France

UPDATED: Political turmoil increases after French PM Sébastien Lecornu resigns, less than a day after his cabinet was unveiled

France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned, less than a day after his cabinet was unveiled. "The conditions were not fulfilled for me to carry on as prime minister," Lecornu…

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French military boards Russia-linked oil tanker suspected of launching drones

French military personnel have boarded an oil tanker named on a list of Russia’s “shadow fleet” vessels and suspected of being a launchpad for mystery drone flights that forced the…

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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 threatens to block crypto licence ‘passporting’ in EU regulatory fight

France has warned it may try to block some crypto firms licenced in other EU countries from operating domestically as part of a push to get oversight transferred to the…

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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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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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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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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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UK to start implementing migrant returns deal with France

Britain said it will start work within days to implement a deal to return some migrants who arrive on small boats to France, a key part of its plans to…

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The ECB’s banknote design sparks controversy over Marie Curie

A new euro banknote design has reignited a long-running controversy between France and Poland over the legacy of the Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie (née Skłodowska). Born in Warsaw in…

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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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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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French wine and cheese makers say U.S. tariffs would hit hard

French cheese and wine producers have warned of the damaging impact that U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened 30% tariffs on imports from the EU would have on the country's agriculture…

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France and UK agree to joint migration deal

France and the United Kingdom on Thursday reached several deals on migration, nuclear cooperation and support for Ukraine, after a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron to London. The three-day…

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Ryanair cancels 170 flights, disrupts over 30,000 passengers on French ATC strike

Ryanair said it was forced to cancel 170 flights, disrupting travel for more than 30,000 passengers, due to a nationwide air traffic controller strike in France planned for later in…

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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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Malta to Ratify High Seas Treaty at Upcoming UN Ocean Conference in Nice

Malta has confirmed it will be among the countries ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty—also known as the High Seas Treaty—at the third United Nations Ocean Conference taking…

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EU approves 5 billion euro French scheme for wine exports to US

The European Commission has approved a 5 billion euro ($5.6 billion) French scheme to facilitate the export of wines and spirits to the United States, it said. The Commission said…

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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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France wants EU parcels levy to stem flood of cheap Chinese fast fashion imports

France wants Brussels to slap additional fees on small parcels imported by Chinese e-commerce and fast fashion firms in a bid to protect the European market from a flood of…

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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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France could recognize Palestinian state ‘in June’: Macron

France plans to recognize a Palestinian state within months and could make the move at a UN conference in New York in June on settling the Israel-Palestinian conflict, President Emmanuel…

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Military confrontation seems inevitable if no new Iran nuclear deal, France says

France's foreign minister warned that if world powers were unable to quickly reach a new agreement with Iran over its contested nuclear programme then a military confrontation seemed "almost inevitable".…

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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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France issues ‘survival manual’ to prepare citizens

Concerns are growing among the French public as the state prepared to issue a ‘survival manual’ to prepare citizens for a potential invasion. The 20-page 'manuals' will be distributed by…

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Risk of war highest since 1945, French prime minister warns

In France, president Emmanuel Macron on Thursday is due to meet with party leaders , to discuss “the existential threat” posed by Russia. This comes on the back of two…

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EU sues France over bird hunting with nets

The European Commission said on Wednesday it is taking France to the EU Court of Justice after the country ignored repeated warnings over failing to ban bird hunting with nets.It…

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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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First French Mirage 2000 fighter jets delivered to Ukraine

France on Thursday delivered a first consignment of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine to help Kyiv defend its airspace against Russia, Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Thursday. “The…

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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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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 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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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 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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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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France won’t call off Israel game after violence in Amsterdam, minister says

Despite the violence directed at Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, France won't change its plans to host a Nations' League game against Israel next week, the interior minister said on…

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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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