Eiffel Tower chief to leave following scandal

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 18.27

 

The Eiffel Tower will get a new chief next year. File photo. Photo: Christophe Ena/AP/TT

The head of the Eiffel Tower is being forced to step down following a scandal in which female staff members were kept out of sight during a visit by a Hindu religious group.

Patrick Branco Ruivo, who has led operations at the Parisian landmark since 2018, will leave his post at the end of the year. This follows an internal investigation that revealed "operational shortcomings" during a visit by the Hindu organization BAPS in early September.

During the visit, female employees were removed at the request of BAPS. The tower's operator, Sete, described the action as "unacceptable" in a statement. The decision sparked a strike among employees and caused an outcry in France.

Sete is now set to implement measures to ensure gender equality. BAPS has previously apologized for the "distress or inconvenience" caused by the incident. 

Le Pen hits back at antisemitism allegations

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 17.32

 

Marine Le Pen (right), leader of the French far-right party National Rally, and her second-in-command Jordan Bardella (center) during a visit to France. Photo: Aurelien Morissard/Pool via AP/TT

Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right and a presidential candidate, launched a counterattack against those accusing her second-in-command of antisemitism.

Le Pen expressed full confidence in her deputy, Jordan Bardella, following accusations that he had made derogatory remarks about Jewish people more than a decade ago.

Le Pen and Bardella issued a joint statement on Tuesday, in which Bardella claimed the allegations were part of an attempt to destroy the National Rally party.

"We are seeing the start of an all-out war, an attempt to destabilize our presidential campaign," said Bardella—who officially serves as the party leader of National Rally—with Le Pen by his side.

For her part, Marine Le Pen condemned the media outlet Mediapart, which had reported the allegations regarding Bardella's antisemitic remarks.

Burnham: Brexit has done more harm than good

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 17.30

 

Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke at the Labour Party's annual conference, held in Liverpool. Photo: Jon Super/AP/TT

The UK's new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, wants to forge closer ties with the EU and plans to present a proposal later this year.

"Brexit has done more harm than good. We need to return to a higher level of growth and prosperity for the UK," he said in his first speech as party leader at the annual conference of the social-democratic Labour Party in Liverpool.

Burnham intends to present "various options" for the country's future relationship with the EU.

"We will not be able to provide the UK with the clear path forward needed for the rest of the century until we have decided on a long-term relationship with what remains our largest market."

The UK left the EU in 2020. 

Morocco gets first female prime minister

 

TT-AP-AFP

 

Published 19.35

 

Fatima Ezzahra el Mansouri becomes Morocco's new prime minister. File photo. Photo: Mosa'ab Elshamy /AP/TT

On Tuesday, King Mohammed VI of Morocco appointed Fatima Ezzahra el Mansouri as prime minister. She thus becomes the country's first female head of government.

The 50-year-old has previously served as Minister of Urban Planning and as mayor of the major city of Marrakech. With this appointment, she is tasked with forming a government.

Her center-right party, PAM, secured 97 of the parliament's 395 seats in the election held four days ago. To form a government, she will need to enter into a coalition with other parties.

Mansouri is the second woman—after Tunisia's Najla Bouden—to be appointed head of government in the Arab world.

 

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