Active in politics for more than 50 years, Michel Barnier, new prime minister, is best known as the EU's chief negotiator during the Brexit years; since his teenage years a staunch and patriotic Conservative, at 27 he became the youngest MP ever elected

40 members of Académie Française, one of oldest and major cultural institutions, presented to President Macron the 9th complete edition of the reference dictionary of the French language: work began in 1986 and critics say it's out of step with the times

4.000 officers and 1.600 stadium personnel were deployed for the France-Israel football match to ensure security in and around the stadium and on public transport, according to Paris police declarations

Deputies repealed the abolition of 4.000 teaching places in 2025 budget; in France there are 22 students per class in primary school compared to OECD average of 19, and 26 compared to 21 at university level