I've set this up as I'm jealous of Mowl's Nordic affairs thread 
There's been quite a lot to talk about this past week:
1. French reaction to Covid-19
As you may have read, we've been put back into to lockdown, however with significant changes since the last one in March/April:
2. Charlie Hebdo at it again
A teacher was beheaded by a young Chechen man, after a cartoon of Mohammad was shown and defended in a classroom in the North of Paris. After this incident, Macron publicly defended "la liberté d'expression" and images of the teacher that was murdered as well as certain Charlie Hebdo cartoons were projected onto the Elysee Palace.
Turkey and Arab countries took much offence to this and called on a boycott of French goods, which was met with a mixed reaction in those countries. Erdogan called for an apology from Macron for insulting the prophet, to which Macron responded "We are a Republic, we defend the liberty of expression. Charlie Hebdo then published a very humorous cartoon of Erdogan, which seemingly sent him over the edge
3. Mohammad's birthday
Yesterday was the big man's birthday Momo, so no better way to celebrate than murdering a few elderly people (one was a mother of three from Brazil) as they go into church for a bit of pray. The suspect of North African origin was arrested, but then there were unsuccessful attempts at stabbing attacks in Lyon, Satrouville and Avignon. Indeed, at Satrouville it was the father who called the police to tell them that his son had beaten him up and was heading to the church with a kitchen knife to carry out an attack....There is a notable presence of army around the place now.
4. Gang warfare
Since July there's has been a tit for tat gang-warfare over drug supply in France. Mainly between Arab gangs and a new force of Chechen gangs. This came to a head in Dijon of all places during the summer when a full on street battle erupted between the two sides. But according to a friend of mine in the French police, it appears to have escalated, after a 16 year old Chechen was beaten to a pulp in the North of Paris and a vendetta opened.
5. The Turks and Armenians
The recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, would obviously have blow back in some places. Germany has a large Turkish population, while France has a large and very successful Armenian ex-pat community, but there is also an underclass involved in crime. Indeed, an ex GF of mine is of Armenian extraction and a very beautiful lady at that as well. Last weekend, the Armenian community blocked off a motor way outside of Paris to show support for their side in the conflict, they also inexplicably beat very viciously 4 unlucky Turkish lorry drivers who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Over the last few days a group of Turkish nationalists calling themselves 'The Grey Wolves' (a bit gay), have attacked Armenian shops and businesses in Paris and Lyon and vandalized some memorials commemorating the Armenian Genocide.
6. Anti-lock down protests.
It looks like the some elements of the French will oppose the lockdown, it looks like a mix of Gilets Jaunes / Antifa / Unions etc. It kicked off in Toulouse yesterday, and I'm wondering if/when in Paris it will kick off.
All in all, a rough week for the French.
I hope Ireland can put the finishing touches on this terrible week by stuffing les Bleus tomorrow night.
There's been quite a lot to talk about this past week:
1. French reaction to Covid-19
As you may have read, we've been put back into to lockdown, however with significant changes since the last one in March/April:
- - Schools, creches remain open. Universities are shut. Children from the age of 6 onwards have to wear a mask in the classroom.
- - An "attestation" is needed when you want to leave the house and one of the following reasons has to be given:
- Going to work (work being defined as Public Service (health, security, education, construction, administration, transport). Private Sector ( Construction, health, IT security, engineering, retail). Average office workers stay at home.
- Shopping (food)
- Sport (can only stay 1km around the gaff)
- Helping/visiting an elderly relative
2. Charlie Hebdo at it again
A teacher was beheaded by a young Chechen man, after a cartoon of Mohammad was shown and defended in a classroom in the North of Paris. After this incident, Macron publicly defended "la liberté d'expression" and images of the teacher that was murdered as well as certain Charlie Hebdo cartoons were projected onto the Elysee Palace.
Turkey and Arab countries took much offence to this and called on a boycott of French goods, which was met with a mixed reaction in those countries. Erdogan called for an apology from Macron for insulting the prophet, to which Macron responded "We are a Republic, we defend the liberty of expression. Charlie Hebdo then published a very humorous cartoon of Erdogan, which seemingly sent him over the edge
3. Mohammad's birthday
Yesterday was the big man's birthday Momo, so no better way to celebrate than murdering a few elderly people (one was a mother of three from Brazil) as they go into church for a bit of pray. The suspect of North African origin was arrested, but then there were unsuccessful attempts at stabbing attacks in Lyon, Satrouville and Avignon. Indeed, at Satrouville it was the father who called the police to tell them that his son had beaten him up and was heading to the church with a kitchen knife to carry out an attack....There is a notable presence of army around the place now.
4. Gang warfare
Since July there's has been a tit for tat gang-warfare over drug supply in France. Mainly between Arab gangs and a new force of Chechen gangs. This came to a head in Dijon of all places during the summer when a full on street battle erupted between the two sides. But according to a friend of mine in the French police, it appears to have escalated, after a 16 year old Chechen was beaten to a pulp in the North of Paris and a vendetta opened.
5. The Turks and Armenians
The recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, would obviously have blow back in some places. Germany has a large Turkish population, while France has a large and very successful Armenian ex-pat community, but there is also an underclass involved in crime. Indeed, an ex GF of mine is of Armenian extraction and a very beautiful lady at that as well. Last weekend, the Armenian community blocked off a motor way outside of Paris to show support for their side in the conflict, they also inexplicably beat very viciously 4 unlucky Turkish lorry drivers who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Over the last few days a group of Turkish nationalists calling themselves 'The Grey Wolves' (a bit gay), have attacked Armenian shops and businesses in Paris and Lyon and vandalized some memorials commemorating the Armenian Genocide.
6. Anti-lock down protests.
It looks like the some elements of the French will oppose the lockdown, it looks like a mix of Gilets Jaunes / Antifa / Unions etc. It kicked off in Toulouse yesterday, and I'm wondering if/when in Paris it will kick off.
All in all, a rough week for the French.
I hope Ireland can put the finishing touches on this terrible week by stuffing les Bleus tomorrow night.
Anybody but that God awful Cavan.
over your head English boy. Back into Mummy’s closet Jambo.
