Salut!

Pope Francis in Marseille: if ever healing powers were needed ...

 

The Pope will be in Marseille this coming weekend. Parts of the left decry President Emmanuel Macron's intention to attend the main focus of the visit, open-air Mass at the OM stadium, the Velodrome, as an insult to France's secular status. I'm of the left, OK softishly, and have no such complaints since French presidents have often attended religious service, not as worshippers but as heads of state.

My preview for The National ...

Catherine de Medici marries the future King Henri II of France, 1533

Socayna: shades of Liverpool as French drug wars claim another innocent life

 

On Merseyside, it was little Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine years old and shot dead when a deranged drug dealer fired through her front door after another lowlife, unknown to Olivia's family, had fled inside to avoid his pursuit. And Elle Edwards, 26, died after being hit by another gangland hoodlum who opened fire outside a pub.

In France, the focus is on Socayna, a 24-year-old law student whose life was ended by a gunman who fired randomly in an attempt to intimidate those running a rival drug sales pitch in Marseille.

The Merseyside gunmen shot to kill known targets. Socayna was killed by a bullet fired wildly in the air. One of the murderer's bullets penetrated the wall of Socayna's bedorom as she sat at her desk studying and shattered her face.

I don't suppose he cares too much, but I do. If wealthy, I'd happily offer a big reward  to get him caught and convicted and an even bigger one to snare his masters.

My piece for The National on the short life and horrible death of Socayna ...