France slashes Olympics opening ceremony crowd size amid terror attack fears

PARIS — France has scaled down the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony which will take place in July on the River Seine, amid concerns over a theoretical Islamist terror attack. Boats carrying each nation’s flag-bearers will pass on the water in the heart of Paris, with 104,000 spectators enjoying the celebration on the waterfront … Read more

Benzema’s defamation suit against top French minister is dismissed – POLITICO

But on Tuesday, the Court of Justice of the Republic, a court for lawsuits against members of the government, dismissed the complaint. The court found that Darmanin’s remarks “do not impute to [Benzema] any fact that is likely to undermine his honour or his reputation,” according to a statement by public prosecutor of the Court of … Read more

French top court nixes cushy visa deal for rich Brits – POLITICO

The Macron government, which doesn’t have a majority in the lower house, managed to pass the bill in December under an agreement with the right-wing Les Républicains movement, tweaking the planned reform to accede to requests by hardline conservatives. The bill was ultimately also supported by far-right opposition leader Marine Le Pen, who dubbed it … Read more

French court nixes key provisions of incendiary immigration bill – POLITICO

The Macron government, which doesn’t have a majority in the lower house, managed to pass the bill in December under an agreement with the right-wing Les Républicains movement, tweaking the planned reform to accede to requests by hardline conservatives. The bill was ultimately also supported by far-right opposition leader Marine Le Pen, who dubbed it … Read more

Macron picks EU liberal leader as new foreign minister in cabinet reshuffle – POLITICO

PARIS — Emmanuel Macron picked Renew Europe Group President Stéphane Séjourné as France’s new foreign minister, the French presidency announced Thursday, in a widely expected government reshuffle. Séjourné’s appointment is likely to have big repercussions for European centrists ahead of the European election in June. The 38-year-old is a key operator in the Macron galaxy, … Read more

Macron appoints rising star Gabriel Attal as French prime minister – POLITICO

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has picked Gabriel Attal, the outgoing minister of education, to be France’s new prime minister. “The President of the Republic has appointed Mr Gabriel Attal as prime minister, and tasked him with forming a government,” the French presidency announced in a press release Tuesday. Elisabeth Borne, the second woman … Read more

Macron makes enemies defending rape-accused star – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. PARIS — The storm sparked by Emmanuel Macron’s defense of film star Gérard Depardieu shows no sign of abating as the showbiz world tears itself apart over accusations targeting one of France’s best-known actors. The French film star is at the center of a … Read more