Author: Julius Garza

France’s Education minister presented a plan Wednesday to tackle bullying with prevention, detection and reactionary measures. She also announced the systematic referral of the most serious cases to the public prosecutor. The start of the new school year in France was marked by two issues: the shortage of teachers and school bullying. With too few teachers and too many bullies, the government wants to get tough. And it has. On Monday 18 September, an alleged bully was arrested by the police in the middle of a lesson which caused some reaction in the country. One month before, French Education Minister…

A council leader has pledged to continue the fight against a planned £1.2bn cross-Channel electricity link as a final decision looms. Aquind Ltd wants to lay cables between Portsmouth and Normandy in France. Portsmouth City Council has recently entered into an agreement with the firm to ensure sea defence work is not hindered by the plans. But leader Steve Pitt has insisted the authority will continue to “strongly oppose” the interconnector scheme. The proposals were first submitted in 2019. A government decision to block the project, made in 2022, was overturned in the High Court. That meant the plans were sent back to…

Two men have been jailed after being caught on camera taking part in an attack on French police who were trying to stop migrants crossing the Channel. Police body-worn footage shows a group throwing rocks and threatening police on a beach near Calais in June. Salih Abdullah, 33, and Ahmed Khater, 25, were arrested on arrival in Dover and later admitted attempting to enter the UK without clearance. They were sentenced to 14 months and 12 months imprisonment respectively. Abdullah, from Iraq, and Khater, from Sudan, were part of a group of 51 people who were about to board a…

‘He made the exact same promise five years ago’: Environmentalists have criticised Macron’s climate roadmap. French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the country’s climate-related commitments within the next seven years. After holding a special government meeting on Monday, he laid out a new package that included reducing dependency on fossil fuels and boosting electric car use. Macron said France’s goal to reduce its emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, in line with a European Union target, is “attainable”. To get there, he said, the country must go more than…

Ester Manas, a pioneer of body positivity, will not be present in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week. Inclusive fashion brand Ester Manas made the surprise announcement that it will not be participating in Paris Fashion Week which starts today. Following a series of recent successes, it is taking a step back from the catwalk so it can commit more time to an extended collection for March 2024. The brand says in doing so, it is underlining its unwavering dedication to taking the time to create sustainable collections and products and is investing in the future of its brand’s vision and values. Eco-friendliness is…

Why should a teenage girl not be able to express her religious beliefs and at the same time pursue an education at school? It is a tough question, but one to which the French believe they have an answer. Which is, broadly, because there is such a thing as a French nation, and the teenager is part of it. Nothing defines France, and separates it from its neighbours, quite so clearly as the issue of la laïcité, or secularism. So this week, as outsiders looked on with a mixture of astonishment and outrage at the banning of the traditional Muslim abaya…

The French education minister has said that nearly 300 pupils arrived at school on Monday wearing the abaya, the long Muslim robe which was banned in schools last week. Most of the girls agreed to change into other clothes. According to official figures, 298 girls – mainly aged 15 or more – turned up at school in the banned garment. Under instructions laid down by the ministry, there followed in each case a period of dialogue with school staff. Most girls then agreed to dress differently and were able to start classes. However, 67 girls refused to comply and were…

A ban on rental electric scooters has come into effect in Paris in response to a rising number of people being injured and killed in the French capital. Almost 90% of those who took part in April’s vote over the issue were in favour of the ban – but fewer than 8% of those eligible turned out to vote. Paris is now one of the first capitals to have outlawed the rented electric vehicles, just five years after being one of the first to adopt them. But is the ban simply an example of democracy in action, or are more…

France’s ambassador has remained in Niger despite being given a 48-hour deadline to leave the country last Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed in a defiant speech. Ambassador Sylvain Itte had been ordered to go amid rapidly deteriorating bilateral ties. But hours after the coup leaders’ deadline had passed, the president said he “applauds” Mr Itte for staying put. The junta overthrew Niger’s elected president last month. In a major foreign policy speech to ambassadors gathered in Paris as well as others listening remotely, Mr Macron said: “France and its diplomats have faced particularly difficult situations in some countries in…

The French government is allocating €200m (£171.6m) to destroy surplus wine and support producers. It comes amid a cocktail of problems for the industry, including a falling demand for wine as more people drink craft beer. Overproduction and the cost of living crisis are also hitting the industry. Most of the €200m will be used to buy excess stock, with the alcohol sold for use in items such as hand sanitiser, cleaning products and perfume. In a bid to cut back on the overproduction, money will also be available for winegrowers to change to other products, such as olives. In…