France ( in French), officially the French Republic (, ), is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and that also comprises a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents.For more information, see Category:French overseas departments, territories and collectivities Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and North Sea, and from the Rhine River to the Atlantic Ocean. French people often refer to Metropolitan France as l'Hexagone (the "Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory.

France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. In some of its overseas departments, France also shares land borders with Brazil, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles. France is also linked to the United Kingdom via the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel(La Manche in French).

The French Republic is a democracy which is organised as a unitary semi-presidential republic. It is a highly developed country with the sixth-largest economy in the world.Rank by nominal GDP: 6 (2006); Rank by GDP per capita: 17 (2005); Rank by GDP at purchasing power parity per capita: 21 (2005). Its main ideals are expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. France is one of the founding members of the European Union, and has the largest land area of all members. France is also a founding member of the United Nations, and a member of La Francophonie, the G8, and the Latin Union. It is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council wielding veto power, and it is also one of eight acknowledged nuclear powers. With almost 75 million foreign tourists each year,France is the most popular tourist destination in the world above Spain (52 millions) and USA (41 millions} .

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NYT > France (2012 Presidential Election)

Tahrir Square Comes to Cannes
By JOAN DUPONT Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400
The Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah hopes to win the Palme d'Or with "After the Battle," which examines Egypt's rebellion and its clash of cultures.
In France, New Cabinet Is Announced by Hollande
By STEVEN ERLANGER Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400
France’s new president, François Hollande, unveiled a center-left cabinet on Wednesday, leaving out the head of the Socialist Party, Martine Aubry, who is considered on the left-wing of the party.
France’s First Lady, Valérie Trierweiler, Seeks Her Own Path
By MAÏA DE LA BAUME Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400
Valérie Trierweiler, a journalist, is concerned with preserving her independence while supporting her partner, President François Hollande of France.
They'll Always Have Cannes
By DENNIS LIM Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400
For better or worse the Cannes International Film Festival seems more than ever a model of stability, at a time when other major European festivals are working through regime changes.
Selection of French Premier Signals Importance of Germany
By NICOLA CLARK Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400
Jean-Marc Ayrault, 62, is a former German professor with a deep understanding of Germany's language and culture who has also forged close ties with members of the country's political establishment.
François Hollande Meets Angela Merkel After Delay
By NICHOLAS KULISH and STEVEN ERLANGER Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400
Hours after being inaugurated, President François Hollande of France arrived in Germany for a much-anticipated meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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