2364, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday faced anger from lawmakers for conducting air strikes with the United States in Syria in their first major military action since coming to power. May was due to address MPs after proceeding …
Read More »New tests for Macron and May with first major military operations
2500, France | AFP | Shortly after coming to power last year, Emmanuel Macron mused to a friend about the role of president. “You go through stages,” he said. “Innocence is not allowed.” On Friday night, like British Prime Minister Theresa May, he ordered his first major military intervention. Early …
Read More »EU court backs France ban of Uber service without notifying Brussels
Luxembourg, Luxembourg | AFP | The EU’s top court on Tuesday backed the right of member states like France to ban a service by ridesharing firm Uber without notifying Brussels, in a fresh setback to the US giant. The European Court of Justice ruled in favour of France’s ban of …
Read More »Macron sparks uproar with church-state remarks
Paris, France | AFP | Remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron that he wanted to repair church-state ties caused uproar Tuesday, sparking charges he was tampering with France’s longstanding secular tradition. The Catholic Church and the state were for centuries virtually indistinguishable in France but the 1789 Revolution and 19th …
Read More »France seeks urgent UN Security Council meet on Syria
United Nations, United States | AFP | Nine of the 15 United Nations Security Council members have demanded an urgent meeting Monday after an alleged chemical attack on Syria’s rebel-held town of Douma, diplomatic sources said. France initiated the move, and the request was also signed by Britain, the Ivory Coast, …
Read More »Kenyans take men’s and women’s titles in Paris Marathon
Paris, France | AFP | Kenyans won the men and women’s Paris Marathon titles on Sunday as, in a piece of theatre calculated by the organisers, the two champions finished almost together. Paul Lonyangata retained his men’s crown and also caught and passed Betsy Saina, the women’s winner, in the …
Read More »Air France cancels 30 percent of flights due to strikes
Paris, France | AFP | Air France said Saturday that hundreds of its flights have been cancelled as pilots, cabin crew and ground staff pursued a fifth day of strikes aimed at securing higher pay. The walkout has affected international and domestic travel, with a quarter of long-haul flights cancelled. Around …
Read More »Rwanda genocide suspect wanted in France held in Cameroon
Paris, France | AFP | A former Rwandan policeman has been arrested in Cameroon on suspicion of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a judicial source in France, where he is wanted over the killings, told AFP. Philippe Hategekimana was arrested in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital, on March 30 under an …
Read More »Macron urged to pressure Saudi prince over Yemen war
Paris, France | AFP | Ten international rights groups called on French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday to pressure Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over his country’s bombing campaign in Yemen. Macron is expected to host Prince Mohammed for a three-day trip to France starting Sunday, the latest stop in …
Read More »Erdogan ‘saddened’ by France’s stance on Kurdish militia
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he was “extremely saddened” by France’s position after Paris offered to mediate with the Syrian Democratic Forces dominated by a Kurdish militia deemed a terrorist group by Ankara. “We are extremely saddened by France’s… wrong stance on …
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