France

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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French government to face no-confidence vote

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is set to face a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, triggered after he bypassed parliamentary approval to push through a controversial social security budget. Opposition parties…

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French government no-confidence vote set for Wednesday

French members of parliament will vote Wednesday afternoon on at least one motion of no confidence that is likely to topple the French government, according to French media reports confirmed…

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What’s next in France’s political and budget crises?

France's minority government is in a precarious position, with the far-right National Rally party promising to force the collapse of Prime Minister Michel Barnier's cabinet unless it yields to its…

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France’s Barnier makes last-minute concession to far right in bid to avoid being toppled

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier made another significant concession to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) on Monday, shelving planned cuts to medication reimbursements in a last-ditch effort to…

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French far right says government spurned budget talks

France's far-right National Rally (RN) accused the government on Sunday of rejecting its budget demands, increasing the likelihood of a no-confidence vote that could oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier. RN…

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UPDATED: Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris set to reopen

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit renovation works at Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral on Friday ahead of its reopening on Dec. 7, five and a half years after a devastating fire…

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France arrests 26 for smuggling migrants from Indian sub-continent

A French-led investigation, supported by Europol, has resulted in the dismantling of a large criminal network comprising several small criminal groups involved in migrant smuggling and money laundering. The extensive…

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French government chances of survival weaken

The French Socialist Party confirmed on Wednesday that it plans to vote to topple the government following an hour-long meeting with Barnier. Patrick Kanner, leader of the Socialist group in…

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French prosecutor calls for jail term for Marine Le Pen

The Paris prosecutor called for a five-year prison term and a five-year ban from holding public office for far-right leader Marine Le Pen, in a trial where she and 24…

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New EU sanctions on violent Israeli settlers could happen soon, France says

France's foreign minister said on Monday that a new round of sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers could happen soon. "We were instrumental in setting up the (EU) sanctions regime that…

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Majority of French think current democratic system does not work

Most people in France think the Fifth Republic's democratic system does not work, said a survey from a government-advisory body, highlighting the country's lingering malaise following general elections this summer…

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French police search for a 17-day-old baby abducted from maternity ward

French authorities were hunting Tuesday for a 17-day-old prematurely born baby boy who was abducted from the maternity ward of a Paris-region hospital, with his parents identified as the chief…

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French government tightens belt in budget for 2025

France's government delivered its 2025 budget on Thursday, proposing 60 billion euros ($65.68 billion) in tax hikes and spending cuts to address a growing fiscal deficit. Prime Minister Michel Barnier's…

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Son of Osama bin Laden deported from France, barred from returning

A son of Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been deported from France, where he lived for years painting landscapes in a Normandy village, and barred from returning after…

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UPDATED: 31-year treasure hunt comes to an end as Chouette d’Or found

A 31 year treasure hunt appears to have come to an end, after an announcement in France that a buried statuette of a golden owl has finally been unearthed. “We…

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France sends helicopter carrier to eastern Mediterranean

A French helicopter carrier will arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in the next five to six days and take up position in case a decision is taken to evacuate foreign…

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I chose freedom over justice, Julian Assange tells European lawmakers

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Tuesday that he was freed after years of incarceration because he “pled guilty to journalism.” Assange gave evidence of the impact of his detention and…

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France Set for Tougher Immigration and Security Measures Amid Rightward Shift

France is on the brink of implementing significantly tougher immigration and security policies, reflecting a broad societal shift to the right, according to the country's newly appointed interior minister, Bruno…

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After negotiating Brexit, Michel Barnier tasked with propping up Macron

After making his name negotiating Brexit, one of the messiest muddles Brussels has faced in recent years, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier now faces an equally daunting task: running a…

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Michel Barnier: Key facts about France’s new prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed the European Union's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as his new prime minister on Thursday in a bid to end political paralysis following an inconclusive…

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France’s Macron names former Brexit negotiator Barnier as new prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier, the European Union's former Brexit negotiator, as his new prime minister on Thursday, in a bid to put an end to political paralysis…

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