Protesters rally in France against Barnier’s appointment as prime minister

PARIS (AP) — Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday, responding to a call from a far-left party leader who criticized as a “power grab” the president's appointment of a conservative new prime minister, Michel Barnier. The protests directly...

France's new prime minister twice voted against gay rights and critics won't let him forget it

PARIS (AP) — As soon as Michel Barnier was named France's new prime minister, critics found a skeleton in his closet. Back in 1981, the 30-year-old lawmaker joined more than 150 conservatives in the National Assembly to vote against a law decriminalizing young homosexuals. That...

Telegram CEO defends himself against French charges in first public comments

PARIS (AP) — Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov promised to step up efforts to fight criminality on the messaging app, his first public comments since French authorities handed him preliminary charges for allegedly allowing the platform's use for criminal activity. In a Telegram...

Macron names EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister

PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister on Thursday, hoping the Brexit negotiator and veteran conservative can work with the country's bitterly divided legislature to end political turmoil that has roiled Macron's presidency. ...

A French woman whose husband is accused of inviting men to rape her testifies in court

AVIGNON, France (AP) — A woman who was allegedly drugged by her now ex-husband so that she could be raped by other men while she was unconscious testified Thursday that her world collapsed when police uncovered the years of alleged abuse. Speaking in a calm and clear voice, Gisèle...

Pastis-maker Pernod Ricard scraps sponsorship of PSG after protests in Marseille

French liquor company Pernod Ricard, best known in France for the anise-flavored aperitif pastis, said on Thursday it scrapped a new sponsorship deal with Paris Saint-Germain after protests from Marseille. Fans of Marseille, the bitter rival of PSG, complained that the drink belongs...

Another boat seen trying to make apparent English Channel crossing from France to Britain a day after 12 migrants died

A boat with dozens of migrants rips apart in the English Channel off France, killing 12

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, France (AP) — A boat carrying migrants ripped apart in the English Channel as they attempted to reach Britain from northern France on Tuesday, plunging dozens into the treacherous waterway and leaving 12 dead, authorities said. Most of the victims were believed to...

Mayor of coastal town says 13 migrants are dead after their boat broke up off France during English Channel crossing

A rescue operation is underway for over 50 migrants in waters off France's north coast, with some in critical condition