French defence minister visits Armenia amid Azerbaijan tensions

By Marina DE RUSSÉ Paris, Feb 22, 2024 (AFP) - France's Sebastien Lecornu is due to travel to Armenia on the first trip by a French defence minister to the South Caucasus nation, as tensions rise with Yerevan's historic rival Azerbaijan. Lecornu's trip comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about a "risk of escalation" between Armenia and Azerbaijan as he received Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan on […]

February 22, 2024 12

Sport

Paris 2024: the Olympic and Paralympic medals have been revealed

In a few short months, the next Olympic Games will begin and the athletes now know the reward they will receive if they make it onto the podium. On Thursday 8 February, the Olympic and Paralympic medals were unveiled. And, whether they are gold, silver or bronze, they will all contain a very special piece of metal that was once part of the Eiffel Tower. The secret behind […]

February 14, 2024 19

World

NATO showcases spending hikes in riposte to Trump

By Max DELANY Brussels, Feb 14, 2024 (AFP) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday 18 of the alliance's 31 countries are set to hit its defence spending target this year, after Donald Trump threatened to encourage Russia to attack members not coughing up enough. The Republican White House frontrunner was widely rebuked after saying he would not defend NATO members who had not met their financial obligations, in […]

February 14, 2024 5

Sport

Storm clouds gather around France coach Galthie ahead of Scots match

France head coach Fabien Galthie has enjoyed a long honeymoon but for the first time since he took over after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, there are rumblings about his stewardship following the 38-17 thumping by Ireland in the Six Nations. The second heaviest home defeat the French have suffered in the northern hemisphere rugby championships history -- England's 39-13 dismantling of the French in Paris in 1914 remains […]

February 6, 2024 5

Africa

Discrimination against young African diasporans in France, U.K. and U.S. is driving interest and connection towards Africa, a new report

What’s it like being an African youth in the diaspora? According to the new Being African: How Africans Experience the Diaspora report, diasporic African youths experience different types of discrimination — exoticization in France, microaggressions in the UK, and surveillance and profiling in the US. The latest research report by narrative-change organization Africa No Filter investigates how young Africans experience their diaspora, how they define being African and the basis of their […]

February 2, 2024 17

Africa

Niger and Russia are forming military ties: 3 ways this could upset old allies

By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University In July 2023, Niger’s military took over in a coup just two years after the country’s first transition to civilian power. The coup has brought into sharp focus the role of foreign countries in Niger’s politics. Before the coup, France and the US were the main security allies of Niger. But the coup leaders, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, were open about […]

January 30, 2024 11

World

France faces jump in electricity prices

Electricity prices in France will go up from next month, as the government ends its barrier to cost increases introduced to help consumers with the energy crisis in Europe. Ross Cullen reports.

January 22, 2024 19

Sport

Alldritt named France’s Six Nations captain in Dupont’s absence

Gregory Alldritt will captain France in the Six Nations with regular skipper Antoine Dupont away on Olympic sevens duty, the French Rugby Federation announced on Wednesday. Aldritt faces a tough challenge in his first match in the role fronting up against last season's Grand Slam winners Ireland in Marseille on February 2. La Rochelle's powerful No 8 Alldritt has been a pivotal figure since Fabien Galthie took over as […]

January 17, 2024 5

World

French president sets out new policies in marathon news conference

The French president has set out new policies ranging from liberal market reforms to an overhaul of parental leave. Emmanuel Macron made the announcements in a marathon news conference on Tuesday. Ross Cullen reports from Paris.

January 17, 2024 6