France News

French churches reopen as coronavirus restrictions loosened

By AFP

Paris - French churches were preparing to hold their first Sunday masses in more than two months after the government bowed to a ruling that they should be reopened -- provided proper precautions were taken.

Migrant boat crossings to UK surge during virus lockdown

By AFP

London - The number of unaccompanied young migrants crossing the Channel from France to Britain has spiked during the coronavirus outbreak, as travel restrictions force them onto boats rather than trucks.

French military races for recruits after lockdown setback

By AFP

Saint-denis - At a recruitment centre north of Paris, three young men with hopes of becoming French soldiers pore over contracts received a month late as the COVID-19 crisis brought enlistment to a halt.

Chile prosecutor demands stricter controls of murder suspect

By AFP

Santiago - Chile's public prosecutor on Tuesday requested tighter supervision of a 29-year-old man set to be extradited to France to face charges of murdering his Japanese ex-girlfriend.

French screen legend Michel Piccoli dead at 94

By AFP

Paris - Michel Piccoli, one of the most original and versatile French actors of the last half century, has died aged 94, his family said Monday.He died "in the arms of his wife Ludivine and his children Inord and Missia after a stroke", the family told AFP.

Chile's court ratifies murder suspect's extradition to France

By AFP

Santiago - Chile's supreme court on Monday confirmed the extradition to France of a Chilean accused of murdering his Japanese ex-girlfriend in 2016 in the east of France.

US hails arrest in France of Rwanda genocide 'financier'

By AFP

Washington - The United States on Monday hailed the arrest in France of a key fugitive in the Rwandan genocide as a milestone and pledged to help find others at large.

Macron, Merkel to present joint EU recovery initiative

By AFP

Paris - French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will present Monday a joint plan to spur EU recovery from the coronavirus crisis, after weeks of debate over how to deploy billions of euros needed to quickly end painful recession.

France a sought-after country for Rwandan genocide suspects

By AFP

Paris - The arrest of Felicien Kabuga, one of the last key fugitives wanted over the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in a suburb of Paris has raised some difficult questions for France.

France arrests fugitive 'financier' of Rwanda genocide

By AFP

Paris - Felicien Kabuga, one of the last key fugitives wanted over the 1994 Rwandan genocide, was in French custody Saturday after a quarter of a century on the run, and now faces likely trial at an international tribunal.

Iran sentences French-Iranian academic to 5 years in jail

By AFP

Tehran - Iran sentenced French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah to five years in prison on national security charges Saturday, her lawyer said, adding that she plans to appeal.

Iran sentences French academic to 5 years: lawyer

By AFP

Tehran - Iran sentenced a French-Iranian academic to five years in prison on national security charges on Saturday, her lawyer told AFP.

Fitch lowers outlook on France debt rating to negative

By AFP

Paris - The international ratings agency Fitch on Friday lowered the outlook on France's sovereign debt from "stable" to "negative" in view of the anticipated deterioration in the country's public finances and economy this year because of the coronavirus pande...

Amazon seeking to resume French operations from May 19

By AFP

Paris - Online retailing giant Amazon is seeking to resume operations from Tuesday at its six warehouses in France that were temporarily closed in a labour dispute over working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, it said on Friday.

France urges caution as first post-lockdown weekend beckons

By AFP

Paris - French officials called Friday for self-restraint as the country prepares for its first weekend since the coronavirus lockdown was eased, warning that police would break up any large gatherings of people taking too much advantage of newfound freedoms.

Close, yet apart: Diary of a family under lockdown

By AFP

Paris - AFP has followed one extended family through the ups and downs of France's eight-week coronavirus lockdown.As families across the world faced unprecedented upheaval, this family shared its shock, fears, questions, difficulties and discoveries.

Fears mount over migrants dying 'out of sight' in Mediterranean

By AFP

Paris - More and more migrants are crossing, Europe is closing its ports and no humanitarian ships are carrying out rescues. As the coronavirus pandemic dominates headlines, activists fear the Mediterranean is the scene of an overlooked "tragedy".

Former French president 'very upset' by sexual assault claim

By AFP

Paris - France's oldest surviving former president Valery Giscard d'Estaing is "very upset" by an accusation of sexual assault made by a German journalist and has no recollection of such an incident, his lawyer said on Thursday.

France cries foul as Sanofi says US to get virus vaccine first

By AFP

Paris - The French government rounded on homegrown pharmaceutical giant Sanofi on Thursday after its CEO said a potential COVID-19 vaccine would go to the United States first.

Swim, jog, but no sunbathing: France reopens some beaches

By AFP

Paris - Runners and swimmers rediscovered the sea air Wednesday as France opened a selection of Atlantic coast beaches closed during the coronavirus lockdown, while the Lourdes sanctuary prepared to welcome back Catholic pilgrims this weekend.

Frenchman cleared of charges for aiding migrants

By AFP

Lyon - A French court on Wednesday scrapped all charges against a man who helped migrants enter the country illegally, the final chapter in a groundbreaking case that defined so-called "crimes of solidarity".

French ex-president d'Estaing probed over sex assault claims

By AFP

Paris - French prosecutors said Monday they are opening an investigation into ex-president Valery Giscard d'Estaing over allegations by a German journalist that he sexually assaulted her after an interview in 2018.

'A little unreal': Wary French venture out as lockdown eases

By AFP

Paris - French sidewalks came to life Monday and roads filled with traffic for the first time in two months as officials began lifting the coronavirus lockdown, though daily life looked very different for those returning cautiously to shops and offices.