German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he is “concerned” about the prospect of a victory for the far right in France’s upcoming parliamentary elections. President Emmanuel Macron’s party is trailing badly with less than two weeks to go before the first round of the snap elections he called in response to the far-right drubbing that … Read moreGermany’s Scholz expresses concern over a far-right victory in France
Anti-racism groups joined French unions and a new left-wing coalition in protests across France against the surging nationalist far right as frenzied campaigning is under way in advance of snap parliamentary elections. About 21,000 police and gendarmes were deployed at rallies on Saturday with authorities expecting between 300,000 and 500,000 protesters nationwide, France’s interior ministry … Read moreHundreds of thousands in France protest far right ahead of snap elections
The leaders of Germany, France and Poland are meeting in Berlin to resolve differences over how to support Ukraine as Russian voters go to the polls in an election that looks set to extend President Vladimir Putin’s reign. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosted French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin … Read moreLeaders of Germany, France, Poland meet to mend rifts over Ukraine war
France has denied Russia’s claim that there were French mercenaries in Ukraine after Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its troops had killed “foreign fighters” earlier this week. “France helps Ukraine with supplies of military material and military training, in full compliance with international law, in order to help Ukraine in its fight to defend its … Read moreFrance denies Russian claim of mercenaries in Ukraine
Last week, the French embassy in Niger sent a letter to its staff announcing it would be shutting its doors and ending diplomatic services in the West African country. Simultaneously, the last set of French troops in the country boarded flights out from Niamey. The letter marked the final straw in France’s long tumble from … Read moreAu revoir, Sahel: Did 2023 crush France’s influence in Africa?
When French students returned to class a few weeks ago, the government issued a ban on abayas and qamis in public middle and high schools, a move that saw already fraught tensions between the state and Muslim minority deepen. The government sees the full-length robes worn by some Muslims as a religious symbol. On Monday, … Read moreFrance’s abaya ban risks isolating Muslim students, experts say
Africa’s Sahel, home to some of the world’s poorest, most politically unstable and conflict-prone countries, is once again in crisis. With the July 26 military takeover in Niger, the region has become a true “coup belt” across the girth of Africa, and many Sahel nations are now governed by unelected military rulers. In recent years, … Read moreFrench mistakes helped create Africa’s coup belt
France will support efforts by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to make the military coup in Niger fail, the French foreign ministry said on Saturday. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna met with Niger Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou and the Niger ambassador in Paris on Saturday. Earlier, Colonna said the coup leaders in Niamey had … Read moreFrance backs ECOWAS push to reverse Niger military coup
France has banned the sale, possession and transport of fireworks during the July 14 national holiday weekend, following protests sparked by the killing of a teenager by the police. Fireworks were used in some protests that erupted in France after a police officer shot dead 17-year-old Nahel M during a traffic stop on June 27 … Read moreFrance bans Bastille Day fireworks sale after anti-gov’t protests
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed France’s nationwide riots on “institutional racism” and the country’s colonial past. The French government has been battling violence and looting in Paris and across the country since 17-year-old Nahel M – a French citizen of Algerian background – was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic … Read moreTurkey’s Erdogan blames France riots on ‘institutional racism’