PARIS (Reuters) -French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Tuesday announced a plan to steady France's creaking public finances, outlining 43.8 billion euros ($50.88 billion) in deficit reduction measures in 2026,

France had aimed to double its defence budget from 2017 levels by 2030. However, Macron pledged to reach the target by 2027. A military budget that stood at 32 billion euros ($37.40 billion) in 2017 will rise to 64 billion euros by 2027, with an additional 3.5 billion euros allocated for next year and another 3 billion euros in 2027.

A man has escaped from a prison in France by hiding in a laundry bag belonging to his cellmate who was being released after finishing his sentence, an official told local media.

Zara-owner Inditex plans to expand its budget brand Lefties to France, the fashion giant's CEO told investors on Tuesday, as it tries to attract more young consumers and steps up competition against Shein and other low-cost rivals.

The Tour de France is won by the rider who completes the 21-stage race in the fastest total time. Each stage is timed from start to finish and the times are added together for each rider as the tour progresses. The rider with the lowest cumulative time across all stages is declared the winner.

France is on the cliff edge as its debt continues to balloon, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said today as he set out plans to sharply narrow the budget deficit next year. “We have a duty to take responsibility,

Scotland's Oscar Onley has impressed during the first week of the Tour de France, sitting seventh overall after 10 stages at just 22 years old.

"The aim is to sketch out post-war Gaza and prepare the recognition of a Palestinian state by France and countries that will engage in this approach," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in Brussels before a meeting of European Union foreign ministers.