France : News , Updates & Discussions.
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France as a tourist destination
In spite of everything, France remains the world's number one tourist destination, and by and large it remains one of the safer places in the world to visit. it's not hard to understand why. France has it all - or more or less. It has tourist sights for all tastes; it has some of the greatest beaches in Europe, as well as the highest mountains and the finest historic monuments, the most beautiful cities, the most idyllic countryside, the most magnificent castles, the finest rivers, and plenty more, not to mention some of the best restaurants and the finest wines and more hotels than any other country in Europe.
Mont Saint Michel, Normandy
France has something for everyone, which is one of the reasons why it remains the world's number one tourist destination. It has magnificent holiday opportunities for everything from a short weekend city break, in places such as Paris, Nice or Bordeaux, to a relaxed family holiday in a gite in the countryside, a week or two's relaxation by the seaside, or an energetic break hiking, climbing, kayaking or cycling in France's great outdoors.
Paris
Paris is just the icing on the cake - the French capital city and surely the most interesting city in the world. With its museums and monuments, its fine boulevards and its river Seine, its culture, its restaurants and its unique atmosphere, Paris is a city that you can visit for a week or a month or a year, and never tire of. In the memorable words of Thomas Jefferson, "A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life." And much more too. But Paris is just a starting point. France is much so much more than just Paris.Cultural tourism in France
French museums and art galleries - which contrary to popular belief are not all located in Paris - offer a magnificent collection of works of art and artefacts; and for those for whom a holiday is an opportunity to discover Europe's historic heritage, France's great cathedrals, medieval castles, and thousands of other ancient monuments are a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. For themed breaks, the châteaux of the Loire (in the Centre region of France) are an obvious choice; among the many other historic sites, consider discovering the Roman remains of Provence , the medieval bastide towns of the southwest, or the castles and caves of the Dordogne. There are even some scenic steam railways for people who enjoy a trip down memory lane. Check out the regional guides for information on sights, monuments and tourist attractions in each area.The French seaside:
In July and August, France's Mediterranean beaches tend to be pretty packed; this is particularly the case in the famous resorts of Provence and the French Riviera. By contrast, the long sandy beaches of the Languedoc offer much more legroom. Away from the resorts, Brittany offers plenty of good beaches, with the added fun of tides and good waves; and France's Atlantic coast, south of the Loire, has plenty of long sandy beaches, in the regions of Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine. South of Bordeaux, there are mile upon mile of fine beaches. For more information see guide to the French coast.France off the beaten track:
If you want the life, culture and bustle of the big city, go to Paris. But France is a lot more than Paris. There are plenty of places in deepest rural France that are still very much off the beaten track; and for camping holidays, gite holidays, or for those who are content to put up in small rural inns, several regions in France offer wonderful holiday opportunities away from it all. Five French departments (counties) that are particularly worth checking out are the Aveyron (Midi Pyrenees region), the Haute Loire (part of the Auvergne region, recommended for 2016 by Lonely Planet as one of the ten regions of the world to visit), the Corrèze (Limousin), the Jura (Franche Comté) and the Vosges (Lorraine): all these departments include sparsely populated areas, attractive scenery, and plenty of leisure opportunities - or just some great places to sit back with a glass of wine, relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet. One of the best times of year to visit France off the beaten track is Autumn, specially in the south of the country.Driving in France
France has an extensive network of motorways, and many of them offer relatively relaxed driving conditions, except at peak periods. Off the motorways, driving on France's backroads can be a way to discover motoring as it used to be, a pleasurable experience and a way to discover the country. For more information click for our guide - driving tips and advice. and our checklist of things not to forget before you leave.French culture and institutions
Finally, for those who are looking for deeper information about France, this website contains pages explaining the main French institutions and the functioning of French life, including the education system and French universities , plus pages on the French way of politics, the French economy and the press. There is also a clearly written guide to the main points of French grammar.Site search: click here to search About-France.com
Use the site search function to look for information by keyword, or follow the hyperlinks from page to related page, to discover a wealth of information about France, French life and customs, tourism in France and the ways and life of the most visited country in Europe.
With input from specialists in French and UK universities, About-France.com is a website that applies academic standards in terms of content, accuracy and style.
Mélenchon appears as hologram in last push for French election
Image of radical left presidential candidate, who is third in polls, projected at rallies across country
Apparently he's the most popular left candidate in the presidential elections as of now in 3rd place in the opinion polls behind Macron & LePen .
Among the issues he supports is a bill to tackle femicide wherein France reports the death of a female by her spouse or partner every 3 days as per this rag. Other issues on which he's put his position across is his opposition to France's excessive reliance on N power for energy , withdrawal from NATO & legislation to limit junk food consumption .
Interesting to see the challenges & issues faced by developed nations .
What's remarkable here is not the electoral issues voters & candidates are facing in France. What's rather remarkable is Clutterji's evolution as a polymath while we were all sleeping.
Name any issue under the sun - domestic politics , international politics , domestic & international economics , international diplomacy , Indian diplomacy , Indo Pak relations , Ukraine war , Syrian War , China - it's internal issues , economy , foreign policy , domestic policy , presidential elections in France , Dimran's ouster , Ganja Jr being sworn in as PM , Fauji Foundation's role , Wuhan virus , etc - Clutterji can talk extempore on all these issues for hours.
That he restricts himself to under 15 min these days , gesticulating more for a 30 min episode than the truncated 15 min , so that we get his emphasis assuming we missed his hammering of the same point thru repitition , is now followed by a new gesture - taalam Carnatic classical vocalist style.
(Ouest-France, jun.13)
France has "entered a war economy", says Emmanuel Macron
The head of state wants to "re-evaluate" the 2019-2025 military programming law [LPM] to "adjust the means to the threats" in the face of the war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the strengthening of the European defence industry, which must be "much stronger", on Monday 13 June 2022 at the opening of the Eurosatory international defence exhibition near Paris.
"Spending a lot to buy elsewhere is not a good idea. [...] We need to strengthen a much stronger and more demanding European defence industry and technological base," said Emmanuel Macron.
France has "entered a war economy”
The head of state wants a "re-evaluation" of the 2019-2025 military programming law to "adjust the means to the threats", against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. "I have asked the Minister (of the Army) and the Chief of Staff of the Army to be able to conduct in the coming weeks a reassessment of this military programming law in the light of the geopolitical context," he announced, saying that France has "entered a war economy in which I believe we will organize ourselves permanently.
The budget of the Ministry of the Armed Forces has increased significantly since 2017
According to the daily Le Monde, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) is considering proposing a legislative text that would allow the requisitioning of civilian materials or companies for military purposes under certain circumstances, while the war in Ukraine has highlighted the weakness of military stocks in Western countries.
In 2017, Emmanuel Macron began a clear upturn in defence spending after years of dearth. The budget of the Ministry of the Armed Forces will increase again in 2022, to 40.9 billion euros, in accordance with the 2019-2025 LPM, which plans [planned? Before this announced “surge”] to reach 50 billion euros in 2025.
www.ouest-france.fr
France has "entered a war economy", says Emmanuel Macron
The head of state wants to "re-evaluate" the 2019-2025 military programming law [LPM] to "adjust the means to the threats" in the face of the war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the strengthening of the European defence industry, which must be "much stronger", on Monday 13 June 2022 at the opening of the Eurosatory international defence exhibition near Paris.
"Spending a lot to buy elsewhere is not a good idea. [...] We need to strengthen a much stronger and more demanding European defence industry and technological base," said Emmanuel Macron.
France has "entered a war economy”
The head of state wants a "re-evaluation" of the 2019-2025 military programming law to "adjust the means to the threats", against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. "I have asked the Minister (of the Army) and the Chief of Staff of the Army to be able to conduct in the coming weeks a reassessment of this military programming law in the light of the geopolitical context," he announced, saying that France has "entered a war economy in which I believe we will organize ourselves permanently.
The budget of the Ministry of the Armed Forces has increased significantly since 2017
According to the daily Le Monde, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) is considering proposing a legislative text that would allow the requisitioning of civilian materials or companies for military purposes under certain circumstances, while the war in Ukraine has highlighted the weakness of military stocks in Western countries.
In 2017, Emmanuel Macron began a clear upturn in defence spending after years of dearth. The budget of the Ministry of the Armed Forces will increase again in 2022, to 40.9 billion euros, in accordance with the 2019-2025 LPM, which plans [planned? Before this announced “surge”] to reach 50 billion euros in 2025.
La France est « entrée dans une économie de guerre », dit Emmanuel Macron
Le chef de l’État souhaite « réévaluer » la loi de programmation militaire 2019-2025 pour « ajuster les moyens aux menaces », face à la guerre en Ukraine.
www.ouest-france.fr
Who is the richest man in the world?
As of April 1, 2023, the richest man in the world is Bernard Arnault, the CEO and chairman of LVMH of France; he’s worth nearly $226 billion. He moved into the number one spot after Elon Musk’s fortune fell in late 2022 as shares of electric carmaker Tesla fell.Who is the richest woman in the world?
The richest woman in the world is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers of France. As of April 1, 2023, she is worth $89.4 billion and is the world’s 10th richest person. Her fortune lies in her ownership of shares in cosmetics giant L’Oreal, which she inherited from her late mother. Her grandfather was the founder of L’Oreal.
The Top 10 Richest People In The World | December 2025
There’s a new No. 2 on Forbes’ ranking of the world’s wealthiest people.
www.forbes.com
Le français EOS Technologie a dévoilé Veloce 330, une munition téléopérée pouvant voler à 400 km/h
France's EOS Technologie has unveiled Veloce 330, a remotely operated munition capable of flying at 400 km/h.In May 2022, the French Defence Procurement Agency [DGA], via the Defence Innovation Agency [AID], launched two projects for remotely operated munitions [MTOs], namely Colibri and Larinae, which should respectively be capable of neutralising an armoured vehicle located 5 and 50 km away.
"We have indicated that we want solutions that are inexpensive, obviously effective, have a range that depends on the area in question and can be delivered very quickly. We also want the military to be able to train very quickly", argued Emmanuel Chiva, the Délégué général pour l'armement at the time.
A year later, the AID announced that it had selected two consortia for the Colibri project, namely the MBDA/Novadem and Nexter/Delair tandems. Two configurations of prowler munitions still had to be evaluated: one with a rotating wing, which is easier to use, and the other with a fixed wing, which is better suited to 'open' and 'vast' environments.
The same approach has been followed for the Larinae project. In June 2023, the AID awarded its first contract to a consortium led by KNDS France [ex-Nexter] and including EOS Technologie and TRAAK. It then did the same with MBDA, which, in association with Delair, unveiled the Mutant MTO a few days later.
However, in recent days, a video showing an MTO designed by EOS Technologie has begun to circulate on social networks. On 26 April, the manufacturer revealed a little more about it.
Called the "Veloce 330", it is a "jet-powered" MTO entirely "designed and manufactured in France" [in Mérignac to be precise]. According to EOS Technologies, it has just "successfully completed a third phase of test flights". Its performance is clearly impressive.
"With several peaks of more than 400 km/h and 50 km covered in just 16 minutes [with half the tank], the aerodynamic design and manufacturing processes have now been validated for this French mini-Shahed 238", EOS Technologie points out, referring to the MTO developed by Iran.
According to the details given last year by KNDS France on the solution that had just been chosen by the AID, the Veloce 330 MTO should have a range of 80 km and an endurance of 3 hours. It is a fixed-wing aircraft, but can be deployed with a vertical take-off and landing system (VTOL). It is equipped with a core-generating charge (CGN) to foil the active defences of armoured vehicles, and a GPS-free navigation system - and therefore immune to jamming - proposed by TRAAK.
"Its reusability also enables it to carry out intelligence missions, thanks to an optronic ball that detects a vehicle 15 km away by day and 3 km away by night", KNDS France points out, before assuring us that "the human being will remain at the heart of the decision-making loop in all scenarios, thanks to the ammunition's advanced telemetry".
France sends more police to New Caledonia to try to restore calm
Summary
- France sends in reinforcements
- Declared state of emergency
- Rioting triggered by electoral reform
- Pacific neighbours call for calm, dialogue
Rioters angry with an electoral reform have burnt businesses, torched cars, looted shops and set up road barricades, causing a "dire situation" for access to medicine and food in the French-ruled Pacific island, authorities said.
"Everything's burning, people have literally no limits," New Caledonia student Olivia Iloa said.
France has declared a state of emergency on the island, put at least 10 people under house arrest and banned TikTok.
Numbers of police and gendarmes in New Caledonia will rise from 1,700 to 2,700 by Friday evening, with a small number of soldiers assisting.
"The situation in New Caledonia remains very tense, with looting, riots, fires, attacks which are unbearable," French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told reporters.
France will "show the utmost firmness towards looters and rioters" and toughen sanctions, he said.
Rioting erupted over a new bill, adopted by lawmakers in Paris on Tuesday, that will let French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years vote in provincial elections. Some local leaders fear the move will dilute the indigenous Kanak vote.
Electoral reform is the latest flashpoint in a decades-long tussle over France's role in the mineral-producing southwest Pacific island some 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia.
The government in Paris repeated past mistakes by not heeding warnings over the reform, said Dominique Fochi, secretary general of the Caledonian Union, a branch of the pro-independence FLNKS party which has called for calm but wants the reform shelved.
"We spoke in the void, and now things have exploded," Fochi told Reuters.
France annexed New Caledonia in 1853 and gave the colony the status of overseas territory in 1946. New Caledonia is the world's No. 3 nickel miner but its nickel industry is in crisis. Economic disparities also fueled the riots, said Fochi.
'DESTROYED'
A damaged building is seen as rioters protest against plans to allow more people to take part in local elections in the French-ruled territory, which indigenous Kanak protesters reject, in Noumea, New Caledonia, May 15, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media. Lilou Garrido Navarro Kherachi/via REUTERS
Attal said the French government would step in to help mitigate the economic impact of the crisis. The local chamber of commerce has estimated the cost of damage caused by the riots at 200 million euros ($217 million), broadcaster NC La 1ère said.
"Caledonia will have a hard time recovering from this crisis... Everything, 80%, is destroyed," said Noumea resident Yoan Fleurot, who has witnessed looting.
Armed forces were protecting New Caledonia's two airports and port, said France's High Commissioner Louis Le Franc, adding roads in Noumea were blocked by barricades of burning cars and car carcasses, some rigged with booby traps.
There were also confrontations overnight between members of Field Action Co-ordination Cell (CCAT), which organised the protests, and self-defence groups, he said.
Three young Kanaks have been killed in the riots, and a 22-year-old police official died after being shot in the head as he was talking to protesters, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. Another gendarme was killed in an accidental shooting while preparing to deploy.
New Caledonia's Pacific neighbours called for a return to dialogue and for the electoral reform to be cancelled.
"These events could have been avoided if the French government had listened," said Vanuatu's prime minister, Charlot Salwai.
The French government says it wants to meet pro- and anti-independence leaders soon in Paris. It has opened the door to suspending the reform bill if there is a new deal soon on the future of the island.
President Emmanuel Macron cancelled a planned video call with political leaders from the island because leaders did not want to talk to each other, Elysee sources said.
France's foreign ministry will brief officials from several countries on the crisis, according to an invitation seen by Reuters.
Hinting at foreign interference, Darmanin told France 2 TV "some independence leaders had made a deal with Azerbaijan," a country with whom France's relationship has deteriorated over Paris' support for Armenia.
He gave no evidence, and Azerbaijan's foreign ministry swiftly denied what it called insulting allegations.
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Source: Reuters
Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney, Dominique Vidalon, Camille Raynaud, Augustin Turpin, Juliette Jabkhiro, Louise Dalmasso, Michaela Cabrera, Elizabeth Pineau, John Irish, in Paris, Lucy Craymer in Wellington; writing by Ingrid Melander and Kirsty Needham; Editing by Gerry Doyle, William Maclean and Timothy Heritage
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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How likely is it that Azeris/Turks/China are stoking these tensions and supplying weapons? Browsing around social media shows that both loyalists and revolutionaries have guns?? There's no way that ownership of guns is permitted there, so how are they ending up armed?
Do you think this will develop into a more intense situation or is it a nothingburger? I don't think Macron will back down on reforming the law and I don't think the natives can sustain a fight against the police for long.
@Picdelamirand-oil ; @Amarante ; @Bon Plan ; @Herciv ; @halloweene
This should definitely raise a red flag for you:
Debt ratings:
India Moody's Baa3; S&P BBB; Fitch BBB-
France Moody's Aa3; S&P A+; Fitch AA-
That's just a function of being a developing country. GoI has approached these same credit ratings agencies plenty of times for an upgrade to no avail. Why would they upgrade countries like India & forego on their earnings ?
After all the financial system has been devised to promote western interests primarily that of the US. Here's a good primer on the topic.
Why India's credit rating is lower than US despite better numbers | Sanskar Singh Baghel posted on the topic | LinkedIn
There's one thing you don't seem to want to see: financial risk assessment considers not only liabilities but also assets. If I had a million-dollar debt, it would be catastrophic, but if it's Elon Musk, nobody cares. To give a clearer example, what level of investment would India need to make to have a comparable level of infrastructure to France? Closing this gap would generate an increase in debt, whereas in France, the corresponding debt has already been largely repaid, and the country is fully benefiting from these investments to increase its productivity. Japan has a huge debt, but if you go to live in Japan, you won't get the same impression as in India. And France spends a lot on social welfare, but that's a choice we have the right to make. For example, I'm 77 years old, and life expectancy for men is 81 years in France and 71 years in India. In India, statistically I would already be dead, so I prefer to live in France!
I think that documentary I've linked clearly highlights the downside of a welfare state. Your economic model is sustainable only if you're a continuously productive population.
Your TFR is sliding this putting pressure on the employment rates which in turn is adversely impacting the youth . Add to that immigration whether legal or illegal which in turn is impacting the social fabric of the society.
Then there's the politics surrounding all this. Add to that energy prices & the war in Ukraine , France & the rest of EU is so passionate about supporting at any cost.
India's at stage of where we're developing the infrastructure. France is at that stage where it's struggling to maintain all that infrastructure & social welfare measures.
Frankly I don't know how did India come into this conversation. I didn't make the comparison for that comparison can't be made.
How do you compare the two nations ? One with a population of 1.4 billion & rising & the other with a population of ~ 70 million with a rapidly falling TFR . Most of our mid sized states have a population around the same size as France. The largest state in India - UP has a population of ~ 250 million.
If it was an independent country it'd be among the top 7 most populous nations in the world.
Obviously you won't. Once again that's a nation where the TFR is falling precipitously. It'd face the same pressures as France does & is doing.
Which as per the documentary you're finding tough to sustain. And that's a choice you'd have to revisit.
People will live where they have been dwelling till such time as the living conditions permit it meaning one doesn't have to live with all the social welfare measures a developed country like France has to offer if the cost of living is low , safety along with availability of food & water is assured , etc. These are basic requirements.
It's only when these factors are affected that you see an exodus. Otherwise illegal immigration into Europe would be a 100 times what it is now.
You're showing me a documentary that's full of nonsense, when I live in the country it's about. I'm trying to explain the situation to you. In this documentary, immigration is portrayed as an absolute evil, but in reality, when the birth rate is low, a little immigration is needed to balance the age pyramid and ensure there are enough people of working age. There are also jobs that need to be done that French people no longer want to do: education is compulsory and free in France, so everyone wants a highly skilled job. This means that unskilled jobs are mainly held by immigrants who will have French children who will want skilled jobs. Without this continuous influx from outside, the economy would grind to a halt. As for insecurity, statistics show that it is no more the fault of immigrants than of native French people.
You say that we need to revisit our social system, but our democratic system has refused to allow any changes to it and everything is fine. Thank you for your concern for us, but you should think about yourselves instead.
Quite obviously that little immigration was supposed to be from other European nations which are facing more or less the same problem as France.
A deteriorating economy, rapidly falling TFR, rising unemployment, rising inflation, falling growth etc.
Enter emigrants from the Sahel or the former French colonies in Africa who've a completely different religion, way of life etc refusing to integrate & frankly can't be called productive by any stretch of imagination.
You may call it parasitism. We call it karma .
Regarding the other points made by that documentary, there were reports recently of France approaching the IMF for a loan bail out . Can't remember the last time a developed nation sought out IMF for a loan, that too a P-5 member.
I see. Good luck to you on your emigrants & the emigration policy. In our case misery visited us when we were complacent & smug a millennium ago for which we're paying a price till date. On the other hand you seem to have invited them over all for genuine reasons without a trace of smugness or complacency.
I think that's precisely what that documentary was alluding to - the deep divide in French politics.
How else can one explain the exponential rise in popularity of Le Pen & other Right Wing groups or even the existence of far left parties when communism died out in its strong hold Eastern Europe more than 3 decades ago but is existing if not thriving in Western Europe in a different garb
Of course it is. When you've been born at at a time of some deprivation in the immediate aftermath of WW-2 to then being part of the rejuvenation of the French people to finally facing up to the fact that what seemed unavoidable namely the eclipse of the Western Europe or Western Civilization at the close of WW-2 was merely postponed for another 7-8 decades & now seems both unavoidable & inevitable must be hard to swallow.
What in whatever I wrote was construed by you as being concerned about France ? I can assure you like other Indian members we've little to no sympathy for the West when all our empathy won't be enough for our own kind - all 1.5 billion of them.
The entire thrust of what I wanted to convey in the post which sparked off this exchange is - the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must. That's understood for that's been the summary of human history.
What we find particularly galling is the enormous hypocrisy behind it all in the West when Russia invaded Ukraine. At least Trump isn't hypocritical.
And as far as the rest of the West goes, it loses its veneer of being upholders of morals & moral validators . Your voice just as your economy , yourselves & your nation will be of declining relevance in the time to come.
The best part aboutp this is you invited all of this on yourselves. There is no Hitler or Genghis Khan who brought about this misfortune upon you unless of course you want to exalt Putin to the status of the aforementioned individuals.
In fact, you are projecting your hopes onto us, and I am trying to make you understand that you are making a huge mistake in your diagnosis, but since you do not want to understand, it is a lost cause. There is no point in continuing. Ultimately, I have no need to change your mind if it makes you happier.