Author: Cesar Jacobs

The plot could have come from one of controversial French author Michel Houellebecq’s own dark novels — an ageing writer features in a porn film, only to regret it later. But the drama played out for real in a Dutch court on Tuesday when a judge rejected a bid by the top-selling novelist to ban an erotic movie in which he himself stars. A trailer released in January showed the shirtless 67-year-old kissing and fondling a young woman in bed in the movie, “Kirac 27”, Dutch filmmaker Stefan Ruitenbeek said. Houellebecq, whose best-selling works include “Submission” and “Atomised”, complained that…

A trip to the French Riviera with its glamorous beach resorts and sunny weather sounds pretty dreamy right now. But British tourists could find a cheaper alternative right here in the UK. The French Riviera or Cote D’Azur is a leading holiday destination and it’s not hard to see why. But British tourists on a budget could find a similar vibe at an “incredible” staycation alternative. A spokesperson from Independent Cottages said: “The Mediterranean coast of Southeastern France, better known as the French Riviera, is one of France’s most popular holiday destinations, with tourists staying at beautiful seaside destinations along the coastline…

Armenia and Turkey plan to permanently open border crossings between the two countries for the first time in three decades, Armenian officials announced on March 24. The land border will initially open only for diplomats and citizens of third countries until the beginning of the tourist season, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said. There is already direct air traffic between Armenia and Turkey. Turkey unilaterally closed the land border in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan. The border closure has caused serious economic problems for Armenia, which continues to fight a bloody conflict with Azerbaijan over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh.…

Erdogan believes that the European Union, which has been “influenced by the short-term policy” of the member countries of the association, needs to focus on common goals. The situation in Ukraine is a tragedy and at the same time a warning for the EU, he said The European Union has moved away from its fundamental principles in recent years and “was influenced by the short-term policy” of the member countries, according to a statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, timed to coincide with Europe Day. Europe Day is celebrated on May 9, this date was chosen to commemorate the…

Protests and strikes against unpopular pension reforms gripped France again Tuesday, with many thousands marching and the Eiffel Tower closed and police ramping up security amid government warnings that radical demonstrators intended “to destroy, to injure and to kill.” Concerns that violence could mar the large demonstrations prompted what Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described as an unprecedented deployment of 13,000 officers, nearly half of them concentrated in the French capital. After months of upheaval, an exit from the firestorm of protest triggered by President Emmanuel Macron ’s changes to France’s retirement system looked as far away as ever. Despite fresh union pleas that the…

France stands ready to support Sri Lanka in its efforts to restructure its debt, Ambassador for France Jean-François Pactet told members of the Sri Lanka-France Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (SLFBC) recently. Ambassador Designate of Sri Lanka to France Mrs. Manisha Gunasekera, members of the French business community and Sri Lankan partners of French companies were present. Ambassador Pactet assured the gathering of France’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery efforts, highlighting France’s contribution to sectors such as water, energy, urban development, agriculture, and renewable energy, and the contributions French companies can make to the Sri Lankan…

The Anwar Cabinet’s decision today to update current laws to confer automatic citizenship to the offspring of Malaysian women who give birth overseas drew praise from two groups that have been advocating gender equality and children’s rights. Local advocacy group Family Frontiers and the Malaysian chapter of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR Malaysia) were swift in commending the Cabinet for agreeing to amend the Federal Constitution so that children born abroad to Malaysian mothers can gain automatic Malaysian citizenship. “Gender inequality in nationality laws puts children at risk of statelessness. This amendment keeps Malaysia on track with the Global…

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and French Safran Helicopter Engines have signed a work share agreement to develop the engine for the future Indian Multi-Role Helicopter. The deal follows an agreement signed by the companies in July 2022, including establishing a production and servicing facility in New Delhi. The deal includes HAL’s involvement in the “design, development, and production of some of the core engine components,” considered a “breakthrough” for the country in engine manufacturing. In Support of Defense Self-Reliance An indigenous engine enhances “self-reliance ” in defense technologies, a major aim of the Indian government. “The joint development of…

The group Doctors Without Borders called Sunday for the “urgent scaling up” of earthquake aid to northwest Syria as it delivered a convoy laden with emergency assistance. Aid has been slow to reach Syria’s opposition-held areas since the February 6 quake killed a combined total of more than 43,000 people across Turkey and Syria. “An urgent increase in the volume of supplies is needed to match the scale of the humanitarian crisis,” said the French aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF). It charged that supplies “currently fail to even match pre-earthquake volumes.” “Aid is trickling in negligible amounts for the…

At least two Ismaili home owners in Mountainous Badakhshan were fined one month’s average wage each for hosting prayers in their homes. The regime banned such meetings in late 2022. Officials told elders on 14 January in Khorugh not to allow prayers in homes, that local people must remove portraits of Ismaili spiritual leader the Aga Khan, and that study at the London-based Institute of Ismaili Studies is no longer allowed. The authorities banned voluntary lessons for children based on a course from the Aga Khan Foundation. Local administrations in the Mountainous Badakhshan Region in south-eastern Tajikistan have issued at…