France

French President Macron says he won’t rush through voting reforms that triggered New Caledonia riots

By Claire Rush, John Leicester, Associated Press

Speaking after a day of meetings with leaders of Indigenous Kanaks who want independence and pro-Paris leaders who do not, Macron laid out a roadmap that he said could lead to another referendum on the archipelago.

French President Macron arrives in New Caledonia amid unrest, calls for independence

By Thomas Adamson, Associated Press

The president binned his previously announced schedule to make the journey of some 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) himself, stung into action by the most severe violence to hit New Caledonia since the 1980s.

Violence in New Caledonia subsides slightly as France sends reinforcements to territory

By Thomas Adamson, Associated Press

Clashes erupted Monday following protests over voting reforms that passed in the National Assembly in Paris. While the Indigenous Kanaks seek independence, the descendants of colonists want New Caledonia to remain part of France.

French government preparing for a state of emergency after violence in New Caledonia

By Barbara Surk, John Leicester, Associated Press

France’s government is considering imposing a state of emergency in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia to curb deadly violence on the island.

Manhunt is underway in France for armed gang who ambushed prison convoy, freeing convict

By John Leicester, Associated Press

Prison workers held moments of silence Wednesday outside prisons in Paris and elsewhere to commemorate the officers who were killed.

Olympic torch makes a grand entrance in Marseille

By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press

The ship sailed into Marseille’s old port with the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, echoing from the embankment and a French Air force flyover with planes first drawing the five Olympic rings and then the red-blue-white colors of the nation’s…

Hours after UK approved deportation bill, 5 migrants die attempting to cross English Channel

By Associated Press

The U.K. government plans to deport some of those who enter the country illegally as a deterrent to migrants who risk their lives in leaky, inflatable boats in hopes that they will be able to claim asylum once they reach…

French President Macron regrets the Senate’s vote to reject the EU-Canada trade deal criticized by farmers

By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press

The so-called CETA deal has been criticized by farmers as bringing unfair competition from abroad. It provisionally went into effect in September 2017 after all EU governments agreed to it, but its full implementation requires approval by each national parliament.

French lawmakers approve bill making abortion a constitutional right

By Barbara Surk, Nicolas Garriga, Associated Press

The measure was promised by President Emmanuel Macron following a rollback of abortion rights in court rulings in the United States.

Putin warns West that sending troops to Ukraine risks ‘tragic’ global nuclear war

By Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press

In an apparent reference to French President Emmanuel Macron's statement earlier this week that Western ground troops' deployment to Ukraine should not be "ruled out" in the future, Putin said it would lead to "tragic" consequences.