Paris - How we measure the world underwent a quantum leap on Monday as scientists adopted new hyper-accurate definitions for units of weight, electricity and temperature derived from the universal laws of Nature.

Reims - French doctors Monday began switching off the life support of a quadriplegic man who has been in a vegetative state for the last decade, in a hugely controversial case that has divided France.

Paris - Political tensions soared in France on Sunday a week before tightly-contested European elections, with the ruling party of President Emmanuel Macron expressing unease over the presence of Donald Trump's controversial ex-strategist Steve Bannon.

Cannes - Football legend Diego Maradona will not attend the Cannes film festival, where a documentary about his life is being premiered, after he injured his shoulder, its director told AFP Sunday.

Cannes - "Avengers" star Chris Hemsworth is to play an undercover detective in a $40 million comedy about two mismatched cops investigating a series of casino heists, the distributors told media at Cannes on Sunday.

Lille - The parents of a Frenchman kept alive in a vegetative state for a decade will on Monday try to have the doctor caring for their son removed before he halts life-sustaining treatment the same day, their lawyers said.

Paris - From economic union via the euro to a migration crisis and Brexit, here is a look at 60 years of ups and downs in the European Union.

Paris - Voter turnout at European Parliament elections has dropped steadily over the years, hitting a record low of 43 percent at the last poll in 2014.Ahead of the May 23-26 elections for the European Union's assembly, here is an overview.

Reims - "Yellow vest" protesters turned out across France Saturday to mark six months of rallies against President Emmanuel Macron's policies, but with their numbers dwindling, according to a government tally.

Lille - The parents of a Frenchman kept alive in a vegetative state for a decade appealed to President Emmanuel Macron Saturday to ensure his treatment continues, two days before his doctor plans to stop all medication.

Cannes - Actress Eva Longoria said restrictive abortion laws passed in Alabama and Missouri are a threat to women, with stars set to protest against the bans on the Cannes red carpet Saturday.

Where does plastic waste originate? How does it arrive in the Ocean? Where should we concentrate our efforts to stop the flow of this waste? These questions will be addresses in a new study of ten rivers by the Tara Ocean Foundation.

Paris - A top French court on Friday rejected an appeal by former president Nicolas Sarkozy to avoid facing charges of illicit financing for his failed 2012 re-election bid, with a trial of the ex-head of state now appearing inevitable.

Paris - The modernist architect I. M. Pei, who has died aged 102, was once pilloried for plonking a glass pyramid into the courtyard of the Louvre, but his controversial creation is now a landmark of the French capital.

Paris - Vaccination against measles should be mandatory for children before they start school in order to prevent future outbreaks of the resurgent disease, according to new analysis released Friday.

Besan - A French doctor already under investigation for poisoning seven patients has been charged with poisoning 17 more people at a clinic in eastern France, one of his lawyers said.

Besan - A French doctor already charged in the poisoning of seven patients was brought before a judge Thursday on suspicions he may have poisoned 17 others at a clinic in eastern France, prosecutors said.

Paris - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said he was gravely saddened by "backsliding" on women's rights seen in several US states, after Alabama agreed the toughest abortion ban in the country.

Paris - Attacks on the police, insults for the president and violence at the Arc de Triomphe: AFP has captured the most striking moments of the half a year of protests by anti-government "yellow vest" demonstrators.

Bonneville - Josu Ternera, one of the most influential leaders of former Basque separatist group ETA, was arrested in France on Thursday after more than 16 years on the run, Spain's interior ministry said.