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

Sarkozy Honors the 10 Killed in Afghanistan
By STEVEN ERLANGERFrance’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, honored the 10 French soldiers killed in a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan as the political debate about his Afghan policy sharpened.
10 French Soldiers Killed Near Kabul
By CAROLINE BROTHERS and TOM RACHMANThe ambush, the deadliest episode for the international forces in Afghanistan in more than three years, came at a time of worsening violence in Afghanistan.
Classified Matters
By EDWARD LEWINEHow a battle over the ranking of St. Émilion chateaus may change the way we value wine.
France Reaffirms Its Faith in Future of Nuclear Power
By STEVEN ERLANGEROn the Normandy coast, France is building its first nuclear reactor in 10 years.
Peace Plan Offers Russia a Rationale to Advance
By ANDREW E. KRAMERA deal brokered by France not only failed to slow the Russian advance in Georgia, but also allowed Russia to claim that it could push even deeper.
Europe Tries to Handle Political Fallout of Pension Cuts
By CARTER DOUGHERTYFaced with an aging population, much of Europe is trying to address the pressing need for change in national pension systems, balancing rising costs with political pressure.

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