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France plans to start Mali pullout in March

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France has repeated its troops will start leaving Mali in March, while officials confirmed new hostilities with Jihadist groups near the town of Gao.

'Hundreds' killed in French Mali campaign

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French defence minister claims 'several hundred' Islamist militants have been killed since France launched an offensive against them in Mali last month.

Fifty Shades liberating for French, claims sexologist

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French sexologist says best-selling novel Fifty Shades of Grey has helped free up inhibitions in France, amid reports of rocketing sex toy sales.

French MPs trade insults amid marathon gay marriage bill debate

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Same-sex marriage bill debate now into its second week with more than 5,300 amendments tabled and a fiery atmosphere inside parliament.

French tanker 'hijacked' off Ivory Coast

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Nigerian pirates are believed to have taken control of a French-owned tanker with 17 crew which went missing off Ivory Coast at the weekend.

French 'Etch A Sketch' inventor dies aged 86

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André Cassagnes, inventor of what the American Toy Industry Association called one of the most memorable 20th-century toys, has died in Paris.

Hollande mobbed by joyful crowds in Mali

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Ecstatic crowds greeted the French President as he visited Timbuktu and Bamako with his ministers for defence, foreign affairs and development.

French parliament adopts key article in same-sex marriage bill

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MPs voted 249-97 in favour of redefining marriage as being an agreement between two people and not only between a man and a woman.

Hollande pays visit to Mali

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The French is to visit Mali on Saturday, after three weeks of targeted French air strikes which have forced Islamist militants into retreat.

Goodyear to close major plant in Amiens

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US tyre maker Goodyear is to close a loss-making plant in northern France, which employs 1,173 workers, following a long conflict with unions.