Late last month, the news broke: Aboubakar Cisse, a young Black Muslim man of Malian descent, had been killed inside a mosque in southern France Initially described in the media as a personal dispute, that narrative quickly fell apart as a local prosecutor announced the case was being investigated as “an act with Islamophobic connotations” Cisse wasn’t just killed; he was targeted in a sacred space. After cleaning the mosque for Friday prayers, surveillance footage showed him teaching another man how to pray. As Cisse prostrated himself in prayer, the other man pretended to follow along before pulling out a knife, stabbing him 57 times and shouting vile Islamophobic slurs The emotional wreckage this has caused is immense each detail has deepened the Muslim community’s collective grief Even with stark video evidence, many are still refusing to label this incident as a hate crime at the convergence of Islamophobia and anti-Black racism but the inevitable outcome of decades of normalised bigotry.  A Bosnian French man has been arrested in the case. His lawyer denies that Cisse was targeted because of his religion, but to Abdallah Zekri, vice president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, the evidence is clear: “This is an Islamophobic crime the worst of all those committed in France against our community.” This isn’t about one deranged individual. It’s about an entire ecosystem of hate, one that is propped up by state policies cloaked in neutrality media narratives that cast Muslims as threats and daily indignities faced by Muslim students A Europe where Cisse could be murdered in his own mosque cannot call itself a union of equality I no longer blame only hate-spewing politicians who scapegoat Muslims for electoral gain - those who just weeks ago screamed “down with the veil” systematically refusing to see Muslim citizens as part of the European “we” I also blame those who acknowledge our pain in public while ignoring our warnings behind closed doors From local councillors to European institutions their silence is not neutral; it is deadly We don’t need more token consultations and empty statements We need urgent and systemic transformation Fighting Islamophobia means treating Muslims as partners in shaping Europe It means recognising Islamophobia as a form of racism rooted in colonial legacies not simply as religious intolerance.  The EU anti-racism strategy must be co-created with Muslim communities It must acknowledge the intersectional nature of discrimination and avoid fragmenting the struggle by isolating Islamophobia from broader anti-racism efforts Because a Europe where Cisse could be murdered in his own mosque cannot call itself a union of equality The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters Middle East Eye          ISSN 2634-2456                      This issue is preventing our website from loading properly. 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LOGIN Downloadable PDFs are a benefit of an FP subscription This article is an Insider exclusive Contact us at [email protected] to learn about upgrade options unlocking the ability to gift this article Within hours of a public showdown at the White House between U.S President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart a Ukrainian banker started a fundraising campaign to buy nuclear weapons Despite the privations inflicted by the war Ukrainians donated as much as they could and gathered more than half a million dollars before he declared it was meant in jest and redirected the fund toward the purchase of drones Ukraine gave up its nukes in 1994 in exchange for assurances from the United States above all that its sovereignty was guaranteed But as the Trump administration abandons previous promises Ukraine isn’t the only one feeling insecure and isolated There are growing fears among Washington’s European allies that they may be left with the French and British nuclear deterrent if the United States withdraws conventional troops and assets from Europe as it pivots to the Indo-Pacific Nuclear weapons are the biggest taboo in Europe where even whispering about them—and in countries such as Germany even about the civilian use of nuclear power—is highly controversial said it was imperative he discussed “whether nuclear sharing He rushed off to France soon after winning the election and weeks later French President Emmanuel Macron announced the storage of modern nuclear missiles at an air base less than 150 miles from the German border “Our country and our continent must continue to defend, equip, and prepare itself if we want to avoid war,” Macron warned in March there are concerns that the French and British deterrent is highly insufficient It was designed merely to complement the U.S Washington has more than a hundred B61 gravity bombs deployed across the continent in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. The total U.S. inventory is above 5,000 possess a little more than 500 nuclear warheads combined Moreover, there are doctrinal challenges. The French nuclear doctrine limits the use of nukes to only if France came under attack. In comparison, Britain has declared that its deterrent extends to European allies, but the British nuclear deterrent itself is dependent on the United States for Trident missiles aboard four Vanguard-class submarines since the missiles are leased from Lockheed Martin a fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations said it would take more than a decade before the French and British can add more warheads and nuclear capabilities—if they find the political consensus at home and among willing European countries Then there is the other concern: raising hundreds of billions of dollars in defense investments “The cycle to build a nuclear arsenal is even longer than conventional weapons a credible French and British deterrent would require hundreds of billions of euros that Germany could pay the French to extend and enhance its deterrent but there are questions over who would have control.” Domestic politics and the rise of far-right political groups the Europeans need to build trust among themselves—trust that after French presidential elections in 2027 [the next government] won’t fold up France’s nuclear umbrella like Trump is potentially folding up now,” Loss added It is unclear whether the United States will withdraw its troops and other conventional capabilities, but according to leaked documents reported in the Washington Post in March Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to have advocated The United States will “assume risk in other theaters” and direct personnel as well as other conventional capabilities to deal with China which the Trump government sees as a bigger threat NATO chief Mark Rutte has consistently tried to play down trans-Atlantic tensions and member states have adopted a policy to manage Trump—at least for as long as they can as they try to fill the capability gaps in the conventional domain support to Europe is a thing of the past and that the continent has to buck up and manage its security on its own a visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies “Usually when we think about a nuclear deterrent and political,” she told Foreign Policy over the phone “The military capability as yet is not under question,” since the United States hasn’t said it will withdraw its nuclear bombs “and there is no debate over the technical aspect “But the political credibility has indeed come under question—that is the willingness of the country that owns the bombs to use them.” “It’s the president or the prime minister of a country who decides whether to use a nuke or not,” and the belief that the United States will not just to protect itself but also its allies is a significant part of deterrent psychology “But the Trump administration has sown doubts,” Chevreuil added Experts say that even if the United States withdrew its soldiers it would still weaken the protections offered by its nuclear deterrent troops would indicate to its adversaries that the United States isn’t likely to use the nukes in response to an attack on an ally nation—for instance which are on Europe’s front line with Russia “In the case of West Berlin in the Cold War there was no reasonable expectation that a couple of 1,000 U.S troops could defend against a Soviet attack soldier was killed by Russia in a Russian attack,” Loss said “If you plan to withdraw conventional forces where is the tripwire that would trigger the threat of U.S conventional forces on the ground in Europe signal commitment to use nukes on allies’ behalf from the perspective of a nuclear deterrent threat?” It is not just the overall number but also the lack of diversity in French and British nukes that rattle experts France and Britain own strategic nukes strictly as deterrents They are intended to discourage an adversary with the message that no matter the disparity in the total numbers fewer strategic nukes are far too many to risk a mutually destructive nuclear war But the fact that neither the French nor the British have any tactical weapons creates an imbalance Loss explained that strategic nuclear weapons have a higher yield and can take out a city tactical nukes have lower yields and can destroy a military command center But while Russia has tactical nuclear weapons If Russia uses a tactical nuke on a NATO country Europe is in a pickle without the United States “How can the Europeans credibly signal that you are willing to use a nuke when they don’t have any tactical weapons?” Loss said The answer is in diversifying nuclear capabilities that allow you to respond in a limited manner “NATO thinks that 100 to 200 weapons are sufficient for this kind of nonstrategic nuclear role,” Loss said “And that is probably the conversation France and the U.K would have to have amongst each other but also with interested allies.” France, unlike Britain, also has an air component and can mount warheads on its Rafale fighter jets in addition to launching them from submarines. It has long advocated strategic autonomy for Europe and was the first to fear a U.S. retreat from Europe after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In a speech in 2020 that outlined France’s nuclear policy Macron called on European partners to engage on “the role played by France’s nuclear deterrence in [European] collective security.” In a recent paper for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, three scholars highlighted various proposals for a Europeanized French deterrent either under European Union leadership or with rotating control among European capitals Others are more circumspect about normalizing talk around nukes Chevreuil argues that stronger signaling in the nuclear domain may be sufficient “Signaling is the first step to show a change in deterrence posture of any nuclear-armed state France has carried out exercises and nuke signaling only in its national territory But if they were flown over the Baltic nations it could be seen as France’s commitment and reassure these nations,” she said If Europe enhances or even talks about enhancing nuclear capabilities it can encourage nuclear proliferation elsewhere especially in countries such as South Korea and Saudi Arabia which face regional adversaries of their own and have contemplated the possibility of obtaining nuclear weapons Commenting on this and other recent articles is just one benefit of a Foreign Policy subscription Join the conversation on this and other recent Foreign Policy articles when you subscribe now Please follow our comment guidelines The default username below has been generated using the first name and last initial on your FP subscriber account Usernames may be updated at any time and must not contain inappropriate or offensive language FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day Specialty rates for students and faculty. Lock in your rates for longer. Unlock powerful intelligence for your team. Macron and von der Leyen expected to announce protections for researchers seeking to relocate amid Trump’s crackdown France and the EU are to step up their efforts to attract US-based scientists hit by Donald Trump’s crackdown on academia, as they prepare announcements on incentives for researchers to settle in Europe The event, bringing together European academics and European commissioners, is the latest push to open Europe’s doors to US-based academics and researchers who fear their work is threatened by federal spending cuts for universities and research bodies, as well as the targeting of US higher education institutions over diversity policies. France is thought to be particularly keen to attract scientists working on health – particularly infectious diseases – as well as climate research and artificial intelligence wrote to the European Commission urging it to move fast to attract academic talent France launched its own Choose France for science initiative in April with a dedicated platform for applications to host international researchers The French research ministry told Agence France-Presse: “Some foreign researchers have already arrived in France to familiarise themselves with the infrastructure waiting for the funds and platform to be set up.” France’s flagship scientific research centre CNRS launched a new initiative to attract foreign workers whose research is threatened as well as French researchers working abroad some of whom “don’t want to live and raise their children in Trump’s United States” Aix-Marseille University launched its “Safe place for science” programme in March It will receive its first foreign researchers in June In a letter to French universities in March France’s minister for higher education and research wrote: “Many well-known researchers are already questioning their future in the United States We would naturally wish to welcome a certain number of them.” Challenges remain because research investment in the US – including private-public partnerships – has for many years been greater than in Europe Europe has lagged behind the US on investment in universities and research centres French researchers have regularly raised the issue of the comparatively low salaries and precarious contracts for many researchers in France an academic researcher in the US is paid more than their French equivalent Trade unions in France have called for better contracts better salary provisions and better funding across the board at research institutions Some in France hoped the pay gap between scientists in France and the US would narrow once the lower cost of education and health and more generous social benefits in France were taken into account said last month: “The American government is currently using brute force against the universities in the US so that researchers from America are now contacting Europe You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Celestine Cooley was 34 years old when she took her first trip to France she and a friend criss-crossed the country and she quickly fell in love with the culture and way of life "The moment we stepped off the train in the train station at Gare du Nord I knew that France was where I was supposed to live," Cooley She's finally made her Francophone dream a reality shortly after retiring from her nearly 50-year career as an executive assistant in Hollywood she's made the southwestern city of Bordeaux her new home She said she's never been happier — and has no desire to move back to the US Living in Los Angeles had become increasingly unaffordable escaping the snowballing cost of living in the US for more affordable lives abroad Cooley got serious about planning the move when the pandemic hit she spent her spare time learning French and researching the logistics of retiring there "I wanted to go somewhere where it's quiet and I could really feel like I'm at peace," she said "I never knew what peace truly felt like until I moved to Bordeaux." The cost of living is also much lower in Bordeaux than in LA Cooley pays 780 euros a month in rent — about $890 — for her small one-bedroom apartment She previously paid nearly $1,300 in Van Nuys life in general is significantly more affordable than it was in LA Cooley's neighborhood, Chartrons, is a so-called "five-minute city," meaning much of what she needs — from groceries to shops and restaurants — is a short walk away and hops on regional trains to explore other parts of France even late at night after concerts at a local jazz club "I never did that in LA — it was scary," she added It doesn't hurt that Bordeaux is also world-famous for its grapes A self-described "wine-o," Cooley loves to visit various vineyards in the region for wine tastings connecting with strangers at the farmers' market and with her neighbors and fellow expats She's joined two expat social clubs and said her friends are diverse in age and background She's constantly invited to dinner parties "I find that I'm more active here now than I was back in LA over the last 10 years," she said And she's felt welcomed by the French people I feel more accepted here in France than I ever felt throughout my over 70 years of living in the United States," she said "Everything about living here is just better for me and I know it's better for a lot of people." Cooley has kept her friends and family back in the US updated on her new life with regular Facebook posts Those reflections have turned into something of a hobby I don't know what else to do,' I can think of plenty to do," Cooley said Davis's arrival follows the resignation of Ambassador Bridget Brink Andrii Smyrnov is under investigation for allegedly legalizing illicit assets and accepting a bribe worth $100,000 Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the Victory Day parade the Ukrainian Embassy said it regretted Fico’s accusations and urged Slovak officials to “more carefully study Trump also claimed a peace deal was "fairly close." The 41-year-old resident was injured and taken to the hospital Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the drones were shot down near the town of Podolsk EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called for EU members to invest in Ukraine's domestic defense industry to increase the effectiveness and value of military aid provided to Ukraine "So this economic partnership deal in itself is a very important part of the broader security.. that fund will be successful if Ukraine is stable and peaceful future security guarantees," Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. agreed to a large oil production hike in June Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico condemned President Volodymyr Zelensky for warning "foreign delegations not to come" to Russia's Victory Day parade "Russia should know that we are expecting three million artillery shells from our allies Not only North Korea is capable of helping in the war we have allies who are helping Ukraine," President Volodymyr Zelensky said Far-right Eurosceptic candidate George Simion is projected to win the first round of Romania’s presidential election on May 4 gaining nearly 40% of the votes with a majority of polling stations reporting Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during Moscow's Victory Day celebrations between May 7-10 and "sign a number of bilateral inter-governmental and inter-departmental documents" to strengthen Chinese-Russian relations  (Updated:  May 4, 2025 10:09 pm)KI InsightsUkraine calendar: Events to look out for this week by Olena GoncharovaThis photograph shows a French Air and Space Force multirole fighter aircraft Dassault Rafale parked on the runway of a Croatian air base located near Zagreb after the first day of the joint military exercise PEGASE 25 the French army began the deployment of a dozen aircraft in Sweden for a "power projection operation" on NATO's northern and eastern flanks (Damir Sencar/ AFP via Getty Images)France plans to manufacture 1,200 AASM Hammer guided air bombs in 2025 The French-made precision bombs are being transferred to Ukraine as part of ongoing defense support and their use by Ukrainian fighter jets has grown significantly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion The AASM Hammer, developed by French company Safran, has become a weapon of choice for Ukraine’s air force thanks to its high accuracy and resistance to Russian electronic warfare, according to Le Parisien The French government asked Safran to integrate air-to-surface missile systems onto Ukrainian fighter jets after American JDAM GPS-guided munitions failed to hit targets Safran reportedly completed the integration "in less than four months in the fall of 2023," enabling precise targeting from Ukraine’s Soviet-era jets Safran's CEO Franck Saudo highlighted the system’s resistance to GPS jamming and compatibility with Ukrainian MiG and Su aircraft Saudo explained that the module feature protects the bombs from Russian GPS jamming and guarantees high target accuracy The French Defense Ministry confirmed earlier that the bombs can be launched from Ukraine’s existing aircraft fleet France hopes to supply Ukraine with around 50 AASM bombs each month The weapon entered service with the French military in 2008 and became standard for the Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft but has since been adapted for use on other aircraft Olena Goncharova is the Head of North America desk at The Kyiv Independent where she has previously worked as a development manager and Canadian correspondent Ukraine's oldest English-language newspaper as a staff writer in January 2012 and became the newspaper’s Canadian correspondent in June 2018 Olena has a master’s degree in publishing and editing from the Institute of Journalism in Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv Olena was a 2016 Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow who worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for six months The program is administered by the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country Digital access for organisations. Includes exclusive features and content. See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Abhijith is the India Aviation correspondent for Reuters. Based in Delhi, he covers Indian airlines and the operations of aerospace manufacturers in India. In 2020, he was part of the team that won the Reuters Journalist of the Year award under the speed category. Ariba Shahid is a journalist based in Karachi, Pakistan. She primarily covers economic and financial news from Pakistan, along with Karachi-centric stories. Ariba has previously worked at DealStreetAsia and Profit Magazine. , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) PARIS — French police rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur in a nighttime raid after he was taken hostage for ransom the latest alleged criminal effort in France to extort people involved in the management of digital assets The man was kidnapped Thursday morning in Paris "The victim turned out to be the father of a man who made his fortune in cryptocurrencies and the incident was accompanied by a ransom demand," its statement said without giving their names or other specifics about their identities Police investigators located the hostage in a house in the Essonne region south of Paris from which he was rescued on Saturday night It said he was treated for injuries but gave no details French media reported that the alleged hostage-takers cut off one of the man's fingers Police detained 5 people — four were in or close to the house where the man was held captive while the fifth was at the wheel of a vehicle thought to have been used for the alleged abduction It said the police investigation is looking at an array of possible criminal charges including kidnapping "with torture or a barbaric act." police said a co-founder of French crypto-wallet firm Ledger was also kidnapped with his wife from their home in the region of Cher of central France Police said they made 10 arrests and that the alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrency from another of Ledger's co-founders A raid by France's elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit that specializes in hostage situations freed Balland the next day followed the day after that by the liberation Become an NPR sponsor Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. was stabbed eight times and killed on her driveway in the French village of Trémolat last week I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The husband of a British woman stabbed to death in a French village has described his shock after police said an affair with a local man could have been a motive said the police investigation into the death of his wife of 30 years Karen Carter alleged a “relationship I did not want to believe” Mrs Carter was found dying in her driveway with stab wounds on 29 April after she had been at a wine-tasting event in Trémolat A statment by French investigators said: “The investigation is focusing on the people who were likely after the victim or the couple she formed with her friend both of whom were very active in the local social and community fabric.” Mr Carter, who lives in South Africa and spent some of his time in France, told The Times that the police statement had compounded his grief and that of their children. “I could not have imagined that Karen got caught up in what is being talked about as some sort of love triangle that resulted in her being murdered in France,” he said. Mrs Carter reportedly ran a cafe in the village with Jean-François Guerrier, a 74-year-old retired businessman, who worked as a volunteer. She lived in France and managed two holiday homes after visiting the country in 2009. At one stage she ran a lifestyle blog for women over 50 called La Vie est Belle (Life is Beautiful). She was also a leading player in the Queens of Football (Reines du Foot) team, which in early April completed a tour of South Africa. Last week, a Tremolat resident said: “Everyone is in total shock. Ms Carter was a delightful, energetic person who got on with everybody. “We saw emergency vehicles in the village, and then lots of police cars, and then the area around her house was cordoned off,' said the resident, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. “Nobody can understand how this could have happened in a peaceful place like this. We are all keeping our doors locked. It is deeply worrying.” The Dordogne is an area of France that is hugely popular with British tourists, second home owners and expat pensioners. In February, British couple Andrew and Dawn Searle, who previously lived in East Lothian in Scotland, were found dead at their home in the south west village of Les Peques, north of Toulouse. Karen Carter was reportedly having an affair at the time she was stabbed to death in her driveway In March, my husband and I took a trip to Paris to celebrate our anniversary We booked two-hour flights out of Dublin with Air France we treated ourselves to round-trip business-class flights — in total the upgrade from economy cost us an extra $275 per seat Here's what our experience was like flying business class with Air France With business-class seats, we qualified for the Sky Priority service which is meant to help us quickly go through the check-in we got to use a dedicated check-in and baggage drop-off area with no line plus our business-class status came with a generous additional luggage allowance including two checked suitcases with a maximum weight of 70 pounds per item (compared with 50 in economy) our experience with Sky Priority was a bit of a mixed bag between airports it took us quite some time to clear security and immigration in Paris Sky Priority helped cut down our wait time — and we got through security quickly Our suitcase got tagged with a priority sticker which meant it was one of the first to arrive in Paris we had to wait as it appeared on the carousel after numerous other checked bags Since we were flying business class each way, we got to access airport lounges in Dublin and Paris We had access to the Terminal 1 lounge at Dublin Airport plus complimentary light snacks and beverages the dedicated Air France lounge in Paris was being renovated during our visit we were directed to a temporary lounge space that was a bit dark and sparsely furnished Despite our temporary lounge in Paris not looking so great we were still served an excellent array of complimentary bites as well as sweet treats such as muffins and small cakes and Champagne was available for us to grab We didn't want to get to our gates too early especially since Sky Priority comes with priority boarding we didn't hear any flight announcements while in either lounge Though this seems to be an airport-lounge standard to maintain a quiet atmosphere it meant we were more likely to miss our opportunity to board the plane first by the time we got to the gate at boarding time We may have avoided this by getting to the gate early but I didn't want to miss out on our extra lounge time this wasn't quite the premium experience we had hoped for We had different aircraft types for our flights but both had a dedicated business-class seating area separated from the main cabin by a curtain As it was a short-haul European flight we didn't have fancy lie-flat seats that become beds get comfortable leather seats with adjustable armrests and plenty of legroom The main benefit of business class was the guaranteed empty middle seat between us which meant we had room to spread out and weren't crammed next to a stranger in our row We really enjoyed our meals on both flights I like that they were served with fabric napkins and proper cutlery instead of disposable servingware we had a delicious breakfast of puff pastry with salmon we had smoked salmon and couscous with bread and cheese — plus a creamy choux pastry for dessert We were offered a range of beverages with each meal which further helped my lunch feel like an upgraded experience Overall, I had a good experience flying in business class with Air France but it fell short of my expectations in some areas I felt the high-end elements of my upgrade in my excellent meals and the stellar onboard service The empty seat between us on each flight made us both much more comfortable and our generous baggage allowance meant I could pack (and shop) with abandon during my trip it's for convenience as much as for luxury I wish I could've had a more consistently efficient experience boarding lounge access is an important part of the business-class experience since the lounge is no longer under construction — and photos of the upgraded space look great Anything more than that? I'll probably save my money. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Kevin Liffey Ekaterina Barabash was arrested on suspicion of spreading “false information” about Moscow’s armed forces, was smuggled to France by Reporters Without Borders Why you can trust SCMP{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2025/05/05/0e9262ca-ec0b-4a0e-9e16-2fc354ab2804_3b10be3d.jpg?itok=Qu1XgTC4&v=1746445927"}Agence France-PressePublished: 7:52pm 5 May 2025A Russian reporter critical of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine said on Monday she fled to France after Reporters Without Borders (RSF) smuggled her out of Russia “It was very difficult,” Ukrainian-born journalist Ekaterina Barabash who faces up to 10 years in prison for criticising Moscow’s army told a news conference at the media watchdog’s headquarters in Paris Her journey lasted around two-and-a-half weeks adding she was not at liberty to disclose all the details Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 authorities have launched thousands of cases against people accused of “discrediting” the army By subscribing I accept the terms of use and privacy policy Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations France and the EU are pouncing on the US’s impending brain drain to present themselves as “stable spaces” where researchers can work “without taboos” either observed and verified directly by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources A conference in Paris on Monday will see Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen make a pitch to lure disaffected American scientists to the continent PARIS – France is leading a European push to entice top US researchers disillusioned by Trump’s crackdown on academia – but funding and job insecurity remain major hurdles Between funding cuts, threats to revoke the tax-exempt status of universities, and attempts to block universities from enrolling international students, US President Donald Trump has US universities in his crosshairs – including some of the world’s most renowned. Europe has pinpointed an opportunity to poach talent On Monday, top brass from Europe's research centres and universities will descend on Paris for a conference at Sorbonne University, where French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will welcome them A “package of measures” to boost the EU’s appeal to the global research community is expected to be unveiled Macron’s team says France and the EU must present themselves as “stable spaces” where “freedom” is guaranteed and where researchers can work “without taboos" – a sentiment shared by other EU countries In mid-March, 13 EU countries sent a letter to the Commission calling for a plan to fund the relocation of foreign researchers Others like Sciences Po and the Free University of Berlin say they are biding time but do not rule out preparing new initiatives in the future At the EU level, Brussels is expected to soon enshrine the principle of freedom of scientific research into EU law, and the Commission has announced increased funding from the European Research Council (ERC) for scholars who want to swap suppression for solidarity Von der Leyen, a former medical researcher, insisted in a speech last week that the Commission would help scientists "choose Europe" and "make Europe the home of innovation again." It was a rallying cry that is increasingly familiar in France. Over the past two weeks, French authorities have launched the 'Choose France for Science' platform enabling universities and research institutions to submit proposals to host scientists in areas such as health “It is essential to welcome foreign researchers who are under threat in their own countries but also to preserve the crucial research being conducted by our American colleagues especially in fields such as climate and biodiversity,” said Boris Gralak General Secretary of the National Union of Scientific Research (SNCS-FSU) referring to the “unprecedented cut” of over €630 million to France's public research budget for 2025 France’s research and development effort has stagnated at 2.2% of GDP for the past 25 years, while other OECD countries have increased theirs from 2.1% to 2.7% over the same period, the union notes Under the 'Choose France' initiative, the French state could cover up to 50% of project funding through the €54 billion France 2030 programme which aims to boost research and innovation in cutting-edge technologies Selected applicants must also seek additional European or international funding for instance from the European Research Council (ERC) The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) confirmed to AFP on Friday that “initial contact” has been made with new foreign researchers – but the “vast majority" are not American He is "convinced" France can attract leading global researchers without offering higher salaries since they are motivated more by "the working environment and the opportunity to engage with the best" – a view likely to frustrate many French researchers still stuck in precarious postdoc positions “How can we provide job security for foreign researchers arriving in France when we can’t even lift our brightest young researchers out of precarious conditions?” asks Boris Leroy an aquatic biodiversity specialist at the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) “Not to mention that American researchers will never have in France financial resources and the infrastructure they enjoy at home,” he adds Serbian ecology researcher Ivan Jarić landed a five-year contract at the University of Paris-Saclay and is set for tenure in 2027 – but the early days were not easy “It took me a long time to get a visa and to be registered with social security my salary wouldn't have been enough to support my family in Paris,” he explains “Researchers considering moving to France need to be aware of all this.” *Magnus Lund Nielsen contributed to this report Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Paul Simao Patricia Zengerle has reported from more than 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China. An award-winning Washington-based national security and foreign policy reporter who also has worked as an editor, Patricia has appeared on NPR, C-Span and other programs, spoken at the National Press Club and attended the Hoover Institution Media Roundtable. She is a recipient of the Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence. the data showed.Writing by Camille Raynaud and Josephine Mason we can't find the page that you are looking for Don't let that stop you from visiting some of our other great related content protected by reCAPTCHA.css-trhdh3::after{background-color:#fa9000;}EXPLORE MOREblinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, ‘Blackmail tool’: Hamas rejects Israeli plan to bypass Gaza aid agenciesUN and humanitarian aid groups say Israel proposed ‘dangerous’ ration ‘scheme’ after nine-week siege Francis-era reforms that saw a diverse group of cardinals join the mix make his successor nearly impossible to call The attack comes as Moscow prepares to welcome foreign leaders from China and Brazil Reports say Israel now eyeing occupation of entire enclave control of aid and possible expulsion of Palestinians the California federal penitentiary has been shut for more than six decades A study gives clues to cosmic origin of gold and heavy elements and they were created earlier than we thought Attack claimed by Houthis temporarily halts air traffic at Israel’s busiest airport and triggers air raid sirens US president makes claim after Mexican leader says her country’s sovereignty ‘not for sale.’ Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe says the ‘ongoing’ discussions are ‘still in the early stages’ France and the European Union are holding a conference in Paris on Monday to attract US researchers into the continent as academic institutions come under increasing political and financial pressure due to President Donald Trump's policies French President Emmanuel Macron and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will launch the “Choose Europe for Science” initiative at the conference at the Sorbonne University whose aim is to “encourage researchers and public and private entrepreneurs from around the world to choose Europe and France as their place of practice,” according to the Elysee Palace academic freedom is being called into question is being weakened,” French Education Minister Elisabeth Borne said in her opening speech She pointed out the recent positions contradicting “scientific consensus” in matters of climate stressing that science and researchers face “unprecedented rejections” all around the world “We must draw the consequences of these upheavals with clarity France and Europe must rise to the occasion by opening their doors to threatened researchers and by firmly reaffirming their unwavering commitment to academic freedom and scientific independence,” Borne added The initiative comes at a time when tensions between the Trump administration and elite universities escalate over issues including admissions and responses to pro-Palestine campus protests The Labor candidate who defeated Peter Dutton to win Dickson – videoAli France the Labor candidate who is the first person to unseat an opposition leader at an election former journalist and world champion para-athlete She defeated Liberal leader Peter Dutton in her third effort in the seat of Dickson in Brisbane’s west Who is Ali France, the Labor candidate who has unseated Peter Dutton in Dickson? From tragedy to triumph: Ali France and the ‘remarkable women’ who delivered a slew of Labor wins in Queensland A Celtic burial site from the Second Iron Age in France contains two rare Two 2,300-year-old swords discovered in a Celtic Iron Age necropolis in France "have few equivalents in Europe," and one is decorated with tiny swastikas the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) reports Both swords were found intact in their scabbards copper-alloy scabbard designed to be worn at the waist Several polished gems decorate the scabbard's edges and at least two of the gems have swastika designs an archaeologist associated with INRAP and manager of the necropolis excavation he is unsure of the swastika's significance to the Celts But due to the region's highly acidic soil A single cremation burial was discovered alongside a funerary vase with punched designs and painted bands or design patterns made by hammering the reverse side of the metallic sheet It was created sometime between the late fourth and early third centuries B.C a common decorative theme that was "fashionable among Celtic craftsmen" from the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. Related: Possible 'mega' fort found in Wales hints at tension between Romans and Celtics Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox (Image credit: Flore Giraud/INRAP )A close-up image showing the swastikas on the gems near the top of the sword (Image credit: Flore Giraud/INRAP )The longer sword alongside its belt rings and a brooch (Image credit: Flore Giraud/INRAP )Two copper-alloy bracelets found in the necropolis in France The most striking items found at the necropolis were the two well-preserved swords An X-ray analysis of the short blade whose scabbard had the swastikas revealed embedded symbols at the blade's top — a circle and a crescent moon separated by a line suggesting it was created at the beginning of the fourth century B.C He noted that similar symbolism was found on other Celtic swords He added that sun and moon designs can also be found on short swords throughout continental Europe from the third and fourth centuries B.C —Elite Celtic warrior had healed arrowhead injury in his pelvis, 3D bone analysis reveals —2,300-year-old Celtic helmet discovered in Poland The second sword was longer and its scabbard still has its suspension rings that allowed it to be attached to a belt on the waist The long sword has "all the characteristics of a functional weapon," as it could be worn by a rider and its scabbard was not richly decorated But the shorter sword with the swastikas does not appear to be functional this sword was likely used as a marker of power He added that the shorter sword is "more or less contemporary with the Celtic incursions in northern Italy and the sacking of Rome in 387 BCE," when the Gauls beat the Roman army at the Battle of Alia but "it is not possible to say more at this moment." A psychology major with minors in history and commerce he previously worked in the tech and e-commerce space for brands like Digital Trends and Mashable he has reported for Science and Live Science and specializes in covering science news Being a cancer and autoimmune diabetes survivor he understands how patients can be constantly bombarded with misinformation and dedicates a portion of his work to debunking health myths Ancient Egyptians drew the Milky Way on coffins and tombs Amateur astronomer captures detailed photos of Croc's Eye and Whirlpool galaxies from backyard observatory FR10YFrance’s 10-year OAT yield edged down to 3.2% ahead of a pivotal week for global monetary policy, with key interest rate decisions expected from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady, bolstered by a strong April payrolls report, while the Bank of England is likely to ease borrowing costs amid escalating concerns over the economic impact of tariffs. In the Eurozone, markets continue to price in 60 basis points of rate cuts from the European Central Bank by year-end, as policymakers signal readiness to act if U.S. trade measures further pressure growth and inflation. Headline inflation in the bloc held firm at 2.2% in April, slightly above the 2.1% forecast, driven by rising costs in services and unprocessed food that offset a sharper fall in energy prices. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, rose to 2.7% from 2.4%, also exceeding expectations. Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and a global leader in plant-based ingredients and pharmaceutical excipients for the health and nutrition sectors announces the successful completion of its acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions This strategic milestone marks a significant step forward in its ambition to become a leader in support of the global pharma markets Roquette decisively strengthens its position as a key player in the health industry by integrating IFF Pharma Solutions’ expertise and innovative product portfolio The transaction enhances Roquette’s ability to deliver high-value drug delivery solutions to pharmaceutical customers worldwide while reinforcing its commitment to innovation The acquisition aligns perfectly with Roquette’s long-term strategy of investing in high-growth markets across the globe and providing cutting-edge solutions that meet evolving industry needs commented: “The successful acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions marks a major step forward in our value-creation journey We are thrilled to officially welcome our new colleagues as we start to write the next chapter of Roquette's history This pivotal move aligns perfectly with our strategic vision to provide innovative high-quality excipients that improve the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical formulations Roquette is poised to become the pharmaceutical industry’s go-to partner for the development of drug delivery solutions that contribute to improving Search Companies editorial@fibre2fashion.com British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said the UK government is involved in discussions with France and Saudi Arabia about recognising a Palestinian state ahead of a key United Nations conference on the issue in June Speaking to the House of Lords’ international relations and defence committee on Wednesday Lammy said it was “unacceptable” that the Palestinian people remained stateless and said a two-state solution remained the only option He acknowledged for the first time that the UK was working with France and Saudi Arabia in the run-up to the UN conference in New York to “to ensure we keep two states alive” French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that France a permanent member of the UN Security Council could recognise Palestine at the conference Asked when the UK government was likely to follow the 148 UN member states who have already recognised Palestine Lammy said no one had a veto over when that happened “We have always said recognition is not the end in itself We would prefer recognition as part of that process towards two states so we will continue to talk to partners about that,” he said “President Macron has had a lot to say about that recently and of course we are in discussion with them at this time.” which is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council wanted its recognition of Palestine to “contribute to progress on the ground” rather than being a symbolic act Lammy’s comments came after Hamish Falconer on Tuesday maintained that the UK’s position on recognising Palestinian statehood had not changed the chair of the foreign affairs select committee whether he agreed that an appropriate time to recognise Palestine might be alongside France at the conference in June Falconer said that “practical measures” were still needed before such a state would be possible “We do wish to recognise a Palestinian state and we wish to do so as a contribution to a two-state solution,” said Falconer “We will make the judgment about when the best moment is to try to make the fullest possible contribution.” He suggested until questions about security and governance which he described as “final-status determinations” “While we are committed to the inalienable right of the Palestinians to a state as part of a two-state solution let us not pretend that there are not vexed issues at the centre of what a Palestinian state would look like,” he said A number of European nations including Ireland The UN General Assembly in December passed a resolution reiterating support for a two-state solution and establishing the framework for the conference on Palestine set to take place in New York from 2 to 4 June Earlier this week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the prospect of a two-state solution was almost beyond the point of no return, as Israel continues to increase settlement expansion in the West Bank and wage war and impose a humanitarian blockade on Gaza where more than 52,000 Palestinians have already been killed “I urge member states to go beyond declarations and consider concrete steps to save the two-state solution – before it disappears altogether,” Guterres said See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times how we work is just as important as our products and services See how our commitments inspire us every day Discover how cutting-edge digital twin technology is accelerating innovation from smarter design and manufacturing to predictive… Airbus and aviation industry leaders are working to reduce non-CO₂ emissions Some Airbus space products help address land use issues by using artificial intelligence to improve satellite imagery analysis Solar Impulse Foundation and Space4Good launch call for projects that address nature-based climate resilience Airbus’ next-generation single aisle aircraft will incorporate novel technologies related to propulsion Airbus sheds light on the H125's contribution to scientific research missions in the Antarctic we believe connections are vital to making the world a better place we are proud of how our products and services contribute to communities around the world Airbus’ products and services are used for some of the most critical missions Come and help us shape a new path in the design manufacture and delivery of aerospace solutions worldwide Services Financial Controller at Airbus in Washington DC Fleet Management Manager at Airbus in Singapore Head of Ground Test Operations FAL HAM A320 Family in Hamburg Cyber Security Analyst at Airbus in Bangalore Meet Markus Stang - Manager in airframe assembly in Donauwörth at Airbus Helicopters Material Planner at Airbus Helicopters in Taiwan Commodities Support & Logistics at Airbus Defence and Space in Getafe Head of Marketing and Sales International at Airbus Helicopters in China Our Q1 results demonstrate the progress we are making on our priorities across the business We are ramping up production in line with our plan but the delivery profile will be backloaded reflecting the specific supply chain challenges we are facing this year We maintain the guidance that excludes tariffs which are adding complexity and remain uncertain in terms of implementation We are closely monitoring and assessing the situation but it is too early to quantify the impact today we support the recent approach to strengthen the European defence industry and we stand ready with our broad portfolio of products and solutions to respond to our customers’ requirements.