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Old jeans could shield your home from the next heatwave

We all have that one pair of old jeans in the back of our wardrobe – don’t throw them out! A French company says denim fibres make for great insulation against the cold and heat. Millions of jeans are already being recycled in a factory in north of the country. Their insulating panels have even found their way into some of France's most iconic buildings. Our Down to Earth team reports.

Politics

Citroën bets on nostalgia at Paris motor show amid struggling French sales

French president Emmanuel Macron is paying his customary visit to the Paris Motor Show this morning. This year's show sees electric and hybrid vehicles in the spotlight as European carbuilders seek to roll back years of sliding sales. The sector has been given a boost by China's commitment to stem the flow of Chinese e-vehicles, and some builders, such as the multinational Stellantis are betting on small affordable electric cars to win back customers. And one of the models it has lined up is an electric reboot of a French classic: the Citroën 2CV. FRANCE 24’s Charles Pellegrin interviewed Citr

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Politics

French police arrest 14-year-old after two teaching staff wounded by hunting rifle fire

Two teaching staff were shot and wounded at a school in Aubagne near Marseille Monday morning, French Education Minister ‌Édouard Geffray said. A police source said that a 14-year-old boy had been arrested in connection to the incident, adding that there did not seem to be any link to the student protests that have swept across the country in recent weeks.

World

France scrambles to deploy supply teachers, but will it be enough to quell student anger?

Student unions in France are hailing what they see as a major concession from the French government after more than two weeks of often violent nationwide student protests: the urgent deployment of some 3,000 supply teachers to schools with the greatest staffing needs. But where exactly are these teachers coming from? And will the move be enough to quell fresh protests, especially amid a renewed debate about overzealous policing tactics?

Politics

Who is Raphael Glucksmann, winner of the French left presidential primary?

With just six months to go to presidential polls in France, a coalition of centre left parties have chosen their candidate… It's EU lawmaker, Raphael Glucksmann. The 46 year old tells voters he stands for a break with Macronism, a break with the far left of candidate Jean Luc Melenchon and that he's the candidate who can defeat the far right… though opinion polls suggest that in a second round run off he would not beat far right candidate Marine Le Pen.

World

Fire destroys historic French market of Enfants-Rouges in Paris

The historic Marché des Enfants-Rouges in central Paris was gutted by fire early on Monday. The market in the Marais neighbourhood is the oldest covered market in the French capital, dating back to 1615, and is also a listed building. Firefighters say the blaze has been brought under control but that the premises have been severely damaged. Details by Caitlin Brown.

Politics

UK PM Burnham warns French voters of Russian political influence on back of Brexit vote

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Sunday warned French and German voters of potential for Russian influence in upcoming elections, on the back of "clear" interference in Britain's referendum on European Union membership in 2016. Russia has previously denied meddling in the Brexit vote, while former British leader Boris Johnson 2020 also said there was no evidence of interference. Burnham made the comments in an interview with The Rest is Politics podcast, released on Sunday.

Politics

Raphaël Glucksmann, the man who wants to be French president

Raphaël Glucksmann has won the primary to represent the French centre-left in the upcoming presidential elections, securing 66% of the vote. He now faces the challenge of building support for the centre-left in a political landscape where the far right, led by Marine Le Pen, remains a major force.

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World

The week in pictures: French student protests, October 7 anniversary and Adenot's return to Earth

Blockades and protests by French secondary school and university students continued, occasionally becoming violent; French astronaut Sophie Adenot returned to Earth after eight months aboard the International Space Station; Israel's commemorations marking the three-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks: here's a look back at some of the most striking images from the past week's news.

World

Severe injuries at French student protests draw scrutiny to police tactics

Twenty-four investigations have been opened by French police watchdog IGPN into incidents linked to the ongoing high school protest movement, the interior ministry said. The police response has reignited calls to scrap rubber bullets and launcher-fired riot-control weapons, long denounced by rights groups and UN experts as dangerous and excessive.

Topic: French | RocksNews