France trains cancelled as hunt for vandals continues

Three out of 10 French high-speed trains will be cancelled on Saturday on routes hit by a series of “co-ordinated” arson attacks.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said security forces continued to search for the “saboteurs” responsible after rail networks were paralysed ahead of the opening…[Read more]

French rail network fully restored after Olympic-day ‘sabotage’

France’s national rail operator says repairs to its network damaged by sabotage attacks were “fully completed” and there would be “no more delays” for travellers from Monday after widespread chaos before the Paris Olympics opened.

The situation on the main western line from Paris wa…[Read more]

France National Assembly’s reelected speaker Braun-Pivet to cohabit with New Popular Front

While the presidency of the National Assembly has remained in the hands of a Macronist, the hemicycle’s executive body will be dominated by MPs from the left-wing New Popular Front.

Macronist Yaël Braun-Pivet may have been re-elected president of the…[Read more]

World’s longest rowing boat to carry Olympic torch

Meet the Stampfli Express – a 24-seater rowing boat which will be a part of the Paris 2024 Olympic torch relay on Sunday.
Just days before the start of the Olympic Games, the impressive shell will take 23 rowers and an Olympic torch bearer down a section of the River Marne, just east of Paris.
It…[Read more]

Paris: Game Changers – Defying the hijab ban on French athletes

A French Muslim athlete challenges a hijab ban in basketball with an inclusive tournament ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Helene Ba’s basketball dreams were shattered when the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) announced a nationwide ban on players competing in religious attire. Und…[Read more]

French lawmakers cry foul after suspected ballot-stuffing in National Assembly

French lawmakers called for an investigation on Friday amid suspicions of ballot-stuffing in a vote for deputy speakers in the National Assembly. A re-vote led to the election of deputies from the hard left to the centre right, but none from the far right.

A botched…[Read more]

French PM Attal set to stay on as caretaker for Olympics

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to accept the resignation of his prime minister Gabriel Attal by Tuesday evening following their centrist party’s defeat in parliamentary elections, French media report.
However, Mr Attal is set to remain in place as head of a caretaker…[Read more]

Paris gets into the groove for historic Olympic opening ceremony, adapted to its iconic cityscape

The Paris Olympics are getting into the groove for the historic opening ceremony on the River Seine.

Dancers who’ll jazz up the July 26 show under the artistic direction of prize-winning French theater director Thomas Jolly are putting finishing t…[Read more]

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]