France

UPDATED: Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to 5 years in prison

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to 5 years in prison after being found guilty in a case relating to whether his 2007 presidential campaign received illicit donations from…

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French Armed Forces Sound Alarm on Escalating Space Hostilities

France’s top military space official has warned of intensifying "hostile or unfriendly" activity in space, particularly by Russia, joining a growing chorus of Western powers publicly warning about a rapidly…

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France braces for more widespread strike and protest action on Thursday

France is gearing up for more nationwide strikes and mass protests this Thursday, expected to be one of the largest in recent years. All of the country's major unions have…

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France to send warplanes to protect Polish airspace

France will send three warplanes to protect Poland's airspace, President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday evening. "Following the Russian drone incursions into Poland, I have decided to deploy three Rafale fighter…

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Local chikungunya cases soar in France

France has recorded nearly 400 locally-acquired cases of chikungunya this summer, a sharp increase from last year, French health authorities announced. As of Sept. 8, there have been 382 cases…

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‘Block Everything’ protests sweep across France, scores arrested

Protesters across France obstructed highways, burned barricades and clashed sporadically with police on Wednesday in a show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron, the political elite and planned spending cuts.…

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Macron names ally Sébastien Lecornu as new French PM

President Emmanuel Macron has named close ally Sébastien Lecornu as the new French prime minister, 24 hours after a vote of confidence ousted François Bayrou as head of government. Lecornu,…

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French parliament ousts prime minister, deepening political crisis

France's parliament brought down the government on Monday over its plans to tame the ballooning national debt, deepening a political crisis that is weakening the euro zone's second-largest economy. Lawmakers…

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Man shot dead by French police after stabbings at Marseille hotel

A man was shot dead by police in Marseille after stabbing five people on Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutor Nicolas Bessone said the attacker, a Tunisian national legally residing in France, had…

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French PM Bayrou’s marathon talks unlikely to avert no-confidence vote

French Prime Minister François Bayrou is holding intensive talks with political leaders in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a no-confidence vote scheduled for 8 September, which threatens to topple his…

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France plunges back into crisis after PM Bayrou’s confidence-vote backfires

France found itself mired in yet another crisis on Tuesday, after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's gamble to win backing for his deeply unpopular debt-reduction plan backfired, plunging the country deeper…

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Paris’ Montmartre battles overtourism

Residents of Montmartre in Paris are sounding the alarm over overtourism, fearing their picturesque hilltop neighbourhood could become the next Barcelona or Venice, as tourist numbers spike following last year's…

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Swarm of jellyfish shuts nuclear power plant in France

The Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France has been shut down after a swarm of jellyfish entered the filter drums that pull in cooling water, according to its state-owned…

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France arrests man who lit cigarette from Unknown Soldier memorial flame

A man who lit a cigarette from a memorial flame at a major Paris war monument was arrested on Tuesday, the interior minister said, calling his actions "indecent and pathetic".…

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Several beaches in France close after sightings of venomous Portuguese man o’war

Multiple popular beaches in south-west France were closed for swimming last week after several sightings of the venomous Portuguese man o'war. The marine creatures, which resemble jellyfish, appeared along the…

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France will recognise Palestinian state, Macron says

France will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September, President Emmanuel Macron has said, which will make it the first G7 nation to do so. In a post on X,…

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France: Cities Impose Nighttime Restrictions on Minors Following Crime Surge

A number of French cities have imposed night-time curfews on young people following a spate of violence linked to drug trafficking. Nîmes in the south was the latest to bring…

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French president Macron sues right-wing podcaster over claim France’s first lady was born male

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte filed a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. on Wednesday against right-wing influencer and podcaster Candace Owens, centered on her claim that France's…

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France’s PM wants to scrap two public holidays to help fix government finances

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou proposed scrapping two public holidays and freezing most public spending as part of a 43.8 billion euro ($50.88 billion) budget squeeze he outlined on Tuesday.…

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Air traffic control nightmare looms this summer

French air traffic controllers are planning to walk off the job on Thursday and Friday, signaling a summer travel season that threatens to be plagued with delays. The core reason…

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Macron says Europe must ‘harden’ stance on Israel unless Gaza crisis eases

French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Europe’s “collective position” on Israel must “harden” unless the humanitarian crisis in Gaza improves. “It’s very clear today that we can not let…

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France to ban smoking in all outdoor places frequented by children

France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be frequented by children, health and family minister Catherine Vautrin has said. The ban will come into force on 1…

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France grapples with surging tropical diseases

French regions are waging war against tiger mosquitoes as the country records rising cases of tropical diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya. Since Jan. 1, France has already seen…

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France considers referendum over country’s budget

France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou said he is considering proposing a national referendum over the country's budget. In an interview with the French weekly Journal du Dimanche published late Saturday,…

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French justice minister wants to make prisoners pay for their time behind bars

France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced new plans to make prisoners contribute to their incarceration costs . Speaking to broadcaster TF1, Darmanin said he planned to “amend the law” and…

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French PM calls for crackdown on knife crime after fatal high school stabbing

The French prime minister, François Bayrou, has called for a crackdown on teenage knife crime after a high-school student stabbed four other children at his school, killing at least one…

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French prisons hit by wave of overnight attacks

Vehicles were set alight outside several French prisons, and one jail was hit by gunfire from an automatic weapon, in a wave of overnight attacks. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said…

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France to tighten mobile phone ban in middle schools

France is to tighten its ban on the use of mobile phones in middle schools, making pupils at the ages of 11 to 15 shut away their devices in a…

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Trump offers support to French far-right leader Le Pen after her conviction

U.S. President Donald Trump offered support to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Thursday after a Paris court earlier this week convicted her and two dozen figures from her…

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Macron weighs in on Le Pen verdict for first time: ‘The law is the same for everyone’

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday commented for the first time since far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement and barred from running in France’s next presidential…

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France’s Le Pen convicted of graft, barred from running for president in 2027

A French court on Monday barred French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election after she was convicted of embezzlement, in a seismic ruling that…

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France and Britain plan European troop deployment to Ukraine post-peace

France and Britain want to move ahead with an initiative to send European troops to Ukraine if a peace deal materializes. Currently troop numbers and participating countries are unclear but…

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Macron says European troops in Ukraine would deter Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron has sketched out his vision for a potential deployment of European troops in Ukraine, emphasizing that their role would be to secure key cities and bases…

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How realistic is France’s offer to extend its nuclear umbrella?

President Emmanuel Macron has said he will launch a strategic dialogue on extending the protection offered by France's nuclear arsenal to its European partners. Europe's primary nuclear deterrence comes from…

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Nicolas Sarkozy fitted with electronic tag

The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was fitted with an electronic tag on Friday after losing his appeal against his conviction for corruption and influence peddling. He will be required…

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Europe ‘at turning point in history’, French president warns

EU leaders are gathering in Brussels on Thursday for a special council on defence, as France's President Emmanuel Macron warned that the continent was at a "turning point of history".…

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Trump’s return is an ‘electroshock’ for Europe, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to respond to "the electroshock" triggered by the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House with a new approach to defense…

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Former Google boss fears AI risks could spark an ‘Osama bin Laden scenario’

As countries jostle to win the artificial intelligence race, Google's former CEO cautioned that AI could pose “extreme risks” if it falls into the wrong hands. Tech billionaire Eric Schmidt…

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US, Britain have not signed Paris AI summit declaration

The United States and Britain have not signed the Paris AI Summit's declaration entitled 'Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence'. The communique states among priorities that "ensuring AI is…

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France budget talks derailed after PM comment on migration

France’s Socialist Party has threatened to derail budget talks over Prime Minister François Bayrou’s controversial migration remarks. Bayrou sparked outrage by saying France was experiencing an immigration "flooding," which he…

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Storm Herminia brings heavy rain and powerful winds to Europe

Weather warnings were in parts of Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, and Ireland as Storm Herminia brought strong winds, heavy rain, and powerful waves. Weather warnings have been issued in…

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France issues new arrest warrant for Syria’s Assad

French investigating magistrates have issued an arrest warrant against ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad for suspected complicity in war crimes, notably the launch of a deliberate attack on civilians, a…

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As Trump is sworn in, Macron warns Europe it can’t depend only on US weapons

French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the billions of euros of taxpayer money spent on Europe's military budgets should not be used to buy only American weapons, pushing for more…

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France’s Foreign Minister urges tougher EU action on Musk, says laws must be enforced

The European Commission must use its existing legislation in a much tougher manner, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, referring to Elon Musk. "Either the European Commission applies with the…

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Former French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the far-right National Front party who tapped into working class concerns over immigration and globalisation, shaking up the French political establishment, has died at the…

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France identifies first case of new mpox variant

France has identified its first case of the new mpox variant, news agency AFP reported, citing a statement from the country's health ministry. The patient had not traveled to Central…

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France’s Sarkozy goes on trial over alleged Libyan campaign financing

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will go on trial on Monday charged with receiving millions of euros in illegal financing from Libya's late strongman Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007…

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France says it carried out missile strikes against ISIS in Syria last weekend

France carried out missile strikes last weekend in Syria, targeting Islamic State sites in the country, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday. "On Sunday, French air forces…

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France unveils fresh government

France unveiled a new government on Monday composed of former ministers and senior civil servants that Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will hope can oversee the passage of a 2025 budget…

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Macron thanks Gisèle Pelicot for courage and dignity in mass rape trial

French President Emmanuel Macron has honoured Gisèle Pelicot for her remarkable strength during the mass rape trial involving her ex-husband and 50 other men. He praised her as a pioneer…

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Frenchman gets 20 years in prison after organising wife mass rape

A French court on Thursday convicted Dominique Pelicot of aggravated rape for orchestrating the mass rape of his now ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade. The trial, which lasted…

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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen eyes early presidential election

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said that she was preparing for an early presidential election, saying President Emmanuel Macron's time in office was all but over. Le Pen, who…

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France’s highest court upholds Sarkozy’s corruption conviction

The Cour de Cassation, France's highest court, upheld on Wednesday former President Nicolas Sarkozy's conviction for corruption and influence peddling. Sarkozy had appealed against the 2021 conviction for corruption and…

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Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens on Saturday. Here’s what to know

Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens on Saturday, Dec. 7, five and a half years after fire destroyed its roof and spire and caused major damage throughout. Here is what you need…

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Emmanuel Macron struggles on in search for stable French government

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday began his latest search for a new prime minister to lead France's unruly parliament, after rejecting demands he quit to end a crisis he said…

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France’s Macron vows to stay in office till end of term

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday to stay in office until the end of his term, due in 2027, and announced that he will name a new prime minister within…

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French government collapses in no-confidence vote

The French government has collapsed following a no-confidence vote that removed Prime Minister Michel Barnier from office. Members of Parliament overwhelmingly backed the motion against Barnier, just three months after…

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