France news

France news

How a change in rules could affect your property's energy rating, the mysterious 'quotient familial', the difference between 'c'est' and 'il est', what to do in case of an accident - and France's best hiking and cycling routes revealed in this week's must-reads from The Local. From January 1st, 2026, "the electricity conversion coefficient included in the DPE will be lowered [in France], in line with European standards".

France has suspended counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and ordered two staff members of the West African nation's consulate to leave, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has said. The two staff members from the Malian embassy and consulate in Paris have been declared persona non grata, France's foreign ministry added, while Mali declared five French embassy staff members persona non grata. The suspension announced on Friday comes after a French man, Yann Vezilier, was arrested in Mali last month on charges of plotting a coup.

The terror attack on the Jo Goldenberg restaurant in the Jewish quarter of Le Marais on August 9, 1982, killed six and left 22 others injured. list of 3 itemsend of list France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office said in a statement on Friday that Interpol had informed it of the arrest of Hicham Harb by Palestinian authorities under a 2015 international warrant.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.

Certain restaurants in tourist-heavy areas of Paris have been charging higher prices or applying extra charges to American tourists, an investigation by a French newspaper has shown. From taxi scams to pickpockets at Metro stations, stories of tourists (particularly Americans) in Paris being taken advantage of are not new, but what about being charged a different amount for dinner? The French daily Le Parisien did an experiment over the summer to see if restaurants in tourist-heavy areas would charge 'American' customers more than French people.

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Government warns of disruptions as nationwide strikes set to shutdown schools, pharmacies and transport. France is braced for nationwide disruption as unions launch mass strikes to protest against government proposals for budget cuts. The walkout by teachers, health workers, and transport staff, among others, on Thursday is expected to paralyse parts of the country, with unions promising one of the largest mobilisations since last year's bitter battle over pension reform.

The British broadcaster BBC has now announced that both plan to present photographic and scientific evidence to dispel this claim, which has been dragging on for years. The lawsuit was filed in the United States against far-right influencer Candace Owens. The 218-page document, filed in the state of Delaware, accuses Owens of spreading absurd, defamatory, and completely fictitious statements. Among the main claims made by Owens, known for her support for Donald Trump and transphobic remarks, was that Brigitte Macron was born a man.

Several French museums, monuments and cultural venues had to close on Thursday (18 September) because of a one-day strike against budget austerity. One week after partial closures caused by a movement called " let's block everything ", supported by some unions, the Musée du Louvre, the Château de Versailles and the exhibition galleries at the Grand Palais were partially closed Thursday. At the Musée d'Orsay, employees let visitors enter the museum freely.

As of 2025, France was home to 53 of the world's billionaires, coming in 11th place for countries with the most billionaires, according to the World Population Review. France fell behind the UK, which is in 10th place with 55 billionaires, and ahead of Taiwan with 51 billionaires. The top three countries (also the world's most populous countries) are; the United States (813 billionaires), China (406), and India (200).

Sally Rooney, Deborah Levy, Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux and Pulitzer winner Viet Thanh Nguyen are among 20 authors urging French president Emmanuel Macron to resume a lifeline programme for evacuating Palestinian writers, scholars and artists from Gaza. The Pause programme for writers and artists in emergency situations, as well as a student evacuation programme, were abruptly suspended by the French government at the beginning of August over a Palestinian student's allegedly antisemitic online remarks, a decision that the letter-writing authors said amounted to a collective

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, an apparently well-planned criminal operation targeted the museum's geology and mineralogy gallery. Cleaning staff detected the break-in later that day and museum teams saw that four to six pieces of gold were missing. The thieves are believed to have used an angle grinder and blowtorch to force their way into the riverside museum that sits on the edge of Paris's Jardin des Plantes. It is an unprecedented theft from the high-security museum. A museum spokesperson said

I lost my temper Sunday against Ireland. I know this is not acceptable and I am aware that this puts an end to my World Cup. I would like to apologise to Aoife Wafer and Team Ireland, my teammates and staff, FFR and all those who support us. It's not the image I want to give, nor the player I want to be. I accept the sanction. Rugby is a respect sport and this gesture has nothing to do on a rugby field.

The judge, Mr Justice Sheldon, halted his removal after a decision came through during the court hearing that his claims to be a victim of trafficking required further investigation. The ruling is a significant blow to the government because many of those due to be removed under the scheme are potential victims of trafficking. Because they have only recently arrived in the UK they have not had an opportunity to have their trafficking claim fully investigated nor to obtain expert medical and psychological reports.

As AI technologies evolve, it is important to consider the effects chatbots can have on children, while also ensuring that the United States maintains its role as a global leader in this new and exciting industry. The study we're launching today will help us better understand how AI firms are developing their products and the steps they are taking to protect children.

The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, a vice president of Equatorial Guinea and the son of long-serving President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo. Equatorial Guinea asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch,

Marine Le Pen calls judge's decision 'political' after election ban Marine Le Pen is currently banned from standing for public office for five years following her conviction in March for embezzling European parliament funds. The ban, which includes a 'provisional execution' measure, means it applies regardless of her ongoing appeal process.

Police and protesters clashed in Paris during nationwide anti-government demonstrations organised by the 'Block Everything' group, leading to bins being set on fire and traffic disruption. At least 132 people were arrested in Paris, with nearly 200 arrests reported across France, as part of protests against the political class and proposed budget cuts. The demonstrations follow the French parliament's no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday, leading President Emmanuel Macron to appoint Sebastien Lecornu as his fifth prime minister.

Jess, a 35-year-old hospital neurologist, had joined protesters attempting to stop traffic in order to show her anger at the French government. Inequality is rife in France and this is the only way to be heard, she said. Pushed back with teargas by riot police, Jess, who asked for her real name not to be published said she was scared by police tactics, but felt it was crucial to be on the streets.