French

Mayotte issued a red alert and people were ordered to stay in their homes and store food and water as Tropical Storm Dikeledi brought heavy rains and strong winds to France’s poorest department.

‘A few dozen’ Ukrainian soldiers have deserted during their training in France, according to French military officials. Paris says the number of desertions is “very marginal” compared to the total number of soldiers trained.

One of France’s largest farmers’ unions is seeking guarantees from the prime minister’s office that it will defend a form of agriculture focused on protecting small farmers, who say are being crushed by free trade.

Nicholas Sarkozy, who was France’s president from 2007 to 2012, retired from public life in 2017 though still plays an influential role in French conservative politics.

French stock indices like the CAC 40 have suffered this year, dragged down by a slow down in the luxury sector, as well as increasing fears about France’s political stability.