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Macron admits calling snap elections led to more instability

Politique — Link

In a rare moment of contrition the French president said in a New Year message to the nation that he recognised that his decision to call early parliamentary elections in June had created more political instability in the country.

France strikes Islamic State targets in Syria

International — Link

The French action follows several rounds of US strikes against Islamic State targets in the weeks since rebels ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad from power.

Gisèle Pelicot mass rape trial: 17 men appeal their convictions

France — Link

Seventeen of the 51 men convicted variously of raping and sexual assaulting Gisèle Pelicot, whose now ex-husband drugged her and invited others to rape her at their home in southern France over a ten-year period, have lodged appeals against their convictions, to be heard in a new trial in the autumn of 2025, while her former spouse has said he will not appeal his 20-year prison sentence.

At least three die attempting to cross Channel from France

International — Link

At least three people died and four others were hospitaised early on Sunday morning in what the French maritime prefecture for the Channel region described as a 'chaotic' attempt by dozens of migrants to launch their dinghy from Sangatte beach in northern France.

The French airliner bombing central to the Gaddafi-Sarkozy funding trial

Justice — Interview

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and three of his ex-ministers will stand trial in Paris on January 6th on corruption charges related to the alleged illegal funding of his 2007 election campaign by the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Part of the prosecution case is the alleged offer by Sarkozy’s entourage to overturn, in return for the funding, an international arrest warrant issued by France against Gaddafi’s brother-in-law Abdullah al-Senussi, who was found guilty in absentia of masterminding the mid-air bombing of a French airliner in which 170 people died. In this interview with Mediapart, the sister of one of the victims, and the daughter of another, recount their long quest for justice, and explain why they hope the trial will finally present the truth about the suspected ugly dealings over Senussi.

France rescues 107 people crossing Channel on Christmas Day

International — Link

A total of 107 people trying to reach Britain from France in small dinghies which ran into difficulties crossing the Channel were rescued by the French authorities on Wednesday, according to France's Channel and North Sea maritime prefect's office.

French bank CCF, formerly HSBC France, to axe more than a third of staff

France

One year ago, US investment firm Cerberus Capital Management bought the French arm of British banking group HSBC for the symbolic sum of 1 euro. After pledging no job losses over its first 12 months of ownership, when the bank was given back its former name of CCF, the management has now announced a plan to axe 1,410 jobs and to close 85 of its 235 branches nationwide. The move represents the largest single redundancy plan currently underway in France. Khedidja Zerouali reports.

TGV driver jumps to his death from moving high-speed train

France — Link

The driver of a high-speed train carrying about 400 passengers committed suicide by jumping onto the tracks as it passed a village around 60 kilometres south-east of Paris, setting off emergency brakes that brought the train to a halt with no-one reported to be injured.

Broken ski lift leaves hundreds stranded at French ski resort

France — Link

About 240 people were stranded for more then three hours in freezing conditions on stationary open-air ski lift benches at the French Alpine resort of Superdévoluy on Tuesday after a mechanical failure, before all were safely brought down, most by ropes while others were rescued by helicopter.

French PM announces new government but future uncertain

France — Link

With many leading political figures looking forward to the 2027 presidential elections, and reluctant to gamble their chances on a government that is likely to fall within weeks, newly-appointed French PM François Bayrou has struggled to find those willing to join his government.

France holds day of mourning for Mayotte victims

France — Link

France held a national day of mourning on Monday for those who lost their lives when Cyclone Chido, with winds of more than 220 kilometres per hour, devastated the Indian Ocean French archipelago territory of Mayotte on December 14th.

Overdue, overbudget, France's most powerful reactor joins grid

France — Link

The Flamanville 3 European Pressurized Reactor in Normandy was finally connected to the national grid this weekend, 12 years behind schedule after technical setbacks which saw the cost of the project soar to an estimated 13.2 billion euros, four times the initial 3.3 billion-euro estimate.

Eight convicted for roles in beheading of French teacher

France — Link

At the end of their trial in Paris on Friday, eight defendants variously accused of organising a hate campaign online against murdered secondary school teacher Samuel Paty and of providing assistance to the perpetrator who beheaded him, were found guilty and handed jail sentences of between one and 16 years. 

Tensions rise on Mayotte as water and food shortages continue

France — Report

President Emmanuel Macron’s brief visit to France’s Indian Ocean territory Mayotte this week was marked by heated exchanges with local residents who are angry at the struggling authorities’ inability to provide adequate water and food supplies almost one week after Cyclone Chido flattened most of the archipelago. While the official death toll stands at 31, there is rising concern over the fate of inhabitants, mostly illegal immigrants, of the numerous shantytowns on the territory, where few searches have yet been carried out. Jéromine Doux reports from Mayotte.

Macron accused of making sexist, racist and homophoic comments

France — Link

French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly used racist, sexist and homophobic jibes in discussions with ministers and staff according to French daily Le Monde, while the allegations were denied by the presidential office.