Latest news from France. Politics, economy, aid to Ukraine, Ukrainian diaspora
The International Tennis Integrity Agency has banned 26‑year‑old Quentin Follio from competing until May 2044, fined him $70,000 and ordered him to repay more than $44,000 for participating in match‑fixing.
The Ukrainian Football Association has designated a stadium in Valencia as the venue for up to two home matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-offs; the schedule for the play-off semi‑final and final has been set.
The Ministry of Culture has determined that the attackers left the scene of the robbery 30 seconds before police arrived; failures were detected in the video surveillance system, the dispatch service and security coordination. The jewelry is valued at €88 million.
Louvre staff voted to strike over deteriorating working conditions, increased ticket prices for non-European visitors and security problems after October's robbery of the royal jewels; unions say there is a lack of resources.
Nicolas Puech is suing conglomerate LVMH and Bernard Arnault, seeking the return of roughly €14 billion worth of Hermès shares that, he says, were sold without his consent.
French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot said that peace in Ukraine is possible if Putin abandons the idea of restoring an empire. According to him, Russia’s minor advances on the front cost it more than 1,000 soldiers every day.