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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
People gather in front of Le Constellation bar on Friday during the national day of mourning for the victims of the fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Photo: EPA
Switzerland

Swiss bar owner put in pre-trial detention over deadly New Year’s Eve fire

Switzerland held a national day of mourning for the 40 people who were killed in the blaze at an Alpine resort.

European Union

EU agrees to ‘world’s largest’ free-trade zone with Mercosur pact after 25 years

The Philippines

Why the Philippines is taking control of undersea cable security

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Letters | As Hongkongers unite around Tai Po, the fire probe must deliver

Readers discuss how to sustain social cohesion in Hong Kong, the kindness of Hongkongers, and why the world must respond to the Venezuela raid.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on January 5. Photo: Dickson Lee
United States

France’s Macron slams US over Venezuela, Greenland actions

The French President condemned Washington’s isolationism after the capture of Venezuela’s leader and designs to take over the Danish territory.

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Extreme weather

Europe paralysed by snow as brutal cold snap disrupts flights, rail services

Thousands stranded as chaos grounds flights, with black ice sparking fatal accidents, while death toll rises to six in season’s worst freeze.

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Ukraine war

Ukraine’s allies agree to ‘robust’ security guarantees in push to end war

UK and France could deploy troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire, but a big question mark hangs over Russia’s response.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) signs a declaration of intent along with France’s President Emmanuel Macron (centre) and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: AFP
Greenland

Use of US military to acquire Greenland ‘always an option’, White House says

Trump’s preferred option might be to buy Greenland from Denmark, but the White House says military action is being considered.

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Greenland

‘End of Nato’: Denmark warns US against taking Greenland by force

Denmark’s prime minister says a ‘military attack’ would destroy the transatlantic alliance, while Greenland’s leader urges against panic.

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Vietnam

Vietnam overtakes Thailand as Chinese tourists' top choice for travel

Chinese visitors to Vietnam jumped 41 per cent to 5.3 million, topping the 4.5 million to Thailand, where safety concerns reduced Chinese travellers.

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The Night Market in Nha Trang, Vietnam, a popular destination for the growing number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting the city. Photo: Roy Issa
Paris

Brigitte Macron wins France cyberbullying case over false gender theories

Ten people were found guilty of harassing France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, by spreading viral rumours about her gender and identity.

Brigitte Macron talks to pupils at the Romain-Rolland-Gymnasium in Dresden, Germany in 2024. Photo: dpa
Switzerland

Swiss grieve as all 40 bar fire victims identified - many of them under 18

Hundreds march in silence to honour victims of the New Year’s Swiss bar fire who were as young as 14.

Russia

Russia’s Medvedev floats kidnapping scenario involving Germany’s Merz

Following the US raid in Venezuela, Russia’s ex-president said the kidnapping of Germany’s chancellor would be an ‘excellent twist’.

Malaysia

Malaysia, EU threaten action against X, Grok AI for offensive images

Malaysian authorities said they are investigating images produced by Grok after complaints about the misuse of AI to manipulate images of women and minors.

xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration from February 16 last year. Photo: Reuters
Islamic State

Britain, France bombed suspected Isis arms dump in Syria: UK defence ministry

Intelligence analysis identified an underground facility believed ‍to contain weapons and explosives in mountains ‍near Palmyra, the UK said.

A UK Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft at an undisclosed location in the Middle East. RAF Typhoon FGR4s joined French aircraft in a joint strike against the Daesh group in Syria on Saturday, the UK defence ministry said. Photo: EPA / SGT Lee Goddard / Handout
Ukraine war

Trump ‘not thrilled’ with Putin, says too many people dying in Ukraine war

After a US strike that captured Venezuela’s Maduro, Trump said: ‘I thought … one of the easier ones would be Russia, Ukraine. It’s not’.

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United States

Musk’s Grok AI faces scrutiny over complaints it undressed minors in photos

Grok AI under fire for enabling erotic images of minors, violating its own policy, sparking urgent safety fixes and global investigations.

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Science

As I see it | We can now watch our own genes dance

Modern biology reveals a real miracle: how broken pieces of molecules evolved into a species that became conscious of its own genetic make-up.

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An animation of the structure of DNA. Photo: Shutterstock Images
European Union

Opinion | Can Europe survive its crippling paralysis?

The brutal reality is that the European Union is failing to get its squabbling nations to work as a coherent group.

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Africa

Owner of Swiss bar where New Year fire killed 40 insists safety norms followed

‘Everything was done according to the regulations,’ Jacques Moretti, a Frenchman who manages the Le Constellation bar, told local media.

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Switzerland

Champagne sparklers blamed for Swiss inferno that killed 40 people

Witnesses saw a candle in a bottle ignite the ceiling at Le Constellation bar. Officials say the flashover trapped revellers in the basement.

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The entrance to Le Constellation bar is seen on Friday, a day after a deadly New Year’s Eve fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Photo: AFP
Switzerland

Swiss investigators rush to identify victims of New Year’s fire

Swiss officials say it may take days to identify victims of the Le Constellation fire, as many young revellers suffered severe burns.

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People comfort each other outside Le Constellation bar on Friday, a day, after a fire and explosion killed dozens of people in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters
Science

Could 2,000-year-old machine from tomb in China be earliest binary computer?

Silk-weaving loom dating to Western Han is world’s oldest known ‘computer hardware’ with corresponding ‘software’, China science body says.

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Ukraine war

Russia claims Ukrainian drone strike kills 24 in occupied Kherson

Moscow accuses Kyiv of New Year’s Eve attack on civilians as diplomats scramble to save fragile peace talks.

Luxury Hotels

11 exciting luxury hotel openings in 2026, from London and Florence to Kyoto

These ultra-luxe stays and unique experiences span the globe, from the US and Latin America, to Africa and the Middle East.

In 2026, expect to find luxury hotels working harder to raise the bar and stand out in the crowd. Photo: Handout
Crime in Hong Kong

Professor arrested in Hong Kong over drug possession as wife found dead in flat

Police received call from Filipino woman’s husband at 4.13pm on Wednesday after she passed out in their Tuen Mun flat.

Police received a call that a woman had passed out in her home at Avignon in So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun. Photo: Google Maps
Mainland China

Why Air France-KLM remains bullish on China-Europe travel market despite hurdles

Chinese travellers drive leisure and business bookings as airline eyes long-term growth despite Russian airspace restrictions.

Fame and celebrity

Trump takes swipe at Clooney and France after actor gets citizenship

US president mocks film star as the French government defends granting citizenship to George and Amal Clooney.

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