France

Niger’s president pleads for help as mutinous soldiers sever French military ties

By Sam Mednick, Associated Press

Niger's military junta says it is severing military agreements with France, its former colonial ruler. And a regional delegation's efforts at negotiation with the junta have quickly deadlocked.

Europe evacuates foreigners from Niger as tensions rise after coup

By Sam Mednick, Associated Press

European militaries are continuing to evacuate foreign nationals in Niger, with a third French military flight expected to depart the African nation's capital.

News Wrap: Unrest in Niger’s capital, deadly bombing at Pakistan rally

In our news wrap Sunday, a bomb at a political rally for a hard-line religious leader in Pakistan killed at least 44 people and injured nearly 200, the French embassy in Niger’s capital was attacked as thousands marched in support…

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French embassy in Niger attacked during pro-junta rally in capital

By Sam Mednick, Associated Press

Thousands of people backing the coup in Niger marched through the streets of the capital denouncing the country's former colonial power, and setting a door at the French Embassy ablaze on Sunday before the army broke up the crowd.

French national police chief says officers under investigation ‘have no place in prison’

By Elaine Ganley, Associated Press

The apparently unprecedented remarks by Frederic Veaux in a weekend interview quickly triggered a debate and raised fundamental questions about whether French law enforcement is above the law.

Lawmakers approve bill allowing French police to locate suspects by tapping their devices

By Youcef Bounab, Associated Press

French lawmakers have adopted a sweeping justice reform bill that includes a provision to allow law enforcement agents to remotely tap into the cameras, microphones and location services of internet-connected devices used by some criminal suspects.

Jane Birkin, actor, singer and style icon, dies in Paris at 76

By John Leicester, Associated Press

Actor and singer Jane Birkin, who made France her home and charmed the country with her English grace, natural style and social activism, has died at age 76.

France celebrates Bastille Day with pomp, a tribute to India and extra police to prevent new unrest

By Angela Charlton, Youcef Bounab, Associated Press

France is celebrating its national holiday Friday with whizzing warplanes and a grand Bastille Day parade in Paris. It is also deploying 130,000 police around the country to prevent a new outbreak of unrest in underprivileged neighborhoods.

Unrest spreads to France’s small towns in wake of deadly police shooting of teenager

By John Leicester, Associated Press

Tranquil French villages and towns escaped previous cycles of urban violence.

Thousands of teens have been arrested in French protests, though violence is subsiding

By Jade le Deley, Lori Hinnant, Associated Press

French courts are working overtime in fast-track trials for more than 3,600 people arrested in unrest sparked by the police killing of a 17-year-old boy captured on video.