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France Promises Faster Vaccine Rollout After Criticism
The French government, under pressure for lagging behind EU neighbours in rolling out Covid vaccinations, promised on Tuesday to dispense jabs much more quickly and catch up.
Health Minister Olivier Veran said more than 2,000 people had been vaccinated on Monday and that the “cruising speed of vaccinations will catch up with our neighbours in the coming days”.
The French campaign had rolled out just over 500 doses as of January 1, with critics calling that figure “a scandal” compared with the 200,000 people immunised in Germany in a similar timeframe, after the EU-wide rollout began a week ago.
President Emmanuel Macron, under pressure to take personal responsibility, met officials including Prime Minister Jean Castex on Monday to discuss the logjam.
“By Thursday we will increase numbers in a major way,” Veran told RTL radio, saying that “we will be on an exponential curve”.
France would now “amplify, accelerate and simplify” its vaccination strategy, he said.
Veran said vaccinations for people over 75 years of age who are not in care homes would be authorised by the end of January, covering five million people.
He said the campaign would also be widened to include firefighters and home helpers over 50.
France was currently taking delivery of 500,000 doses of a vaccine developed by Pfizer per week, Veran said.
Once approved for the EU, 500,000 doses of a vaccine by Moderna would be added every month, he said.
Scepticism about vaccines is making the government’s task harder.
Just 40 percent of French want to take the vaccine compared with 77 percent in Britain, according to an opinion poll last week by Ipsos Global Advisor in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
Veran also said that France had detected “about 10 suspected or confirmed cases” of a new variant virus strain that emerged in England, adding that authorities were watching the highly-contagious mutant virus “like hawks”.
French health authorities on Monday reported 4,022 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the previous 24 hours, taking the total to 2.66 million.
French deaths from Covid totalled 65,415, they said, after 380 new deaths were recorded.
January 5, 2021
Giroud doubles as France send Sweden into League B
Olivier Giroud bagged a double as he showed his worth for France again to help the world champions beat Sweden 4-2 at home in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.
Giroud scored either side of Benjamin Pavard’s first-half strike as Les Bleus recovered from Viktor Claesson’s early opener.
Sweden, who reduced the arrears through Robin Quaison before France’s Kingsley Coman wrapped it up in stoppage time, were relegated into League B.
READ ALSO: Over 50 die of strange disease in Kogi
Didier Deschamps’s France side, who had already qualified for the Final Four, topped Group 3 with 16 points from six games, three points ahead of Portugal, who beat third-placed Croatia 3-2 away.
Sweden finished bottom on three points, behind Croatia on goal difference.
November 18, 2020
Mbappe to miss France/Portugal Nations League clash
France forward Kylian Mbappe has failed to recover from a thigh injury in time to play against Portugal in the Nations League game on Saturday, according to matchday squad lists sent to UEFA.
The Paris Saint-Germain player has suffered several injuries since the 2020-2021 season began and his absence will be felt by France for a crunch game after they lost 2-0 to Finland in a friendly on Wednesday in his absence.
The winner of the match in Lisbon will go through to the Nations League finals, while a draw would keep the group alive until the final Group 3 matches on Tuesday.
November 15, 2020
Pjanic reveals he turned down France call-up
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has claimed he turned down the chance to represent France at international level.
The Blaugrana midfielder, who moved to Camp Nou from Juventus in the summer transfer window, was born in Tuzla, in what was then Yugoslavia, before his family moved to Luxembourg shortly after the outbreak of the Bosnian War.
Pjanic represented Luxembourg’s national youth teams during his formative years and signed for Metz at 14, later turning out for Lyon.
And it was while he was playing in Ligue 1 that he was telephoned by then France head coach Raymond Domenech about the prospect of declaring himself available for Les Bleus.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Early data shows Pfizer Vaccine is more than 90% effective
“Yes, I could have played for the France team when I arrived in Lyon, but I said a few days before that my dream was Bosnia,” Pjanic, 30, told Canal Plus.
“Domenech called me, but I had already made up my mind. I thanked him of course, but I preferred to be realistic.
“For me, the France team, it was too much [to break into] at that time. And it would have hurt my heart if, on the other side, Bosnia was watching one of its own playing for the France team.”
Pjanic is currently preparing for Bosnia-Herzegovina’s international friendly against Iran before Nations League matches against Netherlands and Italy.
The former Juve star has racked up 96 caps for his country to date, scoring 15 goals, but has yet to feature in a major international tournament.
The experienced playmaker will be fresh for Bosnia Herzegovina’s clash with Iran after coming on as a substitute during Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over Real Betis at Camp Nou on Saturday.
That cameo appearance marked his seventh outing for the Blaugrana at the start of the 2020-21 campaign, but he has yet to nail down a regular place in Ronald Koeman’s starting XI.
Pjanic’s next chance to make an impact could come when Barca take in a trip to Wanda Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid on November 21.
Atletico are currently third in La Liga with two games in hand on leaders Real Sociedad, having won five and drawn two of their opening seven fixtures.
In stark contrast, Barca have slipped to eighth after recording only three wins along with two defeats and two draws, and they cannot afford to lose any more ground when they meet Diego Simeone’s men later this month.
November 9, 2020
Nigerians in France stage #EndSARS protest
Nigerians in France staged an #EndSARS protest today October 16.
The Nigerians gathered in front of the Nigerian Embassy at the Victor Hugo area of Paris, capital of France, to demand an end to police brutality and human rights abuses by the police. They carried different placards with inscriptions like End SWAT, End Police Brutality.
See photos below:
October 16, 2020
France Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, entire cabinet resign
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and the entire cabinet, thereby paving way for Macron to form a new cabinet.
The development was made public through a statement by the president’s office, adding however that the current cabinet would remain in charge of governmental affairs until a new team was put in place.
In France, the president — the main political figure — selects the prime minister, who then forms the government.
As such, the resignation paves the way for a cabinet reshuffle.
There have been indications weeks ago of possible cabinet shuffle in France after Macron promised to chart a new course for the last two years of his term.
In France it is possible for Philippe to be called upon to form the new government.
July 3, 2020
France to provide €45bn aid for virus-hit firms, staff
France is making 45 billion euros (50.2 billion dollars) available in immediate aid for companies and workers impacted by the coronavirus, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has said.
Le Maire said he was adopting a provisional forecast of minus 1 per cent economic growth for 2020 for the purpose of a mini-budget to be proposed to the government later on Tuesday.
“This is a first, immediate economic aid,” Le Maire said.
“But everyone must understand that while there’s a war against the virus, there is also an economic and financial war.”
“There will be a violent shock,” he warned.
“But we have… every ability to bounce back if we take the right decisions now.”
March 17, 2020
South Korea, Malaysia, France demand entry ban for Chinese travellers
Hundreds of thousands of people in South Korea, Malaysia and France, on Wednesday signed online petitions aimed at banning Chinese travellers from entering their countries after the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China. In South Korea, over half a million people supported a petition which had been posted on the website of the president’s office, asking to temporarily bar all visitors from China to avoid the spread of the disease.
However, as of Wednesday, 578,000 signatures had been collected. The author of the petition’s argument was that the virus was spreading from China, adding that even North Korea, a close ally of China, had barred Chinese nationals from entering the country. Meanwhile, some supporters expressed fears in the comment section, with a hotel employee claiming to be nervous when serving Chinese customers. More than 400,000 people had signed a similar petition in Malaysia by Wednesday, accusing Chinese people of an “unhygienic lifestyle” responsible for its spread.
In France, citizens of Asian descent have complained of discrimination since the outbreak of the virus. They shared their experiences on social media using the hashtag #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus (I’m not a virus). According to the Daily Straits Times, so far, seven coronavirus cases have been reported in Malaysia. The Korea Times had so far reported four confirmed cases in South Korea, while the French Health Ministry had confirmed at least three cases at the weekend. South Korea is planning to evacuate 700 Korean citizens from the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday and Friday, where the disease is suspected to have originated from wild animals sold at an exotic food market. According to experts, the respiratory disease only affects patients mildly in most cases, and some people do not even show symptoms.
January 29, 2020
Airbus agrees to settle corruption probes with U.S., France, UK
Airbus (AIR.PA) has agreed in principle to a settlement with French, British and U.S. authorities regarding a probe into allegations of bribery and corruption, it said on Tuesday.
The European planemaker has been investigated by French and British authorities over suspected corruption dating back over a decade.
It has also faced U.S. investigations over suspected violations of export controls.
“Airbus confirms that it has reached an agreement in principle with the French Parquet National Financier, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, and the U.S. authorities.
“These agreements are made in the context of investigations into allegations of bribery and corruption as well as compliance with the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
“They remain subject to approval by French and UK courts and the U.S. court and regulator,” the French company said in a statement.
Airbus, which competes with U.S. rival Boeing (BA.N) in the commercial airliner market, said it could not comment on precise details regarding its talks with authorities, including how much it expected to pay out in the settlements.
“We welcome settlement of the investigations by the PNF and SFO, even if it comes at some cost.
“Press reports cite an amount of 3 billion Euros (3.3 billion dollars), toward the upper end of what we thought probable,” analysts at brokerage Jefferies wrote. (Reuters/NAN)
January 28, 2020
France urges Iran not to seek retribution after U.S. strike
France has urged Iran not to seek retribution in the wake of the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran’s elite Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
“No-one wants war,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told broadcaster BFMTV on Monday evening.
He said that possibilities for negotiations must be created.
“There’s always room for diplomacy,” the minister added.
The U.S. airstrike has prompted fears over an outbreak of war in the region and left the nuclear agreement struck with Tehran hanging by a thread.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been trying to bring U.S. and Iranian representatives together for talks, an initiative he presented at the G7 summit in Biarritz in August but which was not successful. (dpa/NAN)
January 7, 2020