France

Crown jewels stolen from Louvre in ‘4-minute operation’ by thieves in broad daylight

By Thomas Adamson, Associated Press

In a minutes-long strike Sunday inside the world’s most-visited museum, thieves rode a basket lift up the Louvre ’s facade, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels, officials said.

Macron reappoints newly resigned PM Lecornu amid France’s political crisis

By Associated Press

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reappointed Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister, just days after his resignation, asking him to try again to form a government and produce a budget in a bid to end the country's political deadlock.

Outgoing French PM expects Macron to name replacement in 48 hours

By Samuel Petrequin, John Leicester, Associated Press

Sébastien Lecornu didn’t say who his replacement could be. But appeared to rule himself out of coming back to the job. He said Wednesday that “my mission is finished.”…

France’s new prime minister resigns hours after naming government, plunging France further into political chaos

By Samuel Petrequin, John Leicester, Associated Press

Lecornu is now the shortest-serving prime minister in the history of the Fifth Republic, which started in 1958.

European positions on Russia harden as drone incidents, cyber-attacks and sabotage mount

By Lorne Cook, Associated Press

Europe must take a more aggressive approach with Russia by shooting down drones that enter European airspace and boarding shadow fleet ships illicitly transporting oil to deprive Moscow of war revenue, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

Ex-French President Sarkozy sentenced to 5 years in prison for criminal conspiracy

By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press

A Paris court has sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy.

Claudia Cardinale, star of ’60s and ’70s European cinema, dies at 87

By Victor L. Simpson, Associated Press

Cardinale starred in more than 100 films and made-for-television productions, but she was best known for embodying youthful purity in Federico Fellini’s "8½."…

France recognizes Palestinian statehood ahead of UN General Assembly

By Joseph Krauss, Farnoush Amiri, Associated Press

As the Gaza war rages on, France recognized Palestinian statehood on Monday at the start of a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Mideast conflict.

France’s new PM faces a bumpy ride with budget challenges and nationwide strikes

By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press

Sébastien Lecornu, France’s fourth prime minister in a year, faces big challenges like a ballooning deficit and unrest.

Nationwide protests in France turn new prime minister’s first day into chaos

By John Leicester, Jeffrey Schaeffer, Thomas Adamson, Associated Press

A day of anti-government action across France on Wednesday saw streets choked with smoke, barricades in flames and volleys of tear gas as protesters denounced budget cuts and political turmoil.