France’s Bastille Day parade meets the Olympic torch relay in an exceptional year

Paris hosted an extra-special guest for France’s national holiday Sunday — the Olympic flame lighting up the city’s grandiose military parade for Bastille Day.

Just 12 days before the French capital hosts exceptionally ambitious and high-security Summer Games,…[Read more]

French election results: No party secured a majority, so what’s next?

How will President Emmanuel Macron appoint a new prime minister, and how will a hung parliament work?

A loose alliance of leftist parties has won the most seats in French legislative elections after a second round of voting.

While the coalition has managed to keep F…[Read more]

French police kill alleged gunman amid continued unrest in New Caledonia

French police shot and killed an alleged gunman in New Caledonia on Wednesday, bringing the death toll from nearly two months of chaos in the French Pacific territory to 10. The unrest began over plans to expand the electoral roll, which indigenous Kanak people fear would…[Read more]

France’s Macron slams Israeli minister’s backing of Marine Le Pen

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli publicly supported far-right candidate Marine Le Pen before France’s parliamentary vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron has denounced “unacceptable” comments made by an Israel minister who publicly promoted far-right candidate M…[Read more]

France’s frenzied finale: Will last-minute deals thwart far-right win?

The ink on the campaign posters barely had time to dry. Yet, France’s frenzied snap legislative election races are nearly over. President Macron hoped to clear the air with his shock dissolution of parliament but after the far-right’s unprecedented surge and so many unholy all…[Read more]

France’s opportunity to be a global leader on climate action at risk

France’s opportunity to be a global leader on climate action could be at risk, depending on who wins the upcoming legislative elections. The current frontrunner, the National Rally Party has historically mocked or downplayed environmental issues, while Macron’s party wants to…[Read more]

Dutch rider Groenewegen sprints to stage six win of Tour de France in Dijon

Dylan Groenewegen of the Netherlands won stage six of the Tour de France on Thursday in a mass dash for the Dijon finish line in which Belgian Jasper Philipsen was relegated for a swerve.

Overnight leader Tadej Pogacar retains the yellow jersey by 45sec from Belgian…[Read more]

For the French market, hung parliament ‘might be better outcome than to give power to far right or left

Emmanuel Macron’s centrist camp and a left-wing alliance were on Monday battling to prevent the far right from taking an absolute majority and control of the government in a historic first after the French president’s gamble on early…[Read more]

French left races to prevent far-right takeover

Despite calls for voters to form a united front against the National Rally (National Front), the far-right party came out on top when the results of the first round of voting for France’s snap legislative elections were revealed.

“I am a political prisoner,” says New Caledonia activist jailed in France

An indigenous Kanak pro-independence activist from the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia said Monday that he considered himself a “political prisoner” as authorities held him in jail in mainland France pending charges over a wave of deadly rioting.

Christophe Tein,…[Read more]

Ex-IOC executive says Olympics organisers hope for peaceful reaction to French elections

The key risk to the Paris Games from the political uncertainty gripping France is public disturbances that could impact the already stretched security services, a former International Olympic Committee executive told AFP on Monday.

The far-right National…[Read more]

‘Lack of humility’

The anti-government “yellow vest” movement, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine are just a few of the challenges Macron has faced during his tenure.

Even as his support buckles at home, Macron has remained a key voice in European politics.

“We shouldn’t quibble. He’s the great European of his time,” said…[Read more]

Macron isolated as legislative third-place finish prompts rethink of his legacy

French President Emmanuel Macron’s camp saw an embarrassing third-place finish in the first round of snap legislative elections on Sunday, behind both the far-right National Rally party and a new leftist alliance. With the National Rally now poised to secure the…[Read more]

France to reduce troops in West and Central Africa to 600, say sources

France is planning to reduce its military presence in West and Central Africa to around 600 troops in line with President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to limit the French military footprint in the region, three sources told AFP.

In February 2023, Macron announced “noticeable…[Read more]

Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in successful Paris Olympics opening ceremony rehearsal

Curious onlookers gathered on bridges as dozens of boats snaked along the Seine river on Monday in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ unique opening ceremony next month.

A total of 55 boats made the journey from Pont d’Austerlitz, named after a French…[Read more]

Macron urges New Caledonia residents to lift roadblocks after weeks of unrest

President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday called on residents of the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia to dismantle barricades after weeks of unrest, adding the situation remained “unacceptable”

In a public appeal, Macron called for “the firm and definitive lifting of…[Read more]

Versailles palace briefly evacuated due to smoke from roof works

The Palace of Versailles was briefly evacuated on Tuesday afternoon after plumes of smoke were spotted amid renovation work on the roof near the Marble Court, an area of the original château built in 1623 by French King Louis XIII.

The palace press office told The Associated Press…[Read more]

France to lift state of emergency in riot-hit New Caledonia

Seven more mobile force units will soon arrive as reinforcements in New Caledonia, the Elysée said in a statement on Monday, also indicating a state of emergency would end as planned in the French Pacific territory on Tuesday morning local time.

The state of emergency would end on…[Read more]

Macron suspends New Caledonia voting reform following deadly violence

The reforms, which would have altered voting rights, are feared by the Indigenous Kanak people who say they would have marginalize them further. The issue has caused the worst violence on the archipelago in decades.

The violence flared on May 13 in response to attempts by…[Read more]

French military instructors in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate target’, Russia says

French military instructors training soldiers in Ukraine would be a “legitimate target” for Russian strikes, Moscow’s top diplomat said Tuesday, amid reports France could send trainers to the country.

France does not officially have military personnel assisting or…[Read more]