France
- World News
Thai embassy issues urgent advisory after knife attack in France
A knife attack at a public school in Arras, northern France, led the Thai embassy in Paris to issue an urgent advisory for Thai nationals in the country. The embassy urged individuals to avoid crowded areas and key tourist sites, following the elevation of the national threat alert to its peak by the French government. The advisory, published on the…
- World News
Bizarre wall reveals decomposing body in Parisian suburb flat as owner returns from vacation
A chilling discovery was made recently in an apartment in Livry-Gargan, a northeastern suburb of Paris, France. A 1.5-metre long, 40-centimetre wide, and 1-metre high wall mysteriously erected in the middle of the kitchen revealed a decomposed body wrapped in heavily sealed plastic, hidden within its confines. The apartment owner was returning from a six-month holiday in Algeria when she encountered…
- World News
French woman faces charges after disfiguring husband’s genitalia in drunken row over infidelity
In an alcohol-fuelled bout of domestic violence, a French woman savagely disfigured her 45 year old husband’s genitalia during a heated argument. The altercation took place near the French city of Toulouse, in the southwestern village of Portet-sur-Garonne. The altercation was over allegations of infidelity at a party the previous night. The 36 year old wife and her husband were…
- World News
English climber dies in 50-metre fall from Mont Blanc’s peak: Safety concerns raised
An English mountaineer in his 50s tragically plummeted nearly 50 metres to his death from the highest peak in the French Alps, Mont Blanc. The incident occurred near a spot known as Nid d’Aigle (Eagle’s Nest), close to the Bionnassay glacier, on Sunday. Police in the Chamonix region confirmed the event. Emergency services stated that the climber died instantly, The Sun reported.…
- Business News
French firms eye big ticket investment in Thailand’s EEC
In a bid to fortify its economy, the Thai government is extending an invitation to French corporations to make significant investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Identified as an ideal zone for the development of a high-tech industrial park, the EEC comprises sections of Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Rayong. The authorities have identified aviation alongside 11 other S-curve industries…
- World News
Frustration boils in Marseille’s troubled neighbourhoods amid slow change
Two years ago, at the tender age of 17, Amine helplessly witnessed his sibling’s life ending in a blaze, his charred body discovered from a burnt car’s boot. His brother, who had sadly succumbed to the world of drugs and trafficking before his tragic demise, was a victim of the lawless underworld flourishing in Marseille’s most infamous neighbourhoods. Today, at…
- World News
French mayor seeks drone use amid post-riot cleanup
In Neuilly-sur-Marne, a poverty-stricken region east of Paris, the mayor, Zartoshte Bakhtiari, revealed just how challenging the violent riots have been in France over the past week. Since the outbreak of clashes, he has barely managed to catch three hours of sleep each night. His days are consumed by his mayoral responsibilities while his nights are filled with patrol duties,…
- World News
Parisian plea: A grandmother’s heartfelt cry amid suburb’s turmoil (video)
Amid heart-wrenching tragedy, a grieving grandmother’s heartfelt plea for an end to violence echoes across a Parisian suburb engulfed in turmoil. Following the fatal shooting of 17 year old Nahel Merzouk by a police officer, protests have spiralled into a sixth night of rioting. As tensions escalate, French authorities brace for the eruption of another wave of unrest Merzouk’s grandmother…
- World News
Chaos unleashed: France rattled by riots after fatal police shooting rocks major cities (video)
Chaos continues to grip France as violent riots erupt across the nation’s major cities, fuelled by outrage over the fatal police shooting of a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent during a routine traffic stop. The nation faces a wave of unrest, with arrests surging and curfews imposed in response to intelligence warnings of widespread urban violence in the coming…
- World News
France bans short-haul flights with train alternatives to cut emissions
In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, France has implemented a ban on domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives are available. The legislation comes into effect two years after it was initially approved by lawmakers, targeting routes where train journeys can be completed in under two-and-a-half hours. This restriction essentially eliminates air travel between Paris and cities such as Nantes,…
- World News
France to provide more light tanks and armoured vehicles to Ukraine
France has pledged to supply Ukraine with dozens more light tanks and armored vehicles, following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. The announcement comes as Kyiv prepares for a widely anticipated counter-offensive against Russia. Zelensky visited Macron at the Elysee Palace after making stops in Rome and Germany, where they discussed increasing…
- World News
Pro-independence forces triumph in French Polynesia elections
Pro-independence parties have claimed victory in the recent elections on France’s Pacific territory of French Polynesia. According to results released, the Tavini Huiraatira party, led by the region’s former head, Oscar Temaru, won 44.3% of the votes in the second round, securing an absolute majority in the regional assembly. The party is now expected to nominate 53 year old Moetai…
- World News
French finance minister’s erotic novel raises eyebrows amidst economic turmoil
A recent novel by France’s Finance and Economy Minister, Bruno Le Maire, 54 years old, has caused quite a stir and left the government facing questions about how he finds the time to write amidst the nation’s current economic challenges. “American Fugue” is the 13th book penned by Le Maire, who has been at the forefront of defending President Emmanuel…
- Thailand Protest News
Appeal of Petr Donatek heard in Paris
The appeal of Petr Donatek, a 46-year-old Czech man accused of hiring thugs to attack Thai refugees in Paris, has finally opened and closed. In his testimony, Donatek pleaded that he did not plan the attack. He was convicted in absentia for having hired two Czechs – Jakub Hosek and Daniel Vokal – to attack Thai trans activist Aum Neko…
- Crime News
French ‘mafia’ boss extorts money from foreigners in Pattaya, claims ties with Big Joke
Police arrested a wanted French ‘mafia’ boss in Bangkok on Tuesday after a group of farangs in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, claimed he extorted money from them in exchange for police protection. The fraudster claimed to have ties with “Big Joke.” Yesterday, high-profile police officer Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn revealed that police arrested 58 year old Herve Christian…
- World Cup
World Cup winners return home as heroes
The World Cup winners are returning home as heroes as captain Lionel Messi led the team to their victory. The team returned home to Argentina in the early hours yesterday from Qatar to a welcome home party in the country’s capital. Argentina sealed the championship after beating France in Sunday’s epic final. The tense match saw the team win in…
- World News
Czech man behind trans Thai refugee attack avoids Paris trial
The Czech man behind an attack on a Thai trans activist has had his appeal delayed again. A Paris court postponed the appeal trial of Petr Donatek, a Czech man who allegedly hired two thugs to beat up trans activist Aum Neko and musician Nithiwat Wannasiri in France. According to Prachatai, Aum Neko is a political refugee in France, well…
- Hot News
French MP causes uproar in parliament after shouting racial slur at colleague
A rightwing French MP caused an uproar in the country’s parliament after shouting a racial slur at a lawmaker. The representative, Grégoire de Fournas, interrupted Carlos Martens Bilongo, a far-left representative for the party France Unbowed, shouting “Go back to Africa.” Bilongo was reportedly calling on the French government to cooperate with EU countries to assist hundreds of African migrants…
- Politics News
Irish MEP slams EU & West hypocrisy over Russia
An Irish MEP yesterday let rip at fellow members of the European Union and the West over their hypocrisy regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Mick Wallace, in a passionate speech inside the European Parliament building in Brussels, highlighted the double standards of the EU, the West and its allies with its attitude toward Russian terrorism and the terrorism…
- Thailand News
French President Macron accepts invitation to APEC meeting in Thailand
President of France Emmanuel Macron sent a letter to Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday confirming his attendance at the upcoming Asia Pacific Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok next month from November 18-19. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thanee Saengrat confirmed Macron’s attendance this morning. In the letter, Macron said he was looking forward to…
- Crime News
Thieves rob French millionaire’s house at gunpoint in northeast Thailand
Four thieves armed with guns and knives broke into a French millionaire’s house in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum in the early hours of Monday morning and robbed millions of baht’s worth of cash and assets. The single-story home in the Noen Sa-nga district is jointly owned by 39 year old Waritsara Poobkhonthot and her French husband Stephane Greco, the…
- World News
Thousands evacuated as wildfires blaze across Europe
Thousands of Europeans from several countries have been evacuated as wildfires are burning down homes. The fires spread through Portugal, Spain, France, and Croatia earlier this week. Now, helicopters are being deployed to help put out the fires. About 10,000 people were evacuated from campsites around the town of Landiras in southwestern France. Fires have now burnt about 5,300 hectares…
- Economy News
Thailand-France business investment discussed in PM meeting
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha recently met with MEDEF International, the largest employer federation in France, to discuss future partnerships with Thailand. Francois Corbin, the Vice President of the Movement of the Enterprises of France, along with other delegates, met with the Thai prime minister on Friday to look at the future of Thai-French business partnerships. French firms are examining the post-pandemic…
- World News
Climate change activist smears cream on Mona Lisa painting at Louvre
A visitor to the Louvre Museum in Paris has attacked the world-famous Mona Lisa painting, having disguised himself as an elderly lady in a wheelchair. The man, believed to be a climate change activist, jumped out of the wheelchair and tried to smash the glass protecting the painting, according to a Reuters report. The painting was reportedly undamaged, but the…
- Road deaths
UPDATE: French woman dies riding bicycle in central Thailand
UPDATE: The Toyota sedan’s dashcam footage confirmed that the traffic lights were on green when the driver struck and killed 26 year old Camille, who was riding a bicycle across a zebra crossing in Ayutthaya in central Thailand yesterday evening. The driver tried to break and swerve out of the way but couldn’t stop in time. Police arrested the driver…
- Road deaths
French woman dies riding bicycle in central Thailand
A young French woman was killed in a road accident in Ayutthaya province in central Thailand yesterday evening. The 26 year old tourist got confused at an intersection when a green and red light shone at the same time, leading her to drive into oncoming traffic. A man driving a sedan through the green light couldn’t break in time, striking…
- World News
G7 countries commit to phasing out imports of Russian oil
In a virtual meeting yesterday, the Group of Seven nations gave an undertaking to phase out imports of Russian oil. It’s the latest move aimed at punishing Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine, with the US also unveiling sanctions against executives at Gazprombank and a number of other businesses. According to a Reuters report, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy,…
- World News
France’s Macron defeats Le Pen to secure second presidential term
France’s incumbent president Emmanuel Macron soundly defeated the far-right opposition candidate Marine Le Pen on Sunday, securing a second term with a majority of votes. Macron won 58.6% of the vote to LePen’s 41.4%. The margin is closer than their last face-off in 2017, when Macron won by more than 30 percentage points. This time the margin was significantly reduced,…
- Covid-19 News
France donates over 3 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to Thailand
France has shown its support for Thailand’s fight against Covid-19 by donating over three million doses of Pfizer vaccines to the Kingdom of Thailand. The donation will be well-received by Thai people as surveys reveal that Thais have more confidence in the effectiveness of the U.S.-produced Pfizer vaccine than they do in Thai vaccines. The French ambassador Thierry Mathou officially…
- Thailand News
Award winning Thai author and journalist dies
An award winning Thai author who fled Thailand in 2014 has passed away in France due to health reasons, according to his daughter. The author, Wat Wallayangkoon, wrote the novel Transitor Love Story, which was adapted into a film in 2001. The story is about a rural man who dreams of becoming a singer. Wat won a prestigious Thai award in…
- Thailand News
French expat who went missing in forest turns up safe in Chiang Mai
A French man who went missing in a Chiang Mai forest made his way to a hilltop temple, and is now safe. The man, Jacques Moriceau, went missing in a forest in Doi Tao district between late Thursday night and early Friday morning. He had driven to submit documents to the French consulate, and got lost on his way home…
- World News
Vietnam resumes flights to 20 countries, prepares to welcome international tourists in March
Vietnam has reopened air routes to 20 countries and regions in an effort to resume socio-economic activities – compared to 28 in the 2019 winter flight schedule pre-pandemic – a transport official says. The Vietnam Ministry of Transport says the resumed routes included those to Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, the Vietnam…
- World News
Indonesia purchases six Rafale fighter jets from France
The defence minister in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta says the country is buying six Rafale fighter jets, confirming that a deal was signed with France yesterday as part of an order of 42 warplanes. Jakarta is replacing its ageing fleet of warplanes, which are mostly American F-16 fighter jets and Russian Sukhoi fighter jets. Indonesia’s first order for French fighter jets…
- Tourism News
Covid-19 infection rate, totals in international travellers surging
While the government suspended the Test & Go scheme in order to curb the spread of the Omicron variant last month, people who are already approved are still trickling in, and many have come as part of the Sandbox programme. Despite throttling the influx of international travellers, the number of Covid-19 infections brought in from abroad has been steadily rising,…
- World News
France Saturday: 105,000 protest vaccine, 303,669 get Covid-19
French President Emmanuel Macron made waves recently when he came out hard against unvaccinated people saying that he would make life harder for them and “piss off” those who refused inoculation as it hurts the society as a whole. Yesterday, over 100,000 people came out to protest the government restricting the rights of people who refuse a vaccine all across…
- Tourism News
6 European tourists found who disappeared after positive Covid-19 test
After a brief hunt, 6 European tourists who were tested for Covid-19 and left their hotel before the results were returned, test results which came back positive, have now all been located and moved to the hospital. Authorities rounded up 2 French tourists, 2 Polish tourists, a Swiss tourist, and a Norwegian tourist. The 6 tourists had all come to…
- World News
France detects new Covid variant “IHU,” believed to be highly transmissible
While the world is grappling with new spikes in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, scientists in France have discovered another variant. The newly-discovered variant, called B.1.640.2, was found in 12 patients near Marseille and features 46 mutations, making it vaccine-resistant and contagious. Also known as “IHU,” the strain was detected by scholars at the IHU Mediterranee Infection on…
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