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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
Jean-Luc Melenchon on TV screens as he announces his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election. Photo: AFP
Emmanuel Macron

Melenchon confirms 2027 run as France prepares for post-Macron era

The French hard-left leader will make another run for the presidency next year, his fourth bid for the top job.

Artificial intelligence

From footwear to AI services: China moves up the value chain in exports

Europe’s refugee crisis

2 dead after boat runs aground in France in failed crossing to UK

Trip Inspiration

Discover Europe with flexible, affordable first-class Eurail adventures

Breakfast in Spain, lunch in France and dinner in Italy – with plenty of sightseeing from a comfortable seat in between. The joys of flexible, first-class train travel can be yours for the price of a Eurail pass.

An ICE train crosses a viaduct in Baden-Württemberg, a state in southwest Germany bordering France and Switzerland. Photo: Getty Images
India

Why India’s logistics pact with Russia signals its Arctic ‘footprint’ ambition

The pact allows up to ‘five warships, 10 aircraft and 3,000 troops’ to be stationed in each other’s territory for five years.

Asean

Why Singapore, Thailand are among the world’s ‘happiest’ economies

Southeast Asian countries outdid larger economies in the 178-nation Hanke’s Annual Misery Index for 2025.

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Cybersecurity

France probes teenage suspect in massive ID data breach

The 15-year-old had put on sale on hacker forums between 12 million and 18 million lines of stolen data.

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A woman looks out towards the Eiffel Tower. The cyberattack has raised ​questions in France over the safety for citizens to have all their information stored in a centralised database. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Letters | University of Michigan must stand up for its Chinese scholars

Readers discuss cases involving researchers at a US university, and the International Olympic Committee’s gender testing requirement.

Singapore

Singapore charges French teen over vending machine straw-licking stunt

A court also allowed Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien to travel to Manila from May 2-25 for a school trip required for his graduation.

Beauty

8 pharmacy products to buy when in France, from barrier balm to micellar water

From Caudalie’s face mist to Nuxe’s dry oil for body and hair, these are the finds that genuinely earn their place in your luggage.

La Rosée Sun Stick SPF50 is one of the many popular beauty products you can find at Citypharma, or other pharmacy chains across France. Photo: Handout
Food and Drinks

Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for April 30-May 2

Mandarin Oriental The Landmark opens a new champagne bar, Artifact brings us the best of Rome, and Cruise at Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour transports us to Mexico.

The interiors at Blanc De Noirs, Mandarin Oriental The Landmark Hong Kong’s new champagne bar. Photo: Handout
China-EU relations

Opinion | A new framework may be the only way to save China-EU trade

Both sides have every incentive to explore a deal that does what blunt protectionism cannot: manage the complexities of their interdependence.

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Banking & finance

China targets ‘zombies’ with regulatory headshots to kill off indebted laggards

Six provinces and the capital city test a forced-insolvency pilot to purge overcapacity and dismantle local protectionism, prioritising market efficiency.

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Food and Drinks

Beyond steak: 3 Hong Kong chefs share dry-ageing tips for fish, lamb, poultry

Dry-ageing isn’t reserved for beef only – chefs from Fireside, Kyanbasu by Mt. Yotei and Tori Jukusei offer techniques for home cooks.

Fireside’s fridges for dry-ageing meat and fish in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
United States

US and Nato in frustrating ‘marriage crisis’, Belgian defence minister says

Theo Francken believed the strained transatlantic relationship should remain ‘united’, although sometimes Nato ‘can be a paper tiger’.

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Nato headquarters in Brussels. Photo: AP
China birth rate

In China, a France-sized population loss begins to test coastal powerhouses

Rising pension burdens and social security subsidies are also straining public finances – though trends remain uneven, analysts say.

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United Nations

Landmark UN nuclear summit opens as world’s warhead count grows

UN chief urges world to ‘breathe life’ into a landmark non-proliferation treaty as nations gather in New York.

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Singapore

French teen in Singapore faces jail for licking vending machine straw

The public nuisance offence carries a jail term of up to three months and a fine.

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Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 18, who is studying in Singapore, allegedly filmed himself “licking a straw and placing it back at the vending machine”, and uploaded the video on social media. Photo: Reuters
Africa

Mali’s junta in crisis as defence minister is killed in massive coordinated attacks

Rebel-jihadist offensive leaves Bamako on edge as territory falls and junta leader Assimi Goita remains out of sight.

US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | Trump’s oil crisis is accelerating the end of the fossil fuel era

Ironically for president ‘drill, baby, drill’, this crisis may prove an irreversible tipping point for clean energy.

Science

Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

Question hovers as world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Africa

Mali junta reports ‘terrorist’ attacks on several targets

The landlocked West African nation has been ruled by the military since a coup in 2020.

Armed members of an unidentified group gather in Kidal, Mali, in this screen grab obtained from social media released on Saturday. Photo: Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane via Reuters
China-France relations

Macron touches Beijing’s nerves on Taiwan and Tibet as he heads for the exit

French president is trying to shore up his legacy of strategic autonomy before leaving office next year, analysts say.

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China exports

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

Belgium’s top customs official says main problem is that many products do not meet EU standards.

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China-EU relations

‘It’s a tightrope’: why Europe’s wind industry faces a growing China dilemma

A debate is swirling in Europe over what role China should play in its wind power push, as the continent confronts the Middle East energy crisis.

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez gives a speech at the WindEurope 2026 expo in Madrid on April 21. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong economy

Blooming good: Monet, maestros shine as garden art bridges East and West

Show features exhibits from Art Institute of Chicago, Beijing’s Palace Museum, Palace of Versailles and Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Monet’s Water Lily Pond. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Social media

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

It comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in southern Turkey, in a gun attack.

Americas and the Caribbean

Top Peru ministers quit in protest over stalled US F-16 jet deal

Peru’s interim president defers decision on the US$3.5 billion deal to his successor who will emerge from a run-off vote in June.

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