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France Says Russian Hybrid Attacks Are Intensifying

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French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Russia’s hybrid attacks targeting France and other European countries have intensified in recent weeks. He said France would respond and has ordered the government to prepare measures to protect critical infrastructure from potential drone and cyber attacks.

Macron said Moscow was seeking to intimidate Europe and weaken its support for Ukraine. He pointed to an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport in August, which Germany has attributed to Russia, as an example of the changing nature of the threat. Russia has rejected European allegations of hybrid attacks as baseless.

Macron also addressed rising fuel prices and France’s economic pressures, as the government works on its budget for next year. He said the country’s high deficit limits its ability to offset higher fuel costs and announced that G7 countries are expected to meet in the coming weeks to strengthen cooperation and secure energy supplies.

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Thales Calls for Global Framework to Govern AI Development

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France-based defence technology company Thales has called for an international framework to govern the development of artificial intelligence. CEO Patrice Caine said AI can be kept under control through technical safeguards backed by government oversight.

The comments come amid a wider debate over how quickly AI should develop and what regulatory guardrails should be introduced. Caine said the issue requires government-level action alongside technical protections.

AI is also becoming increasingly important in defence, including the analysis of drone footage and satellite imagery. Thales is developing its own AI-enabled Hexaforce system, as European defence companies seek greater technological autonomy following NATO’s selection of Palantir’s Maven Smart System for command operations.

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French Former Minister Rachida Dati Goes on Trial Over Alleged Renault-Nissan Lobbying

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French former culture and justice minister Rachida Dati has gone on trial in Paris over allegations that she accepted €900,000 from Renault-Nissan in exchange for political influence. Dati, who served as a European Parliament member between 2009 and 2019, says the payments were for legal services and denies wrongdoing.

Prosecutors allege that the contract was used to disguise lobbying activities on behalf of Renault-Nissan and that former CEO Carlos Ghosn recruited Dati to lobby in the European Parliament and help establish contacts with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Ghosn is also on trial but will not appear in court, as he has been living in Lebanon since 2019.

If convicted, Dati could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine and a five-year ban from public office. The case could also affect her position as mayor of Paris’s 7th district, a role she has held since 2008. Anti-corruption groups involved in the case are calling for stricter rules on political lobbying in France.

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L’Oréal Overtakes LVMH as France’s Most Valuable Listed Company

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L’Oréal became France’s most valuable listed company on Tuesday, overtaking luxury giant LVMH as weaker demand continues to weigh on the global luxury sector. L’Oréal’s market capitalisation reached around €203 billion, compared with about €201 billion for LVMH, marking the first time since 2017 that a non-luxury company has held the top position on the Paris stock market.

L’Oréal shares have risen about 5% this year, while LVMH has fallen 35%. Analysts cited the “lipstick effect,” where consumers facing economic uncertainty may choose smaller affordable luxuries such as cosmetics instead of expensive handbags, clothing and jewellery. LVMH has also faced pressure from weaker demand in China and broader economic concerns.

LVMH, controlled by Bernard Arnault’s family, had become Europe’s most valuable company during the pandemic-era luxury boom in 2021. Its shares fell 2.3% on Tuesday, while the company also dropped out of Europe’s 10 largest companies by market value. Analysts said ongoing economic uncertainty, inflation concerns and changing consumer spending could continue to challenge the luxury sector.

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Finland Joins France’s Nuclear Deterrence Initiative to Strengthen European Security

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Finland has joined France’s initiative to expand cooperation with European partners on nuclear deterrence, the leaders of both countries announced on Monday. The move comes amid concerns over the future of US security commitments to Europe and the wider security impact of the war in Ukraine. France launched the Forward Nuclear Deterrence Initiative in March as part of efforts to strengthen Europe’s responsibility for its own defence.

The initiative allows participating countries to engage in joint military exercises, discuss nuclear strategy more closely and potentially host nuclear-capable assets for short periods. However, the decision to use French nuclear weapons remains solely with the French president, unlike NATO’s nuclear framework, which involves a shared Nuclear Planning Group. Finland’s defence minister described joining the initiative as a natural step following other Nordic countries.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the programme is aimed at strengthening European security and preventing escalation, while stressing that it does not replace NATO’s nuclear deterrence. Finland also said it does not intend to allow nuclear weapons to be stationed on its territory during peacetime. With Finland’s addition, 10 European countries now participate in the French initiative.

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France Apologises to US Over Human Rights Criticism

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France has expressed regret over a social media post criticising the United States for voting against extending the term of U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk. The July 25 post triggered a diplomatic dispute between the two allies.

The controversy escalated when the U.S. delegation walked out of a U.N. Security Council meeting while France was speaking. Washington also reportedly considered blocking France’s nominee for ambassador to the United States, Aurelien Lechevallier.

France said the disagreement concerned a single vote and did not question the broader defence of human rights. The U.S. State Department welcomed the statement, potentially clearing the way for Lechevallier’s approval as France’s next ambassador in Washington.

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Renoir Paintings Stolen from French Riviera Museum

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Thieves broke into the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera early Tuesday and stole two paintings by renowned Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The burglars entered shortly before 6 a.m. through a hole cut in the museum garden fence, according to local authorities. Two other Renoir paintings taken during the break-in were abandoned in the gardens after police arrived and gave chase.

The stolen works, “Madame Colonna Romano” and “Young Woman at the Well,” belong to Paris’ Musée d’Orsay and were on loan to the Cagnes-sur-Mer museum. The museum, established in Renoir’s former home in 1960, currently displays a collection of his paintings along with sculptures, furniture and photographs. Authorities described the stolen works as effectively priceless because of their cultural and historical value.

The theft comes amid growing concerns over museum security in France and across Europe. Europol recently warned that art robberies are becoming more frequent and violent, with some crimes involving opportunistic groups recruited through social media. The incident follows a major jewellery heist at the Louvre in Paris last year, as well as other recent attacks on French museums.

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Suspected Smugglers Face Trial Over Channel Drowning

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Fourteen men are standing trial in Paris over their alleged involvement in a migrant-smuggling operation linked to the deaths of more than 30 people in the English Channel in November 2021. The tragedy occurred after an overloaded dinghy deflated during the dangerous crossing from northern France to Britain.

French prosecutors allege that Afghan and Iraqi-Kurdish smuggling networks organised the journey from migrant camps near Calais and Grande-Synthe. The defendants face charges including involuntary manslaughter, facilitating illegal immigration as part of an organised group and criminal conspiracy. Two defendants are being tried in absentia.

Twenty-seven bodies were recovered after a fishing vessel alerted emergency services, while at least four people remain missing. Only two migrants survived. A later British inquiry found the deaths could have been avoided and criticised decisions made during the emergency response. The Paris trial is scheduled to continue until September 30.

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Paris Probes Claim Women Were Hidden During Hindu Delegation Visit

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Paris authorities have launched an investigation into allegations that female employees at the Eiffel Tower were asked to move out of sight during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation over the weekend. The incident reportedly sparked anger among staff, with employees holding a meeting on Monday and delaying the monument’s opening.

The delegation, consisting of around 100 people linked to the Hindu organisation BAPS, visited the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. A union representative alleged that female workers were asked to leave their workstations so that male employees could take their places as the delegation passed through. Eiffel Tower management reportedly apologised to staff following the incident.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said the facts behind the protest must be investigated, while BAPS denied that anyone was prevented from accessing the monument. The organisation said the visit was scheduled at opening time to minimise disruption because of the delegation’s size, and apologised for any “pain or inconvenience” caused. French National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet also criticised the reported treatment of women.

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France Announces €1 Billion Aid Package for Heat-Hit Farmers

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France has announced more than €1 billion in financial support for farmers affected by record heatwaves and droughts this summer. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said the package is a major effort given the country’s tight budget situation, with €520 million to be distributed through rapid payments to help cover weather-related losses.

France’s main farmers’ union, FNSEA, estimates farmers have already suffered at least €10 billion in lost production, with both livestock and crop sectors reporting losses of more than €5 billion each. Around 30,000 to 35,000 farms are facing financial difficulties, prompting the government to prioritise immediate assistance.

The package also includes a €235 million recovery fund to help farmers purchase seeds, crops and animal feed after drought damaged farmland and water supplies. Additional measures include land-tax relief, social-security payment support and fuel subsidies. The finance ministry estimates the extreme weather could reduce France’s economic growth by 0.1 percentage points this year, while another heatwave is expected this week.