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Paris 2024 Olympics: a computer and USB sticks containing security plans stolen from a train in Paris

The data was stolen from the briefcase of a Paris City Council engineer, who lodged a complaint with the Gare du Nord police station on Monday evening.

Sensitive data stolen just a few months before the competition. A bag containing a computer and two USB sticks containing the security plans for the Paris Olympic Games drawn up by the municipal police was stolen from a train at the Gare du Nord on Monday evening, police sources said on Tuesday, confirming a report by BFMTV.

The bag belonged to an engineer from Paris City Hall, it was added. At Gare du Nord, he had boarded a train going to Creil, in the Oise region. He had put his bag in the luggage compartment above his seat, according to the initial information given to the police by the man, who lodged a complaint with the Gare du Nord police station on Monday evening.

Changing trains

As his train was delayed, he decided to change trains and take another one that was also leaving for Creil, according to the police source reporting the employee's testimony. The owner of the bag explained that his work computer and two USB sticks contained sensitive data, namely the security plans for the Paris 2024 Olympics by the municipal police.

The investigation has been handed over to the regional transport police. Contacted by Le Parisien, Paris City Hall was unable to comment. The city plans to mobilise 2,000 municipal police officers for the Olympic Games, scheduled to run from 26 July to 11 August.

Text by Le Parisien with AFP 

Jean Dujardin to be Zorro for France Télévisions

The French actor will play the horseman who emerges from the night.

Jean Dujardin will don the mask of Zorro in a series for France Télévisions. Benjamin Charbit ("Les Sauvages") will be writing the script, reports "Satellifacts".

The hero - and his alter ego Don Diego Vega, a wealthy 24-year-old nobleman from the village of Reina in Los Angeles - was created by novelist Johnston McCulley in 1919. It has inspired numerous TV series, films and even cartoons. Douglas Fairbanks, Antonio Banderas and Alain Delon have all worn the cape, flat hat and wolf in films. Guy Williams (Zorro and Don Diego "de la" Vega, in the 1957 cult series).

Disney+ and Amazon in the race

Jean Dujardin has already had the opportunity to play him on television. It was in an episode of the series "Platane" in 2013.

 

"Zorro" has been all the rage for several months now. A new version described as respectful of the codes but contemporary is being prepared for Amazon Prime, with Spaniard Miguel Bernardeau ("Elite") as Don Diego de la Vega and Mexican actress Renata Notni as Lolita Marquez. Disney+ has the same ambition, preparing a remake with Wilmer Valderrama ("That '70s Show", "NCIS") in the lead role. Éric Judor is reportedly still working on a series for Canal+, a project he first mooted almost ten years ago.

Text by lematin.ch L.F.

RIOTS AFTER NAHEL'S DEATH: FRANCE'S CATASTROPHIC IMAGE IN THE FOREIGN MEDIA

The foreign press is taking a very hard look at France, after a week of very high tensions.

France has been on the front pages of the foreign media for a week now. And the image of our country is catastrophic. Seen through the mirror of the foreign press, France is a country where nothing goes right any more. "The French model is broken", says the Sunday Telegraph which states that discrimination, racism and anti-Semitism are far more widespread in France than in the UK.

Another British newspaper, "La France a mal" (France is in pain), believes that "France has descended into chaos". Die Zeit in Germany. The Russian media, close to the Kremlin, spoke of "decadence and disorder". The Algerian press denounced France's racism and its stubborn refusal to acknowledge its violent colonial past. As for the images of the riots, they were broadcast around the world. They were on the front page as far away as China.

Foreign commentators denounce the failure of our integration model. All these articles have been compiled over the past week by "Courrier international". The New York Times sees the crisis as a specifically French problem, a crisis of identity and integration in France, illustrated not only by the riots but also by the ban on women footballers wearing the hijab. The English press is in the same vein.

The Observer explains that the French motto of "Liberté-Egalité-Fraternité" (Liberty-Equality-Fraternity) appears to be a delusion, even a lie, in the eyes of the inhabitants of the suburbs. Because France refuses to discuss racial issues. France does not recognise ethnic differences, since it is even forbidden to compile statistics on the issue. The French can't solve their problem of discrimination because they don't know how widespread it is.

Le Times in London says much the same thing, stating that the English model is superior to the French model. The English model can be summed up as 'laissez faire', in other words, encouraging the expression of diversity.

POLICING AT THE HEART OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEBATE

The issue of police management was raised, not to highlight the fact that some 800 police officers have been injured in the last week, but rather to denounce the scene that sparked off the riots, the shooting of the Nanterre police officer.

"When will the French police finally change? asks the German Süddeutsche Zeitung, which takes the view that in France the security forces primarily protect the state and not citizens.

And the newspaper believes that what happened in Nanterre is not exceptional. Last year, 13 people lost their lives during road checks. "It's a disgrace for France", concludes the German newspaper.

There is a general problem of police violence in France, also believes Die Zeit, who believes that the Nanterre affair is a blunder that could be the French George Floyd affair.

In the United States, a star presenter on CNN said he was stunned that a police union had referred to the rioters as "pests" or hordes of savages. "It would be impossible to use those words here," he said.

IS FRANCE CAPABLE OF ORGANISING THE OLYMPICS?

Le New York Times speaks of two France's, with on one side a France that favours order and on the other a camp that sees racism and the mistreatment of minorities. Two camps that seem irreconcilable.

 
 

All this paints a very negative picture of France. It's undoubtedly a harsh, even caricatured image, but the European newspapers are asking themselves one question: will France be able to organise the Olympic Games in a year's time with peace of mind? It's a cause for concern...

Text by Nicolas Poincaré (edited by J.A.) RMC BFMTV

French Open: Djokovic in the race for the GOAT

By winning the French Open for the third time on Sunday, Novak Djokovic became the only person to hold the record of 23 Grand Slam titles. Although he will probably never be as adored as Roger Federer or as admired as Nadal, the numbers make him the likely GOAT (greatest player of all time).

23: the record number of Grand Slam titles

In detail, he has won the Australian Open ten times (record), Wimbledon seven times (Federer has the record with 8 titles), the US Open three times (Federer, Sampras and Connors have the record with 5) and the French Open 3 times (Nadal holds the appalling record of 14 titles). But in 2022, his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid prevented him from playing in Melbourne and New York.

Djokovic thus equalled Serena Williams and now only Margaret Court is ahead with the absolute record (24) for men and women combined.

The 2019 and 2020 editions of the US Open, for which he was favourite, had already eluded him because of a withdrawal and then a disqualification. In 2021, overwhelmed by the challenge of winning the Grand Slam, he was beaten in the final at Flushing Meadows by Daniil Medvedev.

Since Djokovic won his first major in 2008 (Australia), Nadal has won 19 and Federer 8.

He is the only player in history to have won each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least three times. Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal have each won at least twice, while Roger Federer has only won the French Open once. On the women's side, Margaret Court, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams have also won each Major at least three times.

He is also one of only three players in history to have won the Grand Slam in both years (2015-2016), along with Donald Budge and Rod Laver.

And with four Wimbledon titles in a row, he has equalled Pete Sampras' record, but remains one behind Björn Borg and Roger Federer (5). The same is true in terms of consecutive matches won on the London turf: Djokovic has reached the 28-match mark, but Sampras (31), Federer (40) and Borg (41) are ahead.

. 388 (record): the number of weeks spent as world No.1. Ranked third in the world at Roland Garros, he begins his 388th week at the top of the rankings on Monday.

. 34 (record): the number of Grand Slam finals played, ahead of Federer (31) and Nadal (30). Like Chris Evert in the women's game, but better than Serena Williams (33).

. 10 (record): the number of finals played - and all won - at the Australian Open. He also has 8 at Wimbledon, where only Federer has done better (12). Nadal has played 14 finals at Roland Garros and won them all.

. 89 (record): the number of matches won at the Australian Open. He also has 86 at Wimbledon, where the record is held by Federer (105). Nadal holds the record for most victories in a single Major with 112 at Roland Garros, where he is second with 92.

. 348: The number of Grand Slam matches won. Federer is ahead (369).

. 94: the number of tournaments won on the main circuit. 103 for Federer, 92 for Nadal, but the record is held by Jimmy Connors (109).

. 1058: the number of matches won on the circuit, still far behind Connors' record (1274). Three other players have surpassed the 1,000-win mark: Federer (1,251), Lendl (1,068) and Nadal (1,068).

. 7 (record): the number of years he has been world No.1, one better than his idol Pete Sampras. Federer and Rafael have 5.

. 27-23 and 30-29: The win-loss record against Federer and Nadal.

Djokovic has a positive win-loss record against his two main opponents Federer (27 wins to 23 losses) and Nadal (30 to 29).

. 38 (record): the number of Masters 1000 titles

Djokovic is also the only player to have won all nine tournaments in this category, just below the Majors, and on more than one occasion.

. 6 (record): the number of Masters at the end of the year.

He equalled Federer's record last November in Turin in this closing tournament, which each year brings together the eight best players of the season.

. 36 years and 20 days: he becomes the oldest player to win the French Open, ahead of Nadal who was 36 years and 2 days old last year. The oldest Grand Slam winner is Ken Rosewall, who was 37 years and two months old at the 1972 Australian Open.

Text by TV5 Monde AFP

23 MARCH STRIKE IN PARIS: THE FRIGHT OF THE RESIDENTS OF A BUILDING HIT BY A RUBBISH BIN FIRE

Some people set fire to rubbish that had accumulated in the streets. The flames quickly spread to the front of a building.

The situation degenerated in a matter of minutes. On Thursday, during a demonstration against pension reform, some people deliberately set fire to some rubbish littering the rue Saint-Marc, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. The fire quickly spread to the front of the neighbouring building.

"We went to the window and saw that people were starting to burn rubbish bins," a local resident told BFMTV. "And it started to catch fire everywhere.

140 fires in Paris

The flames hit the wooden storefront on the ground floor of the building and quickly spread. "Suddenly, the flames exploded and lots of people gathered around", recalls a resident of a neighbouring building. "I thought I was going to go out and put the fire out, but the flames got so big so quickly that I couldn't."

In the street with their simple fire extinguishers, the mobile firefighters were unable to bring the flames under control themselves. People in the street then tried to remove the rubbish to prevent the fire from growing.

"We saw that the building was on fire, and we started clearing away the debris", reported an off-duty policewoman on the street. "We're trying to clear it away, we were only thinking of one thing: people. Get the people out."

Some of the building's residents left, fearing that the flames would spread to the entire building.

When the CRS arrived on the scene, they secured the street to allow a fire truck to arrive. It took the fire brigade around twenty minutes to bring the fire under control. The door to the ground floor flat had to be forced open to make sure no-one was inside.

A total of 140 fires were reported to have started in Paris on Thursday, during demonstrations against pension reform.

Text by BFMTV Damien Gourlet, Pierre Barbin with Laurène Rocheteau

War declared as Benzema attacks Deschamps head-on

Following an interview with the coach about his withdrawal from the World Cup, the Madrid striker hit back, calling him a liar.
For the first time since the World Cup, Didier Deschamps opened up in a lengthy interview with Le Parisien. His extension at the helm of Les Bleus, the final against Argentina, the resignation of Noël Le Graët... The coach discusses a host of subjects.

Deschamps talks about Benzema's move to Qatar

These include the case of Karim Benzema, who travelled to Qatar with the French team before withdrawing just a few days before the start of the tournament.

Deschamps went back over his discussion with KB9 on the night of his withdrawal: "I'm losing a very important player, another one. I have to accept that. Karim is devastated because this World Cup meant so much to him. He says to me, 'It's dead'.

The striker will be leaving the Les Bleus hotel as soon as possible. "When I left him, I said to him: Karim, there's no hurry. You organise your return with the team manager. When I woke up, I learned that he had left. It's his decision, he won't tell you otherwise, and I understand and respect it.

The coach also defended himself against any potential unease surrounding the situation of the Ballon d'Or winner, Les Bleus' top scorer at the Euros: " 
Not at all. No player rejoiced at his departure as I may have heard or read. Karim knows it too.

The two men recently spoke about the future, but Benzema will not be returning to wear the colours of the Rooster. He's confirmed to me that he's decided to end his international career," continues DD. Don't ask me for his arguments. It's up to him whether or not he communicates them.

"Liar!" Benzema's riposte

These statements were quick to provoke a reaction from the man himself, who had already implied that the official version of events was not entirely accurate.

His response was posted in a two-part Instagram story, firstly highlighting DD's "audacity".

Before an even more explicit video message: "Liar! Yes, you, liar. You're a liar. You're a big liar."

A video message accompanied by the following caption: Sacré Didier, good night".

Text by Goal.com Robert Oleksiak

Noël Le Graët: investigation opened into psychological harassment

An investigation into psychological and sexual harassment was opened on Monday, following a report of "sexist contempt" targeting the president of the French Football Federation.

An investigation into psychological harassment and sexual harassment was opened on Monday, following a report of "sexist contempt" targeting the president of the French Football Federation, Noël Le Graët, the Paris public prosecutor's office said on Tuesday.

This alert was issued after Sonia Souid, an agent for several French internationals, gave evidence to auditors from the General Inspectorate for Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), according to the daily newspaper Le Monde.

Last week, Sonia Souid publicly denounced in the daily newspaper L'Equipe and on RMCThe French Football Federation (FFF) president, who has been president of the FFF since 2011, is considered to have behaved in a sexist manner. "He told me face-to-face, in his flat, very clearly, that if I wanted him to help me, I'd have to go to the pot," she said.

Referring to her past professional dealings with the head of French football, she explained that she had had the feeling that "every time, the only thing he was interested in - and I apologise for using vulgar language - was my two breasts and my arse". On 11 January, Noël Le Graët was "withdrawn" from the presidency of the federation by the executive committee.

"At this stage, I don't know what I'm accused of or who is behind it.

Noël Graët, Chairman of the FFF
 

When contacted on Saturday, the Ministry of Sport stated that the Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, had been informed of the report, in accordance with procedure, and that she would not be commenting further on the subject.

"I have just been astonished to read an article in the World Le Graët reacted on Saturday in a statement sent to AFP after the report was revealed in the daily newspaper.

At this stage, I know neither the facts of which I am accused nor the people behind them," he said. More generally, I am surprised that information can be divulged even though the provisional report has not yet been sent to me and I have not been able to comment on it.

The investigation has been entrusted to the BRDP.

Text by Le matin.ch/AFP

Emmanuel Macron is unlikely to visit Kiev before the second round

Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Emmanuel Macron to visit Ukraine. It won't be for a while yet," moderates Clément Beaune.

UKRAINE - Will Emmanuel Macron travel to Ukraine like British Prime Minister Boris Johnson or European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen? "Not in the next few days", replied Clément Beaune on Sud Radio on Monday 18 April.

Although the Head of State has had numerous telephone conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he has not visited Ukraine, unlike some of his European counterparts. But for the Secretary of State for European Affairs, a visit before the second round of the presidential election on Sunday 24 April "would no doubt be misinterpreted". 

But Emmanuel Macron is expected to be there. In an interview broadcast on Sunday by CNN, Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had invited his French counterpart to meet him in Ukraine. This invitation follows Emmanuel Macron's reluctance to describe what has been happening in the country since the Russian invasion on 24 February as "genocide".

Emmanuel Macron in Ukraine "if it's useful".

"I told him that I wanted him to understand that this is not a war, that this is nothing other than genocide. I invited him to come when he had the chance," said Volodymyr Zelensky. "He will come, and he will see, and I am sure he will understand."

For his part, Clément Beaune stated that "the President of the Republic, as President of the Republic, has always been very clear: he may go, if it is useful (...) We cannot make a visit that is merely symbolic, it must be a visit that has an impact". In the meantime," says Clément Beaune, "our support is very, very clear, and involves military and humanitarian aid.

Speaking to CNN, the Ukrainian president also said that he would like US President Joe Biden to come to Ukraine, after his surprise claim that Russian forces were committing "genocide". "The decision is his, of course, it depends on the security situation. But I think he is the leader of the United States and for that he should come and see."

Text by Le HuffPost

 

Fifth wave of Covid-19: how our European neighbours are reacting to the spread of the Omicron variant

Shop closures, curfews for bars, the return of confinement: the countries of Europe are each fighting the new outbreak of the epidemic in their own way.

One variant, several responses. At a time when Europe is facing a resurgence of the Covid-19 epidemic, due in particular to the appearance of the Omicron variant, which the WHO considers to be "worrying", Our neighbours are implementing very different policies to break the chains of contamination and avoid overloading their hospitals.

Franceinfo brings you an overview of the new health measures in Europe.

Reconfinement in the Netherlands

For the time being, this is the most restrictive measure in Europe. On Saturday 18 December, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a national lockdown from 19 December to 14 January. This means that all non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums and theatres will be closed for four weeks. Schools, which were closed a week early, will remain closed until 9 January.

The Dutch government is particularly concerned about the Omicron variant. "This forces us to reduce our contacts as quickly as possible, and as much as possible.explained Mark Rutte during his speech. Although leaving the house is not regulated, it is still forbidden to have more than two guests at home. This rule will only be relaxed for the Christmas weekend and the New Year period, when the maximum number of guests will be four.

In Portugal, caution and vaccination for children

Portugal is Europe's leading country in terms of vaccination rates, with 88.9% of its population of 10.3 million vaccinated. The country strictly controls travellers entering its territory, even if they come from European Union countries. Since December 1, all travellers to Portugal must present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old, or a negative antigen test less than 48 hours old. This measure is accompanied by a form for tracing passengers in order to trace the chain of contamination. As the French embassy in Portugal points out on its website, the isolation of people identified as contact cases can go from "up to 14 days or more in certain situations"..

On Saturday, Portugal also extended its vaccination campaign to children aged between 5 and 11, using the Pfizer paediatric vaccine. The move was justified by the sharp rise in the epidemic among this age group, explained Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa. The government's stated aim is to limit as far as possible the spread of the Omicron variant, which should still account for 80% of new infections between now and the end of the year, according to the country's health authorities.

To reduce contact after the Christmas and New Year rallies, the Socialist executive has also decided to extend the school holidays and make teleworking compulsory during the first week of January.

Mandatory teleworking and holiday restrictions in Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Council has announced that teleworking will once again be compulsory in the country from 20 December. "We're trying to avoid an explosion of cases and the situation going off the rails. The alternative, closures, is what we don't want".Federal Health Councillor Alain Berset explained to RTS. Additional measures have also been taken in certain cantons.

From 20 December, access to restaurants, cultural establishments, sports and leisure facilities and indoor events will be restricted to people who have been fully vaccinated or cured of Covid-19. This tightening of the ban has long been called for by health experts, in order to counter the fifth wave of the epidemic already being felt in the country. Private gatherings are now limited to 30 people indoors or 50 outdoors, including children. But if one of the guests (aged 16 or over) is neither vaccinated nor cured, the limit is reduced to 10 people.

Tighter controls on travellers in Italy, Greece and Germany

Vaccination alone is no longer enough to travel to certain European countries. Since 16 December, Italy has required a negative Covid test for all travellers, regardless of their vaccination history. As for those who have not been vaccinated, they must observe a compulsory five-day quarantine. From Sunday, the same applies to entry into Greece. This rule should remain in force for at least "for the holidays Mina Gaga, the Greek deputy health minister, explained on the RFI website.

In Germany, a quarantine is now imposed on unvaccinated travellers from certain countries classified as "high-risk". Since Sunday, France has been on this red list, alongside Denmark, Norway, Lebanon and Andorra. The German authorities specify that this is a self-quarantine that must last a minimum of 5 days, and can only be terminated by a negative PCR test. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in a fine of up to €25,000.

In Ireland, lights out at 8 p.m. for many establishments

From Monday, it will no longer be possible to go to the cinema, the theatre, pubs or restaurants after 8pm in Ireland. Once again, this drastic measure is justified by the spread of the Omicron variant, described by the Irish Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, as an "epidemic". "serious threat which already accounts for a third of new infections in Ireland.

Gatherings will now be subject to restrictions. Weddings are limited to 100 people, and indoor events must not exceed 50% of their capacity, up to 1,000 people. The same rule applies to outdoor events, with a maximum capacity of 5,000 people.

Denmark closes cultural and social venues for a month

The curtains will remain down for a long time in Denmark, which is witnessing a historic surge in the number of cases of Covid-19, largely attributable to the Omicron variant. In the week from 13 to 18 December, the average number of new infections was 8,666 per day, twice as many as in the last epidemic wave, according to the OurWorldInData website.

Faced with this explosion in the number of cases, the Danish government has ordered the closure of cinemas, theatres and concert halls from Sunday, for a period of one month. Museums, swimming pools, zoos and amusement parks are also affected by this decision. Restaurants and bars will remain open for the time being, but will be required to limit their capacity and close at 11pm.

Text:
Pierre-Louis Caron
France Télévisions