YOU WONT BELIEVE: 5 | Mind Blowing Facts

Popularity at an all-time low for French leaders Macron and Bayrou

The popularity of President Emmanuel Macron has slumped to its lowest level since he swept to power in 2017, according to an Ifop poll published by the Journal du Dimanche. Backing for François Bayrou, the prime minister, has also hit its lowest ebb since he took office in December 2024.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 21, 2025

Fact check: Which European country has the most public holidays?

A proposal by France's prime minister to get rid of two public holidays has prompted a discussion as to where in Europe workers get the most additional days off.

Euronews · Jul 21, 2025

Two days less holiday? France is up in arms but my sympathy is limited

This small cutback is hardly a draconian austerity purge for a country that is broke. But the howls of outrage show a rational debate is unlikely

The Guardian - UK · Jul 21, 2025

French PM to lay out difficult budget decisions to escape 'deadly deficit trap'

French Prime Minister François Bayrou presents the highly anticipated 2026 budget to parliament on Tuesday, outlining plans to find €40 billion in spending cuts and tax hikes. Whatever form the measures take they will be unpopular and risk bringing down the government.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 15, 2025

Iran detains Franco-German cycling tourist Lennart Monterlos

Human rights groups have accused Tehran of carrying out a policy of hostage diplomacy, using Europeans and dual nationals as "bargaining chips" to facilitate its negotiations with the West.

Euronews · Jul 11, 2025

French PM François Bayrou failed to act on abuse at Catholic boarding school, report says

Damning report by MPs comes after inquiry into allegations of decades of physical abuse, rape and sexual assault at Notre-Dame de Bétharram school

The Guardian - UK · Jul 2, 2025

Abuse ignored at French Catholic school while Bayrou was minister, inquiry finds

A French parliamentary inquiry has found that physical and sexual abuse went unchecked for years at a Catholic boarding school while Prime Minister François Bayrou was education minister in the 1990s.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 2, 2025

Italy limits outdoor work as heatwave breaks records across Europe

June temperature records have been broken in Portugal and Spain, as French schools close amid heat

The Guardian - UK · Jul 1, 2025

Europe swelters under severe heatwave as temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius

Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy were some of the worst hit countries, with temperatures reaching over 40 degrees Celcius.

Euronews · Jul 1, 2025

Algeria court upholds writer Boualem Sansal's five-year jail term

An Algerian court on Tuesday upheld a five-year prison sentence against writer Boualem Sansal for after he was found guilty of undermining Algeria's territorial integrity. The French Prime Minister said he hoped the Algerian president would "grant Sansal a pardon".

Radio France Internationale · Jul 1, 2025