France

Syria conflict: Russia's Putin halts France visit amid row

He had been due to meet French President Francois Hollande and open a new Orthodox church later this month.

But after France's government said talks would be confined to Syria the visit was halted, French presidential sources said.

On Monday, Mr Hollande suggested Russia could face war crimes charges over its bombardment of Syria's city of Aleppo.

The French presidency had told the Russians Mr Hollande would attend only one event with Mr Putin during the visit planned for 19 October - a working meeting on Syria, according to the sources.

French president calls for an 'Islam of France'

Addressing the debate surrounding Islam following a summer of terror attacks and burkini bans, he stressed that French secularism was not at odds with the religion.

"Nothing in the idea of secularism is opposed to the practice of Islam in France, as long -- and that is the vital point -- as it complies with the law," Hollande said in Paris, stressing that secularism was "not a religion of the state that stands against all other religions."

"What we need to succeed in together is the creation of an Islam of France," Hollande said.

France stronger after Euro adventure, says Varane

Les Bleus take on Italy in a friendly on Thursday before their World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way against Belarus next week, and Varane is expected to captain the side in the absence of injured goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Real Madrid centre-back missed Euro 2016 due to a thigh injury and could only watch on as his countrymen fell short on home soil in the showpiece against Portugal, but he offered a positive assessment of Didier Deschamps' young squad ahead of their return to action in Bari.

France to meet Portugal in Euro 2016 final

Antoine Griezmann, the tournament's top scorer, made the decisive contributions in each half to set up a final against Portugal at the Stade de France on Sunday.

Griezmann scored from the penalty spot right on half-time when Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger was penalised for handball by Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli in an aerial challenge with Patrice Evra.

France and Germany advance to EURO quarters

RNZI reports France will play either England or Iceland at the Stade de France in Paris next Monday.

In this morning's second game Germany crushed Slovakia 3-0 to set up a quarter-final showdown with either holders Spain or Italy.

Goals from Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez and Julian Draxler confirmed Germany's status as tournament favourites during the sparkling performance.

Central defender Boateng connected perfectly with a clearance in the eighth minute to volley in from 25 metres for his first international goal as the world champions took control from the start.

SBW reported to be returning to France

Williams' long-time manager Khoder Nasser met with Toulon's boss Mourad Boudjellal last week to discuss a short-term deal according to French newspaper Var Martin.

According to RNZI, the 30-year-old would be looking to play in the Top 14 competition between August's Rio Olympics and New Zealand's British and Irish Lions Test series next June.

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French company wants to develop Zika vaccine

Its CEO, Olivier Brandicourt, said a vaccine will however take at least three years to develop.

Sanofi Pasteur became the first company to develop a vaccine against dengue, which is a disease similar to Zika.

Dusautoir retires from Test rugby

Dusautoir, a tireless flanker known for his fiery tackling and deft ball-handling skills, made his Test debut in 2006 and played 80 internationals before making his last appearance against old rivals New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup quarter-finals.

France Oceania summit recognises PIDF

Called the France Oceania Summit, most leaders of the Pacific attended including the founder and current chair of the PIDF, Prime Minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama.

Also in attendance was the new Secretary General of the PIDF Francois Martel and his climate adviser Dr Mahendra Kumar. 

Hollande tells Pacific about COP21 hopes

Addressing a summit with Pacific leaders in Paris, Hollande said the accord should try to meet the target of less than two degree temperature rise by the end of the century.

The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, told the meeting that, "a maximum should be two degrees, 1.5 degrees."