Latest news with #JacquesChirac
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Paris unveils a memorial to LGBTQ+ victims of Nazi regime and other persecutions
PARIS (AP) — A memorial to the long-ignored gay victims of the Nazi regime and to all LGBTQ+ people persecuted throughout history has been unveiled in Paris on Saturday. The monument, a massive steel star designed by French artist Jean-Luc Verna, is located at the heart of Paris, in public gardens close to the Bastille Plaza. It aims to fulfill a duty to remember and to fight discrimination, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. 'Historical recognition means saying 'this happened' and 'we don't want it to happen again,'' Hidalgo said. Describing the sculpture that looks like a big star wand lying on the ground, Verna, a visual artist who also is a LGBTQ+ rights activist, said : 'There's a black side in front of us, forcing us to remember. ... At certain times of the day, it casts a long shadow on the ground, evoking the dangers looming over, sadly.' The other side of the star, silvery, reflects the sky. It represents 'the color of time passing, with the Paris sky moving as quickly as public opinion, which can change at any moment," Verna said. Historians estimate between 5,000 and 15,000 people were deported throughout Europe by the Nazi regime during World War II because they were gay. Jacques Chirac in 2005 was the first president in France to recognize these crimes, acknowledging LGBTQ+ people have been 'hunted down, arrested and deported.' Jean-Luc Roméro, deputy mayor of Paris and a longtime LGBTQ+ rights activist, said 'we didn't know, unfortunately, that this monument would be inaugurated at one of the worst moments we're going through right now." Referring to policies of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, Romero said 'we've never experienced such setback in the United States, with what's happening to trans people.' Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has issued orders to recognize people as being only man or woman, keep transgender girls and women out of sports competitions for women, oust transgender military troops, restrict federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 19 and threaten research funding for institutions that provide the care. All the efforts are being challenged in court. In Europe, Hungary's parliament passed this year an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, a decision that legal scholars and critics have called another step toward authoritarianism by the populist government.
Associated Press
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Paris unveils a memorial to LGBTQ+ victims of Nazi regime and other persecutions
PARIS (AP) — A memorial to the long-ignored gay victims of the Nazi regime and to all LGBTQ+ people persecuted throughout history has been unveiled in Paris on Saturday. The monument, a massive steel star designed by French artist Jean-Luc Verna, is located at the heart of Paris, in public gardens close to the Bastille Plaza. It aims to fulfill a duty to remember and to fight discrimination, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. 'Historical recognition means saying 'this happened' and 'we don't want it to happen again,'' Hidalgo said. Describing the sculpture that looks like a big star wand lying on the ground, Verna, a visual artist who also is a LGBTQ+ rights activist, said : 'There's a black side in front of us, forcing us to remember. ... At certain times of the day, it casts a long shadow on the ground, evoking the dangers looming over, sadly.' The other side of the star, silvery, reflects the sky. It represents 'the color of time passing, with the Paris sky moving as quickly as public opinion, which can change at any moment,' Verna said. Historians estimate between 5,000 and 15,000 people were deported throughout Europe by the Nazi regime during World War II because they were gay. Jacques Chirac in 2005 was the first president in France to recognize these crimes, acknowledging LGBTQ+ people have been 'hunted down, arrested and deported.' Jean-Luc Roméro, deputy mayor of Paris and a longtime LGBTQ+ rights activist, said 'we didn't know, unfortunately, that this monument would be inaugurated at one of the worst moments we're going through right now.' Referring to policies of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, Romero said 'we've never experienced such setback in the United States, with what's happening to trans people.' Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has issued orders to recognize people as being only man or woman, keep transgender girls and women out of sports competitions for women, oust transgender military troops, restrict federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 19 and threaten research funding for institutions that provide the care. All the efforts are being challenged in court. In Europe, Hungary's parliament passed this year an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, a decision that legal scholars and critics have called another step toward authoritarianism by the populist government.
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish officials step up backroom plans for influential deal-making role for EU presidency
It was a balmy day in May when the then French president Jacques Chirac , UK prime minister Tony Blair and Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi were ushered on to a coach in Phoenix Park in Dublin . The year was 2004 and they were making the short trip between Farmleigh House and Áras an Uachtaráin, for a flag-raising ceremony with other leaders, to mark the entry of 10 new (mostly central and eastern) states to the European Union . The event was the highlight of the Republic's six-month stint holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union . A crucial cog in the labyrinthian EU policymaking machine, the council presidency rotates between member states and involves brokering compromises, to get the 27 national governments on the same page. READ MORE The State is due to take over the role again in the second half of next year. Officials in Dublin and Brussels have been laying the groundwork for what will be a major diplomatic and political undertaking. Running a successful presidency can boost a member sate's standing and influence inside the EU. A poor one can leave a black mark that takes years to erase. Irish ministers will chair EU meetings on foreign affairs, finance, justice, agriculture and other policy areas, where they and their counterparts from the other 26 member states will trash out decisions. You have to be an 'honest broker' between the other capitals, one EU source said. The country running the presidency often acts as the 'engine', keeping legislation moving through the system and unjamming blockages, they added. The last time the Republic took on the EU council presidency was in 2013. The State was about to come out from the shadow of the bailout, which staved off financial ruin but brought years of painful austerity. The presidency offered an opportunity for Enda Kenny's government to restore its reputation on the European stage. 'We were trying to turn a tanker around, to say 'we are still a player at the table',' one source involved behind the scenes back then said. There was a huge focus on avoiding excessive spending. Tap water rather than bottled water was served at meetings. Cars ferrying visiting politicians around Dublin were kept to a minimum. Running an effective presidency 'will be essential for Ireland's future position and influence in the EU', an internal December 2024 briefing stated. The briefing, drawn up by Department of Foreign Affairs officials, stated that 'significant preparatory' was needed to make sure the Republic did a decent job. More than 230 meetings will be held in the State over the six months, including up to 20 gatherings of EU ministers and a large number of lower-level working groups involving officials and diplomats. The State will also host a summit of the EU's 27 national leaders and a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), a wider forum of leaders set up after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. [ Republic eyes chance to host grand summit on future of Europe Opens in new window ] Some 47 European heads of state and government will potentially attend the EPC, making it the biggest international meeting hosted in the history of the State. Discussions are ongoing about where to stage the event. Holding it in Dublin is one option, in which case the Convention Centre could be in the frame, several sources said. That would necessitate shutting down large parts of the city centre for security reasons, causing major disruption. The alternative would be to hold the summit on the site of a stately-home style hotel outside of the capital, with temporary infrastructure built for the 5,000 travelling diplomats, officials and journalists. That option poses difficulties getting people to the venue and accommodating them nearby, one Irish official involved in the planning said. The Government has dodged questions about how much it expects holding the EU council presidency will cost. 'The actual costs arise next year and they will be significant,' said Minister of State for European affairs Thomas Byrne. Documents seen by The Irish Times show officials estimate the costs will be in the region of €120 million to €170 million. A Department of Foreign Affairs briefing released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request stated that hosting the EPC would be an 'unprecedented' undertaking that threw up 'significant logistical and security implications'. One department source said they expected the Irish presidency would cost between €150 million and €180 million all in. The bailout presidency of 2013 cost €42 million mainly because most meetings were held in Brussels. Those that took place in Ireland were limited to Dublin Castle. A temporary media centre constructed for journalists covering a meeting of EU finance ministers at Dublin Castle went through more than 1,000 litres of tea and coffee. The 2004 presidency cost €110 million and had the feel of a travelling road show, sources said. 'It was certainly plentiful; it was the Celtic Tiger, all was good,' one said. Meetings were held across the State, on more than one occasion in or very near the constituency of the relevant Irish minister chairing them. The Office of Public Works were like 'roadies' building and taking down infrastructure for events. 'They could have done Taylor Swift's world tour after the six months,' a source who worked on the 2004 presidency said. Department officials initially seemed to envisage that the Republic's 2026 turn in the EU hot seat would mainly be run in Dublin. Now the plan is for a greater regional mix, though Dublin Castle will still feature. The deal underpinning the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael Coalition contains a commitment that some of the high-level EU meetings would be brought 'to cities and counties across Ireland'. Big EU policy debates that the Government will be expected to steer include a drive to increase defence spending and improve the bloc's economic competitiveness. Discussions about once more enlarging the 27-state club will feature. Ukraine, Montenegro and Albania are hopeful of being in a position to join the EU by the end of this decade. Irish ministers and diplomats will spend a lot of time in the weeds of negotiations on the size and scope of the EU's next budget, to replace the existing €1.2 trillion one that runs out in 2027. The budget is always the result of an intense arm wrestle between national capitals and the European Commission, the EU's executive body that proposes laws. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has privately told Cabinet members to start making more of an effort to travel to EU meetings that cross their brief, to get to know their counterparts in other governments. 'You will see a stepping-up of that this year,' one Minister said. Mr Martin is planning to arrange individual sit downs with many other EU leaders over the next year as well. Some ministers – finance, foreign affairs and agriculture – are already travelling to Brussels several times a year, as the EU has more decision-making power in those areas. Others are less frequent visitors. Much of the legwork will be done by the State's corps of diplomats and officials based in Brussels, who make up its permanent representation to the EU. The size of the State's 'perm rep', as it is known in EU-speak, will more than double, up from the 100 officials who usually working there. The department has rented a second office down the road from the commission's Berlaymont headquarters to accommodate the increase on a three-year lease at a cost of €2.3 million. What makes a good council presidency? The Republic's presidency will be watched closely for how the Government approaches debates on defence and security given how its policy of military neutrality puts it out of step with most other member states. One rough yardstick for success is the number of compromises agreed. However, for all the careful plotting Irish diplomats are doing to gauge what EU legislation might come to the boil later next year, some unforeseen political crisis could grip Europe and dominate the agenda. Catherine Day, a former secretary general of the commission, said a successful presidency was one that 'helps the system work towards consensus'. Catherine Day, former secretary general of the European Commission. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw The time in the chair was not an opportunity to 'call the shots', but about listening to what was being said around the table and proposing a way forward, she said. 'The big countries will listen if Ireland has done its homework and brings forward a well-crafted compromise,' the commission's former top civil servant said. The average person on the street may only take notice when delegations of European leaders start touching down on the tarmac. For Irish officials and diplomats in Brussels, and many in Dublin, the EU council presidency will have taken over their day-to-day working life long before that.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi was ranked as one of the top cultural cities in the world
We all know some cities are absolute stunners when it comes to food, while others boast killer transport systems and walkable neighbourhoods. But when it comes to culture – the art, the theatre, the after-dark gallery raves and poetry slams in unexpected places – which cities are truly smashing it? To get to the bottom of it, Time Out surveyed a whopping 18,500 locals across the globe to get the inside scoop on the culture scenes in their hometowns. They revealed how good – and how affordable – the art and culture offering is where they live. Then, to really narrow it down, Time Out asked the global network of Time Out editors and culture writers to weigh in on the best of the best. The result? A list of the top 20 cultural powerhouses in the world right now, and yes – spoiler alert – Abu Dhabi made the cut. Here's the official list of the best cultural spots across the globe: Paris Florence Edinburgh Mexico city Sydney Barcelona Chicago Lisbon Hanoi Cape town Beijing Tbilisi Jakarta Delhi Medellin Amsterdam Marrakech Vienna Prague Abu Dhabi Coming in at number 20, is Abu Dhabi and according to Mariana Cerqueira, Editor of Time Out Abu Dhabi, 'The culture scene in Abu Dhabi is levelling up – big time.' She's not exaggerating. There's teamLab Phenomena, the dazzling new immersive experience from Japan's famed digital art collective, freshly opened on Saadiyat Island. The Louvre Abu Dhabi continues to wow with globally curated exhibitions – right now, it's 'Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power,' a striking collaboration with Paris's Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. Then there's what's still to come: the long-anticipated openings of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and the Natural History Museum are just around the corner, promising to cement the Saadiyat Cultural District as one of the most significant arts destinations in the world. Want something a little edgier? Head to MiZa, a buzzing new neighbourhood where emerging artists and creators are bringing the energy. Stop by 421 Arts Campus for exhibitions, performances and creative workshops, and check out The Alley for art-forward pop-ups and vibey supper clubs. And for a truly showstopping cultural celebration, locals picked the Sheikh Zayed Festival as their number one. We're talking Arab pop stars, folk dance shows, majestic fireworks, sporting competitions, and a drone show so massive it could probably be seen from space. In the survey, 86 percent of Abu Dhabians rated their cultural scene as top-notch, and 67 percent applauded its affordability. It's a big win for a city that's putting serious investment – and serious imagination – into its creative future. More in Abu Dhabi… Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year It's official: Abu Dhabi Comedy Season is returning for a second edition with some huge names Wow, look at this line-up The 2025 concert line-up in Abu Dhabi just keeps getting better and better So many big names coming to the capital
Local France
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
A French history of the referendum
Over the border in Switzerland, referendums are a regular occurrence with the country's tradition of 'direct democracy' meaning that residents are constantly being asked to vote on single topics, ranging from big changes like equal marriage or assisted dying to smaller and more local matters. In France, however, national referendums are rare - although the city of Paris has been experimenting with this format, with locals being asked for their opinion on a ban on electronic scooters, plans to extend pedestrianised streets and an increase in parking prices for SUVs. It's still unclear what this year's referendum will be about - Macron said only that it will be a series of questions, with the votes taking place on the same day, on "important social and economic reforms". He said only that the votes would be "in the coming months", although autumn is thought to be a likely time frame. Referendums in France don't always turn out well for the government that calls them, which perhaps explains their comparative rarity. Here's a look at some of the key votes from the Fifth Republic, the period from 1958 to the present day; May 2005 - EU Constitution changes France's last major referendum was 20 years ago, and resulted in a bruising defeat for president Jacques Chirac. The subject was somewhat technical - changes to the governing mechanisms for the EU - but in what was widely interpreted as a rejection of the EU, rather than the specifics of the treaty change, the French people voted 'no' by 54 percent to 46 percent. Advertisement The result was humiliating for Chirac, who was in favour of the changes but who had opted not to put them before parliament, and instead to ask the French people directly. April 1972 and September 1992 - more EU The 2005 referendum marked the third time the French people had been asked about in the EU - in 1972 they voted 68 percent in favour of expanding the European Economic Community, creating the body that became the European Union. In 1992 they voted on ratifying the Maastricht Treaty, which created the framework of the modern EU with broader economic and security cooperation. After what was described as a "lively" campaign, France eventually voted yes by just 51 percent. September 2000 - shorter presidential terms Until 2000, French presidents were elected for a seven-year mandate. This was dropped down to five years after the French people agreed with the idea - 73 percent, albeit with a very low turnout, just thirty percent of the population felt strongly enough to vote. Advertisement The change was proposed by Jacques Chirac who also became the first beneficiary of it - in 2002 he was re-elected, for a five-year term. Any changes to the role of president requires a change of the Constitution, which can only be done in a very narrow set of circumstances , one of which is that a clear majority of the population has voted for it in a referendum. The current system in which the president is directly elected via universal suffrage also came about after a referendum in 1962, called by Charles De Gaulle. This brings us neatly to De Gaulle, who called three of the most consequential referendums in the history of the French firth republic. January 1961 and April 1962 - Algerian independence Independence for the French colony of Algeria came about after a brutal, years-long armed struggle in which many people died and the French republic itself came close to toppling. But it ended with two referendums. The first, in 1961 asked the Algerian people themselves whether they wanted 'self determination' - by a large margin (75 percent) they voted yes. The following year France as a whole was asked if it agreed with the Evian Agreement, which laid out the conditions for a cease-fire and then negotiations with an Algerian government, effectively bringing the war to an end - 90 percent of people were in agreement. Advertisement April 1969 - Reform of the Senate and regional government But the most consequential reform for De Gaulle himself was perhaps the dullest topic ever subjected to a public vote in France - changes to the regional government organisation and reform of the French Senate. Perhaps over-confident after winning three previous votes, De Gaulle called the vote on the changes, but the referendum rapidly became a vote of confidence in his presidency after a bruising series of crises. The French people voted 'non' to the changes by 52.41 percent, and De Gaulle resigned the following day. After surviving major crises including weeks of nationwide strikes and protests in May 1968, the threat of a coup by military leaders over his Algeria peace plan, France's Resistance hero was eventually brought down by a vote on local government.
