July 7, 2025
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‘Worrying disappearance’: 18-year-old French national missing in Iran; 20 Europeans under detention in country

An 18-year-old Frenchman, who also holds German citizenship, has gone missing in Iran during a cycling trip that began on June 16, a French diplomatic source was quoted as saying to news agency AFP on Sunday. The missing teen has been identified as Lennart Monterlos, based on social media posts, particularly from Instagram.“This disappearance is […]

France urges tariff barriers to stop China from killing industry

French finance minister Eric Lombard said Europe must shore up its tariff barriers to counter Chinese imports that risk harming the continent’s industrial economy. Europe has already taken action on steel and automobiles, but rules must be changed to allow the wider use of measures against imports from China, Lombard said. “In the world we […]

France bans outdoor smoking: Parks, beaches, schools included; cites child safety

Representative image (AI-generated) France will ban smoking on beaches, in parks, public gardens, and bus shelters from Sunday, the government announced. The decree, published in the official govt gazette on Saturday, also prohibits smoking outside libraries, swimming pools, and schools to protect children from passive smoking. The decree does not mention electronic cigarettes. Individuals who […]

France: State responsible for jogger’s toxic algae death

A civil court in Nantes ruled Tuesday that the French government bore partial responsibility for the 2016 death of Jean-Rene Auffray, a 50-year-old jogger who suffered rapid pulmonary oedema, which sees the lungs fill with liquid, after he inhaled high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide on a beach in western Brittany.In a statement, the court said […]

France charges 25 suspects in crypto abduction cases | World News

France charges 25 suspects in crypto abduction cases (Photo: AFP) Twenty-five people, including six minors, were charged in Paris over a spate of kidnappings and attempted abductions of top figures in France’s cryptocurrency world, prosecutors said on Saturday.“Eighteen people have been placed in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four have been […]

France pushing for ‘China-EU leadership’ on climate | World News

The European Union and China must “take on global climate leadership” in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a French government source said Wednesday, ahead of a top French official’s visit to Beijing.Agnes Pannier-Runacher, France’s minister for ecological transition, is slated to meet counterparts on Thursday and Friday in […]

Germany, France, Poland condemn ‘democratic backsliding’ in Georgia | World News

BERLIN: The leaders of Germany, France and Poland on Monday criticised actions by the Georgian government which they said had undermined democratic institutions.In a joint statement marking Georgia’s Independence Day, the trio said they “condemn all activities of the Georgian authorities resulting in the democratic backsliding and the attacks against civil society, media and government […]

Major power cut in southeast France, including Cannes region during film festival

A major power outage struck southeastern France, including the Cannes region. The organisers, however, informed that the film festival, scheduled to be concluded on Saturday, would not be affected.The cause of the outage remains unknown. 1,60,000 homes had been affected, Grid operator RTE said.This comes after Spain and Portugal urged European Union to step in […]

China urges a ‘more fair’ business environment in France | World News

Chinese vice premier He Lifeng called Thursday for “a more fair, just and predictable business environment” in France during talks with finance minister Eric Lombard in Paris.He made the comments during a visit to France amid trade tensions between the European Union and China.“(We) look forward to France providing a more fair, just and predictable […]

France pledges 10 mn euros for Chernobyl repair: Europe bank

Christine Lagard, President European Central Bank (AP) LONDON: France will contribute 10 million euros to help fix a radiation cover at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine allegedly hit by a Russian drone, Europe’s development bank announced Wednesday.The amount, equivalent to $11.2 million, was unveiled at the annual conference of the European Bank for Reconstruction […]