French

Sweden has chosen its future surface combatant, the Luleå class, its largest in decades, in the shape of the French FDI frigate. The unusual design, with its inverted bow, won out against rival warships from the United Kingdom (a vessel based on the Type 31 frigate) and Spain (the all-new ALFA 4000 frigate).

The announcement was made today on the deck of the stealthy Visby class corvette Härnösand. The Visby class is currently the largest surface combatant used by the Swedish Navy, but it will be dwarfed by the Luleå class. While the Visby class has a displacement of 705 tons and a length of 238 feet 6 inches, the French design has a displacement of 4,390 tons and is 400 feet 3 inches long.

According to reports, the Defense Materiel Administration (FMV), Sweden’s defense procurement organization, chose the French design primarily based on its advanced integrated combat systems and the maturity of the design. As you can read about here, the first example for the French Navy began sea trials in late 2024.

15.09.2025 : Départ de la FDI Amiral Ronarc’h de Lorient

Thirdly, Sweden factored the speed of delivery into the equation. This last point reflects the urgency of the requirement, as the country looks to rebuild its naval power since joining NATO and against the resurgent Russian threat.

While Sweden had long been looking for a next-generation warship to follow on from the Visby class, it originally envisaged a more modest design, with four air defense corvettes based on the Visby design. Since then, the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Sweden’s joining NATO have changed the security landscape dramatically.

When it first pitched its FDI frigate for the program, France had offered to supply Sweden with the first fully equipped warship in 2030, a notably bold timeline. Unlike the rival offers, Naval Group is already building the FDI warships — meaning Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention, or Defense and Intervention Frigate — at its yard in Lorient. Sweden expects to receive one vessel per year starting in 2030.

Despite choosing an off-the-shelf foreign design, there will be industrial benefits for Sweden, with local defense contractors, in particular, Saab, involved in kitting out the warships.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson today heralded the selection of the new warship as “tripling the Swedish [ground- and surface-based] air defenses.” The frigates were always expected to focus heavily on anti-air warfare capabilities, something that’s of growing interest to the Swedish Navy and the importance of which has been underscored by recent conflicts.

For Sweden in particular, a new frigate with enhanced anti-air warfare capabilities will be better able to protect itself, other vessels, and even shore areas or islands, against threats from the air. The overwhelming numbers of crewed aircraft, drones, and missiles that Russia could potentially put up in a conflict involving Sweden have been a significant concern even before the country joined NATO.

The Luleå class will swap out some of the original French combat systems found in the baseline FDI frigate and replace these with locally made equipment.

However, for its critical air defense role, Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonsson confirmed that the Luleå class will be armed with two types of missiles from the pan-European MBDA. The first of these is the Aster 30, which, as we have described in the past, is the primary anti-air weapon of the French FDI. In its baseline form, the FDI hull can accommodate 16 Aster missiles in a pair of eight-cell launchers — later vessels will be able to carry 32 by doubling the number of launchers.

The Aster 30 is able to engage targets at more than 75 miles. Recent improvements to the Aster 30 include enhancing its capabilities against anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), a relatively new type of threat.

Aster 30 will be complemented by the CAMM-ER, the extended-range version of the Common Anti-air Modular Missile that is being added to the five Visby class corvettes, to expand their anti-air warfare capabilities. The CAMM-ER surface-to-air missile can engage a wide variety of threats out to a range of around 25 miles.

In terms of anti-ship missiles, the Swedish boats will carry the locally made RBS 15 instead of the MM40 Exocet on the French ships.

Polish Navy demonstrates the excellence of RBS15

As well as an onboard helicopter, anti-submarine firepower will be entrusted to the Swedish Torped 47 instead of the MU90. This new, lightweight torpedo has recently been tested by the Swedish Navy, being fired from a corvette, and during live-fire exercises from a submarine, as seen in the video below.

Torped 47 – den nya lätta

With its long track record of naval artillery, Sweden will provide the Bofors 57mm instead of the OTO 76mm, while the Bofors 40 Mk 4 will be used as the close-in weapon system (CIWS) in place of the 21-tube RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The Bofors 40 Mk 4 can fire Bofors 3P (Pre-fragmented, Programmable, Proximity-fused) ammunition, which can be programmed in six different modes to provide
optimised effect against different targets, including airbursts against aerial drones.

BAE Systems Bofors 3P Counter UAS ammunition

Smaller-caliber guns will be fitted in the form of the Saab Trackfire 12.7mm remote weapon stations (RWS), replacing the Lionfish 20 or Narwhal 20mm.

At this stage, it appears that the French-made SETIS combat management system will be retained on the Swedish warships and not replaced with a local equivalent, such as the Saab 9LV. However, the Sea Giraffe 1X radar, from the same firm, will reportedly be included in the sensor array. This would displace the original Thales Sea Fire radar found in the baseline FDI design and would extend air defense surveillance out to a significant range.

Choosing an existing French design means that Sweden will be able to share some of the costs of the program with other operators. As well as France, Greece is ordering the FDI design, and other potential customers include Sweden’s neighbor, Denmark. At the same time, operating common or very similar warship designs enhances interoperability, especially during joint operations.

The decision also further cements the military relationship between France and Sweden. Welcoming the Swedish choice, President of France Emmanuel Macron today wrote on X that it reflected the burgeoning defense partnership, which has also seen France select the Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) to replace its E-3F Sentry Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) fleet, as well as Swedish participation in advanced deterrence. The latter refers to the forward deployment of nuclear-capable French Rafale fighters to Sweden, as European NATO members look at bolstering their deterrence capabilities independent of the United States.

For the Swedish Navy, the primary area of operation has been the Baltic theater, an area of resurgent strategic relevance, as the host to regular and sometimes hostile Russian military activity, maritime, airborne, and also increasingly in the ‘gray zone’ or hybrid warfare.

Once the new Luleå class frigates arrive, starting in 2030, according to plans, the improved capabilities of these powerful vessels will not only bolster Swedish Navy operations in its traditional Baltic area of operations but also out into the wider North Atlantic region, reflecting Sweden’s developing military ambitions as it becomes a more established NATO member.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

The video is horrifying, though it is the kind of horror now synonymous with the behavior of Israel, its military, its armed settlers, and society that has been conditioned to see the ‘other’ as subhuman.

Yet, this was not the typical viral video that emerges almost daily from occupied Palestine. The victim, this time, was not a Palestinian. She was an elderly French nun.  

On May 1, footage surfaced from Jerusalem showing a 36-year-old Israeli man running behind a French nun—a researcher at the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research—and shoving her violently to the ground. 

In a chilling display of cruelty, the assailant did not simply hit and run. He walked away a few paces, then returned to the fallen woman to kick her repeatedly and mercilessly as she lay helpless.  

What was most astonishing was the sense of normalcy that followed. The assailant remained on the scene, conversing with another man who appeared entirely unperturbed by what should have been a devastating event in any other context. 

The video briefly imposed itself on the mainstream media scene, garnering perfunctory condemnations. Many explained the event as part of the larger landscape of Israeli violence, highlighting the ongoing genocide in Gaza as the most obvious example of this unchecked aggression.

But even the context of general violence does not fully explain why a French nun was targeted. She is not dark-skinned, she is European, she is Christian, and she holds no historical or territorial claims that would typically trigger the ‘security’ paranoia of the Zionist state. 

READ: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem files complaint over Israeli occupiers’ encroachments on church-owned lands in West Bank

Still, the incident was anything but ‘isolated,’ despite the rush by Israeli officials to label it a ‘shameful’ exception. To the contrary, the nun was attacked specifically because she is Christian. 

This raises the question: why? 

To answer this, we must acknowledge how Palestinian Christians have been systematically written out of the history of their own land.  

Palestinian Christians are not merely present in the land; they are among the most historically rooted communities in Palestine. They are anything but ‘foreigners’ or ‘bystanders’ caught in a supposed religious conflict between Jews and Muslims. 

In fact, the Christian Arab presence in Palestine predates the Islamic era by centuries. They are the descendants of historic tribes who shaped the region’s identity long before the advent of modern political labels.  

The marginalization of Palestinian Christians is a relatively new phenomenon, deeply linked to Western colonialism. For centuries, European powers used the pretense of ‘protecting’ Christian communities to justify their own imperial interventions. 

Consequently, this framed the native Christian not as a sovereign Arab with agency, but as a ward of the West—a narrative that effectively stripped them of their indigenous status and alienated them from their own national fabric in the eyes of the world.

Zionism added a lethal layer to this erasure. It has often projected itself as a ‘protector’ of Christians to avoid raising the ire of its Western backers. 

In reality, Palestinian Christians have been subjected to the same policies of ethnic cleansing, racism, and military occupation as their Muslim brothers and sisters. How else can we explain the catastrophic dwindling of the Christian population? 

Before the 1948 Nakba, Palestinian Christians made up roughly 12% of the population. Today, that number has plummeted to a mere 1%. During the Nakba alone, tens of thousands were expelled from their homes in West Jerusalem, Haifa, and Jaffa, their properties looted and their communities dismantled.  

A quick look at the map of Jerusalem and Bethlehem today tells the story of an ongoing erasure. Jerusalem is being systematically emptied of its native population, both Christian and Muslim. Christian properties and houses of worship are restricted, and the ‘Little Town’ of Bethlehem has been swallowed by a ring of illegal settlements and an 8-meter-high Apartheid Wall that has transformed the birthplace of Christ into an open-air prison. 

Yet, despite this, we rarely hear about the struggle for survival of Palestinian Christians. Instead, the world occasionally glimpses ‘incidents’—like the common habit of Jewish extremists spitting on foreign pilgrims and clergy in Jerusalem. This behavior has become so normalized that Israeli ministers, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, have previously defended the act as an “ancient custom” that should not be criminalized.  

The reason the Palestinian Christian story is rarely told is that it fails to factor neatly into the convenient narratives used by Western governments. They are keen on presenting the ‘conflict’ as a Jewish state fighting for its identity against a monolithic ‘Islamic’ threat. Israel is heavily invested in this same ‘Clash of Civilizations’ trope, positioning itself as the vanguard of “Western civilization” against Arab extremism.

READ: Israeli army demolishes Christian monastery, nuns’ school in southern Lebanon

But some Palestinians—Muslim and Christian alike—are, to a lesser degree, also guilty of falling into this trap. The former often frame the Palestinian resistance as an exclusively Muslim struggle; meanwhile, some Christians participate in the very discourse that led to their marginalization in the first place. 

The Gaza genocide, however, has proven this logic not only erroneous but unsustainable. Throughout the slaughter, Israel has destroyed over 800 mosques, but it has not spared the Christian sanctuaries. 

On October 19, 2023, an Israeli airstrike targeted a building within the compound of the Church of Saint Porphyrius—one of the oldest churches in the world. 

In that massacre, 18 Palestinian Christians were killed, their blood mixing with the dust of a sanctuary that had stood for 1,600 years. It was a devastating reminder that the Israeli missile does not distinguish between a mosque and a church, nor between the blood of a Muslim and a Christian. 

The story of the French nun is worth every bit of the attention it received, as is the targeting of pilgrims. But as the headlines move on, we must remember that Palestinian Christians endure a suffering that is collective and rooted in the very soil of Palestine. They are now an endangered community, and Israel is the culprit. Without them, Palestine is not the same. 

The Palestinian homeland is only whole when it is the cradle of religious coexistence, and Palestinian Christians sit at the very heart of that history, dating back two millennia. Their survival is not a ‘minority issue’—it is the survival of Palestine itself.  

OPINION: Subjects of empire: Breaking the cycle of Arab dependency on US elections

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

After a day spent hiking across the Col d’Entrèves glacier, a sugar hit is required. I descend on the cable car and join the queue at the ice-cream counter. Above me, surrounded by jagged peaks, looms the huge white figure of Mont Blanc, serene and pure against a brilliant blue sky. Although it’s late afternoon, people are still heading up the mountain, and there are two clear groups. On one side are the tourists, who are about to be lifted into unfamiliar frozen realms at 3,375 metres (11,072ft), hoping to grab a picture and return. Mixed among them are the weathered faces of mountain experts: hikers confidently heading for a high-altitude hut, or climbers with coils of rope.

How many of those tourists, I wonder, are wishing they could be mountaineers, secretly regretting the twists of fate that kept them away from that path? But all is not lost. The aspiring adventurer, no matter what age or background, can begin the journey to competence in the mountains. The annual mountain festival I am attending aims to facilitate that by offering the chance to gain hands-on experience with experts.

I have been up on the glacier with an Italian Alpine guide, who was coaching me in crossing the ice safely. Next to me when I make it to the lemon sorbet is Meta, a musician from Berlin, who has just been rock climbing. “I’ve only ever climbed indoors,” she says. “But I want to get experience outdoors. This seemed the perfect way to start.” What had held her back? She raises an eyebrow. “Berlin doesn’t have any mountains.” And how was it? “Amazing. I definitely want to do more.”

The Arc’teryx Alpine Academy in Chamonix began 16 years ago with a focus on rock climbing, but has since extended its range. There’s now a UK festival too in the Lake District in May. These days, there’s tuition in everything from Alpine botany to advanced multi-pitch climbing. Max from Rome is buzzing after a day of trail-running with experts. “They were so helpful, sharing their knowledge and tips.”

When we get back to the festival base camp, I meet others who have been out studying photography and mountain geology. Frenchman Jean-Luc is in a state of blissful shock. “I went on a climbing course and found myself teamed up with Jim Pope,” he says. “Can you imagine? He’s a climbing hero of mine, and was so friendly and encouraging. I still can’t believe it happened.” Elvin and Annie from Stockholm did an introduction to ice-climbing and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Meta and I watch the male and female Alpine guides chatting. “Look at them,” she says. “I want to be like that: with that physique and those skills.” She turns back to me, laughing. “They are cool.”

Rock climbing as a sport is cool right now. My local climbing wall is full of cool. Hamish McArthur, one of the stars of world climbing and an expert tutor at the festival, began his career on that wall in York.

Meanwhile, the crowd is enjoying the festival. There is a programme of music too, from live bands to DJs, and the London band Kokoroko are playing as I tour the stalls. There’s one where you can borrow equipment for a day, just to try it. That solves one tricky part of the how to get started equation. At another stall, I learn how to wash my waterproofs correctly and do small repairs. At the next tent, I get a beer and wander over a small grassy hill to discover Austrian climber Alex Luger chatting to a small group about psychology and climbing. Alex is a professional climber turned psychotherapist who specialises in facing fears, an appropriate area of expertise for a man who has scaled some of the most terrifying rock walls on the planet. “I enjoy meeting such a variety of people,” he tells me afterwards. “And facing fears is not just about climbing; it applies to many situations.”

Next to the food tent, I meet organiser Stéphane Tenailleau, from the brand Arc’teryx, who is also facing his fears. “Sending 800 people, some of them total beginners, into the mountains carries a certain amount of risk.” That number includes disadvantaged kids from Paris and other underprivileged groups.

All too soon, the festival is over, but nearby Geneva provides an interesting coda. I stroll around the historic old town, my need to climb still burning. On the side of a cable car station overlooking the city, I find a climbing wall and instructor Pierre, who turns out to be an unsung genius of motivational psychology. I had always regarded the crux of a climb, the hardest bit, as the moment when I give up. Pierre rewires my brain. On the 20-metre concrete wall, with Lake Geneva far below, I reach the pinch point and get ready to fail.

“That desire to stop,” pipes up Pierre, who seems to know exactly what I’m thinking, “that is the dark place of climbing. Now balance your mind and body. Breathe. Move your left foot 2cm to the right. Extend the ankle. And now go on.”

And I do.

The trip was provided by Geneva Tourism, with accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Geneva, doubles from CHF 225 (£212). The 2026 Arc’teryx Alpine Academy in Chamonix, with a range of individually priced clinics, takes place 2-5 July. Other locations for the festival include the Lake District, 23-25 May

FANCY grabbing a last-minute break during May half-term?
There are lots of late deals offering adventures and attractions galore.

Cruise on a fabulous liner, escape to the countryside, explore a city or bed down in a zoo. Trisha Harbord selects ten top getaways for all budgets, at home and abroad.

FRENCH FANCY

OOH la la! The French seaside resort of Le Touquet will be holding a British Week from May 25 to 31.

There will be a host of activities delivered in English, such as guided horse rides, while the seven miles of coastline and dunes make Le Touquet perfect for sand-yachting.

The resort, an hour’s drive from Calais, has over 70 restaurants, for all tastes and budgets.

GO: Two nights’ room-only at the 3* ibis Styles, for two adults and two children, is from £366. See all.accor.com. Return ferry from Dover costs from £118. See irishferries.com.

BEACH PLEASE

Spanish TUI hotel to reopen next summer for adults only and it’s on the beach

RETREAT YOURSELF

From St Lucia to Ibiza – we tried 2 adults-only retreats for perfect reset

CRUISE CONTROL

YOU can’t beat a cruise for having everything on tap, and we really rate the no-fly MSC voyages on super-modern Virtuosa.

Enjoy five pools, a waterpark, clubs for kids, superb shows and an indoor promenade with restaurants, bars and shops.

The ship, sailing from Southampton, also has the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea, who shakes and stirs cocktails.

GO: Two nights’ full-board from May 23 costs from £265pp. Five nights from May 25, visiting four ports including Bruges and Rotterdam, costs from £541pp. See cruise.co.uk.

MINT IMPERIAL

SPOIL yourself at the 5* Imperial Island Resort in Paphos, which reopened this week. Everything has been upgraded, from the rooms to the food, spa and kids’ clubs.

There are new outdoor play areas at the Cyprus hotel and numerous sports on offer.

Soak up the sun on the adjacent beach or head to Paphos Archaeological Museum and the medieval fort that overlooks the harbour.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive, based on two adults and two children sharing a superior family room, plus Gatwick flights on May 24, is from £1,072pp. See easyjet.com/en/holidays.

ITALIAN JOB

THERE aren’t many kids who don’t like pizza, pasta and ice cream – and they can have all those on a cultural trip to Rome.

The Vatican museums, beautiful Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum amphitheatre are all must-sees.

There are also many children’s attractions, including interactive museums about everything from video games to illusions.

GO: Three nights’ B&B at the 3* Hotel Morgana, including flights from Birmingham on May 25, costs from £469pp, based on a family of four. See jet2holidays.com.

STAR PLAYA

MENORCA may be one of the quieter Balearic Islands, but you won’t be bored here.

Choose from lying on the beach or going hiking, cycling or horse riding.

The 3H Vibra Caleta Playa apartments, surrounding a pool with kids’ area, all have air-con, kitchenettes and a balcony or terrace.

They are close to a sandy cove in Santandria and the historic former capital, Ciutadella.

GO: Five nights’ self-catering in a one-bed apartment for two adults and children, including flights from Gatwick on May 24, costs from £442 per person. See firstchoice.co.uk.

GO FOR ’BROKE

THERE’S a great deal from Pembrokeshire’s 4* Ty Hotel Milford Waterfront, with kids staying free during half-term.

The offer at the hotel, which overlooks the Milford Haven marina, runs rom May 22 to 31.

If the children love dinosaurs, be there on May 27 when Dinomania comes to town.

You can also rent kayaks from the beach activity centre, visit the maritime heritage museum, go hiking or enjoy ten-pin bowling.

GO: A family room for two adults and two children, including breakfast, is from £104. See ty-hotels.com and milfordwaterfront.co.uk.

RURAL SAVINGS

GET back to nature with up to 30 per cent off countryside breaks with Landal, which has resorts in areas including Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northamptonshire and Scotland.

Woodland Lakes, near Thirsk, North Yorks, has indoor pool, kids’ play areas, archery, fishing and a wellness centre.

It’s close to the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales and only a half-hour drive from the historic city of York.

GO: Four nights’ self-catering in a lodge sleeping four people from May 25 costs from £639. See landal.co.uk.

PIER WE GO

IT should be a great week in Great Yarmouth, with plenty to do in the Norfolk resort.

A pantomime of The Wizard Of Oz is being performed at Britannia Pier’s theatre between May 28 and 31, and the town has a festival of circus and arts from May 28 to 30.

Stay at Richardson’s Hemsby Beach holiday park and you’ll be spoiled for family-friendly activities, too.

GO: Four nights’ self-catering in a two- bedroom chalet from May 25 costs from £419. Details at richardsonsholidayparks.co.uk and visitgreatyarmouth.co.uk.

SHOW STOPPERS

TELLY favourites are appearing at Butlin’s, and there are three-night late deals from £48pp. Headline acts include The Masked Singer Live and the new Maximum Pro Wrestling show.

The resorts – in Skegness, Lincs, Somerset’s Minehead and Bognor Regis in West Sussex – also boast Splash Waterworld pools with slides, unlimited fairground rides and soft-play areas for kids.

GO: Three nights for four people sharing a two-bedroom Comfort room in Minehead from May 29 costs from £192. For more information or to book, see butlins.com.

WHERE THE ART IS

HELP Whipsnade Zoo roar into the Guinness World Records book as one of more than 14,000 people taking part in a paint-by- numbers challenge from May 23 to 31.

The masterpiece featuring 200 animals will celebrate the 200th birthday of ZLS – the conservation charity behind the Bedfordshire zoo.

Families picking up a brush will need to register on the GWR Verify app. Stay overnight in one of the zoo’s lodges and enjoy zoo tickets, private tours, breakfast and dinner.

GO: A lodge for two adults and two children is from £520. See whipsnadezoo.org.

Niger’s military government has banned many local and foreign reporters since seizing power in 2023.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned Niger’s suspension of nine French media publications as the military government continues to crack down on journalists.

Niger announced the suspension on Friday, citing “repeated dissemination of content likely to seriously jeopardise public order, national unity, social cohesion, and the stability of the institutions of the Republic”.

The suspended organisations are France 24, RFI (Radio France Internationale), France Afrique Media, LSI Africa, AFP (Agence France-Presse), TV5 Monde, TF1 Info, Jeune Afrique and Mediapart, according to a TV statement from the National Communication Observatory (ONC).

It added that the decision was “immediate” and it included “satellite packages, cable networks, digital platforms, websites and mobile applications”.

RSF described the decision as “abusive”.

“RSF condemns a coordinated strategy to repress press freedom within the AES [Alliance of Sahel States] and calls for the immediate reversal of this abusive decision,” said a statement posted on X, referring to Niger and allies Mali and Burkina Faso, all ruled by military governments.

Niger’s military seized power in July 2023, toppling the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum and detaining him.

The government has since targeted local and foreign media outlets, particularly those critical of its policies, by issuing bans or suspensions.

RFI and France 24 were suspended a few days after the coup, and the BBC from Britain was suspended in December 2024.

The targeting of French and other foreign media comes as Niger’s military government has largely severed ties with its former colonial power, France, and turned away from Western allies.

In late 2023, Niger asked leaders in Paris to withdraw thousands of troops involved in missions against armed groups operating in Niger, neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso.

The three AES states have since secured defence partnerships with other countries, notably Russia.

All three have regularly denounced France’s “imperialism”, saying they want to assert their “sovereignty”. French media and other foreign outlets have similarly been suspended or banned by the governments in Bamako and Ouagadougou.

Local journalists have also been affected. Two Nigerien journalists, Gazali Abdou, a correspondent for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and Hassane Zada, a regional newspaper editor, were released this week after being detained for months.

In 2024, leaders in the capital Niamey strengthened a law that criminalises the digital dissemination of “data likely to disturb public order”.

The United Nations said in November that 13 journalists were arrested in Niger and urged the government to release them. Local media organisations say six journalists are detained for allegedly “undermining national defence” and for “conspiracy against the authority of the state”.

According to AFP, Niger suspended nearly 3,000 local and foreign NGOs in 2025, accusing them of lacking transparency and supporting “terrorists” and armed groups.

Niger dropped 37 places in this year’s RSF World Press Freedom Index and now ranks 120th out of 180 countries. RSF and Amnesty International have repeatedly voiced concerns about the “decline” in press freedom in Niger.

MAKE convenience the driving force behind your holiday.

There are superb destinations within easy reach of ferry terminals in France and Spain.

Escape to sunnier climes in the car with no pricey flights or fear of flight cancellations.

Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the five best getaways for families, all within an hour of the ferry terminal.

COMILLAS, SPAIN

DRIVE 40 minutes from the ferry terminal of Santander and you’ll find the rustic town of Comillas, crammed with striking Gaudi architecture and art nouveau buildings that overlook a pristine sandy shore.

It’s not as crowded as some of Spain’s more popular holiday resorts and it’s home to the Oyambre Natural Park which is littered with dramatic cliffs and has a plethora of bird life.

SWISS GRAND TOUR

I went on Europe’s ‘Route 66’ with 46 attractions and beautiful beaches

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Make sure to try a dish loved by locals, marmitako.

The traditional fisherman’s stew comes loaded with tuna, seafood and veggies and will keep you feeling satisfied for hours.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Comillas Hotel in the town is from £439.06pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Plymouth on July 20.

Find out more at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, FRANCE

ACTIVITY-loving families will feel right at home in Boulogne-sur-mer, a 30-minute drive from the French port of Calais and with adventure on its doorstep.

Spend a day at the largest aquarium in Europe, Nausicaá, where you can gawp at over 60,000 creatures including reef sharks, manta rays, sea lions, penguins and giant tortoises — the Echappée Tropicale section is new for this year and is framed around mangroves and lagoons.

Nearby Wissant beach is ideal if you’re travelling with youngsters, thanks to its shallow water pools.

And Boulogne-sur-mer’s glorious old town with its cobbled streets, is a wonderful spot for an afternoon potter.

GO: Two nights’ self-catering at the Evancy apartments is from £60pp based on a family of four sharing.

See evancy.com.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

BILBAO, SPAIN

IF you’re less into fly-and-flop and more of a city dweller, look no further than the Spanish city of Bilbao.

The city centre is a 20-minute drive from the ferry terminal.

Once you arrive, ditch the car as everything is easily accessible on foot or by tram/metro.

Pintxos, essentially the basque version of tapas, is the theme of most menus here.

This means you can sample as many restaurants as you fancy, tucking into the best of the nibbles — they tend to be very affordable, too.

Little ones will love riding the funicular up to the peak of Mount Artxanda, offering jaw-dropping panoramic views of the city.

Adults, on the other hand, will want to sample a glass of Txakoli, a local wine that’s dry, crisp and pairs perfectly with warm weather.

There’s also a beach if you do want to dip your toes into the sea.

GO: Six nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Euskalduna Hotel is £507.11pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Portsmouth to Bilbao on July 19.

Yiou can book at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

TOUQUET-PARIS-PLAGE, FRANCE

THE coastal resort, less than an hour from Calais, is chic French glamour meets old-world Britain.

Don’t take my word for it, though.

Back in the day, it attracted big names like Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Sean Connery used to stroll its shores, and President Macron has been seen there.

You’re also within a short drive of France’s oldest amusement park, Parc Bagatelle, which will soon feature a new adrenaline ride, North Storm.

It is 33 metres high and throws riders around on 360-degree rotations.

On top of thrill rides, there are also shows and a mini animal farm.

GO: Two-storey family rooms at the 4H Le Grand Hotel Le Touquet cost from around £286pp with access to an indoor heated pool, a padel tennis court, games room and bike rental service.

See legrandhotel-letouquet.com/en.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

COURSEULLES-SUR-MER, FRANCE

A SWIFT 30-minute drive from Caen ferry port in Ouistreham, the sleepy fishing town of Courseulles-sur-Mer feels typically French and sits a little off the beaten tourist track.

Be sure to have a go at sand yachting.

Often described as a mix between go-karting and windsurfing, the sport relies on blustery winds to propel you across the sands in a three-wheeled cart with a sail attached to it.

Juno beach is a great spot to try it.

For adrenaline junkies there’s Parc du Chant des Oiseaux which has slides, climbing nets and a zipline, or for something more gently paced there’s an 18-hole mini golf course.

It’s worth renting a bike and exploring the nearby cycle routes while you’re here, too.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 3H La Crémaillère is from £454.85pp, based on four people sharing a one-bedroom duplex and including car ferry from Portsmouth to Caen on July 20.

For details, see brittany-ferries.co.uk.

MAKE convenience the driving force behind your holiday.

There are superb destinations within easy reach of ferry terminals in France and Spain.

Escape to sunnier climes in the car with no pricey flights or fear of flight cancellations.

Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the five best getaways for families, all within an hour of the ferry terminal.

COMILLAS, SPAIN

DRIVE 40 minutes from the ferry terminal of Santander and you’ll find the rustic town of Comillas, crammed with striking Gaudi architecture and art nouveau buildings that overlook a pristine sandy shore.

It’s not as crowded as some of Spain’s more popular holiday resorts and it’s home to the Oyambre Natural Park which is littered with dramatic cliffs and has a plethora of bird life.

SWISS GRAND TOUR

I went on Europe’s ‘Route 66’ with 46 attractions and beautiful beaches

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Make sure to try a dish loved by locals, marmitako.

The traditional fisherman’s stew comes loaded with tuna, seafood and veggies and will keep you feeling satisfied for hours.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Comillas Hotel in the town is from £439.06pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Plymouth on July 20.

Find out more at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, FRANCE

ACTIVITY-loving families will feel right at home in Boulogne-sur-mer, a 30-minute drive from the French port of Calais and with adventure on its doorstep.

Spend a day at the largest aquarium in Europe, Nausicaá, where you can gawp at over 60,000 creatures including reef sharks, manta rays, sea lions, penguins and giant tortoises — the Echappée Tropicale section is new for this year and is framed around mangroves and lagoons.

Nearby Wissant beach is ideal if you’re travelling with youngsters, thanks to its shallow water pools.

And Boulogne-sur-mer’s glorious old town with its cobbled streets, is a wonderful spot for an afternoon potter.

GO: Two nights’ self-catering at the Evancy apartments is from £60pp based on a family of four sharing.

See evancy.com.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

BILBAO, SPAIN

IF you’re less into fly-and-flop and more of a city dweller, look no further than the Spanish city of Bilbao.

The city centre is a 20-minute drive from the ferry terminal.

Once you arrive, ditch the car as everything is easily accessible on foot or by tram/metro.

Pintxos, essentially the basque version of tapas, is the theme of most menus here.

This means you can sample as many restaurants as you fancy, tucking into the best of the nibbles — they tend to be very affordable, too.

Little ones will love riding the funicular up to the peak of Mount Artxanda, offering jaw-dropping panoramic views of the city.

Adults, on the other hand, will want to sample a glass of Txakoli, a local wine that’s dry, crisp and pairs perfectly with warm weather.

There’s also a beach if you do want to dip your toes into the sea.

GO: Six nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Euskalduna Hotel is £507.11pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Portsmouth to Bilbao on July 19.

Yiou can book at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

TOUQUET-PARIS-PLAGE, FRANCE

THE coastal resort, less than an hour from Calais, is chic French glamour meets old-world Britain.

Don’t take my word for it, though.

Back in the day, it attracted big names like Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Sean Connery used to stroll its shores, and President Macron has been seen there.

You’re also within a short drive of France’s oldest amusement park, Parc Bagatelle, which will soon feature a new adrenaline ride, North Storm.

It is 33 metres high and throws riders around on 360-degree rotations.

On top of thrill rides, there are also shows and a mini animal farm.

GO: Two-storey family rooms at the 4H Le Grand Hotel Le Touquet cost from around £286pp with access to an indoor heated pool, a padel tennis court, games room and bike rental service.

See legrandhotel-letouquet.com/en.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

COURSEULLES-SUR-MER, FRANCE

A SWIFT 30-minute drive from Caen ferry port in Ouistreham, the sleepy fishing town of Courseulles-sur-Mer feels typically French and sits a little off the beaten tourist track.

Be sure to have a go at sand yachting.

Often described as a mix between go-karting and windsurfing, the sport relies on blustery winds to propel you across the sands in a three-wheeled cart with a sail attached to it.

Juno beach is a great spot to try it.

For adrenaline junkies there’s Parc du Chant des Oiseaux which has slides, climbing nets and a zipline, or for something more gently paced there’s an 18-hole mini golf course.

It’s worth renting a bike and exploring the nearby cycle routes while you’re here, too.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 3H La Crémaillère is from £454.85pp, based on four people sharing a one-bedroom duplex and including car ferry from Portsmouth to Caen on July 20.

For details, see brittany-ferries.co.uk.

Tens of thousands of partygoers gathered for an illegal “free party” at a military firing range near Bourges, despite warnings about unexploded World War II ordnance. Authorities warned of serious risks, while organisers said the event was attended by 40,000 to protest against proposed laws targeting unregistered raves.

Britain’s Jack Draper will miss the rest of the clay court season – including next month’s French Open – because of an ongoing knee injury.

The 24-year-old hopes to return for June’s grass court season but by then will almost certainly have fallen outside the world’s top 100.

Draper retired from his one and only clay court match of the season in Barcelona earlier this month because of the tendon issue in his right knee.

He then pulled out of back-to-back ATP 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome, but expressed optimism that he would be fit for the French Open.

“My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros,” Draper posted on Instagram.

“As gutting as it is to miss another Slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five set tennis on clay.”

The tournament in Barcelona was just the fourth event of Draper’s comeback from bone bruising in his serving arm, which – bar one match at the US Open – had kept him off the tour since Wimbledon last year.

“Off the back of the arm injury, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again,” Draper added.

The African island nation also expels French embassy personnel over acts linked to the destabilisation investigation.

Madagascar has detained a French serviceman over an alleged plot to destabilise the island and also declared an agent at the French embassy persona non grata over acts linked to the destabilisation investigation.

Deputy Prosecutor Nomenarinera Mihamintsoa Ramanantsoa said in a video statement released late on ⁠Tuesday that the former French national serviceman, Guy Baret, had been placed ⁠in pretrial detention at Tsiafahy maximum-security prison.

A Malagasy army officer, Colonel Patrick Rakotomamonjy, and other alleged accomplices were also implicated, he said.

According to Ramanantsoa, prosecutors have charged the suspects with spreading false information to disturb public order, plotting to sabotage infrastructure including power lines and ⁠thermal plants operated by state utility Jirama, harbouring wanted individuals, and criminal conspiracy. Authorities said the group had planned actions initially set for April 18.

Rakotomamonjy is awaiting ‌presentation ‌before an investigating judge. Two other suspects were placed under judicial supervision, with prosecutors saying they did not appear to be the masterminds of the conspiracy

Madagascar is a former French colony that retains close political links to France and has had a history of instability in recent decades.

The country’s military ruler, President Michael Randrianirina, seized power in October last year, after a wave of youth-led protests against his ‌predecessor, Andry Rajoelina.

France helped Rajoelina flee in October as protests over lack of water and energy escalated and ultimately forced him from power.

France said Wednesday that it had summoned the charge d’affaires of the Madagascan embassy in Paris “to vigorously protest” the expulsion of the diplomatic official.

“He was informed that France categorically rejected any accusation of destabilising the Refoundation regime of the Republic of Madagascar,” French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said, adding that the official had been summoned on Tuesday.

“Such accusations are not only unfounded, but also incomprehensible.”

The Madagascar Foreign Ministry said French Ambassador Arnaud Guillois had been summoned and informed ‌of the decision over the embassy agent. It did not identify the agent or specify the acts in question.

“I’m trying to be very patient. But we are good and just waiting a little bit.

“We have a few tests in the next few days and then we will see how the injury is and what the next steps will be.”

The 22-year-old, who won clay-court titles in Monte Carle, Rome and Roland Garros and reached the final in Barcelona last season, could lose significant ground to Sinner in the rankings because of the injury.

Italian Sinner reclaimed the number one ranking this month after beating Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final.

Alcaraz said: “I’d rather come back a little later but in great shape than come back early, rushing around, and unwell.

“God willing, I have a very long career ahead of me, many years, and pushing myself too hard at this Roland Garros could seriously harm me in future tournaments.

“Things happen in the professional world. You have to accept them. I need to recover really well if I don’t want it to affect me later on.”

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from next week’s Madrid Open as their clay-court preparations for next month’s French Open continue to be disrupted by injury.

World number two Alcaraz is struggling with a wrist problem and the 22-year-old Spaniard was forced to pull out of this week’s Barcelona Open with the issue.

Alcaraz said delivering the news he was unable to participate in the tournament in Madrid, which is due to start on 21 April, was “incredibly difficult”.

“Madrid is home, one of the most special places on the calendar for me, and that’s why it hurts so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row,” the seven-time Grand Slam winner said in an Instagram post.

“It hurts especially not to be able to be in front of my fans, in a tournament that’s so special to me. Thank you for your continued support, and I hope to see you soon.”

Alcaraz is facing a race to be match-ready for the French Open, which he is bidding to win for a third consecutive time.

The tournament at Roland Garros takes place from 18 May to 7 June.

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, has not played since he was beaten by Jack Draper in the fourth round at Indian Wells last month.

The 38-year-old Serbian skipped Masters 1000 events in Miami and Monte Carlo with a shoulder injury and is not yet fit to return to action.

“Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete this year. I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon,” he said on Instagram.

Britain’s Draper is also in a race to be fit for the French Open having retired during his first match in Barcelona this week with a knee injury.

NEW ORLEANS — The French government is pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release the 86-year-old French widow of a military veteran from immigration custody after she was detained this month.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Marie-Therese Ross in Alabama on April 1 after she overstayed her 90-day visa, according to Homeland Security. Ross is now held at a federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana.

She is among the thousands of people targeted by the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda that has led to the detentions of the spouses of U.S. troops and military veterans who previously received greater leniency under scrapped policies.

Rodolphe Sambou, the consul general of France in New Orleans, told the AP that the French government has “fully mobilized” to push for her release. He said he has visited her in detention twice so far.

“Given her age, we really want her to get out of this situation as soon as possible,” Sambou said. “We want to get her out of jail.”

Sambou said that he has been communicating frequently with Ross’ family and French officials in Washington, Atlanta and Paris to try and coordinate Ross’ release and ensure she has access to sufficient food and healthcare. He said the French government has also contacted Homeland Security.

He declined to comment on her legal status or other details of her case.

Ross married Alabama resident William Ross last April, Calhoun County marriage records show. Ross died in January, according to an obituary from his family, which says he was a former captain in the U.S. Army.

A lawyer who is representing Ross in a separate legal matter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ross’ family did not respond to requests for comment.

Brook writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Samuel Petrequin in France contributed to this report.

Police in France have arrested students at Sorbonne University, Sciences Po and Paris-Saclay University during a sit-in against a controversial anti-Semitism bill that could outlaw criticism of Israel. Lawmakers are set to vote on the ‘Yadan law’, named after a pro-Israel French MP who sponsored the bill, on April 16.