chances , should depend on which part of the country you grow up in , '' he said .
`` This is the moment when we begin to unite and level up . ''
Johnson will expand upon his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday night to mark the Brexit moment .
He is also hosting a reception for staff at his Downing Street office , where there will be a light show , and a new commemorative coin has been issued .

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday hailed a "new beginning" for Britain as it prepares to leave the European Union after 47 years.
Advertising Read more
The Conservative leader called for an end to years of bitter arguments over Brexit that have divided the country, saying it was time to move on.
"Our job as the government -- my job -- is to bring this country together and take us forward," he said in remarks released by his office.
01:58
"This is not an end but a beginning. This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act.
"It is a moment of real national renewal and change."
Britain will leave the EU at 11:00 pm (2300 GMT) on Friday, January 31, more than three years after the 2016 referendum vote for Brexit.
01:32
To mark the occasion, Johnson will on Friday hold a special cabinet meeting in Sunderland, a city in northeast England that voted heavily for Brexit.
During last month's general election, in which his Conservatives won a huge majority, the prime minister vowed to address concerns in many 'Leave' areas that globalisation had left them behind.
He has promised investment in public services and infrastructure to "level up" the whole country.
"This is the dawn of a new era in which we no longer accept that your life chances, your family's life chances, should depend on which part of the country you grow up in," he said.
"This is the moment when we begin to unite and level up."
Johnson will expand upon his remarks in a speech to the nation on Friday night to mark the Brexit moment.
He is also hosting a reception for staff at his Downing Street office, where there will be a light show, and a new commemorative coin has been issued.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-31--Britain's Brexit 'leap into the unknown'

We look at the main British front pages on what is being called Brexit Day .
There is some euphoria @ @ @ @ @ from the European Union and also some anxiety as the Brits go it alone .
@ @ @ @ @ in some of the French papers as the spectre of a breakaway UK looms on @ @ @ @ @ .

Britain's Brexit 'leap into the unknown'
03:18 IN THE PAPERS © FRANCE 24
We look at the main British front pages on what is being called Brexit Day. There is some euphoria at the country's departure from the European Union and also some anxiety as the Brits go it alone. We also look at reaction in some of the French papers as the spectre of a breakaway UK looms on their doorstep. Join us.


france24--2020-01-31--Divided Britons bemoan and celebrate Brexit on social media

Postcards are seen at a souvenir shop on Westminster Bridge in London on January 31 , 2020 on the day @ @ @ @ @ the European Union .
It ’ s Brexit day and Britons on both side of @ @ @ @ @ social media to tell the world how they feel .
For those who wanted out @ @ @ @ @ of celebration .
Others , though , are making their displeasure known—some more publicly than @ @ @ @ @ to , uh , metaphor to convey their viewpoints .
But all the tears in @ @ @ @ @ change one simple fact : It ’ s over .
The only thing left to @ @ @ @ @ breakup song—or playlist .

Brexit Day
It’s Brexit day and Britons on both side of the divide are taking to social media to tell the world how they feel.
Postcards are seen at a souvenir shop on Westminster Bridge in London on January 31, 2020 on the day that the UK formally leaves the European Union.
Advertising Read more
For those who wanted out, today is a day of celebration.
Brexit Party MEPs have left the European Parliament for the final time - carrying the Union Jack "home" to the UK.
Led by Anne Widdecombe, the collective were played out by a bagpiper and carried a 'Brexodus Express' sign.#BrexitDay | @brexitparty_uk pic.twitter.com/pMZDAhP7DJ — Channel 5 News (@5_News) January 31, 2020
Brexit breakfast... Had to be a full English really didn't it!! #BrexitDay pic.twitter.com/9gbyHIhL1K — Joe (@joe606) January 31, 2020
Others, though, are making their displeasure known—some more publicly than others.
Others are turning to, uh, metaphor to convey their viewpoints.
Anyone else spot the time Boris signed the Withdrawal Act? 4:04pm
Error - sense not found. #BrexitDay #Brexit pic.twitter.com/D7JAU4GCdF — Nathan McGurl (@nathanmcgurl) January 31, 2020
I’ve not seen a better visual metaphor for Tory Brexit.
Happy #BrexitDay 🖐🏾pic.twitter.com/BjkHYPAcFe — Kerry-Anne Mendoza (@TheMendozaWoman) January 31, 2020
But all the tears in the world won’t change one simple fact: It’s over. The only thing left to do is to choose a breakup song—or playlist.
Not feeling ready to say goodbye to our neighbours over in the UK? Maybe streaming our Brexit-themed playlist will help you get through those mixed emotions #BrexitDay #brexit https://t.co/fM2xblAnaZ — UCC Government & Politics Society (@uccgovpol) January 31, 2020
HERE IT IS! 👀 @BelindadeLucy and I have read all your great suggestions and made the
🍾🇬🇧 🎉 ULTIMATE BREXIT PARTY PLAYLIST! 🎉 🇬🇧 🍾
Made public for all the patriots, democrats and heroes to enjoy on 31st January! 🥰 🥳
Party with us here! 👉🏻 https://t.co/dMeaYpCkPO — Alexandra Phillips MEP (@BrexitAlex) January 22, 2020
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-30--WHO declares coronavirus global emergency as death toll surpasses 200

World Health Organization ( WHO ) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrives for a press conference following a WHO meeting to discuss whether the new coronavirus outbreak constitutes an international health emergency in Geneva , Switzerland on January 30 , 2020 .
The nationwide death toll in China 's coronavirus outbreak has risen to 213 , with nearly 2,000 new cases confirmed , the National Health Commission said on Friday .
In its daily update , the commission said 43 new deaths had occurred as a result of the virus , all but one of them in hardest-hit Hubei province where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers indicate that the daily death count and the overall spread of the virus within China were continuing to grow steadily , despite unprecedented quarantine measures imposed on Hubei a week ago and other preventative steps nationwide .
On Thursday , Chinese health officials had reported a nationwide total of 38 new deaths , all but one of them in Hubei .
The National Health Commission said there were 1,982 new confirmed cases , bringing the total to just under 10,000 .
Another 102,000 people were under medical observation with possible symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially downplayed the threat posed by the disease , but revised its risk assessment after crisis talks on Thursday .
`` We must all act together now to limit further spread ... We can only stop it together , '' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing in Geneva .
Tedros nevertheless said travel and trade restrictions with China were unnecessary to stem the spread of the virus , which has now been confirmed in more than 15 other countries across the globe .
Many countries have already urged their citizens not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entry for travellers from the central Chinese city of Wuhan , where the virus first surfaced .

The nationwide death toll in China's coronavirus outbreak has risen to 213, with nearly 2,000 new cases confirmed, the National Health Commission said on Friday.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrives for a press conference following a WHO meeting to discuss whether the new coronavirus outbreak constitutes an international health emergency in Geneva, Switzerland on January 30, 2020.
Advertising Read more
In its daily update, the commission said 43 new deaths had occurred as a result of the virus, all but one of them in hardest-hit Hubei province where the virus first emerged.
The latest numbers indicate that the daily death count and the overall spread of the virus within China were continuing to grow steadily, despite unprecedented quarantine measures imposed on Hubei a week ago and other preventative steps nationwide.
On Thursday, Chinese health officials had reported a nationwide total of 38 new deaths, all but one of them in Hubei.
01:40
The National Health Commission said there were 1,982 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to just under 10,000.
Another 102,000 people were under medical observation with possible symptoms of the respiratory ailment.
01:42
The WHO had initially downplayed the threat posed by the disease, but revised its risk assessment after crisis talks on Thursday.
"We must all act together now to limit further spread... We can only stop it together," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing in Geneva.
01:35
Tedros nevertheless said travel and trade restrictions with China were unnecessary to stem the spread of the virus, which has now been confirmed in more than 15 other countries across the globe.
Many countries have already urged their citizens not to visit China while some have banned entry for travellers from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first surfaced.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-31--Week in Review: French diaspora braces for Brexit, Tunisia struggles with sex education and China ba

Week in Review: French diaspora braces for Brexit, Tunisia struggles with sex education and China battles coronavirus

French diaspora in London braces for Brexit ; Tunisia struggles to implement a sex education curriculum years in the making ; daily life in China changes during the coronavirus threat ; and Paris voters assess Mayor Anne Hidalgo 's record about six weeks before municipal elections .
French nationals living in the UK are greeting Britain ’ s January 31 exit from the EU with Gallic resignation and trepidation over administrative procedures to come .
Despite a majority of Scottish voters rejecting Brexit in the 2016 referendum , Scotland leaves the EU along with the rest of the UK on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this shows that their nation is being ignored and bolsters the case for leaving the UK .
On the other side of the independence debate , some rue that Brexit makes it more difficult to make the case for unionism , while others argue that Scottish grievances over Brexit are unjustified .
Tunisia ’ s announcement late last year that it would introduce sex education starting at the primary school level was welcomed as a trailblazer in the Arab world .
But the implementation has faced challenges , from a watering down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Five Paris voters assess Anne Hidalgo 's record as mayoral race heats up After six years as Paris mayor , Anne Hidalgo ’ s re-election bid is in full swing .
With Parisians heading to the ballot box in March , the Spanish-born Socialist leads a crowded field on 23 percent in the polls .
What do Parisians make of her time at City Hall ?
FRANCE 24 hit the streets of the French capital to find out .
After seven weeks of a record-breaking strike that shuttered the Paris rail network and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paris ’ s restaurant owners are still counting the cost .
FRANCE 24 reports .
Face masks , fear and boredom : Life in China under virus threat The outbreak of a new and deadly virus has brought disruption to the daily lives of people across China .
In Wuhan , the city where the previously unknown form of coronavirus first appeared , the streets are nearly deserted .
Placed under lockdown by the central government since January 23 , with citizens forbidden to leave without special permission , many are choosing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Outside the city , some villages have gone to even greater extremes in an attempt to keep the virus at bay : constructing road blocks and screening anyone attempting to enter .
Tens of thousands take to streets in Ethiopia over abducted students Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across northern Ethiopia on Tuesday , demanding answers from the government over the kidnapping of 27 students more than 50 days ago .
In DR Congo , the country has experimented with President Felix Tshisekedi 's flagship reform for free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreadlocks in Malawian classrooms is reversed after a court ruling upholds Rastafarianism as a religion .
'We 're not turning our back on Europe , ' UK ambassador to France tells FRANCE 24 The British ambassador to France , Edward Llewellyn , spoke to FRANCE 24 at the embassy in Paris ahead of Brexit Day .
He insisted that even if the UK is leaving the EU , it would remain `` a member of the European family of nations '' and `` a European country '' .
`` We 're not turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told FRANCE 24 .
The ambassador also outlined the administrative steps that British nationals in France will have to take , stressing that they will have plenty of time to do so .
Lost in translation ?
Exploring the peculiarities of French humour France is known around the world for its food , culture and quality of life but not so much for its sense of humour , which can often leave foreigners nonplussed .
How much of that is due to jokes being lost in translation and how much of it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French Connections Plus , Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot explore French humour and hopefully get a laugh out of it !
An inside look at France 's forced repatriation process France is now receiving more asylum applications than any other EU country .
Last year saw some 133,000 requests , up 7.3 percent on the previous year .
Also on the rise are cases of forced repatriation : foreigners whose applications have failed and who are deported back to their home country .
It 's an expensive and time-consuming process fraught with legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues Hakim Abdelkhalek , Philippe Maire and Delphine Chevalier from France 2 were given rare permission to film an example of forced repatriation .
The dark side of the cosmetics industry : Child labour used to mine mica in India Some 60 percent of the world 's production of mica - a mineral coveted for its sparkle , especially by the cosmetics industry - originates in two of India 's most impoverished states : Bihar and Jharkhand .
But before mica ends up in shiny lipsticks and other make-up products , it crosses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wholesalers .
This lack of traceability helps conceal a harsh reality : those who mine mica are often children who never get to attend school .
Our India correspondents report .
As the world 's leading comics festival of Angouleme gets underway in the south of France , we meet Joe Sacco , one of the world 's top cartoonists and the creator of war reportage comics .
He speaks to Eve Jackson about his new work on indigenous North America , `` Paying the Land '' ; his most famous award-winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Area Gorazde '' ; and why he thinks The New York Times are cowards for calling a day on political cartoons following a social media outcry about an anti-Semitic cartoon featuring Benjamin Netanyahu .
Film show : Roman Polanski 's 'An Officer and a Spy ' leads race for France 's top honours Film critic Lisa Nesselson speaks to Eve Jackson about the week 's film news , starting with the nominations for the 45th César Awards .
Roman Polanski 's `` An Officer and a Spy '' leads the nominations with 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Les Misérables '' has 11 .
We also look at the winners of this week 's Lumières Awards , the prizes awarded to French film by the foreign press living in France .
And we discover the comic Nazi satire `` Jojo Rabbit '' , from New Zealand-born screenwriter and director Taika Waititi , which is out in France this week .
UK snubs US with green light for Huawei 's 5G technology The British government will allow Huawei to play a limited role in developing a 5G mobile network - a snub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been lobbying for the Chinese tech giant to be blocked .
Also in the show - France 's tourism industry worries about the impact of the coronavirus , and Renault 's board of directors confirms a successor to Carlos Ghosn .

French diaspora in London braces for Brexit; Tunisia struggles to implement a sex education curriculum years in the making; daily life in China changes during the coronavirus threat; and Paris voters assess Mayor Anne Hidalgo's record about six weeks before municipal elections.
Advertising Read more
ARTICLES
In London's 'Frog Valley', French diaspora braces for Brexit
French nationals living in the UK are greeting Britain’s January 31 exit from the EU with Gallic resignation and trepidation over administrative procedures to come.
Anti-Brexit protesters at Westminster © Rémi Carlier
‘Two different political cultures’: A divided Scotland braces for Brexit
Despite a majority of Scottish voters rejecting Brexit in the 2016 referendum, Scotland leaves the EU along with the rest of the UK on January 31. For some Scots, this shows that their nation is being ignored and bolsters the case for leaving the UK. On the other side of the independence debate, some rue that Brexit makes it more difficult to make the case for unionism, while others argue that Scottish grievances over Brexit are unjustified.
Scotland's "New Town incarnates the British side to Edinburgh’s character". © Tom Wheeldon, FRANCE 24
Tunisia’s 'trailblazing' sex-ed programme struggles out of starting blocks
Tunisia’s announcement late last year that it would introduce sex education starting at the primary school level was welcomed as a trailblazer in the Arab world. But the implementation has faced challenges, from a watering down on subjects considered taboo to political turmoil.
Des lycéens tunisiens dans une salle d'examen à Tunis, en juin 20112. © Fethi Belaid - AFP
Five Paris voters assess Anne Hidalgo's record as mayoral race heats up
After six years as Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo’s re-election bid is in full swing. With Parisians heading to the ballot box in March, the Spanish-born Socialist leads a crowded field on 23 percent in the polls. What do Parisians make of her time at City Hall? FRANCE 24 hit the streets of the French capital to find out.
An electoral campaign poster of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is displayed in a Paris restaurant on January 13, 2020. © Charles Platiau/REUTERS
'They're killing Paris': Restaurants count the cost of 'catastrophic' strikes
After seven weeks of a record-breaking strike that shuttered the Paris rail network and brought chaos to the French capital, Paris’s restaurant owners are still counting the cost. FRANCE 24 reports.
Rodolpe Paquin, chef and owner of Le Repaire du Cartouche, has seen business plummet during Paris's record-breaking strikes. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
VIDEO REPORT
Face masks, fear and boredom: Life in China under virus threat
The outbreak of a new and deadly virus has brought disruption to the daily lives of people across China. In Wuhan, the city where the previously unknown form of coronavirus first appeared, the streets are nearly deserted. Placed under lockdown by the central government since January 23, with citizens forbidden to leave without special permission, many are choosing to remain indoors to minimize risk of infection.
Outside the city, some villages have gone to even greater extremes in an attempt to keep the virus at bay: constructing road blocks and screening anyone attempting to enter.
A man wears a face mask in Wuhan, China on January 28, 2020. © AFP / FRANCE 24
TV SHOWS
EYE ON AFRICA
Tens of thousands take to streets in Ethiopia over abducted students
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across northern Ethiopia on Tuesday, demanding answers from the government over the kidnapping of 27 students more than 50 days ago. In DR Congo, the country has experimented with President Felix Tshisekedi's flagship reform for free primary schools. And a ban on dreadlocks in Malawian classrooms is reversed after a court ruling upholds Rastafarianism as a religion.
EYE ON AFRICA © FRANCE 24
THE INTERVIEW
'We're not turning our back on Europe,' UK ambassador to France tells FRANCE 24
The British ambassador to France, Edward Llewellyn, spoke to FRANCE 24 at the embassy in Paris ahead of Brexit Day. He insisted that even if the UK is leaving the EU, it would remain "a member of the European family of nations" and "a European country". "We're not turning our back on Europe," he told FRANCE 24. The ambassador also outlined the administrative steps that British nationals in France will have to take, stressing that they will have plenty of time to do so.
Edward LLEWELLYN © FRANCE 24
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Lost in translation? Exploring the peculiarities of French humour
France is known around the world for its food, culture and quality of life but not so much for its sense of humour, which can often leave foreigners nonplussed. How much of that is due to jokes being lost in translation and how much of it is simply cultural? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot explore French humour and hopefully get a laugh out of it!
French Connections © France 24
FOCUS
An inside look at France's forced repatriation process
France is now receiving more asylum applications than any other EU country. Last year saw some 133,000 requests, up 7.3 percent on the previous year. Also on the rise are cases of forced repatriation: foreigners whose applications have failed and who are deported back to their home country. It's an expensive and time-consuming process fraught with legal, humanitarian and logistical concerns. Our colleagues Hakim Abdelkhalek, Philippe Maire and Delphine Chevalier from France 2 were given rare permission to film an example of forced repatriation.
At Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport's administrative detention centre, a man is being escorted by a French police officer. The foreigner is about to be deported back to his home country. © France 2
The dark side of the cosmetics industry: Child labour used to mine mica in India
Some 60 percent of the world's production of mica - a mineral coveted for its sparkle, especially by the cosmetics industry - originates in two of India's most impoverished states: Bihar and Jharkhand. But before mica ends up in shiny lipsticks and other make-up products, it crosses many borders, through networks of middlemen and wholesalers. This lack of traceability helps conceal a harsh reality: those who mine mica are often children who never get to attend school. Our India correspondents report.
In Jharkhand, one of India's poorest States, children picking mica. Child labour is still one of the main sources of mica production, a mineral coveted by many industries for its alluring sparkle. © France 24
Encore!
Comic book writer Joe Sacco on redefining war reporting
As the world's leading comics festival of Angouleme gets underway in the south of France, we meet Joe Sacco, one of the world's top cartoonists and the creator of war reportage comics. He speaks to Eve Jackson about his new work on indigenous North America, "Paying the Land"; his most famous award-winning books "Palestine" and "Safe Area Gorazde"; and why he thinks The New York Times are cowards for calling a day on political cartoons following a social media outcry about an anti-Semitic cartoon featuring Benjamin Netanyahu.
ENCORE! © France 24
Film show: Roman Polanski's 'An Officer and a Spy' leads race for France's top honours
Film critic Lisa Nesselson speaks to Eve Jackson about the week's film news, starting with the nominations for the 45th César Awards. Roman Polanski's "An Officer and a Spy" leads the nominations with 12 nods and Ladj Ly's Oscar-nominated "Les Misérables" has 11. We also look at the winners of this week's Lumières Awards, the prizes awarded to French film by the foreign press living in France. And we discover the comic Nazi satire "Jojo Rabbit", from New Zealand-born screenwriter and director Taika Waititi, which is out in France this week.
ENCORE! © Guy Ferrandis
Business Daily
UK snubs US with green light for Huawei's 5G technology
The British government will allow Huawei to play a limited role in developing a 5G mobile network - a snub to the Trump administration, which had been lobbying for the Chinese tech giant to be blocked. Also in the show - France's tourism industry worries about the impact of the coronavirus, and Renault's board of directors confirms a successor to Carlos Ghosn.
BUSINESS DAILY © France 24
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-31--India: Eleven years after Mumbai attacks, scars still visible

More than a decade after ten terrorists from Pakistan brought India ’ s financial capital Mumbai to a halt for nearly sixty hours , our team revisited the metropolis .
They found that the scars of those deadly attacks are still visible across the city , even eleven years on .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Mandakini Gahlot , Alban Alvarez , Clément Laborde and Adil Bhat report .
At 9.30pm on November 26 , 2008 , when gunshots first rang out in Mumbai , India 's biggest city , most residents thought the city ’ s infamous mafia networks were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Within minutes , the indiscriminate nature of the firing made it clear that something even more sinister was unfolding .
As the ten terrorists fanned out across South Mumbai , causing carnage at some of the city ’ s most iconic institutions , like the CST station and Taj Hotel , Mumbai ’ s residents struggled to come to terms with what they saw as an attack on their way of life .
From the bullet marks left intact at the legendary Café Leopold , to a discreet plaque at the CST @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iconic Taj Hotel , to a spectacular memorial paying tribute to the 163 dead on the rooftop of the Jewish centre , the scars of the attacks are impossible to miss .
The maximum city , as it ’ s sometimes called , is no stranger to terror attacks , and while 26/11 bought the megapolis to a standstill , its residents picked up the pieces and moved on almost immediately .
“ Mumbai does not stop for anyone , ” as Farhang Jehani , the owner of Leopold Café , where ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report .
But for those who lost loved ones in the attacks , moving on wasn ’ t quite as easy .
We met Aditya Sharma , who was only 12 when his father became one of the 58 people killed by the terrorists at the CST station .
He marvels at how easily people have moved on , and tell us about how difficult and long his own journey towards moving on has been .
Perhaps the most moving moment for us was when Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky took us to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack in which his parents were gunned down .
Eleven years later , the room is preserved exactly the way it was found after the attacks , with marks from hundreds of bullets and even a large gaping hole , possibly from a grenade .
In the midst of that violence , Baby Moishe ’ s survival lifted Mumbai ’ s hopes for a moment , and even today people speak in hushed tones about the “ miracle ” .
On the rooftop of the Jewish centre , an aesthetically designed memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives over those sixty hours .
As they stand there in quiet reflection , escaping the constant buzzing of the unstoppable city , their eyes are drawn to the dome of the Taj Hotel .
That dome , ablaze in flames , is a sight that no one in this city will ever forget .
But the fact that it 's still there today , an integral part of the Mumbai skyline , is a matter of pride for the city ’ s residents .

More than a decade after ten terrorists from Pakistan brought India’s financial capital Mumbai to a halt for nearly sixty hours, our team revisited the metropolis. They found that the scars of those deadly attacks are still visible across the city, even eleven years on. FRANCE 24’s Mandakini Gahlot, Alban Alvarez, Clément Laborde and Adil Bhat report.
Advertising
At 9.30pm on November 26, 2008, when gunshots first rang out in Mumbai, India's biggest city, most residents thought the city’s infamous mafia networks were at war with each other yet again. Within minutes, the indiscriminate nature of the firing made it clear that something even more sinister was unfolding. As the ten terrorists fanned out across South Mumbai, causing carnage at some of the city’s most iconic institutions, like the CST station and Taj Hotel, Mumbai’s residents struggled to come to terms with what they saw as an attack on their way of life.
From the bullet marks left intact at the legendary Café Leopold, to a discreet plaque at the CST station, from heightened security at the iconic Taj Hotel, to a spectacular memorial paying tribute to the 163 dead on the rooftop of the Jewish centre, the scars of the attacks are impossible to miss.
The maximum city, as it’s sometimes called, is no stranger to terror attacks, and while 26/11 bought the megapolis to a standstill, its residents picked up the pieces and moved on almost immediately. “Mumbai does not stop for anyone,” as Farhang Jehani, the owner of Leopold Café, where ten people were killed, told us in the report.
But for those who lost loved ones in the attacks, moving on wasn’t quite as easy. We met Aditya Sharma, who was only 12 when his father became one of the 58 people killed by the terrorists at the CST station. He marvels at how easily people have moved on, and tell us about how difficult and long his own journey towards moving on has been.
Perhaps the most moving moment for us was when Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky took us to the room where two-year-old Baby Moishe miraculously survived the attack in which his parents were gunned down. Eleven years later, the room is preserved exactly the way it was found after the attacks, with marks from hundreds of bullets and even a large gaping hole, possibly from a grenade. In the midst of that violence, Baby Moishe’s survival lifted Mumbai’s hopes for a moment, and even today people speak in hushed tones about the “miracle”.
On the rooftop of the Jewish centre, an aesthetically designed memorial invites visitors to remember those who lost their lives over those sixty hours. As they stand there in quiet reflection, escaping the constant buzzing of the unstoppable city, their eyes are drawn to the dome of the Taj Hotel. That dome, ablaze in flames, is a sight that no one in this city will ever forget. But the fact that it's still there today, an integral part of the Mumbai skyline, is a matter of pride for the city’s residents.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-31--Lost in translation? Exploring the peculiarities of French humour

Lost in translation ?
Exploring the peculiarities of French humour France is known around the world for its food , @ @ @ @ @ but not so much for its sense of humour , which can often leave foreigners @ @ @ @ @ that is due to jokes being lost in translation and how much of it is @ @ @ @ @ episode of French Connections Plus , Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot explore French humour and @ @ @ @ @ of it !

Lost in translation? Exploring the peculiarities of French humour
11:47 FRENCH CONNECTIONS © FRANCE 24
France is known around the world for its food, culture and quality of life but not so much for its sense of humour, which can often leave foreigners nonplussed. How much of that is due to jokes being lost in translation and how much of it is simply cultural? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot explore French humour and hopefully get a laugh out of it!