French ban on ‘forever chemicals' in cosmetics and clothes to enter into force

A French ban on the production and sale of PFAS chemicals – known as 'forever chemicals' as it takes them so long to break down – comes into effect on Thursday. The ban targets a wide range of cosmetics and clothes and will also require French authorities to regularly test drinking water for all kinds of PFAS.


Issued on: 30/12/2025 
By: FRANCE 24

The French cosmetics industry is worth over €30 billion per year, according to the French association of beauty companies FEBEA. © Alain Jocard, AFP

A French ban on the production and sale of cosmetics and most clothing containing polluting and health-threatening "forever chemicals" goes into force on Thursday.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals used since the late 1940s to mass produce the non-stick, waterproof and stain-resistant treatments that coat everything from frying pans to umbrellas, carpets and dental floss.

Because PFAS take an extremely long time to break down – earning them their "forever" nickname – they have seeped into the soil and groundwater, and from there into the food chain and drinking water.

These chemicals have been detected virtually everywhere on Earth, from the top of Mount Everest to inside human blood and brains.


Chronic exposure to even low levels of the chemicals has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol, reduced immune responses, low birthweights and several kinds of cancer.

The French law, approved by lawmakers in February, bans the production, import or sale from January 2026 of any product for which an alternative to PFAS already exists.

These include cosmetics and ski wax, as well as clothing containing the chemicals, except certain "essential" industrial textiles.

A ban on non-stick saucepans was removed from the draft law after intense lobbying from the owners of French manufacturer Tefal.

It will also make French authorities regularly test drinking water for all kinds of PFAS.

READ MOREFrench food safety agency finds forever chemicals in more than 90% of tap water

There are thousands of different PFAS and certain ones have been banned since 2019 under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, but China and the United States are not among the more than 150 signatories.

This includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used since the 1950s by US company DuPont to manufacture its non-stick Teflon coating for textiles and other everyday consumer products.

The Stockholm Convention also bans perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), known for its use as a waterproofing agent by the US group 3M, which has been heavily restricted since 2009.

A handful of US states, including California, implemented a ban on the intentional use of PFAS in cosmetics beginning in 2025, and several other states are slated to follow in 2026.

Denmark will ban the use of PFAS in clothing, footwear and certain consumer products with waterproofing agents beginning on July 1, 2026.

Denmark has banned the use of PFAS in food packaging since 2020.

The European Union has been studying a possible ban on the use of PFAS in consumer products, but has not yet presented or implemented such a regulation.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Why China is bringing out the big guns for military drills around Taiwan

ANALYSIS

China stepped up its military drills around Taiwan with live-fire exercises on Tuesday, the second day of an operation dubbed “Justice Mission 2025". The massive show of force comes at a crucial time as Beijing seeks to capitalise on domestic political tensions in Taiwan and issue a warning to foreign powers supporting Taipei.


Issued on: 30/12/2025 - FRANCE24
By: Sébastian SEIBT

A Chinese ship is seen in waters near Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan, on December 29, 2025. © Adek Berry, AFP

On the first day of a massive military exercise around the island of Taiwan on Monday, menacing, AI-generated scenes frame the narrative in a propaganda video released by China: An eagle transforms into an attack drone, fish become frigates and destroyers and wolves running through a forest turn into robot soldiers storming a ravaged city.

The clip, which was shared by the China Daily English-language newspaper and other platforms, presents a dehumanised, victimless vision of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its sovereign territory.

“I suppose the animals represent the natural, almost instinctive, nature of the military operation, while the machines and weapons symbolise the controlled and precise aspect of the invasion. The message is that this is not a political choice, but a natural, inevitable and bloodless process,” said Simona Grano, head of research on China-Taiwan relations at the University of Zurich’s Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies.

China ended the year with two days of war games, code-named "Justice Mission 2025" and involving a massive show of force with the deployment of frigates, destroyers, fighter jets, bombers, drones and missiles as well as heavy artillery.

They were accompanied by bellicose official statements, including a “stern warning” by the Chinese military to “separatist” and “external interference” forces that might be “plotting” Taiwan’s independence.

In one post on the Chinese social media site Weibo, the military's Eastern Theatre Command, which is responsible for the Taiwan Strait, thundered that, “All those plotting independence will be annihilated upon encountering the shield of justice!”

WATCH MORE  Chinese military releases footage of drills around Taiwan

On the second day of its most extensive war games to date, China fired rockets that fell into Taiwan’s contiguous zone, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry, referring to the waters off the democratically self-governed island.

“Justice Mission 2025” also featured live-fire exercises, which have not been conducted since April.

“These manoeuvres are all the more significant because they are a joint operation involving land, naval, air and rocket forces,” noted Jonathan Sullivan, a China specialist at the University of Nottingham. But overall, “the Chinese military is not demonstrating anything it has not demonstrated before”, he said.

Beijing has stepped up its military drills since the summer of 2022, when Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan, an act Beijing viewed as a provocation.

Since then, the Chinese military has been keen to demonstrate “its ability to quickly organise a complete air and sea blockade of the island in preparation for a [land] invasion”, explained Zeno Leoni, a specialist in Chinese security issues at King's College London.

Grano notes that over the past few years, “the Chinese armed forces are moving a little closer to Taiwan's territorial waters, which is in line with Beijing’s gradual strangulation tactic”.

‘External interferences’ irk China

Beyond the impressive military mobilisation, the latest exercises are significant because they come at a crucial moment for Chinese President Xi Jinping. “The geopolitical context has changed a lot since the last exercises nine months ago,” noted Grano.

“Relations between China and the United States, which were particularly poor in April due to the tariff war, improved slightly after the meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit at the end of October,” Sullivan said.

The easing of ties after the Trump-Xi meeting didn’t last very long. Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced a huge arms sale worth around $11 billion to Taiwan, which includes advanced rocket-launchers, self-propelled howitzers and a variety of missiles. It was the second package of arms sales to Taipei since Trump returned to the White House in January.

The Chinese authorities “felt betrayed by Washington's approval of one of the largest arms sales to Taiwan last week”, Sullivan explained.

Beijing felt compelled to set the record straight and reiterate its determination to eventually integrate Taiwan into its territory.

FOR MORE US arms package to Taiwan seen as a 'move to use Taiwan to contain China'

The US was not the only major player to offend Chinese nationalist sensibilities in recent weeks. Beijing also took issue with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement in November that any conflict in Taiwan would be a matter of national security for Japan.

“China perceived this statement as a threat of Japanese intervention on Taiwan's side in the event of a conflict, which it considers unacceptable,” said Leoni. “It is true that, given its proximity to the Japanese islands, the fate of this territory is important to Japan. But in the current context, Sanae Takaichi's statements may appear diplomatically clumsy,” he added.

For Beijing, the Japanese leader’s statement along with the US arms sales announcement was viewed as “external interferences”, representing “a setback for the Chinese diplomatic narrative, which insists on the internal nature of the Taiwan issue”, Grano explained.

A new military commander

But China’s latest show of force near Taiwanese ports is not just a signal to foreign powers tempted to strongly support Taipei. It is also a way of hitting Taiwan where it hurts.

“These military exercises are intended to further weaken [Taiwan’s] President Lai Ching-te, who is already under strong internal pressure from opposition parties,” said Grano.

“He faces impeachment proceedings next May. Opposing him, the Kuomintang party has been given a boost by public opinion, which is clearly wary of Lai Ching-te's hardline anti-China stance. This Beijing-friendly party also recently appointed a new chairwoman, Cheng Li-wun, who is more openly pro-China than her predecessor,” explained Sullivan.

“It's a message to the Taiwanese people saying, ‘Look what's in store for you if you continue to support someone like Lai Ching-te,’” said Grano.

Practically speaking, the Chinese army also needs to reassure itself and others. These exercises are the first major test for Yang Zhibin, who was appointed commander-in-chief of the Eastern Theatre Command in September. “It is one of the most sensitive and important positions in the Chinese army,” said Leoni.

His predecessor, Lin Xiangyang, was accused of corruption and dismissed from the army, while the political commissar for the Eastern Theatre Command, Liu Qingsong, has simply disappeared for several months. A large-scale military exercise “allows the Chinese public to see that the military command is strong and that the page has been turned on the scandals”, said Grano.

And this messaging is not just catering to domestic audiences. “The purges of military personnel have led to speculation in the West that Xi Jinping was losing control of his army,” Sullivan noted. Organising highly ambitious manoeuvres just two months after the arrival of a new commander-in-chief of the Eastern Theatre Command is Beijing's way of saying, ‘Move along, there's nothing to see here.’”

This is a translation of the original article in French.

Paris launches winter emergency plan as homeless man dies from cold

Authorities in Paris and its suburbs have launched their emergency winter plan to help house homeless people as temperatures drop and a man was found dead from exposure on a street in the capital.


Issued on: 30/12/2025 - 

The emergency plan comes as temperatures are set to drop. 

© AFP/Philippe Desmazes

Paris townhall has called on the police prefecture to put the plan into place over the weekend, referring to the "dramatic" situation of the several thousand homeless people in and around the city.

The Île-de-France prefecture announced the plan was necessary "given the latest weather forecasts from Météo-France for the coming days" and "the continued sub-zero temperatures at night".

The emergency winter plan allows for extended opening hours for daytime reception centres, increased outreach patrols and the requisitioning of premises to create emergency shelters for the homeless.

The prefecture said new spaces would be opened in addition to the 46,200 shelter spaces "made available year-round", and the 300 additional spaces that have been opened for the entire winter period in Paris.

Firefighters in the capital confirmed the death of a man on Sunday evening, who likely died from exposure. His body was discovered on a public road in northwest Paris. A review of CCTV footage showed he had been lying motionless on the ground in the same position since that morning.

The deceased, whose age was not specified, was identified by the manager of a nearby Emmaus shelter where he was staying, a police source said.

On top of what public services provide, many homeless people turn to local charities which organise distributions of clothing and food at several places around the city, including the Gare de l'Est train station and Place de la République.

France faces homelessness crisis as deaths and child poverty soar

Keeping warm and fed

Every evening, 52-year-old Sylvain checks the weather forecast on his phone. "We look at the temperatures to know how to prepare," he told French news agency AFP as he collected a sleeping bag and spare clothes from a charity.

Sylvain layers six garments on his upper body for insulation: a T-shirt, a sweater, a fleece, a vest and two jackets. "The trick is to leave air between the layers. If you're too tight, the insulation doesn't work very well," he explains.

"If you stop, you let the cold seep into your bones. As long as we’re walking, we’re generating our own warmth," 50-year-old Danish, originally from Pakistan, adds.

According to Météo-France, the cold weather will persist in the coming days in the Paris region, with temperatures below freezing at night and not exceeding 4C during the day.

Charity warns one in three French people struggle to afford three meals a day

The regional prefecture said that as well as increasing outreach patrols and extending opening hours of day centres, it would make hotel rooms available for families.

"Some day centres will also open as overnight shelters," the statement said, adding that 60 single women will be accommodated from Monday "in the regional prefecture building" located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.

Several departments in the greater Paris area have already activated this plan and others are expected to follow, with some 30 departments across France having already activated their emergency cold weather procedures.

Political split over Bardot funeral with Le Pen to attend but not Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend Brigitte Bardot’s funeral next week in Saint-Tropez, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen will be present, after the late actress’s family declined the idea of an official state tribute.


Issued on: 31/12/2025 - RFI

Former French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot in February 2004. © Charles Platiau / Reuters

The Élysée Palace said on Tuesday it had been in contact with Bardot’s family following the announcement of her death on Sunday, and that a national tribute had been proposed but not accepted.

The presidency said the proposal followed “republican custom”, adding that such tributes are “systematically decided by mutual agreement with the deceased’s relatives”.

No agreement was reached in this case.


Right-left divide

The question of whether France should honour one of its most famous film stars in an official capacity has nonetheless divided the political class.

Since Bardot’s death was announced, debate has largely followed right-left lines.

Eric Ciotti, president of the UDR, a right-wing party allied with the National Rally, launched a petition calling for a national tribute. Bardot had long-standing ties to the far right and was openly close to the party.

On the left, the response was more cautious. Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist Party, described Bardot as “an iconic actress” but said national honours were reserved for those who had rendered “exceptional services to the nation”.

He also referred to her repeated convictions for racist and homophobic remarks, saying she had ultimately “turned her back on republican values”.

In any case, Macron will not attend the funeral, scheduled for 7 January in Saint-Tropez, which will be held in private.

Relations between Bardot and the president had long been strained. In 2023, she sent him an open letter accusing him of failing to act on animal welfare. “I am angry at your inaction, your cowardice, your contempt for the French people, who, it is true, treat you well in return,” she wrote.

Photos of Brigitte Bardot hang on a security barrier near her home in Saint-Tropez, southern France, 28 December 2025. © Philippe Magoni / AP

Personal ties

Relations were far warmer with Marine Le Pen, who has been invited to the funeral and will attend “in a personal and friendly capacity”, according to her entourage.

Bardot had been close to Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and was married for three decades to a former adviser to the founder of the National Front.

She shared many of the movement’s views, including her opposition to what she once described as “the terrifying rise of immigration”.

Her support was not limited to private sympathy. In 2012, she publicly urged mayors to sponsor Marine Le Pen’s first presidential bid.

After Bardot’s death was announced on Sunday, the National Rally leader responded by praising an “exceptional woman” who was “incredibly French – free, indomitable, wholehearted”.

Bardot backs far-right leader Le Pen's attempt to stand for president

Funeral arrangements

Beyond politics, the two women were also linked by a shared commitment to animal welfare. Bardot devoted herself to the cause through the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, while Marine Le Pen is known to have studied cat breeding.

The foundation said the funeral ceremony at the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church would be broadcast on large screens outside.

This will be followed by a private burial at the marine cemetery, ahead of a “tribute open to all the residents of Saint-Tropez and her admirers”.

Speaking to the local daily Var-Matin on Tuesday, the town’s mayor Sylvie Siri said: “Come that time, everyone will talk about her and share their fondest memories of her.”

“It will be a great moment of communion – simple, just like her,” she added.

(with newswires)

Wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecofascism

Ecofascism - Wikipedia

Ecofascism, sometimes spelled eco-fascism, is a term used to describe individuals and groups which combine environmentalism with fascism.

Earth.orgearth.org/what-is-ecofascism/

Explainer: What Is Ecofascism? - Earth.Org

Aug 17, 2021 ... A strain of eco-fascism was also found in Nazi ideology. As one of ... Ecofascism poses a real threat even today. Two mass killings ...

Uconn.edutoday.uconn.edu/2022/09/a-darker-shade-of-green/

A Darker Shade of Green: Understanding Ecofascism - UConn Today

Sep 7, 2022 ... A Darker Shade of Green: Understanding Ecofascism. A UConn expert ... fascism, which many political theorists say is less about ideology ...

Gnet-research.orggnet-research.org/2025/04/30/ecofascism-and-green-accelerationism-ghosts-of-the-past-or-a-present-danger/

EcoFascism and Green Accelerationism: Ghosts of the Past or a ...

Apr 30, 2025 ... As such, the Siege pill (accelerationism) may follow the green pill (eco-fascism).” A combination of eco-fascist ideals and accelerationism ...

Earthworks.orgearthworks.org/blog/eco-fascism-a-tangible-present-danger/

Eco-fascism: a tangible & present danger - Earthworks

Oct 28, 2022 ... As an ideology, eco-fascism promotes “authoritarian, hierarchical, and racist analyses and solutions to environmental problems.” Eco-fascists ...

Frontiersin.orgwww.frontiersin.org/journals/human-dynamics/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2024.1373872/full

Eco-fascism: an oxymoron? Far-right nationalism, history, and the ...

This article explores the use of the term “eco-fascism” in connection with the climate crisis and considers the political relationship between ecologism and ...

Greeneuropeanjournal.euwww.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/green-supremacy-when-far-right-politics-co-opts-environmentalism/

Green Supremacy: When Far-Right Politics Co-opts Environmentalism

May 24, 2023 ... Ecofascism creates a twisted and corrupted view of environmentalism, where authoritarianism, nationalism, and racial purity become primary tools and solutions.

Theguardian.comwww.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/30/eco-fascists-and-the-ugly-fight-for-our-way-of-life-as-the-environment-disintegrates

Eco-fascists and the ugly fight for 'our way of life' as the environment ...

Nov 29, 2019 ... Genuine fascists remain on the political margins, but we can increasingly imagine the space that eco-fascism might occupy.

CELEBRITY NEWS

Hollywood heartthrob MONSIEUR 💓

George Clooney fires back at Trump in New Year's Day statement

Daniel Hampton
January 1, 2026
RAW STORY


Shutterstock

Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney shot back at President Donald Trump after the MAGA leader uncorked a wild attack on Clooney and trashed his movies over the actor's decision to exit the U.S. for French citizenship.

The 64-year-old Oscar winner, his wife, Amal Clooney, and their two kids officially became French citizens this month after years living at their swanky Provence estate. And the news left Trump fuming.

The president unleashed a scathing attack on Truth Social, slamming the couple as "two of the worst political prognosticators of all time."

“Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden,” Trump wrote on New Year’s Eve. “Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat. Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasn’t a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.”

Trump's screed comes after George Clooney sounded off on Trump's MAGA-fied America in a cover story for Variety Magazine published on Tuesday. That included expressing concern that CBS News' new MAGA-friendly boss, Bari Weiss is "dismantling" the station and that Americans won't be able to "discern reality without a functioning press."

Clooney clapped back at Trump to the Hollywood Reporter, firing back, "I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November."

For her part, Weiss challenged Clooney to learn more about their work.

“Bonjour, Mr. Clooney!” Weiss responded. “Big fan of your work. It sounds like you’d like to learn more about ours. This is an open invitation to visit the CBS Broadcast Center, where I’m spending the holidays working to relaunch the Evening News with my colleagues. Tune in January 5.”

Trump joins criticism over France granting citizenship to George Clooney

Paris (AFP) – US President Donald Trump piled on criticism Wednesday of a decision to grant Hollywood superstar George Clooney French passports after a junior government official in Paris labelled the move a "double standard".


Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney attend the gala screening of the film Jay Kelly at the Royal Festival Hall, during the London Film Festival organised by the British Film Institute, on 10 October 2025. AFP - HENRY NICHOLLS

An official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had become French citizens.

Trump, whose administration has backed anti-immigration parties in Europe, said that Paris was welcome to the "Ocean's Eleven" star, a long-term Democratic supporter, fundraiser and a vocal critic of the president.

"Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration," Trump said on his Truth Social network.

The news of Clooney and his family becoming French comes ahead of language requirements for citizenship being toughened for everyone else under new immigration rules from January 1.


A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron's government had also criticised the decision to award passports despite Clooney speaking poor French.

Junior minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne did not approve

 © Thibaud MORITZ / AFP/File


"Personally, I understand the feeling of some French people of a double standard," Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior interior minister, told the France Info radio station.

"We need to be careful about the message we're sending."

Her boss, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, and the foreign ministry however defended the decision.

The civil code states that "French nationality may be conferred by naturalisation, upon the proposal of the minister of foreign affairs, to any French-speaking foreigner who applies for it and who contributes through their distinguished service to France's influence and the prosperity of its international economic relations."

But Clooney has admitted that his French remains poor despite hundreds of lessons.

Under the new immigration rules from Thursday, applicants will need a certificate showing they have a level of French that could get them into a French university. They will also have to pass a civic knowledge test.

Actor George Clooney, who admits his French is 'bad', and wife Amal Clooney, who is fluent © bertrand GUAY / AFP/File

Clooney has a property in southern France and said he has hailed French privacy laws that keep his family largely protected from international media intrusion.

"I love the French culture, your language, even if I'm still bad at it after 400 days of courses," the actor told RTL radio – in English – in December.

His wife, an international human rights lawyer and dual UK-Lebanese national, speaks fluent French.

'Meets the conditions'

Clooney bought the Domaine du Canadel, a former wine estate, near the Provence town of Brignoles, in 2021. He said it is where his family is "happiest".

Nunez, the interior minister, said he was "very happy" with the actor and his family becoming French, saying the country was lucky to have them.

The French foreign ministry said the passport allocation for the Clooneys "meets the conditions set by law" for naturalisation.

The family "followed a rigorous procedure including security investigations, regulatory naturalisation interviews at the prefecture, and the payment of tax stamps," the ministry added.

It highlighted the Clooneys had a French home and they "contribute through their distinguished service to France's international influence and cultural prestige" through the actor's role in the film industry.

This "can only contribute to maintaining and promoting France's position in this essential economic sector", it said.

Amal Clooney is "a renowned lawyer" who "regularly collaborates with academic institutions and international organisations based in France", the ministry added.

Around 48,800 people acquired French nationality by decree in 2024, according to interior ministry figures.

Clooney is not alone in wanting a French passport.

Hollywood director Jim Jarmusch announced on Friday that he was also applying, telling French radio that he wanted "a place to where I can escape the United States".

Trump bashes Clooney after actor becomes French

By AFP
January 1, 2026


George Clooney (R) and his wife Amal Clooney have become French citizens, which US President Donald Trump sniped about on social media - Copyright AFP/File I-Hwa Cheng

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Paris was welcome to Hollywood star George Clooney after the actor got French citizenship — and took the opportunity to bash France, too.

Trump, whose administration has backed anti-immigration parties in Europe, said key ally France had a “horrendous” problem with crime and immigration.

An official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had become French citizens.

“Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

In one of a string of posts on New Year’s Eve, Trump added that France’s alleged problems were “much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden,” his Democratic predecessor.

“Oceans Eleven” star Clooney is a long-term Democratic supporter and fundraiser, and a vocal critic of Trump.

In his social media post, Trump recalled the fact that the actor backed Biden during the 2024 US presidential election but then “dumped” him becoming concerned about the Democrat’s age during a fundraising event he hosted.

“Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasn’t a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics,” Trump said.

Clooney’s newly acquired citizenship has also raised hackles in France.

A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron’s government Wednesday criticized Clooney getting his passport despite speaking poor French, saying the move suggested a “double standard.”

The news comes ahead of language requirements for citizenship being toughened for everyone else under new immigration rules from January 1.

George and Amal Clooney and family become French citizens

Hollywood superstar George Clooney has become French, along with his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children, an official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed.

Issued on: 29/12/2025 - 
By: FRANCE 24

Video by: Solange MOUGIN

US actor George Clooney poses with his wife Amal Clooney on the red carpet during the 2025 BFI London Film Festival on October 10, 2025. © Henry Nicholls, AFP
01:47




Hollywood star George Clooney has become a French citizen along with his wife, Amal Alamuddin Clooney, and their two children, according to an official decree seen by AFP on Monday.

The publication in France's government gazette confirms a plan Clooney alluded to early in December when he hailed French privacy laws that keep his family shielded from paparazzi.

"I love the French culture, your language, even if I'm still bad at it after 400 days of courses," the 64-year-old actor told RTL radio at the time – in English.

"Here, they don't take photos of kids. There aren't any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That's number one for us," he said.

The now-dual US-French citizen has a long attachment to Europe, which pre-dates his 2014 marriage to Amal, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer who speaks fluent French.

Clooney owns an estate in Italy's picturesque Lake Como region, purchased in 2002, and he and Amal bought a historic manor in England.

They also own a New York apartment and a property in Kentucky, but have reportedly sold homes in Los Angeles and Mexico over the past decade.
'Where we're happiest'

Their property in southern France – a former wine estate called the Domaine du Canadel, near the village of Brignoles – was purchased in 2021.

The glamorous couple are parents to 8-year-old twins.

Clooney told RTL that although the family jet-sets around, their French home "is where we're happiest".

Also a director and producer, Clooney has two Oscars to put on whichever mantlepiece suits: one for best supporting actor in 2006's "Syriana" and as a producer on 2012's "Argo".

He has also raked in millions for celebrity endorsements, including for Nespresso, and got a windfall payout for selling his stake in a tequila brand.

Clooney is not the only Hollywood luminary to want to go French: US director Jim Jarmusch on Friday told France Inter radio that he also plans to apply for French nationality.

"I would like a place that will allow me to escape from the United States," he said, adding that he was also attracted by French culture.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Another cyber attack takes down France's online postal services

The websites of La Poste and Banque Postale were again difficult to access on Thursday morning due to a cyber attack, according to a message on the site. The disruption comes just a few days after a similar attack that disrupted parcel tracking during the Christmas period.


Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

La Poste's online services were "inaccessible" following a cyber attack on the morning of 1 January. © AFP

"The laposte.fr website and all of La Poste's information systems are currently facing a cyber attack," a message on the postal service's homepage stated on Thursday.

The website and app of La Banque Postale, the post office's banking arm, were also largely inaccessible.

The previous denial-of-service attack, which involves overloading servers to prevent or slow down access to an online service, was claimed by a pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16).

Its duration was unusually long for this type of attack: it began on 22 December, and disruptions continued until 26 December. It severely disrupted customer tracking of parcels, but delivery proceeded normally.

La Poste filed a complaint and asserted that no data had been stolen, as a denial-of-service attack is not considered an intrusion into information systems.

Pro-Russian hacktivists

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation, which has been entrusted to the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) and the national cyber unit. It confirmed that NoName057(16) had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The hacker group emerged in 2022, the year that Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

It has previously targeted Ukrainian media websites and government and corporate websites in countries including Poland, Sweden and Germany.

Experts say that its activities appear to be designed to support pro-Russian information warfare. They say the group appears to be a loose organisation of hacktivists.

When contacted by French news agency AFP, La Poste was not immediately available for comment.

(with AFP)

UK struggles to reduce migrant crossings after near-record in 2025

The number of migrants arriving on UK shores in small boats reached its second-highest total last year since records were started in 2018, government statistics confirmed on Thursday. It comes despite a "one in, one out" scheme designed to send irregular migrants back to France.


Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

Migrants attempt to board an inflatable dinghy heading across the English Channel from the beach of Petit-Fort-Philippe in Gravelines, northern France, on 27 September 2025. © REUTERS - Abdul Saboor

With Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer increasingly under pressure over the issue, his Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has proposed a drastic reduction in protections for refugees and the ending of automatic benefits for asylum seekers.

Home Office data showed that a total of 41,472 migrants landed on England's southern coast in 2025 after making the Channel crossing from northern France.

The record of 45,774 arrivals was reached in 2022 under the last Conservative government.

Former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak vowed to "stop the boats" when he was in power. Ousted by Starmer in July 2024, he later said he regretted the slogan because it was too "binary" and lacked sufficient context "for exactly how challenging" the goal was.

Adopting his own "smash the gangs" slogan, Starmer pledged to tackle the problem by dismantling the people-smuggling networks running the crossings, but has so far had no more success than his predecessor.

Surge in Channel crossings puts UK-France migrant deal under pressure

'Landmark' French deal

Mahmood has said irregular migration is "tearing our country apart".

In early December, an interior ministry spokesperson called the number of small boat crossings "shameful" and said Mahmood's "sweeping reforms" would remove the incentives driving the arrivals.

A returns deal with France had so far resulted in 153 people being removed from the UK to France and 134 being brought to the UK from France, border security and asylum minister Alex Norris said.

"Our landmark one-in, one-out scheme means we can now send those who arrive on small boats back to France," he said.

Signed in July, it entered into force on 12 August but has been criticised by human rights groups and politicians in France.

Guy Allemand, mayor of Sangatte near Calais, told RFI the deal was "purely political" and "hypocritical".

In October, 17 NGOs filed a complaint with France's highest administrative court calling for the annulment of the scheme, arguing that its principles were inhumane.

The groups also argued that the agreement should have been submitted to Parliament for ratification prior to publication.

But at the end of December, the court threw out the complaint and said the agreement should stand.

The past year has seen multiple protests in the UK over the housing of migrants in hotels and other issues. Amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment, in September up to 150,000 massed in central London for one of the country's largest ever far-right protests.

Asylum claims in the UK are at a record high, with around 111,000 applications made in the year to June 2025, according to official figures as of mid-November.

(with AFP)

International outcry as Israel enforces ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

Israel has confirmed that it will suspend the licences of 37 international humanitarian organisations operating in the Gaza Strip, a move that the United Nations and European officials say will further deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis.

Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

A Palestinian man walks on his crutches to the Doctors Without Borders or Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) clinic, in the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City on 31 December 2025. © AFP - OMAR AL-QATTAA

The decision, announced on Thursday, requires the affected NGOs to cease their activities by 1 March.

Among those targeted are some of the most prominent humanitarian organisations working in Gaza, including Médecins Sans Frontières, Médecins du Monde, Handicap International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and World Vision International.

According to Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, the organisations failed to meet new “security and transparency standards”, particularly the requirement to provide full and verifiable information about their Palestinian staff.

“The primary failure identified was the refusal to provide complete and verifiable information regarding their employees, a critical requirement designed to prevent the infiltration of terrorist operatives into humanitarian structures,” the ministry said in a statement.

Minister Amichai Chikli insisted that “humanitarian assistance is welcome – the exploitation of humanitarian frameworks for terrorism is not”.

'Post-apocalyptic wasteland': aid worker describes enduring horror in Gaza

Rules on disclosure

The ban follows legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in March 2025 that overhauled the registration and visa process for international NGOs. Under the new rules, organisations were given 10 months to disclose details of their personnel, funding sources and operational structures. The deadline expired at midnight on 31 December.

Several humanitarian groups argue that the demands undermine their independence and could put staff at risk. Médecins Sans Frontières has said that it had not submitted a list of employees because it had not received sufficient “guarantees and clarifications” about how the information would be used.

The organisation said the request “may be in violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law” and stressed that it would “never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity”.

Israel, however, has accused MSF of employing two staff members who it says belonged to Hamas and Islamic Jihad – allegations the organisation strongly disputes.

Speaking to RFI, Jean-François Corty, president of Médecins du Monde, warned that the ban “jeopardises international humanitarian law” and risks setting a troubling precedent for aid operations worldwide.
International and domestic backlash

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the decision as “outrageous”, saying that “such arbitrary suspensions make an already intolerable situation even worse for the people of Gaza”. He urged states to press Israel to reverse course.

The head of UNRWA, the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, called the move a “dangerous precedent”. Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X: “Failing to push back against attempts to control the work of aid organisations will further undermine the basic humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, impartiality and humanity underpinning aid work across the world.”

Opposition also emerged from within Israel. At least 17 Israeli left-wing organisations issued a joint statement condemning the ban, arguing that the new registration framework “violates core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality”. They warned that the “weaponisation of bureaucracy institutionalises barriers to aid, endangers staff and communities, and forces vital organisations to suspend operations”.

Europe seeks role in Gaza as pressure grows on Israel over fragile ceasefire

European officials have also raised concerns. In April, members of the European Parliament cautioned that the NGO registration law risked “hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid and social services to Palestinians”. European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said on 31 December that “the EU has been clear: the NGO registration law cannot be applied in its current form”.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October, following the war triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Conditions in Gaza remain dire, with UN figures suggesting that nearly 80 percent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, while around 1.5 million of the territory’s more than two million residents have been displaced.

Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of 10 countries – including France and the United Kingdom – urged Israel to guarantee access to humanitarian aid, describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic”.

(with newswires)

The Crans-Montana fire: a Swiss tragedy that raises questions

Geneva (AFP) – The deadly fire that ripped through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana raises numerous questions.

Issued on: 02/01/2026 - RFI

Police controlled access to the street where a fire ripped through a crowded bar during New Year celebrations in Crans-Montana © MAXIME SCHMID / AFP

Around 40 people were killed and over 100 others injured in the blaze at the New Year's party.

As investigators begin the gruelling task of identifying the victims and trying to determine what happened, here are some of the main issues they will seek to probe.
How did the tragedy occur?

"It was around 1:30 am (0030 GMT) when smoke was spotted" coming out of Le Constellation bar at the heart of the upscale resort, police commander Frederic Gisler told reporters.

A few seconds later, a witness contacted the police.

"Immediately, the red alarm, which mobilises the fire department, was triggered," Gisler said, adding that firefighters "quickly contained the blaze" while the injured were being treated.

Authorities said they launched an investigation into the fire, and declined to speculate on what caused the tragedy.

Several witness accounts, broadcast by various Swiss, French and Italian media, meanwhile seemed to point to sparklers that were apparently mounted on top of champagne bottles and held aloft by restaurant staff as part of a regular "show" put on for patrons who made special orders to their tables.

"I think there were some ladies, waitresses, with champagne bottles and little sparklers. They got too close to the ceiling, and suddenly it all caught fire," Axel, who was present at the time of the incident, told the Italian media outlet Local Team.

Was the establishment up to scratch?

Le Constellation, located on the ground floor of a residential building, has a capacity of 300 people, plus another 40 people on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website.

Several witnesses said the event space in the basement of the establishment, where the fire began, was connected with the ground floor by only a staircase, which some described as "narrow".

But Wallis's chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud did not confirm this, stressing that the cause of the tragedy was still being investigated.

Responding to questions from reporters, she said she had seen the site herself.

"What exactly constitutes a narrow staircase?" she asked, stressing that the probe would "determine whether all safety standards were met".

Pilloud also said it was "too early" to comment on whether emergency exits met the required standards, or whether the necessary procedures had been followed before organising the New Year's event.

Multiple sources told AFP on Thursday that the bar owners are French nationals: a couple originally from Corsica who, according to a relative, are safe and sound, but who have been unreachable since the tragedy.

Who are the victims?

Authorities have not yet released any information on the victims' identities, but the bar was a popular spot for tourists and was known to draw a young crowd.

"Given the international nature of the Crans resort, we can expect foreign nationals to be among the victims," Gisler said.

He said Swiss authorities were "in close contact with the victims' families, whom we are informing in real time, as well as with the various embassies involved".

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian broadcaster Rete 4 that around 15 Italians had been injured in the fire, and a similar number remained missing.

The French foreign ministry said nine French citizens figured among the injured, and eight others remained unaccounted for.

Given the bar's usually youthful clientele, questions were also being raised about the possible presence of minors at the time of the tragedy.

Stephane Ganzer, head of Wallis's security department, did not confirm that.

But, he told reporters, "you can imagine that on New Year's Eve, in a ski resort, the population is undoubtedly quite young".

© 2026 AFP

Australia's Khawaja to retire after Ashes finale, slams 'racial stereotyping'

Sydney (AFP) – Usman Khawaja said Friday he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes clash against England, leaving a legacy as Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer while lashing out at perceived "racial stereotyping" during his 15-year career.

Issued on: 02/01/2026 - RFI

Australia's Usman Khawaja will retire after the final Ashes Test in Sydney © DAVID GRAY / AFP

The 39-year-old will pad up for the last time, should he be selected, when the Test gets under way in Sydney on Sunday, ending months of speculation about his future.

It would be an 88th Test for the classy left-hander, culminating a career where it began after making his debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2011, also against England.

"The number one emotion is contentment. I'm very lucky to have played so many games for Australia the way I have," Khawaja said. "I hope I have inspired people along the way.

"I'm a proud Muslim coloured boy from Pakistan who was told that he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now, and you can do the same," he added.

Khawaja immigrated to Australia from Islamabad as a child, battling the odds to become the country's first Pakistan-born, and first Muslim, national player.

At one point, he was the only Asian first-class player in Australia and is credited as a role model who opened doors for others.

"Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most stylish and resilient batters since his Test debut 15 years ago, and off field, particularly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation," said Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg.

"On behalf of Australian cricket I would like to thank and congratulate Usman for all he has achieved."

Khawaja's foundation helps youths from refugee, immigrant, Indigenous, and poor socioeconomic backgrounds through introductory cricket programs and educational support.

-- 'Attacked me' --

Khawaja, a qualified pilot, has plundered 6,206 runs in Test cricket with 16 centuries, averaging 43.39.

He smashed a career-high 232 against Sri Lanka a year ago, but has not made three figures since.

The current Ashes series has been a rollercoaster ride, with the veteran batsman coming under scrutiny.

Australia's Usman Khawaja will retire after the final Ashes Test in Sydney 

© DAVID GRAY / AFP


He injured his back in the first Test in Perth and was replaced as opener in the second innings by Travis Head who blasted a match-winning century.

Khawaja did not feature in the next match at Brisbane and was omitted from the team for the third Test in Adelaide, only to get a lifeline when Steve Smith dropped out ill just before the toss.

He came in at number four and hit 82 and 40 before making 29 and 0 in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

"I'm glad I get to leave on amy own terms, with a little bit of dignity, and go out at the SCG where I love," he said, while expressing frustration at how he was treated.

"When I did my back (in Perth), I hurt my back and had back spasms and it was something I couldn't control.

"The way the media and past players came out and attacked me. I could have copped it for a couple of days but it went on for five days.

"The way everyone came out at me about my preparation, 'he's not committed to the team. Only worried about himself. Playing a golf competition. He's selfish, he didn't train hard enough. He's lazy'.

"These are the same racial stereotypes (I thought we had moved past).

"But obviously we haven't fully moved past that. I haven't seen anyone treated like that in the Australian cricket team before."

He nevertheless admitted the writing was on the wall during the current Ashes series.

"Going into Adelaide and then not being picked initially for that game was probably a sign for me to say 'all right, it's time to move on'," he said.

Khawaja also played 40 one-dayers and nine Twenty20 internationals.

© 2026 AFP