After a troubled year marked by plummeting public approval and disarray among his own supporters, the last thing France’s president Emmanuel Macron needed was a popular protest aimed at paralysing the nation and its economy.
The gilets jaunes movement – named after the fluorescent yellow French vests motorist are legally required to carry in their vehicles – began in November as an embittered response to the crippling effect of rising fuel prices on household budgets.
Despite lingering suspicion of far-right influence, it has broadened to cover issues important to millions of ordinary French people: rising prices, high taxes and weak spending power.
But damage to businesses and employment caused by blockades and outbreaks of violence at demonstrations is mounting.
The Bank of France estimates losses to the economy at €4.4 billion (Dh18.4bn) - a figure some analysts fear could more than double - hundreds of small firms are reported to be on the brink of filing for bankruptcy and more than 40,000 workers have been laid off.
Alarming scenes of lawlessness on the most famous boulevards of Paris has also hit French tourism, with hotel bookings down by 10 per cent. Motorways have been blocked, toll booths set ablaze and factories picketed. Ten people have died in incidents related to the roadblocks.
“It doesn’t just affect Paris but businesses of all sizes, in small towns and large, where activities have been blocked," Olivier Dussopt, secretary of state for public accounts, told the French broadcaster LCI. "We are very worried.”
Haulage firms, whose drivers have been impeded by blockades the authorities have proved powerless to prevent, will hold crisis talks with government officials in early January.
Bruno Le Maire, the economy minister in Mr Macron’s beleauguered centrist government, has said the consequences for trade are “catastrophic”.
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Read more:
Macron’s ratings fall further after month of protests
France's 'yellow vest' protests decline on fifth weekend
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The protesters have no electoral mandate, a lack of coherent leadership and a confused jumble of demands. But their capacity to attack the French economy has been striking at a time when the power and influence of traditionally militant trade unions have waned.
And despite the involvement of extreme right and left-wing elements, and serious vandalism and looting, the movement commands public support, 70 per cent in one of the more recent polls with more than half (54 per cent) believing the protests should continue.
On French television, one middle-aged “gilet jaune” praised rioters for ensuring the protests were not simply ignored.
Reports that prices of fuel at the pump are actually at their lowest point for the whole year will almost certainly be disregarded by those intent on maintaining pressure on the president, analysts say.
Having vowed to break successive French presidents’ habit of succumbing to the clamour of the street, Mr Macron nevertheless caved in, suspending a contentious ecological fuel tax and raising the minimum wage and pensions among other concessions.
The closure of shops is not confined to Paris’s celebrated Champs-Elysees, the setting for some of the fiercest of clashes with police. One furniture shop owner in France’s second city, Marseille, reported turnover down by 40 to 50 per cent.
Ministers estimate that concessions already granted will cost €8-10bn. But official claims that the movement is weakening are widely disbelieved with the French left burying misgivings about the involvement of far-right parties to support the protests.
While the number of protesters taking part in successive weekend demonstrations around France has fallen, the movement shows no immediate sign of collapse. Mr Macron faces a steep uphill struggle to regain the public trust that swept him to power in May 2017.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Bullet%20Train
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
