World News

Sales at Birkin bag maker Hermes soar amid luxury rebound

Sales at Birkin handbag maker Hermes powered ahead in the second quarter, more than doubling from a year earlier as lockdowns eased around the world and shoppers, particularly in Asia…

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Airbus challenges Boeing cargo dominance with A350 freighter

Europe's Airbus took aim at one of Boeing's most profitable strongholds on Thursday with plans for a freighter version of its A350 passenger jet, gambling that a pandemic boom in…

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France calls UK quarantine rules discriminatory, excessive

England's decision to keep quarantine measures for travellers coming from France and not for those coming from other European Union countries is discriminatory and not based on science, a French…

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Cuban Embassy in Paris attacked with petrol bombs, France beefs up security

Cuba's embassy in Paris said on Tuesday it had been attacked overnight with petrol bombs that caused some damage but no injuries to its staff, in an incident that prompted French authorities…

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France says Iran endangers compromising chance for nuclear deal

France's foreign ministry said on Monday that Iran was endangering the chance of concluding an accord with world powers over reviving its 2015 nuclear deal if it did not return to the…

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France passes 40 million mark for first doses of COVID-19 jab

Forty million people in France have now received at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a Tweet on Monday. Macron said that…

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French parliament approves law requiring restaurant Covid pass, vaccine rules

The French parliament on Monday approved a bill which will make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for health workers as well as require a bolstered health pass in a wide array of…

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French scientist says return to normal life after COVID may not occur until 2023

A return to normal life following the COVID-19 virus outbreak may not occur until 2022 or even 2023, said professor Jean-Francois Delfraissy, who advises the French government. Delfraissy also told…

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France rejects UK Brexit renegotiation request

France's Europe minister Clement Beaune rejected Britain's request to renegotiate the Brexit deal governing trade with Northern Ireland, dismissing British accusations of European dogmatism as a "tall tale". Britain on…

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France’s Macron changes phone in light of Pegasus case

French President Emmanuel Macron has changed his mobile phone and phone number in light of the Pegasus spyware case, a presidency official revealed, in one of the first concrete actions…

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France calls Turkish-Cypriot move on ghost town a ‘provocation’

France on Wednesday criticised as a "provocation" a move by Turkish Cypriot authorities to partially reopen an abandoned town in Cyprus for potential resettlement, in the latest critique from the…

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Delta variant is the majority COVID-19 variant in France, PM says

The Delta variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is now the majority variant of the virus circulating in France, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Wednesday. Castex told…

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France introduces Covid-19 health pass to access cultural venues

A new Covid health pass has come into effect in France amid a surge of new infections. From Wednesday, people need proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery…

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Phones of Macron and some French ministers targeted for surveillance

The phone of French President Emmanuel Macron was on a list of potential targets for potential surveillance on behalf of Morocco in the Pegasus spyware case, French daily Le Monde…

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France, Britain beef up patrols, crack down on illegal migration

France and the United Kingdom have agreed to deploy more police and invest in detection technology on the French coast to try to stop boats carrying illegal migrants from reaching…

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France honours Rev. Jesse Jackson with the Legion d’Honneur

PARIS (Reuters) - French president Emmanuel Macron on Monday awarded U.S. civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson the Legion d'Honneur, one of France's highest honours, in recognition of what he…

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France cannot exclude re-imposition of COVID curfews as cases rise

The re-imposition of curfew measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 cannot be excluded in France if infections continue to climb, junior European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune told BFM TV…

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French protests call for ‘freedom’ amid government vaccine push

Thousands marched across France on Saturday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to force vaccination of health workers and require a COVID-19 free certificate to enter places such as…

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France opens doors to vaccinated travellers, restricts others

France will reinforce restrictions on unvaccinated travellers from a series of countries to counter a rebound in COVID-19 infections, while opening its doors to those who have received all their…

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Cannes awards pick wide open after film festival’s crowded comeback

A Moroccan film about hip-hopping youth in Casablanca, a hero’s tale by Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, and a wildly imaginative French movie featuring sex with a car are among…

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France reports over 10,000 new coronavirus cases per day again

France reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases again as the rapid spread of the more contagious Delta variant led to a jump in new infections. The health ministry reported…

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Eiffel Tower reopens after eight-month COVID closure

The Eiffel Tower reopened on Friday after an eight-month shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, its longest closure since World War Two. As a countdown clock at the foot of…

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Photo Story – Bastille Day fireworks in Paris

Fireworks illuminate the sky at the Eiffel Tower as part as the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, France, 14 July 2021. Bastille Day, the French National Day, is held annually…

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Rush for COVID vaccines as France may ask for proof of immunization

PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people in France rushed to set up appointments to get vaccinated against the coronavirus after the president warned that the unvaccinated…

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French retailers puzzle over how to keep non-vaccinated shoppers from stores

PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) - French retailers were puzzled on Tuesday over how a new government proposal requiring them to block people not vaccinated against COVID-19 from shopping malls could…

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France fines Google 500 mln euros over copyright row

France's antitrust watchdog slapped a 500 million euro ($593 million) fine on Alphabet's Google on Tuesday for failing to comply fully with temporary orders the regulator had given in a row with…

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France to make COVID-19 shot mandatory for health workers – BFM TV

PARIS, July 12 (Reuters) - The French government is set to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for health workers, BFM TV reported on Monday ahead of a televised speech to the…

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COVID-19 survivors more likely to be reinfected thanks to delta variant

People who have previously caught Covid are now more likely to be reinfected because of the delta variant, a study has found. Laboratory analysis revealed that the mutation that originated…

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UPDATED: Delta variant to account for most new French COVID cases from this weekend

The highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 will probably account for most new coronavirus cases in France from this weekend, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Friday. Veran, who has…

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French people should avoid Spain, Portugal for summer holidays due to COVID risks – minister

French Junior European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said on Thursday that he was advising French people to avoid Spain and Portugal for their summer holidays, due to risks tied to…

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COVID Delta variant could ruin summer, French government warns

The highly contagious Delta variant now represents around 40% of new COVID-19 infections in France, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday, and could jeopardise the summer if a fourth…

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French champagne industry group fumes over new Russian champagne law

France's champagne industry group blasted on Monday a new Russian law forcing foreign champagne producers to add a "sparkling wine" reference to the back of their bottles. The "Comite Champagne"…

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Home workers questioning jobs, supply-chain havoc weigh on French recovery

A shortage of qualified workers, doubts raised by working from home and supply-chain havoc are proving problematic for some companies as they try to ride France's recovery from the pandemic…

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No return to the old National Front insists France’s Le Pen

French Far Right leader Marine Le Pen, facing criticism following defeat in last month's regional elections for making her party too mainstream, said on Sunday she would not change course.…

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Paris local government to buy Bataclan music venue

The Paris local government will buy the Bataclan venue from Lagardere, government official Emmanuel Gregoire said, noting the city's long history with the site, where more than 80 concert-goers were…

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COVID Delta variant now represents a third of French COVID cases

The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus now represents around a third of COVID cases in France, said French Health Minister Olivier Veran on Friday. Veran's latest estimate on the…

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Gap to sell stores in France, Italy to cut costs in Europe

Gap Inc is in talks with its partners to sell its stores in Italy and France, the U.S. apparel chain said, as it looks to limit its presence to online…

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Covid-19 tests will no longer be free for tourists in France starting July 7

Foreign tourists visiting France will have to pay for Covid-19 tests starting July 7, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said in an interview. Attal said the new measure was about "reciprocity" since…

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Ex-salesman Bertrand emerges as right’s challenger for French presidency

Xavier Bertrand, a one-time insurance salesman from the French provinces, established himself as a leading contender for next year's presidential election, after his centre-right bloc out-performed rivals in regional votes…

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UPDATED: France delays some regional unwinding of COVID restrictions as concerns over fourth wave grow

France decided on Wednesday to delay the unwinding of COVID-19 restrictions in a southwestern region of the country, while the government's leading scientific adviser said a fourth wave of the…

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France expects sanctions against Hungary over anti-LGBT law

French European Affairs junior minister Clement Beaune said on Wednesday he expected a form of sanctions against Hungary over Hungary's anti-LGBT law. Beaune also said he was not in favour…

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French far-right falls short in regional elections ahead of presidential vote

PARIS, June 27 (Reuters) - The French far right again failed to win a single region in elections on Sunday, exit polls showed, depriving its leader Marine Le Pen of…

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French presidential hopefuls seek momentum in regional election run-offs

France holds run-offs for regional elections on Sunday that could shift the balance between political heavyweights vying for pole position in next year's presidential race. Last Sunday's first round proved…

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French business confidence at 14-year high in June

French business confidence surged to its highest level in nearly 14 years in June as the easing of coronavirus restrictions unleashed a service sector boom, a survey showed on Wednesday.…

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French business activity boosted in June by booming services -PMI

French business activity edged higher in June, although not as much as expected, as the service sector boomed following the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions, a survey showed on Wednesday.…

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France to hold presidential election in April 2022 – government source

he first round of the France's presidential election will be held on April 10 next year, with the second round scheduled on April 24, a government source said on Tuesday,…

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French nightclubs will be able to re-open from July 9 onwards – minister

French nightclubs will be allowed to re-open from July 9 onwards, said government minister Alain Griset, allowing the industry to operate again for the first time since it was shut…

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UPDATE – French far right irked by election results, southern region in play

Update 2200h - Mainstream left-wing and right-wing parties surged ahead in French regional elections Sunday, outpacing both Emmanuel Macron’s La République en Marche and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, according…

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A look at France’s regional elections

France holds elections for all 13 regional authorities on the mainland. For President Emmanuel Macron, the stakes are higher than who will get to build a tram in Brittany or…

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HSBC takes $2.3 billion hit with sale of French retail bank

HSBC has agreed to sell its French retail bank to Cerberus-backed My Money Group in a deal which will mean a loss of around $2.3 billion for the British bank…

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Merkel and Macron urge EU coordination on reopening borders

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron called on Friday for European Union countries to coordinate their COVID-19 border reopening policies and guard against new variants of the…

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UPDATED: France and Austria to allow nightclubs to reopen in July, minister says

The French and Austrian governments plan to allow nightclubs to reopen in July. In France, Health Minister Olivier Veran said allowing the industry to operate again for the first time…

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France agrees to 1.8 billion euros in financing for Egypt

France said it would provide Egypt with some 1.8 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in financing for projects including the Cairo metro, power generation and water management, in what officials called…

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Brexit tensions are a test for Europe, says French minister

French European Affairs junior minister Clement Beaune said on Monday that current tensions over Brexit between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government and the European Union were "a test" for…

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French retailer Auchan outlines online expansion in Russia

French retailer Auchan plans to spend more than 20 billion roubles ($277 million) on developing digital services in Russia by 2024 to boost online sales, the company's country head said.…

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France’s Macron spars with UK’s Johnson over Brexit geography

French President Emmanuel Macron stepped into the Brexit maelstrom on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit by sparring with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the post-Brexit geography…

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Macron offers UK’s Johnson ‘Le reset’ if he keeps his Brexit word

French President Emmanuel Macron offered to reset relations with Britain as long as Prime Minister Boris Johnson stands by the Brexit divorce deal he signed with the European Union. Since…

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