Do some French people see what's going on? Yellow Vest Protests

[Ca.]

Nothing to see here folks, move along.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1151718496935514112

Meanwhile: France Deep State news:

French Yellow Vests protests have been an 'earthquake' for some businesses

The Yellow Vest protest movement has had a relatively moderate impact on the French economy as a whole, according to a parliamentary report, though some businesses and sectors suffered considerable -…

en.rfi.fr

17-07-2019

The Yellow Vest protest movement has had a relatively moderate impact on the French economy as a whole, according to a parliamentary report, though some businesses and sectors suffered considerable - even permanent – damage.

The economic affairs commission of the National Assembly was tasked with calculating the direct and indirect economic impacts of the weekly Saturday protests that started in November against the implementation of a tax on petrol, and which turned into a more general anti-government movement.

The report concluded that the “total macroeconomic cost” of the violence around the protests was 0.1 per cent of GDP in the last trimester of 2018, a number that is relatively low. However, it added that the impact on individual cities and businesses has been extensive.

"The cost of the crisis are considerable, even permanent, when it comes to certain businesses or certain cities,” says the report, adding that many small businesses, already facing economic problems, will be unable to recover.

Small businesses most affected

One of the two lawmakers in charge of the report, Roland Lescure, of the ruling LaRem party, called the protests an “earthquake” for certain businesses and cities, already struggling economically.

"Who suffered? It’s not the big international companies,” said the other reporter, Jean-Rene Cazeneuve, also of LaRem, during a press conference Wednesday. “It’s really the weakest, most fragile city centres that were the most impacted.”

An ironic conclusion, given that the protest movement was born of the grievances of the more economically weakened parts of the country.

Exact numbers

The drop in visitors to city centres on Saturdays has cost some businesses 20 to 30 per cent of their turnover, and shopping centres suffered losses “on the order of two billion euros”, according to the report. This includes some 850 million euros in lost revenue for cafes, hotels and restaurants.

Damage to public property cost cities 30 million euros, and the report pointed to other costs like police overtime, or the 3,000 radars damaged since the start of the movement which “could ultimately cost 71 million euros” to fix or replace.

The commission had six proposals coming out of the report, including extending the government’s special measures for businesses most affected and continuing revitalisation efforts for the most affected city centres.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1151718761600290816

Translated from French by
I worry about the 9 million French poor, for single moms who have to support a family with a SMIC, I worry about the thousands of parents who have a child with autism major and have to fend for themselves ... but to Rugy, I'm damn it!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1151152233146458117

 

[Ca.]

LCI
Suspicions of domestic violence: what is known about the custody of the Yellow Vest Jérôme Rodriguez
29 juil. 10:43 - Georges Brenier et la rédaction de LCI

MISCELLANEOUS - According to our information, Jerome Rodrigues, one of the figures of the Yellow Vests, was placed in custody Sunday morning in La-Roche-sur-Yon for suspicion of domestic violence against his companion, while the couple was on vacation. Claims contested by the latter. His custody ended in the evening. Here is what we know.
29 Jul 10:43 - Georges Brenier and the LCI editorial team

As we revealed Sunday early in the afternoon, the former trader and figure of the yellow vests Jerome Rodrigues was arrested Sunday morning by the gendarmes of La-Roche-sur-Yon, Vendee. He is suspected of domestic violence against his partner, while the couple was on vacation with friends in the nearby town of Thorigny.

If his companion did not file a complaint, the 39-year-old man was taken into custody. Police custody was lifted in the evening, according to a statement from the prosecutor La-Roche-sur-Yon, Hervé Lollic, noting that prosecution could however be committed "later". A text whose dissemination is, according to the magistrate, justified by the need to "make public objective elements" in order "to avoid the propagation of fragmentary or inaccurate information".

The detailed facts

According to the prosecutor's statement, Jerome Rodrigues' companion, Jennifer Velasques, 30, called the fire department because of a bout of anxiety and stomach pain. The latter then decided to warn the gendarmes because, "in a context of altercation", they perceived that the phone had been torn from the hands. On the spot, the soldiers learn "that Mr. Rodrigues and Mrs. Velasques had fought hard, their hosts having been alerted by interposing themselves but stating that they had not seen any physical violence".

According to the magistrate, "the doctor said that Ms. Velasques had told her that her husband" would have emptied a bottle of water in her face "(...) then" would have jostled ", comments on which she returned at a subsequent hearing with the investigators. Jerome Rodrigues for his part said about the dispute: "I got upset (...) I shouted, I threw him water with a bottle that was nearby (...) j I screamed, I made gestures but I did not touch her. "

His wife denounces "a publicity stunt"

According to his wife, interviewed by AFP, "there was a verbal argument, as any couple can have". She claims to have "made an anxiety attack" and "decided to call the fire department to come and get it."

"Following this, the public prosecutor decided to make his advertising blow by placing Jerome in custody.When I left the hospital, I was auditioned, we tried to make me say a fabric lies, including that of domestic violence, "added Jennifer Velasques, who says she was hospitalized for about two hours. "I was not hit, he did not even try to get my hands on it," she added, adding that she had not telephoned the gendarmes.

Still, the military considered it necessary to question the one who had lost the use of an eye during a demonstration of Yellow Vests in Paris last January. An IGPN investigation, the police of the police, is still going on to determine if it has been hit by a LBD shot from the police. Contacted by TF1, Arié Alimi and Philippe de Veulle, his two lawyers, were not reachable in the afternoon.

"Systematic" opening of an investigation

Stressing that "violently punishable violence may be, by law, physical or psychological", the magistrate reminds that "the complaint is not necessary to establish a criminal procedure". It states that "the directives of the prosecution of Vendée in matters of conjugal violence prescribe the systematic opening of an investigation" and that "it is therefore indifferent whether a complaint is filed or not and as far as it is withdrawn or no"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1155553803879555072

"The behavior described by Mr. Rodrigues and confirmed in part by the statements made appears to correspond to the legal definition" of domestic violence, notes the prosecutor. But "given the scalability of the words of Ms. Velasques", it is necessary "to examine in detail the procedure" before initiating any prosecution.

A lot of questions. I do not know Rodriguez and therefore do not have an opinion, but what is certain is that the government's main weapon against yellow vests has been discrediting.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1155914312738885639

They have eradicated Jerome Rodrigues - knowingly! Now they want to destroy his reputation. What they did not understand is that the anger of the French is rising more and more. Highly popular tidal wave that will sweep them !! All #VironsMacron

 

[Arwenn]

They have eradicated Jerome Rodrigues - knowingly! Now they want to destroy his reputation. What they did not understand is that the anger of the French is rising more and more. Highly popular tidal wave that will sweep them !! All #VironsMacron

If the above is true, then it’s so pathetic and predictable of the PTB to character-assassinate key figures of the YVM. No wonder the French are getting angrier and I hope they continue to protest and bring attention to the many issues they are facing. Despite being downplayed by the MSM, people worldwide have resonated with their stoicism and courage to continue protesting.

 

[angelburst29]

Russian Foreign Ministry warns Russians about possible unrest in France on August 3

Another rally of the yellow vests is due on that day.

Russian Foreign Ministry © Marina Lystseva/TASS

MOSCOW, July 29, 2019 - The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a warning in view of possible unrest in Paris on August 3, which can be sparked by another protest rally of the yellow vests. The ministry’s Crisis Management Center published the warning on Monday.

"On August 3 at 9:00 [10:00 Moscow time], a rally of the yellow vest movement [is scheduled] in Paris, on the Champs-Elysees. Heightened security, road blockage, street unrest is possible," the center’s Twitter post reads.

The protest rallies in France began on November 17, 2018. Initially, they were held to oppose the increasing fuel prices. Therefore, drivers’ high-visibility vests were chosen as the symbol of the movement. The first rally saw 282,000 people gathering to protest. The rallies have been taking place at weekends since early January 2019.


Farmers protesting at trade deal vandalize office of Macron party lawmaker
PARIS July 29, 2019 - Farmers protesting at a trade deal with Canada vandalized the office of a lawmaker from Emmanuel Macron’s LREM party on Monday in the latest example of demonstrators targeting LREM premises due to discontent over the French president’s policies.

The farmers claimed responsibility on their Facebook page on Monday for the attack on Carole Bureau-Bonnard’s office in Noyon, just north of Paris.

“My office has been vandalized. I will never accept these acts of violence which go against democracy,” Bureau-Bonnard said on Twitter, showing images of graffiti and piles of straw.

The incident came two days after the office of Romain Grau, an LREM member of parliament for Perpignan in southern France, was set on fire during the latest “Yellow Vest” protests.

Anti-government protests have picked up after the French parliament this month approved the EU-Canada trade deal (CETA), which opponents said undermined the EU’s social and ecological regulations by importing products made under conditions that would not be allowed in Europe.

The French government says the deal is beneficial for the country.

“The CETA vote goes against what the general population wants,” said a farmer who took part in the damage to Bureau-Bonnard’s office.

She identified herself only as “Aurelie” when contacted by telephone, saying she did not want to give her surname, and added her group had targeted Bureau-Bonnard’s office at 6 a.m.

In January, the then-government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux had to escape his office after protesters broke into the compound and smashed up vehicles during the broader “Yellow Vest” protest movement.

 

[Ca.]

This situation is making the rounds. Not sure though of the detail's and if it's to make more wave's against the Gilet Jaune.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1143180135660740609

#FDO do the #FêteDeLaMusique in their own way #Nantes Enjoy the Violence of intervention, many injured, 14 people saved from drowning in the Loire! Always a missing Doctrine used for #GiletsJaunes seems to make jurisprudence #Canicule

https://twitter.com/x/status/1156313083926777857

Nickeled Feet, Garbage from the Republic
#PhilippeDemission for him #Steve is not dead because of the #Police The real leaders are or would be ... the organizers of the concert #CastanerDemission State scandal unfolds before our eyes

https://twitter.com/x/status/1156422743673516032

#IGPN , Militia laundry attached to the same Ministry is also under the thumb of Castaner, it's convenient! And the boss boosted end 2018 by #macron regurgitates the same nonsense that him on the #ViolencesPolicières#RIP#Zineb#Steve#CastanerDemission to begin...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1156249840990466048

In Macronie, when you are about to lay off 1000 people, you are a knight of the Legion of Honor ... Full support for Belfort employees who fight for the know-how, the survival of their jobs and their families #Astom

 

[angelburst29]

SANGATTE, France/SAINT MARGARET' - French inventor Franky Zapata on Sunday succeeded in crossing the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard he designed, zooming over the Strait of Dover in just over 20 minutes.

French 'Flying Man' crosses Channel on jet-powered hoverboard

August 4, 2019 - After a previous bid in July that ended with him falling into the sea, Zapata took off from Sangatte, just outside Calais in France at about 0617 GMT, on a little platform powered by five small jet engines and carrying kerosene in a backpack.

Flanked by three helicopters, he reached Britain after a stop on a boat halfway through the 35-km crossing to refuel, waving to onlookers before landing safely in Saint Margaret’s Bay, close to Dover on Britain’s southern coast.

“For the last five to six kilometers I just really enjoyed it,” Zapata told reporters on arrival. “Whether this is a historic event or not, I’m not the one to decide that, time will tell.”

“We made a machine three years ago...and now we’ve crossed the Channel, it’s crazy,” he said, before breaking into tears.

Zapata, who wowed crowds during France’s Bastille Day celebrations on July 14 by soaring over a military parade in Paris on the device, said on arrival that the hoverboard had reached speeds of 160 to 170 km per hour during the crossing.

The inventor had received a 1.3 million euro grant from the French army in late 2018 to help finance the development of the hoverboard.

Slideshow (12 Images)
French 'Flying Man' crosses Channel on jet-powered hoverboard

French police clash with protesters in Nantes after man's death
August 3, 2019 - Police fired tear gas and used water cannons against protesters in Nantes on Saturday as skirmishes broke out on the fringes of a demonstration and tributes to a young man who disappeared and drowned in the western French city.

The death of Steve Canico has become a fresh focal point for protests and scrutiny over policing methods in France. The 24-year-old disappeared in late June at a concert where police clashed with late night revelers by the riverbank in Nantes.

His body was found in the Loire River earlier this week.

Tributes to Canico planned for Saturday morning coincided with calls for a broader march to denounce police brutality. That was attended by several hundred people.

Small groups of people, wearing bandanas on their faces and masks, used chairs to erect barricades in a square, set fire to piles of debris and hedges, and threw rocks at police, French television showed.

A handful ripped up a street sign and used it to try to bash in the door of a building, according to the footage. By mid-afternoon, around 40 people had been arrested, local authorities said.

Some parts of the city center were declared off limits to demonstrators ahead of time, amid concerns there could be unrest if so-called black bloc hooligans joined the march.

“Yellow vest” demonstrators, who have led anti-government marches for several months across France, had also called on social media for people to join the protest.

Canico went missing on the night of June 21 to 22, when he attended a late-night open-air techno concert. The exact circumstances and timing of his disappearance are still unclear.

Police fired tear gas to disperse party-goers and end scuffles after the event ran over its allotted time. Fourteen people fell into the river.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe released a report on Tuesday saying no link had been found between the police intervention and Canico’s disappearance.

The disappearance - which prompted five weeks of protests and calls of “Where Is Steve?” on social media until his body was found - has become a fresh rallying cry for anger in France at police tactics.

 

[Maat]

another way to protest :

"In 2005, Dominique de Villepin, then Prime Minister, decided to privatize the French motorways. The result? 20% increase in toll prices over the past 10 years, 1.5 billion in annual profits, or nearly 27 billion in total for shareholders.

In a dual concern to regain our purchasing power and destabilize Vinci, the Yellow Vests have opened these same tolls since their appearance in November. The Media For All team followed them to discover the background of the implementation of such an operation as well as its progress."

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

 

[herondancer]

In a dual concern to regain our purchasing power and destabilize Vinci, the Yellow Vests have opened these same tolls since their appearance in November. The Media For All team followed them to discover the background of the implementation of such an operation as well as its progress."

That is the most fabulous bit of civil disobedience I've ever seen! Kudos to the organizers. Well-planned and beautifully executed. I hope they can gather more support. From the interviews it's pretty clear the tolls are an arbitrary money grab that affects nearly everyone.

 

[angelburst29]

French 'spiderman' climbs HK tower, hoists reconciliation flag amid mass protests (Video)


French "spiderman" climber Alain Robert scaled a 68-storey skyscraper in Hong Kong on Friday to hoist a flag symbolizing reconciliation between China and the territory as weeks of escalating pro-democracy protests show no signs of abating.

Using his bare hands and without a harness, Robert clambered up Cheung Kong Center located in the central business district and secured a large banner on the building’s exterior.

The sign positioned China’s flag in the left hand corner with Hong Kong’s flag on the right side. Underneath was a yellow hand shaking a red hand on a white background to signify peace.

Robert’s climb comes as more mass demonstrations are expected through the weekend. China has likened the protests to terrorism and warned it could use force to quell them, as U.S. President Donald Trump urged President Xi Jinping to meet with protesters to defuse weeks of tension.

It was the third time Robert climbed the Center, which is owned by Cheung Kong Holdings (1113.HK). He was banned from climbing buildings in the former British colony for a year last August. His ban ended two weeks ago.

Dressed in bright hues of purple, pink and green, Robert was arrested after the climb and taken to a nearby police station.

He often climbs without permission and has been arrested several times, sometimes for trespassing.

Li Ka Shing, whose family owns the Cheung Kong Centre, published a series of advertisements in Hong Kong’s major newspapers on Friday urging people to stop the violence.

Ten weeks of confrontations between police and protesters have plunged Hong Kong into its worst crisis since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, and have presented the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jingping since he came to power in 2012.

The protests began in opposition to a now-suspended bill that would have allowed the extradition of suspects for trial in mainland China, but have swelled into wider calls for democracy.

More than 700 people have been arrested since the protests began in June, and tear gas has frequently been used by police in attempts to disperse protests across the city.

Slideshow (7 Images)
French 'spiderman' climbs HK tower, hoists reconciliation flag amid...

 

[angelburst29]

Putin tells Macron: Russia does not want protests like you have

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Russia's President Vladimir Putin, at his summer retreat of the Bregancon fortress on the Mediterranean coast, near the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France, on August 19, 2019. Gerard Julien/Pool via REUTERS

Monday August 19, 2019 - Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday that Moscow did not want protests like the yellow vest ones that have convulsed France, but that peaceful demonstrations were fine.

Putin was speaking at Macron’s summer residence in southern France ahead of talks on a range of subjects between the two leaders.

In his first comments on six weeks of protests in Moscow over the exclusion of some opposition candidates from an election in the Russian capital next month, Putin told reporters that protesters had to respect the law.

Those guilty of breaking Russia’s protest laws should be held responsible, Putin said in answer to a question, and nobody had the right to incite clashes at demonstrations.

Chiding Macron, Putin says 'I don't want yellow vests in Russia'

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron pose with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, at the French President's summer retreat of the Bregancon fortress on the Mediterranean coast, near the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France, on August 19, 2019. Gerard Julien/Pool via REUTERS

Vladimir Putin rebuked his French counterpart on Monday, saying he did not want "yellow vest" protests spring up like in France, after Emmanuel Macron urged the Russian leader to abide by democratic principles following weeks of protests in Moscow.

Macron, who was meeting Putin at his summer residence in southern France five days before hosting summit of G7 rich nations, is keen to show Moscow it is not ostracized despite being kicked out of the G7 after its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Despite the talks focusing on international crises, Macron sought to tackle Putin on the internal Russian situation. Moscow has been rocked by weekly protests for more than a month after the authorities barred opposition candidates from running in an election for the city’s legislature in September.

“We called this summer for freedom of protest, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and the freedom to run in elections, which should be fully respected in Russia like for any member of the Council of Europe,” Macron told a joint news conference ahead of their meeting.

 

[angelburst29]

I often get the impression from media photos - that Trump doesn't really take "Macron" seriously and just goes through the "Diplomatic protocols" that are customary between heads of State? Macron tends to act "self-absorbed" in his little world of fantasy and his projected
eccentric ego is more important, than addressing and mitigating serious problems.

France vows tight security to keep troublemakers far from G7 summit

The French seaside resort of Biarritz will be transformed into more of a fortress than a surfers' paradise as organizers of this weekend's G7 summit prepare to shield world leaders from outside disturbances.

It was announced, weeks in advance, that Putin would be on a working trip to France and would be meeting with Macron. I would imagine, a lot of scheduling and preparation goes into these business trips, including flight time, to and from the destination. With that in mind, Putin flew all the way from Russia to France ... then arrived at the Biarritz seaside resort to meet Macron. Putin, always a Gentlemen, brought along a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the Mrs. - Macron in returned, showed his hospitality ... by pulling out two folding chairs - accessorized with 3 in. foam padding and two micro-snack trays ...

I can only imagine the quality of furniture inside that Mansion residence ... yet, no one had the common sense or forethought to properly arrange two decent solid chairs from the inside, and a nice center wooden table, for the brief visit of a high esteemed dignitary?

Putin tells Macron he sees no alternative to Ukraine talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that he saw no alternative to Normandy format heads of state talks on the Ukraine crisis, but stopped short on Monday of signing up to a new summit on the subject.

 

[SummerLite]

I'm not sure where to post this so thought I'd place it here. Attacks are 'becoming the new normal' for French firefighters
Attacks are 'becoming the new normal' for French firefighters

Since 2017, firefighters experienced a rise of 23 percent rise in the number of assaults during interventions. To tackle this worrying phenomenon, a decree allowing first responders to wear personal cameras to film interventions was issued last month.

"The population is being abandoned. Emergency services cannot meet people's needs anymore and firefighters are the last link in this chain,'' André Goretti, president of firefighters' union the Fédération autonome des sapeurs-pompiers professionnels, told Franceinfo.

 

[angelburst29]

A recap of Putin's meeting with Macron:

Putin arrives in Marseille to head to summer residence of Macron for talks

© Alexei Druzhinin/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MARSEILLE, August 19, 2019 - The two leaders will discuss not only bilateral relations but also Russia's relations with the EU amid the renewal of the leadership in the European governing bodies.

The plane of Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Marseille. Next, he is to travel by helicopter to Fort Bregancon, the summer residence of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Located near the town of Bormes-le-Mimosas on the Mediterranean coast of Provence, this ancient fortress received many world leaders. Now, for the first time in its history, it will host talks between Russian and French Presidents.

Two Swiss fighters escorted Russian liner carrying official delegates to Marseille

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

August 19, 2019 - On board the Ilyushin-96 liner there were members of the Russian delegation going to France for talks between Russian Putin and Macron.

Two fighters from Switzerland’s Air Force escorted a plane belonging to the Rossiya Airlines special air carrier en route from Moscow to Marseille for several minutes. On board the Ilyushin-96 liner, were members of the Russian delegation going to France for talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French leader Emmanuel Macron, including Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, along with a group of journalists.

When the plane entered Switzerland’s airspace, two fighters approached it, one on each side at an altitude of 10.6 kilometers. The fighters took turns to flying close to the airliner, at certain moments hovering just several meters away from the liner’s wings and escorted it across Swiss airspace for some time to the border with France, where they turned away.

Swiss Air Force jets have approached and escorted Rossiya Airlines aircraft many times in the past.

Putin, Macron finish 2.5-hour official part of talks

Russian and French Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Emanuel Macron © Mikhail Metstsel/TASS

FORT DE BREGANCON /France/, August 19, 2019 - Russian and French Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Emanuel Macron, completed the official part of their talks at the French leader's summer residence at Fort de Bregancon. It lasted for two and a half hours,
the press service of the Russian head of state said on Monday.

The talks focused on a ranged of major international topics, as the leaders had said at a news conference ahead of the meeting. The two presidents discussed the Syrian settlement, the situation in Libya, the Iran nuclear deal and prospects for another summit in the Normandy format.

After the bilateral meeting, Putin and Macron will be joined by their delegations at a dinner.

The Russian delegation includes his Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, aide on International Affairs Yuri Ishakov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Macron confident on Russia’s European future after meeting with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron © Mikhail Metstsel/TASS

Macron noted that the talks with Putin also focused on the situation around Siberian wildfires.

PARIS, August 20, 2019 - French President Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence that Russia’s future is tied with Europe after the meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the fort of Bregancon.

"I am confident that Russia’s future is fully tied with Europe. We believe in Europe that stretches from Lisbon to Vladivostok," he wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

Macron noted that the talks with Putin also focused on the situation around Siberian wildfires and thawing permafrost in the region. "Russia is grappling with devastating consequences of the climate change. I am glad that it has decided (to launch) the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement, which is a significant symbolic move, and we should follow that course," he emphasized.

Blogging on Facebook in Russian, Macron notes progress in ties with Moscow

French President Emmanuel Macron © Mikhail Metsel/TASS

Monday’s talks between the Russian and French heads of state lasted over two and a half hours.

MOSCOW, August 20, 2019 - French President Emmanuel Macron has pointed to headway made in cooperation with Russia on political and economic issues, writing a post in Russian on his Facebook page after talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Kremlin upbeat on Putin-Macron meeting

© Gerard Julien, Pool via AP

According to the Kremlin spokesperson, the presidents "were consistent in demonstrating their political will to discuss all issues".

MOSCOW, August 20, 2019 - Monday’s talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron were generally positive, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

"The talks were positive in general. That does not mean that the interlocutors agreed with each other. However, they were consistent in demonstrating their political will to discuss all issues, both those, on which they see eye to eye, and those they disagree on," he specified.

According to Peskov, the negotiations continued until late at night, and Putin returned to Moscow from France in the early hours of Tuesday morning. He recalled that the two leaders’ conversation was preceded by a news conference, during which the heads of state outlined the key issues on the agenda.

The Kremlin spokesman noted that the talks between Putin and Macron, both their face to face meeting and the one, which involved their delegations, can be described as "a very meaningful, constructive and trust-based dialogue." "[The two leaders] synchronized their watches on the key bilateral and global issues," he said.

Peskov added that contacts between the two countries’ top diplomats and the two leaders’ aides in charge of foreign affairs had been held as well.

French president highlights Russia’s important role in settling global crises

© Mikhail Metzel/ITASS

Emmanuel Macron stressed that a new architecture of security and trust between Russia and the European Union is needed to be established.

FORT DE BREGANCON /France/, August 19, 2019 - Russia plays an extremely important role in settling global crises, French President Emmanuel Macron told journalists before the start of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

"All the major crises in the world will be in the focus of our discussion with the Russian president. This is both because France is holding preparations for a summit of the G7 Group, in which it is presiding over, and because Russia plays a key role in settling crises," the French president said.

"This is why I want to exchange opinions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on all these issues," Macron said.

© Gerard Julien, Pool via AP

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

 

[angelburst29]

Highlights: British PM Johnson on Brexit at meeting with Macron

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday. Following are key Johnson quotes when he spoke alongside Macron just after his arrival:

France's Macron to Johnson: Britain's destiny is your choice alone

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday told Prime Minister Boris Johnson that it was for him to choose Britain's destiny and that while a no-deal scenario was not the European Union's wish, the bloc would be ready for it.

France's Macron: No time to negotiate new Brexit deal

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday told Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson there was not enough time in the month ahead to negotiate a new Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

After Germany hints at compromise, France tells UK: no new Brexit deal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday challenged Britain to come up with alternatives to the Irish border backstop within 30 days, but French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned there would be no renegotiation of the Brexit deal.

France's Macron says no-deal Brexit would be Britain's fault

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said a no-deal Brexit would be of Britain's own making and not the European Union's, adding that any trade pact London cut with Washington would not mitigate the cost of leaving the bloc without a deal.

UK's Johnson in Paris: we will not set up border checks in Ireland

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that under no circumstances would the United Kingdom set up border checks on the boundary between EU member Ireland and the British region of Northern Ireland.

Explainer: Macron's quest for an international tax on digital services

French President Emmanuel Macron is pressing ahead with a digital tax in France, a move U.S. President Donald Trump described as "foolishness", and the French leader is keen to reach an international agreement on taxing big tech companies.

Italy deserves leaders who are up to the task: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has said Italy deserves leaders who are up to the task, describing one of the party chiefs in Rome's collapsed government as the "great loser" for having made the mistake of sharing power with the far-right.

UK's Boris Johnson puts his feet up in Macron's palace

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have taken a month to embark on his first trip abroad, but he was quick to make himself at home in President Emmanuel Macron's gilded palace, putting his feet up on the furniture.

Britain-EU talks must respect single market integrity, Irish stability: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Boris Johnson held constructive talks on Thursday and agreed that exchanges between Britain and the European Union in search of a Brexit deal should continue until the end of September, an official in Macron's office said.

 

[angelburst29]

G7 or G5? Trump and Johnson add unpredictability to French summit

Brexit Britain's overtures to U.S. President Donald Trump risk further complicating the search for common ground this weekend at a Group of Seven summit already clouded by transatlantic rifts over trade, Iran and climate change.

France vows tight security to keep troublemakers far from G7 summit

The French seaside resort of Biarritz will be transformed into more of a fortress than a surfers' paradise as organizers of this weekend's G7 summit prepare to shield world leaders from outside disturbances.

French yellow vests join global activists at G7 counter-summit

Anti-globalization and climate activists have teamed up with yellow vest protesters and Basque nationalists ahead of a G7 meeting in France this weekend to confront a rich-poor divide they say is growing due to the "cynicism" of world leaders.

France's Macron to meet Iran foreign minister on eve of G7

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday, as major world powers seek to salvage a 2015 international nuclear deal signed with Tehran.

Macron to meet Iranians before G7 to float ideas for defusing crisis

France’s President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he would meet Iranian officials ahead of this weekend's G7 summit and make proposals aimed at de-escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Iran's Zarif says nuclear talks with Macron were 'productive': ILNA agency

Iran's foreign minister said talks he held on Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron about a landmark 2015 nuclear deal were "productive", according to the ILNA news agency.

Iran ready to work on French nuclear deal proposals, does not want war: foreign minister
Iran is prepared to work on French proposals to salvage the international nuclear deal that Tehran signed with world powers in 2015 but it will not tolerate U.S. interference in the Gulf, its foreign minister said on Thursday.

France and Britain aim to show unity on Iran as G7 looms

France and Britain aimed to present a united front on the issue of Iran - where they have been at odds with the United States - as major world powers prepared to discuss Iran and other topics at the G7 summit.

Britain unlikely to change Iran stance at G7 despite Trump meeting

Britain is unlikely to alter its approach on Iran despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson meeting U.S. President Donald Trump, as the 2015 deal remains the best way to ensure Tehran does not get nuclear weapons, a British diplomatic source said on Friday.

Trump says appropriate to let Russia join Group of Seven

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday it would be appropriate to let Russia join the G7 group of advanced industrialized countries.

Trump's message to G7 leaders this weekend: Be more like U.S.

President Donald Trump will highlight U.S. economic policies under his stewardship at meetings with other G7 leaders this weekend in France and encourage allies to follow the American model to stave off problems with the global economy, officials said.

Russia, on Trump idea for G7 return, says show us the proposals: Ifax

Russia needs to receive and examine tangible proposals for it to return to the G7 group of nations if that is what is being proposed, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.

Italy’s deputy foreign minister welcomes idea of inviting Russia to 2020 G7 summit

ROME, August 23, 2019 - It would be a good idea to reconstitute the G8 group with Russia as a member, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Manlio Di Stefano told TASS, commenting on an initiative by Presidents Donald Trump of the US and Emmanuel Macron of France. "I like the idea and I have always said it. However, I have heard Putin say that the G20 platform is far more appropriate. I would say the same if I were him," Di Stefano pointed out.

G7 wants Russia back in the club due to stiff competition with G20, says source

BRUSSELS, August 22, 2019 - The Group of Seven, an informal bloc of countries with the world’s largest economies, wants to see Russia back in the organization due to the toughening geopolitical competition with the Group of Twenty, a forum of major advanced and emerging nations, a diplomatic source at a European countries’ mission in Brussels told TASS on Thursday.

"Russia’s return to the G7 is a conscious need. In the recent years, we have been observing a number of global trends indicating a decline in the G7’s global influence and growing influence of the G20 format, which was originally meant as a platform for purely economic cooperation," the diplomat said.

Thus, in his words, the G7 nations’ aggregate GDP has dropped from 50% to 30% of the global GDP in the past 30 years. Moreover, population of the G7 nations accounts for mere ten percent of the global population.

Secondly, according to the diplomat, the Group of Seven, which has been referring to itself as an "alliance of democracies," has been demonstrating violent disagreement between its member nations. And, last but not least, the G7 countries’ conflict with Russia has stiffened competition with the G20 format.

"In such environment, the G7 needs to find ways to strengthen its positions and normalize relations with Russia at the same time. So, it looks quite a wise proposal to move towards the resumption of the G8 format," the diplomat noted.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that "it’s much more appropriate to have Russia in" [the G8]. According to a senior US administration official cited by CNN, Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation on Tuesday and agreed that the Russian president should be invited to a G7 summit in 2020. According to CNN, Trump plans to broach the topic at a G7 summit scheduled to take place in Biarritz, France, on August 24-26.

However, a source in Brussels told TASS on Thursday that the European Union is against Russia’s return to the G7 until the Minsk agreements are ultimately implemented.

The Group of Seven (G7) is an association of industrialized countries that brings together the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and Japan. In 1997, it was renamed the Group of Eight (G8) after Russia joined the club. In 2014, Western countries decided to return to the G7 format in the wake of the developments in Ukraine and the deterioration of relations with Russia.

Russia not desperate for G8, thinks G20 format is more efficient — Kremlin spokesman

The Kremlin spokesperson pointed out that discussing global problems in geopolitics, security or economy without China and India is "not very efficient"

Russia is not desperate to be back in the Group of Eight, the more so because many problems can be resolved more efficiently within the Group of Twenty format, Russian president’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"Return to the G7, the former G8, is not a goal in itself for Russia," he stressed. "In any case, Russia thinks that now it is not very efficient to discuss global problems in geopolitics, security or economy without China and India."

"So, other formats, for instance, the Group of Twenty, look more advantageous," he noted, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly said that Moscow was ready to cooperate with other states in any formats.

France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7

Russia's readmission to the Group of Seven nations depends on progress in Ukraine peace talks, a French diplomatic source said, responding to comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that Moscow should be allowed to rejoin the group.

Canada opposes Russia's return to G8: Freeland

The Canadian government remains opposed to Russia rejoining the group of leading industrialized nations formerly known as the Group of Eight, a move U.S President Donald Trump has said should be considered, Canada's foreign minister said on Thursday.

Trump or Europe? UK's Johnson to sample post-Brexit reality at G7 summit

Boris Johnson is about to feel the pinch of Brexit Britain's new global status: squeezed on one side by Europeans in no mood to yield, and on the other by a United States driving a hard bargain for its economic support.

French financial prosecutor drops probe into top Macron official Kohler

The office of France's financial prosecutor on Thursday dropped a probe into Alexis Kohler, President Emmanuel Macron's top official at the Elysee palace, saying it found no evidence of wrongdoing in an investigation into conflict of interest.

At least one killed after fire breaks out in hospital near Paris

At least one person was killed and eight injured after a fire broke out overnight in a hospital complex on the outskirts of Paris, authorities said on Thursday.