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French long weekend forecast August 15–17: heatwave returns with highs of 42C
Current heatwave is now in its eighth day
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Foreign income leads to French citizenship refusal for retiree in south-west
New approach can penalise applicants whose income is primarily from overseas
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France begins phasing out copper phone lines
Many areas in south-west affected by transition to fibre optics
Arms race big shots
France has become the world’s third largest arms exporter behind the US and Russia due in large part to sales of the Rafale fighter jet.

The US outsells almost all other nations put together at $26.9billion, then Russia on $7.2bn, France $5.2bn, Germany $4.36bn and UK $4bn. Saudi Arabia is the No1 importer, with $7.6bn.
Sales of 84 Rafales to Egypt, Qatar and India boosted French figures and in a weakening market it may overtake Russia in 2018.