Latest France News

Fashion designer describes invitation to work on Notre Dame cathedral's reopening as 'a calling'

Nov. 21, 2024 20:22 PM EST

PARIS (AP) — When Jean-Charles de Castelbajac watched as Notre Dame cathedral burned in April 2019, he felt compelled to act somehow. Returning home, the French fashion designer began sketching ideas, imagining the monument’s reconstruction. So, when the Paris...

UK and France open bribery and corruption probe into French defense firm Thales

Nov. 21, 2024 13:11 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — British and French authorities have opened a probe into France-based defense group Thales for suspected bribery and corruption. In a statement Thursday, Britain's Serious Fraud Office said it hoped the joint probe with France's Parquet National Financier will further...

Virgin Mary statue, a symbol of resilience, returns to Notre Dame Cathedral 5 years after fire

Nov. 20, 2024 17:29 PM EST

PARIS (AP) — A medieval statue of the Virgin Mary and Child, known as “The Virgin of Paris,” returned to Notre Dame cathedral Friday evening, five years after surviving the devastating 2019 fire that engulfed the landmark. The nearly six-foot-tall stone sculpture, a symbol of...

Cable car accident at ski resort injures 8 workers in French Alps

Nov. 19, 2024 07:59 AM EST

PARIS (AP) — At least eight workers have been injured, two seriously, in a cable car accident at the French ski resort of Val Thorens, authorities said. None of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening. The accident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday during challenging...

Harry Kane sparks England rout against Ireland and Nations League promotion

Nov. 17, 2024 17:36 PM EST

Harry Kane's 69th international goal sparked a second-half scoring spree that fired England back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League on Sunday. In temporary head coach Lee Carsley's final game in charge, a 5-0 win against Ireland secured promotion and ensured England will be...

A French student who was arrested and detained in Tunisia returns to Paris

Nov. 15, 2024 10:45 AM EST

PARIS (AP) — A French doctoral student detained in Tunisia returned to Paris on Friday after weeks of top-level diplomatic discussions. Victor Dupont, a 27-year-old pursuing a Ph.D. at Aix-Marseille University’s Institute of Research and Study on the Arab and Islamic Worlds,...

McIlroy one off the lead at World Tour Championship and in good shape to clinch Race to Dubai title

Nov. 15, 2024 09:00 AM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The path is clear for Rory McIlroy to clinch the year-long Race to Dubai title and be crowned the European tour’s best player for a sixth time. He’s well in contention to win the season-ending World Tour Championship, too. ...

Police make 2 arrests after brief fan-fight at high-security France-Israel soccer match

Nov. 15, 2024 04:40 AM EST

PARIS (AP) — French police officers made two arrests after a brief fan-fight at a Nations League soccer game between France and Israel, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said Friday. Stewards “immediately contained” the scuffle inside the Stade de France national stadium on...

Brief altercation between fans mars France-Israel soccer match despite heavy security

Nov. 14, 2024 17:19 PM EST

PARIS (AP) — There was a brief altercation between a small number of fans early into Thursday's Nations League soccer game between France and Israel despite heavy security inside the stadium, a week after violence erupted in Amsterdam in connection with an Israeli club team’s visit. ...

A France-trained force aims to strengthen Ukraine's defenses at a critical point in war

Nov. 14, 2024 15:40 PM EST

A FRENCH MILITARY BASE, France (AP) — A French military task force with a festive name — “Champagne” — is wrapping up a mission that's no party: training a whole new brigade of several thousand Ukrainian troops who will be joining the fight against Russia's invasion armed with...