France

France votes to fly EU flags on public buildings across the country

The French National Assembly this week voted to make it mandatory to fly the EU flag on town halls in France, in a move that has riled Euroskeptics at home.…

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France’s Sarkozy should stand trial for alleged Libyan campaign financing -prosecutor

PARIS (Reuters) - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy should stand trial on charges of corruption and illegal financing of an election campaign related to alleged Libyan funding of his successful…

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France to spend 2 billion euros to boost bicycle usage

France to double bike network to 100,000 km State to subsidise second-hand bike purchases All primary school children to get bike training By Geert De Clercq PARIS, May 5 (Reuters)…

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UPDATED: France plays down latest spat with Italy

French government spokesman Olivier Véran on Friday played down the latest spat between France and Italy over migration management, saying Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had "no desire to ostracize Italy".…

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Macron faces Labour Day protests as pension reform anger festers

By Richard Lough and Matthieu Protard PARIS, May 1 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron faced nationwide protests on Labour Day on Monday as he struggles to turn the page…

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French government minister: expects food price inflation to ease off by September

PARIS, April 30 (Reuters) - Food price inflation in France - which has been a major concern for consumers - should ease off by September, said government minister Olivia Gregoire…

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France to uphold electricity price caps until early 2025, finance minister says

PARIS, April 21 (Reuters) - France's cap on electricity price hikes will stay in place beyond 2023 and likely be phased out over a two-year period, Finance Minister Bruno Le…

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France’s Macron promises government action plan in next 100 days

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday gave himself 100 days to heal the country after weeks of protests and anger at his unpopular plans to raise the retirement age, asking his government…

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Wildfire on French-Spanish border destroys 1,000 hectares

A wildfire destroyed nearly 1,000 hectares on the French-Spanish border on Sunday and early Monday, authorities said, as parts of southern Europe remain gripped by a drought that is raising…

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French far-right veteran Jean-Marie Le Pen hospitalised

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the veteran leader of the far-right in France, suffered a "mild heart attack" and was taken to hospital, a close source said. "Jean-Marie Le Pen has been…

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France’s unpopular pension law faces key constitution test

France's Constitutional Council will on Friday give its hotly-anticipated verdict on whether the government's plans to increase the retirement age, which have triggered massive protests, are in line with constitutional…

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What’s next for France’s pension reform?

PARIS, April 13 (Reuters) - France's Constitutional Council is due to deliver its verdict on Friday on a deeply unpopular bill which will delay retirement by two years to 64,…

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Macron stands by China interview – French diplomat

PARIS, (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron is not backtracking on comments in China urging the European Union to reduce dependency on the United States, a senior diplomat said .…

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France to witness 12th nationwide strike against Macron’s pension law

By Ingrid Melander PARIS, April 13 (Reuters) - French unions have called on workers to walk off the job and join protest rallies on Thursday for a twelfth nationwide day…

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France denies military presence in Ukraine

The French government denied that French soldiers were on the ground in Ukraine, Le Monde reported. “There are no French forces engaged in operations in Ukraine,” the team of Armed…

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UPDATED: French rescue workers recover four bodies from collapsed Marseille buildings

PARIS, April 10 (Reuters) - French rescue workers have found four bodies in the rubble of buildings in the southern city of Marseille that collapsed following an explosion, police said…

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Macron says Europe should not follow U.S. or Chinese policy over Taiwan

(Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said in comments published on Sunday that Europe had no interest in an acceleration of the crisis over Taiwan and should pursue a strategy…

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France launches first order for bird flu vaccines

By Sybille De La Hamaide PARIS (Reuters) - France has launched a tender for 80 million doses of bird flu vaccines in order to be ready to start its vaccination…

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Pension protests to bring ‘maximum’ workers in France after government, union talks fail

By Marine Strauss and Silvia Aloisi PARIS, April 6 (Reuters) - France faced a new round of nationwide protests and strikes on Thursday after a meeting between the prime minister…

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French unions to keep up pensions protest after talks with PM fail

PARIS, April 5 (Reuters) - France's labour unions will keep up their fight against a planned rise of the legal retirement age, they said on Wednesday, after a meeting with…

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Macron says France will prepare ‘end of life’ bill this year

President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday France must improve the availability of palliative care and there would be a draft bill by the end of the summer on whether some…

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French junior minister under fire for Playboy front cover

PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - French junior social affairs minister Marlene Schiappa is facing criticism from her own party for posing in a white dress for the cover of Playboy,…

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UPDATED: Paris to ban e-scooters from September

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris will ban electric scooters from September 1, the French capital's mayor said, after the public voted to remove them from the streets, however e-scooter operators said…

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Embattled Macron heads to China, leaving burning Paris behind

Macron will head to Beijing, Guangzhou on April 5-8 Trip comes as he struggles to contain pension protests War in Ukraine to dominate discussions By Michel Rose and John Irish…

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Paris votes on whether electric scooters should be banned

On 2 April, Paris will decide whether the capital city’s 15,000 for-hire electric scooters will survive. The city hall has called for a referendum asking residents: “Do we or don’t…

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Photo Story: The drought in southern France

Boats abandoned on the shores of the Serre-Poncon lake at low water, the waters of the lake have dropped sharply due to a drought affecting the southern regions of France,…

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Ryanair boss calls French strike a ‘scandal’, demands overflight measures

The boss of Ryanair on Wednesday said French air traffic control were a "scandal" and called for European Union measures to protect overflights. Chief Executive Michael O'Leary told a news conference strikes…

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Angry youths challenge Macron and his pension law

Teenager Charles Chauliac is angry that French President Emmanuel Macron plans to delay the retirement of hard-working folk like his parents, and that he bypassed parliament to do so. Most…

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French pension protest blocks entry to Louvre museum

PARIS, March 27 (Reuters) - Trade union protesters angered by President Emmanuel Macron's move to raise the French retirement age without a final vote in parliament blocked the Louvre museum…

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Why is Macron in so much trouble over pension reform?

By Richard Lough PARIS, (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron faces the toughest challenge to his authority after his government bypassed the lower house to push through a deeply unpopular pension…

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Macron under pressure to find way out of pension crisis after night of clashes

Hundreds of thousands joined ninth day of protests Anarchists riot in Paris, rallies mostly peaceful Unions call for new nationwide action on March 28 Visit to Paris by Britain's King…

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UPDATED: King Charles’s visit to France postponed over violent protests, trip to Germany will go ahead

By Benoit Van Overstraeten and Elizabeth Pineau PARIS, March 24 (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles on Friday cancelled a state visit to France after social unrest over President Emmanuel Macron's…

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Violence hits France in day of anger over Macron’s pension changes

Macron says he won't budge on pension age Hundreds of thousands join ninth day of protests Anarchists riot in Paris, rallies mostly peaceful Unions call for new nationwide action on…

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Nationwide protests in France after Macron doubles down on pension bill

By John Irish PARIS, March 23 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people were set to strike and demonstrate in France on Thursday after President Emmanuel Macron vowed to push…

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‘Weakened’ Macron sticks with pension bill, eyes new reforms

French President Emmanuel Macron is looking to regain the initiative with new reforms in the coming weeks after his government barely survived a no-confidence motion over an unpopular pension bill and nationwide…

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French govt narrowly survives no-confidence vote

President Emmanuel Macron's government narrowly survived a no confidence motion in the National Assembly on Monday, after bypassing the lower house to push through a deeply unpopular change to the…

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More strike disruption expected at French airports this week, Macron faces a critical moment on Monday

PARIS, March 20 (Reuters) - France's DGAC civil aviation authority warned on Monday that passengers should expect more disruptions at French airports this week, citing strikes and protests against the…

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France’s Macron faces another test with parliamentary votes on Monday

PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - President Emanuel Macron faces a critical moment on Monday when the National Assembly is due to vote on no-confidence motions filed after his government bypassed…

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Another night of violence in Paris protesters clash for third night over Macron’s pension reform

By Dominique Vidalon and Manuel Ausloos PARIS (Reuters) - Paris police clashed with demonstrators for a third night on Saturday as thousands of people marched throughout the country amid anger…

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Police clash with protesters at Paris demonstration against pension overhaul

By Layli Foroudi and Manuel Ausloos PARIS, March 17 (Reuters) - Riot police clashed with protesters on Friday evening in Paris as a new demonstration took place against the government's plans to…

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Pressure mounts on Macron after violent unrest over pensions

PARIS, March 17 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday faced the gravest challenge to his authority since the so-called Yellow Vest protests after his government's decision to push…

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Anger as French government pushes through pension change without vote

Macron to raise retirement age by two years to 64 Bill's approval by National Assembly was in doubt Police fire tear gas at spontaneous protest in Paris Opposition to table…

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French pension reform heads for final parliamentary votes on Thursday

By Elizabeth Pineau and Antony Paone Millions attended nationwide protests since mid-January Bill approved by joint parliamentary committee But approval by full houses of parliament not a done deal Protesters…

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Paris mayor vows to keep Russian, Belarusian athletes out of Olympics

The Mayor of Paris said it was unthinkable that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to take part in the 2024 Summer Olympics under their national flags, adding she…

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French strikes disrupt fuel deliveries, power supply for fourth day

PARIS, March 10 (Reuters) - Deliveries were blocked from leaving TotalEnergies' TTEF.PA refineries and depots on Friday, a company spokesperson said, as workers extended a strike over planned pension reforms…

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UPDATED: After tough years, France and Britain tout post-Brexit reset

UK PM aims for reset after years of post-Brexit disputes Britain wants further help to tackle small boat migrants Ukraine, defence projects and energy also on the agenda By Michel…

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French pension strikes continue to disrupt power output, fuel supplies

TotalEnergies says no fuel deliveries from its refineries No deliveries from Esso's Fos, Port Jerome back to normal Power supplies reduced by 13% but no imports needed By Forrest Crellin…

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French Senate votes raising retirement age to 64

PARIS, March 9 (Reuters) - French senators early on Thursday voted in favour of raising the legal retirement age to 64 from 62, a first win for President Emmanuel Macron's…

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Macron backs enshrining right to abortion in French constitution

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he backed including the right to abortion in the constitution, a move he said would send a signal of solidarity…

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Trains halted, schools shut in France as unions seek to block pension reform

Most trains came to a halt, oil refineries were blocked and power production reduced in France on Tuesday as unions organised a sixth day of nationwide strikes against President Emmanuel…

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After $15 billion award, sultan’s heirs target Malaysian properties in Paris

French bailiffs attempted to enforce a seizure order on three Paris properties owned by the Malaysian government in a case linked to a $15 billion court award to descendants of…

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French strikes over pension reform plans to disrupt public transport on Tuesday

By Mathieu Rosemain and Benjamin Mallet PARIS (Reuters) - Industrial action in France over the government's planned pensions overhaul will cause heavy disruption to public transport again on Tuesday, the…

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Deal with main supermarket chains in France to help shoppers cope with food price

By Dominique Vidalon PARIS, March 6 (Reuters) - French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has reached a deal with the country's main supermarket chains to help shoppers cope with food…

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France’s Macron to host King Charles in first visit abroad as monarch

By Michel Rose PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - King Charles will travel to France on March 26-29 for his first state visit as Britain's monarch, the French presidency said on…

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Breakthrough close on France-Spain undersea electricity link

By Belén Carreño, Benjamin Mallet and Kate Abnett MADRID/PARIS/STOCKHOLM, March 2 (Reuters) - France and Spain are poised to announce a breakthrough this week in a long-running impasse over hefty…

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French federation president Le Graet resigns

Noel Le Graet, the embattled president of France's soccer federation, has resigned amid a scandal over harassment, including sexual harassment, and a damning audit, the federation said on Tuesday. Le…

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France’s Macron calls Wagner Group ‘life insurance of failing regimes’ in Africa

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday described the Russian mercenary Wagner Group as the "life insurance of failing regimes in Africa", in comments made before he visits the continent. He said that…

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