Latest news reports on FRANCE, French politics and culture

Hollande defends troop pullout on Afghanistan visit
Afghanistan

Hollande defends troop pullout on Afghanistan visit

French President François Hollande made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Friday to meet with French troops and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Hollande defended his decision to withdraw French forces from the country by the end of the year.
Le Pen prepared to back socialists in French elections
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

Le Pen prepared to back socialists in French elections

Far right leader Marine le Pen has refused to rule out the possibility of supporting socialist candidates in June’s parliamentary elections. Some accuse her of being ‘incoherent’ but others see it as a canny ploy in her quest to rule the right.
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Somalis tried in Paris over luxury yacht crew hijack
FRANCE

Somalis tried in Paris over luxury yacht crew hijack

Six Somalis went on trial in Paris Tuesday charged with taking the crew of sailing boat Le Ponant hostage in the Gulf of Aden in 2008. The six men were arrested in a French operation and face life in prison if convicted of kidnapping and theft.
FRANCE

Rural French hamlet auctioned off to South Korean artist

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Strauss-Kahn gang rape investigation launched
JUSTICE

Strauss-Kahn gang rape investigation launched

French prosecutors on Monday opened a preliminary investigation into allegations that former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn (pictured) took part in a gang rape in Washington in 2010. He has already been charged in northern France for “pimping”.
Battle begins for control of France's parliament
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

Battle begins for control of France's parliament

Campaigning for France's parliamentary elections officially begins Monday in what is expected to be a fierce battle between left and right. Without a majority in the lower house, President Hollande will struggle to deliver on his campaign promises.
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Hollande faces NATO wrath over Afghan troop pullout
AFGHANISTAN

Hollande faces NATO wrath over Afghan troop pullout

French President François Hollande's vow to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, two years before NATO's planned pullout, was set to cause friction amongst NATO leaders as they met for a summit in Chicago on Sunday.
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Hollande turns tide against Merkel's austerity
DIPLOMACY

Hollande turns tide against Merkel's austerity

The world’s most powerful leaders held talks at the G8 summit on Saturday with the eurozone crisis top of their agenda. Francois Hollande’s call for growth won him some powerful allies as he battles against Germany’s insistence on austerity.
Racecar crashes into crowd at French rally, killing two
FRANCE - AUTO ACCIDENT

Racecar crashes into crowd at French rally, killing two

A car competing at the 14th annual Maures regional rally in France's southern town of Draguignan crashed into a crowd of spectators on Saturday, killing at least two people and badly injuring a further 15.
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Hollande affirms France's early Afghan exit in US talks
DIPLOMACY

Hollande affirms France's early Afghan exit in US talks

In his first talks with US President Barack Obama on Friday, French President François Hollande said he would honour a campaign pledge to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan this year but said France would support the NATO mission in other ways.
Hollande’s new Socialist cabinet in numbers
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

Hollande’s new Socialist cabinet in numbers

French President François Hollande's new 34-member cabinet has been lauded for having 17 women ministers, the same number as men. Here's a look at some of the other eye-catching figures in France’s freshly appointed ministerial club.
IKEA fires four managers for spying on staff, clients
FRANCE - SWEDEN

IKEA fires four managers for spying on staff, clients

Swedish furniture manufacturer IKEA said Friday that it was firing its risk management director and three former managers at its French division over allegations they paid for access to secret police files on staff and customers.
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FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

New French foreign minister faces baptism of fire

New French govt agrees 30% pay cut for president, ministers
FRANCE

New French govt agrees 30% pay cut for president, ministers

France's new Socialist government agreed a 30% salary cut for the president and for members of the cabinet at its first meeting on Thursday. “It’s setting an example,” Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a televised interview Wednesday.
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Limbless Frenchman swims first leg of global journey
SWIMMING

Limbless Frenchman swims first leg of global journey

A Frenchman who lost his limbs successfully swam from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia on Thursday, the first part of his mission to swim between five continents. Philippe Croizon, 43, used prosthetics with flippers to make the 20-kilometre journey.
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World ponders Hollande's role on international stage
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

World ponders Hollande's role on international stage

Moments after his first encounter with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, France’s new president, François Hollande, was already being sized up by the international press.
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Ayrault takes over as new French prime minister
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

Ayrault takes over as new French prime minister

Jean-Marc Ayrault (right), the Socialist Party's parliamentary leader and a longtime ally of France's new president, officially took over from François Fillon (left) as prime minister during a swearing-in ceremony in Paris on Wednesday.
Socialist Party leader Aubry agrees not to serve in new government
FRANCE

Socialist Party leader Aubry agrees not to serve in new government

Socialist Party chief Martine Aubry said Wednesday that she has "amicably" agreed not to serve on the cabinet of new President François Hollande. Aubry, who will remain party leader, lost to Hollande in the Socialist primary last year.
Hollande and Merkel vow to seek growth for Europe
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

Hollande and Merkel vow to seek growth for Europe

Hours after being sworn in as France’s new head of state on Tuesday, François Hollande capped a marathon first day as French president with a trip to Berlin, where he and Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed to work together to drag Europe out of crisis.

Louis XIV railway carriages take to Paris-Versailles line

Hollande names longtime ally Ayrault as prime minister
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

Hollande names longtime ally Ayrault as prime minister

Jean-Marc Ayrault, the leader of the Socialist Party in parliament and the mayor of Nantes, was named France's new prime minister on Tuesday by François Hollande. Ayrault is a longtime ally of the new president and a known moderate.
France ushers in new era with understated Hollande
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

France ushers in new era with understated Hollande

François Hollande won France’s presidential election by vowing to break with predecessor’s Nicolas Sarkozy’s much criticized flashiness and plans for fiscal austerity. Inauguration day gives Hollande his first chance to deliver on those promises.
Feminists cry foul as Cannes prepares for take-off
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2012

Feminists cry foul as Cannes prepares for take-off

With the world’s most prestigious and glamorous cinema event about to get underway, France’s feminists are angry and festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux is on the defensive.
France, eurozone stagnate in first quarter
FRANCE - GERMANY

France, eurozone stagnate in first quarter

Official figures show the eurozone was flat in the first quarter of the year, though it did manage to avoid dipping into a recession. France also stagnated, whereas Germany posted a surprising 0.5 % growth.
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Syndicate contentThe week in France
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