Advertisement
Advertisement
France
TOPIC
 / location

France

France
France
The latest breaking news and stories on France, a country in western Europe known as a semi-presidential republic, and the world’s seventh largest economy. Also covering France’s relationship with China and Europe, plus commentary and updates on France’s economy, politics, society and social issues.
Capital
Paris
Head of State
President Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Macron
Head of Government
Prime Minister Michel Barnier
Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro arrives at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York in January. Photo: Reuters
United States

92-year-old US judge handling Maduro case dies

Alvin Hellerstein had also tangled with Trump, rejecting the US president’s bid to have his New York hush money case moved to federal court.

Trending in China

Real Madrid issues apology to China over Mbappe’s Mao remarks

China-EU relations

China’s military holds talks in France and Germany despite rising trade tensions

videocam
China-EU relations

German leader’s China visit highlights foreign diplomatic pivot beyond Beijing

Dignitaries increasingly choosing China’s regional hubs to forge direct trade, technology and investment ties with local firms.

videocam
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is welcomed upon arrival in Hefei by Sun Yong, deputy governor of Anhui province. Photo: dpa
Trending in China

Football star Kylian Mbappe faces huge China backlash over ‘unacceptable’ remark

Real Madrid star issues apology after major Chinese brands cut ties him over comment, which sparked intense social media backlash.

54
The Philippines

Philippine Air Force faces hard questions after deadly crashes

Budget constraints mean the air force has had to repeatedly use aircraft for missions beyond their intended roles, analysts say.

5
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Fame and celebrity

Macklemore launches ‘Free Palestine Tour’ after Ed Sheeran fallout

Defiant US rapper sells out Dublin arena after being dropped from pop star’s tour for onstage political speeches.

Macklemore on stage in Bern, Switzerland last year. The US rapper launched his Free Palestine Tour in Ireland on Monday. Photo: Keystone via AP
Emmanuel Macron

France’s Macron promises ‘strong measures’ to ease protests

With his presidential mandate due to expire in April and public finances under severe strain, Macron has limited scope to defuse the crisis.

Mainland China

Video | What are Chinese netizens saying about the French protests?

The unrest started in September, when students and teachers in southeastern Paris rallied against deteriorating school conditions.

Education in Hong Kong

Letters | Northern Metropolis is a chance to rethink educational spaces

Readers discuss why universities should look beyond classrooms and laboratories, street hygiene, and riots in France.

A Hung Shui Kiu pilot area in the Northern Metropolis on August 25. Photo: Dickson Lee
Marine Le Pen

Le Pen launches presidential bid amid French unrest, vows to ‘restore rule of law’

Far-right front runner seizes on riots to attack Macron’s ‘lack of authority’, promising strict borders and order.

Marine Le Pen delivers a speech during her campaign kick-off rally. Photo: AFP
Extreme weather

Storms batter northern Europe, grounding flights and cutting power

Back-to-back hits from Boelo and Austen leave hundreds of thousands without electricity and disrupt travel.

China-Japan relations

Eye on China: Japan reopens taboo debate over nuclear-powered submarines

Proposal divides Japan’s ruling coalition amid questions over the costs, legal hurdles and military value of nuclear propulsion.

videocam
24
Protests around the world

My Take | The West’s double standard on global unrest

Ideology, strategic interests and cultural ignorance explain why protests in Hong Kong and beyond are viewed through a selective lens.

videocam
78
People look at a burned-out car after a quiet night under curfew, the first since weekend protests over the cost of living turned into rioting and looting across France, in Paris on October 20. Photo: AP
China’s military drills

China’s Liaoning and US aircraft carrier may sail in Philippine Sea at same time

Northeastward course could see Liaoning group sail close to waters where US, Japan and other allies are carrying out Keen Sword exercise.

videocam
14
The USS Theodore Roosevelt steams alongside warships from Japan, Australia, Canada and France as part of the Keen Sword exercise, in the Philippine Sea on October 22. Photo: X / US 7thfleet
Middle East

Saudi strikes kill 11 in Yemen as Houthi missiles target Saudi cities

Houthi media reported a series of ‘Saudi enemy air strikes’ targeting Sanaa, shortly after the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two missiles.

Paris

Clashes flare at Paris protests as more than 400,000 march across France

Massive security operation detains close to 1,000 nationwide, averting widespread chaos despite late skirmishes.

6
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China-EU relations

‘Here they go again’: Chinese students in France hunker down amid protest chaos

Most students say the violence has not put them off living in France, though they worry the unrest could boost the far-right.

6
A man throws a plastic traffic cone through a burning barricade amid clashes during a day of demonstrations in Paris on October 17. Photo: Reuters
Protests around the world

Some Parisians buy pepper spray, tear gas for self-defence during protests

A weapons shop owner says he has seen a big increase in the sale of non-lethal weapons: ‘people have been physically traumatised’.

India

French cooking schools fuel fine-dining dreams of India’s young chefs

Students say they joined to acquire French culinary expertise and hope to use their skills to open their own restaurants in India.

Crime

Macron condemns ‘racist terrorist attack’ after deadly shooting near Paris

A gunman firing from his car killed 1 person and wounded 5, including a 12-year-old girl who was shot 8 times.

French police work at the scene of a drive-by shooting near Paris, France, on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Emmanuel Macron

France deploys 70,000 police for new protests as Macron delays Africa trip

Massive law enforcement mobilised ahead of Saturday’s demonstrations amid calls online for violence and looting.

Police patrol around the Les Halles district in Paris, France, on Monday. Photo: Le Parisien/ABACA Press/TNS
Malaysia

‘Videos made me panic’: France unrest gives jitters to Southeast Asian tourists

Safety alerts and riots lead to itinerary changes at a time when tourism from the region to France is experiencing an uneven recovery.

China-EU relations

Europe considers new quotas and tariffs to stem Chinese imports

EU trade chief says bloc may turn to safeguards to curb surges in imports and names plastics as a sector where investigations are advanced.

videocam
6
European Union

As I see it | Why jaw-jaw is the best route EU leaders can take right now

Amid a proxy war with Russia, growing acrimony with the US and roiling protests at home, it is madness for European leaders to pick a trade fight with China.

videocam
26
A man throws a plastic traffic cone through a burning barricade amid clashes during a day of demonstrations against the cost of living and rising fuel prices in Paris, on October 17. Photo: Reuters
India

Economic fears fuel protests in India, France as ‘social contract’ breaks down

A leading Hindu organisation claims that foreign forces are seeking to destabilise India through the protests.

videocam
11
People attend a protest as part of a youth-led campaign demanding educational reforms in Bengaluru, India in July. Photo: AP
China trade

Could Europe’s cost-of-living protests sharpen EU-China trade tensions?

Unrest over economic hardship could strengthen calls to protect industry and jobs, though direct impact on trade talks is uncertain.

8
Protests around the world

France braces for more unrest as police face scrutiny over weapons and tactics

Authorities deploy reinforcements ahead of Saturday rallies while defending the use of ‘intermediate-force’ weapons.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement