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Tag: French President

  • French President Macron defends possible trip to Qatar for World Cup

    French President Macron defends possible trip to Qatar for World Cup

    French President Emmanuel Macron has defended himself against criticism of his possible visit to Qatar for the World Cup if the France team reaches the semi-finals or final.

    “I don’t think you have to politicise sports,” Macron said on Thursday during a trip to Bangkok.

    “You have to ask these questions when you award the competitions,” Macron said, referring to climate or human rights issues at World Cup events and Olympic Games.

    “They should not be asked every time the event is happening, but the moment you award it.”

    Qatar has long been criticised for alleged human rights abuses.

    The World Cup was awarded to the country in 2010.

    The Élysée Palace had recently announced that Macron would travel to Qatar if the holders make it to the semi-finals or final.

  • French President tests positive for COVID, now in isolation

    French President tests positive for COVID, now in isolation

    French President Emmanuel Macron has joined the league of presidents and prime ministers who contracted the COVID-19.

    He is now self-isolating.

    The 42-year-old will continue to run the country via video conferencing, the Elysee Palace said.

    Other leaders who had caught the bug, include the outgoing US president, Donald Trump, who initially described the virus the Democrats hoax and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro.

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson caught the virus in April. He was saved by his country’s NHS.

    The British Prime Minister, 56, was among world leaders the worst afflicted by coronavirus.

    There were also Prince Albert II of Monaco, Mikhail Mishustin, prime minister of Russia and ESwatini’s prime minister, 52 year-old Ambrose Dlamini.

    Dlamini did not survive the virus. He died 13 December.

  • French President, Emmanuel Macron to address joint session of National Assembly in July

    President Emmanuel Macron of France is billed to visit Nigeria in early July and will seek to address the joint session of the National Assembly, Ambassador of France to Nigeria Mr. Denys Gauer, has said.

    Speaking when he paid a visit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara, at the National Assembly, Mr. Gauer said President Macron has interest in the future and development of Nigeria.

    He revealed that Mr. Macron had worked in the French embassy in Abuja early in his career for six months some years ago and that whereas relations between the two countries in the last few years have centred on security, Mr. Macron hopes to use the visit to further deepen relations with Nigeria especially in areas such as youths development, culture and creativity.

    Responding, Speaker Yakubu Dogara said that members of House of Representatives and indeed the National Assembly will want to listen to the French President whom he described as “a man of our generation”.

    He has brought a lot of youthful zest, dynamism charisma and appeal to French politics and we will want to yield the floor to him.

    The Speaker also commended the French government for assisting Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists and pledged to give expeditious passage to all bilateral agreements that will be signed between Nigeria and France during Mr. Macron’s visit.